Tuesday, October 18, 2005

Denial

CYA baby! That is what I hear Tom Ullum telling Peter Bronson. The issue that bugs me about this case that is lost on Conservatives is not the legality. I don't want the guy locked up. I support the ruling of the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, but I am willing to listen and respect the free-speech debate. The issue of concern to me is not Free Speech. The issue is a bar and a community that thinks this bar owner’s actions as "no big deal."

This is bigotry. This is a man publicly attaching a group of people. His intent, as I have said before, MAY have been a joke, but that is the CYA afterthought talking. Would it be a joke if I owned a bar and put a sign in the window that said "No Service for Christians?" Would anyone who wrongly attacks me whenever I comment on religion take it as a joke? Hell no, I would be attacked, protested, threatened, and likely put out of business by any community in the area (city or burbs).

Here Mr. Ullum gets a pat on the back from Mr. Sensitive, Peter Bronson, and likely is feeling good right now. He is being supported. His bigotry is being rewarded. That shows how much people like Bronson are in denial. They grasp at free speech/joke red herrings, but don't address the underlying problems facing immigrants. How can people fit in to a society if they are told, in so many words, "you are not welcome here?"

Monday, October 17, 2005

Power of POWR PAC

How powerful will the POWR PAC be in city politics? There endorsements skew right wing and white:
POWR PAC - "Partnership of West Side Residents Political Action Committee" - has endorsed David Pepper for mayor, along with a six-member council slate - Democrats John Cranley, an incumbent, and challengers Jeff Berding and Cecil Thomas; and three Republicans, incumbent Chris Monzel and challengers John Eby and Leslie Ghiz.
No Charter Candidates? That is a bit of a surprise. I would have thought Bortz, Tarbell, or maybe Spencer could have gotten a nod.

Sunday, October 16, 2005

Bigotry Good For Business

Last weekend I wrote about the Mason, Ohio bar that put a sign up in its front window reading "For Service Speak English."

I made the argument that the community bore responsibility for creating an atmosphere where the bar owner felt he could put a bigoted sign like that in his window, while getting little or no negative response from the members of the community. I got plenty of flack for that argument. Well, today the Enquirer has a story which outlines two points, one of which directly shows my views on the community were actually underplaying the bigotry of the community. Instead of feeling pressure from people around town to take down the sign, the bar owner has had increased business.
Ullum said he has received no complaints about the sign. In fact, he said, the controversy has been good for business.

He said one woman called to say, "We've been in Mason 18 years. We've never been in your bar, but we're coming in to show support."
If Mason is a tolerant city, then why after this story has gotten so much attention have the locals either supported the bigotry or at "best" hid behind cul de sac apathy?

The other point this article brings up is one not limited to Mason. The Ohio Civil Rights commission received emails that show why bigotry, racism, and hate are still around:
"To attempt to deny an American citizen the right to speak their mind in regards to a request to Speak English reveals your fascist tendencies. ... You are a good example as to why this country is turning in to a cesspool of third world scum."
The final interesting element of the article is who is listed as a contributor: Peter Bronson. Why was Bronson on this story? Was he looking to write a column, but even he was disgusted by this and turned over his notes/quotes for a regular news article?

MIAMI 51, Akron 23

Love and honor to Miami,
Our college old and grand,
Proudly we shall ever hail thee,
Over all the land.

Alma mater now we praise thee,
Sing joyfully this lay,
Love and honor to Miami,
Forever and a day.


More Here and Here.

Saturday, October 15, 2005

Kabaka Oba Indicted

Ok, Black activist Oba has been indicted. Why do read this?
Police arrested Oba, a bus driver for Queen City Metro, on Oct. 7 as he completed his route. Police said he didn't ask for a lawyer - but did ask for them to call Smitherman.

"That's what he said - have them call Smitherman. And he rattled off a phone number," said Lt. Jack Kraft.

Smitherman, who did not return several phone calls seeking comment, showed up last week at Oba's first court appearance - where Smitherman confronted Municipal Court Judge Kendal Coes in the hallway.

Coes said Smitherman walked up to him and said he was there to support Oba, but did not explicitly ask the judge for any favors.
Why is Councilman Chris Smitherman trying to do anything for Oba?

Friday, October 14, 2005

Cincinnati Advance Radio Is On The Air!

Joe Wessels is back on WAIF today 10AM to 11AM with the premier of Cincinnati Advance Radio. Joe is teaming up with Cincinnati Advance to give Cincinnati a great radio program with local, state and national guests discussing the headlines and local happenings effecting you.

This weeks lineup:
This week we welcome former Cincinnati mayors Roxanne Qualls and David Mann. They will be on to discuss what they think it takes to be Cincinnati's Mayor.

We'll also welcome Leslie Isaiah Gaines. The defense attorney and former judge has released an updated version of his 1994 hit "Shake 'n Blake" about the Cincinnati Bengals with the newer "Shake 'n Quake." Gaines says the Bengals are going all the way. With Sunday's loss, we'll see if he's singing a different tune.


To listen live online check out WAIF's website. Archives of Joe's shows will be online in the future.

Thursday, October 13, 2005

Speaking of Endorsements

The following column by Peter Bronson is brought to you by the Committee to Elect Ken Blackwell. It is a badly veiled campaign commercial. Bronson is in Blackwell's corner. He wants a "a real conservative." That sounds like people who say they are a "real Bengals fan," not a bandwagon fan. It reminds me more of a person who says they are a "real Christian," not like the Catholics and Mormons.

(Let the “Brian is an anti-Christian” posts begin. They are wrong, but they will begin none-the-less)

More Endorsements Are Out

Does anyone care who the Cincinnati Area Board of Realtors endorses? This is a matter of momentum and perception. The more people willing to go on the record, the better. There are a few organizations that hold more weight than others, but still, few change their minds about who they are going to vote for. Instead I think endorsements provide vindication of one's viewpoint and increases the likelihood of a person actually voting.

Wednesday, October 12, 2005

Cincinnati Advance Debate

Greg Korte has the review of the details. I, as a member of the main sponsor, will focus instead on praising everyone who helped put on a great debate. I will single out Barry Gee for his great work, along with Joe Wessels for the radio broadcast, Nick Spenser and everyone at alchemize for their help with the venue, Regina Russo for moderating, and Tiana Rollinson & Michael Altman for being panelists.

From CinAd I wish to single out and thank Sandy for organizing the reception, Steve for being the timekeeper during the debate, and Christa and Bridget for helping out behind the scenes. I may have missed someone, if I did, thanks to you too!!!

On the lighter political side, I introduced myself to Nate Livingston, who was out front passing out Anti-Pepper handouts, interesting. I was very disappointed though in Peter Bronson. We sent him a specific invite, and he RSVP’d that he would attend, but he did not show up. I have never met Peter, and actually was looking forward to meeting him. Maybe next time.

Well, if you were at the debate, sound off on whom you think won. I was not able to see all of it, I was doing a few things behind the scenes, and as I said before I want to say out of talking about my views on this particular debate, so don’t look for my analysis.

I was so very pleased to have both candidates at an event CinAd sponsored. I hope everyone who attended had a great time and I hope they learned something about both candidates.

UPDATE: More from Korte's Blog.

Tuesday, October 11, 2005

Question the Mayoral Candidates

What questions do you have for Mallory and Pepper? Cincinnati Advance is accepting questions for the Candidates at tonight's debate. If you post your name, neighborhood and your question here or on the CinAd website, I will include it with our list of questions. That does not mean it will be asked, but we will get as many fair questions asked as possible. We are not going to let things get out of control, so save the scandals for the blogs.

You can also email them to me, if you don't want it listed for all to see.

Mallory Gets Old School Republicans

Going against type Stanley J. Aronoff and Richard Finan endorsed Mallory for Mayor yesterday. Is this a crack in Pepper's GOP Armor or just old friendships cashing in?

Monday, October 10, 2005

Who Will Run Against Schmidt in the 2nd?

I doubt Brinkman will challenge her, but the real question is that since Hackett is running for Senate, who will challenge Schmidt in the 2nd congressional district? Hackett had challengers in the Dem primary, will they all be back? Do any have a chance? He had a good chance to beat Schmidt, could anyone else?

Blackwell, Strickland Lead Polls

Buried in this local news briefs page, the Enquirer reports on the Dispatch poll listing Blackwell ahead in the GOP nomination with 32%. Petro had 18% and Montgomery had 16%. That is a big lead for Blackwell. That is bad news for the GOP and for the state. The last two GOP governors to win were not right wingers. Ohio is not a right wing state. The fire breathing will not win.

For the Dems Strickland leads Coleman 22% to 19%, with Flannery at only 4%. This race is going to be a tight one. I don't know who I like better. I have not had a chance to hear both of the leading two speak. I guess I would prefer both running for statewide offices, instead of against each other.

Sunday, October 09, 2005

Kabaka Oba Jailed On Intimidation Charges

Michael Bailey, better known as Kabaka Oba of the Black Fist is behind bars having been charged with intimidation of a victim in a criminal case.

The case in question is one where Oba (Bailey) was charged with aggravated menacing. In the latest charge, Oba is alleged to have intimidated the same person he is alleged to have been menacing. The original case has a compliant filed which states that Oba threatened to Kill the victim and showed the victim a handgun.

Oba was previously acquitted on an aggravated menacing charge in 2003.

Sidenote: Oba first name "Kabaka" is inconsistently spelled. Sometimes it is spelled differently in the same court document where it is listed as "Kabaca." Based on Nate's Blog I am going with the "K".

Saturday, October 08, 2005

The "Welcoming" City of Mason

There are many things that came to mind when I read of the story of the bar with the "For Service Speak English" sign in the window. This is bigotry. I am sure people will bemoan me for harping on the suburbs yet again, but come on, this is just pathetic.

This is hate. No matter how much back peddling the owner is doing now, his intention was to keep his bar void of Latinos. That is illegal. Now, there could be a fine line where he will tolerate those Latinos who speak English, which I think is how he is trying to play this, and that may be where he can skirt the law. It is wrong, but the legal status is different.

I can just picture the temperament of the bar's regular customers from this:
Jim Freeze, a regular patron, said "it's the damn liberals" that are trying to infringe on Ullum's free speech.
The only thing eluding me is the verbal inflection used by Mr. Freeze. Was it uttered in a grumble or in more of a northern country twang? Or by chance was it just an Austrian accent?

When I am attacked for this post, which I will be, I have to ask people an honest question. Are the Mr. Ullum’s and Mr. Freeze the exception or the norm for the people of Mason and Warren County? I hope they are not a majority, but I think any honest answer of those living in Mason or anywhere else is that these men are not just apparitions. They are at a minimum a representation of the views of a very significant portion of the people living in Mason and Warren County. Call it veiled hate or tempered bigotry, but just call it wrong. They don’t see what they do as being wrong, but it is wrong, and the manner in which places like Mason are becoming locations were conformity and uniformity are not just desired but required, it foretells of troubled times.

UPDATE: More on this from the Enquirer's Editorial Page. What they have that is most interesting is that the complaint on the sign came offically from a Mt. Auburn group. Mt. Aburn in in the city.

And He's Off!

Charlie will not be coming down the home stretch until 2009 when his term expires as a member of the Ohio State Racing Commission.

This commission oversees wagering. Will Charlie help get casino gambling in Ohio and even in Cincinnati?

Friday, October 07, 2005

McCain Out on a Limb?

Chris Geidner links up news that Sen. John McCain, what I would call a sane Republican, has endorsed Ken Blackwell in the Primary for Ohio Governor. This makes no sense. Petro and Monty are clearly McCain type picks, not Blackwell or at least the Conservative Christian's new darling Ken Blackwell.

I respect John McCain a great deal. I would find it very difficult to ever vote for him, but I respect the man for what I think are sensible views on many issues. This endorsement is not sensible.

The Debates Rage On

We have a report from Greg Korte on this morning's debate at Seven Hills Upper School. It is great for the candidate's to be going to schools for a debate. Could they have picked a bigger school maybe with more students? It may not have been a manageable event in that case, but the more students that are exposed to real life civics the more students that will hopefully take part in real life civics.

Blah!

What are the top excuses I should have used for being late to work?

Beechmont Levee was Closed and I had to drive all over the East side was the real reason, but I could use others just in case.

I for one am in favor of doing something about the lack of a transportation corridor for the East Side. We have few ways to cross the Little Miami River and if one is blocked, like today, the rest overflow with traffic. The sooner a Red Bank/50 to Route 32 connection is made, the better.

Thursday, October 06, 2005

Them

It appears that many people in Mason don't want "them" walking around their neighborhoods. The "Them" is anyone who does not belong. That means, well, anyone who is not like everyone else who live in Mason. That is, well, bigotry. That is the suburbs.