WAGNER: Pence could learn from Daniels’ style
Here are six words I never imagined stringing together: I’m going to miss Mitch Daniels.
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LONGWORTH: To a fault, Daniels focused on costs
Mitch Daniels will leave the governor’s mansion to a chorus of hurrahs from budget-balancers, conservative pundits and the Republican Party, which wishes—now even more than before—that he had run for president. But what can other Midwestern states learn from the Daniels era?
GEIB: Daniels led powerfully from weak office
Mitch Daniels had 48 former governors as role models when he took his oath of office. Now we can decide how he stands among them.
BROOKS: Cautions on the age of possibility
At some point over the past generation, people around the world entered what you might call the age of possibility. They became intolerant of any arrangement that might close off their personal options.
KRUGMAN: A Twinkie manifesto for a greedy era
The Twinkie, it turns out, was introduced way back in 1930. In our memories, however, the iconic snack will forever be identified with the 1950s, when Hostess popularized the brand by sponsoring “The Howdy Doody Show.” And the demise of Hostess has unleashed a wave of baby boomer nostalgia for a seemingly more innocent time.
DOWD: Reputation, reputation, reputation
As Lyndon Johnson said, the two things that make leaders stupid are envy and sex.
ODLE: Stop letting our young athletes die
A number of high-profile deaths over the past 15 years have increased awareness of sudden cardiac death in the national sports community and public at large, but also here on home turf.
VAUGHN: Super PACs still threaten democracy
Forget red states versus blue states. The color best representative of the 2012 election is green, as in greenbacks. The election was not only the most expensive in our nation’s history at $6 billion spent, but it also shattered the record by more than $700 million. More than 1,000 Super PACs were formed and they spent at least $970 million, much of it on negative television ads and direct mail.
BOHANON: Well, how ’bout them Libertarians!
After an election, it is just good manners to congratulate the winners and offer condolences to the losers. We wish the winners well and hope they succeed in the tough business of crafting and implementing good public policy. We thank those who did not win for giving their time and energy offering an alternative.
EARLY: Sweeping up after a mixed election
Are you tired of hearing about politics and the election? Then shake hands with a brother Elk, because I, too, am glad it’s over.
DAVIS: Voices of moderation, speak up
Across the country on Election Day sprang voices and signs of social acceptance from young people, gay people, women, immigrants of many decades and people with disabilities. America has changed, and will continue to. Americans are seeing the relationship between equal opportunity and economic opportunity.
SULLIVAN: Next for education reform: compromise
Some have declared the outcome of the state superintendent’s race to be a wholesale rejection of recent changes to public education in our state. Such a pronouncement is an oversimplification at best.
SOUDER: In Indiana, nice guys finish first
If you are running for a statewide office in Indiana, what matters most: likability or substantive issues?
GARRISON: Turning the cover on the constitution
The last few weeks have been interesting; for all the hyperbole surrounding the presidential election, some 3 million fewer votes were cast for the president than in 2008. Go figure. As a snapshot of what that means, John McCain got 2 million more votes than Mitt Romney this year, while the president garnered 3 million fewer. In the end, the margin was about 2.5 million votes.
SHELLA: Political lessons learned, and relearned
Ten takeaways from a memorable November election in Indiana:
LEIGHTY: A way forward for the Republican Party
The Republican Party needs a makeover. After the devastating losses suffered Nov. 6, pundits and politicos alike are asking one question: What will become of the party? As a 21-year-old who will be voting for many years to come, I think the party must make major changes to remain relevant and attract votes of future generations.
WESTERHAUS-RENFROW: Lessons from the War on Poverty
America has come so far, having elected a black president to a second term, mainly by women, young and non-whites. Yet, I hear all too often that Indiana companies cannot find qualified African-American workers.
BOEHM: Judicial elections need lawmaker action
Marion County’s trial judges are selected by a process used nowhere else in the state, and, as far as I know, nowhere on this planet. In the May primary elections, the two major parties each nominate only half the number of judges that will be elected in the general election.
MASSON: Marriage amendment is short-sighted
Thomas Jefferson said, “The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.”
LONG: Budget, education, criminal sentencing top agenda
As the smoke clears from the election season, Hoosiers have turned their attention back to the Statehouse. The newly elected members of the General Assembly have a long to-do list. Passing a balanced budget, examining education reforms and updating our criminal sentencing structure are just a few.