On Monday, July 29, I was tagged in several social media posts about two school buses dropping migrants off at the South Bend Social Security office. People had expressed that they couldn’t utilize the office’s services because of the number of people there.
The people dropped off at the SSA building were all young men who appeared to be Mexican, Central, or South American. Most likely they were migrants. People asked that I look into it. I did.
Rep. Jim Banks, who’s also running for Senate in Indiana also shared a post about the buses in South Bend.
That particular post he responded to was removed, but others remain.
Vice President Kamala Harris was routinely labeled as Biden’s ‘border czar’ by the news media. The Democrats and many in the media are trying to erase that historical fact.
“This was a group of lawful, documented residents at the social security office,” Mueller, a Democrat, said in a written statement. “Rep. Jim Banks is a shameful opportunist, spreading racist political lies instead of advancing real solutions for South Bend or our nation’s broken immigration system.”
Before he issued the statement, Mayor Mueller’s spokeswoman told the paper:
the mayor’s office learned enough about the situation to know that the people were at the Social Security office lawfully conducting business.
Given that migrants who have no legal standing to stay in the U.S. often get released into the country pending their hearing, it’s certainly a concern that these might be illegal immigrants, or asylum seekers who don’t qualify for asylum under the law. This is a common issue with the country’s border policies. Allowing migrants who crossed the border illegally to remain in the U.S. after being captured is a signature complaint about Biden’s border policy.
I contacted Mayor Mueller’s office since he didn’t answer people’s questions about the migrants at the SSA building to see if I could get more information.
After talking about the issue in my first segment on my radio show, Mayor Mueller’s office decided to send this response:
Rep. Jim Banks made no such assertions in his post. It was more ad hominem attacks from the Mayor’s office and the questions weren’t answered.
Finally, I was sent the response from the SSA about the migrant buses in South Bend from someone else who was working on this issue (I erased the name of the recipient):
If the Mayor’s office hadn’t kept this all close to the vest and was just honest about what was happening, people might not have been as angry as they were. Instead, they chose to hurl false insults and attacks at people who were just trying to figure out what was going on.
Welcome back to another episode of Common Veterans, where we delve into the diverse and often untold stories of those who have served our country. In this seventh installment of Season 2, titled “You Got More of Those Deployments,” we explore a theme that resonates deeply within the veteran community: the complexities of multiple deployments.
For many veterans, the question “You got more of those deployments?” encapsulates both the camaraderie and the challenges of military service. Each deployment represents a chapter in the lives of these brave men and women, marked by duty, sacrifice, and a unique blend of emotions that only those who have served can truly understand.
Throughout this episode, we will hear firsthand accounts from veterans who have navigated multiple deployments. Their experiences vary widely, from the adrenaline rush of combat zones to the quieter moments of reflection during downtime. We'll explore the impact of prolonged separations from loved ones, the evolution of camaraderie among unit members, and the personal growth that comes from facing adversity in different corners of the world.
Moreover, we'll examine how each deployment shapes a veteran's identity and influences their transition back to civilian life. The challenges of readjustment, finding a new sense of purpose, and coping with the invisible wounds of war are themes that underscore the resilience and strength of our veterans.
As we embark on this journey together, it's important to recognize that while each veteran's story is unique, their collective experiences bind them in a shared tapestry of service to our nation. Common Veterans strives to honor these stories, offering a platform for voices that deserve to be heard and insights that deserve to be understood.
Join us as we explore the profound impact of multiple deployments in Episode 7 of Season 2, “You Got More of Those Deployments.” Through these stories, we hope to foster a deeper appreciation for the sacrifices made by our servicemen and women and a greater understanding of the challenges they face long after their uniforms are laid to rest.
I wanted to give you just some basic voting data for Indiana leading into the 2024 General Election. I focused on general elections in presidential years only. I compiled data for 2012, 2016, and 2020.
First, let’s take a look at total registered voters vs actual voter turnout over the past three presidential election cycles.
This is, actually, the most interesting set of data, in my opinion.
In 2012, the population of the Hoosier state was around 6,538,989 people. In 2020, the population was around 6,789,098 people. That’s a population increase of 3.82%. Yet, the number of registered voters increased by 4.31% between 2012 and 2020 with a decrease of 1.61% between 2016 and 2020. There has been a prolonged battle to cure Indiana’s voter rolls by purging registered voters who are no longer legal voters for various reasons.
There have been various attempts to smear Indiana’s attempts to ensure registered voters are, actually, legal voters. The media reported that between 2012 and 2014, Indiana removed 22.4% of its voting population. Yet, the number of registered voters from 2012 to 2016 increased over 6%. For the years in question, where Indiana allegedly removed over 22% of voters, the number of registered voters actually increased 0.83%. Indiana’s attempts to ensure voting integrity have been fought every step of the way by activists.
In 2020, the Center For Public Integrity alleged that “Indiana has made it harder for people to vote.” Well, if that’s the case, why are more people voting? Turnout has continually increased for the main elections. No, looking at primaries and municipal elections where there’s general apathy doesn’t count.
Now onto how voters vote …
As you can see in the chart, since 2012, total voter turnout for presidential year general elections have increased. Hard to do in a state where the liberal activists say Indiana is making it “harder for people to vote.”
Another statistic we see is the ever-decreasing number of people who vote in person and the increasing number who vote absentee. We had COVID in 2020 but the numbers were moving away from voting in person to absentee long before COVID.
The numbers are somewhat staggering.
Absentee voting from 2012 to 2020 increased by over 216%. While in-person voting decreased by over 42%.
In 2014, Pew Research showed Republicans with a 5-point advantage over Democrats in Indiana.
Since 2012, Republican presidential candidates have received higher percentages of votes than Democrats. Part of that could be the Mike Pence factor as the Vice Presidential candidate.
Indiana doesn’t register voters by party affiliation so getting unbiased numbers is difficult. So trends in that regard are hard to see.
More people are moving to Indiana than away from it. Many are from blue states. Republicans would like you to believe they are mostly Republicans fleeing Democrat policies, but Indiana doesn’t have a reputation as a refuge for conservatives. Texas and Florida do, but Indiana does not.
2024 will be an interesting year to evaluate for years to come. The unique circumstances surrounding Trump/Biden 2.0 could provide for temporary anomalies in election patterns or could completely reset the electorate in a way previously unimaginable.