Thursday, March 20, 2008

South Bend, Indiana; March 20, 2008

Uncle Ron’s Ramblings

They Like Us; They Really Like Us: Indiana is a wallflower state—or so the pundits would have us believe. We’re so excited that a suitor is calling on us, courting us for our votes--as if we didn’t already have enough politicians.

We don’t usually get this much excitement in our quiet little neck of the woods.

Supposedly this justifies having our primary so late in the campaign that it is usually a meaningless waste of time and money. If by some miracle there is still a race in either major party by the first week in May the candidates will have to pay attention to us even though North Carolina—which goes to the polls the same day-- has more delegates than we do.

Seventy-two delegates is still too many to ignore in a race as close as the one between Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Hoosier Republicans don’t have a choice in their nominee for the highest office in the land.

So again, the question is why do voters in two of the smallest states in the Union have the chance to vote for all the candidates while citizens in larger states which vote later usually have their choices narrowed down to slim or none—more often the latter.

U.S. Representative Sandy Levin (D-MI) and U.S. Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) introduced a bill last fall that narrow the list of primaries to six. States would be assigned to a regional primary through a lottery.

Two local congressmen—Fred Upton (D-MI) and Mark Souder (D-IN) have expressed reservations about the proposal.

“The last thing we need is Congress getting involved. This is the parties. The parties need to set up their own rules,” said Upton.

“I doubt whether it being earlier would have had a difference in John McCain winning, and I doubt it being earlier or having a regional primary system would have had an impact on whether it was Clinton or Obama,” said Souder.

Second District Representative Joe Donnelly emailed this response to the Herald on the question of the primary system in general. The emailed query didn’t mention the Levin-Nelson proposal.

“While I agree our current primary process is not ideal, this is an issue that is up to individual states to decide. The Constitution makes no mention of primaries—or even how to conduct elections—which over a span of 200 years has led to the situation which we have today with states jockeying for position and influence. I understand how voters in later-voting states like Indiana may feel disenfranchised.

“Since the dates of primary elections are set by the states, I encourage you to contact your representatives in the Indiana General Assembly using the information below:”

Indiana House of Representatives

200 W. Washington Street

Indianapolis, IN 46204-2786

(800) 382-9842

Indiana State Senate

200 W. Washington Street

Indianapolis, IN 46204-2785

(800) 382-9467

If the issue of when to have a primary or caucus is up to individual states, then why should Michigan and Florida be stripped of their delegates for scheduling their primaries in January? You’ll have to contact your national party headquarters to find that out.

I should hasten to add that the 2008 Indiana primary is not an entirely meaningless exercise. There will be races for the Republican nominee to see who faces Joe Donnelly in the congressional race this fall and to pick a Democratic candidate who will oppose Governor Mitch Daniels.

Announcements

Regis to Host Dance Marathon: The 24-hour “Dance for the Homeless” dance marathon will be April 19-20 at the IUSB Student Activities Center.

There will be live remotes by local radio stations, music by Vyagra Falls, Stillshot, New Collossus, Cornell Bass, Blammo, Livewire, and a special appearance by Regis Philbin.

Get Your Act Together: Center Idol 2008 will take place April 7 at the Monday night meeting in the community room.

Sign-up will start next week. As in past Center Idols, “Simon”, “Paula”, and “Randy” will be there to judge and critique the acts.

Think You’ve Got What it Takes to Be a Star: Drumming and dancing classes are coming to CFH and you’re invited to participate.

Professional drummers and dancers are coming to offer fun, music, and expertise on the following days: Thursday, March 13, 7:30-9 p.m.; Thursday, March 20, 7:30-9 p.m.; Thursday, March 27, 7:30-9 p.m.; Sunday, March 30, 2-4 p.m.; Thursday, April 10, 7:30-9 p.m.; Sunday, April 20, 2-4 p.m.; Thursday, May 1, 7:30-9 p.m.

Classes will be held in the third floor Community Room. See Juanetta for more details.

Grace U.M. Easter Egg Hunt: Grace United Methodist Church would like to invite you and your children and friends to our public Easter Egg Hunt Saturday, March 22, out on the lawn (inside if bad weather)!! Bring a basket and enjoy hunting for eggs that the Easter Bunny has left.

Grace United Methodist Church is at 3012 S. Twyckenham; pastors are David Schrader and Lauren Hall.

ABE

▪Money and Power: An ABE discussion group Wednesdays, 6-7 p.m.

Anyone interested in talking about issues of working, buying, and how you relate to broader society? Sign up in ABE.

Starts February 20.

Dead Poets Society: Thursdays, 3-4 p.m., ABE Room. All are welcome.

We will discuss short stories and poems.

▪Poetry Jam: Tuesday, 7-8 p.m. Share your own work; read a favorite poem; or listen, relax, and enjoy.

▪Writing: Wednesdays, 3-4 p.m., ABE. Improve your basic writing skills under the guidance of a trained instructor.

▪Creative Writing: Thursdays, 8-9 p.m. Develop your creative writing skills. You don’t have to sign up, just show up. Volunteers from Notre Dame will be there.

▪Fractions and Decimals Refresher Courses: Tuesdays, fractions, and Thursdays, decimals, in the second floor conference room. Everyone is welcome. For more information, contact ABE.

Autobiography: Interested in writing a short autobiography? Come to ABE to learn about some opportunities that can help you.

Help with Taxes: Tuesday, March 11 and Tuesday, March 25 at 5:30 p.m. Sign up in ABE.

EMPower Method: A new way of doing math; Wednesday, March 19, 1:30-3 p.m. in the SOSH room.

Herald Sports

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Today’s NCAA Men’s Tournament Games: Purdue vs. Baylor, 2:50 p.m.; ND vs. George Mason, 9:50 p.m.

Friday’s NCAA Men’s Tournament Games: Butler vs. South Alabama, 2:45 p.m.; IU vs. Arkansas, 9:40 p.m.

Wednesday NBA Scores: Pacers 102, Bobcats 95; Raptors 96, Heat 54; Wizards 87, Magic 86; 76ers 115, Nuggets 113; Nets 125, Hawks 17; Timberwolves 98, Grizzlies 94; Cavaliers 89, Pistons 73; Hornets 90, Rockets 69; Suns 110, Sonics 98; Warriors 116, Clippers 100. .

Wednesday NHL Scores: Black Hawks 5, Capitals 0; Hurricanes 5, Thrashers 3; Sabres 7, Lightning 4; Rangers 2, Devils 1 (SO); Red Wings 3, Blue Jackets 1; Ducks 2, Stars 1; Sharks 4, Wild 3 (SO).

Wednesday MLB Exhibition Scores: Cubs 4, Giants 2; A’s 5, Cubs 2; White Sox 10, Rockies 10; Blue Jays 4, Red Sox 3; Angels 6, A’s 1; Cards 12, Orioles 3; Devil Rays 3, Phillies 1; Astros 8, Braves 7; Mariners 7, Diamondbacks 4; Yankees 12, Pirates 9; Mets 3, Indians 1.

Nation/World

Bin Laden Warns Europeans: Osama Bin Laden warned Europeans in an audiotape released Wednesday of a “severe reckoning” because of continued publication of cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad.

Weather

Today High 43 Low 25 Mostly Sunny

Fri High 34 Low 25 Snow

Sat High 36 Low 18 Chance Snow

Sun High 38 Low 23 Mostly Sunny

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