What if?
March 6th, 2009 at 2:36 pm by Jim Shella under Jim Shella's Political Blog
What if the 2008 election for governor took place this month? Would Mitch Daniels survive 9% unemployment and a 10% drop in tax revenues? Would Jill Long Thompson know how to take advantage of the circumstances?
What if lawmakers acted last year to fix the unemployment insurance system? Would anyone’s re-election be reversed? Would the recession be deeper?
What if we really need the federal stimulus money to balance the state budget after all?
What if Evan Bayh wasn’t on the ballot in 2010? Would he still be opposing President Barack Obama’s spending proposal?
What if Indianapolis had a downtown casino? Would it solve the stadium funding issues? Would it attract more conventions? Would it put the racinos out of business?
What if Mike Pence gave a speech and no one was there to hear it? Is that the definition of Congress?
Tags: Barack Obama, Evan Bayh, Jill Long Thompson, Mike Pence, Mitch Daniels
Jill Long Who?
In order:
If Jill Long were still the opponent, yes Mitch Daniels would survive.
I doubt the election would have changed significantly had the legislature dealt with UI.
If we need stimulus to balance the budget, then it’s a good thing Daniels is going to take it.
Evan Bayh would not be opposing the spending if he were not on the ballot in 2010.
A downtown casino would solve the stadium funding problems and would help draw more conventions. It would also kill the racinos.
I suspect Mike Pence gives lots of speeches that no one hears. But that won’t stop him from running for governor.
In order:
No, I don’t think Long would have known how to capitalize. If Jill Long were still the opponent, yes Mitch Daniels would win. Any other Demcorat though may have had a shot, definitely now and even then. I’ve always said that Daniels was never really tested in 2008. He was a lot more vulnerable than what many people realize.
I don’t think there are any polticial consequendces – yet – for not dealing with unemployment insurance.
I”m not sure unilateral disarmament regarding not taking the stimulus is a good idea.
Mike Pence likes to talk. What Congressman doesn’t?
No, Evan Bayh would not be opposing the spending if he were not on the ballot in 2010.
A downtown casino never had any chance of passing. It’s a zero sum game. It would take money from elsehwere. It wouldn’t cure the stadium funding problem, it would only delay the inevitable.
A downtown casino would solve the stadium funding problems and would help draw more conventions. It would also kill the racinos.
I suspect Mike Pence gives lots of speeches that no one hears. But that won’t stop him from running for governor.
Sorry, I copied the format from the previous poster and forgot to delete the last two paragraphs.