May 13th, 2008 by Michael Jezierski

Blue Dog Democrats on Taxpayers: “They’re not going to miss it”

Reading an AP article on Yahoo, the Democrats have proposed a .5% tax rate increase on some taxpayers. This is only the tip of the iceberg, as evidenced by the first Clinton Administration when the Democrat Congress at the time passed a hefty tax increase. The upcoming Congress will already raise taxes if the Democrats are in control by not renewing the “Bush Tax Cuts”. It’s a built in tax increase that is already forthcoming. The Democrats already claim the economy is in recession, so they being typical liberal Democrats put their misguided thinking caps on and attempt to tax the nation into prosperity. Not like that’s ever worked before but hey it makes for good sound bites on Countdown with Keith Overbite.

If you’re wondering what “CHANGE” is all about, sounds like “CHANGE” of jacking up tax rates will be the first order of business in a Democrat administration whether it’s Hillary’s third term as President or B. Hussein Obama’s.

But you’re not going to miss it.

May 13th, 2008 by Michael Jezierski

The Rumor Mill: HD 86

Rumor mill is churning about the Democrat side of HD 86, that Ed Delaney might step aside from the ballot leaving the Party free to place David Orentlicher back on the ballot now that his bid for Congress has failed.

[crossposted to DFB]

May 13th, 2008 by Brian Sikma

Donnelly Aligns with Uber-Liberal Obama

Although the majority of 2nd District Democrats cast their vote for presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, today Rep. Joe Donnelly (D-IN02) announced that as a Democratic party super-delegate he would be supporting Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

Rep. Donnelly made his announcement via a press release from his official congressional office. Although Donnelly has been emphasizing lately in the local press that he is only interested in working on district issues while he’s in Washington, apparently he’s very much interested in fulfilling party obligations while on taxpayer time. Also of interest is the fact that Donnelly chose to endorse Sen. Obama only after he received $7,500 in campaign contributions from the Hope Fund PAC run by Obama.

Donnelly cited Obama’s ability to build “bipartisan majorities” and his work for affordable health care as some of the reasons behind his endorsement. It does appear that Sen. Obama will have a difficult task building bipartisan majorities since he was rated as the most liberal member of the United States Senate by National Journal and has received accolades from some of the most liberal groups in American politics.

Joe Donnelly’s support for Sen. Obama’s nationalized health care proposal illustrates the choice that 2nd District voters will face this fall. Canada, Germany, and other nations have nationalized their health care systems with disastrous results. The only people who win in a government controlled health care system are the bureaucrats.  Standing in contrast to these proven policies of failure is Luke Puckett, the Republican candidate running against Joe Donnelly.  Puckett is advocating for a market based solution to the rising cost of health care, a solution that puts consumers first and unleashes the ingenuity of the American people in a way that Barack Obama and Joe Donnelly seem to fear.

May 13th, 2008 by Josh Gillespie

Howard County Chairman Endorses Jon Costas for A.G.

Fellow Republicans:

This morning, in my capacity as Howard County Republican Party Chairman, I formally endorsed the election of Jon Costas as Attorney General. This was not an easy decision. Greg Zoeller has been a long-time faithful public servant to the people of Indiana, has ably served Attorney General Steve Carter as his Chief of Staff and would be an excellent Attorney General. I feel it is important to explain to our Howard County delegates my reasons for the endorsement of Jon Costas.

Four years ago the State of Indiana was virtually bankrupt, nearly financially ruined as a direct result of the reckless fiscal policies of sixteen years of Democratic administrations. Not only was the state in a condition of financial ruin, there was little hope for finding the resources necessary to tackle monumental tasks such as highway infrastructure and economic development. The poor state of affairs that Indiana found itself in was dramatically reversed with the election of Governor Mitch Daniels. Governor Daniels restored fiscal responsibility to state government and through the genius of the Indiana Toll Road lease agreement, Indiana was able to secure necessary funding for our highway infrastructure program for the next decade. We simply cannot return to those days of irresponsible taxpayer stewardship. We must re-elect Governor Mitch Daniels.

(Read more of Craig Dunn endorsement below the fold)

May 13th, 2008 by Michael Jezierski

State Senator Bob Meeks Announces Retirement

From the Ryerson Rag:

State Sen. Bob Meeks, R-LaGrange, announced his retirement in a Statehouse new conference this afternoon.

Meeks cited a recent stroke and health concerns as his reason for retiring after 20 years. The 74-year-old lawmaker serves as chairman of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, which oversees budget deliberations.

His resignation will become effective after the November election. Meeks ran unopposed in the May primary.

“This is not my first choice,” Meeks said of retiring. “I would prefer to stay here.”

The lingering effects of a February stroke, he said, have made it more difficult to handle the stress and intense studying and reading his leadership position in the Senate requires. Meeks said his heart doctor told him that staying in his current role in the Senate likely would kill him.

Meeks said he recently finally came to grips with the reality that his body is no longer up to the job and that staying in the position when he would be unable to give 100 percent would “be a disservice to my Republican colleagues and the state of Indiana.”

Senate President Pro Tempore David Long said no decision who would serve as Meeks’ successor on the Appropriations Committee would be made until November.

The timing of this would lead be to believe this is a very safe seat. So even if Sen. Meeks runs in November with the intention of resigning immediately after so the Precinct Committeemen will select his replacement, a Dem win is not remotely possible.

May 12th, 2008 by Michael Jezierski

Hoosier Access Radio

Recorded the night of May 6th from Congressman Dan Burton’s victory party. First Congressman Burton addresses the crowd then sits down with Josh and Adam for a short interview.

The remaining segments of Hoosier Access Radio, including the infamous Weird Pro Blogger Hour episodes are going onto iTunes. We apologize in advance for some of the audio quality - we thought we found a perfect place that was quieter for recording. That turned out not to be the case. On top of that we found cellular laptop cards don’t work there. “Internet - Lost!” to paraphrase an at&t wireless commercial.

UPDATE: A couple segments of the recent Saturday podcast recorded at the Ft. Harrison VFW are now posted to iTunes.

 
icon for podpress  Congressman Dan Burton [15:09m]: Play Now | Play in Popup
May 12th, 2008 by Scott

Baron to Greenies: Helping Environment Can Wait Until After My Reelection

Assuming, of course, that he can get reelected.

After all, he needs them to do volunteer work for his reelection campaign.

It would be too much for them to ask for Baron to do anything about the environment until after they have gotten him reelected (at which point, he won’t be able to do it then either because he’ll need to be reelected in another two years; catch-22).

They must do Baron’s bidding first; then he’ll figure out how to avoid doing what they elected him to do.

It’s his usual modus operandi.

From the News & Tribune:

Hill sits on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which he said has plans to move forward with environmental issues after the November election.

“We’re probably not going to do anything this year on global warming. After the next Congress is elected, starting in January, we’re going to work on a bill addressing the issue of global warming,” Hill said.

Yet Sitko feels each day that passes is a loss that impacts the environment, therefore the organization went ahead with the three billboards, two of which are along Interstate 65.

One is located between Jeffersonville and Clarksville near Interstate 265 and the other between Seymour and Columbus on I-65. There is also a billboard along Ind. 50 near North Vernon.

“We need to protect Hoosier farmers and families right now,” Sitko said. “Indiana is already effected by global warming with longer and more intense heat waves and droughts that are causing Hoosier farmers millions in expensive irrigation.”

And you can’t help but wonder about this particular bit:

“The time has come for Southern Indiana to take a strong look at Rep. Hill’s record,” Sitko said. “While the public is calling for action on global warming, Hill is bucking his party’s leadership and siding with those in Congress that are intent on denying the inevitable.”

Hill said he finds Greenpeace’s stance “puzzling,” saying it was his understanding the organization was satisfied with the final passage of the fuel economy target bill last year.

Hill added he is on the cusp of securing endorsements from several economic organizations in his bid to return to Congress in November, including the League of Conservation and the Sierra Club.

That sort of feigned ignorance on the part of Baron sounds an awful lot like his denial of ever having promised his own party’s county chairmen that he wouldn’t make a superdelegate endorsement until after the primary.

You know the one; the time when he called the Democratic county chairman of his own county a liar for merely quoting Baron’s promise.

That’s the thing about telling lies and breaking promises.

Sooner or later, they catch up with you.

It looks like this is another set of lies and broken promises that is catching up with Baron Hill.

Also, I think it’s a bit of a stretch to call the League of Conservation Voters and the Sierra Club “economic organizations,” but it is the News & Tribune.

May 12th, 2008 by Scott

KY Gov: Cheney Should Take Bush Hunting

From Mark Hebert, one of the leading reporters of the political scene in Kentucky:

Did Gov. Steve Beshear really say what Joe Gerth is reporting he said at the democratic party fundraiser Friday night? According to Gerth’s column in the C-J, Beshear joked “I can think of only one Republican who can be a problem-solver,” Beshear told the crowd. “And that would be Vice President (Dick) Cheney, if he will just take George on a hunting trip.”

You’ll remember that Cheney accidentally shot a friend while on a hunting trip. The implication from Beshear is that some of America’s problems could be solved if the Vice-President would kill President Bush. I’m sure it was meant as a joke but an apology is probably in order on this one.

Also reported in the Lexington Herald-Leader.

Of course, the Secret Service takes a very dim view of folks saying that the President should be shot, and it doesn’t matter if they’re the lame duck governor of Kentucky.

They’re supposedly investigating.

From Blue Grass, Red State:

These are unsubstantiated claims, and will probably remain so because it’s the Secret Service we’re talking about, but a reader says he has a friend in the Louisville office of the U.S. Marshals that says the Secret Service has contacted Governor Steve Beshear about his “joke” about Vice President Dick Cheney taking President George W. Bush hunting.

This is a no-brainer. When I was in school, we were taught that you could be taken to jail for even saying something stupid like this.

Of course, the arrogant Beshear thinks the law and laws of common decency don’t apply to him. So, he’ll say whatever he wants, regardless of how illegal or tasteless it is.

Now, if someone were to take Beshear’s advice and “go hunting,” Beshear, in my opinion, would be partially responsible. Our culture is supposed to be proud and protective of our leaders, even those with whom we have policy disagreements. Beshear’s joke reflects the opposite of that.

That’s no surprise, though, since Beshear’s party’s views are not in line with those of Kentucky or America.

I’d guess that an apology will be coming soon from the governor that Churchill Downs bought.

May 12th, 2008 by Jim

Press Release: Greg Zoeller First Republican to File for Attorney General Race

853.jpgPress Release from the Greg Zoeller for Attorney General Campaign Below:

ZOELLER FIRST TO FILE FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 9, 2008

(INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA) - Greg Zoeller, the chief deputy to Attorney General Steve Carter, filed his Declaration of Candidacy with the Indiana Republican State Committee today seeking the nomination at the convention June 2nd. Zoeller, who has served in the office since 2001 has traveled to each of the 9 districts in the state visiting with Republican party leaders of the 92 counties. “There is considerable support within the party for a continuation of the strong leadership in the Office of the Attorney General and they feel I am uniquely qualified and best positioned to be the Republican nominee in the fall,” Zoeller said.

May 12th, 2008 by Jim

Governor Endorses Mayor Jon Costas for Attorney General

I just received this letter that was sent to Republican State Committee members today.

May 11, 2008

State Committee Members,

With the primary election behind us, I wanted to write to you regarding the upcoming 2008 Indiana Republican State Convention where we will nominate our candidates for Lt. Governor, Superintendent of Public Instruction and Attorney General.

I once again look forward to running and continue serving with our Lt. Governor Becky Skillman. Becky is a trusted and valued partner in our administration. She has done as much as any Hoosier to put Indiana back on track. It is simply not possible to believe we would have accomplished as much as we have these last three and a half years without Becky as our legislative quarterback.

May 10th, 2008 by Josh Gillespie

Hey, What Happened to that So-Called Live Blog?

Two words: no connectivity!

My lessoned learned from moving to a different location?  To scout the new place out to make sure I have a signal so the live blog will actually work.

My deepest apologies to those who stopped by the blog to participate in a live chat that never was.   These are the little kinks that we’re working out as we try new things.  But I promise you, it will work better next time as we will be at a place with a signal.

That said, we still recorded the podcast and the segments will be up in the coming days.

May 10th, 2008 by Josh Gillespie

Welcome to the HA Radio Live Blog Podcast!

Click the link below to participate. It works just like instant messenger.

Take part in the interactive podcast.