I have a Blog Stalker!

It appears someone is so obsessed with me they have created a Cincinnati Blog Blog, site that mocks me. Well, have a look at it. If it is proves to be funny, I might add it to my blogroll. If it is just some conservative toad, I will instead ignore them. Either way, I must laugh at being so worth while to cause someone to spend the time to steal my site's template, modify it, and make fun of me. I thought this is only the kind of thing happened to professional journalists or actual celebrities. I guess I am moving up in the world.

Cincy RTL: Front for the GOP

I generally despise the CRTL PAC. I still reviewed their Candidate Endorsements and I have to ask, why did John Cranley not get their endorsement? I would guess that he may not want it, but the guy has a clear "pro-life" stance, which gave him many votes when he ran for congress. The guy voted to in favor of a "Motion instructing city manager to exclude abortion coverage from city insurance plans." That stance is about as anti-abortion and oppressive of woman as a candidate can get, but he did not get their endorsement. What gives CRTL? Are you a one issue PAC or Republican Shill?

Cincinnati Advance Radio on Today!

Tune into WAIF 88.3 FM today at Noon for the latest edition of Cincinnati Advance Radio with Joe Wessels. Joe's guests include ME! No shit! I will be on the radio. Tune in and make fun of me later.

Enquirer All About Keeping the GOP in Control

Without shock to me, the Enquirer Editorial Board has issued their views on the Issues: Yes on 2, No on 3, 4, 5. I will focus only on their view on Issue 4.

But to an extent, the board's makeup is a false issue. It wouldn't matter if Dopey, Sneezy, Daffy, Goofy and Bugs were on it. The board would be required to follow mathematical formulas, enshrined in the Constitution, that require districts with the highest possible "competitive balance," instead of the current premium on geographically "compact" districts. This could easily result in absurd districts criss-crossing the state, as sample maps generated by Ohio First have shown, and would be open to plenty of legal challenges. If that's not so, why has RON declined to produce its own maps showing how well this would work?

As for the "bipartisan" aspect of this plan: A MoveOn.org fund-raising pitch for RON called this a way to put six more Democrats in the U.S. House. And instead of waiting for the next census, Issue 4 would require new districts to be in effect for the 2008 election, and again after the 2010 census. Hmm. Now why the rush?

So, someone at the Enquirer Editorial Board finds these districts to be "compact?" Have they looked at districts 6 and 18?

Why is the City of Cincinnati divided between two districts? There is only ONE valid reason: to delude the Democratic votes and elect more Republicans. If the state is more "competitive" and elects more Democrats, then that is how the cookie crumbles. The same thing would happen in California and ever other state, a fair election brings fair results. "Fair" means equitable, not just who can tilt the board their way the most.

It is funny though how the paper restates the propaganda lines of the anti-issue 4 camp (which is just the GOP). The even call the anti-camp by their name (Ohio First) and call Reform Ohio Now by an acronym. Just a coincidence?

Council Picks

Well, here is my list. I am not going to tell anyone how to vote, but I am going to list out candidates I think are good and those that are OK, and those that are bad, and then the rest. Each group is in no particular order. I will have predictions closer to election day. For full details on each candidate check out Smart Voter.

Nine of these folks will get my vote
Chris Bortz
Nick Spencer
Jim Tarbell
Jeff Berding
Leslie Ghiz
Samantha Herd
David C. Crowley
Laketa Cole
Eve Bolton
Wendell Young

Ok, but not getting my vote
John Cranley
Cecil Thomas
John Eby
Robert Wilson

Just Say No
Chris Monzel
Chris Smitherman


Bad and should not get on council
Sam Malone
Damon Lynch, III


The Rest: So little known, so I have no opinion.
Bill Barron
Bennie Green
Antonio Hodge
Gerry Kraus
William S. Mathews, II
Paul McGhee
Ishaq Nadir
Michael Earl Patton
Victor Phillips
Ronnie Stallworth
Curtis Wells
Robert J. Wilking
Eric Wilson

Local Blog Endorsements For Council

Joe Hansbauer makes his council picks.

WestEnder at Clark Street Blog gives his picks too.

My list is coming shortly.

Kevin Drum: White Hot Center

Kevin is, you guessed it, right on target with his analysis of a recent 9th Circuit Court ruling. The culture wars are, at their core, about sex. That is where people's blood boils. That is where fear drives some very misguided humans to want and feel the 'need' to oppress a group of other humans because they fear how and why they have sex.