Bronson?

This column appears to be written by Peter Bronson. It is recycled information, which sounds like Bronson, but it generally has a positive tone about the city, so one must wonder who actually wrote this column.

MIAMI Hockey #2

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.

RedHawks jump to No. 2 ranking (Again in the Enquirer, and yesterday it was an update during the day, again WOW!)

As the Council Turns

For those of you who can't get enough of the Mallory-Crowley kerkuffel (and there are clearly a few of you die-hards who keep posting on this dying warhorse of a story), Korte has posted his (hopefully) final word on the whole fiasco. Korte's two questions are:

1. How is this a report if they didn't really meet?
2. On the document, Crowley's name has been added after the fact to the signatory list. Of course, he's also listed as being vice-chair on page three, which makes it look like they just added page 4 to the revised list.

Answer to 1: Don't think of it as a report; it's a motion to council on committees. In the Rules of Council, the mayor appoints chairs, but the council votes on committee members and vice-chairs. So, what this is is a full slate of members for all the positions that will presumably be approved by a voice vote at council. (Since we were not at the first meeting, it would seem based on press reports that the only votes were on Tarbell as vice-mayor and Cole as president pro tem. What does the president pro tem do, you ask? Not much, honestly, but she's third in line to the Big Chair... If this is the case, the committees get approved at the next meeting. If you were there, say something in comments.) Is it a violation of sunshine laws? Not as long as you think of it as a motion, not as a report. After all, if all the assumptions are correct, and Council has yet to appoint the committee, then Rules Committee doesn't exist right now; therefore, this isn't a report and can't be a report. Instead, it's a motion that can (and will) be passed by Council at next meeting (presumably, after asking consent to suspend the rules and vote immediately on the motion), along with the new rules.

Answer to 2: Who cares, really? If it makes this story go away faster, then wonderful. (If it's a lousy story, then why are we writing about it? Why not? That's what blogs are for, right?)

Also, there's one thing that Korte doesn't call out--on the "report", Crowley is listed as vice-chair of both Neighborhoods and Health/Education/Recreation on the PDF of the report.

After all Crowley's email supposedly read:

I learned tonight that Mayor-Elect Mark Mallory choose not to give me a chairmanship position on ANY City Council Committee for the term starting tomorrow. In fact, Mallory did not even recommend me for the vice-chair position of the committee I currently chair.

Read the whole "report" if you're interested in how the committees break down.

Cranley Making News, Already

One place Steve Chabot is going to really suffer is John Cranley's ability to make the newspaper constantly where he can drop moderate or even quasi-conservative viewpoints like this:

"We need a real energy policy to make us independent of Middle Eastern oil. We need to bring the deficit down and not give corporate welfare to oil companies making record-high profits. We need to improve our homeland security.

"None of this is being done four years after 9-11. That really is the fault of Congress and needs to be changed. Steve Chabot is part of the program - the things that John McCain talked about. He has gone along with the program."

Chabot is going to need to be back in town all the time. Cranley can just be Councilman, doing something for the community, while we never hear Chabot's name. Cranley needs to stay away from any negative city story, but be out in front of every other city story. He then needs to find a way to break deeper into the West side and Butler County. The formula exists, he just needs to find out what it is, and replicate it.

Banks Deal Dead?

The Enquirer is reporting that Corporex has withdrawn from negotiations with the county. They were partners with Vandercar Holdings to create The Banks Development Company. The BDC pulled the fast one and got a "secret" deal with the county.

The reasons why the deal allegedly is falling through is unknown.

Does this kill the Banks? It has been called dead many times. This certainly makes the County look like fools, unless they and Vandercar Holdings (Cincinnati-based developer Rob Smyjunas) can pull a 10 million dollar rabbit out of a hat.

Calling 3CDC! Will anyone answer?

Brinkman Dancing On The Head of a Pin

Tom Brinkman is posturing for the chance to wipe Jean Schmidt off the map in next year's GOP Primary for the 2nd District. He is giving a "by-your-leave" to Bob McEwen, who finished ahead of Brinkman in the primary earlier this year. Brinkman must face some reality; he is not well liked in the 2nd District. Is he that much less disliked than Jean Schmidt? That is the saddest thing to have to consider. When does David Pepper get into the race for the Dems?

Message Boards at Cincinnati.Com

I knew they had sports message boards, but the Enquirer's website has message boards on politics too. Few are using them currently, but that may change. Their boards used to be hoping. Before and during and after the riots they were a hot place for discussion.

John Cranley for Congress

City Council top vote getter John Cranley has taken an unsurprising move, but still one that carries a sense of oomph when you read it in print.  This a great move for Cranley and for the Democrats.  Every race should be contested and in this case Cranley has more than just a shot, he stands a good chance of winning.

The GOP faithful may think that this district is a safe one.  Well, it is safe when the Dems run a mainstream liberal like Greg Harris. Greg was a great candidate, but he hit bad timing when running against the fear campaign of 2004.  The district wasn’t ready for a candidate like him.

Cranley is a far different Democrat than Harris.  Cranley is anti-abortion, which on the Westside is more important than where you stand on taxes, foreign policy, and even gay rights.  District 1 is a conservative district, but it is not as Republican as District 2 is, and there a socially “liberal” (He is moderate for Dems, but liberal for GOPers) Democrat, Paul Hackett, came very close to beating what turned out to be a horrible candidate in Jean Schmidt.

Cranley will make it difficult for people like Pete Witte to vote again him.  Witte will support Steve Chabot, he is a good party guy, but he will not stand for the trashing Cranley by Chabot’s campaign or by the RNC.  The people of this district, at least the City residents, know Cranley, and like him.  Chabot will not be able to attack Cranley and tar him with the national political issues, as is the norm for congressional races.  In this case the politics is indeed all local.  Chabot has not been around much, Cranley has been here and been getting elected easily.  Chabot is going to need a lot of money and big media buys to beat Cranley.  He will likely get that, but if Cranley can match him, he will win.

Just Kill the Bar Business, Why Don't Ya

Only in Cincinnati would anyone in power consider a ban on serving alcohol outdoors after 10PM. If you want new development, this kind of law puts handcuffs that are just not warranted. I don't know if this law incorporates zoning laws, where the only places affected would be bars in "residential areas." This might affect Places like City View Tavern, but should not affect Christy's Rathskeller, Neon's, or the Pavilion in Mount Adams.

If there is going to be a smoking ban, then there MUST be outdoor drinking, or bars in Ohio will not survive long, which Northern Kentucky booms. Council should just put this to rest now and over-rule it.

"Is that you Mo-Dean?"

Very Shiny.

Crowleys and the McCoys

Is there a family feud brewing for City Council Dems?

Club Clueless

Classist, snobs, pretentious idiots. That is what came to mind when I read about The Continental Lounge. In a city where we are striving for some sense of common good, common development, and common futures comes a club seeking to suck out what little vibrancy we have here in town and lock it in their own little world. “Cool” is the combination of selfishness, greed, and being fickle. It sure can be fun, but when you cut it off behind a big velvet rope, you are no longer cool, you are dicks.

The good thing about this club is that I know where it is and I know where not to go. The old adage about not wanted to join a club that would have me as a member is flipped on its head. People who want to join this type of club really should think about leaving town. Seriously, you are no good to this city/region if you can't stand in line with the rest of us for a beer or you can't bare to wait 15 minutes for a table.

Call it the creeping in of a Midwestern sensibility into my mind, but I really can't stand this type of thing. Places like the Banker's Club are around town and they have been here for years. They don’t creep into life much. They add little, but don’t take away much. They are the Little Rascals Clubhouse for those who are seeking to be rich or thought of as rich. They have a purpose, but they are viewed as stale uber-establishment venues. They reek with social order, the adult version of high school popular kids. The bottom line is that they have been here, don’t matter, and won’t matter. A new “club” whose entire purpose is to keep people out of it, hurts the region. I can honestly say I hope it fails, and my conscious is better for that hope. When Dick & Jane VIP wannabe shell out their limited money to join this group, thinking they will become cool for having $2,500 to waste, and then realizing that when the place closes its doors and their membership closes with it, being "cool" like being respected is earned, not purchased. I hope they only used play money.

CinAd Radio

Joe Wessels will be broadcasting live on the Internet at 11:30 AM today. Joe's line-up today includes: Photographer and editor of Street Vibes, Jimmy Heath, Pat Clifford, director of the Drop Inn Center, and Victoria Morgan, artistic director for the Cincinnati Ballet.

GOP Prays For Smoke Filled Room

In the race for Ohio Governor, the GOP is praying that someone will drop out. Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell, Attorney General Jim Petro and Auditor Betty Montgomery are all declared candidates that if things stay the way they are, will result in a bloody primary fight.

Ted Strickland is loving it. With Coleman out of the race, Strickland will win the Dem nomination with money not wasted on a primary fight. Add a close DeWine-Hackett race and a shift away from scandal racked Ohio Republicans, and Strickland looks like he will fair very well next November.

Snowball's Chance

This guy has Zero Chance. This is likely all the free press he will get if he actually appears on the GOP primary ballot.

Bronson Perpetuates Schmidt Lie

Peter Bronson has let the power get to his head. He hates Bill Clinton so much, that he is now is doing what Bill Clinton did over the meaning of words. Jean Schmidt called Rep. Murtha a coward. Did she literally or "technically" do it? That depends on the meaning of "is." Her intent and her inference are ABUNDANTLY CLEAR. Bronson shouldn't be allowing Jean Schmidt to continue to lie to the voters in her district. She intended, fully intended, to paint Murtha as a coward, and in turn paint all Democrats and those who don't blindly follow Fearless Leader™ as cowards as well.

To play a game of semantics is not only dishonest, it is foolish. Bronson shows he is more about party than about truth. This is plain cold truth. She did it, end of story. This is not a debate about what should be in the budget or over Federal regulator policy. This is about an individual who lacks the skills and temperament to hold a Federal Public Office. If she wants to run for dogcatcher, than she might do a good job. Every Toto in Milford would live in fear. Don't let the truth live in fear when she is on the floor of the House of Representatives.

Secret Start to New Council

Soon to be Mayor Mark Mallory showed his skills at Roberts Rules of Order with the manner in which the new rules of Council were chosen. This maneuver included picking chairpersons of Council Committees:

New City Council committees, and their chairmen, are:

Finance: Democrat John Cranley.

Law and Public Safety: Democrat Cecil Thomas.

Economic Development: Charterite Chris Bortz.

Vibrant Neighborhoods, Environment and Public Services: Democrat Laketa Cole.

Arts, Culture, Tourism and Marketing: Charterite Jim Tarbell.

Education, Health and Recreation: Republican Chris Monzel.

Rules: Democrat Jeff Berding.

Mallory showed a different side by appointing Chris Bortz and Chris Monzel to committee chair positions over that of Democrat David Crowley. Why does Chris Monzel, the guy who led the fight to make Abortion rights a city issue, get the Education, Health and Recreation committee?

Greg Korte has much more on the "secret meeting."

Mallory Snubs Crowley

Mark Mallory, who officially become Mayor of Cincinnati today, snubbed fellow Democrat David Crowley for a Chairmanship of a council subcommittee. Crowley issued an impassioned email to supporters:

Friends:

I learned tonight that Mayor-Elect Mark Mallory choose not to give me a chairmanship position on ANY City Council Committee for the term starting tomorrow. In fact, Mallory did not even recommend me for the vice-chair position of the committee I currently chair.

As the current chairperson of the Economic Development Committee and former chairperson of the Education Committee, the 4th top vote getter in this month's election, one of the most senior members on Council and a fellow Democrat, I am very disappointed and disturbed with Mallory's decision.

In fact, Mallory recommended two Charterites and one Republicans for chairmanships over me, a Democrat.

I urge you to contact Mayor-Elect Mallory TONIGHT and let him know that you are angered and frustrated with his decision to completely overlook me. He can be contacted at mark.mallory@cincinnati-oh.gov or 352-3250. The quickest way is to call the office and register a complaint because we are not sure whether or not Mallory is checking his email yet.

Thank you for your continued support,
David Crowley

Queen City Forum had this last night.

UPDATE: Korte has more.

Portune Wants State Democratic Chairmanship

County Commissioner Todd Portune is running for state Democratic chairman. I don't think I am the only person surprised about this.

I have a question, does this mean he will be required to leave his post as County Commissioner?

Council Rule Changes

With a new council we get new proposals:

1. Allow the chair of a council meeting to limit citizens who want to speak before Council to one public appearance a month.


2. Eliminate by-leaves, or unscheduled motions, communications, resolutions and ordinances.


3. Prevent council members from requesting reports from the administration unless four council members or a committee chairperson and one other council member agree to the request.


4. Ban council members from speaking more than once on any one subject and limit comments to three minutes.

I want an orderly council meeting, but I don't want a rigid meeting.  Citizens should be respectful of everyone on council.  We don’t need the Boycott B clowns making fools out of themselves and insult everyone in attendance with their childish antics and meaningless stunts.  I don’t want things so closed down to allow for opinions not to be heard.  If you are disruptive, then you loose your ability to address council.  If you are respective you should be allowed to address council at every meeting.

Tarbell Name Vice Mayor

Mayor Mark Mallory has picked Councilman Jim Tarbell to the city's next Vice Mayor. Isn't Tarbell term limited after the term ending in 2007?

More Idiotic Bronson

Fingerprint Everyone! Get DNA samples before the terrorists strike again! Who does Peter Bronson think is going to attack Cincinnati? Well, the only people to be worried about are home grown terrorists. Osama is not going to target a Cincinnati Bengals game. There is not a plot to prevent them from going to the playoffs.

We don't need pat downs here. If the NFL wants to increase beer sales by screening out flasks, then just say so, and don't hide behind "terrorism" which sends the Peter Bronsons of the world into panic mode, making his cave seem all the more homey.

More Vice Mayor Rumblings

Korte has no more idea who is going to be the next vice mayor, but he makes the point that it will likely not be John Cranley. I don't know if that is true. I don't think Cranley really wants to be mayor. I think he wants more. I think he may want another crack at Chabot or at least he wants a shot to become County Commissioner.

1st Dem Challenger to Face Schmidt

I have never heard of Jim Parker and I don't know how he'll do in the race. He did get some free press and that always helps.

A Soldier Speaks

Jean Schmidt should avoid speaking about the opinions of Iraq soldiers and their moral. If she continues to do so, then instead of talking with an extreme right wing Ohio politician who served desk duty during the Iraq war, Jean should talk with solders like Major David Grundy. Major Grundy's opinion is his and I don't know how common it is, but if a Major has the courage to speak out against a Republican on the War, then his opinion should be respected and should be strongly considered. I hope he does not feel pressure or even worse this hurts his career for exercising his rights as a citizen and soldier.

Mark Mallory Profile

Interesting profile piece on Mark Mallory from the Enquirer's Chuck Martin. It is interesting to know about the personality of Mark Mallory, but this side of his personality is not relevant to his job as mayor. I hope this is the last type of personality profile we see on the Mayor. I hope to hear more him discussing the type of person he wants for Vice-Mayor and City Manager.

I really could have done without the Bill Cunningham quotes and knowing Mark's waist size. Cunningham's quotes were complimentary and benign, but Cunningham adds nothing to the City in anything he does, so why ask him about Mallory? I really don't need to know Mark's waist size or suit size. Saying he dresses well is fine, I don't need to know the details.

Purple People Bridge Entance Wins Award

Today's Enquirer reports (but the story is not online) the vilified 'artwork' won a Cincinnati Design Award. I find that very hard to believe that something that caused WCPO to do a tabloidish expose on it is deserving of an award. I would call it rather ugly.

Ladies, Just In Case

If the ladies are out and about at a night club around Cincinnati this weekend and Nick Lachey starts hitting on you, don't be shocked nor upset. I bet you should be flattered to be the potential rebound girl.

Bad Apple Still Bad

The courts were no help to a bad situation. Patrick Caton should not be a police officer, especially in Cincinnati.

What is next? Will he actually rejoin the force? Does he have another job and is this just a matter of paperwork and back pay? It sounds and looks horrible, but I would be willing for the City to pay a settlement to the guy to keep him off the police force.

More from the Post.

Hating the Nati

In today's letters to the editor we get this anti-city gem from an inner-suburb dolt:

Keep sheriff out of Over-the-Rhine

I do not feel it is fair to the outlying communities to have former Cincinnati councilmen acting as Hamilton County Commissioners to authorize paying a million and a half for police protection in the Over-the-Rhine. As far as we are concerned this is another way to use the taxing authority of Hamilton County to pay for the Cincinnati operating expenses.

Why not use the funds to assist the city of Norwood or other communities? If the sheriff is over-funded, he should return the money to the county.

Fred J. Benz
Montgomery

Fred is not alone. He has many friends who would be happy to leave the city out to fail. Fred might need a slight geography lesson. The City of Cincinnati is in Hamilton County. The city residents pay the same taxes he does. How often does a Sheriff patrol the City of Montgomery? Well, when I view the City of Montgomery's Police Department's web page, and on it they have a prominent link to the Hamilton County Sheriff's website, then I will conclude that the Sheriff does quite a bit of patrolling in Montgomery. Mr. Benz, I suggest you request your city to either increase their police force & stop using the Sheriff Department to supplement its budget or shut up.

Worst of all, the Sheriff is not patrolling OTR for other reasons completely, not that Mr. Benz noticed.

Get Off Your Ass and Shop

Today is the day that everyone should be out there shopping. You are doing two things: one you are earning me a salary increase and two your are clearing out the stores so I can do my shopping in peace next weekend.

Gobble, Gobble

Happy Thanksgiving Day!!

More Schmidt Lies

We have a new report that states Jean Schmidt lied again. From Howard Wilkinson's article:

U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt said this afternoon she had “no idea’’ when she created an uproar on the House floor by saying “cowards cut and run, Marines never do’’ that she was addressing the remark to a fellow House member who is a much decorated Marine veteran of Vietnam.

“I did not know he was a Marine or I would not have said it,’’ the newly elected Republican congresswoman told The Enquirer this afternoon in an interview at her Kenwood district office.

Well, Jean either has bad hearing, does not pay attention, or is lying. I vote for the third. She clearly new he was a Marine and was present during a news conference when a it was stated.

In the UA Progressive article above we are lead back to the transcript in which I posted on Jean's nutty anti-Muslim rant. In that news conference, which took place within 24 hours of Jean's Murtha comments, one of her fellow GOP Congressman said that Murtha was a Marine right in front of her:

DREIER: I have the utmost respect for my colleague Jack Murtha. My father was a Marine. Jack Murtha was a very proud Marine. And I have worked with him for the last quarter century on the struggle for liberation in Central America and in other spots throughout the world -- in military conflicts.

Later in the news conference Jean went nutty and poured into the anti-Muslim rant I posted on previously.

Now, it is in print that she heard Murtha was a Marine. Is she foolish enough to think we are not going to conclude that she knew fully well that Murtha was a former Marine because she either can’t hear or does not pay attention? I guess she thinks her voters are stupid. I am glad to help rid them of their stupid. I hope to be rid of Jean Schmidt. What we get in her place will be just as bad (Brinkman), but might finally make for a rational District 2 to break freed of the nutty GOP wing that controls the district and instead of more of the same. Hackett would have been a good congressman. I think Pepper could be too. I just want new blood and non-nutty and non-antigay non-antiwoman candidates.

Fake GOP Site OK

www.hamiltoncountyrepublicanparty.com has survived an initial legal test.

Leslie, Leslie, Leslie

Oh the friends you choose. Korte is reporting that Councilwoman-elect Leslie Ghiz will be sworn in as Councilwoman by Rep. Jean Schmidt. Leslie said it herself-

"I'm sure I'’m going to catch 10 kinds of hell, but since when have I started worrying about that?" Ghiz said. "She's a good person. She's a female Republican. We have to support each other."

Leslie needs to just break free from the GOP. Schmidt is not the person you want as a mentor. What I hope Leslie learns now from Jean is how NOT to act as a public official.

New Vice Mayor?

Who will be Vice Mayor? One Assumes that it will be John Cranley, but one be sure. Luken picked Reece over Pepper last time. Mallory could pick Cole or even Crowley. I would surmise he would not pick "rookies" Berding and Thomas. I would assume he would pick a Democrat too.

The Committee Chairs are where things will get interesting.

Anti-Gay Tom Brinkman

The slippery slope is getting slicker. It shouldn't surprise anyone that the bigoted right wing is doing everything they can to oppress gays and lesbians and drive them away from Ohio. It is a little bit surprising that Tom Brinkman it leading the charge. Well, I guess maybe it's not surprising. Being anti-gay is still OK with the majority of Republicans. That is not a stereotype. That is a simple observation.

This is a theocratic fascist crusade against gays and lesbians. Say what you want about why this is being done, but there is no other way to honestly put it to words.

Those "moderates" who somehow thought the anti-gay amendment was anything other than a way to oppress gays were just not paying attention. This is only the beginning. The theocrats are going to do what ever they can to use the government to enact religious law. This proves I must live in the most idiotic area in the state. Brinkman and Schmidt are my representatives. They are extremists, and horrible public officials.

Cincinnati Advance Radio: Drive Time!

Joe Wessels is live on WAIF tomorrow morning at 8AM with CinAd Radio. Joe's guests this week are Fitness expert and writer of CinWeeklyÂ?s Ask Rocco, Rocco Castellano plus local authors and Enquirer staffers Rebecca Goodman and Barrett J. Brunsman discuss their book Â?This Day In Ohio HistoryÂ?. Tune in to 88.3 FM for a special Wednesday morning edition.

Something Doesn't Add Up

Someone is lying and I am betting on Jean Schmidt. If she didn't know that Murtha was a long time Marine, then why the hell was it a big story that he had changed his stance on the Iraq war? Why was she giving a speech in opposition to him? Who arranged or asked for her to speak? Was she at all coached about what to say? Could Bubp be lying? Maybe? I don't see why he would be. It is amazing how either ignorant she is or how stupid she things her voters are.

Official Council Results

Greg Korte has the offical results from the City Council race and the same 9 are getting, but the order of finish greatly changes. It Laketa Cole moved up to third, which puts her closer to where people thought she would finish. What this points out is that the election was much more even than noticed. Only a couple hundred votes separated 3-4-5, but the perception of who won changes a bit. Cole did well. She finished strong and gained votes when Bond Hill came in, the same way Mark Mallory did.

The Lies of Rep. Jean Schmidt

Here is her latest statement (and almost an apology, but not very good in my opnion). Let's start with her first lie in the statement:

Last week as I returned to the Capitol Building after attending a funeral at Arlington National Cemetery for a local fallen Marine, I found out that the Democrats had just announced their policy position to immediately withdraw troops from Iraq.

The Democrats did not put forth a proposal to "immediately" withdraw troops from Iraq. That is the lie being told consistently by the GOP and the media, but is false. See Murtha's resolution here. Additionally, you know it is a lie because of the simple fact that the GOP created a new resolution. They created a one sentence resolution which put in and created the "immediate" phrase. It was a stunt, but if Murtha had proposed an immediate withdrawal, why not VOTE ON HIS RESOLUTION? Instead the GOP created their own myth of what he was supposed to have proposed with their new resolution. That is a crafty way of playing politics, but it is a misleading and dishonest way.

Next:

Since that moment I have been attacked from across the country by the left.

This is not a lie, just a half truth. The Cincinnati Enquirer's editorial page, a conservative group who endorsed Schmidt, hits her fairly hard in today's paper. She is also being attacked by liberals right here in her own district. (Yea, I mean me)

Next:

I never meant to attack Congressman Murtha personally.

This is the second time she has claimed this and it will continue to hold no water no matter how many times she repeats it. There is no way she could have said what she said without full knowledge that what she was saying was a personal attack. Calling a man a coward is about as personal of an attack as one can get without bring up the footwear of his mother, or by using a few four letter words.

The final lie might be the most telling. It appears that Danny Bubp is cutting Schmidt adrift. He is denying ever saying anything about Murtra:

"There was no discussion of him personally being a coward or about any person being a coward," Bubp said. "My message to the folks in Washington, D.C., and to all the Congress people up there, is to stay the course. We cannot leave Iraq or cut and run - any terminology that you want to use."

Talk about cutting and running. If she has to make stuff up just to get in the Â?cut and runÂ? line into her speech, then she really needs to just stop talking. If you canÂ?t speak truth, then donÂ?t speak at all.

I think this removes any chance she has of betting a ham sandwich in the GOP primary. I think I could run as a Republican a defeat her, and boy that is a scary thought.

Havana Martini Club Moving

No, its not moving out of downtown. Instead they are moving to Tower Place Mall. Yea, this does seem kind of weird to me. I liked the club. It had pricey Martinis, and I am a beer drinker, but it provided an interesting offset to the Backstage area around the Aronoff and CAC. The location they are going to is right on 5th Street across from Macy's. This fits well with the Fountain Square Plan. It does not work for business around 6th street, which has now lost the Masionette, La Normandie, and Skyline recently. Shifting business around downtown is an expensive game of musical chairs, but in the long run is what will have to happen for the Fountain Square Plan to work.

I would like the lower Main Street area to bloom, which comes close to the 6th Street area. That could be a great residential/retail area, with small business thriving on what could be a huge downtown populace.

"I'll Get You My Pretty"

Great cartoon on Schmidt and the GOP from Jeff Danziger. It's several days old, but still good.

Catholic Services Discrimination?

On the surface the Catholic Social Services of Northern Kentucky could be discriminating in against homosexuals. Yes, I am sure that is a shock to everyone. A Christian Church invoking bigoted policies? You don't say!

Well, there is more at stake. In the cases of birth control and abortions, the Catholic services has a default out. They don't perform those services
for anyone, so no clear way to invoke discrimination. If Catholic services does offer couples counseling to non-married people, then that is discrimination to not to so for homosexuals.

If they only offer counseling to "married" couples, then they may have legal cover. It is bigoted discrimination, but it may not be illegal.

The humorous part is that the Agency director Bill Jones thinks that the requests for counseling did not come from actual gay or lesbian people, but instead from those trying to "test" the agency:

"I think there are some other people who will be really distressed that we are serving anyone who is gay or lesbian," Jones said.

He suspects the four phone calls that prompted the formal policy review this spring were from people "trying to catch us," violating church teaching, Jones said. "In the past people have called to ask where to get an abortion and to ask us to buy birth control pills. ...

"We feel some of those were test calls, to see what we would say."

That sounds like the prudes don't trust the "liberals" who well are feeding gay homeless people. I guess they are supposed to die in the streets like the heathens they are. WTF.

Schmidt Roundup

Westender has a great round up on all things Jeannie-cakes over at Clark Street Blog.

They're in College

I have to wonder how embarrassed this kid is after his parents are pissed that their goody-goody son saw people having sex on a video in a class IN COLLEGE.

It's college! They are adults! Let them grow up and stop babying them! Also, just so we are clear: THIS IS FUCKING COLLEGE. The woman complaining, Mary Lenke, went to the length of withholding her son's name. Lucky for him. Not because it will affect his grade, because it will save him the trouble, for now, of facing the horror of public embarrassment from his classmates. Where will the idiotic prudes end their crusade against porn? Is this woman connected with Phil Burress?

Schmidt Makes SNL

You know you are a national laughing stocking when you make the Weekend Update section of Saturday Night Live.

It's official: Jean Schmidt is a national laughingstock. She was just lampooned on the "Nightly News" portion of Saturday Night Live. Tina Fey compared Ms. Schmidt with Mr. Murtha, noting that the latter had served in the armed forces for 37 years before being elected to the House. She speculated that prior to becoming a congresswoman, that--judging from her outfit--Ms. Schmidt had probably been a "1970's American gymnast."

The only thing likely missing from the SNL bit were references to Schmidt’s roles in Gymkata and American Anthem as the evil East German Judge bent on foiling the chances of the Western powers to triumph again!

Liar or Stupid?

Jean Schmidt is either a liar or stupid. Well, she could be both, but in this case I am going to choose liar. Her answers don't add up. In the article in reference to her floor comments she states:

"I did not intend to suggest that they applied to any member, most especially the distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania. I therefore ask for unanimous consent that my words be withdrawn," Schmidt said.

When she claims to not have intentionally singled out any Democrat, that is clearly not the case when she said this on the floor of house:

A few minutes ago I received a call from Colonel Danny Bubp, Ohio Representative from the 88th district in the House of Representatives. He asked me to send Congress a message: Stay the course. He also asked me to send Congressman Murtha a message, that cowards cut and run, Marines never do. Danny and the rest of America and the world want the assurance from this body - that we will see this through.

She clearly LIED! On the floor of the US House she relayed a message DIRECTLY toward Rep. Murtha. She choose it and she INTENDED it as an attack on Murtha. She is surely sorry that she did it, not for doing it, but for the response she got.

More shame is that the “Colonel” she referenced is not in Iraq, he is sitting on his ass in Columbus, Ohio as a theocratic-fascist Ohio House of Representatives member. The impression she gave and that much of press is giving is that the “call” was from a solider in Iraq. This was from another right wing idiot here in Ohio. The shame for Ohio just keeps on piling on.

Stupid, Nutty, Shameful Jeannie-Cakes

That is my new term of non-endearment for Congresswoman Jean Schmidt, "Jeannie-Cakes":

SCHMIDT: I'm Jean Schmidt. I'm from the 2nd District in Ohio. I'm the newest person on the block. And this morning I spent time at the Arlington National Cemetery watching, witnessing, being part of a funeral of one of my fallen heroes in my district.

SCHMIDT: And I walked away from there seeing the glorious graves of the people that have fought for our freedom more resolved than ever to make sure we keep the enemy on their shore and not ours. You know, you all are not getting the big picture. The big picture is that these Islamic insurgents want to destroy us. They don't like us. They don't like us because we're black, we're white, we're Christian, we're Jew, we're educated, we're free, we're not Islamic. We can never be Islamic because we were not born Islamic. Now, this isn't the Islamic citizens. These are the insurgents. And it is their desire for us to leave so they can take over the whole Middle East and then take over the world. And I didn't learn this just in the last few weeks or the last few months. I learned this when I was at the University of Cincinnati in 1970, studying Middle Eastern history. And I was told by a very valuable professor, one that I still remember, Wie Zuefabushi (ph). He was Palestinian. He said, If we don't create freedom in that region it's going to come back and attack us. And this was during Vietnam, when everybody thought the issue was Vietnam. And he said, No, the issue is not Vietnam, it's the Middle East, it's Islamic insurgents that will come back and destroy us.

Well, ladies and gentlemen, 9/11 proved that they can come here and they can attack us. We must continue the course, not just for the sake of the soldiers that have given their time, their talents and their lives to protect our freedom, but for ourselves and our children.

We are the best nation in the world, and it is incumbent upon us at all levels, whether we are soldiers, whether we are in Congress, or whether we are the press, to protect our freedom.

I'm doing it. The soldiers are doing it. I hope my Democratic colleagues will do it. And I hope you will, too.

She brings shame not just on the 2nd district (and we deserve the shame for electing her), but she brings shame on me. I hate this kind of crap, but I live in her freaking district and I can't leave right now. It is like the woman is a walking skeleton of human thoughtlessness, and I have to walk the streets she represents, and that brings venom to my fingers as I type this rant.

Did she actually write down those comments or was she shooting from the hip like the amateur national politician she is?

It is disgusting to have to live in her district, but what is more disgusting is the simple fact that her views are shared by thousands of complete ignorant (I hope) or just plain bigoted citizens of Ohio. They don’t see themselves at bigots or hatefilled, or still suffering from “kill all Muslims” syndrome, instead sing this crap with pride as they are hurting or are using this as a crutch to quell their bloodlust or vote-lust.

Well, monkey's and squirrels, Jean has proved that not only can you be a bigot, you can exploit 9/11 once again and link it to the Iraq war.

This is propaganda at its worst. This takes advantage of those who don't pay attention or at least don't pay much attention. At every turn, many Republicans are saying 9/11, terrorism, Iraq. 9/11, TERRORISM, IRAQ!!!! Again and again. They are not trying to convince anyone who is paying attention that there is any kind of link between 9/11 and Iraq. They being subtle and are planting the seeds of misinformation. Over time, those not paying attention enough, flip past FOX and catch a flashing graphic and think that Saddam made 9/11 happen and we must punish Iraq. This comes from the top of the party. This was in part how Bush mislead the country about why we went to war in Iraq, and is how he continues to do it.

Jeannie-cakes should fatten up on a little truth. She was not around in Congress when this all went down, so her opinion only matters to me because I am unfortunate enough to live in her district. What she needs to do instead of repeating hated filled dogma is to listen to the other side, but a representaive, not a grandstander.

If anyone on her staff or one of her supporters is reading this, I challenge them to get her to respond to me, and tell me, her constituent, why on Earth she stooped so low to attack Democratic War Heroes with her hate filled speech on the floor of congress:

The fiery, emotional debate climaxed when Rep. Jean Schmidt, R-Ohio, the most junior member of the House, told of a phone call she received from a Marine colonel.

"He asked me to send Congress a message _ stay the course. He also asked me to send Congressman Murtha a message _ that cowards cut and run, Marines never do," Schmidt said.

Democrats booed and shouted her down _ causing the House to come to a standstill.

Hear some of it in this NPR Report. It was sickening what she did. I have to wonder, did she do it on her own, or did someone put her up to it? I am ashamed to live in her district (I can't say that enough). I can respect most republicans as people. I bash Steve Chabot, for example, and think his views and his tactics are loathsome, but I can rationally understand where he is coming from, most of the time. I don’t like it, but I can on a human level respect the guy, as a human with human failings.

Schmidt sunk in her first outing on a national stage and became the hack’s hack of political hatchets. If you know anything about the congressman she ignorantly attacked, it would be clear that this sack of bones knows little of what she speaks. I would love it if Paul Hackett got Congressman Murtha to come to town and then both men could speak in her district about how both men faced life in war, and how anyone calling them cowards are not only ignorant fools, but are pure scum. Jeannie-cakes is the scum that lives in bowels of run of the mill scum.

UPDATE: Kos Reports Schmidt is forced to retract some of her comments.

Kettle Me This

Nate opines today on his blog:

"For the last 12 years or so, Burke has shown that he doesn't have the ability to discipline "bad" Democrats..."

Ok, campers, does that include Burke not kicking Nate out of the party for all the of the damage he  tries to do to it?  He doesn't really do any damage to it, since, well, he does really have that much influence over anyone.  I am just wondering that since Nate is hitting Burke for not being a good leader, that he take that inward and admit that Nate offers nothing to the party and only seeks to prop up his own designs on power. Burke really can't kick Nate out of the party, but he could "discipline" Nate every time he says(writes) something "bad." But, I am just thinking out loud here....