Bush National Guard Story

Kevin Drum looks at the story and specifically at allegations that former Lt. Colonel Bill Burkett made regarding Bush's campaign staff back in 1999.

Will the press let this story die an early death or find out that Bush or his backers fudged things a bit? If Burkett's allegations are true, still an if, then that is something far beyond what may have happened over 30 years ago.

Buress is Infecting Louisville

CCV President and local theocratic fascist, Phil Burress, traveled recently to the Louisville area to try and spread a little censorship. If we offer to give Louisville Simon Leis, do you think they would take the trade? I think we can add some cash to boost the deal.

Am I a Threat?

Via Sadgirlseven I found an Enquirer article about "blogging."

Now, I understand that this was a Tempo section story, which is meant to be fluff. I understand that there are many teens with online journals. That is fine. Why would the Enquirer write about the teenagers and not the blogs with something that is more than who passed a note to whom or the boy from study hall who keeps staring?

I have no problem with a story about teens writing. I just wish this story did not come off as "blogging is for kids."

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: New Series

The Sci-Fi channel has given the go ahead to a new Battlestar Galactica TV series. The December "mini-series" (pilot) did well and was a fresh feel for a space based TV series.

Yes, I have part geek. What person with their own website is not at least a little bit of a geek. Come to think of it, what kind of person at all at least is not something of a geek? I mean, if the end of Revenge of the Nerds is not the single most poignant statement on life, then nothing is.

NASCAR Dads?

Oliver Willis asks the question:

Is there any real difference between "NASCAR Dads" and the GOP's old "Southern Strategy"?

The answer is yes and no. Yes it is different in the sense that targeting NASCAR Dads is not about "race." Targeting NASCAR dads is about culture and regionalism. Race is not totally absent from it, but it is more about targeting southern white men (with their wives in tow) against the horrible "liberals" out to take away their "way of life." Minorities are a scapegoat blamed for much in this new strategy, but the old racist south is not what it used to be. It is more about championing bigotry, as opposed to racism. NASCAR dads, as the stereotype would follow, don't mind blacks or other races, as long as they talk, dress, act and believe just like every other NASCAR dad does.

This way of thinking, kind of a cultural balkanism, is not limited to the GOP or white males. This is an element of humanity. What makes this subgroup unique is the level of conformity. Being like everyone else is the underlying factor of what the GOP is after in this marketing target. Conformity is what drives their lives and the measure they use to value self worth. Unlike other elements in American, where conformity is part of more complex subcultures, here in the NASCAR Dad target market, the GOP has found the ideal point of convergence between cultural ideology and extreme uniformity.

In posting this I do not of course want to demean NASCAR fans. I am not one, and I have my bias, but I am bringing up the point because culturally it is a group with identifiable similarities that is being targeted by political campaigns, mostly Republicans.

Ohio 'Sniper' Still Going

This time it is on I-70 15 miles East of Columbus.

Attention French Speaking Cananda!!

It was a freaking joke! Triumph is a dog, a fake dog, but still a dog who "talks." Get over yourself junior government minister Mauril Belanger of the Canadian Parliament. You are a great country though, for me to poop on.

Big CT Night

We had a great crowd last night at the Cincinnati Tomorrow After-Five walk in Pleasant Ridge. Estimates of over 50 people came out over the course of the evening. I have to off a return shout out to Wes Flinn, who joined us. While at the Dubliner, our table of revelers had a great time with a great new beer, Smithwick's.

Burress the Bigot

Article XII was debated yesterday. Burress unveiled his usual ant-homosexual tirade. Basically Burress refuses to concede that homosexuality is not a choice, but a human trait, as natural as heterosexuality. Burress would I am sure want to be protected for choosing his religion. So even under his own false premise, Burress contradicts his position, a shock that will surely rock the community.

Welcome Home LaShawn Pettus-Brown!

Pettus-Brown returns to Cincinnati today to appear in court. I hope he has enjoyed his trip and his life on the lamb. His trial will be interesting. Will he finger anyone in City Hall for helping "push" his deal through, all the while knowing his development plan was bogus?

More Bigotry

Again with the bigotry thing???? I have to ask this about the Massachusetts Legislature, what beyond anti-homosexual bigotry would cause someone to be against a compromise that keeps Marriage between a man and woman but establishes Civil Unions? Just such a compromise was narrowly defeated and now it is all or nothing. Idiots.

Big Comment Thread

I was amazed how big this comment thread on Bush & WMD got, 38 commenters. A record for this blog. Thanks to all the readers! Now, I will asked that you make sure that you try and keep your tempers in check.

Seekies on Trial

Miami police powers are being questioned. One thing you learned while at Miami, the Seekies (campus police) were nothing to worry about. Oxford Cops were people you could not mess around with at all. I once saw a single Oxford police officer clear out a 500 person party all by himself.

Spy vs. Spy vs. Spy vs. Spy

Todd Portune will face one of four Republicans running in the GOP Primary: Former Cincinnati Councilman Chris Monzel, Blue Ash Councilman Jim Sumner, Anderson Township Trustee Russ Jackson, and financial planner Sandra Hall. I would give Monzel the edge in name recognition, but a City guy verses suburbanites in the GOP primary might be difficult. I know nothing about the other three, beyond Russ Jackson's signs in my neighborhood and his regular mentions in the Whistleblower.

The wide field of challengers should be a plus for Portune. He has a slight edge, but the anti-Democrat elements outside the city will make it a battle.

Say it With Me: Peter Bronson is a Bigot

Ok, I am throwing around the word again, which I am sure will rile up the conservatives, but Bronson's latest column is nothing but a one sided "keep the anti-gay amendment in place" article. This column really is meaningless. Bronson tries to say, why bother? Well, Peter, WHY BOTHER? All he said was that it was political suicide somehow because the issue one 11 years ago because people believed the Phil Burress slogan of "Equal Rights, Not Special Rights," one of the best manipulation of ballot issues I have ever seen.

Bronson, if you oppose the repeal, tell me why homosexuals should be discriminated against. Come right out and sing your anti-homosexual tune. When you start singing to repeal the hate crimes ordinance that protects people based on religion, then maybe you could argue a principled position, until then your bigotry is clear as Stained Glass.

Kerry

John Kerry is one week away from running away with the Democratic nomination. He has a huge lead today with yesterday's wins. Dean is the only one left who could turn it around, but that is asking a lot. Kerry has the momentum. Kerry has the press pushing with him, for now. Kerry has Bush reeling with the AWOL issue. Kerry should stay above the fray of the smears on Bush. These smears should not be new. These should have been made in 2000, but the press was on a break at that point.

More Spy vs. Spy

Dowlin and DeWine are not debating, but they are appearing together at candidate forums. I guess that is like almost having sex.

The laugher of the article is this section:

DeWine is taking on Dowlin in a primary that's tantamount to the election in majority-Republican Hamilton County. Kabaka Oba and Erich Streckfuss are contending in the Democratic primary.

Kabaka Oba is not contending for anything but Hamilton County's Racist of the Year. There is hot competition for the award. The Westside has many contenders, but Oba faces the biggest challenge from his own quarter from Nate, Amanda, and Ms. X.

Candidate's stance's are here.

Bush Back's the Bigots

Via Kevin Drum: WaPo is reporting that Bush will back the anti-homosexual marriage amendment.

We have here a confluence of clarity. Bush, the oh so honest and fair man, the uniter, the President for "all" Americans is using religious and social issues to gin up his troops and cover his ass all the while he diverts attention from his National Guard scandal and the WMD failure. Nice, really, nice. Bush embraces the anti-homosexual movement with both arms. I hope his ultra-conservative religious following has a hard on now, but that would be a "sin." Damn, what a conundrum.

Plame-Gate Gearing Up?

Kevin Drum links to a New York Times article that reports the investigation is going well. Indictments might be coming any day now.

Spy vs. Spy

DeWine is hitting Dowlin. Is Pat DeWine a shoe in? Missing 17% of commission meetings is not going to help Dowlin's reelection cause.