Are my Hoosier Brethren as angry with the Dems as I am?

[Voltaire]

They voted to give a madman and criminal more money to kill more troops and innocent civilians. I don't care what sort of political game they are playing here, it is WRONG. It is a cynical calculation at BEST!!

And will there be a challenger, a viable challenger to Lord Shorty? Just asking.

Greetings to all.

Voltaire

[IndyOp]

1. Lord Shorty would be who? I *know* there will be a challenger to Baron Hill -

He is pretty short. Gretchen Clearwater advised Hill's office that if he voted to fund the escalation that she would be running again.

Clearwater 4 Congress Blog
http://gc2dc06.blogspot.com/

Go Gretchen - Indiana's 9th Congressional District! :woohoo:

[CroneWit]

2. Clearwater vs Hill IN-09?

If Clearwater intends to run agaist Hill, I'd suggest she make a public statement SOON!

There are two places I've found where she (or any Hill challenger) could get netroots support. These two actions arose after last week's Capitulation Bill.

At dKos, search on the tag 'Rock the Houses' and/or look for posts by diarist 'plf515' from last weekend. plf515 & others have begun an action (with ActBlue page already set up) with the intention of primarying Appeasement Dems. (Hill is not targeted on plf515's list, but I'll help make a case against him if needed.)

Also, at www.democrats.com (the Agressive Progressives), Bob Fertik is collecting names of challengers for anyone who voted against the McGovern bill.

I **believe** we need to run an anti-war, progressive candidate against Hill in the primary. Frankly, I'd like to draft John Mellencamp!

[Delphinus]

3. Welcome to DU, CroneWit!

:hi:

[salin]

4. Gretchen is an incredible woman.

But she doesn't have much of a chance of taking the congressional district in the dem primary. What she *does* do is put pressure on Hill per his actions in the next 11 monrhts - per not giving too much reason for the disaffected voter (regarding the war which is very valient in regions of his district) and NOT having the $$ for two fights. The repubs have already announced the intent for a refight (per the repub who unseated Hill and ater was unseated by Hill). This is going to be one of the much more expensive races in the country. Hill cannot afford to ignore the Clearwater constiuency. At the same time he can not appear to "progressive" (this is a relatively conservative district) on these votes. He has a tight wire to walk - and I am glad that Ms. Clearwater is still willing to put her self out there (per a canidacy) which keeps the pressure on Hill to not play it too moderately/conservatively (not in the political sense but in the "playing it safe" sense.)

[CroneWit]

5. Can we draft John Mellencamp?

Just asking -- the only people in IN-09 with name recognitoin are Larry Bird and JM -- and I can't imagine Larry being political.

Mellencamp, however, is well-known for his (general) anti-war stance. He can be very suave and articulate when he wants to be -- he was on Charlie Rose a few months back and held his own, made his points well, very reasonable in demeanor. He knows what life is like for small-town & rural folks in S IN.

I don't know Mellencamp, and don't know if he would even consider it -- but wouldn't he do great debates?

[Indy_Dem_Defender]

7. From what I know about Mellencamp

as a fan, I can't ever imagine him running for political office. Now his wife Elaine that is who you should go after if your going after name recognition, she was a Indiana delegate at the 2004 democratic convention, so there is some interest in politics on her part.

[CroneWit]

8. Mellencamps: degrees of separation?

Remember that game 'how many degrees of separation to Kevin Bacon'? Who knows somebody who knows somebody who knows the Mellencamps? Who can begin to raise the question of wether either John or Elaine would like to challenge Baron Hill in order to articulate anti-war and progressive ideas in IN-09?

[Indy_Dem_Defender]

10. I know were they like to hang out in the Fall on Saturday afternoons

They never miss a IU Football at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, they have their own suite (ok calling it a suite is a strech if you've ever been to that stadium).

[IndianaGreen]

6. As Keith told me as we were sipping brews at Spencer's on Election night

"Nothing will change!"

Keith is a very wise man, and he turned out to be right about the Democrats being unable and unwilling to end the war, unlike a crusty old Red like me who still suffers from bouts of hope.

I think that every incumbent that voted to fund this war should be challenged at the polls next year!

The Democratic Congress betrayed the voters that elected them to end the war! It is punishment time!

[Voltaire]

9. I am with YOU sister

There is no excuse for that vote. None. Zip. Every legislator that voted more money for this cretin to kill more children should be voted out, even if it means we lose the majority.

Lord Shorty would be the Governor of Indiana by the way, for those who did not know. One of the House from the Region gave him that nickname, but his name escapes me.

[indypaul]

11. Extremely difficult to direct any anger at any dem

when we have Rokita and Daniels in office.