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Thursday, October 09, 2008
Less Choices! More backroom deals from local Democrats
Posted by The Dean of Cincinnati
Photo courtesy of here.
According to my sources, the local Democrats have once again set in place a series of out-of-sight deals to insure that certain players get to hold certain positions of power—and if true, by doing this behind closed doors and off the ballot, they have therefore sacrificed voter choice and voter empowerment for the maintenance of the status quo. The details of this deal seek to place certain interests into key City positions, sometimes for reasons that hardly even seem political or to the benefit of any particular ideology. This is an example of the dark, underbelly of the political process.
Under this deal, things start when Mark Mallory leaves his post as Mayor in the upcoming months to go to the State. David Crowley will become Mayor. It will be a nice feather in his cap for the end of his political career—as he will not run for Mayor in the next cycle (more on that in a minute). Laketa Cole will be “promoted” to Vice Mayor, and former Charlie Luken staffer Bernadette Watson (who is African American) will be appointed to the seat vacated by Crowley. This choice was designed to appease the African American voters.
Meanwhile, with Steve Driehaus running for Congress due to term limits, Denise Driehaus is running to keep his vacated seat. Take a quick look at the yard signs and you can see the same strategy employed by the Mallory dynasty: identical designs to maintain voter habits by appearing as if no change has been made.
The thing is that, apparently, Denise doesn’t want to drive to Columbus everyday. However, John Cranley wouldn’t mind getting a job as a Representative. That’s why, under this alleged deal, Driehaus will step down and appoint Cranley to her seat—and conversely Cranley will step down and appoint Driehaus to his seat. Denise gets to snag a sweetheart, high paying, part-time City Council gig without getting elected, earning even more name recognition for her re-election campaign.
Now, why won’t David Crowley be running for Mayor? The Democrats don’t want him opposing Roxanne Qualls, who will run for Mayor. The Charterites don’t mind too much that lifetime Democrat Qualls is participating in this deal, because they’ll be able to claim Qualls as a Charterite when she serves as Mayor—which will apparently be some kind of resume point for them. You’ve just got to wonder who could emerge to give Qualls a run for her money in a Mayoral race, or if she’ll just get to glide into the spot, virtually unopposed.
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09 Oct 2008 at 06:42 am | #
Dean, are you saying we Dems are manipulating the system?
To insure family allegiances to the parties? That voters are not smart enough to recognize these elements of political and media rhetoric? That citizens can be duped?
Dean, are you saying that, on the back side of this are the Republicans and we just make deals there, too, so they can keep some power in the judicial and make sure the county has its paramilitary empowerment? Along with the wizened veil of trusty Dusty Rhodes?
Dean, why would you roll out so much on us at such a crucial time? Where did you get so much information that you would sacrifice us on the alter of “for the good of the masses”?
[b]Don’t want to drive to Columbus two or three days a week?[/b]
But will be a placeholder for a political bait and switch?
Save gas and drive with cousin Dale, until he gets boosted to State Senate when Kearney moves to the halls of Obama. Who will Timbo place in the 32nd House? Who do they owe for political driveland laziness? Harris? Another Luken? Herd? Tolliver? It hasn’t been represented in over two years?
Are these just placements that anyone could hold and the scipts are written, along with the legislation, by the other party? The corptocracy party?
This looks like Lukens, Mallorys, Cranleys, and their allied blind loyalists (Cole, Thomas)got together with the Tim Burke Democrats (Berding, Alex, McNeal) to screw the people. Say it ain’t so Dean! Are there no reputable Democrats that represent the average Joe and Jane? The only good part of any of this speculation is Watson’s connection to the average person.
Where does the local NAACP stand on this? Where is that voice?
09 Oct 2008 at 07:59 am | #
That’s ridiculous.
09 Oct 2008 at 08:15 am | #
I think there is a back room deal in the works. I have heard that Driehaus staffer Alex has started running for council and that he is working to get the appointment.
09 Oct 2008 at 08:17 am | #
Please excuse my ignorance ...
When is the Next Mayoral election?
Is it this cycle or next?
Thanks in advance for the answer.
09 Oct 2008 at 09:15 am | #
Exactly why the citizens of Cincinnati need PR and exactly why all the Councilmembers & Mayor oppose it. “Boss” Cox is back in business!
09 Oct 2008 at 10:02 am | #
2009
09 Oct 2008 at 10:20 am | #
Honestly, this is one of the most insane stories I’ve read on here. I really hope (by now) you’ve realized that those truly in the know aren’t going to blab to a person of your reputation.
09 Oct 2008 at 10:50 am | #
L.G. is correct.
If this is true, and I have no doubt that it is, this makes me sick!
I’m sick of elected officials running unopposed. I’m sick that the average citizen appears not to have a voice.
“When politicians think they might lose, they pay attention to what their constituents think. But if incumbents can take it for granted that they will be re-elected, what is their motive to pay attention?
In Clermont County there is a Union Township trustee Barb Wiendenbein (also clerk of courts), that had mud slung at her. How she responded blew me away. She took out an ad in our local paper and explained herself. She responded to her constituents.
An invite to you’ll--
Please join
Citizens Against Joe Deters
For a Halloween Party-Protest
On Friday October 24, 2008
At 12 noon
Location
Hamilton County Prosecutor’s office
230 E. Ninth Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Protest will call for Deters to resign and
to stop dishing out double standard sentences, and express frustration that he is running unopposed.
For more info about the event
Email
Or call 513.965.9308
Make a sign for the protest against Deters OR wear
Deters t-shirt, or wear Halloween (scary) costume
to show that you are afraid of Prosecutor running unopposed
1,000 postcards have been mailed. National media will cover event
Free candy will be handed out. Kids welcome!
http://www.scribd.com/doc/6045606/Citizens-Against-Joe-Deters
http://citizensagainstjoedeters.blogspot.com
JOE PROBABLY WON’T GO. BUT OUR GROUP WILL SEND A MESSAGE TO HIM!
09 Oct 2008 at 11:55 am | #
I love that you say this is all “according to [your] sources but fail to identify any one of them. You’re sounding more like Nate Livingston every day, Jason. Why would anybody believe you? You haven’t given people one good reason to think this is in any way credible. How pathetic.
Oh, and as a former English teacher, you should know your headline should read “Fewer Choices,” not “less.”
09 Oct 2008 at 01:55 pm | #
Only problem is that Cranley doesn’t live in the district anymore. He moved to Mt Lookout. He may still own property in the district but it isn’t his permament address. Unless he is planning on pulling an Alicia Reece and claiming he lives at his west side address.
09 Oct 2008 at 02:11 pm | #
No, “Less” is what I meant. I double-dog dare you to prove me wrong.
09 Oct 2008 at 02:12 pm | #
How can I identify sources who can only tell me things if I respect their confidence? How can I expect anyone to trust me if I break that trust?
09 Oct 2008 at 02:16 pm | #
Mr. Jeffre,
Thank you.
09 Oct 2008 at 02:43 pm | #
The traditional view is that less applies to matters of degree, value, or amount and modifies collective nouns, mass nouns, or nouns denoting an abstract whole while fewer applies to matters of number and modifies plural nouns. Less has been used to modify plural nouns since the days of King Alfred and the usage, though roundly decried, appears to be increasing. Less is more likely than fewer to modify plural nouns when distances, sums of money, and a few fixed phrases are involved <less than 100 miles> <an investment of less than $2000> <in 25 words or less> and as likely as fewer to modify periods of time <in less (or fewer) than four hours>.
09 Oct 2008 at 03:19 pm | #
On the other side of that coin, how can anyone trust you if you won’t tell us where you got your information? How can anyone judge whether or not it’s credible? How does anyone know you’re not just making it up since you’re in a pissing contest with the Democratic Party? How can anyone trust a word that comes out of your mouth when you won’t even identify whether your source is a Democrat, Republican, or independent? You’re pals with Tom Brinkman these days. How can we trust that this isn’t simply a rumor he repeated to you (or made up entirely since he probably knows you’re gullible enough to repeat it as “news")? How can we trust Justin Jeffre didn’t just say “Hey Jason, wouldn’t it be messed up if...”?
You talk about trust as if your word is something holy, when in fact the only things in this story that have any element of truth are that Steve Driehaus is running for Congress, Denise Driehaus is running for State Representative, and that Bernadette Watson is African-American and used to work for Charlie Luken.
Aside from that, there’s not a ring of truth to any of this, and since you’re providing zero supporting evidence for any of your claims, it remains, like many of your rants, just another ridiculous conspiracy theory. Congratulations, Nate!
09 Oct 2008 at 03:41 pm | #
http://www.uhv.edu/ac/student/writing/grammartip2004.10.26.html
http://www.sparknotes.com/writing/style/topic_115.html
http://languagerules.wordpress.com/2006/09/08/fewer-vs-less/
The choices to which I refer cannot be counted. They are abstract, especially since HamCo Dems keep cutting deals.
09 Oct 2008 at 03:43 pm | #
I reported, over a year ago, that Odell Owens supported the new jail because he cut a deal to run unopposed for his support. He’s running unopposed.
I reported, over a year ago, that Todd Portune ultimately voted for the Heimlich jail, and that he promised to bring it back, as part of his maneuvers to run unelected. That’s happening, too.
So I have a good batting record on this one.
09 Oct 2008 at 04:58 pm | #
What you just said makes no sense.
09 Oct 2008 at 08:18 pm | #
Im sure if Crowley offered his seat to Jeffre, he’d take it....
10 Oct 2008 at 10:48 am | #
I’d never be a loyal status quo Democrat willing to be a part of shady backroom deals to limit voter choice so that would never happen. I hear Greg Harris will get the appointment.
10 Oct 2008 at 02:45 pm | #
Wrong. The number of choices can be easily quantified, just not at this juncture. At a certain point in the future, there will be a definite number of choices, and whether or not the Democrats cut a deal determines whether there will be more choices, or fewer choices.
10 Oct 2008 at 03:05 pm | #
Here is where the mundane grammar argument gets interesting again.
Can the choices be counted? I agree, that at some future point, when all this settles, we can see how many choices there are, and we can understand that the amount is a smaller number than otherwise.
But the whole point is that the “otherwise” is left open. What have we lost? It is nothing tangible, in that people will still vote and whatnot. But “choice,” the concept in a more abstract way, has been annihilated by these kinds of backroom deals.
Democracy is about providing, and not destroying, the presence of choices.
11 Oct 2008 at 07:33 am | #
Perhaps, but political parties are not in the democracy business, they are in the business of winning elections. It is up to concerned citizens to run if they don’t like what the parties come up with. And most often it is the other party fighting a deal. How many times did we hear the Democrats criticize the musical chairs in Columbus before putting together a winning ticket? My point is, bitching about it gets you nowhere.
I still contend you’re wrong. Too many things have to go right in order for this to be plausible. Mainly Driehaus has to win, which is the biggest question mark, but also Mallory has to be picked for treasurer, and we’ve heard that song and dance before. “Portune’s going to be asked by the DSCC to run against Dewine in 2006;” “Pepper’s going to be the AG;” “Mallory’s going to be treasurer.” These are just a few of the rumors I’ve heard in the last few years. Some Democrat from Cincinnati’s always next in line for something in Columbus, except that it never happens.
11 Oct 2008 at 09:05 am | #
where do u log in?
11 Oct 2008 at 09:12 am | #
#23,
You never heard those rumors here. I said Portune had a deal to run unopposed if he supported a jail. I also said the same of Owens.
Mallory has already expressed his interest in leaving. (Why do all our strong mayors leave after one term, anyway?)
Of course Crowley would get Mayor. And do you think he’d want to run against Qualls? Qualls goes both ways, with Dems and Charterites.
The only wild card, really, is if Denise Driehaus and Cranley want to trade seats, should she win Steve Driehaus’ old one.
11 Oct 2008 at 12:34 pm | #
Hey Justin and Jason,
You print this kinda crap about the Driehaus family- which is actually numbers in the 1000’s with the cousins-(with some other interesting last names by the way)- factored in-and you wonder why they don’t answer your stupid questions? You really know how to alienate candidates! Way to go you guys!
Your sources are WRONG on this one. Steve was groomed to run against Chabot for years and years. It was in the works from the time his father lost the election to Clancy and he was maybe 2 or 3 years old. You don’t know family history- so get it right.
Oh that is right, they won’t talk to you because you have acted like an ass to them a couple of years ago! And right now, I don’t blame them!!!
Too bad Momma Clare is too classy of a lady to give you a piece of her mind for your behavior.
11 Oct 2008 at 04:18 pm | #
There’s really no excuse for Steve Driehaus not to answer our questions regarding the NAACP’s issues. It’s a legitimate question and his campaign should’ve addressed it in a timely fashion. Apparently they didn’t have a good answer so they ignored it and now they have their little trolls attack those that dared to question him.
He’s running for office and sends me letters asking for my vote. If he’s not accessible on the campaign trail how will he be as a member of Congress?
He wants to be a public servant and it’s not our job to flatter him or to get him elected. I won’t vote for Chabot, but I’m not really feeling that Driehaus is earning my vote either.
Is that why he’s anti-choice, because he was “groomed” that way? This country suffers from too much daddyism.
I never acted like an ass to the Driehaus family and he can ignore our questions, but as I said earlier, these questions will not go away.
11 Oct 2008 at 06:37 pm | #
Huh? Mallory thinks another confab of the power brokers with cigars, brandy & cheap women in that back room is going to get him the State Treasurer’s chair.
Strong Mayor? Why, his citizen satisfaction ratings have been in the dumper since day one. He hasn’t lived up to one item on his campaign stump bullsh#t to this day, other than getting the Ohio Highway Patrol to ticket the speeders on the interstate systems running through the burg. Crime & gunfights haven’t dropped, neighborhood squalor is still eating like rust, the City’s economy hasn’t improved…
Jason & Jeffre need to score some decent “sources”. Nate Livingston’s snitches are basically telling you the same thing they told him 6 weeks ago. And, I’m inclined to agree that no reputable source will bend your ears, only to have it blabbed around & edited with the Beacon’s editorial seal of approval.
All of which you’ve reported is all fabricated, regurgitated crap & conjecture.
Bottom line, 3M is going home to Mommy in 2009 & his bro, D4S will be leaving Columbus at the end of the year. Both of these slick-talking dandies will have to find another line of work.
12 Oct 2008 at 06:15 pm | #
Political deals and positioning are a way of life. The Green Party made a backroom deal to drop Ralph from their ticket. Happens every day.
12 Oct 2008 at 08:38 pm | #
Ralph didn’t seek the Green Party endorsement and still was leading in the primaries silly. You don’t know what you’re talking about, but that happens every day.