Indiana

While You Were Out

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

The nice thing about a vacation, even if it?s a staycation, it gives you a chance to get out and clear your head.  While my wife and I were out on our weekend road trip I got the chance to pontificate about a lot of things.  Here are a few of them?

Will Marion County Democrats simply be the party of no or party of no ideas?  I have yet to see them as a group offer up an alternative to the proposed transfer of the city?s water and waste water facilities to Citizens Gas.    In fact the word on the street is that a majority of them plan to vote no on the deal.  Now whether that?s out of principle or Ed Treacy?s marching orders remains to be seen.  However, I do wonder that if they vote no on the deal, and it goes through, will they refuse to accept any projects in their council districts?

Meanwhile, the grown up Democrats at state party are downplaying a rift between Stonewall Democrats and U.S. Senate nominee Brad Ellsworth.  Gay Democrats abstained from voting for Ellsworth over the weekend in what otherwise was unanimous support from the central party.  They disagreed with Ellsworth?s positions on gays in the military as well as gay marriage.   In addition, Evan Bayh reportedly told a joke regarding AIDS which did not go over well with some members of the audience.   Now while I don?t think there will be a rainbow revolt at the State Democratic Party, in what could e a close race, no one can afford to alienate any contingent of their base.

Indiana Republicans shouldn?t get too excited over Democratic internal issues.  State Senator Mike Delph says he may introduce legislation similar to Arizona?s that would allow local authorities to arrest illegal aliens simply because of their status.  Delph argues the Arizona law is constitutional.  I respectfully disagree and he will be on the morning show Wednesday at 8:10 a.m. to talk about the proposal.

Speaking of the U.S. Senate, if the election were held today and the only people who voted took the Indiana Week in Review on-line viewer feedback poll, Libertarian Rebecca Sink-Burris would be the next United States Senator from Indiana.   Sink-Burrs got 64% of the support from the poll responders, while Ellsworth and Dan Coats received 18% each.

It?s nice to be back.

Full post as published by Indiana Barrister on May 17, 2010 (boomark / email).