Mourdock v Lugar, Poop v Shinola?

[HoosierHelen]

There is a good article on this race between Lugar and Mourdock in the WP by Dana Milbank.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinio...T1T_story.html

[HomeyG]

There is a good article on this race between Lugar and Mourdock in the WP by Dana Milbank.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinio...T1T_story.html

The more I read about endorsements for Lugar from left leaning columnists like Dana Milbank the more I wonder if Lugar is Obama's favorite Republican and does Mourdock deserve a second look.

[HoosierHelen]

The more I read about endorsements for Lugar from left leaning columnists like Dana Milbank the more I wonder if Lugar is Obama's favorite Republican and does Mourdock deserve a second look.

The final paragraph in the WP article pretty much sums it up on the advantage the Left will inherit if Mourdock receives the Republican ticket:

Some Democrats hope that Mourdock beats Lugar because it would increase the likelihood that Democrat Joe Donnelly will win the seat in November. But that’s not why Hoosier Republicans should reject Mourdock. They should reject him because they still believe that national security trumps partisanship.

[No Adventure Is Too Small]

The more I read about endorsements for Lugar from left leaning columnists like Dana Milbank the more I wonder if Lugar is Obama's favorite Republican and does Mourdock deserve a second look.

If the Republicans in Indiana actually elect Mourdock on Tuesday.
It will show how meaningless the word "Bipartisanship" is to them,
when it comes to our representatives in Washington working together
for the general benefit of all.

[HoosierHelen]

If the Republicans in Indiana actually elect Mourdock on Tuesday.
It will show how meaningless the word "Bipartisanship" is to them,
when it comes to our representatives in Washington working together
for the general benefit of all.

Well said! Working together for the general benefit of all is what our expectations must be of our representatives.

[TheBigB]

This is a national story; I read an article about it in the San Diego paper Saturday:

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/...lugars-career/

[Mr Douglas]

Condescending Wonka 2012!
GW.jpg

[edeevee]

Lugar leaves us with a few words of wisdom.

http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/20...go-quietly.php

Then Mourdock confirms he doesn't know the definition of bipartisanship:

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.co...of-dems-coming

This is the guy you wanted?

[armyda]

Nobody I wanted.

[Mr Douglas]

Nobody I wanted.

[HoosierHelen]

Nobody I wanted.

Nobody I wanted either.

[HoosierHelen]

I’m at a loss when trying to understand the working class in Indiana (which I have been a lifetime member of) when they vote for Mourdock?

Do the Chrysler employees not appreciate their good jobs that were saved by efforts that Mourdock objected to? What about the local businesses in Howard County, do they not recognize how dry their cash registers would be at the end of the day without their local Chrysler employees purchasing abilities? Yet, they give 61 percent of their vote to Mourdock?

Obviously, I love being a Hoosier. I love my friends and neighbors, our 4 distinct seasons, our local heritage and so much more. Yet, how our citizens can choose to vote a State Treasurer into a Senate office who has officially misplaced millions of our tax dollars is a mystery to me? These tax dollars should have been appropriated to our local communities at the time they were collected.

His responsibility as State Treasurer was to keep track of our money…did he really do that? NO! What did he blame? A computer program…how very convenient! Who do we suppose benefited from these millions setting in some bank account rather than being distributed to the appropriate localities? In the case of Allen County, they were deprived of $86 million in tax revenue. We are not talking peanuts here!

Article in FW Journal Gazette by Brian Francisco, published May 10, 2012.

Donnelly has criticized Mourdock for trying as treasurer to halt the 2009 sale of bankrupt Chrysler to Italian automaker Fiat.
Mourdock opposed terms of the deal unfavorable to Indiana pension and infrastructure funds that held Chrysler bonds.
“That was incredibly irresponsible to do. Sen. Lugar and I fought to save the auto industry,” Donnelly said Tuesday.
Yet in Howard County, where Chrysler employs about 5,000 people at its Kokomo transmission operations, Mourdock attracted 61 percent of the vote, a smidgen more than he received statewide.
Mourdock topped 70 percent throughout northeast Indiana.
http://www.journalgazette.net/articl...988/1002/LOCAL

[blue adept]

Look at the bright side of this. Now that the Bozo is in the running we all have a chance of campaigning for Donnelly. Let us get rid of part of the problem [Lugar] and show his opponent [Mourdock] that we as Hoosiers, do not want the divide he offers. It will take work, but lets face it, this Bozo will eventually put his foot in his own mouth.

[Ardent]

Let me preface my comments by saying I was born and raised in a Democratic household, and most everyone I knew considered themselves a Democrat. However, somewhere in the mid to late 60s the Democratic Party made a drastic move, and stopped being the party of the working people. They instead chose to represent the Hollywood elite and minorities! The Republicans have and still are more conservative in nature and support business interests. Therefore, the working man found himself without representation in both Washington and the Statehouse! In saying that, I must also address the Unions which primarily support the Democratic candidates. I have come to see the Democratic support of Union initiatives only as a necessary evil in the Democrats handbook, and only because of the deep union pockets that support their campaigns. To clearify, we don't see an outpouring of support for non-union workers or their problems. Now to my comments about Lugar and Murdock. I for one believe that Washington has been heading in the wrong direction for many years. Further, I believe that Congress, not the White House, drives most of our problems in America. As such I actually do as I say, unlike many Americans. I want change in Washington, so I say and do vote out the incumbents to hopefully bring in new blood and facilitate that change. I vote for the individual who I think will do a good job, not the party they represent. I have noted in the posts here on the Fence Post, that most - not all, of the Democrats have often started referring to bipartisanship and compromise since the last election. However, I didn't see those comments when the Democrats held both the Senate and House. They stood ideally by when legislation most Americans didn't want and we couldn't afford was shoved down our throats by Pelosi and Reed. Over the past few years Mr. Lugar has changed his views, and routinely voted contrary to the beliefs of his constituency. I believe it is time for him to retire.

[edeevee]

I vote for the individual who I think will do a good job, not the party they represent.

And yet you say nothing in your post about Mourdock's qualifications.

As neither a Democrat or Republican, this primary wasn't my fight. I just find it curious that Republicans would toss out one of its most powerful members, who stuck mostly to the party line, and did nothing to bring shame upon said party or his home state -- for Mourdock, someone who couldn't even get his own neighbors to agree he was competent enough to sit on a county council just a few years ago.

It doesn't make sense.

And the only way it begins to make sense is when you look at how it happened. Outside groups wanted to get rid of Lugar. They picked Mourdock because he is either idealogue enough or hungry enough for power to do and say anything the outside groups wanted. They ran a campaign that was not based on Mourdock's strengths but on Lugar's (perceived and often contorted) weaknesses. If Mourdock manages to win the senate seat in November, he will owe it to those outside forces who pulled the strings and paid the bills. Who do you think he will be beholden to?

You ... or Them?

[Ardent]

I went to listen to Murdock, and asked him a few questions after his speech. He seemed to have done his homework, and had a good grasp on on current issues in Washington, and Indiana. The majority on us believe that being a Senator or Congressman is not a life long job, and some politicians have made it just that. If Congress won't impose term limits, I believe it is our responsibility to impose them through voting. If a politician, any politician, gets to the point that he/she votes the way they want to instead of representing their constituency, its time for them to go. Tossing out a senior member of the Senate is an easy and logical choice if that member no longer represents the best interest of those who placed them in office. In context, if you had an employee at your place of business, that kept going off making decisions contrary to the good of your business, you would be compelled to fire that individual. All to often across America, too many people think that just because a politician is senior, and doesn't get involved in a scandal, they should automatically be re-elected. Contrary to that line of thinking, I would rather vote for an "edeevee" than a career politician any day. At least the "edeevee" will hopefully spend at least their first term with a conviction to support their constituency, and not have an "I know better than you" mentality, as do most career politicians.

[armyda]

If a politician, any politician, gets to the point that he/she votes the way they want to instead of representing their constituency, its time for them to go. Tossing out a senior member of the Senate is an easy and logical choice if that member no longer represents the best interest of those who placed them in office.

Ardent,

I was wondering if you could point to the votes that shows Lugar no longer represents the best interests of the people of Indiana. I'd also be interested in why you think those don't represent our best interests.

[edeevee]

Ardent,

I was wondering if you could point to the votes that shows Lugar no longer represents the best interests of the people of Indiana. I'd also be interested in why you think those don't represent our best interests.

Ditto.

The majority on us believe that being a Senator or Congressman is not a life long job ...

And yet you are here championing someone who has spent the past 24 years trying to get any public office he could, a man who was already a second term statewide office holder when he began his run for the senate. What makes you believe someone so hungry to be a leader will abdicate after six years?

[HoosierHelen]

Ardent,

I also would be interested in the votes Lugar has made that you determine to be not in the best interest of our fellow Hoosiers?

In my opinion our state has lost a truly skilled Statesman and replaced him with a run of the mill politician willing and ready to represent the best interests of outside special interest groups that financed and promoted him as Lugar's replacement. As others have already mentioned, Mourdock's strong points were not presented as a reason why I should vote for him as a skilled replacement to Lugar. Rather, his supporters informed us that Lugar had held his position too long and was too old. Having served our state for the length of time he has gave him a level of experience and a strong network of associates within the DC congress that Mourdock will need years to build.

Personally, I recognize the value of being experienced and having a proven successful track record in any trade. Remember the ole song 'Send Lawyers, Guns, and Money' by Warren Zeevon? Do you suppose he was asking for rookies for his lawyers, prototypes for guns, and money from Greece? I doubt this very much. Recently I faced a risky time with a heart attack at Parkview North Hospital. I was most thankful that my Cardiologist was experienced and has a skilled and successful track record at resolving my heart problem.

Tell me where Lugar ever voted against the best interests of our fellow Hoosiers and I will consider your reflections. So far, I have only read your opinion with no evidence supporting why Mourdock is a better choice than Lugar (other than Lugar is old and well experienced).

[HomeyG]

Strange but the reasons some oppose Mourdock are the same reasons that some voted for Obama.