Butler Co. GOP Thugs

I don't know how I possibly missed that 3 GOP Officials have been accused of starting bar fight. Quentin NicholsCentral Committee Chair, Tim Dearwester centeral committe member, and Sean Maloney executive committe member are the alleged bar room brawlers.

The Enquirer has more.

At this point there is no report that any charges have been filed. That is disgusting. They were there, that much is true, and it appears that local police are not going to do a damn thing. I hope the county prosecutor, who like got elected with the help of all three, will not put this under the radar, and will at least fine these thugs and get them to pay damages.

What is so sad, is that the jerks don't seem a bit sorry:

Nichols, 43, denied that the altercation happened the way William described to police. But he wouldn't discuss the details.

"It's politics. Some folks out there seem to twist the story on you," Nichols said. "It is a regrettable incident and at the time, I was genuinely concerned for my own safety as well as my companions' safety."

The trio doesn't plan to return to Putter's anytime soon. From now on, they'll take turns watching sports and tipping back a few beers at each other's homes, Nichols said.

It's about politics? WTF? Was the bar owner a Democrat and these morons defaced a political sign he hung in his business’s men’s room? These guys are not kids. They should know better. If this is the type of thug being included into GOP, how long before it rubs off down in Hamilton County? I hope the Hamilton County GOP refuses to allow these three fools to attend any GOP events they sponsor, and boycott any they attend, including if Bush or Cheney come downtown. If you can't keep people who allegedly punch people out of your party organization, then I don't know how you can’t be labeled a thug party.

If a LOCAL Democrat has done this, tell me the credible support you have or gain, then I shall publish it. I don’t want to hear any chicken shit defenders of these stooges. This kind of thug behavior is what was done in the 19th century, not today. I fear that this is where we are headed. I hope the Dems in Butler County learn to physically defend themselves if they ever get confronted by these jerks, they could be attacked.

Story via Josh Nelson

Report From the Front Lines

I hit my polling station just past 10 this morning and was out of there about 7 minutes later. There was no line at all. I just had to make sure I only voted for nine council candidates. Honestly, if you are not paying attention and rush it, you can vary easily get confused, especially since there was no order to the candidates in the "butterfly" style ballot.

The odd person left off my 9 person list was Laketa Cole. Eve Bolton got my vote instead. Cole will get on anyway, while Bolton is at best a sleeper candidate. Otherwise I stuck with my other picks.

I of course went for Mallory, Yes on 1 through 5, Yes on 8, No on 9.

The rest, well, lets just say I voted for the rest of the offices and leave it at that. We give so little attention to the School Board and Judgeships, why should I start on this late date, when I myself am ignorant on the detailed differences in those races.

The 1-K station was well staffed, had no lines, and had I think it had at least 5 booths.

One thing I hate about the location of the polling station is that they hold an "Election Day Dinner" almost every year. If you come to vote in the evening, parking is not easy. I think they reserve a few spots for voters near the front, but not that many.

I am off work today, which allows me to vote during the day, a much easier thing to do.

I hope two things happen, first that at least Issue 2 passes, opening up mail voting, and two, I want a National Voting Day. I want most businesses to close down, at least like they do on July 4th. Service industry folks will still work, which sucks for them, but with the mail voting made easy, they can vote early and make great tips when everyone goes out to eat and make great commission when everyone goes shopping after they vote.

If we want something interesting, why not make public schools into large voting centers, and then have special civics days where kids go vote with their parents, and then are given the opportunity (or even required) to take part in civic activities (debates, discussions, open houses, etc.)

I did see a police car drive through the parking lot as I came out of the polling station. The location is at a church, so I don't know if he was there to just make sure the three campaign workers were behind the lines, or if they come by regularly because there is a daycare center in the same location. Cop cars at polling stations are not good things. If this was at a church like say in OTR, then we might make the national news. In Mt. WASPington, we get me commenting on it, and that is all.

I hope everyone had an easy time at the polls, but chime in with any first hand or credible reports of rule breakers.

I’ll start: Paul McGee’s campaign was breaking the rules in Mt. Washington. They attached signs around the sides of the green garbage cans along Beechmont Ave right in Mt. Washington “Square.” That is against the rules, I am pretty sure, but the symbolism is fitting: “throw away your vote on McGee” is what comes to mind, but I am sure a real PR wiz could come up with something better.

In Case You Were Wondering

This is what racism is in its plain and simplest ugly form. It is right here in the tri-state area and along with the disgusting fliers being left around Price Hill, we must make this type of hate something everyone is stamping out.

Mayoral Predictions

So, Who is going to be our next mayor? Where there any local media polls done? I can't find any.

I believe this race is too close to call. Conventional wisdom gives Pepper the edge with the money and the 'bigger' endorsements, but who really wants to trust CW?

I have no prediction, other than it will be within 3% points. What say you?

Council Predictions

Who is going to win? This I don't know, but I will now give the levels of who is a lock down to a possible shot at winning. My analysis is based only on my perceptions and observations. There are no public polls out there that I have read on the council race, so objective data is not on my mind as I do this:

Locks:
Cole, Cranley, Tarbell

Almost Locks:
Crowley, Smitherman, Berding, Bortz

Very Likey:
Ghiz

One of these should get a spot:
Lynch, Monzel, Young, Thomas

Outside Shot:
Spencer, Herd, Eby, Bolton, and yes Malone

Visit The 513 Green PAC Digital HQ

The 513 Green PAC has a new website/blog at http://513gpac.fiveonetree.org.

The site is meant to be an interactive forum and resource for Ohioans interested in advancing a progressive agenda. Regardless of whether or not you agree with the goals of the PAC, we welcome your participation and comments. Unlike many websites, once you register you are able to contribute to the site in a variety of ways.

Many parts of the site, including polls, downloads, and news articles, can be commented on. News articles may be submitted by clicking the “submissions” link at the top of the page. Registered users are also able to submit uploads, calendar events, and links.

With local media offering fewer and fewer divergent viewpoints it is more important now than ever to have options for meaningful information and discussion. We hope that you will join the dialogue on making Cincinnati a better place to live.

If you have press releases or information you think we would be interested in, make a submission on the site and we will probably post it.

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Please visit the site.

This post was made by Josh Nelson.

Tick, Tick...Boom! Extended

The Know Theatre's smash hit Tick, Tick...Boom! has been extended through Nov. 19th. For tickets call 513.300.KNOW or go online. It's a great show from a great group! Get out there now and see more local theater!

Enquirer City Council Endorsements

Here are the Enquirer's picks for Cincinnati City Council, and there are many new names:

Wendell Young, Democrat
Cecil Thomas, Democrat
Leslie Ghiz, Republican
John Eby, Republican
Chris Bortz, Charterite
Jeff Berding, Democrat
John Cranley, Democrat
Jim Tarbell, Charterite
Chris Monzel, Republican

One thing you can say about this group with little hesitation is that they are almost as conservative a group as the Enquirer could have endorsed. Sure there are more conservative nutcase independents out there, but the paper cannot and would not endorse them.

It appears also that Thomas and Young were the last to get on. They also appear to be close to what I would call an affirmative-action endorsement. The slate from the Enquirer is not very racially diverse, but it even less gender diverse, with Leslie Ghiz the only female. It amazes me most that they endorsed Thomas. I don't mind Thomas as a candidate, but honestly he is not really running a campaign, so why the paper endorsed him is a mystery.

The big winner here is Monzel. This might save him. With a last minute push of hand shaking in the right neighborhoods, he stands a much better chance of staying on council. This should put the final nail in Sam Malone's coffin. I was impressed with the way the Enquirer slammed him for his “discipline” campaign rhetoric. What a shameful candidate.

The only significant influence I see these endorsements having is on Republicans. This year’s election may prove true the theory that they only way a Republican can win a council seat, is with an Enquirer endorsement. Monzel didn't get it last time and lost. This time?

I have a Blog Stalker!

It appears someone is so obsessed with me they have created a Cincinnati Blog Blog, site that mocks me. Well, have a look at it. If it is proves to be funny, I might add it to my blogroll. If it is just some conservative toad, I will instead ignore them. Either way, I must laugh at being so worth while to cause someone to spend the time to steal my site's template, modify it, and make fun of me. I thought this is only the kind of thing happened to professional journalists or actual celebrities. I guess I am moving up in the world.

Cincy RTL: Front for the GOP

I generally despise the CRTL PAC. I still reviewed their Candidate Endorsements and I have to ask, why did John Cranley not get their endorsement? I would guess that he may not want it, but the guy has a clear "pro-life" stance, which gave him many votes when he ran for congress. The guy voted to in favor of a "Motion instructing city manager to exclude abortion coverage from city insurance plans." That stance is about as anti-abortion and oppressive of woman as a candidate can get, but he did not get their endorsement. What gives CRTL? Are you a one issue PAC or Republican Shill?

Cincinnati Advance Radio on Today!

Tune into WAIF 88.3 FM today at Noon for the latest edition of Cincinnati Advance Radio with Joe Wessels. Joe's guests include ME! No shit! I will be on the radio. Tune in and make fun of me later.

Enquirer All About Keeping the GOP in Control

Without shock to me, the Enquirer Editorial Board has issued their views on the Issues: Yes on 2, No on 3, 4, 5. I will focus only on their view on Issue 4.

But to an extent, the board's makeup is a false issue. It wouldn't matter if Dopey, Sneezy, Daffy, Goofy and Bugs were on it. The board would be required to follow mathematical formulas, enshrined in the Constitution, that require districts with the highest possible "competitive balance," instead of the current premium on geographically "compact" districts. This could easily result in absurd districts criss-crossing the state, as sample maps generated by Ohio First have shown, and would be open to plenty of legal challenges. If that's not so, why has RON declined to produce its own maps showing how well this would work?

As for the "bipartisan" aspect of this plan: A MoveOn.org fund-raising pitch for RON called this a way to put six more Democrats in the U.S. House. And instead of waiting for the next census, Issue 4 would require new districts to be in effect for the 2008 election, and again after the 2010 census. Hmm. Now why the rush?

So, someone at the Enquirer Editorial Board finds these districts to be "compact?" Have they looked at districts 6 and 18?

Why is the City of Cincinnati divided between two districts? There is only ONE valid reason: to delude the Democratic votes and elect more Republicans. If the state is more "competitive" and elects more Democrats, then that is how the cookie crumbles. The same thing would happen in California and ever other state, a fair election brings fair results. "Fair" means equitable, not just who can tilt the board their way the most.

It is funny though how the paper restates the propaganda lines of the anti-issue 4 camp (which is just the GOP). The even call the anti-camp by their name (Ohio First) and call Reform Ohio Now by an acronym. Just a coincidence?

Council Picks

Well, here is my list. I am not going to tell anyone how to vote, but I am going to list out candidates I think are good and those that are OK, and those that are bad, and then the rest. Each group is in no particular order. I will have predictions closer to election day. For full details on each candidate check out Smart Voter.

Nine of these folks will get my vote
Chris Bortz
Nick Spencer
Jim Tarbell
Jeff Berding
Leslie Ghiz
Samantha Herd
David C. Crowley
Laketa Cole
Eve Bolton
Wendell Young

Ok, but not getting my vote
John Cranley
Cecil Thomas
John Eby
Robert Wilson

Just Say No
Chris Monzel
Chris Smitherman


Bad and should not get on council
Sam Malone
Damon Lynch, III


The Rest: So little known, so I have no opinion.
Bill Barron
Bennie Green
Antonio Hodge
Gerry Kraus
William S. Mathews, II
Paul McGhee
Ishaq Nadir
Michael Earl Patton
Victor Phillips
Ronnie Stallworth
Curtis Wells
Robert J. Wilking
Eric Wilson

Local Blog Endorsements For Council

Joe Hansbauer makes his council picks.

WestEnder at Clark Street Blog gives his picks too.

My list is coming shortly.

Kevin Drum: White Hot Center

Kevin is, you guessed it, right on target with his analysis of a recent 9th Circuit Court ruling. The culture wars are, at their core, about sex. That is where people's blood boils. That is where fear drives some very misguided humans to want and feel the 'need' to oppress a group of other humans because they fear how and why they have sex.

CPD Problems

If the FOP doesn't like the Sheriff patrolling OTR, then what do they intend on doing to stop crime in OTR? Hell, this could have just been a PR stunt, and that would have been a good thing. Instead of sending in a ton of deputies, Si Leis could have just made it know he was patrolling. That would have been enough to help make people scared to go downtown a little less scared, maybe enough for a few wavering to take the plunge and go out to Main Street.

I am curious about this part of the above referenced article:

Over-the-Rhine business owners and residents say that, while Cincinnati police were doing a good job and crime was decreasing, even more officers are needed.

I like the positive point of paragraph, but I am curious to find out what OTR business owners and/or residents are saying crime is going down. I hope it is going down. I don't know if the stats support such a contention. If they do, then why was Leis going to patrol OTR in the first place? Why didn't the CPD just say they don't need him, and that they have turned the corner on the crime in OTR?

The most laughable comment comes from the FOP president:

Commissioners should stop playing politics with policing, Roberts said.

"They are using a perceived problem for their own political gain," Roberts said of the commissioners. "When you use the situation for individual political gain or individual advancement, that's wrong."

This is the same guy that put forth the idea that if you don't elect Charlie Winburn to office, crime would rise. What a hypocrite.

Council Votes

The Enquirer has nice summary of past City Council votes on selected issues. This brings back an interesting episode from 2004, when a City Beat reporter was issued a subpoena to appear before council. It passed with Cole, Cranley, Malone, Reece, and Smitherman voting to bring Leslie Blade before council. Not a great day for freedom of the press.

GOP Hate, Teenager Style

No, not the usual hate. Instead we have personal hate inside the party. I don't like government institutions being abused to fight a political battle, but hell, this just makes the local GOP look like a bunch of children. The more attention is given to this juvenile behavior, the better.

City Beat Endorsements

City Beat published their full endorsement list yesterday, and their choices for the City Council race has a surprise: all 4 Charter Candidates were endorsed. That surprises me. I was surprised Bortz was endorsed by City Beat. He supports the arts and has other issues in common with City Beats editorial Board, but Bortz can be considered a Republican on National political issues. Nick Spencer could be considered that as well, but on social issue Nick is progressive. On social issues Bortz is at best silent. I don't remember the last time City Beat endorsed an actual Republican. Don't get me wrong though, I like it.

Kool-Aid Drinking

When it comes to drinking the Kool-Aid, Peter Bronson has earned his drinker's elbow. There are shills, and then there is Peter Bronson writing bile on behalf of the Bush Administration. It is not even worth going into the details about what Bronson wrote. The term “drivel” does not do it justice. Seriously, he is living in such a land of denial it is not even funny. If Rove is so innocent, then why would people at the White want him to resign?