On the Cool Cleveland Endorsements (see complete Cool Cleveland endorsements for the 11/4/08 election here) I love my Cool Cleveland and if we were to break up I would probably stalk you for weekly event ideas.

Now with that being said I feel the need to comment on your political suggestions.

Art, Social Events, Music, and all things groovy please carry on. I feel that if you start political comentary you would/could alienate many potential readers. This is the only source for many of the events you promote. Keep it going out to as many people as you can.

I am not going to comment either way on your choice for president as there is overkill on that subject everywhere you look. What I particularly take issue with is your decisions on early voting and issue 6.

You are coming down on the side of getting it done early and getting it done right. So far neither of those is happening although early voting is going on.

If the outcome of the election goes Senator Obama's direction like all current polls show. There will be enough legal issues in this state alone for the Republican party to sue, contest, and generally raise all kinds of hell over. If the hanging chad issue in the last election seemed like a big deal wait till the light of day hits this issue.

Even NPR is commenting on the many cases of "potential" election fraud that are being discovered, FBI investigations and all pointing to the democratic side of the coin.

NPR is about as unbiased a news source as you can get. If they are talking about it wait until the conservative networks unleash big budget special episodes.

Notice when McCain was leading the polls a few weeks ago the Republican party was screaming loudly about early voting irregularities. Now with Obama in the lead that voice has grown very quiet. I would suggest that they are just building their case and gathering evidence if/when McCain loses.

Enough said.

My other issue is with your choice on Issue 6. Besides being against the issue for the wrong reasons you are also promoting a casino style fund raiser in the same Cool Cleveland issue. BAD DOG!!

If you are going to comment on politics please at least be consistent.

The dealers that work these charity events are not volunteers in most cases. They are employed by the casino rental company that is hired to put on the event. The rental company makes money doing these events. This is Ohio's form of legal gambling we just make ourselves feel better by involving charities.

So...what we have is Clevelanders paying to gamble and drink martinis in a movie themed event. Of which SOME of the proceeds will go to the charity. While much of the proceeds will go to the casino rental company and alcohol vendor who will pay taxes on their portion of the profits.

Hmmm?

Gambling attracting people to be entertained while some of the profits will be used to help Clevelanders and some of the money going to the state in taxes on the casino company profits and alcohol vendor sales. While also creating an event for people to be employed by working the tables.

Aren't you against this?

One of my main complaints about Ohio is our constant need to regulate morality.

I would like to take on your reasons to vote no one at time.

Your stated reasons to vote no are:

1. Not allowing a monopoly owner. 2. A loop hole giving a Native American owned casino tax exempt status if they entered the state at a later date. 3. Societal woes from all the gambling addicts. 4. Children not growing up and becoming casino employees.

#1. I agree somewhat with the monopoly ownership complaint. There should be a bidding process with a set number of licenses issued to the company putting forth the most competitive bid package.

#2. The issue about a loop hole allowing a Native American owned casino to enter at a later date contradicts your complaint about monopoly ownership. You get one or the other you can't have it both ways. Either the law allows a monopoly or it does not.

#3. We are the third most obese state in the nation and as of 2007 the tenth most dangerous city in the USA (see the links below). Cleveland has far bigger problems than a few gambling junkies. If we gave our young people something to do, somewhere to work, and a reason to stay here we could stop the brain drain and even, possibly, maybe, dare we dream- attract new people and busiesses to this once great city.

#4. How dare you? Seriously- WTF? With Cuyahoga County unemployment skyrocketing monthly, businesses failing left and right how dare we shoot down any new employer that would be creating jobs paying above minimum wage.

We need the casino- right here- right now- and on the lake where it will do Cleveland the most good.

These links are for feeling bad about crime and fat people.
from Cool Cleveland reader Michael Norris jmichaelnorrisATyahoo.com

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