Chaz in Boston

Mean Jean Galvin provides us a campaign photo in the making of Cincinnati Mayor Charlie Luken at the DNC National Convention.

Haunting Chads

The ACLU is suing the State and local officials over the balloting method used in three counties. The good old Punch Card system is on trial and Hamilton County is at the center of it. We still are using the Punch Card and are scheduled to use it again this November. Have local media outlets determined how many ballots were not counted in recent elections because the machines did not read them? The last council race was close, was every vote counted? I would bet Damon Lynch would have liked to push that issue a bit farther than he did.

Bold Fusion

I did not attend Bold Fusion, the Chamber of Commerce event, which sought opinions of "Young Professionals." My reasons for not attending were rather simple: I had to work and paying for people to pick my brain is just wrong. Nick Spencer attending and gives a full recap of the event.

I don't think that a good enough cross section of people attended the event. Those who were able to attend either have really flexible jobs or are self-employed. I ultimately I view this as a waste of time, other than the powers that be figuring out that young professionals really don't see changing Fountain Square as important.

The Enquirer had a story and an editorial. Included also was the full text of UC president Nancy Zimpher's keynote speech.

There also was more from the Cincinnati Post

DNC Convention

Ohio is getting a front row seat for the DNC convention and the GOP will likely follow suit. Inside the hall the script will be tighter than any DNC convention I have ever seen. To be honest, it will really suck. Convention floor fights or at least a nutty speak or two makes from something entertaining. What America has grown to expect from the Dems is being raucous. I actually look for more boos of speakers at the GOP convention, than this week in Boston.

On the other hand I hope this is not a sign of things to come:

The two groups crossed paths at an intersection and exchanged angry words. A brief scuffle broke out between some of the peace demonstrators and a man carrying a graphic anti-abortion sign. The man was pushed to the ground and his shirt was torn but he appeared unhurt.

This makes it likely that the protests at GOP convention will be more ugly.

Racism Still Breeding Scum

The NKY Sunday Challenger has a good follow-up story on the cross burning and racial intimidation incident. They report that the idiot teenagers and alleged criminals wore hoods when they burned a cross in the yard of a black family. I would like to find out about their families. What could have motivated these morons to do such a thing? Did the apple fall near the tree or are just the one bad one in a bushel.

Also the Challenger has an Editorial Cartoon

Cincinnati Tourism Flourishing

A positive report on Cincinnati as a tourist destination. This is something I have not seen first hand. I don't see people from out of town everyday, but I am not hanging around downtown much. Driving past the riverfront last night though there were a lot of people out and about.

Voters Purged in Hamilton County

Jean Galvin reports about comments made on Air America that Hamilton County was purging voters. Jean indicates that appears it is true and that it is being done according to the law. If you don't vote for so many elections in a row, they send out a mailing to basically make you re-register. If you don't reply, then you get purged. This is part of the process that happens all the time when you move to a different county or state.

That sucks as a process, but it is legal.

UPDATE: The Hegmo has already been purged.