Len Britton Campaign Video Kills Again

The Democratic incumbent, Senator Patrick Leahy had better be watching his back over there in Vermont. Vermont, known for it's great skiing, it's maple syrup, and now it's Republican adds that will make you giggle.

Britton has been running a great grass roots campaign in his attempt to oust the historical relic that is Leahy, and despite his fair share of negative press from the lefty's (hey, if there's an R after your name, it's GOING to happen) his numbers have been looking better and better with each passing week.

But hey, I'm just a talking head who writes opinion pieces. Check out the video for yourself, and then cruise on over to his web site, to find out what this guy is all about. I wasn't disappointed, and if you aren't either, give him a few bucks to keep making great campaign videos and put some life (literally!) back into the Senate.

Dan Coats on Arizona Illegal Immigration Law

COATS SUPPORTS ARIZONA'S APPEAL OF
DISTRICT COURT RULING

INDIANAPOLIS (July 29, 2010) - The entire Arizona anti-immigration law was set to take effect today - allowing law enforcement officials in Arizona to enforce existing federal law regarding illegal immigrants within our borders. Unfortunately, a U.S. District Court judge yesterday issued an injunction against portions of the law. Dan Coats, Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, released the following statement after reports that Arizona filed an expedited appeal:

"I fully support Arizona's efforts to appeal the misguided decision against their anti-immigration law.

"Our federal government has been asleep at the switch in curbing illegal immigration. Americans have waited too long for their government to fulfill its Constitutional responsibility to secure and protect our borders.

"As much as Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi want to make this about legal immigration, this is about illegal immigration and Arizona has taken reasonable steps to address it.

"I support the implementation of Arizona's anti-illegal immigration legislation and believe it will do what the Obama Administration has been unable to do - effectively combat the rush of illegal immigrants crossing our southern border.

Jon Costas and Dan Coats at Porter County Fair

Jon Costas Interviews Dan Coats from Evan Costas on Vimeo.

Some Thoughts About Today's Post Tribune

The pictures a little fuzzy, but featured to the left is me, my son Gage, and Senator Dan Coats.

My family drove out to the Porter County fair to meet Sen. Coats, and I have to say, I was impressed. He had a commanding presence, seemed like a very amiable fellow, and seemed sincere about needing our help (and appreciating the help) here in Porter County. He gave a little speech to a group of us (mostly candidates, and then me, lol) and then we all filed out in a little mini-parade down the board walk. I thought it went well, everybody seemed to either be appreciative of Coats being there, and the ones that didn't weren't being annoying and yelling and screaming at us. All in all, a fun little time, I got to meet Dan Coats for the first time, as well as John Costas.


So imagine my surprise when I read this comment from some 17 year old kid in the Post Tribune today complaining that he didn't get his hand shook: "It's kind of upsetting. He probably doesn't think youth matters." A LOT of people didn't get their hand shook, buddy. There was a pretty good number of people there, don't worry about it. If you were really that interested in meeting him, you could have easily just walked up to him and introduced yourself. It's not like there was security guards all around us (although God have mercy on the man that messes with Ralph Levi, that's a big guy). It sounds to me like he just wanted to whine about Coats to the press, who is never reluctant to criticize a Republican (not that I'm complaining. It's a fact that as Republicans we are going to get press coverage that is often less than optimal. It doesn't happen ALL the time, but it happens enough that it is pretty noticeable, especially with a paper like the Post Tribune, excluding Davich) but maybe I'm wrong. If you really did feel like you got unfairly left out, let me relay my own first experience meeting Dan Coats.

It doesn't surprise me much when older Republicans give me a second look up and down. I have one arm fully sleeved, the other arm scattered with tattoos, and gauges in my ears. I don't look like the everyday, golfing, country club Republican. I've had it happen, especially with older R's, and it's just a fact. I chose to have my body look like this, and I like the way my body looks, but it does deter some people who haven't always had positive experiences with people with tat's and piercings. So I usually try and go out of my way to show that not all of us are a-holes. Regardless, with my first meeting of Coats and Costas both, I was happily surprised. Both looked directly at my eyes, and if they gave my arms a second look, I didn't notice it. I didn't get the feeling that it mattered to either of them, and neither one hesitated to shake my hand, pat me on my back, and ask me about my son (who was screaming most of the time. Hot weather and babies do not mix.) The same goes for my wife, who has a similar appearance. If the 17 year old really did think that Coats not shaking his hand was a slight, I hope he reads this account and realizes it wasn't. There were several people on the midway, and just because you got passed up doesn't mean that Coats or any of the other candidates don't care about your vote or your voice.

I know on facebook today, regarding that same article, there was some complaints about the term "teabaggers" being used to describe TEA Party members. Some of the people said they were going to ask for an apology from the Post, and great, I hope they do ask, and that one is printed. It's not the place of the papers writers, excluding op-eds, to allow their personal views to affect the content of the story. But there was a much bigger, full page of bias towards that back that I was surprised nobody else picked up on: Rich James' piece on Gary Mayor Rudy Clay.

Yes, the piece was critical of Clay and critical of the many "grand plans" (or schemes, as I like to refer to them) of Clay to boost the city of Gary back up to where it used to be. However, I shook my head at the tone and wording of the article itself. "Despite your best intentions, Rudy..." and "The heck of it all, Rudy, is that I know you are passionate about Gary..." and "I don't like being critical of you, Rudy..."

I have read some glaring pieces from James where he doesn't mind being critical AT ALL...as long as it's about conservatives. Yes, it is a rarity that he write bad about a Dem. at all, and I guess in some small way it's at least a victory that he wrote the piece in the first place, but STILL. James, if you want to have a reputation as being a tough as nails commentator on political doings and government employees, go right ahead. Hell, I encourage it! It's needed! But please, let's show some fairness. I know it's a commentary piece, and by all rights you should write whatever crosses your mind, but it's a glaring bias that is unbecoming of you, and I think you are too good of a writer to fall into that kind of political softball.

Indiana 2nd Congressional Update

Dems are running scared in Indiana’s 2nd congressional district

There has been reports of push-polling in Indiana’s 2nd congressional last night. The caller asked if the person planned on voting for Joe Donnelly, and if not, why. Then they were asked if they would vote for Jackie Walorski. If they answered yes, they were told lots of negative information about Jackie, calling here an “ultra conservative” and that she supported the toll road “give-away,” a lie. It wasn’t given away. They then asked if they would still vote for her. That’s standard push-polling, bar none. But it gets more interesting then that.

Read the rest of this post

I've met Jackie and if these callers think that voters will be scared off by terms like "ultra-conservative" or "tea partier" then Joe may have missed the last 18 months. You'll love the last part too, the callers insist that the respondents support the Libertarian no-namer if they really want smaller government. Joe sounds scared doesn't he?

More from Hoosier Access:

Donnelly in Trouble?

It looks like somebody is getting into trouble in the 2^nd Congressional district. Although he’s a blue dog Democrat, that might not be of much help to Rep. Joe Donnelly in a year when issues are driving the discussion and the Democrat brand has been damaged by a liberal president with plummeting approval ratings and an unpopular liberal agenda in Congress. After handily riding the anti-Republican wave to victory in 2006, and taking advantage of Democrat tailwinds in 2008, Donnelly is finding out that now that his record is under scrutiny and voters are more tuned in to issues like ObamaCare, the national debt, and failed bailouts, he may not survive in November.

Before Arizona, came California! Before Obama lied, his lips moved. (Borders? We don't need no stinkin' BORDERS!)

The Urban Dictionary's first definition of Obamanation:

1. The horrible state of affairs that results after a Barack Obama win as president; (yep, got that right)!

credit

Guess what?  California already had Arizona's law ON THE BOOKS for over ten years before all this ludicrous tempest in a racist teapot being generated by left-wing kooks!

Los Angeles and San Francisco are whining about Arizona's Law...Even the governator has chimed in...

Besides their everyday stupidity, this stupidity goes above and beyond the call of duty...

Ladies and Gentlemen...I give you section 834b of the California Penal Code.

"834b. (a) Every law enforcement agency in California shall fully

cooperate with the United States Immigration and Naturalization
Service regarding any person who is arrested if he or she is
suspected of being present in the United States in violation of
federal immigration laws.

(b) With respect to any such person who is arrested, and suspected
of being present in the United States in violation of federal
immigration laws, every law enforcement agency shall do the
following:

(1) Attempt to verify the legal status of such person as a citizen
of the United States, an alien lawfully admitted as a permanent
resident, an alien lawfully admitted for a temporary period of time
or as an alien who is present in the United States in violation of
immigration laws. The verification process may include, but shall not
be limited to, questioning the person regarding his or her date and
place of birth, and entry into the United States, and demanding
documentation to indicate his or her legal status.

(2) Notify the person of his or her apparent status as an alien
who is present in the United States in violation of federal
immigration laws and inform him or her that, apart from any criminal
justice proceedings, he or she must either obtain legal status or
leave the United States.

(3) Notify the Attorney General of California and the United
States Immigration and Naturalization Service of the apparent illegal
status and provide any additional information that may be requested
by any other public entity.

(c) Any legislative, administrative, or other action by a city,
county, or other legally authorized local governmental entity with
jurisdictional boundaries, or by a law enforcement agency, to prevent
or limit the cooperation required by subdivision (a) is expressly
prohibited."

~~~~~~~

From Tony Perkins at Family Research Council

197 Million Reasons Not to Trust HHS

Yesterday, while I was on my way home from Honduras, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) was trying to cover its tracks on the $160 million taxpayer-funded abortion scheme in the Keystone state. The Obama administration barely had a chance to respond to those allegations before another shoe dropped--this time in New Mexico. The National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) had uncovered another money trail under the health care law--worth $37 million--in the Southwest. According to Douglas Johnson of NRLC, "The Department of Health and Human Services has been hiding most of these high-risk plans.... Of the four state plans we've managed to ferret out, two provided coverage of essentially all abortions."

Of course, administration officials (the same ones who vowed to keep taxpayers out of the abortion business) deny the report. But House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) isn't buying it

 

. "In just the past 24 hours, we've learned of two states in which the new federal high risk insurance programs created under ObamaCare and approved by the Obama administration will use federal funds to pay for abortion, despite promises by the White House and Democratic leaders that no such funding would occur under ObamaCare," he said. How many other reports need to surface before Congress admits that the President's Executive Order wasn't worth the paper it was printed on?

 
The White House and HHS know full well that the Executive Order, which the President of Planned Parenthood called a "symbolic gesture," does nothing to stop abortion funding. Even if it had some legal weight, it does not apply to high-risk pools. That explains why the government approved at least two plans that include abortion. HHS did backpedal

 

--first denying that it would fund abortion under ObamaCare, then tempering that direct claim with a more modest response that its plans wouldn't cover abortion other than in cases of rape, incest, and the mother's life. If HHS didn't want to fund abortion, why did it approve abortion in these plans in the first place? Trust, but verify. Meanwhile, the administration will need to issue guidance to its agency to block the abortion funding. But even that could change in the future, which is why Congress needs to pass a full ban on taxpayer-funded abortion, which is soon to be introduced by Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.)

Kenya Gets Lion's Share of Illegal Dollars

Secretary Hillary Clinton is certainly making good on her promise to launch an international goodwill tour for abortion. In January, the former First Lady was clear that the State Department's mission for the next five years is bullying every country to overturn its pro-life laws

 

. In news that broke yesterday, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of USAID, the U.S. Agency for International Development, provided members of Congress with evidence of a plot by the U.S. government to lobby Kenyans to legalize abortion

 

in their new constitution. FRC has been aware of the situation since February when members of our senior staff met with Bishop Anthony Muheria of the Kenyan Diocese of Kitui. When we spoke with him, he told us he believed that organizations were receiving U.S. funds to advocate for a constitution that includes the legalization of abortion-on-demand.

 
This OIG report only confirms Bishop Muheria's worst fears--fears that Congressman Chris Smith shared. He, along with two other U.S. lawmakers, demanded an investigation into whether taxpayer dollars were, in fact, being used to sway people to vote "yes" on the referendum legalizing abortion--a policy that most Kenyans oppose. "There is no doubt that the Obama administration is funding the 'yes' campaign in Kenya ," Rep. Smith said. "By funding [groups] charged with obtaining 'yes' votes, the administration has crossed the line." That "line" is known as the Siljander Amendment, which makes it illegal for the U.S. to use federal funds to lobby for abortion abroad. As part of the talks with the USAID's Inspector General, Congressman Smith learned that seven organizations took home hundreds of thousands of dollars to "contribute to an 'overrepresentation' of the 'Yes' voters."

Now it's important to note that the OIG isn't a partisan entity, so when it suggests that the administration is engaging in illegal activity, there is serious cause for concern. This administration is so determined in pursuing its radical social agenda, that it will stop at nothing--not even the law. To be clear, there's nothing illegal with the U.S. participating in a global get-out-the-vote campaign, but this administration has gone well beyond that to using American tax dollars to support a Kenyan law that will greatly expand abortion. The President's wholesale promotion of abortion isn't just seeping into American policy; it's turning the State Department into a lawless, international ACORN.

God help us all!

Porter County features a deficit

A headline 100% intended to grab your attention. No, the Porter County government does not feature a deficit in the least. But I'm going to propose that our charitable and community service passions do.

Case in point - New Creation Men's Center

First some background, New Creation is not a government entity. It is a not for profit organization that used private dollars to purchase a building in an industrial part of town, with a tool shop as one neighbor and an asphalt plant across the street, oh yeah and a railroad track along it's side. One more time, private dollars were used to buy the building and to fund the program. It's a men's homeless training and counseling center, as well as a place to learn some business skills in the on-site resale shop.

Local churches noticed a need for housing in the winter for homeless men. Although there are some homeless ministries in Valparaiso, the frank truth is that mixing homeless single men and homeless single women or children is a recipe for bigger problems. The churches worked together, collaboratively, to host these men each evening the last three years in their own buildings and provided meals. There have been some great success stories of men who've regained their pride, a job, and eventually a home of their own.

The building that was purchased in one of the roughest areas of Valpo is used during the day for training, showers, phone calls, applying for jobs, training and counseling. Some of these men have dire problems in mental health, substance abuse, and yes some have rugged criminal pasts. They need to get their lives cleaned up. The last thing they need is another government program, they need accountability and a chance to make their lives right.

Guess what? Some of these guys still have problems. Some of the 50 plus men who were involved in the homeless program this winter are still struggling with personal issues. For example the article today about one such man who stole from a local home.

But did you take the time to read the comments? Bitter, angry, hateful talk of "ship them somewhere else" and "these do gooders are making things worse for all of us." Seriously? Those of you who often spout your theories of getting government out of social services and letting private groups and churches provide instead? You think it's a problem that a private group is trying to do just that, and your solution is to "ship the men somewhere else?"

I will suggest we have a deficit in Porter County. Oh there's lots of money, and there's lots of talk of conservative and/or Christian values. But frankly I'm hearing more and more hate talk, talk that is small minded and heartless. Quotes like: "keep them all out, erect a wall at the Lake County border" ... "if you do gooders weren't making it so easy, they'd go back to where they came from" ... "we don't have a homeless problem, we have a problem with Christians slowing down the natural process of these bums moving to Indy or Chicago and becoming their problem" We have a deficit of solutions, real ones that are tried and tested, real ones that have flaws and need revisions. To sit on this blog or in your local pub and spout your theories without some reality, some common sense solutions, is to waste all our time.

That's your solution? Erect a wall and keep Lake County out? Stop growth so that we aren't enticing to anyone? Ship our problems to another city? Our kids are leaving now because there aren't enough jobs, let's ship even more people out and make it a poor place to live for those of us left? Sticking your head in the sand and pretending that there is no problem will get you what you most despise about Lake County even faster. Today I'm disappointed in Porter County and Valparaiso citizens who call themselves conservatives, and pat themselves on the back for being against taxes and government ... and yet disregard real problems that need real solutions ... some of those solutions features opportunities for you to get off your collective rears.

Found - another place to cut state budget

Yesterday Mayor Costas lauded the State of Indiana for efforts by all the agencies to cut their budgets substantially.

Due to HEA 1001 all local governments are having to cut their budgets to get expenditures under the property tax caps, which should become constitutional law this fall. Due to the recession the State is having to drastically cut budgets to maintain a balanced budget based on reduced income taxes and sales taxes.

Yesterday I happened across another group that could be slated for elimination, IMHO.

The Northwest Indiana Small Business Development Center
Here's what I know, and you the readers are always welcome to fill in the blanks for me if I've missed some salient details:

Here's what they say they do - "The Small Business Development Center counsels existing companies, as well as start-ups, on a wide range of business topics. The Centers can assist your organization in writing or updating its business and marketing plans; help you analyze your financial needs, and show you how to raise funds for your business. The SBDC also holds specialized seminars from "How to Start A Business" to "Record-Keeping" to "Business Planning" to "Marketing/Advertising."

Now the first thing that comes to mind is, aren't there lots of small businesses that actually do these things already? Accountants and attorneys, consultants and coaches? Why do we need a government agency to help write business plans and marketing plans? And frankly are they any good at this anyway ...

Next, I happened to be reading PortageLife.com yesterday and ran across an article that announced that this group would be holding a workshop to teach small businesses how to use linkedin. Now let's remember this is a group tasked with helping small businesses in Northwest Indiana, helping them grow, helping them hire, helping them become a bigger part of our economy. But ... who did they think would be nice to bring in for this seminar? AH ... an Illinois expert in social media and Linkedin. FAIL!

Time to examine further the funding of the Small Business Development Administration, where does their funding come from? Who's in charge and holds them accountable?

More talk of consolidating government overlap

In the Times this morning - no doubt Buzz will lose his mind due to perceived problems at the Little Cal Commission, but this is worthy of further discussion. Aren't conservatives willing to discuss the elimination of 30 overlapping government offices? Hmmm?

Flooding and drainage issues in Lake County are inextricably connected, from properties that flood along the Little Calumet River in the northern part of the county to south county communities that send stormwater to the Little Cal and other key waterways. So a proposal by Little Calumet River Basin Development Commission Director Dan Repay to create a conservancy district to manage what is now a patchwork response to county flooding and drainage is an idea that deserves more than just a casual glance. And it certainly deserves more than outright dismissal.

Lake County Surveyor George Van Til all but dismissed Repay's proposal as less efficient than the current system of managing drainage and stormwater. But Van Til's statements smack more of a career politician trying to hold on to his corner of county political turf than of real logic. Though he praised Repay's enthusiasm, Van Til said he believes one agency would find dealing with the many flood-related issues of the county a daunting task. Van Til argued that about 30 existing local government entities, including his office, are better equipped to deal with the problem. But Van Til's argument fails to hold water.

A few short years ago, Van Til professed his dedication to the Good Government Initiative, which largely calls for the consolidation of like services throughout the county for more cost effective and efficient government. So why now is it better for 30 entities to handle in their own way what should be a common goal for all Lake County citizens? Why are 30 silos better than one? Perhaps Surveyor Van Til is less interested in efficient stormwater management than he is in maintaining his own job.

Political history in Lake County has taught us many things, including that bloated government starves the taxpayer while making longtime county government power-brokers and incumbents fat. It's long past time for Van Til and any other county leaders who would stand in the way of a potentially good idea for government consolidation to open their minds -- and in some cases, step aside.

NWIPs Prove That Extremism Never Prospers in America

Did anyone out there happen to make it to the Northwest Indiana Patriot's courthouse rally on Independence Day - or Independence Day +1 for some foolish reason? I can say with confidence that you didn't because there wasn't a Valparaiso Rally despite the perfect weather conditions and presence of the ultimate patriotic holiday.

The reason is as American as pie - or perhaps it would be more appropriate to say as un-American as soccer.

Over the past year and several months, the Northwest Indiana Patriots made the regrettable decision to cater more to the desires of political extremists - meaning the exclusion of ordinary, right-leaning citizens. Here's what they failed to understand: Americans aren't extremists.

When the leader of a group sends out an e-mail acknowledging the 9/11 tin-foil hat fan club members in their ranks, ordinary Americans want nothing to do with it. When the leader of a group makes a fool of herself by insulting the judgment of the US Marine Corps for not letting JROTC kids render a service for a rally with these radicals... ordinary Americans are turned off. When members of this group raid a local Republican Party meeting and start yelling & screaming over the rules of the meeting... ordinary Americans are turned off and ordinary conservatives are going to get pissed off.

These extremists had derailed the group into foolish and sometimes racist (yes, I say racist) topical tangents, such as Puerto Rican statehood and the already doomed-to-fail Valpo train. I don't know why they thought it was so important to put Obamacare on the back burner - but they did. And sure enough... they upset even more local conservatives in the process.

While the Tea Party movement has had a tremendous & positive impact across the country - here in the region it has left a path of destruction and carnage and it appears as though all of the victims have been conservative Republicans. At the original Tea Party on August 15, 2009, Faith Jones was on a planter in front of the Courthouse calling desperately for Steve Dalton to come up and be recognized for all the work he did to make the event a success. Faith has since blocked Dalton (who was too modest to go up there) from the NWIP site. That same day, blogger Kevin Tracy got people fired up right out of the gate. Today, Tracy has given up on politics and is nowhere to be seen but he cited their behavior as the catalyst for his withdraw. That's really unfortunate and I hope he reconsiders because the GOP is going to need more young, cerebral conservatives to step up and repair the damage done by these dimwits. I'm sure there are probably some left who weren't dumb enough to get sucked into the Mad Hatter's tea party. The list of casualties goes on.

I know everything I write pisses people off: I really don't care. My hot air is what powers my State Fair balloon after all. If you ignore everything else I write - at least keep these three things in mind:

1. Has the NWIP group helped the local Republican Party?
No. They've been a source of destabilization and unneeded controversy.

2. If the Republican Party is busy keeping itself stable and out of controversies the NWIPs create, who benefits?
The left-wing liberals in the Democratic Party.

3. If what I'm saying is flawed, why can't Faith Jones muster together a respectable crowd for a Tea Party, host an event with respectable candidates, or be shown an ounce of respect from any faction within our party's leadership?
What I'm saying isn't flawed so this is really a rhetorical question.

The reason our Republic has survived as long as it has is because our people have always rejected extremism. For people who love to wrap themselves up in the American flag - they really don't know that much about what it means to be an American, let alone a patriot. If they did, perhaps Northwest Indiana would be benefiting a bit more from the Tea Party movement like the rest of this country is. Instead, conservatives are hiding behind curtains, waiting for these cowardly but arrogant lions to leave the room, praying they don't s*** on everything before they go.

Thankfully, it appears they're on their way out the door - and that the damage they caused should be repairable before November.

Getting a Leg Up

Do Republicans in Democrat dominant Lake County need a new strategy, in addition to running able candidates against lesser Democrat opponents? R's not only have to compete against the opponent, thay also have the overlay of the "cultural Democrat" mindset. A public who would rather vote for a D who they know is the less qualified candidate because "we don't vote R." I recently spoke with an R who is switching to D. He has been told by a large number of people in the community who he knows that they would've voted for him and supported him if he were a D, but couldn't when he was an R. Same guy with the same views and goals, by the way - no real change in his philosophy. And some local Democrats worked on him with "you'll win with us." McDermott Jr. chose to be D unlike his R father. Help me and correct me if I'm wrong, weren't the Guernsey's of Merrillville R before the influx of Garyite hard D's in the early 1990's challenged GOP strength in that town, and switched to stay in office? Hobart had Malizzo and Lewis go R to D, and current mayor Snedecor used to be R until he became Buzinec's police chief, then mayoral candidate.

The Saturday after the 2007 mayoral election, I went to Shoreline Brewery for a little bit of goodness to wash the bad taste of the unexpected rout from my mouth. Guthrie came within 400 votes of beating two term incumbent Buzinec in 2003, and lost 2-1 to Snedecor, who I thought was much less of a challenge, and the experience rang my bell. I sat next to a chatty Patty who, it turned out, was also from Hobart. I asked her who she voted for, and she said Snedecor of course. I asked what made him better then Guthrie, who had a laid-out plan and was arguably better suited for the office. She said that Snedecor went to the same church she did, and was a rock solid social conservative like her. I told her she had the same in Guthrie, with a clearer vision and stronger resume. She said she couldn't vote for an R, but Snedecor was conservative enough, so she could vote for that D.

NWI is not Berekley CA, or Portland OR, or Greenwich Village NYC, where D's monopolize because the population is left wing. The Region has liberal economic views from its poor and working class roots, but socially you'll find a lot of the people to some extent or another to the right of center, so by being automatic D they vote against ideology, against their views. And they vote for D's who get indicted and convicted for fraud and corruption all the time, so they also vote against their local interests. Considering how financially conservative D's got since Clinton, and how the GOP was like a frat boy in a liquor store with his first credit card in the 2000's, you can argue that the GOP became the financially more liberal party.

It's like the Lake GOP is the Cubs, trying to recruit a Chicago born and raised Cubs fan to pitch for them. He'd fit in perfectly, and might be their next Big Thing and the toast of the town, but the Yankees also are interested, and though he'd not fit in as well and may just warm their bench if he ever makes it out of AAA, he might have a better chance of a ring with them.

Hank Adams should steamroll Carol Ann Seaton in an all things equal otherwise race. But all things are anything but equal. It will be crucial to figure out how to break through in the hard D populace. Logic and reason may fail, but what emotion to tap? You're a smart and experienced readership (I've only been in this game for three years as a fly on the wall): what will give Adams (and Bursac and the other county candidates) a leg up? Anyone see an area go from one party (either one) to at least competitive for both? I just hate seeing people doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

Brad Ellsworth--Appropriate for California, Bad for Indiana

Just before the Fourth of July holiday weekend began, Rep. Brad Ellsworth published an article in the Huffington Post proposing a liberal amendment to an already overwhelmingly liberal healthcare bill.

Well, I know Mr. Ellsworth feels as though his heart is in the right place, but he is obviously out of touch with Indiana voters, even among Indiana Democrats. Indiana is overwhelmingly against the healthcare bill. In a recent Rasmussen Poll, 60% of Hoosiers support repealing the Bill, while 33% oppose repealing it.

I won't even spend time here criticizing Ellsworth for not understanding the bill. A recent Hoosier Pundit article did well enough to describe this error in judgment.

So, in sum, not only did Brad Ellsworth vote in support of the massive healthcare spending bill contrary to the political will of the people he represents, but as passed, the bill does not go far enough in his opinion. He wants to make it so that anyone can opt-in to the government-run public option if it turns out to be a better deal. I have a feeling that it will ALWAYS be a better deal, considering the government is operating at a loss.

So Mr. Ellsworth, I encourage you to run on this agenda in your already troubled Senate Campaign in Indiana. The voters will adore you.

Obama - no Change nor Hope for the Gulf until we change Washington

Oil Spill Timeline from RightChange on Vimeo.

Barack Obama had offers of help and plenty of resources to take strong action within two - three days of the occurrence and we would be talking about the oil in the Gulf as a problem in the past if we had ANY OTHER PRESIDENT IN OUR HISTORY!   Not even Jimmy Carter would be this indecisive and stupid.  Then again, maybe he wants to throw the country into a disastrous depression so he and his cronies can take more control?  So what is it, is the President stupid and indecisive or is he simply pursuing a course of action that would dynamically and completely change America into Venezuela North?



Hat tip to Hawkeye for the last two...

What if we took Alinsky seriously?

A few questions that I haven't seen answered, even by the right-wing blogosphere:

Who made the decision to not parallel prepare multiple solutions for stopping the oil leaking into the Gulf?

Who was the Coast Guard officer who decided to stop those 18 barges in Louisiana because he couldn't get in touch with the owner?

Who stole Alabama's booms?

Who stamped the denial on each foreign offer of cleanup aid?

Who mis-exercised their discretion and rigorously enforced the Jones Act?

For each incident, who stopped a bright, promising local initiative for cleanup?

Is there any doubt at all that if we took the whole Rules for Radicals thing seriously that we would know the names of the people who are making all these dumb decisions on the Gulf oil spill? But we don't know them. The right wing should have personalized each one of these bad decisions and made it clear that if you get in the way of the people cleaning up, you are personally going to pay a price for it. That price is not being paid and the spill cleanup is being further hindered.

The blogosphere, and yes that includes me, bears some blame for that. We took a look at Alinsky but are showing now that we weren't serious about it. We should start.

What's it gonna be this year, people?

tip of the hat to Angel

Like it or lump it, the United States is involved in a world wide war.  This war is a war for ideas and ideals and it involves free people uniting to fight tyranny both within and without our borders.  I do not applaud you if you walk away from the fight because you don't like the rules.  Point out the problems, do something to correct them, find a better way.

Here in NW Indiana we have our share of grappling to do.  Will there be transparency in government?  Will we have real representative government or will the same old big money kingmakers call the shots?  Take a good look at your government and what decisions are being made.   Remember the frog in the pot?  He was pretty comfortable when the water got warm and by the time it was boiling it was too late for him.  I think the temperature is too high already.

Seventy days and the Gulf is still a mess?   No Republican Lake County governance since the days of FDR?  Stay tuned for some information coming your way in the next week or two that will make it crystal clear what YOU can do to help fix what is broken...

Guns rights can be blurry issue

One one side a state law that says an employee can have their legally owned firearm in their vehicle at work. On the other side company rules that say no weapons on the company campus.

The Chamber of Commerce, oddly fighting both tax caps and firearm rights this year, says employers rights are under attack. I'm sure that Buzz over at Blue County Red State will say the Chamber has sold out to "corporatism".

Some Federal laws that may equip the employer to ban weapons, but again ambiguity in those laws.

Where do you stand? It's easy to say we're all for the right to bear arms as guaranteed in the United States Constitution and the 2nd Amendment. It's much more difficult to say whether this same right exists in every facility and every situation. Does this right include carrying a weapon in plain site to work? Does this right allow local communities to regulate permits, education, waiting time for background checks, or the imposition of fees? Does a local community have any rights, or do all those right accrue from the State and therefore true bans of anything should only be under the direction of the State (remember the taxing arguments from 2009 which reminded us all that the State has the right to tax not the local government)

Chicago's onerous total ban was struck down by the United States Supreme Court this week. And now Mayor Daley will rush through new ordinances to drastically regulate the owning of firearms, with fees and requirements. This too will be challenged in court.

Where do you stand, many of our readers consider themselves conservatives and original intent of constitution adherents. Did the constitutional writers consider a situation such as we have now? Is this a litmus test of conservative values, or a gray area where conservatives on both sides may differ in interpretation? Are you automatically branded a progressive by the litmus test police if you take a position to the center?

2010 is an important election year, and both Democrats and Republicans are claiming conservative credentials because the voting population is leaning back to the right in response to Federal level liberalism. But how will you make a voting choice on local leaders?