V26, N19 Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021 This Power 50 comes in time of crisis Power struggle in DC, decline of Indiana delegation, pandemic and a powerful governor shape 2021 Power 50 list By BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS – After two decades of pub- lishing Power 50 lists in the first week of January, this one comes in a true crisis atmosphere. As we watched in horror the U.S. Capitol be- ing overrun by supporters of President Trump on Wednes- day, the COVID-19 pandemic has killed more than 8,000 Hoosiers and 350,000 Ameri- cans, shutting down our state and nation for nearly two months last spring. While vaccines are coming, there will be a distinct BC (Before COVID) and AC delineations as this epic story comes to a close. It gripped like a vise key figures, from Gov. Eric Continued on page 4 Banana States of America By BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS – When newly-elected Mike Pence showed up at the U.S. Capitol for his first joint session of Congress on Jan. 6, 2001, he watched Vice President Al Gore declare George W. Bush and Dick Cheney as the “I call on this mob to pull back winning Electoral College ticket. He heard Gore, who lost a bitter election that was ultimately decided in the Bush and restore order. Words of a v. Gore U.S. Supreme Court case, tell the assembly at its conclusion, president matter. I call on Presi- “May God bless our new president dent Trump to go on national and new vice president, and may God bless the United States of television now to demand and America.” end to this scene. The world Nine months and five days later – on Sept. 11 – Rep. Pence is watching. I am genuinely stood in that Capitol as the doomed Flight 93 approached, only to be shocked and saddened.” forced in the ground hundred miles - President-elect Joe Biden Page 2 short of its mission of terror by patriot tions, when demonstrators, urged by passengers. a cornered president, try to take over On Wednesday, Vice President the capital building it’s called a coup. Pence presided over a joint session of Nothing else. In a classic coup, first Congress in what should have been a protesters take state buildings, then routine congressional imprimatur of it goes to the military to pick sides.” Howey Politics Indiana state certification showing WWWHowey Media, LLC he and President Donald c/o Business Office Trump had lost the Nov. 3 PO Box 6553 election to Democrats Joe Biden and Kamala Har- Kokomo, IN, 46904 ris. This occurred as CBS www.howeypolitics.com News reported this cryptic message heard on re- Brian A. Howey, Publisher stricted channels by mul- Mark Schoeff Jr., Washington tiple New York air traffic controllers: “We are flying Mary Lou Howey, Editor a plane into the Capitol Wednesday. Former President George W. Susan E. Joiner, Editor Soleimani will be avenged.” Bush compared the “insurrection” to But the terror at the U.S. those of a “banana republic.” Subscriptions Capitol didn’t come from pilots from President Trump tweeted Iran, but by supporters of President around 2:20 p.m., “Mike Pence HPI, HPI Daily Wire $599 Trump who laid siege to the building didn’t have the courage to do what HPI Weekly, $350 after he goaded them to go to the should have been done to protect our Lisa Hounchell, Account Manager Capitol. At a rally at the Ellipse, Trump Country and our Constitution, giving (765) 452-3936 telephone made a lie-filled speech, telling his States a chance to certify a corrected (765) 452-3973 fax supporters that the election had been set of facts, not the fraudulent or in- [email protected] stolen, and that Joe Biden would be accurate ones which they were asked “illegitimate.” Trump vowed he would to previously certify. USA demands Contact HPI “never concede” and urged the mas- the truth!” [email protected] sive crowd to march to the Capitol During the proceedings, Howey’s cell: 317.506.0883 where hundreds had already gathered Pence had acknowledged a challenge under tight security. “We’re going to Arizona’s certification, and ad- Washington: 202.256.5822 to walk to the Capitol,” Trump said. journed for what had been expected Business Office: 765.452.3936 “You’ll never take back our country to be others of Electoral College with weakness.” results from Georgia, Pennsylvania, © 2021, Howey Politics The Capitol was quickly over- Michigan and Wisconsin. Indiana. All rights reserved. whelmed, security perimeters were In the ultimate split screen breached. Protesters could be seen moment, Trump told his supporters, Photocopying, Internet forward- breaking windows and entering the “Mike Pence, I hope you’re going to ing, faxing or reproducing in any Senate chamber, sitting where Pence stand up for the good of our Con- form, whole or part, is a violation had been just an hour earlier. Speaker stitution and for the good of our of federal law without permission Nancy Pelosi’s office had been en- country. And if you’re not, I’m going from the publisher. tered. It is unclear how Pence himself to be very disappointed in you. I will was secured, but there were reports tell you right now, I’m not hearing that he was going to be whisked away good stories. I hope Mike is going to Jack E. Howey after the Proud Boys urged his execu- do the right thing. I hope so. I hope editor emeritus tion. Members of Congress and staff- so, because if Mike Pence does the 1926-2019 ers were advised to shelter in place. right thing, we win the election. … Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser All Vice President Pence has to do is issued a 6 p.m. curfew. send it back to the states to recertify, “This is what the president and we become president.” has caused today, this insurrection,” Trump had lunched with said U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney, the Pence on Tuesday, and there were Republican 2012 presidential nomi- photos of the vice president and his nee. NBC chief foreign correspondent Chief of Staff Marc Short in the Oval Richard Engel, tweeted, “In other na- Office. Trump said that participating Page 3 in the reversal of the election isn’t what takes courage. “I defend our Constitution, just as I did as a United States said, ‘Mike, that doesn’t take courage.’ What takes courage Marine. I will not violate that oath.” is to do nothing; that takes courage. And then we’re stuck Hours after Georgia Republicans lost two U.S. Sen- with a president who lost the election by a lot. And we ate races, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell spent have to live with that for four more years.” his last hours in the majority citing the dangers of the mo- A few minutes later Trump told the Ellipse ment. “If this election were overturned by mere allegations crowd, “And Mike Pence is going to have to come through from the losing side, our democracy would enter a death for us. And if he doesn’t, that will be a sad day for our spiral. We’d never see the whole nation accept the election country because you’re sworn to uphold our Constitution. again,” McConnell said. “I believe protecting our constitu- If they do the wrong thing, we should never, ever forget.” tional order requires respecting the limits of our own power. The loudspeakers at the “Overturn the Election” It would be unfair and wrong to disenfranchise American rally played the Celine Dion theme song “My Heart Will Go voters and overrule the courts and states on this extraordi- On” from the movie “Titanic.” nary thin basis. I will vote to respect the people’s decision That came after Pence issued a statement hours and defend our system of government as we know it. earlier: “My oath to support and defend the Constitution “I supported the president’s right to use the legal constrains me from claiming unilateral authority to deter- system dozens of lawsuits …. But over and over the courts mine which electoral votes should be counted and which rejected these claims including all-star judges whom the should not. My role as presiding officer is largely ceremo- president himself has nominated,” McConnell said. nial. Some believe that as Vice Within an hour after Pence com- President, I should be able to menced the joint session began, a mob accept or reject electoral votes of Trump supporters breached a U.S. unilaterally. Others believe that Capitol security perimeter and tear gas electoral votes should never be was fired around 2:15 p.m. The Capitol challenged in a Joint Session of and congressional office buildings were Congress. After a careful study under lockdown. A woman was killed. of our Constitution, our laws Pence was whisked to a secure and our history I believe neither location. “The violence and destruction view is correct.” taking place at the US Capitol Must Stop and it Must Stop Pence ended the three-page letter saying, “So Now,” Pence later tweeted. “Anyone involved must respect Help Me God.” Law Enforcement officers and immediately leave the build- Trump’s hellbent decision to use the normally cere- ing.” monial congressional acceptance of state Electoral College McConnell and Pelosi reconvened the joint session results not only puts Pence’s future presidential campaigns at 8 p.m. and the Electoral College process was confirmed in a precarious position, it roiled the Republican Party as early this morning. Pence said at 3:41 a.m.