C'mon, OCA: Gov Strickland deserves better
Submitted by bryan on Thu, 11/09/2006 - 9:48am.
(HT to the RABid crowd.)
Ohio Citizen Action isn't wasting any time.¬ They released a nastygram to Governor-elect Strickland yesterday.¬ You can see it in all its "glory" here.
Note to OCA (and other lefties):¬ We just took back Ohio for the Democrats.¬ Back off.¬ Try working with someone for once.¬ Ted won't be perfect on the left-o-meter.¬ And that's¬a good thing because Ohioans don't want that.¬ In fact, if he was, he wouldn't be fulfilling the mandate given him by a clear majority of Ohioans.¬
And a note to Ted:¬ Congrats.¬ Thank you.¬
Wow
Submitted by BlogginRyan on Thu, 11/09/2006 - 10:42am.
Not even a full 2 days out of the gate and we've already got this.
Foolhardy schmucks.
They're jumping the gun
Submitted by JeanLR on Thu, 11/09/2006 - 11:09am.
They're jumping the gun here, imho~ and while I appreciate thier diligence, as I've said before, let's give the guy a chance!
He's going to bring with him a whole bunch of good people~
This garbage is why
Submitted by AmberCat on Thu, 11/09/2006 - 2:13pm.
I've been politically inactive for so long. Although I support in theory virtually all progressive principles, I've always been turned off by the all-or-nothing attitude of some progressive activists and groups who condemn anyone who is not 100% in lockstep with them. They are as bad as Bush neocons in a way; they may have better goals but they are just as out of touch with reality. I consider myself a practical progressive and understand that you make gains in steps. I haven't looked that deeply into the OCA's agenda as environmentalism is not one of the main issues (I realized right after the 2004 election that you needed to choose priorities or you'd burn out). But I have to question the way they have branded two major unions, including the one they list as Strickland's biggest donor, as specifically and exclusively "pro-coal-industry" advocates. I'm guessing these unions have a range of issues they're advocating for.
I resent their recycling of the right-wing media talking point that Strickland presented no agenda, no ideas and no priorities. I know exactly what Strickland's priorities as a governor will be. He talked about them over and over. Maybe the OCA is pissed because environmentalism is not at the top of his list but it's not helpful for them to be distorting his agenda because he might not yield 100% to their stance on coal-burning industries and insist that he'll do nothing of value as governor.
I'm sorry but I'm HAPPY with a governor whose main agenda items are improving education, making college affordable, creating jobs and encouraging small business growth and expanding health care coverage. An economically healthy state is in a better position to effectively address environmental issues than an aconomically ailing one. If the OCA would have preferred a governor whose main (virtually only) agenda items were restricting the rights of gay people and filling the pockets of people like David Brennan, then the OCA is a group whose time is past.
Just a minute, here --
Submitted by Lucie on Fri, 11/10/2006 - 12:13am.
I agree that the Turcer letter is a little extreme -- but the original letter I saw from Sandy Buchan (sp?) seemed reasonable. Environmentalists do need to make sure that Ted Strickland addresses the very real problems Ohio faces as a result of our use of coal. "Clean coal technology" has some problems.
I'm a longtime basic supporter of OCA, and I won't fail to support them -- but I do want them to give Ted Strickland a chance! He is a very bright man -- and I think he really does understand, on multiple levels, how important environmental policy is. If he doesn't go to bat for all of us on these issues, I'll complain loudly -- but I think he'll do the right thing.
Nevertheless, don't cancel your membership in OCA -- they really do help poor people who are unfairly stuck with horrific environmental situations. And when you are in the trenches, battling toxic environmental stews that affect people for generations, it is hard to be tactful and temperate. We can work this out. Kumbayah!
No kidding
My contribution to OCA runs out next month. Now, I'll have a decision to make...