Don't Blame the City

A Hamilton County Sheriff's Office Investigator shot and killed a suspect. What puts a wrinkle into this is that the officer in question was also involved in a 2001 incident were police shot into the crowd the protested after the funeral of Tim Thomas. He was cleared of wrong doing in that incident.

What will drive this case as it does with all police public issue is the race of the suspect. It was not give in the article. If he was black we will hear outrage. If he was not black we will not hear outrage. That is the way of world with activists who think in terms of race, and not in terms of humanity.

What I found shocking was the glibness of Simon Leis on this incident:

Mercado may take a few days off if he wishes, but isn't required to take administrative leave, Leis said.

That is amazing that they have no policy to at least require an officer to take off time to assure he is able to cope with killing another human being. Not to mention that there seems to be no investigation at all into what happened. I would assume that they incident is either on video or audio tape since it was undercover, which may account for things being so cut and dry. If not, it looks like Leis just does not care about what happened. What a cold SOB.

Summary of Bush Press Conference

"We gotta play it one day at a time"

"I'm just happy to be here and hope I can help the ballclub."

"I just wanta give It my best shot and the Good Lord willing, things'll work out."


I really don't get how anyone thinks this guy is a good leader when he can't answer a rather tame questions and instead goes into a blather of “umspeak” and over rehearsed clichés. Answer a question directly and honestly is what I expect of a good leader. I don't think any President in the modern era have been a particularly good leader. I can understand why people who are party backers back Bush. He is their guy and they back the GOP. I can understand and respect that. He pushes their ideology and that is what they want. That is what I want too for my ideology. What I honestly don't get is how people think this guy instills a sense of safety. I really don't feel safe with this guy in office. I am not saying I fear being killed, but I don't see Bush doing anything that anyone else could not do, at least anyone else with his "qualifications."

District Plan in Danger?

Korte reports on the support or rather lack of support for the Plan produced by the Electoral Reform Commission which calls for electing council members by district and creating an executive Mayor, eliminating, or at least really weakening, the City Manager's role.

If the plan proposed does not at least keep some at-large council seats, then I would oppose it. A pure district representation structure would create a mini-Balkans that would increase the divisions in the city, instead of decreasing them. I wonder why a metro government plan has not been pushed yet. The GOP sees that as their only way to control the city, while still living in the suburbs.

Hope I Die Before I Get Old

Editor & Publisher reports on Newspaper Rock Critics being fired for being too old. The focus on Larry Nager formerly of the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Sniffing Too Much Deodorant

As a single man in Cincinnati I don't see this how this town is "a great city in which to be dating."

Recent Iraq Battle Hits Home in Cincinnati

A local Army reservists, Keith Maupin age 21 of Bativa, is listed as MIA after the convoy he was part of came under attack. I am speculating that he might have been part of the same convoy the civilian truck driver who is not being held hostage was in.

My thoughts got out to the family. I hope for the best, but the situation is not looking good.

It brings a whole new element to the Iraq war when the term "MIA" begins to be used again.

Institutional Bigotry

The State of Kentucky House has passed a constitutional amendment that bans homosexual marriage and civil unions. 85 of the 96 members who voted in favor of this. There are 85 anti-homosexual bigots in the Kentucky House. The amendment must still pass the Kentucky Senate, and then go to November Ballot for approval by voters.

This movement is pure bigotry, pure hate, and pure discrimination. The purpose here is to oppress and do whatever possible to keep homosexuals as second-class citizens. This actually is worse than the DOMA passed in Ohio.