Blame the Liberals!!!!

It is so sad to read the ignorant Letters to the editor:

"Public's support must not waver

Unfortunately terrorist attacks are a sad part of the 21st century. However, how America presents itself is critical. The terrorists know they cannot defeat us in a traditional sense but believe they can beat us in the public opinion arena.. Remember Vietnam! When will the Democrats in Congress and other liberals stop worrying about the treatment of the enemy combatants and start presenting a united front, with President Bush, against all terrorists?

Ronald P. Heile

Pleasant Ridge"

Let me translate: "They are out to get Us. Liberals are to blame it Bush can't do things all alone." I guess the terrorists when every time I say 'Bush sucks?'

Bush fucking sucks. Does that count double for this mythical game of "War" we are playing here on the homefront? I mean we can't question the motive, actions of Bush in public, that might help the "enemy." Who the enemy is depends on who Bush wants to attack next.

What I say does not affect the City of Cincinnati let alone terrorists in Saudi Arabia (remember that terrorist haven?). If a congressman is trying to make sure that our military does not become the same as the military under Saddam, then they not only are fighting for the country, they are fighting for truth and honor, which as a human being rank higher than who wins a war. Survival is not at stake. Republicans and Conservatives might do some good and understand that neither Iraq nor the War on Terror is like World War II. People like Mr. Heile seems to think it does, and makes fun of comparisons to Vietnam.

I have not spent any time on the right wing news outlets/blogs after the London attacks, but I wonder if they are angry and looking to carpet bomb someone. Nothing makes peace like a war, after all.

Deeper and Deeper

The Taft Administration just keeps sliding into a deep dark hole of scandal. Now they even have roped the White House into their web of fat cat appeasing.

Inside Arts & Culture Series

Enjoy the Arts has a great series for those who love the arts or want to get an up close look at the exceptional cultural community in Cincinnati. Here are the details:

Enjoy the Arts' Cultural Party is Back! Starting July 13, on one Wednesday a month from 5:30-7:30 PM, meet with other "arts sleuths" and explore the fascinating and sometimes mystifying world of the Cincinnati art scene. Inside Arts & Culture is $75 per person for one six-month series and will be limited to 50 insiders per session. For more information or to make reservations call (513) 621-4700 or email info@etastart.com.

The still have open spots for the series, so get out and experience the arts.

Debate: Hackett Vs. Schmidt

Well, how was the debate? Who did well, who did not, how many voters are actually paying attention?

Reece Campaign Volunteer Caught In Crossfire

Nothing brings home gun violence to a candidate like one of their volunteers being shot. He was shot in the foot by a stray bullet. This did not happen in OTR either. Many of the shootings are not happening in OTR or West End, where people expect it to occur, when it does. Will this light a fire under Reece to stop what is becoming a childish turf war, something closer to the Hatfields vs. the McCoys, instead of Scarface?

One Eye, One Horn

The Purple bridge's yellow art not only cost a ton, it also does not look very appealing. "Who was the ad wiz who came up with this one?"

Bronson Wants a Culture War

Mr. Civility swings at the left with a punch of "suck it up fuckers, you lost 'we' one, eat it." He dares complains that the left is up in arms because Bush might appoint a fascist to the court. Well, guess what Peter, he might. That may give you a woodie, but for the reality based community, that is bad news. Since many of the rights people are fighting for (separation of church and state, abortion, gay rights) don't affect Peter, and others who think like him, he doesn't care. Now, he also wants laws out there to force religion on others, to control women's bodies, and to oppress gays, but that is a tangent issue. If Bush appoints a more sane conservative, Bronson and the rest of the Storm troopers will scream and yell and be ready to oust the President. If you want an example see how good old Peter and his lot treat Bob Taft. Bronson's whining about people fighting for their beliefs indicates two things; one is that he really sucks at making cultural references (Tom Cruise? WTF?), the second is that he has no argument to make against people hold strong beliefs other than belittling them for holding strong beliefs. If he can't respect people for standing up for what they believe in, then he is a hack. Well, he is a hack anyway.

London Attacked

Sad, Horrible news from the UK.

Krispy Kreme Stores Out of Cincy Area

I guess they couldn't compete with low carbs or with Busken.

Whose Ten Commandments?

In comments we had a discussion about the variations in Ten Commandments between religions and sect. This story tackles that very issue.

Malone On a Hot Tin Roof

In what comes across like a bad Tennessee Williams play, we get details from Sam Malone's son as to how his father beat him.

Malone's son told police he came home from the Kings Island outing and his father said: "I know what you did. ... I'm going to wear your butt out."

According to the teen's statement, Malone ordered him to his room, telling him: "You'd better go ahead and meditate. If I were you, I wouldn't eat anything either."

Malone took his shirt off and got a belt from his room, according to the report and police records.

When the boy tried to explain why he was late to the checkpoint, Malone said he didn't want to hear it and told his son to turn around, take off his shirt and pull his pants down, the statement said.

Malone is accused of hitting the boy several times with the belt.

The hospital records detail bruising to his chest, arms, back and buttocks.

The boy told police he fell at one point and Malone continued to hit him.

"I pay for your school, and you bring home poor grades," Malone told his son during the beating, according to the boy's statement. "You're not paying attention."

When his father stopped hitting him, the boy told police Malone told him he wasn't finished with him, adding: "I'm going to whip the black off you."

Malone has nothing on "Big Daddy," but this sounds like a Tim Burton remake of The Great Santini.

This version from the child paints Malone as sadistic. I wonder how he will try and defend this, and explain it away. I bet he is forming a "secret" report to do just right now.

Protect and Serve

It is so very reassuring that Cincinnati Police Union is so worried about certain citizens, namely 7 members of City Council, that they published their home addresses a long with the following language:

A STRONGER MESSAGE IS IN ORDER
Listed below are the individuals responsible for targeting and injuring our families:

[Seven names and Address listed here]

The arbitrators have said, “There is a problem with the city’s decision making. The city has an expenditure
problem rather than a revenue problem. There appears to be a conflict between the funds the city says are
available and the funds the city makes available. The employees of the city are expected to bear the brunt of the
burden of misaligned spending by city council and the method of bargaining on the part of the city leads to a
lack of trust by not only the union bargaining team but also the arbitrators.”

THIS IS AN ELECTION YEAR. WHAT KIND OF MESSAGE ARE YOU GOING TO SEND?

What kind of message do they need to send with their home addresses? Can't they instead write them a letter to their City Hall Address or send them an email? This comes off to me as a not so very veiled threat. What might they do? Oh, obviously no direct harm. Maybe Union Leader's intention is to subtly ask their members to not drive so fast if any of these addresses are ever mentioned on a call. This is not what the police should be doing. They are about public safety, not intimidation. Even though they can justify it by how people voted, not have either Republican on here still stinks of partisanship. FOP members should for once stand up to the hacks they have elected as leaders. They are not moving towards a fit open police force, but are instead stuck in the cocksure attitude of the good old days, where police could do no wrong. Those days are over, but too many in the city are clinging on to it.

Kudos to Korte who posted this on what appears to be so far his solo blog project.

Rebirth of Kaldi's?

The word on the street is that something is going on at the site of Kaldi's Coffeehouse and that it could reopen soon. Can anyone confirm this or know what is going on? The bookshelves were never removed. It appears that most everything else remained as it was. A little clean up or better yet a nice little revamp and it would a great spot for the Main Street Area. With the Diner closed too, it has room to grow.

On the Congressional Trail

I guess this type of story will be the norm from here on out in the 2nd District race for Congress. Unless the attacks start coming out, we will get profiles, puff pieces, bios, and the occasional issue summaries. This race is going to be one on the ground on the air waves. I don't see the media have a huge affect. The only group that might sway someone is the Editorial board of the Enquirer. It worked for Schmidt in the primary, and if Hackett is at all close, an endorsement from the Enquirer could be a tipping point. I don't think he will get it, but it could go a long way in a race like this.

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.