Ohio senator: no talk of tax cut in brief meeting with Bush
Does George Voinovich have balls? That is the question that I am sure every follower of Ohio politics is asking. Will he back down or will he stand up to the President? It sounds like Voinovich is not going to back down. Conventional Wisdom is saying that here in Ohio the latest round of Bush tax-cuts don't have much support, beyond the party hardliners. I think Bush's tax cut is toast. He should settle on the $350 Million number or something a little higher, if he can slip it by. Bush would do better if he would dump the dividend tax elimination. That is what is not flying. He would easily get the rest of his package passed without it. Admitting defeat after his "great" Iraq victory is something Bush and company could not swallow, and I predict they will attempt to crush the moderate Republicans, some even wishing they would be defeated in their next primary. Not much a liberal like I can do, but bitch and moan, of which I am now finished, for now.

12 Baptist Convention May Come To Cincinnati
I would not trust this group to commit to anything. I would want an ironclad contract with a huge cancellation fee. If this pans out, it is a valley size crack in the boycott.

Local Police Chief Arrested On Sex Charges
Two questions come to mind:

1. How stupid does a cop have to be to try something like trying to meet a 15-year-old girl for sex? You might think he has heard of the numerous local cases of police officers pretending to be teenaged girls online. I wonder how well he was at solving crimes, if he is dense enough to try and pull off one of more idiotic crimes to try and commit.

2. How does a 26-year-old police officer rise to the rank of chief? Is he the only police officer? Or is Elmwood Place the size of Mayberry?

AP Version, WCPO version

Heberle School and Lead Paint
The Heberle students moved to new site all because of one child's blood level. Is that an over reaction? Could it be any better timed? Less than two weeks from now the voters will be deciding on a bond issue to upgrade and build new schools. I will happily play the role of conspiracy theorist, but no one can deny that the timing could not have been better.

Cincinnati Post: Museum looting: Coalition failed
I have not seen anyone attacking the Post for not blindly supporting the War Plan that was supposed to have worked without a flaw. Where is Cunningham's comedy act? Where is Darryl Park's heartless drivel? Where is the outrage at the FOX News engineer who allegedly stole Iraqi paintings, all be they bad ones from Saddam's son's palace. I could only help but think of the Simpson's Episode called "The Curse of the Flying Hellfish". I wonder who was part of the tontine? Geraldo, Hannity, & Ollie?

CITY BEAT has a series of boycott related articles this week in what can only be described as a boycott themed edition. I will try and have some comments on Kathy Wilson's column, John Fox's Editorial, and the Trifecta's Cover Story later this week. I am torn though on the meaning of the cover photo. I hope you catch its play on recent events. It is very good picture and the symbolism is excellent. I guess much like the Iraq War, the good guys and bad guys are only clear to those who need to have clear sides. I hope that is what they meant, and they are not suggesting the city should be "liberated" via the boycott, via force.

BRONSON: Church ducks gay marriage
Why is Peter Bronson afraid of gay marriage? How will two men or two women getting married hurt Peter? It contradicts his religion, that much we know. Peter can be bigoted towards gays, that is his right. What he can't do is use the government to do it. Why do Peter and his fellow theocrats want to prevent gay marriage? I am repeating myself, but I can't find a logical reason for anyone to care who gets married. When Mr. Bronson sarcastically writes "And Moses cameth down from the mountaintop with the 10 Suggestions ...'' I guess I have to just sit here and laugh. If Peter eats Brats or Metts or most hotdogs I wonder how he rationalizes this? Is not eating pork a suggestion? If it is, then I guess the ban on homosexuality is merely a suggestion. I hope Peter "Mr. consistency" Bronson will be supporting the Anti-Pork Products Act and call for the jailing of the Rib’s King.