The Hoosierpundit

Do As We Say, Not As We Do: Democrats Refuse to Return Durham Money

2009-12-07T23:58:00.004-05:00

On Friday, Indiana Democratic Party Chairman Dan Parker called on other politicians who have taken Durham's money -- almost all Republicans -- to pay it back, whether or not they have already spent it.

"If they agree with the premise that the money shouldn't have been in the process to begin with, where they spent it is irrelevant," Parker said. "You need to find a way to get it out of the process."

Well, let's see...

Who listened to Dan Parker?

Well, not the Democratic National Committee and not Baron Hill:

"Tim Durham is innocent until proven guilty, and we'll reassess once that decision has been rendered," Democratic Rep. Baron Hill said in a statement relayed by a spokesman, when asked if he planned to give back his $5,600 contribution.

A spokesman for the Democratic National Committee also said it would not give back the $3,000 it received.

Attorney General Greg Zoeller and State Senator Mike Delph, though, have the right idea:

Republican Attorney General Greg Zoeller, who is up for re-election in 2012, and state Sen. Mike Delph, who is running for re-election in 2012, each received about $10,000.

And both have set aside an equivalent amount pending resolution of the investigation. That way, if the money is tainted, they can give it to charity or even to a fraud victim's fund, if one is established.

There you have it. Baron Hill and the Democrats aren't returning Tim Durham's money, despite trying to score political points by calling for others to give it back.

The only people to have made arrangements to return Durham's money are principled Republicans like Greg Zoeller and Mike Delph.

I'd also like to call attention to Becky Skillman, who was one of the few statewide elected officials up last year who did not take any money at all from Tim Durham.

“Mike Isn't Going for the Eggnog.”

2009-12-07T23:59:00.001-05:00

From a reader comes this blurb from the Howey Report, concerning Saturday's 9th District GOP Christmas Party:

HOSTETTLER, SODREL ATTEND 9TH CD RECEPTION: Former U.S. Reps. Mike Sodrel and John Hostettler attended the 9th CD Christmas party Saturday night in Scottsburg (Howey Politics Indiana). Hosettler announced last Thursday he would challenge U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh. Ninth CD sources continue to tell HPI that Sodrel is preparing to enter the Republican race. As one informed and reliable source told HPI, "Mike isn't going to the Christmas party for the eggnog. It was obvious that he is running."

National Attention for Hostettler's Challenge

2009-12-07T23:57:00.000-05:00

The Campaign Spot at National Review Online (hat tip to Advance Indiana):

Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana always been a tough, perhaps impossible target for the GOP to knock off in 2010. His father was a senator, he's been governor of the state, he's won by huge margins in the past, and his approval rating has usually been high. He's got a ton of money.

Enter former congressman John Hostettler. He's a non-traditional Republican in a lot of ways; he supported Chuck Baldwin of the Constitution Party in 2008, instead of John McCain. Intriguingly, Hostettler was one of only a handful of House Republicans who did not vote to authorize the Iraq War; Bayh did. If Hostettler wins the primary, Bayh could find himself attacked from the left on the Iraq War.

The spending in Washington and the mood in Indiana appear to have forced Bayh to sound a bit Tea Partyish: "We can’t keep charging to the national credit card. Washington needs a credible plan to pay its bills. Last week, I stood up in the Senate and told my colleagues so."

Hostettler will face at least three other Republicans in the GOP primary: state senator Marlin Stutzman, Carmel business owner Richard Behney, and Don Bates, Jr., a branch manager for Wachovia Securities.

It's hard to see a scenario in which Bayh isn't reelected, but . . . the mood in the country is strongly anti-incumbent and increasingly anti-Democrat. Ordinarily, a high-profile, well-known, and generally well-liked incumbent like Bayh doesn't have to break a sweat; 2010 might be a year where he has to sweat some.

And RealClearPolitics:

In perhaps another indication of Republicans' growing confidence about the 2010 landscape, former Indiana Rep. John Hostettler (R) announced today that he will challenge Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.).

In a YouTube video, Hostettler ties Bayh closely to the national Democratic Party, repeatedly mentioning Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid as he criticized the steps taken to address the economic downturn, and claims Bayh and Reid are now blaming others "for their years of failed leadership."

"What do they have to show for it? Unemployment is the highest that it has been in a quarter century," Hostettler says. "We can't afford to allow Harry Reid and Evan Bayh to have six more years to bankrupt our children's future."

Hostettler, a member of the GOP class of 1994, was a victim of the 2006 Democratic wave, losing to Brad Ellsworth. His entrance makes him the biggest name in the GOP field of candidates, and could give national Republicans reason to look more closely at a race that had not necessarily been thought of as a pickup opportunity.

It may be too soon to predict how the former Congressman will perform in a statewide race against a longtime officeholder in Bayh, especially given the nature of his 2006 defeat. He has an interesting profile as one of only a handful of Republicans who voted against the Iraq resolution in 2002.

The announcement could be bad news for Democrats for another reason, though, coming at a time when Reid needs every vote in his caucus to pass health care legislation. The moderate Bayh has been a target of independent issue campaigns already.

"Evan Bayh has been very popular historically in Indiana, from secretary of state to governor and ultimately to senator," St. Joseph County Republican Party chairman Chris Riley told RCP today. "However, the changing political landscape may create more vulnerability than one might have previously expected, and certainly the way he comes down on health care is going to be a major factor in the 2010 elections."

Interesting Tea Party Poll

2009-12-07T23:56:00.001-05:00

Rasmussen:

Running under the Tea Party brand may be better in congressional races than being a Republican.

In a three-way Generic Ballot test, the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds Democrats attracting 36% of the vote. The Tea Party candidate picks up 23%, and Republicans finish third at 18%. Another 22% are undecided.

Among voters not affiliated with either major party, the Tea Party comes out on top. Thirty-three percent (33%) prefer the Tea Party candidate, and 30% are undecided. Twenty-five percent (25%) would vote for a Democrat, and just 12% prefer the GOP.

Among Republican voters, 39% say they’d vote for the GOP candidate, but 33% favor the Tea Party option.

There's a lot of interesting things in this poll.

First of all, yes, the GOP brand has fallen far.

Second, neither a "Tea Party" nor the Republican Party outpoll the Democrats by themselves. But, together, they easily out-poll the Democrats both generally (and among independents).

Breast Cancer Screenings & ObamaCare

2009-12-06T23:55:00.000-05:00

Dr. Richard Moss finds the administration's treatment of recommendations for breast cancer screening to be an ill omen if ObamaCare is implemented.

Facebook Update / Tweet of the Day

2009-12-07T23:54:00.000-05:00

had a great time tonight at the Governor's Aiming Higher reception in Chicago. Special thanks to Dan Dumezich and Bob Grand for the kind invitation. I share the Governor's vision to take back the Statehouse. The top of the ticket has never been more important!

- Don Bates Jr.

At Dawn, Google Slept. Bing Woke.

2009-12-07T23:07:00.000-05:00

Google didn't pay any attention to it being Pearl Harbor Day.

Bing did.

Photos of the Day: 9th District GOP Christmas Party

2009-12-06T23:24:00.007-05:00

Here are some photos of the 9th District GOP Christmas Party this Saturday in Scottsburg. A good time was had by all. Your humble correspondent didn't take any of these pictures; they were sent to me by other attendees that were snapping photos during the event.

After the dinner, Todd Young spoke (along with several others). I'll give him this much; the stump speech has gotten better in the past couple of months.

This being said, the "I've been in the race early and before the wind changed" line Young started peddling in his remarks (a clear slap at Sodrel, who was in the audience) is bogus. The first time that Mike Sodrel ran in the 9th District (and spent a million plus of his own money), nobody thought that the seat could be won, and Sodrel proved them wrong.

Sodrel, in that sense, has always been early. I mean, let's be honest here. If Mike Sodrel was some sort of political opportunist, as Todd's argument implies, he would have never run for Congress in the 9th District in the first place.

The emcee introduced Mike Sodrel as "the man who did the one thing in this district that we've all wanted for so long." Sodrel's remarks were limited to reading his annual Christmas poem (which goes out in his Christmas card each year). He's a surprising good poet; it's not something you'd expect from a truck driver.

From the tone in Sodrel's poem, you could be forgiven for thinking that he's on the verge of stepping up to do "the one thing in this district that we've all wanted for so long," again.

Former Congressman Hostettler, now a US Senate candidate, also spoke. Hostettler has a background in mechanical engineering. It shows; his remarks were very well-constructed, reasoned, and flowed well. It should be interesting to see him put forward the argument against Evan Bayh, because he made a very coherent case in his remarks here.

During his remarks, some of the wait staff stood off to the side waiting for him to be done to remove the plates from the tables; they didn't want to walk in front of him or be moving around while he was talking. "Go right ahead," he told them. "They'll [the audience] probably be happy for the interruption." Self-deprecating humor is a big asset to any candidate.

Former Congressmen John Hostettler and Mike Sodrel plot their return. Hostettler told Sodrel, "Well, I'm back in the fight. What about you?" I won't repeat Sodrel's answer here, but it was very interesting. The two of them just about owned the room from the moment they came in.

John Hostettler and State Representative Ed Clere. If you're noticing a pattern, it's because one of the people taking pictures came with Hostettler. I convinced him to send me the photos, since I didn't bring a camera of my own and my phone takes crappy pictures.

John Hostettler and Washington County Prosecutor Dustin Houchin, husband of 9th District Chairperson Erin Houchin. At least, I think that's Dustin Houchin. If I'm wrong, let me know.

Another picture of John Hostettler speaking.

Hostettler was one of the winners in the door-prize drawing. He won a pocket knife. "Now I just have to remember not to try and take it on a plane," he quipped. Like I said, a good sense of humor.

9th District Vice Chairman and Dubois County Chairman Don Hayes, your humble correspondent, and Monroe County Chairman Gene Moncel. Normally, there are universe-ending consequences for three county chairmen that cantankerous to be in the same room together. We got away with it because of the Christmas season; this saved civilization as we know it.

Don Hayes and your humble correspondent. The look on my face is deceptive; we had a very pleasant (unusually pleasant and agreeable, actually) conversation. I blame the photographer for depicting things out of context.

Indiana Republican National Committeewoman Dee Dee Benkie signs the petition to get John Hostettler onto the May primary ballot. She's a lefty, like Obama. We'll forgive her.

Sixty-Eight Years Ago Today

2009-12-07T00:34:00.001-05:00

Struck by a Japanese bomb, the forward magazines of the USS Arizona explode.

The ruined hulk of the USS Arizona burns after the attack.

Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, members of the Senate and the House of Representatives:

Yesterday, December 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The United States was at peace with that nation, and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government and its Emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.

Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American island of Oahu, the Japanese Ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. And, while this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or of armed attack.

It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time the Japanese Government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.

Yesterday the Japanese Government also launched an attack against Malaya. Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong. Last night Japanese forces attacked Guam. Last night Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands. Last night the Japanese attacked Wake Island. And this morning the Japanese attacked Midway Island.

Japan has therefore undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.

As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense, that always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us.

No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people, in their righteous might, will win through to absolute victory.

I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.

Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger.

With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph. So help us God.

I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire.

- Franklin Delano Roosevelt, December 8, 1941, to a Joint Session of Congress

"Avenge Pearl Harbor!" propaganda poster.

Sailors honor the Pearl Harbor dead in Hawaiian tradition.

“A Tried & True Republican Congressional Insider”

2009-12-06T22:58:00.000-05:00

Sit back and think for a moment. Whose picture comes to your mind when you think of those words?

I think it's safe to say that one person whose face doesn't appear when you hear those words is John Hostettler.

Fuzzy Conservative disagrees:

At the recent all-state Countdown to Judgement Day Tea Party in Warsaw, one gent stood up at the end of the Senate candidate Q&A and let those assembled know that he thought only one candidate on the stage was speaking of wholly supporting the Constitution (I checked with afterward, and he didn't mean Bates or Stutzman).

The Tea Party activism is definately becoming a force to reckon with for the Republican Party. Behney is going strong in the Tea Party circuit, despite Bate's and Stutzman's attempts to rally that part of the base.

Now that a tried and true republican congressional insider (Hostettler) has entered the race, the Republican establishment is breathing easier. They think he can capture what Behney was at the front of: Grassroots - honked off at both parties- mad as hell voters that are energized to take back both houses of Congress this next year. BUT, they figure they can live with the rebellious streak in Hostettler MUCH easier than they can handle Behney.

First of all, I don't believe that one candidate has a monopoly on supporting the Constitution. Second of all, I'd hesitate before excluding John Hostettler (or Marlin Stutzman, for that matter) from the list of candidates who support it, particularly John Hostettler (who was repeatedly one of only a handful of Republicans to vote against a wide variety of legislation on the basis of Constitutional grounds).

I think it's safe to say that John Hostettler didn't get into this race on the basis of encouragement by the Indianapolis or Washington GOP establishment. I also don't think that he got into this race because of Richard Behney, and I don't think that Hostettler's entry into the race is some plot to subvert the tea party movement.

Every candidate in the race brings important things to the table, and many of them bring different (or even unique) things. I think it's a mistake to categorically knee-jerk exclude one of these candidates. They're all worth thoughtful consideration and in-depth looks.

And, yes, every single one of these candidates is going to reach out to folks that attend Tea Parties, and for good reason. Tea Party attendees are, in general, thoughtful people--voters, activists, and volunteers--that are very concerned about the direction this country is taking. So are all of these candidates, and anyone willing to go against the supposedly invincible Evan Bayh isn't doing it because they're made of sugar candy.

Democratic Senator Sought US Attorney Nomination for His Mistress

2009-12-06T22:53:00.000-05:00

The New Culture of Corruption, Part... eh... too many to count.

Roll Call:

Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus’ office confirmed late Friday night that the Montana Democrat was carrying on an affair with his state office director, Melodee Hanes, when he nominated her to be U.S. attorney in Montana.

According to a source familiar with their relationship, Hanes and Baucus began their relationship in the summer of 2008 – nearly a year before Baucus and his wife, Wanda, divorced in April 2009. The Senator had informally separated from his wife in March 2008 and they were living apart when he began dating Hanes, according to Baucus' office.

Hanes ended her employment with Baucus in the spring of this year.

Genius President Orders General to Kill Taliban, Administration Surprised When Orders Are Followed

2009-12-06T22:52:00.000-05:00

From the Washington Post:

In June, McChrystal noted, he had arrived in Afghanistan and set about fulfilling his assignment. His lean face, hovering on the screen at the end of the table, was replaced by a mission statement on a PowerPoint slide: “Defeat the Taliban. Secure the Population.”

“Is that really what you think your mission is?” one of the participants asked.

In the first place, it was impossible — the Taliban were part of the fabric of the Pashtun belt of southern Afghanistan, culturally if not ideologically supported by a major part of the population. “We don’t need to do that,” Gates said, according to one participant. “That’s an open-ended, forever commitment.”

But that was precisely his mission, McChrystal responded, enshrined in the Strategic Implementation Plan — the execution orders for the March strategy, written by the NSC staff.

“I wouldn’t say there was quite a ‘whoa’ moment,” a senior defense official said of the reaction around the table. “It was just sort of a recognition that, ‘Duh, that’s what in effect the commander understands he’s been told to do.’ Everybody said, ‘He’s right.’”

“It was clear that Stan took a very literal interpretation of the intent” of the NSC document, said Jones, who had signed the orders himself. “I’m not sure that in his position I wouldn’t have done the same thing, as a military commander.” But what he created in his assessment “was obviously something much bigger, and more longer-lasting . . . than we had intended.”

So, let me get this straight. Obama and his administration tell General McChrystal to go forth and kill the enemy.

Then they're surprised that he has gone and done it, and they say that they didn't mean it literally.

What?

There are no words.

Grand Jury Probe into Harrison Sheriff Expands

2009-12-06T22:49:00.000-05:00

From the Courier-Journal:

A Harrison County grand jury reviewing evidence against Sheriff Mike Deatrick ended six days of work Friday and scheduled Dec. 15 to reconvene.

The delay in finishing may be due in part to a witness list that has expanded to 25 people, several of whom were summoned after the proceedings, which are not open to the public, got under way Nov. 23.

“They’re still hearing evidence,” Special Prosecutor Nancy Jacobs said, adding that she thinks the process could wrap up by Dec. 18.

The grand jury has been hearing testimony from witnesses from a lengthy Indiana State Police investigation that opened in May 2008 after two women employees of the sheriff’s department filed separate employment discrimination and criminal complaints, accusing Deatrick, 64, of touching their breasts and other forms of sex harassment. The women subsequently amended their claims, asserting that the sheriff had intimidated them after the initial allegations were filed.

The women — Deana Decker and Melissa Graham — settled a federal lawsuit stemming from their employment claims last June, but the criminal case has continued. The probe early on has focused not only on Deatrick but also on other department employees who may have destroyed surveillance videotape captured on security cameras at the jail and police complex in Corydon.

Jacobs identified a second man, current Harrison Jail Commander Capt. Nathan Simpson, as another target of the grand jury investigation, possibly for obstruction of justice.

It’s not clear whether Deatrick himself will testify. Deatrick lawyer Bart Betteau said Friday that the sheriff had received a required “target letter” from the grand jury but he declined to say whether there has been additional communication.

“The sheriff is ready, willing and eager to respond to these false accusations against him,” Betteau said, adding that “if requested” he’d gladly provide his side of the story.

Jacobs said Friday that not all of the16 witnesses identified during jury selection have testified but several other people have been subpoenaed.

She expected to review the list of witnesses during the weekend and would have a better fix then on how many more days the grand jury will need. “I feel fairly comfortable saying we’ll finish by the end of the” the week of Dec. 18, she said.

Besides the alleged victims, those who were summoned included a former dispatcher, current and former police officers, two reserve police officers, Deatrick’s wife Joyce, two employees from the video surveillance company and a friend of Decker’s who resides in Brownstown.

In recent days, however, three employees from the sheriff’s front office — Cindy Avis, Carolyn Creal and Wanda Simpson — were summoned, as was Greg Reas, the county’s emergency management director; David Simon, Harrison’s maintenance supervisor; police officers Eric Fischer and Bryan Byrne; former deputy Charlie Stirsman and former corrections officer Andrea Barham.

Jacobs said that she and the court agreed to skip proceedings Dec. 7-11 because the dates posed a conflict for several people, including Jacobs and Harrison Superior Judge Roger Davis who have professional conferences to attend.

Quote of the Day: Obama on the Afghan War

2009-12-06T22:47:00.001-05:00

From the Washington Post's article this Sunday:

"I don't want to be going to Walter Reed [Army Hospital] for another eight years," [Obama] said at one session.

Conservative Nerds for Mitch Daniels

2009-12-06T22:45:00.000-05:00

Dilbert on Studies

2009-12-06T22:44:00.000-05:00

Sort of could apply to this whole global warming scandal, couldn't it?

Update

2009-12-06T22:42:00.000-05:00

Given the burgeoning Senate field, I've added a section in the sidebar to the right with links to the website, Twitter account, and YouTube page of each of the candidates.

Tweets of the Day

2009-12-06T16:57:00.000-05:00

@KarlRove Why don't you and Cheney make the same post admin decision as Bush, go somewhere and STFU...?

- Cody_K

Absolutely will STFU @Cody_K — Speak Thoughtfully, Frequently & Unafraid. #TCOT #SGP

- Karl Rove, in response

John Hostettler to Challenge Evan Bayh

2009-12-04T01:40:00.003-05:00

"I’m John Hostettler, and I can’t wait to meet you."

If YouTube isn't your thing, you can read the text of Hostettler's statement on his website, here.

Josh Gillespie and Gary Welsh have already chimed in with some early analysis. When I wrote this post back in mid-November in 2006, I thought that I was writing the political obituary of John Hostettler (and I titled the post accordingly). Obviously, I was wrong.

To say that the Republican Senate primary just got interesting is a massive understatement. Hostettler's entry changes every dynamic in the race, both for May and (should he win) for November.

There is a lot of "conservative overlap" among the candidates. On many (if not most) issues of importance to GOP primary voters (life, guns, values, spending, taxes, the role of government, etc), there isn't a lot of daylight between John Hostettler, Marlin Stutzman, Don Bates, and Richard Behney. But where there is daylight, it matters.

Hostettler, by virtue of his votes in Congress (and his book), is very much in line with Tea Party activists. He was concerned about many of the things they were concerned about before they were taking to the streets; he was saying it on the floor of the House of Representatives. This distinguishes him from Bates and Stutzman, and puts him in competition with Behney.

Those distinctions matter. There is no Mitch Daniels or Dick Lugar moderate Republican in the race, and unless Stutzman or Bates want to change their stripes and abandon who their campaigns say they are (I don't think that Behney is going to do so), the race is between several good conservatives.

Hostettler is also something of a Ron Paul Republican. If you don't think that matters, then you need to go look at the Republican Senate primary across the Ohio River in Kentucky, where Mitch McConnell's man and KYGOP establishment pick Trey Grayson could lose to Rand Paul (son of Ron Paul and beneficiary of his father's presidential campaign connections).

Greg Zoeller can tell you the importance of the "Paulies" in the Indiana Republican Party. It's likely that supporters of Ron Paul will find much to like in John Hostettler. It wouldn't surprise me for Ron Paul himself to endorse Hostettler and perhaps urge his supporters to donate to his former colleague.

It's entirely likely that Hostettler, by virtue of his record and name ID, could "crowd out" Richard Behney. With disenchanted Republicans, Tea Party activists, Ron Paul supporters, and "crunchy" conservatives ("you'll take my gun from my cold, dead hands", "leave me the hell alone!", "get off my lawn!" etc) on Hostettler's side, that effectively places Bates and Stutzman in competition for everyone else. It's the 5th District in reverse.

Hostettler's proven ability to muster a grassroots organization is also not to be underestimated, particularly if it gets linked up with the Tea Parties, libertarians, and Ron Paul supporters. And technology has evolved a lot since Hostettler perfected his grassroots machine back in the 1990s.

Hostettler's "Red Army," if married to things like an small-dollar monthly online contribution (a system Barack Obama perfected among his younger supporters) and social media could unleash a potent force that has never been seen in Indiana politics. One need only to look at Kentucky to see the potency of the Ron Paul model in a Senate race, and Rand Paul doesn't have anything like the grassroots organizing experience that Hostettler has had. All of this, of course, assumes that Hostettler and his campaign are that tech-savvy and are able to marry the Red Army to Web 2.0.

For these reasons (and I'm sure others that I'm not thinking of), Hostettler's road to a plurality is easier than any other candidate. He will likely work harder than any of the other candidates (and Marlin Stutzman is going to be anchored to a desk in Indianapolis for several months here soon while the legislature is in session, unless he wants to miss votes to campaign).

Hostettler's road is complicated by the distribution of Republican primary voters in Indiana. For example, in 2004 (to exclude the abnormal presidential primary in 2008) there were more Republican Congressional primary voters in the 4th or 5th District than there were in the 8th District and the 9th District combined. Of course, the 1st and 2nd Districts (which are in Stutzman's backyard) are not great reservoirs of Republican primary voters either.

Now, for a quick look ahead to November. It would be hard to find a greater contrast to Evan Bayh than John Hostettler. Evan Bayh licks his finger and holds it up into the wind to see what to do. John Hostettler shakes his fist into the wind. Hostettler, a gun-toting social and fiscal conservative (and not a party man by any stretch of the imagination) would be like no candidate Bayh has ever faced.

Hostettler certainly isn't the Indianapolis academic Marvin Scott or the pro-gun-control liberal Republican Paul Helmke or the tragic Linley Pearson. And Hostettler's quirks, though potential negatives, probably aren't going to matter in an election that (regardless of the GOP nominee) is going to be a referendum on Evan Bayh's voting record, his wife's shady board positions, and his lack of personal conviction.

John Hostettler also challenges Evan Bayh in his back yard in a geographical way that Bayh has never really faced before. In 2004, against Marvin Scott, Evan Bayh won by some 580,000 votes. Almost 100,000 of those votes came from the 8th District, which went for Evan Bayh better than two-to-one. Hostettler won the 8th District that year by 24,000 votes.

It is unlikely that Evan Bayh is going to run up such a margin in the 8th District this time if Hostettler is the candidate (or the 9th District, for similar reasons). It's difficult to see another GOP candidate making similar inroads, particularly in Bayh's home territory in the 8th District.

In that same election (2004), Marvin Scott carried the hyper-Republican Hamilton County by all of six thousand votes. I think it is safe to say that Bayh is going to do much worse in the hyper-Republican counties in central Indiana in 2010 than he has in the past. Without his cushion in southwestern and southern Indiana to rely upon, the math for a Republican to win suddenly becomes a lot more workable.

Does that mean that John Hostettler can beat Evan Bayh? Who knows. But you can construct a scenario where it's possible, and that scenario is probably a more plausible and likely scenario than what you could construct with the other three candidates.

That's not meant as a slight on Bates, Behney, or Stutzman; they're all good people (and this is a post about John Hostettler). But Hostettler brings unique things to the table in this race that they don't: geography, proven grassroots ability, appeal to disenchanted conservatives, potential to tap into the Ron Paul fundraising network, and a vigorous contrast with the incumbent Democrat.

All of that, of course, assumes that this is the John Hostettler of the 1990s, not the John Hostettler of 2006.

Which John Hostettler are we getting?

I'd suspect that the very fact that Hostettler is running at all means we're getting an earlier version of him, instead of a later one.

Obama Refused to Be Photographed with F-22

2009-12-03T23:37:00.000-05:00

Talk about petty and small:

When President Obama spoke to troops at Alaska’s Elmendorf Air Force Base last month, the unit there parked a shiny new F-22 fighter plane in the hanger[sic]. But according to multiple sources, White House aides demanded the plane be changed to an older F-15 fighter because they didn’t want Obama speaking in front of the F-22, a controversial program he fought hard to end.

“White House aides actually made them remove the F-22-said they would not allow POTUS to be pictured with the F-22 in any way, shape, or form,” one source close to the unit relayed.

Stephen Lee, a public affairs officer at Elmendorf, confirmed to The Cable that the F-22 was parked in the hanger[sic] and then was replaced by an F-15 at the White House’s behest.

The airmen there took offense to the Obama aides’ demand, sources told The Cable, seeing it as a slight to the folks who are operating the F-22 proudly every day. They also expressed bewilderment that the White House staff would even care so much as to make an issue out of the fact that the F-22 was placed in the hanger [sic] with the president.

Oxley II Pleads Guilty, Gets Slap on Wrist

2009-12-03T23:30:00.001-05:00

The conclusion of the curious saga of Dennie Ray Oxley II and his habit of getting into trouble in public when he has been drinking.

The Courier-Journal:

INDIANAPOLIS — Former state Rep. Dennie Oxley II, the 2008 Democratic candidate for Indiana's lieutenant governor, pleaded guilty Wednesday to a charge that he misrepresented himself as a state legislator last summer to avoid arrest for public intoxication.

Oxley, 38, pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge during a court hearing originally set to consider a defense motion to suppress evidence in the case.

A Marion County judge who accepted the plea gave Oxley a one-year jail sentence, suspending all but two days which he has already served. Oxley also was ordered to serve 90 days of probation in Crawford County, where he lives.

In June, Oxley and a 21-year-old woman later identified as an intern with the House Democratic Caucus were found drunk at a downtown Indianapolis gas station, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Police found the woman lying on the gro
und in disheveled clothing and saw Oxley carrying the woman's shoes and walking unsteadily away from the station toward an alley, the affidavit said.

When asked for identification, Oxley allegedly provided a legislative ID and claimed he was a state representative attending the Legislature's special session.

Police then told Oxley he wouldn't be arrested because he had immunity under the state constitution, which specifies that lawmakers can only be arrested during legislative sessions in cases of treason, felony and breach of the peace.

Police later determined that Oxley was no longer a member of the General Assembly.

After Wednesday's hearing, Marion County prosecutor's office spokesman Mario Massillamany said he believed Oxley pleaded guilty because he realized he couldn't successfully fight the charge.

“He wanted to avoid any further embarrassment by resolving this case as quickly as possible,” Massillamany said.

But Oxley's attorney, Richard Kammen, said that wasn't the case. He said his client entered the plea only because he wants to spend as much time as possible with his 60-year-old father, state Rep. Dennie Oxley, D-Taswell, who was hospitalized in November after going into cardiac arrest.

“Dennie really wanted to focus on the issues that are important in dealing with his father's illness and made the decision to put this behind him,” Kammen said.

The younger Oxley has never denied he was drunk, but the case was “a pretty clear case of police overreaching,” Kammen said. “Had all the facts come out, the public would have seen a much different view of this than it currently has.”

The younger Oxley, who is from English, served 10 years in the Indiana House but gave up his legislative seat last year to become the running mate of gubernatorial candidate Jill Long Thompson. She lost to incumbent Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels.

Given that the public's view of this has been shaped by watching recordings of it taken by security tapes, I can't help but wonder what Oxley's lawyer meant when he said that our view would be different if all of the facts had come out.

What other facts?

Unfortunately, we'll never know.

Regardless of the son's shortcomings, keep praying for the health of the elder Oxley, whose health remains bad after having had a heart attack.

In Review: The Int-Oxley-Cated Saga:

Oxley: "No Comment at This Time", a video of Oxley's interesting exchange with a WTHR reporter after his arrest.

Photo of the Day, Oxley's mug shot.

Int-Oxley-cated II: Arrested, in which Oxley was finally arrested.

Warrant Issued for Dennie Oxley's Arrest, in which a warrant is issued for Oxley's arrest after his refusal to turn himself in.

Int-Oxley-cated II: The Fugitive, in which Oxley was supposed to turn himself into authorities and instead decided to go on the run as a fugitive. Also presented are the charges and police report probable cause affidavit filed by the IMPD concerning Oxley.

Int-Oxley-cated II: Brizzi Delays Charges, in which Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi briefly delays filing charges against Oxley, prompting speculation about the incident being swept under the rug (again). Prior reporting on this blog about the identity of the intern is confirmed.

Int-Oxley-cated II, The Sequel: Interns & Impersonations & Fleeing the Scene, Oh My!, in which a drunken young Oxley is found at an Indianapolis gas station with a 21-year-old House intern, hides behind a car to avoid the police, tries to run away and is caught, claims to be a member of the legislature (he isn't) to avoid arrest, and the whole thing is caught on tape.

Dennie Ray II Mulling Secretary of State Bid, in which Oxley II, fresh off his defeat on the Democratic gubernatorial ticket is rumored to be considering a run for Secretary of State.

Interesting Development: Dennie Ray Oxley II Arrested for Drunk Driving After Auto Accident in Crawford County, in which Oxley II was arrested in Crawford County after being drunk and having an auto accident; it is noted that this rumored to not be his first encounter with the law while drinking.

Int-Oxley-cated: Dennie Ray II's Dangerous & Dumbfounding Drunk Driving Debacle, in which more is learned about the arrest in Crawford County, it is noted that his blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit, and that Oxley himself voted to raise the blood alcohol level to that new limit when he was in the legislature.

Int-Oxley-cated Update, in which the political implications of Oxley II's behavior are explored, and the possibility of a special prosecutor to handle the case is discussed.

Int-Oxley-cated: More Facts Emerge in Dennie Ray II DUI Case... The Passenger Just Vanishes, in which more details emerge about the Oxley DUI incident, including information about the damage done to the other vehicle, the passenger reportedly with young Oxley according to earlier accounts vanishes, and discussion begins about how such things are "traditionally" handled in Crawford County.

Int-Oxley-cated: Special Prosecutor Requested, in which a special prosecutor is requested for the Oxley II DUI case and it is declared that "there is no proof" that there was ever a passenger when people start asking about how the passenger could just disappear.

How Government Gets a Job Done

2009-12-03T23:14:00.001-05:00

Hat tip: Schansblog.

A Tough Year: “Man Plans, God Laughs”

2009-12-03T23:12:00.000-05:00

Jim Geraghty:

If you think you've had a rough year, think of how our friends on the left must feel. On January 1 of this year, they probably thought . . .

A stimulus bill would create jobs and lower the unemployment rate.

ACORN was a noble and trustworthy organization.

The data proving climate change was reliable (and could be found!).

Reaching out to Iran could yield dividends.

Fewer than 115,000 U.S. troops would be in Iraq, ten months after Obama took office.

An executive order requiring the closure of Guantanamo Bay within one year couldn't just be ignored.

The Republican party was dead in places like Virginia, and was long since irrelevant in places like New Jersey.

Gay marriage would be voted into law in New York and Maine.

While some drop was inevitable, President Obama's approval rating would be consistently above 50 percent at the end of the year.

More than 60 percent of Democrats would indicate they would vote in the 2010 midterm elections.

With 60 Democrats in the Senate and 250-plus Democrats in the House, passing a health-care bill with a public option would be smooth sailing.

What's that saying? "Man plans, God laughs"?

Photo of the Day: Twitter #Fail

2009-12-03T23:01:00.000-05:00

Hat tip: Media Blog at National Review.

Canadian High Court Says Walmart Can Close Stores to Stop Unionization Efforts

2009-12-03T22:59:00.000-05:00

I wonder if this ruling might get the attention of international-minded jurists (and international-minded folks in labor unions) south of the Canadian border.

Somehow, I doubt it.

It might be hard ball. It might even be, to use the judges’ own words, “socially reprehensible.” But Wal-Mart has every right to close stores in the face of unionization drives, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled today. The decision follows the closure of two stores in Quebec in which employees had been organizing to form a union local, and represents a blow for labour groups who had hoped to crack the U.S.-based chain’s no-union policy. But the decision was a foregone conclusion: the unions were asking the courts to set an extraordinary precedent by forcing a business operator to keep its doors open—an incursion on basic freedoms one would think would be reserved only for the greatest emergencies.