Comments on Advance Indiana™: Marion County GOP Slating Picks Freeman, Shreve For Senate Seats

"Banning slating" would be a violation o...

2016-02-01T17:37:57.126-05:00

"Banning slating" would be a violation of the First & Fourteenth Amendments to the US Constitution and Article 1, section 9 of the Indiana Constitution. At its core, slating is simply the internal process of selecting the organizational choice for candidacy for office.

Jefferson was assured that he wouldn't have to...

2016-02-01T11:19:23.345-05:00

Jefferson was assured that he wouldn't have to lift a finger to win slating by Kay Spear and Jennifer Ping - and they were right! He got up and stated that he was fabulously wealthy (I am not making that up!) and that he was a life-long Republican. I'm pretty sure it's true about being wealthy, but not so much about being a life-long Republican.

I can assure LamLawIndy that there is no desire to "improve" the slating process. It works exactly like people like Ping and Spear want it to work...

"I've always thought that a way to improv...

2016-02-01T10:48:10.804-05:00

"I've always thought that a way to improve slating and replacement conventions is to allow only elected PCs"

This!! This will of course never happen. State Parties (BOTH OF THEM) and the General Assembly are too beholden to their respective County Chairs to even author such a requirement. But such a requirement would go quite a ways to cleaning house. Well that and banning slating.

I've always thought that a way to improve slat...

2016-02-01T08:41:08.767-05:00

I've always thought that a way to improve slating and replacement conventions is to allow only elected PCs or -- at a minimum -- allow only PCs who physically reside in their precinct to vote. This would mot only decrease the Chairman's power but would increase the value of PC slots.

Gary left you a story on your office email.

2016-01-31T12:43:50.661-05:00

Gary left you a story on your office email.

I'm not aware of any particular issue that has...

2016-01-31T09:37:45.240-05:00

I'm not aware of any particular issue that has put Jack at odds with IFD. He formerly served as Perry Township Trustee and at that time had control over the Perry Township Fire Department. Jack was later defeated by Gary Coons, who had worked as an EMT/firefighter. Coons cut a deal with the Ballard administration to merge Perry Township's fire department into IFD in exchange for the job as director of homeland security.

Anon 8:16 (or Gary, if you care to weigh in) remin...

2016-01-31T09:24:20.582-05:00

Anon 8:16 (or Gary, if you care to weigh in) remind me "why" IFD holds a grudge against Sandlin. I am not saying you are incorrect as I do remember something having occurred, but what's the full scoop??

I know IFD members are a cohesive group having a bit of a lockstep mentality- not that that's "wrong"- but is that "group think" enough to cause Sandlin problems insofar as electability is concerned?

Firemen still hate Sandlin.

2016-01-31T08:16:20.469-05:00

Firemen still hate Sandlin.

I hope Sandlin does challenge "former" D...

2016-01-30T20:11:10.437-05:00

I hope Sandlin does challenge "former" Democrat Jeffie Shreve and beats his a$$. And big time.

Wow. Just wow to Anon 3:12. My jaw hit my desk har...

2016-01-30T19:49:19.940-05:00

Wow. Just wow to Anon 3:12. My jaw hit my desk hard and fast when I read your question. Just, well, just wow. I cannot even believe you asked. Wow.

Gary, great job at giving 3:!2 a start on understanding "why". Thank you for the concise, accurate explanations.

But still, 3:12, wow.

The GOP Marion County organization has an interest...

2016-01-30T19:31:07.832-05:00

The GOP Marion County organization has an interesting history. The Chairmanship became a paid job in 1966 when Keith Bulen took the job. Bulen had been fired, it has been reported, as a Assistant Prosecutor for fixing a case involving a local gambling mobster. He is also credited for getting Lugar elected Mayor.

How much did MCRCC shake down Jack Sandlin for in ...

2016-01-30T18:32:24.386-05:00

How much did MCRCC shake down Jack Sandlin for in order to go through slating? I would guess they "deemed" Shreve to have paid his through past contributions.

You didn't mention this but for the most part if you lose a slating, the party charged you a fee and if you don't withdraw they use that money against you. IIRC, if you withdraw you get half your money back.

There are substances wetter than water and corrupt...

2016-01-30T17:11:36.162-05:00

There are substances wetter than water and corruptions worse than Marion County Republicans....State Party Republicans come to mind.

Why is the Marion County slating process corrupt? ...

2016-01-30T16:33:47.951-05:00

Why is the Marion County slating process corrupt? I can't believe that person is serious. It's like answering why water is wet.

The Empire strikes the little people.

2016-01-30T16:15:32.311-05:00

The Empire strikes the little people.

I forgot to mention the trick they pull to un-elec...

2016-01-30T16:06:26.177-05:00

I forgot to mention the trick they pull to un-elect people who won election as state convention delegates who they don't want to attend the convention. Without proper notice, the county chairman tosses any elected convention delegates who fail to pay the state convention fee within days of the primary election. Only the people they want to have notice of this requirement receive it, or even worse, the party picks up their convention fee tab for them. The rest learn they aren't delegates despite winning on election day because they failed to pay a fee by a certain date that they had no notice had to be paid.

Why is it corrupt. Let's start with slating. W...

2016-01-30T16:03:26.685-05:00

Why is it corrupt. Let's start with slating. Who are they to dictate to us who our candidates are going to be? Why not leave that decision to Republican primary voters. It's pointless to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars putting on a primary election when the outcome of every race has been preordained by a small group of party insiders. Because very few people actually seek office as a PC because of their past frustrations with the party leadership, most PCs are appointed by the county chairman. Most of these appointed PCs don't even live in their precinct, and in some cases, don't even live in the county. The appointed PCs serve at the pleasure of the county chairman, and whenever there is a contested slating race, the county chairman makes sure there are a sufficient number of appointed PCs present to cast votes to control the outcome of that contested race according to the chairman's dictates. Anyone who goes up against the party-backed candidate cannot even get access to an accurate list of PCs eligible to cast votes at the caucus election with contact information so they can attempt to campaign for the slating endorsement. People who buck slating are threatened in every way possible by the party leadership. What more can I tell you?

Gary, Please tell me why the Marion County GOP pr...

2016-01-30T15:12:33.045-05:00

Gary,

Please tell me why the Marion County GOP process is corrupt? Thank you.