More Taxes...Gasoline

Seated Left to R...Ron "Wishy washy " Grooms
Steve Stemler, and Jim Smith

Indiana lawmakers (Ind. house) are proposing a $.10 a gallon increase on the current tax on gasoline. These political representatives are citing a need to improve and maintain the streets, roads and highway infrastructure as justification for the increase.

Just as the price of gasoline has somewhat stabilized to more acceptable levels for consumers... lawmakers want to squeeze more out of Indiana residents. This tax which may not seem like a lot but adds quite a bit over a year of traveling and along with the ridiculous tolls on area bridges, throws added costs on area residents to just get back and forth to work and do business.

Three local lawmakers met Saturday in a town hall meeting in Jeffersonville Steve Stemler (D) Ron "Wishy washy" Grooms(R) and Jim Smith(R)  discussed the proposed tax increase.... Stemler was the only one to speak firmly against the  increase, "Wishy washy"Grooms was as usual non committal one way or another which probably means he will vote FOR the Rep. sponsored bill. Smith was non committal as well.

The GOP dominates the state government so look forward for the Rep. backed bill to become law and  local drivers and commuters (especially locals) already burdened with bridge tolls will take another one in the ASS !!!

Who's Going To Fill His Shoes ???

After the resignation of disgraced Mike Popplewell (R) from the Clark Co. council, the question being asked here and elsewhere is.... Who will replace Popplewell on the council ???

 GOP county chair Jamey Noel and Matt "Lapdog" Owen we assume were too busy in Washington D.C. celebrating Donald Trump's inauguration to caucus republicans to fill the opening on the council recently. This delay has rumors flying.... the most prominent is that current 2nd Dist. councilman Brian Lenfert will slide into the vacant at-large seat and his 2nd Dist. slot would then have to caucused in. The BatBlog assumes this move must be legal but wonders about the ethics of such a move IF this is more than just a rumor.

 The "ethical" thing in our opinion considering the circumstances would be to seat Joe Hubbard (D) the next highest vote getter in the recent election....but that won't happen. Hubbard is a Dem.and this as it stands now is a GOP seat and ethics have no place in politics, The next "logical" choice would be the Republican. who received the next highest vote total in the at-large election Doug Reiter, but logic rarely applies to politics either.

More than likely a candidate with ties to or favorable to Clark Co. republican chair Noel will get the nod. The caucus made up of precinct committeemen is stacked with Noel supporters and any caucus will more than likely be a rubber stamp for Noel's choice.

A anon. reader also posted a rumor that a prominent former Dem.who switched to the GOP will be the choice...he did not give a name. So the question remains "Who's going to fill his shoes???"

The Women's March

 

Unlike the various protesters that tried to disrupt Donald Trump's inauguration the Women's March this past weekend was done with class, determination and to send a strong message to the president. Millions of women in various locations across the nation and world peacefully assembled to remind president Trump and everyone their concerns on issues concerning women that may not be in line with Trumps future agenda.

 Every woman had their own reason for participating and exercising their right to peaceful protest. Some were protesting the president  himself while others joined in for the solidarity of equal rights and other woman issues. For whatever reason congratulations for a well organized, peaceful protest  sending a strong message to politicians and the whole world....

 You go Girls !!!!

Donald J. Trump...President

   I doubt a year ago anyone even "The Donald" himself could even imagine that he would be sworn in today as President of the United States. The guy with the funny looking hair that no one really took seriously is unbelievably POTUS. Shocking the world with a message of divisive rhetoric, promises, and change, Trump now takes over with the chance to prove his critics wrong and unite a country that has never been so far apart ideologically.

 Trump with his divisiveness throughout his whole campaign  the primaries and general election has created a situation that will make it difficult for him to bring this nation together and actually do what he says he can do and  accomplish what he promised his supporters.

America has always been great so it's hard to imagine where Trump is coming from in his "make America great again" message. The BatBlog will though give "The Donald" every chance to prove himself  and show he has what it takes and improves some of the problems in the U.S. that need to be addressed.

Better paying jobs, rising medical costs and health insurance, national security, immigration are just a few of the things Trump has promised to make better and "great again."  A very tall order for an ever changing world economy and a diverse demographic population.

Trump has splintered himself with his words at times from women, Hispanics, Muslims, Mexicans. the media all of which are going to need substantial proof that he will be president to all Americans , not just those who elected him...

He has a lot of work to do as he starts out as the most divisive, least popular in votes and favorability in the history of presidential politics. There will be a lot of the same Democrats that were refused by the GOP who will now refuse to work and compromise with Trump the Rep. president...

The Donald "drained the swamp" as he promised but filled it right back up again with cronies and billionaires who have to prove themselves as educated enough, concerned and dedicated to make things better for everyone all Americans....Let's see what you can do President Trump...

A Good Cyber Friend....RiverFox

A very intelligent , wise man and cyber friend  has posted this  here and on the CCC . I will let the post speak for itself and will abide by Riverfox's wishes...I will only say even though I have never met him personally it's an honor to have met and to know him through this medium...

This is a post that I think I need to make. Over the years we have lost a few good people
and they just seemed to disappear. I don't want anyone to wonder or speculate.
So here it is … my last post.

Recently I have been informed that I won't be around much longer. Yeah … that kinda sux.
(don't get all weepy and $h|t. Everybody has this one coming eventually)
I now have a lot to do in an unknown time frame so I don't have time to do this anymore.
The only thing I see as different is that now you will all have to do your own research.
(not that many of you actually give a rat's @$$ since you prefer to accept rhetoric,
propaganda, and, recently, outright lies to actual facts) 

I thought about making this some kind of platform to rail against the ignorant but decided
that would be a waste of time and energy. I'll only say this to the ideologues, party people,
and other dogmatic types: At least TRY to think for yourselves. Don't accept things just
because they agree with your particular world view. Most such world views are delusional.
If someone tells you that they have "the truth" or that "it is really very simple" they are
probably lying. (even if they are lying to themselves as well)

I wasn't going to name names but there is one that I need to. That would be Quasar.
Over the years this forum has drifted further and further to the right. I've accepted that.
Quasar is a bit to the right of conservative and posts from some very questionable sources.
We have had some serious disagreements and usually don't agree in the end but he has
always been fair in his dealings with me. (I can't speak for anyone else, however)
The future of this forum seems to be in question at the moment. I hope that if this place
goes down it can be replaced (at least the Jeffersonville & Clark County sections)
We have done some meaningful things here over the years using this platform.

I'll be asking Quasar to lock down this thread. There is nothing here for discussion.

If you want to respect my wishes then please refrain from posting here.
(that includes goodbyes, sympathy, condolences or whatever else)

I've sorta enjoyed it.
Best of luck, 
RiverFox 

Wanna Play a Game of Chicken ???

  If you love a good game of  "chicken" where you see who is the first one to flinch or give in ...try the Hwy. 62 roundabout heading toward Amazon and River Ridge. It's about as challenging and exciting place as there is in Clark Co.

 This roundabout has been controversial from the start due to many accidents and the complexity of the many roads and highways that feed into this area. That along with the inexperience of local drivers navigating roundabouts (which are fairly new to this area) that make travelling through this one a harrowing experience at times.

The BatBlog actually likes the concept of a roundabout as it keeps traffic moving for the most part pretty smoothly. As we see it the major problem is the drivers  through lack of knowledge of how these intersections operate and the newness of it. It is understandable the confusion when entering this area for the first time as there are so many options and different routes available. Until drivers become more savvy and remember to always yield it makes for an exciting game of "Chicken"....

What happened to the Gateway Project ???

Just wondering about the 10th St. Gateway Project into Jeffersonville ??? Doesn't seem to be much going on in the area that was to include a new hotel, restaurants and retail shops in the entry corridor to the City...

Is it still in negotiations ??? Did the plan fall through ??? Just curious as The BatBlog thought a developer had been chosen in 2015...

Popplewell ...Cover Up and Conspiracy ????

 

A reader in a earlier thread has chastised The BatBlog and one of our readers (Mr. Gray) for spreading "conspiracy theory" rumors in last week's story on Mike Popplewell. First of all The BatBlog has no idea whether or not a cover up or a conspiracy was in place in an attempt to protect the integrity and embarrassment of those involved... including the Clarksville Police Dept. and chief, Sheriff and GOP party chair Jamey Noel as well as Clark Co. prosecutor Jeremy Mull. While there is no proof that any cover up exists, the circumstances, the timing of , and the way all of this came down is rather peculiar.

 They're had been rumors but no official announcement by the CPD about Popplewell's alleged transgressions involving a credit card even before the election where Popplewell was elected to the Clark Co. council. Most odd though was the way Popplewell's latest alleged theft from Walmart was announced and handled ...not by the CPD or any law enforcement agency but through e-mails from the town council attorney to council members.

 It was reported and also doesn't it seem strange that supposedly Walmart wouldn't press charges if Popplewell resigned from the CPD. Since when does Walmart dictate policy and disciplinary action for the Clarksville police department and or the Clark Co. prosecutor ??? Shouldn't this have been announced and handled by the department chief or sheriff's dept., or immediately turned over to the county prosecutor ???

 In the meantime while this was all quietly going on ...Popplewell was sworn into his seat on the county council as if nothing had ever happened. Only after the Indiana State police looked into this was charges brought down by Jereny Mull Clark co. prosecutor this past week.

Popplewell's attorney Larry Wilder told WHAS-11 News "  he and I are both hopeful that he will not be treated any differently than any other citizen in Clark County that has stumbled as he has. "  That statement in itself is a joke...any ordinary citizen would have been arrested and charged on the spot and more than likely jailed. Wilder's client seems to us to have gotten preferential treatment because he was a police officer and a cover up that may have happened.

In conclusion, until their is a complete investigation of all parties involved and the facts come completely out, it is reasonable to believe by the way things happened that there may have been a cover up and conspiracy to protect those involved...

 If it walks like a duck, talks like a duck ...it's usually a duck or in this case a cover up...if it occurred (cover up) how deep it goes and who was involved ??? That remains to be seen....Stay Tuned.

The Bridges Project

After years of waiting and wondering the Ky.-In.Bridges Project is finally done and it is a welcome, needed and finely crafted addition to our area. Traffic had become horrendous crossing the Kennedy bridge before the two new bridges were constructed and while there are still some kinks and a learning curve to get used to , the overall project appears to be well designed and well built. The project should only enhance the expotential growth we have seen lately here locally.

The only down side is now paying for it... which means tolling. The tolling seems a little unfair especially paying a toll on a 40 year old bridge  (Kennedy) and one wonders what the added cost of collecting tolls will be passed on to the commuters...and what will be the effect on businesses. As for myself being mostly retired and not in any hurry to get anywhere I will on most occasions might just use the old Clark bridge regularly...

One final complaint the names...Lincoln and Lewis and Clark have been used to death. Hell there already is a lewis and Clark bridge in Oregon... How about something new and original ??? Its kind of sad that neither state has someone who has distinguished themselves lately to have a bridge named after them...making us go back nearly 200 years for Abraham Lincoln and Lewis & Clark... What about the Birch Bayh Bridge ??? for the distinguished and popular Indiana Senator (circa 1970's) but then again he was a Democrat...oh well...