Odd is the juxtaposition of a pic of a bearded IN Lt Gov Beckwith over a header from the IndyStar: “Gov. Mike Braun signed an executive order urging the state government to collaborate with faith-based institutions to service Hoosiers.” A thousand words aren’t enough. 1/7

Executive Order 26-06 is titled: “Fostering Indiana’s Faith-based Institutions.”

1) Among 10 “whereas” clauses in Braun’s Executive Order are an observation that Hoosiers have a long and proud tradition of faith…

IN Gov Mike Braun’s latest brilliant idea is to erect [FN1] the Ten Commandments (“the 10") on stone & place it outside the State House. The Establishment Clause of the 1st Amendment was construed as preventing religious inroads on government. However... 1/15

SCOTUS under Chief Justice John “We Can’t Be Bought But We Can Be Leased” Roberts gives a green light to ignoring we-settled precedent. Hell, Clarence Thomas doesn’t know why there is a fascination with stare decisis. There…

There’s no “fine line” between church & State: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” [FN1] That IN’s Constitution is more explicit [FN2][FN3] is of no matter to IN GOP Lt Gov Beckwith. 1/20

A “Christian nationalist,” [FN4] Beckwith’s rise in politics validates H.L. Mencken. [FN5]

But hey: Time is short. While free speech still is allowed, Beckwith’s claims of chats w/his “Lord” about politics should be…

Indiana’s Constitution [FN1] lists grounds for impeachment of State officers, [FN2] broader than similar grounds in the U.S. Constitution. [FN3] That IN’s Lt Gov & Christian nationalist Micah Beckwith can be impeached must be viewed in context the office he holds. 1/13

IN’s Constitution creates the office of Lt Gov [FN4] and the Lt Gov’s position as President of the Senate. [FN5] [FN6] The title is ostentatious, but the scope of authority is narrow. The Senate’s rules give…

Bill Levin, [FN1] in a post on FB, noted generally that Indiana, like other States, provides for impeachment of gov’t officials. The context of the post was last week’s efforts by some in IN’s GOP to adhere to demands of #47 & gerrymander U.S. House districts mid-term. 1/9

In the lead-up to the vote in the Indiana Senate, GOP members of that body were threatened. The threats had an effect opposite what was intended. Over half the GOP members of the IN Senate voted against the…

The Constitution states how to change our structure of government. [FN1] Gerrymandering to create artificial majorities in the House of Representatives and the “electoral college” [FN2] is not listed. People want to know how to stop the maga/trump takeover. 1/18

On 10/21/25, Greg Olear [FN3] offered a solution. [FN4] A lot of replies were to the effect of “Finally! Someone’s talking about solutions.” We can disagree on specifics of how to reverse damage of trump & magaGOP, &…

Some on the far right are, at best, confused or, more probably, lying about who is responsible for incidents of “swatting” [FN1] of GOP members of Indiana’s General Assembly. [FN2] “False equivalence” is a maga ploy as invalid as usual. Several reasons maga is lying. 1/9

1) It’s what “maga” does. As noted in a meme: “Majorie Taylor Green has been hated by the left for more than 5 years; she has been hated by the right for three days. She has now had to hire security for death threats…

Attention! Do you love Hoosier history? Ever pine away for historical re-enactments where you could wear a costume that isn’t the same old gray thing of the side you backed in the Civil War!? We have the opportunity for which YOU have waited for so many decades! 1/10

That’s right! You can take part in a D.C. Stephenson Heritage Tour just in time for a GOP fund raiser at the end of the line! You’ll start your journey in Irvington, on Indy’s East side, out side the mansion where “Steve”…

In magas-on-the-street interviews last weekend, some spoke of trump as divine. One went so far as to say: “trump is my savior.” As numbers of his supporters plummet, trump’s situation ripens for extreme measures. Once trump’s a full-on dictator, he’ll never cede power. 1/14

“The searchers all say they'd have made Whitefish Bay/If they'd put 15 more miles behind her.” [FN1] trump’s hold on office as “dictator for life” will be secure if circumstances combine with various events. Mob…

“While I appreciate and welcome lively debate, unfortunately, there were individuals with less than good intentions and resorted to uncivil conduct against each other and law enforcement.” [FN1] Thus spake IN Lt Gov Christofascist Micah Beckwith. Only problem: 1/6

Beckwith is lying. On 2/1/20, Beckwith tagged me on (then-) Twitter w/a snotty insult & never disputed my inference that it was a challenge to debate. [FN2] On “the campaign trail,” Beckwith agreed that we arrange time,…

At the checkout in the Broad Ripple Kroger, among the tabloid front-page stories of Big Foot, odd creatures in UFOs and Elvis, the face of “Bat Boy,” in black & white, w/pointed ears & fangs, was sure to catch my attention. I wondered how anyone could believe such a tale. 1/11

A far right tool, at nat’l & State levels, is god; [FN1] a white, male, pissed-off deity the far right owns. Sen Barry Goldwater warned: “if & when these preachers get control of the [GOP], it's…

Tomorrow’s schedule of events, & history, illustrate why we should be afraid when 1) a politician 2) lies & says our country 3) was founded as a Christian nation 4) believes that means for the benefit of Christians 5) who are the only people capable of being moral. 1/9

Europe’s monarchs ruled under the divine right of kings: “The political theory that the sovereign is a direct representative of God and has the right to rule absolutely by virtue of royal birth.” [FN1] The…

Our republic has survived hits. [FN1] Religion is a frequent element in history’s wars. Crosses, on armor & shields, were commonplace in the Crusades. [FN2] The Framers knew this history. IN’s Lt Gov lies about religion in our Nation’s founding & the lies must be addressed: 1/10

1) Dictatorships force a false reality on people & depend on their compliance. [FN3]

This was sd after U.S. Sen Padilla (D-CA) was physically removed fr/press conf by DHS head Kristi “I Love…

New Jersey uses day/year; ratification “this 18th day of December in the year of our Lord 1787" and since independence “the twelfth.” [FN1]

Connecticut twice uses “A.D.”; ratification: “January Ninth Anno Domini, 1788.” [FN2] 1/12

Massachusetts uses the deist “Supreme Ruler of the universe” [FN3] [FN4] & notes ratification the “7th day of February Anno Domini 1788.” [FN5]

Georgia’s dates are unadorned by reference to deity, but ratification: 1/2/1788 “in the year of our…

On 9/17/1787, the Constitution was sent to the 13 States to consider and vote yes or no. There is no statement that the States are to ratify in a deity’s name. IN’s Lt Gov, Micah Beckwith, says that it is “very clear” that we were founded “on Christian values.” [FN1] 1/10

The phrase “in the year of our Lord” is “not part of the official legal Constitution.” [FN2] The phrase has no legal significance and the “first time any one argued that it had religious significance was a preacher…

Good morning. Anyone who wants to read this blog is welcome. We could be in the last days of our republic. If you are a Christian and you a) voted for trump in 2024 and regret that vote b) are registered to vote but did not in 2024 or c) are not registered to vote, please consider: 1/5

1) IN Lt Gov Beckwith claims “God” spoke w/Beckwith on 1/7/21 & said: “I sent those riots to Washington. What you saw yesterday [01/06/21] was my hand at work.” [FN1]

2) Then, in a June 2024…

Some ppl believe that the judges should interpret the Constitution in accordance w/the Framers’ understanding [FN1] which “are not always easy to identify.” [FN2] Since May 30, I’ve tried to focus on erroneous claims, by IN’s Lt Gov, that the USA was founded as Christian. 1/5

Two years ago, Beckwith doctored a quote from John Jay, who wrote five Federalists, but wasn’t at Philly. Moreover, the letter was written 10/12/1816, long after the convention. was held. Today, though, I found…

Ratification of the Constitution was to be determined by State conventions specially called for that purpose [FN1] and minutes were kept of some State proceedings.[FN2] We should examine those records that “are very clear” [FN3] that our country was founded as a “Christian” nation. 1/9

The title pages of “Elliot’s Debates” do not bear any declaration or legend. Historically, Christians have not been shy about making such declarations: “Thus the eternal God, our Lord, gives victory to…

Burdens of proof and rejoinder guide a judge [FN1] or audience in determining who wins a debate. The affirmative team stands for a resolution & has the burden of proof. Once the affirmative meets its burden, [FN2], the negative team has the burden of rejoinder. On specific points, 1/14

“S/he who asserts must prove.” In a “tie,” the negative team wins. In policy debates, the negative team defends the status quo. [FN3] Proper wording of a resolution to debate the Christofascists:…

Alumni gather for reunions this weekend at DePauw University, my alma mater, a phrase that means “soul mother.” I remember looking from Bishop Roberts Hall (“BR”) across the Dells and feeling like I had found my home. During first year, we made quite a few 1/9

debate tournaments. A frequent opponent was DePauw’s arch rival, Wabash College, a males-only school. The “oldest rivalry west of the Allegheny Mountains” is best known for The Monon Bell game. The rivalry plays out in other…