Republican Leadership in Marion County Continue To Destroy Their Own Party

I wish I could say I was shocked by the dismissal of two Marion County Ward Chairmen today, on the heels of a major victory for honesty, transparency and conservative ideals. Two Ward Chairs, outspoken supporters of newly selected State Senator Scott Schneider were dismissed Friday, at least one of them over some partially trumped up accusations. Even worse, the person who supposedly did the deed is an attorney that lives in HAMILTON COUNTY and isn’t even a Marion County resident but seems to somehow have far too much influence. Marion County folks should resent his influence if the county isn't good enough for him to live here.

The bottom line is that the Marion County Party leadership, which this past week not only suffered rumors that payroll checks had bounced, but also suffered a major blow when their chosen one, which they hoped to anoint as Theresa Lubbers successor, failed to overcome the more independent and ideologically conscious Senate District 30 Precinct Committeemen.

Unfortunately, one of those Ward Chairman was one of the Republican Party of Marion County’s (and of Indiana’s) hardest workers and strongest advocates, Elizabeth Karlson. The party even went so far as to accuse her of trying to recruit Republicans to switch to the Libertarian Party … SERIOUSLY? Are these guys for real? Are they REALLY that clueless and out of touch? Probably not, the bottom line is they needed a better excuse than, “You are more honest, more ethical, more ideologically grounded than we are, so being complete tools, we need someone to make an example of because we lost and we have to do something to pretend we are real men.”



Make no mistake, they are sore losers after not being able to place one of their law firm buddies, a City Councilor and seemingly nice guy that I hope can be saved from becoming another special interest controlled puppet, into the State Senate.

I can’t even begin to count the number of times Elizabeth Karlson has tried to sway me into jumping back into the Republican Party. She has even been working hard to create a home within her party for more pro-liberty members and candidates. Libertarian leaders had questioned her Republican influence at the occasional libertarian (small "l" ideological, not big "L" party) social events so it is sad, if not ironic, that the apparent bozos in her own party want to claim the opposite was happening. I suppose, maybe, they don't know the contextual difference between an ideological bent and a party label.

In striking indication of how strongly they really support free speech, intellectual honesty, integrity, independent thought and individual opinions she was criticized for daring to hold a panel of conservative (and one libertarian) bloggers at a GOP club meeting who discussed the corrupting influences in government and corporate welfare.

While they may have objected to the bloggers largely not being fans of the party leadership – the real problem is that some people can’t stand criticism and independent thought. We call them ‘dictators’ when they run countries and they do, indeed, stifle and kill dissent. Sometimes, dictators … say it again, DICTATORS … assassinate people just for having the wrong friends.

At least we know now why our government is so screwed up and we keep going farther and farther towards authoritarianism. The authoritarians start out as ideologically ungrounded party bureaucrats who are there for their own glory, not to protect the rule of law, the Constitutions or even their own party platform. Unfortunately, they do the same thing in weeding through and promoting candidates to eventually present to voters.

A credit to her party, Karlson has actively promoted Republican candidates to even her Libertarian friends. I’ll state right now that I voted for at least a couple of Republican City County Council candidates in 2007 based on feedback I sought out and got from her. She has consistently promoted the good character and intent of numerous Republican candidates, including my own State Senator, whom I personally have considerable respect for, but often hear his own party leadership does not (that darn honesty, integrity, reform, Constitutions stuff getting in the way again perhaps?).

I have stated several times in the past, as friends from Florida all the way to Indiana keep telling me, “You need to join the Republicans” (Liz being the loudest voice among them) and I have stated for the past couple of years, “The Republicans don’t want people like me. They want followers who will fall in lock-step to do whatever they are told or they want people who can help them all make partner at their law firms or otherwise cash in at taxpayer expense.”

When I ran for Congress, I remember doing a radio interview and conservative leaning local radio host, Greg Garrison, threw off his headphones as we cut to break and said, "Why don't you run as a Republican? You could win!!" ... Seriously? If the treatment of some of the most honest people I know in government, like Congressman Ron Paul of Texas, is any indication they wouldn't let me past the slating process, much less on the ballot.

Every once in a while I start to get encouraged, like the election of Senator Schneider the other day, the leadership shown on particular issues I’m fond of by Senators Delph or Walker. The fight for justice that State Treasurer Richard Mourdock undertook this year in trying to protect state pension funds from the Obama administration’s complete disregard for the rule of law. But, then…

...then I have a Monday night at the City Council Meeting (July 20) where Democrats are the ones fighting for free speech and to avoid unintended consequences of bad legislation and Republicans are voting en masse with the Democrats to transfer a million dollars of taxpayer money to private organizations. Then the leadership goes, and because of their own shortcomings, wreck vengeance on the wrong people when a truly fiscally conservative guy squeaks through their net. No wonder the electorate is frustrated and confused.

I hope that Marion County Chairman, Tom John, whom I have met personally once or twice (might write about that one day) will review the actions by his underling and reinstate both of the Ward Chairmen that were affected by this either (a) misunderstanding or (b) revenge tactic and warning for others not to think too much. It was either one or the other, you decide.

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And, just for the record, we all know politics is a dirty, revenge ridden game. But, I naively have hope for a better tomorrow anyway.

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Update: More on this story at Ogden on Politics