Now that the primaries are over, and the outlines of the gubernatorial campaign are getting clearer, it is beginning to look as if Hoosiers will have a choice between a candidate with bad ideas and one with no ideas.
The Star reports that Democrat John Gregg is advocating both a tax cut for businesses and the elimination of Indiana’s gasoline tax. He proposes to make up the lost gas tax revenue by “better management.” This at a time when government is struggling to provide basic services, and when all available evidence rebuts the tired rhetoric about tax cuts generating jobs and government funding services by cutting “waste.”
Add to these positions his anti-choice and anti-gay-rights pronouncements, and apparently, Gregg has decided to campaign as the non-Pence Republican.
Meanwhile, Pence has refused to take any policy positions. In 11+ years in Congress, he never passed a bill. He’s never held an administrative position, and–to use a Republican talking point–never made a payroll. He has never disclosed the slightest interest in the complexities of public policy. The only thing he has done is sermonize and hector. In fact, given his holier-than-thou persona, it’s odd he didn’t just go into the clergy.
Unfortunately, one of these men will win in November. Rupert Boneham, the libertarian who has thus far made more sense than either of them, is simply not viable in a state and country that doesn’t elect third-party candidates.
So our choice–as my son frequently notes– is between a competent conservative from the 1950s, and a posturing theocrat from the 1590s.
Whoopie.
Ugh. My thoughts exactly. *headdesk*
I have seen Mike Pence’s first commercial and found it a little odd. It was all about how he met his wife and their romance. All of that is fine, but it told me exactly ZERO about why anyone should vote for him. Perhaps he is just going to campaign as Mr. Hoosier Nice Guy, with no ideas and no substance.
Since politics really is a team sport, it is best to support the team that best represents you. In this case, Greg would be the choice as he is the least repellent AND he comes with the far superior team. A vote for Good Old Rupert is really just a vote for the Republicans. Please don’t waste a vote that way.
It is like when people voted for Ralph Nadar and helped put “W” in place for 8 years. Protest votes are a VERY bad idea.
If this article and the following comments weren’t about something as serious as electing the Governor of Indiana; it would make a good situation for a sitcom. This is truly a pathetic situation we are faced with and Indiana residents will be the losers no matter who is elected in November. These two candidates make Daniels look not quite as bad as he appeared before the primary and Rupert no longer looks like the comic relief but a viable possibility.
Well, the clergy (ofttimes) just doesn’t pay as well. And, if nothing else, I believe Rep. Pence is all about the pay scale.
The governorship will just be a double-dipping stepping stone to a cushy retirement, and a boost to his well-fed ego.
Unlike Obama versus Romney, or Mourdock versus Donnelly, I perceive having the luxury of voting Libertarian for Boneham because there’s not a yawning ideological chasm between the major candidates.
It beats living in China, but our “two party system” is so untainted and marvelously successful that it deserves your vote regardless of the match-up?
Hooookay……