Wes Flinn's Ohio Statehouse Report

Make sure you check out Wes' Polstate.com post on Ohio politics.

Big City Eyes, Little Mind

Joe Shaw of the UC News Record writes, or should I say laments, on living in Cincinnati after graduation. He pines for living in great city like Chicago, New York, or LA. Those truly are great cities. What bugs me is that Joe is foolish enough to compare Cincinnati to those cities and say we don't have what they have. No shit, Sherlock. We are not a Mega-Metropolis. That should have been obvious after your first week in town. We are also not Buttlick, Kansas either. We are a big city, with great attributes. We do have our problems and we maybe at a crossroads, where we become a confederation of suburban fiefdoms, or regain some glory as a great city as in past days of the 19th century.

Now Mr. Shaw really has a problem to contend with. He ends his screed with, "Cincinnati pretty much sucks. It's best to get out while you have the chance." What he must remember, when he has to say where he went to college either he lies or tells the truth and UC. That by itself may be worth lying about, but that is another story (only joking UC folks.) What Mr. Shaw must admit, after being logically ask, is why he was foolish enough to and live in Cincinnati at all? If he was born here why did he stay and go to college here. If you can get in UC, you can surely get into OSU, so he could have spent his time in CowTown. He could have spent his time in hot and sticky Gainesville Florida, hours from the beaches, and in the middle of humidity. Why not try college in Nebraska or Arkansas or what is so great about Lexington and UK?

I can understand why people don't like Cincinnati, but I don't know why they would have been stupid enough to come here or as to why then if they are so brilliant to not get out sooner. Did someone chain him to his dorm room desk? Could he not have fled this horrid town sooner?

My little town in Western, NY would likely be considered hell on Earth for Mr. Shaw. We honesty had no jobs and no chance for growth and hour plus outside of dying Buffalo.

What better opportunity could any human have than to try and change a city as it hovers in a crossroads? I guess I would have trouble hiring Mr. Shaw, he seems to want to run from a challenge and stick to the sure thing. Mega pond, microfish. Big Pond, little fish. I will take little over micro, if you please.

Appeasement to Prudes

If you listen to local AM talk radio on a Clear Channel Station you would after a while hear a host or a caller belittle anyone who appeases a foreign power or group. France is made the target of scorn most often. Now, however, when you think of appeasers, think of Clear Channel. Rick Bird reports in the Post that WEBN is believed to be on a 7 second delay like most AM talk radio stations. AM stations have unknown callers to worry about, FM stations only have their DJ to worry about or the occasional guest. The need for it is suspect, and will it cost advertisers more in the long run?

Clear Channel fears the new FCC (the one on a puritanical crusade) and is trying to appease the beast by requiring all FM Stations to go on a delay. Listeners will notice relatively little change, but there will be some.

I will just be laughing whenever I hear a Clear Channel talk show host say or agree with comments against anyone even appearing to be appeasing someone. The beast pays homage to the beast, how fitting, yet how sad.

Flip-Flop Protestors

I did a little bit more research into the flip-floppers who protested at the Kerry Rally last month and I ran into this column in the Dayton Daily News. It appears one Cornel TerreBlanche, age 18, of South Africa was one of the anti-Kerry protestors (insurgents?) who appeared at the Kerry Rally here in Cincinnati back on April 5th. In that column we learn:

TerreBlanche said she is a college student in southwestern Ohio, but asked that her school not be identified. She heard that College Republicans at her school planned a protest and she wanted to join in.

Based on that information I did a simple Google search on Cornel TerreBlanche and the only the hit that came up was at this location. That's a website for the Alpha Psi Omega group, the Cedarville University's psychology department club. Cedarville University is the Bob Jones University of Ohio, located in Cedarville, OH south of Springfield. I would then surmise that the group of rowdies all came from Cedarville.

This surprises me. I had assumed this group was from UC or maybe Miami. Lynne Cheney was the keynote speaker at their graduation yesterday. I wonder if the folks at Cedarville know about her 1981 book called Sisters? I wonder if it meets their "ethical" standards in the student handbook.

Protest Bush on Tuesday at 5:30 PM

Jene Galvin, local Democratic activist is reporting on the Jerry for Ohio Blog that a protest will occur outside the Cincinnati Gardens an hour before Bush is set to appear.

Will Si Lies be out in full force? Will anyone get arrested? I hope it is peaceful. I would like to see a good turnout and one that can be heard, and not banished to the far side of a parking lot across the street from the Garden.

Interesting protest ideas: In the thought of "flip-flops" used by some young GOP foot soldiers at the Kerry Rally last month, what are some thoughtful and striking protest ideas? The flip-flop is so lowbrow. I wonder if it was some smart marketing major or if they got talking points about it from the GOP?

The Dean of Cincinnati Looks at AliciaReece.com

The "Dean" has a look and comes down hard on Cincinnati Vice Mayor Alicia Reece's website. The Dean pulls no punches in his criticism of the website calling the article "How To Recognize Political Manipulation." I guess I don't expect political websites to be much more than propaganda tools. The only issue that has been raised about this site is whether it is a campaign site or her personal site. That is a legal distinction that only matters in campaign financing that may or may not be in technical conflict of the law.

Driehaus Wins House Race

Well, not officially yet, but with Witte leaving the race for the 31st Ohio House seat. I assume Witte felt he could not win, so he just gave up to avoid going into debt. Terry Deter's name was thrown out there, but according to the article he will not run because:

Deters confirmed that there had been talks, but said Driehaus is a conservative pro-life Democrat who deserves to be re-elected.

"If it weren't Steve, I'd run," he said. "We like Steve."

you know you a DINO when Terry Deters endorses you. Driehaus is one who supported DOMA in Ohio. I don't think Witte or Deters would be that much different on many social issues. So this is good news for Democrats in only so much as the GOP stranglehold on the state government will not gain in this district. How can you gain when you get help on issues already?

Nitpicking The Cincinnati Post

When conservatives talk about media bias the point most often to language. Michael Collins is The Post's Washington bureau chief will likely not be considered a conservative by most conservatives but in his column on Ohio Presidential politics he refers to Bush as "The Big Guy" and referred to Kerry continuing "to bash Bush" for a political stance. If Bill Clinton was called "The Big Guy" (not referring to his literal size) and Bob Dole was said to be Clinton bashing, then the conservative MRC would be hopping mad, issuing press releases like a green PR lackey.

WCPO Issues Statement on 'NightLine'

Why did WCPO feel the need to issue a statement about tonight's 'Nightline'? I hope it was just a large number of phone calls on the subject wondering if they are going to air it, and not demand that they do not air it.

This "controversy" is not one. This is political censorship. Sinclair's political motives are clear. They seek to re-elect Bush. They defense here is that 'Nightline' is doing the same thing, which is wrong. So, do what I say not what I do appear to be getting another go around.

I turned on WB64's "news" program at 10PM to see if they covered the "controversy" at all. I watched the beginning, but did not see much beyond that. They have a poll up on their website asking if they should air it, but it has problems working. At this point readers think they should air the program 80% to 20%.

Cheney Praises Fox News Channel

Gee, I wonder why Dick Cheney would praise FOX News? You don't think he thinks it is the best coverage because it gives him good coverage or rather it gives him good PR? Ya Think.....

Should we Boycott Sinclair Stations?

Sinclair Stations to Boycott 'Nightline' Tribute. We do have one local Sinclair station: WB64. Will there news program report this story tonight?

I hope everyone tunes in to WCPO tonight to pay tribute to the fallen soldiers.

Wes Finn has
more.

With Some Attention

Hopefully, no protestors will be arrested for doing what Bush supporters did at Bush's local speech at the Golden Lamb. Rumor is that he will speak from the balcony of the establishment. Wes Flinn said that it was as if we in "Argentina" or something.

Cornholed

At one GOP "parties for the President" we find this tidbit from Korte:

"A party at the Green Township home of Pakkiri 'Raj' Rajagapol was one of the largest, with 150 people turning out for a cookout, corn hole and the chance to listen to Cheney on a speaker phone. "

The whole country is being cornholed by the President, so I guess this is just fitting.

Enquirer Catches up on 97X

WOXY may be GONE

and

97X took flight from humble start

4%?

Kevin Drum believes that only 4% of the populations vote actually are in play this year. Or at least that is the only group that will have any significant sway either way in the election. I don't know how he got these numbers, but in general the election will come down to a small number of states. Ohio right now is one of those states. It is critical for Bush to win Ohio. He just can't win without it, at least not in any likely scenario. Kerry's must wins are all of Gore's states last year and Florida, which by the intent of voters should have been a Gore win with room to spare, if not for the mess that happened.

Tied for 10th!!!!

Congratulations to Cincinnati for being tied with Birmingham, Alabama as the 10th rank city with the most particle pollution in the country. Particle pollution is defined in the article as:

Particle pollution refers to the microscopic soot-like particles produced by power plant emissions, diesel exhausts, wood burning, and other sources.

We are not the worst in Ohio, however. Cleveland came in at number 8.

Bush, Cheney - Joined at the Hip

I realize that Matt Damon's movie Stuck on You is coming out on video, but to go this length to promote it, will it backfire?

Bronson's Not Drunk, Maybe He Should Be

Bronson pulls yet another claim out of his ass:

But anyone who thinks it's OK for 15-year-olds to sample the "Bavarian experience" of after-school keg parties should have their adult licenses suspended until they pass Breathalyzer tests.

Ok, we know Peter has a problem with any country who does not grovel at the feet of BushCo. He might want to check the last names of a large portion of the people who live in the area. They would be German. German culture, in case you missed Oktoberfest, includes drinking beer. Where does anyone say that drinking underage will harm kids? How does drinking beer at age 17 (I don't think most of the kids were 15, so Peter fudged that one) hurt a kid any more than a 21 year old. If you are a temperance freak who fears booze, fine, but don't try and make it out that beer will kill a 17 year old, but at 18 you instantly are immune to the death causing agents contained in beer. At that point you are deemed responsible enough to die for the county, vote of its leaders, but not responsible enough to not drink and drive. I guess the gene develops at age 21, we all no there are no DUI's for anyone after that.....(wink).

Dog Chases Cat

Is this really blogworthy? The NY Post's John Podhoretz comes up the all to great commentary on Kerry: "Kerry is a terrible, terrible, terrible candidate." That is just so enlightening. I am convinced. Gee ma, I did not know this. I thought misleading people into a war was bad, but CW on Kerry just "must" be right. (COUGH, COUGH)

Rob, come on, if you are going to harp on Kerry, how about something better than flipflops and who voted for what in a bill that wasn't going to pass anyway (or was along party lines anyway.) Most of all come up with a writer without the most trite conservative analysis that a 6 year old couldn't write.

Kerry must have lied on the customer survey at Denny’s. He really did not have the eggs and toast, he had Waffles, and when he said they were great, he could have been telling the truth.

Now, where are those WMD??? Where was the threat from Iraq (note one that could have hurt someone in Saddam's lifetime)? Where is the Iraq - al Qaeda connection? Oh, those don't matter? SUV's, medals, haircuts? This is best you got? Come on, attack on substance, not on this bullcrap. We have a President with no Plan in Iraq, and whether Kerry toss away his medals is the fodder for the right wing. Amazing. Nothing to see hear. All is well. Don't changes horses in midstream.

Jones Case

The Local NAACP is claiming Nathaniel Jones died by asphyxiation. This claim is support by a report paid for by the NAACP produced by Dr. Joye M. Carter, a forensic pathologist.

Why did the NAACP refuse to release the full report to the media? It would be rather useful to know why this doctor stated one cause of death, while the local ME declared Jones died rom a heart problem exacerbated by the struggle with police.

This is the basis for a lawsuit and it is nothing but normal wrongful death civil action type of tactics.

The Enquirer has more and this story, WCPO, and it was picked up big time by the AP (no Nate quote this time...thanks John Nolan!), but did the AP reports have to continue carrying the "number" along:

Jones was at least the 19th black man to die in violent confrontations with Cincinnati police since 1995. Police union leaders said the men who died threatened officers with weapons.

Police say that all but 4 of the 19 had weapons I believe. So the story was even wrong there. If one wants to be Dramatic yet accurate, then say "Jones for the 4th unarmed black man killed by police since 1995. For the record some might say more than 4, but that might be the number, unless you do or don't count a brick or a car.

Also comments from Greg Mann.