Indiana

Beat the Press

Posted on March 01, 2010
I am fully convinced there are some families and people in the Carmel-Clay school district who are either in complete denial about what’s going on in their school district or they have no clue what-so-ever. As we all know by now, local authorities are investigating an assault that took place on a bus where a freshman [...

The Ghosts in the Education Funding Machine

Posted on March 01, 2010
This morning I interviewed two of the plaintiffs in the Indiana school funding lawsuit and their attorney.   The interview will be posted later at  wxnt.com. I also spoke with Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller about the litigation as well. After spending the weekend doing some legal research and actually talking to the parties involved, I am [...

A Lady Named Lettie

Posted on March 01, 2010
Some blog posts come easy and quick.  Some take days of research to put together.  When I thought about what to say about Lettie Oliver, it was easy, it just took a while. Anyone who is familiar with Marion County politics or how things work over at the Statehouse knew Lettie...

What I?m Watching

Posted on February 28, 2010
This week is shaping up to be pretty busy and it’s not even Monday.   Here’s what I’m following.  If there’s something I’m missing, let me know. Monday night the Marion County GOP will fill the position left vacant by Kent Smith...

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Get Well

Posted on February 27, 2010
I woke up this morning to news that local Democrat and labor activist Lettie Oliver was hospitalized last night. She was taken to Community East.   It’s unclear why she was taken or what her condition is. Despite our huge differences on labor and union issues, Lettie has always been a good friend and her charm and demeanor [...

Here?s the Line-Up

Posted on February 27, 2010
On Monday, Marion County Republicans will choose a new candidate to fill the seat vacated by former City-County Council member Kent Smith.  The final line-up looks like this… Jacqueline Cissell Gary Conner Kevin Green Dorothy Henry Michael Jezierski Michael Kalscheur Avachino Reeves Angel Rivera Bruce Schumacher Eric Smith Aaron Williams Although the situation is fluid and anything can change, from what I’ve been able to [...

Carmel Conduct

Posted on February 26, 2010
Like a lot of you,  I’m trying to get my arms around the hazing regarding a Carmel  student athlete.   Obviously, we’re limited by the facts that can be confirmed, but what I was interesting was one of the pending charges. According to the police report, one of the offenses was criminal deviate sexual conduct, IC 35-42-4-2...

Hostile Takeover or Friendly Fire?

Posted on February 26, 2010
If  the Marion County Democratic establishment was going to knock down Mayoral candidate Brian Williams, it’s going to have to hit a little harder next time. Last Friday the Williams’  campaign filed more than 200 candidates for precinct committeemen (PC) spots...

Gunfight at the Indy Corral

Posted on February 25, 2010
The Indianapolis City-County Council Parks and Recreation Committee tonight will hear Libertarian Ed Coleman’s proposal which would allow guns in city parks.    Depsite the fact, the Mayor has already said he will veto the proposal in its current form, the Coleman proposal is running into strong headwinds from other Council members...

Ethical Dilemmas

Posted on February 25, 2010
Unlike some of my colleagues in the political press corps, I’m not cynical when it comes to the Indiana General Assembly.  I think the 150 men and women who serve in that body are mostly good and honorable people.   However, part of me has to chuckle as some lawmakers give themselves rotator cuff injuries from [...

The ?Outsiders?

Posted on February 24, 2010
What does Democratic candidate for Mayor Brian Williams have in common with Republican candidate for Sheriff Bart McAtee?   Apart from both likely supporting Frank Anderson in the last race for Sheriff?  They are running for those offices  against the wishes of their political parties, but the similarities probably stop right there...

Charter Up

Posted on February 24, 2010
A new report from the Mayor’s Office on Charter schools shows them making more progress overall than their traditional public school counterparts. According to the 2008-2009 Accountability Report, students at the Mayor-sponsored elementary charter schools improved on their ISTEP+ test scores by nearly 7%, compared to 1...

So Sue Me

Posted on February 23, 2010
Okay, I’m going to have to talk to you about your TPS reports. That’s a line from “Office Space” one of the greatest films of the 1990s.   If you don’t know what I’m talking about, rent the movie.  If you do know what I’m talking about you know a TPS Report is a total waste of [...

Party Time, Tea Party Time That Is

Posted on February 23, 2010
A few weeks ago I accepted an invitation from a local tea party group in Indianapolis.  They asked me to come speak on politics and the political process and how to get involved.    Normally when I go speak to a local group I usually scribble my notes shortly before going on, but this one I [...

Look Out

Posted on February 22, 2010
There are quite a few things I’ll be looking out for this week.  Here are some of them. If I’m missing anything, let me know. Look for a new police chief to be named this week.  My sources tell me IMPD is promoting from within and it will likely be Northwest District Commander Paul Ciesielski...

Burton?s Loss

Posted on February 22, 2010
I honestly don’t know whether Indiana 5th District Congressman Dan Burton has had a stroke of genius or just a stroke, but his decision not to debate his opponents for the upcoming primary is one that baffles me to no end. With the latest polling data showing his re-elects at less than 30 percent, more than 40 [...

Mitch for President?

Posted on February 22, 2010
Maybe.  From the Washington Post… Daniels said Sunday that he is not taking any preliminary steps, and instead would spend the next year focused on the problems of his state. “I’ve got my hands full, trying to keep things glued together and take care of people who are sideswiped here, do the most essential [...

Playing By the Rules

Posted on February 21, 2010
If Marion County Democrats plan to challenge the precinct committeemen candidtes presented by Mayoral candidate Brian Williams, they should be ready to have a fight on their hands. Williams told me Saturday that he plans to “defend and support his people for PC and they will not lack for infrastructure or resources...

Saturday Morning Post

Posted on February 20, 2010
Things keep getting more interesting in local Democratic party circles.  I told you yesterday Mayoral candidate Brian Williams had more than 200 supporters file for PC slots. This morning I’m hearing that there are at least a dozen or so individuals who are running in the Democratic primary who aren’t Democrats...

The Week That Was

Posted on February 19, 2010
If you would have told me a week ago that Evan Bayh would not be running for the U.S. Senate, I would have suggested you put down the crack pipe.  After this week, I may start to take up the habit. The last time I saw these many people running for something, it was a marathon...

Life Just Got Interesting?

Posted on February 19, 2010
Although today is the filing deadline for candidates who want to run in the May primary today is also the day Indianapolis Mayoral hopfeful Brian Williams announced that 200 of his supporters have filed to run for precinct committeemen spots in the Marion County primary...

For Young Republicans, Coats a Tough Sell

Posted on February 18, 2010
The words below are cross-posted from The Capitol Wacthblog and written by my colleague, Republican Mike O’Brien.  I think it illustrates a bog hurdle the Dan Coats campaign is going to have to overcome. Everything I know about Dan Coats, I’ve learned in the past ten days...

My Bayh Line

Posted on February 17, 2010
I learned a lot of things this week when Evan Bayh announced he was not to running for re-election.  Here they are… Someone in this town can actually keep a secret.  Bayh has been going back and forth for weeks on whether to run again and only his closet friends and advisers knew this and not [...

How Are They Doing?

Posted on February 17, 2010
If  you’re interested in knowing how the candidates for the U.S. Senate are doing over with certified signature collection, I’ve got some interesting numbers for you from across all Indiana nine Congressional districts… Dan Coats – 14,113...

Why Bayh Pass?

Posted on February 16, 2010
I have to give Evan Bayh credit.  He did something no Republican could ever do,  drove himself out of office.   Now granted it was more like walking away, but still the Senator’s decision not to run again has sent shock waves through Indiana’s political landscape like an earthquake through Haiti...

Every Signature Counts

Posted on February 16, 2010
In case you’re wondering how the signature count certification was going for your favorite U.S. Senate candidate, here’s a rundown from the 7th Congressional District. Marlin  Stutzman – 561 John Hostetler – 556 Don Bates, Jr.  – 502 Richard Behney – 647 Dan Coats – 800 Tamara d’Ippolito – 3 The numbers come straight from Marion County Voter Registration...

Up Close & Personal

Posted on February 16, 2010

Happy Presidents Day!!!

Posted on February 15, 2010
Since it’s Presidents Day, I’m taking a little break from blogging.  I’ll be back tomorrow with some interesting results regarding Legislative surveys and township government.  I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the findings...

Bye Bayh

Posted on February 15, 2010
Evan Bayh is announcing this afternoon that he is NOT running for re-election.   A spokesman for the Indiana Democratic Party is not commenting, however my sources tell me state party staff just found this morning that he was not running again.   Bayh is making his announcement at IUPUI at 2 p...

Evan Gets a Bayh

Posted on February 15, 2010
Here are Evan Bayh’s comments shortly after announcing he is not running for another term.  I’m still working the phones and dissecting all this for some informed analysis. Evan Bayh Here’s Indiana Democratic Chairman Dan Parker’s reaction...

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