A Steak for a Break II
WCPO has an updated story with an interview with Jeff Ruby. Also, the video of the press conference is here. This whole story makes no sense. Why they hell did the FOP get involved? Why did they call the press conference? The Enquirer did not even print a story on the topic. It appears Fangman has the need to stick it to the reporter alleged to be involved, Robert Anglen. According to Fangman the reporter was interviewed by the Internal investigation. Fangman is full of shit here. There is no reason to hold a press conference, except to tar the local press. Fangman has some kind of personal grudge against this reporter, his "unnamed" sources, and the entire Enquirer. Fangman must not like it when he reads stories with like these:
Police review themselves when citizens complain
Profiling settlement approved Don't shoot the messenger on that one, Fangman.
Angry crowd demands answers
Police, fire chief selection questioned
Initial findings may not support officer's actions
Feds study police practices
I guess anyone reporting anything negative about the Cincinnati Police gets attacked by the FOP. Fangman disgusts me. He lays it on thick with is weepy odes to his "fallen" detectives, that NO ONE WOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT IF HE HAD NOT HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE.


It will be interesting to the Enquirer's reaction to this. Their comment as relayed in the WCPO story reads:

The Enquirer never published anything about what the FOP and Ruby claim happened and they released this statement saying the "reporter asked some questions and we determined there was no story...that was the end of it."

I have to laugh at one big point. What I guess happened here was that the report had a guess what might have happened and tried to fish out a response. He may have been on to something, but it was surely covered up by now. This tactic is what police and prosecutors do all the time. The lie and manipulate suspects into reacting and making a mistake. The reporter did the same thing. Anglen does not deserve to be fired for doing what police do every day. He may need to question his instincts or in case he was right, he better learn how to get his sources to be firmer, before going in to get the reaction quote from subject of his reporting.

Enquirer Weekend Memos
Let it be known for ever that Linda Cagnetti, Enquirer Editorial Board Member, does not support the right to choose:

"As long as abortion on demand is legal, the more informed everybody is about it, the better. Women making this 'choice' especially need to know everything that's known. "

Ms. Cagnetti supports the recent efforts of Norma McCorvey to try and restart the Roe v. Wade case. McCorvey was the "Roe" of that case, seeking an abortion. She has since become the poster woman of the fanatical anti-abortion movement. There is nothing to debate, at least rationally, about abortion. The positions are well known. What Ms. Cagnetti seeks to do is to put the issue in the media and then have the propagandists do their job. That is not debate, that is verbal mud wrestling.

Sticks Nix Blix Fix
Most people in middle America of the conservative persuasion have a low opinion of U.N. inspector Hans Blix. The Cincinnati Post, on the other hand, thinks Blix was not the fool the Bush Administration and its supporters supposed he was.

A Steak for a Break?
Did Jeff Ruby try to bribe police officers into dropping charges or overlooking actions by his son Brandon? WCPO reports that a reporter from the Enquirer has a source or sources inside the police department stating that Ruby offered police officer(s) with gift certificates to his restaurants in exchange for dropping the charges against his son. Lincoln Ware of 1230 the Buzz stated on his radio program that the Enquirer reporter indicated that Ruby offered 2 detectives the gift certificates. No information on the names of reporter's or the detectives/officers in question.

The big oddity that caught my eye was that Ruby and the FOP held what appeared to have given a joint press conference to deny these allegations. Why would the FOP get involved? Is Jeff Ruby a big FOP booster? My only speculation is that the officers in question did accept the gift certificates for reduced charges, but not a full walk. Why would Ruby hold a press conference when WCPO indicates, "Ruby has filed a complaint against the officers." If Ruby has filed a complaint against any officer, why is the FOP helping him?

Kudos goes out to WCPO's web reporters for adding this caveat to the story:

Disclosure: The Enquirer is the television and Internet partner of WCPO.

In the world of media consolidation and partnerships, it is good to see some honesty prevails to help uphold the ethical standards journalism.

Brownshirts Love Art Too
Not only do local police have a thing for porn, but Steve Ramos reports in CityBeat about the police raid on the Semantics Gallery. Police were out looking for a Rave, to bust, and found a group of artists and art lovers drinking beer. What a crime. What kind of artist drinks beer? If they had been drinking wine, we would never have read about this. If the police don't waste man power on keeping the arts community in line with their stereotypical drink of choice, who will?

Corporate Blackmail Works
The Cincinnati Post reports that City Council has approved a deal to build a $15 million dollar parking garage for use by Kroger's downtown HQ. Kroger had, in so many words, threatened to leave downtown if their parking problems were not solved. I guess their ploy worked.

Playing Chicken with Concealed-Carry
It looks like the all or nothing gun rights lobby wants to keep the issue alive to raise money and go for a special rights bill for concealed gun carriers. Punt now, and hope to elect more right wing crazies to the Ohio Senate or Governor's Mansion.