Tuesday, April 05, 2005

Lazy Peter Bronson

I get accused of being a one trick pony with my rapid fire retorts of Peter Bronson (like I am doing with this post) but, what with Bronson's Google tests? I think I get reamed for being all sorts of things, but a "professional journalist" sits on his backside and uses Google stats as props in his columns, not just once:
Google shows 127,000 hits for "Ashcroft racist," 141,000 for "Ashcroft Nazi" and 235,000 for "Ashcroft Big Brother."
But twice
Google found 12,500 hits for "Nixon stonewalling." For Rather, the count was 14,700. Talk about your irony - the comparison looks tighter than skin on a green apple.
within a month. Since when is Google the end all be all of opinion in the world? Peter should stick to a real Conservative Science, rely on talk radio. You can't go wrong if you want to know what the slack jawed Republican, greedy small business owner, or traveling salesman with time on his hand thinks. Just turn on 700 WLW and you get the mood. Leave Google out of it.

DeWine leads GOP Poll

Pat DeWine leads a poll of 400 Republicans. Why would you conduct a poll without including a Democrat? I thought, once again I don't know for sure, but still my impression is that there will not be a party primary, there will be an open special election. Brinkman looks bad in that poll. He is behind 3 other undeclared candidates. The only wildcard is the geographic make up of the polls. Was it all Hamilton County?

Also, the window is closing on the Dems. They need a candidate NOW! They could win a split GOP field. They can win if they don’t play, and as of now, they are not in the game.

Monday, April 04, 2005

It's Only News If It Makes E!

Jeffre For Cinci Mayor? - Apr 05, 2005 - E! Online News

Happy Opening Day!

I wish I was going.

Jeffre Getting More Press

Justin Jeffre has plenty of celebrity to gain press. He has a website as well which appears to my eyes to be little more than a shell. It is so very stale and impersonal. It really needs some work. It could use his picture. I don't mean that people he is a boyband "star," but people need to put a name to a face. He doesn't even have that. I also would have hoped he would have at least a minimal amount of content on the site when he announces for office. I just get the complete feeling this is nothing but a PR stunt. I really see nothing else to make me think otherwise. The guy can't win.

If he plays this right, he could help the city. He could have a TV show that follows him running for mayor, but then showcases everything about the city. Show him going to a Reds game, going to local clubs and theatres, going to Oktoberfest, or just hanging out at Sawyer Point. He could help with Cincinnati's image. He has to do this without getting in the way of the politics. He can't push the other candidates on the issues with his TV crew in tow. If he wants to be mayor he has to do it the real way, not the reality TV way.

Funny side note, his website has an alternate URL: www.justinformayor.com. www.jeffreformayor.com takes you no where.

Sunday, April 03, 2005

Mayoral Race

No, not in Cincinnati, there is one in Dayton too. The issues don't sound all that different than we have down here. The difference is the economics. Dayton has been hurting for a while and can't bounce back like a city the size of Cincinnati can. They have more than one female on the primary ballot, which is a positive. The current Mayor, Rhine McLin, is being challenged by Barbara Temple and David Bohardt.

Friday, April 01, 2005

Is This How You Sell Politics to the Masses?

The Enquirer is giving a lot of ink to Justin Jeffre's supposed run for Mayor. This is a farce. If the press does not grill this guy and ask if he is only running in order to try and land a TV show deal, then they are hacks.

Jerry, Jerry, Jerry

Maggie Downs inteviewed Jerry Springer for her latest column. Yes, a liberal being profiled by a columnist in the Enquirer. Glad someone let her do this. I mean Bronson bashes the guy, and Maggie gets to provide a more balanced view. That is not a perfect what to do things, but it beats just Bronson's blather.

A friend of mine saw Jerry at a book store recently. It is funny how Jerry is out and about town. The guy would be a good candidate for office, if he was not the king of sleaze TV. Will he be able to remove that image with enough voters?

Know Theatre: Iris

Go see Iris. I am planning on going tonight, and this weekend is pay what you can.

Huh?

Earth to the AP, 98 Degrees was not a rock band. Is the reporter age 72? I mean, would they call Run DMC a rock band? Hell 98 Degrees is not even a band, they are a group. At best they can be referred to as boy band, but still the term band is as valid as calling Bush a thinking President.

Thursday, March 31, 2005

Hooray For Me!

Seriously, thanks to everyone who voted me Best Blog, I appreciate it.

Thanks to City Beat for having the new category.

Blame the Judges

Since I am now the anti-Bronson shall I just say blah blah blah and move on? I think Peter needs to stay a bit more current. Let it go. This column does give fodder to those who would like to attack the judges in the this case, literally.

It is insane how anti-civil law the right wing has become. If it is not "god's" will, than it is just damned. This case is only a poster-child for tabloid media and shameless grandstanding politicians. The Judges, ALL OF THEM INCLUDING SCOTUS, were the consistent and judicial group, who dispensed fair and valid justice.

Wednesday, March 30, 2005

Harold Now Dealer

With surprise, the satirical (yes they are fake news) website the Cincinnati Harold has changed its name to the Cincinnati Dealer. The change was not by choice, but to avoid legal issues. This actually is not a joke. They were forced to change their name because of the Cincinnati Herald. They could have fought this, and may have won in court, but they don't have the money to mess with it. I didn't think the Cincinnati Herald had much money to sue in the first place. Well, Harold will surely be pissed he no longer has the site named after him. Harold's Dealer is ecstatic.

"African Corridor?"

In his official campaign announcement Damon Lynch put forth an idea that has an odd feel to it:
"As a city we have been stung by corporate aid and corporate giveaways," Lynch said. "We need leadership that will learn from that. We need vibrant a downtown, but more importantly we need vibrant communities."

Lynch said he is working on a plan to create an "African Corridor" in Over-the-Rhine similar to Chinatown in other cities. Lynch said he also has plans to address violence and the city's financial problems.
I am lost as to what and how an "African Corridor" would be formed. Chinatowns formed because of segregation. Ethnic neighborhoods were created in general out of either segregation, bigotry, or a desire for isolation. What good would this do to reduce the isolation of the people, especially the black people, living in OTR? Does Lynch want isolation? Is he playing to the self-segregation crowd that has significant, if not major, support in the "black community?"

If he wants to put money into poor neighborhoods, that is generally positive. If is looking to pump money into areas in hopes of building up one particular race or ethnic group, that is racist and/or bigoted and it does nothing to live up to his campaign statement, "Cincinnati can become a city of hope where everybody can prosper and a city where we can live in peace."

"Family Values” Strategic Ploy

In case you missed it from yesterday's story on the Dewine/Brinkman announcements, Brinkman said:
Brinkman, 47, of Mount Lookout, is a third-term lawmaker.

"Family values to me are the No. 1 issue," he said.
That was a shot across the bow, if there ever was one. Brinkman is of course, oh so subtly, alluding to Pat DeWine's broken marriage and his relationship with a lobbyist. Throw the fact that DeWine is dating a black woman, and a whole new element will be talked about, in so many words.

If you see a picture of the two of them (Pat and Betty), then you will know why. This is hardball. It will be a subtle slam at first, but leaving your wife for a lobbyist is going to be Brinkman's main attack. He will use code, as he did in the quote above. The Race issue will not be strongly used. It would backfire if used out in the open, but the undertone will be mentioned behind closed doors. That is how things are done on that type of horrid point.

Brinkman may do more to help the Dems, than win himself the seat. With a crowded field, it will be mayhem.

DeWine opens himself up to the family values issue when he allows his kids to be used as props.

Drinking Liberally

Wow, what a motley crew we pulled in last night at Drinking Liberally. We had Robert Wilson, the announced candidate and announced guest at the event. We also had Paul McGee, another candidate for council make an appearance. In tow were the Dean and Steve Fritch. Most interesting was Greg Harris, former Congressional candidate, who is not running for office, any office, for now.

No one seemed to know if there was going to be a primary for the Portman's seat, or just an open election. I think it just an open election, assuming it can't happen by May. I don't know. If I had time I would comb the laws, but I am instead going to ask someone else to do it and post it. If there is a primary and the GOP is can push only one in the special election, then they are the favorite to win. If it is an open race with DeWine, Brinkman and a Democrat on the ballot, all bets are off.

Tuesday, March 29, 2005

Damon Lynch to Announce Today

Damon Lynch III is to announce running for City Council this morning. No word on any party endorsement. With support from the Democrats, and a weak field this year, Lynch would be a leading candidate to get on council, his 10th place finish last time is enough to ensure that, but with Pepper and Reece out from in front, he starts as the 8th highest vote getter in the race.

Brinkman and DeWine Are In

It's Official, Tom and Pat are both in the race on the GOP side for Congress. This opens up the GOP's endorsement for Mayor, for now. Brinkman has until I think around the end of May to get into the Mayor's race. Who else will the GOP put up for slaughter? Pepper is jumping for joy right about now.

UPDATE: Portman? What was I thinking. The title was changed in case you are paying attention.

"Mongo only pawn... in game of life"

Yes, I met the Dean last Friday night. The moment felt like a summit. It was like being in Iceland or maybe even Yalta. I want nothing to do with the Dean-Spencer spat. The picture is funny though.

Theocracy on the March: Episode #323

Ken Blackwell appears to be the darling of the extreme right wing of the GOP for the Governor's race. I did not know Blackwell was willing to become the theocrat's bitch. Ken struck me as a Republican, but not a reactionary. If he hangs his hat on religious extremists, he will loose the primary and the general election

Not only does this article talk about Ken Blackwell, it goes on to discuss bigot Phil Burress and his new "movement" to push theocracy on Ohio. The Ohio Restoration Project is just a few synonyms away from Christian Reconstructionists.