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 electoral votes to then-Senator Obama in 2008. Dems can take this State. 2/7 NRA types say it takes a “good gu ..read more

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 “gray” might lean one way, but haven’t made a final decision. 2/9 A weird dynamic in Indiana: Micah Beckwith [FN3] wa ..read more

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 within the meaning of its original intent.” [FN2] 2/10 The 55 delegates who attended the Convention included 31 la ..read more

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 2022 to be Sec’y of State. [FN5] 2/14 Beckwith cut a YouTube video saying he wants “to give the delegates their vo ..read more

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 this link. [FN2]. 2/10 2) If a polling site is in a school, State [FN3] and federal [FN4] law prohibit guns ther ..read more

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. So the deterrent value only alerts burglars to wait until your leave home. 2/9 You are home. You had a couple of ..read more

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 found a gun in the home means a nearly three-fold increase in odds 2/13 someone will be killed at home by family mem ..read more

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 always bailed trump out, died. 2/6 4) Hitler won office w/a plurality. trump is a 2-time loser. 5) Hitler did not dodge th ..read more

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. Both sides included veterans of the Revolution. [FN3] 2/9 Those who, today, advocate the 2nd Amendment “to fig ..read more

Mass shootings that grab headlines in other countries hardly merit media attention here. We need to shift how we consider nuts going out & blowing away people. On Saturday afternoons an Indy radio station discusses matters related to guns. There are several ways to beef up the show. 1/7 1) Give us science! To claim guns deter use of guns, advocates need support, and not the bogus stuff floated by the NRA. There should be peer reviewed studies. That means the studies are reviewed by experts in the field to check things like methodology to reach results. 2/7 2) Give us coefficients! Lives sa ..read more