Good Column From Bronson

I can't complain much about Peter Bronson's latest column. He has a reasoned fair stance on this that I think most can agree with. What is missing is Bronson's call for Malone to resign from office. That is a failing. He may be waiting, as may be the editorial board, until he is convicted, but in this type of situation I think the public has more than enough evidence to judge him unfit for office and Malone would do the city, and most importantly his son good, by resigned office and removing the media spotlight.

Huggins

As a Miami fan, I can want nothing more than UC sports to lose, I really am torn Huggins' contract woes. I think he is part of what is wrong with college sports. He is running a professional team and cares more about winning than about educating. He is not unique among college coaches, so he should not get more scorn than others, but he is here and he has the drinking and driving problem that got him nothing more than a wrist slap. He should have taken the buy out and gone. The only way he stays beyond two years is win the Big East, which would give him a shot at a better program in the East.

Malone Playing the Fool

Yesterday we had the first Council appearance from Councilman Sam Malone, and we got what I believe is the rationalization of violence and illustrates how child abuse is not limited to drunks, but also in those who appear to be a straight-laced as anyone.

I think Malone is in denial. It is likely many people who were beat like this by their parents are in denial, especially those who are defending Malone.

You don't beat your kids with your belt. If you do you are abusing them and you are doing no one any good. If you want to punish the kid, you don't strike terror in him. I feared my father. I was never hit by him and NEVER felt like he would ever hit me. I was as good a kid as a parent could hope for, which yes mean I was a good two-shoes for the most part. Malone has hurt his child more than just the beatings. He put terror into him. So much terror that he went to the police. That is not what child does, that is what a victim does.

Monzel really looked like a weasel, giving Malone a really awkward hug on TV that appeared more staged than a prize fight. Reece is playing the angles here and I wonder how long before we get Malone or a boycott or other activist proxy out the playing the race card. Will we see anyone in the GOP outside of Charlie Winburn hint at or push the race card as a political tactic? Will a Ken Blackwell weigh in on the issue?

It is most odd that I have not heard anything from Malone's friends in the CCV. I thought they were buddies, what gives Phil Burress?

When will Malone start pretending to the be the victim?

The Enquirer's Editorial is right on what it said, but it fell short. What is holding the Enquirer back from calling for Malone to resign? The paper also prints excepts from the transcript of the child's 911 call.

Details on Malone Incident Start to Surface

More details of the alleged child abuse by Sam Malone come from Malone's former wife's sister. She states that another young person called police and that she and other family members took him to the hospital. Malone's lawyer hints at the early stages of a defense by mentioning that the aunt was on the losing end of a custody battle over the boy three years ago. It sounds like as of now Malone is going to stand his ground. He will go down on this and bring his party with him.

Americans are Culturally Dead

Kevin Drums points to a Top Hundred Americans list from the Discovery Channel, like was done by the BBC and CBC in recent years. I am so very astonished by the complete ignorance Americans have. We don't know anything about our own culture; we know only what has been in our minds in the last 15 minutes. Beyond that, we have no recollection.

2nd District Candidates Set

The primary candidates are set for the 2nd district special election. The Democratic Barber didn't make it. Those to watch are DeWine, Brinkman, Schmidt and the wildcard Minamyer for the GOP. The Dems only hope I think is Paul Hackett, based almost solely on his resume. None of the candidates, outside of Saunders, has any experience in politics.

On the Other Hand

Even though Jammin' On was great, an AP feature today brings the failure to improve OTR to light. I agree that efforts to start to change OTR have failed, especially the movement to bring back Vine Street, but we are 4 years removed from a riot. We have activists who still do not want to work with anyone who does not submit to their viewpoint. We have head in the sand suburbanites who just don't care that much about the poor, especial in the City. Mostly we have people doing their own thing and not thinking big picture. We have the Kroger Garage and the Art Academy of Cincinnati going forward, but Main Street has been stagnant. I see potential, I don't see action and this year being an election year we are going to here plan after plan, but are we going to see action? Not likely.