Ohio, Ohio, Ohio

Ohio is the win or loose state for Bush in 2004 The New York Times reports on the importance and fickleness of the state. We have regionalism that mirrors the rest of the country, but an average quality that sums up the views of Midwest. Ohio polls are the polls to watch this year. If Bush is ahead here, then he is still in it. If Bush is behind here, he is losing the whole thing big. Bush must win Ohio. There is no other realistic way for him to win in November. I still am fearful that Ohio could become rather nasty in late October and early November. Minor violence will happen in this state. I am willing to bet on it. I have said this before, but I am more sure of it now.

Dividing America, Bronson Style

It's just us vs. them or so Peter Bronson wants everyone to think. The heathens vs. the Jesus Freaks. The thinkers vs. the followers. Those who have seen the movie Fahrenheit 9/11 and complain vs. those who just complain about it.

Peter needs read his paper's own editorial page, the one he used to edit, and see that saying Fahrenheit 9/11 is not a documentary is a game that the blood lusting conservatives, not all of them mind you, are playing to counter Moore, instead of countering his opinions.

Bronson’s opening shows his desire to divide America into two groups, those who share his religion, or at least will submit to its rule, and those of us who will not. Bronson's take is that Americans are under "God" or they are not Americans. If you don't submit to be ruled by religion, then you are one of "them."

"Them" as opposed to "They" as opposed to the evil doers or the enemy. And if you don't support "us" in the fight against them, without question, you are one of "them."

I must ask Bronson: if Moore is so "wrong," then tell us what is wrong? Don't just say his “lies are too numerous to list here," and list a bunch of conservative websites to visit. All of those are just as biased as Moore is by the way, not the CBS, NPR, NYT or Frontline. In this case Hitchens is as blood thirsty as the next Republican you see, and then some.

Truth is Bronson's greatest foe. He fears it. He can't bare to think that which he believes in is wrong. He can't grasp that the Iraq War was sold to us as a war to defend America, when Iraq was no threat to it.

Faith is Peter's ally. Faith is the emotional tool to cover up either that which you don't know, of that which you don't want people to find out for themselves.

I find it terrible that some idiots would email Peter and exploit Matt Maupin situation, but Bush does the same thing when he goes out of his way to hug the families of 9/11 victims on camera or makes sure the press knows that he has met with the Maupin family at each recent visit to the city. That little fact has nothing to with using a solider and his family for politics now does it? If Bush wanted to keep it secret, he could have, but no, he let the press find out, and rather easily too.

I also wonder if Peter saw the movie. I still don’t believe he actually “protested” against Vietnam. How can one man go from hating war to wanting to wage it on any country that does not do what Bush says. I wonder if he would Nuke France.

Kerry Back to Ohio

Kerry is planning another swing through Ohio next Wednesday. He will reportedly hit Cleveland and then Cincinnati. No indications have been given on where or when he will appear. Details will likely appear here when available.

Ohio votes are big stakes. I bet Kerry and Bush will be back 10 times each before election day.

GOP Strife

I am so sorry this happened now, instead of after he became Senate President. It could have caused him to resign his seat, not just his bid for the top Ohio Senate spot.

Claufest

Well, Nick and Jessica had a party. The press came. Lots of people came. Charlie Luken came with a date, but the reporter kept her name out of the article. No, I was not invited. It comes as a shock that my invitation was lost in the mail. I was so looking forward to decking out my silver tube top and red pumps. Oh, it would have been a fashion coup.

Did I type that out loud?

I want my Wi-Fi TV!

Well, not TV, but Wi-Fi! Maggie Downs' column calls for Cincinnati to open up its cyberspace to the public. We need this very badly. It will not flock people to the streets in a matter of days, but if the city provides a robust connection covering the whole city, the city will grow. This is the future. Wireless Internet devices will be the norm in a matter of years and it will be soon if cities get on board and create a robust FREE Wi-Fi system.

The bigger worry is that Cincinnati must keep pace, if not exceed, Cleveland. If the Brown Town can get Wi-Fi for the city, we better get on the ball and go beyond what ever they put in place. Competition will hopefully get more on board.

Miller Vs. Saddam

Is this a picture of Saddam Hussein or Dennis Miller? I really can't tell. Have the two ever been seen together? I think the suit makes Saddam look ready to hit the local Starbucks.

Hypocrites

The BushCo machine, aided by Carl Weiser article, are creating a demagogue from the fact that ex-cons are being including in the political movement opposing Bush:

The Bush campaign charges that America Coming Together is the voter registration arm of the Democratic Party and the Kerry campaign. The group has also acknowledged employing felons for the door-to-door canvassing.

'People in Ohio have the right to know whether or not convicted rapists or murderers are showing up at their door registering voters,' said Bush campaign spokesman Kevin Madden. 'It says a lot about their campaign. Ohio voters are going to take that into account when they cast their ballots.'

I have to ask Kevin Madden if he ever campaigned for Ollie North, a convicted criminal, only overturned on a technicality. Does he listen to felon G. Gordon Liddy?

I guess Madden also has checked if anyone in the Bush campaign here in Ohio or anywhere has any investigations pending or has a criminal record?

I wonder how many people working in the Bush campaign have aided directly or indirctly anti-abortion terrorists?

I am sure there is a policy issue for Madden to pull out of his as to why this matters. It surely has nothing to do with smearing anyone who dares oppose BushCo.

Come on Madden, fight fire with fire, get you own gun nuts out going door to door. That makes me more nervous, some hot headed GOP supporter comes to my door packing heat. I call Bush a theocratic fascist and after the gun nut looks up the words in the dictionary they shoot my head off.

Maupin Family Tragedy

I understand the hope wants to keep holding on to, but I personally hope that no one is giving them false optimism, and that they prepare for the worst. I again implore people, including locals not close to family, to leave them alone and don't contribute to their horror by creating a cause or movement, especially while they are in emotional purgatory.

Bronson Puts Out Lies, Again

Hey Peter, John Kerry never said there were "foreign leaders" who endorsed him. He should know that, why get the facts when you can just consume the propaganda and then recycle it. Even though Bronson is only repeating (no pun intended) what someone else said, his motives for using it are simple; he wants the myth to continue. Josh Marshall debunked it long ago.

If Bronson had directly quoted what the man said, I don't think I would have had question his use of it. Here, I think he pulled that out of his bag-o-dogma and created phrasing based on the myth. I am assuming Bronson does pay attention to reports about stories even after the original round of spin. That is a big assumption that I fear I will be wrong on, especially on this GOP talking point.

Big Condemnation

I am impressed with Ray Cooklis Hot air Editorial about the Bush campaign's use of Hitler in an internet commercial. Ray put out both sides, citing moveon.org's inclusion of a commercial with a Hitler reference in its national contest for political ads made by individuals. He showed correctly how Bush's people showed no class in using the Ad knowingly and with the intent that went beyond what a couple of people at moveon.org did, a group not part of the Kerry campaign. Kudos for Ray.

Tall Stacks 2007: World Series of Poker?

Mayor Luken has called for riverboat gambling on the Ohio here in Cincinnati. Part of me, the freedom side, says sure, why the hell not? The image conscious side of me, one I am not so proud of, says, hell no. I have to agree with my image conscious side. The economics of riverboat gambling would be good for the city, but casinos change what the riverfront was gearing up to be, the family destination. If the Mayor wants to create new places to the West, past the Brent Spence Bridge, for gambling centers, then fine, I can live with that, but that will not bring in as much money as having them parked right outside Paul Brown Stadium.

Know Your Blog

Why are you reading this? Well, for those of you who are new to my blog or blogs in general, I welcome you! Some of you may have ventured over from Gina Daugherty's story on blogging in CinWeekly, so if you are new here and want the skinny on me please check out my FAQ or my Blogger Profile.

I have to thank Gina and the folks at CinWeekly for including me in their story on blogging. I appreciate the exposure. I do have one quibble: I don't think I "mostly" rail on Peter Bronson. I do write about other writers, other topics, and other things that often get people riled up. I am up to 48 comments on my Dick Cheney post, which may just be a record for me. Now, that being said, I take every opportunity to retort Bronson’s often trite GOP drivel posing as a column. We have few local liberals given much of a voice and the rest of us with tiny media voices need to shout against the beast.

If people read what I write and take everything I say literally, I really have to ask you do just not bother reading anything ever again. I am harsh, but 90% of my harshness is hyperbole. My disdain for the CCV and to a lesser degree BushCo are where my vitriolic language have little intended hyperbole and every intention of seriousness, while still trying to have an once of humor where I muster it up.

I hope those reading for the first time are not scared off by any of the commenters. I try to let things go free form. I will not edit anything unless I feel I need to or want to. Will I be consistent? I will be consistent with my own wishes. That is about all I can hope to do. Everything else on the rhetorical front is all gravy.

On a side note, if you have things you find out and about that are not getting play in the news media, drop me an email and I will take a look at it.

Now for those of you who are regular readers of the blog and don't really care much about this post, I can only say with a warm heart: kiss my Haloscan.

Altman Out as QCF Editor

As of July 5th Michael D. Altman will no longer be Editor in Chief of Queen City Forum Magazine. In an email Steve Fritsch, Publisher of QCF, states:

Due to Mr. Altman's removal as Editor in chief, QCF will be searching to fill his position to join newly appointed editors Jack L. Klinger and Daniel Brown on the Executive Editorial Board. In particular, however, we will be looking to fill the editor role with a liberal-minded individual, in an effort to keep balanced political perspectives on "the Board."

The Reasons given for the removal center on the changes to the board with the addition of Brown and Klinger in relation to Altman.

This change comes as a shock to me. I felt that both Fritsch and Altman worked well together and shared a similar view on what the magazine should be. I wonder what direct this will take QCF. Will it move to the right? Steve's email indicates he wants to keep a balance, but that will depend on whom he chooses. For the record, I am not interested.

Gangsta Tooth Fairy

Thieves Steal Man's Wallet, Gold Teeth

I am sure to get some grief for this one, but damn, how can I let it pass?

Something Missing?

Cheney visits but the news article has no Democratic response. How about a Nick Clooney quote to retort the free press for Geoff Davis??? It could have been buried at the end of article, not the headline, but it would have been nice to see something in the article letting people know that Clooney is ahead in the race. Instead we get mention that Clooney's fundraiser was in Cincinnati and not open to the press, which sounds like the reporter might have been pissed for not getting in to see his favorite movie stars.

Maupin Tragedy

News is not good for the family of Matt Maupin. Reports are growing that he was killed by Iraqi militants.

I personally wish to express my condolences to his family and friends. I hope that the media respects their privacy and leaves them alone.

I also hope that no one uses Mr. Maupin or his family as a political tool as a means to build support for revenge or more war.

Bronson: Propaganda Piece #44559

Peter Bronson has put forth the GOP myth that Iraq is comparable to WWII. Sorry Peter, Baghdad and Berlin may both begin with the letter "B," but they are not similar, and neither are the two wars or occupations.

The rhetoric sounds the same to Peter because that is what BushCo is trying to do, make people think this is like WWII, and using language and tapping into the conservative blood lust, it works on some.

Yesterday, with the transfer of faux sovereignty, Iraq took a closer step to a Vietnam model, where the US propped up a government hanging on to power by their fingernails.

Now, before the right-wingers complain, yes, I am comparing Iraq to Vietnam, just like Bronson did to WWII. The problem here is folks that in my opinion, my comparison has 100 times more parallels than Bronson's. You may disagree, but don't try to say I am a hypocrite. Bronson can compare Iraq to the War of 1812 if he wants, that does not mean I will not call it incorrect and question his motives for it, which I feel are based on its value in manipulating support for Bush instead of the sound logic of the facts.

Fountain Square Redux

I am not a fan so far. It seems to remind me of oh, I don't know, Piatt Park on Garfield maybe? Been there, done that, and still have the faded anarchy symbol to prove it too.

Waiter, Check Please

Now, you can rest easy folks. BushCo is all but ready to pay the bill, but with one big ass coupon Congress foolishly gave them. As fast as possible Bush will beat his feet towards the door, hoping not to have to leave a tip.

The game of lying begins again. The name of this game will be pin the sovereignty on the donkey. Sovereignty in Iraq is a long way from a reality. What happened today in Iraq was a Geopolitical dog and pony show meant to provide rhetorical fodder for Bush, but no real change on the ground.

What will be telling is how BushCo reacts to the coming violence. Well they say much about bombings against Iraqis? Will US troops just hang out in their green zones while a civil war brews out in the streets? I fear a disengagement on the part of the US military and government on Iraq in the coming months. Bush will push the economy and do his best to have no news out of Iraq. Starting now the ugliness of politics will begin a journey to reach a new zenith. My comments section is not immune either. I hope everyone can take deep breath before letting the blather slip out over the gums.