Obama-No PAC-Man

Obama returns more than $50,000 in lobbyists' contributions, according to the Chicago Tribune.

"I am concerned about the role of lobbyists and campaign donations generally in our politics," Obama told The Associated Press while campaigning in Florence, S.C. "That's part of the reason I don't take PAC money and I'm not taking federal lobbyist money in this campaign."

As the campaign prepared to file its first quarter finance report to the Federal Election Commission, it noted that it has given back $50,566 from 49 donors whom the campaign identified as lobbyists.

The first quarter finance report to the Federal Election Commission are due from the candidate by midnight, April 15, 2007.

Allen County Election Board Boots Potential Candidates.

On March 9, 2007, the Allen County Election Board booted James Talarico from running for city council at large. It seems that Talarico voted in the last election as a Democratic, but selected the republican ticket to declare his candidacy. With that last name Talarico was more than likely to draw a lot of votes. Talarico could have appeared on the ballot with the blessing of the Allen County Republican Chair, Steve Shine, but that did not happen.

The election board also decided that the City Council at-large candidate James Talarico and city clerk candidate Thomas Schrader would not be on the Republican primary ballot. Both had voted as Democrats most recently and had not received a certificate of support from Republican Party Chairman Steve Shine.

Side note here, Ron Buskirk declared his candidacy for the 5th district. Buskirk did not become a member of the 5th district until January, 2007. Which means that Buskirk will represent long term voters of the 5th district. Buskirk last voted in precinct 412. Buskirk has not vote in his new precinct 578, is this fair?


Another candidate who was booted from the pool of contenders was Thomas Schrader. Schrader running for city clerk was dismissed based on his voting record rather than his party affiliation. The Democratic leader Kevin Knuth, did not give a thumbs up to this candidate, and should have invited them into the party game. Now we fully understand Steve Shine assimilation into the money community did not accept these waffling gents. But it is still a questionable eyebrow raising event for Knuth to thumb his nose at any potential candidate for the Democratic Party.

I forgot the Democratic Party is about the less the merrier membership. This party gave us a Pat Love to screw property owners on their taxes. This woman was a stellar post child representative for the incompetent leadership driving the party. And by keeping the Democratic party cliche membership low, members don't have to share power. And members do not have to take inclusion, serious, either. (wink, wink). Or pushing for more jobs for African-Americans, they just need the African-American votes. Independently typing outloud, if it's not true,prove me wrong.

Where are the independent candidates? I understand there is one independent candidate who will be running for Mayor.

2007 Mayoral race: Media's Rules of Engagement

Matthew Kelty was first to sign up for the May primary election. Kelty is campaigning as a Republican candidate against one of his fellow Republicans, Nelson Peters. Kelty was flanked by family, friends and supporters while Nelson held a press conference flanked by uncontested appointed officials and colleagues from his party.
Republicans like to present a unified front even at a time when some of its leadership is under scrutiny for questionable and inappropriate behavior.


But the picture of party's klannishness get skewed with Kelty entering the primary race. Kelty's as an alternative provides an opportunity to question loyalty by value conscious republicans on their corrupt political leaning practices. However, the media is attempting to muzzle the lively debate by suggesting ground rules for Kelty if he is to get coverage in his run from the partisan local print media, to me it seems.

The Journal Gazette suggestion to Kelty or other candidates that is not wise to raise the issue of irresponsibility by the City Government for using tax dollars( even if the tax dollars are property tax dollars (TIF) for investment in Harrison Square that could be used elsewhere or on other things to improve the city. Who cares as long as the city can market the logo of Rooms for Dreams on key rings.

Second warning, if Kelty or the unknown Democratic candidate or candidates(more about this later) should dare speak out against the field of hope, Kelty or the other candidate better have an alternative for improving the dying downtown. If not, they better just zip it, suggest the article.

Third, because there is the need for the county dollars for this field of mission impossible, consolidation is a mandate during this campaign. Well maybe not the newspaper exact wording, but I am sure the meaning is consolidation is a must by the county. Even going so far as to suggest that the candidates "should have specific plans to improve communications and seek efficiencies."

Fourth, a property tax control board is inevitable, but the candidate should at least parrot outrage at the possible abuse in favor of the county government. But, who cares the county is running the show.

Fifth, remember that no matter your belief, just remember, the County Council will ultimately make the decision skewed toward their constituents, not the elected Mayor.

Sixth, the voters are unimportant and have the least say about who gets elected or what is best for Fort Wayne Indiana, we just need their tax dollars.

And last but not least, the Democrats don't have a rat's behind of a change for finding a viable candidate among their constituents. Sounds a little arrogant to me, but I'm just reading the paper. And if the Dems do field a candidate or two,it is just some inactive window dressing puppet or puppets pulled out pretending to give the public a two party system in Fort Wayne. Sad huh, for the second largest city in Indiana.

Geez, and all this time, I thought the Democrats was a rainbow coalition. It must have been the National Democratic Party tha's an inclusive party and our local democratic party was mimicking we are the world theme, just to siphon off votes. Wow, I am so looking forward to Campaign 2007 according to the newspaper rules of engagement.