First Blood

Well, there was no blood, but there was a shoving match at a political rally in Iowa. College Dems were holding a rally and the College Republicans choose to disrupt it. One GOPer even pushed Joan Jett, who was performing at the rally. This was luckily not serious, but this kind of thing is going to happen all year long. I was hoping tension and anger between parties was not that high at this point, but I was wrong. Things are going to only get worse. I guess the laid back YR were absent that day.

Pictures and first hand background on the rally.

[Link Via Atrios]

UPDATE: Wes Flinn Comments.

UPDATE#2: Radio Free Newport comments on Freeper hate mail to Margaret Cho. Now, when I say hate mail, make sure so emphasize the hate. I could not believe that level of bigotry and ignorance that flowed when she was misquoted while speaking at a moveon.org event.

The Beginning of Cincinnayton?

The DDN reports on the marvels of shopping in West Chester. I think the Kenwood area might want to differ on who's the "Best," but one thing is for sure, West Chester is growing fast. They will have to incorporate and start having a city income tax soon; otherwise Butler County will start a financial crumbling in future years.

Lost in Translation

As part of my birthday celebration last weekend I went to see Lost in Translation at the Esquire. I really liked it. There is a very simple plot: understanding where you are in life is a never ending journey. Bill Murray is a great actor. He does not have the range of Bob De Niro, but Murray does have the ability to play a person with deep emotions. In this performance he plays a character with a laundry list problems: career in the dumper, marriage troubles, feeling trapped. Murray is able to make those emotions appear tangible to the viewer. The backdrop of Tokyo is itself a character in the film. It felt like reading the reflection of a your name in a mirror. It is just like your name, you know it, but it is still from such a different perspective that it is perplexing.

Sofia Coppola's direction deserves great praise. I am sure she has problems with stepping out from the shadow of her father, but I think she is on her way of being a good or even great director, Daddy aside. Kudos also to Scarlett Johansson.

Dennis Miller, Flipper, Flopper?

The New York Times Article on Dennis Miller and his new show are still making me wonder: did Dennis become a born again Christian? I don't get his fear based conversion to a Bush lover. He claims to be a social liberal still, but how can he remain loyal to a President who seeks to keep homosexuals second-class citizens?

Compromising on an issue is one thing. I can understand how a liberal or moderate might support the Iraq war. That is a relatively "reasoned" argument, but to take the further step of basically joining the GOP sounds like a mid life crisis more than a reasoned political choice.

2007: End of the Cincinnati Post?

The Enquirer and Post have announced that Gannett has not renewed the JOA (joint operation agreement) with Scripps to publish the Post. This has been rumored for years. The rest of the rumor is that the Post will remain as the Kentucky Post and serve Northern Kentucky. I would not be surprised if Scripps gives this a try. I am not sure how I like it. It would be good for those living in NKY, but I don't know if it would help news coverage on this side of the river. If the Enquirer gives up on NKY, then it might help some, but I don't see the Enquirer giving up anything, so they will try and compete with the KY Post and let Cincinnati-Ohio coverage suffer. Basically the City will get screwed. The Post will cover NKY and the Enquirer will cover the suburbs, leaving the actually city of Cincinnati to be treated like the black sheep of the family. Some might say that "black sheep" is more literal than my simile suggests. I don't know, but urbanists are not the sought after demographic of the Enquirer.

Wes Flinn links to this as well and asks if we noticed anything odd? I can only assume he means that both stories are almost word for word the same article, minus the opening paragraph or two.


More Coverage: Yahoo, Editor & Publisher, WCPO, Reuters, Washington Business Journal, and CNN.

Local Dean Supporters Still Going

Dean supporters locally are strong, in spite of our city's conservative image. Dean is facing a big fight in Iowa. His support is slipping against Kerry, which is a surprise. At this point I don't see Dean winning Iowa, or at least not by much. That opens things up for Clark and keeps Kerry alive.

Slur Story Will not Die

The Secrect Service is working on this now and the City Solicitor is now getting involved. Michael at Rantophilla disagrees with my view on this issue. I of course disagree. I believe a racial slur is only as big a deal as those who make it into one. I guess I apply the "sticks and stones" principle here, no matter the history. There are other racial, ethnic, and religious slurs that are as old or older than the "N-Word," but the media and politicos do not make a Federal Case out of anyone using those slurs.

Why Maggie?

Why did Maggie Downs "review" a book by a local conservative? Maggie's column had a few timid elements of commentary, but mostly was a news story on the book. Give this to Bronson. Peter would get a woody with this kind of book. His hang up must have been the fact that his book is competing with this guy's book. Let Maggie cover Michael Moore or Al Franken. It was painful to read this story. It was like Maggie's guilt in writing it came through on each sentence. Why couldn't she come out and let this guy have it? Show how any or all of his "truths" are either false, really opinion, or just bigotry hidden in a theocratic evangelism.

Race Politics and Race Based Media Coverage

It appears that Alicia Reece is charging head first into the issue of the alleged use of the "N-word" in a taped investigation interview from 1998. The Vice Mayor wants harsher punishments for using the "N-word" than was given. I have to ask what punishment should be given for political grandstanding? In any act of political grandstanding, especially about a race issue, lying is involved. How many lies, half-truths, misleading statements were made when the Vice Mayor announced the plan to fight "black on black" crime?

This story is a gold mine for the media. It is like sex or murder; the "N-word" sells. I am as much of a sucker for reporting on it than anyone. I might stick to politicians using it instead of a police sergeant using it over 5 years ago.

Bronson Boo Hoo!

Peter Bronson is lamenting the United Way's cut in funding to the Boy Scouts. He believes that it is because of the bigoted views adhered to by the Boy Scouts keeping homosexuals out of the organization. Peter does not, I assume, that the bigoted views of the Boy Scouts are bigoted. He thinks they are either valid or their own business. If he thinks being bigoted against homosexuals is the right thing for the Boy Scouts, then well, his opinions are moot. They are predicated on beliefs that are contrary to what the United Way stand for: helping everyone. How can they help everyone when they exclude groups that exclude people based on a trait that has no bearing on what they do. It is a simple idea in play here. Bigotry is not reward or supported by the Cincinnati United Way. Politics are such that they can't punish groups totally in this region, where anti-homosexual views are common. Combined with a bigger need in other areas the United Way cut out funding for the Boy Scouts. That is life. If Peter wants them to have more money, then I suggest he and the CCV start hold bake sales.

I have to ask Peter a question, how much do Christian charities support AiDs research or support for victims? I bet most conservative Christian groups do not give a penny to help fight AiDs. I am sure there are exceptions or specific groups that do help all people dying from disease, but I mean groups that the CCV and Bronson would trumpet.

To FCC Chairman Michael Powell

FUCK YOU! Bill me.

Saying a Racial Slur Gets the Media into Frenzy

Ok, so there is a videotape and according to some sources Cincinnati police Sgt. Jeff Butler said the word "nigger" while being investigated by CPD internal affairs. I really wonder what the story here is? This happened in 1998, over 5 years ago. Beyond being the typical if it involves race then we can exploit it attitude of the media, I don't see the impact of this man's words.

Now, by saying the "n-word" he broke no law. You can think him to be a racist or bigot or idiot, but he broke no law. Plenty of other groups of people are insulted every day in the media alone, not to mention in the break rooms across the country. Why does this matter? What matters is whether this guy broke any laws, which is why he was being investigated. This got a skeptical play by WLWT, but Kathy Wilson seems to either have better hearing or has a problem with book covers. Leslie Blade lets opinion flow into her news story, but reports generally most of same facts out.

If WLWT or CityBeat wants to put on airs about hate speech, they should review the tapes from 1230 AM the Buzz and the number of incidents of hate speech would make your mind boggle.

What I have a problem with overall is the underlying theme on this issue: guilt by association. "If one guys says a word, then see, they are all racists." If this person had actually attacked or mistreated anyone because of their race, then this would be support for the contention that this man was a racist. Just because others around him don't correct him for saying a "bad" word does not mean much. If a religious person says they will pray for me, I don't like it. Sometimes they go out of their way to ask me "have you accepted Jesus Christ as your savior?" I don't say anything to say that offends me. I instead ignore them. If this police officer broke the law, then lock him up. If he said a racial slur, then call him an asshole and move on.

FOX Propaganda in Action

Chemical Weapons or Chemical Explosives? Somehow in an interview with Brit Hume, Fox News foreign affairs analyst Mansoor Ijaz "reported" that "chemical explosives" were smuggled into Northern Iraq from Iran. This little tidbit then gets extrapolated without any evidence:

Now, what alarmed me about this and the reason that I felt it was necessary to get this out as soon as possible, is because I have now heard three times in the last week, from separate sources that I have been talking to that something big is being planned for Baghdad. In which the idea that is being put forward is to kill as many as 3,000 to 5,000 people at one shot; something that would be similar to a World Trade Center (search) type of attack. In that part of the world, the only way you could get that done is if you launched a massive chemical or biological attack.

Now, someone this gets translated to the front page teaser as "Terror expert Mansoor Ijaz says chemical weapons came in from Iran." Ah, no he did not say that. Chemical explosives include things like, oh nitroglycerin or dynamite. I know FOX wants spins stuff for their boy Bush, but this is just ridiculous. Mansoor Ijaz is treated like a reporter but he is an open advocate for the War. I don't get how he could let this misconception go on when you read this from his FOX News bio:

Ijaz received his Bachelor’s degree magna cum laude in Physics from the University of Virginia and received his Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Damn, that's a big ass barrel of monkeys.

WMD Found? Nope!

After further review the mortar shells found in southern Iraq found by the Danish did not contain a blister agent. Sorry folks, someone jumped the gun once again. WMD's were not found. I bet it will take months for people to understand that we did not find them.

I found the announcement of finding these mortar shells just happened to occur a few days after a big report is released detailing how Iraq had not possessed WMD since the mid '90s. I wonder why someone jumped the gun? Hmmmm, very odd that a report would surface as an attempt to refute a news story. I wonder if a journalist would investigate who released that information, when the mortar shells were originally found, and how long had they been sitting on the information.

Chris Smitherman?

Something happened today with Chris Smitherman? I heard a fragment of the WLW news at 3PM, but I missed the whole story. Something about comments he was alleged to have made? Anyone???

Goth's invade Main Street

The Warehouse, Cincinnati's premier dance club for everyone who likes to be different for difference’s sake, is moving from Vine Street to the Main Street entertainment district. This is great for Main Street, but not great news for Vine Street.

Damon Lynch: Liar?

Greg Korte is reporting that on 2003 campaign reports Damon Lynch listed Timberland Drive in Woodlawn as his residence on his contribution of 1,000 to himself. Now, it is possible that this contribution was actually from Damon Lynch IV not the III. Lynch IV is now awaiting trial for theft. If his son gave him the money, then where did that money come from?

All unlikely speculation aside here, Damon Lynch should be investigated for perjury. He was under oath when he testified before the board of elections. I assume the board actually had him testify, and did not let his attorney speak for him, which would have been a brilliant move for Ken Lawson, Lynch's attorney, to make. If he "moved" back to Woodlawn during the campaign he would not have been a valid candidate.

I wonder if Mike Allen has the balls to go after Lynch. Don't hold your breath. I am sure Mike would love to put Damon Lynch on trial, but he has no intention of feeding Lynch's savior complex with tangible fodder. Allen will let this transgression pass. No one will care that Lynch was given special treatment because of who he is.

UPDATE: Greg Mann has analysis and thinks Korte and I are making to much out of mostly nothing.

Stop Wasting Money, Adams County

The pointless attempt of some in Adam's county to establish a theocracy will not happen in the U.S. Courts. The school district officials should be sued for misuse of public funds for pushing this the lawsuit to try and get the right to put Ten Commandment statues in front of public schools. One would think that the Roy Moore case in Alabama might make them give up. You don't get much deeper into the bible belt than Alabama, where atheists are more closeted than homosexuals.

Missing Kiesewetter

I for one am missing John Kiesewetter's TV & Radio column, killed by the Enquirer. I am the people of Butler country will like the extra coverage they are getting beyond the two daily newspaper's they already had covering their area. I am sure they need more and Cincinnati needs less. Damn the city and long the live the burbs?

Bronson Makes Sense?

Peter Bronson's column makes a little sense today, or rather he makes points that no one else is pointing out. In last week's council meeting Peter reports that the following council members made the following contradictions:

Newbie Chris Smitherman blasted the human relations budget, but director Cecil Thomas said nobody even called to ask any questions.

Laketa Cole insisted that slicing a quarter of the commission's budget was not a cut.

Sam Malone promised voters he would work to stop the violence - then voted to gut an agency that's actually trying.

Most surprising at all, Bronson criticized Sam Malone. I tip my hat to Peter for the across the board criticism.

Peter however made Vice Mayor Alicia Reece the focus of his scorn:

But the uncongeniality award went to Vice Mayor Alicia Reece, who introduced the sketchy idea to take $100,000 from the commission to fight black-on-black homicides. She insulted council members, then called for unity. She invited questions, then cut them cold. She shot down compromises, then complained council did nothing.

She insinuated rejection was a race thing. But white council members have thrown millions at programs to prove they are sensitive on race. They just haven't done much that works.

Her motion failed because it was a sloppy proposal presented like a ransom note. Reece is charming in person, but sometimes runs meetings like the bossy kid nobody wants to play with.

Well, in some many words Bronson's assessment agrees with mine that Alicia Reece is the Queen of political Grandstanding in the City of Cincinnati.