This serious economic downturn hit home for many people working for the Hamilton County Clerk of Court's office yesterday. This is an office lead by great Republican Greg Hartmann and a place where I worked for over 2 years. The county's budget woes hit hard yesterday with layoffs and office closings. Our thoughts are with the people in that office who will suffer the real-life effects of this budget mess. Greg Hartmann gets credit for leading a cut in government in these difficult times--but the decision to lay people off is real and gut-wrenching. On this Saturday, my thoughts are with those people.And...
California voters approved Proposition 8 in the November election. Proposition 8 was a somewhat controversial proposal that sought to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman. The voters approved the measure by a strong majority of the vote. Apparently, the liberals don't like democracy. California Attorney General Jerry Brown is now suing to overturn the voters (click here to read the story). Do the voters matter here? Or, are the liberal-elite smarter and more sensitive than regular, ordinary people that went to the polls. For anyone confused, I'm not talking about gay rights or even about the merits of Proposition 8 in this paragraph. I'm talking about democracy and freedom and respecting the will of the people. I'm talking about liberals seeking to overturn the will of the people because they believe they are more enlightened, more sensitive, and have a better sense of fairness than an overwhelming number of voters in California. "Marriage" is a legal status created in state legislation and the people of California can define marriage any way that they please. The people chose to define it one way in California and the liberals are not happy. So what. Would I have the same position if Proposition 8 had failed? Yes. The people decide in America. This is not about gay rights, it is about freedom and democracy. The voters spoke. Let it stand.
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I am still amazed at the negativity that exists in the blogosphere (not to be confused with the negativity surrounding Blogojevich). I posted a very nice, warm, sensitive YouTube video about Cincinnati yesterday only to have it criticized for not having enough African Americans represented. First, I didn't make the video. Second, I don't see race in something like that. Third, there is at least one African American in the piece because I know him and he's a great guy. The negativity doesn't just come from the left, it comes from my side, too. I am more worried about the negativity on our side because being against everything never won an election. As conservatives, we need a positive vision for our county and our nation. I will call-out the Democrats and big spenders when necessary, but we also need a positive vision for how to solve problems. Stop the negativity.
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I met with three great potential candidates this week: one for Mayor, one for City Council, and one for Cincinnati School Board. This is the best part of my job. Meeting great new faces with a passion for public service who are Republican makes all the negativity worthwhile. I hope to be unveiling some of these candidates as the calendar turns to 2009.
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Other than the initial story from the Enquirer, not a single news entity or editorial said a word about the scandalous last-minute budget passed at city hall this week. That is disappointing. What the five Democrats on council did this week was wrong and not for partisan reasons. They shut down debate, spent unwisely, and refused to allow transparency in a budget that spends over $1 billion of your dollars. Can you imagine if five Republicans had shut-down debate on a party-line vote and passed out money to their cronies? Mayhem.
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Are you on Facebook, yet? If not, you should be.
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Xavier in an upset today against Duke, 78-77. Go Muskies!
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Have a nice weekend.
