Happy 4th of July!!!!!

Hope everyone has a wonderful Day. Eat, Drink, and be safe!

Theocrats On the March, Once Again

This time KY Congressmen are wasting their time on a Constitutional Amendment, but are scoring political points with extremists who seek to teach Christianity in public schools. Why do people want to do this? Well, the congressmen know they can gain votes by appealing to fear people have of anything that is not "normal" and we all know that anything not Christian in this country is just not "normal." (Yes, Sarcastic for those who missed it.) The others who are pushing this are the true theocrats, out to establish a "Christian Nation" or as they often say to "Restore" American to a Christian Nation.

This effort will fail. Why is Geoff Davis involved? Since when is he a theocrat?

Booing Bearcats

A clear cut example of how college sports has devolved into the gutter.

O'Connor Resigns

It is not a total shock, rumors that she wanted to quit have been out there for years, but no one expected she would quit now, with Rehnquist's health so bad and rumors of him quitting so numerous.

This opens up a can of rotten stinking worms that Justice O'Connor had been keeping the seal on. We are about to embark on what will be a horrible period of discourse in American politics. In the media, and if things turn ugly, in the streets, the rhetoric and nasty protests will reach new heights of vitriol.

People are going to go Brown Betty nutcakes over this and I for one really don't like debating abortion much. I am sure this post will attract some insane right-wing wackos who will be on the war path. I just hope it does not boil over. The hate, venom, and lost friendships that occurred for many over the 2004 election might just build into a down home blood feud.

This is the test though for Bush. If you want to see the real man, the person he picks will tell you who he is. If he picks another Scalia, then you can confirm is the theocrat he has hinted at being. If he picks another O'Connor, then I may actually start believing in Zeus or maybe Aphrodite.

Cops Cleared in Malone Case

If the issue surrounding how police handled the Malone case was over the police allowing the boy to go with an uncle, why was this made into a big deal by the County? I myself initially felt there would have been more fire with all of the smoke Suzanne Burke was blowing on the situation.

There is one new point brought out in the report:

Malone also was charged in 1991 with domestic violence after his mother said he choked and pushed her. That charge was dismissed after he completed a counseling program.

The sheriff's report listed a third report of domestic abuse, from October 2002. It did not provide any details, other than to say the Hamilton County Department of Job and Family Services did a 35-page risk assessment.

So we had a previous domestic abuse report in 2002? That adds a new wrinkle. Who made the report would be the most telling point for the situation. Details will likely never come out on what happened, but the 35-page risk assessment would be a good read for jurors in the Malone Case.

No Charter Candidate for Mayor

There will be at most 8 on the primary ballot for mayor of Cincinnati this September. The names are:

Yvette Barbara Baldwin, 48, of University Heights.

Sylvan Grisco, 83, of Madisonville.

Justin P. Jeffre, 32, of Clifton Heights.

State Sen. Mark L. Mallory, 43, of the West End.

Sandra Queen Noble, 49, of Walnut Hills.

Councilman David Pepper, 34, of Mount Adams.

Vice Mayor Alicia Reece, 34, of Bond Hill.

Former Councilman Charlie Winburn, 54, of Mount Airy.

Tarbell was still thinking about it, but choose not to run. I think he wanted to make sure he stayed on council.

Side Note: The Enquirer has started a new blog on politics: check it out. So far it is all Greg Korte, I don't know who else will chime in on it.

Cincinnati teens on 1230 AM

An interesting idea from 1230 the Buzz.

Fountain Square Plan Back on Track

City Council overrode the Historic Conservation Board's veto of the project's plan to move the Fountain.

Odd Population Trend

I can't explain the first ring burbs losing population. Is Blue Ash Shrinking? Could it be a large number of people are stupidly only wanting brand new cookie cutter homes? Could it be minorities moving in and the white moving out again? (I hope this is not the case). Or is it just an anomaly?

UPDATE: In another article we get one answer:

That trend, Mallory argued, points to a problem Cincinnati shares with its closest neighbors: an older housing stock.

Mallory said he would de-emphasize the new houses being built at Citirama sites in favor of rehabilitating vacant buildings in a "block-by-block, street-by-street" approach.

Rehab is the way to go, but for some unknown reason, people want to live in a world like the Desperate Housewives. Don't people see that their lives suck living out in a world where you can't tell one house from the other?

Good

No charges will be filed for teen's abortion

This had witch hunt written all over it. Glad that it was resolved.

Sam Malone Case: The Plot Thickens?

The Enquirer is reporting that a county lead investigation was begun to review how police handled interaction with social services regarding reports of child abuse by Councilman Sam Malone on his son. Joe Deters stated a Grand Jury reviewed this as well and found no criminal wrong doing. Sheriff Simon Leis's department is handling the county initiated investigation and the final report is expected to be submitted to him on Thursday.

What does this mean? Well, the details are might thin, but someone complained about how police handled reports of child abuse by Malone. What is lacking is do they mean the night the incident occurred which caused Malone's arrest or could there be prior incidents the police did not handle correctly? Were there prior incidents that police did not report to social services? How good are records of police calls and patrol visits?

Just to avoid confusion, I want to make it clear that I am trying to read between the lines of why this investigation was called. Simon Leis would not waste much time on this if there were not at least plausible allegations or complaints.

UPDATE 9PM: WCPO has more and tonight will have even more on their I-Team. Yea, it may be over the top, but the situation warrants all the attention it can get.

Fountain Square Plan Stumble

The Historical Landmark Board has vetoed the Fountain Square plan to move the Fountain. City Council reportedly will be able to over rule the veto, but they must do so today at the last meeting before Council's summer break, if the Plan is to stay on track. They could call a special meeting, but the votes are likely there to keep the plan going.

Partisan Hack on the Bench?

GOP party man gets a Federal judgeship recommendation, a payback for doing what it took to give Bush Southwest Ohio?

Who will replace him at the Hamilton County GOP?

Cincy Young Professionals

The Brian and Joe Show on WAIF 88.3FM will be joined by three great guests discussing young professionals in Cincinnati: The Enquirer's Maggie Downs, City Council candidate Nick Spencer, and Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber Sid DÂ?Souza. 10 AM today or check out the POD Cast.

Support For Religious Freedom

The Supreme Court refused to to hear several other cases involving separation of church and state and let stand lower court rulings that prevented religious displays in schools and one theocratic town council in South Carolina from beginning its meetings with a prayer praising Jesus Christ. It will not keep the theocrats from trying to push religion onto others, but it might make them more reluctant to waste their money. This will keep them at bay until Bush gets more Scalia type theocrats in courts.

Credit

I give full credit to the courthouses in Kentucky that quickly removed the Ten Commandments from the courthouse walls after the SCOTUS ruling. I applaud the willingness to honorably follow the rule of law.

Republican Putsch in KY

Purging Democrats from government jobs appears to have been one action taken by the Republican Administration in KY to gain and maintain power in the state. Now, who was pissed about someone being compared to Stalin? First we get torte allowed to happen under the Bush Administration, now we get a Putsch in Kentucky. Where's the next 5 year plan?

Bush Speech is Waste of Time

Here is how you know Bush is weak President. If George Bush wants to address the Country on the Iraq war, then he should be sitting at his desk talking into the camera telling us his views. He should have the courage to face on his own.

Instead he is playing to polls and marketing advisors and is holding his speech in front of a friendly military crowd at a military base and will likely be surrounded by soldiers, who will be cheering for Fearless Leader. He asked for Network air time for this, but this is just like a campaign speech, not an address to the country. THIS IS PURE PROPAGANDA. There can be no doubt of that. He will not have any new ideas or content. It will just be a rally around the president because his poll numbers have dropped like a rock and midterm elections are just around the corner.

This is the real Bush. He is worse than every other modern President and plays games with the public, especially when it comes to going to war. I hope people don't see this speech as anything more than a PR stunt. I know the faithful will eat this up like pigs at trough, so I am sure the Propaganda will work on a quite a few.

King Solomon Speaks

SCOTUS found a way to cut the baby in half.

Why Gun Violence?

What is causing the recent up tick of gun violence recently? Most of the incidents I would put on drug related idiots. This incident outside a dance club reportedly starting as an argument. Why would there be guns in the hands of these young 'kids?' I would guess they are not drug dealers. Do they have the guns on them as a result of conceal & carry laws? I doubt that. Do they have them out of fear? Maybe. Do they have guns out of some warped need for instant power and respect that they can't seem to earn any other way? I would guess yes. How is this type of problem addressed? How do young adults become ego driven fools who can't refrain from shooting people over schoolyard type conflicts?