With enough GOP politicians acting like Democrats (spend, spend, spend), or just being stupid, Indiana's governor employs some common sense.

It's nice to see someone like him do this. If only his fellow GOP Congressmen had the brains to do the same.

[ November 30, 2005, 08:45 AM: Message edited by: MIB ]

Interesting that you would pick up on the Will essay.Most of the Indiana dailies ran it,some as an almost op-ed to their own editorials criticizing him for some of his less popular issues like the DST disaster and the BMV mess.

My Man Mitch ran and won on Bushies coattails in an immensely red state,but right now he is looking like a 1 term gov.Bush has lost a lot of support even here,in a state that I always believed that Tricky Dick could have re-carried even after his resignation.The state is split down the middle over DST,and it's even more complicated because different sections of the state want to go with Eastern or Central depending on their geographic location.A lot of people who voted for Mitchy are NOT in favor of DST so the issue has cost him a lot of support and cuts across Party lines.

He has been semi favorable on the GLT front,which has further eroded his support among conservatives.But he's tried to play both sides of the fence,and like a typical Republican he is trying to cut expenses on the back of people who can least afford it-namely the poor and disadvantaged.I work with disabled people,and naturally the state is intent on cutting our budget,which results in reduction of services to people who don't really have a voice in the Statehouse.Typical of the type of moves which haven't endeared him to a lot of folks are his shutting down of BMV offices and the unemployment fiasco.

I thought the unemployment mess was unbelievable-I still can't believe what happened to folks and how lucky I was to avoid what would have been a financial nightmare.They had a brilliant idea to consolidate all the states claims processors into a single Indianapolis office.They gave these folks,who don't make much to begin with, 1 whole week to move themselves lock,stock and barrel to Indy or lose their jobs.Suprisingly enough,the majority of the folks in those positions decided to seek out other employment and the State found themselves hopelessly understaffed overnight.

Guess who paid the price for that decision? The unemployed folks who suddenly discovered that there would be a "delay" in processing their claims.No one was aware of how desperate the situation was,one day there was just a news story in the Star announcing that unemployment claims were backed up and all those lucky folks who had just found out they were being laid off could count on a 13 week delay minimum in having their claims processed.When I first saw the story,I was sure it was a misprint.How could anyone reasonably expect unemployed people to survive 13 weeks before getting any money??Even though I was (luckily) not personally affected,I was still so shaken that I had to drive over to the unemployment office to get the whole story. eek!

Earth to GOP-chances are people who are being laid off(many times due to corporate greed)are probably going to need their unemployment benefits to make up for not getting a paycheck.I think it was July when the news broke,last I heard they were hopeful of having it caught up by Jan.-Merry F**cking Xmas from Santa Mitch!! :mad: I was just lucky that United decided to shut our office down in Jan when Mitch and his cronies were just settling in and hadn't yet had the oppurtunity to wreak havoc on the system.

Glad you view those types of moves as "common sense"-sort of illustrates why folks like you and Will are Republicans.Just read today that Georgie Boy will not be attending and addressing the upcoming NCAA convention in Indy-supposedly because of the Alito confirmation-even though the convention date had been confirmed long ago.Think that one is fooling many folks? I think it's more likely that Mitchy Boy learned his lesson from the Richmond speech fiasco,and decided with his sinking popularity he could do without the type of headache a visit from his old buddy could invite.Saw a lot of "My Man Mitch" bumperstickers during the campaign-now all the ones you see say "YOUR Man Mitch". :cool:

Was going to suggest that you take him off our hands and invite him to Sacramento-then I remembered that you Already HAVE your own resident Statehouse Doofus

[ November 30, 2005, 10:31 AM: Message edited by: Tim ]

Except that I'm not a Republican. At all.

BTW, sometimes one has to take a position that is unpopular but correct. Your governor's Daylight Saving Time position is the right one. Like it or not, Indiana's current scenario of confusing, illogical time zones and DST/no DST is ridiculous. It's about time they enter the 21st century, so to speak.

Well I just assumed that since you were applauding a Republican governor for adopting a Republican stance,that you were also voicing approval for that Republican stance. :confused:
However,under current circumstances I can appreciate your desire to distance yourself from the GOP. :cool:

As to DST,I really don't care one way or another.
I think what upsets a lot of folks is that it wasn't discussed/debated in the campaign,and it's never been brought to a vote.Again a double-standard for the GOP who are always harping on the will of the people-people feel blindsided.

The Eastern/Central controversy further complicates the issue.People in the South who work in Kentucky have very little in common with people in the Region who want to be in line with Chicago and vice versa.Since both areas are currently locked in to their respective neighbors in many ways trying to unite them in one to the exclusion of the other has opened up a hornets nest for Mitch.He's inclined to go with Eastern,but the central zone is where a lot of core GOP support traditionally exists.So just what is his DST position that you say is so right??? :confused:

Actually, I think his inclination to have Indiana on Eastern time is correct.

I have just recently moved to Indianapolis (yeah, there's no change to my name) and I have not really heard many positive things about Mitch, and like others have pointed out, Indiana isn't exactly liberal land and it's media coverage isn't either.

That being said, his whole idea of getting rid of daylight savings time has turned into a disaster with one county wanting to be on eastern the other wants central, etc. Some of his reasonings I have heard from his own mouth for changing to eastern is stuff like it will reduce crime. What?

And then there is him and the Democratic mayor pushing for the new Colts stadium which is costing a pretty penny...while Indiana is laying off policemen and is struggling to pay for education. They don't fund their state universities enough so they have to raise tuition.

Don't forget the property tax fiasco, especially in Lake County, Indiana. Lots of old ladies about to be evicted...you should like that, MIB!

Let them all commune together in a retirement home. They don't ned those big homes in which to live all by themselves.

We'll remember you said that when your time comes.

Except that I won't die. I'll just be consumed by the Force (or something like that).

You'll have your kids to take care of you, right?

you'll lose your Bush fan club card for sounding like a commie