Archive for March, 2008

Monroe Gray was finally supposed to get his day under the spotlight from the Investigative Committee on Ethics of the City-County Council. It never happened. What gives? Turns out, it got delayed to another day and time. How, under a Republican controlled council, does this happen? Democrat Councilman William Oliver did his best to move it behind closed doors and out of public view, if not stall it outright with selected readings from Robert’s Rules of Order. Clever, Councilman Oliver. Very clever. Check out the footage from the committee hearing.

(H/T to the people with Bart Lies)

When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”

The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”

There was a written notice above him, which read:THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!”

But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.”

(Luke 23: 33-47 - NASB)

Last year Rep. Mike Pence (R) began the fight to eliminate Title X funding for Planned Parenthood. Currently your tax dollars underwrite nearly one third of Planned Parenthood’s annual budget. Although they are the largest abortion provider in the world, Planned Parenthood is eligible to receive Title X funds as long as the money is not directly spent on abortions. This limitation, however, does not mean that sending roughly $300 million a year to the organization does not have negative consequences for women and their unborn children. The taxpayer funding that Planned Parenthood receives allows them to focus funds raised from other sources on the specific funding of abortions.

Pence began fighting to eliminate taxpayer subsidies to Planned Parenthood last year, but his efforts were unsuccessful with the amendment being voted down on the floor of the U.S. House. In spite of the defeat Pence was able to get his legislative concept out there and now he’s back working on eliminating the funding from the 2009 budget.

Legislative battles like the one Rep. Pence is waging are just as important as the overall goal of ending Roe v. Wade and precedents set by ensuing court decisions that made abortion on demand possible. The battle to protect life doesn’t just take place on the macro level. Seemingly micro changes in policy are important because each child and each mother spared the physical death and emotional trauma of an abortion, count towards the overall goal of protecting life and respecting freedom.

Not that I would (or could since I live in the 5th CD) ever vote for him, but my respect level for Dr. Woody Myers and his staff just shot up. Why? A few posts down, you’ll notice I wrote a post on the some of the crazy shenanigans going on amongst the Democrats vying for the 7th CD. This evening, I received a call from fellow blogger and Internet Director for Dr. Myers, Joh Padgett. As Jacob Perry has, I’m sure, told many a person, a nicer guy you will never meet. Joh called me to clear up the whole situation.

Apparently, a low level staffer in the Myers campaign had messed up a yard sign order with the printer mentioned in the post below. The internet address on the bottom of the sign included had been printed incorrectly. The staffer felt so bad about the mistake that he/she tried to pay for the new signs him/herself so as not to make the Myers campaign pay for their mistake. Now that’s an admirable action by that staffer. All this is to say, that the Myers campaign is having no financial trouble at all.

Now some of you may wonder why I’m posting this. I’ll tell you why. First of all, I feel that bloggers, if they’re going to report something, they must report the facts. We may have our own slant to the facts, but in the end it’s our reputation on the line if we get something wrong. Secondly, I do not want to see the Carson machine extend beyond this year. It’s that simple. Why take down a guy’s reputation if he has a chance to beat Andre in the primary?

We haven’t had one of these in a while.  How about a “Caption This” post.  To me, the boy Senator looks bored or Hillary just told him that no matter what happened, Obama was always her first choice for VP.

What we have here is Senator Bayh dragging Hillary around Indiana today.  It’s a picture taken from the Star’s front page.

The Seventh Congressional certainly has provided bloggers with smorgasbord of posting delights, whether you’re a Republican or a Democrat. But since the Republican primary is pretty much set, despite the fact that Jon Elrod has a couple of unheard of challengers, the Democrats continue to give us blogging gold!

Just before the Special Election, YouTuber (I’m going to enjoy using that term) “DavidOFan” gave us the sensational video of Louis Farrakhan, he of the Andre Carson support, and his insane statements that would make Barack Obama’s pastor blush. Okay, maybe not his pastor, but certainly Obama. Anyway, as I mentioned below, he’s come out with another one that demonizes Andre Carson and his apparent friendship with Yaqub Mirza, who apparently has some shady ties to some contemptible organizations. Now, longshot Democrat candidate with gobs of money (or so we thought) Dr. Woody Myers might have some financial trouble haunting him down the line.

(What kind of financial troubles you ask?  Read more after the leap.) (more…)

YouTuber (yes, I just made YouTuber a word) and apparent fan of 7th CD candidate David Orentlicher, has come out with another wacky video against Andre Carson.  It’s certainly not as sensational as his last one, but it’s interesting none the less.

Interesting note about this one is that someone describing themselves as the “OrentlicherCampaign” has posted two denials, a week apart, of this particular video.  I wonder why they felt they had to do that twice?

As Josh points out in a couple of posts below, former State Senator Jean Leising is amassing significant support from groups like the Indiana Farm Bureau and the Indiana State Chamber of Commerce PAC. These are endorsements that she earned from her time and track record in the legislature. Another candidate in that race is making waves too with noteworthy endorsements from local elected officials in the district. This race is shaping up to be a Leising vs. Sponsel race.

See press release from candidate Jeff Sponsel below:

BUSINESS, CIVIC AND ELECTED LEADERS SUPPORT SPONSEL

(Shelbyville, IN)— Less than one month after filing to run for State Senate, local businessman Jeff Sponsel has assembled an impressive team of supporters that include leaders from all facets of the Central Indiana community.

Those that have signed on to support Sponsel include business people, local elected, Republican and civic leaders. Among others, Bob Claxton and Mike Stephenson have stepped forward for Sponsel. Local civic leaders, like Main Street Shelbyville Executive Director Amy Haacker, are also supporting Sponsel. Additionally, local elected officials including City Council Members Dick Fero and David Phares, County Council President Terry Smith and Member Linda Sanders and former Sheriff Tom Debaun have all pledged support to Sponsel.

(Read more of Jeff Sponsel’s press release after the leap) (more…)

Jean Leising, a former Republican State Senator who served from 1988 to 1996 and 9th CD congressional candidate, wants her old senate seat back.  The feeling appears to be mutual with former constituents and business leaders alike.  In a four way primary to replace the retiring Bob Jackman (R, SD 42), Leising holds a commanding lead in polls against her other challengers.  And to top it off the Indiana Chamber of Commerce PAC (IBRG) has given their endorsement to Leising. on top of the endorsement she already received from the Farm Bureau.

So far, this looks like a seat the Republican controlled Senate should have no fear of losing.  In fact, it looks like a familiar face will most likely be returning.

His campaign plays fast and loose with the facts, (that’s not the first or last time) he’s trailing badly in the polls, and I hear the numbers are only getting worse.  To top this off, a pivotal County Chairman has announced his county party is supporting the incumbent Congressman, Dan Burton. In case you missed it, Howard County Chairman, Craig Dunn, left the comment below here at Hoosier Access regarding his county party’s recent endorsement of Congressman Burton:

Howard County Republicans wildly received Dan Burton at a noon reception today in Kokomo. Nearly 200 Republicans turned out at Republican Headquarters to meet Dan Burton and express their support for his re-election candidacy. Dan Burton received the endorsement of the Howard County Republican Party at the event.

I know I have taken some possible uncalled for pot-shots at Dr. McGoff in the past.  But after meeting him, I genuinely like the guy.  It’s hard not to.  I wish him well in the future as I think he’ll make a great candidate for elected office again.  I just hope that another inevitable loss doesn’t brand him as it has so many other candidates in the past.

Your humble correspondent attended the Clark County Lincoln Day banquet on Wednesday night.

They had a turnout of upward of 170 people; not bad for a county GOP that didn’t fair so well in the 2006 or 2007 elections, and also had to weather the Glenn Murphy affair in late summer (and yes, I know the Clark people will be mad at me for mentioning it, but better to get it out of the way early).

Congressman Mike Sodrel and Governor Mitch Daniels were the speakers, and a wide variety of notables were present including, interestingly, new Howey columnist Kevin Kellems (and no, he was not spit-licking anyone’s hair).

Mike Sodrel spoke first, with an interesting speech focusing on liberty, history, and the Fair Tax.

(What did Mitch have to say? Read more after the leap) (more…)

Now the comment from Jill Long (shot) Thompson is funny. Anybody find it odd that a candidate who only has a couple hundred thousand dollars is beating the Democrats chosen child with all his millions? Oh wait, those in Indy shouldn’t.

Via Jim Shella:

Jill Long Thompson told a Statehouse news conference today that she will have statewide television ads on the air “soon.”

When asked to comment on ads by her opponent in the Democratic gubernatorial nomination battle, Jim Schellinger, she first said that she doesn’t comment on ads by others and then commented.

“I’m reminded of the Seinfeld episode, ” she said. “Its all about nothing.”

If you really want to, check out how empty Jim Schellinger’s campaign ad is.