State Senator David Ford Laid to Rest
Saturday, March 8th, 2008Rest in Peace Senator Ford.
(From the Indy Star)
Hundreds attend lawmaker’s funeral
MUNCIE, Ind. — Nearly 500 people, including lawmakers and Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman, attended the funeral today of state Sen. David Ford, who died Wednesday from pancreatic cancer.
Ford’s son, Jeff Ford, delivered a eulogy for his father in which he recalled him as a father, pilot, lawyer and lawmaker who was honest and had integrity.
“He lived his life the right way,” he told mourners at St. Mary Catholic Church in Muncie.
About 50 lawmakers and Skillman attended the funeral for Ford, 59, a Republican who was a former prosecutor and a leading legislator on technology issues.
Bishop William Higi described Ford as an “upright man” who used faith and reason to conduct his life.
Ford had been absent from the Senate since January, when his family confirmed he was critically ill with cancer. He spent the last several weeks with his family and was able to attend his son’s wedding.
Gov. Mitch Daniels ordered flags at the Statehouse to be flown at half-staff through Saturday.
Ford was the Blackford County prosecutor before being elected to the Senate in 1994. He represented District 19, which includes all or parts of Adams, Allen, Blackford, Grant and Wells counties in northeastern Indiana.
Dyngus Day…what you need to know.
Thursday, March 6th, 2008So the Democratic primary is coming to Indiana. HRC and Obama will come to the Hoosier state and learn all about us.
Part of our proud primary tradition is Dyngus Day.
Dynga-what?
“Dyngus Day, celebrated the day after Easter, will be March 24. Although it has its roots in Polish religious history, Dyngus Day has evolved into a political holiday locally. Solidarity Day is a more recent holiday started in the black community on the same day to celebrate black heritage and promote political activism.
One of the most noted Dyngus Day visits occurred in 1968, when presidential candidate Robert Kennedy stumped through the city (you can already hear the Obama comparisons).The primary election schedules were different then, without all of the early primaries and caucuses. Indiana was viewed as a key state in the contest for delegates.Kennedy was involved in a close race with Eugene McCarthy, and favorite son Gov. Roger D. Branigan also was on the ballot. All three visited South Bend at some point during the campaign.”
It has pretty much devolved into a political sausage/beer campaignapalooza. The highlight of the day will be when we all gather at the Westside Democratic and Civic Club for lunch. You pay $7 to get in and that entitles you to a plate of kraut, hard boiled egg, fresh sausage and a cold beverage of your choice.
Then the real fun starts.
By around 12:30PM the club chairman takes the stage and welcomes everyone (including the Republicans…even though they won’t let you touch the microphone). Then he introduces the candidates one by one. Inevitably at least one of the local ones will be half smashed and will slur insults at the President and Republicans in general. Good times.
Because of the tradition the media will ALL be there. Tradition? Oh yeah, it was actually a religious holiday at one time.
“Dyngus Day or Wet Monday (Polish ?migus-dyngus, Lany Poniedzia?ek, Polewanka or Oblewanka) is the name for Easter Monday in Poland. In the Czech Republic it is called Velikono?ní pond?lí or Pomlázka. Both countries practice a peculiar custom on this day.
In Poland, traditionally, early in the morning boys awake girls by pouring a bucket of water on their head and strike them about the legs with long thin twigs or switches made from willow, birch or decorated tree branches (palmy wielkanocne); however, the earliest documented[citation needed] records of Dyngus Day in Poland are from the 15th century, almost half a millennium after Poland adopted Christianity.”
If you are lucky you might still see a local Democrat chasing young girls with cold beer intent on, well something.
Just a Little Something That’s Been Bugging Me
Monday, March 3rd, 2008
The last few mornings on my way to work I’ve heard a radio ad by Sierra Club begging Senator Lugar to take it to those evil businesses who actually dare to make an income and produce jobs. Maybe you’ve heard it too. That’s fine and dandy and they make it sound very flowery so you think to yourself as your driving “wow, you know, I really should give Senator Lugar a call about this.” And I really don’t mind the Sierra Club running those ads honestly. But the one thing that bugs me more than anything is that they refer the people who live in Indiana as…..wait for it….Indianans. Really? Indianans? Is is so hard for the tree huggers in California to know that we’re called Hoosiers (whether you went to I.U. or not)? Was it a cloudy day and the solar power was cut off to their computers? Maybe they didn’t have enough carbon offsets to keep their heads out of a foggy haze.
I know, I know, this isn’t anything serious or thought provoking, but it’s been bothering me a little lately. I’m sure “Indianans” passes muster when doing a radio ad, but it sounds dumb. I know I should just change the station if it bothers me that much. I guess, maybe next time I will. That’s all.
Since I don’t rant all that often this qualifies as my short rant for the day.
The Saga of the Ungrateful Teenager
Wednesday, February 27th, 2008The 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.
And the Oscar For Best Presidential Comedic Timing Goes To….
Wednesday, February 27th, 2008Mike Huckabee for his performance last Saturday on Saturday Night Live……(thought I’d open Wednesday morning with some funnies)
And for good measure….
Consider this a Hump Day open thread.
Being a County Party Chairman Sucks
Tuesday, February 26th, 2008
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…)
C’Mon, It’s Not the Same
Thursday, February 21st, 2008We’ve all been very busy this week and we promise to get back to our regularly scheduled Hoosier Access programming, but enjoy this little video. Because after all, what Barack Obama said last week wasn’t total plagiarism!
Happy President’s Day
Monday, February 18th, 2008Sure, this day is meant to recognize the birthday’s of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. But let’s not forget our nation’s most recent “agent of change” who brought hope and prosperity back to weary nation ravaged by war, strife, rising inflation and a complete lack of direction. Let’s not forget the man who inspired a generation of men and women to act in government with idea that individuals, and not government, can single handedly change the course of a nation.
Many on today’s campaign trail like to claim his vision and repeat his mantra, but as Pejman Yousefzadeh of Red State says “Cover politicians, like cover bands, can be entertaining. But I like the oldies. Oldies are the genuine article.“ The Almighty broke the mold when the Gipper was born.
H.A.’s Jim Banks Gets Grilled By “The Hotline”
Thursday, February 14th, 2008As I’ve mentioned in this space before, we love to brag on our own. One person we especially love to brag about is Jim Banks. Recently, Jim was interviewed by National Journal’s “The Hotline”. Is it right to say that we’re plugging this because his interview mentions Hoosier Access? In true political fashion, I say “no comment!” Way to go Jim!
22 CONSULTANT CANDIDS: All Hail The Hoosier Jim Banks is pres. of The Wabash Group, LLC, a full-service public affairs firm dedicated to serving conservative causes and political candidates. Banks began his political career with Rep. John Hostettler (R-IN-08) where he served in several different capacities — manager, press sec., grassroots dir. and fundraising dir. — on Hostettler’s successful re-election campaigns of ‘00 and ‘02. He has also worked for Focus on the Family and Focus on the Family Action as a nat’l grassroots organizer. In the ‘06 election cycle, Banks served as an assoc. to Patrick Davis Consulting, LLC. And today, he is our “Consultant Candid.”
What was your first job?
I was the head hotdog chef at a drive-in root beer stand during the summers in high school in Columbia City, Indiana.
What is your proudest moment professionally?
I’m still looking for that signature victory but to this point my proudest moment was realizing that I could actually make a living doing what I love — helping good people pursue their dreams and good organizations grow their influence.
What one event in a candidate’s past would pose the biggest problem in a campaign?
Getting caught in a lie, big or small, can ruin the trust a candidate has with the voters.
If you could be in any other line of work, what would it be?
Summer golf pro and winter hunting guide.
Negative campaigning — good or bad?
I’ve come a long way on this subject since spending two rounds managing Hostettler races in Indiana’s “Bloody 8th”. Perhaps I’m getting soft, but today I believe that voters are hungry for substance and less political bashing. Nonetheless, negative campaigning is still necessary and effective but the best consultants are the ones you can take the negative out of negative campaigning.
Where is your happy place?
Assembly Hall at Indiana University.
What is your favorite restaurant to meet clients?
South Bend Chocolate Factory on the circle in downtown Indianapolis.
What campaign (past, present or future) would you most like to be a part of?
Jeff Crank for President (candidate for Congress in CO-5) or Amanda Banks (my wife) for Mayor of Columbia City, Indiana, our hometown, population 6,000.
What is the ideal number of clients to have at one time?
7
What firm/individual who does your kind of work for the other party do you respect the most, and why?
Eric Sonderman of SE2 in Denver, Colorado. He is as kind and respectful as any consultant you’ll ever meet and he understands the creative art of communications. He has left a big foot print on Colorado politics and is liked and respected by everyone.
What is the first section of the newspaper you read?
I heard a pastor say once to never read the newspaper sitting down. I follow that advice and only skim the headlines. I receive my news from the Internet in its many forms, most importantly from blogs including one that I help run — www.HoosierAccess.com.
(YES!!! Thanks for the plug Jim!)
If you could only watch one news show, what would it be?
The Colbert Report.
We’re ending this feature with a question posed by the last interviewee. This is from Strother-Duffy-Strother’s Dane Strother: Where is the political consulting business ten years from now?
Bigger and better. Political consulting will be more focused and less “general”. There will be experts who control different technologies and consulting will be driven by who can best utilize those new tools. Hopefully political consulting will be more ethical too. Our industry could use a Better Business Bureau to keep track of dishonest and deceptive consultants.
Pose a question for the next interviewee.
What is your best advice to a new consultant who is starting out in this business?
Brutal Battle Opening for HD 50?
Tuesday, January 29th, 2008House District 50, comprised of Whitley and Huntington Counties, is currently represented by Republican Dan Leonard. As you may recall, Leonard is the prime mover behind the House amendment that seeks to insure that standardized blueprints for schools are used to save local school boards and taxpayers money that would otherwise be spent on expensive architects.
Leonard is facing two primary challengers, one of whom, Gary Snyder, seems to be bent on running a campaign aimed at Dan Leonard and not ideas for good government. Here is what Snyder had to say in a recent op-ed piece (that we may actually be the only ones to run):
[Read more below the fold]
He Had Me Until He Wanted Oprah As V.P.
Friday, January 25th, 2008She would never let me in her book club! I’m not big on beach reads anyway.
Why do I get the feeling that #4 resonated with some of you?
(Consider this a warm welcome to your open thread weekend)
