Wow Look at All the Choices!

All of the Republicans running for Portman's Seat all I assume think they can win. The two getting into the race are also-rans and seem to be wasting their time. The guy from Mason sounds like a real winner. When you have to describe yourself as morally conservative, either you are playing to the bigot vote, or you have something to hide in your past.

All of these choices and I am not going to vote for any of them. Are we ever going to get a Democrat to announce? It is becoming clearer to me that the Dems have just written this off. It may be just as well. Anyone who currently holds political office would be a fool to charge against this windmill. The money machine will make sure that what ever the Dems do, they will not get much press, or much good press. It is so sad that this becomes a battle between hard core conservatives and extremist conservatives. That is not democracy, that is semantics.

Taking Advantage of the Weakest

Pastor Kurt Strassner worries that gambling takes advantage of the weakest people. Many would say that is exactly was most religions do, especially when they are looking to fill the offering plate.

Insert Head in Sand

Bronson opines on the 2001 riots and like a good conservative has not changed a bit.

And City Council still can't get it together to support the cops, who are the city's best hope.

That is his solution, support the cops? Support them how? Support them as they do what, sit on their hands during contract negotiations? The police are part of the problem, not a solution. The racist/bigot activists are part of the problem. The racist/bigot suburbanites fearful of the city are part of the problem. Everyone is part of the problem. That means there are, as of now, no quick solutions. It might mean there will never be a solution, short of a Boycott B style separation of the races, which is hardly a solution, more like a radical quack's bandage over a pus oozing sore.

Is Smitherman In?

Smitherman is in for the council race, but out for his bid for mayor. Will Charter put anyone up? Tarbell? Justin Jeffre?

Smitherman really wants to be mayor. He seems to be power hungry, with the green horned desire to win a lynch pin to his political mindset. He should win back his council seat easily, but will not be one of the top vote getters. He has pissed too many people off and have little to show for it other than making waves (treading water some might say).

Bob Taft In Action

We seem to be able to afford a tax cut in Bob Taft's world, but can't fund public libraries. Now I will get some whack job reactionary who would be happy if the state got out of the library business, and instead make everyone go to the book store. We all 'know' that knowledge is power, and those with the money should be the only ones with the power.

Censorship in Cin City

No, I'm not talking about the government. This is not a post on the action of government Censorship. I am referring to the knee-jerk prudes at Tower Place Retail, LLC. who without saying a word have done their part to censor art. I am of course discussing the denial by Tower Place Retail from allowing the Fringe Festival to use the former Closson's store space.

What I don't understand from this story is what really happened. Did Tower Place Retail, LLC. really deny the space, or did their representative Christi Begley, manager of the Tower Place Mall choose to on her own? Also, how does Madison Marquette fit into all of this? Are they the operator/developer of the Mall, not the owner?

There are a couple of bullshit issues here. The Closson's area is not even part of the "family-friendly venue," it is not inside the mall or on the same block. Additionally, only a block over rests the Hustler Store, so bitching about "family values" is rather moot. Art is something the anti-intellectual crowd fears, so falling back on the "family" is a convenient code.

It is most amazing to me that the Mall Managers backed out since this is the same mall that allowed a cult to use actual internal mall space to get new recruits. I guess a few swear words are going to kill babies, but taking the money from brain washers is a fine and honorable way to be "family friendly." I guess if you are a fringe religion with money to burn, you get your way. If you are instead a ?fringe? arts festival pushing individual expression of ideas, you must be stopped at all cost.

Where is art lover Peter Bronson on all of this? Last year he whined like a little girl and then was later bitch-slapped back into the real world. Did he drop a dime on the festival? I doubt it. I don?t think Fringe Fest has enough Google Hits to catch Peter?s eye. I don?t think there has been a CCV email denouncing it yet either, so it will only be a matte of time for Bronson to rant on it. He instead is spending his time bashing schools and homosexuals at the same time. (Note to Peter, Condoms don't kill people, people do. They save lives too, but only if people use them.)

This entire incident sounds something like what happened to the local Rock the Vote event last year, where one mindless person complained to the library and cancelled the event literally at the last minute.

Finally it is odd that Editorial pages moan when people get a face full of pie, but do not hit at businesses who crush art without the slightest care for fairness. Businesses have the "right" to use their property as they see fit. This is how and why the government should continue and increase its support for the arts. They only type of art one gets from businesses tends to be entertainment, as opposed to art. You get clichéd ideas wrapped in pretty faces. You don't get the zenith of thought and expression. A Jimmy Falon movie is not Citizen Kane, it is not even Star Wars: Episode III. The Theater, visual arts, and music can't be left to the whims of the rich. If you do then you either get endless Movies about Biblical bowel movements, or you get popularity contests.

If you support art in Cincinnati, makes sure you volunteer for Fringe.

If you wish to voice your opinion, there is a way to contact Mall Management. Be respectful and do nothing to make things worse, that means no anger, and of course nothing to get you or anyone in trouble with the law.

Wes Flinn and Nick Spencer have more.

Praise be to 19th century art from the Enquirer, but not a word on fresh art today.

Roh Street Cafe Open Again?

They were supposed to open on April 9th. Did they open? The fire in the neighboring church sanctuary was very significant. If they were able to open up this fast, they must have done a lot of work to get the place back in shape.

Another Local Conservative Blogger

I am surprised there are not more like: The Political Influentials. This one is from Warren County and sounds like a far right-winger. Warren County might as well be Texas when it comes to politics. I might read it mainly for inside GOP tones, which I don't get much outside of the city moderates. I don’t know about adding it to the blogroll. I like to hear from both sides, but this side does not seem like something I want to promote on a regular basis.

Tragedy In Oxford

Horrible news from Miami, where three students died in an off campus fire. It happened on North Main Street. I myself lived on North Main my senior year, and I think I know the building which would have been a block from where I lived. It is so very sad for these students and their families.

Shuffle Up and Deal

Will the effort for gambling suceed? The Enquirer and WCPO are putting a whole mighty wind of ink space and hot air on the subject. Could this pass the prudish Ohio Legislature?

Friday Ranting and Other Comments

It was a late one last night, so I don't have much to say, except "damn, I have to go to work."

People Will Say We're....

Ya Know, people going to start thinking that the right wing of the local Republican Party doesn't want Pat DeWine to fill Rob Portman's congressional seat. Who will they support instead?

A Primary for Portman Seat

In this news article, which I think I linked to last month, it indicates there will be a primary for the Portman congressional seat no less than 15 days prior to the special election. The relevant sections of the law are:

§ 3521.03. Vacancy in office of congressman.

When a vacancy in the office of representative to congress occurs, the governor, upon satisfactory information thereof, shall issue a writ of election directing that a special election be held to fill such vacancy in the territory entitled to fill it on a day specified in the writ. Such writ shall be directed to the board of elections within such territory which shall give notice of the time and places of holding such election as provided in section 3501.03 of the Revised Code. Such election shall be held and conducted and returns thereof made as in case of a regular state election.

and this section:

§ 3513.32. Primaries for special elections.

When a special election is found necessary to fill a vacancy, the date of the primary election shall be fixed at the same time and in the same manner as that of the election, by the authority calling such special election. The primary election shall be held at least fifteen days prior to the time fixed for such special election. Declaration of candidacy and certificates for such primary shall be filed and fees shall be paid at least ten days before the date for holding such primary election.

A primary election preceding a special election to fill a vacancy in an office shall be eliminated if no valid declaration of candidacy is filed for such office, or if the number of persons filing such declarations of candidacy as candidates of one political party does not exceed the number of candidates which such political party is entitled to nominate for election to such office.

If correct then the Dems might as well run Sanders at this point. The time frame needed to win against a name like DeWine will be very difficult to surpass. The only hope is putting up a strong candidate and hope for damaged goods to come out of the primary and then with National money flood the area with a TV/radio/phone/mail push. If party loyalty wins out, which is this district it likely will if only one GOP candidate is on the ballot, than the Democrats can likely not break the 50% mark. Anything can happen though. A third party candidate or pissed off right-winger may just ignore the primary and challenge DeWine in the special election directly. Tom Brinkman, that’s you buddy, right up your alley!

Thanks to ‘GM’ for the Ohio Code information.

'It's coming right for us!'

I guess Florida Gun Nuts are trying to kill the tourist industry.

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.

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.

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.