A brilliant Hoosier writer, Ernie Pyle was a war correspondent; 80 years ago, he wrote about D-Day. In part: “It was a lovely day for strolling along the seashore. Men were sleeping on the sand, some of them sleeping forever. Men were floating in the water, but they didn’t know they 1/8

were in the water, for they were dead. [] The wreckage was vast and startling. The awful waste & destruction of war, even aside fr the loss of human life has always been one of its outstanding…

Hamilton County preacher Micah Beckwith [FN1] wants to be the GOP nominee for IN Lt Gov. In a 20-sec YouTube video, he looks into the camera & says he’ll be “an insurance policy against the woke mob.” [FN2] His target audience: delegates to the GOP State convention. [FN3] 1/11

Beckwith recruited people 2 B on the May 7 primary ballot as delegates because those delegates name the party’s nominee for Lt Gov. But Beckwith’s run for Lt Gov is based on falsehoods & each day brings…

In November, Hoosier voters can vote for Governor, just like Hoosiers in May’s GOP primary cast a ballot for Sen Mike Braun. Each time, voters had an illusion of voting for a person who would fulfill the duties of the office of Gov if Braun prevails in November. 1/8

The problem is Hamilton County preacher Micah Beckwith [FN1] who’s running to be GOP’s nominee for Lt Gov. [FN2] If you do not recall having the chance to vote for a candidate for Lt Gov on your primary ballot, that’s…

Yesterday the jury, in People v Donald J Trump, 71543-23, returned a verdict of Guilty on each of the 34 counts brought. There are “vibes” today reminiscent of 1974, Congressional hearings that went from investigation to impeachment, and Pres Nixon’s overreach for power. 1/9

I was in undergrad. In 1972 I’d passed out campaign literature for the McGovern campaign. In 1974 I worked in the Democratic Party tent at the county fair. I’ve voted, primary and general, in every election since…

Tuesday (Tues, 5/21, 9 pm) on John Schmitz’s podcast “Mouthwash” [FN1] the guest will be Adam Wren. [FN2] He writes for Importantville [FN3] which fills gaps the internet created in local news coverage. In 1994, a daily newspaper like The Indianapolis Star was a fixture. 1/11

For all its faults, The Star covered local news in more categories than politics, & in tones less “rah rah.” Mr Wren’s interview of Micah Beckwith [FN4] shows local focus on questions that no one else has…

“Sources” are important, whether in mundane conversations or in posts on social media. I try to footnote posts in my blog and on “X” (formerly twitter) and, if a post is a work of satire [FN1], I sometimes label it as such, unless omission of that label [FN2] is unnecessary. 1/8

Last evening, I realized that a noise emanating from a desk drawer was from a flip-phone. The number is known to few because it’s a flip-phone, tossed aside for years. I dug it out, but did not recognize the…

The 2024 election for President viewed in context of a submersible that dives to the wreckage of HMS Titanic.

“I think we ought to go back to the surface,” the skipper says, “I didn’t know this isn’t certified as safe for these depths.” 1/7

Smart-guy passenger shoves skipper aside. “I can run this. In military school; they said I was brilliant in everything I did.”

Skipper reaches for the controls. “We need to go to the surface. The pressure is tons per square inch. This…

I expressed concerns re what might ensue in Indiana if 1) Pres Biden & VP Harris win re-election in November, but 2) trump wins Indiana’s 11 electors. Sen Mike Braun, GOP nominee for Gov, but for the Jan 6 insurrection, would have voted to reject the 2020 election results. [FN1] 1/10

Several ppl shared my concern. Another person pointed out: “Braun won't be sworn in until after the election. Until that happens Holcomb will be in charge.” True, but Gov Holcomb was on the fence on…

No one questioned the results of elections held during the Civil War (1864) or WWII (1944). A litmus test for today’s GOP is belief that the 2020 election was hacked for Pres Biden’s benefit. What happens, here in Indiana, if the GOP claims elections in November are not valid? 1/8

1) Who wins election for IN Gov is central. There has been no indication that the Democratic Party candidate for Governor, Jennifer McCormick, has bought into the “big lie” otoh, Sen Mike Braun, the GOP…

We’ve been lucky. [FN1] The World’s ocean has protected us from invasion. [FN2] The War of 1812 consisted of skirmishes. [FN3] Large-scale battles & their carnage did not occur here in the land of the free. [FN4] We were 0-0-1, in a shallow sports way to say our “team’s” record. 1/10

The Mexican-American War was fought on our soil, only if you consider the land we took from Mexico and claimed, as a result of the war, to be “our soil.” [FN5] We were 1-0-1. [FN6] The…

The most important question to ask candidates on the November ballot is simple and goes to the core principles of our government. I hope a lot of people read this before it gets taken down, as has happened several times this week. We’ve not much time left. 1/5

The GOP was founded (ironically) in 1854 to stop the spread of slavery. It has become a cult of personality. Whatever claim the GOP could make as the “party of Lincoln” was pissed away on Jan 6. Lincoln would have thought a…

We fly blind. Pre-election polls have been worthless [FN1] since land lines faded into the past. A denial of facts has infected the electorate. For example, January 6 was an insurrection. [FN2] We saw it on TV. People who took part in it have pleaded guilty, by the hundreds. [FN3] 1/7

Whatever opinion surveys might show, when women’s reproductive rights, including the right to have an abortion, is on the ballot, women have shown up & voted & secured victories. Indiana gave its…

Indiana political realities in this quadrennial vary. A person told me I only “preach to the choir.” I want to address 1) that critique + 2) why I re-visit points previously made.

Indiana has the same two “major” political parties as other States. [FN1] Visualize: 1/9

3 rectangles: left is blue (Dems), right is red (GOP) & middle is gray. [FN2] Indiana is red w/a few (very few) pockets of blue. A few voters (very few) in the blue & in the red might change. Voters in the…

A person’s claim to be a “constitutionalist” is absurd. The Constitution requires the President, members of Congress & State legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, federal and State, by oath or affirmation, swear to uphold The Constitution. [FN1] 1/10

The people who wrote The Constitution were satisfied that their words sufficiently set forth their intent. Today some disagree. “Constitutionalism,” as advocated by one group, means judges can interpret, “but only…

Johnny Depp’s Edd Wood, one of the worst directors in film history, says, “Brilliant!” defined, in this context, as “having or showing great intelligence or keenness.” [FN1] The word has been used by some to describe a candidacy for IN Lt Gov. Micah Beckwith [FN2] 1/14

wants to be the GOP nominee for IN Lt Gov. The GOP nominee for Gov is determined by voters in the primary. [FN3] Nominee for Lt Gov is chosen on June 15 at the State convention. [FN4] Diego Morales used this plan in…

In the 1920s armed members of the Horse Thief Detective Association, the enforcement arm of the KKK, were dispatched to scare people off from voting. [FN1] If you do not want to vote in a building that allows people w/guns to enter, here are important points: 1/10

1) During early voting & on election day (May 7 for primaries, November 5 for general), Marion County voters can cast their ballot at ANY of the Vote Centers in the county. The website for the Marion County Clerk is at…

A 2023 survey found 72% of gun owners said personal protection was a ‘major reason’ they own a gun. [FN1] Under the UCC [FN2], there is an implied promise, when you buy it, a good (A) will do what it is supposed to do & (B) there’s nothing significantly wrong w/it. [FN3] 1/9

You can’t use a gun to protect your home if you’re not home. Guns have a deterrent effect, i.e., scare off “bad guys,” only if “bad guys” know you have guns. Guns are easily fenced, i.e., sold for cash fast.…

Americans are not required to own a firearm, as some colonists were [FN1] where colonies used militias to maintain “peace.” [FN2] [FN3] We should ignore the bullies. We have a right not to own a firearm. A person might own, or possess, a gun for several reasons. [FN4] 1/13



Self-defense is your right, but you also have a right to know if a product you buy will A) do what you buy it to do & B) is more likely to hurt/kill you/those you love. The gun industry knew. A 1993 study…

Once more, we need to dispel erroneous parallels between trump & a genocidal former corporal who led der Fatherland, 1933-1945.

1) Hitler had one testicle. In NY court proceedings the past 2 wks, just like when he’s around Putin, trump acts like he has none. 1/6

2) Hitler actually wrote (Hess typed) a best seller published under his name. trump had ghost writers.

3) Hitler was solvent (fr sales of his book) when he took office. trump’s been broke since his daddy, who’d…

W/drawings, photographs, obscenities & CAPS, ppl responded to my blog on mass shootings. Histories of our Constitution & Bill of Rights are more complex than drawings. Prior to the Revolution, Colonies’ laws on firearms were for common good, i.e., militias. [FN1] 1/9

The Articles of Confederation do not mention an individual right, but discuss militias. [FN2] In 1786, a significant event was Shays’ Rebellion. Farmers took up arms to stop foreclosures, and militia opposed them.…