School Prayer Gets a Midday Update?

An annual event gets a midday update? Why is this story being pumped up? Who is the Enquirer trying to impress (or piss off)? This story is a puff piece that is fit for inside the paper, it is not breaking news worth knowing about before tomorrow, if then at all.

Beyond its inclusion as part of the updated paper, usually reserved for "breaking" type news, there is the balance problem. This is written as a human-interest story, where it gives no alternate views. It is reasonable to write such story if it is meant for the Temp section. If this ends up in the Metro section, then it should at least included some counter viewpoint. Now what are those viewpoints? Well there are responses to comments like this one from the article

"I think it is just wonderful we have a society today that accepts this,'' said Herring of Colerain Township. "So many are against allowing God and prayer anywhere.''

This statement is false. There are not "many" against allowing prayer or "God" "anywhere." There are people who wish to maintain the separation of Church and State. It is legal for kids to pray in school, as long as they do so on their own time, or silently without causing any disruption. Why was there no counter argument to this viewpoint? If this is a puff piece, then why include such a harsh and false statement (albeit debatable by some fundamentalists)?

Now this statement is not legally an issue:

"I'm not ashamed,'' Johnson said after the 25-minute program of song and prayer. "Let our community know we have Christ in our school.''

It is a concern of the attitudes of those who seek to indoctrinate children with religion at schools. Most of those who want to put religion back in schools, want to put Christianity back into schools. This is fact. The savvy politicos will try and make it monotheistic, but that still fails the legality test. I wonder if Peter Bronson will question the lack of balance is this story and at that school, as much as he did Miami University's choice of Convocation speaker. I kind of think he will be giddy as a boy burning ants with a magnifying glass over this article.

UPDATE: Matt Weiler comments(rants) on this as well.

Vigilancia Politica 20030917
Another shorter one. We are in the doldrums of the campaign. Things have not quite gotten into full schmooze mode yet. Next month will be when things start getting nutty. This week the highlight, or lowlight, is my spiffy picture. I need a new camera, mostly because I want a better quality digital, but this one will have to do for now.

Enquirer's New Weekly Rag

Steve Novotni, XRay Magazine Editor, has the lastest scoop on the Enquirer's up and coming weekly newspaper. By the sound of things this is going to be a waste of space. It sounds like überffluff. If there is any original news, and I mean hard news, I will be shocked. If you find “Betty Crocker” receipes in “Cin” (or Barge), I would not be surprised. They might be trendy recipies for Jello-shots circa 1993, but hey, we are in Cincinnati after all.

No word yet if “Cin” will have any kind of website. I doubt my idea will be used. I wonder if CityBeat will take up the group blog idea? I doubt it. I don’t think either CityBeat or the Enquirer could stand for “unedited” content and for people linking to other publications.

More Grandstanding from the Queen

The Queen of City Hall and her one women show of grandstanding was out in full force today:

"We can't be prepared for terrorists if we don't have simple security measures in place right here at our own City Hall," Reece said. "We're trying to send a message to people when they come to City Hall that we're trying to make it safe for you."

Yes, Alicia, the terrorists are surely targeting Cincinnati. Maybe we will get attacked in 10 years. 2013 should be about when the terrorists find Cincinnati on a map.

More on Clear Channel

The Enquirer has belatedly gotten a story online. The Business Courier had the scoop and since this hit on the weekend, no one was available for comment. This article included comments from Mike Kenney, regional vice president for Clear Channel, that seem much more disingenuous than Saturday's article.

"We looked at McFarland and Third streets. We looked out on West Third Street. We looked at other buildings downtown. In fact, I spent almost all my time looking at buildings downtown," Kenney said. "It just didn't work out."

Riiiiiight. Almost all of your time. The issue is money. They got it cheap. It is simple as that. Cheap and they have no need for to be downtown when they do nothing downtown (oh except the reds and bengals which is a big nothing for the rest of the city). It would be nice if the WDBZ picked up the slack by starting a real newsroom. I will not be holding my breath for that, but someone has to cover city hall, and they will be right across the street after all.

The Buzz Board

1230thebuzz.com has moved into the internet interactive mode with the addition of a message board. I applaud the move. There are currently no other major media outlets with a well structured forum. I encourage everyone to register and post away. I most also inform Nate: I have all ready registered cincyblog as my ID, so he can't pretend he is me on the Buzz's boards.

More McMain Street

This article in the Enquirer is a hose job. No one with an opposing view was quoted; no critical points were even sited. Where is Nick Spencer's quote? Did McCauley even call him? This is a PR job for Cranley and Luken. Sources indicated that the ordinance hiring John Elkington for $100,000 is looking like it will fail. Cranely's plan may not even get 4 votes. I wonder if Elkington is positioning his firm to collect far more money from the develpment deals, not from this useless study. Why doesn't he just develop locations on his own? If he can make money on it, then the building permits should not be a bid deal to pencil whip through council.

This article just pushing the same talking points as before. We don't need recycled ideas from other cities. How many Planet Hollywoods are now dust? Lets also look at who goes to Main Street? Young professionals go to Main Street. Where do older folks go? They go to bed at 11:00 PM. Why are you looking at a King Records theme Hard Rock Cafe for Main Street? James Brown's music is great, but it will not serve the population that goes to Main Street. A Peter Frampton bar might get national backpage coverage (for all of 2 minutes), but 21-35 year olds are not going to want to kick it on the dance floor to "Do you feel like I do?"

Earth to John Cranley! THINK LOCAL! Put the stale entertainment on the Riverfront or around Fountain Square. That way the tourists (suburbanites) can find it without having to ask a city dweller for directions. They hate talking to someone not protected by a lead lined SUV, those people(me) are freaky. After all, if you don't want to live in the suburbs, there must be something wrong with you. (Cough, Cough)

Does the VP Support Sexual Torture?

Patrick Crowley is reporting that Nicholas Mirisis, congressional press secretary for GOP Kentucky governor candidate Ernie Fletcher, resigned after he allegedly sent a letter to a former girlfriend where he threatened "sexual torture" because she revealed that he once had plagiarized a paper while president of the UNC Student body.

Now, VP Dick Cheney was in town last Monday shilling for Ernie Fletcher. If we apply the same logic as was applied to Cruz Bustamante, Lt. Gov of California, that means that since VP Dick Cheney has not publicly denounced Nicholas Mirisis, doesn't that means he supports him and his actions/positions?

I should be saying something now about the shoe on the other foot maybe? Hey, it is not my logic, I did not start this? I wonder where the 800-pound gorilla stands on this one?

More of the Same from Peter Bronson

Well, Pete is again reading his email from the Miami College Republicans. Did Peter either attend the lecture or read the book mentioned in his column? I would guess no. I would guess Peter contacted the newest head of the Miami College Republicans to get their detailed take (spin) on the issue and maybe called the University's PR person for comment. Peter is doing what most journalists do; they interview the usual cast of characters. Why not talk to a slew of other kids at Miami? Well, Peter only cares about getting what he calls "conservative" viewpoints into Miami. I again have to ask him if he has ever read the business school's class schedule? If Peter is equating capitalism with conservatism (which is not a valid link, but I will humor him), then I ask him to find the socialism or communism studies class in the Business School. Peter, speaking as a graduate of the Richard T. Farmer School of Business, I can attest that neither socialist nor communist ideas are taught in that school. When are you going to call for a balance of viewpoints there Peter? Huh? Hmm? Well, if the 1/3 of freshman class who are Business majors has to be subjected to a liberal whom you claim is a socialist, then good. They maybe will become liberal capitalist like I am. You know, the ones who believe government must keep business in check, but guess what, we believe in private property, so we are not communists!!! How's that for an opinion that is not represented in Business schools? Where's the balance Peter?

Peter references protestors. How many were there? I bet there were no more than 6-12. This puts the protest in the range of a Nate Livingston "event." Does this make Peter the conservative counter part to the reporters who for some unknown reason actually ask Nate for quotes on stories? A bizarre ying-yang thing going on there, eh?

I also must remind everyone of Bronson's hypocrisy. Peter loves the police union. They are his buddies. They collectively bargain. They hold their employer of a barrel. Peter says nothing when they do that. The Police create an organized slowdown and allow crime rates to raise, and Peter says they are "handcuffed." Miami's workers have a speaker who supports them, and Peter complains about it.

Finally Peter, when you say "conservative viewpoint" please be more specific. You want college students to be indoctrinated in some form of Reagan worship or Fundamentalist cut-throat capitalism. That is just as extreme as Barbara Ehrenreich, just your perception is off. Things in the mirror are not as big as they appear after all.

Clear Channel Abandons City of Cincinnati

Well, if you listen to their radio stations it is clear they do not give a damn about the actual City of Cincinnati, so it comes as no surprise that they are running scared to Kenwood. I guess Bill Cunningham wants to ride his tricycle to work.

I think this is a move for Clear Channel to start reducing local programming and even local staff. What better way than cutting jobs during a move, people will not notice quite so much.

Why didn't the city do anything to try and keep them downtown? Well, that is a leading question. I wonder what they offered or if Clear Channel even told anyone they were leaving before their deal was signed? I wonder if this at all factual:

Kinney said Clear Channel's Austin, Texas-based real estate broker talked to the city of Cincinnati about incentives for keeping Clear Channel inside city limits.

"We did talk to Cincinnati, just to see if there was anything they could do, and there wasn't really anything much to do," Kinney said. "We got a good deal and a good location (in Kenwood)."

There wasn't anything they could do? Huh? Are all of the downtown buildings full? Of course not. This is move is occurring for two reasons. They do want more space, but additionally there will be a pull back of City Coverage, and of general local coverage across the board. If there will be any local coverage, then it will be suburban and Northern Kentucky. I would in the years expect WLW to have less news, more sports, and the talk shows will only cover national or suburban topics.

WDBZ is moving downtown next month, so why couldn't Clear Channel find room?

MIAMI 44 Northwestern 14

Love and honor to Miami,
Our college old and grand,
Proudly we shall ever hail thee,
Over all the land.

Alma mater now we praise thee,
Sing joyfully this lay,
Love and honor to Miami,
Forever and a day.

Hack Headlines and Fear Fakers

Who the hell wrote the headline to this story?

Is downtown safe?
Recent statistics say violent crime is down, but the reality of reported incidents has the public seeing danger on every corner

Now the shear length of the subheadline is an obvious problem, but could the question be more leading? The only thing more leading could be the classicly poor question to pose in an interview or press conference: When did you stop beating your wife?

The article's point is that even with the reduction of crime in downtown based on statistics, the image of downtown will not change with incidents several assaults and shootings getting hyped up and sensational reporting (I added the hyped and sensational point, I don’t know if the reporter would). This is true, but this paragraph from the story sums up the duplicitous role the media plays:

As city leaders strive to polish downtown's reputation, still showing the lingering effects of the 2001 riots and other setbacks, they recognize that a single headline about a shooting can trump all the positive statistics and other upbeat developments -- among them, downtown's new stadiums, museums and growing upscale residential options -- in fixing an image of the center city.

I have to ask the reporter, Barry M. Horstman , how do you talk out both sides of your mouth? Your newspaper is part of the media that is creating the invalid perception that downtown is unsafe, and your headline (which was likely from your editor) is doing nothing but selling papers and putting fear into the minds of ignorant and easily influenced suburbanites. If newspapers/local TV news outlets want to analyze crime based on anecdotal reports instead of statistics, then they are clearly lying to the public. Now, many would say they regularly lie to the public, but I don’t really think that is true, they just tease with blood, sex, violence and fear of death to get you do watch through the next commercial. I thought newspapers still had a lower level of sales driven editing choices, but it appears that the Post wants you to fear for your life as much as the local TV news programs that will tell you if your child will die, right after this commercial break.

Dear Diary

Is Maggie Downs being held back a little? This is a good column, but I think she could still be writing on topics with much more complexity than this. Why not tackle the Cranley vs. Spencer battle over Main Street?

I am amazed over one thing in this article though. As a blogger, which is a new form of journalist and a much more personal one, I do write about my self on occasion. In the world of columnists that has been true for a while.

I was interviewed for CityBeat earlier this year and the reporter Maria Rodgers asked me how I could be so open about myself on my blog. I am open about myself, but I do wall off some of my emotions, or at least direct reference to them. Talking about my love life is one thing I could not do, well at least not beyond talking about my lack of one. Maggie is straightforward with it. That takes guts. My blog here is only read by a small number of people, while she is read weekly in large newspaper. I could not write about this type of topic. I would like to read more of her opinions on stuff, but what she is doing is interesting, and keeps me reading.

I do have to ask one other question. What kind of boyfriend does have that can take off three months and go to Europe in the fall? I wish my employer would let me do that. I would pick England and Ireland instead of Italy though.

Doctor Heal Thine Self

Darryl Parks was complaining on WLW this morning that John Ritter’s death was the headline on his station’s newscast. I have some news for Mr. Parks: YOU ARE THE BOSS OF WLW. If Darryl does not like the news broadcast, then he should get off his ass and chew out the news director for running with the human stories as the lead. Don’t just whine on the air, do your damn job.

Nate Livingston Impersonating Me Again?
Does Nate really think he is fooling anyone? I wonder if I should sue Nate for either identity theft or more likely defamation. Well if you read this message thread at Cincymusic.com, guess what, it is not me, and Nate seems to be having fun trying to discredit me. Why does Nate have time to waste on me? I am just a wanna-be newsboy after all. So a "mighty leader" like Nate has time to deal with a minor blogger/journalist like myself. If I am so insignificant, why does the gnat spend his time trying to defame me?

Kroger Gets Their Garage
This was a forgone conclusion, but the city will build Kroger a parking garage. I don't really have a major problem with building a parking garage. Parking is not easy everywhere downtown. If Central Parkway continues to develop, then more parking it will come in handy. The problem with the situation was the arrogance and vile business practices of Kroger’s. Making threats is not a good long run business practice. It might work for the short run thinkers who want to quell the tide today (wringing the stone for last ounce of blood), but for us true “conservative” business people, working honestly and fairly gets you more friends then foes. Kroger’s now has bunch of foes. If they do not help find a developer for their former College Hill store, or if they let the Vine Street store fall apart again, then they might feel the pinch instead of the warm body massage from city council.

Cole's comments from the debate are either piss poor or just not quoted in their entirety:

"This deal stinks," Cole said. "It stinks for the council. It stinks for the taxpayers. It stinks so bad that I beg the administration to get its act together and get us the information we need before we have to make any more of these decisions."

Why? Why does the plan stink? Is it just because the city has to pay for it? Well, the city has built many many parking garages around town. I do not think this will be a Kroger only garage, at least I hope not. So we all get some value out of it. It will make good parking for the Taste of Cincinnati. Cole's comments are just electioneering at their most ineloquent.

More from the Post.

WLW's Idea of 9/11 Commemoration
WLW's Mike McConnell’s guest was Richard Miniter formerly from the Wall Street Journal and he is promoting his book blaming Bill Clinton for not getting Osama Bin Laden. The Blame Clinton crowd, of which WLW and Clear Channel are charter members, has stooped to an all time low. This guy claims to have proof of connections between Iraq and Al-Qaeda. If this exists, why was it not presented at the UN as a reason for attacking Iraq? Yes, you can now surmise that his claims of proof are just bullshit.


Everyone will be able to watch next summer during the campaign as WLW airs someone who will blame not finding WMD in Iraq on Clinton, as well as every other conservative talk radio station and FOX News. That will be their "meme" of choice to deflect Bush's WMD problem. This is the new tone of politics? It sounds like the old games of Dick Nixon. "Rat fucking" has lost the illegality and just become the Wurlitzer. Lady of Spain where are you?

Spencer vs. Cranley
The Spencer and Cranley camps have been duking it out over at cincymusic.com's message boards regarding the Main Street development issue. Lots of people stirring up the pot and just messing around, but a lot of good debate. The McMain Street battle wages on!

Kathy Y. Wilson Baffles Me
Her latest column is just all over the map. It is oddly as personal as any blogger could be and then some. She frets over being called "racist" by CityBeat News Editor Greg Flannery for criticizing other blacks. That is a ludicrous accusation on Greg's part. It is brought forward because of the revision of the meaning of the word "racism" by transnational progressives out there. I am not a tranzi, as some call them. I am an old school liberal. I don't change the rules when you want to make new enemies. A racist to some today is anyone they want to tar as bad, just because they oppose your policies or your opinions. Racism is like patriotism. Both terms are used as red herrings. Both terms are just the latest incarnations of demagoguery that was most famously illustrated in the communist witch-hunts of the late 1940's and 1950's.

I wish Greg had used a better term to classify Kathy. He could have used classist or elitist or just accused her of being prejudice. Using the "R" word is just the 50-foot pickle people like to use to beat others over the head. I just wished these comments from Kathy’s column were not really what many people believe:

"Racism is based on economics," I said. "They make more money than I do, and there's no way I can oppress them."

Racism for the record is generally the belief that a particular race of people or all other race outside of one own is inherently inferior. A race is "a group of people of common ancestry, distinguished from others by physical characteristics, such as hair type, color of eyes and skin, stature, etc. Principal races are Caucasoid, Mongoloid, and Negroid." Economics is not part of racism. Economics might play a factor in discrimination, but discrimination is not solely the result of one’s race. If a black person is poor it is not because they are black. If a white person is rich it is not because they are white. Capitalist societies have poor people. If you want to be a communist, fine, don't use race as the means to draw people into the revolution by creating a feeling of victim hood that can be blamed on your mark.

UPDATE: Greg Flannery emailed to correct me on a big point from Kathy's column. He did not call her a "racist". Instead, read Kathy's words:

He accused me of lumping all white T-shirt wearers together as dealers, of calling for their "extinction." He called my conclusions racist.

Greg's point is valid, and I apologize for the mistake. I would argue however that if a person draws racist conclusions, they would almost certainly be considered a de facto racist, so the distinction on paper is clear, in reality it is not. I still would contend my point was correct. Kathy's conclusions were not racist. She was either generalizing being prejudice, or just absolutely correct. The whole issue she talked about was about culture, not about race. That is another confusion people seem to make on purpose all to often.

Damon Lynch and Wife are "separated"
CityBeat has reported something that either I missed in the previous accounts of the Lynch residency issue or that the rest of the media did not report:

Kenneth Lawson, Lynch's attorney, presented affidavits from Damon and Johanna Lynch attesting to their marital separation.

So is this a real separation or a fake one? A minister's marriage is really in trouble, if we assume they did not lie in their affidavits, something I hope they are not willing to do. How is this not news? How come CityBeat reported this and not the Enquirer or the Post or any of the TV stations? Does CityBeat have either the inside scoop on the issue? Since this is all public record, I doubt that. Does CityBeat not fear being attacked by the CBUF, while the rest of the media does fear that?

All of my questions are interesting, but that still leaves one concern out there. Should this be an issue? I would say, in this case, it is fair game. Part of my position is clouded by the hypocrisy of any clergyman who can't keep his marriage in working order, but I think it still fair game because of the residency issue. Lynch's credibility is low, at least with those paying attention. The status of his marriage directly impacts that issue. The gory detail are not an issue, but the general status was and is. Now, does it matter if he or his wife is shacking up with anyone right now? Not at all. It makes for good blog fodder, but that is about it.

Overall the CityBeat article was a very straight forward article. It was as balanced as I have seen from one of their news stories. I hope they keep this kind of reporting up.

UPDATE: I missed the Post's report of Lynch's separation:

For Lynch, the challenge triggered an embarrassing look into his personal life that forced the Over-the-Rhine pastor to disclose publicly that he and his wife have separated. In an affidavit filed with the elections board Friday, Lynch stated that he has lived at the condo since at least mid-July.

That was very obvious, but I still missed it. Thanks to "Dolla" in the comments for correcting me.