As anyone who knows me is fully aware I am in the precarious position of having ties to Chicago and Indianapolis. I grew up in Chicago and currently work in Indianapolis. I also have ties to St. Louis and Seattle, but neither city has a team in the Super Bowl so they don’t count.

Whenever someone asks me, who do I cheer for in this year’s Super Bowl, I politely pull up some analogy like, “that’s like asking me to choose between my wife and my girlfriend” or “that’s like asking Stevie Wonder what’s his favorite color?” There is no good answer. Based on what I’ve been able to piece together (granted I am the most sports illiterate person you will find) the odds on favorite are the Colts. Overall, Peyton Manning and his team are better than Rex Grossman and his Bears. I don’t dispute what the experts say, but I caution my Indianapolis friends to never underestimate the power of a Chicago team to win despite their best efforts.

I won’t get into the “trash talk” of Indianapolis versus Chicago. But if you ask me personally, in Chicago there is no township government, there is no Monroe Gray, there is no $450 million in unfunded pension debt and last year crime was at a 15-year low. I don’t know if I could say the same for here. Of course I am in Indianapolis, so that gives the city an unfair advantage over the Windy City.

So what’s a person with strong ties to both sides of I-65 to do? Easy, may the best team win. Besides, the White Sox already won the World Series so I am a happy camper.

C’mon, what did you expect me to say, honestly?

While making some vague attempt to exercise yesterday, I ran into a political friend of mine. We talked about the usual stuff, local matters, a state-related proposal or two and a national issue. We were wrapping up our conversation when a he mentioned to me a Democratic-elected official who commented to him that “I don’t know if could be in the same room with Abdul, he hates Democrats!”

My friend was surprised at the statement and asked the official why they thought I hated Democrats? The official told them I was always beating up Democrats on my show when it came to crime and the city’s finances. My buddy to his credit asked the best question, “Was he wrong or did he ever lie?” The official sat there quietly after that.

There is a perception out there in some Marion County democratic circles that I hate Democrats and love Republicans. They are half right. I like and dislike some Democrats and like and dislike some Republicans. There are Democrats in this town I would go to the wall for and some Republicans I would line up against, and vice versa.

If it seems I’ve been hard on Marion County Democrats lately it’s because they’ve dropping the ball lately; crime, the budget, asking for 75-percent raises, personal behavior etc. But more importantly they are in charge! As they proudly stated at their slating meeting last Saturday, they control all but one countywide office. And as Peter Parker says, “with great power comes great responsibility.” And this is the price of leadership when you’re in charge.

It is interesting to note that a couple years ago when I was, and still am, the biggest proponent of consolidation and the human rights ordinance I was the Democrats’ hero and was referred to by a very prominent county Republican as a “pimple on an elephant’s ass.” So the more things change, the more they stay the same.

My job I to keep people honest, give credit where it is due and scorn where it is appropriate. If some people think they’ve been feeling a lot of heat lately, then maybe they should check what they’re cooking in the kitchen.

Bil Browning, the managing editor of Bilerico.com was on our show today talking about his campaign to dig up dirt and “moral lapses” regarding Indiana lawmakers who support SJR-7, a proposed amendment to the Indiana Constitution that would ban gay marriage and conferring rights to unmarried couples or same-sex couples.

Browning said he is launching the campaign because it is an attack on his family. He said he would only print what he can confirm and will not simply write about “youthful indiscretions.” But what I call as “skeletons in the closet that still have flesh on them.”

This has the potential to get real ugly and retaliatory and devolve into something I’m not quite sure Hoosiers are ready for. But like I said in a previous post, it will still be interesting to watch.

Republican State Senator Jim Merritt of Indianapolis says he’s still thinking about running for Mayor. He says he’ll make up his mind soon. He says crime is an important issue and thinks the new Metropolitan Police department should be under the control of the Mayor, not the Sheriff. And despite Mayor Bart Peterson’s $2.5 million war chest, Merritt says he thinks the race is winnable.

A battle is getting ready to brew in the Indiana General Assembly, but it’s not one that you will see on the floor. It is one that if fought as intense as I think it will be, there will be a lot of personal, private and potentially embarrassing information “coming out” about some Indiana lawmakers.

The fight concerns SJR-7, an amendment to the Indiana Constitution that would limit marriages to one man and one woman and prohibit the state from concerning the rights of married couples to same sex couples and other unmarried couples. I personally don’t see the need for this and in fact have never had a problem with gay marriage. However, individuals who are more culturally conservative than I am do. I respectfully disagree.

But what will be interesting to watch is if the forces of the far right go forward, they may see their personal lives put on display. Already at Advance Indiana, operated by Gary Welsh, there is a repeat of a story regarding pro-life Sen. Brandt Hershman featuring allegations by his ex-wife that he forced her to have an abortion in 1997. Hershman called the allegations “dirty politics.”

Hershman’s story is but one of a potential many. At Bilerico, a blog run by Bil Browning names, without naming, quite a bit or dirty laundry. And it is calling on readers to offer up anything else. It will be interesting to see who gets named.

After more than two years in the Statehouse, I’ve heard quite a few stories about lawmakers whose personal lives would run contrary to public statements they’ve made about morality and values. Most the rumor I have kept at just that, rumor.

But now the situation is about to escalate. And it will not be just a Republican issue either. There are Democrats with potential skeletons as well. Regardless of the outcome, this is not going to pretty, but it will be something worth watching.

The President will give his State of the Union address tonight. The pundits and newsmakers say it is important because this will be his first State of the Union with a Democratic-controlled Congress.

Although the speech is important, I don’t think many people will take it seriously or pay much attention to it. Look at the facts. He’s a lame duck. The President is at 33-percent approval rating, the lowest since Richard Nixon. More Republicans Senators are expressing opposition to troop increases in Iraq. There were 25 American troops killed over the weekend in Iraq as well as 100 civilians. And everybody and his mother want to be President.

This is not to say the Presidency is irrelevant. The Commander-in-Chief wields a lot of power and has a bully pulpit that can easily capture the attention of the American people. What I wonder though is when the President talks tonight, will anyone listen?

Although 99% of Central Indiana was paying attention to the Colts, some of us are dorks and still followed the goings on of local government.

In the past few days both Democrats Sherron Franklin and Jackie Nytes have both sent out formal word that they are running for re-election for their Council seats. It looks there will be some in-fighting to fill the spot over the seat of outgoing Council Minority leader Phil Borst.

Former Deputy Mayor Mike O’Connor was slated this weekend to take over from Ed Tracey as the new head of the Marion County Democratic Party. Meanwhile, GOP activist and sometimes Congressional Candidate Bob Croddy sent out an e-mail talking about his intent to run for chairman of the Marion County Republicans. He also took a swipe at the current front-runner for the job, Tom John.

Speaking of Mayor, veteran Warren Township firefighter, and Republican, Darrell Morris is announcing he’s running for Mayor. He did a lot of work with the townships trying to draw up an alternative to the Mayor’s Indy Works Consolidation plan. Sen. Jim Merritt has sent out a couple news releases pushing truth-in-sentencing legislation and the franchising of the state lottery as a way to tackle Indiana’s “brain drain.” Still no word yet on whether Jim will run for Mayor.

The Justice Department was back in town this past week following up on officer complaints of racial discrimination as well as working with the city over its current consent decree regarding racial hiring. . And Indy’s three main bloggers devoted quite a bit of space this weekend to a man in a chicken suit. See, there was something going on other than AFC Championship game.

I’m hearing a couple things through my very reliable sources network…

First, State Senator Jim Merritt (R-Indianapolis) is being named as a possible contender for Mayor of Indianapolis. Sources close to Merritt say he’s honored to be considered, but considers himself more a Senator. Keep an eye out on this one.

A complaint may be filed soon against a prominent Marion County elected official for racial discrimination and dropping the N-word. Details soon.

Anyone who has ever had to deal with the homeless in Indianapolis’ Downtown area know what a nuisance many of them are; whether it is the persistent and rather aggressive panhandling, their lying on the sidewalk or congregating in clusters. If you are ever approached by one, and your nose will tell if they are nearby, and they ask for money, do not be surprised that once you tell them no, they will ask you why?

Many of these homeless need to be committed into institutions, but since that likely won’t happen, a New York art dealer might actually have the answer. Sue them!

The New York Sun is reporting Karl Kemp, a high-end antique art dealer on the city’s Upper East Side, is suing four unnamed homeless people for $1 million on the grounds that their loitering has driven away customers.

The complaint goes on to say the homeless have spent “significant amounts of time” obstructing Karl Kemp’s storefront window display, “consuming alcoholic beverages from open bottles, performing various bodily functions such as urinating or spitting on the sidewalk, and…verbally harassing or intimidating… prospective customers.”

That sounds a lot like the ones in Indianapolis. Maybe one of the downtown businesses and establishments should file a suit. Or better yet, buy the places where they hang out and sue them to get them to go somewhere else.

Then again, we could change our laws and re-institutionalize them so they can get the care they need. The roof of a mental institution has got to beat that of a cardboard box.

Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels is extending a hand and an olive branch to Indiana lawmakers tonight as he unveiled his third state of the state address. In the 30-minute speech the Governor intermixed a relatively new agenda with newer themes of cooperation. “Cooperation is always the best way,” Daniels said in his address.

Between November 8 and December 20, the Governor unveiled his plans for full-day kindergarten, creating the Illiana Expressway and Commerce Connectors, health insurance for Hoosiers and turning the Lottery management to a private company. Most of which was met with mixed reaction from lawmakers.

Daniels did admit in his speech he learned a few things from the last two years in office. “The cooperation that has eluded us on most occasions is now the only alternative to stalemate and paralysis. If I too often did not find the words to bring it about, I will have to do better, and find them now.” Aides to the Governor did not say he was telling lawmakers he was “sorry” but as much recognizing the new political dynamic of the legislature.

Although Indiana lawmakers are stressing property tax relief as one of their big items, the Governor’s address only dedicated six lines to the subject. Daniels’ aides say there was no need for Governor to go into extensive detail about the subject as he talked about it before and there were a number of plans on the table to give local governments more options to raise revenue and provide Hoosiers with property tax relief.

Reaction to the Governor’s speech was somewhat mixed.

State Representative David Crooks (D-Washington) said he was pleased with the Governor’s bi-partisan tone. However, Vi-Simpson (D-Bloomington) noted, “the Governor has been talking about a canoe, but instead he’s been using a one-man kayak.” Jeff Espich (R-Uniondale) said he liked the tone of the speech, while Thresea Lubbers
(R-Indianapolis), who will sponsor the Governor’s Full Day Kindergarten plan, said the Governor and proponents of FDK will have a selling job on their hands.” Libertarian Mike Kole says the Governor invokes the name of Reagan, but looks to government as the answer to problems, something Reagan would not do.

Mike Edmundson, Executive Director of the Indiana Democratic Party said, “if he’s serious, we’re there as a willing partner, but time will tell if he will be a consensus builder.” “If they don’t like the Governor’s suggestions, we welcome the suggestions from our Democratic friends,” noted Jen Hallowell, Executive Director of the Indiana Republican Party.

In his inaugural address, Daniels alluded to building a barn as an analogy to call for Hoosiers to work together; in his third address he used a canoe. “Paddled on one side only, it just turns in circles. If either side chooses to dig in its paddle stubbornly enough, it can tip the boat over. But with a common heading, and a shared effort, the canoe can be the fastest boat in the water.”