Sodrel/Hill/Schansberg: Who’s Telling the Truth

Now here’s a different concept.

9th District Republican Party Chairman Larry Shickles has really an interesting idea. He sent a letter today to Mike Jones, 9th District Democrat Party Chairman proposing a debate between Congressman Sodrel and Congressman Hill and Eric Schansberg.

Not that much a big idea right?

Wrong.

Shickles is proposing a debate where the candidates are hooked to a lie detector. Now there’s a concept.

An excerpt of that letter follows:

“As you know this is the fourth matchup between Baron Hill and Mike Sodrel. Voters that I have talked to are tired of the same negative ads, the annoying phone calls, and having their mailboxes stuffed with mail pieces saying the candidates want to actually raise the price of gas or cut veterans’ benefits. Voters deserve the truth in order to make an informed decision on election day.

Therefore, I propose that we as 9th District Chairmen organize one debate in which Hill, Sodrel and Libertarian Candidate Eric Schansberg are allowed to ask a pre-determined number of questions of the other two candidates while connected to a polygraph lie detector. I will contact Sodrel’s and Schansberg’s campaign and I ask that you contact Hill’s campaign. If the candidates agree to this format, the 9th District Republican Party will pay all the costs associated with securing and running the lie detectors.

While this format may be unusual, I feel strongly that voters need to be able to make a clear decision without all the usual spin. If the candidates agree to this we can look forward to a fun and informative debate. In the event that scheduling another debate is an issue, I propose we use the lie detector equipment during the Jasper debate on October 21 and release the results afterwards.”

I’d watch this one.

But… I can hear Eric Schansberg (and Eric this is only because you are a Libertrian…) say that lie detectors are not 100% accurate… and Baron Hill will say something along the lines of being afraid of needles…

C’mon Eric… try something different. I think this debate would do you ALL some good. Plus imagine the press you could get…

Anyone want to put money down on that Mike Jones will NOT reply to this invite/request?

Too bad. This might be the only way to actually get some truths out of Baron Hill for a change.

Second Debate Thoughts

If you looked at debate outcomes based purely upon points, McCain carried the evening. He landed many hits on Obama. Indeed, it was probably the best McCain has been on economic issues in the entire campaign.

However, the debate does not in and of itself change anything. McCain remains behind though two recent polls show a narrowing of the race. My own theory on this is that Obama has undergone a sort of second convention bounce due to the market crisis, but one that has been eroded with the passage of time, the reassertion of more partisan and ideological viewpoints, and the airing of information about Obama’s relationship to some of those responsible for this situation. Palin’s debate performance probably also helped. Bounces are transitory; I suspect that Obama’s recent lead will pass in a similar fashion. That’s not to say that McCain will suddenly return to the lead, only that the race will not appear as decided as it now looks in polling.

With regard to the debate itself, Obama made several notable gaffes. He said that computers were invented by the U.S. government.

Obama also said that we should have intervened against Germany to stop the Holocaust. we were at war with Nazi Germany as it was happening. It’s hard to intervene more than that.

At a fundamental level, however, such mistakes don’t matter. McCain owns the town hall format, and he owned this debate. That was to be expected. He emerged from it the winner. But that expectation doesn’t give McCain the sort of surge he needs to deflate Obama and establish himself in the lead. It does, however, probably end the media narrative that the race is over (as if narrowing polling doesn’t indicate that already).

Second Presidential Debate Interactive Live Blog

John McCain vs. Barack Obama Part II.  We’re live interactively live blogging it!  Check back at around 8:45 tonight.

Click here to participate.

What Do Dave Matthews, a Carwash, and Preferential Seating Have in Common

You can get all that and more and long as you vote for Barack Obama!

We’ve chronicled on these pages in the past about the Obama campaign’s shady shenanigans to give people stuff in exchange for their vote (which, just to remind you, is all sorts of illegal).  We’re talking exclusive tickets to Dave Matthews concert on the campus of Indiana University a free carwash in Gary (granted, Obama’s campaign really has nothing to do with that it’s just fun to mention) and now preferential seating at his appearance tomorrow at the State Fair Grounds if you voted early!

And who was advertising that nugget of information on government time and on government property?  You guessed it!  Everybody’s favorite embarrassment of a county clerk, Democrat Beth White.

This, rightly, has Marion County GOP Chairman Tom John, a little honked off.

John said White is misusing her office by encouraging people to vote in exchange for something of value — seating at an event that he compared to getting free tickets to a rock concert. He said local, state and federal law prohibits soliciting votes by promising something in return.

“Beth White is a conspirator in this,” John said. “She looked in the camera and gave an infomercial for Barack Obama. She’s in cahoots with the campaign.”

John said offering preferential seating to an appearance, even a free one, is different from the traditional party effort to give voters free rides to the polls on Election Day. He said offering rides is a function of running an election, not something of value , such as seats at an Obama appearance.

Really, what more has to happen for more than just blogs to raise the question of some shady Democrat doings in this campaign?  From Tony Rezko, to William Ayers, to sketchy online fundraising to giving away things of value in exchange for vote, things just don’t add up with this guy.

Palin Takes On Heckler

“Bless your heart sir, my son is in Iraq fighting for your right to protest.” - Sarah Palin addressing a heckler.

“The relationship between Obama and Ayers went much deeper, ran much longer, and was much more political than Obama said.”

Promoted from the comments section.

The Rescue

Take the politicians off welfare

I received a mail piece recently from State Senator Vi Simpson regarding how homeowners can avoid foreclosure. This mailer, sent to constituents across the 40th State Senate district, is not unusual. It just happened to arrive several weeks before Senator Simpson is up for re-election.

And there is the problem. In reality, these mailers are little more than taxpayer-financed campaign mailers for incumbent state legislators. In fairness to Senator Simpson, both parties in both houses take advantage of their ability to spend taxpayer dollars budget to send these “informational” mailers to their constituents. But the practice is still wrong, fiscally irresponsible and undemocratic. It needs to end.

(Read more after the leap)

The 2008 Life Chain

About 130 people gathered yesterday in Bloomington for the 2008 Life Chain, sponsored by Christian Citizens for Life. This is the first Life Chain in several years in Bloomington, and it stretched for over a half mile along busy East Third Street. The Life Chain is part of a combined effort of several Christian churches in Bloomington to combat the killing of unborn children. Over the past year, CCFL has sponsored the Rally for Life on the courthouse square, an entry into the Fourth of July parade, and a booth at the Monroe County Fair. CCFL was also active in opposing the City of Bloomington’s annual handout to Planned Parenthood.

(Read more after the leap)

Greg Zoeller for Attorney General - Experience Matters

Invitation to 11th Annual Allen County Right to Life Banquet with Senator David Long and Congressman Mike Pence Next Monday

MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2008 at 6:30 PM

ELEVENTH ANNUAL

BANQUET FOR LIFE

Hosted by

Indiana Senate President
Pro Tempore
David C. Long

and

Allen County Right to Life
Three Rivers Educational Trust Fund

KEYNOTE SPEAKER
INDIANA 6TH DISTRICT - U. S. REPRESENTATIVE
MIKE PENCE

AND SPECIAL GUEST
MARJORIE DANNENFELSER

President and Chairman of the Board of the Susan B. Anthony List dedicated to advancing, mobilizing and representing pro-life women in the political process

Cost: $300 per table of 10 or $30 per ticket

Please RSVP by returning enclosed card by September 30th

www.ichooselife.org

CEO Calling Obama and Democrats the “Family” “Conscience” of Fannie Mae