Cool...Terry Burns of Indianapolis Times Attacks Yours Truly

I love it when Democrats start attacking me, someone who is a big critic of fellow Republicans like Mayor Greg Ballard and Prosecutor Carl Brizzi. It shows they're worried that reformers in the Republican Party might actually take over. He's right too. The Democrats have a lot more to fear from populist, reform-minded Republicans who can reach out to independents and Democrats, than country club Republicans who would be luck to get 44% of the vote in a county-wide race.

Apparently, Terry Burns of the Indianapolis Times did not like it that I went to a council committee meeting and dared question Sheriff Frank Anderson about his commissary fund, and the millions he makes off of the inmate telephone contract. Or that I dared asked that the Sheriff provide some documentation regarding the sudden revelation that he needs an additional $4.8 million in taxpayer funds to pay a contract arrearage for a private jail contractor (CCA) that has existed for years, but he only recently bothered to tell anyone about. Or that I asked if he ever pursued indemnification for attorney's fees from the private jail contractors. Apparently if you question anything the good Sheriff does, that means you believe in a "conspiracy." For those scoring at home, the Sheriff and his representatives refused to provide any answers or provide any documentation regarding the $4.8 million.

What I particularly like is that Burns (as other Indianapolis Democrats) has no problem throwing over the side traditional Democratic constituencies. Democrats I thought were supposed to be for the "downtrodden" and "helpless." Apparently that doesn't apply to inmates in a jail who die or get injured because they don't get their medication because a private company is cutting corners to make more money. Or it doesn't apply to hard-working nurses who are made by a private correctional company to escort inmates with violent felony histories throughout a low security facility because the private company doesn't want to endanger their profit margin by hiring more security. Speaking of which, I thought Democrats were against privatization. Apparently the local Democrats are perfectly fine with privatization when the contractors are contributing money to Democrats.

FYI, none of those so-called "frivolous lawsuits" have been dismissed.

Here is Burns' hard-hitting piece:

Conspiracy theories and other strange things

Disgruntled Republican, mayoral hopeful and political wingnut Paul Ogden put on a quite a show the other day before the City-County Council's Public Safety Committee.

Apparently, Ogden couldn't find a health care town hall meeting to disrupt so he brought his act to the City-County Building instead. The performance was vintage Ogden, plenty of unsubstantiated allegations, a hint of paranoia, unbridled innuendo and rousing conspiracy theories. (Watch out Paul, I think I see a guy over there on the grassy knoll!)

Anyway, Odgen's [sic] attempt to hijack the committee's public safety budget hearing proved futile. (Remember, this is the same guy who's filed countless frivolous lawsuits challenging the operations at Marion County Jail II.)

While we won't get into the specific charges leveled by Ogden (they don't merit the space), let's just say that he clearly doesn't understand contracts or the Indiana code. However, the most disturbing part of Ogden's clownish performance was his ability to weave some clearly strange and bizarre conspiracy theories. No wonder the GOP figures that its better off with out him. Maybe the Libertarians have an opening.

Thanks Terry! Keep the attacks coming.