Archive for February, 2008

Banner posted to MSNBC.com and announced on G. Gordon Liddy’s radio show (XM-166) that columnist William F. Buckley Jr. has died at age 82.

(added by Josh)
Ben Domenech of Red State writes this great post on the passing of Bill Buckley. Here’s a sample:

More than any writer, more than any thinker, more than any intellectual, William F. Buckley Jr. made the modern conservative movement what it is today.

There will never be another like him. We mourn losing him with the entire National Review family. Yet we can take comfort in knowing that in this world, he lived a life without equal - and thus could be called home to the next with no regrets.

What I would give to hear whatever witty line he kept in his back pocket for greeting Saint Peter.

RIP.

Please take two minutes to sign the online petition to request that Representative Joe Donnelly votes in favor of the Protect America Act. You can sign the petition at http://www.PetitionOnline.com/C6k4j8v7/petition.html

Update - The Foundation for Defense of Democracies is running the ad below against Joe Donnelly. This is the generic ad, but the one playing in the South Bend television market mentions Donnelly specifically.

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The Ryerson Rag brought forth an article of a Franklin Community Schools (are you listening Jacob Perry?) student that, along with the All Communists & Liberals United, is suing the school district for detention received for refusing to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Regardless of whether or not it is legal to give detention or whatever for his anti-American behavior, this teenager is showing himself as extremely ungrateful little twerp. Future Democrat in training, I say. When visiting a friend in Bloomington, I stopped in at a fast-food joint. While in line a couple IU moonbat trainees were complaining about how this country sucks and talking about countries that were better than the United States. Spain, France, and Holland were mentioned as countries “better than the US”. I bit my tongue as long as I could and finally I said “If you think its so bad here, get the f**k out of the US and don’t bother coming back!” The moonbats just stood there in stunned silence.

Nobody is forced to live in the USA. You can leave at any time and once you get where you’re going just report to an Embassy or Consulate and renounce your United States citizenship and turn in your passport. Perhaps this student upon reaching age 18 should consider such if he thinks the United States is so bad he’d disrespect it by not standing for the Pledge, or the National Anthem for that matter.

UPDATE: The weenies of Franklin Community Schools, AGREE with this student. The student is free to be as un-American and disrespectful as he likes. The student, identified as “J.L.”, should realize there are people willing to swim 90 miles in shark infested water to get to this country. A daily issue we discuss is IMMIGRATION, not EMIGRATION. So lots of people are here because they WANT to be here, and are grateful for the chance to be here as opposed to this student.

Don’t give me “free speach” as a defense. Free Speech means expressing criticism of your nation’s leaders without fear of being carted off to a concentration camp. Criticize the President, Congress and other elected officials all you want but don’t disrespect the Nation. Don’t fly Old Glory upside down as a sign of distress because you disagree with an election result. Stand for the National Anthem and the Pledge. It’s like voting and jury duty it’s the very few things you are asked to do as a citizen for your nation.

Mike Huckabee for his performance last Saturday on Saturday Night Live……(thought I’d open Wednesday morning with some funnies)

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And for good measure….

Consider this a Hump Day open thread.

The political rumor mill has been churning an awful lot this year and we’re only two months into 2008. But the hottest rumor of all to this point has to be whether four term incumbent Dr. Suellen Reed, Superintendent of Public Instruction, will finally step down or seek another term.

My friends, I’m here to tell you the rumors are true. She will be stepping down. Sources close to Dr. Reed inform Hoosier Access that after 16 years on the job, she’s finally used up all the chalk and setting sail towards retirement. Right now, though, our sources tell us she is working on the appropriate exit plan.

Dr. Reed hasn’t had the best relationship with Republicans over the years especially with the Indiana State Teachers Association in her back pocket. But she has survived the numerous attempts to knock her out at the State Convention by party insiders. As fellow Director Scott Fluhr has said over and over that the “floor of the Indiana State GOP convention is filled with political corpses of those that have tried (and failed) in convention floor fights against Dr. Suellen Reed” Because of this, she has earned a reputation as one of the more powerful elected officials in the state. And who can blame that reputation. She’s outlasted three different governors and is finally stepping down while serving her fourth.

So the question is begged. Who will take her place? No doubt, insiders have been introduced to Tony Bennett who is currently Superintendent for the Greater Clark Schools. He has earned the endorsement of Governor Daniels and is wracking up endorsements from County Chairmen and other political insiders statewide. It’s as if those who have yearned for the retirement of Dr. Reed can finally breathe free and help elect someone who won’t back the teachers union every step of the way. My guess is, if you haven’t seen him at your local Lincoln Day Dinner, you will soon.

That’s not to say that Dr. Reed hasn’t has her fair share of successes, including those that have pleased Republicans. She was able to finally push through (and I do mean push) all-day kindergarten much to the chagrin of many a Republican, but to the pleasure of Governor Daniels. Other than that, I fail to point to anything else, mostly because I haven’t kept up on education issues and all-day kindergarten has been the biggest education issue recently. But needless to say her relationship with her own party has been up and down at best.

So as we bid adieu to Dr. Reed, it is my hope that we can rally around Mr. Bennett as her successor. Because this is about our children’s education and their future and not about lining the pockets of ISTA.

For many Republicans in the 7th CD they’ve been waiting for this moment. Jon Elrod has finally flexed some campaign mussel with his most recent press release slamming Andre Carson and his “DC Henchmen” for lowly desperation slide into negative attacks and illegalities.

It seems as if Andre Carson’s rhetoric has worn thin with Elrod and his campaign staff as Jon has decided to fight fire with fire and to counter Andre to a debate on the issues that face many of the senior citizen voters in Indianapolis. A bold move if you ask me since the senior vote was always in Julia Carson’s back pocket. But that may be because it wasn’t so much the seniors who were voting as it was the “volunteers” from the Democrat party who were “helping” them vote.

Jon Elrod: “Carson tactics tired and without value to voters”
Attacks by Carson on Elrod are also found to be illegal

INDIANAPOLIS – For the second time in as many weeks we have seen the Carson Campaign digress into a series of negative attacks, this time on radio, against Jon Elrod. Elrod stated earlier today from the campaign trail, “The Carson Negative Campaign Tactics are tired and without value to the voters.” In fact, some of these dirty tricks were illegal and as result landed Carson and his DC henchmen in hot water for copyright infringement.

Elrod added that people want more than platitudes and party talking points. “My campaign is going to continue to talk about job creation and how to help our senior’s age with dignity. We must come to a point in our country where we can address challenges and talk about solutions with clarity and honesty.” Elrod believes there should be no changes to our Social Security system for any American age fifty plus. Elrod understands making social security solvent is a must. Elrod also knows The United States cannot keep up with the rate of growth in entitlement programs, and as a result wants to make the necessary decisions to guarantee future generations a share of a noble social program. “There is nothing wrong with allowing a 20 year old the right to have a little more to say in where his investment dollar goes.”

Elrod also challenged Carson to spell out what changes he would make to the program. Elrod questions, “In order to keep up Carson will have to raise taxes, or push up the retirement age. Which one will it be Andre?” Elrod added he would be more than happy to have a debate on what he called “senior issues” with Andre Carson.

Update - Hoosier Access reader Nathan Brindle informed us of this article in the American Spectator about the 7th CD Race by RiShawn Biddle.

Guest Post by Chris Faulkner, a former GOP County Chairman in St. Joe County.

No really I mean it, the job sucks. What is really funny it is completely bi-partisan in its suckage as I am sure many on the Democrat side would agree. I was the St. Joseph County GOP Chair from 2005 to 2007.

A long time ago in a blue hair’s fuzzy memory there was time when County Chairman were mighty figures in local and state politics. It actually was not that long ago the job had some decent $ incentive thanks to the License Branches. That all ended with Gov Evan Bayh (another reason not to like him) in 1989. Gone where the days when a County Party Chair could hand out jobs and favors like candy.

Today we are left with a job that has limited stature, almost no perks and little or no funding. Worse still is the outright contempt that so many elected officials seem to hold their own party in. Most officials ignore their County Party completely and sometimes will actively undermine it. It is a sad state of affairs and only a few of us who have walked in those shoes know how tough it is.

In 2007 Allen Co. Indiana witnessed a tumultuous and strange Mayoral election where an upset winner in the GOP Primary was not embraced by the Party “establishment”, some would argue for good reason. Regardless of personal feelings, personal hardship or even odds on who would win Chairman Steve Shine did his job. He was probably as surprised as most on who his party handed him for its GOP nominee but he did not ask for a do over or even to be excused…he did his job. His job as county chair was to back his party’s nominee, no matter what the odds or circumstances because that is what the job means.

The job is a lot of things. Some of the things it is not are policy maker, outreach coordinator or band leader it is pure sausage grinder and leg breaker.

You are the coach which means you don’t always get to pick your players but you have to take the field and do whatever it takes to win. Steve made tough decisions which cost him most if not all his political capital. You can argue all day if Steve made the right choices but you can not argue that Steve sucked it up and did his job. Kevin Leininger of the News Sentinel in Ft. Wayne has this to say.

I salute Steve Shine, Butch Morgan and every other County Chair out there for either party who labors for their cause. You are undervalued but do an important job. (more…)

More from Press Release from Governor’s Office …

Governor Mitch Daniels has accepted resignations from Paula Parker-Sawyers, the director of the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and Susan Macey, the state’s Utility Consumer Counselor. The governor appointed both to their jobs early in 2005.

 

Parker-Sawyers was the first director of the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (OFBCI) and has served since February 2005 when Daniels created the initiative. In her role, she established the office as a critical asset in strengthening volunteerism and community service and increasing partnership opportunities statewide. She will be the director of outreach and partnership for the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy in Washington, D.C. Her last day at OFBCI was February 22.

 

Macey joined the Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC) in March 2005, representing ratepayers in ensuring reliable and satisfactory service at a reasonable cost. Macey’s last day will be March 22; she is returning to the private sector to practice law.

 

“Hoosiers were well served by both of these leaders. Paula was instrumental in putting together the volunteer network that increased the reach of our Rx for Indiana program to those eligible for prescription drug assistance, and Susan was effective in working with groups representing diverse interests to build awareness of Indiana’s growing energy needs while protecting consumers. She was helped increase funding and support for low-income heating assistance,” said Daniels.

 

The governor has named Isaac Randolph, Jr., as the new director of OFBCI. He will begin his duties on March 17. Randolph, a 21-year veteran of the Indianapolis Fire Department, served on the Indianapolis City-County Council from 2004 to 2007. He previously was executive director for the Indianapolis Ten Point Coalition, a network of faith-based organizations addressing juvenile crime issues. Randolph also was the social policy advisor for former Indianapolis Mayor Stephen Goldsmith’s Front Porch Alliance, a faith-based partnership focused on urban renewal.

 

David Stippler has been named as the new director of the OUCC. He will begin his new duties on March 10. For the past six years, Stippler has been an attorney for Bingham, McHale, LLP, where he represented municipalities and public utilities on a variety of regulatory issues. He also served for 17 years at Ameritech Corporation, including five years as the company’s counsel and assistant secretary to Ameritech Indiana. He co-authored legislation that established relay services for the hearing and speech impaired.

 

Well, since things have been very busy in each of our lives, I thought I would post a summary of some of the interesting news articles/blog posts I ran across today.

Scott had a good post a few days ago on the Democrats property tax plan.

Where will Mitch Daniels be tomorrow? Click to find out. (Want a clue: It’s not at the Statehouse)

Congratulations goes to Todd and Kathy Rokita on the birth of their first child, Theodore James Rokita.

All sorts of interesting data in the new Howey-Gauge Poll. I’m sure more analysis will follow.

For an update on the immigration bill, once dead, now alive- visit the IndyStar.

IndyStar also has an article on Andre Carson and his faith.

Senate President Pro Tem David Long

State Auditor Tim Berry

State Representative Matt Bell

State Representative Dan Leonard

State Representative Randy Borror

Angel Rivera

Paul Mullin

Invite you to a Fundraising Reception to Support

Jim Banks for Whitley County Council At-Large

Thursday, Feb. 28^th at 5:30PM

At the Law Offices of Lewis And Wilkins LLP

20 N. Meridian, Suite 400, Indianapolis

Suggested Donation $50 per person

Call Angel Rivera at 812.219.8927 to RSVP

Please make checks payable to “Jim Banks for County Council”

PO Box 861, Columbia City, IN 46725

Paid for by Jim Banks for County Council

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Made of win.

Below I offered up some thoughts about the House GOP walkout that took place Thursday evening after Speaker Bauer killed SB 335, the immigration reform bill.  Dealing with the same subject, a post over on Hoosiers for Secure Borders caught my attention.

Apparently, Pat Bauer’s office sent an email reply to an inquiry regarding SB 335 and the reply email seems to indicate that Bauer was going to call the bill down for a floor debate and vote.  According to the post the email read like this:

From: “Dolly Starnes”
To: “…..” <……@msn.com>
Subject: RE: Please vote yes on Bill 335
Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2008 14:16:38 -0500

Dear Ms. …..,

Senate Bill 335 has passed out of the Public Policy Committee this morning with a 7-4 vote.

It will be heard on the floor of the House most likely this week.

Sincerely

Dolly M. Starnes, Executive Assistant
B. Patrick Bauer
Speaker of the House
200 W. Washington St. Rm 3-2
Indianapolis, IN 46204
1-800-382-9842
317-232-9628

Did that last line read “It [SB 335] will be heard on the floor of the House most likely this week”?  “Will be heard” usually means “will be heard.”  Now, here we have an email communication from the Speaker’s office declaring that a bill “will be heard” and then we have the Speaker turning around and killing the bill without hearing it on the floor.  Either the Speaker changed his mind after this email was sent, or he went ahead and let everyone think that he would hear the bill, even going so far as to personally promise to hear the bill, never meaning to actually keep his word.

This is an action utterly unbecoming the office of the Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives.