You can call him Mini-Dean?
Adam over at the Nick Spencer Campaign Blog posted this interesting list:

5 Reasons Nick Spencer is the "Local Howard Dean."

1. Both campaigns are building a grassroots network of support that engages new voters and volunteers.
2. Both Spencer and Dean are strong supporters of GLBT rights. Spencer has taken a visible stand against Article 12, and will be an advocate for the GLBT community on Council.
3. Both are using the internet to mobilize support. The spencer2003.com site was modeled heavily after Deanforamerica.com, and we'll be adding even more content and features in the coming weeks.
4. Both support ending corporate welfare and focusing back on people.
5. Both Spencer and Dean are not afraid to criticize politically powerful special interests when they act against the best interests of the people.

Now, I don't mean to disparage Nick with the Mini-me reference in my title, but I would bet Adam would be dying to use it, if they were not in the middle of a campaign. Local or Mini, they both work, right?

Howard Dean in Cincinnati
Both Dean and Gephardt were in Cincinnati today courting union votes. Gephardt won. My coverage of the event is over at GoXray.com, including a photo.

Food on the Brain
In her latest column the Enquirer's Maggie Downs brings to the table a new group called Food Chain, dedicated to bring people together across cultural/ethnic groups through food. A cross section of people meet around town and sample different and unique foods at local ethnic restaurants. I was not surprised to see a little spillage of last week's column in this week's edition with this quote referring to the founder of Food Chain:

She even wants to head global with the Food Chain project. So, for example, if someone was taking a sky-diving trip to Europe, they could easily locate natives willing to grab a meal and share in conversation.

Ms. Skypunk has something on the brain.

Did the Worm Turn?
CBSNews has this headline "Bush Knew Iraq Info Was False" concerning the State of the Union the "Africa connection." Atrios has this story in depth. With Bush out of the country things are still fluid, but the CBS story appears very firm.

There are three options that come to a focus in the overall analysis of the issue of WMD. They are basic and simple, assuming the facts are known.

1) Bush Lied (or exaggerated depending on the semantics)
2) Bush and Company are incompetent and/or lack good judgment
3) Pray to Zeus that significant WMD agent stockpiles and warheads are located in Iraq.

Time passing and a lack of a full scale no holds bared search leaves #3 more and more unlikely. That leaves 1 or 2. One could argue both if lying is the outcome.

Kevin Drum has the line though most relevant: "What's the definition of 'is'?"

Springer to Run, Technically
Jerry Springer will file papers to run for Senate by Friday. Check out my posts on Polstate.com and GoXRay.com to read more.

Nick Spencer Hits the Blog Trail
City Council candidate Nick Spencer has introduced a blog to his campaign website. Nick, along with his team, plan to update the blog daily with news from Nick's travels. A campaign blog is a great idea. It is not only easy to update, it is a great way to keep people coming to your website. I am sure I will drop by most days, but I hope the blog keeps to the tone of most regular blogs: truth minus the dogma. Reading campaign slogans day after day will not keep me coming back. Listening to stories from Nick's adventures or just mentioning people he has met along the way, kind of a "shout out," will keep my interest. This will also be a great way for Nick to respond to the issues of the day with quick rapid response, while other candidates might have to filter their responses through an html editor. I wish Nick and his blogging crew good luck. I may have to keep them in line, hopefully only on blogging etiquette, not on the issues.

Fascists on the March!
I have been using the word a lot this week, so I will surely get grief again, but Phil Buress is back with a letter to the Enquirer, and his theocratic brown shirted movement fits the word. Burress writes:

"Citizens for Community Values agrees that adults should decide what is sexually explicit,..."

What he is not telling you is that the adults he is speaking about are the members of CCV, the local "Sheriff", Peter Bronson, and the Prosecutor’s office. The people be damned! We don't share his religious guidance, so I guess we know not what we do when we believe in the freedom of speech. Phil, the people have spoken. Most don't want to prosecute Larry Flynt. Most people believe porn is protected speech. They don't want it sold in the open on the street, but it can be sold. Let the individual adult decide what they care to buy or not buy, Phil, we can take it. We don't need you to tell us how to live our lives.