Can Democrats Rise in State Races ???

It looks like Democrats have a real shot in 2016 of claiming some state races that have been held exclusively by the GOP in recent history. Namely the Governor, Senate and the 9th dist. House of Rep. seats.

 John Gregg (D) who gave Mike Pence a run for his money in 2012 has a good chance of claiming the governor's house for the first time in over a decade against last minute replacement candidate (R)  Eric Holcomb. It isn't a sure thing for Gregg in the predominately leaning Rep. state of Indiana, but chances are better than in recent memory for a Dem. victory.

  Chances are even better in the U.S. Senate seat in Indiana where the popular and politically successful Evan Bayh returns to try and grab the seat held now by the GOP. Bayh and his father Birch have always been popular with voters in the state and very successful over the years. Evan Bayh has been a two term governor and senator in the state of Indiana and should defeat opponent Todd Young (R) currently Representative in Indiana's 9th district...

 In the 9th Dist. U.S. House seat Shelli Yoder (D) faces Trey (Tennessee Trey) Hollingsworth (R) the millionaire businessman who in a controversial move relocated to Indiana just to run for Congress. Local resident Russell Brooksbank a Libertarian is also in the race but shouldn't be a factor.The move  to relocate by Hollingsworth should be enough to put Ms. Yoder over the top. It's hard to believe that local Hoosiers will want a rich outsider to represent them against the native Yoder.... political leanings non withstanding...

 The BatBlog strongly endorses all three Democrats and looks for all three to do well in their respective races, especially Evan Bayh who is a proven winner and leader in the Hoosier state...

They're Baaaack !!!

 Frick and Frack, Moan and Groan, Beavis and Butthead or Flush and Float or whatever you want to call them. The two biggest local whiners and crybabies are back on the Clark Co. Chatter. NHBSM and Kruger after an extended absence following Mike Moore's resounding re-election...  return to take some cheap pot shots at the mayor after slithering away with egg firmly planted on their faces after supporting Moore's opponent Dennis Julius in the 2015 mayoral election.

  There is nothing wrong with opposing policy of office holders or choosing to support the candidate of one's choice...but Flush and Float take it to a whole other personal and juvenile level. Like NHBSM's silly childlike refusal to put Moore's name in capital letters and Krueger's whining about his delusion of imaginary slush funds.

 Most readers realize the whining and petty shots are an attempt to get back at the mayor after he (Moore) unceremoniously fired Flush (NHBSM) but readers are mostly just amused by their childish rants and pay little attention to these two grumpy old men. As the results of the election proved Moore is popular and taken Jeffersonville to new levels developmentally and growth wise...

 Keep on whining Moan and Groan you make for good blogging material...

Clark County Coroner's Race

  Clark Co. residents will elect a new coroner this November. The race includes former coroner Edwin Coots (D) , Billy Scott (R) and Libertarian candidate Kelli Khuri. The coroner position over the years has been held by several members of the Coot's family who have served admirably and with class. That's why The BatBlog endorses Edwin Coots for the position in this years election.

 While the coroner position is mostly administrative it  typically is held by local funeral directors and Mr. Scott and Mr. Coots are both in that field. Nothing against Ms. Khuri as she did a fine job as a county council member, but The BatBlog feels she would be better as a different public servant other than coroner.

 All of the candidates we feel would do an excellent job we just feel Mr. Coot's experience and tradition give him an edge. The strong showings recently of the GOP party here locally could make this a close race...but Coots should win

Stick a Fork in Him....He's Done...

Clark Co. Council Race

 Clark Co. residents will elect three council at large seats on Election day 2016. Three candidates from the Dem, Rep. and the Libertarian parties will vie for the seats on the council. The candidates include two current  Democratic council members Kevin Vissing and Joe Hubbard running for re-election.

 With the current financial situation facing Clark Co. these council positions are important positions to fill,  as the council is the fiscal body of county government and guardians of our tax dollars. The BatBlog believes both incumbent candidates (Vissing and Hubbard) deserve and have earned re-election. Their experience and time spent handling budget concerns in their first term gives them an advantage over the other candidates. This current council has for the most part done an excellent job handling the budget crunch the past few years.

 The BatBlog's other endorsement goes to Libertarian candidate Kelley Curran. Ms. Curran has been active locally in the community for several years and has shown the kind of interest, intelligence and caring of community that would make her an excellent councilperson. Kelley will have a difficult battle ahead as Libertarian Party hasn't reached the prominence or the financial backing enjoyed by the two major parties.

 The influx of domination by the GOP here in the county recently will make the Republican candidates tough competition for all three seats and these could be close races across the board, The BatBlog believes in the best interest of all Clark Countians Kevin Vissing, Joe Hubbard , and Kelley Curran are the right choices for the these county council positions...

Be sure to Vote !!! and vote for Kevin , Joe and Kelley...

BatBlog Hacked by Putin and the Libertarians

The "Award Winning" BatBlog and BatPoll has been hacked by the Russians and Libertarians... in what looks like a consorted effort to swing the upcoming elections. Our sources say Vladimir Putin and an unnamed Libertarian operative have leaked the hacking to WikiLeaks for world wide attention. The BatBlog takes this very serious and our IT Dept. is researching whether the BatBlog e-mail account has also been compromised...it appears that over 25,000 deleted e-mails from a private server may be in the hands of Putin and the Libertarian operative...Stay Tuned...

Trump Supporters in Serious Denial...

Not all but a lot of Donald Trump supporters are in serious denial, as one by one women are coming forward with serious charges of sexual improprieties and assaults over many years. The released video tape and subsequent dismissal by Trump as his behavior as just being "locker room " talk has incited more and more women to come out to the public with their salacious stories.

 While some prominent GOP members and leaders have dis-endorsed  The Donald , the big majority of his supporters are standing behind their candidate even as these accusations are nearing Bill Cosby like proportions. Trump's comments  in the video tape and others made on the Howard Stern radio show have exposed Donald as nothing more than a sexual predator, a real sleaze bag, and hypocrite.

 While it's true these incidents are a he said / she said type situations...none of these women appear to be looking for anything other than getting their story out after Trump's boastful comments and denials. The women and their stories appear to have a real sense of credibility and truth to them. Which makes it even more astonishing that most of his supporter's including many top GOP leaders still support him . Kudos to John Kasich, Jeb and Georges Bush, John McCain  among others (but still a minority) that had the good sense to save face and realize just who and what Trump is...

There is a serious case of denial going on among the Trumpster's, as they squirm daily awaiting the next exposed incident by other accusers, Sexual misconduct and indiscretions aren't new to presidents and politicians, there is a sordid history of other occurrences of office holders and candidates of both parties. Character does matter though and Trump's has proven he has neither the character, temperament or smarts to be president.

 Trump has probably sealed his fate of any chance of winning the presidency and exposed himself as the hypocrite, phony and liar he really is...he needs to slither away from the American political life and back into Trump tower where he belongs and stay there for good....

Michelle Obama...The Closer

 No matter what your politics are or how much you might detest Barrack, you have to admit Michelle Obama is one of the classiest first ladies this nation has ever seen...

The 2016 Election Bat Poll

The highly accurate and always interesting BatPoll is up for the 2016 Election. Highlighted by the controversial and contemptuous presidential race ...this should be an exciting election cycle. Democrats have an opportunity to gain seats in the Senate, House and Governor that have been held by the GOP in recent years...

Tell your friends and relatives and be sure to vote in the "Award Winning" BatBlog's  2016 BatPoll.





VOTE HERE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->

BatBlog's Election 2016 Coverage...

 The "Award winning " BatBlog will once again provide coverage, endorsements, predictions and the highly accurate BatPoll for Election 2016. National , state and local races will be covered in depth. The BatBlog looks forward to you the reader's input as we analyze this years coming election in what has already been a contemptuous  campaign cycle. Whether you are Dem., Rep., Libertarian or just don't care be sure to vote and stayed tuned in the coming weeks to The BatBlog for all the coverage and stories....And always "Remain Vigilant my friends"....

Barrack Obama's Legacy...

  Contrary to what the somewhat delusional far right wingnuts would have you believe, Barrack Obama's presidency has been mostly a success and a positive for the American people. A lot of people forget how bad the situation was eight years ago when Obama inherited the mess left by George W. Bush.

 Battling a divisive, hostile Congress and Senate from day one, Obama's policies and leadership have led America from a nearly disastrous depression and scary times to a promising future for the United States of America. There is still work to do and Obama hasn't been that shining, great unifier that many expected but all in all Americans are much better  off after the Obama tenure as president.

 
Unemployment is down, the stock market has recovered, prices especially fuel (gas) have dropped from record highs, and the housing market has recovered from an unprecedented downturn. The A.C.A. (Obamacare) is still a work in progress and the outcome is still in doubt...but for some (uninsured and those with preexisting medical conditions) it has been a life changer and success.

 The delusions promoted by the wingnuts that Obama would confiscate firearms were just that... delusions. While he has promoted stricter gun control and background checks any confiscation was just a myth that the right perpetuated in an attempt to scare a certain section of the uneducated electorate...The same with ACA the right claims medical costs have soared under Obamacare...the costs were soaring before ACA and regardless will rise in the future. This is a problem moving forward with as of yet no answer. The negatives of ACA are offset by the millions once ineligible that now are able to get healthcare...

History will be kind to the Obama presidency... his approval rating which has soared recently to levels unheard of for  the last year of a two term president. Considering he had to fight from day one an unfriendly, combative Congress , Obama's successes are that more remarkable...Over 55% give Obama a positive approval rating...a sign of a successful past eight years.

 Going forward the gap between the wealthy and everyday Americans continues to grow as is corporate greed . This continuing problem needs to be addressed...As well we need a growth in better paying jobs and some plan to reduce the enormous rise in medical costs and the ever going national debt...

Things though have improved . You'll never get the right to admit it as they went all in against Obama before he even took the presidential oath...The birthers now know look stupid just as those with delusions that Barrack Obama's terms as president weren't for the most part a success...

Here is Nate Silver's of 538 statistical ratings from various historian's and presidential experts..As you can see Obama ranks pretty high...

In January 2013, New York Times journalist and statistician Nate Silver of FiveThirtyEight composed a composite list of previous presidential rankings by scholars for the purpose of predicting President Barack Obama's ranking among presidents.^[37]

1. Abraham Lincoln
2. Franklin D. Roosevelt
3. George Washington
4. Theodore Roosevelt
5. Thomas Jefferson
6. Harry Truman
7. Woodrow Wilson
8. Dwight D. Eisenhower
9. John F. Kennedy
10. Ronald Reagan
11. James K. Polk
12. Lyndon B. Johnson
13. Andrew Jackson
14. James Monroe
15. James Madison
16. John Adams
17. Barack Obama
18. Bill Clinton
19. William McKinley
20. John Quincy Adams
21. Grover Cleveland
22. George H.W. Bush
23. Ulysses S. Grant
24. Gerald Ford
25. William Howard Taft
26. Jimmy Carter
27. Calvin Coolidge
28. Chester A. Arthur
29. Richard Nixon
30. James A. Garfield
31. Martin Van Buren
32. Rutherford B. Hayes
33. Zachary Taylor
34. Benjamin Harrison
35. Herbert Hoover
36. John Tyler
37. Millard Fillmore
38. George W. Bush
39. Andrew Johnson
40. William Henry Harrison
41. Warren G. Harding
42. Franklin Pierce
43. James Buchanan

Lindon Dodd Article....Tilting at Windmills

  Recently News/Tribune opinion writer Lindon Dodd wrote a piece expressing his disdain for the local blog scene. CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE... The BatBlog doesn't know if Mr. Dodd had any particular blog or forum in mind particularly the "Award winning " BatBlog but here is my spin on his article....

 

First of all Mr. Dodd  appears to be overly melodramatic in his self proclaimed "crusade" against social media in Indiana. Unless there is some instances The BatBlog isn't aware of no one here locally that  has had their "life destroyed" by blog or forum posts as Mr. Dodd claims has occurred  on multiple instances.

 Are politicians, public figures, patronage job holders, media personalities and writers subject to criticism on social media ??? Yes they most definitely are, just as they have been for hundreds of years on other mediums before the internet was even thought of.

Do people some times get carried away and over zealous with criticism on social media ?? Certainly.... nothing gets blood boiling quicker than politics and political discussions that at times are contentious and personal. On the same behalf anyone who enters public life on the above mentioned positions knows or should know, criticism comes with the territory. If you are thin skinned it's best to avoid that particular situation and position.

 Of course that doesn't give one the right  to state malicious personal lies, but personally I just haven't seen that here locally.  A responsible blogger or forum moderator will moderate all comments because libel and slander laws DO apply contrary to what Mr. Dodd stated in his article. Rumor,satire, and disagreement on politics, political positions and appointments aren't libel.


Mr. Dodd by his blanket labeling Anonymous posters and bloggers as "cowardly liars" appears to be a little hypocritical. If these actual "life destroying" posting actually occurred he should bring them forward and name specific people, blogs  or forums where they were posted.  Otherwise The BatBlog feels much like Don Quixote Mr. Dodd maybe fighting (tilting) his own imaginary windmills. Good luck in reinventing the internet Mr. Dodd ....you are going to need it.

Tammy Update...

Tammy Then

Tammy Now

Several have inquired about Tammy, so here is the latest update.....Tammy has married again (4th time) to an Arabian chieftain and now resides somewhere in the Middle East reportedly near Syria. There are rumors that the marriage may be a sham and she has taken up with freedom fighter and CIA operative Pesty Flannigan in an effort to free Syrians from the Assad oppression. Pesty and Tammy were once rumored to be an item...So the mystery continues...

Freedom fighter Pesty Flannigan