CAA capitulation prompts resignation
The key paragraph: "Judge Jones said Friday that he could not tolerate a decision by the agency board to move its annual dinner out of a downtown hotel simply because board members were afraid after being threatened with physical harm."
This sounds like it vindicates the lawsuit by the Cincinnati Arts group and it supports Peter Bronson's Column. Why the newspaper only has Nate Livingston as a spokesperson is a mystery. How can anyone trust a convicted criminal's claims? Was he the first person called or the last person called? Linda Newman and Amanda Mayes were not answering their phones? Nate’s claims were rather dubious, at best. These threats should be investigated. This has all of the earmarks of extortion. I hope the police and/or Mike Allen do not shy away from the firestorm that would be created in going after the "thuggish" boycotters who made these threats to the CAA.
I wonder what it took to get this story into the newspaper and to get it as a top story? This kind of incident has in the past only been in Peter Bronson’s columns. What changed in this set of facts? Does Judge Jones’s words carry more weight? Does a former Mayor, Bobbie Stern, raise so many eyebrows that no one can avoid this story? I hope the Enquirer keeps this kind of reporting up, and does follow-up and see if any prosecutions occur. Will Mike Allen look into this? Will the CJC find a patsy? Stay tuned.
Saturday, August 31, 2002
W. Chester officials try to shut out adult shops
More fascism on the March. Why are people listening to Phil Burress? Why do they embrace theocratic fascism? I know many people need to be told what to do, especially when they are told to tell others what to do, but do they have a shred of individuality or freedom? I guess they fear the young boys will grow up to be guys who like to look at naked women. That sounds like something horrible!!!! Oh the humanity!!!!!!!
More fascism on the March. Why are people listening to Phil Burress? Why do they embrace theocratic fascism? I know many people need to be told what to do, especially when they are told to tell others what to do, but do they have a shred of individuality or freedom? I guess they fear the young boys will grow up to be guys who like to look at naked women. That sounds like something horrible!!!! Oh the humanity!!!!!!!
BRONSON: Spin cycle
When a spinmeister is whining that his spin is not working on the media at large, I must just take a moment to dance around the room singing and yelling in complete and utter bliss.
When a spinmeister is whining that his spin is not working on the media at large, I must just take a moment to dance around the room singing and yelling in complete and utter bliss.
SMITH AMOS: Lincoln Hts. reunion
Denise Smith Amos has hit double with this column. She correctly and cogently covers both angles of this situation and calls out those who have made a bad situation that had improved, even worse.
Denise Smith Amos has hit double with this column. She correctly and cogently covers both angles of this situation and calls out those who have made a bad situation that had improved, even worse.
Friday, August 30, 2002
CityBeat: Burning Questions "Do You Want to Know if a Politician Uses Racial Slurs?"
The answer to that question is yes. I want to know. I want to know everything a politician does that relates to his job or a current issue in the consciousness of public discourse. The case that Greg Flannery brings up is not as clear-cut as he alludes with his comparison to Dick Nixon and the Nixon tapes. One is a first hand source: the Nixon tapes. The other is a second hand source: the deposition.
For the record, I think Simon Leis Jr. is a fascist, and should not be in office. I also think Simon Leis has many other prior actions that have bordered on or been in full violation of either the law or of department policy or both. Facts of these actions have been reported in the past and are only relevant here as a measure of Leis's credibility.
Credibility is the crux of this case, and where the media’s trust lies. This issue has at its core an issue of credibility on the part of Mr. Leis and William Engleman. I do not know who is telling the truth here. It is legally a moot question in regards to the discrimination lawsuit, which caused the issue to come to the surface. That lawsuit was settled. Media outlets have to judge whether or not these allegations have any merit to them, and if those allegations are “news.” If they pass those tests, then they should print the story.
These allegations were not just the rantings of some nutcase off the street. Instead a former member of the Sheriff’s department, while under oath made them. Even though there are other allegations made about this source, from a sworn statement from Mr. Leis, it is a credible enough source to be reported. The allegations as indicated would be news in any situation, but they take on greater meaning in light of the police-community relations issues that have been the forefront of nearly all political discourse in this city for the last 2 years.
The Post and Enquirer, as well as the rest of the local media (except for City Beat), were derelict and should have reported this story. I am surprised that the TV outlets have not reported the story with a hot button issue (the "n" word) that can draw big ratings. However, I do not see a disingenuously hidden agenda on the part of the local in not reporting this story. The only hidden agenda that might exist is the same agenda that keeps stories like Peter Bronson’s BRONSON: Tainted vote in a opinion based Column, instead of a straight news story. That agenda is an attempt to avoid inflaming a tense city. In this case I think the story would spin the Lt. Col. Twitty case into an even more racial charged battle than it is, if that is possible. I wish the other media outlets would not worry so much about reporting the truth, instead of keeping an image, whether the image is of a peaceful city or a righteous civil rights crusader.
I am glad Greg wrote this article, but there is one major problem with it. He is concerned with whether or not Leis said a racial slur. This is the holy grail of racial politics. In this case the real issue is whether or not Simon Leis fired an employee because of her race. Greg did not ask that question in his article, and as far I know, no one else has either. That is the material story. If the only evidence to that story is the racial slur, then I see no proof of discrimination. If there were valid reason to fire this person, then no matter what level Leis’s alleged bigotry rose to, saying what he is alleged to have said would not have risen to the level of discrimination. The problem is that the world at large would not see it that way. The “n” word is like yelling fire in a crowed theater in this country, and no matter how deplorable Leis is as a person, words alone do not make discrimination.
The answer to that question is yes. I want to know. I want to know everything a politician does that relates to his job or a current issue in the consciousness of public discourse. The case that Greg Flannery brings up is not as clear-cut as he alludes with his comparison to Dick Nixon and the Nixon tapes. One is a first hand source: the Nixon tapes. The other is a second hand source: the deposition.
For the record, I think Simon Leis Jr. is a fascist, and should not be in office. I also think Simon Leis has many other prior actions that have bordered on or been in full violation of either the law or of department policy or both. Facts of these actions have been reported in the past and are only relevant here as a measure of Leis's credibility.
Credibility is the crux of this case, and where the media’s trust lies. This issue has at its core an issue of credibility on the part of Mr. Leis and William Engleman. I do not know who is telling the truth here. It is legally a moot question in regards to the discrimination lawsuit, which caused the issue to come to the surface. That lawsuit was settled. Media outlets have to judge whether or not these allegations have any merit to them, and if those allegations are “news.” If they pass those tests, then they should print the story.
These allegations were not just the rantings of some nutcase off the street. Instead a former member of the Sheriff’s department, while under oath made them. Even though there are other allegations made about this source, from a sworn statement from Mr. Leis, it is a credible enough source to be reported. The allegations as indicated would be news in any situation, but they take on greater meaning in light of the police-community relations issues that have been the forefront of nearly all political discourse in this city for the last 2 years.
The Post and Enquirer, as well as the rest of the local media (except for City Beat), were derelict and should have reported this story. I am surprised that the TV outlets have not reported the story with a hot button issue (the "n" word) that can draw big ratings. However, I do not see a disingenuously hidden agenda on the part of the local in not reporting this story. The only hidden agenda that might exist is the same agenda that keeps stories like Peter Bronson’s BRONSON: Tainted vote in a opinion based Column, instead of a straight news story. That agenda is an attempt to avoid inflaming a tense city. In this case I think the story would spin the Lt. Col. Twitty case into an even more racial charged battle than it is, if that is possible. I wish the other media outlets would not worry so much about reporting the truth, instead of keeping an image, whether the image is of a peaceful city or a righteous civil rights crusader.
I am glad Greg wrote this article, but there is one major problem with it. He is concerned with whether or not Leis said a racial slur. This is the holy grail of racial politics. In this case the real issue is whether or not Simon Leis fired an employee because of her race. Greg did not ask that question in his article, and as far I know, no one else has either. That is the material story. If the only evidence to that story is the racial slur, then I see no proof of discrimination. If there were valid reason to fire this person, then no matter what level Leis’s alleged bigotry rose to, saying what he is alleged to have said would not have risen to the level of discrimination. The problem is that the world at large would not see it that way. The “n” word is like yelling fire in a crowed theater in this country, and no matter how deplorable Leis is as a person, words alone do not make discrimination.
Thursday, August 29, 2002
Chris at Queen City Soapbox comments on City Beat's Porkopolis. I agree with Chris on his support for Dave Schaff running as the Democrat nominee for the 34th House District against Tom Brinkman. I would vote for a monkey or dead man instead of Tom Brinkman. Brinkman is a far right zealot, hell bent on theocratic anarchy.
Press Release from Boycotters - 08-28-2002 (pdf format)
This is just filler. If this press release were food, it would be an empty taco shell. The boycotters are championing a recent editorial and some alleged comments from the City Manager to try and push their negotiations proposal forward. They have no meat to feed the public. Instead they have hollow motives. They are trying to bait and switch the City. They are raising a fig leaf, but they are not out to negotiate, they are seeking the capitulation of Luken and the Council. This group does not speak for countless ragtag list of inbred organizations that claim to support the boycott. Nothing positive can come from this group, short of calling of the boycott.
This is just filler. If this press release were food, it would be an empty taco shell. The boycotters are championing a recent editorial and some alleged comments from the City Manager to try and push their negotiations proposal forward. They have no meat to feed the public. Instead they have hollow motives. They are trying to bait and switch the City. They are raising a fig leaf, but they are not out to negotiate, they are seeking the capitulation of Luken and the Council. This group does not speak for countless ragtag list of inbred organizations that claim to support the boycott. Nothing positive can come from this group, short of calling of the boycott.
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