"Words, words between the lines of age"

Is Bush starting to feel a bit guilty?

Washington- President Bush expressed misgivings Thursday for two of his most famous expressions: "Bring 'em on," in reference to Iraqis attacking U.S. troops, and his vow to get Osama bin Laden "dead or alive."

Is it possible for him to eat his words, or is this just another case of targeted audience speak, where Bush takes a page from Clinton and plays to his audience's desires, while Bush's blood lusting supporters would not be listening to this crowd anyway?

Flooding, Etc.

I drove this morning along Route 32 to Newtown and the Little Miami River has flooded all the way up to the edge of the road. The Clear Creek Park is more like a lake.

Today was renewing my car registration day. I had to get the eCheck and the nearest location is in Newtown. I was surprised on something. My car was not completely tested. I don't know why. I did not ask. It is a new enough car with a new exhaust system, so I am sure it met the standards, but I wonder why the car did not get the test where they "drive" in the car in place and measure the exhaust.

I then had to go get the renewed registration at the BMV. I got the typical wait in line. I waited for a while until I was the next in line. Then this old couple comes in and walks right up to the main counter and proceeded to ask a question in the form of telling a story about getting a ticket. Once the BMV clerk said they don't handle tickets, twice, and said they should go downtown, twice, I got my little 06 sticker and was on my way.

Post Mortem on Monzel v. Ghiz

It's official. Councilman Sam Malone, the anti-gay bigot, has appointed Chris Monzel to City Council. The man who has been appointed to council more often than he has been elected.

This should now be an opportunity for the Dems. The East Side moderates are a source that have been ignored as fickle and too willing to vote for the GOP. This episode should be exploited for all it is worth. The County GOP has for some unknown reason gone to the right to try and keep someone on council in the city. The idiots in Sharonville (Phil B. and his thugs) have cracked the party. Now is the time for the Dems to open up that crack and bring the social liberals on board.

The article indicates Ghiz may not run this year and even got a job offer from Joe Deters. She reportedly turned it down.

This is a gut check for the Hamilton County Democratic Party. If if they don't find a couple more David Peppers (not money wise, just position wise) to run for council, then they will be lucky to keep the 5 seats they have and will likely drive the East Siders into a devil's bargain with the bible thumpers in the rest of the county.

I Have No Words

Discuss, but be nice.

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?