by Jeff on 07.14.2009
Wow this sounds like a really great time! The Geauga Democratic Women’s Caucus, which endorsed Jennifer last month, will hold a Brunner Barbeque on Sunday July 26th from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the park pavilion at 14821 Rapids Road in Burton, Ohio. The cost is $10 per person or $25.00 per family. All proceeds go to the Jennifer Brunner Committee.
As the caucus writes in the flyer for the event, Ohioans deserve a leader who knows how to solve tough problems. Please come to the barbeque and get involved to fight for a great cause -- getting Jennifer to Washington D.C. in 2010!
Bring a dish to pass, burger & dogs are provided.·Please RSVP to Luanne Dvorak at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
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by Jeff on 07.14.2009
With GOP senators doing their best today to impugn the integrity of Sonia Sotomayor, the highly qualified and accomplished U.S. Supreme Court nominee, in her confirmation hearing, this is a good time to recall that Jennifer knows a thing or two about being a woman judge, and why Sonia Sotomayor will make an excellent addition to the highest court. This is from a message she sent to her supporters a few weeks ago:
"Senate Republicans will begin their attacks on Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor today. Led by Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL), someone who was denied confirmation to the Federal bench in the 1980s because of racial insensitivity, Republicans plan to attack Judge Sotomayor for her "empathy." This is part of the tired old GOP tactic of using code words to stoke un-American bigotry. It's a clear attempt to test the waters for derailing her nomination based on her gender, and typical of the smear politics of the past. We must put an end to it, and I call upon Senator Sessions to stick to Judge Sotomayor's experience and qualifications, not her gender. At the same time, I call upon Senator George Voinovich to distance himself from this right-wing trap."
"As a former Judge, I know firsthand what goes into tough decision making. I also know that a balanced view that values fairness requires empathy to fully comprehend any human situation when applying the law with common sense. Often, if a judge is doing her job as she should, no one leaves the Court House completely satisfied--more often than not half leave disappointed. A judge's job is to apply the law regardless of the desires of the litigants before her. Editorial boards across the country all agree Sonia Sotomayor is one of the most experienced and qualified candidates to be nominated to the Supreme Court--and she will be the only judge with real life trial court experience on the court--a job that requires empathy--for victims, for families and for communities."
Jennifer is a member of the Confirm Sotomayor group on Facebook. Follow Jennifer on Facebook or Twitter and join her in supporting Sonia Sotomayor!
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by Jeff on 07.14.2009
Two new clps have been posted to the Video page, including excerpts from Jennifer's remarks at the grand opening of her campaign headquarters early last month. I was reminded of several particularly pertinent things that she said, including these:
"As you know, this campaign is going to be a marathon, not a sprint. And I remember from my days running distance -- when I ran the mile -- you get yourself in really good physical shape, and you pace yourself, and you keep it going along the way. And about that last eighth of a mile is when you are kicking it in really hard. . . .
. . .
"When I was a judge right here in Franklin County, I finally got what it really means to be in public service. When I was able to work with a small group of people, and bring together a larger group of people, and we were able to work on our lunch hours over two years and start a drug court that we saw change people's lives and make the community better, it made me understand that this is really what public service is about. I saw people regain their dignity, get their kids back, get jobs, get houses, and then start to give back to the community.
"And I understood that I was there for a limited period of time, but for that limited period if I acted out of selflessness and gave it everything that I had, that this really was what public service was about. And the ripple effect that would take place from that would continue, and it really wasn't about me, it was about us, and about the community. . . .
. . .
"I know when we look at our girls and our young women and we tell them that 'you can be whatever you want to be' -- which is the way my parents raised me, I remember that my father always said, 'Jen, where there's a will there's a way' -- I know when we tell those girls and those young women that, somebody needs to prove it to them, and I'm going to do that."
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by Jeff on 07.08.2009
Yesterday Jennifer posted an important statement on this blog, all about who she is, what she stands for, why she is running for the U.S. Senate, and why she absolutely will not get out of the race. Plain Dealer political reporter Mark Naymik referred to it as Jennifer's "Jerry Maguire" memo.
In her statement, Jennifer explains that public "service at its essence is about standing up for the kinds of things we as Democrats believe in and taking the fight of my fellow Ohioans to Columbus or Washington or wherever I can best help people in need." Among the principled stands that she affirms is that she is vigorously opposed to "draconian cuts in state or federal funding that deprive the middle class of tools to achievement such as libraries."
This statement did not escape the attention of activists seeking to "Save Ohio Libraries" from the drastic cuts in the latest proposed state budget. "Thank you, Jennifer Brunner!" is what blogger "amandaknpp" wrote on the Save Ohio Libraries web site.
The Save Ohio Libraries activists also have a Facebook group and are active on Twitter, using the hashtag #saveohiolibraries.
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by Jennifer on 07.07.2009
Ever since I decided to give up the security of what is widely regarded as a "safe" re-election for Secretary of State and instead run for the U.S. Senate, the political insiders in Columbus and Washington began actively discouraging my candidacy. "She can’t raise the money," said many. "You shouldn’t run for the Senate if the Governor supports Lieutenant Governor Fisher," warned some Washington insiders in January. "You need to take one for the team, even though I don’t think the Lt. Gov. can win in the general election," one Congressman cautioned. "I think you have the political skills to win this election, but you need the money,” said a political mentor.
Four months into this race, I certainly understand why many folks around Ohio would make these statements. But their comments are not what drive me to run. Having worked in politics for more than 30 years, I never thought I would run for public office, because as an attorney practicing in that arena, I knew I didn’t want to be like some of my elected official clients. When I finally ran for office, I not only enjoyed campaigning and connecting with people, I also “got” the notion of public service.
Public service for me has never been about the money. I know I must raise it. I always have, deliberately, steadily and having enough in the end to get the votes I need to win. For me, public service at its essence is about standing up for the kinds of things we as Democrats believe in—and taking the fight of my fellow Ohioans to Columbus or Washington or wherever I can best help people in need. Those people in need are my state, the state I have lived in since birth, the state that I love for its rivers and lakes, hills and flatlands, factories and farms, families of all nature, history and future, small towns and big cities—but most of all, for its people.
Because I grew up here, went to public school and state university here, lived much of this state’s history through my extended family’s stories and heritage, and because I believe in the future of Ohio, I am in this race, and I will not get out.
(Continued in the extended entry - click "Read more")
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by Jeff on 07.07.2009
This report carried on public radio stations yesterday emphasized the importance to Jennifer Brunner's campaign for the U.S. Senate of internet outreach via email, blogging, and social media networks like Twitter and Facebook.
The report opens with the sound of rapid-fire typing as Jennifer notes that she can type at least 100 words per minute. Reporter Jo Ingles recorded the interview shortly before this live blog at FireDogLake about a month ago.
In the report, Jennifer talks about how much she enjoys live-blogging, although so many questions come through it is difficult to answer all of them. She also plans to do more traditional in-person forums during her campaign.
Jennifer states that a strong presence on the internet is "crucial" to her campaign. "In last year's election, more than half of the voting population used the internet to get involved in the political process," she said. Of adults who regularly use the internet, that proportion was nearly three-quarters.
Jennifer is an active user of Twitter at Twitter.com/JenniferBrunner, as well as Facebook and MySpace.
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by Rick on 07.04.2009
Today at breakfast on July 4, 2009, a good friend (and an intelligent and reasoned conservative) questioned the wisdom of some portions of President Obama's stimulus package. "Now is not the time to experiment . . . . We need to be conserving our resources," he gravely intoned. And like most of us . . . I thought of the right response to him on the trip home from the Bob Evans restaurant. So I had to write it down now before I forgot it.
The answer lies in Philadelphia, 233 years ago today. On that day a group of Patriots took out a big mortgage on the future. When we watch fireworks or barbecue this weekend we really don't think about the huge risk and the tremendous debt they signed on for that day. And they weren't just risking their political future but their own personal safety, and the safety and financial security of their children and grand children, indeed their respective communities and states. By way of just a few examples there was the young to middle aged John Hancock who signed his name boldly and in such large script that to this day we refer to a bodacious signature as "your John Hancock." But it wasn't just the size of his signature, but also what he was risking that day that is significant. John Hancock was literally the Bill Gates or John D Rockefeller of colonial America. On July 4, 1776 the richest man in the America was risking not only forfeiture of all his financial resources and holdings, but also incurring huge debt for his home state, signing on to finance a war against the super power of his day. John Hancock was risking forfeiture of largest personal fortune in America and his life by a public hanging for treason to the system under which he had earned, and accumulated that wealth.
Then there was Ben Franklin who had been able to dabble in science and foreign policy because he was THE RICH AND FAMOUS MEDIA GIANT of his time. He was the Ted Turner, William Randolph Hurst, Katherine Graham, and Rupert Murdoch all rolled into one of his day and age. He was seventy years of age on July 4, 1776 in a time when people were old in their fifth decade and that was their life expectancy. He was the head of large extended family and he risked not all that he had and accumulated and his international reputation that day but also a life time estrangement from his equally well renowned and publically prominent eldest son William Franklin, the Royal Governor of New Jersey.
Also there was John Adams. A lower middle class farm boy of uneducated parents that had risen to be one of the most talented and prominent attorneys in America. He risked not only his safety, his fortune and his children's future, but permanent disbarment in his cherished profession.
These three examples weren't alone because prominent personages of means and recognized talent from all 13 fledgling states took a huge roll of the dice on the future and took on the big super power on July 4, 1776 to demand a better future for their children, grandchildren and future generations of Americans. They were signing on for tax increases when officials were tarred and feathered publicly for raising taxes and wars were fought over paying taxes. What's more they were incurring a public debt that then did not look like it could be repaid for generations and there was little current revenue to pay.
And yet they did it that day, July 4, 1776 . . . they mustered the political will, took the risk, they mortgaged the future, in many cases they literally "bet the farm" their personal liberty and their very lives.
So today when we see state legislatures locked in stalemate and governors in cash=starved states slashing not only backing away from the future . . . but closing public libraries for lack of funds and political will . . . when we see the party of "no", the "Loyalist to the Crown and stability" of their day not willing to support the stimulus package or tackle health care, or in the case of Ohio, to offer any kind of plan for the budget . . . Well you have to be grateful that we still have leaders . . . no patriots, like Barack Obama who are willing to risk not only their political future, their profession but also to show fearless leadership. Barack Obama, a leader who was told that it wasn't his time and who needed to stand down for the leader whose time had supposedly come . . . who was anointed to lead us. Thank goodness that he didn't listen.
And for me, as the spouse of courageous public official . . . well I am proud that she is willing to stand up for Ohio, for future of our children and generations to come; to stand up marriage equality, and to make historic strides for our daughters and granddaughters. Our young women must know by examples like those from Philadelphia 233 years ago today there are no limits on what they can do or achieve . . . that in truth all men and women are created equal. Even so when the days are long, I also need to reflect upon those patriots who 233 years ago today risked so much for the future . . . and realize that's what my John F Kennedy Profiles in Courage Award Winner is doing now.
Ohio needs a Senator who is not a afraid to stand up and be counted when the outcome is far from certain and the odds are long. A woman of award winning courage who is going where other women have not yet gone in and for Ohio much as those Patriots did 233 years ago today. We need a decisive leader who is not willing to wait polling results before showing political will and courage, or who wants the shield and buffer of the political will of others.
Ohio needs Jennifer Brunner working with President Obama and Senator Brown to make the bold choices for today, tomorrow and for generations to come.
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by Christopher Celeste on 07.01.2009
To My Friends & Other Ohioans Interested in Ohio's Future:
As
some of you know, for the past six months I actively explored entering
the Democratic primary for the United States Senate seat being vacated
by Senator George Voinovich. As part of that process I spoke at length
with personal friends and advisers in Ohio and nationally; as well as
with both of the already announced Democratic candidates, Lt. Governor
Lee Fisher and Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner. For a variety of
personal and political reasons—and despite my strong desire to be an
agent of change in the public realm—I ultimately decided entering this
particular race, at this particular time, would not be in my party's,
or my, best interest.
That said, my belief that this election is crucial to Ohio's future remains unchanged.
The
problems (and opportunities) we face in this state are too large to be
tackled by local or state officials alone. Long overdue urban
revitalization. Reinvention of our historic manufacturing base.
Exploding health-care costs that choke families and business alike.
Outdated education systems that fail our children. Again and again, we
face changing realities in our communities whose scale and complexity
require political leadership at the federal level capable of sustained,
creative—at times even courageous—reinvention. In my opinion, this
isn't just about electing one party versus the other. It's about
electing one type of leader versus another. Like our recently elected
president, what we need is a leader with the courage to lead,
especially when the path ahead may be challenging or unpopular. Not
just another politician (Democrat or Republican) with a "wait-and-see"
attitude.
As it turns out, much like in the last Presidential primary, two
well-regarded and experienced officeholders are now making their case
to Democratic primary voters about why they should be the party's
nominee in the Fall. They are both formidable politicians who have won
statewide, and worked long and hard on behalf of Ohioans. And while I
respect both Lee and Jennifer for their commitment to public service,
after much thought, I have decided to support, invest in and personally
work on behalf of Jennifer Brunner in the Democratic Primary for the
United States Senate.
Jennifer's public leadership demonstrates an impressive mix of
creativity, collaboration, and courage. Whether spearheading innovative
drug-intervention methods from the bench, or being an early and
consistent advocate of equality for all Ohioans, or protecting the
basic integrity of our election process itself, Jennifer Brunner is a
not a wait-and-see politician. Equally important, as a woman who
started her own law practice in the corner of her home while raising a
family, Jennifer has an intimate appreciation for what everyday Ohioans
encounter when they face off against their own daily struggles. This
combination of political and personal tenacity make Jennifer a woman
unafraid to lead. Already her efforts have garnered positive national
recognition, including being awarded the 2008 John F. Kennedy "Profile
in Courage" Award for her stewardship of Ohio's election reforms.
It's for these reasons and many others I am speaking out on behalf
of Jennifer now, in her primary race. And why I believe she will also
be the Democratic Party's strongest candidate on the ballot in
November. Please join me in being an early, vocal, and unapologetic
supporter of Jennifer Brunner in the Democratic Primary for the United
States Senate.
It is time for Ohio to recapture its historic spirit of pioneering
leadership — and I believe Jennifer's election as an unrelenting agent
of positive change, as well as our state's first female United States
Senator will do just that.
With respect & enthusiasm,
Christopher A. Celeste
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