Archive for the “Politics” Category

RICHARD C. VER WIEBE, 79, passed away on Wednesday, April 20, 2011. He was born on July 28, 1931, in West Lafayette, Ind. After graduating from West Lafayette High School, he attended Purdue University where he received a degree in history, in 1953. An Eagle Scout, he completed the ROTC program at Purdue University, and subsequently served as an officer during the Korean War. After completing his duty, he returned to law school at Indiana University, leading the championship moot court team. Upon graduation from IU Law, he moved, along with his wife, Carol to Fort Wayne in 1958, where he entered into the practice of Solly Frankenstein. He continued his general practice as a trial lawyer for the next 20 years, focusing on cases dealing with political and civil liberties. He worked with the Fort Wayne Community Forum during the early 1960′s and was active in the formation of the Allen County Chapter of the Indiana Civil Liberties Union, serving as its first chair. Complete obituary is here.

It seems Richard has been somehow donating to the Allen County Democrats from the grave, according to their latest CFA-4.  He is reported by the Allen County Democratic Party Treasurer Patty Stahlhut as having made donations received by her on 11/1/2011, 12/21/2011 and 12/23/2011.

Ms. Stahlhut works for City Clerk Sandy Kennedy.

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First, the Allen County Republican party gave Richard Mourdock 2nd class status on the flyer. They fixed it. I just received the revised edition, and in both cases, they misspelled Mourdock’s name. At least they positioned Lugar properly, on the left.

Back in 1996, Dick Lugar was all about *not* slinging mud.

Today, it’s a different story.

It must be awfully confusing remembering if you have a house, or maybe at Dick’s age, he forgot to tell his staff he had one.

In a story today on the Indy Channel, Lugar is quoted as saying:

Lugar also owns a farmhouse where his son lives, but he said he will not take that as his official residence because it wouldn’t be accurate.

Earlier this month, Lugar spokesman David Willkie told The Daily Caller the following in a story about Lugar’s lack of a residence in Indiana this:

“He does not have a house in Indiana but that is immaterial to this.”

[...]

“There’s no house at the farm that you would stay in, so far as a physical residence,” Willkie said.

The building Lugar is referring to has no running water or sewer.

6000 Mann Road

Get your stories straight guys.

Gary Welsh of Advance Indiana has an informative and revealing post today regarding how an AP reporter Charles Wilson uses political hack Bill Kubick’s unqualified opinion as a basis for his story. Kubick is an associate poly-sci professor at Hanover College.

The situations of Lugar and Bayh are totally distinct, but you wouldn’t know that reading Wilson’s elementary-level discussion of the issues.

[...]

Notice that Wilson, like other reporters, relies on the opinions of political science professors who are neither lawyers nor apparently persons knowledgeable of the U.S. Constitution, which alone sets the eligibility requirements for serving in the Senate.

Then again, with prestigious publicans like the Franklin College journalism student’s publication, The Statehouse Files constantly quoting Kubick, he must be qualified.

It’s worth the read. Click here to view the story.

As a result of a complaint filed by Hoosiers for a Conservative Senate regarding Dick Lugar’s lack of a residence in Indiana, the Indiana Election Commission will hear arguments next Friday to determine if Lugar’s McLean, Virginia home since 1977 means he’s no longer an Indiana resident.

It’s been determined that the Indiana Attorney General’s office has no say in the matter. What’s at hand is the United States Constitution, and its requirement that anyone running for the U.S. Senate, reside in the state they are seeking election.

I expect this may move outside the jurisdiction of Indiana if Dan Dumezich and company rule in favor of Lugar.

The IEC will also hear on complaints surrounding presidential candidate Rick Santorum, as well as GOP gubernatorial candidate Jim Wallace, and whether they should not be allowed on the ballot. Both Santorum and Wallace were short of the required 500 petition signatures in Indiana’s Seventh Congressional District. However, both claim the error lies with Marion County voter registration officials who disallowed signatures that they claim were valid.

It seems the republican political machine and good old boy network are alive and well, and, full steam ahead in Indiana. Expect a smokescreen from the IBC and Dumezich’s commission on all three counts.