Andrew Warner Gets Green Backing

City Council Candidate and UC Student Andrew Warner has gained the endorsement of the Southwest Ohio Green Party.

Mallory's Education Plan Gets Press

This article provides the same summary Mallory discussed in last week's Democratic Forum event. I am willing to listen to the plan. I don't know if it could work. We need more details than we have are provided in this article.

Open City Council Race?

Kevin Osborne of the Post gives a good update on the Council Race. According to the article we have the following names floating out there as declared or possible candidates:

Dems:
John Cranley, David Crowley, and Laketa Cole are the incumbents.
Jeff Berding, Eve Bolton, Brian Crum Garry, and Eric Wilson are all seek an endorsement.

Other Dems with their names floating out there include: Bernadette Watson, Cecil Thomas,and Greg Harris.

GOP:
Sam Malone, Chris Monzel are the incumbents.
Leslie Ghiz has declared her intentions.

Other GOPher's with their names floating around are Pete Witte, Tom Jones, and Paul McGee.

Charter:
Jim Tarbell and Chris Smitherman are the incumbents.
Nick Spencer had been endorsed by the party.
Chris Bortz is waiting for a endorsement.

Independents:
I am sure Damon Lynch III is still thinking about it. A run for Mayor is not out the question for him either. Nate Livingston is playing with the idea. Two UC college students also have their names out there: Andrew Warner and Robert Wilson.

If I missed any names of possible candidates, chime in on who should be on the list.

UPDATE: As nearly everyone has pointed out, Fanon Rucker is running for Judge, and is therefore not running for council. I have correct that error above.

Also, Nick Spencer comments on the article and the race in general.

21st Century Stripmalls

With plans for yet another retail "center" or "lifesytle center" as some are called, are these the new strip mall? They seem to be popping up all over the place. They are replacing the stripmall hells on roads like Beechmont, Fields Ertel, and Colerain. In the city we had neighborhood squares that provided a mini-downtown area to find retail and various services. The butcher, coffeehouse, and a funeral home in Mt. Lookout Square are but one example of what made Cincinnati neighborhoods appealing. Are these big-boxish centers trying to create a retailers Disneyworld?

What really sucks about these places is that no one lives there. What makes squares like Hyde Park or Oakley special is that people live on the square or just off the main road and can walk to the shops and restaurants. These centers are just like malls, islands of illusion with faux landscaping, faux streets, and faux life. Plastic town squares for plastic people. You won't see me there. Or, rather you will see me there often, which is not sad for anyone but me. I am a sucker for following crowds.

Leslie Ghiz Makes It Official

Leslie Ghiz announced officially she is running for the City Council. She is considered to be the front runner to take one of the two open seats. Jeff Berding is likely also right up there with her.

Nick Clooney, Get into the 21 Century Please!

I generally like Nick Clooney and his columns are light fun, but Nick needs to maybe buy a computer. His column is footnoted with this tidbit:

Nick Clooney writes for The Post every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Write to him in care of The Post at 125 E. Court St., Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. E-mails sent to Nick at postliving@cincypost.com will be forwarded to him via regular mail.

Can't George buy the guy a Blackberry or something? Hell, hire someone to come to the house once a day and print them out. Why oh why would the Post print off emails and mail them to Nick? I am sending Nick an email on this.

Millworks Isn't Free

In the article announcing the pending deal to add a new Jungle Jim's market to the Cincinnati Millworks in Oakley we learn about one of the sticking points that Jim wants assurance on, the city's commitment to building a new roadways to connect Kennedy Avenue and it's I-71 access points to the Millworks project. The city has already earmarked $6.9 million to the $19.3 million dollar road project. Don't get me wrong, this road project is badly needed whether or not the Millworks happened or not. I just want to make sure no one thinks that the City is not shelling out some bucks for this. I hope the State/Federal governments pick up the rest. This is the type of development that every red blooded Republican should be chomping at the bit to support. I guess the only drawback is that it is not up in Mason.

This hopefully will not require Eminent Domain, but if it does, it should sail through without any significant hindrances.

Pepper's Parking Problems

Should Councilman and Mayoral Candidate David Pepper just hire a full time driver to avoid the tickets? That would actually be much more expensive than the $1,088 in parking fines he paid last year, but his image might improve just a bit if he were able to follow the simplest of rules.

Bronson's Worst

Peter Bronson cannot not get any worse than this hack job on Dan Rather. I know I bash Bronson on nearly everything he writes, but this is just a brand spanking new low of lows. Bronson was Lazy. He did nothing but rehash the conservative spin on Dan Rather and call it a new column. I am tired of bashing Bronson, I will admit it. I am sure that the conservative commenters will come out with the same old drivel and bash me. I don't read and rebut Bronson because I like to, I do it because I believe someone in this town must. The Enquirer does not allow any local liberal columnists to state a regular opinion on political issues. So, I speak my piece so at least I can personally vent a little disdain that builds each day when liberal opinions in this town are muffled by the media and the PTB.

I laugh when conservatives want to paint Dan Rather as a biased liberal. This is a guy who has charged off in more wars than most all of the conservative journalists combined have been to, either as a solider or as reporters. The man was in Iraq before and after the invasion, while Bronson was back home bitching about Bill Clinton getting a better book deal than he got.

If you want to attack Rather for messing up, ok. That’s fine. He screwed up. What I don't hear Bronson or another critic say is "WAS THE STORY WRONG?" Answer: No. Bush did get light duty and preferential treatment while in the TANG. Anyone who doubts that is really living in a kool-aid filled world. Was it political bias that influenced Rather? No, I believe it was ego. Rather's biggest flaw is his big ego. He has a monster size one, but tries to get people to think he is a country boy. Compare this to Peter Jennings who has a huge ego and a level of arrogance befitting an anchor and does nothing to dispute that fact. Rather wanted to get a big story, and let his judgment lax. He should have waited to make the case, even if he lost the scoop.

When it comes to bias in news I had to laugh more when Bronson wrote this:

Rather's melodramatic, grandiose farewell on Wednesday night brought to mind a quote by Emerson: "The louder he spoke of his honor, the faster we counted our spoons." Rather has been a brave risk-taker. But he's just another loud trumpet in the media marching band who began to think he wrote the music.

This reminds me of FOX News. This is the outfit who because they are so 'fair and balanced' and practice 'real journalism' that they have tell their viewers that at least 10 times an hour.

Finally, I again must laugh at Bronson’s pure ignorance when it comes to the Internet. He writes this:

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. There's even a Web site called "Rathergate." What goes around comes around.

Bronson needs to understand something about the Internet. All of history is not on it. The fact that Rather got a couple thousand more references than Nixon says more about Nixon than it does Rather. Rather's actions were recent and people writing about him are rabid with hate towards him for honestly an unknown reason. I mean I would think they would be after Jennings; he is from Canada after all. Nixon on the other hand is being writing about 30 years after he was out of town on a rail. Those writing today are every Tom, Dick, and Harry on a blog, just like me. If we had blogs back in 1972 through 1974, then Nixon would have been impeached well before the fall of 1974, which is where things were headed before Nixon resigned.

If Bronson wants to also compare apples to apples, he might want to have every newspaper from 1948 to 1991 archived online, and then search again. I think Peter might find a few more references to Nixon's stonewalling. I mean Peter if you are going to attack a man for using bad documents by using bad documentation yourself, then you'll look like a pole cat who just was run over by a flatbed pick-up truck on its way to El Paso to deliver a cup of Irony to old Doc Shut-the-Fuck-Up.

Kicking a horse when its down is quickly becoming Bronson's MO. If rebutting Bronson's hack writing becomes mine, then so be it.

Sinn Fein Leader in Cincinnati

Gerry Adams, leader of the political wing of IRA, is starting his American visit in Cincinnati. I know we have a sizeable Irish population, with the large number of Irish bars in town as one indication (and I know them all well), but I would have guessed Adams would have gone to Boston or New York instead.

The Flypaper Theory: May we call them fascists NOW?

The Flypaper Theory asks May we call them fascists NOW? Answer: Yes.

Merger Mania Hits Public Radio

Out of left field the local public radio station WGUC is acquiring WVXU. Are we witnessing the death of public radio in Cincinnati? No place I have ever been in the entire country has had anything like the public radio stations we have here in the Cincinnati Area: WGUC, WNKU, WMUB, and WVXU. Merger two of them together, cutting staff, and altering programming is likely going to be negative for the city. This does reduce competition. Now, when you are talking competition it does not have the same meaning for commercial radio as it does for public radio. They compete for donations, but in the case here, once they get what they need, then don't have to keep on fighting for every dollar. I believe both stations had a solid complementary situation and shared NPR's gem news programs fairly with Morning Edition on WVXU and ATC on WGUC. Because of this both stations had news teams. WVXU appeared to have a bigger staff and was putting more effort into news and news gathering.

The only opportunity I can see from this combination that will have a lasting effect, outside of financial stability under the combined structure, is a new and better funded news team that serves both stations and provides local news coverage that can rival WLW and all of the broadcast TV channels for serious news coverage. It can take the form in how they fill in local news breaks on Morning Edition and ATC as well as specialized news forum shows or even a weekly local ATC/Morning Edition type magazine show.

I most strongly hope that they do not significantly alter WVXU's programming. The local programs must stay. They must keep the BBC on overnights. The most critical thing is keep the old time radio shows going. They are so unique and so valuable to the society. What I would not be sad to see go are some of the nationally syndicated music programs they air, like Audio Synchronies. I am sure there are fans of this out there, but I do not see the value in airing it as often as they do. The fan base maybe huge, but I don't know who or where they are. The locally based Jazz shows should be carried on. Jazz on the radio is about as rare as Classical on the radio, if not more rare.

The place I hope they choose to cut are on repeats. I love the NPR programs Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me and Prairie Home Companion. I don't need to hear them twice on the same weekend.

Reduced control of media is a negative no matter how it is spun. In this case I generally have trust and dare I say 'faith' that WGUC will not destroy a great radio station and a great concept. Time will tell if I am misplacing that trust.

Mayoral Forum

We had no surprises and no stumbles at a forum include all Democratic mayoral candidates. All of the candidates did well and had ideas. All of them gloss over many of their ideas, which in this type of event is all that usually happens. What I found missing was any solutions to our huge problems in race relations and community police relations. Not until asked by an audience member did anyone directly address those issues. The audience was friendly, but this race will have internal foes that will be coming with big teeth attacks later in the year.

Oddest element of the night, Jim Tarbell sat about three seats away from me. Why was he there? He is a Charterite, and a faithful one. Was he simply sizing up the potential competition?

Hypocrite Bronson (Duh)

As usual Bronson attacks Democrats for use their church for political purposes. Why doesn't Peter mention how often conservatives are hit up for money will at a pot luck dinner at his church. Oh, sure, they don't get up in the pulpit and do it, they will not openly break the law. They just pass over lists of members to fund raisers for Bush and pass out "voting guides" that do everything but paint little horns on the pictures of Democrats.

I would like Bronson also to talk about allegations of the use of county offices, property, and political position by Republicans to raise money and gain votes all on the tax payer's dime. How many staffers were told, in so many words, to appear and campaign for certain county officer holders who were also their boss?

3 Cincinnati Priests Suspended

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati suspended 3 priests priests because of allegations of sexual abuse from the 1970's and 1980's. The three include the chaplain for Children's Hospital Medical Center.

Tax Status of Reece's Church?

Based on how Greg wrote parts of this story there are many questions I have about the church's tax status:

"The Rev. H.L. Harvey Jr. stood at the pulpit of his Avondale church Sunday and introduced Vice Mayor Alicia Reece as 'qualified to run this city like no other mayor has ever run this city.'

After her speech launching her campaign for mayor, Harvey returned to the pulpit for a fund-raising plea. 'There is another candidate, from my understanding, who is rich, and he's getting help from other folks,' he said, referring to Councilman David Pepper. 'But we need to help our own.'

Church ushers handed out fund-raising envelopes for what Harvey called 'soft money' and 'seed money.'"

If ushers were passing around political fundraising materials in the church or on church property is that not a blatant violation of the law?

This kind of thing happens in many churches. It happens in fundamentalist churches with often more of a wink and smile, no so up front of an act.

This event was a fundraiser and did not know fundraiser could be held on property owned by non-profit entities. If they had not passed out fundraising materials, her making the announcement there would not have been a significant issue on the tax status question. The IRS should act. They should be reviewing or auditing the politically related actions of every church in the city and region. I wonder how many church membership listings were handed over to the Bush campaigns out in Mason and West Chester.

What Good Do GOP Congressmen Do?

If two Republican congressmen can't reward an area that went for Bush in huge numbers, then what good are they? Our region needs a new Bridge for I-75. This highway was built in part as a defense for invasion. How do we not get the funding? Throw some of your political capital around, Steve Chabot. The GOP owes your people big. I mean when you gin up people to fear gays and Muslims, you better gain something from it, especially something that the National Transportation System really needs to maintain.

Fringe Fest News

Here is a great update on the acts scheduled to appear at this years Fringe Festival. This diverse set of plays, music, dance, art, and comedy has grown quickly. This is just its second year and there are acts performing from Brooklyn, Minneapolis, Illinois, and even Hollywood, as well as many acts from all over Ohio and Kentucky. This year's event is in June. You can get full details at their website: www.cincyfringe.com.

Reece is Running

That makes three for Mayor. That clock is ticking for the GOP. Chris Smitherman is now supposed to tell us what he already decided about running for mayor. I wouldn't mind an email on that.

Hot Cincy

You can not get better press for a city then this AP feature story by Terry Kinny. The main focus is on the recent string of growth spurts by several local corporations. What comes is the sense, that yea, Cincinnati is a city with something to offer people. I think a great point comes from a Chiquita spokesman:

"It's a big enough city that there are plenty of cultural attractions and very good infrastructure, yet it's not too big to be overwhelming," said Chiquita spokesman Mike Mitchell, who moved from Phoenix three years ago.

There is plenty to do in this town. The people need to just get out and do it. The folks out in the suburbs need to hire a baby sitter and come downtown. Go to a club. Go to a show. Go out to dinner. Don't worry if you see a homeless guy or, heaven forbid, a non-white person waiting for a bus. They are not going to bite you. As long as you are not trying to buy drugs in OTR, you don't have to worry about gang violence.

I Meant to Do That

James C. Dietz, a man pushing his religious beliefs gets caught in the Intelligent Design is not religion lie. Now, the first level of lie or I shall just say rhetorical misrepresentation comes from the mention of his religious website: www.existentialrational.com. It is not so much a bible thumping site as it is just a philosophers take on why he is religious. His website reads like a text book philosophical argument on the existence of "God" (presumably the Christian God). For all I know he wrote a text on the subject. He uses the 'logical' tactics of emotion, presumption, perspective and circular reasoning to establish his views. Fine, I have no problem with that.

What he does though in his column is just sad. He tries to say that the basis for ID is not religious. This is where he is just either lying or fooling himself. He says:

I believe that most proponents of intelligent design accept the fact that biological organisms evolved and continue to evolve over time. The difference is that they have observed and accepted the evidence for sophisticated design parameters being introduced into the biological systems of all organisms. They believe that intelligent design parameters have been and, in limited ways, continue to be introduced into the evolution of biological organisms.

Now, first I disagree that most ID proponents believe in evolution as the original of human life. They make accept it for non-humans, but they don't like thinking they are related to apes.

Secondly, he is trying to scientific terms like "observed" and "evidence" and fails to inject his emotional assumptions and false presumptions. The concept of design is a human one. We see form, shape, and structures as something that can't happen unless someone made it. He also has arbitrarily determined what a "design" constitutes. He like sees something that happened and assumes, because he fits his religious beliefs, that what happened, how it looks, acts, and is structured must have been designed by someone for some purpose.

What he is doing is nothing different than if while tripped over my own feet, stumble, and manage to twirl in the air and land on the my feet and then claim, "I meant to do that."

ID is based on philosophy, so why Mr. Dietz is promoting it is not a surprise. The fact that he is pushing it is also another reason to support the fact that he is doing it for religious reasons. Why does he want it taught in Science class? It is not science. If he wants the concept discussed in philosophy class any time the origin of life is debated, then I say fine. Otherwise, no, keep philosophy out of science class.

Mr. Deitz might be surprised to know that there is far more to evolution than Darwin, but when you need a whipping boy, Chuck Darwin is the choice of all honest religious zealots.

I am getting a bit sick of this topic though. Why is the editorial page pushing this issue? I think in the last few months they have had at least 5 if not more guest columns or editorials on ID/creationism and or evolution. The issue is only fodder for religious extremists. Either someone on the Enquirer Editorial Board is fundamentalist/evangelical Young Earth bible thumper, or they view that Demographic as a hot desired market they need to cater towards.

UPDATE: Also, big reason why ID is religious takes form with the concept of a supernatural entity required to have the 'power' to design life. If you believe in ID you believe in a religious concept. It may not jive directly with the various sects of Christianity, but it is religious. Belief in a supernatural creator is one of the definitions of a religion.

Cunningham's Mouth, Yet Again

Local media whore Willie Cunningham has has once again said something stupid on national television. Tom Tomorrow's description of Willie as a "a second- or third-tier radio guy" is something I am sure will do nothing to hold back the self constructed ego of the scourge of Cincinnati airwaves.

FOP Greed?

I am generally supportive of the right of workers to form labor unions. I get discouraged when I see police unions act in such a care less manner. They care not for the financial plight of the city, and a large percent, if not a majority, do not even live in the city. It is like playing chicken with the public's safety. I think now they will push for a slowdown, if they have not really had one going on since 2001 anyway.

Public workers I believe have a different duty than private company workers. They have a role in society that goes beyond their own wages and profit. That is why, in the case of Police and Firefighters, these types of workers have a unique status in society that affords them extra respect for doing their job. I think to me however, when they even flirt with taking action that might slow their actions required to meet the duties to the society, I just lose that respect I had for what they do. All but the one person who voted for the City’s offer. I would like to shake that officer's hand.

Mama Miami

The historically prudish side of Miami University comes out nearly every year with the extreme efforts they take to squash anything related to Green Beer Day and St. Patrick's Day. Miami's Spring Break is always the week of St. Patrick's Day. If I remember correctly there were some legends that tried to explain why this was their policy. It usually took the form of some guy in a frat dying after consuming too much alcohol.

Let the kids grow up. Let them live their own lives. If someone wants to drink themselves to death, they are going to do it while on Spring break in Mexico, even if they miss out on Green Beer Day. Miami Parents I think have pushed this attitude about Miami, and the Administration of the School lets them do it. If you want independent leaders, you have to allow them to be independent.

Making the News

I don't know why but the Blower has included me in his report today, and I don't get a funny nickname. I am "One obscure discredited Blogger who shall remain nameless." I didn't know I was ever credited with anything to become discredited.


On a positive note, Beryl Love, Editor of CiNWeekly, included me in his discussion of our great experience last Saturday at the Tristate Student Journalism Association Conference. It was a very good event. I must admit I felt like a fish out of water there. Some of the names on the presenter list included people I have criticized. Everyone was very nice though.

I have changed my opinion some on CiN. I would still wish for a publication that takes itself a bit more seriously. That I guess is what makes it different from CityBeat. I read both every week. I find a place for both. CityBeat is focused on much more of a niche audience, which allows them to be a bit more serious than CiN.

I really am pleased with the CiN staff blog. I would only encourage more posts. That is often the most important key to a well read blog. That is about all that keeps people coming here.

Witness Protection

There was talk of the County offering a witness protection program. Either they still need it or it didn't work. What is missing from this story is drugs. Was this all about drugs? Are drug dealers involved? Shooting someone in the back of head hardly sounds like an amateur family member seeking revenge for testifying against the accused.

Damn the Man

Acropolis Chili battles Eminent Domain.

Cruel Bronson

Yes, Peter is very good at kicking people after they are dead. It would appear that Bronson is both sorry and pissed that Hunter S. Thompson was unable to wake up and smell the Jesus the way Peter supposedly has. That seems to sum up Bronson's disdain of the 60's, which he really missed since he was only 15 in 1968. He instead went to college in the 1970's and I can see how that would have sucked. His bashes anyone or anything that thinks that outside the way the "Church" tells you is somehow wrong, evil, a heathen, or just going to party in Hell. Or if I speak it in the original tongue "Heeeellllll."

Over the Top Rope Battle Royal

Joe Hansbauer of The Nati is reporting that the 3 Democratic Mayoral candidates will meet on March 10 for a forum at the 20th Century Theater in Oakley Square. It starts at 7 PM.

Things are sure to get out of hand when you include an open mic for questions from a mob of Democratic activists. I will be working on the odds at a later point.

The Blower

The NKY Challenger heaped a bucket of praise on Jim Schifrin of the Whistleblower. The former Fax/email newsletter that just this week switched to an email only free newsletter. Schifrin is cranky, stogy, nasty, cruel, universally bigoted, and really gets good scoops on local politicians. The place to go to trash your friend and foe is the Whistleblower.

On online archive is kept at the BlueChipReview. This is not for the faint hearted.

BarrelHouse Closing

OTR's best brewhouse is closing its doors after selling the business. The new owner is reportedly planning on continuing to brew the beer locally, which is served at many other local bars, but the brewhouse will be at a different location.

Lemmie Leaving?

Mayor Luken is hinting that the city manager may resign near or even when he leaves office.

Who would take her place? Will we open up another nationwide search to find someone in Middletown this time?

Water is Wet, Episode #452

Congress reps here have few black aides

Police Searches

I don't get this. People are concerned that Police searches go to far? Now, if that were a complaint about just being searched in the first place, ok, I get that, and I agree. The police should not just search people at random.

When police search someone, they should search the person's clothes, all levels. They should not do a body cavity search, but that is not what people are complaining about. People are right to complain about police searching people for no reason. If they complained more when little Johnny was caught with crack in his underwear, instead of complaining that police found it, maybe Johnny won't do it again and respect the law. Let's worry about police doing illegal searches, not how thorough they get.

WaPo: Federated to Buy Rival May

Federated Department Stores to Acquire Rival May. The article states that the official announcement will be tomorrow. The sale price is reported to be $35.50 for each share of May, to be paid in a combination of cash and stock. Other news reports are calling the price around $36, but are not as specific.

This is big news for Federated. Let us all hope this will be good news for the City in that the National HQ stays here and maybe even expands.

Oscars

I have little interest in the Oscars this year. I have seen so few movies this past year, that I can honestly have a favorite. I traditionally make it a point to see every movie nominated for most of the top honors. This year it has been nearly none.

Who should win? Does the "should" even matter any more?

Reece is Running for Mayor

The official word will not come for another week but a brief mention was given about a comment Vice Mayor Alicia Reece made yesterday:

Cincinnati Vice Mayor Alicia Reece - who has hinted in recent months that she wants to run for mayor - will make it official March 6. Reece, a Bond Hill Democrat, said Saturday she will kick off her campaign for mayor after she returns from a fund-raising trip. Democrats David Pepper, a Mount Adams councilman, and Mark L. Mallory, a West End state senator, have announced their candidacies for the Sept. 13 primary. Charlie Luken is not seeking re-election.

This was not unexpected, she has been toying with the run for months now, but it is the awaited signal to start a chain of events that will define the make-up of the next City Council.

The next link is who Charter will run. Charter wants to field a candidate, but they only have two people with any legitimate shot at making any difference, Smitherman & Tarbell. Rumors about both have been circulating for months. Smitherman reportedly has already been gaining the required signatures to get on the ballot. Both possible candidates only chance to affect the election

Hiding in the background is the GOP. They have two still waiting in the wings for an endorsement, Painter and Winburn. Painter's candidacy seems to have faded. He made rumblings back last year that he would not run against Mallory. Winburn then get be in the driver's seat. Brinkman's name is being floated around as well. He would do nothing but pull down Pepper and or Winburn, so he would stand to only win a council seat, not the Mayor's office. I don't think he will run for Mayor, but I think he wants to be Mayor of a county wide city government.

If we have a 5 way race with 3 Dems, 1 Charterite, and 1 Republican the battle for the top two spots have a dynamic that turns on three demographics: the black vote, the Westside conservative votes, and the east side moderate/liberals.

The black vote is the most complicated and most likely to be spit over three or even four candidates. Mallory, Reece, Smitherman, and Winburn would all seek to base their support in the black community. Winburn would have the least claim to that, but could still have significant support, drawing it from the other three. Without Smitherman, both Reece and Mallory gain votes. Tarbell is who they both would be hoping gets in the race instead of Smitherman, because he takes virtually no black votes form them, and instead takes huge chunks of Pepper votes and many possible Winburn votes.

The Westside conservatives would go for the GOP label no matter who is there, but some will not go for Winburn because he is black. They will go for Pepper, or if Tarbell is the race they might float to him. Brinkman complicates this even further.

The Eastside moderates are in Pepper's pocket. They might be turned on by Mallory, Tarbell, or maybe even Reece. Brinkman would pick up the few rightwing extremists, but they are mostly on the Westside (or already have fled to the burbs.)

The liberals will also be tested. They would logically lean towards Mallory. They don't hate Pepper or Reece totally, but neither would be their first choice. Mallory will likely keep them, but needs the money of the moderates.

Pepper is the front runner at this point, way ahead of the rest of the field in the primary race. So far he has the top spot locked up. The race is for number two, and it is far early to say who will get it.

Jene Galvin gave an opinion on the race in CityBeat this week and his take on Reece is, shall we say, a bit optimistic. Nate is not even convinced with today's announcement that she is actually going to end up running.

AP Homeless Stories

In an AP feature story on the homeless a collection of stories from across the country are shared, including a story from Cincinnati:

LUNCH TIME: CINCINNATI.

Brent Chasteen slings a backpack over his shoulder and heads out on the streets.

An outreach worker, the 42-year-old Chasteen was hired by a business group called Downtown Cincinnati Inc. after the city enacted panhandling laws that require licenses for anyone who verbally begs.

Chasteen, dressed in cargo pants and hooded sweatshirt, works his way through downtown, handing out discount food cards to the needy, offering help to a woman bundled up and sitting in Fountain Square amid tote bags stuffed with clothes.

He later heads west to a desolate place near the railroad tracks where a shopping cart is filled with cans and bottles and covered with ragged green carpet.

"Hey, Wolf!" Chasteen calls into the winter air.

A purple sleeping bag tucked in a cardboard box moves. A man with a dark beard emerges.

Wolf has been homeless for 10 years.

"Trying to do what other people do - it's a losing battle," he says, sipping a can of beer. "I sit and look at everybody out there and I go, 'Nah, I'm OK where I'm at.' "

Chasteen makes no judgments.

"I know that we may seem to be in separate worlds on the surface," he says, "but many of them share the same kinds of problems that affect me and everybody else."

Chasteen has been featured locally for his efforts with homeless and issues directly affecting the homeless, the panhandling ID Card: In CityBeat, the Enquirer, the Post, and the Newsrecord.

Queen City Forum Site Redesign

Great site renovation from the gang over at Queen City Forum Magazine.

Also note that Walk in Brain, Wes Flinn's blog, is the official blog of QCF, a good match.

Excuse for a Slowdown?

Harry Roberts, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, is advising his members to oppose the City's current contract proposal. A police slowdown (could we call it a brownout?) has been an on again off again element that the Cincinnati Police have been unofficially engaged in since not long after the April 2001 riots. Denials were always made, but their actions, or rather inactions, provided all of the evidence needed to illustrate a concerted effort to influence public opinion.

With this contract dispute, which seems to be an endless act of brinkmanship every year, will Roberts organize (by a wink and nod of course) yet another police slowdown to help twist the arm of city council? We are heading into campaign season, and crime will be a central issue for council, and especially the mayor's race. The PR minefield for the perceived anti-crime Democrats (Cranley and Pepper) who tend to get good conservative support might get tarnished if they are forced to battle the FOP and be seen as anti-police. That logically might make them more attractive to the liberals, but both crossed over the bridge of centrists and will have to pay a big toll to come back into the liberal camp.

The Cincinnati Post editorial page had similar concerns last month:

City officials, who have been trying to come up with a labor contract that avoids a confrontation with the police, filed an unfair labor practices complaint with the state over a published report that some officers are talking openly about launching a work slowdown if they don't like the deal. A slowdown would not be unprecedented, of course. After the 2001 riots some officers pretty much sat on their hands, particularly in Over-the-Rhine, which to this day remains the preferred shooting range for drug dealers.

Are we not talking about a form of extortion?

Pancake Vegas

What ever happens in OTR, stays in OTR. In his post on Leslie Ghiz Nate Livingston brought up his flirtation with the Hamilton County GOP and his possible candidacy for Cincinnati City Council.

Leslie's entry into the race makes me want to run. Last Saturday I attended the Northeast Hamilton County Republican Club's annual pancake breakfast out at the Sharonville Convention Center. What goes on at the pancake breakfast, stays at the pancake breakfast. But I can say it was quite interesting and I learned a lot through my conversations with some of Hamilton County's top Republicans, including Congressman Rob Portman, Sheriff Simon Leis, numerous judges, and other elected officials and Party workers.

I really wanted to avoid laughing out loud at this or even commenting on it, but I just could not let it go by. Does Nate really think that his former jailer would stand by and let him get endorsed as a Republican? No, Nate is not that foolish. I hope these conversations were at least civil, but I would bet money that any and all of the GOP officer holders who actually knew who Nate is, gritted their teeth and poured him a cup of coffee. They would have likely preferred to hurl a few four letter words at him, but they are also smart enough to not make a scene.

I wonder what really happened at the breakfast to make Nate tight lipped? Did he drip maple syrup on his tie or something?

Save Our City has comments as well.

Ghiz is Running

Much to my surprise, Leslie Ghiz has announced she is again running for City Council. She is still running as a Republican, even though she was slighted by Councilman and anti-homosexual bigot Sam Malone.

She is positioned fairly well to contend. She has gain significant support on the Eastside and will likely gain some liberal/moderate support. She had a significant amount of that last time, but this time she might get some of their money too. She should have either run as an independent or as a Charterite.

I really hope that she just gets thousands of more votes than Monzel and Malone. Monzel will be lucky to return in the 9th spot. He will need big money and big TV airtime.

Bad Editors

Where in this article Pension-reform idea a tough sell does it say anything about pensions? It doesn't say a damn thing about pensions, it is talking about reforming Social Security. An ignorant or politically biased editor wrote that headline and totally messed up its meaning. I read the headline, and then saw Rep. Portman's picture and believed I was going to read an article about how Portman was going to introduce new legislation about reforming Pension and 401(k) Plans. He has done that in the past and I actually like several elements of the law, especially the improvement to the vesting schedule requirements the legislation placed on corporations.

No, this is about Portman shilling for Bush's phase out plan for Social Security. SS is not a pension plan. Now, if were in England, the term "pension" has different meanings and here in America professionals like myself use the term pension plan to refer to traditional defined benefit plans, not 401(K) or profit sharing defined contribution plans. We most certainly do not consider Social Security to be a pension plan.

I fear the editor at fault here is most likely ignorant about the interworkings of Social Security and Pensions and how the terminologies differ. Where a bias claim can have an appearance is that use of the term "pension" is one of Bush's phase out Plan points. He is trying to make people think Social Security is just like their 401(k) Plans, when it is not. No matter what you may think about Bush's plan, you must understand that he wants to transform Social Security into something vastly different than it is today. SSA is closer to a defined benefit plan in its structure; it is more of an annuity plan, than a pension plan. Those plans put little risk on the participant/beneficiary. Bush wants a defined contribution plan, where the participant/beneficiary bears all of the risk. When he does not say this up front, he is being dishonest, something akin to a snake oil salesman.

Sick and Tired

I am sick and tired. No, really, I am sick and tired. I have a cold and I am ready to sleep.

I failed to mention the death of Hunter S. Thompson, what I can point you to is the movie Where the Buffalo Roam a semi-biographical movie about Thompson. It stars Bill Murray who was born to play Hunter S. Thompson. Murray should reprise the role in any future bio-pic.

Make that Two From UC

Andrew Warner, a 3rd Year UC student, has announced his candidacy for Cincinnati City Council. Warner is a Green Pary member and has a website. He has little chance, but at least can pay his political dues.

No More E-Check in Hamilton Co. ?

What are the odds of E-Check going bye-bye?

SCOTUS Hearing Eminent Domain Case

How will the Supreme Court rule on Eminent Domain, where it enacted for private development, not public projects? This likely has lawyers for those pending displacement in Norwood and in Clifton Heights. It may also impact the new Stewart Landing Plan.

Iraqi Voter Turnout

Well, I wonder how many people still believe the vote turnout in the Iraqi election was "overwhelming" or huge would be shocked to know that only 58% of registered voters came out to vote:

The election commission said 8.55 million votes were cast; about 14.66 million people were registered to take part in the election. The 58 percent turnout fell short of the 60 percent that officials had predicted soon after the vote.

I would guess those who think it was at 72% will just say that holding an election was the panacea to fix everything in Iraq, even though at the same time they said it was going to be a tough road ahead. You know, hedging your media spin is the only way one can survive in the world of Wurlitzer.

Best Seller Coming

I don't think Mike or Pat DeWine will enjoy the upcoming book release:

Due out in June: the book by Washingtonienne, the blogger who got fired from DeWine's staff for writing about her sexual exploits in Washington.

The book by Jessica Cutler - Washingtonienne's real name - is billed as a novel now, titled 'The Washingtonienne.' Amazon raves: 'Deliciously gossipy and impossible to put down, 'The Washingtonienne' is destined to be the book in everyone's summer beach bag.'

I have not checked, but the Wonkette was the place for the full scoop on Jessica Cutler, so she likely had this story awhile ago.

Enquirer Women of the Year

The Cincinnati Enquirer has named 10 Women of Year. A hat tip to this year's honorees, who will be fully profiled in the March 13th issue of the newspaper.