IS IT TRUE that yesterday’s release of the campaign finance reports by the two candidates for Mayor of Evansville certainly touched off a rising tide of speculation and spin among our readers?…that all of that aside that we would like to congratulate both of the campaigns on timely and accurate disclosure documents that are easy to read with no glaring questions that are left unanswered?…that we would especially commend the Winnecke campaign for self publishing the finance report and sending the announcements and links to everyone on their email list just after midnight on the due date?…that this is a case of blatant transparency which has been needed for a long long time?

IS IT TRUE that the rumor mill has been spinning all week about the anticipation that the Indiana State Democratic Party will be making a substantial financial commitment to the Davis campaign for the final two weeks of this election cycle?…that we have been told by moles and others that the amount will be in a range of $40,000 to $100,000?…that Rick Davis himself has been quoted as stating that an announcement will be made on Monday?…that the combination of all of the rumblings within the Mole Nation, insider speculation in both campaigns, and a forthcoming announcement do point very strongly that some cash infusion from the State Democratic Party is about to feed the fury of the final two weeks?…that we shall be awaiting Monday’s announcement?

IS IT TRUE that a couple of weeks ago Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel who is sitting on $700,000 plus in his “Weinzapfel for Mayor” campaign fund sent an email blast to Democrats across the State of Indiana?…that Mayor Weinzapfel’s email blast encouraged the Democrats of the State of Indiana to dig deep into their pockets and make contributions so that DEMOCRATS CAN KEEP THE CONTROL OF THE MAYORAL OFFICES STATEWIDE?…that maybe some of the Democrats took Mayor Weinzapfel’s advice and sent in some contributions to try to keep the Office of Mayor of Evansville in Democratic hands?…that as Mayor Weinzapfel’s name did not appear on the donor list to the Davis campaign that he should be quite surprised if he turns out to be the biggest statewide fundraiser for Mr. Davis through his little showboating email blast?…that of all of the unintended consequences that we hear about nowadays this one has to be an instant classic?

IS IT TRUE that there are also rumblings of a very well produced negative ad that will be coming with whatever cash the Indiana Democratic Party endows the Davis campaign with?…that we are going out on a limb here and speculating that such an ad will pay at least some attention to secret meetings about the Homestead Tax Credit?…that we hear that this ad has been in the making for some time by would-be opponents of Mayor Weinzapfel had he chosen to run for Governor of Indiana in 2012?…that only the name in the narrative needed to be changed in this negative commercial which would have worked quite effectively against a resurrected Team Weinzapfel?

IS IT TRUE that by now most of the people of Evansville seem to understand exactly what went on in that secret meeting but a repeated message may inspire Republican candidate Lloyd Winnecke to take that final step that he has come so close to and just come out and say “Mayor Weinzapfel did it”?…this last little twist if nothing else will be a complete repudiation by the Indiana Democratic Party for the petty infighting and die hard machine politics that the Vanderburgh County Democratic Central Committee has been so blatant about playing out in the streets, on floats, with spousal contributions, and silent fundraisers during the 2011 City of Evansville election cycle?

IS IT TRUE that one our readers has advised us that they sent a letter to Indiana State Senator Jim Tomes asking that he join in the sponsorship of the Vectren petition that Evansville City Councilman John Friend and Indiana State Representative Gail Riecken are circulating?…that the response that our reader received from Senator Tomes was that he was declining to do so until he had enough information to understand what is going on?

IS IT TRUE that the Steve Jobs the late founder of Apple Incorporated and one of the most prodigious creators of wealth and consumer products in recent history is reported to have advised President Barack Obama that he is on a path to becoming a one term president?…that it took five days for the two to even agree to meet?…that Mr. Jobs also advised the President that unless the teacher’s union is broken that any efforts to reform education will not succeed?…that he also gave the President a lecture on how the United States is not a business friendly nation and that the Obama Administration needs to be more business friendly?…that he also scolded the President for the United States being uncompetitive due to excessive regulation and unnecessary costs?…that even in choosing the meal that Mr. Jobs pronounced the proposed menu to be too opulent but was overruled by the White House because “the President loves chocolate truffles”?

IS IT TRUE, Mr. President that when Dr. Einstein offers advice on physics you should listen and when Steve Jobs offers advice on entrepreneurship and what the government needs to do to promote business that this is an area where he has a proven track record and you do not?…Mr. President that when a private citizen arranges for your dinner that good manners is to eat what is offered as opposed to asking for a personal indulgence?…that as personal indulgences go Mr. President that you could learn a thing or two from the aftermath of an Opus One party thrown with public dollars right here in Evansville, IN?

IS IT TRUE that if dollars were voting in the race to become Mayor of Evansville that the election could be called today?…that when the smoke cleared around the campaign fund disclosure forms that Republican Lloyd Winnecke has attracted about three times as many dollars as Democrat Rick Davis has?…that both campaigns have raised substantial sums of money and that it appears that the City of Evansville may be in for a MILLION DOLLAR CAMPAIGN?…that with the 2007 turnout that this campaign will be approaching $100 per winning vote at the rate things are going?…that is sort of astounding that two men can attract over $1 Million between them for a 4 year stint as Mayor that pays less than $100,000 per year?

IS IT TRUE that President Obama has announced that he will be proclaiming the end to the war in Iraq very soon and will begin the full withdrawal of American troops?…that this is good news for all of the brave fighting men and their families?…that the war per se may have been over for a while now as there has not been an organized army that we have been fighting for some time?…that for quite a while the United States has actually been in OCCUPY IRAQ mode and that we are equally thrilled that this occupation is about to end?…that now is the time to see if Iraq will be a better place and a better trade partner with the USA that it was before this war began?…that we wish the Iraqi people good fortune in pursuit of a life and system of liberty?

IS IT TRUE that today is the day that the campaign finance reports are due from all of the candidates running for office in 2011?…that thus far exactly one has been made available to the public through an online distribution?…that Republican Candidate for Mayor of Evansville Lloyd Winnecke published a link to his website with the report sometime during the night?…that it is available on the City County Observer for anyone and everyone to dig through to their heart’s desire on the following link?

https://city-countyobserver.com/2011/10/21/winnecke-releases-campaign-finance-report/

IS IT TRUE that Indiana Smokefree Communities held their last meeting before the election yesterday at the Central Library?…that at this point both candidates for Mayor of Evansville and every candidate for Evansville City Council has been offered the opportunity to state their position and their case?…that both candidates for Mayor have spoken as have 10 of the 14 candidates for the city council seats that are opposed?…that even the unopposed candidate from the 1st Ward, Councilman Dan McGinn sent in a written statement?…that the unopposed candidate from the 4th Ward, Councilwoman Connie Robinson left no room for doubt about her support for a stronger smoking ordinance with her “I am my brother’s keeper” speech prior to casting her yes vote the last time this came up?…that there will be a position paper released soon that will let everyone know exactly who the preferred candidates are to strengthen the City of Evansville smoking ordinance?

IS IT TRUE that in a short 19 days we will all know whether it will be Lloyd Winnecke or Rick Davis who will become the Mayor that will assume responsibility for executing the decisions that are playing out right now?…that that there are 71 days remaining in the Weinzapfel Administration?…that if you thought the first 21 days of 40 days of hell were nasty just stay tuned for the last 19 days of hell?

IS IT TRUE that there are now 373 days remaining in the two years that the EPA had given the City of Evansville to present an acceptable solution to the Combined Sewer Overflow problem?…..that this plan is an expensive and complex endeavor that needs immediate attention to avoid the embarrassment and expense of another round of fines?

IS IT TRUE that in only 10 days we shall know whether the McCurdy Hotel project is a GO or just another case of NO GO?…that the Evansville Redevelopment Commission will be meeting again on November 1, 2011 and that may just be the last day of reckoning for City Center Properties or it may be time for a legitimate celebration?…that the status report by Hunden Capital Partners with respect to the downtown Convention Hotel Project seems to be in a coma?…that not a word has come out for over a month and that we are wondering if the two bidders are in danger of being Vetted to Death?…that as long as this has been dragging out that the decision really should be deferred until the next Mayor takes office?…that this will be the only way to bury the stigma of four years of standing confused at the starting line?…that the next Mayor’s signature on a hotel contract will bury that stigma?