“Indiana” on The Daily Caller

Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels isn’t as worried about his own state’s reputation as he is with that of Illinois, according to a WLS Chicago radio interview in which he compared Illinois to “The Simpsons.” (more)

1.) Your grandmother drives faster than the new Republican majority — Welcome to the Lowered Expectations dating service, where nobody’s profile picture reflects what he looks like in real life. First up: The House’s Republican majority. Speaker John Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor promised $100 billion in spending cuts. Late Tuesday, unnamed GOP aides downgraded that amount to roughly $50 billion, reports the New York Times, “because the current fiscal year, which began Oct. 1, will be nearly half over before spending cuts could become law.” The Daily Caller’s Jon Ward, after attending Cantor’s press availability on Tuesday, reported that Republicans may be relying on Obama to do their cutting for them: “Once we get to the State of the Union I expect this president to put some action behind the words he’s been about,” Cantor said yesterday afternoon. “When pressed numerous times for whether there will be specific spending cuts proposed and regulations put under the axe prior to the State of the Union,” Ward added, “Cantor mentioned only an already announced five percent reduction to congressional office budgets that will save $35 million.” Hear that noise? That is the sound of the Tea Partiers sharpening their knives. (more)

An Indiana woman last night allegedly stabbed her boyfriend with a kitchen knife after he would not allow her to view his Facebook page, according to cops. (more)

It’s not all engagement news this holiday: Singer John Mellencamp and wife Elaine have decided to separate after 18 years of marriage. (more)

A 37-year-old man has been charged with desecrating the casket of an 11th-grader by reaching in and stealing two handheld video systems and three games. (more)

Kokomo, Ind. — An unknown man walked into a Kokomo home Christmas Eve, used the homeowner’s toilet and vomited twice inside. (more)

LOUISVILLE, KY (WDRB Fox 41) – The man accused of killing a Sullivan University student faced a judge Wednesday morning.  At the same time, detectives continued combing a southern Indiana landfill for Andrew Compton’s body. (more)

Here are the top three ways Washington will be different after this week’s midterm elections: (more)

Tea Party Nation founder Judson Phillips explained why he sent out an e-mail that included the Muslim faith of Minnesota Democratic Rep. Keith Ellison on a list of reasons not to support him, claiming that Tea Party members ought to “seriously consider” whether they should vote for a candidate who adheres to Islam. (more)

Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) will likely launch a bid for higher office after the November elections, according to several House Republicans. (more)

The Family Research Council boasted an all-star conservative lineup Friday morning at its 2010 Value Voters Summit in Washington with big-name potential 2012 Republican presidential candidates including former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Indiana Rep. Mike Pence and South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint. (more)

Republicans in November will win control of more state legislatures than previously projected, according to a report released Thursday, which could lead to more Republican drawn U.S. House districts during redistricting next year. (more)

The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), one of the nation’s largest trade associations, launched a multi-state campaign Wednesday to oppose increasing energy taxes. (more)

Rocker John Mellencamp said on Tuesday that the Internet was the most dangerous invention since the atomic bomb, although new technology could paradoxically delay the inevitable demise of rock ‘n’ roll. (more)

Republican nominee Dan Coats continues to hold a commanding lead in Indiana’s U.S. Senate race. (more)

Republicans Saturday promised a full-fledged campaign to make permanent a suite of expiring Bush-era tax cuts and accused President Obama and other Democratic leaders for not taking steps yet to prevent their sunset. (more)

Republicans vying for open U.S. Senate seats from Florida to Missouri raised millions more dollars than Democrats in 2010’s second quarter, filings show.
Marco Rubio, the Republican candidate in Florida, brought in more than $4.5 million, his campaign said. His Democratic opponent, Representative Kendrick Meek, raised more than $1 million, according to his website. The independent candidate, Governor Charlie Crist, hasn’t reported yet.
Republicans in Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and Pennsylvania also out-raised their rivals in the period from April 1 through June 30. A backlash against Democrats, who control Congress and the White House, may be boosting fundraising for Republicans such as Rubio, a former state house speaker.
“The wind is to their back,” Clyde Wilcox, a government professor at Georgetown University in Washington, said regarding the Republicans. Still, he cautioned that the political climate could change before the November elections, and that Democrats are working to make races more about local concerns than national issues.
Full story: Republicans Show Strength in Fundraising for Open Senate Seats – BusinessWeek
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I am pleased to present the following interview with Bob Turner, who is challenging Rep. Anthony Weiner for New York’s Ninth Congressional District. (more)

In his weekly address to the nation, President Obama today announced that — in the name of bringing “jobs back to the country” — the Department of Energy has awarded $2 billion dollars to two energy companies. (more)

JOHNSON COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) – A man accused of not telling more than 100 sexual partners that he had HIV decided to change his plea in court on Wednesday. (more)