Merry Christmas

And a happy Hanukkah.

Yeah I said it.

Link goes to a very funny satire by Matt Tully at surmising what Mitch's Christmas letter must have read like.

A Chance to See What Fort Wayne Thinks

The above link is to the Allen County Libertarian Party website, and they have a poll up on what Hoosiers feel should be the priority for the 2006 General Assembly. Go on over and check it out.

But then come back, I'm not recruiting for the Libertarians.

But... But... Bill O'Reily Says You Hate Christmas

It's nice to see the ICLU defend itself (and it's big brother the ACLU.) You can say what you want about them, and I haven't always agreed with their viewpoints, but it's important to counter-act the lies and distortion from the Fox News "War on Christmas."

And there is a lesson in this for all members of the Democratic Party and progressives everywhere: You have to defend yourself against the lies. Stop letting them spread this muck and assume that people won't believe it.

Mitch Doesn't Care What You Think

Or what the South Bend Tribune for that matter either.

I'm not sure what surprises me more, that Mitch thinks he can get aways with this bold faced arrogance, or that nobody in Indianapolis media will call him on it.

Tell Mitch that Hoosiers Should Own Indiana's Roads

Please take a moment to fill out this petition telling Mitch that selling our highway system to out of state (and most likely out of the country) bidders is a bad long term proposition for Indiana.

The Sciences of Global Warming

The Economist has pretty good article on what science we need to look at when interpreting the effect of global warming. It is surprising in and of itself that The Economist even recognizes global warming, but that it also reports on some of the different theories of fighting global warming, including one from Princeton that would call for great restriction in carbon dioxide production.

At any rate it's a good read for those like me who haven't really paid much attention to the science of global warming.

Rush's Greatest Hits

I know I've been kind of lax posting lately, and well with it being the holidays I'm not sure how better I'm going to be about it. So to make up for it I thought I would post some of Rush's greatest (and possibly drug fueled) lowlights.

"Why should Blacks be heard? They're 12% of the population.
Who the hell cares."

"And we have laws against selling drugs, pushing drugs,
using drugs, importing drugs. And the laws are good
because we know what happens to people in societies and
neighborhoods which become consumed by them. And so if
people are violating the law by doing drugs, they ought
to be accused and they ought to be convicted and
they ought to be sent up."

"When you strip it all away, Jerry Garcia
(former Grateful Dead guitarist) destroyed his life on
drugs. And yet he's being honored, like some godlike
figure. Our priorities are out of whack, folks."

"Well ditto heads? I bet you still love this drug
addicted, law-breaking drug freek. Ever hear of 'just
say no' or how by buying drugs you are supporting
Osama?"

"Feminism was established so as to allow unattractive
women easier access to the mainstream of society."

"One of the things I want to do before I die is conduct the
homeless Olympics...The 10-meter shopping cart relay,
the dumpster dig, and the hop, skip, and trip."

"Have you ever noticed how all composite pictures of wanted
criminals resemble Jesse Jackson?"

"If we are going to start rewarding no skills and stupid people--
I'm serious, let the unskilled jobs that take absolutely
no knowledge whatsoever to do--let the stupid and
unskilled Mexicans do that work."

"The NAACP should have riot rehearsal. They should get
a liquor store and practice robberies"

"The only way to reduce the number of nuclear weapons is to use them."

"If the owl can't adapt to the superiority of humans, screw it"

"The Sierra Club wants to limit the number of kids you can have to two. They are into power and controlling peoples lives."

"Sexual harassment at this work station will not be reported. However...It will be graded!!!"

"The most beautiful thing about a tree is what you
do after you cut it down."

"We have more trees in this country today than when
the Declaration of Independence was written. The wackos
will tell you that's impossible."

"There are more acres of forestland in America today
than when Columbus discovered the continent in 1492"

Well Thank God the Chaos Will be Over Soon

So Mitch seldom true to his word, (and in defiance of a state law,) has decreed that St. Josephs County shouldn't be allowed to move to central daylight savings time. And he is demanding that the DOT rule immediately. But he has a reason:

"so that our state can enter the New Year with certain that our decades of chaos are behind us."

Yeah, because adding more counties to the split will really help things. And it isn't like people won't be confused about with counties are on central and witch counties are on eastern, no it all be smooth sailing from here. Those million or so computers that will need to be set to the correct time zone, well computers are so smart these days they'll just set themselves, right? No I'm sure that time zone induced chaos is a thing of the past because good old Mitch said so.

You've Gotta Be Kidding Me

Rep Chocola (R-Himself) has introduced a bill making it "easier" for farmers to buy new farm equipment by changing the tax code. Now this is interesting for two reasons.

1. Chris Chocola was the CEO of (wait for it) a company that makes agricultural equipment! I'm sure that there is no way possible that he might benefit from this, right?

2. He really doesn't seem to understand the economics of farming very well for a guy who was the CEO of a company that made agricultural equipment. Farmers don't hold onto old equipment because of the tax codes, they hold onto them because A.) they're meant to be used for years, and B.)given the pressure on prices caused by corporate farms and imports, farmers can't afford to buy new equipment, tax breaks or not. When combines can cost a quarter of a million dollars or more, you're gonna use that piece of equipment for a long, long time, not get rid of it the first time it breaks.

Economic Development Brought to You by 16 Years of Democratic Leadership

Before Mitch tries to take credit for this I'd like to remind everybody that Toyota and Subaru both came to Indiana because of the hard work of Democrats like Governors O'Bannon and Kernan. Mitch's only involvement will be in showing up a for a press photo dressed like Forrest Gump.

Buy Blue & Green this Christmas

Even though it has been a rough year financially for a lot of us, it is the traditional start of the holiday shopping season. The best bet would be not to buy at all, in my own opinion, but I don't think I can get away with that. The best thing to do would be to give to our local charities. However, if we must buy, I propose we, as Democrats, make a real effort to do some selective buying this year.

First and foremost, I advocate buying as much locally as possible, whether it be from a known Republican owner or not. Buying locally helps to retain jobs and stimulates the local economy. Second, I advocate buying anything made within the USA and not made from places around the world where the workers (often children) are treated unfairly and are underpaid like in "sweatshops". Third, I support people buying things that don't hurt the environment or things that are renewable or recycled. Fourth, if we must buy outside of these contexts, then buying from businesses that donate to Democratic campaigns and causes is the next best thing. It's called "buying blue".

With these four points in mind, I offer a few links I've come across to help in your search:

www.buyblue.org
Global Exchange: Fair Trade and Socially Conscious Gifts Online
Boycott Bush
The Progressive Pages
Method Products (environmentally safe)
Shop Union Made
Source of Items Made in USA (or with non-sweatshop labor)
National Green Pages
Green People
Starve the Beast
Economic Activism and Progressive Action Group (discussion board)
Java Soy Coffee (Indiana-owned non-GMO food)

I hope this is enough to get you started. Like I said--buying local should be first and foremost. I realize it's difficult to buy for teens. My own daughter wants an iPod. What I did find out through one of these links, however, is that iPod is a Democratic party-friendly business. So at least I'm supporting one of my causes! You'll just have to hash the pros and cons out and figure out what's the best route to take. The rest of my purchases will be made locally no matter what.

Remember these four conditions for buying: local, union, green, and blue!

Ag Director: We're Really Sorry, Sorta

Some of you may remember that a few months ago the Blackford County commissioners rejected a mega dairy, much to the ire of the state's Agriculture Director Andrew Miller. Well now that the dust has mostly settled he made his way up to Hartford City to apologize, in a way.

"Our intent was pure, our method was flawed" said Miller.

Well sure, you intent was to bully the commissioners into doing what you wanted. Your method was flawed in that it's not a good idea to try and bully county commissioners, they generally don't take that well.

I think the Ag Director's intent is a really good thing to question here, what was his intent? A 2000 head dairy is only going to create a few low paying jobs, not the sort of jobs Indiana should be focused on creating. And the impact that such a dairy would have on the prices other family farms would be able to get would be destructive to say the least. So what was the Ag Director's intent? To help out another out of state corporation in the "Buy Indiana" program? Or is a stranger, just a donor you haven't steamrolled local official for yet?

So This is What He Meant by "Buy Indiana"

Apparently the whole state is for sale, provided you aren't from Indiana. News from Indianapolis is that the Medicaid and welfare administration is for lease, the price tag is expected to be around $1 billion. Now I'm sure we all remember Gov Gump campaigned on the idea of "Buy Indiana." So how's that going you ask? With this contract the state will so far have funneled $1.5 billion in state contracts to out of state companies, all tax-payer funded. And we still have his fiasco idea of leasing the toll roads to come.

$1.5 billion in state contracts being pumped back into the Indiana economy would help offset the cost of these contracts, but $1.5 billion going out of state doesn't help anybody. Maybe some day people like Brian Howey will notice. I won't hold my breath waiting for it.

Republicans: "What Can the Poor Do For Us Today"

"House Republicans basked in triumph after the razor-thin passage of a sweeping budget cut plan in the wee hours of Friday morning."

Ok let's look at what these champions of the people accomplished:

Cut food stamps? Check.
Cut student loans? Check.
Cut Medicaid? Check.
Passed another tax cut for the rich? Check.

Now ask yourself, does this sound like a fair way to balance a budget, on the backs of the poor and middle class? And then to top it off with another tax cut? Look at these cuts, and explain how they show a strong moral center. How does denying food stamps to the poor, and college to the middle class help build strong families?

I would seriously love to hear a conservative defend this type of action, refusing to take back the $250 million for the "bridge to nowhere in Alaska," (sure they killed the bridge, but the state gets to keep the money for whatever they can think up)and refusing to take away the tax cuts companies get for moving the offices over seas, but instead taking money away from the poor and middle class. How do these people live with themselves at night?

Apparently Mitch Didn't Ask Rokita First

"What is government for except to come to the aid of people in times like this?” Daniels said.

I'm surprised that Rokita isn't down in Evansville setting up a bingo game at a local church to raise the money, since according to him this is the last thing government is for.

Wrong Question

"Are we more like Pennsylvania or are we more like Kansas?" Friend, R-Macy, asked. "That's what we're trying to find out."

Rep. Friend, you're supposed to be a leader. Stop asking you constituents whether they want to be like Kansas or Pennsylvania, it's your job to lead us down the right path.

And for the record ask yourself where would you rather live? Pittsburgh could've ended up like Gary, but it didn't, so maybe we have a few things to learn from Pennsylvania. Nobody ever wrote a book called "What's the Matter with Pennsylvania."

All Mitch All the Time

Taking Down Words discovered a website devoted to Governor Gump, and only Governor Gump.

Gov. Gump: Cut Me Some Slack

The idea that the guy who has bashed Governors Kernan and O'Bannon for absolutely everything is asking that we "give him some slack" is sickening. Why should we allow him a double standard? Why is it that he's still laying into Kernan 10 months on, but he should get a pass? Why we would allow a man who clearly had a list of ideas, but no plans to make them work skate on his failures?

In other words, when is he going to acknowledge that leadership is more then bashing the last guy, and that he isn't a leader?

TomPaine.com - Confronting The American Lifestyle

Entire article here.

"It is time for Democrats to confront one of the third rails remaining in Washington politics: the "American way of life." I'm not talking democracy and apple pie, although Washington could use truckloads more of both. Rather, it's time to mount a frontal assault on the failure of the post-war social experiment called suburbia. The prize is not only peace and prosperity, but a political realignment that staggers the imagination."...


..."At the same time, Dems will also have to show that it's not Americans who have chosen their unsustainable way of life, but that their way of life is the product of government policies. Transportation, mortgage assistance, energy, agriculture and natural resource policies have all contributed to give Americans no viable option for living sustainable lives.

Take transportation, for example. The federal government is subsidizing domestic oil production with ridiculously low royalties (approximately $2/barrel) that perpetuates our dependence on oil while forgoing billions in tax revenues. The government also oversubsidizes highways and undersubsidizes subways, light rail and inter-city railroads. And, even though hybrids use remarkably less gasoline and greatly reduce carbon emissions, Congress has limited the number of hybrid rebates available, virtually strangling this burgeoning market. Jane Q. Public might want to drive a hybrid and live in a beautiful walkable neighborhood, but they either don't exist or they're priced way out of reach. It's not her fault or the market's fault. It's the government's fault.

Americans basically want peace and prosperity. But right now, our economy is driving the opposite. In order to secure the oil we need, we're trapped in a major war in Iraq. The commuting, shopping and activities that comprise our day-to-day lives are draining our pocketbooks and keeping families apart. Again, it's not Jane Q. Public's fault, it's not the market's fault. It's the government's fault for laying out the rules so poorly."...

Nadler: Fitzgerald Must Broaden Investigation

www.house.gov

Forging the Case for War

The American Conservative

Yes. I got this little tidbit from a conservative magazine! Believe it or not, there ARE conservative Dems around here who might like the magazine! LoL

Anyway, could there be a link between the uranium niger document and the Office of Special Plans? We'll have to wait and see. Go get 'em Harry!

Middle Earth Journal: The SCOTUS and Roe VS Wade

Middle Earth Journal: The SCOTUS and Roe VS Wade

I thought this was an interesting perspective on the Roe vs Wade issue surrounding the Republican party. I never thought about the fact that most of the right-wing fundamentalist conservatives are one-issue voters, and if this issue was overturned in their favor, they would lose their interest in voting any longer, and then the moderate middle Republicans would then lose favor for their party as well. Quite an interesting perspective. I do believe that would be the case. So, in conclusion, it would be in the Republican party's interests to keep Roe vs Wade an ongoing issue in order to keep up their voting numbers. Hmmm.

Governor Gump: Always Looking Out for the Big Guys

I know I shouldn't be surprised that Mitch would stick up for corporations over the Hoosier's he's supposed to serve (am I the only one who gets the feeling he thinks we're supposed to serve him?)I just didn't expect the administration to be so open about it:

"According to the administration, lawmakers will know everything they need to know before they're asked to act. But they acknowledge that bidders' proprietary interests will trump detailed legislative or public scrutiny of any proposed deal, which could leave lawmakers discussing a pig in the poke."

Oh, but it gets better:

"According to the state's published timeline for the lease, bidders must submit "final and binding proposals" by early January, with a "financial close" anticipated in June.

That is well past the last day that lawmakers can meet in next year's short legislative session, which must end by March 15."

So not only are they going to keep the General Assembly and the public in the dark, but they have it timed so that the deal will be finalized during a time that legislators can't meet. Kind of like how they announced all the BMV closing after the General Assembly adjourned, so as to avoid the legally required legislative overview of the closings.

But don't worry, Mitch insists that he'll only sign if the state comes out a winner. If this ends up anything like the DST fiasco we'll end up paying to drive on gravel roads.

A Separate Peace - PEGGY NOONAN

A Separate Peace
America is in trouble--and our elites are merely resigned.

Thursday, October 27, 2005 12:01 a.m.

It is not so hard and can be a pleasure to tell people what you see. It's harder to speak of what you think you see, what you think is going on and can't prove or defend with data or numbers. That can get tricky. It involves hunches. But here goes.
I think there is an unspoken subtext in our national political culture right now. In fact I think it's a subtext to our society. I think that a lot of people are carrying around in their heads, unarticulated and even in some cases unnoticed, a sense that the wheels are coming off the trolley and the trolley off the tracks. That in some deep and fundamental way things have broken down and can't be fixed, or won't be fixed any time soon. That our pollsters are preoccupied with "right track" and "wrong track" but missing the number of people who think the answer to "How are things going in America?" is "Off the tracks and hurtling forward, toward an unknown destination."

I'm not talking about "Plamegate." As I write no indictments have come up. I'm not talking about "Miers." I mean . . . the whole ball of wax. Everything. Cloning, nuts with nukes, epidemics; the growing knowledge that there's no such thing as homeland security; the fact that we're leaving our kids with a bill no one can pay. A sense of unreality in our courts so deep that they think they can seize grandma's house to build a strip mall; our media institutions imploding--the spectacle of a great American newspaper, the New York Times, hurtling off its own tracks, as did CBS. The fear of parents that their children will wind up disturbed, and their souls actually imperiled, by the popular culture in which we are raising them. Senators who seem owned by someone, actually owned, by an interest group or a financial entity. Great churches that have lost all sense of mission, and all authority. Do you have confidence in the CIA? The FBI? I didn't think so.

But this recounting doesn't quite get me to what I mean. I mean I believe there's a general and amorphous sense that things are broken and tough history is coming.

_______________________

Let me focus for a minute on the presidency, another institution in trouble. In the past I have been impatient with the idea that it's impossible now to be president, that it is impossible to run the government of the United States successfully or even competently. I always thought that was an excuse of losers. I'd seen a successful presidency up close. It can be done.
But since 9/11, in the four years after that catastrophe, I have wondered if it hasn't all gotten too big, too complicated, too crucial, too many-fronted, too . . . impossible.

I refer to the sheer scope, speed and urgency of the issues that go to a president's desk, to the impossibility of bureaucracy, to the array of impeding and antagonistic forces (the 50-50 nation, the mass media, the senators owned by the groups), to the need to have a fully informed understanding of and stand on the most exotic issues, from Avian flu to the domestic realities of Zimbabwe.

The special prosecutors, the scandals, the spin for the scandals, nuclear proliferation, wars and natural disasters, Iraq, stem cells, earthquakes, the background of the Supreme Court backup pick, how best to handle the security problems at the port of Newark, how to increase production of vaccines, tort reform, did Justice bungle the anthrax case, how is Cipro production going, did you see this morning's Raw Threat File? Our public schools don't work, and there's little refuge to be had in private schools, however pricey, in part because teachers there are embarrassed not to be working in the slums and make up for it by putting pictures of Frida Kalho where Abe Lincoln used to be. Where is Osama? What's up with trademark infringement and intellectual capital? We need an answer on an amendment on homosexual marriage! We face a revolt on immigration.

The range, depth, and complexity of these problems, the crucial nature of each of them, the speed with which they bombard the Oval Office, and the psychic and practical impossibility of meeting and answering even the most urgent of them, is overwhelming. And that doesn't even get us to Korea. And Russia. And China, and the Mideast. You say we don't understand Africa? We don't even understand Canada!

Roiling history, daily dangers, big demands; a government that is itself too big and rolling in too much money and ever needing more to do the latest important, necessary, crucial thing.

It's beyond, "The president is overwhelmed." The presidency is overwhelmed. The whole government is. And people sense when an institution is overwhelmed. Citizens know. If we had a major terrorist event tomorrow half the country--more than half--would not trust the federal government to do what it has to do, would not trust it to tell the truth, would not trust it, period.

It should be noted that all modern presidents face a slew of issues, and none of them have felt in control of events but have instead felt controlled by them. JFK in one week faced the Soviets, civil rights, the Berlin Wall, the southern Democratic mandarins of the U.S. Senate. He had to face Cuba, only 90 miles away, importing Russian missiles. But the difference now, 45 years later, is that there are a million little Cubas, a new Cuba every week. It's all so much more so. And all increasingly crucial. And it will be for the next president, too.

__________________________________________

A few weeks ago I was chatting with friends about the sheer number of things parents now buy for teenage girls--bags and earrings and shoes. When I was young we didn't wear earrings, but if we had, everyone would have had a pair or two. I know a 12-year-old with dozens of pairs. They're thrown all over her desk and bureau. She's not rich, and they're inexpensive, but her parents buy her more when she wants them. Someone said, "It's affluence," and someone else nodded, but I said, "Yeah, but it's also the fear parents have that we're at the end of something, and they want their kids to have good memories. They're buying them good memories, in this case the joy a kid feels right down to her stomach when the earrings are taken out of the case."
This, as you can imagine, stopped the flow of conversation for a moment. Then it resumed, as delightful and free flowing as ever. Human beings are resilient. Or at least my friends are, and have to be.

Let me veer back to the president. One of the reasons some of us have felt discomfort regarding President Bush's leadership the past year or so is that he makes more than the usual number of decisions that seem to be looking for trouble. He makes startling choices, as in the Miers case. But you don't have to look for trouble in life, it will find you, especially when you're president. It knows your address. A White House is a castle surrounded by a moat, and the moat is called trouble, and the rain will come and the moat will rise. You should buy some boots, do your work, hope for the best.

___________________________________________

Do people fear the wheels are coming off the trolley? Is this fear widespread? A few weeks ago I was reading Christopher Lawford's lovely, candid and affectionate remembrance of growing up in a particular time and place with a particular family, the Kennedys, circa roughly 1950-2000. It's called "Symptoms of Withdrawal." At the end he quotes his Uncle Teddy. Christopher, Ted Kennedy and a few family members had gathered one night and were having a drink in Mr. Lawford's mother's apartment in Manhattan. Teddy was expansive. If he hadn't gone into politics he would have been an opera singer, he told them, and visited small Italian villages and had pasta every day for lunch. "Singing at la Scala in front of three thousand people throwing flowers at you. Then going out for dinner and having more pasta." Everyone was laughing. Then, writes Mr. Lawford, Teddy "took a long, slow gulp of his vodka and tonic, thought for a moment, and changed tack. 'I'm glad I'm not going to be around when you guys are my age.' I asked him why, and he said, 'Because when you guys are my age, the whole thing is going to fall apart.' "
Mr. Lawford continued, "The statement hung there, suspended in the realm of 'maybe we shouldn't go there.' Nobody wanted to touch it. After a few moments of heavy silence, my uncle moved on."

Lawford thought his uncle might be referring to their family--that it might "fall apart." But reading, one gets the strong impression Teddy Kennedy was not talking about his family but about . . . the whole ball of wax, the impossible nature of everything, the realities so daunting it seems the very system is off the tracks.

And--forgive me--I thought: If even Teddy knows . . .

____________________________________

If I am right that trolley thoughts are out there, and even prevalent, how are people dealing with it on a daily basis?
I think those who haven't noticed we're living in a troubling time continue to operate each day with classic and constitutional American optimism intact. I think some of those who have a sense we're in trouble are going through the motions, dealing with their own daily challenges.

And some--well, I will mention and end with America's elites. Our recent debate about elites has had to do with whether opposition to Harriet Miers is elitist, but I don't think that's our elites' problem.

This is. Our elites, our educated and successful professionals, are the ones who are supposed to dig us out and lead us. I refer specifically to the elites of journalism and politics, the elites of the Hill and at Foggy Bottom and the agencies, the elites of our state capitals, the rich and accomplished and successful of Washington, and elsewhere. I have a nagging sense, and think I have accurately observed, that many of these people have made a separate peace. That they're living their lives and taking their pleasures and pursuing their agendas; that they're going forward each day with the knowledge, which they hold more securely and with greater reason than nonelites, that the wheels are off the trolley and the trolley's off the tracks, and with a conviction, a certainty, that there is nothing they can do about it.

I suspect that history, including great historical novelists of the future, will look back and see that many of our elites simply decided to enjoy their lives while they waited for the next chapter of trouble. And that they consciously, or unconsciously, took grim comfort in this thought: I got mine. Which is what the separate peace comes down to, "I got mine, you get yours."

You're a lobbyist or a senator or a cabinet chief, you're an editor at a paper or a green-room schmoozer, you're a doctor or lawyer or Indian chief, and you're making your life a little fortress. That's what I think a lot of the elites are up to.

Not all of course. There are a lot of people--I know them and so do you--trying to do work that helps, that will turn it around, that can make it better, that can save lives. They're trying to keep the boat afloat. Or, I should say, get the trolley back on the tracks.

That's what I think is going on with our elites. There are two groups. One has made a separate peace, and one is trying to keep the boat afloat. I suspect those in the latter group privately, in a place so private they don't even express it to themselves, wonder if they'll go down with the ship. Or into bad territory with the trolley.

Ms. Noonan is a contributing editor of The Wall Street Journal and author of "John Paul the Great: Remembering a Spiritual Father," forthcoming in November from Penguin, which you can preorder from the OpinionJournal bookstore. Her column appears Thursdays.


Copyright © 2005 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Ohio Congressman Forfeits DeLay Money - Yahoo! News

Ohio Congressman Forfeits DeLay Money

Okay--so when is Chocola going to give HIS DeLay money to charity, huh?? We need to pressure him right now.

"WASHINGTON - An Ohio congressman became the fourth House Republican to forfeit or return campaign contributions from a committee run by indicted former Majority Leader Tom DeLay.

Rep. Steven LaTourette, who represents northeast Ohio, gave $13,000 from his re-election campaign to the Bush-Clinton Katrina Relief Fund earlier this month. That equaled the contributions his election campaigns had received from DeLay's Americans for a Republican Majority PAC since the 1994 election cycle.

LaTourette didn't announce his decision publicly, and his aides declined to talk about it on Friday. LaTourette did discuss it in an Oct. 11 letter to an Aurora Democrat who plans to run against him.

"As a former prosecutor, I trust that the legal system will work and Tom DeLay, like every American, should have his day in court and should be afforded the presumption of innocence. However, in order to remove any questions that may arise about these contributions, I have made a donation in the same amount to the Bush-Clinton Katrina fund," LaTourette wrote to Palmer Peterson.

Peterson had written a letter challenging LaTourette to return the money and posted it on his own campaign Web site.

DeLay stepped aside as the No. 2 GOP leader in the House after he was indicted Sept. 28 on conspiracy charges arising out of an investigation into campaign fundraising in 2002 election races for the Texas state Legislature. He was indicted again five days later on money-laundering charges.

Rep. Kenny Hulshof of Missouri said earlier this month that he, too, sent a check for $14,500 — the amount he had received from DeLay's committee since 1996 — to the Katrina relief fund. Republican Reps. Jeb Bradley of New Hampshire and Heather Wilson of New Mexico returned funds from the committee."

Libby but not Rove?

NYT via Drudge (yeah I know) is reporting that Libby will be indicted tomorrow, while Fitzgerald will extend his investigation to continue looking at Rove.

We'll see how accurate this is.

A Public Service

As a public service I will now translate the linked article in the Star from Mitch to Hoosier:

If there isn't any economic development in the next 3 years it your fault fattie, not mine!

I guess we should at least be happy he blamed somebody other then Governor Kernan for once.

And now time for a public service bonus, a sartorial guide for Mitch:

When you're touring a soybean field to discuss bio-diesel it's ok to wear plaid and a ball cap. When you're meeting with an executive who is trying to decide whether or not to close a huge factory, a suit wouldn't be a bad idea. Dress for success Mitch, dress for success.

And another thing, ditch the cowardly lion and go as Gump, while cowardly (handling of DST) maybe be a close second, Gump (well just about every stupid thing he's done so far, including dressing like Forrest when meeting with Delphi executives) just seems more your style. Maybe it's time to go back to playing Ping Pong.

Daylight Savings, an Idea Not Worth Fighting For

At least to Mitch it isn't:

"Daniels is unlikely to attend any of the hearings, press secretary Jane Jankowski said."

Why not Mitch, DST is your baby, I'd think you would want to help your fellow Hoosiers get the time zone they want. Or are you afraid that you won't be welcomed as just another good ole boy?

Or is this just another example of your inability to lead?

You Know Indiana Means Business When Governor Gump Shows Up

"Mama always said economic development is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get."

And Whose Fault is That?

It would appear that the fallout over the DOT potential ruling on DST have begun to take shape, with most of the concern centering on the St. Joseph county decision.

"Gov. Mitch Daniels issued a statement calling the decision -- which would move St. Joseph County to the Central time zone and leave its social and economic neighbor to the east, Elkhart County, in the Eastern time zone -- "obviously unworkable."

Who didn't see this coming? Mitch it was your idea to not set a time zone, you said let the counties petition DOT individually. You said you expected the counties that petitioned to simply receive a letter granting their requests. How did you not see this coming? It was your idea.

This mess is nothing more then the most severe manifestation of Mitch's absolute abdication of his role as a leader. He has a BMV commissioner running wild, unemployment checks that take months to arrive to those who need them, and FSSA isn't any better off then before. But this has been Mitch's crown jewel of leadership failure, DST was his idea, he was willing to twist any and all arms as needed to get it passed, and he didn't care in what form it was passed, and there in lies the problem. He was so eager to get it passed that he allowed it to become this charade of effective governance, allowing nearly any change required to pick up a vote regardless of it effect on the implementation. So now we are left with this mess, people being told it will be their choice on what time zone they live it, except it isn't, and nobody really has any clue how it will end.

He may be governor, but he's no leader.

Apprently they didn't get Mitch's memo

Remember when Mitch said he expected all the counties requesting a time zone change would simply get a letter approving the change?

Yeah, not so much.

Props to Masson's blog for finding the document.

I Feel Safer Already

"The idea is to keep terrorists from playing bingo or running a charitable game to raise large amounts of cash, Holiday said"

Well it's about time somebody clamped down the terrorist elements of the AARP.

Sometimes Reality and the GOP's "Reality" Just Don't Match

So the economy is booming right? Since January Mitch has created all these new super high paying jobs so nobody would ever need to file bankruptcy, right?

"From the August figures compared to the September figures, there was a 62 percent increase in the Chapter 7 filings in the South Bend Division of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court."

"According to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, there were 205,129 personal bankruptcy filings across the country the week of Oct. 10. Many experts say the backlog of unprocessed cases could reach the 300,000 mark."

I know what the GOP apologist will say, these are all people who ran up credit cards and don't want to pay, right?

"To investigate medical contributors to bankruptcy, we surveyed 1,771 personal bankruptcy filers in five federal courts and subsequently completed in-depth interviews with 931 of them. About half cited medical causes, which indicates that 1.9–2.2 million Americans (filers plus dependents) experienced medical bankruptcy."

So we have a situation where workers have low paying jobs and poor insurance (unless of course they work at Wal-Mart in which case they have no insurance at all) can find themselves in a very bleak financial situation if somebody in their family suffers a serious illness of accident. And the GOP's response is to remove the safety net. Not to fix health care, not provide more job training so we can attract better paying jobs, no that's too much work, just stick 'em with the bill, who cares if they can pay it.

Rep. Chocola (R-Himself) is One of Tommy's Kids

So sure Chocola has taken $40,000 from DeLay, it was just money right, it's not like DeLay had any control over Chocola or his campaign?

"An ARMPAC mailing to gun-owning voters in Chocola's race for an open congressional seat praised him as someone who "will protect the sporting traditions that Indiana sportsmen have passed on. For future generations to continue to enjoy our heritage, we need the leadership of Chris Chocola."

Now the idea of Chocola sitting in a deer blind aside, this is more then just money, this is DeLay playing an active role in Chocola getting elected. This is Chocola owing DeLay one, which is exactly how DeLay operates. So you gotta ask what did DeLay get for his help?

It Takes $850,000 to Figure Out that Indiana's Property Tax System is Broken?

The surprising part of this article isn't that the system is broken, anybody whose ever eaten a pork tenderloin (that's right non-Hoosiers, we have food you've never even heard of) knows that. What is surprising is that Mitch didn't jump all over this issue, maybe because the study was commissioned by Governor Kernan in 2003. Or maybe it's because fixing property taxes will end up requiring raising or creating another tax. Ultimately that's the sort of reform that requires leadership, and while Mitch is a "reformer" he's no leader. It's probably just as well, we can't afford to have Mitch handle this the same way he handled DST.

World's Smallest Political Quiz

World's Smallest Political Quiz

Thought this might be interesting for some.

Howey Hearts Mitch

I've come to expect the national "news" media (the quotes are for Fox) to do a certain amount of water carrying for the Bush administration, it's so much easier to just read a press release then to, well you know report. But not to be outdone our local media has been going out of it's way to make sure Mitch doesn't miss the national press corp's touch, none possibly more so then Brian Howey. The last few weeks has been a build up towards this mash note to Mitch, but still the force with which Howey really seems to love his dear leader was a little shocking. Even more shocking is how little sense he makes in his column, but then love makes you do crazy things.

"Except that it sucks ... resources, as opposed to private corporations that contribute funding to government. “If we ignore this, if manufacturing goes away, then the whole state hollows out and collapses,” said Ed Roberts, vice president of the Indiana Manufacturers Association. “Government consumes a lot of resources. But without those resources, it all collapses.”

Yeah that's the problem too many BMV branches, not cheap foreign labor. As for private corporations that contribute, you can't throw a rock without hitting a company getting a tax abatement. And then there's Wal-Mart which views Medicaid as it's own free health insurance company.

Except that it sucks ... resources, as opposed to private corporations that contribute funding to government. “If we ignore this, if manufacturing goes away, then the whole state hollows out and collapses,” said Ed Roberts, vice president of the Indiana Manufacturers Association. “Government consumes a lot of resources. But without those resources, it all collapses.”

"Wake up, Hoosiers.

If, in a decade, government continues to be our biggest employers, we are going to be in deep, deep trouble. It is an unsustainable trend."

Damn right if we're gonna keep shedding jobs we've got to start looking for new sources of unemployed workers, those people aren't going to fire themselves.

"We have a governor who is a reformer."

Oh he's something else all right he really reformed the Hell out of the unemployment system. And DST, that was one of the best managed policies ever.

Brownie You're Doing a Heck of a Job Eating Dinner

So it turns out that FEMA's slow response was due to Michal Brown having to wait at the Baton Rouge Applebee's?

""He needs much more that [sic] 20 or 30 minutes," Worthy wrote.

"Restaurants are getting busy," she said. "We now have traffic to encounter to go to and from a location of his choise [sic], followed by wait service from the restaurant staff, eating, etc. Thank you."

So it wasn't that FEMA didn't know how to do it's job, but that Bush's hand picked appointee was too busy ordering appetizers to order the necessary help.

Of course now we'll see Brownie show the GOP's famed love of personal responsibility and accountability and fess up to awe-inspiring incompetence.

Shocking

I'm shocked, just shocked that Bush's FCC would rule that Christian Broadcasting is a better use of the airwaves then educational programming. Just shocked I tell you.

Isn't "Change" Great?

Boy it sure is a good thing that Mitch "changed" Mayor Peterson's no tax plan to build a new stadium, it might have worked. Instead we have Mitch's tax that is only bringing in half the amount of money needed. Isn't that great? Now he can cut even more government services to make up the difference! Maybe he can replace Hoosier Millionaire with a weekly show where education, Medicaid, transportation, and the BMV compete to keep their funding!

They Really Mean an Army of One (Because You're on Your Own)

A year after being required by Congress too reimburse soldiers for body armor the soldiers had to purchase, the Pentagon has still not begun payments. The reason? They never wanted to pay the soldiers back.

An anonymous parent of a Marine sums it up pretty well:

"We agree with the comment of a former Marine whose son, also a Marine, is serving in Fallujah, who was quoted by the AP: "...I think the U.S. has an obligation to make sure they (soldiers) have this equipment and to reimburse for it. I just don't support Donald Rumsfeld's idea of going to war with what you have, not what you want. You go to war prepared, and you don't go to war until you are prepared."

This sets an interesting, and scary precedent, will tank commander be required to buy their own M1 Abrams tanks (cost $4.3 million) or how about B-2 pilots, (cost $2.2 billion?) Of course not, so why would the pentagon expect troops on the ground to buy their own armor? And why hasn't the GOP, America's "pro-military" party enforced this law? For that matter why has the GOP which runs the Pentagon continued to drag it's feet?

Well Todd, what is the government for then?

So the Indiana Secretary of State has decided that the government isn't responsible for rebuilding after Katrina:

"It absolutely amazed me how quick we were to say that the government was responsible for that hurricane," Rokita told attendees of a program presented by the IU Republican Women. If we continue to think that way, pretty soon we will be living in a country that looks not unlike the former USSR."

Just a little tip here Todd, but currently your team is at bat so I'd go easy on the USSR references, Joe McCarthy didn't drink himself to death to become the new Lenin.

Now that seems to be a dim enough understanding of the role of government, but then he also manages to show just how little he understands the scale of the destruction, and how much it cost to rebuild after a disaster of that scale:

"The responsibility of reconstruction after the hurricane, he said in a post-lecture interview, should have been placed upon the shoulders of citizens, churches and neighbors."

Now that is a lot of yard sales and church bazaars. Except oh wait, there are no neighbors left, their houses were destroyed as well as the churches, so sorry guys no billion dollar bingo games to pay for it all.

I'm not sure what's worse, that this guy got elected, or that somebody lost to him.

More Tale from Mitch's Blame Squad

You gotta love a law that allows the state's Inspector General to accuse former State Police Superintendent Melvin Carraway of impropriety, but refuse to discuss the details. I don't have any clue whether or not Carraway broke a rule, but then neither does anybody else who reads this article, so why release such a sketchy news release? Because while the charges always make headlines the truth usually ends up on B8 in the Star.

And Now Introducing Mitch and the Harriet Miers Sextet

Today Mitch announced his appointments to the State Board of Education. And while his picks maybe somewhat unknown (on paper they look good, but Mitch has a way of putting his pals ahead of everything else) it his reason for picking them that seems all so familiar, and bogus:

"He appointed, he said, a "reform-minded" board which he wants to look at how Indiana can best give teachers the most "time on task" with children."

What is that supposed to mean? And given the absolute failure of Mitch's recent reforms what should we even expect? Closing all but 5 schools? Oh, wait he's already pitching that idea. Firing all the principals and replacing them with Galayans employees? Buying RV's to replace aging schools?

The best part? Mitch forget to tell the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

"Daniels had earlier said he would consult with Reed on the appointments. She learned of them today in phone call from Shane."

Rove: Beginning of the End, or just the End of the Beginning?

Reports are that Karl Rove was brought back for his fourth appearance before the grand jury for questioning about "discrepancies in testimony between Rove and Time reporter Matt Cooper about their conversation of July 11, 2003." At issue is that Rove didn't disclose details of the conversation to the grand jury during his first testimony, or the FBI when they interviewed him.

Which is great and all, but this is starting to drag on with no end in sight. Add in Judy Miller "suddenly" finding notes from a conversation with Scooter Libby, which will need to be investigated in depth, and well by the time this ends Bush could be back to clearing brush full time. I'm thinking that the White House has taken control of the time line, they may not be able to affect the outcome, but they may be able to determine when it happens. If they can offset the indictments until next spring, as opposed to this fall, then there won't be any trial activity next fall, and the GOP can focus on the evils of gay people and single moms, instead of an avalanche of corruption. People don't necessarily know who Tom Delay is, and don't always care, but anything to do with why we went into Iraq gets their attention. If you want to pound away on Delay, and Duke Cunningham, and the people who took Delay's dirty money (I'm looking in your direction Rep. Chocola) you need Rove as an ice-breaker, not everybody knows what TrimPAC is, but we all know how the war in Iraq has gone.

Justice delayed is justice denied.

Indiana to Start Pumping E85

Thanks to grant money (sad that it takes free money to get them to do it) 8 Indiana gas stations will start selling E85 fuel, fuel that contains 15% ethanol. While not every vehicle can use E85, it is a start.

I realize that ethanol isn't the solution, but it is a good start. It gets people thinking about alternatives to gas, and reduces our dependence on foreign oil, even if it is but a drop in the ocean. It also means an expanding market for Indiana corn growers (that is if Mitch doesn't auction them all of to this week's favorite megafarm) and for the ethanol plants that are popping up all over the state. So no we probably won't all be driving cars powered purely by ethanol or soy diesel, but it's a little easier to imagine driving cars powered by something other then gas.

Mitch to Farmers: Suck It

That is what his administration is saying when it tries to force megafarm on communities. Most dislike them due to pollution, which isn't a small consideration given that the state's most prolific water polluter is a hog megafarm in the Western part of the state. But megafarms are lethal to the family farm, they take the bottom out of market prices making it impossible for family farms to make any profit. Note that as these prices have fallen, food hasn't become any cheaper at the grocery store, megafarm aren't about reducing our costs, just theirs.

So why is this so important?

"Indiana has ignored agriculture economic development for years, Miller said. Now, it's time to get with it. Megafarms provide jobs. Most importantly, the large amount of manure can be a source of new bio-fuels."

So are minimum wage jobs, worth the destruction of a way of life? Is it really worth destroying the bedrock of rural communities, the family farm, to create a few more jobs to pad Mitch's numbers? Or is this more about the money these corporations provide Mitch's re-election?

Sometimes Change Isn't a Good Thing

"The new fault lines in Indiana politics are between the forces of change and the forces of standing still.” -Mitch

See the problem Mitch is that you have to think through the consequences of your actions, your "change." If you push through a bill requiring Day Light Savings, but pass the buck on what time zone that it should be problems happen. Actually you end up with a big mess, as the people in the Lafayette area are going to find out as Tippecanoe County switches to Eastern Daylight Savings, and the counties surrounding it go with Central.

Or when you decide to centralize the unemployment payments offices, but don't hire enough people to make sure the checks aren't sent out in a reasonable period of time. A lot of people, people who don't have a lot to begin with, were hurt by your "change." But I doubt any of your neighbors in Geist were effected so no biggie, right Mitch?

Or when you "change" how the state distributes property tax money to county and municipal governments, your change was to shortchange them. Now local governments will be faces with cutting services, like police and fire, or raising property taxes. People are already losing their houses at near record rates, higher property taxes will only push that further.

But your right about change Mitch, I just hope the state survives until 2008 to make an important change.

News You Could Have Used a Year Ago

It turns out a Marine who had worked at the White House since 1999 (yes he started during the Clinton presidency) was caught spying for groups within the Philippines. That alone is a fairly big news story, but what is interesting is when he was caught:

"Last year, after leaving the Marines, Aragoncillo was caught by the FBI while he worked for the Bureau at an intelligence center at Fort Monmouth, N.J."

Now why wasn't this news a year ago? Hmmm, what could have been happening a year ago were a serious security leak would have been a really bad thing for President Bush? ...Oh yeah that's right he was running for re-election claiming that he was the only person we could trust with national security matters.

No Ann Just You

We'll let DeLay stay in Texas, I here they're preparing a nice room for him right now.

Privatized Highways Congested with Problems

The Star writes about a pretty lengthy list of problem privatized highways, and notes that Mitch may be wildly optimistic in how much Indiana would get to privatize the toll road. So why do it?

"With fuel prices rising and traffic congestion worsening, Gov. Mitch Daniels wants to turn over two of Indiana's interstates to private hands.
Leasing out tolling and concessions rights on the roads, the Republican governor believes, will spare motorists who are in no mood to hear about a new levy at the pump. Privatizing also frees up money for other road needs."

Once again Mitch is playing his shell game with our taxes, we continue to pay more for less while he tries to claim he has no role in the new taxes. Once these road are privatized we can expect the tolls to double at the start. But hey the road are privately held, what can Mitch do about it?

Something's Fishy in Alaska

Hands down Alaska has to be the per capita pork capital of America. $500 million for bridges that will serve a total of less then 100 people, and now $29 million to promote the Alaskan fish industry, including $500,000 to paint Alaska Airlines planes to look like fish. Does anybody actually care that much about where their fish comes from that Alaska needs $29 million to get you to eat their's? And does the GOP really think they are still the party of fiscal conservatives?

A Not So Slippery Slope

So the NLRB ruled this summer that a security companies rule preventing fraternization was legal, and has ever since been trying to spin that it wasn't an open door to further control over after hours activity by employers. Except the argument doesn't make a lot of sense when you read the rule.

The NLRB claims:

" It argued workers would interpret the fraternization rule as merely a ban on dating and not a ban on association among co-workers, say for an after-work game of slow-pitch."

Except for the fact that the company's rule distinguished between the two:

"fraternize on duty or off duty, date or become overly friendly with the clients' employees or with co-employees."

The company was clear to mention both, so they didn't mean fraternization to mean "date" they meant date to mean "date."

So what did the company mean? They probably didn't mean slow-pitch, but they may very well have meant union and political activity. Given that two of the three current members are Bush appointees it's not a far stretch to think that the NLRB would view companies prohibiting those activities as being permissible, in their world view those sorts of activities never lead to any good.

To Our Conservative Friends at IUPUI

An anonymous poster commented on three different article today, and as you will see all three have been deleted. Anyone is free to comment on posts, but I will not tolerate profanity. If you can't make your arguement with resorting to that, then you don't have much of an arguement, and it will be deleted.

If at First You Don't Succed, Donate a Lot of Cash

Patriot Engineering is the firm at the center of the Indianapolis Central Library controversy. For those unfamiliar the project, it is months behind schedule because the concrete support pillars were found to be defective severely undermining the foundation of the library expansion. It was Patriot's job to inspect the pillars for any defects and insure that they were built properly.

So it should come as a great surprise then that Patriot has been awarded the contract to inspect the same type of work at the new Colt's stadium. Apparently not everybody is thrilled about this:

Former Lt. Gov. John Mutz, who serves on the authority, expressed his concerns at the board's meeting Tuesday. "Something went wrong on the library," he said. "I'm uncomfortable based on that experience. This project has to be completed on time."

But Mitch's man, John Klipsch, felt differently:

"He said the state didn't want to exclude the Indianapolis company because of suspected problems on another project"

That is exactly why you exclude a company; poor work is always the first reason to exclude a company. So why then does Patriot get another chance? While I'm sure that there are backroom connections at play here, I doubt the $7800 worth of contributions that Patriot and its owner Richard Kraft made to Mitch was overlooked.

Will the Last Doctor Out of Indiana Turn Off the Lights?"

"In a study conducted by Indiana State Medical Association, 50 percent of Indiana physicians plan to either relocate or retire within the next 12 months."

Why?

"Medicare is proposing to cut reimbursements to physicians by 4.3 percent, meaning physicians would incur more of the health care cost."

Add in the cuts the state is enacting and Indiana isn't the most profitable place to practice medicine. And while 50% seems unrealistic it does seem likely that a sizeable portion of Indiana's doctors are serious about moving/ relocating. And as the true cost of Bush's prescription plan is realized the cuts could become deeper.

Ok, is now the time to address health care in this country?

Brownie You're Doing a Helluva Job Figuring Out Why You Didn't Do a Helluva a Job

Well it's nice to know that the true "victim" of Hurricane Katrina landed on his feet. Only this administration would pay somebody to figure out how he had screwed up something so obvious.

On the Highway to Hell

Let's call Mitch's plan to privatize the toll road and potentially I-69 what it is, a band-aid for his poll numbers. Once again Indiana got the fuzzy end of the sucker when the federal highway bill was passed, (even though our vaunted GOP delegation is supposed to full of Washington power players) we won't be getting any $250 million dollar bridges for 50 people, so projects that need massive amounts of funding like the Hoosier Heartland are in limbo unless the state can cough up the cash. And since Mitch's fire sale of the state government hasn't raised enough cash for these kind of projects he's looking at more pieces to sell off. While this will bring in the money upfront to start construction, there is no guarantee that over the long haul that leasing the toll roads and I-69 will be a profitable or even equitable venture for the state.

But what does Mitch care? It accomplishes the only two things he cares about, it helps with his re-election effort, and it massively reduces the size and effectiveness of the state government long term.

But you want even more proof that its a bad idea? Even the Star is against it. When the Star is against something a Republican thought of, you know it's a bad idea.

Huge Property Tax Increases in the Future

"The problem, according to the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns, is that property tax rates are expected to go up between 8 and 12 percent in both 2006 and 2007, or between 16 and 24 percent."

People are struggling now, and we're looking at fairly oppressive increases to come. The problem is that far too much of Indiana's educational, local, and state services are paid for with the property tax.

While the IACT is working on a solution, the GOP led legislature seems less inclined to tackle this problem. "One of the most amazing quotes following the Indiana General Assembly’s biennial budget came from House Ways & Means Chairman Jeff Espich, the Republican from Uniondale. He was asked last spring if there would be a move toward property tax relief during the 2006 session, to which Espich replied, “I can’t imagine an election year session will lead to any change in that attitude.”

Rich McClain may have a primary challenger, now there is talk that Rep. Harrison in Hendricks county could have a challenger. Republicans in the state house are very weak right now, we can defeat these guys with good candidates.

More Property Tax Woes Ahead?

You'll find this link to the left in the news feed, but I wanted to post this at the top to highlight a potential further strain to the county's property tax income.

New Local Taxes Courtesy of Daniels

The Cass County Council passed a $25 dollar a vehicle wheel tax. The reason?

"Cuts in local road and street budgets based on state formulas forecast for 2007 would have meant major cuts in road improvement and maintenance, County Highway Superintendent Dave Strahlem said."

Mitch knows how much money it takes to run the state, and that it was going to require a tax increase to meet those needs. But he didn't want to be the one to do it, so what to do? Easy, push it off on the counties.

That's not leadership.

Gutless

19 counties (including Cass) have now petitioned the DOT to move to the central time zone when Indiana begins DST. Now how many of those counties will have their petitions approved? My guess is very few, and not including Cass.

When Mitch was campaigning he said he favored central time. Why? Because most voters favored central time. But when it came time to write the law he suddenly didn't have a preference. Why? Because the Indiana Chamber of Commerce favored Eastern. So left with the choice of angering either the voters or his sugar-daddies, Mitch took the third option which was to punt and let the DOT pick.

Folks, that's not leadership, that just gutless.

Clearly somebody never rode a school bus

"Gov. Mitch Daniels asked the question: "Do we need 292 school corporations in this state -- some serving less than 1,000 students?”

Yeah we do. Really the question should be do we need the one that serve too many students? Study after study have agreed that smaller class sizes are good for students. Smaller schools are good for students, it's a good thing when the school's administration recognizes the students. And yes, when you consolidate rural school districts you get students who have very long bus rides. Given that it's not unusual for a student to have a 45 minute to 1 hour bus ride what will it be after further consolidation? Can we really expect a 6 year old to wake up at 5:30 in the morning and be ready to learn after an hour and a half on a bus?

Once again this is another story of Mitch Daniels clearly not getting it when it comes to education.

A Lack of Political Will

Earlier in the week the Logansport city council voted down a proposal to create a city-wide wireless network. Why? God only knows, but the excuse is that the council needs more information. The council was presented with a copious amount of information, and an expert (and potential bidder if the project comes back, how convenient)even agreed that this was worth doing, and well designed.

So why did the council really vote it down? Because there are people in our community who have zero interest in the future of Logansport. Their only concern are their wallet. It doesn't matter how sensible the idea may be, it doesn't matter how many businesses, and for that matter Republicans support it, if they can't make money off of it, then they're against it.

A lack of political will? Foremost are the three Democrats on the council that voted against it. They didn't care what it would do for the community, or what it would do to the Mayor who's coat-tails they were carried into office on, they didn't care about it's impact on improving city services, the only thing that mattered to them was would they get reelected if they voted for it. They knew that those with the fat wallets and narrow minds would make their reelections very difficult, and in that moment that's all they were thinking about.

The one and only job they have is to make the Logansport of tomorrow better then the Logansport of today, but instead they thought of themselves. Remember that in the 2007 primaries, when they were supposed to be thinking about the community they were only worried about themselves. Is that who you want representing Democrats in Logansport?

Katrina Exodus Could Change Political Mix

"WASHINGTON - Population shifts caused by the exodus of hurricane victims from the Gulf Coast could have ripple effects for years to come in Louisiana political races and perhaps beyond.

How big depends on how many people stay away, which ones stay away and where they end up putting down roots.

The early thinking is that the evacuees least likely to return to their homes in Louisiana may be the poorest — and thus, Democrats for the most part. That would hurt the party in a state where Republicans already were making inroads.

If the lion's share of those leaving settle in Texas, that could work to the advantage of Democrats in President Bush's home state."

Poll: Bush approval at 39 percent

"Nearly four years after Bush's job approval soared into the 80s after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, Bush was at 39 percent job approval in an AP-Ipsos poll taken this week. That's the lowest since the the poll was started in December 2003.

The public's view of the nation's direction has grown increasingly negative as well, with nearly two-thirds now saying the country is heading down the wrong track.

"As a nation, we are pretty well stretched," said Barry Allen, a political independent from Reed City, Michigan. "I approve of some of the things the president has done and disapprove of others. Overall, I disapprove."

Allen said he liked some of Bush's economic steps during his first term but has been dissatisfied with the president's economic moves in his second term, his Iraq policy and his handling of gasoline prices."

...."The number of people who think the country is on the wrong track grew from 59 percent last month to 65 percent this month. Tumbling consumer confidence after Hurricane Katrina may be contributing to that sense of pessimism."

Putting Your Safety Second

"The one place we will never scrimp is life and death areas like the State Police," Daniels said."

Liar.

Ethics are for Others: BMV Edition

While most people would probably settle for not having to wait in line enough of a perk as head of the BMV, Mitch's man wanted more. So he hired 24 former co-workers. How did he find 24 opening? Easy he fired 10 people.

Another Town, Another Budget Crisis

This time it's Clinton Indiana. The state denied their previous budget, and the town was left to pass an emergency budget. When that failed the town had no money and the Mayor had to lay off workers. Lucky for the residents of Clinton the town police and fire fighters agreed to volunteer. But it makes you wonder if the state even understands the damage they're doing to communities in Indiana?

1 in 10 Hoosiers live in Poverty

And nearly 1 in 6 don't have health insurance. While the unemployment rate may be going down in Indiana the quality of these new jobs is going down as well.

"Ellen Annala, chief executive officer of United Way of Central Indiana, said that even if people like Turner find new jobs, they likely will continue to struggle. That's because most new jobs in Indiana are coming from the service sector. Those jobs pay about $16,000 a year, according to state job statistics, and often do not include health insurance."

More and more Hoosiers are slipping into poverty even with jobs. We have to find a way to get them basic health insurance and the job training that will help them climb back out of poverty, because way too many of these Hoosiers below the poverty level are children. You can make all the arguments you want about adults who live in poverty, but there is no excuse for allowing children to live in poverty.

Place Your Bets

On how long until Mitch blames former Governor Kernan for this.

First Round of Property Tax increases begins

And so it begins, the town of Fishers is considering a property tax increase due to funding shortfalls from the state.

"This mechanism does not help us," said Councilman Tim Lima, referring to state formulas and perceived flaws that led to unexpected declines in county option income tax (COIT) revenues."

State to Privatize Prison

In another move to union bust under the guise of saving the state money Mitch has agreed to a 10 year contract with the Geo Group Inc. of Florida to run the New Castle state prison. Why do I say "guise of saving money?" Because the Geo Group has a habit of over charging wherever it can, $5 million in Florida alone.

Setting aside for the moment the problems inherent in for-profit prisons (lower non-union pay increases the chance of corruption among guards)this deal may not actually save the state any money, in fact as the Florida case show it could cost more if not caught.

Rep. Chocola does know Cass County exists, right?

$12 million to upgrade US 31, a highway that already exists, and only $3 million to build the Hoosier Heartland? Seriously, $12 million for a 4 lane highway that already exists, but he can't figure out how to talk somebody out of a $250 million bridge so we can build this highway?

So ask yourself how hard is your Congressman working for you? Is he working for you at all?

Counties in Dire Straights

Anybody wondering how Mitch and Co. managed to balance the state budget can wonder no longer, he took a page from his old boss. In the same way President Bush pushed unfunded mandates onto the state (No Child Left Behind being a very expensive example) the Indiana GOP has pushed budget costs down onto the counties. The results? New county taxes, first in the form of wheel taxes, but soon we'll start to see property taxes rise by 18-20% as school corporations are forced to make up the shortfalls.

But hey remember, Mitch didn't raise your taxes the counties did.

Ethics are for Others: Business as usual

So the Indiana GOP is sending out emails that state "Chairman Kittle and the governor's office are coordinating with Commissioner Sharp's office in relaying concerns that our friends in the transportation industry are currently having" and offering an opportunity "personally relay concerns you and your firm may be having." Who were the emails sent to? Engineering firms hoping to win highway construction contracts. And as we here in Indiana are well aware there will be a lot less highway construction under Mitch, so the GOP wants to offer it's "friends" an opportunity to be heard. Gee I wonder how a engineering firm can make sure the GOP hears them?

Mitch's excuse? "Instead of condemning the promise of access, Daniels argued that Democrats acted worse when they ran INDOT."

Ever notice how that is his excuse for everything? Ever actually hear Mitch site a specific situation when making one of his claims? Neither have I.

Indiana Hunger Summit

This stat really jumps out at you: "According to the most recent data available, 238,887 or 9 percent of Indiana's households are experiencing hunger and food insecurity each month."

Why? Indiana's current unemployment rate is 5.1% (according to the Indiana Workforce Development website.) While that doesn't mean that exactly 3.9% of Indiana households are employed but going hungry it seems indisputable that many of these households are gainfully employed but still going hungry.

According to Charles Warren, Research Manager of the Indiana Institute for Working Families, ICHHI, “Food insecurity and hunger are primarily an income issue and can only be addressed through economic development programs that increase the personal income of all Hoosiers."

That means job training, and transistion assistance for people trying to complete job training. It means making a real effort at funding programs that help the poor rise about the poverty line. The question is will the Daniels administration rise to the challenge, or try and sweep it under the rug?

Mr. Northern

From a post on DailyKos


Mr. Northern:

I am a Veteran of the Iraq war, having served with the 4th Infantry Division on the initial invasion with Force Package One.

While I was in Iraq,a very good friend of mine, Christopher Cutchall,was killed in an unarmoredHMMWV outside of Baghdad. He was a cavalry scout serving with the 3d ID.Once he had declined the award of a medal because Soldiers assigned to him did not receive similar awards that he had recommended. He left two sons and awonderful wife. On Monday night, August 16, you ran down the memorial cross erected for him by Arlington West.

One of my Soldiers in Iraq was Roger Turner. We gave him a hard time because he always wore all of his protective equipment, including three pairs of glasses or goggles. He did this because he wanted to make sure that he returned home to his family. He rode a bicycle to work every day to make sure that he was able to save enough money on his Army salary to send his son to college. At Camp Anaconda, where the squadron briefly stayed, a rocket landed inside a tent, sending a piece of debris or fragment into him and killed him. On Monday night, August 16, you ran down the memorial cross erected for him by Arlington West.

One of my Soldiers was Henry Bacon. He was one of the finest men I ever met. He was in perfect shape for a man over forty, working hard at night. He told me that he did that because he didn't have much money to buy nice things for his wife, who he loved so much, so he had to be in good shape for her. He was like a father to many young men in his section of maintenance mechanics. They fixed our vehicles with almost no support and fabricated parts and made repairs that kept our squadron rolling on the longest, fastest armor advance ever made under fire. He was so very proud of his son-in-law that married the beautiful daughter so well raised by Henry. His son-in-law was a helicopter pilot with the 1st Cavalry Division, who died last year. Henry stopped to rescue a vehicle belonging to another unit on what was to be his last day in Iraq. He could have kept rolling - he was headed to Kuwait after a year's tour. But he stopped. He could have sent others to do the work, but he was on the ground, leading by example, when he was killed. On Monday night, August 16, you took it upon yourself to go out in the country, where a peaceful group was exercising their constitutional rights, and harming no one, and you ran down the memorial cross erected for Henry and for his son-in-law by Arlington West.

Mr. Northern - I know little about Cindy Sheehan except that she is a grieving mother, a gentle soul, and wants to bring harm to no one. I know little about you except that you found your way to Crawford on Monday night in August with chains and a pipe attached to your truck for the sole purpose of dishonoring a memorial erected for my friends and lost Soldiers and hundreds of others that served this nation when they were called. I find it disheartening that good men like these have died so that people like you can threaten a mother who lost a child with your actions. I hope that you are ashamed of yourself.

Perry Jefferies, First Sergeant, USA (retired)

Sad? Pathetic? Or both?

What exactly is so threatening about a candle light vigil? Well to conservatives in Washington apparently a lot. Threatened by the idea of people praying for peace 18 members of the Free Republic D.C. group felt it necessary to hold a protest. What are they protesting against? Peace? That's the sad part, pathetic is them thinking that their 18 somehow overshadowed the 300 who had showed up for the vigil. Too bad conservatives haven't yet figured out that the public at large wants out of Iraq. People understand that Iraq isn't about terrorism, and they understand that this government hasn't properly prepared for the ongoing needs of the troops or the Iraqi people. And the Bush administration simply has no right to put American lives on the line and refuse to support them with the armor and personal needed.

"I think it's also important for me to go on with my life"

This one speaks for itself.

Just another case of the GOP over-looking the little guy

Got to hand it to Mitch on this one, this has to be his dream come true, combining his administrations ability to mishandle the simplest task, and screw the the average Hoosier at the same time.

The issue? It will not take twice as long for unemployment checks to be issued as before. But don't worry Mitch's guy is on the case:

"In some cases you have to take a step backward before you can take a couple steps forward.." - Workforce Development Commissioner Ronald Stiver

I'd say Mitch will sleep well tonight in the Governor's Mansion, with dreams of poor people waiting for their checks dancing in his head. But of course Mitch is too good to actually live there.

Lugar: Gas prices will continue to rise.

"U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar predicted the gasoline prices will continue to rise. "Supply and demand is likely to drive the price right on up as long as I live and you live," Lugar told the Louisville World Affairs Council. On the production of bio fuels, Lugar said, "If we were serious about it, we would have done it a long time ago and we would be using it now."

Ok, he's right about demand being at record levels, but at some point we need to face the fact that oil companies are playing with the supply levels, closing refineries for "repair" and refusing to build new refineries. If this was completely tied to oil prices then net profits would be equal to before, higher prices offset by higher costs. But instead oil companies are showing record profits, $7.6 billion alone for Exxon Mobile, for the quarter. So clearly this isn't an issue of crude oil costs alone.

As for the argument that this is free trade functioning as it should? That's a fine argument when it isn't also a matter of public safety/ national security. When gas prices rise they rise for everybody, police and fire departments included. National security? The #1 consumer of gas in the US is the pentagon, when prices go up after budgets are set public agencies have to cut costs somewhere else. So is Exxon making $100 million a day really worth the cost to public safety?

The GOP's answer to the problem of high gas prices? They gave the oil companies a $500 million dollar tax break.

Rep. Chocola (R-himself) Loves Serving Pork

By now most have seen Rep. Chocola's mailing claiming victory in the name of fiscal responsibility by prohibiting NASA from spending $20,000 on a performance artist. Apparently he knew he would need the money to dole out some whopping large slices of pork in the highway bill, though an awful lot of this money doesn't seem to be going to highways. Take a look:

$230,000,000 “Bridge to Nowhere” connecting Gravina Island (population: 50) with the Alaskan mainland.
$3,000,000 (est) a documentary about advancements in infrastructure in Alaska
$2,750,000 Renovate and expand the National Packard Museum and adjacent historic Packard facilities (Warren, Ohio)
$2,320,000 Will add landscaping enhancements along the Ronald Reagan Freeway Route 118 for aesthetic purposes (CA)
$2,000,000 Construction of a parking facility at the University of the Incarnate Word (San Antonio, Texas)
$1,800,000 Construct a visitor interpretive center at the Gray Fossil Site (Gray, Tennessee)
$1,200,000 Blue Ridge Music Center install lighting/steps, upgrade existing trail system and equip interpretative center with visitor information (VA)
$1,000,000 The Journey Through Hallowed Ground, Rt. 15, scenic corridor management planning and implementation, FY 2006 (Virginia)
$1,000,000 Restoration of the Van Cortlandt Manor Entrance near Croton (NY)
$960,000 Implement streetscape improvements on segments of Laurel Canyon Blvd. and Victory Blvd. in North Hollywood (CA)
$300,000 Complete heritage tourism work plans for communities along SR 6 (PA)

$245,000,000 for non-highway construction, and this is by no means a comprehensive list. We could pay everybody on that island in Alaska $2,000,000 a person and still come out ahead $130,000,000. And our highway, the Hoosier Heartland? $3,000,000. Not even enough to begin construction. How can he claim to be serving Hoosiers when he'll vote for a $235,000,000 bridge for 50 people but won't fight to build a highway?

Just thought you should know

That while Rep. Chocola (R-himself) is out saving the country from performance artists, the Democrats in the Indiana Congressional delegation are actually working to help Hoosiers.

Ask yourself, what is more important, knowing when your credit card number has been stolen, or stopping NASA from hiring a performance artist? What actually means more to you in your day to day life?

What time is it?

Apparently it isn't time for Mitch to show any leadership, that's for sure. Mitch refused to show a preference saying the legislature should decide. The GOP controlled legislature punted telling Mitch to have the Department of Transportation hold hearings. Except Mitch didn't fill out the paperwork right, so the DOT say no thanks, let the counties decide. Which leads us to this article where Elkhart county says in effect that the state needs to decide this.

Is this seriously how Mitch is going to bring outside investment to Indiana? Do we really think this complete vacancy of leadership, or common sense will make people want to do business in Indiana?

Limbaugh: Iraq veteran a "staff puke"

Funny how for all the right's indignation about liberal's "contempt" for the armed services, it never bothers them to smear a veteran who disagrees with them. Case in point today's Rush Limbaugh show:

Okay, call him a staff puke if that's what you want, but civilian affairs, staff puke."

Last I checked any service member in Iraq was at risk of losing their lives. How many roadside bombs do you think Rush encounters on his way to the office? Major Hackett volunteered to go to Iraq, Rush Limbaugh volunteered to abuse drugs, who am I suppose to respect?

Ethics are for Others: The Isn't that Convenient? Edition

David Thomas said today that the governor broke no ethics rules by parking the 34-foot recreational vehicle outside a July 19 fundraiser benefiting Rep. Troy Woodruff, R-Vincennes. Thomas was appointed by Daniels to be Indiana’s first inspector general investigating ethics violations and corruption in state government.

Normally people recuse themselves when investigating somebody who gave them their job. But that probably would've just gotten in the way.

CIA Leak by the Numbers

Number of days after the article outing Ambassador Wilson's wife appeared that the White House required its staff to turn over evidence relating to the leak: 85

Approximate hours between then-White House Counsel Alberto Gonzalez's advance notification to White House Chief of Staff Andy Card that he would require staff to turn over evidence relating to the case and formal notification to staff of that requirement: 12

Minimum number of times an Administration official leaked classified information about the identity of Ambassador Wilson's wife: 11

Minimum number of times after the beginning of the Justice Department's investigation that White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan claimed Karl Rove was not involved: 5

Number of press conferences since evidence linking Karl Rove to the leak was made public where Press Secretary McClellan has refused to comment on the case, citing an ongoing criminal investigation: 7

Minimum number of hearings held by Senate Republicans to investigate accusations against President Clinton involving the "Whitewater" case: 20

Total hearings held by Senate Republicans to investigate the leak of the covert identity of Ambassador Joseph Wilson's wife: 0

Say what you will about "Whitewater" but it didn't put damage national security. And if the GOP is the "National Security Party" shouldn't they be deeply disturbed by Karl Rove's actions? Shouldn't they be investigating this to help prevent future leaks? Or was the Republican's talk about security just politics?

Ethics are for Others

Well it turns out that Mitch's "RV1" isn't just a mobile office. It's also a nifty campaign gimmick.

"A story on the fundraising event published Wednesday in the Evansville Courier and Press said that the governor "stopped by in his RV1 to stump for" Woodruff.

"People who made the $25 per family donation to get into the Woodruff fish fry on Tuesday lined up to shake hands and get pictures of the governor (and) tour RV1," the article stated."

State law is fairly clear on this, and for that matter so was Mitch supposedly. But perhaps the best quote is from the deputy Inspector General before the incident:

"Deputy Inspector General Jeff Gill -- speaking before the Democratic Party asked for the investigation -- was asked in general whether a state office or vehicle could be used for political fundraising. While stressing he was not giving an official opinion, Gill said no.

"Unless it's permitted by a general written agency policy, it looks to me like it would be prohibited," Gill said."

It really is about the arrogance with Mitch, he lays down a set of ethics rules that he thinks he's above. But we shouldn't care cause he's just a "good ole boy" like us. It's makes you wonder what the next thing he thinks he's above.

(Fast) Food for Thought

Here are some chilling stats:

According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the US has lost 3.4 million high-paying jobs between 2000-2003 (the last year they have statistics). Comprising that total are:

100,000 Information and data processing jobs
200,000 Broadcast and telecommunications jobs,
205,000 Computer System Designer jobs,
2.8 million manufacturing jobs and
121,000 publishing jobs which include software.

When the GOP talks about the jobs created by the Bush administration they never mention the fact that these jobs are seldom described as "high-paying." Instead we have people losing jobs at factories like Trellborg and having to take work at McDonald's and Wal-Mart. Work that is often without benefits, and part time, causing a decrease in the size of the middle class, a dependence on the welfare system (because you can have a job and still need welfare,) and delivering a body blow to communities like Logansport and Cass County.

Credit to Bonddad at MyDD for finding the stats.

Karl Rove: What We Know

Here is a synopsis of what is known so far about Karl Rove's involvement in the outing of a CIA agent.

1. Rove in fact was Time journalist Matthew Cooper's source. Rove, through his lawyer, has admitted that he spoke with Cooper and disclosed that "Wilson's wife (Valarie Plame) was a CIA agent working on WMD. The GOP is trying to weasel out by saying that Rove "was only trying to dissuade Cooper from writing a bad story," except that:

2. Rove in fact violated Executive Order 12958, which clearly states: "I will never divulge classified information to anyone" who is not authorized to receive it"

It goes on to also state: "Before ... confirming the accuracy of what appears in the public source, the signer of the SF 312 must confirm through an authorized official that the information has, in fact, been declassified. If it has not, ... confirmation of its accuracy is also an unauthorized disclosure"

Rove did not confirm through an authorized official.

3. The GOP doesn't see this as a problem. The man outed a CIA agent, and broke an Executive Order signed by President Bush, and instead they see it as a joke. To them as Rep Peter King put it "No, in fact, I think Karl Rove should get a medal..."

Why We Need Stem Cell Research

The above link will take you to a partial list of diseases that researchers believe can be treated by treatments from stem cell research. I say partial because due to the limitations placed on the research by the Bush administration we don't know the full impact yet.

Among the list are the following diseases:
Asperger Syndrome, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, Down Syndrome, Epilepsy, Hydrocephalus, Rett Syndrome, Type 1 Diabetes, Leukemia.

What do they have in common? They affect children. When President Bush and his supporters talk about potential for life in frozen embryos they forget the potential for saving lives that these stem cells contain. Let's be clear, we're talking about using embryos that are going to be destroyed, literally thrown out with the trash. These cells have the potential for saving the lives on countless children. Children who aren't potential life, but are actually alive, isn't that what a "culture of life" should be about?

And for the record, House Bill 810 which would amend the law to allow for funding stem cell research at the federal level passed with broad bipartisan support. Just not the support of Rep. Chocola (R-himself.)

The Cost of the War in Iraq on National Security

The strength of our national security rests squarely on the shoulders of our volunteer armed forces. And while the military remains the most respected institution in the country we now see a sharp decline in the willingness of parents to allow their children to join the military, down to 51% from 65% in 1999. Why?

"Deb Morris, who already has one son serving in Iraq, had a quick answer when his brother talked about joining the military. "I said, 'No way.' "

The Beech Grove mother said she supports the troops but wants them home. "I'm not proud that we invaded Iraq."

Combined with the consistent inability of the Army and Marines to meet their recruiting goals we are setting ourselves up for some very unsavory choices. We have a long term/ high troop count involvement in Iraq, we find ourselves faced with difficult choices if Al Qaeda takes root in a new country, or returns to an under staffed Afghanistan.

Some Good Question

I know that this article is about the House race in Ohio, but the Democratic candidate, Paul Hackett, asks some excellent questions.

“Ask yourselves these questions,” he urged the 300 in attendance at the debate: “Are you better off in the past five years? Is your job safer? Do you even have a job? Are you paying more for health care? How about gasoline? If you send me down there, I’ll fight for you. If you want a rubber stamp to represent you, then I’m not your candidate.”

How would you answer those questions? What would you say that Rep. Chocola (R-Himself) has done to make those questions easier to answer? For that matter what has the GOP done to make those questions easier to answer?

Big pharma links are close to home

onlinejournal.com

June 21, 2005—A controversial plan to screen all Illinois school children for mental health disorders is set to become a reality on June 30, if the governor accepts the final proposal from the Illinois Children's Mental Health Partnership (ICMHP).

Illinois became the first state to hop on the bandwagon for President Bush's New Freedom Commission's (NFC) plan to subject all American school children to mental health screening. In 2003, Illinois lawmakers passed the $10 million Illinois Children's Mental Health Act (ICMHP), creating a Children's Mental Health Partnership, which many expect to become a model for other states.

The final report by the Illinois Children's Mental Health Task Force was released in April 2003 and it is filled with intrusive and expensive recommendations. The ICMHP held hearings in various locations across the state in 2004 to gather public feedback on the plan.

While its proposals seem harmless enough at first glance, comments from parents during the hearings raised many valid concerns. The state, critics said, no longer assumes that Illinois children are mentally healthy, it presumes all children need mental health screening.

The task force report calls for a comprehensive, coordinated children's mental health system comprised of prevention, early intervention, and treatment for children ages 0–18 and for a statewide data-reporting system to track information on each person, and social-emotional development screens with all mandated school exams (K, 4th, and 9th).

The task force wants to: Start early, beginning prenatally and at birth, and continue throughout adolescence, including efforts to support adolescents in making the transition to young adulthood.

Karen Hayes, associate director of Concerned Women for America-Illinois, published an op-ed in the Illinois Leader on July 23, 2004, and had a great idea. She said maybe the legislators should be mentally evaluated.......

......Other drug companies besides Janssen were involved in the creation of the list. And drug company money was also used to grease the palms of politician who would ultimately have to approve the TMAP scheme.

For instance, Eli Lilly helped fund the guidelines and also has well-known ties to both Bush administrations. After Bush Senior left the CIA in 1977, he became a member of Lilly's board of directors. When he left the company to become Reagan's vice president in 1980, he forgot to mention that he still owned stock in the company at the same time that he was lobbying for tax breaks for Lilly, even though it manufactured drugs in Puerto Rico.

Bush Junior made Eli Lilly CEO Sidney Taurel a member of the Homeland Security Advisory Council, and George W.'s former director of the Office of Management and Budget, Mitch Daniels, was also a former senior vice president of Lilly.

In the 2000 election, the company contributed over $1.5 million to political candidates, with over 80 percent going to Bush and the Republican Party.....................(continued at above link)

If you might be a little concerned about your children or grandchildren and what they could be subjected to in the school system, this may be a time to call your congressman about this issue. Our representatives need to be told what we think about mandatory psychological screening of our children in the school system. Enough said? If you don't know how to contact your representative, just go to congress.org and do a search for your representatives. It's that easy. It provides e-mail access, phone numbers, fax numbers, and addresses for each one. I've found that e-mailing is not as effective as a phone call or a written letter.

$1 billion dollar shortfall for VA

" The Department of Veterans Affairs told Congress that its health care costs grew faster than expected and left a $1 billion hole in its budget this year, lawmakers said Thursday."

No kidding, with an active war in Iraq and Afghanistan, plus vets from previous conflicts getting ever older, it seems only the GOP was surprised by this. Take for example the fact that in the spring Sen Patty Murray (D-WA) had urged lawmakers to give the VA an extra $2 billion this spring, while they assembled an $82 billion emergency spending bill on war and homeland security, but the VA said it didn't need any more money.

The fact of the matter is this wasn't an accident, the administration cut VA funding. Which makes you wonder, with the ongoing conflicts, how important is the well-being of our troop, and our safety to them?

Mitch take his "Blade" to higher education

President Bush is the one who nicknamed Mitch the "The Blade" and now its faculty at IU that are paying the price.

"The College of Arts and Sciences has eliminated 23 full time faculty positions and 35 graduate teaching assistants, and the School of Education cut 10 faculty positions. The Kelley School of Business froze staff hiring, and the Law School and School of Public and Environmental Affairs froze faculty hiring."

Why? Well in part do to:

"IU's budget was further reduced when the Indiana General Assembly cut operating funds for the campus by more than $3 million, Theobald said."

There are two issues here, a decrease in the quality of education and job loss. The job loss is easier to quantify, these are generally good paying jobs that are being removed from the tax base. And while it may be harder to put a price on the loss of these positions from an academic standpoint, it isn't hard to see that they will diminish the quality of education at IU due to higher class sizes, and the loss of academic specialty.

Why is insurance so much?

$198 million, that is a lot of money, which is why Anthem/Wellpoint was trying to avoid paying it to doctors and hospitals. Money it owed for services that had been rendered to patients. You know, you and me. But instead these insurance companies were trying to keep it for themselves, which makes sense when you consider their CEO, Larry Glasscock made $45 million last year.

It makes you wonder why then with all the concern the GOP has over the cost of malpractice suites, they don't seem to think $198 million is a big deal. They would rather lowball a family over the loss of a loved one then force greedy insurance companies to pay up.

Just whose side are they on? And whose values are they extolling? Greed is a deadly sin, or has the GOP forgotten that?