Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Sen. Richard Young Running For Governor

Senate Democratic Leader Richard Young (D-Milltown) is throwing his hat into the ring for the 2008 Democratic gubernatorial nomination, becoming the first announced candidate. The news of his bid is broken by the Louisville Courier-Journal, a move questioned by WISH-TV's political reporter, Jim Shella. Shella hits Young's announcement on several fronts, including using an out-of state newspaper to announce his candidacy. Shella blogs today:

Here are things that you probably shouldn't do if you plan to run for governor of Indiana (by the way, they are all things state Senator Richard Young did):

1-reveal your plans prior to forming a committee (with no "I'm testing the water", no "I'm seriously considering" hedging of any kind)
2-do it in the week leading up to Christmas
3-do it without informing Senate staff, or Party leaders
4-reveal your plans in exclusive fashion to a reporter for an out-of-state newspaper
5-make sure you are out of Indianapolis and unavailable for TV interviews the next day
6-admit that there was "some spontaneity" to your announcement.

Well, nobody's ever accused the affable Young of being the sharpest tool in the shed. I suspect most Democrats have someone other than Young in mind for this race. Having failed to make any gains in the size of his Senate Democratic caucus in the past election, which most would agree was a watershed election for Democrats, many of his own caucus colleagues are skeptical of his leadership abilities. Sen. Vi Simpson (D-Bloomington) fell one vote short of knocking him off in a leadership race. He returned the favor to her by stripping her of any role in the budget process where she has been a significant player for several years. Simpson is also mentioned as a potential candidate for governor. I suspect Gov. Daniels would be glad to have either as his opponent.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

After the embarrassment the FOP handed the Mayor and the 'Rat members of the CCC I don't believe they are as willing as before to put Mayor Bart up as Guv in 2008.

Anonymous said...

I'm always amazed when non-Democrats try to evaluate and predict what will happen in our party.

Sen. Young will get zero traction. Zero. In this case, nice guys do finish last. Dull tool is being kind.

Sen. Simpson had momentum to run for governor in 2004, but backed out when the governor died, and Lt. Gov. Kernan was elevated.

Mayor Peterson would be a terrific candidate for governor. It's his call. And the rest of the state would welcome him. There is an anti-Indianapolis bias in the legislature, because they're mostly knuckle-dragging goofs. But out in the state, there is true admmiration for and pride in our capital city.

Mitch is deader than a doornail in 08. For any number of reasons. Most of all, he's an impudent little snot who doesn't seek consensus.

The 08 commercials are already in the development process: license branches, the lottery, and so it goes.

And for the record, AI, the Senate's district lines are so sharply drawn, it'll be difficult for Democrats to get more than 21 seats--ever.

Anonymous said...

5:59, Mayor Barty is going to have plenty of baggage of his own dogging his heels, not least being the increase in crime and his public feud with LEOs. And by election time, Center Township malfeasance will have blown up into prominent scandal, and it will be obvious that the CCC is utterly out of control if not conspicuously corrupt or incompetent. And speaking of which, Dr. Ackles contribution to the criminal justice system will probably be widely felt by next year.

So, I would say that '08 campaign commercials should not get too far out ahead of the issues that will surface....

Anonymous said...

Bart, if he chooses to run for governor, can get above and beyond most of that fray. I'm pretty sure he'd like to bang heads on the CCC< but he can't. They're indpeendently elected. You think he's thrilled with three presidents in three years? And this one in particular? A city employee, to boot?

The police-mayoral feud, while regretable, is a typical public employee contract dispute. People understand there are two sides. And I've talked to many LEO friends, who are evenly divided on this issue. Not nearly as angry and loud as you might believe, if you read IU or some of the other blog-posted stuff.

Still, I'd like to see a settlement there. It's way overdue. Only thing is, I, and a majority of the public, don't hold either party wholly responsible for the impasse.

But if I read one more LEO blog psoting that indicates a policeman is going to slow down his work, or something similar, my middle-road view of this situation will flip to the city's side. I want LEOs to be fairly compensated. But they're the victim of some very, very bad PR advice regarding negotiating in public.

Regardless of Bart's standing--have you paid any attention toe Mitch's poll numbers? He may be at a record low.

Anonymous said...

In the tradition of the DUmmie FUnnies

Mayor Peterson would be a terrific candidate for governor. It's his call. And the rest of the state would welcome him.

If you only include the Region and Marion County as "rest of the state", sure. First Mayor Bart needs to survive 2007.

There is an anti-Indianapolis bias in the legislature, because they're mostly knuckle-dragging goofs.

Yeah them folks from Brown County are real neanderthals huh? Or how about everyone outside Marion County and the Region HATES how Mayor Bart thinks he can walk all over the legislature

Mitch is deader than a doornail in 08.

Thats what you think.

Most of all, he's an impudent little snot who doesn't seek consensus.

Mayor Bart is an impudent little snot that wants to turn Indianapolis into Detroit then claim he's fighting crime during the inevitable upswing.

And for the record, AI, the Senate's district lines are so sharply drawn, it'll be difficult for Democrats to get more than 21 seats--ever.

When the GOP wins its gerrymandering. When the 'Rats win its the "will of the people".

I'm always amazed when non-Democrats try to evaluate and predict what will happen in our party.

"It's my party and I'll cry if I want to"

Bart, if he chooses to run for governor, can get above and beyond most of that fray.

Tell that to Stephen Goldsmith

The police-mayoral feud, while regretable, is a typical public employee contract dispute. People understand there are two sides.

Yes. The Mayor's side and the hard-working cops the Mayor is f**king over side.

And I've talked to many LEO friends, who are evenly divided on this issue.

So you've talked to bling-bling's minions and street cops both?

But if I read one more LEO blog psoting that indicates a policeman is going to slow down his work, or something similar

So you're the one feeding IndyUndercover posts to the 25th Floor.

Anonymous said...

No, not feeding ANYthing to ANYone except through this blog. My LEO friends are all, for the record, either IPD or state troopers.

I don't know a single county sheriff's deputy.

And yeah, Mitch is dead, or circling the toilet bowl.
It's 22.5 months till his re-election campaign will be over, one way nor the other. 16 months or so until the May 2008 primary.

I'm a rare Democrat who happens to like his attitude of rocking the boat. It needed rocked. Big time.

But clearly, Hoosiers don't like it. And Hoosiers vote for the guy.

If the Democrats come up with an acceptable opponent, which I'm confident we will.

And yes, Bart is acceptable. Not perfect, but OK. No, Sen. Young is ont acceptable. Not even close. BP's local stumbles have been far outweighed by the successes of this city. And this year's crime surge, while awful, is mirrored in dozens of larger cities across the nation. And those outside the doughnut are not blaming him exclusively for it.

The bigger-city crime surge is due to the economy (no, it's not as good a W would have you believe) and this insane meth epedemic.

Anonymous said...

If the Democrats come up with an acceptable opponent, which I'm confident we will.

Vi Simpson is about as acceptable as you'll get. Mayor Brat is a big fat ZERO outside Center Twp of Marion County.

BP's local stumbles have been far outweighed by the successes of this city.

You mean where he gave away the city and then some to keep the Colts here? You mean putting taverns in government buildings? You mean making a mockery of zoning and the comprehensive plan? You mean allowing developers to build cheap $50K-$80K homes next to $150K-$250K homes diluting their value - and the precinct voting base? If that's what you call successes then Mayor Brat is successful.

And those outside the doughnut are not blaming him exclusively for it.

Yes we are. Can't he keep his criminals on his own turf and not dump his crooks onto Avon, Mooresville, Carmel, and Fishers?

The bigger-city crime surge is due to the economy

"It's the Stupid, Economy!!". Hmm DJIA at record highs, NASDAQ is strong. 401K is doing good. A good number of jobs are available if you look at Monster and CareerBuilder.

this insane meth epidemic

Now THAT I will agree with you. Hillbilly Heroin, meth, Oxy nasty stuff. Because of meth it's a PITA to get cold pills now but that's the price of stopping the trafficking of meth.

Anonymous said...

Well, if you think this economy is moving along swimingly, you ened a lesson in basic economics.

The stock market is doing fine because it's still, predominantly, industrial, banking and transportation driven. That's why they call it the Dow Jones INDUSTRIAL Average.

And when you dump $2-4 billion a week into a stupid war effort, that filters down almost everywhere. Without the insane federal war expenditure, this economy would be in the dooldrums.

We even see about $4 mil a week in payroll at Atterbury. As well as increased wartime expenditures at Rolls Royce (aircraft engines and parts) and Hummers.

Follow the Benjamins.

Anonymous said...

And when you dump $2-4 billion a week into a stupid war effort ... Without the insane federal war expenditure, this economy would be in the dooldrums.

AH-HA!!! Now your true colors show. You want to tank the economy on purpose by doing a "cut, run and surrender" to the terrorists.

Because the Rat's solution to the economy is economic socialism and redistribution ... more taxes and increased welfare spending. Let's tax ourselves into prosperity. Hmmm show me where that has worked.

Anonymous said...

LOL Hail. Nobody is using "cut and run" any more.

Not even W.

But Sne. Young, and Mitch, have this phrase in common: each should cut and run.