Here's today's hot take.
Congressional term limits are overrated.
That's right, I said it. Term limits are things that people often push as a way to change the metaphorical kitty litter in Congress, but I say that the people have that power.
First of all, Congressional term limits can toss perfectly good representatives. Just because someone has been in their job for a long time, it doesn't mean that they deserve to be removed by an arbitrary term limit. If a Representative or a Senator is serving his or her constituency and they keep sending him or her back, that's the electoral will of the people.
Secondly, the ability to term limit a politician is cooked into the stew. It's called voting. As we've recently seen in Iowa where racist Steve King was tossed from office, a Senator or Congressperson can become so problematic that his constituents make the decision to push him out. Eliot Engel, a powerful Democrat in the House, was just defeated in the primary in New York by educator Jamaal Brown. If it matters enough to the constituents to remove someone's power, the voters do it.
Finally, I would just say that if you're so up in arms that people have been around for too long in office, and you wan them out then run against them in the primary. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez did. Brown did. Heck, even Richard Mourdock did here in Indiana in 2012. Take your message to the voters. It's hard work, but there's nothing more powerful than beating an incumbent.
Granted, it's hard to beat an incumbent. They have influence, money and the power of the bully pulpit. Those are all things that need to be reformed. Ranked choice voting would help. Campaign finance reform would help, but an arbitrary number of years or terms someone can serve in Congress is not helpful, in my opinion.
I do believe in term limits for executive offices. Executives are singular individuals, and the longer they are in power the more they become drunk by it. Granted, this same argument can be used against the powerful Senators and Congresspeople, but one voice there is simply one voice. One voice as the President carries significantly more weight.
I know some will disagree with me, and that's fine. If term limits pass, I'm ok with it. I just think that term limits for the U.S. House and Senate don't need to be implemented because the mechanism exists to fix the problem of people hanging around the Capitol Building for too long.
Run for Office. Vote.
Monday, June 29, 2020
Friday, June 26, 2020
Biden Launches Effective Ad
If you haven't seen this ad from Vice President Joe Biden, take a gander. It's absolutely brilliant.
The ad strikes the perfect tone for the political climate today. It avoids negativity and strikes a completely different tone than the current climate in Washington. It stirs "the feels", and it hearkens back to the themes of the Obama 2008 campaign which became a movement for hope and change.
As the 2020 election season rolls on, it's becoming clear that the political climate is playing into Biden's strength. Joe knows empathy. Joe knows compassion. He's built his career on it. Along the way, he has overcome personal tragedy and professional disappointment. Pardon the cliche, like America, Biden's been down, but he's hard to knock out. He's told that story about his father's advice that when he's gotten knocked down that he hears his dad's voice say, "Joey, get up!"
Biden's already been down and out. He went from a dreadful start to his campaign to the nomination in the blink of a political eye. I admit, I wrote him off many months ago. In fact, I wrote a blog post about it here. In true Biden fashion, the kid from Scranton is kicking, and he's kicking serious tail at the moment.
More ads like this and a campaign strategy that incorporates that "Duty to Care" mentality will go a long way in a campaign season that sees the electorate screaming out for someone to unite us. That's where Joe Biden excels.
Joe Biden has never had this kind of political wind at his back in his two previous runs for President. Still, Biden must run as if he is 20 points behind because Donald J. Trump will lie, cheat and steal if he has to to win. Running up the score is going to be critical. Even at 77, I think that the political gods have delivered us the right person for this moment in time. Now, it's up to America to seal the deal and start to roll back this nightmarish four years we've been experiencing together by electing Joe Biden.
The ad strikes the perfect tone for the political climate today. It avoids negativity and strikes a completely different tone than the current climate in Washington. It stirs "the feels", and it hearkens back to the themes of the Obama 2008 campaign which became a movement for hope and change.
As the 2020 election season rolls on, it's becoming clear that the political climate is playing into Biden's strength. Joe knows empathy. Joe knows compassion. He's built his career on it. Along the way, he has overcome personal tragedy and professional disappointment. Pardon the cliche, like America, Biden's been down, but he's hard to knock out. He's told that story about his father's advice that when he's gotten knocked down that he hears his dad's voice say, "Joey, get up!"
Biden's already been down and out. He went from a dreadful start to his campaign to the nomination in the blink of a political eye. I admit, I wrote him off many months ago. In fact, I wrote a blog post about it here. In true Biden fashion, the kid from Scranton is kicking, and he's kicking serious tail at the moment.
More ads like this and a campaign strategy that incorporates that "Duty to Care" mentality will go a long way in a campaign season that sees the electorate screaming out for someone to unite us. That's where Joe Biden excels.
Joe Biden has never had this kind of political wind at his back in his two previous runs for President. Still, Biden must run as if he is 20 points behind because Donald J. Trump will lie, cheat and steal if he has to to win. Running up the score is going to be critical. Even at 77, I think that the political gods have delivered us the right person for this moment in time. Now, it's up to America to seal the deal and start to roll back this nightmarish four years we've been experiencing together by electing Joe Biden.
Is Mike Pence Stealing Eric Holcomb's Hot Pockets?
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| Vice President Mike Pence Photo: The White House |
He's still registered to vote at 4750 N. Meridian, better known as the Indiana Governor's Mansion. While the national news just picked up on this story, local news station WRTV reported on this back in May 2018.
Hoosiers will note that the Vice President moved out of that location and into his new government digs in Washington in January of 2017. That means that the United States' highest-ranking head nodder has voted in the 2018 primary and general elections, the 2019 primary and general elections and the 2020 primary election using that registration.
Pence's refusal to change his registration to One Observatory Circle, Washington DC brings to mind a scandal that almost cost an Indiana legend a chance to vote for himself. in 2012.
Pence's refusal to change his registration to One Observatory Circle, Washington DC brings to mind a scandal that almost cost an Indiana legend a chance to vote for himself. in 2012.
Astute political observers will note that the late former Senator Richard Lugar utilized a voting address of an Indy house he had not lived in for decades for many years despite living in Virginia full time. The Senator would hang his hat at the Howard Johnson's (or whatever hotel he booked...it didn't have to be a Ho Jo) when he would come to the state and visit.
Lugar ended up getting called on the carpet and registered at his Decatur Township tree farm for voting purposes. That meant that he was essentially my neighbor though he never invited me over for tea.
Democrats do it too. Evan Bayh got caught during the campaign for Senate in 2016 using an empty condo he at least owned in Washington Township as his local address for voting purposes. Bayh, like Lugar, lived in Virginia. Of course, he wasn't a sitting Senator at that point. He'd somehow make due staying in hotels when he visited Indy. At least he made the effort, am I right?
Of course, in 2020, Pence and his boss want to rail against mail-in ballots as having the potential of voter fraud, but they both voted by mail in the primary election this year with Pence doing it from his old residence in Indiana. They aren't the only ones, either in the Trump Administration who utilized voted by mailing it in. Yet, to hear Trump tell it, mail-in voting is a sure-fire way for an election to be rigged.
I do have a suggestion, though. If Indiana election officials ever force Pence to live in Governor Holcomb's basement, that would be a sure fire riot of an SNL skit. Holcomb and Pence bickering over who ate the last Hot Pocket.
If push came to shove, though, maybe Pence could call up Evan and see if he still has that condo.
If push came to shove, though, maybe Pence could call up Evan and see if he still has that condo.
Thursday, June 25, 2020
The Product of Too Much Thought: Indy Democrat Blog 2.0
Well, I guess it's time to start writing again.
For approximately 10 years, I wrote here (the blogosphere) daily at times...weekly at times about the trials and tribulations of politics in all its grandeur. I focused mostly on the local political scene, but I also talked national and international politics.
It was all great...with too many ellipses.
Then, it got old. It got to be a burden. I'd read a post and wouldn't feel a connection to it. It was the definition of wash, rinse and repeat. Politically, I felt old. I found myself in my early 40's feeling like an baseball player who had lost his fast ball. It didn't fulfill me any more the way it used to, and I felt as if I'd taken this blog's first version as far as I could go with it. Tired, frustrated, you name it. I hit delete and that blog is gone forever.
For the first few months, I didn't regret it. I no longer felt a burden to post, and I honestly didn't miss the politics. I still got to exercise my political muscles when I felt I needed to on social media. It worked. It's a lot easier to come up with an interesting social media post than a four or five paragraph blog post that is factually accurate and interesting.
Inevitably, I got the itch again, and I've been trying to scratch that blogging itch when it nags with this new iteration of the blog. Oftentimes, I start a post and then I don't finish it. I still don't feel that mojo yet. I haven't rekindled whatever it is that Jon Easter of 2008 felt.
Enter the pandemic.
As my friends know, I'm a loner. While it has been tough sacrificing trips to try new restaurants, I have become accustomed to quarantine life. I've had a chance to work on some of my cities on Cities Skylines. I've done some ancestry work. I've written some stories (that no one will ever see). I've also worked a lot on the day job of being a teacher.
What I think I've done the most is think. I like to turn off the lights in my house sometimes and listen to the silence and think. Recently, I've been thinking about my place in the world and what I want to do with my remainder of time on this earth rather it be long or short.
I don't know who that man will be in 10-15-20 years. I don't know what exactly I want to do when I retire, but I have to lead with my strong suit. I feel as if I am a good blogger. I feel as if I have some things to say, and I feel as if I want to say them again.
I don't know if this blog can ever be what it was, but I guess I'll never know if I don't start again. I know I won't be that happy-go-lucky "Pollyanna" type figure I was when I entered politics and immersed myself in it. Politics will make you cynical if you hang around it too long and get too deep into it. I don't want to get back there again.
What I do want to do is use this platform to discuss politics as I did before. They'll be my opinions. Hopefully, I'll get some scoops again, but I think I can enjoy this again if I keep my wits about me and practice proper social distancing from it when I feel burned out.
At long last, I'm back. Thank you to those of you who have stuck around.
For approximately 10 years, I wrote here (the blogosphere) daily at times...weekly at times about the trials and tribulations of politics in all its grandeur. I focused mostly on the local political scene, but I also talked national and international politics.
It was all great...with too many ellipses.
Then, it got old. It got to be a burden. I'd read a post and wouldn't feel a connection to it. It was the definition of wash, rinse and repeat. Politically, I felt old. I found myself in my early 40's feeling like an baseball player who had lost his fast ball. It didn't fulfill me any more the way it used to, and I felt as if I'd taken this blog's first version as far as I could go with it. Tired, frustrated, you name it. I hit delete and that blog is gone forever.
For the first few months, I didn't regret it. I no longer felt a burden to post, and I honestly didn't miss the politics. I still got to exercise my political muscles when I felt I needed to on social media. It worked. It's a lot easier to come up with an interesting social media post than a four or five paragraph blog post that is factually accurate and interesting.
Inevitably, I got the itch again, and I've been trying to scratch that blogging itch when it nags with this new iteration of the blog. Oftentimes, I start a post and then I don't finish it. I still don't feel that mojo yet. I haven't rekindled whatever it is that Jon Easter of 2008 felt.
Enter the pandemic.
As my friends know, I'm a loner. While it has been tough sacrificing trips to try new restaurants, I have become accustomed to quarantine life. I've had a chance to work on some of my cities on Cities Skylines. I've done some ancestry work. I've written some stories (that no one will ever see). I've also worked a lot on the day job of being a teacher.
What I think I've done the most is think. I like to turn off the lights in my house sometimes and listen to the silence and think. Recently, I've been thinking about my place in the world and what I want to do with my remainder of time on this earth rather it be long or short.
I don't know who that man will be in 10-15-20 years. I don't know what exactly I want to do when I retire, but I have to lead with my strong suit. I feel as if I am a good blogger. I feel as if I have some things to say, and I feel as if I want to say them again.
I don't know if this blog can ever be what it was, but I guess I'll never know if I don't start again. I know I won't be that happy-go-lucky "Pollyanna" type figure I was when I entered politics and immersed myself in it. Politics will make you cynical if you hang around it too long and get too deep into it. I don't want to get back there again.
What I do want to do is use this platform to discuss politics as I did before. They'll be my opinions. Hopefully, I'll get some scoops again, but I think I can enjoy this again if I keep my wits about me and practice proper social distancing from it when I feel burned out.
At long last, I'm back. Thank you to those of you who have stuck around.
Saturday, October 5, 2019
Mears Wins Prosecutor 500
Ryan Mears is the Marion County Prosecutor.
Earlier today, the man serving as Interim Prosecutor won the right to serve in that capacity through at least 2022 in a narrow vote over Timothy Moriarty, an advisor for Mayor Joe Hogsett. Politically and morally, I think Mears won this election on the first full day he was on the job as Interim Prosecutor.
The day after former Prosecutor Terry Curry announced he was exiting, Mears immediately made news by announcing that Marion County would no longer be prosecuting marijuana cases for amounts under one ounce. This made sense in a number of ways, but it also signaled that Mears didn't care about the GOP's or the FOP's reaction...that he was going to make his own call and stand on his own principles about these cases. Politically, I'm sure it caught Moriarty and probably everyone fairly flatfooted, and suddenly, he had to react to something his opponent in the race was proposing.
The last few weeks have not been, on the surface, a good show for the Marion County Democratic Party. Major names backed Moriarty. Joe Hogsett and André Carson were chief among them, and Mears had his own backers too...namely his former boss Terry Curry and Senator JD Ford.Mears had his own backers too...namely his former boss Terry Curry and Senator JD Ford. There was also this perception that the deck was being stacked in favor of one candidate. Local pundits like Abdul-Hakim Shabazz have written about it on his Indy Politics site. I've seen the sentiment, though, from grassroots Democrats, too. In the end, Mears' message carried the day.
I think the General Assembly needs to take a look at these countywide offices and perhaps make a change to allow all the voters to participate in a special election. It could be done in May or November along with regular elections to keep costs down. The only complicating factor would be that one year where there aren't elections, but that could be rectified too.
Regardless, I think Marion County got itself a good Prosecutor today. I wish him the best of luck. I also wish my friend Tim Moriarty the best. I think the day will come for him to serve our city and county in an elected capacity, too.
Earlier today, the man serving as Interim Prosecutor won the right to serve in that capacity through at least 2022 in a narrow vote over Timothy Moriarty, an advisor for Mayor Joe Hogsett. Politically and morally, I think Mears won this election on the first full day he was on the job as Interim Prosecutor.
The day after former Prosecutor Terry Curry announced he was exiting, Mears immediately made news by announcing that Marion County would no longer be prosecuting marijuana cases for amounts under one ounce. This made sense in a number of ways, but it also signaled that Mears didn't care about the GOP's or the FOP's reaction...that he was going to make his own call and stand on his own principles about these cases. Politically, I'm sure it caught Moriarty and probably everyone fairly flatfooted, and suddenly, he had to react to something his opponent in the race was proposing.
The last few weeks have not been, on the surface, a good show for the Marion County Democratic Party. Major names backed Moriarty. Joe Hogsett and André Carson were chief among them, and Mears had his own backers too...namely his former boss Terry Curry and Senator JD Ford.Mears had his own backers too...namely his former boss Terry Curry and Senator JD Ford. There was also this perception that the deck was being stacked in favor of one candidate. Local pundits like Abdul-Hakim Shabazz have written about it on his Indy Politics site. I've seen the sentiment, though, from grassroots Democrats, too. In the end, Mears' message carried the day.
I think the General Assembly needs to take a look at these countywide offices and perhaps make a change to allow all the voters to participate in a special election. It could be done in May or November along with regular elections to keep costs down. The only complicating factor would be that one year where there aren't elections, but that could be rectified too.
Regardless, I think Marion County got itself a good Prosecutor today. I wish him the best of luck. I also wish my friend Tim Moriarty the best. I think the day will come for him to serve our city and county in an elected capacity, too.
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