Whether it's the local or the national Democratic Party, cluelessness prevails.

The current count is three.

For weeks, I've been asking Floyd County Democratic Party members to set me straight (privately or publicly) and try to explain why an eroding entity with no coherent platform and no apparent purpose, save for acting as garbage detail and all-purpose apologist for a mayor who seldom emits anything even remotely democratic while pursuing an ever more ludicrous cult of personality, continues to double down on the same losing bets.

Specifically, why re-enthrone Adam Dickey as chairman? In terms of results, doesn't Dickey make Tom Crean look like the second coming of John Wooden?

Three Democrats have accepted the challenge, and each has offered a variant on the same exculpatory theme: Times are tough, and Dickey is the only one who'll do the work, and he busts his ass to get it done.

But if your dysfunctional contraption is losing elections, hemorrhaging support, failing to develop young talent and facing oblivion in the next round of municipal elections, then exactly to what end is this hard work being done?

It's more of the same buffed and polished corporate propaganda daintily draping a rotting carcass, isn't it?

Look, if you're going to maintain status as a boy wonder, then at least one of two conditions must apply -- that you're a boy, although simple chronology eventually overtakes the feverish air brushing, and that you're in some way wondrous.

Hmm.

Zero for two, which hereabouts is grounds to serve as chairman for life. Verily, 2019 can't come soon enough.

KING: The Democratic Party seems to have no earthly idea why it is so damn unpopular, by Shaun King (New York Daily News)

 ... The Democratic Party is deeply unpopular – period. It’s a fact. Don’t look away. Don’t call me a Bernie Bro. It’s a problem that must be seriously addressed. Not a day goes by when I don’t have people reach out to me and ask if it would be worth it to start a credible alternative to what the Democrats are offering. Most people, I believe, would also be open to a brand new way of business for the Democratic Party, but core leaders seem hell bent on doing the same old crap.

When good people who are frustrated with the Democratic Party express their genuine concerns, I see them being told to shut up and unify. “Now is not the time for public complaints,” they are told. “We must all work together.”

But what this apparently means to the people who are calling for unity is getting behind the corporate, suit and tie, lobbyist-driven agenda of the establishment. But let me break it to you – the establishment has almost no grassroots momentum. Virtually every progressive grassroots movement in America right now is fueled by people outside of the Democratic Party establishment and this is a huge reason why the party is so outrageously unpopular.

Huge grassroots movements, made up of millions and millions of people, are fueling the fight for a $15 minimum wage, fighting back against fossil fuels and the Dakota Access Pipeline, fighting to end fracking, fighting to remove lobbyist money from politics, fighting to end senseless wars and international violence, fighting for universal healthcare, fighting for the legalization of marijuana, fighting for free college tuition, fighting against systems of mass incarceration, and so much more.

But mainstream Democrats aren’t really a central part of any of those battles, and, to be clear, each of those issues have deep networks, energized volunteers, and serious donors, but corporate Democrats virtually ignore them ...

Steve Stemler excused from a decision yet again as the House excises an HJR-3 clause and fundamentalist notjobs reach for their Bics.

Gazing at the "how they voted" list, one sees the name Steven Stemler and a word that prompts Yogi Berra's "deja vu all over again."

That'd be "excused." Not exactly a profile in courage, and yep; we've all been here before ... in 2011.

Same-sex marriage: One in the win column for Rep. Clere, who refrains from supporting the "language of hate."

Rep. Steve Stemler, D-Jeffersonville, was excused from House action on Tuesday and did not vote. However, he was listed as a co-author of the bill.

As this was the case again yesterday, douchebaggery has a new poster child. Meanwhile, the Indy Star's reporters explain the shape our GOPsters are in, which I can describe with brevity: Like I've always told you, fundamentalism simply is bad for business.

Indiana House amends HJR-3, possibly delaying referendum, by Tony Cook and Barb Berggoetz (IndyStar)

 ... Democrats say Republicans are in a bind for several reasons. They're torn between two traditional bases of support: the business community and social conservatives. They also fear growing opposition to gay marriage bans could hurt them in future elections.

"The governor made it clear he didn't want the amendment on the ballot in 2016," said Rep. Charlie Brown, D-Gary. "So, now, what do they do? They are between a rock and a hard place. They are killing themselves even nationally with this whole issue. Why would they continue to pursue this when most of the folks who were opposed to this are their friends – big business (and) the (Indy) chamber" ...

The straight lead paragraphs:

In an atmosphere of rapidly shifting opinions on gay marriage, nearly two dozen Indiana House Republicans bucked their leadership to strip a same-sex marriage ban of the clause opponents find most objectionable.

The House voted 52-43 to remove the proposed constitutional amendment's second sentence, which would have banned civil unions and similar arrangements. That leaves only the first sentence, which would still ban gay marriages ...

"Not for some people, but for all people."

It's a video worth viewing and a story worth reading, if only to see the city council digs in Springfield, Missouri. We're talking plush.

But seriously ... the parameters of discrimination as justified by Christianity, this one with a twist.

After More Than 1.5 Million Views, Pastor Speaks Out About Viral Video

Following attention this video has received more than two months after he gave the speech in Springfield, Missouri, Rev. Dr. Phil Snider of Brentwood Christian Church added some context to the speech on Saturday.

White flag aloft: I'm not buying DNA's 501(c)(3) dodge.

As reported earlier today, after months of dragging its feet, Develop New Albany finally opted out from the single most important issue facing its supposed constituency (bridge tolls) and provided as a tremulous excuse this tired sidestep:

The organization is a tax exempt charitable organization and IRS rules state Section 501(c)(3) organizations are restricted in how much political and legislative (lobbying) activities they may conduct.

Take a look at the IRS guidelines linked below.

Can you find any part of it that would (a) preclude a one-time vote supporting toll-free bridges (substantial part test), or (b) would prevent a self-described economic development organization from conducting educational activities pertaining to the economic impact of bridge tolls on the same small businesses the organization claims to represent? Of course, the organization would have to desire performance of its stated function, which is another topic.

What say the lawyers?

Political and Lobbying Activities

Political activities and legislative activities (commonly referred to as lobbying) are two different things and are subject to two different sets of rules. The rules depend on several issues:

• The type of tax-exempt organization (different rules apply to private foundations than to other section 501(c)(3) organizations),
• The type of activity (political or lobbying) at issue,
• The scope or amount of the activity conducted, and
• The consequences of exceeding the given set of limitations.