I said to a friend yesterday that magaGOP nominee for IN LT Gov Micah Beckwith [FN1] could be why Indiana flips blue. Beckwith’s bigotry (e.g., you lack the capacity to be moral if you’re not “Christian”; the USA was founded by & for the benefit of Christians). 1/7

My friend questioned my observation. He said people will have to link the magaGOP nominee for IN Gov Mike Braun to Beckwith & that not enough people will know who Beckwith is and what he represents to impact that…

John Schmitz’s FB podcast, “Mouthwash,” streams Tuesdays at 9 pm. John also is the magaGOP nominee for US House INCD7, in which Andre Carson is the incumbent. John is upset because, John says, Rep Carson has refused to debate John. I only can say, “That’s a bummer.” 1/10

I feel for John. You see, Indiana’s magaGOP nominee for IN LT Gov, Micah Beckwith, posted insults on my (then-) twitter feed on 2/1/20. [FN1] I inferred he had challenged me to a debate. He equivocated, then…

Two words: Beckwith lies.

An article about magaGOP nominee for IN Lt Gov Micah Beckwith could get people feeling sorry for Mike Braun, the party’s nominee for Gov by virtue of winning May’s primary w/236,649 votes. [FN1] Beckwith got the No. 2 spot at convention... 1/10

and by a margin of 67 delegates, not all of whom were party “insiders.” [FN2] Beckwith spent the year prior to the convention traveling the State & recruiting people to run to be delegates. Now Beckwith is…

There’s one more question that someone should ask Mike Braun [FN1], at tonight’s debate with Democratic Party nominee Jennifer McCormick. Beckwith, in a selfie video, said only Christians have the capacity to be moral. [FN2] Beckwith’s never recanted that statement. 1/7

Question: if elected governor, will Braun tolerate discrimination by Beckwith? Beckwith, the past few days, has filled in any blank spaces on his resume of prejudice, saying Hoosiers can choose between “godly boldness”…

Tomorrow evening, 10/2/24, is the first debate between the nominees for Governor of Indiana’s two “major” political parties. If both parties functioned in ways remotely sane, this blog would suggest questions, on major issues, for both candidates. 1/10

Sanity long ago left what was called “the party of Lincoln.” Sen Mike Braun won May’s primary w/236,649 votes, [FN1] but the real authority, if the ticket wins, will reside in a person who is #2 on the ticket thanks to 891 delegates at…

You are being conditioned to believe our elections in November have been “rigged.” That makes people less likely to oppose a January 6-type coup, if they do not actually join the effort. Lies too ridiculous to believe are told. Via repetition, people believe the lies. 1/9

We make decisions, especially about politics, based on information from media. Fifty years ago those media were TV, radio, newspapers and magazines. Obviously, internet has expanded the number of sources. Sources…

Oct 8: IN early in-person voting starts. [FN1] One office-seeker “is assembling “an advisory council of agricultural, legislative & other ‘experts’ to ensure alignment w/Christian, Const’l, & Conservative principles.” [FN2] To be very clear: that plan is Unconstitutional. 1/10

For a year before the State GOP convention, Micah Beckwith recruited people to run to be delegates. By 67 votes, Beckwith was the running mate of Mike Braun, winner of the May primary w/236,649 votes.…

This year Hoosier can vote for Pres/VP. The ticket cannot be “split.” We also pick Gov/Lt Gov in similar fashion from 3 tickets. [FN1] On 9/27, magaGOP nominee for IN Gov Braun solicited $$ for “his” campaign saying IN’s gone from “likely” to “leaning” red. 1/13

The name of Braun’s titular running mate, Micah Beckwith, was notably absent. I’ve said that a valid poll is expensive to administer, since land lines are far fewer. The vibe I’ve sensed is like 2008, but more so. In 2008,…

Micah Beckwith [FN1] acts like s/he speaks for ALL Christians. This phenomenon is not new. A notable example was Rev Jerry Falwell, who had a high profile in the 1980 elections as head of the “Moral Majority,” but only 27% felt positively about it. [FN2] Beckwith posted: 1/9

> 25 million Christians registered to vote do not vote in presidential elections; 65 million do not vote in local elections, and 15 million are not registered to vote. “Can you imagine if all those folks voted…

Think about the numerical value of one.

Math is important in politics. The roots of our system can be traced to England. One person, the King, held absolute power. In 1215, C.E., King John signed the Magna Carta. [FN1] 1/7

One authority, the King, no longer held absolute power.

Another dynamic was belief in the “divine right of kings”: The doctrine that monarchy is God's chosen form of government, and that rebellion against the monarch is always a sin. [FN2] 2/7

Our…

Near the top of the list “Most Ghastly Things a Candidate for Political Office” is people who do not follow the same “god” as the candidate are unable to be moral. Specifically, Micah Beckwith [FN1] said: “You can’t be moral if you’re not Christian.” [FN2] Beckwith wants power, but 1/13

the U.S. Constitution states everyone has a right to “equal protection of the laws.” [FN3] We are protected, by the First Amendment, from zealots who try to impose theocracy on us. [FN4] The…

Federal statutes bar flag desecration. [FN1] One cannot attach “any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature” on the flag. [FN2] Indiana has similar statutes. [FN3] One may properly dispose of a desecrated flag by burning. [FN4] 1/9

In 1907, the Court held that a State could bar the use of the flag as printed on labels of bottles of beer. [FN5] In 1969, the Court held as protected speech a veteran’s burning of the flag in protest of James…

We need not time-travel to foresee what will happen “day one” if the magaGOP [FN1] ticket for IN Gov/Lt Gov wins. A significant typo in that ticket must be given context. Micah Beckwith [FN2] announced in June 2023, s/he’d try to be the party nominee for Lt Gov. [FN3] 1/13

Sen Braun won the primary on May 7 & announced her/his “pick” for Lt Gov May 8. [FN4] As noted here, neither Braun nor her/his campaign hyped that pick. [FN5] So Braun either a) has her/his mind on deeper…

Micah Beckwith [FN1] wants power. When s/he specifically said the office s/he seeks is IN Lt Gov, I blogged about Indiana’s Constitution & statutes that define the powers & duties of that office. [FN2] Here are a few points to consider. 1/11

1) IN Lt Gov can’t do what Beckwith says he wants to do. Examples: Beckwith wants to “restore parental rights” and “get teachers back to basics, not pushing a sexual agenda.” IN Lt Gov’s job description does not encompass those areas.…

This afternoon, I received, via email, the full text of which I shall provide on my blog an “Open Letter to Micah Beckwith, Indiana Lt Governor Candidate, Who Wants to Bring Theocracy to Indiana and the USA,” from Dr Matthias Beier

Link to Dr Beier's letter:

Open Letter to Micah Beckwith, Indiana Lt. Governor Candidate, Who Wants to Bring Theocracy to Indiana and the USA…

MagaGOP [FN1] nominee for IN Gov Mike Braun, in his own weird way, accurately gauged Hoosier voters’ focus: “most people aren’t voting for Terry Goodin or Micah Beckwith.” [FN2] A lot of people are voting because of Beckwith, Braun’s running mate for LT Gov.... 1/7

Some will vote for Beckwith, whose family members have voted “R” for generations & they’re unaware of Beckwith’s views; or b) the philosophical heirs to D.C. Stephenson’s kkk, so big it drew 200K at a rally on 7/4/1923.…

For a boat to cross a pond, both oars need to paddle the same direction, or you’ll go in circles. A boat that is the magaGOP [FN1] ticket for Gov/Lt Gov has been cutting circles since the party’s mid-June convention; 891 delegates nominated Micah Beckwith for Lt Gov. [FN2] 1/10

The lead on the ticket is the nominee for Gov, Mike Braun, who won May’s primary. [FN3] On the one hand, Braun “isn’t buying” IN Dems’ optimism that McCormick/Goodin, their ticket for Gov/Lt Gov is “‘situated…

Yesterday’s mass shooting [FN1] made me think about values.

First: the value of “an assault-style rifle.” [FN2] One vendor says “prices can vary widely, w/budget-friendly options starting around $500.” [FN3] Money is THE value for corporate gun manufacturers. But... 1/9

Guns are so well-made and durable that they can last 100 years or more, w/attrition rates in the U.S. of about one percent. [FN4] U.S. civilians hold an average of 120.5 guns/100 ppl, the highest rate in the…

Guns: another reason Beckwith is unfit for office. Four people are dead in a mass shooting at a school in Georgia. Initial thought: four’s not bad. That’s a sick thing to say, but in context of so many other mass shootings, it seems tragic only to the dead & their loved ones. 1/9

We know where Beckwith stands: “I am proud to announce that I have earned 100% rating from Gun Owners of America. I will protect our 2nd Amendment Rights.” [FN1] “Gun Owners of America” touts itself as…

Yesterday I posed a question to Micah Beckwith [FN1]: “Did you have a library card for HEPL prior to resigning from its board?” The answer is either “yes” or “no.” I’ve yet to receive an answer. That board position is the only public office Beckwith’s held. 1/9

HEPL is a public library.(“APRA”) [FN2] is Indiana’s counterpart of the Fed’s FOIA. [FN3] As I drafted the APRA request, I was impressed by the many resources that a library card makes available in our State’s libraries. A…