So long, and thanks for all the fish.
This will be my last post at BSB. Life takes strange twists and turns, and my journey over the last 12 months or so has led me to an incredible opportunity I could never have imagined when I started BSB.
I believe that the key to further Democratic principles, especially over the next 2 years lies in how we govern. The voters have entrusted our party to bring change to the way things are done in Ohio. One of the leaders of this change will be Treasurer Rich Cordray. It's going to be my great pleasure to serve Rich and all Ohioans in the Treasurers office.
Rich Cordray is one of the most intelligent and dedicated people I have met or seen. He could easily have taken his talents and put them to use in the private sector with success. There are few leaders I would have given up my cushy corporate day job for. Rich Cordray is one of them. When I saw the team he is building to help him run the treasurers office, my decision was simple.
I've met some incredible people along the way and made more friends than I could have imagined. I blogged under the pseudonym "staff" to avoid bringing attention to myself. I had hoped to do more insurgent blogging (attending GOP events and the like), and also to be frank, to shield the political work from my professional life as an engineer for a large corporation. Things really didn't turn out like that.
I recall vividly when my real identity was leaked out during the primaries. I spent a lot of time thinking about some of the possible implications - after all, I think BSB has been pretty aggressive more by design than personality. Instead of quitting, I doubled down and kept plowing ahead.
It was kinda funny when work colleagues would come up to me and say they had seen me on TV or read my quotes in the paper - even weirder knowing that a number of them read BSB after they found out I was a political blogger.
It was even more strange when people I didn't recognize would introduce themselves at events. So many of you I only knew by email or telephone - a lot less now than before.
I want to thank everyone who has had a positive involvement with BSB. It's the power of community that created success, and without that, this new opportunity would not have presented itself.
While she won't read this, I want to thank my wife. I couldn't have asked for more support. She has put up with me working a regular job full time, then blogging full time on top of that, every day for over a year. I'm looking forward to repaying her understanding and spending a lot more time with her and the kids.
So what of BSB ?
I'm hoping to hand it off so that it can continue to grow and influence politics in the state of Ohio. I'd also urge everyone to stay involved. What's happening is just the beginning and great challenges lay ahead, challenges that need to be met by the kinds of people who read blogs like this, who are engaged in grass roots politics and who care about our state and our country.
So long, and thanks for all the fish.
Thanks. Gonna do my very best - I can guarantee that you won't be reading about the treasurers office in a negative light. One of Rich's campaign promises and priorities was to have greater transparency - it is after all Ohioans money (and a shit load of it too!).
"The best minds are not in government. If they were, business would hire them away." - Ronald Reagan
Well, Russell's leaving the private sector for government, so I'd say that alone shows that Reagan was full of crap.
Regardless, thanks for your dilligent service this past year. Thanks for your impact (even though nobody reads blogs), and thanks for the fun. All the best and goodluck
Hope your right about Ronnie being wrong.
I think more people would read blogs if you wrote more often !
I'm glad I got to know you and hope to remain friends for a long time to come. You've helped blaze a trail and shown that yes, people really do read blogs (some obsessively - heh). May we continue to inspire each other and continue to push the limits of what can be done online. Keep those bean counters plugged into the blogosphere, will ya?
Congrats man. We'll toast a few soon in celebration.
Eric Vessels
Online Director
Progress Ohio - Powered By You!
www.progressohio.org
Banned. Heh.
And since when did you have friends Dave ? LOL
Eric Vessels
Online Director
Progress Ohio - Powered By You!
www.progressohio.org
Statement from Bev Campbell regarding contesting her Ohio House District 20 race.
http://www.bevcampbellforohio.com/
A bit more on Russell's favorite "trash blog" (As Ohio Goes)
I understand about not wanting to spread your identity around too, because as you know, I was forced to post here pseudonymously after what seemed to be intimidation from staff of a certain candidate (a Democrat). At this point, I no longer care as I've since learned this problem with this candidate was widespread. I'm sure my identity isn't secret now — I know another blogger — was it Jill? Not sure — figured it out, and so did Jennifer Brunner. Oh well.
Anyway, I am looking forward to see Ted and Lee, and Jennifer, and Marc, and Rich, start to bring some semblance of good government back to Ohio and tear the veil off what our legislature is doing to destroy the state. Glad you will be on board to help. I'll be helping the effort to oust these bastards in 08.
Amber - this is too funny, and I'm really sounding strange even saying this, but just this morning I was thinking, you know, I STILL don't know who Ambercat is and I have to believe we've been at the same place at the same time. I am often the last to get it, as my kids will tell you. So - your secret is safe with me, because I still do not know who you are. :) (But thanks for thinking I'm smart enough to figure it out!)
I thought Amber had to do with Brown - "cat" indicated female. lol I have no idea! Blog on. :)
Eric Vessels
Online Director
Progress Ohio - Powered By You!
www.progressohio.org
Admirable.
Seriously.
How could you NOT admire someone who defines "incredible opportunity" as a job with the government- a job with less visibility, smaller impact and an average salary lower than the average Ohio political blogger?
Eric Vessels
Online Director
Progress Ohio - Powered By You!
www.progressohio.org
Russell, A.K.A. "Staff,"
Your blog over the last year has been like the common room of a big, vibrant college dorm.
There were lots of interesting conversations going on all over the dorm--conversations about politics, policy, the media, life, sports, etc.--but for those of us who had little time (which is most of us), the common room was where the action was, where you could find out what some of the more interesting things happening elsewhere were, and what you could use as a launching off point to take a quick peek at those other conversations.
You really did succeed in using the power of the web to create an alternative to mainstream media for finding out what is really going on. As the mainstream media cut back the resources they devote to politics and policy, filtered so heavily that one had no idea what actually happened, or abdicated responsible reporting entirely, you helped fill the void. And the moment I knew you were successful was when reporters would call me and ask if I had read something on BSB. It really happened--more than once.
On a personal note, thank you also for drawing your readers' attention to unfiltered information from the trail about events in my campaign. Although it was ultimately impossible to overcome the resource gap in the primary (and I'm glad Marc Dann won the general), it was nice to know in the face of that resource gap and media apathy there was at least some echo to the magical interactions I would have with audiences in the room. Again, I can't begin to tell you the number of times that the unfiltered information or reviews would be reflected back to me when I would contact someone for help: "I've heard of you--the bloggers love you..." (Just think, without your efforts, I might not have hit 30%!
.)
While I am nervous to see the common room remodeled (and hopefully not bulldozed), I am very happy that you will have the opportunity to put your ideas into practice. Rich Cordray represents the future of this state and country, as do you, and I hope you enjoy the ride.
You will be missed.
Finally, many thanks to "Mrs. Staff" for her sacrifice. If there is anyone who knows what that means when you are trying to serve a broader cause, it is my family, so we not only "feel her pain" but thank her and wish her the best.
Subodh.
Thanks for the kind words. I means a lot coming from someone I respect deeply for the contributions you made in 2006.
Eric Vessels
Online Director
Progress Ohio - Powered By You!
www.progressohio.org
Boom!! It's rounded.
I remember the first time we actually met outside of the blogosphere, about a year ago. (Which is seven in blog years, or is that dog years?). We met in a smoke-filled coffee house in Cincinnati. I was working on the Hackett campaign and Karl and I had met Russell and Chris to talk about how we could further work with the blogosphere. I was amazed by how much this British guy knew about Ohio politics and campaign strategy in general.
Since our first meeting I have thoroughly enjoyed Russell’s assistance, advise, wisdom and friendship. His indefatigable and dedicated work in the blogosphere was crucial in driving the debate and pushing for an end to the culture of corruption in Ohio.
I see Russell’s move as not a loss, but a new chapter in his contributions to the State of Ohio. He will be a great asset to Treasurer Cordray, where he will get a chance to work on many of the issues that he has astutely discussed over the years.
Russell, I wish you the best of luck in your new endeavor and look forward to our continued friendship.
Cheers and Congrats!
Todd Hoffman
Online Communications Director
The Ohio Democratic Party
Online Communcations Director
hoffman@ohiodems.org
Ohio Democratic Party
http://blog.oh02.com/