Archive for October, 2007

This is making its way through the blogosphere with the suggestion that it continues to spread. I feel more than happy to oblige.

Hat Tip to Bart Lies and Hoosiers for Fair Taxation

(A cartoon by Rinky Dink - click to enlarge)

The Indy Star online just release the most recent FEC filings. As expected, incumbents are trouncing their opposition.

Burton, other incumbents have fundraising advantage

Rep. Dan Burton’s financial advantage over his primary opponent has expanded to tenfold, according to recent campaign disclosure reports.

The Indianapolis Republican reported raising $454,913 so far for the 2008 elections and having $871,067 in the bank, some of it left over from previous races.

John McGoff, the former Marion County coroner challenging Burton in the GOP primary, raised $189,946 through September and had $81,518 in the bank, according to his disclosure report filed with the Federal Election Commission on Monday.

Consider as you look at the other races, that Mike Sodrel and Chris Minor just recently announced and Greg Goode only announced in August so they appear more vulnerable than they actually are.  And take a look at Julia Carson’s paltry numbers.  Should anybody other than Wayne Harmon run against her (hear that Mr. Dickerson?!), Julia may be in sorry financial shape to face a real challenger.

(Read below the fold to see the campaign finance list from Indiana’s other congressional districts.) (more…)

With the ever increasing importance of the internet, it has become easier and easier to steal someone’s identity. Criminals continually get smarter and smarter in ways to get your credit card number, your social security number or your bank account numbers. We can’t just shred those annoying credit card mailers we get every day begging us to sign up for the latest discounted rate. And due to online identity predators we are starting to employ spam filters on our internet browsers and email filters as well as installing firewalls on all our computers just to make sure sensitive information never gets into the hands of those who would wish us harm. Identity theft has even affected the Mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg (only one of the richest guys in the world…who could steal his identity?)

But there are ways to stop identity thieves from catching you and Congressman Burton is trying to help. Read this from the Congressman’s latest e-update:

Identity theft has become all too common in our country. In 2006, the FTC ranked identity theft victims by state. Indiana was 24th, with 3,928 Hoosiers falling victim to Identity Theft.

In order to address this problem, I am hosting a FREE community forum to help you learn how to protect yourself. J. Michelle Sybesma, a nationally recognized speaker and founder of www.GetIDSmart.com, will give a presentation and field questions regarding identity theft.

With the holidays coming up, I can’t think of a better time than now for this conference. Information is one of the most valuable assets in today’s society, and Hoosiers need to know how to protect themselves.

The event will be held on Saturday, October 20, 2007 from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. at the Conseco Conference Center. Learn more about the conference here or click here for directions.

Short answer - not entirely. But check out this piece from Advance Indiana:

Meanwhile, Indiana GOP Chairman Murray Clark has some explaining to do to Marion County Republicans. Clark’s state party organization won’t lift a finger to help GOP mayoral hopeful Greg Ballard, but the party is sending out thousands of mailers on behalf of Kelty’s campaign in Fort Wayne. People are asking if Clark’s ties to his law firm, Baker & Daniels, are interfering in his role as state chairman. The firm has extensive legal contracts with the City of Indianapolis courtesy of Mayor Bart Peterson (D). Also, Clark is very close to Peterson’s Chief Deputy John Dillon.

The question does beg to be asked; If the party is willing to put out a mailer for Juan Manigault, who has a legitimate chance of winning in South Bend, and is willing to do a mailer on behalf of Matt Kelty, who has been indicted on perjury and campaign finance charges and has blown his chance at winning, will they also do a mailer on behalf of Greg Ballard, who because of the peoples absolute disgust with Bart Peterson and his failings to run a city actually has a chance at winning in November?

I’m not ready to don the tinfoil hat and declare that the State Party will refuse or has refused to help Greg Ballard. In fact, I’ve talked with Greg about Party support and he has said that the State Party has been quite supportive. But voters want to see something tangible. They want proof the Party is going to do more to support Greg.

I guess it’s up to the Party to show that they are as supportive and Greg says they are.  He deserves as much.

Let’s play Jeopardy! Here’s the answer; R.I.P. South Bend. If you answered “What is the current state of Notre Dame football?”, you’d be close, but wrong. But, if you said “What is the sorry state of South Bend under the leadership of Mayor Stephen Luecke, the Democratic incumbent?” You’d be correct! Congratulations! Now South Bend, get out there and vote for change in your city! Vote Juan Manigault for Mayor! (Pepped up yet?)

In, all seriousness, the postcard posted above, which was not put out by the Manigault campaign is causing quite the stir. If you can’t read what the card says under the R.I.P., it says “Here lies South Bend, a once vibrant city now abandoned by business, overrun by violent crime and driving people from their family homes because of high property taxes.” (Hmmm, sounds like a city down here in Central Indiana. I just can’t put my finger on it…..oh yeah, Indianapolis!) This card was produced by the State Party, but it’s pointed, gets the message across and is getting more attention drawn to it and it’s message just by getting mentioned in the South Bend Tribune.

RIP campaign card sparks controversy
Manigault supports mailing from state GOP, but ‘not behind it.’

By JAMES WENSITS
Tribune Political Writer

SOUTH BEND — A campaign mailing from the state Republican Party to South Bend residents is generating controversy.The card pictured a tombstone surrounded by a desolate landscape. The epitaph:

“RIP. Here lies South Bend, a once vibrant city now abandoned by business, overrun by violent crime and driving people from their family homes because of high property taxes.”

On the reverse side, the mailing accuses Mayor Stephen Luecke, the Democratic incumbent, of having “neglected our city and allowed it to die.”

The message is destructive, Luecke says.

“It saddens me, it tears down our city. It’s the worst kind of campaigning,” he said. “A lot of people are very upset about it and they should be,” Luecke said, noting he has heard from residents as well as a couple of business people.

Republican mayoral challenger Juan Manigault expressed support for the message, but said he had nothing to do with sending it.

He said the mailing is not negative campaigning.

“This is the truth,” he said. “This is where the city is headed. This is what the city has become.”

(Read the rest of the article below the fold) (more…)

Posted in Local Elections | 2 Comments » | Read more..

Ex-IU star calls for coach’s firing

Kent Benson’s feelings on the latest NCAA recruiting violations committed by Indiana University basketball coach Kelvin Sampson boiled down to one question.

What happened to the restrictions imposed against Sampson when he was hired by the university because of violations committed while he coached at Oklahoma, Benson wondered. Sampson’s contract allows IU to fire him for repeated violations.

“Here we get rid of a legend (Bob Knight) who had a perfectly clean record in 30 years of coaching at Indiana University,” a seething Benson said today in a telephone interview. “We put a zero tolerance rule on him and he was gone.
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Posted in Misc Issues | 2 Comments » | Read more..

First it was Evan Bayh backing Hillary Clinton for President. But we all know, it was his latest gasp at hoping to maintain some sort of national significance in his vain attempt to become Vice President…a position he’ll never get under Hillary, but she’s more than happy to let him believe he will.

But as with lemmings, more Democrats around the state are following their leader to statewide disaster by lining behind Hillary. According to the Indy Star Hillary’s current crop of Hoosier supporters now include:

Former Indiana first lady Judy O’Bannon; House Speaker B. Pat Bauer; Marion County Sheriff Frank Anderson; Sen. Vi Simpson, D-Ellettsville; Bren Simon, wife of Indiana Pacers co-owner Mel Simon; former Lt. Gov. Kathy Davis and former House Speaker John Gregg, D-Sandborn. Former Secretary of State Joe Hogsett had earlier signed on to support Clinton’s campaign.

It’s a good thing Hillary got some of the bigger names from the Indiana Democrat party to support her. Goodness knows Joe Hogsett brought nothing to the table.

So let’s think about Indiana politics this time next year. At the top of the ticket for the Democrats will most likely be Hillary. Followed closely behind her on the ticket, at this point, would be Jill Long Thompson as she runs against Mitch Daniels; a situation that scares state Democrats to death should they not “take care of things” (making for a Hillary and Jillary Ticket…props to Frugal Hoosiers on that one)! That’s two out of step liberals atop the ballot in a Presidential year when turnout is the highest. Nationally, things may not appear too good for the Republicans. But here in Indiana, with a very blue ticket in a still very red state , hope springs eternal for a return to Republican dominance. You have to know that scares State Democrat Chairman Dan Parker, Congressman Baron Hill and every other Democrat incumbent that’s not in a safe seat, silly!

Here’s looking to 2008!

Today, Julia Carson’s leave from Congress is set to expire. So what’s the latest? She’s still not returning says former Congressman (and the last person to represent the 7th Congressional, formerly the 10th) Andy Jacobs.

So, her condition update doesn’t come from her office, but from Andy Jacobs. Interesting.  Here’s the latest from the Indy Star.

Jacobs: Rep. Carson’s rehab extended

WASHINGTON — Rep. Julia Carson needs more time to recover from a leg infection before returning to Congress, according to her friend and predecessor, former Rep. Andy Jacobs.
The Indianapolis Democrat had requested a leave until today. Her spokesman did not immediately respond to questions today about whether Carson plans to return this week.
Jacobs said Carson’s doctor wants her to stay longer at her rehabilitation center.

“She goes through many exercises all day long, from what I understand. As far as (her mental status) is concerned, she was there with the jokes and what’s going on,” said Jacobs, who visited Carson on Sunday evening.

Jacobs said Carson is making progress and is in good spirits.

“She had the nurses and me and a couple of other people who were visiting rolling in the aisles,” he said.

Carson, who had been using a wheelchair to get around the Capitol, was admitted to the hospital Sept. 21 after complaining of leg pain and fatigue. She was treated for an infection in her leg near the area where a vein was removed in 1996 during double bypass heart surgery, her office said in a statement last month.

Bills on tap for this week include a House attempt Thursday to override President Bush’s veto of an expansion of children’s health insurance program.

Carson has missed 16 percent of the 960 votes cast in the House cast from January through Oct. 10.

Thirteen House members have missed more votes, including two lawmakers who died in office, according to The Washington Post’s vote database.

Carson was first elected in 1996. She has been plagued by health problems during her years in Congress and suffers from high blood pressure, asthma and diabetes.

From Businessweek:

#6. Indianapolis
Contaminated sites:
Approx. 1 for every 49 people (6th)
33,857 total (16th)

Leaking storage tanks: 1,206 (18th)
Corrective action reports: 34 (8th)

Of course, it would be a sure bet that if Indianapolis had a Republican mayor, the Democrats would be howling bloody murder over this report.

As it is, I bet they will say nary a word.

Hat tip: Indy Undercover.

I have news for the establishment Republicans in Indianapolis and with the state party that don’t want to help Greg Ballard.

You are never going to get a better year to take back the Circle City than 2007.

Your chances will not be better in 2011, simply because someone else is running.

You may be so close to what is going on that you can’t see this, I suppose, and for that you could be forgiven.

But it’s blatantly obvious to anyone standing on the outside and looking in from a distance.

There will never be a better chance to retake Indianapolis, from the mayor’s office to the city council, than this year.

This is a perfect storm; it will not exist in four years’ time.

Seize the day, or lose the entire city for a long time to come.

Your choice.

Read the great Indy Star piece on Greg Ballard here.
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This is too good to pass up. Congressional Democrats need to watch out for those dangerously contagious NASCAR fans. They just might catch NASCAR fever.

Hat Tip: Hoosier Pundit

(Consider this an open thread)

Certain folks of leftward tilt in the Indiana blogosphere must surely be disappointed that Brian Howey has left the 4th District and their much-touted candidate off of his recent listing of competitive races:

Hoosiers will have potentially competitive Congressional races in the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 8th and 9th Districts in the coming months. U.S. Rep. Dan Burton is facing a May primary challenge from Dr. John McGoff. U.S. Rep. Baron Hill and former congressman Mike Sodrel are preparing for a fourth showdown in Southeastern Indiana. Democratic freshmen Reps. Joe Donnelly and Brad Ellsworth will be defending their first two years in Congress, with polls telling us that Americans have little confidence in the White House or the Congress. U.S. Rep. Mark Souder is facing an energetic challenge from Democrat Michael Montagano.

Maybe this has something to do with the reality of Ackerson’s campaign (he is already, as his amended FEC filings reveal, on his second campaign treasurer), as opposed to the rosy spin that has been swallowed whole by certain folks of lefty-leanings in the Indiana blogosphere.

If Steve Buyer was going to be beaten, it would have been either in 2006 (the high-water year for Congressional Democrats in Indiana) or in 2002, when the Democrats redrew his entire Congressional district the year before with the objective of defeating him.

Democrats in the legislature redrew Buyer’s district as punishment for him being one of the presenters of the House impeachment of Bill Clinton before the United States Senate.

Buyer responded by jogging across the entire district and winning by a landslide of better than two-to-one.

I guess you have to be excited about Ackerson if you’re a lefty blogger, right?

I mean, there aren’t a lot of Democrats in the 4th District (and even fewer elected ones), so it’s hard to find a Democrat willing to run for Congress as a sacrificial lamb.

That’s got to be worth something.
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