The jury was out on this for about a year. We were the jury, Americans like you and me.
But the jury is no longer deliberating. We have a slew of reasons for why all the incumbents should be dumped (a few of them being inaction on the Iraq war, single-payer healthcare, NAFTA, PATRIOT Act, global warming, and especially the impeachment of Cheney then Bush).
Yet, sadly, the Democratic Party that is on the rise in Indiana sees no need to put up any primary challengers at all.
Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid made claims that they would hold the Bush administration accountable. Unless you suffer from mental retardation, you should find it laughable that Pelosi or Reid might still think they have been holding the Bush administration accountable since taking office after the 2006 election.
That part is laughable, but what is not, is that the consequences of two leaders putting on this charade means troops die, Americans die from lack of healthcare, Americans lose jobs from free trade expansion, Americans are illegally wiretapped under the PATRIOT Act, the planet inches closer to the point where we will not be able to save it, and our country continues to give more to the Executive Branch, which will not be good for the future of government in America when considering how we have a history of relying on checks and balances in the legislative, executive, and judicial branch.
What is not laughable is that anywhere between 200 and 230 House members and anywhere between 30 and 50 Senators who are Democrats participate and play along with this charade on a daily basis to the point where it cannot be allowed to go on any longer.
So, why are there no primary challengers? Why is Indiana just one of many states I presume not wanting to dump Democratic incumbents who have failed?
That’s a loaded question because I know. And you know. We all know that the Democratic Leadership would never want to go on a hunt in their party to get rid of Democrats who are inadequate because the Democratic Party now stands for those inadequate positions. The presidential election under way only proves being inadequate (weak, spineless, hapless, gutless) as a Democrat is perfectly fine so long as votes are being won (or the Democratic base is enthusiastic).
I refuse to settle for inadequacy like the Democratic Leadership has. I believe I have made that clear in previous articles and I will make it crystal clear again in this one.
Joe Donnelly, my representative and a congressman for Indiana’s 2nd District, is dangerously inadequate in all the ways spoken of up above. He refuses to pursue impeachment. He voted for the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Bill (and probably has no clue what that entails). He has voted for whatever money the president wants. He has rubberstamped the Democratic Leadership but moreover, he has virtually wound up rubberstamping Bush just as much as former Republican Congressman Chris Chocola used to.
Joe Donnelly also has close ties to Steny Hoyer. It is reasonable to presume that this freshman Democrat that just won his first term in 2006 is looking to make a career out of politics that emulates Mr. Hoyer. That’s unfortunate and cannot be allowed.
Are there any Indiana progressive leaders out there willing to step up and challenge Joe? Is there anybody out there who knows any Indiana progressive leaders willing to confront Joe for being such a yes man?
The inadequacies are not limited to Donnelly. As I read through this list of people up for reelection in Indiana, I am stunned. Because not only does it show that nobody is challenging Democratic incumbents in the primaries, it also shows that we are unwilling to put up somebody to challenge Republican Mike Pence. While Pete Visclosky, Joe Donnelly, Brad Ellsworth, and Baron Hill have got to be challenged, Americans must fight to remove Mike Pence from power.
Mike Pence’s congressional seat is a seat waiting to be won. Pence voted against S-CHIP this year. He voted to expand FISA. He voted against reducing the number of troops in Iraq at least three times (this occurred when Democrats were claiming they would end the war now). He voted against a bill to lower interest rates on student loans. He voted against a bill to allow the government to negotiate directly with drug makers for lower prescription drug prices for individuals using Medicare.
There is more worth knowing (for one people may find he is a lot like Mike Huckabee), but I will stop there.
I could beat Mike Pence. Not only could I beat him, but I could also run in District 5 and beat either of the Republicans running based on the fact that I would be upset and angry that the Indiana Democratic Party had not put up anybody to challenge Republicans in that district.
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