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Sunday, September 30, 2007

Principles Of A New Conservative Majority.

Principles Of A New Conservative Majority

I BELIEVE that the strength of our nation lies with the individual and that each person's liberty, dignity, freedom and personal privacy must be honored and respected.

I BELIEVE that the role of government is to practice fiscal responsibility and allow individuals to keep more of the money they earn.

I BELIEVE that strong national security and safety of Americans at home and abroad must be a top priority of Conservatives and our government.

I BELIEVE in the Constitutional protection of the separation of church and state-- that official policies of our country should not be dictated by personal religious beliefs.

I BELIEVE that medical decisions and moral choices are individual and family decisions not government decisions.

I BELIEVE that we build a strong Conservative Majority by consensus, not by forcing an agenda on issues that are divisive, personal and best left at home.

I BELIEVE that the Conservatives should focus on a traditional agenda of smaller government, a balanced budget,reduced deficits, regulatory reform, political ethics,lower taxes, a sane foreign policy and a pro-growth economy.

I BELIEVE that the Conservatives should be welcoming and respectful of differing views on issues of disagreement.

I BELIEVE that Conservatives should be good stewards of the environment.

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*** Breaking news: Fletcher's new ad is NOT about casinos, ... ***

... yep, you heard it right. I got so TIRED of the casino ads that I STOPPED posting them here. I figured you were TIRED of watching them, too. I guess you can say that someone FINALLY listened and left that "dead horse" alone.

The new ad deals with Kentucky Central Insurance affair. I watched it last night on T. V. and I will update this post by placing the ad here for you to see for yourself -- and I will analyze -- it pronto.

Good night, y'all.

Update: Here's the ad:


My view? First, the fact that the ad DOESN'T BORE us to DEATH with gambling/casino deserves a BIG thanks. Second, to analyze this ad DEMANDS a first read from Pat Crowley's post.

Here is an excerpt: Fletcher hits Beshear for the role he and his law firm played in the liquidation of KY Central Insurance. While true Beshear's firm did collect $21 million for its work, given the size of the bankruptcy that is not an outrageous number when put into perspective. But neither Beshear nor his firm had anything to do with people losing jobs and investments, as the ad hints. That happened when the company went down; Beshear and his firm came in to clean up the mess.

My sentiments, EXACTLY, Pat.

Then you have the claim in the ad that Steve Beshear's firm paid a $100,000.00 to cover up an ethics investigation.

THERE IS NO EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT BESHEAR'S FIRM PAID TO COVER UP AN ETHICS INVESTIGATION.

It defies CREDIBILITY to suggest otherwise, and I will now create a new post label for the blog to dissuade "Bearing false witness."

NOTE: One thing, though, is this message from Jason Keller, spokes person from the Fletcher campaign, which I think is appropriate in this matter:

Releasing that report would clear up the mystery surrounding the agreement.
Stephens said he doesn’t recall Beshear being cited for anything improper. And no one is accusing Beshear of any wrongdoing (Curiously, I thought this accusation was THE essence of Fletcher's new ad).

But the curious decision to conceal the results of an ethics investigation — what is the point of an investigation if the results are kept confidential? — and the even more curious memory lapse of a candidate for governor in the middle of it raise some questions that ought to be answered between now and November. The Franklin County Circuit Court should release the ethics report. Steve Beshear should insist on it.

Please note that Steve Beshear has already called for the report to be released and ONLY the court, NOT he, can order it released!

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*** The United States Navy wants you! ***

Saturday, September 29, 2007

Obama "calls out" Clinton, admits he doesn't have the "wrong kind of experience". I say good for you, Obama;, and, then me and Michelle Obama.




President Clinton says that Obama doesn't have the experience to be President. Continuing, Bill Clinton said: "The same old experience is not relevant. ... And you can have the right kind of experience and the wrong kind of experience,"

By so speaking, Bill Clinton, as is peculiar to him, and to politicians like him, he CONVENIENTLY forgot his own opinion on experience, which he self-righteously expressed when he ran against Bush, sr., and Ross Perot for President:


Reacting to the OBVIOUS hypocrisy (surprise, surprise), Obama responded in kind today by saying: "[Clinton's] exactly right,... [W]hat we need to do is put an end to the wrong kind of experience", and "the nation does not need the kind of experience that tinkers around the edges instead of doing something fundamental about how lobbyists operate in Washington."

Then continuing: "We need the kind of experience that I think I bring to this race, of bringing people together to get things done." Read it here.

Ouch!

I say good for you, Obama. My sentiments, EXACTLY.

On another related matter, after I posted this about Michelle Obama, I received an email from her that made me say, Oh, oh -- it was captioned "Re: Hey" and I thought she was going to give me an ear full. It turned out it was a form letter seeking my contribution.

It made me laugh out LOUD after I read it. Then I figured that, since his campaign STILL hadn't refunded my money from the sold out Lexington event, she can use that money and QUIT asking me for more.

And then I laughed out LOUD some more.

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Indiscriminate killings in Burma.


Indiscriminate killings in Burma. (WARNING: slightly GRAPHIC). Let's STOP the military from slaughtering its UNARMED citizens.

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After flirting with idea to run for President, Newt Gingrich WISELY gives it up.


After NEEDLESSLY flirting with idea to run for President, if he can raise $3o million by October 21st, including going to the extent to allow his supporters to launch a DraftNewt movement, replete with big ideas, and making people question his motivations, Newt Gingrich WISELY gives it up.

But the question that remains in my mind to be answered is whether any of the candidates "promised him a Rose Garden", as maybe someone's promised him a Veep spot, in order to get him to quit his flirtation.

Was that you, Fred Thompson, who made the promise?

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Friday, September 28, 2007

Person for the week: Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.


It was a hard choice picking the winner this week, but after much thought we can't pass up the choice of the Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

When your host introduces you as "Mr. President, you exhibit all the signs of a petty and cruel dictator", as LEE BOLLINGER, the president of Columbia University, did this week while introducing Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and you garner most of the press for the week, you know you CANNOT escape the tag of the Person for the week.


Honarable mention goes to Ms. Julie McPeak, the executive director of the Kentucky's office of insurance, whose attempts to jump Gov. Fletcher's political ship because of his "bleak political future", was chronicled in an email, that was leaked to the world to behold.

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Quote(s) for the week.

1) "I think I may need a job soon. Latest poll shows 18 pts. with 90 days to go ... [Gov. Fletcher's re-election] seems a bit bleak."
Julie McPeak, an official with Gov. Fletcher's Insurance Dept., looking for a job because she thinks the Gov.'s re-election "looks bleak".

2) "We're the British."
- Mayor MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, who also compared Iraqi insurgents to the Americans who fought in the Revolutionary War.

3) "He goes home because a lot of people left their home and stood up for him."
- AL SHARPTON, after the last of the Jena 6, a group of black teens accused of beating a white classmate, was released on bail.

4) "The President's stubbornness is like an anchor around the Republican Party." - Democratic Rep. AL WYNN, on President Bush's increasing threat of vetoes to constrain the Democratic-controlled Congress even as Bush's popularity remains low.

5) "It's not true, but it is something that I have no control over. People will say what they want to say."
- HILLARY CLINTON, on the rumors that she is a lesbian.

6) "If Barack doesn't win Iowa, it's just a dream."
- MICHELLE OBAMA, during a campaign stop in Quad City, Iowa, on Wednesday. Some journalists have interpreted this statement as an announcement that the campaign would end if Obama doesn't win in Iowa.

7) "It's a good time for the Myanmar government to listen."
- SYED HAMID ALBAR, Malaysia's Foreign Minister, on an ASEAN statement expressing "revulsion" over the violence in Burma.

8) "This was classic bait and switch."
- BILL CLINTON, saying Republicans feigned outrage over MoveOn.org's New York Times ad to distract the public from larger problems in Iraq.

9) "A shift to a nation based on extra-constitutional authority is prohibited, as well as ill-advised."
- U.S. District Judge ANN AIKEN, after ruling that using the USA Patriot Act to authorize secret searches and wiretapping violates the constitution.

10) "We shouldn't use a tragedy for politics."
- BILL RICHARDSON, Democratic presidential hopeful, criticizing a $9.11-per-person fundraiser for Republican opponent Rudy Giuliani.

11) "The nuclear issue of Iran is now closed."
MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD, the president of Iran to the U.N. He added that Iran will leave the monitoring of its nuclear program to the U.N. nuclear watchdog.

12) "I think President Bush has to go into a corner and hide if a Republican is going to get elected."
- DONALD TRUMP, adding that President George W. Bush will be a "huge liability" for Republicans in 2008.

13) In Iran, we don't have homosexuals."
- MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD, Iranian President, speaking during a tempestuous visit to Columbia University in New York City on Monday.

14) "I just don't want to end up like Katie Couric. I want people to take me seriously."
- MISS U.S.A., a.k.a. Rachel Smith, on her journalistic ambitions.

15) Mr. President, you exhibit all the signs of a petty and cruel dictator."
- LEE BOLLINGER, the president of Columbia University, introducing Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

16) The Burmese people deserve better."
- CONDOLEEZZA RICE, U.S. Secretary of State, on the the situation in Myanmar, where 10,000 Buddhist monks demonstrated against the military junta on Sunday.

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Burma freedom fighters: The people of the United States are with you.




Burma freedom fighters: The United States is with you, in your struggles against your fellow country men/women, who seek to deny you God given liberty.

I dedicate to you the new blog labels of Freedom and Liberty.

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Bluegrass Freedom Fund, a 527, is unrelenting in attacking Fletcher.

KET: SOS and AG. Commissioner debates.

Candidates for Secretary of State, Incumbent Trey Grayson (R) and Bruce Hendrickson (D) spared on KET last night. I watched it, and if you did NOT, you can watch it.

I thought both candidates did very well, but that incumbency helped Trey win the debate as he had a BETTER command of the issues. (As a GREAT advocate of paper trail for voting, I thought Bruce scored a good point with his suggestion that if McDonald's restaurant can give its customers a receipt for their purchase, there is NO reason why government CANNOT do the same after we vote to ensure that our votes will count).

The second debate was for the candidates for Commissioner for Agriculture between incumbent Richie Farmer (R) and David L. Williams (D). I watched the debate, but if you didn't, you can watch it here.

Again, I thought both candidates did very well (in spite of David's speech handicap), though Richie didn't avail himself of the benefit of his incumbency the way Trey did.

Those are my two cents, what are yours?

Here's the rest of the debates schedules:

# Auditor of Public Accounts
Candidates on ballot: Linda Greenwell (R), Crit Luallen (D)*
Thursday, October 4 at 8:00/7:00 pm CT

# State Treasurer
Candidates on ballot: L.J. “Todd” Hollenbach (D), Melinda L. Wheeler (R)
Thursday, October 4 at 8:30/7:30 pm CT

# Attorney General
Candidates on ballot: Jack Conway (D), Stan Lee (R)
Monday, October 8 at 8:00/7:00 pm CT
R Wednesday, October 10 at 2:00/1:00 am CT

# Governor I
Candidates on ballot: Steven L. Beshear (D), Ernie Fletcher (R)*
Monday, October 15 at 8:00/7:00 pm CT
R Wednesday, October 17 at 2:00/1:00 am CT

# Lieutenant Governor
Candidates on ballot: Daniel Mongiardo (D), Robbie Rudolph (R)
Monday, October 22 at 8:00/7:00 pm CT
R Wednesday, October 24 at 2:00/1:00 am CT

# Governor II
Candidates on ballot: Steven L. Beshear (D), Ernie Fletcher (R)*
Monday, October 29 at 8:00/7:00 pm CT
R Wednesday, October 31 at 2:00/1:00 am CT

# indicates an incumbent.

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Is there NO ONE who can muzzle Michelle Obama?


If you read comments made by Barack Obama's wife Michelle, from her referring to him as being "snorey" and "stinky", to his Presidential run being just a "dream" if he cannot win Iowa, one wonders if there is NO ONE capable of muzzling her -- at least until the campaign season is over.

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GOP shames us with the "no debate".

Read it here. My respect goes out to those Presidential candidates who showed up, including Ron Paul.

Note: Fred Thompson was a NO show, and that REALLY disappoints me.

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What are they REALLY saying: Economic development, revisited.

Here is the continuing H-L series on economic development. This time the candidates ask each other the questions.

Here's what Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher and Democratic challenger Steve Beshear had to say.

Fletcher's Question:

Other than opposing the Toyota deal, your only economic development experience was the opportunity to save 800 Kentucky Central jobs. By taking out $36,000,000 and dismantling it, you lost those jobs. You then paid to cover-up a report detailing your unethical activity. How can Kentuckians trust you on economic development?

Beshear's Answer:

While Fletcher continues to distort the truth, here are honest facts about our economy: Under Ernie Fletcher, Kentucky's national rankings have DROPPED to 41st as a place to do business, 45th in ability to compete in the 21st Century economy, 44th in high-tech jobs, 43rd in industry investment in research and development, 36th in environment for small businesses/entrepreneurs, 42nd in per capita personal income and 39th in family income. I encourage you to read my Jobs Plan at www.stevebeshear.com. Kentucky's future depends upon our ability to grow our economy and create high-wage jobs that will enable us to compete nationally.

My view? See the highlighted portions.

Beshear's Question:

Since we’re discussing economic development, you say contributors to your legal defense fund are contributors to your campaign – up to 40% in one filing had state business. Which companies that received business incentives from the state have contributed to defending your criminal charges, and what did they get in return?

Fletcher's Answer:

No one with state business is a contributor to my defense fund. The public is more interested in how you were fired from representing Kentucky Central due to unethical activity and you then paid $100,000 in hush money to keep the investigation secret, and now cannot recall any of it. They are also interested in how you and your firm profited $21 million while 800 Kentuckians lost their jobs and thousands lost their savings due to your mismanagement.

My view? There is NO evidence that Beshear was was "fired from representing Kentucky Central due to unethical activity and you then paid $100,000 in hush money to keep the investigation secret"

Beshear was removed (and then subsequently hired back) because of concerns over whether his law firm was representing both sides in the matter.

The $100,000.00 paid by his firm for the investigation was ordered by the Court, and it CANNOT be classified as "hush money".

And, Beshear has consistently stated that he wants the report released (but ONLY the court can do so). Therefore, he CANNOT be accused of trying to keep "the investigation a secret".

There you have it, the candidates' answers, in their own words.

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... and maybe you gotta laugh at this one, too.

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Thursday, September 27, 2007

You gotta laugh at this one.

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House passes SCHIP, Senator Mitch McConnell sees "political posturing".



Your thoughts.

Update: The Senate has also passed SCHIP late today, but Congress' approving vote is not veto proof, and President Bush has promised a veto.

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Democrats file election complaint against RGA, I say why bother? RGA's ads were l-a-m-e and l-a-m-e-r and swayed NO ONE!

The Democratic party has filed a complaint with Kentucky Registry of Election Finance alleging that recent ads by the Republican Governors Association (RGA) broke state elections laws.

The ads complained of have been posted here before, but here are the TV ads #1 and #2, and mailers and a website.

But, unless the Democratic party expects the RGA ads to improve in the near future, I've got to wonder about the wisdom of the Democratic party complaining about ads that were l-a-m-e and l-a-m-e-r, and OBVIOUSLY swayed NO ONE!

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Fletcher seeks to help check illegal immigration, an idea Beshear also supports.

Gov. Fletcher wants to do something about illegal aliens who have served or are serving their jail/prison terms to ensure that they get deported after serving their sentences.

Great move on the Gov.'s part that Kentucky's Congressional delegation also supports.

And so does Steve Beshear, though he saw the move as a "a political stunt", since "Ernie Fletcher has sat on his hands for the last four years on these issues, but now he’s chosen to do it six weeks before the election."

My question is why is it limited to just correctional officers and their prisoners, and not include those stopped by police on non pre-textual traffic stops and the like?

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Meet our first two contributors.


Our first contributor comes from Lexington, his name is Steve Manning, a fellow Lawyer and Die Hard Conservative. Steve knows about Lexigton and area and will bring his knowledge of Fayette County, Kentucky and national politics and happenings to you on this blog.

Here is Steve's short bio:

Steve Manning is a corporate environmental attorney in Lexington,KY. Steve graduated from the University of Kentucky (B.A. Political Science (1971) and a JD from the UK College of Law (1974). He returned to Kentucky in 2005 after a 21 year absence while he practiced in Washington,DC ( US Department of Justice) and Jacksonville Florida.While in Jacksonville he served on the Executive Committee of the Duval County Republican Party and received the Eisenhower Commission from the RNC for his service to the GOP. Steve is married with two children.



Our next contributor comes to us from Jefferson County. In fact, his first name is Jefferson. Yes, I'm talking about Jefferson Poole.

Jefferson Poole is from Louisville, Kentucky, where he lives with his wife w/ no kids. Mr. Pool has a B.S. in economics from University of Louisville, and describes himself as a "Die Hard Conservative since I could tell right from wrong." Mr. Poole is very knowledgeable of Jefferson County/Louisville, Kentucky and national politics and happenings and will bring that expertise here.

Please join me in welcoming these two as contributors to the blog, and show them some love. More contributors are to be announced tomorrow, so check back.

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After outcry, Moveon pays New York Times full price for "General Betray us" ad. We will continue to keep them honest.

After much outcry (including from this blog) at the sweetheart deal given to Moveon.org by the New York Times to run the "General Betray us" ad, the Times has now been paid an additional $77,508.00 by the Liberal 527 group.

Talk about keeping them honest.

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Bluegrass poll: 47% approve of Stumbo's job, 26% disapprove, while 28% have no opinion; and, Conway leads Lee in AG race.

The new Bluegrass poll found that nearly half of the respondents (47%) approve of the job that Attorney General, Greg Stumbo, has done, with more than a quarter of them (28%) having no opinion and the other quarter (26%) disapproving.

The poll, according to the C-J, "interviewed 812 Kentucky adults between Sept 13-18 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.4 percentage points."

While I believe the SURVEYUSA poll to be more accurate, the Bluegrass poll is the only one out on Stumbo so I am posting it here.

My view? I find it interesting that Stumbo is NOT as reviled as some people want us to believe -- if the Bluegrass poll proves accurate.

Meanwhile, another Bluegrass poll of the two candidates vying to replace Greg Stumbo finds Jack Conway leading Rep. Stan Lee by a margin of 48% to 27%, with a huge victory making 25% still undecided.

I will await SURVEYUSA's poll coming early next month, which will pair the down ticket candidates, as well the Governor's race, but in the mean time, you can use the Bluegrass poll to get a general sense of where your candidate may stand.

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Wednesday, September 26, 2007

**** Conspiracy theorists should find something else to conspire about. ****

A new story in today's Courier-Journal, concerning the financial collapse of Kentucky Central Life Insurance, should put ALL conspiracy theorists out there on the path to searching for other conspiracies to turn to theories. But whether they will is doubtful, as it matters more about scoring CHEAP political points to them than anything else.

Here are excerpts from the C-J story:

The Courier-Journal and The Lexington Herald-Leader have asked Franklin Circuit Court to release a copy of that report. Judge Thomas Wingate said on Monday that he would review the report before deciding whether to release it.

Beshear repeated yesterday that he thinks the report should be released.

"There's been nothing to hide from the start of this," Beshear said. "I've said all along that every document in this case could be released as far as I'm concerned."

The possibility of a conflict for the law firm surfaced in the summer of 1993, when Stephens said he learned that the Bank of Louisville had sold securities owned by Kentucky Central on the advice of the Stites & Harbison firm.

Stephens said yesterday that "I do not believe Steve Beshear himself was the least bit involved" in giving any allegedly unethical advice to the bank or of any unethical activity.

...

Revell said he was retained as a "master commissioner" for a brief period by Graham, but he could not recall his specific assignment.

He said he believed he was to decide whether Stites & Harbison or a different firm should be the lead in representing the liquidator and that -- in that process -- he reviewed the possible conflict.

He said from what he recalled, he "absolutely did not" find any ethical problems on the part of Beshear. Graham said he did not recall Beshear ever being barred by Stephens from the case.

Graham said that Revel later reported Beshear was not involved in any ethical problem.



It is time to move on to REAL issues, and NOT manufactured ones.

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Fletcher's official at the center of insurance case is looking for a job because re-election looks "bleak."

Interesting developments as Julie McPeak, the Fletcher official (as Executive Director of the Department of Insurance) at the center of the Kentucky Central insurance case, and the one whose Attorney requested on her behalf(?) to keep the secret report of the investigation (used by some to speculate on Steve Beshear's supposed "ethics") SECRET, is job hunting because, according to her, Fletcher's re-election "looks bleak".

Don't believe me? Well, check out this email (Hat tip to Bluegrassreport.org's Mark Nicholas).

Could reality be biting or what?

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Vonage, and its LOUSY service, fined for patent infringement.


Vonage, the company that provides Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) phone service, not ONLY has LOUSY service -- not to talk about its DECEPTIVE practices -- but it has now been found guilty of various patent infringements, and ordered to pay SprintNextel $69 million in damages.

This is the second of such verdicts against Vonage this year. That verdict in earlier this year called for Vonage to pay Verizon $58 million in damages and 5.5 percent of its future revenue.

Bottom line? If you have Vonage (sorry to hear that), it is time for you to start worrying.

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UAW reaches agreement with GM to end strike. Who won?


The United Auto Workers Union (UAW) has reached a tentative agreement with General Motors (GM).

Who won and why?

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Michael Vick's "dog days of summer" continue as Virginia "bites" him with more charges.


Read the story. I am surprised, though, that his lawyer did NOT include any possible state charges as a part of his plea deal. Now he's really going to be knee deep in dog (you know what).

Oh well ... .

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What are they REALLY saying: Economic development.

The gubernatorial candidates answer H-L question on economic development. Here we go:

Question:

In North Carolina, state officials disclose on the Internet the tax incentives claimed by each and every company that receives an incentive package to create jobs in the state. Will you push to provide the same level of disclosure in Kentucky? Why or why not?

Beshear's Answer:

Absolutely. Kentucky ranks 45th in ability to compete economically. A 2005 study concluded the Fletcher Administration fails to evaluate economic development subsidies and relies on a "narrow" strategy of attracting businesses with financial subsidies while "other important strategies are comparatively neglected." We must require companies receiving incentives to do what they promise. To ensure that, state government should make public all business deals involving taxpayer dollars once the deal has been finalized. Fletcher has refused to do that, keeping the deals -- and the contributions that firms make to his plea-bargain fund -- secret. It's time for transparency and openness.

Fletcher's Answer:

My administration will provide as much information as federal and state law will allow. As Governor, I have worked to create opportunities for Kentuckians by providing new higher-paying, high-quality jobs. We have accomplished this by lowering taxes, creating new markets and cutting out needless regulation and red tape. Kentucky has seen a 240% increase in the number of high-tech start-up companies during my administration and we will continue to fuel the entrepreneurial spirit of Kentuckians by investing in education and by improving competition and products in the health care market to reduce insurance costs for businesses and employees.

My views? Check out the highlighted words above. Short and simple.

There you have it, the candidates, in their own words.

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Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Utah Mormon leader, Warren Jeffs, was found guilty of aiding rape. He is housed in Utah prison called "Purgatory". No kidding.

Warren Jeffs, the Utah polygamist Mormon sect leader, was found guilty of aiding the rape of a minor. Watch the Court TV coverage.

He is currently housed in a Utah prison called Purgatory.

No kidding.

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Iran's President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, visits U. S., claims Iran doesn't have gays ...


... but he forgot about these folks. Maybe, gay persecutions and executions are the reasons why:

Then he addresses the U. N. General Assembly (here is a link to his speech, and here are excerpts).

Your thoughts on the Iranian President's U. S. visit are welcome.

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U. S. Supreme Court to also review voter id law.

The U. S. Supreme Court will also review voter ids to decide whether or not they violate the constitution. The voter id at issue in this case is not the one that was the subject of my posts here, but that of Indiana. Incidentally, how the Court rules will, of course, have national implications.

I'm curious to read how the Court rules on this issue (by sometime before next summer), since the Court's acceptance of the case signifies that the Court wants uniformity in all jurisdictions or has some constitutional flaw that it is concerned about.

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Giuliani continues to exploit 9/11 tragedy, supporters plan a $9.11 fundraiser! You can't make this up!!


Yep, you can't make this up!!!

SAD.

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***** BREAKING OsiSpeaks! news. *****

On Monday October 1st, 2007, more blog contributors will join OsiSpeaks! to bring you the BEST that Kentucky has to offer. Stay tuned for further information.

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No imminent execution(s), as the U. S. Supreme Court will consider whether Kentucky's lethal injection is constitutional.

There will NOT be any executions in Kentucky any time soon -- at least NONE in Kentucky this year -- as the U. S. Supreme Court has agreed to consider whether Kentucky's lethal injection method for executing death row inmates is constitutional.

Here is the release from the U. S. Supreme Court:

07-5439

BAZE, RALPH, ET AL. V. REES, COMM'R, KY DOC, ET AL.


The motion of petitioners for leave to proceed in forma
pauperis and the petition for a writ of certiorari are granted.
The brief of petitioners is to be filed with the Clerk and
served upon opposing counsel on or before 2 p.m., Monday,
November 5, 2007. The brief of respondents is to be filed with
the Clerk and served upon opposing counsel on or before 2 p.m.,
Monday, December 3, 2007. A reply brief, if any, is to be
filed with the Clerk and served upon opposing counsel on or
before 2 p.m., Friday, December 28, 2007. Briefs of amici
curiae are to be filed with the Clerk and served upon counsel
for the parties on or before 2 p.m., 7 days after the brief for
8 the party supported is filed, or if in support of neither party,
within 7 days after the petitioners’ brief is filed.

My view? There MUST be something about how Kentucky administers the lethal injection that 4 or 5 of the 9 Justices find constitutionally offensive. I do NOT know much about the process to venture an opinion on the matter.

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Newpaper report proves me right: As I keep saying until I am NOW blue in the face, the SOLE issue may be conflict of interest and NOT a crime!

I received an ominous tip from a commenter on this blog telling me to read the Herald Leader this morning for a story on Steve Beshear. The commenter, being OBVIOUSLY mistaken, wondered how I was going to spin the story.

First of ALL, let me benevolently remind the anonymous commenter that I NEVER spin, as I have made that CLEAR in my blog description. Others who are TRUE to themselves, and are less delusional, will agree with me. I leave the spinning to other blogs.

Secondly, the H-L story changes NOTHING in my mind and adds NOTHING to what I already said here: The WORST that appears from the talk of the facts surrounding the Kentucky Central case is that someone or some people at the Sites and Harbison law firm FAILED to avoid the appearance of impropriety and/or represented two opposing sides in a legal matter without first obtaining an INTELLIGENT, KNOWINGLY and VOLUNTARILY given waiver from the parties involved.

This is NOT a crime, but could bring sanctions from the Bar Association (if the statute of limitations still apply) for those involved.

And if it is as bad as some want to make it out for Steve Beshear, why would someone, who is obviously NOT in Beshear's camp (but NOT Steve Beshear himself, who MAGNAMIOUSLY wants the report release), ask that the report be kept secret? Would it NOT serve their political interests to ask that the report be released or at the very least to remain silent at the hearing?

It is time, folks, to start talking about REAL issues that affect REAL people for the REAL future.

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Some rely on FALSE political advertising. We strive to keep them honest.

Read about false political advertising here.

We promise to continue to strive to keep them HONEST. Join us, won't you?

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Monday, September 24, 2007

Clinton's steal trick from Dictators, force GQ magazine to kill negative story.


It MUST be something about Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's visit to the U. S. that has infected the Clintons. Today we hear that the Clintons forced the GQ magazine folks to kill an article that portrays them NEGATIVELY.

The sad part of this is that the magazine caved in to the Clinton's demand -- GQ should have read my "Words to live by" -- and yielded to empty threats, withoiut knowing that people who threaten others have nothing of substance to add to the debate and are often people who mask a Napoleonic complex by pretending to be more than who they REALLY are.

The question is begged: Is this the type of tactic -- befitting a Dictator like Mahmoud Ahmadinejad -- that we can expect from a President Hillary Clinton?

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Newspapers ask court to release secret report, Attorney for Fletcher official asks court to keep report secret. Amazing.

In case you have been following the secret report that many have speculated on here, which allegedly reveals unethical conduct on the part of Steve Beshear, you'll be amazed to read the latest update.

As you may recall, the Courier-Journal and the Herald-Leader have gone to court to get the report release. Well, today we find out that Jill Endicott, the Attorney for the current liquidator of Kentucky Central Julie McPeak, who is the executive director of Gov. Fletcher's office of insurance, argued that the newspapers don't have the right to intervene in the case or ask for the document, which could be considered private under attorney-client privilege.

YES, you heard it right; while Steve Beshear wants the "secret" report release, someone in Fletcher's office, who had a prominent role in the affair wants it kept secret.

Amazing, isn't it?

Like I have been saying until I am NOW blue in the face, show me the facts or quit your speculating.

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Words to live by.

"Newspapers ... serve as chimneys to carry off noxious vapors and smoke."

— Thomas Jefferson

I will add RESPONSIBLE Bloggers to the list.

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Kentucky's alcohol chief arrested for driving while doubly drunk.

The AP is reporting that Kentucky's alcohol chief, Chris Lilly, was arrested for driving while he was intoxicated.

Go here to watch the featured video. Below is the complete AP write up:

Police say the executive director of the state’s Alcoholic Beverage Control is facing a drunken driving charge after he was arrested near Lexington Saturday night.

A police citation says Chris Lilly was pulled over on U.S. 27 outside Nicholasville because his Ford Explorer was missing a headlight, and because he was weaving and driving slowly.

Police say Lilly smelled of alcohol, lost his balance during a sobriety test and recorded a Breathalyzer reading of 0.181.

Governor Ernie Fletcher appointed Lilly to the executive director position last year.
Before heading up A.B.C., Lilly was the commissioner of the state’s Department of Public Protection and the executive director for the Office Of Charitable Gaming.

Practice pointer and Note: Mr. Lilly's alcohol reading was more than TWICE the legal limit of .08, making his crime an AGGRAVATED one that MANDATES jail time and increased penalties.

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Sunday, September 23, 2007

Subscribe to the feed by inputing your email address on the box on your right.

Please remember: You can subscribe to my feeds in order to get email updates by inputing your email address in the box on the right side of this page. Thanks.

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Saturday, September 22, 2007

*** Jena, 6: It appears there's something there after all. The PUKES are involved. ***


My post on the Jena, 6, did not receive any takers. Maybe, it is such that when race is the topic, people clamor up.

As for me, I'll speak on the subject (and will NEVER stop speaking about racial injustices), because it is the ONLY subject I know that PREVENTS our GREAT country from FULLY living up to its creed that "All men are created EQUAL" and from reaching its GREAT potential.

To paraphrase my hero, Abraham Lincoln, how can we not see the hand of God in this (some of the things that are NEGATIVELY affecting our country).

So at first blush, I wasn't sure if there was something there in Jena -- or not, but watching CNN convinces me that there is.

Watch this CNN piece.

The network (CNN) will have a special on Jena at 7:00 p. m. (EST) tonight and I invite you to watch it. It appears the PUKES are involved HEAVILY in events surrounding the little town of Jena. If I can I will post a video of the special, if you are unable to watch it live.

Update: FBI steps in.

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Steve Beshear's law firm paid for secret "confidential" report. And so what?

The H-L is reporting that Steve Beshear's law firm, Stites & Harbison, paid $100,000.00 for the secret "confidential" report that the Kentucky Central Insurance case Judge ordered. The Republican Party of Kentucky (RPK) has issue a "Breaking news story" press release on it.

My reaction is: And so what?

Am I missing something here? How does his law firm picking up the tab for the report signal ANYTHING unethical about STEVE BESHEAR? Please enlighten us, if you can

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Friday, September 21, 2007

What are the REALLY saying: More on abortion.

The continuing gubernatorial debate has the candidates asking each other questions on abortion.
Here we go:

Beshear's Question:

As a legislator, Steve Beshear voted to add abortion restrictions, including: parental consent, a requirement that women be informed of abortion's physical and mental consequences, and a ban after the first trimester except when a mother’s life or health is threatened. What abortion restrictions have you had enacted as Governor?

Fletcher's Answer:

Steve, your half-truths won’t allow you to be someone you’re not. You voted for legislation then turned around and called similar legislation unconstitutional as Attorney General. You have a long record supporting abortion, such as when you said you’d oppose legislation like the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003 because it didn’t contain sufficient loopholes for the pro-abortion lobby. I voted for that ban.

Unlike you, I have been a consistent protector of the unborn. The first bill I signed was Fetal Homicide legislation. I support a requirement for informed consent, which was blocked in the House by your allies.

Fletcher's Question:

In 1982, you opined that laws requiring informed consent and spousal notification would be unconstitutional. It is clear that the constitution does not prevent these pro-life laws from being enacted because today they are the law in several states. Do you still believe informed consent and spousal notification are unconstitutional?

Beshear's Answer:

As Attorney General, I was bound by the Constitution and U.S Supreme Court opinions. Unlike Fletcher, I know how to follow the law and did. Like most Kentuckians, I believe abortion should be rare. As a legislator, I supported restrictions on abortion, including parental notification laws. The most effective restriction is the prevention of unwanted pregnancies. As Governor, I will increase educational and economic opportunities for women and provide access to quality, affordable health care which I hope will prevent any woman from making a difficult decision based on financial reasons. I will also launch a statewide adoption effort.

My view? Read the highlighted responses above.

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Person for the week: O. J. Simpson.


Embarrassing as it may be, O. J. Simpson is our person (or maybe, more appropriately, everlasting FOOL) for the week.

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Quote(s) for the week (U. S. and world version).

1) "It's not true, but it is something that I have no control over. People will say what they want to say."
- HILLARY CLINTON, on the rumors that she is a lesbian.

2) "The U.S isn't so mighty anymore."
- Toronto resident BRIAN LEE, on the Canadian dollar reaching parity with the U.S. dollar for the first time since 1976.

3) "The problems were so severe that I fear they could represent a culture of corruption."
- Rep. IKE SKELTON, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, after military officials announced Thursday that $88 billion in contracts and programs were being audited for "financial irregularities".

4) "Get back behind that line, Mr. Bush, before some of your supporters mistake your dangerous transgression for a call to further politicize our military."
- MSNBC anchor KEITH OLBERMANN, blasting the U.S. President for "pimping" General David Petraeus amid increasing criticism for the war in Iraq.

5) "All of us in America want there to be, you know, fairness when it comes to justice."
- President GEORGE W. BUSH, on anti-racism protests in Jena, La., following the arrest of six black teens in the beating of a white classmate.

6) "[We will retaliate] against Musharraf and those who help him, and for all the pure and innocent blood."
- OSAMA BIN LADEN, rallying his supporters against Pakistan's president in a new video message.

7) "I think I got a B in Econ 101. I got an A, however, in keeping taxes low."
- PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH, in a press conference Thursday morning.

8) "You can always tell when the Republicans are getting restless, because the Vice President's motorcade pulls into the Capitol, and Darth Vader emerges."
- HILLARY CLINTON, on Dick Cheney's recent visit to the Capitol.

9) "We sound like we don't want black people to vote for us."
- JACK KEMP, former Republican Congressman, criticizing his party's presidential candidates for skipping debates on minority issues.

10) "I learned early on that if you don't want your memos to get you in trouble some day, just don't write any."
- Vice President Dick Cheney, who added that his "files are pretty thin".

11) "The cockiest guy I have ever met in my life."
- VICENTE FOX, Mexico's former leader, describing President George W. Bush in his new memoir, Revolution of Hope, due out next month.

12) It is politically inconvenient to acknowledge what everyone knows: the Iraq war is largely about oil."
- ALAN GREENSPAN, former chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve, in his new memoir, The Age of Turbulence.

13) "Judge Mukasey seems to be the kind of nominee who would put rule of law first and show independence from the White House, our most important criteria."
- Sen. CHARLES SCHUMER, on the appointment of Michael Mukasey as the new U.S. Attorney General.

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The Bluegrass Freedom Fund, a 527, continues its assault on Fletcher, as SURVEYUSA poll shows his disapproval rating rising.


The Bluegrass Freedom Fund, a 527, which has been bombarded the airwaves with anti-Fletcher ads, continued its assault today by enlisting the help of Anne Northup's primary election ads (see ad above), as SURVEYUSA poll shows his disapproval rating to be rising.

My, oh my. Your thoughts?

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Steve Beshear unveils education plan.

Here's the press release:

Steve Beshear Unveils "It Starts with Schools" Plan

Louisville, KY—Steve Beshear, Democratic nominee for governor, today released his comprehensive plan to provide Kentucky children with a quality education from pre-kindergarten through 12 th grade.

The full plan is available at the website.

"Kentucky elementary and middle school students perform below the national average in math and perform only marginally better than the national average in reading," said Beshear. "If that's not bad enough, many of our children are not being adequately prepared for post-secondary education – a requirement for success in the 21 st Century."

Beshear's five point plan will expand access to early childhood education, providing the opportunity for more than 10,000 children to enroll in high-quality, voluntary preschool programs.
The proposal also calls for getting schools back to the basics by providing a firm foundation in the basics so our children can master core subjects and apply basic concepts.

The third part the Beshear plan concentrates on a rededication to recognizing the value of teachers and the importance of parental involvement in the educational process. Beshear's plan will also modernize Kentucky schools and classrooms; reflecting research indicates which indicates that smaller schools and smaller classrooms create the best learning environments for our children.
Finally, the "It Starts with Schools" plan will create an educational system that promotes academic excellence.
"While this is a simple concept," said Beshear. "We cannot aspire to educational greatness if we continue on this path of under-investing in the future of our state."

Your thoughts?

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Bluegrass poll: Huge majority of voters want to vote on gambling, and a plurality of them support it.

The new Bluegrass poll is showing that a Huge majority (78%) want to vote on gambling and plurality (48% versus 42%) support it.

It is NO wonder then why Fletcher's "not in my Kentucky home" casino ads are NOT resonating with many voters!

Oh by the way
, if you are wondering, I happen to be one of the 78% who want a voice on this issue. I want the issue placed on the ballot so that I can listen to both sides (pro and con) and decide for myself how I think it should be decided.

That IS simply Democracy at work -- in case if some folks have forgotten. Opposing placing the gambling issue on the ballot seems to me not only very elitist, but downright SINFULLY UNDEMOCRATIC.

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Thursday, September 20, 2007

Attorney General candidate proposes tort reform.

Stan Lee, the GOP candidate for Attorney General, has proposed tort reform for Kentucky. Here is the press release:

Stan Lee Vows to Fight for Tort Reform
Will Liberal Trial Lawyer Jack Conway Do The Same?


[Lexington, KY] During a speech to supporters yesterday, State Representative Stan Lee proudly acknowledged his work and support of tort reform in Kentucky.

"During my four terms in the General Assembly, I have consistently worked to reduce the costs of healthcare for all Kentuckians,” stated Stan Lee. "It’s important to recognize that I am the only candidate that has fought for tort reform in the race for Attorney General. While my opponent is more concerned about lining the pockets of trial lawyers, I am focusing on solutions that put more money in the pockets of ordinary Kentuckians."

Rep. Lee has continually supported tort reform initiatives throughout his career in the General Assembly. During the 2006 session, Rep. Lee was an outspoken proponent for SB 1, a Constitutional Amendment that would have made huge strides in moving Kentucky forward by placing a cap on frivolous lawsuits.

"While I was working to reduce the costs of health care for everyone, Jack Conway and his liberal trial lawyer friends worked to stonewall the legislation because they were more concerned about hitting the litigation jackpot than in saving money," continued Lee. "This November, voters have a choice between an attorney that has always stood up for Kentucky or a liberal trial lawyer that cares more about lining his own pockets."

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Is there a HSUnami in Hillary Clinton's political future?


Is a political HSUnami brewing for Hillary Clinton with this story?

Read the 16 page indictment.

And, in case if you are or have been wondering, Hillary Clinton just confirmed that she's not a lesbian -- and no one has come forward to dispute her.

And so it goes!

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New RGA ad: NOT l-a-m-e-r than the first, but still l-a-m-e!


I hope that's NOT the kind of tests our children take at school. If they are, then its easy to see why our educational system is in dire straits -- wait, where have I heard that phrase before?

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Did you miss the Louisville Governor's forum? Well, not anymore!

New Bluegrass poll confirms Beshear's double digit lead of Fletcher.

A Bluegrass poll has just been released and it confirms a double digit lead of Ernie Fletcher by Steve Beshear (at 20%, 55 percent to 35 percent, with 10 percent undecided).

The poll CONFIRMS SURVEYUSA's poll, which found Beshear leading Fletcher by 19% (or 58% to 39% difference, with 3$ undecided).

Update: Read more about the poll.

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Beshear recieves endorsement of first responders, Fletcher's campaign CLAIMS rebuke of Beshear where NONE exists.

The campaign of Beshear/Mongiardo has recieved an endorsement for 4500 member Kentucky first responders. Here is the press release:

Beshear/Mongiardo Endorsed by
Kentucky Professional Firefighters

Louisville – Democratic nominee for Governor, Steve Beshear, today accepted the endorsement of the Kentucky Professional Firefighters.
"I am honored to have the firefighter's endorsement in this election," said Beshear. "They represent more than 4500 active and retired first responders statewide, men and women who safeguard the people of this state each day."
"Steve Beshear is our clear choice for governor," said Bruce Roberts, President of Kentucky Professional Firefighters. "We interviewed both candidates, and Mr. Beshear demonstrated his understanding of the issues facing firefighters, public safety professionals and the other important issues that will put Kentucky first."
Throughout his career, Beshear has championed the cause of first responders across the state and last month received the endorsement of the Kentucky Fraternal Order of Police.

"We need a governor who is willing to tackle the big issues Kentucky faces," said Greg Dearing, President of Louisville Retired Firefighters. "Steve Beshear is the best choice to protect pensions, and provide our children with a quality education and affordable health care."
The endorsement announcement was made this morning at Firefighters Union Hall in Louisville.

Also, the campaign has planned a press conference to Unveil "It Starts with Schools" Plan Friday.

WHAT: Release of comprehensive Pre-K and K-12 Education Policy
WHEN: Friday, September 21, 11 a.m.
WHERE: Unseld Childcare & Development Center, 2406 W. Broadway Louisville.

And also, the Fletcher campaign released a statement declaring that: A sweeping opinion issued by former Attorney General Steve Beshear regarding the display of the Ten Commandments in Kentucky was rebuked yesterday by a federal judge. U.S. District Judge Karl Forester dismissed a lawsuit challenging the display of the Ten Commandments in the Rowan County Courthouse.

Maybe it's me but I FAIL TO SEE ANY REBUKE OF STEVE BESHEAR in that judge's ruling.

Am I the ONLY one?

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***** Jena, 6. *****

I have not blogged about the Jena, 6, controversy because of the involvement of Rev. Al Sharpton and Rev. Jesse Jackson. I am unable to discern if there's anything there or just a propaganda ploy for the Revs, but the rally planned for today seems HUGE.

Don't get me wrong, I believe in EQUALITY before the law, but I'm always suspicious of some people's motives.

What are your feelings and thoughts on Jena, 6?

Update: Here is more information on the Jena, 6, and the events of today.

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Nebraska Senate campaign set to get interesting.

The Senate campaign to replace retiring Chuck Hagel is set to get VERY interesting as the GOP's Mike Johanns, former mayor, Governor and now Agriculture Secretary for President Bush, is set to resign today in order to run for the soon to be vacant seat.

The campaign already has the state's Attorney General and others vying for the seat. Bob Kerry, also a former Governor and Senator (amongst many other titles) is expected to announce his candidacy too.

I know both men; Bob Kerry when he was partly my boss, and Mike Johanns, when he was my Councilman, and both men will make formidable candidates and great Senators, though I suspect Bob Kerry will have a slight edge over Mike Johanns.

But the eventual winner may be decided on whether or not a political "tornado" hits Kentucky, as a result of Bush's approval rating there.

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Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Robert Novak: Kentucky Governor's race is a "Likely Democratic Takeover".

Syndicated Columnist and Political Commentator, Robert Novak, has a new outlook on Kentucky's Governor's race. Here is his opinion, in its entirety:

Kentucky Governor: Republicans may now be regretting their decision to renominate Gov. Ernie Fletcher (R), as his campaign looks to be in dire straits. Fletcher consistently trails in polls by more than 15 percent, and his job approval in a recent poll was at 37 percent.

Fletcher's ethical problems (he was indicted for illegal hiring practices, and he pardoned nine of his indicted staffers) have demolished his public image, and he's not getting much help from his party or his business base, either. Since coming to Lexington in the 2003 election, Fletcher has not gotten along well with Republican lawmakers or with the party's political operatives—hence the spirited primary challenge from former Rep. Anne Northup (R). By defeating Northup handily in the primary, Fletcher showed he still is popular among the GOP electorate, but few of his erstwhile rivals have rallied behind him the general election. One Northup backer told the Kentucky media, "It would seem the election is merely a formality at this point."

This prospective gubernatorial blowout causes some concern among the commonwealth's Republicans looking ahead to the defense of U.S. Senate seats in 2008 and 2010. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R) is on the Democrats' hit list in 2008, and Sen. Jim Bunning (R), who barely won in 2004, would be vulnerable in 2010 if he decided to run again. Physician Daniel Mongiardo (D), Bunning's 2004 opponent, is Beshear's running mate and will likely be the lieutenant governor in 2010.

Kentucky is another in a long list of states for the GOP to worry about, and this governor race punctuates that point. Likely Democratic Takeover.

Any thoughts?

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* Bush's approval rating continues slide, Congress fares much WORSE. *

According to the latest poll, Bush's approval rating is at its worst EVER at 29% -- one percentage point less than 30 percent in March.

A paltry 11 percent rated Congress positively, beating the previous low of 14 percent in July.

Actually, I suspect the 11% positive rating for members of Congress came from themselves, and members of their families.

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The Bluegrass Freedom Fund, a 527, continues attack on Fletcher.


What's your take on the ads and the 527, the BFF?

Update: An analysis of the ad.

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Fletcher launches ANOTHER casino ad, #4.


AARRRRRRRRRRHHHHHHHHH!

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Federal judge upholds Ten Commandments display.

A Federal Judge has upheld a Ten Commandments display in Rowan County, which is similar to the one in Mercer County, as a part of a "Foundations of American Law and Government" exhibit that also includes such documents as the Magna Carta, Mayflower Compact and Declaration of Independence. Read about it here.

This is NOT a surprise considering that a federal Appeals court already approved Mercer County's exhibit, following a tacit approval from the U. S. Supreme Court, which followed an earlier SCOTUS opinion that found McCreary County's Decalogue exhibit to be unconstitutional.

I wonder what the other counties are waiting on to display their own exhibits?

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Fred Thompson garners support of most of Kentucky House's GOP.

Fred Thompson has garnered the support of most of the GOP members of the Kentucky House of Representatives. Read the story here.

Sounds to me like these House members (who are obviously TRUE Conservatives) know a REAL Conservative when they see one!

Here are their names:

# Republican Floor Leader Jeff Hoover of Jamestown
# Bill Farmer, R-Lexington
# Tim Couch of Hyden
# Ron Crimm of Louisville
# Myron Dossett of Pembroke
# C.B. Embry of Morgantown
# Jim DeCesare of Bowling Green
# Danny Ford of Mt. Vernon
# Russ Mobley of Campbellsville
# Brad Montell of Shelbyville
# Lonnie Napier of Lancaster
# Marie Rader of McKee
# Steven Rudy of West Paducah
# Charlie Siler of Williamsburg
# Tommy Turner of Somerset
# Ken Upchurch of Monticello
# John Vincent of Ashland

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Illinois wants to strike it rich, as its Senate approves MASSIVE expanded gambling.

Illinois now joins Massachusetts in the past week to take steps towards rolling the dice on expanded gambling. Could it be that these two states know something that we in Kentucky don't know?

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Tuesday, September 18, 2007

What are they REALLY saying?: abortion.

The newest Herald-Leader question for the gubernatorial candidates concerns abortion.

Question:

Given that the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a ban on partial-birth abortions earlier this year, will you push Kentucky’s legislature to pass further restrictions on doctors who perform abortions and women who seek them? If so, what specific restrictions that don’t already exist in Kentucky do you propose?

Fletcher's Answer:

I have worked to create a culture of life in Kentucky, unlike Steve Beshear, who hides from his record of opposing an amendment banning late-term, partial-birth abortion, and pandering to pro-abortion activists by issuing a legal opinion that broadened Roe v. Wade. The first bill I signed into law was fetal homicide legislation recognizing that violence against an expectant mother has two victims. I increased the number of required screenings for newborns and we are catching and curing more diseases. As your Governor, I will continue to protect the rights of the unborn in Kentucky.

My view? Fletcher supports life and will continue to protect the rights of the unborn.

Beshear's Answer:

I support a ban on late term abortion, and believe the current abortion laws in Kentucky are appropriate. As Governor, I will work to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies through increased educational and economic opportunities and increased access to affordable quality health care.

My view?: Beshear supports ban on late term abortion and will work, as Governor, to reduce unwamted pregnancies.

There you have it, the candidates' positions on abortion -- in their own words.

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Congress considers an unconstitutional District of Columbia Voting Rights Act.

Congress has started debate on Senate Bill 1257, the District of Columbia Voting Rights Act (see CBO report) sponsored by Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut (and co-sponsored by 18 other Senators). The Bill, along with House companion bills H. R. 1905 (which referred to the Senate and which would provide for the treatment of the District of Columbia as a Congressional district for purposes of representation in the House of Representatives, and for other purposes), H. R. 1433, and H. R. 328, would provide the District of Columbia a voting seat and the State of Utah an additional seat in the House of Representatives.

But with respect to the nation's capital of the District of Columbia (you can read James Madison's rationale for a seat of general government to not be "dependen[t] ... on the State comprehending the seat of the government" in The Federalist NO. 43), can Congress constitutionally mandate voting representation?

I say the answer is a SOLID NO. (Read contrary op-ed)

Though the U. S. Constitution grants Congress power over the District in Article I, Section 8, such a grant of authority does not extend to a grant of statehood, which is the limiting criteria for voting representation under the Article's "apportionment" clause of Section 2.

So without authority to do what it is seeking to do, the only constitutionally proper action Congress can take on this issue is to propose amendments to the Constitution.

This is NOT to say that there may not be other remedial actions Congress can take, short of a constitutional amendment, in order to grant D. C. residents a right to "equal representation with taxation", because there are: (A) Congress can grant D. C. residents relief from federal taxation, since their main political concern and government motto is that there is "taxation without representation"; or (B) Acquire by sale or condemnation (provided just compensation is paid -- as the public use is CLEAR, property rights of all District residents wishing to relocate to neighboring states to have the right to elect their representatives.

Beyond those two remedies, Congress can propose a constitutional amendment to either: (1) grant the District's residents statehood and voting rights; or, (2) retro cede (give back portions of the Capital to Maryland, provided there are 12 miles radius left or propose another constitutional amendment to require less area).

The last remedial action in (B) above that I have proposed may sound unpalatable to some, but it sure beats having no representative general government as it exists now for D. C. residents, especially if any constitutional amendment(s) are proposed and the proposal(s) meet with voter rejection.

Any thoughts?

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Obama reacts to Thompson and Clinton, offers tax plan.


Senator and Presidential candidate, Barak Obama, could be accused of following in the footsteps, and reacting to, Fred Thompson (who this week spoke of tax reform) and Hillary Clinton (who just released her health care plan), by releasing his tax plan.

So what do you think of the "tax the rich to give to the poor" plan?

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Feds cuts interest rate by half a percentage point, as U. S. House passes bill to have government back mortgages.

Twin economic news announced just now. First, the Federal Reserve Board has lowered the prime rate -- the interest that the Feds charge banks and other lending institutions to borrow money/credit -- by an unexpected half a percentage point. This move is expected to help a sluggish economy, particularly in the turbulent mortgage market -- to rebound.

Talking about the mortgage market, the U. S. House of Representatives has just now (in a breaking news fashion) overwhelmingly passed a bill to have the federal government back mortgages. It remains to be seen whether the Senate will also back it, though I think it could be a good idea IF the feds will be EFFECTIVE (a kind of oxymoron) in policing the program.

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State Senator sues GOD!


I know State Senator, Ernie Chambers, personally and very well (that's not a halo on his head!). He is, possibly, the longest serving State Senator in Nebraska history.

He is viewed as a maverick by some, and an agitator by others, but I can tell you that his constituents ABSOLUTELY love him and perceive him as someone who keeps government honest.

Knowing him, I can tell you that he is using his lawsuit to bring attention to what he perceives as a problem in the judicial system, and he is not to be underestimated; ask around and smart people will tell you that Ernie is even SMARTER.

The above is to be filed in the for whatever it's worth category.

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I missed the KET gubernatorial debate. Who won?

I was in Nashville, TN, last night and was unable to watch the debate between Fletcher and Beshear. I have looked for the debate video, but only found this one about Fletcher's secret legal defense fund:

For those of you who watched it, please enlighten us.

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Hillary Clinton releases "mandatory" Universal Health Care plan. She needs to go back to the drawing board.

Hillary Clinton has unveiled her prescription for Universal Health Care in order to insure "every man, woman and child". Read Hillary's plan.

My view? While providing health care for all -- especially to those who cannot afford it -- is ADMIRABLE, considering the fact that in the richest country in the world, health care is a luxury that many CANNOT afford, mandating health care insurance as Hillary Clinton does is FOOLHARDY.

Her attempt at analogizing mandatory health insurance to mandatory car insurance is dubious at best and disingenuous at worst.

Dubious because ONLY people who drive cars are required to get car insurance -- people who do NOT require the use of health care facilities should NOT be mandated to get health insurance; and, disingenuous because car insurance is required in case you injure an innocent person when you cause an accident -- with health care insurance, no one should care if you have it, since you are likely to injure ONLY yourself, with the obvious exception for infectious diseases.

Since none of that mandatory car insurance analogy fits Clinton's mandatory health insurance plans, she is best advised to go back to the drawing board on the issue.

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Massachusetts unveils plans for casinos.


I guess Kentucky is NOT the only state considering casinos; Massachusetts is considering them, too. That's probably why its Governor, Deval Patrick (on your right), is all smiles!

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Monday, September 17, 2007

As I had hoped, Bush nominates "a man of independence and integrity" as Attorney General.


As I had hoped and somewhat predicted, President Bush has nominated former federal judge (and judicial adviser to Rudy Giuliani's presidential campaign), Michal Mukasey, as Attorney General.

He appears to be a man of admirable independence (the opposite of Alberto "Gonzo shuffle" Gonzales) and integrity (another trait Gonzales has been accused of lacking).

All I have read about the judge seem to bear out these traits, but I'll have to do some more research. If these traits are found to exist in the judge (he has to also possess a trait to manage a HUGE bureaucracy like the BLOATED Justice Department), then one should not have a reason not to rejoice in his appointment.

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KY GOP releases statement on Kentucky Central.

Here is the press release:

BESHEAR STATEMENTS DON’T MATCH FACTS IN KENTUCKY CENTRAL CASE
GOP Chairman questions how Beshear Law Firm avoided prosecution; calls on Kentucky media outlets to join Herald-Leader motion to unseal record

FRANKFORT—A timeline compiled through a series of documents obtained from Franklin Circuit Court raise questions regarding Steve Beshear’s role in a conflict of interest that arose during the rehabilitation of Kentucky Central Life Insurance in 1993.

At issue are a series of transactions involving the Bank of Louisville – represented at the time by Beshear’s law firm Stites & Harbison. These transactions were described as “…an illegal and unauthorized series of transactions…” in a court motion filed in Franklin Circuit Court.

The March 1995 motion, filed by the Liquidator of Kentucky Central Life, references seventeen counts of banking and insurance law violations as well as one count of attorney malpractice. The motion focuses on more than $15,000,000 illegally transferred from Kentucky Central to the Bank of Louisville in June 1993. Beshear’s law firm represented both the bank and Kentucky Central at that time.

Steve Beshear downplayed this conflict in a recent article appearing in the Lexington Herald-Leader by saying his firm was “…merely defending their previous work on the deal, not giving new advice.”

“Billing documents from Beshear’s law firm and other records obtained from Franklin Circuit Court raise serious questions about Steve Beshear’s claim,” charged Republican Party of Kentucky Chairman Steve Robertson. “Court documents establish that Beshear’s law firm crafted an alternative scheme to go behind the back of Kentucky Central to transfer more than $15,000,000 in assets.”

A letter from the Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA) on May 18, 1993 also reveals that Beshear’s law firm was proposing “…that GNMA change its customary requirements for permitting the securities to be transferred…” to their client, the Bank of Louisville.

The billing documents specifically place Steve Beshear in a meeting discussing the bank’s “stockpowers” and identify Beshear as a participant in a teleconference with officers of the Bank of Louisville. Both of these instances occurred prior to the sale of the securities and Beshear’s denial of his firm’s involvement with the transaction.

“Steve Beshear and his law firm were engaged in an effort to remove more than $15,000,000 in assets from Kentucky Central at a critical point during its rehabilitation phase,” stated Robertson. “It’s very possible that these funds could have helped stabilize this company at an extremely delicate time.”

The March 1995 motion went further to state that the transfer of assets facilitated through the work of Beshear’s law firm took …”clear and improper advantage of the assets of Kentucky Central to the detriment and loss of Kentucky Central’s policyholders and creditors.”

Incredibly, Beshear and his law firm are not named as defendants in the lawsuit. In fact, records from Beshear’s law firm indicate they wrote off their billing to Bank of Louisville exactly one week prior to the lawsuit being filed by Kentucky Central against their client.

“The fact that Steve Beshear and his law firm escaped prosecution for their work screams of a politically motivated cover-up,” stated Robertson. “And you can’t ignore the fact that a secretly conducted investigation of Beshear’s law firm was buried by Judge William Graham just months before Steve Beshear launched his campaign for the United States Senate against Mitch McConnell.”

A recent Herald-Leader article exposed a letter signed by Judge William Graham of Franklin Circuit Court recalling all copies of the investigation on September 19, 1995. Steve Beshear filed as a candidate for the U.S. Senate in December of 1995.

“The Herald-Leader has filed a motion in Franklin Circuit Court in an effort to obtain additional records,” stated Robertson. “I hope other media outlets will join the paper in their motion.”

ATTACHMENTS TO RELEASE:
1. 1993 Beshear Conflict Timeline
2. 3/9/93 – Engagement Letter from Stites & Harbison
3. 5/4/93 – Fax from Bank of Louisville to Stites & Harbison
4. 5/6/93 – Phone Memo by Stites Partner Richard Vance
5. 5/10/93 – Letter from Stites & Harbison to GNMA
6. 5/17/93 – Letter from Bank of Louisville to KY Central (copied to Stites Partner Fred Joseph)
7. 5/18/93 – Letter from GNMA to Stites Partner Richard Vance
8. 6/1/93 – Letter #2 from GNMA to Stites Partner Richard Vance
9. 6/8/93 – Letter from Stites Partner Richard Vance to Chemical Bank
10. 6/8/93 – Phone Memo by Stites Partner Richard Vance
11. 7/19/93 – Letter from KY Central to Bank of Louisville
12. 12/3/93 – Stites & Harbison Detailed Billing for Bank of Louisville work (denotes Beshear’s personal involvement in the project)
13. March 1995 – KY Central Motion for Partial Summary Judgment
14. 8/15/95 – Letter securing firm to conduct investigation of Stites & Harbison
15. 9/19/95 – Letter from Judge William Graham recalling all copies of the investigation report.

My view? I'll wait for the release of the secret investigation report.

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I was proven right, as Steve Nunn and Larry Hopkins endorse Steve Beshear!


Here is the press release:

Republicans For Steve Beshear

Lexington, KY (September 17, 2007) - Today Republican leaders, forming "Republicans for Beshear", announced their support for Democrat candidate for Governor, Steve Beshear in the upcoming gubernatorial election.
At a press conference in Lexington, Former Republican member of the State House of Representatives from Glasgow/Barren County, Steve Nunn, announced his backing of Beshear in the November election.

Nunn, the son of the last Republican governor, Louie Nunn, said Republicans need a change from the current corruption of Governor Ernie Fletcher. He calls the Fletcher administration the most disappointing administration he's seen in his lifetime.
"I'm a Republican for good government and I'm a Republican for Steve Beshear," said Nunn. "Four years of failed leadership has lead to this decision. I know Steve Beshear will move Kentucky forward."

Republican Larry Hopkins also appeared to announce his support of Beshear in the upcoming election. Hopkins represented Kentucky's Sixth Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives from 1979-1993. He was the Republican nominee for Governor in 1991 against Brereton Jones. Hopkins served in the Kentucky House of Representatives from 1972-1976 and in the Kentucky Senate from 1976-1978.
"I believe Steve Beshear can provide the leadership Kentucky needs," said Hopkins. "He can bring positive change is areas like education, the economy and healthcare - including providing quality, affordable healthcare coverage to every Kentuckian. It's terrible that we currently have 550,000 Kentuckians with no health coverage at all, including 81,000 children. Steve has the leadership ability and know-how to think outside the box and move Kentucky in the right direction."

Unable to attend the press conference but also voicing his support for Beshear is Dr. David Stevens, the Republican Fifth District Councilman on the Fayette Urban County Council. He previously served three terms as an At-Large Council member. "Steve Beshear possesses the managerial skills of a great leader and he will serve our state well," Stevens said.
"I am honored to have the support of these Republican leaders," said Beshear. "They have joined with me because they recognize the need to bring to Kentucky strong leadership that will serve the great people of this state with dignity and integrity."

The announcement was made at the former Courthouse on Main Street in Lexington.

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Rudy hits Hillary and Moveon, Moveon responds in kind.

First Rudy took Hillary (and Moveon.org) to task with this hit:

Then Moveon.org responded and took Rudy to task with this retaliatory hit:


Any comments?

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Why won't he just go away? ....

Fletcher makes COS Cave acting budget director.

Gov. Fletcher has issued a news release keeping his Chief of Staff, Stan Cave, as acting budget director. Prior to this release, Stan Cave had been overseeing the budget office since Brad Cowgill, the budget director, left to to be the interim president of the Council on Postsecondary Education.

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C-J's Joe Gerth takes issue with RGA ad, concludes it didn't the truth.

Joe Gerth, Courier-Journal Columnist, has a piece, The whole truth?, in which he concluded that "[t]hings aren't always what they seem."

Case in point? Well, according to Gerth, as excerpted here: [w]hen the Republican Governors Association began running a television ad critical of Democrat Steve Beshear last week, it made a claim that "he voted to let violent criminals out of jail early."

When I asked for documentation to back it up, the association sent me a copy of a story that Al Cross wrote for this newspaper during the 1996 Senate campaign, parsing an ad that Sen. Mitch McConnell ran against Beshear making the same claim.

Beshear did it. No question.

But folks who watch lawyer TV shows know that prosecutors have to turn over exculpatory evidence -- evidence that would help the accused.

The association didn't do that. In fact, it cut from the text this sentence from Cross' story:

"In his defense, Beshear notes that he proposed doing away with parole for violent criminals when he was state attorney general in 1979-83, and supports 'truth in sentencing,' in which juries are informed how soon a convict may be paroled."


My view: Lacking the complete truth is NOT the only thing wrong with that ad; it is also l-a-m-e, as I earlier pointed out.

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Words to live by.


As a Constitutionalist, I celebrate the occasion of the birthday anniversary of that "sacred document" we call the United States Constitution. So please allow me to leave you with these words to live by:


1) "[T]he present Constitution is the standard to which we are to cling. Under its banners, bona fide must we combat our political foes - rejecting all changes but through the channel itself provides for amendments."

-- Alexander Hamilton (letter to James Bayard, April 1802)
Reference: Selected Writings and Speeches of Alexander Hamilton, Frisch, ed. (511)


2) "It is impossible for the man of pious reflection not to perceive
in it [the Constitution] a finger of that Almighty hand which
has been so frequently and signally extended to our relief in
the critical stages of the revolution."

-- James Madison (Federalist No. 37, 11 January 1788)


3) "The whole of that Bill [of Rights] is a declaration of the right of the people at large or considered as individuals...[I]t establishes some rights of the individual as unalienable and which consequently, no majority has a right to deprive them of."

-- Albert Gallatin (letter to Alexander Addison, 7 October 1789)
Reference: That Every Man Be Armed: The Evolution of a Constitutional Right, Halbrook; original MS. in N.Y. Hist. Soc.-A.G. Papers, 2

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