The Scene

Hamilton County Republican Party Campaign School, Thursday, March 9, 2006, 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. 700 Walnut Street (across from the Aronoff Theater complex). This is a continuation from March 2, but tonight they have the added excitement of the second night of the musical Wicked (which I saw on opening night here in Cincinnati just yesterday) happening across the street.

This was a mostly pleasant evening, so I was out on the corner of 7th and Walnut from about 4:30 to about 7:00. I was going to leave just after 6:00, but I got spit on by a lout who wouldn't go away, and was further insulted by the valet parking staff at the Jeff Ruby restaurant, so I stayed the extra hour to get the police report taken care of and annoy the restaurant staff.

The lout walked right up to me and spit on my leg, completely out of the blue. I yelled at him that he was disgusting, and a guy in a car yelled at him, too. The guy in the car told me he was a lawyer and gave me his name and told me I should call him if the guy gave me any grief. The lout (who's name, I'm told by the police, is Edward) stood near me for about ten minutes saying he could get me, to go f--- myself,  and telling me I was a s--t. He was not yelling, just talking in a slightly raised voice. It was pretty creepy and threatening, especially because he stood behind me just a few feet away and he wouldn't leave. I put up with him for a while, but eventually I called 9-1-1. We had been causing a commotion by the restaurant door, with me telling Edward he was disgusting and Edward telling me I was a s--t, but the valets were not pleased with me being on "their" corner, so they just backed off. After a while Edward moved about ten yards along Seventh street and took up a new, slightly less position from which to stalk me.

Shortly after I called 9-1-1 a bicycle officer showed to direct traffic, and said he'd handle the situation. He spoke at length to the perp, took down some information, and then (to my surprise) he let the guy go. The officer told me he would write up a citizen referral for criminal mischief and I could request a hearing. The officer said Edward had admitted "spitting in my direction" and the officer saw how much he spit on my pants leg (the guy must have saved up a mouthful). The officer also said the guy was intoxicated. It made sense, I guess, in hindsight, but I stupidly didn't even notice it myself.

Anyway, the report is in, and I can pursue it or not, at my option.

To continue with the negative vein, one of the valets was rude and crude and I assume homophobic, given that he was making like he was coming on to me to underscore his virility and my apparent gayness. He was being a gadfly when I was talking to the officer so I said something cruel like "I can see you've got a great career going here" and it really hit a nerve with both the valet and the officer. The officer said "there's no need for that," so I let it go. Back on the sign thing, I got one flipped bird, two "get a job" yells, one "get a life," and a middle-aged, average height, somewhat portly guy in a suit who told me to shove that sign up my you-know-what. I told him he could shove it up his instead. He hectored me as he walked quickly away. BMIC (big man in cincinnati).

There were also tons of really nice people, of all political stripes. The vast majority of cars that made any acknowledgement at all were positive, and many of them were exuberantly so. Several stopped to have short conversations, and one even took my picture using my phone. (I'd forgotten my real camera again.)

I gotta say, I really dig it when someone thanks me for being out there with the sign. I don't do it for thanks, I do it for American integrity, but the thanks are welcome all the same. I got several of those "thanks for doing this" tonight. I was also asked by several young people if they could join me for a bit and help hold the sign, and by others if they could take a picture of the sign. I was happy to comply.

So watch yourself with Jeff Ruby's valet parking. I would recommend you not let the tall, sexually aggressive and somewhat confused valet know your politics, unless you are republican. On a purely sanitary level, you might want to avoid that guy entirely.

Wicked at the Aronoff: excellent. The crowd the turned up early to "make the scene" or join the lottery for the front row tickets was awesome and supportive.

About 7:30 I got home and put my jeans in the washer and scrubbed my leg with antibacterial soap. Edward didn't look like he was taking really good care of himself. Anyway, a quick wash and a change of clothes and I was all better. Too bad we can't solve the our national, state, and county administration problems so easily.

More fun later,

Ray

Written March 9, 2006; updated March 10, 2006