Fangman Should Resign

What gives with Keith Fangman being, well, his usual prickley self? I am no Smitherman fan, and I too am baffled by Smitherman's support for Kabaka Oba, but Fangman thinks he should resign?

When the hell is Ketih Fangman going to call on Councilman Sam Malone to resign? Smitherman is not facing a criminal trial. Malone is facing a criminal trial.

It is so very hard to see a law and order Republican who represents, well, the union of law and order arm of the local government, ignoring a fellow Republican's troubles with the law.

This is Keith Fangman, so I expect this type of Cunningham charade of equity. I am disgusted still when the drivel is put forth in the local media.

Anti-Intellectual Bronson

OK, Bronson hates "intellectuals", and water is wet. I know, I know. You have heard this all before.

Just one point to either shatter or bullster Bronson's rant against the Intellectuals and the Ivy League:

She did not go to Harvard or Yale. She went to Southern Methodist University. So she's not a certifiable intellectual like, say, John Kerry, Karl Marx, Bill Moyers, Timothy Leary, Dr. Joseph Mengele, Margaret Sanger, both Clintons, 95 percent of college professors, the Unabomber, Gore "Lincoln was gay" Vidal, Osama (who would qualify on nearly any campus), Al Gore or Noam Chomsky, who has preached since 1969 about "de-Nazification" of America.

George Bush. Fucking both of the them when to Yale Peter!

And Osama? Come on Peter. You did not have courage to show up for the CinAd Debate, even when you accepted the invitation, and you make a really bile ridden joke about Osama bin Laden being welcomed as an intellectual at "nearly any campus?" I think Peter had better look up who has gone to Ivy League schools before he makes such a stupid joke.

Then he drags out Regan's corpse. I mean, if you want to drag out a dead president who hated Intellectuals, then Peter you have to dig up Dick Nixon. The guy was so anti-Ivy league he would have fire bombed them if their alumni didn't run every major business in the country.

It is funny that somehow Bronson bitches about Miers being nominated because she is not qualified, but bitches about Ivy League intellectuals. Dude, she went to SMU! How much more bible belt can you get out side of Liberty, or Bob Jones U?

Hackett, Attack-it

I have not yet picked up Mother Jones, yet but they have an article on Paul Hackett in the latest issue. Hackett is running to oust Mike DeWine. Any thoughts on the article? I have heard some grumblings on Hackett in the comments. Could that be from some primary foes?

Theater Heroes

Get out and see They Will Be Heroes, a new play that premiered at the Mockbee last night. It runs through Saturday the 22nd. I saw the production and very much enjoyed the intense dialogue and the drops of humor sprinkled heavily over this cutting edge production from Cincinnati Experimental Arts and the Blue Forms Group from Columbus.

The show is an original play, created as a collaboration of the actors, director, and production team. It focuses on life for Generation X. As a card-carrying member of that generation, I could relate intently to the play. Additionally I was able to relate well to the performance, in part because I know all of the actors and see the personal way they approached much of their performance, but more importantly because of the energy and vibrancy that was enthralling on the endangered Mockbee stage (The Mockbee is closing at the end of the month). The overall style of the play is very much a Blue Forms flavor, but the tone was very Cincinnati.

Happy Happy, Joy Joy

You know.....Ah, nevermind. Rant on, brothers and sisters, make today a day of great platitudes and cliches fit for a King.

In other words... Open Thread!

More Endorsements are Out

Mallory got several more. What I have to point out is that both the Black Firefighters and the Appalachian Group lose much credibility in my mind when they endorsed Sam Malone for City Council. Malone is still awaiting trial for allegedly physically abusing his son. That is not the kind of thing you want hanging over a candidate you endorse. This is the kind of reason you drop the man as a candidate altogether, which many Republicans would have preferred. Why did these two groups do it? That is a mystery to me. I am sure someone out there has an answer.

The fact that the Cincinnati Right to Life PAC endorsed Malone is not a surprise. They fit the stereotype of caring more about children before they are born, than after.

Murder Rate Up

The murder rate is up over 2004 this year, and we have a ways to go. We are still under 2003, but it looks like we will pass that rate.

For the record, odds are very high that you are not going to be killed if you go downtown or to OTR, unless you go there to buy or sell drugs.

Denial

CYA baby! That is what I hear Tom Ullum telling Peter Bronson. The issue that bugs me about this case that is lost on Conservatives is not the legality. I don't want the guy locked up. I support the ruling of the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, but I am willing to listen and respect the free-speech debate. The issue of concern to me is not Free Speech. The issue is a bar and a community that thinks this bar owner’s actions as "no big deal."

This is bigotry. This is a man publicly attaching a group of people. His intent, as I have said before, MAY have been a joke, but that is the CYA afterthought talking. Would it be a joke if I owned a bar and put a sign in the window that said "No Service for Christians?" Would anyone who wrongly attacks me whenever I comment on religion take it as a joke? Hell no, I would be attacked, protested, threatened, and likely put out of business by any community in the area (city or burbs).

Here Mr. Ullum gets a pat on the back from Mr. Sensitive, Peter Bronson, and likely is feeling good right now. He is being supported. His bigotry is being rewarded. That shows how much people like Bronson are in denial. They grasp at free speech/joke red herrings, but don't address the underlying problems facing immigrants. How can people fit in to a society if they are told, in so many words, "you are not welcome here?"

Power of POWR PAC

How powerful will the POWR PAC be in city politics? There endorsements skew right wing and white:

POWR PAC - "Partnership of West Side Residents Political Action Committee" - has endorsed David Pepper for mayor, along with a six-member council slate - Democrats John Cranley, an incumbent, and challengers Jeff Berding and Cecil Thomas; and three Republicans, incumbent Chris Monzel and challengers John Eby and Leslie Ghiz.

No Charter Candidates? That is a bit of a surprise. I would have thought Bortz, Tarbell, or maybe Spencer could have gotten a nod.

Bigotry Good For Business

Last weekend I wrote about the Mason, Ohio bar that put a sign up in its front window reading "For Service Speak English."

I made the argument that the community bore responsibility for creating an atmosphere where the bar owner felt he could put a bigoted sign like that in his window, while getting little or no negative response from the members of the community. I got plenty of flack for that argument. Well, today the Enquirer has a story which outlines two points, one of which directly shows my views on the community were actually underplaying the bigotry of the community. Instead of feeling pressure from people around town to take down the sign, the bar owner has had increased business.

Ullum said he has received no complaints about the sign. In fact, he said, the controversy has been good for business.

He said one woman called to say, "We've been in Mason 18 years. We've never been in your bar, but we're coming in to show support."

If Mason is a tolerant city, then why after this story has gotten so much attention have the locals either supported the bigotry or at "best" hid behind cul de sac apathy?

The other point this article brings up is one not limited to Mason. The Ohio Civil Rights commission received emails that show why bigotry, racism, and hate are still around:

"To attempt to deny an American citizen the right to speak their mind in regards to a request to Speak English reveals your fascist tendencies. ... You are a good example as to why this country is turning in to a cesspool of third world scum."

The final interesting element of the article is who is listed as a contributor: Peter Bronson. Why was Bronson on this story? Was he looking to write a column, but even he was disgusted by this and turned over his notes/quotes for a regular news article?

MIAMI 51, Akron 23

Love and honor to Miami,
Our college old and grand,
Proudly we shall ever hail thee,
Over all the land.

Alma mater now we praise thee,
Sing joyfully this lay,
Love and honor to Miami,
Forever and a day.

More Here and Here.

Kabaka Oba Indicted

Ok, Black activist Oba has been indicted. Why do read this?

Police arrested Oba, a bus driver for Queen City Metro, on Oct. 7 as he completed his route. Police said he didn't ask for a lawyer - but did ask for them to call Smitherman.

"That's what he said - have them call Smitherman. And he rattled off a phone number," said Lt. Jack Kraft.

Smitherman, who did not return several phone calls seeking comment, showed up last week at Oba's first court appearance - where Smitherman confronted Municipal Court Judge Kendal Coes in the hallway.

Coes said Smitherman walked up to him and said he was there to support Oba, but did not explicitly ask the judge for any favors.

Why is Councilman Chris Smitherman trying to do anything for Oba?

Cincinnati Advance Radio Is On The Air!

Joe Wessels is back on WAIF today 10AM to 11AM with the premier of Cincinnati Advance Radio. Joe is teaming up with Cincinnati Advance to give Cincinnati a great radio program with local, state and national guests discussing the headlines and local happenings effecting you.

This weeks lineup:

This week we welcome former Cincinnati mayors Roxanne Qualls and David Mann. They will be on to discuss what they think it takes to be Cincinnati's Mayor.

We'll also welcome Leslie Isaiah Gaines. The defense attorney and former judge has released an updated version of his 1994 hit "Shake 'n Blake" about the Cincinnati Bengals with the newer "Shake 'n Quake." Gaines says the Bengals are going all the way. With Sunday's loss, we'll see if he's singing a different tune.

To listen live online check out WAIF's website. Archives of Joe's shows will be online in the future.

Speaking of Endorsements

The following column by Peter Bronson is brought to you by the Committee to Elect Ken Blackwell. It is a badly veiled campaign commercial. Bronson is in Blackwell's corner. He wants a "a real conservative." That sounds like people who say they are a "real Bengals fan," not a bandwagon fan. It reminds me more of a person who says they are a "real Christian," not like the Catholics and Mormons.

(Let the “Brian is an anti-Christian” posts begin. They are wrong, but they will begin none-the-less)

More Endorsements Are Out

Does anyone care who the Cincinnati Area Board of Realtors endorses? This is a matter of momentum and perception. The more people willing to go on the record, the better. There are a few organizations that hold more weight than others, but still, few change their minds about who they are going to vote for. Instead I think endorsements provide vindication of one's viewpoint and increases the likelihood of a person actually voting.

Cincinnati Advance Debate

Greg Korte has the review of the details. I, as a member of the main sponsor, will focus instead on praising everyone who helped put on a great debate. I will single out Barry Gee for his great work, along with Joe Wessels for the radio broadcast, Nick Spenser and everyone at alchemize for their help with the venue, Regina Russo for moderating, and Tiana Rollinson & Michael Altman for being panelists.

From CinAd I wish to single out and thank Sandy for organizing the reception, Steve for being the timekeeper during the debate, and Christa and Bridget for helping out behind the scenes. I may have missed someone, if I did, thanks to you too!!!

On the lighter political side, I introduced myself to Nate Livingston, who was out front passing out Anti-Pepper handouts, interesting. I was very disappointed though in Peter Bronson. We sent him a specific invite, and he RSVP’d that he would attend, but he did not show up. I have never met Peter, and actually was looking forward to meeting him. Maybe next time.

Well, if you were at the debate, sound off on whom you think won. I was not able to see all of it, I was doing a few things behind the scenes, and as I said before I want to say out of talking about my views on this particular debate, so don’t look for my analysis.

I was so very pleased to have both candidates at an event CinAd sponsored. I hope everyone who attended had a great time and I hope they learned something about both candidates.

UPDATE: More from Korte's Blog.

Question the Mayoral Candidates

What questions do you have for Mallory and Pepper? Cincinnati Advance is accepting questions for the Candidates at tonight's debate. If you post your name, neighborhood and your question here or on the CinAd website, I will include it with our list of questions. That does not mean it will be asked, but we will get as many fair questions asked as possible. We are not going to let things get out of control, so save the scandals for the blogs.

You can also email them to me, if you don't want it listed for all to see.

Mallory Gets Old School Republicans

Going against type Stanley J. Aronoff and Richard Finan endorsed Mallory for Mayor yesterday. Is this a crack in Pepper's GOP Armor or just old friendships cashing in?

Who Will Run Against Schmidt in the 2nd?

I doubt Brinkman will challenge her, but the real question is that since Hackett is running for Senate, who will challenge Schmidt in the 2nd congressional district? Hackett had challengers in the Dem primary, will they all be back? Do any have a chance? He had a good chance to beat Schmidt, could anyone else?

Blackwell, Strickland Lead Polls

Buried in this local news briefs page, the Enquirer reports on the Dispatch poll listing Blackwell ahead in the GOP nomination with 32%. Petro had 18% and Montgomery had 16%. That is a big lead for Blackwell. That is bad news for the GOP and for the state. The last two GOP governors to win were not right wingers. Ohio is not a right wing state. The fire breathing will not win.

For the Dems Strickland leads Coleman 22% to 19%, with Flannery at only 4%. This race is going to be a tight one. I don't know who I like better. I have not had a chance to hear both of the leading two speak. I guess I would prefer both running for statewide offices, instead of against each other.