KKK: 1920, D.C. Stephenson moved to Indiana, ran for Congress as a Democrat, lost, then joined the KKK. “He was an eloquent speaker, with a powerful personality and great magnetism.” He was assigned to organize KKK. Leibowitz, “My Indiana,” 1964, pp. 192-93.

KKK “principally backed Republicans (because they were generally in control)” but found support in both parties; at its peak, nearly 500,000 Hoosiers belonged to the KKK. Stephenson bragged he delivered KKK (winning) votes in the…

When I was a kid, I heard a trucking company owner talk about how he started, and in the early days learned to improve, his business. One of the most important things he did was to follow competitors’ trucks to see what they did differently.

Years later, as a law clerk, I was in Las Vegas for a pre-trial conference on a case. Afterward, still in a three-piece suit, I was in the sports book at Bally’s. The floor boss came up to me and wanted to know where I was from.

Turned out only…

Rev Micah Beckwith, one of my opponents n the May 5 GOP primary for Indiana’s 5th Congressional District, has shot several videos while driving around. One such video, dated October 24, 2019, after he decided to run, is titled “The Church’s role in politics.”

In that video he claims that those who say there is a wall of separation between church and State just don’t know our history. He quotes Thomas Jefferson a couple of times for the notion that “the church” provides the morality…

I am a GOP candidate from the nomination for U.S. House District 5. I am pro-choice, pro-environment, anti-war and anti-dt. I want to address the issue of “immigration.” One thing to know: if you want less crime in your neighborhood, encourage immigrants to move there.

Statistics support the concept that immigrants commit fewer crimes and do more to improve the lives of their families and the lives of others around them. That’s kinda spiffy - especially in a country that, in its…

America’s two-party system - consisting of these two specific parties as they have regressed - sucks. Each party is beholden to moneyed interests and each delivers a type of chaos.

America’s roots of dysfunction run as deep as the first days of the republic when founding documents said all are created equal, but actions of those in charge indicated otherwise. Yet this country progressed.

America never was great so long as: slavery not only existed, but was protected by The…

Basketball can teach us about capitalism - and not in the big money churned by the NBA and the NCAA. Capitalism is a lot like a single-loss tournament, such as the NCAA tournament that will start in a couple of weeks (or like Indiana high schools used to have).

Rev Micah Beckwith, like me, is a candidate in the May 5 GOP primary for Indiana’s 5th Congressional District. Unlike me, he is a bigot who appears to advocate theocracy - government “by those who are believed to be or represent…

If you oppose someone who wants his or her religion to take control of our government, you do not oppress or deprive the rights of that someone. Your opposition is electoral self-defense. If they accuse you of oppression, they are playing pAssive/agressive.

“Mark my word, if and when these preachers get control of the [Republican] party, and they're sure trying to do so, it's going to be a terrible damn problem. Frankly, these people frighten me. Politics and governing demand…

The word “bigot” has been bandied about a lot since “All in the Family” premiered on CBS in 1970, and America had its first taste of political and social satire on a sitcom. Jonathon Winters chimed in with a character whose last name was “Bigot” - but pronounced “Bee-SHOW.”

One of my opponents in the May 5 GOP primary for Indiana’s 5th Congressional District is Reverend Micah Beckwith, who is a pastor at several churches in Carmel, Westfield, Fishers, Kokomo, and Anderson, according to…

People cuss about the two-party system. The Framers of The Constitution expressed concern over political parties, or what they called “factions.” James Madison, the fourth President of the United States, has been called the Father of the Constitution.

Madison, Alexander Hamilton and John Jay wrote The Federalist Papers, 85 essays published to persuade those eligible to vote - white, male landowners - to support ratification in the individual States. The delegates were white, male…

Last evening, Indiana NORML and the Howard County Cannabis Coalition hosted the First Congressional Cannabis Debate for candidates in Indiana’s 5th Congressional District. Four candidates appeared in Kokomo for the event.

I was proud to be one of four candidates who appeared and participated. The other candidates were Andrew Bales (the other Republican Party candidate), and Jennifer Christie and Dee Thornton (candidates in the Democratic Party primary).

Here is a link…

Indiana’s NORML will sponsor a debate of candidates for Indiana’s 5th Congressional District (INCD5) this Saturday, February 8, from 6 to 8:30 pm at The Elite, 2820 South Lafountain Street in Kokomo. I look forward to this event!

Maybe Andrew Bales, one of my opponents in the May 5 GOP primary for INCD5, will, before the debate, respond to my blog of two days ago that replied to his Ground Hog’s Day tweet that I am an “imposter” as a GOP candidate.

Mr Bales’s tweet: “...when your…

As I have noted, Andrew Bales is one of my opponents in the May 5 GOP primary for United States House of Representatives in Indiana’s 5th Congressional District (INCD5). Mr Bales has called me an “imposter” as a GOP candidate.

The word “impostor” is defined, in this context, as “One who assumes a false character, or passes himself off as some one other than he really is.” Oxford English Dictionary, 1971 ed. Mr Bales tweeted last evening: ..when your platform is farther left than all 4…

One of my opponents in the May 5 primary for U.S. House in Indiana’s 5th Congressional District (INCD5), Andrew Bales, posted - and I think has removed the statement - on the home page of his campaign website that the “Impeachment fiasco” “potentially disenfranchises 64 million Americans.”

One may reasonably infer that Mr Bales refers to the people who voted for the individual who currently occupies the Oval Office. The Federal Election Commission (FEC) official final tally in the…

One of my opponents in the May 5 GOP primary for Indiana’s 5th Congressional District is Rev Micah Beckwith, whose website says he is a pastor at several churches in Carmel, Westfield, Fishers, Kokomo, and Anderson. The website states Rev Beckwith’s views on The Constitution:

“With a deep understanding of American history, Micah is answering the call to take the fight to Washington to defend true CONSTITUTIONAL conservative values ensuring that our children and grandchildren will…

When someone refers to an “elephant in the room” the “elephant” usually is an issue that is obvious and significant that all choose to ignore. In regard to GOP candidates in the May 5 primary for U.S. House in Indiana’s 5th Congressional District, the GOP mascot is an interesting touch.

One of my opponents, Kent Abernathy, places NATIONAL DEFENSE as the first priority of the Federal government, says we have to “make responsible choices in how we best spend our defense dollars,” but…

Another of my opponents in the May 5 GOP primary for U.S. House in Indiana’s 5th Congressional District, is Kent Abernathy, whose campaign website home page features eight photographs: at the bottom of the page are two family photographs and one photograph of Mr Abernathy with then-Indiana Governor Mike Pence; in the middle of the page is a face shot of Mr Abernathy; and at the top and in the middle of the page are photographs related to Mr Abernathy’s military career.

Mr Abernathy was…

As of one minute before midnight, Friday, January 24, eight people had formally filed, with the Indiana Secretary of State, as candidates for the May 5 GOP primary for Indiana’s Fifth Congressional District: Kent Abernathy, Andrew Bales, Rev Micah Beckwith, Allen R Davidson, Matthew Hook, Danny Niedergerger, Russell H Stwalley, and I.

Three people whose names are absent from that list, but who have announced their candidacies, are Dr Chuck Dietzen, Indiana Treasurer Kelly Mitchell, and…

The day after the shootings at Kent State University in May, 1970, our teacher in Advanced Biology -class I had first period - asked for a show of hands of everyone who thought the students had gotten what they deserved. I was the only student who didn’t raise a hand.

Western High School in 1970 was not what we, today, would call “progressive.” It had not progressed, one reasonably may infer, by 1984 when a junior high student, Ryan White, was diagnosed with HIV.

I developed a…

Indiana's CAN 2 formCAN2.Form01202020.pdf

Last week I was introduced to several people, over the course of an evening, each time with “and he’s a candidate for the 5th Congressional District ... as a Republican.” The person to whom I was introduced would stare at me.

In the several seconds’ pause I knew, from recent experience, one or more of several thoughts went through that person’s mind: Is this guy a racist [anal orifice]? Is this guy insane? Where did he get that cool corduroy jacket?

Several times on Twitter the…