daniels’ iraq calculus - in.gov · dition to campaign manager travis lowe, and harris, the...
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Politics Indiana V14 N43
By SHAW R. FRIEDMAN LaPORTE-Howcouldhehavegottenitsowrong?HowcouldMitchDanielshavefailedtoproperlyadvisehisPresidentandhiscountryonthetruecostsofwar?Yes,
volumeshavebeenwrittenonhownearly“AllthePresident’sMen”gavehimbadadviceinthelead-uptowarandtrimmedandtailoredtheirviewstosuitthePresident’sinclinationtowageawarofchoice.Buthowcouldthemanwithultimateresponsibilityforourfederalbudget-MitchDan-iels-havegottenwarcostestimatessowrongwhenhewasWhiteHousebudgetdirector?Shouldn’tthat
“I don’t think it’s going to be that big a distraction. It’s not new; it’s old news by now.” - Glenna Jehl, on managing the Matt Kelty campaign that ended with a loss and 9 indictments
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Thompson-Oxley seeking unity Waterman-Jehl look for a‘miracle’ while Danielspicks up key RTL nodBy BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS-ForthefirsttimeinHoosierhistory,whenJillLongThomp-sonaddressestheIndianaDemocraticConventionaround3:30p.m.Saturday,shewillbecomethefirstfemalenominee,followingthefootstepsofothergenderpioneerslikeVirginiaDillMcCarty,AnnDeLaneyandViSimpson.Shewillgreetaconventionwiththetheme“RestoringIndiana’sPromises”alongwithhernewrunningmate,StateRep.DennieOxley. ThecampaignhopesitclosesacontroversialandunsettledperiodforIndianaDemocrats.ThestatepartyandmuchoftheestablishmentbackedJimSchellinger’sgubernatorialbid.Thesixweekssinceherprimaryvictoryhasofferedanarrayofmixedsignals.Thecampaignhadonlytwopress See Page 3
Daniels’ Iraq calculus
Jill Long Thompson with State Rep. Dennie Oxley and his wife, Jayme, at the State-house on Monday. (HPI Photo by Brian A. Howey)
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horrendouslapseofjudgmentraisecontinuingquestionsabouthisjudg-mentnowwhenitcomestoobjec-tivelyvaluingstateassetsorresistingimpulsestofurtherprivatizestateresourcesliketheIndianalottery? When it came timeforahard-nosedassessmentofwarcosts,MitchDanielsnotonlymissedthemark,hemisseditbyamile.Andourcountryisstillpayingforit.WenowhavetheburdenofanadditionalfouryearsofIraqWarcostssinceDaniels’electionin2004toknowhowtragi-callymistakenhewaswhenheservedinthehighestlevelsofourfederalgovernment. AsWhiteHouseBudgetDirec-tor,MitchDanielsbrashlypredictedthattheIraqWarwouldnotonlybe“anaffordableendeavor,”hehadtheaudacitytotelltheworldtheIraqis“wouldnotrequiresustainedaid.”SittinginthecomfortofhiskitchenathisGeistReservoirmansion,MitchDanielsinsistedbyphonetoareporterfortheNewYorkTimesonDecember31,2002,thattheIraqWarcosts“willbeintherangeof$50to$60billion.” Whatamazesmanytothisdayisthepurehubrisofamanwhohadneverknownthehorrorsofwar,whohadneverservedadayinuniform,notonlypredictingwithabsolutecertaintythecostsofthiswar,butparticipatinginthepublicfloggingofafellowadministra-tionmember,LawrenceLindsey,whosewarestimatewasalotclosertorealitythanhisown. Former BushPressSecre-taryScottMcClellansays,inhistell-allbookthatthePresidentbecameenragedinSeptember2002whenLindsey,atthattimethepresident’stopeconomicadviser,wascitedintheWallStreetJournalassayingthewarmightcost$100billionto$200billion.McClellanquotesBushassaying,“It’sunacceptable. WhiteHouseBudgetDirec-
torMitchDanielsgetsapointerfromPresidentGeorgeW.BushintheOvalOfficeasLawrenceLindseylookson.(WhiteHousePhoto)Heshouldn’tbetalkingaboutthat.”Clearlyarealis-ticviewofwarcostswasn’t“partofthescript”forsellingthewartotheAmericanpublic.Yet,MitchDanielsfelttheneedtoingratiatehimselfwiththePresident’sinnercirclebypubliclyclaimingthatLindsay’sassessmentwas“very,veryhigh”andthatweweresomehowpoisedforabargainbasementroutinthisconflict. Our governorseemstohavebeenanall-too-willingparticipantinthesellingofwhatScottMcClellannowadmitswasan“unnecessary”war.Atatimewhenourcountrydesper-atelyneededcandorandhonestyfromitspublicofficials,MitchDanielsaidedandabettedwhatthepresident’s
spokesmannowsayswasa“politi-calpropagandacampaign”whichwas“aimedatmanipulatingsourcesofpublicopinion.” As has beenhispatternasgovernor,MitchDanielssimplyignoredcontraryviewsandchosenottolisten.ItappearstheWhiteHousebudgetdirectorneverevenfactoredinthedisastrousimpactoftheIraqWaronoureconomy,suchasestimatingtheimpactofwaronthepriceofoil.Itwas$25perbarrelrightbeforethe
HOWEY Politics Indiana Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, June 19, 2008Page 2
OMB Director Mitch Daniels, Lawrence Lindsey and President Bush in the Oval Office. (White House Photo)
HOWEY Politics Indiana Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, June 19, 2008Page 3
war,withgasatabout$1.50pergallon.Nowoilhashit$130perbarrelandgasisover$4aagallon. ThequadruplingofoilpriceswaspredictablehadMitchDanielsonlylooked.ABrookingsInstitutionstudyin2001projectedaworstcasescenariowithoilat$75abar-relandgasat$3agallonbasedonaninterruptionintheworld’soilsupplyintheeventofawarlasting18months. MonthsbeforeweinvadedIraq,YaleeconomicsprofessorWilliamNordhaus,aformermemberofthePresi-dent’scouncilofeconomicadvisers,wrotethataprotractedwarwouldresultinarecession,justaswesufferedashortrecessionfollowingtherelativelybrieffirstGulfWar. This war is now overfiveyearsoldandwillbethemostexpensiveinhistory,apartfromWorldWarII,ac-cordingtoJoesphStiglitz,NobelLaureateconomist.StiglitzhaspredictedthatourIraqWarundertakingwillcostfarmorethan$2trillionwhentakingintoaccountlifetimehealthcareanddisabilitybenefitsforreturningveteransandthespecialround-the-clockmedicalattentionneededformanyofthetensofthousandsofbraveAmericanmenandwomenreturningwithlong-termhealthproblems.We’respending$275millioneverydayonawarthatanotheroneofBush’syes-men,PaulWolfowitz,tolduswouldbefullypaidforbyIraqioil! AtatimewhenMitchDanielshadanextraordi-naryopportunitytoperhapsprovidesomecandorandyes,unwantednewstothisPresident,hefailedasOMBdirec-torandourcountryhassubsequentlypouredhundredsofbillionsinnationaltreasureintothesandypitthatisIraqasaresult.RobertHormats,vice-chairmanofGoldmanSachsputitintocontextinMarchwhenhetestifiedbeforetheJointEconomicCommitteeofCongress.AsHormatsmadeclear,themoneyspentonthewareachdayisenoughtoenrollanadditional58,000kidsinHeadStartforayear,or
makeayearofcollegeaffordablefor160,000lowincomestudentsthroughPellgrants,orpaytheannualsalariesofnearly14,000morepoliceofficers. Mitch Daniels wasn’t theonlyhopelessoptimistaroundthispresidentwhoinsistedonabsurdlylowesti-matesofthecostsofwar.Fiveyearsago,PresidentBush’sDefenseSecretaryDonaldRumsfeltalsomockedLawrenceLindseyforestimatingthewarmightcost$200billion.YetwindtheclockforwardandwefindCongresshavingalreadyappropriated$600billionfortheIraqWar,some10timesMitchDaniels’estimate.AnentiregenerationofAmericanswillpaythepriceasbillionsmoreareborrowedfromforeigndictatorstopayforthiswarwhilecountlessschools,roadsandbridgesinthiscountryarestarvedoftheirmuchneededpublicinvestments.Inthemeantime,weallpaydearlyatthegaspumpasthewarcontinuesfu-elingcommodityspeculatorsanduncertaintyinthefuturesmarket. Thereshouldbeareckoningforthesekindsofmis-takes.ManyAmericanshavepaidtheultimatesacrificeforthisconflictandthehorrendouscostscontinuetomount.HoosierswillhaveanopportunitytotellMitchDanielsinNovembertheywon’tabidethatkindofgrosslynegligentconductandtheyaren’twillingtotrustthatkindofjudg-mentatthehelmofourstategovernmentforthenextfouryears.v Friedman practices law in LaPorte, Ind., and is a regular Howey Politics Indiana column contribu-tor.
Publisher’s Note:CamSavageofGov.Daniels’re-electioncampaignmadethisstatement:“Daniels’estimatewasonlyforthecostofoneyear.Hedidn’ttrytoextrapolateanyfuturefigures.”
conferences.IttookmostofthattimetochooseOxley,afterseveralhigherprofilepossibilitiesaskednottobecon-sidered,whichtemporarilycreatedtheperceptionthatthecampaignwastreadingwater.TherewasnoendorsementfromJimSchellinger,thoughthecampaignsaysthatheandThompsonarecommunicating.“JillandMr.Schellingerhavespokenanumberoftimes,”saidcommunicationsdirectorJimSchellinger.“Thatiscomingtogether.Wewel-comehissupport.Weexpecthimtobeapartofthat.” Thompsonisexpectedtosoundthemesalongthelinesof“DreamingBigAgain,”saidHarris.TheconventioncapsacriticalweekforThompson,whoanumberofsourc-essaylagsinmoneyraisinginthesixweekssinceshedefeatedSchellinger.Sheneedstocreatetheperceptionofunityandstokethemoneymachine.Harriswouldnot
commentonthecampaign’sfinances,sayingthenumberswouldberevealedinearlyJuly.“Wefeelverygoodwhereweare,”hesaid.“Fundraisingisgoingexceptionallywell.Wewon’tcompetedollarfordollar.We’llhavemorethanenoughmoneytocompetewithGov.Daniels.Wehaveagameplan.Wewereoutspentinprimary3to1.Weknowhowtouseresourcesweknowhowtouseeffecitvely.” Thecampaignisbeginningtotakeshape.Inad-ditiontocampaignmanagerTravisLowe,andHarris,theThompsonteamincludesJoeRetoffasfinancedirector,CherylBergmanasdeputycampaignmanager(sheworkedonthecampaignofMichiganGov.JenniferGrandholm),schedulerChrisBecker(fromWinston-Terrell),deputycom-municationsdirectorKeithJohnson,KateSweeneyBellascentralIndianafielddirector(aformeraidetoGov.EvanBayh),andafinanceteamthatincludesShaunicaPridgen,SteveKolbertandLisaFlegel.Thecampaignisalsowork-ingcloselywithformerDemocraticchairmanRobinWinston
Democrats,from page 1
HOWEY Politics Indiana Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, June 19, 2008Page4
andformerBloomingtonmayorJohnFernandez.
Unknown money factor ThefactthattheThompsoncampaignhadpostedonlyonesup-plementalover$10,000-$25,000fromtheDemocraticGovernorAs-sociation-hasraisedeyebrowsinpoliticalcircles.ThatcouldchangeonJune26whenSen.EvanBayh,Gov.JoeKernanandSpeakerB.PatrickBauerhostaSkylineClubreceptionfortheThompson-Oxleyticket.Thecampaignisalsowork-ingtomusterunionresources,withsomeofwhatwouldnormallybeDemocraticsupportersinsteadgoingtoGov.Daniels.AttheJef-ferson-JacksonDayDinneronMay4,twosponsorbannersoneithersideofthedaisfeaturingTomO’DonnellandJayPotestagreetedatendees,thoughbothhaveofferedsupporttoDaniels,inlargepartduetotheMajorMovesinitiativethathasspawnedanumberoflaborjobs. HarrisnotedthatThompsonhasbeenendorsedbytheAFL-CIOandthatthecampaignisintalkswithunionsliketheUAW,IBEWandtheIndianaBuildingTrades.“It’scomingtogetherquitenicely,”Harrissaidoftheunions.“We’vereceivedalotofhelpfromthoseorganizations.” TheconventionwillbechairedbyLakeCountySheriffRoyDominguezandwillfeatureU.S.Reps.BaronHill,BradEllsworth,JoeDonnellyandPeteVisclosky.TherewillbeaChrisSauttervideothatwillfeatureBirchandEvanBayh,formerFirstLadyJudyO’Bannon(whowillbeattendingafamilyreunion),andLeeHamilton.“Itwillbeveryfun,veryenergetic,”Harrissaidoftheconvention. AnditwillshowcasetheThompson-Oxleyticket,whichapparentlycametogetherlastweekandwasintro-ducedonMonday.MultipleinformedandreliableDemocrat-icsourcestoldHPIlatelastweekthatwhileOxleywasthetopchoice,ittooktimetoworkoutdetailsincludingajobduringthenextfivemonths.HisfatherisexpectedtoruninthecaucusforHD73,whichOxleyguaranteedwouldstayDemocratic,likeithasformostofthelast50years.ThatwouldgiveOxleytheoptionofcomingbacktotheHouseiftheThompsonticketlosestoDaniels.
An energized moment OnMonday,theThompsoncampaignseemedenergizedforthefirsttimesincetheprimary.“JillisaprovenleaderwithexecutiveexperienceandI’mhonoredtopartnerwithhertofightforbetteropportunitiesforall
Hoosierfamilies,”Oxleysaid.“DennieOxleyisanoutstandingpublicservantandIamproudtowelcomehimtotheteam,”Thompsonsaid.“Hisexperienceinthestatelegislature,intheclassroomandinthebusinessworldwillbeputtogooduseasweworktogethertorebuildoureconomyandrestoreIndiana’spromise.Heisknownasatirelessanddedi-catedlegislatorwhocangetthejobdone.” WhilethemediaandblogsnotedthatOxleyvotedforthetaxreformsthatThomp-soncriticized,shespunitlikethis:“JustlikeIndianaisverydiverseandwehavemanyfamiliesfromdifferentbackgroundswhothinkdifferentlyonissues,Ithinkit’simportanttohaveateamthatknowshowtobringpeopletogethertomovethisstateforward.”Itwasagoodspin,butultimatelyitgivestheDanielscampaignsomecoveronthetaxissue.WhileblogsliketheDanielsfrontFrugalHoosiers
paintedOxleyasalegislatorwhopassedonlysixof51authoredbillsin10years,Oxleysaidthatasmajoritywhip,his“fingerprints”wereoneverymajorpieceoflegislation. TheDemocratsseemedintentongoingafterDanielsontheeconomy.“Asalaggingeconomycontinuestoslow,ashealth-carecostsincrease,asforeclosureratesrise,gaspricesgosky-high,ashighschooldropoutratesincreaseandashomesalesslow,Hoosiersarefacingrealuncertainty,”Oxleysaid.“Andtheyhavegoodreasontofeelthatway.FromJanuarytoAprilofthisyear,Indianalostnearly30,000good-payingjobs.Itistimethatwedemandmore.Weneedagovernorthatwilltackleourproblemshead-on.Notjustsellthemofftothehighestforeignbidderandhopethingsgetbetter.” Thosenumberstellonlyonesideofthestory,astheDanielscampaignwillpointoutthatthejoblessratestayedstationaryat4.7percentasitroseinneighbhoringstatesandtheU.S.
Potesta & O’Donnell CamSavage,communicationsdirectorfortheDanielscampaign,usedtheO’DonnellandPotestaendorse-mentsasproofthatthejobsprofileoftheadministrationtranscendstraditionalpolitics.“Tommyhasendorsedus,buttheunionhasn’tatthispoint,”Savagesaid..”Jayhasendorsedusandispartofoursteeringcommitteeaswell.TommyandJaycareaboutjobs.Theycareaboutgrow-ing.Theirguyshavetowork.Gov.Danielshascreatedjobshere.There’sareasonwe’redoingbetterthanoursur-roundingstates.”
Awaiting the Waterman-Jehl ‘miracle’ TheDanielscampaignhasalsokepttabsonthe
Indiana Democratic Chairman Dan Parker hugs gubernatorial nominee Jill Long Thompson on Monday when they announced the Dennie Oxley
Thursday, June 19, 2008Page5
anticsofpoliticalpuppeteerJohnPriceandthe“TaxpayerParty”ticketofStateSen.JohnWatermanandGlennaJehl.Therenegadetrioappeared-withWatermanincowboybootsandaclip-ontie-togetheratanearNorthsideIndianapolishometotalkaboutpropertytaxes,thenewparty,andwhethertheycouldgetthe33,000signaturestoqualifyfortheballot.Watermansaiditwouldbean“actofGod”iftheygotontheballotlessthanaweekafterhetoldtheSullivanDailyTimestheywouldhavethesignatureslastThursday.Pricesaiditwouldbe“amiracle.”SaidPrice,“Ifithappens,itwouldbequiteastatement.”AndWater-maninsistedhewouldtakemorevotesfromThompsonthanDaniels. KnoxCountyRepublicanChairmanT.J.BrinktoldtheEvansvilleCourier&Pressthathedidn’tthinkWater-mancouldgetthe33,000signatures,thatDanielswillcarryKnoxCounty,andthatWatermanwilllikelyfaceaprimarychallengerifherunsforre-electionin2010.”IthinkonJune30,it’soverwith,”Brinksaid.“Johnwillnotbeontheballot.OutsideofSul-livanCountyandtheareaherepresents,he’sano-name.Hehasnostateappealwhat-soever,andwhenhegoestotalktopeopleinotherareas,he’llhaveevenlessappeal.”AsimilarassessmentcamefromVanderburghCountyDemocraticchairmanMarkOwen.“Idon’tthinkhe’safactor,”Owensaid.“IthinktheraceisreallybetweenThompsonandDaniels.” AndthentherewasJehlandherroleascampaignmanagerfortheFortWaynemayoralcampaignofMattKeltythatendedwithaloss(inthefirstelectionafterscoresofGOPvotersfromAboiteTownshipwereannexedintothecity)andanine-countcampaignfinanceandperjuryindictmentofKelty.Jehlwhistledpastthepoliticalgraveyard,notingthat,“Idon’tthinkit’sgoingtobeabigdistraction.It’snotnew,it’soldnews.”WhilemuchofthestatewidepressglancedoverJehl’sFortWaynefiasco,thefactisthatitwon’tbe“oldnews”onceKeltygoesontrialinOctober,accordingtoWANE-TV.Atthatpoint,itislikelywe’dseeJehlonthewitnessstandexplainingherownil-legal$10,000loantotheKeltycampaignshemanaged.
Sharing the news cycle SharingthesamenewscyclewithPrice’sTaxpayerPartywasthefactthatAllenCountyhomeownerswillsee28percentpropertytaxreductionsandHowardCountyhomeownerswillseea50percentdecrease.Bothcountiesareexpectingevengreaterreliefon2008billspayablein2009.
ThereisalsotheabortionangletotheWaterman-Jehlticket.PricehasindicatedthatDanielsisnotsufficient-lypro-life,eventhoughheagreesthatDanielshasbeenthemostpro-lifegovernorinpost-Roevs.WadeIndiana.NotonlydidtheIndianaRighttoLifePACendorseDaniels,itdidsoemphatically.“WeareproudtoendorseGov.Dan-ielsinrecognitionofhissteadfastsupportforthesanctityoflife,”statedIRTL-PACchairmanMikeFichter.“MitchDan-ielspledgedtosupportpro-lifelegislationasacandidatein2004andhehasbeentruetohisword.Nowitistimeforpro-lifeHoosierstoshowtheirappreciationforGov.Danielsbyactivelyworkingtosecurehisre-election.Sinceabortionondemandbecamelegalin1973,notasingleIndianagov-ernorpriortoGov.Danielshadthecourageorconvictiontopubliclysupportthesanctityoflifeofunbornchildren.” FichternotedthatDanielssignedlegislationthatrequiresabortionproviderstoshowtheirpatientultra-
sounds,thestatelicensingofabortionclinics,andtheestablishmentofanumbilicalcordbloodbanktoadvance“life-affirmingstemcellresearchinsteadofkillinghumanembryos.” ThatendorsementseemedtoshowcasetheDanielscampaignpropensitytoproducesamenewscyclecounterstowhattheiroppo-nentsaredoing.“TheRighttoLifeendorsementdoes
undercutthingsthatsomepeoplearesaying,”Savagesaid.“Iwouldn’tcallitadeliberatestrategybutwehavealotoffriends.It’snotthesamecoalitonthatwe’veusedbefore.Wehavealotofpeoplespeaking.” TherewasalsoanendorsementofthegovernorfromtheFraternalOrderofPolice,whichdidnotendorseDanielsin2004.Thegovernorearnedtheirrespectandalwayshadanopendoor,”Savagesaid.FOPPresidentTimDownssaid,“MitchDanielshasworkedhardtodevelopstrongandeffectiverelationshipswithlawenforcementandhe’salwaysrespondedtoourneeds.TheFOPappreciatesGov.Daniels’leadershipandweenthusiasticallysupporthisre-election.” Danielswasalsotherecipientofextensiveme-diacoverageofthefloodsandtornadoesinCentralandSouthernIndiana.TVclipsshowedDanielsdirectingthestateresponse,andhuggingvictimsontheground.Thatcertainlywasn’taplannedpoliticalcalculation,thoughit,too,undercutsDemocraticcriticismthatheisoutoftouch,doesn’tlistenanddoesn’tcareabouttheaverageHoosier.Andiftheresponsehadbeenbotched,thepoliticalramifi-cationscouldhavebeenimmense. HPI Horse Race Status:LEANSDANIELSv
The Democratic ticket: Woods, Pence, Thompson and Oxley.
HOWEY Politics Indiana Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, June 19, 2008Page 6
Elrod, Miller boost House GOP,but some unfilled holes, tooBy BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS-WithaJune30deadlineforfillingballotvacancies,IndianaHouseRepublicansaremak-ingsomeprogress,buoyedbythere-emergenceofStateRep.JonElrodindefendingHD97thatmanythoughtwasacertainpickupforDemocratsaswellasformerElkhartmayorDaveMiller’schallengetoStateRep.CraigFryinHD5.ItcomesatatimewhentherearerumblingswithintheHouseRepublicancaucusaboutseveralunfilledseatsindistrictscen-teredinKokomo,Madison/NorthVernonandVincennesandfearsthattheGOPmightnotcontroltheHouse,evenifGov.MitchDanielswinsre-election. ThoseseatsareheldbyfreshmenStateReps.KregBattles,DaveCheathamandRonHerrell,wholostin2004.Goingintothisyear,HPIandotherobserversexpectedthoseseatstobeinplaydespiteaproblematicnationalenvironmentforRepublicansthatispotentiallymitigatedbytheDanielsre-electioncampaign. “Noweprobablywon’thavecandidates,”saidHRCCDirectorMikeGentryofBattlesandHerrellseats.“Theywerenotonourrecruitmentfocuslist.”HesaidthatBattlesisthe62ndmostRepublicandistrictinthestatewithGov.Danielspolling48.5percentin2004andStateTreasurerTimBerrypolling46percent.HesaidthatHerrell’sHD30seatisthe69thmostRepublicanseat.“JohnSmithwasabletosneakuponHer-rellinastrongGOPyear(2004)whenmostoftheunionactivistsinKokomowereinOhioworkingforJohnKerrey,”Gentrysaid.HecalledtherecentwinsofSmithinHD30andTroyWoodruffinHD64as“lightningstrikes.” Several Republican membersbelievethatGen-tryandMinorityLeaderBrianBosma“tooktheireyeofftheball”incandidaterecruitmentwhileGentrycommencedaprivatepoliticalconsultingfirmthatworkedonthecongres-sionalcampaignsofElrodandU.S.Rep.DanBurton,and
theattorneygeneralcampaignofValparaisoJonCostas,wholostaconventionfloorfighttoGregZoellerbyalandslide.IftheGOPfailstoretaketheHouse,thereisnowsometalkthataleadershipfightcouldensuepriortoOrganizationDayaftertheelection. Gentry points to an American ViewpointPollthatshowsElrodleadingDemocratMaryAnnSullivan55-32percentinaDemocraticdistrictthatElrodwonbyonlyahandfulofvotesoverDemocratEdMahernin2006.ThatpollshowsBarackObamaleadingJohnMcCain45-38percentandGov.MitchDanielsleadingJillLongThompson49-42percentinthedistrict.Elrod’sfav/unfavsstandat61-16percentwhileSullivan’swere16-4percent.Thepollsternotes,“Theywillhavetospend$500,000togethernameIDtoequalElrod’s.” Inaddititon,retiredAndersonPoliceChiefFrankBurrowswillbenominatedtotakeonStateRep.TerriAus-tin.InHD68,BrookvilleattorneyJudMcMillinwillchallengeStateRep.BobBischoff.“WewastetoomuchtimeandmoneyinIndianapolis,”McMillinsaid.“IwillbeastrongleaderfightingforchangeattheStateHouse.” Caucuses“maybecalled”inHD6(HouseSpeakerB.PatrickBauer),HD7(StateRep.DavidNiezgodski),andHD77(againstDemocratGailRieckeninaseatbeingva-
catedbytheretiringStateRep.PhilHoy).RepublicanKevinMitschelenispreparingachallengeagainstBauer,sourcestellHPI.Two-termElkhartmayorMiller,whodidn’tseekathirdterm,willbenomi-natedinaHD5caucusbeforeJune30,Gentrysaidthisafternoon. GentrysaidthatHRCCpollingshowsthatRepublicanRandyTruittisaheadinHD26,theseatbeingvacatedbyStateRep.JoeMiconwithJohnPollesrun-ningfortheDemocrats.HesaidthatMarkMessmerinHD63,aseatvacatedbyStateRep.DaveCrookswhereDemocratJohnBurgerisrunning;andinHD46,wherefor-merIndianaStatebasketballstarBobHeatonischallengingStateRep.VernTincher,theRepublicans“arewithinstrikingdistance.”InHD62,whereStateRep.SandraBlantonisontheballotforthefirst
timeafterJerryDenboretired,RepublicanBrookTarr“isrunningastrongrace.”InHD17,“MarkMacKillopisput-tingpressureon(StateRep.Nancy)Dembowski,”Gentrysaid.“StarkeCountywasoneofObama’sworstperformingcounties.” Gentrysaid“Theonlyseatnotfilledonourfocus
State Rep. Jon Elrod’s decision to seek his Indiana House seat and drop his 7th CD congressional bid gives Republicans a chance to hold on to a seat they thought they had lost. (HPI Photo by Brian A. Howey)
listisHD69,”whichisheldbyRep.Cheatham.ThatwouldmeanthatfreshmenRep.BattlesandRep.Herrellarepos-siblygoingtogetapassindistrictsmanythoughtwouldbeinplay.HowardCountyRepublicanChairmanCraigDunnthoughthehadKokomoradiotalkshowhostPeterHecklinedup,butHeckrecentlyannouncedonhisshowhewouldnotrun.DunntoldHPIearlierthisweekhewasstillhopefultohaveachallengerthere. Dunn raised questions aboutHD38nomineeClintonCountyAuditorJacqueClements,whoedgedoutnewlyselectedStateRep.HeathVannatterforthenomina-tionafterhewonthecaucustoreplaceJimBuck,whohasmovedtotheSenate.DunnannouncedMondaythathehasseriousdoubtsabouttheviabilityofthecandidacyofClements,saying“Irecentlywase-mailedcopiesofthe2005and2006IndianaStateBoardofAccountsauditsoftheClintonCountyAuditor’sOf-ficeandfoundthemextremelytroubling.ThesetworeportsandafailedsupplementalauditseemtoindicateaseriouslackofmanagementandoversightbyJacqueClementsintheClintonCountyAuditor’sOfficeandcouldbeusedaspoliticalfodderbyDemocraticcandidateBobSnowinNovember.” ButGentrysaidthatHRCCpollingshowsthatClem-entshasan18percentleadoverSnowandthatGov.Dan-ielsisrunning41percentbetterthatJillLongThompsoninthatdistrict.DemocratsbelievethedivisionsbetweenHowardandClintoncountyRepublicanscouldpresentapickupopportunity. SaidGentry,“TheDemsinthisstateliketotalkalotofsmackbuttheyalwaysseemtounderperformtheirpredictions.Thisyearwillbenodifferent.Wehavethebestteamofcandidates,thebestcampaignteam,agreatfundraisingeffortandaverystrongGOVcandidate.Yester-daywasabigmomentumswitchintheracefortheIndianaHouse”withthere-emergenceofElrod.
Indiana Congressional 3RD CD:Democrat: MichaelMontagano.Re-publican: U.S.Rep,MarkSouder.2006 Results:Souder95,421,Hayhurst(D)80,357.2008 Outlook: TheDCCChasaddedtheMontaganocampaigntoits“RedtoBlue”program.Itisoneof14Democratstomakethatcut.Soud-erwantsfederalofficialstoinvestigatehisopponent’sefforttodrawattentiontothenation’srisinggasolineprices(FortWayneJournalGazette).MikeMontagano,theDemocratic
HOWEY Politics Indiana Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, June 19, 2008Page 7
candidateinIndiana’s3rdDistrict,forahalf-hourhandedoutallotmentsof$1.13ThursdaytomotoristsfillingupattheShellstationat5805FairfieldAve.Montaganowastry-ingtodrawattentiontothefactgascost$1.13pergallonin1995,whenSouder,R-3rd,tookoffice.Souderdidn’tseeitinthatlight.ByThursdayafternoon,hisofficereleasedastatementattackinghisopponentforbreakingcampaignfinancelaws.“Givingcashtoinfluencevotesisillegal,andwewillasktheU.S.Attorneytoinvestigatehisconduct,”thestatementread.“WeinFortWayneknowthatelectionlawviolationsareaseriousmatter.”Beforedisbursingthecash,Montaganosaidhehadcheckedintoitslegality.“It’snotpoliticalpandering,”hesaid.“Thisisjustatoken,agesture.”Hesaidthemoneycamefromhiscampaignac-count.Later,Montaganosaidinastatement,“Gashasrisen350percentsince(Souder)tookofficeandhehasdonenothingtostopit:nosupportforalternativeenergy,nosupportforrenewablefuelsandnothingwhatsoevertore-duceAmerica’sdependencyonforeignoil.” Status:LEANSSOUDER. Congressional District 7:Republican:Open.Democrat:U.S.Rep.AndreCarson.2008 Forecast:StateRep.JonElrodhasexitedthe7thCDraceandisex-pectedtoseeknominationtoHD97whichhecurrentlyrep-resents.“Itakenopleasureinwalkingawayfromafight,”Elrodsaidthismorning.“Twoelectionshavepassed,andthevotershavechosenavictor.Noonesteppedforwardformyseat.”U.S.Rep.AndreCarsonreactedbysaying,“Overthepastfewmonths,aswecampaignedinboththespecialandprimaryelections,IenjoyedtheopportunitytogettoknowJonbetterandIrespecthisdecision.”MaryAnnSullivan,theDemocraticcandidateforHouseDistrict97,said,“It’sbecomingincreasinglyunclearwhatofficeJonElrodwantstorunfor,”Sullivansaid.“DoeshewanttobeinCongress?DoeshewanttorepresentHouseDistrict97?Whatwillherunfornext?”Sullivansaidconstituentsdeserverepresentationtheycancounton,notsomeonewholooksateachcampaignasasteppingstonetothenextelectedoffice.“IgotintothisracebecauseIwanttoservetheresidentsofHouseDistrict97whoarelookingforleadershipontheissuesthatmattertothem,”Sullivansaid.“Ifelected,IpledgetoserveafulltermattheStatehouse,andIhopeJonElrodwillofferhisconstituentsthesamepromisenowthathe’sreturnedtothiscampaign.”SullivansaidshewelcomesElrodbacktotheraceandhopestheycanrunacampaignthatfocusesonpressingstateissuessuchaseducation,taxreformandeconomicdevelopment.ElrodisexpectedtoseektheHD97seatinacaucusamongMarionCountyRepublicans.TheGOPwillalsonominateacandidatetofaceCarsonsometimeinthenext30days.SourcestellHPIthatformerJerusalemPostPublisherTomRose,whochallengedElrodinthespecialelectioncaucus,willnotlikelyrun.Status: SAFECARSONv
Freshman Democrat Kreg Battles looks like he’ll get a pass this fall.
HOWEY Politics Indiana Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, June 19, 2008 Page 8
There will be blood between Obama, McCain on energyBy CAM CARTER INDIANAPOLIS-“Todrillornottodrill?Thatisthequestion.” NotquiteShakespeareaninitseloquence,butcertainlyinitspotentialfortragedyifwefailtoanswerit
correctly.Tosustainourprosperityandsecurity,wemustanswerahostofquestionsregardingournation’senergyneedsincomingyears–yearsthatjusthappentocoincidewitheitheraMcCainorObamapresidency. Thetwomajor
partycandidatessquaredoffthisweekonenergymattersand,ifthisisthenew,post-partisanpoliticsObamapromis-es,thenthisisnotchangewecanbelievein.Theexchangebetweenthecandidateswasenoughtomakeonewanttoclubbothintheheadwithabowlingpin–repeatedly.Whileseeminglyserious,bothMcCainandObamaofferedupproposalsthataddressonlypartofourenergyconundrumandnothingbutscornandde-risionfortheother’spropos-als.Theyneedtogetserious,tonedownthereflexive“thatguy’sideassuck”mentality,andlookforstrategicsolu-tions. At the end ofanyanalysis,we(andhere,“we”canbedefinedastheentireindustrializedworld)areapetrol-andcarbon-basedso-ciety.Getridofoilorcoalandtheenergytheycreateandoureconomiesstop,literally,intheirtracks.Societalstrifefollows.Globaldemandforen-ergyisgrowingatarapaciousratewithbillionsofIndians,ChineseandothersinthedevelopingworldseekingtoattainastandardoflivingweintheWesthaveenjoyedforacenturyormore.Inotherwords,demandisgoingtogoupindefinitelyand,ifsupplydoesnotfollow,priceswillcontinuetospiral.YouandIwill
waxnostalgicfor$4.20gasolineintheyearsahead. McCainopenedthedebatethisweekinHoustonofallplaces(Who’sdoingthisguy’spressandadvancework?DotheynotunderstandthesymbolismofdeliveringthisspeechatgroundzeroforEnronandthenewestcorporategreedheads/punchingbags,theoilcompanies?).Hepro-posedthatweliftthe27year-oldmoratoriumonoffshoredrillingalongourcoasts. Good idea. America has nearly 21billionbarrelsofuntappedoilreserves($2.9trillionattoday’sprices),eachuntappedbarrelenrichesmostlyMideastregimesthatarehostiletousorareour“friends”innameonly,and67%ofAmericanssupportthemove.Onlyafringe18%opposesit(thosethatanswerSierraClubmailers,hangonEdBegley’severywordandspiketreesforGreenpeaceonoddnumberedweekends).And,iftherewasanysilverliningtoHurricaneKatrina,itprovedtheoilindustry’soff-shoreexplorationtechnologyandproceduresaresafe–theGulfofMexicowasnotturnedintoonegiantoilslick. Badidea,aswell.WhenMcCainranforpresidentin2000,heopposedsuchdrillingandstill,inexplicably(unlesshehasafondnessforcaribou),refusestoopenuptheArticNationalWildlifeRefuge(ANWR)inAlaskatosuchexplora-
tion.Hisintellectualinconsistencyopenshimuptocriticismofaflip-flopandirresolutenessfromTeamObama. McCainalsoproposedfederalsubsidiesfornuclearpower,whichheviewsasthebestwaytoreduceU.S.carbondioxideemissions.Thatisagoodideadespitethestigmaattachedtonuclearenergy.Intherealmof“alterna-tive”energy,nuclearmaybetheonlyonethatcanmeetdemandonanindustrializedscale. Worst idea:McCain’sproposaltosuspendthe18.4centpergallonfederalgaso-linetaxforthesummerdrivingseason.Horrible,gag-inducingpanderingwithnoeconomicorintellectualunderpinningswhatsoever.Itwouldprovideonlymild,temporaryreliefatthepumpandhavethe
perverseeffectofactuallyincreasingdemandatatimeofshortsupply(seeabove,ortalktoanyhighschooleco-nomicsteacher).Worseyet,hehastosharethisturdofanideawiththelate,not-so-greatWickedWitchoftheWestWing,HillaryClinton.(OneredeemingqualityofObama’s
Sen. John McCain spent about five minutes talking about energy policy at an Indianapolis town hall meeting at Emmis last winter. He will address the National Sheriff Association in Indianapolis on July 1 in Indianapolis as well as host a fund-raiser. (HPI Photo by A. Walker Shaw)
Thursday, June 19, 2008Page9
nominationvictoryisthatwewillnothavethatvainglori-ousshreworherhusbandpreeningaroundcenterstageofAmericanpoliticallifeanymore.) So, McCain offers somegoodideas(inaterriblesetting)andareallybadidea.Atleasthehashiseyeontheball.WhatwastheObamacamp’sreaction?Torejectboththegoodandthebadand–surprise!–offersomesoaringrhetoric. Obamawasrighttopanthegasolinetaxrollback,especiallyinlightofthehugedeficiencieswithourtrans-portationinfrastructurethatthetaxissupposedtofund.Butthefollow-ingdoesnotinstillmuchconfidenceinhisjudgmentorhispromiseofa“newpoli-tics”: “JohnMcCain’splantosimplydrillourwayoutofourenergycri-sisisthesamemisguidedap-proachbackedbyPresidentBushthathasfailedourfamiliesfortoolongandonlyservestobenefitthebigoilcompanies,”ObamaspokesmanHariSevugansaid. Really?Yousee,IthoughtMcCainwassuggest-ingweliftamoratoriumondrillingthathasbeeninplacesince1981.Thatwouldmakeitanewpolicy,notthesame,andcertainlynotanapproach“thathasfailedourfamiliesfortoolong.”Iwon’tevendignifytheObamaspokesman’sattemptstolinkMcCaintotheunpopularpresidentoroilcompanies. Obama himself hadthistosay,“Ourdependenceonforeignoilstrainsfamilybudgetsanditsapsourecono-my.OilmoneypaysforthebombsgoingofffromBaghdadtoBeirut,andthebombastofdictatorsfromCaracastoTehran,”Obamasaid.“Ournationwillnotbesecureunlesswetakethatleverageaway,andourplanetwillnotbesafeunlesswemovedecisivelytowardacleanenergyfuture.” Ididn’tseevideoofthesecomments,butpresum-ablyObamawascrownedinahalowithhisfeethoveringslightlyaboveIowafloodwaterswhileimpartingthiswis-domtothemeremortalsaroundhim(atleastontheCNNandMSNBCfeeds). So,Obamaseesastrategiceconomicandsecuritythreatfromtheworld’soil-richdictatorsifwedon’tbreakourdependenceonforeignoil,butherejectsaperfectly
reasonableproposalbyhisopponentformoreoffshoreexplorationthathasproventobeenvironmentallysafe?Sad.Perhapshewillhaveadifferent(shallwesay,moreworldly?)viewoncehehasachancetositdownandchatpersonallywiththosedictatorsduringhisfirstyearinof-fice. Obama’s preferred fix,bestonecantell,istousetaxesraisedthroughanauctionofgreenhouse-gasemissionscreditstofundnewalternativeenergyresearchanddevelopmentprojects,whilealsoimposingrenewableenergymandatesonpublicutilities.Now,thiscap-and-trade-and-tax-and-regulateapproachmayhavemeritifyoua)agreethatglobalclimatechange,notU.S.energysecu-rity,isthemainissue,andb)youwanttopaymore–alotmore–atthepumpandfurtherwanttoturnyourhomethermostatdowntoaJimmyCarter-esque67degreesinwinter(75insummer).Otherwise,Obama’sproposalseemsquiteDraconianandignoresmarketforcesthatlikelywillprovidetheproperincentivestotheprivatesectortodotheirownR&Donalternativeenergysourcesandmorefuel-efficientvehicles. ObamareflexivelyrejectsMcCain’spoliciesandfollowsliberaldoctrinetoaregulation-heavy,biggovern-mentsolution.Somuchforthegreatorator’spost-partisanpromisesandgraspofmarketeconomics. Bought an SUV lately?Didn’tthinkso.Marketforcesareatworkandthosegas-guzzlersaresittingondealers’lots.I’meyeballingaHondaCivicHybridasmynextvehicle–onashort-termlease,ofcourse,becauseIexpectthetechnologytoleapfroginafewyears.That,andIplantotrashthevehicleonasummerroadtriptoAlaska…cariboutastesgood.vCarter is a vice president of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. He is a regular HPI column contributor.
Republicans to the Arctic!By JACK COLWELL SOUTHBEND-TwoHoosierRepublicancongres-sionalcandidatesplantocampaignwayupnorthinAlaskainJuly.It’snotthatthey’retryingtoescapeIndiana’ssum-
merheat.They’regoingjustaboutasfarnorthinAlaskaaspossibletoputtheheatontheincumbentDemocratstheyhopetodefeat. Destination: theArcticNationalWildlifeRefuge. Purpose: TomakeANWRafa-miliaracronymintheirdistrictsandconvincevotersthatfailuretodrillforoilthereisafactorinhighgaspricesandthatit’sallthefaultofDemo-
Sen. Barack Obama at an Indianapolis Phil-lips66 station in April. (HPI Photo by Brian A. Howey)
HOWEY Politics Indiana Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, June 19, 2008Page 10
crats. LukePuckett,RepublicannomineeforCongressinthe2ndDistrict,cameupwiththeplan.Heisrun-ningagainstRep.JoeDonnelly,theGrangerDemocratwhoseeksasecondterm.PuckettannouncedthatfourotherGOPcongressionalchallengers,includingformerIndianaCongress-manMikeSodrel,willaccompanyhim.SodrelisinanotherrematchwithRep.BaronHill,theDemocratwhore-claimedthe9thDistrictseatin2006. AlsoscheduledtotraveltoANWR,wayupinthenortheastcornerofAlaska,areRepublicanschallengingDemocraticincumbentsinthreeotherstates:CraigWilliams,inPennsylvania’s7thDistrict;ChrisLien,fortheat-largeHouseseatinSouthDakota;andPaulStark,inWisconsin’s3rdDistrict. PuckettsaystheJuly14-17tripisdesigned“tocallattentiontotheplentifulenergysourcesthatex-istrighthereathomeandtocallonCongresstoremoveprohibitionsondomesticexploration.”TheElkhartCountyRepublicancontendsthatgasolinepricewoes“canbesolvedsimplybyincreasingsupply”andthatitis“theDemocratic-ledCongress”thatstandsinthewayoftappingsuppliesinANWRandelsewhere. Thecandidateswillsendbackphotosandstate-mentstowebsitesforviewingbackhome.Theyhopefornewsmediaattentionintheirdistrictsandevenonthenationallevel.ButtheywillbejustvoicescryinginthewildernessunlessthereisamajorpolicychangeintheU.S.Senate,wherealargebipartisanmajorityhasvotedtoop-poseANWRdrilling. Columnist George F. Will,whosupportsANWRdrilling,lamentedinarecentcolumnthat72senators,39Democrats,includingBarackObama,and33Republicans,includingJohnMcCain,“havevotedtokeepANWR’sesti-mated10.4billionbarrelsofoiloffthemarket.” That’sright,McCainandObamasay“no”toANWRdrilling.So,whilePresidentBushsupportsit,thenextpresidentwillbeonrecordagainstit.McCain,thoughsofteningpastoppositiontooffshoredrilling,hasremainedsteadfastagainsttappingANWR,sayingthatdrillinginthepristinewildernessareawouldbeakintodrillingintheGrandCanyonortheEverglades. ManyconservativeRepublicansportrayANWRasapartisanissue,blamingPresidentBillClinton’s1995vetoof
legislationtopermitdrillingasdeprivingthenationofwhatnowcouldbetheflowofoilfromjustasmallsliveroftherefuge. Environmentalists opposedtodrillingcontend,however,thatfuelfromANWRwouldbejustadropinthe
tankintermsoftotalU.S.usage,wouldonlyplacemorerelianceonoilratherthanalternatives,andwouldleadtoenvironmentaldangersfromdrillingandpipelines.Puckettsaysthosecon-tentionsarefrom“theextremeenvi-ronmentallobby.” HeandtheotherGOPchallengershopetomeetwith“energyindustryexperts,stateandlocalofficials...andprivatelandownersandnativeresi-dentsoftheArcticCircle.”Alllikelywillapprovedrilling.HillhasvotedagainstANWRdrillingbutsayshehassup-portedmorerealisticeffortsforenergyindependence. Donnellysayshewould“supportresponsibleexplorationofoilreserves”inANWRandthat“nowisanappropri-atetimetoallowfocusedandrespon-siblenewoilandgasexploration”offtheshoresintheoutercontinentalshelf.InseekingtoneutralizePuckett’smaincampaignissue,Donnellyrisksireofenvironmentalistsinhisdistrict.
AstheycallforANWRdrillingandusetermssuchas“extremeenvironmentallobby”todescribeopponents,theRepublicancongressionalcandidatesareinagreementwiththeBushadministration.TheyhopetoappealtothoseintheconservativeGOPbasethathavebeensuspiciousofglobalwarmingclaimsandtoexpandtheappealtovotersofalltypesnowupsetovergasprices. This is not exactly McCain’s message.Hewantstoappealtovotersconcernedabouttheenviron-ment,especiallyyoungvoters,whoregardBushadminis-trationpoliciesasanti-environment.McCainpointstohisdisagreementwithBushoverANWRandnotesthathelongagobrokewiththeadministrationtowarnofglobalwarm-ing. Still,McCain’scalltoletthestatesdecideonoff-shoredrillingisrightinlinewithviewsoftheRepublicancandidatestravelingtoANWR.Maybe,foramoreunifiedpartyappeal,theyshouldhavegonetosomeoff-shoreoilrigsinsteadofwayupnorthtoAlaska.v
Colwell has covered Indiana politics for the South Bend Tribune for five decades. His weekly column runs Mondays at www.howeypolitics.com
2nd CD Republican nominee Luke Puckett will journey to ANWAR with former con-gressman Mike Sodrel in July. (HPI Photo by Brian A. Howey)
HOWEY Politics Indiana Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, June 19, 2008Page 11
Candidates avoid the global skills challengeBy MARK SCHOEFF JR. WASHINGTON--DuringthepenultimateweekoftheIndianaprimarycampaign,Iwasaboutasfarremoved
fromtheactionaspossible.Iwasvisit-ingBangalore,India.AsIkepttabsonthecombatthroughCNNInternationalandBBC,itoccurredtomethatwhatIwasobservinginBangaloreandotherpartsofsouthernIndiawasactuallyrelevanttoU.S.presidentialelection.Infact,itwasconspicuousbyitsabsence. WhileBarackObama,HillaryRod-hamClintonandpresumptiveRepub-licannomineeJohnMcCaindebatedthefinerpointsofafrivolousgas-tax
holiday,Iwasgettingaglimpseofacountrywhoseascen-danceiscausingdeepanxietyamongAmericanvoters. Bangalore,ofcourse,istheinformationtechnol-ogyhavenofIndia.IBM,MicrosoftandDellareamongtheleadingAmericanITfirmsthathavesetupbigoperationsinthecountryandhiretensofthousandsofIndians,oftenforjobsthathavebeenoutsourcedfromtheUnitedStates. The primary reason thatthesecompanieshavecometoIndiaisthecountry’stalentedandrelativelyinex-pensiveworkforce.Manyoftheworld’sbestscientistsandengineerscanbefoundhere.AndtheIndiangovernmentisintentonproducingmore. Overthecourseofmyweekthere,IgotthestrongimpressionthatIndiavalueseducation.Collegesdotthelandscape.Billboardscalloutforpeopletoenrollincours-es.EachyoungprofessionalImetinBangalorehadsomekindofITjob.ButIalsoobservedthatmostfamiliesinthecity--andinruralareas--arebattlinggrindingpoverty.Theirchildrenmaynotfinishschool,letaloneworkforIBMoneday. ThegovernmentbelievesthateducationisthekeytogrowthandistryingtogetmorepeoplefrompoorcommunitiesinvolvedintheITrevolution.OnepartythatwasrunningintheKarnatakastateelectionspledgedtoestablishcybercafesineveryvillage.BangaloreislocatedinKarnataka. TherulingpartyhasimplementedtheNationalSkillsDevelopmentMission,whichisdesignedtohelpteachstudentsjobskillsthey’llneedbeyondwhattheylearninclassroominstruction.Inaddition,thegovernmentisopen-ingmorespacesinschoolsforpoorstudents. ApplysimplemathtothesemovesandyouseethetalentpotentialinIndia.Thereisnoone-childpolicyhere,asthereisinChina.Kidsareubiquitous.TheIndianpopu-
lationisestimatedtohit1.2billionby2011. Whenlow-incomeIndiansaregivenabetterchancetojointhemiddle-andupper-classesintakingadvantageofITandotheropportunities,thecountrywillbecomeanevenmorefertilegroundforU.S.investment.That’sgoodforAmericabecauseourcompaniescaninno-vateandgenerateprofitsfromtheirIndianoperations. ButthatalsoincreasespressureonU.S.workerstodeveloptheskillsthatwillkeepthemindemandintheglobaleconomy.Theyhavetoincreasetheiraptitudeforproblem-solving,collaborationandteamwork.Theyhavetostrengthentheirinterdisciplinaryandentrepreneurialabili-ties. Those conclusions arecontainedinareportbytheCouncilonCompetitiveness,agroupofleadersfromindustry,academiaandorganizedlabor.ItwasrolledoutinlateAprilataCapitolHilleventsponsoredbySen.MaxBaucus,chairmanoftheSenateFinanceCommittee,andSen.RichardLugar. “Skillsareourmostsustainablecompetitiveadvan-tage,”Baucussaid.“Theycanbeouranchorintheturbu-lentworldeconomywehave.” ButmanyU.S.workersareworriedthattheylacktheskillsrequiredtoremainemployedorfindanewjob.Reps.RahmEmanuel,D-Illinois,andJimRamstad,R-Min-nesota,haveintroducedabillthatwouldestablishpersonalaccountstofinancelifelongeducationandtrainingthatarepartiallyfundedbyemployers.Companiesarealsoempha-sizingtheneedtobolsterfederalprogramsforworkeredu-cationandtraining.AlarmedbytheincreasinglynegativeattitudetowardtradeliberalizationonCapitolHillandthecampaigntrail,agroupof26businessesandtradeassocia-tionsislobbyingtohelpforvictimsofglobalization. TheTradeandAmericanCompetitivenessCoalition,launchedonJune11,ispushingtoreformandreautho-rizeTradeAdjustmentAssistance,aprogramthatprovidesretraining,wageandhealthbenefitsforworkerswhohavelosttheirjobsduetoimportsortotheircompanymovingoperationstoaforeigncountry.NegotiationsbetweenCon-gressandtheBushadministrationoverTAAcoulddeter-minethefateoftheColombiaFreeTradeAgreement. It’s not enough, however,thatsenators,Housemembersandthecorporatecommunityareaddressingtheseissues.Soshouldthepresidentialcandidates.ObamavowstorewritetradeagreementsandkeepjobsintheUnitedStates.McCainisastrongproponentoftradeliberalization.Butneitherspendsmuchtimeaddressinghowtoprepareworkersfornewjobscreatedbyglobaliza-tion. ItwouldberefreshingtohearthepresidentialcandidatesengageinanintelligentdebateaboutimprovingtheU.S.educationandworkforcedevelopmentsystemstohelpallAmericansparticipate--andprosper--intheglobaleconomy.v
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Rich James, Post-Tribune: PoliticsiswhereBobbyCantrellfoundhisniche.Hewasvery,verygoodatbeingvery,verybad.Ifyouwererunningforoffice,youdidn’tnecessarilyneedhimsupportingyou.Butyousureasheckdidn’twanthimworkingagainstyou.FormerEastChicagoMayorBobPastrickandformerSheriffBobSti-glichwerethetwobestpoliticiansI’veeverseeninLakeCounty.Andwhiletheywereinpower,youknewCantrellwassomewhereinthebackgrounddoingwhathecouldtohelporhurt.Itwasn’tthatCantrellhadsomuchpowerasitwasthathewasbright,verybright.Cantrellhadawayofconvincingapoliticianthatheneededhimtogetaheadorputoutafire.Hebobbedandweavedanddancedandusuallycameoutontop.Thatis,untillastweekwhenhewasconvictedinfederalcourton11countsoffraud--involvingsomeofthemoneyhereceivedforgettinganaddictionservicelockedintogovernmentoffices.MuchofthemoneyCantrellmade--let’sjustsaythathereceived--camefromNancyFromm’sAddic-tionandFamilyCarebusiness.JustlikeCantrell,Frommandherbusinesswereprettymuchshams,sellingservicesthatgovernmentofficesneitherneedednorcouldafford.Whilethere’snothingwrongwithreceivingafinder’sfeetosecureagovernmentcontractforabusiness,youdohaveaprob-lemwhenyoufailtoreportthemoney--oneofthethingsCantrellwasconvictedofdoing.WhenyouhaveshamelesspeoplelikeFrommanddisgracedformerScherervilleTownCourtJudgeDeborahRigatestifyingagainstyou,thereisalmostaguiltbyassociation.DefenseattorneyKevinMilnermadethatpointwhenheaskedthejuryduringclosingarguments,“Wouldn’tyouliketohearfromsomeonewhoisn’tfacingtimeinprison?”Yeah,butasaformerfederalprosecutoroncesaid,“Youdon’tswimwithswansinthesewer.”WhileCantrellisanotherfeatherinthefederalcap,youjustknowprosecutorsarelookingformore.IfCantrellhadbeenconvictedonacountortwoandbeengivenayearortwoinprison,chancesarehewouldhavequietlydonehistime.That’sprettymuchhowitalwayshasworkedinEastChicago.Buthewasconvictedonall11countsandnowfacestheveryrealpossibilityofdyingalonelymaninprison.HammondMayorTomMcDermottJr.saidhedoubtsCantrellwilltalk,evenifhehasthegoodsonsomeone.“He’soldschool,”McDermottsaid.Yeah,buthe’sgotkidsandgrandkids.That’splentyofreasontosing,evenifitisn’t“HailNobleWashington.”v
Leslie Stedman Weidenbener,Louisville Courier-Journal:StateRep.DennieOxleymaybeofmorehelpthanyouraveragerunningmate.First,heprobablywon’tbeafraidtoattackDaniels,andhe’lllikelydoitwell.Second,he’llbearelentlesscampaigner.Withhislargedistrict,Oxleyisusedtodoingalotofdrivingonthe
Jefferson-JacksonDaydinnercircuit,tosportingeventsinthearea,andtopoliticaleventsacrosshisdistrict.Third,hismoreconservativepositionswillbeacounterweighttowhatislikelytobeaGOPchargethatThompsonisliberal.He’llprobablymakeSouthernIndiana’sconservativesfeelmorecomfortablewithThompson.ButthiswillbearealtestforOxleyaswell.AstheHousemajoritywhip,Oxleyhasbeeninaleadershippositionthatisessentiallyallpoliticsallthetime.Hisroleisnottoformulatepolicy,sodetailsaboutpolicyhavenotbeenhisstrongestsuit.TohelpThompsonsucceed,thatwilllikelyhavetochange.He’sgoingtobe
questionedbyvotersandthemediarepeatedlyashetravels,andhe’llneedsomegoodanswers.v
Stephanie Salter,Terre Haute Tri-bune-Star:SometimesIhavethisfantasywhenIhearyetanothersmugknow-it-alltalkaboutthe“irrelevance”ofthemainstreamnewsmedia.
Ithink,OK.Howaboutwejustfoldupshoprightnow?Everybodywhohastrainedforyearstogather,verifyanddisseminatenews—especiallyallofussoon-to-beextinctprintdinosaurs—we’lljustgohome.Tomorrow,therewillbenomoredailypaperonanybody’sdoorstep.Andsome-oneelsecanpullthingstogethertoputonaWebsiteforpeopletoreadforfree.v
Sylvia Smith, Fort Wayne Journal Gazette:Ithasbeenamplyestablished–evenbypoliticalcompatriotsofPresidentBush–thattheprepara-tionfortheIraqinvasionwasappallinglyinadequate.Wearelivingthrough(andmanyaredyingthrough)theeffectsoftheWhiteHouse’snaïveassumptionsthatthewarwouldbebrief,thecostwouldbebornebyIraq’soilproductionandthenewgovernmentwouldcometogetherseamlessly.HistorywilljudgeBushharshlybecauseofthosemisjudg-ments.Butismetaphoricallywaltzingintowaracauseforimpeachment?Absolutelynot.Rep.DennisKucinichthinksotherwise,andheforcedtheHousetovotelastweek.HiscontentionisthatBushcommittedhighcrimesandmisde-meanorswhenhesnookeredAmericaintoinvadingIraq.His35articlesofimpeachmentrangedfrom“creatingasecretpropagandacampaigntomanufactureafalsecaseforwaragainstIraq”to“endangeringthehealthof9/11firstresponders.”TheDemocraticleadership,whichcontrolstheactiononthefloor,doesnotsupportKucinich’smovebutcouldnotcompletelyblockitbecausetherulesoftheHouseallowanyofitsmemberstobringaprivilegedresolutiontothefloorandinsistonavotewithintwodays.TheHouseleadershipfunneledKucinich’sresolutiontotheJudiciaryCommittee,whichwon’tholdhearingsortakeanyaction.Sothematterisburied.TheHouseclearlyhasnoappetiteforimpeachingBush.Thecountrycertainlydoesn’t.v
thanadecade.“Heisagreateduca-torwithagreatbackground,”saidstateRep.SheilaKlinker,D-Lafayette,“WearedelightedtohaveDr.RichardWoodrunningforstatesuperintendentofpublicinstruction.”
Supt. Reed to joinbrokerage firm INDIANAPOLIS-StateschoolssuperintendentSuellenReedplanstojoinasecuritiesbrokeragefirmwhensheleavesofficeinJanu-ary(Indianapolis Star).ReedsaidThursdayshewouldbecomevicepresidentofbusinessdevelopmentforCincinnati-basedRoss,Sinclaire&Associates.Thecompanyhasofficesinseveralstatesandhasabackgroundinhelpingschooldistrictsandotherlocalgovernmentunitsdevelopfinancingplansforcapitalprojects.
Bush wants to lifedrilling ban WASHINGTON-Withgasolinetopping$4agallon,PresidentBushurgedCongressonWednesdaytoliftitslong-standingbanonoffshoreoilandgasdrilling,sayingtheUnitedStatesneedstoincreaseitsenergyproduction.Democratsquicklyrejectedtheidea(Associated Press).“Thereisnoexcusefordelay,”thepresidentsaidinastatementintheRoseGar-den.Withthepresidentialelectionjustmonthsaway,BushmadeapointedattackonDemocrats,accusingthemofobstructinghisenergyproposalsandblamingthemforhighgasolinecosts.HisproposalechoedacallbyRepublicanpresidentialcandidateJohnMcCaintoopentheContinentalShelfforexploration.“FamiliesacrossthecountryarelookingtoWashingtonforaresponse,”Bushsaid.CongressionalDemocratswerequicktorejectthepushforliftingthedrillingmoratorium,sayingoilcompaniesalreadyhave68millionacresoffshorewatersunderleasethatarenotbeingdeveloped.
HouseSpeakerNancyPelosicalledBush’sproposals“anotherpagefrom(an)...energypolicythatwasliter-allywrittenbytheoilindustry--(to)giveawaymorepublicresources.”Sen.BarackObama,theDemocrats’presumptivepresidentialnominee,rejectedliftingthedrillingmoratoriumthathasbeensupportedbyasuc-cessionofpresidentsfornearlytwodecades.
9% of Indiana corn,soy crops flooded WESTLAFAYETTE-AcropreportissuedthisweekbytheU.S.DepartmentofAgricultureshowstherecentheavyrainsinIndianahaveflooded9percentofthestate’scornacreage,9percentofthesoybeanacreageand5percentofthewinterwheatcrop(Lafayette Journal & Courier).Thesouthwestdistrictofthestate,whichincludesEvansvilleandVincennes,receivedthemostcropdamagewith16percentofboththecornandsoybeanacreageflooded,alongwith6percentofthewheatacreage.
Rep. Pelath to headimmigration panel INDIANAPOLIS-StateRep.ScottPelath,D-MichiganCity,willco-chairalegislativepanelchargedwithstudyingthepoliticallychargedissueofillegalimmigration(Times of Northwest Indiana).“Onnootherissuearethegapsbetweenpoliticalrhetoric,strongemotionsandreliableinformationmoreapparent,”PelathsaidThursdayinastatement.“Whatisobvious,however,isthatweareanationofimmigrants,andmostAmeri-canssenseournationalimmigrationsystemisn’tservinganyoneverywell.”PelathleadstheHouseRulesCommit-tee,whichhasbeenresponsibleforburyingRepublican-ledeffortstowriteabanonsame-sexmarriageintotheIndianaConstitution.
Wood kicks offsuperintendent race INDIANAPOLIS-DemocratRichardWoodlaunchedhiscandidacyforstatesuperintendentofpublicinstructionWednesdaybytoutingeduca-tionasavitalinvest-menttool(Times of Northwest Indiana).“Ibelievethatitismorallyresponsibleandit’seconomicallysensibleforustobuildgoodchildren,ratherthantorepairadults,”hesaid.AndWood,whoisretiringthisafter19yearsassuper-intendentoftheTippecanoeCountySchoolCorp.,isn’thappyaboutanewstatelawtellinglocalschooldistrictshowmuchpropertytaxrevenuetheycaninvestineducation.“Wehaveelectedschoolboardsthroughoutmostofthestate,”hesaid.“Thosepeopleareelectedofficials.Theyshouldberesponsiblefortaxationanddecisionsthatarereflectiveoftheircommunity.”Wood,55,didn’tgoasfarastosayhewouldlobbyagainstwritingthestate’snewpropertytaxcapsintotheIndi-anaConstitution,amultistepprocesslegislatorsareexpectedtoresumenextyear.Thecaps,whicheventuallywilllimithomeownerbillsto1percentofassessedvalue,areexpectedtosap$8millionfromstateschoolsnextyearand$89millionin2010.WoodalsospokeofimprovingIndiana’s76.5per-centhighschoolgraduationrate,butwhenasked,hedidnotofferaspecifictargetforimprovement.ThecurrentratehasbeenroundlycriticizedbyfellowDemocratJillLongThompson,whoisrunningagainstRepublicanGov.MitchDaniels.Wood,whoholdsdoctoratedegreesineducationandlaw,willfaceRepublicanTonyBennett,theGreaterClarkCountySchoolssu-perintendent,thisfallinthefirstopenraceforstateschoolschiefinmore
HOWEY Politics Indiana Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, June 19, 2008Page 13