Looks like there is a newish blog that might be worth watching going by the name of “Hoosier Advocate.” It describes itself as a blog for “independent, liberty-minded Hoosiers” and is based out of southwest Indiana.
Just an aside – when I hear “advocate” in publications, I think of gay issues. That does not appear to be this publication’s focus. Their use of “Democrat” instead of “Democratic” as an adjective is a verbal tic of sorts that gives good indication that someone leans politically to the right. The rest of the content so far seems to confirm that hypothesis. That notwithstanding, the writing seems solid.
Their most recent entry has to do with a Republican primary eligibility challenge to Sue Ellspermann’s efforts to run for the state House of Representatives against Russ Stilwell (D-Boonville). Hoosier Advocate states that she participated in Limbaugh’s “Operation Chaos” by voting in the Democratic presidential primary in 2008. We’ve seen in Tippecanoe County that that can throw a wrench into a Republican’s efforts to run in the Republican primary.
The issue isn’t so much that Ellspermann voted in the 2008 Democratic primary as that she failed to disclose this fact in her Declaration of Candidacy. Hoosier Advocate suggests that she forgot which primary she voted in. If that had not slipped her mind, she could have gotten the blessing of the chair of her county party. Now she has to deal with a challenge to her candidacy due to the incorrect information she certified in her declaration.
Why is that? Wouldn’t “Democratic” refer to the process of democracy rather than a political party? I’ve always seen Democrats get pissed over the semantics of this, so I curious to understand if there is some underlying insult that I don’t get?
It was used sporadically by detractors of the Democratic Party at various times in the 20th Century. A Republican pollster at some point found that “Democrat” Party tested more negatively than “Democratic” Party and therefore decided to advise his folks to change the language accordingly. It wasn’t an honest difference of opinion as to correct usage. It was an intentional changing of the language for political purposes. See here.
Thanks for the history, I get the offense now.
So, if I talk about the health care reform that was introduced by the Democratic Party, is it still offensive to say “Democrat Health Care?” Reason being, it isn’t “Democratic Health Care”, since it has not gone through the Democratic process yet. It is “Democratic Party Health Care”, which it what I’ll use if I have the time to type it, or just “(D) Health Care” if I don’t.
Just use a capital “D” when you’re referring to the proper name and a small “d” when you’re referring to the method of government. It’s pretty universally understood, I think.
I think it is less universally understood than you think, but again, point taken and noted. Thanks.
Isn’t the field for “liberty minded” righty blogs out of Indiana rather crowded, already? That’s not to say that a good voice isn’t valuable, but I didn’t see anything in the way of novelty over there. In fact, many of the posts (Dems On Life Support??!! Have they seen Republican polling lately?) border on Instapundit-level tone deafness.
It is indeed a crowded field statewide, but it can fill a void for such blogs covering southern Indiana.
Did the article say how it became common knowledge that she participated in the Operation Chaos? Since I used to live down there, I have run into “Dr. Sue” a time or two. I am truly shocked if it is true that she would participate in anything Rush-related. How disappointing. I would have thought better of her judgement, but I would apparently have been wrong. It’s also a little risky career-wise for her, I would think, to have this impression out there.
She is a long shot to win against Russ to begin with. I live in this district (Tobin Township, Perry County). Russ wins here with 70% of the vote, if not a little more. She may bring his winning percentage down, but she’s not going to beat him.
Folks in Perry County are working people. Mitch is highly unpopular here and her affinity for him will cost her. Besides, her little “listening tour” probably didn’t help. Unemployed people don’t like being told it’s really their fault and big business is really the second coming of Jesus.
I doubt this has anything to do with Rush’s Operation Chaos. Many Republicans felt a need (and had every right) to particpate in the still-competitive presidential contest since their Primary candidate (McCain) was already chosen. That the challenge was made by a longtime Stilwell supporter and Union Leader in Warrick County should be of no surprise to anyone either. Folks in Perry County deserve better.
From Perry County to tired of politics:
Well we certainly won’t get better with Ms. Ellspermann.