Preaching to the Dispossessed

July 1776

2007-07-05T20:23:00.000-04:00

Last Saturday I had the opportunity to speak briefly at the WCDP Family Reunion Picnic. It being a few days prior to the Fourth of July, I took the opportunity to reflect on the Declaration of Independence. The text of my speech follows below:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.— That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,— That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it…”

A radical idea from 1776. The idea that human rights and dignity are not bestowed by royalty or doled out by governments. It is a good time to remember some of the complaints against King George.

· “He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
· He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
· He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.”

My name is Jeff Sinnard and I am running for Congress in the Ohio Second District. I was born and raised in Cincinnati. I am a husband and father. For nearly 20 years I have made my living as a civil engineer. I am running for Congress to propose a vision of possibility and hope in a time of cynicism and fear.

In America we are blessed with great abundance, but some of the least of us remain in need. We face challenges, but let no one ever doubt that American can solve any problem; face any enemy and survive any test. America is the greatest nation on the face of the Earth, but I believe we have the opportunity to be even better.

We have forgotten our founding commitment to human dignity. Our responsibility to one another. People from different backgrounds, colors and creeds coming together to find common ground, to work for the common good. It really is just common sense.

The founders were committed to one another and to the common good. The Declaration of Independence ends, “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

My name is Jeff Sinnard and I am running for Congress to represent you, the people of the Ohio Second District. Thank you and God bless.

It is Unofficially Official

2007-03-23T17:17:00.000-04:00

To the people of the Southern Ohio:

You have probably noticed the 2008 election season has already started. In this Presidential election year you will likely get tired of hearing from candidates. But I hope you take a moment and consider my candidacy.

Beginning in the 2005 special election I ran for Congress for one simple reason – I got tired of waiting for my perfect candidate. That is not to say I am perfect, far from it. I do not have any prior experience holding elected office. I am not independently wealthy. I am, by nature, quiet and introverted. But on the other hand I am not tangled in the political system. I owe nobody any favors. I passionately care about the issues and believe that the actions of politicians in Washington have real consequences. And perhaps, just now, a quiet thoughtful representative might be a nice change of pace.

So why vote for Jeff Sinnard? The simplest reason I can give is because we agree on more than we disagree. I have tried to be honest and straightforward with my positions. Check it out. Look at the web site, attend an event and listen to me speak or just drop me a line.

I remain gravely concerned about the future of America. As I prepare for another run, I hope that you check back often and see how we are doing. The formal campaign will likely start this May.

We all need to find a way to work together. Democrat with Republican. America with the world. People from different backgrounds, colors and creeds coming together to find common ground, to work for the common good. It really is just common sense.

Thank you for your consideration.

Overblown?

2007-03-22T13:47:00.000-04:00

I can’t tell you how many times I was asked, “What qualifies you to run for Congress?” My answer consistently was to refer them to the U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 2, “No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen”.

I would often follow up by saying that we could get better representation in Washington by picking names from the phone book. Our current Representative has again vindicated this position.

Rep. “Pollyanna” Schmidt again carries water for the Republican Party in a bucket that is half full. In her statement Schmidt says, “While I found the situation at Walter Reed to be overblown by both politicians and the media, I hope that future accounts will bring more light to the real issues. We need to do more to make sure that our veterans get the level of healthcare they desperately need.”

Overblown? I don’t think so. Most reasonable observers don’t think so. I read Jean’s release last Monday the way I read most everything she says – with a grain of salt. Does clueless go far enough or too far. I don’t know. I do tend to agree with the Enquirer editorial staff that this is an easy shot and “Those simplistic approaches do a disservice to the veterans who need our help and who should be the only focus of non-partisan action to improve the situation.”

So then what are the “real issues” we should be addressing? Without question the overall care of our veterans and VA system. But I propose that beyond having earned the right to quality care by their service; our veterans and all Americans deserve a health care system that treats them with dignity. “That they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”. Let’s take this opportunity to begin a conversation about the state of health care for other vulnerable populations in our society.

That it takes a scandal to bring us to advocate for our vets is a sin, but that many of our fellow Americans remain without advocates may be the greater unnoticed sin.

Tuesday May 2nd - Primary Election Day - VOTE

2006-05-02T00:41:00.000-04:00

Vote in the primary election. Voting is more than a right it is a responsibility.

Remember all registered voters, regardless of voting history, can participate in either party's primary.

"Democracy, finally, rests on a higher power than Parliament. It rests on an informed and cultivated and alert public opinion. The Members of Parliament are only representatives of the citizens. They cannot represent apathy and indifference. They can play the part allotted to them only if they represent intelligence and public spiritness." - Dr. Eric Eustace Williams, First day of Trinidad and Tobago's independence from Great Britain., August 31, 1962

Sinnard campaign makes front page of Enquirer

2006-02-24T21:47:00.000-05:00

This photo captioned "Protesters and supporters try to catch the eye of President Bush as his limousine speeds east on Euclid Avenue in Madeira en route to the Indian Hill fundraiser." contains yours truly. For the record the supporters, as far as I could tell, consisted of two high school kids.

As the story notes,

Selling $10,000 worth of tickets to the fundraiser earned a personal photograph with the president.

I think I got a pretty good deal. For the cost of a sign (maybe a dime) and some of my time (a few hours) I had professional photographer Glenn Hartong capture this image of me (inside blue circle) and President Bush (blur in smoked window of speeding limo). I would like to thank Mr. Bush for taking time out of his busy schedule to meet with me and 200 of my friends. It is good to know he still has time for the "little' people.

In case you are wondering the sign read:

DEAR MR. PRESIDENT,

I DO NOT SUPPORT
YOUR WARRANTLESS
SPYING ON AMERICANS.

WANT TO HEAR MORE,
EAVESDROP ON
513-582-4241

SINCERLY,
JEFF SINNARD

(on back)
P.S. I AM NOT A FAN
OF YOUR WAR.
along with a Sinnard for Congress yard sign.

Jon Stewart is looking for “reasonable people”

2006-01-28T12:24:00.000-05:00

I want to revert back to the pre-race theme of this blog and my principal reason for running for Congress. That is, the divide between Washington and the people.

In a recent interview on the Daily Show Jon Stewart talks with conservative Fred Barnes about, among other things, the red or blue nature of Washington.

“Washington views the world bicamerally, as though the world is Republican and Democrat or liberal and conservative. Whereas, the rest of us sit on the outside and think holy (bleep) these can’t be the only two options.”

This bit falls around 4:30 in the interview. A lot of people would say Jon Stewart is a “Hollywood liberal”, but listen to his frustration with the divisiveness in Washington. I contend this is a very common frustration and one of the reasons for a disenchanted electorate and low voter turn out.

Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.

2006-01-16T12:31:00.000-05:00

On this day honoring Rev. King, I would like to share a small part of the body of work from a great American. Rev. King revealed the power of love to change the word. “Yes, it is love that will save our world and our civilization, love even for enemies.” He also shows the power of one man to make a profound difference. From my comfortable and sheltered life, I can only begin to appreciate the challenges that faced Dr. King. As a human being, I can't help but be awed by the power of his message and the strength of his character.

Loving Your Enemies

Clueless in Baghdad

2006-01-15T19:52:00.000-05:00

Here is the second installment from Congresswoman Schmidt’s trip abroad.

Schmidt praises progress in training Iraqi troops

Some comments I found remarkable.

..progress is being made in training Iraqi troops and the size of the U.S. force in the country probably could be reduced later this year.

Three years after “Mission Accomplished” we have trained enough Iraqi troops that hopefully, maybe, probably we can reduce U.S. troops sometime later this year.

Rep. Schmidt continued,

"If anyone is telling you that morale is low or that they don't have enough tools or guns or body armor, I am telling you right now that they have what they need and they have a fabulous spirit to go with it," Schmidt said.

The Pentagon apparently did not get the memo. Check out the story at that liberal media outlet FoxNews.

Most torso wounds that killed Marines in Iraq might have been prevented or minimized by improved body armor, a Pentagon study found.

The story goes on to say,

she saw signs that Iraq is starting to become westernized: cell phones, satellite dishes, a Starbucks coffee shop and even a Century 21 real-estate sign.

"They certainly have enough will that they can become a middle-class society in the next decade or two," she said.

It is nice to know that in 20 years Iraq could be back where it was 30 or 40 years ago. Iraq has had a burgeoning middle class since the 1950’s. Cell phones have been in Iraq for years. The U.S. military was assumed to have listened in on Iraqi cell phones before the first Gulf War to gather intelligence.

Jean Schmidt’s continued, unflinching endorsement of President Bush’s failed Iraq policy demonstrates her inability to recognize facts. It is time to launch a plan for victory that restores security to Iraq and brings our brave men and women home as soon as possible.

I believe we have all had enough empty platitudes.

Get Serious

2006-01-14T21:01:00.000-05:00

This editorial (Military, not moms, should buy armor) in today’s Other Voices along with this AP story (Soldiers make Humvees safer) makes me wonder when this administration is going to get serious about protecting our soldiers.

I would find it hard to believe that families really are forced to supply gear to soldiers in a war zone, except that it happened in my own extended family. I first heard about this problem in the early days of the war in Afghanistan. Now if a little old engineer in far away Cincinnati knew about this problem 3 years ago, how is it that the Defense Department has still not properly addressed it? It is amazing to me how little value appears to be put on the health, safety and lives of our soldiers.

Absolutely gorgeous

2006-01-14T20:03:00.000-05:00

I resisted posting about this story for a day, but I can’t help myself.

"If you want features, it was an absolutely gorgeous palace that we met him in with absolutely beautiful carpets and ... pink velvet upholstery," Schmdit said.

Congresswoman Schmidt is on a fact-finding mission to the Middle East and South Asia and so far she has found out that Bulgaria has agriculture, Osama bin Laden may or may not be alive and Karzai’s palace has pink velvet upholstery.

Stay tuned for the next update.

Trust

2006-01-12T14:46:00.000-05:00

The last line of this story in the Cincinnati Enquirer caught my eye.

"The sad part is, we voted for him because we believed him," Dennis Anderson said.

So how should the President, and more importantly all politicians, and most importantly me, restore peoples trust in politics. I would suggest to the President he begin with honesty. Now honesty is much more than the lack of dishonesty. Honesty is telling the whole truth, not just the helpful parts. I have come to believe that the President did not lie during the lead up to the war; he just failed to reveal his biases and all of the facts.

I would suggest that politicians become friends with the facts. I am continual amazed by the “truths” of politics. Recently after hearing Jean Schmidt condemn the “death” tax, I did some research. Jean had said that the estate tax is a tremendous burden on small, family businesses and farms. When I debated this with my Republican brothers-in-law, they agreed whole-heartedly. So I did some research. From the IRS’s own web site I found out that, “In its current form, the estate tax only affects the wealthiest 2% of all Americans.” So the question remains, how many family farms are lost to the estate tax. I found answers ranging from zero to many. But we all know there is one correct answer, why doesn’t Jean or any other politician find out and tell us what it is. And why doesn’t the media report the facts, not just the “other” side?

I am open to suggestions for myself. I have picked up on a few good suggestions lately. Recently I heard it suggested that Representative’s calendars be made public. Mine will be. I suggested in an earlier post that I would like to record and post all my speeches in public. I am researching the technology and will do this if possible. The key is transparency. I will be doing your business in Washington, why shouldn’t I conduct it in the open?

Do any of you have any other suggestion to restore trust? Because, truthfully, a lot of you are smarter than me.

Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more

2006-01-05T23:54:00.000-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 6, 2006

Contact: Jeff Sinnard
Email: jeff@sinnard.com
URL: www.sinnard.com

Local Engineer Will Make Another Attempt to Change Politics

My name is Jeff Sinnard and I will again run for election as Representative from the Ohio Second District to the United States Congress.

I believe our faith in democracy has been severely shaken. Headlines scream scandal and corruption. It is no wonder that we lack faith in politicians since they show no faith in us, the people they profess to represent. The smoky back rooms in Washington and here in Ohio are alive and well and humming with activity.

Change is desperately needed. It is time to take back our country from the special interests and lobbyists. It is time to end politics as usual and restore faith in our government. We need much more than new faces. We need dramatically different ways of doing the peoples’ business.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis said, "A little sunlight is the best disinfectant." I will be running a campaign in the bright light of day. On my campaign website I have laid out my stance on the issues of the day. I have made my personal pledge to be a new kind of politician.

I am offering a new choice to the people of the Second District. I ask that you believe in me, because I believe in you. I know in my heart any number of you could go to Washington and make the needed changes. You just do not have the time. I will go to Washington in service to the people.

I believe my platform embodies the values and principles of the citizens of southern Ohio. We are all concerned about the standing of America in the world. We strive to be good stewards of our natural world. We care about the health and prosperity of our neighbors. And we hope and pray that we are leaving our children a better world.

I believe we can do better. I have a hopeful vision for tomorrow and boundless confidence in the future of America.
###

Coffee, Part 4

2006-01-05T16:48:00.000-05:00

Coffee and Conversation with the Congresswoman, Part 4

Continuing with Q and A.

Question 10.  Wiretaps without warrants and limits to Presidential powers?

Answer 10.  Jean expressed support for the Patriot act and said that it was misunderstood because “the media (did not) allow us to understand”.  She said that we are in a situation that we “never have been in before”.  Where someone can walk into a room and “blow us up”.  She indicated that nothing is happen “on the surface” in Congress to address this.

Q11.  As a person of faith how do you justify the spending cuts for the poor in the new budget?

A11.  The food stamp cuts does not effect citizens only “outside people”.  And “we can’t feed the world.”  She was unsure of the final cuts to student loans but that the program was still there.  She went on to talk about how the “tax cuts are working”.  She wants to address the alternative minimum tax because she thought, “50% of the room is hit by the AMT.”  And final she wanted to get rid of the “death tax” for the sake of small businesses and farms.

Q12.  What about the rumor?  (I will not repeat rumors here)

A12.  It is false.

There are my notes.  I will post my thoughts tomorrow.

Coffee, Part 3

2006-01-05T16:10:00.000-05:00

Coffee and Conversation with the Congresswoman, Part 3

Continuing with Q and A.

Question 5.  Iraq

Answer 5.  Explained the 3 groups involved in Iraq (Shiite, Sunni and Kurds) including subgroups that mostly involve the crazy and sane half of the above groups.  Very quickly invoked 9/11 and terrorism, at which point there was some pushback from the crowd.  She mentioned that she was reading Natan Sharansky's book The Case for Democracy.  She was pushed on the issue of the Iraq constitution and if she supported it.  She said that while the constitution had problems the key was that it recognized freedom of thought and expression and she “supports their attempt at Democracy.”

Q6.  What about China and shipping our jobs their?

A6.  The jobs going to China are not the jobs that are critical to us.  The real problem is the brain drain.  And we need to “incentivize education”, especially math and science.

Q7.  Another question about oil dependence and refineries.

A7.  She hopes something will be done soon and maybe things are happening “behind the scenes that I don’t know about”.

Q8.  A Vietnam vet asked about VA funding.

A8.  The Congresswoman said she was as “serious as a toothache” about the VA and was working on hiring a staff person for vet issues.  She mentioned working with the parents of Matt Maupin and helping their other son who was injured on duty.  She said the VA hospitals need more staff and equipment.  She suggested a liaison officer be assigned to the family of every injured soldier.

Q9.  Tom O. a marine vet and MD expressed support for the Patriot act and for Jean’s comments to Rep. Murtha.

A9.  Thanks.

I need another break.  Two questions left to go.  This is a real pain.  When I get elected I will record these events and stream the audio on my web site.  More later, including my personal reaction.

Coffee, Part 2

2006-01-05T15:40:00.000-05:00

Coffee and Conversation with the Congresswoman, Part 2

Moving on to Q and A.

Question 1.  Wouldn’t congress be more motivated to fix Social Security if they were actually part of it?  The implication being that the sweet deal that congress gets keeps them from fixing the “problems”.

Answer 1.  Long story about how Jean is actually in PERS and that she is getting shortchanged because of it.  Followed by general comments about SS included, “stop raiding the trust fund” and “The president was on the right track, but the media (not local) twisted his words.”  She said that “I’m pretty courageous” so she would not be afraid to deal with this issue.  She shared her concern that if the social security system fails that the “perversion” of euthanasia may become a reality in America.

Q2.  Dealt with lobbyist and the “petty politics and corruption” in Washington

A2.  “I hope Abramoff goes to jail.” And she “never met him.”  Went on to say that is not how she, her predecessor functions.  She indicated most of her money comes from real people in the district.

Q3.  Drilling in Alaska and ethanol.

A3.  We need a “broader policy for energy security.”  Drilling in ANWAR is “off the table for the moment”.  There are “15 reasons” to change policy.  Congress should look at hybrids, Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards and nuclear power.  The problem is in refining and new refiners are not being built because of the government.  Why should oil companies build refiners, when they can’t make a buck.  When asked about a plan to fix the problem, she said she is hopeful that a committee will be formed to look at the problem.

Q4.  Why can’t we “profit from ideas”?  Why is there too much regulation?

A4.  At this point Jean talked about her frustration at being forced to deal with frivolous issues in Congress.  Thing like the “Hamburger Bill” that keeps citizens from suing fast food and legislation to exempt gun manufacturers from lawsuits.

I will pause again here with 7 or 8 questions left to go.  I just realized why I would rather be a candidate than blogger.  I just can’t type fast enough to be a good blogger.  More later, including my personal reaction.

Coffee and Conversation with the Congresswoman, Part 1

2006-01-05T15:05:00.000-05:00

Having not heard our Congresswoman speak in person since she became our Congresswoman, I thought I might benefit from hearing myself how she thinks things are going.

When I arrived at last night’s event I found a parking spot directly in front of Loveland’s City Hall. I saw a James Constable sign on a truck across the street. On the way in I said hello to the Cincinnati Enquirer’s veteran politics reporter Howard Wilkinson who was talking to a gentleman with a “Lose Jean” poster. I took a seat in the back row. The crowd grew to something over 100, consisting of, I believe, equal parts constituents, bloggers (see here and here) and the Loveland High School American Government class (at least the 30-some kids who needed the extra credit).

Rep. Schmidt began with a brief bio. She then offered highlights from her brief term in Congress. She recounted how her first acts of lawmaking was participating in marking up the eminent domain bill. She talked about how she was appalled by the use of ED in Norwood.

Next she talked about her support for the Sexual Predator bill. Although I can’t find it on the list of 35 bills she has co-sponsored.

Then she talked about “reducing the size of government” by voting for the Budget Reconciliation Act. She “believed we could cut more” forcing government to get by with less.

Next she touted the Border Protection Act, which will “keep those people out”. She indicated she had wanted a provision to punish employers, but that the bill was “watered down”.

Finally she shared her pride in the new Medicare Prescription Drug plan. She addressed the difficulty in picking and understanding a plan by saying that it truly gives seniors a choice and they did not want to give an advantage to any particular health care provider.

Moving on she talked about the two bills that she has introduced. H.CON.RES.285 : Expressing the sense of the Congress that the States of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama should adopt comprehensive, modern, and uniform statewide building codes. And H.R.4180 : To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require communications which consist of prerecorded telephone calls to meet the disclosure and disclaimer requirements applicable to general public campaign communications transmitted through radio, and for other purposes.

Next came Q and A, which I will include in the next post.

He is not a rebel singer; he is Bono, Bono Vox

2005-12-27T22:43:00.000-05:00

Bono is the one person I would consider trading places with. He is perhaps the greatest singer of my generation (I can’t carry a tune in a bucket.) I don’t actually remember the first time I heard U2. Their first record came out in 1980, my freshman year at UC. I have always been a fan of the music. Under a Blood Red Sky is way up on my top-ten album list. U2’s songs have the uncommon grace of both incredible music and devastating lyrics.

Time Magazine named him along with Melinda and Bill Gates - Persons of the Year. (Subscription probably required.) Locally Tony Lang at the Enquirer agrees with the choice. Beg, borrow or buy the Dec. 26, 2005 issue of TIME magazine. Some highlights.

“For being shrewd about doing good, for rewiring politics and re-engineering justice, for making mercy smarter and hope strategic and then daring the rest of us to follow, Bill and Melinda Gates and Bono are TIME's Persons of the Year.” …

Born to a Protestant mother and a Catholic father, Bono describes his faith as "promiscuous." He quotes Scripture and counts meetings with Pope John Paul II and Billy Graham among the most significant of his life. "I try to live it rather than talk about it because there are enough secondhand-car salesmen for God," he says. "But I cannot escape my conviction that God is interested in the progress of mankind, individually and collectively."…

What would help get some of those checks cashed is a sustainable political movement, and Bono knows that. "I once asked Bill Gates what his long-term goal was for DATA," says Bono. "He said that one day he hoped people could run for office on this stuff." Bono anticipates that the celebrity-studded ONE Campaign, which gained pledges of support to ending global poverty from 2 million people, will someday become "the N.R.A. for the world's poor," but for now it's what economists call a risk-free choice; there's no fee to join and interest tends to rise and fall based on world events. "I really believe the movement is our future," says Bono, "but it's not here yet."…

…"Facts," he says, "are very beautiful." But only Bono can make them sing.

I can’t begin to imagine having Bill Gate’s money, but I know exactly what he is talking about as a parent.

"When you write the check, you think, Hmm, that's a lot of zeros," Bill admitted to PEOPLE that year. But by then, he and Melinda had Jennifer, then 3, and Rory, just 7 months. And parenthood was changing them in ways they were just beginning to understand. "Melinda and I talked about the things we believed in for our own kids. You want them safe and healthy," he said at the time. "Jennifer wakes up at night, and I lie down to help her get back to sleep. She puts her feet on top of mine and watches to see if I'm awake. She's just a thrill."

This is a story of extraordinary people doing extraordinary things, but you can see ordinary human decency and everyday compassion at work in Bono, Bill and Melinda Gates.

Merry Christmas

2005-12-22T21:04:00.000-05:00

I have been caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday and neglectful of posting. Here is a 3D model I developed a few years ago for the family Christmas card, enjoy.

Parable of the Banana – Revisited

2005-12-08T20:11:00.000-05:00

Back in October I posted about the announcement by Chiquita that they were considering relocating their headquarters out of Cincinnati. I questioned the weight that being a good corporate citizen has on the decision making process. I would have anticipated that Chiquita would use the threat to leave to extract a pound of flesh from the City. It appears I would have been wrong. This story in the Cincinnati Business Courier states:

No tax incentives were involved in Chiquita's decision.

I am glad that the 300 workers will be staying downtown. Executives said:

"The rationale behind staying is that it allows us to continue to focus our management resources on execution of our strategies”

This is a perfectly reasonable assessment, but as I pointed out in the previous post there is no moral component to the decision. It is strictly business. That is not a criticism, just an observation.

It looks like we have a primary

2005-12-02T21:13:00.000-05:00

The Cincinnati Enquirer reports Thos Jacobs plans to run in the 2006 election for US Representatives from the Ohio Second district.

Thor Jacobs, a businessman and son of a former Cincinnati school superintendent, has become the second Democrat to announce his plans to run for the 2nd Congressional District seat in 2006. Jacobs, a Newtown resident who works in a
family-owned residential remodeling company, said he plans to run for the seat won in an Aug. 2 special election by Republican Jean Schmidt. He said Schmidt is part of a culture of "corruption" and "incompetence" that he says the Bush administration has created in Washington. Jacobs, the son of former Cincinnati Public Schools Superintendent James Jacobs, will join Jim Parker, a health care administrator from Pike County, in the Democratic primary to be held May 2.

I am personally glad to see Thor in the race. I know he wanted to participate in the special election, but was dissuaded by the party "leadership".

Active participation in democracy is a wonderful thing. I am not endorsing Thor. Heck, I may even run against him in the primary. Regardless, I applaud him for stepping up to the plate. (Thor, pardon the baseball analogy. I know football is your game.)

Anderson/Newtown is on its way to becoming the center of Democratic politics in southwestern Ohio.

Today is World AIDS Day

2005-12-01T08:16:00.000-05:00

There has been a lot of talk lately about deal with the coming Bird Flue pandemic. But there is a current pandemic that needs to be addressed much more vigorously.

Over 40 million people live with HIV/AIDS worldwide, ninety-five percent of whom are in developing countries, primarily in Africa. In Africa, 6,300 people die from AIDS and another 8,500 are infected with HIV every day.

Locally the Cincinnati Art Museum is hosting an event.

2005 World AIDS Day:Creating Hope and Action
George Moose, Former U.S. Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, Ambassador to Senegal, and US Representative to the United Nations; Patrick Odongo, AIDS Activist; Victoria Wells, M.D., Ph.D., President, Soteni International, Inc.; Linda Schearer, Alice and Harris Weston Director, Contemporary Arts CenterCopresented with the World Affairs Council of Greater Cincinnati and the Rotary Club of Cincinnati Global AIDS Initiative On World AIDS Day, learn how the pandemic is being addressed in politics, medicine, the arts, and at the grassroots level.

When: Thursday, December 1, 6:30 p.m.

Cost: Free

Why does US Representative Duncan Hunter want to “cut and run”?

2005-11-29T19:01:00.000-05:00

On November 18, 2005 Representative Duncan Hunter (R CA-52) introduced H.R. 571 “Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the deployment of United States forces in Iraq be terminated immediately.”

He was incredibly successful at moving this quickly through Congress. Within hours of introduction the final vote was cast (Roll no. 608). Oddly, Rep. Hunter did not vote in favor of his own resolution. I guess he was for immediate withdraw, before he was against it.

The really funny thing is that a similar resolution had been introduced the day before H.J.Res. 73 calling for the troops to be redeployed “at the earliest practicable date.” Apparently that was not fast enough for Rep. Hunter.

None of this makes any sense, unless of course, it was only for show.

This is not good governance. This is government as theater. Theater as farcical as A funny thing happened on the way to the forum and as tragic as Hamlet or MacBeth. You would hope that in matters as serious as war, our representatives could engage in serious debate about serious proposals.

Washington Update

2005-11-28T17:08:00.000-05:00

The Enquirer’s Washington update included a message from fellow special election candidate and the only announced OH-02 candidate for ’06, Jim Parker.

Lest we all forget that Rep. Jean Schmidt, R-Miami Township, has an opponent in next year's re-election campaign, Democrat Jim Parker of Waverly e-mailed folks at The Enquirer to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.

Jim goes on to share his thoughts on Rep. Schmidt’s recent comments.

Jean Schmidt, you're no Jack Murtha.

I get asked this question a lot as well. As I told Eric Kephas in an earlier post, I do not have much to say. The right loves it; the left hates it. I don't really think it is a big deal. It seems to me this is just Jean being Jean. I am not going to get all bent out of shape about it. I figure Murtha can take it, being a decorated Marine. I hope we put the name calling behind us and get back to debating the issue. What are we doing in Iraq? When are we going to be done?

I did send off this letter to the editor (not published) after the first story.

Jean Schmidt relayed the message “cowards cut and run, Marines never do”. That is half right. Marines never do. During the WW I Battle of Belleau Wood, when urged to withdraw, Capt. Lloyd Williams of the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment responded, “Retreat, hell. We just got here!” The courageous Marines went on to victory after suffering more casualties in that single battle than in all of their history. Marines only advance and Marines will continue to die in this war until brave men and women decide that the time has come to bring them home. If not now, when?

Working with government

2005-11-28T17:05:00.000-05:00

This story in the Enquirer tells how a dedicated group of people were able to get what they wanted out of City government. (Having worked for 8 years at City Hall I can tell you that anyone can get things to happen. During my employment with the City I spent a substantially amount of my time investigating complaints from citizens.)

This story just goes to show that in ways big and small people working with government can make a difference. Neighborhood resident Mary Anne Berry said,

"You don't have to be important to make a difference. You have to have a dream and a vision and sell it to people."

Ms. Berry is important in my book.

Commissioners Heimlich and DeWine believe they are smarter than us.

2005-11-13T17:02:00.000-05:00

This story in Saturday’s Cincinnati Enquirer explains how Commissioners Heimlich and DeWine apparently are convinced they are smart than you and me. I for one am not convinced.

After the committee they appointed to provide "independent analysis" acted independently Heimlich and DeWine fired them. I may not be they sharpest tool in the shed, but I know what the word independent means.

Heimlich and DeWine believe our taxes are something that encourages people to leave. Apparently a majority of us who choose to stay don’t agree since “in 2005, residents agreed to tax themselves $247 million for all special levies.”

But apparently the democratic process is unjust. "That is not fair," Heimlich said. "Nobody was watching how fast these levies were going up as a whole." So if you are one of the majority who voted for the tax levies, you either did not know what you were doing or you are simply a “nobody.”

Election Day

2005-11-08T09:07:00.000-05:00

VOTE

VOTE

VOTE

Please

New and improved Sinnard.com

2005-11-07T21:50:00.000-05:00

I have rebuilt my campaign web site from the special election. I did this for three reasons. First I had purchased new software that I wanted to teach myself. Second I found the process cathartic. And finally I have not been able to convince myself to give up the idea of elected office.

Having run for Congress, I must say I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I recommend the experience to anyone who would consider it. I met a tremendous number of truly wonderful people. I had the chance to talk about ideas that I care deeply about. The biggest downside was and remains the time it takes away from my wife and kids. The primary motivation is the apprehension I feel for my children’s future.

Don't forget to vote tomorrow

2005-11-07T12:09:00.000-05:00

I always liked Jimmy Carter

2005-11-05T22:39:00.000-05:00

After watching President Carter’s interview on NOW yesterday and C-SPAN2 tonight, I remain convinced Jimmy Carter is the smartest man to serve as President since Thomas Jefferson.

His statements about the Democratic Party and abortion particularly interested me.

"I think for the Democratic Party to get identified as being completely pro-choice, with no attention given to the rights of the fetus, is very self-defeating policy," he said, adding he hoped the party would "get away from that."

I agree with this statement and believe it is one reason that many potential Democratic supporters vote Republican or simply do not vote.

The Cincinnati Enquirer reported part of this interview (offline only). You can read more about what he had to say here.

Another engineer enters politics

2005-11-04T12:10:00.000-05:00

The Cincinnati Enquirer is reporting on a new primary challenger for Senator Mike DeWine. He is obviously intelligent and well educated, earning a degree in engineering from UC.

I strongly suspect I would disagree with Mr. Pierce on many issues, but I do love his spunk.

"It's my position we need to get more citizens involved in politics and less politicians," he said.

Amen, brother, amen.

Apathy predicted to be winner this Tuesday.

2005-11-03T13:31:00.000-05:00

The Enquirer is reporting, Voter turnout Tuesday projected to be 41%

“Turnout for Tuesday's voting is expected to be higher than usual for an off-year election..”

What can we learn from the Ohio Second District special election results?

2005-10-26T00:59:00.000-04:00

In my humble opinion very little. Given the extremely low turnout, the results are uniformly misrepresented.

First I would argue against the myth that the Second District is overwhelmingly Republican. The district (and state and country) is nowhere near as Republican as people imagine. If you review primary voting history the district is 7%D-14%R-79%I. Base Republicans outnumber base Democrats 2 to 1 but both hardcore bases are relatively small. The independents lean Republican in voting trends but given the head start in the base it appears not that heavily. There are many polls that show independents generally lean Democrat/liberal/progressive. People often point to Portman or Bush’s numbers to say the district is anywhere from 70-30 to 60-40. I would argue that Portman’s numbers are not indicative, since the electorate voted for him on the strength of his personal connections and incumbency and not as a purely partisan statement. Bush gets 5 points for being the incumbent and 5 points from the lean of evangelicals. Therefore I propose the district is approaching 50-50 or better. No doubt the district is conservative in many ways especially in a strong religious tradition. And no doubt the district is liberal in many ways especially in a strong religious tradition.

The special election was, for me, the perfect example of both parties inability to inspire the voters. Let me compare some numbers that I believe help make this case.

59,132 - Votes for Jean Schmidt vs. 63,796 - Votes in 2004 regular Republican Primary

55,151 - Votes for Paul Hackett vs. 89,598 - Votes in 2004 for Charles Sanders (D).

I believe you can conclude from the results that very few voters outside of the bases were engaged.

Additionally there was a snub by some Republicans. Dobson had supported McEwen and COAST actually encouraged people not to vote. It looks like almost all swing voters shrugged their shoulders, yawned and stayed home.

I could be totally wrong (and probably am), but I suggest we all look at some more numbers before we decide what this election meant.

In the interest of full discloser, for those who do not know, I ran in the Democratic Primary and received 2% of the vote. I may have a bias, judge for yourselves, but I was paying close attention.

Ohio Second Special Election Results

2005-10-20T20:44:00.000-04:00

I have had several discussion about the significance of the Ohio 2nd Special election results. In order to facilitate dialogue I am posting the results here.

These are the raw numbers. I am also posting some results from 2004 for reference.

456,161 - Registered voters in OH-02
114,296 - Votes cast in OH-02 special general election
59,132 - Votes for Jean Schmidt (R), 51.74% of Vote, 12.96% of registered voters
55,151 - Votes for Paul Hackett (D), 48.25% of Vote, 12.09% of registered voters
13 - Votes for write-in candidates

63,796 - Votes in 2004 regular Republican Primary for incumbent Portman
32,103 - Votes in 2004 regular Democratic Primary both Democratic candidates
227,102 - Votes in 2004 for Rob Portman (R)
89,598 - Votes in 2004 for Charles Sanders (D)
$1,513,135 - Dollars raised by Portman. Or $6.66 per vote
$16,264 - Dollars raised by Sanders. Or $0.18 per vote
I do not have final numbers yet, but it looks like Hackett raised $900,000 or better. Or $16.00 per vote

I will be posting my personal analysis soon. Right now CSI is on.

Pay Attention to City Beat

2005-10-18T20:27:00.000-04:00

John Fox at CityBeat has an excellent editorial that asks, "Are you prepared to vote?"

A lesson from the Iraq election

2005-10-18T20:20:00.000-04:00

While I disagree with some of the conclusions and parallels drawn in this editorial, I agree that watching Iraqis risk life and limb to vote should motivate us all to take our responsibility to vote more seriously. As the Enquirer rightly notes:

“Election Day here takes place so faithfully that we print the event on
calendars made up years in advance. Candidates here step forward to run without
fearing for their safety. Election officials worry more about apathy than
anarchy, and voters may weigh the worth of giving up a golf date to vote, but
they never have to wonder if it will cost them their lives.”

Another Coffee

2005-10-18T13:35:00.000-04:00

From Representative Schmidt's website

Coffee and Conversation

You are cordially invited to join Congresswoman Jean Schmidt for an
informal Town Hall Meeting.

Saturday, October 22, 20059:00 am Clermont County, Felicity High
School 415 Washington St.Felicity, OH 45120

Any questions?Please contactPhone: 513-791-0381Fax: 513-791-1696

May I respectfully suggest they change the picture of the cow.

New PAC picks candidates on neighborhood issues

2005-10-17T17:12:00.000-04:00

This story in the Enquirer about POWR PAC caught my eye. The subheading “New PAC picks candidates on neighborhood issues” is particularly engaging. I thought this tidbit was especially relevant to this blog.

“POWR PAC, a coalition of West Side neighborhood activists that hopes to drive
up the voter turnout numbers in West Side neighborhoods like Westwood, Price
Hill and Covedale.”

Good for them. This is not my list of candidates but I applaud their initiative. Cincinnati Blog has some thoughts on the group’s leanings if you are interested.

Fuzzy math?

2005-10-13T19:52:00.000-04:00

The math in another story in today's Cincinnati Enquirer makes me wonder.

Wholesale natural-gas prices, which peaked last winter around $10 a thousand
cubic feet, are already running at better than $12 a thousand cubic feet and are
expected to remain at that level until the winter heating season is over, the
energy group said.

A 20% increase from $10 to $12 at the wholesale level translates to 61% increase on my bill. Seriously, shouldn't somebody explain that?

The parable of the banana

2005-10-12T21:03:00.000-04:00

This story in today’s Enquirer highlights a question I have about the conservative political philosophy.

In a note to employees Tuesday, Chiquita chairman and chief executive Fernando
Aguirre said the company was looking for the most efficient site for its
headquarters. … "Our objective in evaluating locations is to select the one that
provides the most long-term benefits to the company," Aguirre said.

As CEO Mr. Aguirre is perfectly right to be concerned with “long-term benefits to the company”. He is not concerned with nor has he any duty or responsibility to look out for the long-term impact of relocating 300 high level jobs out of our community. He has no incentive to consider the ties built within our community since 1988. This is not a criticism, just a statement of facts. There is no moral component to the decision. It is strictly business. And there lies my question. Who is responsible to our community?

Something doesn't add up

2005-10-11T17:40:00.000-04:00

This story in today's Cincinnati Enquirer talks about the possibility of merging CMHA and Hamilton County's federally subsidized housing programs. Is anyone else bothered by the fact that the reporter fails to explain the significant difference in the cost of the programs?

...Hamilton County's program, which issued 2,300 vouchers and has an annual
budget of $19 million, with the Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority, with
its 7,400 vouchers and $40 million annual budget...

$19,000,000/2,300 vouchers= $8,260.87 per voucher
$40,000,000/7,400 vouchers= $5,405.41 per voucher

Are math geeks and engineers the only ones who notice this type of thing?

Four stories in one day

2005-10-10T11:03:00.000-04:00

Saturdays Cincinnati Enquirer has four stories I believe are related to the stated theme of this blog.

The first Few Ohio voters showing at polls is in part a product of the mentality hinted at in the other three. The stories are below with one gem from each. (My emphasis)

Blue Ash insider ousted

"I am disappointed they ran someone against me"

Campaign seeks to kill zone code

"If someone doesn't like you, they can get a petition and stop you," said Ritter. "It just becomes a popularity contest."

Democrats' Senate competition raises Ohio's election profile

"We look forward to presenting Senator DeWine's record to the voters and letting them decide"

The "they" is the Republican Party leadership. Apparently "they" think it is important to give the voters a choice only when "they" choose.

The "they" are registered voters. Apparently this elected official opposes letting the people decide. Elections are a popularity contest - now that is news.

The "them" is the voters. Kudos to the Dewine campaign, at least “they” believe in the democratic process.

Breaking away

2005-10-07T00:40:00.000-04:00

Today for the second time Congresswoman Schmidt broke party ranks on a roll call vote. Rep. Schmidt joined 76 other Republicans to vote No on H.R.3895 - To amend title V of the Housing Act of 1949 to provide rural housing assistance to families affected by Hurricane Katrina.

The final vote was 335-81 in favor of passage.

I have not counted all the votes where I would differ from Rep. Schmidt, but this is one vote where we definitely disagree.

I am announcing my upcoming announcement.

2005-10-06T23:13:00.000-04:00

Having watched the blogs go nuts over the Brown/Hackett “I called dibs” debate I thought maybe I should make my intentions clear. So here it is:

I call dibs on the Ohio Second.

A formal announcement of my final decision will come at a later date. I reserve the right to graciously decline to run when a candidate whom I respect steps in. And I also reserve the right to defiantly declare my candidacy after any candidate whom I do not respect steps in.

The Dean gets a letter from Jim Parker

2005-10-06T22:56:00.000-04:00

The Dean of Cincinnati posted a Thank You From Jim Parker my very strong second choice for Congressman from the OH-02 in the special election. As I posted on the Dean's site Jim Parker believes in the American Dream because he believes in the American people. No candidate in either party spent more time talking face-to-face and one-on-one to more residents of the Second District. Both parties desperately need more candidates with Jim's commitment, honesty and integrity.

I would like to add that Jim's respect for the voters helped buoy my confidence in the electoral process that was severely tested by the cynicism and contempt I heard expressed by many in the so-called party leadership. I know Jim shares my confidence in the people of Ohio. And I believe this fundamental respect for people has traditionally been the hallmark of the Democratic Party.

Information on the Ohio 2nd District

2005-10-06T16:24:00.000-04:00

Since the Ohio 2nd blog is busy obsessing with the Brown vs. Hackett likely primary race, I thought I would try and be more diligent on posts related to the Second District.

Congresswoman Schmidt is also mentioned in this story in today’s Enquirer.

Not all loyalist have second thoughts

2005-10-06T16:16:00.000-04:00

Today’s Enquirer reviews The Case For War. Among those Locals to re-evaluate views, 3 years later are now Congresswoman Jean Schmidt.

"What we have to understand is that there's nothing we can do to make these people accept us. They hate us. They hate the fact that we are Christian. They hate the fact that we are Jewish. They hate the fact that I'm a woman. They hate the fact that we are educated. They hate the fact that we have a democracy. That is why - and that is not the people, this is the insurgents - this is why we have to put an end to their ability to harm us both here and abroad.''

Rep. Jean Schmidt , 2nd District, U.S. House of Representatives

I am disappointed by her lack of faith in America. To say “there's nothing we can do” shows a lack of vision, confidence and imagination. I believe, that given the wealth, power and compassion of America and her people, we can accomplish anything. That Rep. Schmidt and so many others are willing to surrender to hate weighs down my heart.

Meet your Congresswoman

2005-10-05T17:05:00.000-04:00

I just noticed this on Congresswoman Schmidt’s Web site. If you live in District 2 you may wish to attend.

Coffee and Conversation
You are cordially invited to join Congresswoman Jean Schmidt for an informal Town Hall Meeting.
Saturday, October 8, 20059:00-10:00 amThe Montgomery Municipal Building10101 Montgomery RoadMontgomery, OH 45242
Any questions?Please contactPhone: 513-791-0381Fax: 513-791-1696

God's October Surprise

2005-10-05T15:46:00.000-04:00

God's October Surprise

This October marks a rare convergence of blessed times in many different faith traditions. Find out more about this at the Tent of Abraham

I would like to share from my personal faith tradition. Yesterday October 4th was the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi. In this time of war, perhaps we could all benefit by reflecting on his words.

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.

Ohio's Environmental Stewards

2005-09-30T14:25:00.000-04:00

This story in today’s Enquirer left me scratching my head. Only a Republican could imaging using Clean Ohio tax dollars earmarked to “revitalize blighted neighborhoods by cleaning up and redeveloping polluted properties” to develop prime downtown real-estate into half million dollar condos.

Read this story from the Bizjournal to see which underprivileged group our tax money is helping.

In that case…

2005-09-23T17:30:00.000-04:00

…what does this say about southwest Ohio?

Today’s Enquire (print only) contains a story from the AP with the headline “Balloting in Kabul falls short”. You can read more about the election online at the BBC.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4258304.stm

The AP story points out that in a country where more than 1,000 people, including seven candidates, have been killed in the past six months turnout was nationally about 53% and in Kabul “just” 30%.

In the most recent local elections here are the numbers.

August 2, 2005 – Ohio 2nd Special General Election – 25.06%
September 13, 2005 - Cincinnati Mayor Non-Partisan Primary Election– 20.34%

Food for thought.

All comments are welcome

2005-09-14T16:50:00.000-04:00

I discovered today that I had limited comments only to registered Blogger members. I have now changed this. A name is always appreciated, but not required.

And the winner is..

2005-09-14T15:36:00.000-04:00

... apathy. 169,427 registered voters in Cincinnati voted with their feet yesterday and stayed home. Of the 212,688 registered voters only 43,261 turned out, so by a margin of 156,106 over the nearest candidate - apathy wins decisively.

And here you find the central message of this blog. A majority of people do not care about politics. Is it because they do not think their vote matters? Do they not see any difference between the candidates? Do none of the candidates represent their values, beliefs and concerns?

The person to answer these questions may not get my vote, but it will not matter. They will still win the election with 70 or 80% of the vote.

The two finalists in the Cincinnati Mayor’s race are David Pepper with 13,321 votes or 31.16% of votes cast (6.26% of registered voters), closely followed by Mark Mallory with 13,106 or 30.66% of votes cast (6.16% of registered voters).

First Day for New OH-02 Rep.

2005-09-07T15:55:00.000-04:00

In the Enquire today we heard the details of Jean Schmidt's first day in office. I must admit she was not my first choice (or 2nd, 3rd, 4th ....), but I wish her well in her new and hopefully short-term job.

As reported “she's already cast her first two votes..”

For the record the two votes were:

Yea on Roll Call 454
H RES 360 2/3 YEA-AND-NAY 6-Sep-2005 7:02 PM
QUESTION: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree
BILL TITLE: Commemorating the 60th anniversary of V-J Day and the end of World War II in the Pacific.
Final Votes Yeas 394 (R216/D177/I1) Nays 0

Yea on Roll Call 455
S J RES 19 2/3 YEA-AND-NAY 6-Sep-2005 7:18 PM
QUESTION: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended
BILL TITLE: Calling upon the President to issue a proclamation recognizing the 30th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act
Final Votes Yeas 393 (R215/D177/I1) Nays 1 (R1)

If anyone wants to keep track, after day one, my voting record would have been identical.

A storm in the atmosphere

2005-09-06T17:21:00.000-04:00

"The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it always to be kept alive. It will often be exercised when wrong, but better so than not to be exercised at all. I like a little rebellion now and then. It is like a storm in the atmosphere." - Thomas Jefferson 1787

The times have been ripe for political change. Discontent with government is everywhere. Trust in government and politicians is at an all time low. In November 2004 Gallup asked, "Please tell me how you would rate the honesty and ethical standards of people in these different fields: very high, high, average, low, or very low?" Congressmen were rated very high or high by only 20% of respondents. The only professions to fair worse were lawyers (18%), Advertising practitioners (10%) and car salesmen (9%).

Now in the wake of Katrina we are outraged. Outraged at the lack of planning. Outraged at the ineffectiveness of the response. Could Katrina finally be the “storm in the atmosphere” that brings about real change? Is it time for “a little rebellion”?