Cincinnati Democrats!

The unofficial kick-off meeting of the John Kerry campaign was tonight at Letter Carriers Hall in Northside. As one who has attended local Democratic gatherings for several years, let me tell that this one was something special. My estimate is that some 350 people packed the Hall to overflowing, and the atmosphere was absolutely electric.

We were introduced to the Ohio Campaign Staff, which includes an A-List of political operatives. Our field coordinator was the Kerry field coordinator for the Iowa Primary, and our local coordinator, Patrick Foster, was the state coordinator for the New Hampshire Primary. They are dead serious about winning Hamilton County and winning Ohio!

The Kerry campaign is starting local activities with a sign-making party on Saturday, May 29th at 10:00 a.m. at campaign headquarters (see below), and they're starting local visibility efforts during the week after Memorial Day. If you'd like to volunteer, here is the contact information:

Patrick Foster
615 Main Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
(513) 421-2410

OTHER INFORMATION

Greg Harris, who is looking to put Steve (Bad-Hair) Chabot into retirement, is holding his campaign headquarters housewarming on this Friday, May 29th from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. His headquarters is at 1520 Main Street in Over-The-Rhine. Stop in and say hello! If you'd like to volunteer to help Greg, you can e-mail him at electgregharris@fuse.net.

If you live in Springfield Township (that's the Finneytown area) or know a Democrat who does, contact me about helping to coordinate campaigns in this area. We're trying to act as a clearinghouse for candidates and to help them with visibility events, yard signs, etc. For information, reply here or e-mail me at mailroom@progressivecincinnati.org

Went to high school there. My mothers' entire family was from Northside. Been over 20 years.

Glad to hear there are some real Democrats there.

If you still live there, join us for the 4th of July Parade -- all the candidates will be there!

On Edit: Of course, you can join us whether you live there or not!

By "been over 20 years," I mean it's been that long since I moved away. 1971, actually. I didn't even realize it was a Democratic neighborhood. My grandfather owned a fencing an ironwork business and as far as I know was a liberal Republican.

Good luck with the parade and the campaigns. Warms my heart to think of that activity in Northside.

It's actually become a very trendy place to live. There's a strong GLBT community there, and a lot of people who like Clifton, but can't afford the housing, have settled in Northside. There's a growing number of small cafe's and little shop along Hamilton Avenue. But not to worry, Myron Johnson Lumber is still there!

When I lived there, it was on its way down. Lot of Appalachians moving in, supplanting the small business owners from before the flood and the depression. Lots of nice homes not being cared for. The Jergens' mansion (of Jergen's lotion) was on Hamilton Ave -- I saw it being demolished for a park.

I lived on Langland, right next to Schwab Jr High, if that's still there. My grandfather's business, Davis & Siehl, was on Dane and Pullan. He lived on Otte on a very steep slope in what I still think of as the ancestral home.

Almost all the family has moved away, but I will definitely check it out if I ever get there.

Luckily, I arrived at the hall early, and found a spot easily. After sitting for a few minutes, ritc2750 came up to me, having noticed my DU shirt, of course! I joined him and the really fun gals at his table.

It was such an encouraging event. The place was packed to the gills, standing room only, loud and proud. The Ohio Kerry staff is amazing! I was especially impressed that our Ohio Communications Director is none other than Jennifer Palmieri, former Press Secretary to John Edwards. She's a very talented woman, and I'm proud to have her here in Ohio. Crystal King, Ohio Political Director, was fantastic, and gave a rousing speech. After bringing home Iowa for Kerry, she requested to be assigned to her home state (she's from Dayton!) for the general election. She informed the crowd that her brother is serving in Iraq.

An interesting tidbit from tonight: Kerry staff told us that they have already spent more money on television ads in Ohio than Gore did during the entire campaign in Ohio. It's not even Memorial Day yet, as they kept reminding us! As many may remember, Gore made a political error when he abandoned Ohio in October 2000, pulling all money out of the state.

Everyone who attended received a Kerry button and a packet describing the various volunteer positions available, along with a sign-up sheet. The event was well-organized, and several prominent local Democrats attended to show their support. It was just so energizing and fun!

Here's an interesting sidebar... there was a television cameraman and a sound engineer roving the meeting, filming the volunteers as we hooted and hollered and promised to win Ohio for Kerry. At first I thought it was the local NBC affiliate, WLWT. However, the camera carried only the NBC logo. During the speeches, I noticed Jennifer Palmieri chatting with a very attractive, familiar-looking woman in very back of the hall. It was Chris Jansing, from MSNBC. Perhaps she's on assignment, checking out the Kerry field operations in battleground states? If anyone sees or hears of such a report, please let me know!

This is Chris Jansing... ritc2750, do you remember when I pointed her out...?



Anyhow... go forth and join the Ohio Kerry team, Buckeyes! They've finally arrived. :D

I recall seeing her, but since I don't have cable I didn't know who she was. I assumed she was Kerry Staff. But it's great that she was there; it means that the world is going to be watching Ohio from the outset and it certainly makes it harder for Bush & Friends to try something "cute" with the counting of the ballots.

Go get 'em -- win Hamilton County for the good guys.

there's no way Bush can win Ohio. The political calculus has always been that Republicans have to roll up huge margins in SW Ohio to counter the Democratic strongholds in NE Ohio. If we take away Hamilton County, it's like pulling out the keystone of an arch -- the whole thing crumbles.

If you live in the area -- and that includes folks in Northern Kentucky and Southeast Indiana -- now is time to step forward and take back your country. We're putting an end to this administration here.

Cowboy up, folks.

Hamilton, Butler and Montgomery counties are clearly within our reach... and it was more than encouraging to see the Kerry All-Star Politial Team of Brilliant People populating an important Ohio kick-off meeting!

They're throwing everything they have into our great state. We have to start by delivering the counties once deemed impossible. Bush is vulnerable here... I feel it in the air.

:D :D :D

Cowboy UP!! Thanks for the rallying cry, ritc!!!

When you live in the suburbs, you get used to living around lots (and lots) of Republicans. The Missus and I used to think that we were the only ones until I became involved with the local Democratic Party. But there are still a whole mess of Republicans out there -- from my elderly next-door neighbors to a gaggle of soccer moms on Saturday mornings.

The difference this year is the incredibly luke-warm feelings these Republicans have toward Bush. People who were rapid supporters in 2000 are acting damn apologetic right now. And those people who were just tired of the whole "Clinton-Gore Thing" and who voted for Bush because he seemed like a decent guy? They feel like they were duped -- which they were.

At the Kerry meeting Monday night, Patrick talked about how this campaign has to be "Ohioan to Ohioan." People who support Kerry have to engage those disaffected Independents and even some Republicans and show them that Kerry is offering them a better deal than the false promises they heard in 2000.

We're going to win this thing one voter at a time.

Greg Harris, who is looking to put Steve (Bad-Hair) Chabot into retirement, is holding his campaign headquarters housewarming on this Friday, May 29th from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Friday is the 28th. Saturday is the 29th. Which one is it? I want to go! (Hopefully its Sat, so I can still make it!)

It was last night - Friday, May 28th. Sorry about the mixup. On the plus side the final Friday of each month is an Open House among all the shops and galleries on Main Street, so we're going to do it all over again on the last Friday evening in July. See you there!