Archive for May, 2008

Unlike the snobbish prick at Obama headquarters I was welcomed with open arms at Hillary Clinton’s headquarters. Their media coordinator, (here from New York) was very pleasant, to the point of allowing me to take pictures. She was taken aback at the notion that Obama campaign workers we’re using scare tactics against those wishing to crossover party lines and vote for Hillary.

Click picture for larger images  

She told me they had two operations in Fort Wayne. At campaign HQ, pictured above volunteers were polling, checking for those needing a ride to the polls, and providing Spanish translation services. The second location was for coordinating the worker bees, get-out-the-vote efforts and those picking up voters that needed a ride to the polls.

AWB

I received this a few minutes ago.

My 45 yr old wife was given a ballot designed for 17 yr old voters this morning when she went to the polls.  The result was that she could not vote for me because she did not see my name on the ballot.  Without thinking about it, she pushed the red button on the machine, casting a ballot determined to be defective by none other than Andy Downs, a ‘troubleshooter’ at the Allen County Election Board.  I spoke with Downs shortly after noon, and he told me that the matter had been addressed with poll workers.  He said he was confident that my wife’s problem was isolated, and that workers were following the correct procedure. 

From Downs’ past exploits, I don’t believe for a minute that only one ballot was botched up in a half-day of voting in the most contested precinct committeeman race in the county, (5 candidates). On top of that, she was not allowed to re-vote. I’m unsure of the election laws regarding this, anyone care to chime in?

Cross posted from Election Journal

Election Journal snapped this photograph at the Indianapolis Children’s Museum in Ward 5, where precincts 3,4 and 6 cast their ballots.

Here you can see Indiana Democrat gubernatorial candidate Jim Schellinger making his way through the polling place shaking hands. Mr. Schellinger wasn’t there to vote, he votes in Washington Township’s second precinct at the Marten House Hotel.

 

Indiana Code 3-14-3-16 explicitly states:

Sec. 16. (a) As used in this section, “electioneering” includes expressing support or opposition to any candidate or political party or expressing approval or disapproval of any public question in any manner that could reasonably be expected to convey that support or opposition to another individual.

(b) A person who knowingly does any electioneering:
(1) on election day within:
(A) the polls; or
(B) the chute;

…. in the presence of a voter whom the person knows possesses an absentee ballot provided to the voter in accordance with Indiana law;
commits a Class A misdemeanor. 

And…Section 3-11-8-15 outlines a long list of who can be inside a polling place. This list includes the State’s chief election officer unless…

14) The secretary of state, as chief election officer of the state, unless the individual serving as secretary of state is a candidate for nomination or election to an office at the election.

Vwery, vwery interesting, no?

AWB

I had an interesting morning visiting nine polling places, two Obama offices and the Clinton Campaign headquarters.

At Sonrise United Methodist Church in Aboite (precinct 468) Obama had a woman near the entrance with this sign.

I asked her what kind of information she was giving out and she said just the basics, information on voter ID, etc. I asked her if they had trained her to respond if someone asked if they could crossover from the Republican party, and she said yes, we’ve been told it’s illegal. Once I handed her an AWB business card, she and referred me to an Obama office across the street in the shopping plaza at Illinois and Scott roads, pictured here. How interesting.

I was not only surprised to find an office for Aboite, I was also surprised that the polling place for Sycamore Hills was the only location Obama had a staffer in the Aboite area. Funny, SE Fort Wayne didn’t get their own Obama office complete with a paid Obama staff member from Michigan running it. Elitism? Gee. I did speak with the Obama workers at the Aboite Obama elitist office and asked about crossover voting. One said it was illegal, another said it wasn’t, another said how would they know between now and November. Not much in the way of believing in one position, eh? Once they got my card of course the conversation was over. Go figure.

I then visited Obama’s downtown Fort Wayne campaign HQ and snapped a shot of a local Teamster preparing his truck to parade around town.

I went inside and and was asked if I could be helped, and I told the woman I was gathering information for a story. She had a guy in a suit talk to me who identified himself as George. I told him about being told by one of his workers that crossover voting was illegal, and he said no, we don’t tell people that. He then acknowledged he knew who I was and was a regular reader of my blog, and then politely dismissed me. Oh well. I suspect that the Aboite Obama office called and said to be on the lookout for an Angry White Boy. LMAO.

After lunch, my visit with the Clinton campaign HQ staff.

AWB

It’s that simple folks. Tell them Democrat, and you’ll get a Democrat slate when you enter the both. Don’t vote for anyone but Hillary and maybe a loser or two that doesn’t have a prayer in the general election. Suggested losers to vote for:

Schellinger – Gov.
Maria Parra – Treasurer (remember Parra’s the one that ran against Souder and walked off the stage during a debate in tears).

You’re done. By this fall, you will have changed your mind, which you can legally do. This is America!

Chaos! – AWB

P.S. Not sure where you vote? Go here, and make sure you enter your full name. For example, if it’s Daniel, do not enter Dan.

Ever hear Greg Warren’s bit “Flute Man” where he talks about “No Neck Nick”?

Indiana’s Most Wanted has found him.

AWB

Hat tip: Chick with a Glock

ABC of Indiana has endorsed Jim Banks in his run for a Whitley County Council at-large seat.

Based on Jim’s responses on our issues, we feel he will better represent the ideals of free
enterprise at the county level for the following reasons:
Jim Banks

• wishes to bring Whitley County a “new perspective to move it forward” and a “new
type of leadership that people in Whitley County are hungry for”
• will “work hard to bring new leaders . .into the government arena”
• will think “outside the box to bring new ideas to build economic development”
• strongly opposes PLAs and supports “neutrality and open competition for all
government building and/or other projects”
• strongly opposes the “government setting wages for any project” and “government
should side with the taxpayer and award contracts to bidders who can do the best job
at the lowest cost”
Jim Banks’ guiding principle as an elected official . .

“. . .government is too big and therefore spends way too much money. The less government
intrusion and regulation of businesses, the more all people will prosper.”

Jim was born and raised in Columbia City and South Whitley and graduated from Indiana
University after working for several political campaigns here in Indiana and Colorado. Jim
worked for Focus on the Family in Colorado Springs, Colorado where he also established Jim
Banks Consulting, LLC. Jim returned to Columbia City, Indiana in 2007 and renamed his company
The Wabash Group, LLC, a public affairs and public relations company. Their clients have
included several organizations, non-profits, corporations, and political candidates throughout the
country.

The Associated Builders and Contractors is a professional construction trade association dedicated to the Merit Shop
philosophy and to the free trade enterprise system.

AWB

For contested races.

UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE
DISTRICT 3
MARK EDWARD SOUDER

FWIW, Mark is running against a libertarian dropout-wingnut who renounced his Republican party affiliation in 2006.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE
DISTRICT 85
ROBERT LEE

I’ve spoke with Bob several times and feel he is the most qualified candidate. While Pond has served us well, she’s been at it since 1978 and I feel it’s time for her to be replaced with a fresh face with new ideas.

COUNTY SURVEYOR
ALLEN D FRISINGER

One thing I might mention about Al’s professional qualifications. He is the only Registered Professional Land Surveyor running, and has done an excellent job in this position. Reinking has been a building inspector, and I don’t feel that alone qualifies him to be County Surveyor.

COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBER
AT LARGE

JAMES T HOWARD
ROY BUSKIRK
PAULETTE KITE

The new kid on the block, Jim Howard gets my vote. Howard is certainly the most qualified and straight-forward outside of the incumbents.  Howard has experience in dealing with city/county government as a deputy prosecuting attorney and director of purchasing for the City of Fort Wayne. Howard is a strong fiscal and social conservative that believes in smaller, more efficient government.

Other races.

When it comes to President, McCain will obviously get my vote. I’m not about to throw the party’s choice under the bus because I don’t agree with 100% of where he stands on the issues. Some feel differently and plan on throwing their votes away on Ron Paul. A pity.

AWB

Join the Conservative Breakfast Club at Park Place Grill on Main Street in downtown Fort Wayne at 7:30am on Monday morning to hear New Haven Mayor, Terry McDonald discuss the Allen County Board of Commissioners recent decision to no longer accept responsibility for the repair and maintenance of bridges under 200 feet long.

Also invited are representatives of Leo-Cedarville, Grabill, Woodburn, Huntertown and Monroeville. Don’t miss this opportunity to discuss this important local issue on Monday morning, May 5th, at the Conservative Breakfast Club.

I spoke with Nelson Peters and Bill Brown, and they both plan on attending.

You do not have to be a conservative to attend, we’ve recently were joined by Jeff Pruitt who found it an engaging event.

A buffet breakfast is served for about $9.00.

AWB

You too, Hillary.

RALEIGH, N.C. — During the annual North Carolina Democratic Party’s Jefferson Jackson Dinner tonight, Hillary Clinton said she will not only back Barack Obama if he is the party’s nominee, she will work hard for him.

“If Senator Obama is the nominee, you better believe I’ll work my heart out for him,” Clinton said.

The comment seemed to backfire, as the large Obama presence began chanting his name, “causing Clinton to pause and try to regain control of the podium and talk over the chants.

She immediately followed up saying if she is the nominee, Obama “will do the very same for me.” It is unclear if that line was part of her original speech or if she used it as a way to bounce back from the interruption.

Yeah, yeah, I bet. I smell a ticket.

By request for Denise

AWB