Malia Rulon of the AP writes about how Ohio politics is being influenced by blogs.
I don't see that blogs are making a huge retail level impact on local politics. Springer's blog or the Ohio GOP blog are not going to change votes. Blogs do provide a channel of communication for supporters to give out campaign information, and provide a growing means to collect campaign contributions.
I think the web in general is becoming a means for the candidate to directly feed the public their message, but blogs from candidates or parties are not going to do much.
Blogs from people not part of the campaign, with a little bit of credibility can influence the media and gives stories a life, where it may otherwise die. That is future of blogging in politics.
Jesse Taylor from Pandagon got a mention, or "little love" as he says from the AP article. I myself was interviewed as well, but I did not make the cut for the article. I referred to bloggers as "Citizen Journalists" in hopes of scoring a quote. Too bad the term has been used before.
Monday, July 12, 2004
Someone is Getting Fired Over This
Who ever wrote the memo/letter about delaying the Nov. vote because of terrorism likely will not have a job later on today.
I am really surprised this was being considered at all by anyone in the government. Who in the right mind would propose postponing a presidential election? I wonder how long they would postpone it? The change in the law would need to be huge since much of the law is in the Constitution. I wonder how long this will play out in the media. It gives fodder to the Tin Foil Hatters, but it looks like something out of a South American political documentary, where it ends up with protests in the streets and people dead from government guns.
I hope BushCo nips this one in the butt quickly. They must end any speculation that they would delay the vote because of a Spain like terrorist event days before the election. I hate to say it, but….if we move the election, the terrorists win. The cliché is painful, but for once it is true.
I am really surprised this was being considered at all by anyone in the government. Who in the right mind would propose postponing a presidential election? I wonder how long they would postpone it? The change in the law would need to be huge since much of the law is in the Constitution. I wonder how long this will play out in the media. It gives fodder to the Tin Foil Hatters, but it looks like something out of a South American political documentary, where it ends up with protests in the streets and people dead from government guns.
I hope BushCo nips this one in the butt quickly. They must end any speculation that they would delay the vote because of a Spain like terrorist event days before the election. I hate to say it, but….if we move the election, the terrorists win. The cliché is painful, but for once it is true.
Sunday, July 11, 2004
97X Moving to Cincinnati
I have it from reliable sources (yes more than one) that 97X will be leaving Oxford and heading for the Downtown-OTR-NKY-Northside area. A place has not yet been finalized at this point, so your guess is as good as mine as to where exactly it will be. The move will not be right away, but should happen this year.
Anybody with a good location or good deal for the station should be getting off their ass right about now and start selling their guts out.
I see two general areas I would consider: Near the Southgate or on Main Street. Southgate is a better drawing venue for musical acts than Main Street, but Main Street has the potential for more horses to compete.
Nick Spencer also confirms the move, but gives no details.
Anybody with a good location or good deal for the station should be getting off their ass right about now and start selling their guts out.
I see two general areas I would consider: Near the Southgate or on Main Street. Southgate is a better drawing venue for musical acts than Main Street, but Main Street has the potential for more horses to compete.
Nick Spencer also confirms the move, but gives no details.
CIA = CYA
The Senate report on the Iraq intelligence failures that blames the CIA for everything is more than just a way to shift blame for the Iraq war from the White House to the CIA. It also is a way for the Congress to shift its responsibility to the CIA.
What they missed was a little bit of information as to what the Defense Department was feeding the White House, specifically the VP's office.
Bush's defense is to just cover his ass and blame the CIA. He sure takes responsibility for things, doesn't he?
What they missed was a little bit of information as to what the Defense Department was feeding the White House, specifically the VP's office.
Bush's defense is to just cover his ass and blame the CIA. He sure takes responsibility for things, doesn't he?
Ignorance and Bigotry
When you have the two intangled together one gets a mess of ideas and a mess of human decency.
Kevin Smith of Indiana needs to read a little more history if he wants to make claims like this:
Now I guess Mr. Smith knows nothing of Mormons. I guess they don't teach anything about Utah in his government class. I guess Arab culture where multiple wives was and in many places still allowed is not taught in his world history class. Is Mr. Smith that bad of teacher, or if just does not consider Arabs human. Human history, until modern times, had common instances of polygamy and other types of various marriages.
Greg Mann takes on the ignorance of Mr. Smith in further detail. For a man teaching government to kids, I think Smith needs a refresher course or a pink slip.
Mr. Smith skirted the bigotry gambit. I believe he is a bigot based on the fact that he wants to ban gay marriage. He does not directly get into why he opposes gay marriage. Smith is pushing the same type of dogma that Bush is now pushing. What disturbs me most about this whole debate is that those who want to ban gay marriage and are offering no national civil union provisions hide behind tacit rhetorical like "defending traditional marriage," but never say what they are defending it against. I guess they don't want it to change. What I want to know is how is it going to change? If gay marry will marriage now be something different? Do we not send gifts and have a party? Do we not still have the vast majority of marriages be "traditional?" Do we not still have half of those marriages ending in divorce?
If you are going to be a bigot, get up and say so. If you want to keep homosexuals as second class citizens, then do it out in the open with directly language. Hiding behind code words and doublespeak is the trademark of bigots who have the finger in the wind. I guess as long as the gays are kept in place, that’s all that really matters to Bush and Smith.
Kevin Smith of Indiana needs to read a little more history if he wants to make claims like this:
The formal amendment process of the U.S. Constitution may be the only way to assure that democratically elected leaders approve changes to the traditional definition of marriage that has prevailed in virtually every society throughout human history.Bold Added
Now I guess Mr. Smith knows nothing of Mormons. I guess they don't teach anything about Utah in his government class. I guess Arab culture where multiple wives was and in many places still allowed is not taught in his world history class. Is Mr. Smith that bad of teacher, or if just does not consider Arabs human. Human history, until modern times, had common instances of polygamy and other types of various marriages.
Greg Mann takes on the ignorance of Mr. Smith in further detail. For a man teaching government to kids, I think Smith needs a refresher course or a pink slip.
Mr. Smith skirted the bigotry gambit. I believe he is a bigot based on the fact that he wants to ban gay marriage. He does not directly get into why he opposes gay marriage. Smith is pushing the same type of dogma that Bush is now pushing. What disturbs me most about this whole debate is that those who want to ban gay marriage and are offering no national civil union provisions hide behind tacit rhetorical like "defending traditional marriage," but never say what they are defending it against. I guess they don't want it to change. What I want to know is how is it going to change? If gay marry will marriage now be something different? Do we not send gifts and have a party? Do we not still have the vast majority of marriages be "traditional?" Do we not still have half of those marriages ending in divorce?
If you are going to be a bigot, get up and say so. If you want to keep homosexuals as second class citizens, then do it out in the open with directly language. Hiding behind code words and doublespeak is the trademark of bigots who have the finger in the wind. I guess as long as the gays are kept in place, that’s all that really matters to Bush and Smith.
Saturday, July 10, 2004
Quit Your Burbish Whining
In a letter to the Enquirer Jessi Grieser sums up the pity party the burbs deserve:
Rough in the burbs? City has its charmsIndeed!
I feel bad for those affected by the speed of development in Warren County. See, I've lived 22 years on a quiet, beautiful street with a park, with quick access to Interstate 71 that doesn't require going through traffic. Going to a local public school, I finished eighth grade competent in Chinese. During high school, I worked in a family-owned business in a beautiful, historic neighborhood square just miles from my home. I can enjoy world-class museums, sports and theater by driving only 12 minutes. And if I don't want to drive, public transportation comes every half-hour to the end of my street.
I live inside the city of Cincinnati. I invite everyone to come try it out.
Jessi Grieser
Kennedy Heights
Why Local News, Again?
Another story listed in the local news section of the Enquirer, but nothing at all local. I assume it came from the front page section of the print edition. Why this mix up? Does the online Enquirer need an official front-page section to keep stories like this from getting lost between city council meetings and landfill problems?
The Future of Rock and Roll Lives
97X has announced they will begin online broadcasts starting at 10AM Monday, July 12th. Still no word on if they are planning on moving the broadcast studios out of Oxford. Moving to Over-the-Rhine would be the ideal. A store front studio on Main Street with a nice neon sign would put music in Cincinnati on a new level.
The Enquirer also had this story, but a day late.
The Enquirer also had this story, but a day late.
Friday, July 09, 2004
FOX Cheap Shot
Why is FOX continuing to link Sam Donaldson's name to a murder case that, other than the bodies being found on his property, has no relationship to him?
If a member of the news media does something criminal, then other outlets should report on it to his fullest value, as should the outlet that employs the individual in question. If someone found a dead body somewhere out behind Bill Cunningham's house, then it should be reported with Cunningham's name in the story, but making it part of the headline is pure exploitation if Cunningham were to have nothing to do with such an act.
Also, bringing up the story again with Donaldson's name in the headline when a suspect is going to court over it is also a linkage that exploits the situation and indirectly damages Donaldson's name. FOX isn't considered the TV's New York Post for nothing.
UPDATE: One correction, the killer and people killed worked on the Ranch and Donaldson did know them. That creates a better linkage for an initial story, but still it does not justify the framing of this story with Donaldson's name plastered all over it, as well as his picture.
If a member of the news media does something criminal, then other outlets should report on it to his fullest value, as should the outlet that employs the individual in question. If someone found a dead body somewhere out behind Bill Cunningham's house, then it should be reported with Cunningham's name in the story, but making it part of the headline is pure exploitation if Cunningham were to have nothing to do with such an act.
Also, bringing up the story again with Donaldson's name in the headline when a suspect is going to court over it is also a linkage that exploits the situation and indirectly damages Donaldson's name. FOX isn't considered the TV's New York Post for nothing.
UPDATE: One correction, the killer and people killed worked on the Ranch and Donaldson did know them. That creates a better linkage for an initial story, but still it does not justify the framing of this story with Donaldson's name plastered all over it, as well as his picture.
'O'
Kudos to Oprah Winfrey for giving the Freedom Center $1 million. A great asset to the city gets a boost that I hope will make it a year round anchor to the riverfront and a cultural landmark for the city and the entire region.
Will this article get the same Kathy Wilson reaction as Sunday's Enquirer article? Will this post get me called a racist again?
Will this article get the same Kathy Wilson reaction as Sunday's Enquirer article? Will this post get me called a racist again?
Blackwell: Bigot
Ken Blackwell took a step forward in his bid for the GOP nomination for Ohio Governor by letting everyone know he's bigoted towards homosexuals:
The list of Ohio anti-gay bigots in the ranks of public office is growing. Who knew that hating gays would become such a wonderful past time for folks?
Ohio Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell, one of the top elected black Republicans in the nation, urged Republican U.S. senators Thursday to pass a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, calling homosexuality "a lifestyle choice."Glad to see Ken is out there fending off attacks form the right by making sure everyone in Ohio know that he stand shoulder to shoulder with the anti-gay bigots in the state, and specifically in the GOP. I will be waiting with baited breath for Blackwell's stance on the choice left handed children make when they dare ask for a left handed desk in public schools. They choose to be different, after all.
Blackwell told about two dozen senators that gay groups cannot argue for the same rights as minority groups.
"There is a difference between a lifestyle choice and an immutable characteristic like race or ethnicity," Blackwell said.
The list of Ohio anti-gay bigots in the ranks of public office is growing. Who knew that hating gays would become such a wonderful past time for folks?
'Pentagon Says Some Bush Records Destroyed'
Tin foil hats aside this looks really, really bad. Claiming that Bush's documents happened to have fallen into a batch of destroyed document in known incident in the past is mighty convenient.
Bigotry in Action in the US Senate
Listening to the debate over the Gay Marriage Ban one hears full and total bigotry like none that has been present in American government since the anti-atheist strain of last few years and back in the 1950's and during period of segregation. Listing to the Senate is simply amazing, hearing the clear bigotry and theocratic positioning of government officials. It is disheartening to listen to Senators either take the religious tact of anti-gay dogma or some kind of wimpish Plessy v. Ferguson (Separate but Equal) stand to fend off any religious attack.
The fear of homosexuals is still a common element of America. That is a sad, sad fact that with the rise of a theocratic movement will not improve anytime soon.
UPDATE: Next we will see an amendment banning the sale of wedding dresses to anyone who can't or does not want to get married. Commenter "Funnel Cake" will surely be disappointed.
The fear of homosexuals is still a common element of America. That is a sad, sad fact that with the rise of a theocratic movement will not improve anytime soon.
UPDATE: Next we will see an amendment banning the sale of wedding dresses to anyone who can't or does not want to get married. Commenter "Funnel Cake" will surely be disappointed.
Thursday, July 08, 2004
15,000 in Dayton!!!
A great crowd for the Kerry- Edwards rally in Dayton. Who added the "hair" comment in the headline? I would be surprised if it was Howard Wilkinson, maybe a conservative editor or two?
White Guilt Free
I read Kathy Y. Wilson this week and hear her winning about the Enquirer's "Black Power" article from Sunday. In the column she refers to "White America" seven times and "Majority Culture" twice. When the Enquirer makes stereotypes she hates we read about it. Stereotypes are generalizations about a group or subgroup. Kathy retorts the Enquirer with what I think is a stereotype by lumping all white people together and stating they (we) all act a certain way or have specific attitudes towards blacks. Now, I know she is 'really' targeting the white people who are either conservative or don't suffer from a severe enough case of white guilt. Since I don't suffer from that affliction, I guess I am a target.
What am I to take away from her article? Kathy seems to not like it when white people (not 'people who are white') profile people who are black and successful in the business community here in Cincinnati. I guess I don't see what is wrong with people being successful. I guess I don't see what is wrong with the Enquirer pointing this fact out, including an indication that these people also are Black and yet with all of the racism in the world they still were able to succeed. Call it a "you've come a long way baby" type article, if you will. I guess the context is not to Kathy's liking. I guess she does not like it pointed out that if you want to succeed then you should or need to assimilate in to the "majority culture." That is not totally correct, but it is generally true that if you want to work in a community you must play by that community's standards and practices. What is wrong with this? 'Norms' do exist. Judging success is one of those 'norms.' Is that something that will change? No, no more than murder being wrong is a 'norm' in society. I still wonder what makes the Enquirer's article so terrible? If you want to live in a group that self-segregates based on race or culture, fine, but how can one expect to be accepted when you seek to exclude yourself from others. Is that not what segregation was? Does Kathy care so much about cultures remaining 'pure' that she will disparage people from having positive viewpoints? Viewpoints that promote norms that, to be frank, work: hard work, business, and organization. These norms are hardly exclusive to anyone and everyone uses them in their own way, but why should they offend Kathy?
I guess Kathy wants people to be able to succeed no matter how much they fit in. I also detected an anti-business tone in her message too, something not foreign to City Beat. What I don't grasp is how the hell she wants people to treated? Are they to be themselves? If so, then why does she imply that "white America" only accepts these people because they assimilate and that black people who somehow act differently?
What is so wrong with people assimilating? Culture is fluid. Race is not. Race is not culture. Culture should be the individual’s choice, including the individuals’s choice to value their own culture and want to spread it. With that "natural" element of humanity present, majority cultures will always rule success in a society. People have three choices, fit in, go against the grain, or make your own balance where you can function on your own.
Nick Spencer praises the column and hints at a little white guilt.
What am I to take away from her article? Kathy seems to not like it when white people (not 'people who are white') profile people who are black and successful in the business community here in Cincinnati. I guess I don't see what is wrong with people being successful. I guess I don't see what is wrong with the Enquirer pointing this fact out, including an indication that these people also are Black and yet with all of the racism in the world they still were able to succeed. Call it a "you've come a long way baby" type article, if you will. I guess the context is not to Kathy's liking. I guess she does not like it pointed out that if you want to succeed then you should or need to assimilate in to the "majority culture." That is not totally correct, but it is generally true that if you want to work in a community you must play by that community's standards and practices. What is wrong with this? 'Norms' do exist. Judging success is one of those 'norms.' Is that something that will change? No, no more than murder being wrong is a 'norm' in society. I still wonder what makes the Enquirer's article so terrible? If you want to live in a group that self-segregates based on race or culture, fine, but how can one expect to be accepted when you seek to exclude yourself from others. Is that not what segregation was? Does Kathy care so much about cultures remaining 'pure' that she will disparage people from having positive viewpoints? Viewpoints that promote norms that, to be frank, work: hard work, business, and organization. These norms are hardly exclusive to anyone and everyone uses them in their own way, but why should they offend Kathy?
I guess Kathy wants people to be able to succeed no matter how much they fit in. I also detected an anti-business tone in her message too, something not foreign to City Beat. What I don't grasp is how the hell she wants people to treated? Are they to be themselves? If so, then why does she imply that "white America" only accepts these people because they assimilate and that black people who somehow act differently?
What is so wrong with people assimilating? Culture is fluid. Race is not. Race is not culture. Culture should be the individual’s choice, including the individuals’s choice to value their own culture and want to spread it. With that "natural" element of humanity present, majority cultures will always rule success in a society. People have three choices, fit in, go against the grain, or make your own balance where you can function on your own.
Nick Spencer praises the column and hints at a little white guilt.
Wednesday, July 07, 2004
Semantics-a-Go-Go
Rob Bernard is playing a game of semantics. Bush not "lying" is seen as a victory, but the fact that he had to rely on bullshit evidence that his own people did not know or verify and still have not verified is to all other observers a sign that Bush was incompetent, and was grasping at straws to try and justify his war.
One of three possibilities exist: Bush lied, is and was an idiot, or was incompetent. He could be all three, but I will not go that far. At least not today.
One of three possibilities exist: Bush lied, is and was an idiot, or was incompetent. He could be all three, but I will not go that far. At least not today.
Talking Down the City
Catching up on old news brings us Single in Cincy Part Deux. Much of what we've heard about the Forbes article was found in last Saturday's Cincinnati Post. What I don't get is how one of guys quoted in the article actually makes a living:
We are a big city. That fact seems to be lost on a great many people. Take if from a guy who grew up in a city of less than 40,000, Cincinnati is a big town. No matte how much people try and think otherwise, they can't deny reality.
As the owner of Lava, a nightclub on Main Street, Chris Ongkiko makes his living on Cincinnati's singles scene. He agrees with the Forbes assessment -- times 10.How can anyone really blame city government for this? Government can help, but they can't make people come to downtown. If the people and city are a wasteland, then why is Chris Ongkiko trying to make a living here? My suggestion to Mr. Ongkiko is to pack his bags and take a hike to New York or LA. If he wants to live in a megacity, then get going. Cincinnati is not a megacity and guess what, it never will be.
"Cincinnati is a desolate wasteland socially, culturally, economically, spiritually -- in every aspect of life," he said. "It has nothing to do with the people. It's completely on the shoulders of City Council and the mayor."
He opened his business a few months before the riots in April 2001. Three years later, he said, the city is worse off than it was right after the riots.
"When you have a half dozen bars in three blocks close in a 10-month period, that's not a good sign. I'm talking about Jump, the Have a Nice Day Café, Bar Cincinnati, Caverns, the Warehouse and others -- .
We are a big city. That fact seems to be lost on a great many people. Take if from a guy who grew up in a city of less than 40,000, Cincinnati is a big town. No matte how much people try and think otherwise, they can't deny reality.
The News Record
New URL and website for the UC The News Record. I think the paper is off for the summer, but the new web layout is nice.
The Post's Challange
In a surprise the Cincinnati Post reports on the debut of the Sunday Challenger a new weekly NKY newspaper. I guess since it comes out Sundays it does not directly compete with the Post, but it has to hurt their ad sales.
Hating the City?
A news report today suggests that the sales tax revenue needed may fall short of that needed to pay off the debt for the two sports stadiums. One of the reasons given is that people outside the county are not going into it anymore to shop, they are staying up in West Chester.
This brings up two big points. One is regarding the level of people outside the country making up a big enough element of our sales tax base. Is this enough to really break us? Is there any analysis or just speculation?
The other point is where I go all the time. Suburbanites hate the city. There are many reason but they hate it. Most who we here from or I talk to act like scared little girls who either don't like city folk (meaning blacks and other minorities) or they don't like driving on busy streets. I don't know how they survive driving on the highways in the suburbs or the clogged interchanges around highway exits where most burbites live. I guess they hate cities. They like their stale carbon copied homes and strip malls. Buildings more than two floors also must violate some kind of fear of heights that must permeate through places like Mason and West Chester and Anderson.
This brings up two big points. One is regarding the level of people outside the country making up a big enough element of our sales tax base. Is this enough to really break us? Is there any analysis or just speculation?
The other point is where I go all the time. Suburbanites hate the city. There are many reason but they hate it. Most who we here from or I talk to act like scared little girls who either don't like city folk (meaning blacks and other minorities) or they don't like driving on busy streets. I don't know how they survive driving on the highways in the suburbs or the clogged interchanges around highway exits where most burbites live. I guess they hate cities. They like their stale carbon copied homes and strip malls. Buildings more than two floors also must violate some kind of fear of heights that must permeate through places like Mason and West Chester and Anderson.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)