All Republican updates! It's cool though, Abdul.

Re: Plowman. I don't know why he's even on the council. Not a rocket scientist. Your Voyles reaction is comical, but mostly true. Jimmy is one sharp attorney, except for that Tyson thing. Lincoln isn't the brightest bulb in the lamp. Honestly, he's always reminded me of a creepy neighbor or that relative nobody talked about.

Re: Smith resigning. That DOD directive is over four years old. I checked with a good friend who's in a similar position in another state yesterday. He laughed so hard at this…the timing is suspicious, but, Smith was elected by a strike of lightning anyway. I've tried to interact with him several times, along with all At-Larges and my district councilperson, on zoning and other issues. Only he failed to respond. Ever.

As for his replacements, there are multiple issues at play here: will the chosen replacement be asked to run next year, or simply be a place-holder, kinda like Beurt SerVaas's replacement was a few years ago? If so, Aaron Williams would be a disaster. Not from my side of the aisle–we'd love to run against him. Who scares Democrats the most? Probably Chris Douglas, because he's been around northside GOP politics for years, and the GLBT community would line up behind him big-time, which would send money and help his way (and thus dillute their usual support of Demo candidates). He's sharp, articulate, well-liked. And unlike Aaron, he's actually earned private-sector money for awhile. I'm beginning to think that all candidates should have that criteria.

Anything involving Olgen Williams on the 2011 ticket is a gift to Democrats. Trust me. Anything.

Think anyone in the IN5th will get out, to clear the way for one candidate to oppose Danny? If they don't, won't that lead to Dnany's re-election?

It is a solid Republican field in the 5th. Strong folks all. In a non-incumbent impartial review, by almost anyone, Danny would be fifth out of five on that list.

Ask long-time GOPers how many times they've kicked themselves for not pushing Bruce Melchert to run harder in 1982.

1. The IPS Monday schedule is a mess. You menitoned that students would report an hour late but you left out that they would stay 1/2 hour later in the afternoon. White will be in Miami so he doesn't care. Look at yet another plan to be announced.

2. There is a GOP female judge who is an active reservist also. Does this rule cited by Kent Smith apply to her also?

The Marion County GOP is toast in the next elections. I'm ashamed to say I helped them get council majority and win the Mayor's race in the last election. They won't be getting my help again.

Bye, Bye, Bayh.

Abdul, it's about time you called a spade a spade about your group of friends….it's cute and warm to have Brizzi and Plowman et al on your Facebook profile but at what point are you going to admit what is so obvious to everyone else? Plowman didn't ask his supervisor to call the Indianapolis Police Department's law firm. No, he refused questions and immediately retained Tim Durham's criminal attorney! How exactly did he afford Jim Voyles? Especially given that he allegedly just bought a house in June 2009 after just being sued by his former mortgage company in May 2008? Nice lifestyle stepup he's had recently.

Don't you find it interesting that all of these buddies of Durham's have lifestyles that have dramatically improved in recent times? On your blog you would discount that as a coincidence.

I ask instead why it is you continue to discount facts instead of being neutral and taking the investigative angle:

1) Why is Buert SerVaas listed as Plowman's biggest contributor?

2) How did Carl Brizzi know to buy tens of thousands of shares in Cellstar and/or CLST Holdings and Red Rock Pictures, both of which were supposed to be worthless stocks? And, why would he get himself on the board of a company, Fair Finance, that CLST Holdings had redirected cash that wasn't supposed to exist to the purchase of millions in receivables from a hedge fund that Fair Finance had borrowed $50 Million dollars from?

Questioning premises like this is what separates a good blogger from a paid buddy. I know you have it in you to be neutral. Step up and do the right thing and restore my faith in the believe that we, as citizens, deserve public integrity.

Dorothy Henry: BOOSTER: Mayor Ballard and the GOP Party. PLUS – Would be extremely loyal to the mayor and the administration. She’s viewed as manageable because her husband is the City’s Director of Human Resources. Articulate yet she’s soft-spoken. Not someone to embarrass herself, the Party or administration. NEGS: May be perceived as an extension of the 25th floor. DEFLATOR: Gary Welsh who really hasn’t found an African-American anywhere he doesn’t have a visceral reaction to with will be vicious and relentless in his attack of her. Don’t be surprise if Tom John doesn’t put his full support behind her. This is an opportunity to replace his guy with his someone he would prefer and would be loyal to him and not the Mayor. ODDS: 2:1

Chris Douglas: BOOSTER: Gary Welsh, (Tom John to a lesser extent), and the Downtown GOP crowd. PLUS: Articulate and successful businessman. He would be the first openly gay Republican to hold a local office. This is Tom John’s preferred candidate which would accomplish two goals- short term give him a subtle counterbalance to Ballard’s power of the local legislative agenda; long-term to systematically displace socially conservative Republicans with more socially moderate elected officials for the local GOP party. NEGS: While perceived by many, as a sharp businessman Chris is a single-issue candidate who wears his sexual orientation on his sleeve. He doesn’t handle verbal confrontation or those who may disagree with him on an issue very well and is known to have very thin skin.
DEFLATOR: Those PC and operative who see Chris as an always-run opportunist (i.e. Marvin Scott) who perpetually seek office without investing in broadband relationship building. And those who would see him not working with the Ballard Administration on key issues. ODDS: 5:1

Aaron Williams: BOOSTER: Deputy Mayor Williams and Mayor Ballard to a lesser extent. While a fresh young face with instant grassroots “street cred” and appeal to youthful voters, Aaron would be a bit of a wildcard for the Ballard administration but a good second choice. Again youthful, charismatic and has the ability to carry a Republican message in areas that are traditionally barren ground. His name on the ticket could create a tremendous opportunity to introduce young voters of all races and ethnic backgrounds to the GOP tent. NEGS: The fact that his father is Deputy Mayor may have some PC cringe at the family ties that are would be established. Some have also questioned his work demeanor and focus. DEFLATOR: Gary Welsh has already started his shots over the bow. As with Dorothy Henry it is hard not to see Gary’s attacks as anything but a thinly disguised bigotry as no one has ever heard or read anything from him that compliments any African-American Republican, Democrat or Independent. Tom John will join in the under the radar whisper campaign as Aaron would not be as controllable for him as a Chris of even Dorothy. ODDS: 3:1

Remember: This is a very important appointment process as GOP has 15 votes; DEMS 13 and the LIB have 1 vote. A wrong pick tips the balance internally in the GOP and could determine who is really running the city.

DARK HORSES:

Gary Welsh Running- 100:1 it is easier to run one's mouth, than for office.

Paul Ogden Running- 50:1 Paul knows the system and rightly or wrongly fears it. If he would enter could throw the race up in the air.

Bayh will be outed as Bye Bye Bayh will work again. When gone will be lobbying in DC as he has no Indiana roots to speak of.

Here's what I don't get: How can anyone who is opposed to an income tax be in support of a Fair Tax? The Fair Tax is nothing more than a replacement for the income tax, only it taxes you even if you don't have an income. And they have the audacity to call it a “fair” tax?

Someone needs to get over the daily IPS bashing. Sounds like someone's upset they didn't land a job there or something. By the way, the teachers might do the “miniumum” 180 days however the intsructional DAY is the longest anywhere. Typical one-sided reporting.

Perhaps IPS shouldn't make themselves so ridiculously EASY to bash.

Mule–who told you IPS's school day is longest? Not by a long shot.

Precinct committeepersons are not obligated to resign if they run for a Caucus-filled position. In fact, it'd be stupid NOT to vote for yourself.

I'm still pulling for Aaron. :-) Maybe his dad can campaign for him next year. A lot. All over town.

I haven't heard Aaron speak for awhile, but he shows up for media events whenever he can. And the last time he did speak, let's just say he's inherited his dad's gift for garbled gab.

I think he means in relation to the FBI going to IMPD.

Just to be clear, for me personally the FairTax is my 2nd favorite tax reform idea (the first being eliminating all taxes on productive labor/income [since this constitutes involuntary servitude] and replace it with nothing)

BUT…

The FairTax would move us from an involuntary, forced system to a more voluntary one.
It excludes used goods.
It completely untaxes education.
Spreads the tax base to include tourists, undocumented workers and drug dealers
Taxes consumption vs. productivity
Encourages conservation and reuse of existing resources/items
Tax adjusts exports to make U.S. manufacturing more competitive with foreign nations (we currently are barred from doing that)
Eliminates need to file taxes (and all of the burdensome paperwork and record keeping) for citizens
Eliminates “hidden taxes” buried in the cost of all items we purchase
Eliminates $250 to $500 billion in “compliance costs” that are an anchor on the economy
Allows businesses to make “business decisions” instead of “tax decisions”
Gets rid of taxes on “phantom income” (making money on paper when you never actually see any cash – but have to pay taxes on the “phantom income” anyway)
Untaxes savings and investment until such are spent (easier and quicker to save for retirement, a new car, a new house, to start a business)
Eliminates disparity between eating 100% of losses but only realizing 50 to 70% of profits.
Would make the U.S. a tax haven for foreign investment and much more attractive for businesses and factories to be headquartered here
Gets rid the 2nd highest corporate income tax in the developed world (which we all pay in the prices of things we buy).

Basically. It would take some of the brakes off the economy, make taxes much more transparent so everyone knew what they REALLY were paying (it'd be on the receipts instead of buried in 10 different places) and encourage investment in America instead of abroad.

That used to be the case, but it's no longer true. They got smart. The tax code was modified on Jan 5, 2009 to include the following:

(3) Personal services
Compensation for labor or personal services performed in the United States; except that compensation for labor or services performed in the United States shall not be deemed to be income from sources within the United States if—
(A) the labor or services are performed by a nonresident alien individual temporarily present in the United States for a period or periods not exceeding a total of 90 days during the taxable year,
(B) such compensation does not exceed $3,000 in the aggregate, and
(C) the compensation is for labor or services performed as an employee of or under a contract with—
(i) a nonresident alien, foreign partnership, or foreign corporation, not engaged in trade or business within the United States, or
(ii) an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States, a domestic partnership, or a domestic corporation, if such labor or services are performed for an office or place of business maintained in a foreign country or in a possession of the United States by such individual, partnership, or corporation.
In addition, compensation for labor or services performed in the United States shall not be deemed to be income from sources within the United States if the labor or services are performed by a nonresident alien individual in connection with the individual’s temporary presence in the United States as a regular member of the crew of a foreign vessel engaged in transportation between the United States and a foreign country or a possession of the United States.

Follow this link and select Section 861:

http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/26/usc_sup_0…

I suspect that there was very little attention paid to the change because there would possibly be about 100 million taxpayers demanding to know why they've had to pay for all these years when it wasn't a code requirement.

But here's the bigger issue: If this change was made to the code, what legislation drove the change? All law must be approved by the Legislative Branch. I'd love to see what Bill contained this line item.

…or was it even contained in a Bill? Does anyone know that answer?

I didn't say 'gross income'. I said 'income'.