Strickland Out of Governor's Race

U.S. Congressman Ted Strickland is not running for Governor of Ohio. Those left in contention are Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman, Akron Mayor Donald Plusquellic, U.S. Congressman Sherrod Brown, State Senator Eric Fingerhut, former Attorney General Lee Fisher, and Jerry Springer.

Coleman takes the lead in electability. Fingerhut has some name ID and organization, but lost big against Voinovich.

Stand Up to the FOP

Where are the union busting Republicans when you need them? The Police Union is once again trying to remove all power and control over the police from the City and keep if for themselves and their odd counterparts in crime, CPD management. I don't understand a union where your bosses get more attention and are protected more than the rank in file member. The FOP will put into jeopardy the contract negotiations for a 1,000 members because they wish to choose who becomes an assistant chief and other senior CPD managers, thus protected the jobs of a handful of people. The views of the City residents are just ignored.

This is representative of the biggest problem of the CPD, its 'us and them' mentality. A large portion of the CPD, and many many of the senior officers do not live in the city, and resent or even hate the people who live in the city. This I believe is a core reason for the bad community police relationship. Race is a factor in that. Culture and class are as well. It is a parallel to the city-burbs rivalry (feud) that exists in the county and metro area that is taking shape in the form of the new GOP cabal in county government.

A battle for county wide government is in the works and part of that is the goal of the GOP to take control and subdue the city, riding on its back on the way down into destruction.

Tsunami Relief, Inauguration Balls, & Paint the Town Blue

Queen City Forum has the lowdown on "Paint the Town Blue" an event at Alchemize sponsored by the Progressive Alliance. A night to help out people and a call to action for progressive/liberal minded people.

UPDATE: Link fixed.

Jammin' on Main, Dead

How did it die? Lack of turnout, or the cash strapped CSO?

Pettus-Brown Free

What? How the hell did this happen?

WMD Denial

Living in denial is not a great way to live:

Iraqi WMDs did, could still, exist

Regarding the letter 'Bush's Cincinnati claim proves false' (Jan. 15): A lot of people seem to be missing a significant point regarding the weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. There is no disputing the fact that Saddam Hussein did possess them and had used them before on the Kurds.

United Nations weapons inspectors did find that Iraq had large amounts of biological weapons and other precursor compounds for nerve gases. They also reported that Saddam willfully deceived the United Nations in regard to what they actually had.

The question isn't if he had them, it's what did he do with them? Keep in mind that some weapons of mass destruction can be so small they can be hidden in a toolbox or buried in the sand.
Steve Elmlinger, Florence

Steve, no the question is not what did he do with them, the question is either who lied to Saddam about having them or why did he lie about having more than he did. We went to war over an accounting problem. Iraq had not account for all of its weapons, which for BushCo meant that he still had them, even though 7 years of inspections, 12 years of sanctions, and another round of inspections found not evidence of anything other stockpiles. Time to admit that either Bush was lying (misleading) about WMD or he was so incompetent that he went to war with fully reviewing all relevant information. Oh, I forget though, Bush is infallible and has no responsibility for his actions.

Smitherman

Councilman Chris Smitherman has decided on whether he will enter the race for Cincinnati Mayor, but is not going to tell anyone until the end of March. Hmmm. Does this strike you as yet another amateur move by someone in way over his head? Smitherman has not a chance to win one of the top two spots if Mallory and/or Reece is in the race for Mayor. He should instead focus on being a force on council and maybe trying to get Ghiz to join the Charter Committee. Maybe in 4 years he could run for Mayor and lose then, instead.