Thursday, June 26, 2008

Open Thread

I've been busy this week, so not much in the way of posting. A know there are things going on out there other than flooding and the air show.

It sounds like the QC may be getting its first Panda Express soon. They've been running ads for hiring employees, but I don't know what location they're talking. Anyone know?
Edit: A visit to Northpark last night allowed me to see that Manchu Wok has bitten the dust, so I suspect that's where Panda Express will be going in.

Will Alderman Ambrose's homophobic comments and vote against the gay pride festival hurt his reelection chances? Its not like he's ever denied his feelings on the issue, making such odd statements over the years such as trying to connect pedophiles to the Rainbow District. Davenport's a decently liberal town, so I think this kind of thing may catch up with him one of these years. Lisa Lewis should already be planning to play this up for younger, more tolerant voters.

In a related note, yes, the Fairgrounds aren't the best place for motorcycle rallies or frequent festivals, but can't the neighbors put up with these things on the rare occasion that LeClaire Park is unusable? Where else should this stuff be held during floods?

37 comments:

Matt said...

ah, diversity, and the interesting discussion that follows. i'd argue that the postmodern (?) take on this - *true* celebrations of diversity leading towards one all-emcompassing... "Human Being Year" follows logically, but that's looking at the situation like a math problem, and is obviously quite silly in the real world. it's interesting that views from that mindset (such as the proclamation of the Bettendorf mayor) only come up when somewhat hot-button issues of race, gender, or sexuality want to be celebrated. i suppose i agree with Duax on this. If events such as Greek Fest and Saint Patrick's Day are welcomed with open arms by our elected officials, but a Pride Parade / Festival isn't, we have a problem. And I'd agree that as time moves forward, and more and more younger, socially progressive voters make their voice heard, things will change for the better.

If anyone chimes in with the potential response that one's color is not a choice, whereas one's sexual orientation is, i'll preface it by saying i don't agree.

Anonymous said...

Unfortunately, Ambrose backward stance and comments helps him more then hurts them.
I would pay to see the 1st ward alderman give Mr. A a great big compassion hug....
And I await Alderman Shawn, making a motion to end the Fair at the fairgrounds, the Scottish Festival at the fairgrounds and what about those Republican County meetings at the fairgrounds...

Anonymous said...

I about choked when I read that 'they can have it in their own district' line in the QCT. Maybe we should go back to 'whites only' restaurants and drinking fountains as well. This guy is running for SENATE?

Anonymous said...

I was pretty stunned at how blatent Ambrose's statement was too. I also hope that comes back to haunt him during the next election. I guess he's as outdated on diversity as he is on economic growth policy. The guy needs to go.

Anonymous said...

What about humans makes us so unaccepting of alterity? Even when others' differences don't affect our own lives many times we (obviously not myself) still take issue with them. I suppose its some wierd vestige of our tribal past that we have to learn to control. Ambrose is an idiot, who voted for him anyway?

Anonymous said...

I agree with Ambose. Doesn't our city council have better things to do than issue procromations for fringe groups. Imagine the uproar if white heterosexual couples wanted their own day. Get over it.

Matt said...

1:43 -
i know this sounds hopelessly pc, but most current festivals can easily be seen as white, heterosexual celebrations. if you stick to matters of race, we have festivals celebrating various european backgrounds — whether the widely-celebrated Saint Patrick's Day or the more local goings-on related to Belgian, Greek, or German cultural events. those events are basically WASP events, although they are obviously never called "white history __X__ (month, weekend, whatever). of course, on the other hand, we celebrate "black history month" during february and Cinco De Mayo in May, but that tends to cram a whole continent worth of culture into one celebration. i'm just pointing out an observance you may not have previously thought about.

So anyways... "fringe groups"?... i don't know. where do you draw the line at who gets to celebrate and who doesn't? is their a magical per-capita population figure we stick to in scott and rock island counties? are those types of questions really where the council members' issues lay, or are they something more deep-seated, possibly rooted in some slight bigotry? it's a good question that voters should know an answer to. see, the initial comment i posted was trying to get at the point that when some of your "fringe groups" start wanting to celebrate their cultural niche, some people start talking very strange - they start saying "now wait a minute... this can't fly." they start saying a "truer" diversity is about all of us as one homogenized people. and that, my friend, makes no sense at all. it's the polar opposite of people celebrating their differences.

QuadCityImages said...

9:54, just for the record, it was Ambrose that said the piece about "these people" having it in "their own district." (which he doesn't think should even exist)

Hamerlinck is too much of a politician to say something quite that un-PC.

Unknown said...

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that the city has made other "useless" proclamations about much less important things with zero fanfare, and probably zero no votes. One time I remember seeing the city council recognizing kids who were at a meeting as part of a school project. Why wasn't that a waste of time, too? Instead, some of the aldermen almost treated it as a photo op. OK, so maybe that one wasn't so useless.

For the record, I disagree with Ambrose on diversity, but agree that these proclamations are kind of a waste of time. But these sideshows are going to come up from time to time. It's inevitable. The fastest and easiest way to deal with them is just to give them what they want and move on. It takes a lot more time and effort to resist them. Plus, you'll live longer.

Anonymous said...

Eh, I think, unfortunately, the 4th ward voters DO know where Ambrose stands on things like this. But, how much longer can those folks realistically vote.

Anonymous said...

It's been said well a couple of times on here. The gay population is no more "fringe" than the St. Patrick's Day Irish who want proclamations proclaiming the great things the Irish have done. Ironically, Ambrose created more awareness for a group he obviously dislikes by raises a fuss about it.

Anonymous said...

matt,
good posts. clear, lucid and to the point.
thanks

Anonymous said...

I disagree with the Fourth Ward's Mr. Ambrose on this issue and have told him as much, but at least he is an honest Alderman, unlike the pack of lying Mcboominators.Scheechs,brother.What the citizens of this city have to put up with to call the place home.

Anonymous said...

Does Mr. Hammerlinck have a short memory???? Maybe he doesn't remember taking his ENTIRE campaign on a bus tour and stoppong at Mary's on 2nd (GAY BAR) and tossing a few down with 30-40 of campaign workers last election for a few hours. I know, I was on the bus.
Sorry Shawn, I cannot support an out & out HYPOCRITE.

Anonymous said...

Above poster LOL!!! I was at Mary's too that night!!!! I could not believe what I read in the QCT. I thought to myself...ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?????????????
Shawn, Shawn, Shawn...You can drink with them, but you don't support? Give me a break!

Anonymous said...

Shawn is a stand up guy. He just does not think government should get involved with sexual orientation. I agree. Ambrose is a legend around here, and Lisa Lewis should stop her sour grapes and posts designed to hurt him. Lisa, the voters made their choice. Now live with it!

Anonymous said...

I would argue that Shawn is being politically expedient. He is running as a Republican. He knows the anti-home schtick works, especially with GOP primary voters.

He very carefully worded his statements to not be outright homophobic, but when he's campaigning as a Republican, he can proudly point to his non-diversity, non-homo-rights voting.

He is extremely good at playing both sides of the fence.

Whether that makes him a "stand up guy" or not, I'm not sure.

Anonymous said...

Hamerlinck a stand up guy?
Look up the word HYPOCRIT, and when you figure out what that word means, apply it to Mr. Hamerlinck.

Ambrose a legend?
Look up the word HOMOPHOBIA, and when you figure out what that word means, apply it to Mr. Ambrose.

Leaders..Give me a huge break!!

above poster, pull your ignorant head out!

Anonymous said...

Since when has government not involved itself in CIVIL RIGHTS???
I wonder if either Ambrose or Hammer are Jewish? Black? Woman? American Indian, or any other minority "fringe" group that have suffered terribly at the hands of the majority?


I assure you the answer is no.

Anonymous said...

Thanks god neither are not in the MAJORITY in this town!!!!

Anonymous said...

Yes, good piont. Be thankful that this council's majority has done a very good job so far.

Anonymous said...

Amen Bro!!! Bo-who to the "againsters"!

Anonymous said...

That's because Ambrose, Hammerlinck, and Lynn are the minorities of this sitting council. Now, if you were to have this conversation two years ago, it might have been the other way around.

Anonymous said...

It is very apparent that the voters of the 4th wards are idiots - thus the constant reelection of Ray Ambrose. This guy is STUPID and the voters keep electing him.

Anonymous said...

Hey, wait a minute. I LIVE IN THE 4th WARD and have NEVER voted for that clown. Even when no one runs against him, I write in "Anyone but Ray"

Anonymous said...

At least Ray Ambrose has a mind of his own, and is not just a D-Boom rental. Ray gets relected for very good reasons. He trys to look out for his ward and with the misplaced priorities of this Administration,Council and special interest groups banking on the taxpayers dollar its a hard and difficult task.The real people who are stupid ideas can be found under the dirt on the riverfront.

Anonymous said...

Finally, someting intelligent. Kudos to the last poster. Ambrose and Hammerlink have brain power and will serve the taxpayers. Since when did goverment ever celibrate homosexuality? They don't. In most states gay marriage is illegal. Plus, both of these gentelmen vote with the majority most of the time, so they are not "againsters". You are really the againsters. I guess somebody cant have the freedome to NOT choose the gay lifestyle?

Anonymous said...

was that last post meant to support Ambrose or to make fun of the idiots who do? Its hard to tell since I cant imagine anyone actually writing something like that seriously.

Anonymous said...

Really, Ambrose wasn't elected just yesterday. What the 4th Ward suffers from is the lack of voters who use good judgement. The state of affairs in the 4th Ward is due to the incumbent Ambrose. He's been sitting at the council chair for too many years. Take a look around your ward and tell me that there needs some improvement, then ask yourself why your incumbent alderman hasn't addressed them in his last 10 years on the council. Ambrose is a toad. Period!

Anonymous said...

Davenporters have noticed that many of the bloggers of this site who chim in to support Images and attack Mr. Ambrose are maturity junior high. Calling people toads. Oh, I so remember the bullies in grade eight.

Anonymous said...

If the shoe fits....toad!

Anonymous said...

Alderman Ambrose treats people with respect, homosexual or straight. Because he doesn’t believe Homosexuality should be celebrated is no indication that he is against gays. We are to treat each other with love. We are not to judge each other. But we are not to celebrate anything God has clearly said is wrong. I too respect all people. But I do not support the gay crowd targeting the youth or trying to make their behavior glorified. I voted for Ray and I’m voting for him again. He is honest upfront and moral.

Anonymous said...

Oh above poster, at least you have the b@lls to say homosexuality....instead of your alderman calling gays..."those people". He is a true idiot.

QuadCityImages said...

In the one real conversation I've had with him, when we both volunteered at an informational tent during RiverWay06, I left with the impression that he's a product of his time. He has outdated views, and is fairly willing to admit to them. Despite what the above poster said, he makes it pretty clear that he is against gays. The constant worrying from him and his supporters about building the skatepark near "those people" in "their area" really shows how clueless he is on that subject at least.

As the years go by, his outdated views will be less acceptable to the voters, and he'll be replaced.

Anonymous said...

I have to repectfully disagree with you QCI. I’m young and I agree with Ambrose's ideas. I don’t see going green, being fiscally conservative, helping his constituents and being faith based as outdated. These are things I agree with him on. They are mine and my friends. Because his ideas are different then yours does not make them wrong or outdated (nor do they make yours wrong or new). Because you and I have gay friends, does not make it something to celebrate.
I do have a question. Why of the 7 council members who votes against it and made remarks, are you targeting Ambrose? This type of targeting always make me think the blogger has a secret agenda.

QuadCityImages said...

Seven council members that voted against what?

Anonymous said...

QCI,

I believe the poster (Hamerlinck) can't remember what he, Lynn, and Ambrose voted for and the others voted against. I agree that the folks that voted for Ambrose will soon fade due to their own stupidity and just old age. I'm looking forward to seeing Lisa take charge.