One question presently unanswered is whether the Republican leadership of the Indianapolis City-County Council will retaliate against Ed Coleman who announced this morning he was switching from the Republican to the Libertarian Party. That retaliation would likely take the form of stripping Coleman of committee positions.
Okay, let's review the numbers. Up until the announcement, the Republicans had a 16-13 majority on the council. Now it is 15-13-1. One Republican at-large member, Barb Malone, is a former Democrat who often votes with the Democrat. So on many votes, you're looking at 14-14-1. By my count, that makes Ed Coleman the single most important vote on the council. So Republican leadership actually thinks it is a good idea to sanction Coleman by stripping him of his committee positions? Coleman is philosophically in line with Council Republicans on 90% of the votes, they are in critical need of his vote on a plethora of issues, and they think ticking him off with some petty retaliatory act is a good idea?
I'm pretty sure that when they do the math, the Council Republicans leadership will see the light and make the wise decision to not retaliate against Coleman by stripping him of committee assignments.
20 comments:
These guys are idiots! Ed has almost three full years to go and assuming that they try any form of sanction will make matters only worse. Any retaliation will make Ed even more popular and allow Ed to be a true and independent leader. At some point in time Tom John and the Mayor will see what happens when threats and sanctions no longer work.
Does anyone know where Barb Malone stands? I would think that after Tom John's personal attack during her campaign by along with his plantation manipulations of her committee seat and less than flattering comments when she complained about it. Oh well as long as he can bring in money for Ice Miller we should just relax. Barb, watch your back they are watching you.
If Ed is truly independent minded, wants to represent his constituency, do what is right, etc.. He will vote with the GOP most of the time anyway. Ed will do whatever Ed wants, whether he is a part of the GOP, or another party. Don't try and counsel, help, or advise Ed in any way, because Ed knows best and Ed will do what he d__m well pleases. Congrtulations, Libertarians, on the birth of a your new loose cannon.
Anon 2:39 pm....
So, besides his constituents, can you please tell us who Ed should be answering to?
As far as loose cannons go, it's my opinion that the occasional loose cannon helps keep the rest of the crew sober and following procedure. They're only a curse to those who've set themselves up to get knocked down.
Don't forget that the republican councillors have not been welcoming to the 2 blacks on the council, Barb Malone AND Kent Smith...
Sure, Kent was PIMPED by Tom John to help Mayor Ballard's campaign, but in the long run, Kent had better remember that he has to live in this community long after Tom John and Ballard are gone and the very fact that he IS black means he's dispensable by the GOP.
Kent, if you are reading this, you and Barb had better step up like Ed Coleman has, we voted for you to be councilors, not cowards hiding so no one will notice you...you're too noticeable.
Don't forget that the republican councillors have not been welcoming to the 2 blacks on the council, Barb Malone AND Kent Smith...
Sure, Kent was PIMPED by Tom John to help Mayor Ballard's campaign, but in the long run, Kent had better remember that he has to live in this community long after Tom John and Ballard are gone and the very fact that he IS black means he's dispensable by the GOP.
Kent, if you are reading this, you and Barb had better step up like Ed Coleman has, we voted for you to be councilors, not cowards hiding so no one will notice you...you're too noticeable.
Anon 3:02,
"the very fact that he IS black means [Kent Smith) dispensable by the GOP."
FYI, I think you mean "expendable."
While the adminstration seems to have turned its back on black Republicans, I don't agree with your painting the entire GOP with the brush that they don't care about African-Americans. And when it comes to Democrats, they hold a monopoly on taking black voters for granted.
Paul said, "While the adminstration seems to have turned its back on black Republicans, I don't agree with your painting the entire GOP with the brush that they don't care about African-Americans."
Sure you jest, Paul. He's been bending over backwards to take care of blacks. They've gotten plenty of key jobs and he's expanding minority contracting opportunities which drive up the cost of the government doing business, not to mention all of the useless grant money he passed out to Olgen's minister friends. The people who have been taken for granted are working class whites who shifted their allegiance from Peterson to Ballard. Ballard can do all he wants for blacks but he's still going to wind up with no more than 10% of that vote. He can't lose the support of working class whites and have a shot at winning more than 40% of the vote.
How long until Abdul registers
colemantruthsquad.blogspot.com ?
AI,
Nah, what your seeing from this adminstration is tokenism, not a real outreach effort to African-Americans. Olgen Williams supported Peterson and he's a deputy mayor. It's the same old thing. Fill your adminstration with a few token African-Americans who won't make waves. That's not reaching out to the black community.
You and I know those grants are a joke and are never going to make it to the African-American community. Those groups spending those money are never held accountable for how the money is spent. They are all about the adminstrations pretending to reach out to minorities, not actually doing it.
Daniels got a heck of a lot more than 10% of the black vote and so did Ballard the first time around, though granted most of that was anti-Peterson votes. Still I wouldn't be so quick to write off black voters. Were it not for a sizable percentage turning against Peterson and voting for the Republican, there wouldn't be any Mayor Ballard.
Just for you 4:21, visit our site after midnight...
http://ogdentruthsquad.blogspot.com
Paul,
I think you do a disservice to your blog by allowing hateful anonymous bloggers to post whatever defamatory information they please. As an attorney, I expect more of you. This is the precise reason I started moderating comments on my blog. Shame on you, Paul, for allowing this to take place. As far as I'm concerned, the comments are attributable to you.
Geez, Gary, I went out to dinner and then was gone all evening until 1 a.m. I didn't even see the comments as they apparently started spiraling out of control. So please don't assume I was sitting here at the computer watching it all happen.
I think the comments did get out of hand, were overly personal attacks, and am taking several down. I knew I was eventually going to have to start moderating comments, as you eventually did as well. That's one of the unfortunate things when your blog becomes more popular.
Paul, That's why I went to moderation. My phone would ring off the hook from people calling to complain about something someone had anonymously posted about them in the middle of the night. I know who they are. They are primarily other bloggers who troll other blogs and post derogatory and defamatory comments they would never put their own name to on their own blog. It's pretty easy for these people to say things they know they won't have to account for. The Star's feedback comments are atrocious. People may not like what I write but I put my name to it. They can confront me directly with what I write. It is not unusual at all for a legislator or other elected official to pick up the phone and discuss with me their disagreement with what I write. I'm not opposed to anonymous comments; I just don't think they should have a license to write whatever they want about someone.
Thanks for your comments, Gary. I am going to talk to some other bloggers. I switched off the Anonymous posting thing, still debating the moderation function. There are others who don't moderate, some who do. I think people like to see their posts up there automatically...but there is a down side though, such as what you see when these threads get way too personal and juvenile.
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