Thursday, April 07, 2005

New Neighborhood Newspaper?

Judge Mark Painter, one time possible Mayoral candidate is starting a twice-monthly newspaper to serve the Clifton-UC and surrounding areas. The title of the publication is set to be the Cincinnati Times.

Also in the CityBeat article is a good discussion of the WVXU merger with WGUC.

Smoking Ban Deal?

Will this deal do anything to curtail smoking or will is just add to the confusion?

Nothing I Am Jumping to See

Riverbend's initial schedule includes nothing I am really interesting in seeing. Some would be interesting, but I might be more up for a Pops concert way over seeing Toby Keith or Motley Crue.

Wednesday, April 06, 2005

DeWine vs. the CCV

It looks like the right wing of the GOP has made it known that they will not be supporting Pat DeWine to fill Portman's seat. Phil Burress is quoted, but I don't even think he lives in Portman's seat. How much influence does Burress the bigot wield out in the rural counties?

Mark Mallory's Blog

Mayoral candidate Mark Mallory has a campaign blog. It is just starting out, but should be an interesting place to hear directly from the candidate.

Tuesday, April 05, 2005

Si Leis to DeWine: Resign

There's and old sheriff in town and he's looking for attention. He is also looking for payback. I will surmise that Leis is hitting DeWine not only for trying leave his new office less than 3 months from taking it, but for also firing Krings.

I am really torn on this one. Leis is a theocratic fascist’s dream sheriff. Phil Burress must get off every time he sees the sheriff’s parade floats. On this issue though, Leis makes some sense. I didn't vote for DeWine, but they guy was elected just last year, and now is looking to skip town for the Hill. That should mean he would at least stay around for a few years. As far as Republicans go though, I feel DeWine is the lesser of evils. He showed some backbone in his criticism of the police. If I had a nuclear bomb to my head and I had to choose which type of Republican I could live with, which is enough to make me want the nuke to go off sometimes, I would pick a DeWine type over Chabot for sure and even over Portman. Portman was not the worst in the world, but he comes across as a yes man. Pat DeWine is at least less of a yes man.

If the Dems have someone who can beat him, no one seems to know who it is. Please, Please, Please make it someone credible (not Sanders).

Also, I have been getting two sets of answers as to the structure of the special election. One says primaries, the other says no primaries. If I had time, I would research it. If anyone has done that, and has links to support it, pass it on to everyone.

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."