Local
Monday, October 8, 6-10pm
Woodlands Tavern, 1200 W. Third
Honorees include: Free Press “Libby” Award for Community Activism: Sandy Bolzenius, Free Press Artist Award: Malcolm J., Free Press Volunteer Award: Steve Caruso, Bill Moss Outstanding Black Activist Award: Kojo Kamau. Food, drink. Emcee: Dan Dougan. Music by Brian Clash Griffin and the Coffee House Rebels, Guilded Sun, Something Else, Willie Phoenix. $10 admission (sliding scale). See ad this page.Ave., Grandview
Live Stream Broadcast Saturday, October 6, 3:00-6:00pm eastern time
Featuring Bob Fitrakis, Mark Crispin Miller and Jonathan Simon
Was the 2016 election rigged for Trump? Will the 2018 midterms be rigged too? Did Bernie actually win the primaries over Hillary?
The 2016 exit polls varied widely from the actual vote count in the key states–this combined with other pattern evidence is a strong indicator that the vote counts were manipulated. Did those victories express the will of the electorate? Or were they based on the same tactics—rampant vote suppression and computerized election fraud—that have “elected” losing candidates since 2000, including Bush/Cheney, and a multitude of other rightist politicians now controlling Congress, and statehouses and legislatures from coast to coast.
A Star Is Born has been made and remade so often, it must hit a chord with the American psyche. Either that, or it’s such a perfect star vehicle that Hollywood just can’t let it gather dust for long.
Whether it’s set in the movie industry (like the 1937 and 1954 versions) or the music industry (like the 1976 and current 2018 iterations), the tale centers on a couple who fall in love while her career is rising and his is drowning in a pool of alcohol. The result is a potent mix of drama, romance, histrionics and (in most versions) music, giving both of its stars a chance to shine.
Certainly Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga shine brightly in the current remake, which Cooper also co-wrote, produced and directed. The beginning is a particular joy.
The first scene throws us into the middle of a country-rock concert in which singer-songwriter Jackson Maine (Cooper) holds forth to the adoration of his fans. Afterward, in desperate need of a drink, he instructs his driver to drop him off at what turns out to be a drag bar. It’s there he first hears and marvels at the vocal talents of Ally (Gaga), the only woman in the night’s lineup.
Fifth Annual Cleveland LaborFest by the Labor Education & Arts Project
Friday, October 5 and 6
Cleveland Marshall College of Law and Cleveland Public Library
Commemorate labor and socialist activists Eugene Debs’ famous Canton, Ohio anti-war speech and trial. Tour of actual courtroom. Friday night keynotes and dinner. Saturday workshops, panel and lunch. Free Press Editor Bob Fitrakis will speak on the history of American Socialism. www.debscentennial.com.
On Thursday October 5th from 5:00-7:00 PM, ISO Columbus held a rally and speak out in front of the OSU Thompson Statue to condemn the recent Kavanaughnomination & stand in solidarity with all survivors of rape and sexual assault. Organizers hope to build a mass movement against rape culture and the oppressive forces that allow it to thrive.
To remedy a broken campaign finance system, the 2016 Democratic Party Platform advocates a number of reforms, including ending “secret, unaccountable money in politics by requiring . . . significantly more disclosure and transparency.”
In recent years, however, information has come out indicating Ohio Democratic leaders at the state level and in Columbus have acted to conceal sources of campaign funds. The undisclosed contributors received substantial benefits from Democratic elected officials.
As for Republican leaders, they’ve been no better on the problem of hidden donors.
Alleged concealment of donors supporting Richard Cordray, Kevin Boyce and David Pepper in 2010
In 2016 the law firm BakerHostetler issued a state-commissioned investigation report on the crimes of former deputy treasurer of state Amer Ahmad, who is serving 15 years in federal prison. From 2009 to 2010, Ahmad orchestrated the largest bribery and kickback scheme in the state government’s history.
In early September of this year, the Washington Post created what was called an alternative storytelling issue in which it solicited news stories through non-traditional media. The issue included poems, a board game, a three-act play and a Trump-themed Mad-Libs story. It also included an astonishing piece of music from singer-songwriter Ben Folds, a song entitled “Mr. Peepers.”
The “Mr. Peepers” title refers to President Trump’s purported nickname for bespectacled Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. Rosenstein, of course, is currently supervising the investigation into Russian election interference headed by Robert Mueller. Rosenstein has been under fire by Trump and some of his allies in Congress who seek to short circuit or at least discredit the investigation by demonstrating that it was started by the political left and/or the “deep state.” As of my deadline Mr. Rosenstein still has a job, but word on the street is that he may be out soon.
Thursday, October 4, 5-7pm, OSU Oval [near the Thompson statue]
The International Socialist Organization [ISO], in collaboration with other activist groups, will be hosting a protest and speakout to oppose sexism and the recent Kavanaugh nomination.
During the past several weeks, Dr. Christine Blase Ford has bravely spoken out against her sexual assault by right-wing nominee for the Supreme Court, Brett Kavanaugh. Disturbingly, the Republicans have vilified Ford and have continued to support Kavanaugh. This represents the intense sexism and rape culture promoted every day by the establishment.
We are in a political moment of intense attacks on reproductive and abortion rights. These are rights that our lives depend on and must be collectively fought for! At the same time, the growing #METOO movement is building solidarity among survivors who are demanding an end to sexual violence and rape culture. With the unfolding #Kavanaugh nomination, we must unite on campus and declare that we #BelieveFORD and all victims!
Thursday, October 4, 5-7pm, OSU Oval [near the Thompson statue]
The International Socialist Organization [ISO], in collaboration with other activist groups, will be hosting a protest and speakout to oppose sexism and the recent Kavanaugh nomination.
During the past several weeks, Dr. Christine Blase Ford has bravely spoken out against her sexual assault by right-wing nominee for the Supreme Court, Brett Kavanaugh. Disturbingly, the Republicans have vilified Ford and have continued to support Kavanaugh. This represents the intense sexism and rape culture promoted every day by the establishment.
We are in a political moment of intense attacks on reproductive and abortion rights. These are rights that our lives depend on and must be collectively fought for! At the same time, the growing #METOO movement is building solidarity among survivors who are demanding an end to sexual violence and rape culture. With the unfolding #Kavanaugh nomination, we must unite on campus and declare that we #BelieveFORD and all victims!
The Columbus Dispatch's opinion writers do not take its news coverage seriously.
A few weeks ago, the newspaper/website took down four Republican candidates for statewide office for being asleep at the switch while ECOT and its charter school kin ripped off Ohio taxpayers and Ohio public schoolchildren for $1 billion.
Taken to the woodshed were Attorney General Mike DeWine, Secretary of State Jon Husted, Auditor Dave Yost and State Rep. Keith Faber.
On Sept 9, the Dispatch endorsed former Congressman Zack Space, a Democrat, for state auditor over Republican Faber, while tagging the latter for his ECOT failures.
Two Sundays later, on Sept. 23, the Dispatch put on the blinders and ignored Yost's abject failure in policing ECOT while endorsing Yost over Democrat Steve Dettelbach for attorney general.
The Dispatch had little bad to say about Dettelbach, but forgot to mention that as U.S. attorney in Cleveland, Dettelbach brought down corrupt Cuyahoga County elected officials and sent them to jail.