March 19 2022

John Krull commentary: Whose bruised ego are we talking about?

It is easy, almost too easy, to laugh at Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita. He is, after all, a walking caricature of unfettered ambition, the sort of politician who runs for office not out of any great desire to serve but almost as a reflex. That’s why he once ran for three “...”

March 15 2022

John Krull commentary: Of the special interests, by the special interests, for the special interests

In the waning hours of the 2022 session of the Indiana General Assembly, Hoosier lawmakers delivered a lesson on who and what matters. What the people of this state want doesn’t matter. Neither does public safety. But the rights of narrow special-interest groups? Oh, oh, oh, th “...”

March 10 2022

John Krull commentary: Mike Pence, the politician who won’t stay down

It’s always a mistake to write off Mike Pence. People find it easy to underestimate the former vice president, Indiana governor and U.S. congressman. His weakness for hyperbole and his almost puppyish desire in times of ascendancy to please his base encourage people to see Penc “...”

March 02 2022

John Krull commentary: Behning, education and evasion

One of the most disheartening things about the education war in Indiana is that so little of the fighting is about learning. You know, the thing education is supposed to be about. Most of the jousting, in fact, now is about either control or finding someone else to blame. And mos “...”

February 12 2022

John Krull commentary: Todd Huston and the high cost of education

Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston, R-Fishers, just taught Hoosiers a valuable lesson. Well, “costly” might be a more accurate word than “valuable.” He showed us just how much money there is to be made in the education-reform racket. A few days ago, Huston resigned his pos “...”

February 10 2022

John Krull commentary: Two big Todd Rokita bad habits

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita has at least two annoying habits. One is picking senseless fights. The other is wasting taxpayer money. Our money. Both these character flaws are on display in Rokita’s dispute with conservative commentator, radio talk show host and gadfly A “...”

January 22 2022

John Krull commentary: ‘Talk to the hand’ is lawmakers’ response to the public on redistricting and other issues

If you want to understand why government in our country is so often lost, ineffectual and misguided, just look at what’s happening in our Indiana General Assembly. And, by the way, it is our—meaning it belongs to the citizens of this state—General Assembly. More on that in “...”

January 17 2022

John Krull commentary: Time to own up to our nation’s history

My grandfather was a career educator. He started teaching school even before he finished college. In the early days of the 20th century a person could do that. He started first in the classroom, showed skill at management and leadership and spent the bulk of his career as a princ “...”

January 12 2022

John Krull commentary: Holcomb turns the heat down

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb had a peculiar political problem as he prepared to deliver his sixth State of the State Address.The Indiana General Assembly was only a week into the 2022 session when he stepped before the lectern in the House chamber. That week, though, has been time e “...”

November 11 2021

John Krull commentary: Gerrymandering and the race to the bottom

They steal that which does not belong to them. And then politicians wonder why people do not trust them. What politicians crave most is power. They will do anything to hold it, to exert it, to wield it like a whip. That is why most politicians—Republican and Democrat—are so o “...”