Tears of joy cascade like rain as the newspaper takes a position on "horrirfying" Pence.

Well, not exactly; it's just a "Cheers and Jeers" piece, but still, it's always encouraging to see evidence of a pulse. Given its oft-stated proclivities in opposition to progress in such matters, perhaps the New Albany news desk can issue some variety of counterpoint, or go on strike.

A boy can dream. Thanks to Amy Huffman-Branham for this welcomed dose of reality.

SOUTHERN INDIANA — CHEERS

... Triple cheers and a little jump for joy to columnist Brian Howey for his column, “Cat and mouse with Pence on his moral agenda,” which appeared in the Monday, Sept. 24 edition of The News and Tribune.

I have been wondering when someone — anyone — would remind voters who Republican Indiana gubernatorial candidate Mike Pence is.

I certainly don’t blame Pence and his handlers for keeping the focus of his campaign on the economy and jobs in an effort to keep quiet on the candidate’s stance on social issues. Hoosiers who didn’t pay attention to Pence before he announced his run for the Governor’s Office might just fall for it.

But those who have been paying attention for the last decade know the Pence’s trademark is his far right stance on social issues. We’re not just talking about him tiptoeing into conservatism here, we’re talking an all-out assault on people who believe [and prefer] they have a right to make decisions for themselves when it comes to marriage, children and religion.

As Howey wrote, “In his 2011 campaign kickoff speech in Columbus, Pence said, ‘To restore our economy we must reaffirm our respect for the institutions and traditions that nurture the character of our people. As your governor, I will stand for the sanctity of life, traditional marriage and the importance of organized religion in everyday life. To build an even better Indiana, we must recognize every day that our present crisis is not just economic, but moral.’

When pressed by the Times of Northwest Indiana’s Dan Carden, Pence would only say, ‘I am who I am and I hold the views I hold, but if I have the privilege of being governor of the state of Indiana, we’re going to make job creation job one.’”

While I certainly can’t argue with making job creation job one, the prospect of what job number two might be under a Pence governorship is horrifying.

Hopefully Hoosier voters will take the time to read up on Pence’s career as a lawmaker before they head to the polls in November to see what he’s really about.

Newspaper editor: I think that if (bridge tolls) rape is inevitable, relax and enjoy it.

Hmm, sounds a lot like 1Si's interim kingpin, who advised, “like it or not, we have no choice" except prone and greased submission to KStem's projected tolling pillage.

At least the News and Tribune's second (third?) editorial team did find the best possible word to use: Stupid.

Curiously, tolling opponents were not accused of having mothers clad in army boots.

On the other hand, intellectual vigor is not exactly synonymous with the News and Tribune, is it? But boy, what a sports page.

JEERS

... to the resolution introduced by Jeffersonville City Councilman Dennis Julius — and eventually passed 7-1 by the city council — on Monday asking for a delay in the construction of the downtown portion of the Ohio River Bridges project. Really? As if we haven’t waited long enough already.

While it is responsible to recognize and be concerned over the possible impact the project and tolls could have on Jeffersonville it’s also important for the council to recognize its role in the process. — Which is basically to wait for it to happen like the rest of us.

I do not dispute the east end bridge is the most important part of the project. And I agree the east end bridge should have been built first, perhaps to the result that a downtown bridge isn’t needed after all. But those positions have been argued and a decision has been made.

The governors of two states, along with representatives from each state, have been responsible for working together to oversee and give authority to this project and its details. They have done that. I seriously doubt any scenario would be without some hesitation or potential drawback for some involved community or another. When you’re trying to accomplish something this big, compromise has to be part of the final solution.

The city council’s resolution is little more than posturing for some politicians who can tell their constituents that they tried to stop the bridge and tolls — all the while hoping the public actually believes the city council had any authority in the matter to begin with — which it doesn’t.

We’re far beyond the point for this now. It’s time to move forward with the project, embrace the enormous positive impact it will have on Jeffersonville and figure out a way to live with the rest and make the most of it.

JEERS

... to the Clarksville Town Council for passing a pretty much identical stupid resolution regarding the bridges project as the Jeffersonville Council did on Monday.

— Amy Huffman-Branham, Assistant Editor

At least Amy wasn't dozing during art appreciation class.

For Chris's complaint to make sense ("I don’t know what it has to do with our historic city"), he must be prepared to explain what art of any sort actually DOES have to do with our historic city -- and he can't cheat by asking his fellow literalist Bob "CeeSaw" Caesar, who believes that art is so important that it must be outsourced to Tennessee to truly matter.

At least Amy was around to offer the counter-point. Either of them, or preferably both, might ask the best available question: Why is there a fork painted on the road in front of the Cardinal Ritter House?

CHEERS AND JEERS — For Feb. 25-26

JEERS

... to the art display of a fork stuck in a piece of cheese along Market Street in downtown New Albany.

Who approved it and what is it supposed to signify — that we have a few restaurants in the downtown area? I don’t know what it has to do with our historic city. Maybe it would work better at the Carnegie Center. Unless I am mistaken, I don’t think we are the fork or cheese capital of the world.

— Chris Morris, Assistant Editor

CHEERS

... to the giant fork stuck in a piece of cheese sculpture along Market Street in downtown New Albany.

While I didn’t really plan to cheer the cheese, reading Mr. Morris’ preceding jeer reminded me of the chuckle I got when I saw the cheese for the first time last week. It’s fun and whimsical. So what if it doesn’t have anything to do with New Albany’s history?

Just let it be what it is. It’s art. Don’t you just love it?

— Amy Huffman-Branham, assistant editor

Amy Huffman-Branham jeers the GOP on Planned Parenthood vote.

Kudos to this powerful statement of principle by the News and Tribune's Amy Huffman-Branham. She can rest assured that Ron "Tell me how to vote, St. Daniels" Grooms stopped reading after the word "Senate", and of course we all understand that depriving women of health services has everything to do with the Republican Party's ideological leanings toward theocratic fascism and nothing whatever to do with any real concern for the health of women.

JEERS

... to the Indiana Senate, which voted Monday to prohibit state contracts or grants with Planned Parenthood or other organizations that provide abortions.

It is disappointing that state legislators would make a decision that effectively takes away women’s access to health services — which extend far beyond providing abortions.

At a time when millions of Americans live without health insurance, it’s hard to understand how legislators think this is a justifiable move. Thousands of low-income women rely on Planned Parenthood and similar organizations for birth control, pelvic and breast exams and other health services.

The passage of the bill Monday comes on the heels of the passage of legislation last week that adds other restrictions to the state’s abortion laws, giving Indiana some of the tightest restrictions in the nation.

If the concern among legislators is to reduce the number of abortions, it hardly makes sense to pass a law that will make it harder for Hoosier women to get birth control. And it is appalling that lawmakers continue to encourage and support legislation that sacrifices women’s health and restricts their right to make decisions for themselves.

— Amy Huffman-Branham, assistant editor