Eric Kearney: Out of the Blue

Did anyone think that Senate Dems would pick Herald Publisher Eric Kearney to fill Mark Mallory's Senate seat?

I am not impressed with the pick. He is a good compromise pick that can fill the seat until a primary race, but I don't see him as a long term Senator. He may be great at it, but I don't expect greatness from a fairly reserved person.

Was he on anyone's list as a possibility?

West End Vote on Social Service Center Delayed

Voices were heard, and the community council delayed its vote on the center until at the earliest their next scheduled meeting. The delay allows the community council’s development group to study the proposal. One would think they would have already studied it before this meeting and that it will not take a month to review. It appears to me that the West End council punted.

State Senator Pepper?

The Enquirer is reporting that Councilman David Pepper is seeking Mallory's Senate seat. I don't live in that district, but I like the idea. David is a good politician and gets into the details. I don't know if the powers-that-be in Columbus or in Mallory's district want Pepper. He may be better suited to challenge one of the East side Republicans. Hell, I vote that David move and Challenge the nutty Tom Brinkman for the Ohio House. That could be a springboard to run for Congress in the 2nd district.

Add Me To This List

O'Reilly has long thought to be a buffoon by most, but this is just amazing. It reminds me of Pat Robertson's drivel.  I guess Bill can't take being out done by a preacher.    

Principle Ok, Hanging With Bigots - Bad

There is something very, very wrong when people cross the line between supporting someone because of principle and support them when what they do with that principle is horrible.  In the case of the Pleasure Inn and the support given by the Blue Chip Republicans we see a point where a group has gone over the edge.  I am willing to support the right of racists to have free speech, but I am not going to go hang out with them.

If you think the issue is a free speech issue for a business owner to have the right to post any kind of sign in his business, then I can understand and respect it.  I can’t respect going and cheering on a business owner who obviously does not want Hispanics hanging out in his bar.  He can go on and on about how he doesn’t turn away anyone from his bar, but that is meaningless.  He has to say that.  Saying you don’t like Mexican’s is legal.  Denying them service at your business, only because they are Mexican, is illegal.

If the the owner wants to force his language on others and shuns those who don’t comply with his jingoistic views, then that makes him a bigot.

If the BCR wrote a letter to the editor in support of this guy, fine.  When you go there, buy beer and food from him and then write a pat on the back story about him, that is horrible and it is directly supporting bigots for being bigots.

West End NIMBY

Where should the poor go?  When I say the poor, I don't mean the lower class or the working class.  I mean the homeless and those is dire need.  This is a big issue and one facing the new council and new Mayor.  It is not working in OTR.  This project does not seem to want to replace the Drop-in Center or other type services.  If those services stay where they are, then OTR deveolpement will stall.  Do we move them?  If yes, why, if no why not?    

Cameras in Federal Courts

For once I agree with Rep. Steve Chabot on cameras in Federal court rooms. I don't want free range on TV getting to broadcast court room's live, but video taping, done discretely, will not interfere with justice and will improve trust and understand of the Courts.

The political motivation of this is unclear to me. Since this is just not a big issue to anyone, I don't know why Chabot is bringing it up. I assume it might be a way to "expose" judges that Chabot and the right-wing do not like, but there is no know indicator of that type of motivation.