Queen City Terminal, Etc.

Want a textbook example of how Cincinnati city government is failing our city in the worst way? Learn more about the Queen City Terminal barge facility. Our region, and our city, must make greater use of the river to promote jobs and to grow the region economically. One developer has a plan to build a large barge facility on the western part of Cincinnati on the river. In fact, that developer had an option to purchase the land. Your Cincinnati city council is unreasonably blocking this proposal for reasons that remain unclear to me. Most of the stated opposition comes from a few homeowners who are concerned about the ascetics of the facility and how it might impact the view from their homes. Although these concerns might be reasonable, they must be balanced against the tremendous economic impact such a facility would have on our city, our state, and the region. To make matters worse, the city of Cincinnati faces a multi-million dollar lawsuit that most observers expect will be successful and cost the city millions in damages. The lawsuit is based on the city's obstruction of this private business' right to develop this property. To read more about this important economic development opportunity and how our council is failing, consider:

• "A river-to-rail port is Cincinnati's stake in the future" and "This tsunami of freight is coming. The more modes we have available that work together in an efficient network, the greater will be our competitive advantage over other regions.” (Business Courier, 11/30/09)
  
  
• "A container-shipping terminal on the Ohio River at Lower Price Hill would produce a $105 million economic impact in its first five years." (Business Courier, 3/9/09)
  
  
• Project could lead to $4 million to $8 million in tariff revenue for the city. (Business Courier, 8/7/2008
  
  
• "As we reported last March, the city is facing at least $1.7 million in liability from a 2005 lawsuit..." (Business Courier, 2/21/11)
  
  
• To learn more about this project and to see an animation, click here.
  

So, the city faces a near-certain multi-million dollar defeat in court. A private business owner wants to build a facility that will lead to increased city revenue and promote commerce in the entire region. The future of commerce of this kind is likely to be hugely successful. But, our city council will not act to promote economic development and private business.

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The media reporting on the collective bargaining issue has not been entirely unbiased. The usual headline in the TV or print media tends to be, "workers stripped of their rights." That language is not subtle. Our nation was built on "rights." Our Bill of Rights is a universally significant declaration of human rights and the concept of "rights" is ingrained in the American psyche. When the media reports that workers are being "stripped of their rights," the reaction is obvious. It will be negative. The choice of that language, maybe not always purposeful, contributes to the perception that collective bargaining reform is bad. A closer look at the issue reveals that public workers maintain many of their "rights." The most important of those rights are the long-standing civil service laws that continue to protect workers. How about these headlines: "Reform giving government more flexibility in managing employee costs passes the Senate" or "Republicans win first round in collective bargaining fight" or "Employee costs crippling state governments lead to changes." These certainly sound more reasonable than "stripping workers of their rights."

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The legislative process contemplated by the Ohio Constitution is underway in the Senate Bill 5 Collective Bargaining Reform process. Democracy is at work. Protests are fine. Negotiation is fine. That is how our democracy works. It is why we live in the greatest country on the planet.

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I predicted that Parker-Spitzer would not last until Memorial Day. I was partly right. CNN dropped Kathleen Parker in favor of Elliot Spitzer. I wasn't watching and I'm even less likely to watch now. Can ABC drop Christianne Amanpour?

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Johnny Gomes drives a Cadillac Fleetwood. Awesome.

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Our Lincoln-Reagan Dinner was a huge success. I was very pleased with our turnout. Gov. Daniels was gracious with his time and is clearly a highly intelligent and devoted public servant.

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Johnny Bench will be honored with a statue at the entrance to Great American Ballpark. This is a fitting tribute to the greatest catcher to ever play the game. Strangely enough, my greatest memory of Johnny Bench is not from his playing days. It is from Halloween, 2004, as Johnny introduced President Bush at a huge rally in support of the President at Great American Ballpark. It was the perfect political event and among the most memorable of my life. Johnny Bench is a class act. (Read about the statue here.)

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I'm going to be a broken record: If every person who must suffer so that government can trim spending is then motivated to vote against the politician responsible for making that cut, our nation is doomed for failure. We will have reached that point where people simply vote themselves greater benefits from the public treasury. Our country will actually be in trouble. The sacrifice must be shared, but there must be sacrifice. Today, I'm not optimistic.

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Are you as sick of hearing about Charlie Sheen as I am? Quaddafi is news. Sheen is not. They're both drug-addicted maniacs. One kills people, the other is killing himself. Both need to go away.

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Baseball 2011 is coming soon. The defending National League Central Division Champion Cincinnati Reds have Opening Day on a Thursday. Should be a change.

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The GOP needs a Senate candidate to defeat uber-liberal Sen. Sherrod Brown in 2012. Every day that passes helps him. Where are all our stars on this one?

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Have a nice weekend.

Welcome Gov. Mitch Daniels!

Gov. Mitch Daniels rides into town later today for the annual 2011 Hamilton County Republican Party Lincoln-Reagan Dinner. The event is scheduled to begin with cocktails at 5:30 p.m. at the Duke Energy Center with Gov. Daniels remarks to occur around 7:30 p.m. For more information, please click here.

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Don't forget the Chairman's After Party to follow the Lincoln-Reagan Dinner. It will occur just across the street from the Duke Energy Center at 435 Elm St. at Launch Bar. I hope to see many of you there.

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Taking away someone's government benefit or changing the culture of government can be very tough. We're seeing that right now. Courage is key. But so is a reasonable discourse on why changes must come. We need to do a better job of communicating these changes to our friends in the public sector unions. We don't want to hurt your families--we want to save our state and our country. Let's have dialogue.

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I'm hoping that the calls for toned-down political rhetoric that came out of the tragic shooting in Tucson, Arizona are being heeded by those opposed to conservatives who are trying to change the culture of government. Are they? And are the liberals still preaching that message?

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Regardless of where you stand on Collective Bargaining reform, the Democrats who fled Wisconsin are cowards. They have created a crisis in the basic foundation of our democracy by simply failing to appear. The ends do NOT justify the means here. Those Democrats should all be summarily dismissed from service in government. I would say the same thing about Republicans. Do your job. And respect our democracy. As Republicans, we stood against Obamacare--we didn't run away from Congress and refuse to participate. Cowards, they are. And I hope the voters make them pay a price for their cowardice.

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The Hunter/Williams election fiasco has quieted down some, but there is still no resolution. The federal Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals is now considering whether to hear this case en banc. An en banc hearing would consist of all of the 15 judges in the Circuit considering this important issue. Will the Democrats succeed in changing the rules after the game? Stay tuned.

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Brandon Phillips is tweeting like crazy and it couldn't be more entertaining. Follow him @datdudeBP. Terrific tweets from a terrific guy and ballplayer. Dusty's fear of Twitter is typical of his generation. There is nothing wrong with social media and mass communication. These are the tools of this generation and they are wonderful.

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The city pension system is in serious need of reform. Like so many other bloated government programs, the city's system is now in near-crisis. Every member of council should set-aside politics for the moment and do what is necessary to fix this pension system so as to protect retirees and taxpayers.

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Our Republican Party is wide open to people wanting to switch party affiliation. After all, Ronald Reagan was a Democrat before seeing the light. This enlightenment can happen at any point in a person's career and we should welcome converts.

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I'm proud of Chris Monzel and his start as a County Commissioner. Chris has adapted instantly and is a leader for conservative values in his first few weeks on the job. He is bubbling-over with fresh ideas and is already pushing for changes in how county government operates. To get his regular update, the Monzel report, click here to email his staff. Great job, Chris!

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We will be interviewing candidates for Cincinnati city council in the next couple of weeks. Don't say we didn't ask! If you or someone you know wants to be interviewed to run, let us know by emailing Debbie Flammer.

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We will also begin the interview process for candidates interested in running for Municipal Court. Email Debbie Flammer if interested.

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Parker-Spitzer on CNN doesn't make it to Memorial Day. Bill O'Reilly needs a change in format because he used to be a favorite, but he's losing some interest. I like listening to Glenn Beck, but I can't find myself taking him too seriously even when he's making great points. Rush Limbaugh is brilliant, but it's hard to listen to the radio in the middle of the afternoon. Townhall.com and National Review Online are the best online resources for conservative commentary.

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I hope to see all of you who read this blog at the Lincoln Reagan Dinner. This annual event is important to our Club and to our cause. Let's come together tonight and celebrate a great 2010 and look to a more prosperous 2011 and 2012.

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Have a good Wednesday.

Senate Bill 5--Collective Bargaining, Etc.

The above picture is what happens when government starts to try and take back the things it has been giving away for a generation. The photo is from the Wisconsin statehouse as union members flooded the statehouse in that great state. This is a tough business. We are seeing similar angst in Ohio. Here are a few things to consider:

• I agree with the President that we should not "villify" public employees.
  
• As Republicans, we value the work of public employees and we should work hard to explain to them why these measures are crucial to the future of their own jobs and to the future of the state.
• Government is going broke, everywhere. Serious, draconian, and painful changes are nearly mandatory to save us from ruin. This is a first series of painful cuts. Every person needs to understand where we stand as a country and as a state. We stand on the brink of financial ruin.
  
• The cuts to save us from financial ruin can no longer come from "waste, fraud, and abuse" because, in reality, that is not a viable solution. Let's have the adult conversation.
• If I were managing a union in this environment, I would be negotiating, not protesting.

And...

I have great affinity for certain public employees especially police officers, firefighters, and teachers. These fine men and women should be treated with dignity and respect during this collective bargaining reform process. They also need to understand that the future of their profession hangs in the balance. Ohio, for example, faces a budget deficit of over $8 billion. Without serious reform, this state will soon begin slashing employees and eliminating the dollars used to pay public employees. The fiscal apocalypse has arrived and we need serious reform now. State bankruptcy is an option far worse than collective bargaining reform.

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I spoke to the Reading Republican Club Lincoln Day dinner. I talked about Ronald Reagan's optimism and sunny disposition. I've preached about it here before. The successful candidate for president in 2012 will be the one who campaigns on a positive message of a brighter future. I know lots of angry conservatives. I'm an angry conservative. What has happened in the United States for the last 2 decades justifies our anger. But, the voters want a positive, hopeful vision for the future of our great country. President Reagan is the model for how we ought to conduct ourselves. It is certainly fine to be angry, but in our leaders we should demand a positive and hopeful vision for the future.

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Morning Joe is the best morning show on television. The problem? When I come home at night the TV is on MSNBC. After 9 a.m., that station is useless.

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Catchers and pitchers have reported to spring training. Why do we always say "pitchers and catchers" instead of "catchers and pitchers"? I'm choosing to put catchers first. Ryan Hannigan and Corky Miller will appreciate that.

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I saw Marty Brennaman at Findlay Market last weekend. Marty is a committed Republican. Getting to know him, just a little bit, has been one of the pleasures of this job. Marty is a hall of fame announcer and a hall of fame guy. In person, he's witty, engaging, and outgoing. I happened to be in Madison's at Findlay Market and he was as nice and kind with the fans as any person could be.

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Ryan Widmer received three criminal trials. If media reports are to be believed, the hung jury in the second trial voted 10-2 for guilt. Add that to the 12 jurors who convicted him in the first trial and the 12 jurors who convicted him in the third trial, you have 34 jurors voting for guilt and only 2 voting to acquit him. My personal opinion aside, we must respect our jury system. I do.

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Congratulations to my friend, David Fornshell, on receiving the appointment to be the next Warren County Prosecutor. I've come to know David over the last few years and he is the ideal candidate to take on this important public responsibility. I will miss strolling three-doors-down at Dinsmore and Shohl and catching-up on politics.

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Police Officers are not idiots. And neither is Governor Kasich. He apologized for using that word. He should not apologize for his greater point: public employees work for the taxpayers and should treat citizens with great respect. How many times have you been abused by a bureaucrat? Been to the BMV lately? Gov. Kasich's message should not get lost in this silly controversy over his use of one word. The message to any public employee is this: be as nice to your consumers as private sector employees are to consumers who are paying the bill.

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Our party headquarters remodeling effort is coming to a close. It went well. Thanks to Debbie and Maggie for working under these conditions for nearly a month.

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I believe the President of the United States was born in Hawaii. That might be his only qualification to be President. This man was not up to the job and it is painfully obvious now.

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Dictionary.com allows you to sign-up for a "word of the day" email. Today's word? Libation. It's five o'clock somewhere.

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I am a big fan of police officers. I have strongly supported law enforcement. I did so as a prosecutor and a judge. I've done it as a political combatant. The men and women in policing are the most important public sector employees we have. Collective Bargaining reform, sorely needed in this state, should respect their important work. The same is true for firefighters.

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Are you coming to our Lincoln-Reagan Dinner on February 23? Click here to buy your tickets online. I can promise attendees one thing: the program will be very tight. We've eliminated much of the talking and we intend to move the evening along. We have an after-party across the street at Launch. Join us for that, too.

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When Republicans and Democrats ultimately agree on a budget, they ought to then slash 3% from every single number in the document. Isn't that a great idea? Just reduce the whole thing, equally, by 3%. Who would notice?

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Have a great weekend.

Join us after Lincoln-Reagan Dinner

Lincoln-Reagan Dinner 2011, etc.

Our 2011 Lincoln-Reagan Dinner will be on Wednesday, February 23 beginning at 5:30 p.m. (cocktails) and dinner at 6:30 p.m. at the Duke Energy Center, 525 Elm St., in downtown Cincinnati. Our keynote speaker will be Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels. For more information and to purchase tickets online, click here.

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Gov. Daniels is a highly impressive person. He has done a terrific job in Indiana. To read more about "My Man Mitch" (his campaign slogan!), click on this story.

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The latest news in the Williams/Hunter contest is slightly good news. Only 24 hours after the Sixth Circuit Court was petitioned to hear the case en banc, the court immediately requested a response from Ms. Hunter's legal counsel. This is slightly good news because they could have rejected the petition without hearing from Ms. Hunter. Requesting a response from the other side tells us that someone is, at least, considering this further. Does this mean they'll take it en banc? No. But, it means they're at least considering it. Waiting is the hardest part.

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Interesting how so many in the media and elsewhere seem so happy the military now rules Egypt. I know the future will likely bring elections, but will those elections work to stabilize Egypt or make it more anti-U.S.? We've propped up that country for a long time. Democracy is a good thing. But, so is having a place where terrorists are not training to kill innocent Americans. The months ahead should be interesting. Mubarak was not the right answer. But, will we rue this day? Hope not.

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With Jeff Berding's departure from city council and the rumored possible departure of Chris Bortz, we may have the most competitive city council elections we've had in years. Let's hope the voters get it right. Although not Republican, Berding's intellect will be missed on the council. His vote for the streetcar--not so much.

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Our GOP-family is growing! Leslie Ghiz and her husband Steve have a new son, Andrew Alexander. Longtime GOP supporter and campaign manager for Steve Chabot, Jamie Schwartz and his wife Kristie welcomed their son, Connor, into the world, too. All seem to be healthy, happy, and sleep-deprived. Children are God's greatest gift.

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ArtsWave Sampler weekend starts today. Yes, Republicans can appreciate the arts just like liberals do. In fact, giving to the arts is popular for most Republican donors. The arts enrich our culture and grow our minds. Click here to learn more about Artswave (formerly the Fine Art Fund).

And...

I read George W. Bush's book, Decision Points. A good read. Being the POTUS is hard. Leading is not easy. Leaders take arrows and those arrows can sometimes hurt. The President of the United States is rarely presented with easy decisions. The easy ones are made by subordinates. By time the President gets involved, the calls are complicated. The book is worth reading for anyone in leadership anywhere. Getting to see the difficulty of that job from this book makes me less critical of President Obama. Ok, not really.

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Our Republican HQ re-construction continues. We hope to have it concluded within a week. The place will shrink, but it will also be spruced up quite a bit. I'm pleased with this decision. Our grand re-opening should come in early March.

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I need to get to one of these CPAC conventions. I'm jealous of those who are there.

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No Reds. No Bengals. Bearcats mildly interesting. The progr'm on Victory Parkway is not interesting to me. I might find my way to a Cyclones game.

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Are Republicans ever going to talk about cutting Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and the defense budget? They better. Tea Party pressure should be on them to do so or face the wrath of voters. Real, painful cuts are needed--and needed now. If we show the country that we're willing to make the tough calls and the President is only trimming-around-the-edges, then we can make a case for honest change in government in 2012. But, if voters get scared and politicians begin arousing the emotions of voters on these cuts to their advantage, shame on us as voters.

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Continuing my diatribe on spending, I would say this: We have government we simply can't afford. For too long, government looked for ways to give people things. We must enter an era where government takes things away. That is difficult for any politician. If the voters punish politicians who take things away, then the voters are as guilty as those politicians.

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I will never bash the Greeks or the Greek economy. For obvious reasons.

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Speaking of politicians making tough calls, have you seen the roll-out of the new Collective Bargaining bill proposed by Sen. Shannon Jones? That, friends, is real change to how our state does business. Sen. Jones is showing courageous leadership and she will need our full support.

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We also need election reform in Ohio. Rep. Bob Mecklenborg will lead the charge in the Ohio House. I look forward to working with Bob and Secretary Husted to get that done.

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I miss blogging. I'll try to keep it up for the entertainment of my two readers.

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Have a great weekend.

Ronald Reagan: 100 years

Today marks 100 years since the day of President Ronald Reagan's birth. President Reagan receives much deserved praise from the GOP and I can't add much to that in this blog. But it is appropriate that his life and influence on the country and on our party be honored today. I'll do it by blogging. Reagan's work is not finished and, in fact, his vision sometimes fades in the face of those forces in America that forget what made us great. We need to keep fighting the Reagan revolution.

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Sorry Steeler fans, but I'm going with the Packers today. I have a poor history of predicting sporting events on this blog, but I'm going with the Packers 28, Steelers 21. If you want to share your prediction today, go to Facebook or Twitter and do it.

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I'm still getting lots of questions about the ongoing battle to preserve state law and officially have John Williams, the winner of the juvenile court race, seated into this important job. As of today, the Board of Election's attorneys are preparing to petition for an en banc hearing in the federal 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. This means that we're asking that all of the judges in the Circuit, not just three, hear this case. They will decide whether to hear it in a couple of weeks--or sooner. Right now, we're waiting. This complex case can be summarized in one sentence: they are trying to change the rules after the election and change the outcome they do not like.

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My friend, Al Duebber, a Delhi Township Trustee has announced that he's not running again. I want to wish Al all the best. He has done a terrific job for the citizens of Delhi and his service has been honorable and commendable. Good luck, Al!

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Will the budget debacle that we just witnessed at Cincinnati City Hall foster any changes to the city council in 2011? History tells us it will not. "Remember in November" works sometimes, but never seems to work in the city. City voters keep returning the same voices to city council then complain about the same results.

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Speaking of city council, our Party will be endorsing a slate in early March. If you or someone you know is interested in running, let us know (maggien@hc-gop.org).

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I haven't blogged in awhile. If my two readers are still out there, thanks for reading.

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Government everywhere is going broke. Not enough of our elected leaders say this to you. We have a government we can't afford because spending is way out-of-line with revenue. The problem with government is that "revenue" means taxes. So, a draconian, painful, and unpopular series of cuts in government service are necessary. Here's the problem: elected leaders in both parties are terribly afraid to make those cuts because they will be punished in the next election. For political leaders in both parties, the only thing more important than balancing the budget is winning re-election. The politician who talks about cutting government in the serious ways it needs to be cut will inevitably feel the wrath of those voters who are hurt. It seems everyone thinks that "government waste" can be cut in a way that no pain will be felt. This is where an "adult conversation" with voters is most necessary. Cuts are necessary in every single aspect of the government.

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Lots of behind-the-scenes work has been done with our new Governor to kill the wasteful Cincinnati streetcar proposal. That work continues.

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I've been largely quiet in the face of some of the misinformation flowing from those ignorant of what is actually happening at the Board of Elections. The worst offender? Council member Cecil Thomas. As a citizen of this city, I'm disappointed with his fundamental misunderstanding of what is happening at our Board of Elections. I understand why the average citizen might misunderstand the complicated legal proceedings. I have tried to explain it to him, but he is incapable of understanding. I also understand why some use these proceedings to further their own agenda. But Cecil Thomas ought to know better. He should conduct himself as a reasonable public servant. He has hardly done that. He is terribly emotionally invested in this race in a way that is surprising. There is a legal process now playing-out and Mr. Thomas seems incapable or unwilling to understand it.

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In Egypt, one political party has ruled for 30 years. There is no partisanship because it is banned by the government. There are no public disputes about policy. The situation begs the question: would those in the streets of Egypt want partisanship? Seems the answer is yes. Politicians sitting together at the State of the Union address forgot about the importance of a healthy, robust debate on issues that divide us. I'm in favor of partisanship and if Egypt had 30 years of partisanship by those battling for their own ideas, they might not be erupting in the streets. Just my two cents...

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Township and municipal elections are happening throughout the county. Wonderful communities like Green Township, Colerain Township, Anderson Township, Norwood and so many others will be electing their leadership in 2011. Get involved in your community right now to make a difference.

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The support of the Tea Party during this Board of Elections fiasco has been overwhelming. I am very thankful to every single person who has taken the time to attend our meetings and to support the rule of law.

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Still afraid of Twitter and Facebook? If you're in politics, it is almost malpractice to not engage social media. The Egyptian revolution started there. It matters. It's not just for kids. And news is being made there every single day.

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I miss George Stephanopoulos on Sunday mornings. I miss Tim Russert, still, even more. Christiane Amanpour is not getting it done. I would have picked Jake Tapper. David Gregory is fine. Chris Wallace is better. None of these guys is Tim Russert.

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Opening Day 2011 is 52 days away from today. It can't come quickly enough.

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Republican Headquarter is under serious construction. We are shrinking and remodeling. Look for an invitation to our grand opening, soon.

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Have a great Sunday!