At a recent meeting of the Hamilton County Commission, Commissioner Todd Portune wanted to add to the formal record some questions he had written to Tom Gabelman about The Banks project.  However, as Portune tried to make a point about transparency and open government, Commissioner Phil Heimlich decided to blow his nose near the microphone.  Heimlich interrupted Portune on three separate occasions with some rather disgusting and juicy nose blowing.

What should we make of Heimlich’s behavior?  Is this what we expect from an elected leader?

(The video above is hosted here through YouTube, and it requires the free Flash Player to view.)

Need we even comment on Heimlich’s absurd behavior?  Listen to the audience laughter after the third blow.  That fact alone demonstrates the showmanship of his immature performance.

Socializer!

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1. Tonto says:
   28 May 2006  at  08:18 pm | #

   Is Phil doing nose candy again?

2. What's new? says:
   28 May 2006  at  10:36 pm | #

   Phil Heimlich blows?

   Everybody knows that!

3. Lone Ranger says:
   28 May 2006  at  10:42 pm | #

   Hey Tonto - Didn’t I see you at one of Phil’s pool parties when he had the house on Paddison? That was when he was using a lot more than Jesus to get high. But that was then. Nowadays he wants to tell everyone else how to live.

4. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) says:
   29 May 2006  at  11:11 am | #

   Perhaps Heimlich has already had too much Pepper

5. Yossarian Blows2 says:
   29 May 2006  at  01:01 pm | #

   We’ve all had too much Pepper. Who needs Jesus juice when you can get your kicks off of screwing taxpayers to enrich your political investers.

6. Peter Deane says:
   29 May 2006  at  01:40 pm | #

   That was gross… And how far can one man stick his fingers up his nose?  Man, his digits seems nuckle deep in snot.  Will November come soon enough? I hope Pepper uses this as a political commercial…  And DeWine is still playing with the blackberry.  Poor, poor, poor, Portune.  You have to feel for the guy.

7. CincyJeff says:
   31 May 2006  at  06:35 pm | #

   Great job Dean!  This is the finest piece of reporting I have ever seen.  I’m glad that we can stop talking about distractions such as the Banks, a new prison, and holding the line on taxes. 

   Finally we have a reporter with the courage to discuss the real issues facing this county - Phil Heimlich’s allergies.  I look forward to daily reports tracking how often Mr. Heimlich has to blow his nose.  After all, there is no more important issue facing this county. 

   Congratulations Dean!  This is story of the year material.

8. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) says:
   31 May 2006  at  07:11 pm | #

   CincyJeff:

   Heimlich knows what he is doing.  As soon as Portune mentions Gableman, The Banks, open government, he blows his nose right into the microphone.

   At the same meeting, when Portune mentions Drake—Phil’s cellphone starts ringing (the meetings are broadcast live).  Heimlich also loves to have coughing fits, and to frequently leave the room.

   The story is that Heimlich is childish.