Free Republic

Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) is planning a second anti-health care reform Tea Party at the Capitol -- this one scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday -- approximately the time when the House is due to vote on Democrats' public option bill, POLITICO's Jake Sherman reports. King and Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) organized a rally Thursday that drew thousands to the west front of the Capitol, drawing chants of “Kill the Bill.” There were a handful of arrests. “We can kill this bill and stop the government takeover of health care,” King said in a news release. “We need the help of...

INDIANAPOLIS -- A "national nuisance," as police call him, was taken off the streets Thursday night with the arrest of one of the city's most prolific purveyors of graffiti. Miguel Villanueva, 23, tagged dozens of buildings in Indianapolis with his signature symbol of "choke," which is how he refers to himself. Villanueva told 6News as he was being arrested Thursday that he hit buildings not only in Indiana but in other states...

While roaming the grounds of the US Capitol yesterday, Kristinn Taylor obtained a list of possible democrat defectors of the now infamous “Healthcare” bill. Kristinn was asked to post this list of wobbly democrats on FreeRepublic in an effort to mobilize our forces and overwhelm these members with phone calls and e-mails asking them to vote NO on the socialization of our healthcare. We also learned that Nancy Pelosi had just scheduled the vote for tomorrow; Saturday, November 7, 2009 at 6:00 PM. For all those who were unable to answer the call to surround the Capitol yesterday, here is...

No stops are planned in Seattle, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and other major cities and book-buying communities that are standard for authors on the road, but where the voters tend to be Democrats. Beyond a Nov. 16 television interview with Oprah Winfrey, nothing is scheduled for Chicago. New York will feature media appearances only. Instead, the itinerary for Palin, whose "Going Rogue" comes out Nov. 17, includes Noblesville, Ind.; Washington, Pa.; and Rochester, N.Y. "She wants to be unconventional. She is unconventional," HarperCollins spokeswoman Tina Andreadis said Wednesday....

The third-ranking Republican in the House of Representatives on Wednesday endorsed Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman for the 2010 midterm elections. House Republican Conference chairman Mike Pence (R-Ind.) offered his support to Hoffman, who was defeated at the hands of Democrat Bill Owens in a highly contested special election in upstate New York. "Well, let me say that the lesson here is that we all need to fall behind Doug Hoffman for next fall’s election," Pence told a conservative blog today. "I look forward to welcoming him to Congress a year from now. I think he ran a brilliant campaign."

INDIANAPOLIS -- Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will make a stop in Noblesville to promote her new book. Instead of signing copies of "Going Rogue" in major cities, Palin will tour the country by bus with her family, stopping in smaller communities. She is scheduled to appear at the Border Books and Music store at 13145 Levinson Lane on Nov. 19 starting at 7 p.m., after making a stop in Fort Wayne earlier in the day....

Almost 20% of West Virginians eligible to vote are either dead or have moved. Five States with the Most Dead People Eligible to Vote: Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming. FUN TIME IN ACORN TOWN: DEAD PEOPLE RULE! Are you lonely when you go to the polling place? Want some company? Perhaps, you'd like to take along a dead "friend" to vote with you. That's a scenario that's becoming more possible across the United States. A combination of old voter registration lists that still contain the names of dead voters and voters who have moved, new "Motor Voter" legislation,...

Decades ago, the parents in Indiana would take an unruly child out behind the proverbial woodshed and give them an attitude adjustment. Many, were the children of ages past that learned discipline from a switch or the hand. Then came the progressive attitude. The attitude that placed.....

INDIANAPOLIS -- The issue of national health care reform could endanger the political future of Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh. The moderate is in hot water with liberals for his failure to endorse a reform bill, 6News' Norman Cox reported. As recently as two days ago, Bayh said he might not be able to support a motion to proceed with a floor debate on health care if it's too expensive. This week, the liberal group MoveOn.org delivered petitions to Bayh's Indiana offices signed by 244 people identified as former Bayh donors and volunteers. They said if he votes to sidetrack health...

WASHINGTON – Fifty-seven people in northeast Indiana got a job – or were spared a pink slip – so far this year because of the government’s stimulus program, the government reported Friday. It was the smallest job gain or employment preservation reported in the state’s nine congressional districts. Vice President Biden said the program created or saved an additional 400,000 jobs – the harder-to-count jobs created as a result of extra economic activity – putting the total more than 1 million. The government does not distinguish between jobs that were created because of the program and the jobs people didn’t...

Fellow Hoosiers: I submit this post on behalf of a friend of my family, who works for Sallie Mae, here in Indianapolis. I am asking for your thoughtful consideration in this matter, and if you agree with what's presented in the proposal on the http://www.protectindianajobs.com website, to please sign the electronic petition. The issue is this. There is legislation before the U.S. Senate right now, that would make all student loans government-run. If this legislation is signed into law, Sallie Mae would be severly affected, and undoubtedly hundreds of jobs would be taken from this state. Let's stop this madness,...

Nearly 40 organizations have called on Reid to schedule a vote on Dawn Johnsen, Obama’s pick to lead the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel, which is tasked with providing legal advice to the president. Several members of this coalition are frustrated that Johnsen’s nomination has languished in the Senate for nearly eight months despite Democrats’ control of 60 seats. Johnsen has run into strong Republican opposition because of her statements on sensitive political issues ranging from abortion to voter ID law. But her writings on presidential powers over suspected terrorists in military custody and other national security issues may...

Senator Jeff Sessions, ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, is encouraging Republican colleagues to filibuster Barack Obama’s nominee to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, David Hamilton. Hamilton has major issues against him, including stating publicly his believe that the founders intended the judiciary to routinely amend the constitution through case law. More troubling, David Hamilton has ruled that praying to Allah does not violate the Establishment of Religion clause in the First Amendment, but praying in Jesus Christ’s name does. According to Sesions’s letter, Judge Hamilton’s most determidly activists decisions might be his series of rulings in A...

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana University professor Elinor Ostrom has been awarded the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced Oct. 12. Ostrom is the Arthur F. Bentley Professor of Political Science in the College of Arts and Sciences and a professor in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University Bloomington. She is co-founder and senior research director of the Workshop in Political Theory and Policy Analysis at IU.

The Indiana Secretary of State has a limited term. The current holder of that office, Todd Rokita, is nearing his limit in that position. Jockeying for the position....

Tuesday night the citizens of Indiana's Senate District 17 got to hear from the candidates. Huntington County Commissioner Tom Wall, Coffee D'Vine owner Ron Fusselman, and Whitley County Councilman Jim Banks faced off in a debate at Huntington University. The event was sponsored by.....

NEW CASTLE, Ind. -- The family of a 3-year-old Henry County girl who police said was beaten to death by her mother's boyfriend is upset the man is now being offered a plea deal. Jeremiah Hoots, 31, was originally charged with felony battery in the December 2007 death of the daughter of his then-girlfriend, Krystal Pollitt, 3-year-old Kaitlynne Jennings. He could have faced 50 years in prison if convicted on that charge. But earlier this week, Hoots was offered a plea deal of 12 years in prison with six suspended, two years suspended on probation and one of those years...

The Indiana Department of Health announced Tuesday that a woman from Clark County in southern Indiana has died as the result of a rabies infection. The woman's identity was not made public. Test results by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveal the infection came from a bat. The woman had not reported exposure. This death is only the second rabies death in Indiana since 1959, and the first since 2006, according to the state Department of Health. While rabies continues to be a concern in animals, human cases are far rarer. According to the CDC, there...

magine a two-term Republican governor from a state carried by Barack Obama who turned an $800 million deficit into a $1.2 billion surplus by cutting overhead and bringing sound business principles to his state's government even as he provided new health benefits for poor citizens. Imagine no longer. Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels accomplished this and more, and he did it all while enacting the biggest tax cut in state history. Despite a long career in public service, Mr. Daniels is not nearly as well-known as some of his colleagues. He worked for several years on Capitol Hill as chief aide...

Hell of a quote, just 5 minutes ago on Greg Garrison's Radio Show! "After Obama, Republicans Won't Have To Apologize For Nixon, Anymore!" He went on to talk about how Obama needs to jettison some of the crazies around him. He was VERY frank!

Senator Marlin Stutzman has placed his name on the ballot for the race against Evan Bayh. Mr Stutzman is a Republican Senator from Howe, IN.

South Bend, Ind., Oct 19, 2009 / 04:48 pm (CNA).The Board of Trustees of the University of Notre Dame has elected Fr. John I. Jenkins, CSC, to a second five-year term as university president

Indiana trooper charged in Michigan armed robbery October 22, 2009 Sun-Times News Group Investigators say an Indiana State Police trooper was one of three armed men who broke into the home of a Lansing, Mich., couple and robbed them late Sunday night. Elton D. Jones, 28, of Valparaiso, and two other men were arraigned Tuesday on charges of armed robbery, first-degree home invasion and using a gun to commit a felony. They face up to life in prison if convicted. Indiana State Police spokesman David Bursten told the Lansing (Mich.) State Journal that Jones was fired Tuesday. Jones, who originally...

Tanker explodes on I-465 ramp Indianapolis - A semi tanker has exploded on the southbound ramp from I-69 to I-465. The fire from the vehicle is creating dark plumes of black smoke which can be seen for miles. A second alarm has been requested to the scene. Views from a tower cam show that the billboards are also on fire. The accident is causing large back-ups on I-465. The crash is before the Allisonville Road exit. Injuries are being reported. Witnesses reported hearing loud noises. Witness Danielle Smith was on 465 headed to Keystone at the Crossing. In her rear-view...

DANVILLE, Ind. -- A high-tech, rotating bed already saving lives at Indiana hospitals could be critical in the fight against the H1N1 flu. Hendricks Regional, Methodist and St. Vincent hospitals are using the RotoProne bed, a complex contraption that helps alleviate lung pressure and restore normal breathing, 6News' Stacia Matthews reported...

The biggest accomplishment so far of U.S. Rep. Steve Buyer's scholarship foundation has been to send the Indiana congressman to play golf with donors at luxury locales such as the Bahamas and Disney World. The fundraising golf outings have raised more than $880,000 for the Frontier Foundation that Buyer founded in 2003. Almost all the contributions are from 20 companies and trade organizations that have interests before the House Energy and Commerce Committee on which Buyer serves.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Two Purdue University math researchers have predicted the novel H1N1 flu will peak so early that planned vaccinations will not have a large effect on the number of people infected. Sherry Towers, from Purdue's statistics department, and Zhilan Feng, from Purdue's math department, used a mathematical model to predict the spread of the disease. They used data collected by the Centers for Disease Control in May, June, July and August. The result? The model predicted that H1N1 infections will reach their peak in either the week before or the week after Halloween. The researchers said...

In these days, President Obama has declared a war on nuclear capabilities around the world. With the watch of Iran's nuclear program, North Korea's missile launches, and the discussions with Russia about the missile defense systems in Europe, Senators Lugar and Nunn have been a help.

I suppose the “me too” thing isn’t entirely fair, but I’m at a loss at the moment for something else to put there. If I can think of something different, I’ll edit it into the title instead. In this, the fourth and final (unless another candidate enters the race) installment of the “Bloody 9th” series, I’m going to look at Travis Hankins of Columbus. Hankins hasn’t gotten as much attention on this blog (and others) for his campaign, but I’d be remiss if I said he hasn’t been busy. In fact, he’s probably been more active in many ways than...

Governor Daniels warns the pursuit of "green jobs" and alternative fuels could send energy costs soaring without helping the environment. Daniels' administration has emphasized production of ethanol, biodiesel and other alternative energy sources. But the governor told a conference of industrial energy customers at IUPUI it's an "illusion, or even fantasy" to believe green energy can replace fossil fuels completely. "This isn't policy; this is arithmetic," Daniels says. "We could be the fastest growing state in wind power for the next 25 years, and I hope we are. At that point, it may be somewhat meaningful, but it will not...

BUYER TIED TO FOUNDATION WITH BIG MONEY IN, NO MONEY OUT Ranking Member on the House Vets' Committee doesn't comment on foundation that shares his offices and was headed by his daughter. Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN), Ranking Member on the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, finds himself in the middle of an interesting controversy. But, he has had a colorful history during his stay in Congress ... most notably for ousting Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) from the House Vets' Committee Chair in 2005. A nonprofit foundation associated with Rep. Steve Buyer, R-Monticello, has been quietly collecting hundreds of thousands of...

MUNCIE, Ind. -- A 21-year-old military veteran fatally shot himself inside a central Indiana movie theater shortly after he argued with employees over being asked to produce ID to see an R-rated film, police said. Muncie police said no one else was hurt at the theater, including the man's two brothers, a friend and eight others attending the horror comedy "Zombieland."

There was a spike in the national press interest on the subject this past week after U.S. Rep. Mike Pence wowed the annual conference of the Americans for Prosperity and scheduled a fundraising trip to South Carolina. It followed his appearance at the National Tea Party on the federal mall in August as well as speaking trips to Iowa and California. Roll Call noted that Pence’s campaign staff passed out small cards on the mall featuring his photo above the words “Mike Pence, Standing Strong.” The back of the card invited voters to “Join the Pence Team.”

An Indiana appeals court has ruled that police do not need to obtain a search warrant before forcing someone to submit to a DNA test, a move that raises important privacy questions. The Indiana Court of Appeals ruled on September 30 that no court order was necessary to force a suspect to allow the inside of his cheek to be scraped and a sample of cells to be collected and the DNA analyzed. The case arose out charges filed against Arturo Garcia-Torres, who was convicted of rape and attempted rape in two cases involving female Valparaiso University students. A police...

I'm tired of it all. I'm tired of high taxes, jobs leaving Evansville, a vacant downtown, a terrible transportation infrastructure and a lack of things to do. I've gone off to college, graduated, and have come back only to see the same city with no new opportunities available. That is unacceptable. In the past few decades, not only have many projects failed to come to fruition like the downtown ballpark, but many great landmarks have been demolished as well. Gone are the Old Sterling Brewery, the Orr building and the L&N train depot. In other words, I'd rather the city...

Whirlpool Corp.'s division in Mexico has announced it will build a $55 million plant in the northern city of Apodaca, employing 1,100 people. That number may sound familiar. The appliance maker announced in August it was shutting down its Evansville manufacturing line in mid-2010 and moving it to Mexico. Evansville's line employs 1,100 people. Jill Saletta, director of external relations for Whirlpool, confirmed in a statement Friday that the jobs being created in Apodaca are those from the Evansville plant. "As announced in August, the production of refrigerators currently made at Evansville, and the 1,110 jobs associated with that production,...

INDIANAPOLIS -- The mother of a 7-year-old boy with autism and a severe peanut allergy has filed a lawsuit claiming a teacher tossed her son a peanut-filled Mr. Goodbar candy bar in hopes of sickening him and keeping him from going on a zoo field trip. The boy didn't eat the candy bar, but Anita Young said her son suffered physical and emotional abuse at the hands of his teacher, and filed a lawsuit in Marion County against her son's Indianapolis school. Young also wants criminal charges filed against teacher Trinda Barocas.

BUTLERVILLE, Ind., Oct. 8, 2009 – Civilians from a U.S. State Department provincial reconstruction team readied for an assignment in Afghanistan with help from a Marine unit at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center here. A Marine with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit secures the perimeter while his comrades interact with “locals” during urban training at Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, Ind., Sept. 28, 2009. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Alex C. Guerra  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The provincial reconstruction team course teaches civilian employees from the U.S. State Department, U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Agency for...

Health Care Workers Begin Receiving Flu Shots Hospitals today began to receive the first doses of a vaccine designed to ward off a potential H1N1 flu pandemic -- this, after months of anticipation and debate over who would be the first to be vaccinated. Le Bonheur Hospital in Memphis and Wishard Health Services in Indiana were among the very first hospitals in the nation to receive vaccines on Monday, vaccinating about 150 and 100 staffers respectively. And though rollout was limited to healthcare workers, both said that so far, at least, the deployment of immunizations has gone smoothly. Hospitals in...

MICHIGAN CITY | Broadcast journalist John Stossel wasted no time Sunday getting to the point as he opened the Sinai Forum at Elston Middle School in Michigan City. "Let's talk about the issue of the day -- health care," said Stossel at the talk, presented by Purdue North Central. "Is 'Obamacare' better?" Stossel asked. As an answer, Stossel explained that in his early years as a consumer reporter, his exposes of businesses would sometimes result in new government regulations. However, he said some of these "dumb rules," didn't always make life better. "A new bureaucracy was created but it didn't...

Congressman Mike Pence (R-Ind.) has been doing some traveling to some strategic states these days which raised eyebrows over at Roll Call. : The official purpose of House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence’s (Ind.) trip to South Carolina this month is to attend fundraisers on behalf of his House colleagues. But the trip is fueling speculation that the Indiana Republican is charting a course for higher office.

Note: Photos included. SNIPPET: "ALBANY, Ind. — A single-engine plane crashed into an Indiana field on Wednesday after the pilot, who was seen slumped over, lost consciousness and the aircraft started flying out of control, officials said. Military officials do not believe the crash was terrorism-related but said the pilot may have had a health problem or have been suffering from a lack of oxygen." SNIPPET: "At Delta High School east of Muncie, a state trooper rushed in and told officials a plane could crash near the building within five minutes, said Principal Jim Koger. Officials raced to move the...

UPDATE: The TODAY Show on Tuesday featured a story you read here last week. A Michigan woman is threatened with a fine by the Michigan Department of Human Services for letting her neighbors' kids stay at her house before the school bus arrives. MORE: Sally Harpold is a grandmother of triplets who bought one box of Zyrtec-D cold medicine for her husband at a Rockville pharmacy. Less than seven days later, she bought a box of Mucinex-D cold medicine for her adult daughter at a Clinton pharmacy, thereby purchasing 3.6 grams total of pseudoephedrine in a week’s time. The end...

A place to discuss Bill's radio program. Click here for available internet streams.

[snip] As 2010 is a census year, shortly thereafter, the Indiana General Assembly, as well as the legislatures of the other states, will begin the process of redrawing the lines for the various districts around the states. As with most states, Indiana’s current districts make far more political sense than practical sense. The maps look as if they were draw with a paintball gun and random luck, rather than thoughtful consideration. Todd Rokita wants to change all that.

Purdue Students Protest Bill AyersConservative and Libertarian Students Rally Against 1970s Domestic Terrorist [West Lafayette, Indiana] — Today, a coalition of Young Americans for Liberty chapters throughout Indiana will confront self-proclaimed communist Bill Ayers and challenge him on issues important to college students and youth at Purdue University. The group will distribute flyers and pocket constitutions and attempt to confront Ayers at the Lawson building at 6 p.m. "We want to bring awareness to his radical views because we are the generation that his to live with the consequences of his policies, which directly contradict liberty." said Nathan Murphy, Purdue...

INDIANAPOLIS | Did Hoosiers get a first look last week at The Ticket? Mitch Daniels. Jeb Bush. 2012? Both Republicans frequently deny seeking higher office, but each man also told The Times the other would be a strong candidate for a presidential run. "If he wants it, sure," Bush said of Daniels' national prospects. "I honestly believe he is the best governor in the country in terms of the courage of his convictions, intelligence, strategic thinking," Bush said. At the same time, Daniels said he's disappointed Bush says he's ruled out a future in government. "I understand his answer, but...

MISHAWAKA — A Mishawaka bar owner fired five gunshots at an intruder early Tuesday morning after the man tried to break into the bar's ATM, police said. Barry Harding, 62, shot at the burglar just before 5 a.m. as he was running away from Office Lounge, 1813 E. 12th St., police said. The intruder did not steal anything from the bar, said police, who do not believe he was injured by the gunshots. Police said it was unwise of Harding to fire at a fleeing intruder who was not threatening his life. "There's a big misnomer in Indiana that if...

The passions of conservative activists could be reshaping the Republican Party and complicating some 2010 re-election campaigns. Indiana’s Mark Souder is among four House Republicans likely to face primary opponents drawing strength from the “tea party” movement and its fervent opposition to anything that might trigger higher taxes or bigger government. Souder, first elected in the Republican wave of 1994, usually lines up with his party’s right wing. But he has angered some conservatives by endorsing earmarks for his district and by backing both the 2008 financial industry bailout (PL 110-343) and the expansion of the program to help recreational...