Now for the level of corruption you’re suggesting, it’s not the case. I’d like to see Republicans winning in Lake County too, but Leyva won because there were so many candidates in the race simple. As for your attack and conspiracy shot at Mayor Costas, that’s hogwash. Mayor Costas is one of our best success stories of municipal governance the right way. Tax rates have been reduced, the size of government is smaller, and at the same time he’s invested substantial dollars in infrastructure so that economic development is a continual theme.

Look elsewhere for your conspiracy of straw candidates and the propping up of Visclosky. The reason Pete keeps winning is because Republicans don’t have enough votes in Lake County so far.

You say that you doubt backroom deals are occurring withing the LC GOP. If that is the case, then what do you attribute the political maneuvering to within the GOP in Lake County?

Do you have an inside track on what happens in the LC GOP? Do you know for sure that the LC GOP never rumor mongers, never has sidebar conversations (otherwise known as ‘backroom’ conversations) regarding candidates. Have you heard none of this, anywhere, at any time?

If the Lake County GOP has no power, as you say, then how did the loss of power happen and what do you propose as a solution?

The Indiana Republican Party DOES NOT endorse candidates in the Primary, regardless of what race they are in (local, state, federal).

A -separate- organization known as the ‘House Republican Campaign Committee’ (or HRCC) funded Klein’s campaign.

I highly doubt the LC GOP is doing ‘back room deals’ for power because…well…they dont have any power!

Has Leyva EVER went after Visclosky on his obvious pay to play operations, heck NO and the Republicans in Lake County don’t want him to. They are more than happy to pick up federal funding to promote their agenda.

The entire political process in Lake County stinks. And I am starting to question the entire state GOP leadership, they recycle Coats with his lobbyist ties and they refuse to endorse a candidate for the 1st district yet hand Klein over $50,000 to run his campaign. Go figure that one out.

Until there is a major shake-up in the Lake County Republicans with a focus on serving the people of NW Indiana, we are left between a rock and a hard place. Exposing the backroom deals and hidden agenda of the party and those insiders who care not about the people but about power, serves the purpose of moving toward a positive direction. Politics and the agendas of those involved should be questioned; if you can’t stand the heat then you shouldn’t be in the kitchen.

Any time that there is a chance to honor “her”: OUR FLAG, freedom, Lady Liberty, the Active Duty, reservists, Veterans and most of all the hero’s have paid the ultimate price and “GAVE ALL” is just the right thing to do.

These men and women: The Honor Guard, Doug Patton, Rob Myers, Chrystal Brant, Greg Massom, Toby Parris and Frank Van Autreve, NorthWest Indiana Patriots thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Thank you for this post!

I will add… AmericanVet, the most disturbing aspect of your post is the total disregard you display regarding teens who statistically are more prone to suicidal ideation and attempted suicides. Instead you chose to focus on bigoted emotional rhetoric, based not on facts but fear and misinformation.

As for the Tea Party.. here’s a clue the GOP does not own the Tea Party movement, even though Pelosi and her ilk would have you believe this to be true. By including this homophobic attachment, Leyva plays right into the hands of the far left. In fact around the country, the fundamental basics of the movement center on a return to constitutional adherence; with the most basic tenet of the Republic, “That all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Questioning the contradictions and motives behind those that attempt to lead us is Patriotic. Questioning why Leyva has validated the ugly rhetoric coming from the left is patriotic. And equating pedophilia with homosexuality displays a lack of informed knowledge. How does advocating a particular morality equate with any of the core concepts of the Tea Party movement? The Tea Party movement is about the freedom and liberty granted us as United States citizens through the Constitution and deviating from those values is exactly what those who seek to disparage the Tea Party desire.. good job AmericanVet and Leyva.. mission accomplished.