Our governor is home...

[Rick Myers]

Frank O'Bannon has just been returned to Indianapolis aboard an Indiana ANG C-123. His wife Judy is a pillar of strength. His body was carried from the aircraft by 6 of his State Police security officers.

Earlier today, we were at the Indianapolis Air Show, and it was announced that Frank O'Bannon had passed away. More than 100,000 Hoosiers fell silent... It was an inspiring moment.

We have lost a great Dem, and a great man...

[Eloriel]

1. I'm terribly sorry.

Eloriel

[maxomai_vs_rove]

2. :(

Godspeed, Frank O'Bannon. And good luck wherever you are.

[scarlet_owl]

3. Rest In Peace, Frank.

From your neighbor in Illinois.

[5thGenDemocrat]

7. Godspeed, governor

Regards from your neighbors in Michigan as well.
John

[Ilsa]

4. God Bless You, Gov.

Bless all of Indiana as well.

[Arianrhod]

5. A sorrowful loss. /eom

[Cha]

6. That's so sad! I wasn' following Indiana politics and had no

idea that Frank O'Bannon was a Democratic Govenor of Indiana.

That's so ironic that Indiana had a Dem Gov and New York has a repug.

:kick:

[salin]

10. psssssssst

while our presidential electoral votes are predictable - nothing else here is - and nothing else is completely red. We have had democratic governors for going on 16 years. Prior to 1980 we had two democratic senators (Birch Bayh and Vance Hartke). For a number of years the State House of Reps has been under democratic control. And while we have a few really rabid right congressmen (and a couple of very embarrassing ones) - we had the first representative to speak out against the Vietnam war (former Congressman Andy Jacobs who served many, many terms after being the first to stand publically against the war). His seat is now held by Julia Carson, who is the only African American member of congress to represent a predominantlyl white district.

Indiana - while it seems very republican - is a little more nuanced and complex than most people realize.

[Pallas180]

8. Shocking occurrence. Sorry for him and his family. Pls pass it on. eom

.

[salin]

9. On Monday (when he first fell into critical condition)

i attended a city hearing. The place fell silent in his honor. Hours later a number of us went to a nearby watering hole. The evening (late) news came on - and the entire place fell silent (very rare in a bustling bar) to hear the latest news.

While our state budget situation worsened, and folks grew more critical, it was never directed at him personally. At his policies, yes. At him, no. At the time there was a surprising lack of balance of criticism - given that efforts to correct our tax issues (the entire system for property tax was declared unconstitutional in 1999 or 2000, and the state was given a little time to correct it - but the republican senate, in particular, drug their feet adding as they do with anything that might appear to be a 'tax hike' - which led to an exacerabting of a growing fiscal crisis. Add the bush economy and slashing of taxes in 2001 (which meant a slashing of $ sent to states) - and our troubles accelerated at a slighty quicker pace than many other states.

While folks were frustrated that the "state" (and thus O'Bannon) wasn't handling the crisis - the anger was never directed at him as a person. FOlks didn't articulate it - but there always seemed to be a recognition that the problems were more political and more complex than just him. And the outpouring of good will demonstrates this.

Interesting to note - on a final note of his service to Indiana - rather than withering all state fiscal responsibilities - he was actively advocating a new initiative just prior to his death. "Energize Indiana" - which (I believe) was focusing on rebuildng the infrastructure of the state (including education) as a means for boosting overall state productivity. Juxtapose this to the current whitehouse theives who are attempting to starve all programs that serve the citizens who are not in the top 1% of the economic hierarchy.

His vision, compared to that of the current, radicalized GOP, was a much more realistic, pragmatic (ie not so ideological and thus blind) view of government and its role to the people. While the latest initiative may have been slow in the making (we probably could have used it earlier) it shows more vision than many politicians are demonstrating these days.

Gov. O'Bannon, you will be missed, you are appreciated, and our state will mourn your loss. God be with your family in comforting them in your loss, and comforting them with the hard decision they had to make regarding life support. You died, as you lived, challenging the more extremist views that sometime come to the fore in this state. Peace be with you and your family.

[kayleybeth]

11. Prayers

My mother died 3 years ago under similar circumstances. My heart goes out to the governor's family and to all of Indiana.