SATURDAY MORNING POST
I just got back from covering this morning’s Marion County Democratic rally at party headquarters in downtown Indianapolis. It’s always interesting to be in a place where you are arguably the most hated man in the room because of what you do for a living, and the even sadder part is that it’s people who look like you who hate you the most, but this is why I get paid the big bucks so I really can’t complain.
As far as rallies go, it was pretty typical. A crowd of 200-300 jammed the tent, although a good number were city-county employees. The music played and party chairman Mike O’Connor gave a very animated and lively speech. O’Connor was more intense than I’ve ever seen him in the three years I’ve known him. It was either a sign that in the last 72 hours he’s getting really enthusiastic, or things are worse than he will publicly admit. I tend to think it is a little of both. County Democrats are afraid that their base will not come out and vote in this election, either because they don’t care, or like everyone else is mad about a 65-percent tax increase thrown up on top one of the largest property tax increases in history.
Mayor Bart Peterson also stressed that theme as well saying the enemy is not the Republicans, but complacency. What is complicating matters more for Democrats is in key Council districts that are arguably Democratic strongholds, there is no Republican challenger. Council Members William Oliver, Cherish Pryor, Andre Carson and Jackie Nytes do not have opponents, so it makes it less likely Democrats will turn out in those areas so it is important that the base turnout. That would also explain the high number of African-Americans who were signed up to canvass in those neighborhoods that have high African-American populations.
We’ll know if the Democrats were successful come Tuesday.
November 3rd, 2007 at 12:41 pm
Also, of those 200-300 were a lot of kids who were dragged there by their parents and aren’t old enough to vote.
I was there and it was amazing how the democrats were “distracted by the shiny object” in this case. They spent enough time talking about the Indy Chicken and Ballard for Mayor people standing on the other side of the street.
One final observation, if the Dems are so sure they are going to win why are they so unhappy? Very few smiling faces there and the kids along the street were flipping off the Ballard supporters. Nice, that must be what they teach their children.
I will say there were lots of honks and thumbs up for the Ballard camp!
November 3rd, 2007 at 1:40 pm
The honks were very pro Ballard. They only honk the democrats got were from some fire trucks screaming by on a fire run !
It was funny that Mike O’Connor was calling the Ballard people negative while we were just minding our own business across the street.
And by the way Wilson – a FLASH on your camera does not help any when shooting across the street during day light hours.
It was good to see you got a new outfit and a free breakfast.
:)
November 3rd, 2007 at 2:05 pm
Hey, demonstrating, whooping and hollering outside a Democratic Party event is kinda negative — “Bart Lies” signs aren’t exactly positive campaigning about Ballard, is it now?
Is Greg Ballard even going to vote this year in the Mayor and Council elections? Four years ago he took a pass on making choices for our city. Nowadays he’s complaining loudly but he didn’t bother to vote 4 years ago. Tsk, tsk, tsk!
November 3rd, 2007 at 2:56 pm
Ballard signs supporters across the street is negative Wilson?
Negative is when a person cuts the brake lines on and opponent’s vehicle and threatons the physical welfare of them and their families. Sound familiar to you Wilson? It should!
Tell the fine folks here what you do with photographs of opponent’s supporters you take.
November 3rd, 2007 at 3:02 pm
I usually erase those ugly mugs – why clutter up my hard-drives with crap like that?
November 3rd, 2007 at 3:17 pm
No Wilson, you hand the ones of black folks over to Tony Duncan. BTW, TD is NO Bumpy Johnson. Hell, he ain’t man enough to air the tires up on my Jag! However, I’m sure he could air up yours.LOL
November 3rd, 2007 at 3:43 pm
The signs said, “Had enough? Vote Ballard” and there are legitimate pictures available to show this FACT.
That the dems were so preoccupied with people standing on the other side of the street is also a FACT.
The Peterson supporter flipping the bird is a FACT.
’nuff said.
November 3rd, 2007 at 3:57 pm
Ignore the dumpster diver.
November 3rd, 2007 at 3:59 pm
“Is Greg Ballard even going to vote this year in the Mayor and Council elections? Four years ago he took a pass on making choices for our city. Nowadays he’s complaining loudly but he didn’t bother to vote 4 years ago. Tsk, tsk, tsk!”
OK. Who committed the felony by breaking into voting records to check on Greg Ballard’s vote four years ago? Then published it.
Are you man enough to admit it? Nah-h-h-h. You’re a democrat.
November 3rd, 2007 at 5:07 pm
Voting records are very public. Anybody can request that information. Both parties are regularly provided “tapes” with voting records.
Are you man to admit you’re ignorant? Nah-h-h-h. You’re a Republican.
November 3rd, 2007 at 6:11 pm
Dems must be nervous if they spent their time talking about the Ballard supporters who were out numbered 200-300 to less than 20! LOL!
I do think Bart said this isn’t about being a Democrat or a Republican, and it’s not, it is about the Have’s and the Have Not’s.
November 3rd, 2007 at 6:15 pm
When Greg Ballard’s opponents regularly receive death threats, then you can mention him in the same breath as Julia Carson. Was she that afraid of Brose McVey?
November 3rd, 2007 at 6:16 pm
Waaaaa – Wilson called me ugly and crap ! He is so mean !
“I usually erase those ugly mugs – why clutter up my hard-drives with crap like that?
Posted by Wilson46201″
November 3rd, 2007 at 7:48 pm
But Mike, if I said you were cute, that might cause you some major problems with some of your associates ;-)
November 3rd, 2007 at 8:47 pm
Hey, who is the guy in the black caddy leaving the Dem rally this morning flipping the bird. Such illustrious displays of leadership! Bart should be proud!
(If you want to see the photographs go to http://www.bartlies.com)
November 3rd, 2007 at 9:43 pm
I liked this picture:
http://www.bartlies.com/rallypics/20071103/image-3.jpg
Caption: “Everyone got a scrumptious hot breakfast, even the homeless who wandered by. Oh, wait – so sorry – that’s not a homeless guy. That’s the semi-official chief photographer and head dumpster-diver for the Marion County Democratic Party, Wilson Allen!”
November 3rd, 2007 at 10:27 pm
Oh, my bad. It was a WOMAN driving the black caddy who was flipping the bird. Wow. That’s classy! Nothing but the finest from our fearless leader’s camp.
November 3rd, 2007 at 11:29 pm
Man Wilson, you are a creepy dude. Nice pic on Bart lies. I have the same question soomeone posed earlier, why do all Dems look so angry?
November 4th, 2007 at 1:38 am
what is ironic about this is the parents of these kids who allow them to give the bird to people. these are the same democrats parents who allow their children to sell dope on the streets, commit crimes, run all hours of the night unattended, make baby’s out of wedlock and wonder why their daddy’s are in prison. somewhere along the line these people lost the family unit and these people are at bart petersons rally…………something is wrong!
Sounds like bart wants to continue supporting corruption and crime.
November 4th, 2007 at 2:33 am
If y’all don’t shut up, I am gonna stop this City and turn it around, so help me God.
November 4th, 2007 at 9:49 am
The white woman in the black Caddie Escalade flipping the bird was none other than Tony Duncan’s wife!
November 4th, 2007 at 3:25 pm
“The white woman in the black Caddie Escalade flipping the bird was none other than Tony Duncan’s wife!”
That was Julia Carson???
November 4th, 2007 at 11:25 pm
Bart Peterson registered to vote for the first time in March 1988 for Evan Bayh for Governor Primary Election. He never registered or voted in Marion County Prior to that time.