SOTU

I am not watching the State of the Union. I used to love watching it. I now loath it. It is a complete waste of time and nothing but over filtered boiler plate that will be ignored and forgotten in no time.

For Bush this is his last big speech where he has a real influence on the Congressional agenda, and that influence is very dampened by his horrid approval ratings. No one expect this to be a good speech, let alone produce anything to make it out of a committee intact.

Feel free to give your own blow by blow spin on the dog and pony show. I shall endeavor to read the lowlights on other blogs. Why suffer watching it live, when there are 1,000 bloggers out there willing to suffer for you?

The full text will be online somewhere before the speech, so I find myself thinking that it about time for Presidents to just go back to delivering it only in written form, and skip the pointless spectacle.

Balance?

Well, Barleycorn's closes its downtown location, and we get a news article. I guess "The News" on the corner of Main and 9th Street needs to issue a press release to get an article about it's opening? If it got one, I can't find it. I encourage reporters and editors at the Enquirer to take a walk on Main Street around 9th, you can't miss it. Well, it appears that the Enquirer did miss it. That is not balanced reporting.

One blah restaurant closes and another bigger and I hope better one opens. That is not balance, it is a net plus for Downtown.

The Bigot Brinkman

It is sad to hear Brinkman push his bigotry. The article demonstrates his willful ignorance and his bigotry towards gays. It comes across as a game, but with bigots like Brinkman you must not value directness of one's bigotry as a virtue.

Some of that blind respect came from the apathy voiced from the Chairman of the Miami College Republicans:

Brad Bailey, chairman of the College Republicans, wouldn't say whether he supported the lawsuit, but said he respected Brinkman making the discussion public.

"I do support his willingness to question whether or not what the university is doing is legal," Bailey said.

Brad Bailey needs to grow some balls and take a stand on the issue himself. If he respects Brinkman for being open about the issue, why not come out and say his views. If he can't face the music, no matter what side he has on the issue, then he has the makings for a weak kneed politician, ripe for a lobbyist's influence.

Ohio needs to wake up. The Bigots are coming, the bigots are coming. In fact the bigots are here, and Brinkman is just the tip of iceberg. Gay rights are soon to be a pipe dream. This is surely please Brinkman and his ilk. I hope those voting out there see that Ken Blackwell is backing the same issues.

Mallory's Meetings

What's the deal with the concern over meetings? I am at a loss here. How is this a big deal. Caucus meetings are a means of government that I had always assumed went on with council members. I assumed incorrectly. I very much agree with sunshine laws.

What looks bad here is that council meetings as of late have been very short, no debate or discussion. Is that good government?

Mt. Lookout Movies

Kelly from CinWeekly has a great idea for the lifeless Mt. Lookout Cinema Grill. It is so disheartening to walk by the dark building every week. Tap into a niche market, and go with it. Hit the hardcore movie fans who want to see something on the big screen. The only thing I would add in is showing TV programs as well, but that would require keeping the beer flowing. TV show watching in group form requires booze. That is a little know medical fact.

New "News" on Main Street

While downtown last night, I walked past the old Lava club location and was amazed to find it open, but with a big sign out front reading "The News: Grand Opening". Its windows were clear and inside it looked a like a restaurant with a nice bar and huge TV screens. It looked nice and inviting.

Does anyone know about this place, how long it has been open and any background on it?

UPDATE: A commenter (likely Ricky H. from Atlanta) points out that Nick Spencer posted that this place was going to open. That's great and yes I missed the one sentence mention of it in a 15,000 work post. My questions still stand, when did it open, and can anyone give any background on it?

Smoke Filled GOP

This kind of thing goes on in both parties, but this year we get the smoke filled room right out in the open. This kind of back room dealing is a sharp double edged sword. On one side this could avoid a blood primary fight, which would help the GOP in the general election. On the other side this is what is wrong with the two party system and what makes it so very undemocratic. Why bother holding a primary at all? If the rank and file GOP voter can't have a voice in who their candidate will be in November, then how can the Ohio GOP be considered a democratic organization?

On the Dems side I will say now that while I think it is foolish for someone like Eric Fingerhut to challenge Ted Strickland, I in no way wish him to get out of the primary. The candidates fighting it out I believe is a sign of a healthy democracy.