tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post2337686651134962026..comments2024-03-25T13:42:25.771-05:00Comments on Advance Indiana™: Ballard Mired In Ethics Dilemma Of His Own MakingGary R. Welshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15185079937305083438noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-52494786692494615242008-02-05T03:31:00.000-05:002008-02-05T03:31:00.000-05:00Anon,If you were at the inaugural ball you would h...Anon,<BR/>If you were at the inaugural ball you would have noticed that the volunteers who were given tickets were working to register guests, help with table seating, helping handicapped guests and other activities. GIVE IT A BREAK!<BR/><BR/> <BR/>Reponse: This is simply not true flipper. I did not see you there by the way. I was sitting with numerous other volunteers, campaign supporters and some non-supporter and we were served and treated with dignity along with the rest, but at the adjourning hotel via television monitors.<BR/><BR/>Those who were working were the volunteers the republicans decided to keep onboard post election, the ones that fit the republican image, middle-age white women. The republicans have excluded the grassroots people -- no activists, no blacks, no well-wishers. We are simply to GO AWAY NOW and abandon OUR missions. Our job is done, we won "Ballard" the office and now he owes no one anything. He has new friends now. He doesn't need us for now.<BR/><BR/>What is really amazing is that we are not even welcome to serve as volunteers. Go figure!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-87941772094038695952008-02-04T03:26:00.000-05:002008-02-04T03:26:00.000-05:00Anon,If you were at the inaugural ball you would h...Anon,<BR/>If you were at the inaugural ball you would have noticed that the volunteers who were given tickets were working to register guests, help with table seating, helping handicapped guests and other activities. GIVE IT A BREAK!Flipperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14056457877965174996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-70441256369623452342008-02-03T23:06:00.000-05:002008-02-03T23:06:00.000-05:009:48,Exactly what is partisan,one sided, or ignora...9:48,<BR/><BR/>Exactly what is partisan,one sided, or ignorant about pointing out the obvious? <BR/><BR/>Joanne Sanders is the prototype of partisanship.<BR/><BR/>How's that for substance sweetheart? <BR/><BR/>Love HarryAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-73714874863189823682008-02-03T11:01:00.000-05:002008-02-03T11:01:00.000-05:00This guy looks like a member of the mafia! It is j...This guy looks like a member of the mafia! It is just a shame that a dishonest, idiot mayor was elected just to get rid of a dishonest, idiot mayor! Why doesn't the Justice Department pay attention to what is going on in Indianapolis?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-89395884004483169492008-02-03T11:00:00.000-05:002008-02-03T11:00:00.000-05:00I'm curious. The Indy Star reported that Ballard p...I'm curious. The Indy Star reported that Ballard provided 150 free tickets for camapaign supporters to attend his Ball.<BR/>Anyone care to wager who some of these important "grassroots" supporters were?<BR/>Not only can our new Mayor be bought but apparently, so can some of his "ethical" supporters.<BR/>Tea anyone?<BR/>Yellow chicken outfit anyone?<BR/>Someone need a driver?<BR/>Someone need a clown to MC?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-20648664801738598352008-02-03T09:48:00.000-05:002008-02-03T09:48:00.000-05:00The mindless partisanship of some commenters is tr...The mindless partisanship of some commenters is truly sad. JoAnn Sanders is bright, caring and a true leader. The comments of Harry Callahan at 10:32 display nothing but one sided political sniping and ignorance of the type that has gotten us into this mess. STOP Harry now and start making comments with some substance and that are productive.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-26376471543920590642008-02-03T00:29:00.000-05:002008-02-03T00:29:00.000-05:00Who in their right mind would trust this Bob Grand...Who in their right mind would trust this Bob Grand or Greg Ballard?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-44413227395314285162008-02-02T22:32:00.000-05:002008-02-02T22:32:00.000-05:00HAAA! Wilson (9:20am) cracked me up again! What's ...HAAA! Wilson (9:20am) cracked me up again! What's this world coming to?<BR/><BR/>But on a more serious note, what's up with the wicked witch of the city council all of a sudden having "perception", and "concerns about the appearance of a conflict."<BR/><BR/><BR/> "I go back to perception," said Joanne Sanders, the Democratic minority leader. "I do have some concerns about the appearance of a conflict."<BR/><BR/>Where was she for the last year when her buddy Monroe Gray was the poster child for conflict? Oh yeah, she was too busy whispering in his ear at council meetings telling him what to do while he just sat there with that famous vacuous stare!<BR/><BR/>A little too late for Joanne to ring the ethics bell. Sounds a little hollow to me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-71862282009225250842008-02-02T15:45:00.000-05:002008-02-02T15:45:00.000-05:00It's amazing the extent he is willing to go to for...It's amazing the extent he is willing to go to for this new position. Wow...out of the goodness of his heart?<BR/><BR/>Doubt it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-57598165221202521632008-02-02T15:19:00.000-05:002008-02-02T15:19:00.000-05:00Price no longer represents those two plaintiffs in...Price no longer represents those two plaintiffs in the litigation against the Star. the crazy Newmans represent thme now.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-12560560747391277092008-02-02T14:45:00.000-05:002008-02-02T14:45:00.000-05:00anon 11:19, you raise a good point about the Ganne...anon 11:19, you raise a good point about the Gannett conflict. The Star is represented by Barnes & Thornburg in pending litigation brought by attorney John Price on behalf of former editorial writers Coffey and Patterson charging religious discrimination.Gary R. Welshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15185079937305083438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-27949723940497607522008-02-02T14:31:00.000-05:002008-02-02T14:31:00.000-05:00"You must actively communicate the expected ethica...<B>"You must actively communicate the expected ethical behavior.”</B><BR/><BR/>Ballard, Greg, Lt. Col. <I>"The Ballard Rules: Small Unit Leadership."</I> Bloomington, IN: Author House, 2005. (p. 66).Wilson46201https://www.blogger.com/profile/14214029150233485312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-72646637643314786492008-02-02T13:48:00.000-05:002008-02-02T13:48:00.000-05:00"THIS IS THE END OF REPUBLICAN COUNTRY CLUB POLITI..."THIS IS THE END OF REPUBLICAN COUNTRY CLUB POLITICS."<BR/><BR/>.....words spoken by Greg Ballard on election night after his stunning win.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-26676300698712141332008-02-02T13:42:00.000-05:002008-02-02T13:42:00.000-05:00The word is that since the Indy Chicken retired to...The word is that since the Indy Chicken retired to take a job as a lobbyist at B&T there will be a new person in costume at the CCC meetings.<BR/>There will be someone dressed up in a pig costume with dollars bills pinned on it. They have a sign too. It says BALLARD'S PIG TROUGH.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-48048857650731085742008-02-02T13:02:00.000-05:002008-02-02T13:02:00.000-05:0010:48,I know quite a few local GOPers who are not ...10:48,<BR/><BR/>I know quite a few local GOPers who are not happy with the Grand appointment to CIB, but they do dispute that Ballard did not know Bob Grand before the November election. Several of them have pointed out that while the local GOP elites mostly ignored Ballard, both Grand and Joe Loftus hosted at least one fundraiser for him.<BR/><BR/>Call it patronage, if you wish, as well as conflict of interest, but it does appear that they were supporters of Ballard before the election.Jeff Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04896694141148386531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-22458093987560779792008-02-02T12:56:00.000-05:002008-02-02T12:56:00.000-05:00This is the latest and probably the saddest exampl...This is the latest and probably the saddest example of the tragedy that is Greg Ballard, and I understand why his former supporters who he has ignored are so upset. This guy was elected against all odds, and had a chance to transform the political landscape as to how to campaign and win versus the old BS money/favoritism =corruption.<BR/><BR/>He stated on Nov 6th, that "money cannot buy an election", yet..instead of taking that golden chance of further changing history by not owing anyone and Continuing down that road ..well..now he owes a lot of people, and probably will in the future. What a shame, and a wasted opportunity to continue to be his own person/leader.<BR/><BR/>Chris Spangle, does that make sense to you? As to a reason for a lot of upset former Ballard supporters?<BR/><BR/>I implore the CCC to reject this appointment, and if necessary, over-ride any Mayoral veto. Are you listening, councilors? particularly newly appointed ones, who used Aaron Haith as an example (deservedly so) of corrupt influence. If our new Mayor wants to LIE and deviate from the sonorous and righteous tones of ethics in government, thats his business, and eventual fate. But you, particularly Kent Smith, who I heard several times on your campaign trail, DONT LET THIS HAPPEN. Take the path you said you would, prior to November 6th.<BR/><BR/>To those who would take me to task with a question of "well, who would YOU appoint?" I reply "thats not MY job- I voted for who I thought would do the right thing"...he needs to take a brief sabbatical to get his head outta his posterior, or the next 47 months will be the most miserable of his, and our lives.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-83233018340125356882008-02-02T12:07:00.000-05:002008-02-02T12:07:00.000-05:00I rolled outta bed at 5 and read this story in the...I rolled outta bed at 5 and read this story in the rag, and my first thought was: "I bet Gary is all over this today." And true to form, you were.<BR/><BR/>As a former journalist, I think I can tell when a story has been crafted apart from the reporter's train of thought. BO hasn't had an original story thought in a long tome--just read his stuff regularly. And he often gets one major act or piece of timing wrong. I can't tell you how many City-County Council stories he's effed up. Brendan isn't as lazy as Tully, but: when laziness is rewarded at The Star (ex.: Tully; their once-weekly "business" columnist). it becomes protocol for advancement.<BR/><BR/>The lasty poster summed it up best:<BR/><BR/> "...Ballard quite frankly, is now bought and paid for. This is how Indianapolis operates."<BR/><BR/>Heavy emphasis on that last sentence. B&T now owns the Mayor's office. <BR/><BR/>Managing partners cannot wall themselves off from substantial work the firm does--substantial in fees or stature. City work is substantial in both.<BR/><BR/>A: 1403.<BR/><BR/>Q: How many days until Ballard is out of office?<BR/><BR/>It's kinda sad, too. He had such promise. He owed nobody--except US. Not true any more.<BR/><BR/>It only took 30 days or so for a longtime lobbyist with multiple clients, to suuggest to Ballard that he alter his views, re-write a policy, and construct this paper barrier that is a freaking joke.<BR/><BR/>Paul--you need to get over yourself. By "slam dunk stupid" I assume you mean the mayor should have told Grand to go away.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-84195942415641117202008-02-02T11:51:00.000-05:002008-02-02T11:51:00.000-05:00Anon10:48, the facts you presented are pretty much...Anon10:48, the facts you presented are pretty much on target. It's true most people haven't a clue what the CIB is. Not many people have any real interest in educating themselves. They are content to stay ignorant. If that wasn't so we wouldn't be stuck in Iraq and of course I could mention hundreds of other examples. I would alter your statement about taxpayers and say rather the citizens of Indiana. The CIB doesn't exist for the taxpayers. It is a creation of the State of Indiana and therefore it exists for the benefit of the citizens of Indiana. We created the CIB and the tax laws that fund it as a way to vacuum the money out of the pockets of out of state tourists. As Hale Boggs once said, "Don't tax you, don't tax me, tax that fellow behind that tree." Just because these tourists are taxpayers it doesn't mean they have any right whatsoever to dictate how this money is spent. That right belongs to the citizens of Indiana, taxpaying or not.<BR/><BR/>As for paying debt on a dome that is to be demolished, I can understand the concept that refinancing a loan can make economic sense. I'm not an accountant but I'm willing to assume that this is a bookkeeping thing that makes sense in the long run, in that case yes a $78 mil. debt is justified.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-8731751278628946252008-02-02T11:19:00.000-05:002008-02-02T11:19:00.000-05:00I wonder how much of the Star's reporter's story w...I wonder how much of the Star's reporter's story was scaled back from what was actually submitted. You'll never guess what large law firm has represented Gannett Corp. in the past.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-36840294076675844722008-02-02T10:48:00.000-05:002008-02-02T10:48:00.000-05:00You aree absolutley right Gary. Greg Ballard didn'...You aree absolutley right Gary. Greg Ballard didn't know Bob Grand any more that he knew Sponge Bob.<BR/>Grand was NOT a Ballard choice because Ballard did not have a clue who to appoint to head CIB. So who WAS behind the appointment of Bob Grand? Was it Bob Grand himself or were there others with similar financial interests at stake with the CIB.<BR/>For the record, most taxpayers do not have a clue of what the CIB is. This nefarious "club" operates completely without accountability to the taxpayers. There are estimates of nearly $7 Billion Dollars of taxpayer money that the CIB has diverted in some manner or another into just the Mile Square area of downtown Indianapolis. Deals cut behind closed doors. Mega purchases of downtown real estate that the city then sells to a developer for a dollar plus millions in bonds and abatements to boot!<BR/><BR/>Not one soul outside of these "insiders" knew that there was nearly $78 Million Dollars still owed on the original Hoosier Dome debt. The tax monies that were to have been used to pay off the Dome were diverted to build Conseco Field House, Victory Field and buy the land that Lucas Stadium is being built on. Yet the taxpayers were never aware of all this until AFTER the deal with the Colts for their new stadium was cut.<BR/>There is NO justification for a $78Million Dollar current debt on the Dome that will be demolishd for yet another CIB approved sweetheart deal, the Marriot hotels complex of which taxpayers will have to cover the bond debt.<BR/><BR/>Ballard quite frankly, is now bought and paid for. This is how Indianapolis operates. This Bob Grand appointment is just icing on the cake for a Ballard administration that will just be simply as corrupt as all the others who came before him.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-68418169317686955662008-02-02T10:29:00.000-05:002008-02-02T10:29:00.000-05:00anon 10:11, Thanks for bringing that up. Barnes & ...anon 10:11, Thanks for bringing that up. Barnes & Thornburg did in fact hire two former associates of disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff in an effort to beef up the firm's lobbying presence in D.C. They both went to jail for illegal influence peddling. Here's what Politic.com wrote:<BR/><BR/>"Amid reports the Justice Department is investigating ties between Rep. John Doolittle (R-Calif.) and jailed lobbyist Jack Abramoff, a key link between the two, Kevin A. Ring, has abruptly resigned from his law firm. Ring tendered his resignation from Indianapolis-based law firm Barnes & Thornburg, effective Friday, confirmed the managing partner of the firm’s Washington office, Richard H. Streeter. Ring had no immediate plans to join another firm, a source close to the issue said. Ring, 36, as an aide to Doolittle for five years and later worked for Abramoff at Florida-based law firm Greenberg Traurig .... Ring is the second former Abramoff associate to leave Barnes & Thornburg. Neil Volz resigned in January, 2006, shortly after he was named as “Staffer B” in Abramoff’s plea agreement with federal prosecutors. Volz later pleaded guilty and cooperated with prosecutors in securing a guilty plea from his former boss, then-Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio), who is now serving time in a federal prison ....He landed at Barnes & Thornburg in January 2005 along with two other former Abramoff associates. Many of his clients followed him to the new firm, demonstrating a remarkable loyalty even as he surfaced in several congressional investigations of Abramoff...In 2005, he was subpoenaed to appear before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee as part of its Abramoff probe. Asked to discuss his work with Abramoff on behalf of several Indian gaming tribes, Ring asserted his Fifth Amendment right against self incrimination."Gary R. Welshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15185079937305083438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-74576173249342560332008-02-02T10:28:00.000-05:002008-02-02T10:28:00.000-05:00Not this week, a few weeks from now. Sorry, just r...Not this week, a few weeks from now. Sorry, just rolled out of bed for a morning blog check.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-33742406108628907272008-02-02T10:26:00.000-05:002008-02-02T10:26:00.000-05:00Greg Ballard is such a joke! This man is very unqu...Greg Ballard is such a joke! This man is very unqualified and he is dishonest. It only took him a few days to turn on the people of Indianapolis>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-65739473872874080942008-02-02T10:24:00.000-05:002008-02-02T10:24:00.000-05:00I can not beleive that I am saying this but "I act...I can not beleive that I am saying this but "I actually agree with Wilson". When will the Big Yellow Chicken appear with a Ballard Lies Sign" ?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-78632161570092836792008-02-02T10:23:00.000-05:002008-02-02T10:23:00.000-05:00Greg Ballard lies, even more that Bart! What a sel...Greg Ballard lies, even more that Bart! What a sellout. He betrayed all of the common people who supported him and ran to the same corrupt money bosses that Bart Peterson used! Bob Grand is also a crook! He has no ethics, he is a lawyer!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com