"Legislator: I'll Stand Up For Pea Shakers"

Right here in Indy.
Now, there are campaign promises, and there are...moronic statements made to the press. I don't know what shaking peas is all about, but the actual title of the Channel Six News article gives just a hint...Police: Senator Defended Illegal Gambling During Raid

INDIANAPOLIS -- A state senator tried to persuade officers to ignore an illegal gambling operation as they raided it last week, Indianapolis police said.
Police said state Sen. Glenn Howard went to the site -- 1410 Roache St., a home that investigators said was hosting "pea shake" games -- during the raid Friday night and talked to the officers.

I'm a little speechless here, but indyernie attended a Town Hall Meeting at Broadripple HS and spoke with leading Sheriff's Dept (before the merger) folks.

Colonel Forestal told me that beginning Jan.1, that all illegal gambling would be investigated.
This is interesting, I have talked to LEOs

(law enforcement officers -- not the astrological sign)

and I hear the same comment from all of them. The LEOs state that they have been told to stay away from the pea shake houses.

Another graph from the story caught my eye...Glenn Howard, D-Indianapolis told 6News'Jack Rinehart:

"I said if they stay in the community and give back to the community, I will stand up for them. That's exactly what I've been doing," the senator said.

"Give back to the community...??" Methinks the Hon. Senator Howard (D-Indianapolis) believes that means to support HIS campaigns. The accompanying photo shows the Senator wearing a baseball cap with the words "I Love Jesus" on the brim.
Sometimes we in Indiana trade chuckles with folks in Kentucky over who is more backward. We win.
IndyU's article is short, but has commenters on both sides of the "bart/brizzi" thang!

LEOs, if Bart won't do his job, Brizzi will. Indyu's sources told it today that Brizzi has filed charged against Lance Howard for illegal gambling! Maybe this is the start of something big! Indyu hopes so!

Over at wxnt's blogs , Abdul has some interesting info...

Police did make arrests and confiscated more than $5,000. In addition, there was an “elaborate video security” system there but it is unclear whether there were any tapes taken.
If there were tapes, it will be interesting to see who was on them. This could be the start of something big.

For some folks, a good nights rest would be plenty big - Channel Six...

Some people who live in the neighborhood of the raided home told 6News that the gambling attracts gun crime, trash, traffic and loud noise.
"We're trying to revitalize this neighborhood," said one resident whom 6News didn't identify, "and we can't do that as long as these illegal houses are allowed to be here."

espresso beans to indyernie