Indiana Blog Review

The Gas Tax Shuffle

Scott Fluhr takes a sober -- and smart -- look at the Democrats' call for eliminating the state sales tax on gasoline.

Recount

Mike Kole looks at Steve Osbourn's mysterious call for a recount in his bid to unseat Sen. Lugar, particularly the mystery of it.

I have to agree with Kole that this opened the door for spurious attacks like the one cited from Jim Shella, which is unbefitting a prominent pundit on Hoosier politics.

Spec-u-lation

Jim Shella gives the odds on upcoming races:

The percentage chance that Evan Bayh will say "no" to a run for president:  zero.

The odds that the Indiana General Assembly will finish on time:  1-to-2.

The time it will take Mike Pence to recover from his failed leadership bid:  1 year.

Time frame for the state Senate to announce changes in its pension plan:  less than 3 weeks.

Odds that Bart Peterson will run for re-election:  90 percent.

Odds that Bart Peterson will run for governor in '08:  10 percent.

Amount of time before Pat Bauer and Mitch Daniels exchange public insults:  2 months

Odds Mitch Daniels will run for governor in 2008:  95 percent.

Odds that Republicans will mount a serious challenge to Bart Peterson in '07:  20 percent.

Odds that Democrats will mount a serious challenge to Daniels in '08:  50-50.

Frugal Hoosiers has more commentary on the Dem's '08 gubernatorial aspirations.

More Post-election Commentary

Chris Douglas:

The voters have spoken in Indiana's Marion County, and it's important to understand one of their messages: The Republican Party, both locally and statewide, must now stop its attacks on the glbt community if it is to achieve an electoral majority in a close election.

And if you have interesting comments on the broadcast media ads from this past election, your participation is solicited:

The Howey Political Report and IndianaOnMessage are inviting readers to participate in an interactive project. Most of the legislative and Congressional campaign TV and radio ads are posted on the HPR/IOM websites. We're asking readers to tell us which campaign ads were the best, the worst, and the most innovative and why.

Retreat America

Advance Indiana gleefully points out an FEC ruling that further casts doubts as to the legality of voting guides produced by Eric Miller's front organization, Advance America.

He follows up with a critique of a recent interview with Miller.

(Bil Browning also pokes at the interview.)

Kenn Gividen notes that AA won't include Libertarians in the guides, and Democrats rarely respond, " the guides are little more than a list of Republican candidates."

Koles & Objectives

Mike Kole gives further reflections on his benchmarks.  Ballot access is still pretty huge.

Disconfirmation Bias

Frugal Hoosiers swims upstream and points out three things countering the CW that Indiana is turning into a swing state.

Sparks to Fly

Advance Indiana looks at the future of Indiana's same-sex marriage debate.

The Ethics of the Revolving Door

Jen Wagner posts some details on out-going Chief of Staff Harry Gonso's request on a formal advisory opinion from the Ethics Commission on returning to the private sector.

Standing Pat

RiShawn Biddle, "Expecting Pat Bauer to come up with anything close to a logical agenda once he regained the state House speakership is asking too much. But even he should have better sense than to mess around with Daylight Saving Time again. "

>2%

Libertarian candidate for Secretary of State Mike Kole's initial post-election thoughts.

Rational Ignorance

Greg @ Inside 465 explains why he didn't vote this year.

13/14

Indiana Pundit evaluates his election predictions.

Hummmmm

Post-election analysis from Kokomo from Indiana On Message.

Keep Going

Mike Sylvester is making post -2006 predictions, and he's soliciting comments.

Updated already: "Yesterday I posted 22 predictions I have for the next couple of years. MANY of these will not be able to be graded for at least a few months.  A couple are shaping up already."

The Good and the Bad

Chris Douglas:

Democratic control of the House of Representatives in Indiana offers the good and the bad.  The good is that Democratic control may place a check on schemes hatched in the Republican Party to exploit  areas of Hoosier division, rather than nurture areas of agreement . . .

The bad, though, is also considerable, for the House Democratic Leadership, and the Democratic Party leadership in Indiana as  a whole, do  not  offer a  compelling economic vision . . .

This economic intransigence is nothing new.  We have lacked economic leadership in Indiana through Democratic administration after Democratic administration, however well-intentioned.

The Spoils of the Spoilers

Mike Sylvester on the Libertarian Party in Indiana:

Three of our candidate got more votes then the margin of difference between the Dem and Rep...

Eric Schansberg ran for the 9th Congressional District. He won 4.5% of the vote. This race was won by 2.8% of the vote.

Greg Kelver ran for the 20th State House District and got 7.8% of the vote. This race was won by 6% of the vote.

Rex Bell ran for the 54th State House District and got 14.4% of the vote. This race was won by 6.5% of the vote.

Local News

RiShawn Biddle, "Contrary to what the pundits will say, the reality is there is no overwhelming theme in this year's elections. All politics is local, Tip O'Neill once said, and it's as true now as it ever was."

Turning OUt

One report puts it as high.  From Indiana Pundit:

This is what I have observed in doing my civic duty and making the roll around precincts. Turnout appears to be low (though Channel 15 claims it isn't).

Poll workers have seen an unusual amount of youth turnout at some precincts. This must be a qualified statement though as a lot of these poll workers are elderly and consider anybody under 40 to be the youth vote. I don't know what to make of it at this point.

UPDATE 3:10PM
Turnout does appear to be high in most places. It will be interesting to see who's base the push is coming from. Is it for the Democrat candidate's? If so will it be enough? Or have recent comments by the Democratic leadership pushed the GOP out to vote?

Legitimacy, Turnout, and Access

Fort Wayne Observed:

Indiana legislators ought to take a step toward greater voter participation by returning the ballot access requirements for minor parties and independent candidates to the historical percentage of signatures needed to qualify.

It might well inject more vitality and ideas into the public arena. It might fulfill another historical role that third  parties have had.  That is in introducing committed activists of all stripes who later gravitate to one of the major parties and provide new energy.

. . . voter turn-out will probably end up being in the neighborhood of 35% of the eligible electorate.

Each decline in turnout raises concern about the very legitimacy of government.

Pre-Election Awards

Jim Shella makes his picks:

This is the time for some end-of-the-campaign awards:

Best commercial -- none comes to mind

Worst commercial (quality category) -- Joe Pearson for Secretary of State

Worst commercial (content category) -- John Hostettler's radio that tries to tie Barney Frank's sexual history to his opponent

Most confusing commercials -- The Indiana House GOP TV ads that combined a positive message for a candidate in one district for the first 15 seconds with an attack on another candidate in a different district for the last 15 seconds

Most memorable yard sign (good or bad) -- Kathryn Densborn

Least visible politician (on the ballot category) -- Marion County Sheriff candidate Steve Davis

Least visible politician (off the ballot category) -- Mitch Daniels

Most calculated move -- Julia Carson's mention of Eric Dickerson domestic abuse record followed by her condemnation of Democratic mailers that made use of it

Worst direct mail piece -- David Orentlicher's use of a corpse to make his point in a stem cell debate

Most reliance on outside help -- Mike Sodrel

Most likely to take credit for the success of others -- Evan Bayh

Best Performance by a candidate -- Brad Ellsworth

Worst Performance by a candidate -- John Hostettler

Cold Water

RiShawn Biddle, "As a pundit of some sort, yours truly could offer a prediction on what will happen in the 2006 elections on Tuesday . . .

But in all honesty, nobody knows who will win. Not I, no does Brian Howey or Ed Feigenbaum or anyone from Indiana Week in Review. Nobody. Why? Because there is a disconnect between the pundits and the average person."

More Robo-calls?

ACDP: "At 4:05PM today I received a "robo-call" from Kevin Howell, who is running for State Rep in District 80.  The message was a recorded message from Kevin Howell."

Craig @R&F: "I just received an automated phone call on behalf of the NRA in which the voice on the other end expressed the organization's support for Mark Souder's reelection bid."

Update:

Mike Sylvester:

My neighbor called me and told me that he received FOUR phone calls this weekend shilling for Souder and The Republican Party. He told me two were people and two were automated...

I just got my first one at 7:36 PM the day before the election. It was from The Indiana Republican Party. It was not QUITE an automated call...

A live person asked me if I wanted to listen to an automated call from Laura Bush. I said "sure." Then I listened to Laura Bush shill for Republicans...

ACDP has audio of the Laura Bush call.

Fort Wayne Observed explains why the hybrids aren't illegal.

Pushing the Wrong Buttons

Chairman Rutherford reports:

Thursday night, someone was doing a "push poll" in House District 54. A "push poll" is considered unethical by the professional standards of ethical organizations that do polling. It is a poll in which the questions and methodology are purposefully designed to bias the results.

The Bell campaign and the Libertarian Party of Indiana reacted quickly when we learned of this and all of us worked to get the word out on this unethical polling.

Today, the Richmond Palladium-Item published an article on the "push poll" titled "Party seeks origin of incomplete poll".

A word of warning to "push pollers" - while the Bell campaign learned of the poll through others, all doubts were erased when your pollsters called Rex Bell! Next time, you might want to take the Libertarian candidate more seriously and remove him from your telephone list. Not only is the poll unethical, it was done stupidly too.

Election Fatigue?

Campaigns wearing you down?

RiShawn Biddle: "Every election year is mired in nuttiness and rank partisan pettiness. The last three months, however, would put past years in this town to shame. "

Matt Tully:

My message to everyone is this: The threshold for opposition-leaked dirt is very high at this point in the campaign season. If the information is critical, it should have been released long before the final days of the election season.

Doug Masson:

At the end of the day, I’m mildly annoyed that my vote and Abdul’s vote and Sheila Suess Kennedy’s vote are all counted equally with the votes of those who are poorly informed enough that they can be swayed by last minute theatrics and campaign advertisements. I’m happy enough with a system where I can be outvoted. I only wish that the votes were better informed.

Abdul:

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. The Election is almost over. No more attack ads, no more positions being taken out of context, no more misrepresentations about elected officials' voting records and no more "hey, can I come on your show and talk about..." Now while at the beginning of the campaign season, I had to admit it was a lot of fun. Now, like relatives who have overstayed their welcome, it's time for them to go away.

Rumors and Sex

Frugal Hoosiers spreads some of the smelly stuff:

A rumor has been circulating in political circles the last day or so regarding two unnamed democrat candidates for the statehouse.  Apparently pornographic e-mails were circulated on the school computers of the candidate(s) and those e-mails are now in the possession of the Indiana Family Institute, specifically in the hands of a man named Curt Smith.

Mind Your Q's

RiShawn Biddle has more than a few questions, and they are excellent.

What Will he Bayh?

More criticism for Evan Bayh's stinginess from Jerame Davis.

A Real Gas

Mike Kole reports that his Bean Dinner was a success!

Flyers

Advance Indiana puts the shame on the InGOP for anti-gay flyers in House District 26.

Chris Douglas would like a copy of the flyer, if anyone has it.

Kole-ection

Mike Kole has a guest post over at bilerico.

He also posts audio of his appearance on "Abdul in the Morning" with Jim Hurst.

Bar Graphs

Indiana On Message posts the third quarter financing of Indiana's top three congressional races at a glance.

"Beanefit"

Ha!  Don't you just love that Libertarian Candidate for Secretary of State Mike Kole is holding a fundraiser with NK Hurst's 15-bean soup?

Tiny Billboards

Chris Douglas reports on "defaced yard signs of Katherine Densborn, Republican challenger to incumbent Democrat David Orentlicher. "

Frugal Hoosiers note more fun with yard signs in the 9th.

Temporary Waiting

Fort Wayne Observed has an audio interview with State Sen. Tom Weatherwax (R-Logansport),  one of three Republican senators seeking the state senate's top leadership position."

RiShawn Biddle also reflects on the race:

Amid all the horse race watching and speculating, the real question isn't -- and shouldn't -- be who gets to be king of the state senate. What really should concern both citizens and lobbyists is what role the state senate will play in fostering new ideas that will improve state government and culture. And whether the next president pro tempore can assure that the body will get along cordially with both the House -- whether or not Brian Bosma retains the speakership -- and a hard-charging governor.

On Your Mark

Democrat Mark Warner, former Governor of Virginia, bows out of the Presidential race, and all eyes turn to Evan Bayh:

• Ellen Andersen
• Rob @CHD (also with a roundup)
• FWOb
• Leo Morris
• Matt Tully
• Jim Shella

Hoosier Systole

The Daily Pulse gets the read on the Indiana Battle Ground (via Doug Masson).

Egad

Advance Indiana: "House Speaker Brian Bosma confirms that his platform for a House GOP majority in Indiana is the platform of Eric Miller."

Kudos

Mike Kole toots his own horn:

A recent check of the Libertarian Party's nationwide candidate tracker still shows the Kole Campaign as the second-most vigorous Libertarian campaign in the USA! Not Indiana, the entire United States.

The Bayh Connection

El Ranchero explores the obligations of Evan Bayh to this year's congressional races.

It's Getting Crowded

FWOb reports that, "State Senator Gary Dillon, M.D., of Pierceton has confirmed that he will be seeking the top Indiana senate leadership post."

Bad Strategery

Jason Bourneman:

Okay so the Indiana Democratic Party is “playing the anger card” among dissatisfied Republicans, chiefly on the Toll Road and DST issues . . .

You’re setting yourself up in a no win situation . . .

How about instead of just playing the “anger card” you play the “we have better ideas than they do” card?

A High Compliment

Tim Swarens, "One interesting development to emerge from the interviews is the growing maturity of the Indiana Libertarian Party."

IBR has covered why the INLP have their act together before.

Not Much Advancing Going On

Advance America can't hide from the spotlight of blogs.  Annette Gross takes them on.

The Content of their Characters

Abdul pokes holes in the theory "that Indianapolis' Black politicians are under 'assault' and there is a 'conspiracy to get them.'"

Meanwhile, Advance Indiana says there is a very real assault on black Republicans, like, for instance, Eric Dickerson.

First Republicans, Again

Advance Indiana hails the re-emergence of the First Republicans Forum.

Doug Masson predicts, "Republicans will have to spend a season or two in the wilderness before folks like these will be able to wrest control from the social conservatives who currently dominate the politics at [the federal] level. "

And he points out they have a blog.

Speaking of Energy

Scott Fluhr:

The air has clearly gone out of the gas price argument. It appears even more absurd when taken into the broader context of examining Hill's own "record" (insofar as a Congressman can do anything about the price of gasoline) on the issue.

Puppetry

Jim Shella: "So, do yourself a favor for the rest of the campaign.  When you see or hear Biberstine, visualize Brizzi.  And when you see or hear Burns, visualize Kennedy.   Don't let unknown operatives get away doing a candidate's dirty work."

Old Tricks

Advance Indiana catches Advance America yet again.

A Dangerous Campaign

Jim Shella reflects on the recent accident in Kokomo involving State Representative candidate Ron Herrell:

. . . talk to any candidate who has run statewide in Indiana and there is likely to be a scary story in his or her background.  Joe Hogsett used to talk about a small airplane trip that nearly ended in the side of gravel truck on a windy day.  Baron Hill told of waking up from a nap to find his car going through the median and his driver asleep.

You shouldn't have to risk your life to run for office but it happens frequently.

New Director: Action!

Mark W. Rutherford announces: "Kyle McDonald, Kokomo native and Wabash College graduate, was announced today as the new Executive Director for the Libertarian Party of Indiana."

Polling Around

Doug Masson has some sharp thoughts on the AP's recent polls on DST and Major Moves.

Frankly

TDW says the GOP are having problems with their own franked mail.

A Captive Audience

Indy Undercover basically revealed that the Democratic candidate for Marion County Prosecutor Melinda Kennedy has been showing up at roll calls and speaking to police officers.  According to the comments, they have to sit there and not ask questions.

Holding His Feet to the Fire

Bil Browning recently pressed Brian Bosma on the marriage amendment and got a surprising response (with audio).

Advance (Republican) America

Advance Indiana:

A truly nonpartisan, tax-exempt organization would have no reason to provide "election briefings" to voters at fora at which you can only meet Republican candidates for the legislature.

Low Profile

Frugal Hoosiers says that Democratic candidate for Secretary of State Joe Pearson is running a lackluster campaign.

Voter Motivation

Annette Gross scowls at religious politicking in Indiana.

Tell Us Please

Abdul Hakim-Shabazz is back and has some tantalizing teasers.

Leave 'Em Guessing

Mike Kole looks at the inanity of candidate questionnaires.

Predictions

Matthew Tully has 10, er, 9 predictions.

Long Shot Shorter

Jim Shella reports that State Senator Jim Merritt (R-Indy) will not be campaigning for President Pro Tempore.

FWOb says that this, "should rightly be considered a boost for the effort of State Senator David Long of Fort Wayne to capture the post . . ."

LP Search

The Libertarian Party of Indiana is looking for a new Executive Director.

An Early Endorsement

Matt Tully lets out some details from a recent Indianapolis talk by Ft. Wayne Mayor Graham Richard (D), who says Bart Peterson is his party's best bet for the Governor's Mansion.

GOP Mail Problems

The inside scoop:

Fort Wayne Observed has learned that the Indiana House of Representatives Majority Staff is trying to figure out where responsiblity may be assigned for a major mix-up in the delivery of "Legislative Updates" sent to wrong districts with wrong messages . . .

The mixed-up mailings were not confined to one pair of legislative districts but involved many districts, FWOb has been told by a reliable source.

FWOb will provide an additional perspective later.

Silence is Golden

Indiana Pundit:

There are some times when no response is the best response. A short while ago Phil GiaQuinta called for the firing of BMV director Silverman. Last week Kevin Howell had a letter to the editor calling his opponent's comments a knee-jerk reaction that didn't address the issue.

Kevin missed the point of Phil's comments. People in the 80th are unhappy with Silverman's decision to move the Southgate branch out of their area. He was playing on the voter's emotions for support.

It also backed Kevin Howell into a corner on the issue. It created a trap in which he couldn't win. He could have either a) given no response and let GiaQuinta have the emotions response from voters. or b) respond in defense of Silverman and catch the potential wrath of the emotions that put voters in Giaquinta' corner. Howell should have went with choice a instead of choice b.

Immigration and the Minimum Wage

TDW accuses Rep. John Hostettler (R-08) of needlessly introducing immigration into the minimum wage debate as a distraction from substantive policy decisions.

Because, you know, Democrats would never suggest cynically manipulating immigration through the minimum wage.

Pat's Perpetual Petrol Populism

• Jezebella takes a look at how much one could save from cutting the sales tax on gas.
• Torpor Indy: "For once I agree with Speaker Brian Bosma that this is election year pandering."
• TDW notes that the Indy Star sung a different tune about suspending the gas tax back in 2000.
• Frugal Hoosiers got the same press release sent to IBR: State Rep. Phil Hoy (D-77) disagrees with Pat Bauer; he's advocated increasing the gas tax.

Pat McQuade's Petrol Populism

Frugal Hoosiers:

With Pat Bauer's call for an investigation into price gouging in Indiana largely dismissed by most around the state, a candidate for the Indiana Senate has taken gasoline politics one step further this election year by calling on Governor Mitch Daniels to declare an energy emergency and suspend the sales tax on gasoline.  This is hardly a new concept.  As gas prices have risen consistently over the past seven or eight years politicians across the nation have made similar attempts to suspend the gas tax, these usually occur in even numbered years, also known as election years.

The economic wisdom of suspending taxes on gasoline is a debate between politicians who want a bump in the polls and bean counters who see a big cost to the state with no relative benefit for consumers.  The last time this was attempted, under Governor Frank O'Bannon in the summer of 2000, Hoosier consumers saved about 4 cents per gallon at a cost of $40 million to the state . . .

This is about politics and the fact that democrats in Indiana have nothing to offer other than pandering to voters through feel good issues that look pretty but offer no savings for Hoosiers trying to make ends meet. 

Pat Bauer's Petrol Populism

Advance Indiana, on State Rep. Pat Bauer (D-South Bend)'s call for AG Steve Carter (R) to investigate oil companies for price gouging:

Bauer's call for an investigation of price gouging is completely absurd. Firstly, the conditions for a state of emergency as defined by statute are non-existent. Secondly, there is no evidence of any price gouging. By statute, price gouging occurs if: (1) the amount charged grossly exceeds the average price at which fuel was readily obtainable within the retailer's trade area during the seven (7) days immediately before the declaration of emergency; and (2) the increase in the amount charged is not attributable to cost factors to the retailer, including replacement costs, taxes, and transportation costs incurred by the retailer. This clearly has not occurred.

Nobody likes paying higher gas prices, but as long as crude oil prices continue to skyrocket and oil companies have to meet blending regulations to comply with new environmental emissions regulations, consumers are going to have to pay more at the pump. Unfairly accusing oil companies of fraud isn't going to do anything to solve the problem of gas prices. A continued push for alternative energy sources should remain our central focus. Bauer knows there's nothing Carter or Daniels can do. But by asking them to do something they can't do, he can then blame them for failing to act. That's cheap politics anyway you look at it.

Leo Morris, "Even by political-grandstanding rules of thumb, this is pretty audacious. Rhetorical gouging, I'd say."

And the Indiana State Democratic Party's clever rebuttal?

How much do you spend on gas each week? If you're like most Hoosiers, you answered, "Too much." Golly, maybe it's time someone does something about it.

That's some sharp commentary right there . . . by golly.

The Democratic apologists offers another embarrassing post wherein she compares two editorials on Bauer's pandering, and the Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette comes off rather poorly.

PAC man

Advance Indiana doesn't like the State GOP's new PAC, "Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) is helping his old nemesis Eric Miller extend his power over Indiana state government."

A Big Camp

Rob at CHD takes notice of Sen. Bayh's army of campaign staffers in Iowa:

So while Warner and Feingold have 1 or 2 operatives on the ground... Sen Bayh is sending 23. From what I heard the Camp Bayh Full Immersion was slated to accept 50 interns, sending them out across the country to assist in campaigns. So 23 of them are going to Iowa, and you have to figure a significant portion are going to stay here in Indiana to assist the Indiana 3: Joe Donnelly, Brad Ellsworth and Baron Hill. So that'll leave... maybe 10 interns for other states... Three guesses what states they'll go to? New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada.

Adios

Prof. Eisenstein:

Northwest Indiana has finally found a way to get its useless politicians to leave office, retire.  Death is the other alternative; but retirement is generally more cost effective.  State Representative Ralph Ayres has decided to retire after a million years in the State Legislature, which sadly NWI citizens must admit seems to be the only way to remove inactivity and incompetency from political office here.

More on CFR

Mike Kole has Part Three of his "Election Law Follies."

Rumoring

TDW, doing what she does best:

The rumor out of House District 44 is that Amos Thomas -- father of Inspector General Dave Thomas and state representative Andrew Thomas, who withdrew his name from the November ballot earlier this week -- will run for his son's seat.

Meanwhile, Matt Tully:

State Rep. Ralph Ayres, R-Chesterton, called Wednesday to talk about his surprising and curious decision to drop his re-election big.

Ayres' move has spawned no end of speculation. Is he worried that his vote for Major Moves would hurt him in his Toll Road district? Is he planning to run for state Senate in 2008? Was Ayres, a moderate, pushed out by his more conservative GOP House leadership team?

He insists his decision had nothing to do with any of that. But he did drop an interesting tidbit, which we will get to shortly.

Indiana: Land of Liberty

The national Libertarian Party recently cleaned up its platform, led by the efforts of the Libertarian Reform Caucus, of which Mike Sylvester is a member.  The goal is to make the Party more successful in attracting members and winning elections.

Will it work?  State LP Chairman Mark W. Rutherford remarks:

It looks to me that maybe the national Libertarian Party is growing into a political organization. This is something Indiana did years ago with great leaders like Rob Shuford, Steve Dasbach, Barbara Bourland, Kurt St. Angelo, Sara Chambers and Joe Hauptmann. The result is Indiana consistently being considered one of the top Libertarian state parties in the nation and political growth.

Platforming

Now that the state party platforms are finally available for all (with web browsers or spies) to see, Jezebella critiques them on the important issues.

FOB

Matt Tully has an audiopost of his brief interview with Bill Clinton.

Campaign UnManagement

Frugal Hoosiers:

About three weeks ago the Indiana Democratic Party hired Amie Droese as their statewide campaign manager for the secretary of state, treasurer and auditor races.  On Friday she quit.  Amie had extensive campaign management experience as well as fundraising experience.  She'll likely be missed in an office that is short on both fronts.

So where does this leave the statewide campaigns for Indiana Democrats?  They had to go out of state for their first campaign manager, who came from Illinois politics.  This leaves democrats in a bind on several fronts, with no campaign manager their statewide team of amateurs are left leaderless and without guidance. With only Howard Dean taking an interest in Indiana Democrats challenge to Secretary of State Todd Rokita, this may mark the end of a short-lived effort for democrats to mount any kind of challenge to the Republican statewide team, all of whom have extensive experience in the offices they seek. 

Q&A

Matt Tully posted responses to reader questions in an insightful new feature, "Political Junkie Q&A."

Platforms

It all started when Jezebella noticed that neither State party had their platforms posted on their websites, "Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought that was one of the main purposes of a party headquarters?"  She helpfully suggests a 6-point platform of her own.

Fort Wayne Observed steps up to the plate and posts a PDF of the State GOP platform.  He also has a collated copy of the State Democratic platform, first posted by John Good.

Advance Indiana critiques the GOP platform.

Lugariffic

A mix of reactions to the State Democratic Party's decision not to challenge Indiana's Senior Sentaor:

• Advance Indiana, "Regardless of what you think of Sen. Lugar, it is simply unacceptable for him to be given a complete pass by the Democrats. The two-party system is critical to maintaining accountability. By not fielding a candidate, Lugar can now do as he pleases for the next 6 and a half years without any need to consult his constituents. The Indiana Democratic party really let the state's voters down on this one."
• Matt Tully, "But Parker acknowledged defeat gracefully, saying, 'Let's be honest. Richard Lugar is beloved not only by Republicans, but by independents and Democrats.' Classy."
• stAllio!, "let's face it: any democrat running against lugar would be at a disadvantage. the chances of any democrat unseating lugar are admittedly slim. but at least put up a token candidate and run a half-assed campaign."
• Jason Borneman, "That isn’t how the Republicans gained a majority in this country. They did it by putting someone on the ballot almost anyplace they could - especially in a year when the American people are as dissatisfied with the incumbents like they are now."
• Jim Shella, "Pop quiz:  Who is Steven Osborn?  Answer:  He's the guy running against Dick Lugar, the only one.  He's a Libertarian from LaPorte and now that Democrats have decided to take a pass on the U. S. Senate race, its up to Osborn to demand debates with the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations committee. "

Third Parties

The Indianapolis Star recently ran a story on the Green Party's pursuit of ballot access in Indiana.  Mike Sylvestor and Mike Kole elaborate from a Libertarian perspective.

Speaking of Libertarians, we have reports from the national convention from State Chairman Mark Rutherford (and here) and Mike Sylvestor (here and here).

All Friends?

FWOb caught up with AJ Feeney-Ruiz and Robert Vane at the recent state GOP convention, and brings us an hilarious interview concerning a flattering post from their Democratic counterpart at Taking Down Words.

FWOb also catches a rather, um, revealing account of the convention from a College Republican at his livejournal.

Potpourri

Abdul Hakim-Shabazz has another Political Potpurri, on smoking bans, Melinda Kennedy, and the Marion Co. GOP.

Bayh Out

In the comments, Rob Harrington points out this Louisville Courier-Journal piece on blogger support for Presidential hopeful Evan Bayh.

Meanwhile, another Rob -- Rouse that is, of Left of Centrist --  is ditching Bayh over his vote in favour of the flag desecration amendment.  Fort Wayne Observed notes that Rouse "was an elected delegate to the recently concluded Indiana State Democratic Convention and is a Democratic precinct committeeman in Fort Wayne."

FWOb also observed that Kos, ostensible kingmaker of the left side of the blogosphere, recently wrote:

Evan Bayh has Chris Smith who I met during the book tour and seemed like a really cool guy. And his operation is aggressively blogging and wooing bloggers

The Fightin' 41st

Tippecanoe Politics interviews Democratic candidate (and challenger) for Indiana House District 41 James Stytle and follows up with a look at the odds on the race against incumbent Dr. Tim Brown.

Conventional Photos

In addition to some great interviews at the GOP State convention, Fort Wayne Observed continues its multimedia coverage with a photo album.

The Bartinator

Bart Peterson for Governor?

Advance Indiana: "[I]t is probably the worst thing that can happen to the people of Indianapolis."

Frugal Hoosiers: "The only problem we see for democrats is, rather than square off on issues, Peterson and Mitch Daniels seem to team up, even if it's to fight Peterson's own democrats in the statehouse, as was the case with local government reorganization this year and the stadium bill last year."

Politics of Personal Destruction

Mike Kole:

LPIN State Chair Mark Rutherford advised me long ago that I will know that I am gaining traction on something when someone gets personal about me . . .

The Libertarian candidate for Secretary of State responds and gives further details.

A Difference in Perspective

Frugal Hoosiers:

The US Department of Justice stepped in yesterday and compelled state democrats to stop blocking the attempts