Vice Mayor's Pub Crawl

Vice Mayor Alicia Reece is pushing for a restaurant/bar smoking ban in the city.

First, Reece said she will launch a stop by campaign where she will make visits to restaurants, bars, bingo halls, bowling alleys and other establishments to talk with owners and citizens about the issue.

This amounts to a city sponsored pub crawl. As someone who has been on many a pub crawl, I would offer this simple advice: pace yourself. Also, prepare to feel the wrath of the smokers. I myself am torn on this issue. I don't like smoke in restaurants at all and would not shed a tear if the ban goes in.

I do have a problem with private business being forced to remove it. Having the city ban gives cover to bar owners who would want to do it, but have no juice to enforce it. I guess I would give an out to business that allow it, but make some kind of accommodation for their employees, like great air filters, or a money settlement to find another job.

GOP Chooses Anti-Gay Bigotry, (We Think)

It is nice to know who you are up against. In this city the GOP has reportedly given in to the bigots of the party and will appoint Chris Monzel to council.

What a bunch of fucking idiots.

Are these guys really this stupid? [Note: I wonder if they are were men?] Monzel lost last time, not just to Leslie Ghiz, he lost to Damon Lynch III. Unless they promised the White House to Ghiz, I would advise her to become a Charter Candidate the minute after they give it to Monzel. The only way they could insult her 2003 campaign more would be to issue a retro-active revocation of the GOP endorsement. She appears to b a loyal Republican, but can she honestly stay in a party when it is clear they did not pick her because of her support for gay-rights. Their logic is mostly likely the belief that Ghiz could win next time, but Monzel could not, unless he was on council. The logic fails because he already lost as an incumbent and he would likely loose vital East side GOP support for this debacle.

How honestly could the GOP not respect the voters? Well, that is the silliest question I could have asked. We are talking about the Hamilton County GOP.

Now more than ever I would like to know who voted on this. I would like to know more if that vote actually was for Monzel or if the bigot vote said they would raise a stink if they did not appoint their person.

Phil Burress must have a really big hard-on at this very moment. Hurting people who support gay-rights, especially in his own party, will likely now become his pet project.

[Note: official word on this has not yet come. A press conference is expected later on today.]

UPDATE: More from Wes Flinn and Nick Spencer.

UPDATE #2: WCPO reported last night that Monzel has been picked.

UPDATE #3: The Post's story brings a whole new level into this.

Although the party's selection committee favored moderate Leslie Ghiz last month in an informal straw poll, incumbent Council Member Sam Malone nixed that choice, said sources close to the process. Malone prefers conservative Monzel, who lost a reelection bid in 2003.

[...]

"It's almost certainly going to be Monzel," said one high-level party source. "That's what Sam indicated to us."

"Ultimately, it's Sam's choice," another source said. "At best, we're an advisory board, and he's not taking our advice."

So it was all Sam Malone? A personal vendetta against Ghiz? The bigot in Sam just couldn't let go.

Is it Ghiz?

The Whistleblower thinks maybe yes, if Mike Barret's votes counts, via the Blue Chip Review.

Korte is reporting that county GOP will meet today at posh 4th Street club in secret. Greg takes a shot at the smoke filled room scene:

Whenever Cincinnati Democrats meet to decide whom to endorse for City Council or the school board, they do it in an open meeting - usually at the Letter Carrier's Hall in Northside. Though anyone can watch, only precinct executives in the city get a vote.

When Republicans do it, it's behind closed doors at the coat-and-tie Queen City Club on - where else? - East Fourth Street. The county party - dominated by suburbanites - controls the process.

And so, today at 4:30 p.m., 30 to 40 members of the GOP nominating committee will meet secretly to determine who will get the City Council seat vacated upon Pat DeWine's swearing in as a Hamilton County commissioner last week.

The party of the people! Well, the rich people.

I think the only thing missing from the meeting today would 40 cones of silence to help dull the sounds of apathy coming from their suburbanite minds. Will Greg have a list of who attends? It would be good to know how many are actual city residents.

Councilman Sam Malone has the final call. Would he dare buck the local party if they want Ghiz? Does Pete Witte have a shot as a compromise candidate still? Will Malone announce his choice today or wait? Can I ask any more questions?

Mean Jene Galvin In Bed With Springer

Jene Galvin will be the side kick for Jerry Springer's new radio show starting next Monday.

I will be tuning in the first day because I will off work, but otherwise I will be missing how this program goes. I plan on being a regular listener to 1530 WCKY once it switches to liberal talk. Will Galvin have to go solo for Jerry often?

Jazz Fest Back?

Maybe. If it comes back it would be staged in conjunction with the Ohio Classic.

Game of Chicken Getting Serious

John Cranley's game of Chicken with SORTA is getting serious. Today SORTA is expected to vote to eliminate Sunday bus service starting March 6th. Cranley and Portune are working towards disbanding SORTA and moving control of the Bus service to the City.

Their plan includes possible privatization of the service.

Spencer Picks Campaign Manager

Nick Spencer, City Council candidate, has tapped Ted Jackson to be his campaign manager for his council run. Ted helped run the effort to repeal Article XII with the group Citizens to Restore Fairness. I was introduced to Ted while at the Know Theatre benefit on Saturday and anyone who was able to get the repeal passed has good experience under his belt to help Nick's campaign. This is a positive move for Nick. I don't know if Nick can tap into the same money sources Ted might have contact with from the Repeal XII campaign, but it is a good bet he will have an opportunity to tap into those.