Free Republic

Bud Richard, and voters like him, may ultimately determine this year's presidential race. But if he's any indication of Indiana's political preferences, pollsters will have a hard time calling the Hoosier State Nov. 4...

Obama made his first direct criticism of Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin on Saturday, saying she pretends to oppose spending earmarks when she actually has embraced them. Speaking to 800 people at the Wabash Valley Fairgrounds in Terre Haute, Ind., the Democratic presidential nominee ridiculed McCain and his running mate, the Alaska governor, for describing themselves as agents of change at last week's GOP convention. "Don't be fooled," Obama told the crowd surrounding him in a large barn. "John McCain's party, with the help of John McCain, has been in charge" for nearly eight years. McCain has vowed to wipe...

Ok Freepers, I need some assistance on a Indiana forum, Obambi opened up 16 new offices there, I seem to be the lone wolf amidst a crowd of hunters. http://www.southbendforum.com HELP FREEPERS!

Need you folks to FReep a poll for me. It's picking the best Indy political pundit... the choices are: Jim Shella - Local Democrat apologist and TV reporterBrian Howey - Indiana Democrat blogger and strategistJen Wagner - Meanest moonbat b**** in Indiana Politics. Is known for publishing bank account and social security numbers of opposing political candidates or their campaign workers on the internet for all to findJosh Gillespie - Republican strategist and co-Director of Hoosier Access (an Indiana GOP blog)Matt Tully - Democrat sycophant and apologist for the liberal Gannett newspapers go to Indiana Barrister and find the poll...

Trucker Shaaban Hafiz Ahmad Ali Shaaban is what trucker/terrorist-wannabe, Mohammed Yousef Mullawala dreamed he could be. Mullawala is facing deportation on various charges, including suspicious activities surrounding his brief attendance at the Nationwide Tractor Trailer School in Rhode Island. Unlike Mullawala, Shaaban was the real deal – a terrorist spy hiding behind the steering wheel of a big truck. The story of Shaaban is as captivating as it is unsettling. The Palestinian-born Russian-educated Shaaban settled in Greenfield, Indiana, with his family and worked as a truck driver for CLM Freight Lines in nearby Indianapolis. According to reports, his commercial driver’s...

Duncan M. MacDonald and Barnabas R. Miller were not your typical registered voters. Duncan was from Seattle, and Barnabas was from California, their mutual claim to fame is no more than being registered voters. Oh yeah, both were dogs. No, really: Australian Shepherd/Terrier Duncan was registered to vote in November 2006 by his owner Jane Balough, a retired Army veteran and grandmother. He cast absentee ballots in three elections, although each was marked void, and signed with a paw print. Poodle Barnabas was registered by his owner, Donald Miller; he never voted, but was called for jury duty. These are...

CROWN POINT, IND. -- From the moment customers enter the front door, A Conservative Cafe is serving up caffeinated doctrine. Ann Coulter books sit stacked by the fireplace and a picture of President Reagan hangs on the wall. Fox News plays on all the televisions and stock market quotes scroll along an electronic ticker above the cash register.

On Eve of Obama Selection of Running Mate, McCain Takes Lead in Indiana Race for White House: In an election for President of the United States held today in Indiana, Republican John McCain defeats Democrat Barack Obama by 6 points, 50% to 44%, according to this latest SurveyUSA tracking poll conducted exclusively for WCPO-TV Cincinnati and WHAS-TV Louisville. Compared to an identical poll released eight weeks ago, Obama is down 3 points; McCain is up 3. Among those who regularly attend religious services, McCain leads by 28 points, up from 16 points eight weeks ago. Among those who occasionally attend,...

TERRE HAUTE— Gov. Mitch Daniels will ask the next Indiana General Assembly to approve the Hoosier College Promise, a program that would provide Indiana high school graduates with more affordable access to higher education. The governor introduced this idea several months ago and has further developed the concept. The Hoosier College Promise would be available to Indiana students from families who earn about $60,000 or less annually. They would receive two years of free tuition at Ivy Tech Community College or an equivalent amount of $6,000 to use for their first two years at another college or university that is...

When it comes to artistic carving and sculpting at the Indiana State Fair there is no doubt who is considered the big cheese. It’s the Cheese Lady, Sarah Kaufmann, creator of her third giant cheese sculpture masterpiece. The sculpture is commissioned by the American Dairy Association of Indiana and Monday a large crowd witnessed the 2nd unveiling of the new State Fair covered bridge. This one though, is 2,000 pounds of cheese. “When I did the bridge, I was carving the bridge, making the windows,” Sarah told us. “People were intrigued. But when I started doing the Gouda cows that...

According to the Indy Star, Barack Obama has not asked Sen. Evan Bayh to be his running mate. At least not yet. The Star is reporting that the length of Obama's visit to Indiana -- he arrives around 6:30 p.m. this evening and does not leave until 3:30 p.m. Wednesday -- has fueled rumors that Bayh will be Obama's choice. Add to the fact that his wife, twin sons and father, the former Sen. Birch Bayh, will be joining him on this trip, and Bayh watch is on every political radar screen. The first rule of picking a vice-presidential running...

INDIANAPOLIS— For the first time in the state's history, Indiana's credit rating has been raised to AAA, the highest rating assigned by the independent credit rating agency Standard & Poor's Ratings Service (S&P). The upgrade from AA+, the state's rating since January 2006, "reflects the state's continued strong management that has led to the property tax reform that has realigned state and local spending and is not expected to impact the state's long-term financial performance.

The Messiah of Nations (1914) jpstmon.midIn the need that bows us thus, America! Shape a mighty song for us, America! Song to whelm a hundred years' Roar of wars and rain of tears 'Neath a world's triumphant cheers, America! America! Lift the trumpet to thy mouth, America! East and West and North and South, America! Call us round the dazzling shrine Of the starry old ensign, Holier yet through blood of thine, America! America! High o'er looking sea and land, America! Trustfully with outheld hand, America! Thou dost welcome all in quest Of thy freedom, peace and rest, Ev'ry...

Research by a Valparaiso University geography professor and his students on the creation of Kankakee Sand Islands of Northwest Indiana is lending support to evidence that the first humans to settle the Americas came from Europe, a discovery that overturns decades of classroom lessons that nomadic tribes from Asia crossed a Bering Strait land-ice bridge. Valparaiso is a member of the Council on Undergraduate Research.....

In an election today in Indiana, Barack Obama takes 48% of the vote, John McCain 47% of the vote -- a statistical tie -- according to this latest SurveyUSA poll conducted exclusively for WHAS-TV Louisville and WCPO-TV Cincinnati. Obama's 1-point lead is within the survey's 4 percentage point margin of sampling error, and these results should be reported as a tie. Among men, McCain leads by 5; among women, Obama leads by 7 -- a 12-point gender gap. Among voters age 18 to 49, Obama leads by 5; among voters 50+, McCain leads by 3. Obama leads by 22 points...

A factory worker with a reputation for not getting along with co-workers went on a shooting spree at a Kentucky plastics plant early today after getting into an argument with his supervisor, police told ABC News. The gunman killed five other employees before shooting himself to death, police said. A seventh person who was wounded is listed in critical condition.

INDIANAPOLIS – The private operator of the Indiana Toll Road has sent devices to numerous lawmakers in Indiana giving them a free ride on the highway, and all legislators can get the same deal if they choose. But several lawmakers who have received the “non-revenue� I-Zoom transponders are not using them, saying it is only fair that they pay the same amount as other motorists. “When I got it, I was in a state of disbelief,� said Rep. Scott Pelath, D-Michigan City. “I can’t describe it as anything other than a perk. Mine is in the possession of solid-waste authorities.�...

Pulaski County, Indiana, is typical only if you consider a “typical” American county to be 170 years old, have just over 13,000 folks and its largest town’s population to be 2,500. There’s not even a Wal-Mart in the entire county. Named for a Polish hero of the American Revolution, who died at the famous Siege of Savannah in 1779, the two main towns (Pulaski, and the county seat of Winamac) sit along the Tippecanoe River, named for the famous 1811 Indiana battle that preceded the War of 1812. On Memorial Day Weekend, while driving a circuitous route from Indianapolis to...

On the evening of Monday, May 19th, the newly formed River City Animal Defense League (ADL) and friends made our public debut. We took to the neighborhoods, and more specifically the houses of executives and contractors of Gohmann Asphalt and Construction, Inc. Gohmann Asphalt and Construction, Inc. is a disgusting company that has decided to proceed with business in the construction of Interstate-69 (I-69) which is the North American Free Trade Agreement's (NAFTA) superhighway. NAFTA’s superhighway has already been built from Ontario to Indianapolis. It is planned to extend into Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. Once in Texas...

Two people protesting the construction of Interstate 69 have pitched a tent roughly 30 feet off the ground in a cluster of trees near the Gibson-Warrick County line. The two men who appeared to be in their 20s caused a headache Monday for Indiana State Police and Indiana Conservation officers, who considered removing them from the tree before ultimately deciding to leave them there. State police received a tip around 1 p.m. and used a helicopter to spot the men, with several patrol officers assisting on the ground. The land, located near the intersection of Indiana 57 and Indiana 68,...

IN November, I was found guilty of "racial harassment" for reading a public-li brary book on a university campus. The book was Todd Tucker's "Notre Dame vs. the Klan: How the Fighting Irish Defeated the Ku Klux Klan I was reading it on break from my campus job as a janitor. The same book is in the university library. Tucker recounts events of 1924, when the loathsome Klan was a dominant force in Indiana - until it went to South Bend to taunt the Irish Catholic students at the University of Notre Dame. When the KKK tried to rally, the...

Barack Obama pocketed the support of at least four Democratic convention superdelegates on Wednesday, building on the momentum from a convincing North Carolina primary victory. Rival Hillary Rodham Clinton vowed to remain in the race "until there's a nominee." The former first lady declined to say whether that meant through the roll call of the states at the Democratic National Convention this summer. Clinton also disclosed that she had loaned her campaign an additional $6.4 million in recent weeks, evidence that her once front-runner campaign was in deep trouble. She told reporters the loans were a sign of her commitment...

Watching the coverage of the Indiana primary tonight, everyone is wondering why the votes from Lake County, where Gary is located, are delayed. A cynic might assume that local officials are waiting to see how many votes are needed to put Obama over the top.

<p>Amid heavy turnout, Republicans appeared to be crossing over in droves today in Marion County and suburban counties, where fewer Republican voters might impact down-ticket primary races.</p>

Four adults were arrested after officers determined two Kokomo children had suffered daily abuse at home, at times including beatings, food deprivation and being bound in a closet, police said....

Hillary Clinton's inner circle now fears a stinging defeat is likely in North Carolina. "Look, we worked hard and gave it our best shot, but the demographics, well, they are what they are," a top campaign source explained to the DRUDGE REPORT as voting began Tuesday morning. The campaign now believes a 15 point loss, or more, would not be surprising. Her team will work hard throughout the day to lower all expectations in North Carolina. The campaign hopes media attention will stay fixated on the competition in Indiana, where 72 delegates are on the line, and Clinton internals show...

Obama's big disconnect By Salena Zito TRIBUNE-REVIEW For Barack Obama, closing the deal with Democrat voters has become like herding cats: He just can't get them all lined up and coordinated on his side. This nation has a history of looking closely at its candidates and taking their measure before they vote for them. It is a process that Obama shuns and rival Hillary Clinton thrives on -- and therein lies the problem for Democrats. Obama, who leads both in pledged delegates and in the popular vote, cannot close the gap with lunch-pail Democrats, older voters and (for lack of...

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Sen. Barack Obama is moving away from the Rev. Jeremiah Wright so fast he may claim to be an atheist by next weekend. The ongoing sprint from such a polarizing figure is far from a surprise, it's just the timing of it that is so odd. A New York Times editorial described the recent developments like this: "In the last few days, in a series of shocking appearances, he [Wright] embraced the Rev. Louis Farrakhan's anti-Semitism. He said the government manufactured the AIDS virus to kill blacks. He suggested that America was guilty of "terrorism" and...

MERRILLVILLE — Friends and family mourned the death of a prominent attorney, a young couple soon to be married and a Mexican immigrant who had long struggled with a drinking problem — all four of them killed in three-car collision Wednesday near the border of Merrillville and Winfield. Only a day after ending a high-profile dogfighting trial, Garry Weiss was driving south on Randolph Street toward his home in Lakes of the Four Seasons after league night at Stardust Bowl in Merrillville. Heading north on Randolph were Steve Hough, 26, and his girlfriend, Amy Bartelmey, 25, who made their home...

The collegians and twenty-something volunteers who sit in Barack Obama’s downtown Indianapolis headquarters wear “We finally matter” t-shirts, noting that the “Obama Youth” will speak loudly in the Hoosier State on May 6. But all six million citizens of Indiana — at least Democrats — should lay claim to that slogan, since Indiana, often too late in the electoral season to affect the nomination, will matter. Like the colors of the state’s largest university, Indiana is a Red State. Hoosiers have supported the Republican nominee for president ten consecutive times and in 16 of the past 17 General Elections going...

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Days before Indiana's critical primary showdown between Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama, voters throughout the state are flooding county clerk offices with absentee ballots. The Indiana secretary of state's office says more than 14,000 absentee ballots were processed across the state yesterday, boosting the total number of early primary ballots cast to 127,247. That's more than twice the number cast in Indiana's presidential primaries over the past two decades. It's nearing the number of early ballots cast in the 1992 general election, when 162,068 people voted early, and in 1996, when 165,218 early ballots were cast....

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Is Sen. Barack Obama the new Sen. Ted Kennedy, Sen. Hillary Clinton or former House Speaker Newt Gingrich? For Republican candidates and political ad makers, the White House hopeful might very well be. A review of political television advertising nationwide shows that Obama has played a starring role or has been mentioned in at least 9 GOP-inspired ads designed to undercut a Democratic candidate in recent months. In previous elections, Republicans have used Kennedy and Clinton -- especially in the South, where these two Northeast Democrats might not be as well received -- in negative ads targeting...

Beltway vs. the John Deere voter TRIBUNE-REVIEW by salena zito INDIANAPOLIS -- Joe Andrew, a Democratic National Committee chair for five minutes, lives and operates out of Washington, D.C. But when it comes to giving news conferences about the presidential campaign, his podium is in Indianapolis. That is where Andrew went from Beltway boy to Hoosier to make his "big" announcement on changing sides from Sen. Hillary Clinton to Sen. Barack Obama. And the whole word gasped. Well, not really the whole world. In all honesty, the collective gasp was heard from within the Beltway, that patch of geography where...

As she campaigns throughout Indiana, Sen. Hillary Clinton has been talking quite a bit about Magnequench, a Valparaiso, Ind., factory that moved to China. What Clinton doesn't tell voters is that Magnequench was originally sold to Chinese interests during her husband's administration, which okayed the move despite concerns about national security and eventual job loss. Experts say the Chinese acquired the "technical sophistication" that created the magnets long before George W. Bush took office.

Doom and gloom

Huckabee weighs in on Wright TRIBUNE-REVIEW by salena zito I asked former Republican candidate for president and ordained Southern Baptist Minister Mike Huckabee to give his thoughts on Reverend Wright's Q & A session at the National Press Club this morning. Huckabee was quick to say that his perspective would be coming not so much as from a pastor, but as a candidate and American. "When Rev. Wright's comments were first exposed, I actually had some sympathetic words for him because I felt his sentiments needed to be put in the context of his own experience of being treated with...

While campaign over the weekend Senator Obama attempted to rationalize his refusal to debate Senator Clinton. He stated that with such little time in both North Carolina and Indiana he would rather spend that time meeting voters rather than suiting up for a debate. In actuality Senator Obama (and his campaign strategists) have probably become aware of the fact that his polling numbers tend to go down after each one on one debate with Senator Clinton. Why would he willingly risk loosing a few more approval rating points with his lackluster Lincoln Douglas debating skills---

If Indiana behaved like its neighboring states, Democratic presidential candidates would come and thunder against globalization, sing hosannas to farm subsidies, pay homage to solid Midwestern values and chomp down pork tenderloin sandwiches in the confident belief that the time and the cholesterol risk would pay off in November. If Indiana behaved like its neighboring states, Democratic presidential candidates would come and thunder against globalization, sing hosannas to farm subsidies, pay homage to solid Midwestern values and chomp down pork tenderloin sandwiches in the confident belief that the time and the cholesterol risk would pay off in November. "That's one...

With all the talk among the Democratic presidential hopefuls about change, they may wish to consider this as they wander Indiana: People here practically revolted a few years ago when their governor, Mitch Daniels, pushed to change to daylight saving time like most of the country.Change, it seems, may not carry quite the same political magic in this state as it has elsewhere. “We hold onto a lot of traditional values,” said Brian L. Thomas, 39, as he bought a cup of coffee along the courthouse square here on Wednesday. “Saying you’re ready to change is probably not the best...

With a demographic landscape that's well-suited to both Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama, Indiana is shaping up to be the most consequential battleground of the remaining states. In a signal of the state's importance -- and of his desire to end the evening in a place more favorably inclined to him -- Obama appeared with Hoosier-born rocker John Mellencamp on Tuesday night in Evansville, Ind., as the Pennsylvania vote was being counted. He campaigned in New Albany, just across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky, on Wednesday. Clinton held a rally in Indianapolis Wednesday and was scheduled to spend...

Magnitude 4.5 Date-Time * Monday, April 21, 2008 at 05:38:30 UTC * Monday, April 21, 2008 at 12:38:30 AM at epicenter Location 38.473°N, 87.823°W Depth 10 km (6.2 miles) set by location program Region ILLINOIS Distances * 8 km (5 miles) NW (323°) from Mount Carmel, IL * 12 km (7 miles) WSW (238°) from Allendale, IL * 12 km (8 miles) NE (37°) from Bellmont, IL * 35 km (22 miles) SW (230°) from Vincennes, IN * 60 km (37 miles) NNW (337°) from Evansville, IN * 211 km (131 miles) E (94°) from St. Louis, MO Location Uncertainty...

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels elicited several hushed gasps and raised eyebrows late last week as he lectured a AP conservative crowd that it was “time to let Ronald Reagan go.” The governor delivered his remarks to a room full of fellow red-staters at the Fund for American Studies’ annual conference and donor retreat at the Newseum. “Nostalgia is fine and Reagan’s economic plan was good,” Daniels said. “But we need to look towards the future rather than staying in the past.” Daniels added that the GOP needed to work on uniting behind Sen. John McCain instead of constantly comparing the...

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels elicited several hushed gasps and raised eyebrows late last week as he lectured a conservative crowd that it was “time to let Ronald Reagan go.” The governor delivered his remarks to a room full of fellow red-staters at the Fund for American Studies’ annual conference and donor retreat at the Newseum. “Nostalgia is fine and Reagan’s economic plan was good,” Daniels said. “But we need to look towards the future rather than staying in the past.” Daniels added that the GOP needed to work on uniting behind Sen. John McCain instead of constantly comparing the Arizona...

Edna Parker was alert and eager to party on Friday morning as family, friends, dignitaries and their representatives gathered at Heritage House Convalescent Center to honor Shelbyville's own certified oldest person in the world as she turns 115 years old on Sunday. Shelbyville Mayor Scott Furgeson announced at the party that the city has ordered signs that will promote Shelbyville as the "Home of Edna Parker, the world's oldest person." "It is a great honor to have Edna and her great family in Shelbyville," Furgeson said. Dressed in a new blue and white polka dot dress with a crisp, white...

Story updated 12:10 p.m. TERRE HAUTE — “This is a heck of a way to get publicity for Hillary’s campaign,” former President Bill Clinton told the growing crowd at what was left of 1426 S. Third St., the site of what was to have been Democratic Sen. Hillary Clinton’s Terre Haute presidential campaign headquarters. An off-duty volunteer firefighter driving by called 911 around 12:18 a.m. today, noting heavy smoke and flames coming from the single-story commercial structure also occupied by Westaff. Three units from the Terre Haute City Fire Department responded to and extinguished the fire. Two Clinton campaign workers,...

Several Oklahoma legislators are concerned that individuals and organizations are quietly working on plans to create a privately-operated tollway in Oklahoma. Many referred to Spain-based Cintra, which has been involved in the development of a proposed Trans-Texas Corridor. Cintra also took over the operation of the Indiana East-West Toll Road from the Indiana Department of Transportation in 2006. Oklahoma State Sen. Randy Brogdon and state representatives Eric Proctor, Richard Morrisette, Scott Inman and Charles Key all expressed concern that efforts to open up Oklahoma to a privately operated tollway system were being kept out of the view of the general...

Indiana Demo chair raises threat of challenging GOP crossoversAssociated Press - April 3, 2008 5:04 PM ET INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Indiana's state Democratic chairman says the party will challenge any long-time Republicans who try to use the state's open primary to create "mischief." Chairman Dan Parker says he's concerned that some Republicans might use the crossover interest in the presidential race between Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton as an opportunity to target other Democrats lower on the May 6th ballot. Talk show host Rush Limbaugh has urged conservatives in open primary states to vote for Clinton. The advice is...

Indiana has 72 Delegates and is a pretty big prize. However, Media is acting like it doesn't really exist and its all about PA and NC. Anyone know anything how Hillary and Obama are running in Indiana? Any Polls? Local Polls? Who takes it? The Big Names in that State - are they behind Hillary or Obama?

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Chelsea Clinton had a quick retort Tuesday when asked whether her mother's credibility had been hurt during the Monica Lewinsky scandal. "Wow, you're the first person actually that's ever asked me that question in the, I don't know maybe, 70 college campuses I've now been to, and I do not think that is any of your business," Clinton said during a campaign visit for her mother, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. Clinton had picked out the male questioner as she wrapped up a question-and-answer session at Butler University. It wasn't immediately clear what statement by the first lady...

Actor Sean Astin and former Maryland Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend will join former President Bill Clinton and his daughter Chelsea on their campaign swing through Indiana on Monday. Townsend, the daughter of Robert F. Kennedy and a former Maryland lieutenant governor, will appear with the Clintons at Dyngus Day and Solidarity Day events in South Bend. Townsend lost the gubernatorial election in Maryland five years ago.