Beating a Dead Horse
No, I am not talking about an equestrian snuff film. I am referring to my endless attack on the duplicitous Peter Bronson. His latest column starts off with an ironic twist I think was lost somewhere in Peter's gray hair. The irony begins squarely in the title: "Flynts' outrage just part of their fetish for ink." For those not familiar with newspaper terminology, should understand that "ink" is analogous to "coverage," more commonly used in the Broadcast media. Bronson's position is that the Flynts are just looking for more media attention, and Peter is providing that attention. If Pete wants the Flynts to just go away there is one simple solution, don't feed the beast!

In his column, Peter also displays elements of what can only be described logically as a physiological reaction to viewing the covers of porn videos/DVDs. I guess Peter has been taking Harry Potter to heart and has devolved the magical ability to know that a film is "explicit" and therefore violates the 1999 plea agreement without actually seeing the film. I guess not judging a book, or a video, by its cover is not an axiom popular in the Bronson household.

The most disingenuous comment from Bronson must be this:

When the store was busted by the sheriff last month for selling X-rated videos, Jimmy Flynt said, "I think this is a personal vendetta."

It may indeed be a personal vendetta - by the Flynts.

Who is Bronson trying to fool? It is plain and obvious that Hamilton County Sheriff Simon Leis is out to get the Flynts. There are thousands of other crimes with real victims in this city that go unsolved, yet Leis is out to get Flynt for selling a little porn. Peter seems to want to just gloss over the nearly 30-year crusade by the likes of Keating, Leis, and now Phil Burress to establish a theocracy here in Cincinnati.

Finally, Bronson is just being ignorant with this comment:

Here's the naked truth: The Flynts and their lawyers copped a plea bargain and paid $10,000 in fines in 1999 because they were about to get hammered for stinking up downtown like a sauerkraut factory in a hotel lobby.

Peter's condiment fetish aside, the real reason the Flynts took the plea was financial. Larry Flynt stated on WLW's Mike McConnell show recently the reason for the plea deal. A California law prohibits ownership of a gaming license by anyone with a felony. Flynt was facing a felony. He plead down and made the deal to keep a cash cow business going. Larry Flynt also has a good defense now; he does not own the store where the allegedly "explicit" videos were sold. Larry has standing to claim that he did not violate the 1999 agreement and it should still be binding for him. Jimmy Flynt will be the person fighting the new charges. His defense will likely be that the agreement was unconstitutional, on equal enforcement of the law grounds. The same type or even the same videos are sold through other outlets in the county. The basis for limiting Jimmy Flynts ability to practice a business, while allowing others to practice the same type business is a very valid and worthwhile legal fight.

As a footnote, I have to wonder if it is an editorial policy of the Enquirer's old guard to mount a campaign disparaging the entire Flynt family. Bronson has now brought Jimmy Flynt's son Dustin into the fold by quoting him in his column. Dustin is involved in the operation of the Hustler store downtown and is fair game to be quoted, but why hasn't the Enquirer looked at the Flynt family from a different perspective, namely from the Flynt perspective? Dustin Flynt lives in town and is a member of the community with what I would surmise is a unique and an interesting perspective on the situation. If Bronson can do a quasi-edifying column on Nate Livingston, a known hate monger, why is there not a least a balanced report on someone from the Flynt camp? It would not be a conservative bias now would it? Maybe it is a little personal prejudice too.

MAUREEN DOWD: National House of Waffles
Ms. Dowd is getting to the meat of it. Sorry to disappoint the followers of the Church of Dubya, but George is no better than Bill Clinton. Semantics is not a defense. Intentionally manipulating the public into a war by misleading them as to the gravity of the threat is unconscionable. It is my opinion that deception can be the only conclusion. Trying to claim incompetence is just a head fake. The question is traction. Does this have the legs to carry the media forward? Sunday's talk shows should be an indicator. If no high-ranking Bush officials are on to defend their stance, then the blood is in the water. The question still remains, will the media smell it?

UPDATE: Josh Marshall also advises checking the Sunday talk shows.

UPDATE#2: The Washington Post reports that the CIA had the Uranium reference cut from Bush's October 7th, 2002 speech here in Cincinnati. I love it when Cincinnati can serve a positive purpose.

David Crowley in the Springer Camp?
Gene Galvin's post at RunJerryRun.com makes that implication with a picture of Cincinnati City Councilman Crowley and Springer at events surrounding the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers conference. I am sure both know each other from Jerry's time in town, but I wonder if Crowley will endorse him in the Democratic primary for U. S. Senate. Can Springer count on his Cincinnati connections to pull in the local primary vote?

You can call him Mini-Dean?
Adam over at the Nick Spencer Campaign Blog posted this interesting list:

5 Reasons Nick Spencer is the "Local Howard Dean."

1. Both campaigns are building a grassroots network of support that engages new voters and volunteers.
2. Both Spencer and Dean are strong supporters of GLBT rights. Spencer has taken a visible stand against Article 12, and will be an advocate for the GLBT community on Council.
3. Both are using the internet to mobilize support. The spencer2003.com site was modeled heavily after Deanforamerica.com, and we'll be adding even more content and features in the coming weeks.
4. Both support ending corporate welfare and focusing back on people.
5. Both Spencer and Dean are not afraid to criticize politically powerful special interests when they act against the best interests of the people.

Now, I don't mean to disparage Nick with the Mini-me reference in my title, but I would bet Adam would be dying to use it, if they were not in the middle of a campaign. Local or Mini, they both work, right?

Howard Dean in Cincinnati
Both Dean and Gephardt were in Cincinnati today courting union votes. Gephardt won. My coverage of the event is over at GoXray.com, including a photo.

Food on the Brain
In her latest column the Enquirer's Maggie Downs brings to the table a new group called Food Chain, dedicated to bring people together across cultural/ethnic groups through food. A cross section of people meet around town and sample different and unique foods at local ethnic restaurants. I was not surprised to see a little spillage of last week's column in this week's edition with this quote referring to the founder of Food Chain:

She even wants to head global with the Food Chain project. So, for example, if someone was taking a sky-diving trip to Europe, they could easily locate natives willing to grab a meal and share in conversation.

Ms. Skypunk has something on the brain.

Did the Worm Turn?
CBSNews has this headline "Bush Knew Iraq Info Was False" concerning the State of the Union the "Africa connection." Atrios has this story in depth. With Bush out of the country things are still fluid, but the CBS story appears very firm.

There are three options that come to a focus in the overall analysis of the issue of WMD. They are basic and simple, assuming the facts are known.

1) Bush Lied (or exaggerated depending on the semantics)
2) Bush and Company are incompetent and/or lack good judgment
3) Pray to Zeus that significant WMD agent stockpiles and warheads are located in Iraq.

Time passing and a lack of a full scale no holds bared search leaves #3 more and more unlikely. That leaves 1 or 2. One could argue both if lying is the outcome.

Kevin Drum has the line though most relevant: "What's the definition of 'is'?"

Springer to Run, Technically
Jerry Springer will file papers to run for Senate by Friday. Check out my posts on Polstate.com and GoXRay.com to read more.

Nick Spencer Hits the Blog Trail
City Council candidate Nick Spencer has introduced a blog to his campaign website. Nick, along with his team, plan to update the blog daily with news from Nick's travels. A campaign blog is a great idea. It is not only easy to update, it is a great way to keep people coming to your website. I am sure I will drop by most days, but I hope the blog keeps to the tone of most regular blogs: truth minus the dogma. Reading campaign slogans day after day will not keep me coming back. Listening to stories from Nick's adventures or just mentioning people he has met along the way, kind of a "shout out," will keep my interest. This will also be a great way for Nick to respond to the issues of the day with quick rapid response, while other candidates might have to filter their responses through an html editor. I wish Nick and his blogging crew good luck. I may have to keep them in line, hopefully only on blogging etiquette, not on the issues.

Fascists on the March!
I have been using the word a lot this week, so I will surely get grief again, but Phil Buress is back with a letter to the Enquirer, and his theocratic brown shirted movement fits the word. Burress writes:

"Citizens for Community Values agrees that adults should decide what is sexually explicit,..."

What he is not telling you is that the adults he is speaking about are the members of CCV, the local "Sheriff", Peter Bronson, and the Prosecutor’s office. The people be damned! We don't share his religious guidance, so I guess we know not what we do when we believe in the freedom of speech. Phil, the people have spoken. Most don't want to prosecute Larry Flynt. Most people believe porn is protected speech. They don't want it sold in the open on the street, but it can be sold. Let the individual adult decide what they care to buy or not buy, Phil, we can take it. We don't need you to tell us how to live our lives.

Bronson: Hypocrite
Peter Bronson's column today lambastes the voters for daring to control the police. Peter defends the police union from attacked from City Council and the supporters of Issue 5. I never knew Peter was a pro-union man. I thought Peter believed, as most conservatives do, that the employee should be grateful to his employer for having a job. Peter has repeatedly attacked Teacher's Unions for daring to ask for higher pay and stable jobs. I know expect to hear Peter’s defense of the next teacher’s strike when they expect fair pay and adherence to their contracts, even in the face of newly elected conservative school board members.

Peter has chosen to defend a perpetual contract with police. How is a contract valid when it is made after a new law is passed, dictating rules required in the contract? Why would anyone agree to a contract that violated the new law? Why doesn't Peter address this simple concept? Why isn't the police contract published online? This issue leads to the top. I will look at the role of the Mayor, City Manager, and Police Chief in this scandal in a later post. I might even mention the word "recall." Opps, did I just do that?

A Cowardly Lion?
The search for the Lion out in Deerfield Township has been called off. Police are not sure if there ever really was a lion. I am wondering if the person who claimed to have seen the lion have stopped smoking grass, and put a shirt on.

Old News From FOX News
FOX has caught up with Cincinnati's now 3+ week old ordinance requiring panhandlers to register. I wonder if they will cover Pete's Rose's suspension from baseball next?

Early Democratic Presidential Primary Politics
Donald at All Deliberate Speed has taken the latest 2004 American Presidential Candidate Selector quiz.

My results were as follows:
1. Kucinich, Cong. Dennis, OH - Democrat (94%)
2. Sharpton, Reverend Al - Democrat (84%)
3. Gephardt, Cong. Dick, MO - Democrat (82%)
4. Dean, Gov. Howard, VT - Democrat (80%)
5. Kerry, Senator John, MA - Democrat (79%)
6. Edwards, Senator John, NC - Democrat (76%)
7. Lieberman Senator Joe CT - Democrat (69%)
8. Moseley-Braun, Former Senator Carol IL - Democrat (66%)
9. Graham, Senator Bob, FL - Democrat (63%)
10. Bush, George W. - US President (4%)

I would have guessed I would have been closer to Dean or Kerry, not Kucinich and Sharpton. I am for the record not a registered Democrat, and I will not be participating in the primary for president. I like my status as an independent liberal. I think this selector is not very accurate in its classifications. I would like to see how a conservative placed.

Queen City Soapbox Back
Ethan Hahn has commentary on Bush, Vietnam/Korea, and Iraq.

It's a Bird, It's a Plane....No, It's a Bronson
Ok, I was close with my very prophetic quip about Peter Bronson bungee jumping. In Sunday's column Peter describes his experience in a WWII era fighter.

I tried to find someway to use the classic "Underdog" opening, but I just could not find a good rhyme with Bronson.

Speed of lightning, roar of thunder
Fighting all who rob or plunder
Underdog. Underdog!

Fascist
I seemed to have attracted a little attention from www.cincynation.com. I would only note this definition of "fascist" from M-W.com:

2: a tendency toward or actual exercise of strong autocratic or dictatorial control

Last I checked when someone in power dictates what is considered "obscene", and then acts on that determination, I think using fascist as an adjective is most applicable.

The People & Larry Flynt Vs. Simon Leis
It appears now that a clear majority of local residents agree that the Flynts should be allowed to sell porn videos in their store in the county and that our fascist sheriff should not be pursuing his personal crusades against the Flynts, while hundreds or even thousands of crimes with real victims go unsolved.

Ms. SkyPunk
Maggie Downs has taken one small step for a columnist, one giant leap for all writer kind. I am impressed. That jump took guts. I could never jump out of a working plane. I don't even like roller coasters. I am amazed that Maggie has now become a skydiving enthusiast. She will be jumping from the Carew Tower in no time. She is already a virtually solo jumper, so people eating lunch on Fountain Square better keep one eye in the sky.

The video of her jump was funny. From the initial nervous tension to the Charlie’s Angels pose, a nice presentation. There was one major problem with the video, the soundtrack. I don't know who produced the video, or who chose the sound track, but it could have used some pumping up:

1. Prodigy's “Breathe” would have captured some of the tension.


2. ”Ride of the Valkyries” is always a crowd pleaser, and could have fit in as the plane took off.


3. The Foo Fighters' “I'll Stick Around” might have fit in.


4. Sly & The Family Stone's “I Want to Take You Higher” was simply a must use. It works on so many multiple levels.


5. Jimi' Hendrix's “Gypsy Eyes just sounds cool, and should be used more often on video soundtracks everywhere.

Over all, the soundtrack could have used a little more fun.

Speaking of music, I have a great idea for the Enquirer promotions department. I propose they produce a TV commercial for Maggie's column. The commercial would be a spoof or take-off of the Musical/Movie "Chicago" and use the song "Roxie" with Maggie doing a Broadway style number around the city. They would have to go full boar on the production with dancers, and a re-recording of the song, replacing "Roxie Hart" with "Maggie Downs" in the lyrics of the song. The syllables work out perfectly. They could start with a newsroom shot, cut to the baseball stadium, Main Street, Mount Adams, the Zoo, UC, and end up on Fountain Square. It would be classic. Think of the opening sequence of the "Drew Carey Show" using Cleveland, but just insert Maggie for Drew.

You don't think they would go for it? I think it would work. If Maggie can skydive, she surely can do a Broadway number.

I do have to ask another important question. Why didn't Peter Bronson or Laura Pulfer skydive too? I want to see Peter Bronson try bungee jumping.


Note: In case you wonder whom the original Skypunk was, read this report of his unfortunate death last year and his history here in Cincinnati.

Lions of Summer
I don't know what to make of the supposed Lion on the loose out around Mason, Ohio. The credibility of the man who is the only person to have seen the animal is a bit suspect:

Andy Lawson said he first encountered the lion Sunday night, when it made a grunting racket outside his trailer. The lion returned, sniffing around his trailer, the following night.

Video of Mr. Lawson did not ooze with credibility. WLWT's story, including video, lists a poll asking "do you believe him." There is confusion on the actual name of the person who stated he saw the lion. The UPI story quoted above reports his name is "Andy Lawson", but both the WLWT and WCPO's stories refer to him as "Casper Lawson." The Post agrees. The Enquirer agrees with the UPI. WXIX's web sit took an early vacation, with no coverage of the story. WKRC’s article only referred to the witness as a "resident." Who is right? Well, according to a search of the Clerk of Courts Web site the man's first name is Casper and middle name Andy or Andrew. I would assume he goes by his middle name. I sure would not want to be called Casper.

A simple fact in a story could in the end cause an Andrew Lawson trouble if Casper Lawson's story does not pan out, and he is discredited. Imagine what happens with a story that is more serious and more complicated, like a murder for instance. How often does this kind of fact variation happen on that type of story? A little clarity by all outlets might make sense, especially when this story goes national with the UPI and Washington Times.