sdalton

Member For

1 year 7 weeks

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Porter County Politics

BIOGRAPHY

For the last 20 years involved in home building, real estate and mortgage finance. Grew up in Indianapolis and moved to Northwest Indiana 10 years ago. Married and proud father of four great kids. In 1999 got my first taste of politics in the City of Valparaiso mayoral election, we lost to a 5 term Democrat incumbent. During the next four years though the conservatives in our area really began a major re-tooling culminating in 2003 with Mayor Jon Costas being elected over that same incumbent in a landslide, delivering the entire city council in his coat-tails. I was privileged to chair that campaign. Over the next couple years of course we then were able to work closely with new Governor Mitch Daniels and dozens of county and state races. Currently I maintain several consulting contracts with small businesses, focusing on strategic planning and business development, as well as remaining very involved in the mortgage business. Blogging started as a hobby four years ago, with a friend asking if I would post my thoughts each day on local news. Our local media is dominated by two newspapers and opposing views were difficult to find. Today I am editing roughly 20 sites, active on social networks focused on politics and real estate, as well as more than busy with my family.

COMMENTARIES

Social Media for Conservatives 10-Day Plan

By Steve Dalton | 12/27/08

10 day plan - Social Media for Conservatives I was asked yesterday if I had an outline or plan for a politically active person wanting to get involved in social media? Now, first let me say that the second I write this plan down it will of course get skewered by those that know a lot more than I. I'll try to source the really great socially actives in my posts. So, from today December 27th, 2008 till January 5th 2009 I will write one post... read more »

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From the Governor - Merry Christmas (cut your budgets)

By Steve Dalton | 12/25/08

Mitch Daniels keeps budget cutting pressure on Merry Christmas, by the way, here in Indiana Governor Daniels is keeping the pressure on all levels of government to cut and restrain their budgets. With a $1 billion projected shortfall for the state, he is moving quickly to cut and privatize and slash if needed. At the same time he's also putting substantial pressure on local communities to further cut budgets that were slashed earlier this... read more »

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Cartoon of the Day

By Steve Dalton | 12/22/08

From Carpe Diem - my favorite economic blogger that I read every morning. read more »

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Conservatives Attempt to Collaborate... Herding Jello

By Steve Dalton | 12/07/08

I'm sure many of you have been following conservative "movements" over the last month. I won't suggest this is a complete list by any shake, and if I'm missing some groups feel free to list in comments below. Let's Get This Right - started during summer of 2008 by group of pro-McCain bloggers. McCain's campaign did a terrible job working with the roughly 600 bloggers that were supporting his campaign. But this group... read more »

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Twitter for Conservatives - Practical Social Media

By Steve Dalton | 12/03/08

I posted the entry below to one of my real estate sites - Active Rain - because RE.net was one of the first communities to really "get it" when it came to social media. If you haven't taken the time to join, or are just using a feed system where you pump your posts on twitter but never really engage, then today is the day to get off your duff. Engage and interact. Blatant Self-promotion: Follow me on twitter.No beating around the bush... read more »

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Northwest Indiana cities and towns

By Steve Dalton | 12/01/08

Political News in Northwest Indiana With the election over, much of the angry talk is gone for the next year, and we can focus on positive good government debate and interaction here. It's been a while since I've done a general rundown of political news in the Region, if I've missed some stories, put in comments below and we'll graduate good ones to full posts this week.From Merrillville Howard Fink promoted at Town of Merrillville A hearty... read more »

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Update from the Region - NW Indiana

By Steve Dalton | 11/21/08

Politics in the Region #fullpostdisplay:none; I'm sure the whole state is in the same situation now that we're post-election, lots of talking about what lessons were learned and what happens next for the GOP. Some samples from Northwest Indiana for those who care:Retort: Ron Paul supporters aren't foolish - a back and forth debate occurring on Porter County Politics about the impact of Ron Paul supporters in the GOP going forward. In Lake... read more »

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Mini-Depression and the battle for economic common sense

By Steve Dalton | 11/15/08

While reading a post by Robert Reich tonite it occurred to me that 2009 will feature a battle of epic proportions, with the now styled Mini-Depression at center stage.On the one side economists and the Democrat Congress, demanding quick action to drastically increase government spending on infrastructure, roads, highways and rail to create jobs and pump money into consumer's hands. "First, understand that the main problem right now is not... read more »

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Sign "no auto industry bailout" at #dontgo

By Steve Dalton | 11/12/08

Remember the excitement of this summer's #dontgo Revolution? When Republican Congressional members debated in the dark, demanding that Speaker Pelosi let them vote on oil drilling. She kept the lights and microphones off, so technology kicked in and members with phones twittered using the #dontgo hashtag to get the word out to all of us. Well that same group, of dedicated conservative activists, #dontgo movement is hosting a petition... read more »

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Gen X and Millenials want change ... in GOP

By Steve Dalton | 11/07/08

I just wrote on Porter County Politics a post featuring Media Lizzy's insistent post:We were deprived of knowing Martin Luther King, Jr. and Bobby Kennedy and JFK. Because these great men were assassinated. We remember when Sadat died. We have watched as Baby Boomers ran in fear from every major challenge, shirked every responsibility, talked the talk about social justice but refused to let go of their youth. They fought in a botched war... read more »