Detail on the Dubliner Debacle

City Beat has the details on the fall of Mike Kull's Dubliner. In what appears to be a fair article, both sides come across as a people who could use a referser in respectful business practices.

Kevin Osborne in CityBeat

Mallory's Crime Plan is not the only thing interesting in this week's City Beat. Former Post and Enquirer reporter Kevin Osborne makes an appearance as reporter in the local Alt Weekly.

New Owners Find Mess At Dubliner

Damn, looks piss poor. It is sad that it came down to what appears like sour grapes.

King George's Lackeys

It is nice to know that King George has a good number of sniveling servants willing to let him do as he pleases. U.S. Senator Jim Bunning comes across as an idiot:

"I think it is legitimate, and anything we can do within reason to stop any further attacks on the United States, I hope the president will use. ... If I start getting phone calls from al-Qaida, I hope he taps my phone, because that's what has basically been done by the NSA."

Has Jim Bunning read the Bill of Rights recently? Where does it say in the Constitution that the Bill of Rights (or any article or amendment) can be suspended or waived based on the whim of the President? Fact: It doesn't say that. It is so very clear that Bush has violated the Constitution here, and it is so very sad, that so many Republicans are willing to let Bush do it, all in the name of "fighting terrorism." Well, "fighting communism" was the battle cry for J. Edgar Hoover, and what he did to thousands, if not millions of U.S. citizens was dismissed in a similar way because of irrational fear and blind faith that people in power are not full of shit.

For those who will ride on the fact that we are in the state of War, and that gives Bush the power, well, you are wrong. A STRICT CONSITUTIONALIST, would declare that since only Congress can "declare war" that no war has been declared. An authorization for the use of force is not a declaration of war. If they are legally the same, why not use war? If there is no difference, why not use the constitution as it is written? I mean, come, isn't Bush follow a literal interpretation of the Constitution or not?

Is It All About Paperwork?

Is the sticking point over having Sheriff Deputies patrol Over-the-Rhine a matter of paperwork? IS that really what Leis is filing suit over? If adding Sheriff patrols to OTR is going to help reduce crime and we can pay for it, then what is stopping Leis from doing what ever it takes to get those patrols going? Why would he let paperwork get in his way? Just fill out the damn forms, Si.

Elliott Block: "CW will go to 64"

John Kiesewetter of the Enquirer reports on the local impact of the "merger" of the WB and UPN TV Networks. Elliot Block is the owner of local UPN affiliate WBQC. I agree that any an all logic points to the higher power WSTR getting the CW affiliation. I don't watch much of either channel, so I doubt I will change that. WSTR could stand to have better local production values, and maybe this new Network will help bring that.

Mayor's Night In

Mayor Mark Mallory is establishing a twice a month chance to talk with the Mayor. This program is not new to Cincinnati and as the article points out, Charlie Luken had it right after the riots, but after a few months it ended to lack of turnout.

Will this program last and serve as a means for the Mayor to hear the views of the citizens or as a way for individuals to gain help with working with the city? Is this means for Jane Doe to voice her views on police policy or economic development, or is it a chance for her to get the Mayor to make a phone call to a city department to get something to happen? It could be used for both, but will it be that?

More from WCPO.

Might Be?

I am willing to take a leap and say that the idiots who left a Chemical Bomb in a black man's mailbox committed a hate crime. More morons. Would finger prints survive the bomb squad's defusing of the device?

Archive of Enquirer.com Columnists

What, no chicks?

Enquirer Redesigns Website

Something new from the Enquirer. This format has been in place for NKY.com since its inception, but they have moved the format over to its older brother. The biggest add I see so far is the inclusion of a link for the Community Press & Recorder.

The details are here on what is new, including a FAQ.

Wulsin Running?

Howard Wilkinson reports that Victoria Wells Wulsin is taking steps to run for the 2nd congressional district. She was runner up to Paul Hackett in the Dem primary and would be a logical choice. She would stand a good chance of winning the primary, would she have any at beating Schmidt or McEwen?

Monty Out of Gov Race

Betty Montgomery, State Auditor, has withdrawn from the governor's race, leaving Ken Blackwell and Jim Petro in the hunt for the GOP nomination.  This is a big blow to the moderate GOP in Ohio.  Ohio once contained a moderate GOP, in case you forgot.  Taft (though he is disgraced), DeWine, and Voinovich to name a few are not right wing republicans.  I disagree with them, but they are not out to establish a theocracy, and they generally only appease the right wing extremes when they have too.  Monty's poor showing indicates either that the GOP in Ohio are totally run and controlled by the religious fundamentalists, assuming Jim Petro can't pull a comeback and win, or that so many of the party don't give a crap, and are leaving the party for GDI territory. (God Damn Independents for the ignorant).

I don't think Ken Blackwell can win as governor if he keeps up being the theocratic movement's lapdog.  I will qualify this with the fact that a large number of people are really ignorant and even though they would disagree with him on 90% of the issues he is pushing, they will vote for him because of “1” thing.  That “1” thing is something different to various voter types and individuals, but the one thing that I fear that is becoming more of an influence on the voter is peer pressure.  If you don't vote as your neighbor does, you might not be welcome anymore at the neighborhood picnic.  This is just a symptom of the polarization and sectarian nature of politics today.    

Ford Closes Local Plant

Horrible news for the region. This will hurt Clermont County big. So, where's this great economy?

Malone on Trial

This will be an interesting exhibition of law, but Sam Malone's trial on charges of hitting his son will do much for society. Malone will likely not get punished much, if at all. His relationship is likely ruined with his son, and his son is likely scared for life, literally and emotionally. All of this rests on the idiot notion that beating your kids with a belt is right. It is as wrong as wrong can be. I will never understand anyone who thinks what Malone did was anywhere near right. Malone will get support from a few idiotic conservatives and from those seeking to exploit race, but Malone's reputation is now that of a child abuser.

Brinkman to Run?

Is Tom Brinkman going to run against Jean Schmidt for congress? He has a very short window, about 3 more weeks to see if he has enough money and supporters, as opposed to Bob McEwen, who has already announced he will challenge Schmidt. Tom will not run unless he has the edge now. He can't run for two offices.

Brinkman is blowing hot air, and will not run. He wants to run, but few want him to run.

This is a going to be a nice and bloody GOP primary.

It would be nice if an experienced candidate was running for the Dems, but it appears that no well known candidates are running. No David Pepper, unless someone knows something.

No More West Wing?

Will I ever watch network TV again? Is there any reason to watch Network TV? I exclude PBS from my lament, but TV will suck more than ever without the West Wing.

I once considered myself a TV junkie. I knew when every show was on, channel, day, and time. That was 10 years ago, well it was maybe 4 years ago. Now, I don't watch much TV, but West Wing was one of the few shows I would make it a point to watch. When they moved it to Sundays, that sucked rocks. Even with the death of John Spencer, the show still had plenty of value to it, and it surely was far better than the reality crap out there now, that for some reason will just not go away. I don't think there will be much for me to watch anymore. I will likely be a better person for watching less network TV anyway, so I shall give a muffled cheer.

UPDATE: More from the Enqurier.

Taste Does Not Equate to Criminality

It is humorous to see how the conservative editorial page of the Cincinnati Enquirer frets over George Clooney, but seems to not care about the Fraud Abramoff has been accused of committing.

The question they should have been asking is not about George Clooney's father taught George, instead they should be grilling Jack Abramoff's father and ask "Didn't he teach his son not to break the law?"

Clooney's comments are a matter of taste, and don't equate to the crimes Abramoff is accused of committing. The newspaper's trivialize of white color crime is a symptom of the political gutter with which they are willing to stoop to make a weak point.

Steve Ramos Sundance Blog

City Beat's Steve Ramos gives his take on the 2006 Sundance Film Festival.

For more on the Festival, check out their website.

I See Food on Fountain Square

More development happening around the Fountain Square Revamp.

2 Shot, Cookie Cutter Journalism Ensues

Fear and panic abound about a shoot out behind a Hyde Park School by teenagers. Was this about drugs? I don't know.

What I see in this story is a formula that is tired and does a disservice to the reader. We don't need to hear the fears of those living 100 yards away. Why is the reporting taking the angle that the fear caused in the neighborhood is news? The news is why the person was shot and who did it. Those are the facts. Adding in the fears of local residents creates an image that people who don't pay attention suck up like sheep that Hyde Park is somehow unsafe. Sure, report this happened, but the story is not the neighborhood reaction. That is a backstory, if and only if you get letters or outcry from residents on their own, not at the prompting of a reporter’s questions.