Comments on Advance Indiana™: All Eight Democratic Candidates On One Panel

Wilson said:"Some people believe in the brotherhoo...

2008-01-09T17:17:00.000-05:00

Wilson said:
"Some people believe in the brotherhood of all humanity - I guess others don't."

Speaking of Louis Farrakhan...

AR

12:45 exposed its ignorance once again. In 1990 Ju...

2008-01-09T15:38:00.000-05:00

12:45 exposed its ignorance once again. In 1990 Julia Carson was the slated candidate for Trustee. The incumbent Bill Smith was such a screwup the Democrats dumped him at Slating. He still ran in the Primary and lost bigtime.

In 1992 Glenn Howard also beat the Slate with the strenuous and skillful assistance of Bill Crawford.

1992 was the last year the Slate was beaten -- 16 years ago!

The last time anybody successfully "bucked the sla...

2008-01-09T13:04:00.000-05:00

The last time anybody successfully "bucked the slate" was Senator Billie Breaux in 1992 with the strenuous and skillful assistance of Julia Carson. It was a hellacious battle and Billie just barely squeaked by. To the best of my recollection, all other slate challengers since have gone down in flames and ignominy...

8:02 said:Running against the slate in the primary...

2008-01-09T12:45:00.000-05:00

8:02 said:

Running against the slate in the primary is political suicide.

Have you forgotten that running against the slate is how Julia Carson became trustee over the slated and incumbent Trustee Bill Smith?

Or how Billie Breaux ran against the slated candidate to win Julia's old Senate seaat in the legislature? Or how Glenn Howard ran against the slated candidate to win his current senate seat in the legislature?

Yeah, bucking the slate in the primary is definitely political suicide.

8:02: I know more than you. Each D candidate kep...

2008-01-09T09:10:00.000-05:00

8:02: I know more than you. Each D candidate kept their options open, and the constituents demand a real primary.

The audience at the forum clearly reacted to Oliver's question with derision, and everyone was on the side of the candidates who demurred.

Especially in this cycle, running against the slate will not be suicide. Sorry if you're a committeeperson, and you don't want to hear this: you've got an important role to play, but you have neither the most important nor the last voice on the 7th's D candidate.

7:12, You don't understand very much about about a...

2008-01-09T08:02:00.000-05:00

7:12, You don't understand very much about about about part organization politics do you?
Running against the slate in the primary is political suicide. Been there done that.

Duke Oliver is one of those rank-and-file UAW poli...

2008-01-09T00:45:00.000-05:00

Duke Oliver is one of those rank-and-file UAW political activists that Larry Conrad relied on for his political base. I also recall UAW leaders lamenting how so many of Larry Conrad's aides went on to become corporate lobbyists. It's the Democrats like Duke Oliver and so many others at the grassroots that keep the true spirit of the Democratic Party going through thick and thin.

Duke Oliver, I knew Larry Conrad. I worked with h...

2008-01-08T21:18:00.000-05:00

Duke Oliver, I knew Larry Conrad. I worked with him on many projects and campaigns. He spoke passionately about the Democratic Party and its principles when it was far from popular.

And you're no Larry Conrad. In fact, stop throwing his name around. Your conduct insults Larry's good name.

Some people believe in the brotherhood of all huma...

2008-01-08T19:45:00.000-05:00

Some people believe in the brotherhood of all humanity - I guess others don't.

I hope Sanders get the nomination. She'll get my v...

2008-01-08T19:19:00.000-05:00

I hope Sanders get the nomination. She'll get my vote!
André has ZERO expeience in dealing with people. He calls every male he meets brother
I am not his brother.

5:32:How do you know the winner of the special wil...

2008-01-08T19:12:00.000-05:00

5:32:

How do you know the winner of the special will be the slated candidate? In fact, one candidate in the special election will lose, and still be slated for the primary by his or her party.

Almost every candidate there last night said they would still consider entering the primary if they lost the caucus. They'll probably bypass the slating. And each should. That's what primaries are for: so the Democratic citizens of the 7th can pick the best candidate, and not merely rely on a special election, by party leaders, on a rushed schedule.

As much as you don't like it, it's going to happen. And careers will continue, not end. After the primary, the D's and the R's can unite, and fight it out in the general.

Ward chairs as such having a vote in a slating con...

2008-01-08T17:50:00.000-05:00

Ward chairs as such having a vote in a slating convention? That's new -- I've been involved in very many successful slating contests and it's never happened before...

I know half the ward chairs and vices are also precinct committeepeople and/or vices.

By the way, I've been resisting being appointed ward chair for at least fifteen years now.

I haven't got a nickle on this dime but Andre will...

2008-01-08T17:36:00.000-05:00

I haven't got a nickle on this dime but Andre will win on the first ballot.
Party unity's at stake and Andre is the unifier!

1:38, You STILL don't get it! The winner of the sp...

2008-01-08T17:32:00.000-05:00

1:38, You STILL don't get it! The winner of the special election WILL BE THE SLATED CANDIDATE IN TH PRIMARY!

Anyone and everyones that pigeon holes the OFFICIAL COUNTY DEMOCRATIC SLATE CAN KISS THEIR POLITCAL CAREERS GOOD BY and I don't care what the GOP does because the special election numbers mean zero.

I think Wilson has it almost correct--although, so...

2008-01-08T15:22:00.000-05:00

I think Wilson has it almost correct--although, some candidates may determine to go straight to the May voters if not chosen by this Saturday's caucus process.

Our county party, which managed to steal defeat from the jaws of victory two months ago, has multiple lists of qualified Saturday voters floating around. It is a mess. And this committeeman, among many others, does not feel bound at all by the Saturday vote. It's too quick, the rules are odd and the process is goofy. I've forgotten more than Terry Burns and Mike O'Connor will ever know about street-level political fights. A May battle will not weaken the party--it might energize it. Take it from me--committeepersons county-wide are sick to death of being dictated to by the county party office.

The handout Andre and others gave us last night was helpful. Andre's letter which arrived last week, along with a cute pic, was a joke.

As for spelling...whether with an "e" or an "i," I'd be careful about throwing around the "blather" comment Wilson. There are many who think that's all you do. And, fat thumbs with tiny Blackberry keyboards don't always make for good spelling. Read it and weep. Stay away form the grammar lessons, OK?

JUST IN: Sorces are telling me they are about to m...

2008-01-08T14:33:00.000-05:00

JUST IN: Sorces are telling me they are about to make an anouncement regarding the republican they have chosen. Insiders, are telling me it is Ronald McDonald. Hey! Ronald, can you supersize my frys and coke?

Sincerely

DARK HORSE

Wilson-Please stop speaking for the Democratic Par...

2008-01-08T13:55:00.000-05:00

Wilson-
Please stop speaking for the Democratic Party. I did not vote for you as the spokesperson of our party and I hope that MCDP doesn't pay you to act as such.
For your information, Ward Chairs DO get a vote in slating as do VPC. Read your letter from the Chairman better before you spout off.

11:41 you're as wrong as you were earlier. Nobody...

2008-01-08T13:38:00.000-05:00

11:41 you're as wrong as you were earlier.

Nobody's a lock for the primary, whether or not they win the special. The 7th CD could play out very differently from the precinct committee people.

Andre might win the caucus and slating. Might not. But if he does, and either loses the special, or wins the special by less than a convincing margin to a weak R candidate, he could easily lose the primary.

For the Nominating Caucus, only Democratic precinc...

2008-01-08T13:12:00.000-05:00

For the Nominating Caucus, only Democratic precinct committeepeople (whether elected or appointed) can vote - and only if they reside within the 7th District. Some appointees do live outside the District but within the county.

For the Slating Convention February 16th, the vice-committeepersons also can vote. Ward chairs or vices are usually committeepeople too but ward chairs or vicechairs as such have no vote. It is almost inconceivable that the Caucus Nominee will not also be the Slated Candidate.

The GOP has condensed this process into one grand combined Caucus/Convention on Sunday, January 13th to select both the Special Election Nominee and then the Slated Candidate.

There is no "Mahern bloc".

2008-01-08T12:52:00.000-05:00

There is no "Mahern bloc".

The reason you could not get an answer from Dane M...

2008-01-08T12:42:00.000-05:00

The reason you could not get an answer from Dane Mahern as to who the Mahern "bloc" was supporting is because there is no such thing as a Mahern "Bloc".

Although I support Greg Porter `[and I have a cauc...

2008-01-08T12:32:00.000-05:00

Although I support Greg Porter `[and I have a caucus vote], all but Pollard and Mays are well qualified...............`Pollard is bought and paid for by Ice Miller and Mays is a hater.......

David O and Mays should be working on a solution t...

2008-01-08T11:43:00.000-05:00

David O and Mays should be working on a solution to the property tax debacle before getting ahead of themselves. Session ends before the primary. I hope they know that.

8:57, If the selected Democratic Party candidate f...

2008-01-08T11:41:00.000-05:00

8:57, If the selected Democratic Party candidate for the special election wins the special election then it would be complete stupidity for the Democratic Party to slate a different candidate for the primary.
If there is any semblence of organization left in the Marion County Democratic Party then you won't see unslated candidates trying to pigeon hole the slate in the primary.

If the losers indeed chose to run against the slate then the door is wide open for a Republican victory in the fall, assuming they can find a credible candidate.
No, Elrod is not credible, he's a goof.

If Andre wins the special he's a lock in the primary. It would take a real nasty GOP candidate with the credentials to knock him out in the fall.

Another consideration: The caucus voting on Sat wi...

2008-01-08T11:19:00.000-05:00

Another consideration: The caucus voting on Sat will not be the same as the caucus voting for slating. Fed law governs who votes for a special election. Only elected and appointed PC person will vote on Sat. The slating caucus will be bigger including ward chairs and vice-chairs.