Felons should NOT have their rights to vote denied them, UNLESS they have been convicted of election related crimes. Enough said, and enough already.

Yep, enough said and enough of this nonsense already.

Read the pre-filed bill.

County official to have "Clay" on his face -- no "Bath" this time.

Another county official is set to plead guilty to vote buying charges and have "Clay" on his face -- not taking a "Bath" this time.

It must be something in the water in "them neck of the woods".

State senate is where "fight" for gaming will be, it looks like Beshear will win that "fight". Let's help him make sure that is the result.

Meaning NO disrespect to anyone, I predict the state house of Representatives will be behind (and back) Beshear's idea to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot so that voters can decide if Kentucky should allow gaming. I also predict the state senate is where the REAL "fight" for gaming will shape up, but according to a study done by the Courier-Journal, it looks like Beshear will win that "fight", as Beshear ONLY needs 23 votes.

LET'S HELP HIM MAKE SURE THAT WILL BE THE RESULT.

Here is a list of the state Senators, who are for allowing the issue on the ballot, neutral at this point, or outright against it:

SENATE ON CASINO GAMBLING

Where members of the Senate stand on a proposed constitutional amendment that would let voters decide on legalizing casino gambling. Twenty-three of the Senate's 38 members -- three-fifths -- must vote yes for an amendment to pass.

FOR or LEANING FOR: 15

Walter Blevins, D-West Liberty: "It's not like gambling is something foreign to Kentucky."

David Boswell, D-Owensboro: "Chances are much better today."

Julian Carroll, D-Frankfort: "I plan to vote for putting the issue on the ballot."

Perry Clark, D-Louisville: "No matter how it's written, probably … I'm going to vote to place the ballot initiative before the people."

Carroll Gibson, R-Leitchfield: "I think the people should make a decision one way or the other."

Denise Harper Angel, D-Louisville: "I definitely will support that issue."

Ray Jones, D-Pikeville: "I certainly don't see a problem with allowing all the people of Kentucky to decide the issue."

Gerald Neal, D-Louisville: "I think it's unacceptable to continue to let money drain out of Kentucky, particularly our border cities like Louisville."

R.J. Palmer, D-Winchester: "Voters of Kentucky have made it very clear they want a chance to vote on this issue."

Joey Pendleton, D-Hopkinsville: "Let's put it on the ballot and give everybody a shot at voting for it or against it."

Dorsey Ridley, D-Henderson: "I was looking for quality leadership in Kentucky. I found it in Steve Beshear."

Ernesto Scorsone, D-Lexington: "I think overwhelmingly people are saying, 'Put it on the ballot.' "

Dan Seum, R-Louisville: "If a reasonable amendment comes to the Senate, I'll vote to put it on the ballot."

Tim Shaughnessy, D-Louisville: "I'm going to be very supportive of what the administration wants to accomplish."

Ed Worley, D-Richmond: "There's no denying the people want to vote on this issue."

AGAINST OR LEANING AGAINST: 13

Charlie Borders, R-Russell: "I'm willing to look at the language, but at this point I would be a firm no."

Julie Denton, R-Louisville: "I have concerns that if we were to have expanded gambling in the state what the impact would be."

Brett Guthrie, R-Bowling Green: "I'm not for approving the expansion of gambling in Kentucky."

Ernie Harris, R-Crestwood: "I'd have to see the bill for sure, but I do not intend on voting for the bill."

Tom Jensen, R-London: "I'm leaning toward voting no, but I will listen to my constituents."

Dan Kelly, R-Springfield: "I wouldn't expect to be for it."

Alice Forgy Kerr, R-Lexington: "It will happen over my dead body."

Bob Leeper, I-Paducah: "I don't think expanded gambling is positive for Kentucky."

Vernie McGaha, R-Russell Springs: "I would be adamantly against it."

Gary Tapp, R-Waddy: "I am against it"

Jack Westwood, R-Crescent Springs: "I don't support it and I would not vote for it."

David Williams, R-Burkesville: "I'm not going to vote for a bill that will put the casino gaming issue on the ballot."

Ken Winters, R-Murray: "I'm pretty solidly against it."

UNDECIDED: 8

Tom Buford, R-Nicholasville: "I'm not saying no, but I'm not a poster child for it."

Jerry Rhoads, D-Madisonville: "I want to see what the governor submits to us."

Dick Roeding, R-Lakeside Park: "I never speculate on my votes until I see the bill."

Katie Stine, R-Southgate: "I think we really need to see what the House does with it before we talk about what we will or won't do."

Robert Stivers, R-Manchester: "I would try to sit back and listen to the discussions and be objective."

Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown: "The onus for the gambling issue falls squarely on the shoulders of Steve Beshear and Speaker of the House Jody Richards."

Elizabeth Tori, R-Radcliff: "I'm just at this point neutral."

Johnny Ray Turner, D-Drift: "I'll have to look at where the money is going to go."

COULDN'T BE REACHED: 1

Richie Sanders, R-Franklin

Note: Sen. Dan Mongiardo, D-Hazard, will resign from the Senate shortly before he is inaugurated as lieutenant governor on Dec. 11. An election will be held early during the legislative session to fill his vacant seat.

If your Senator is NOT on the list in support of putting gaming on the ballot for the voters to decide it, call him or her to support it.

Those who do NOT support putting the issue on the ballot for us to vote on, act like that they are our BIG brothers, who know what's BEST for us because they see us as being INCAPABLE of making an INTELLIGENT decision regarding what is GOOD (or bad) for us.

In case if you have ANY more questions on this issue, please bear in mind that THIS IS THE WAY TOTALITARIAN REGIMES, LIKE COMMUNIST CHINA, NORTH KOREA, and others like IRAQ, SADDAM HUSSEIN'S IRAQ and other OPPRESSIVE REGIMES ACT TOWARDS THEIR PEOPLE.

SO GET ON THE PHONE, WRITE OR EMAIL AND LET YOUR SENATOR KNOW THAT YOU WANT TO CAST YOUR VOTE for or against GAMING. TELL THEM YOU ARE SMART ENOUGH TO DECIDE THIS ISSUE YOURSELF!

A couple of hours ago, I VOTED. You should, too, or you SHOULDN'T complain later!

A couple of hours ago, I joined thousands of Kentuckians who have either voted (or plan to vote later on TODAY) and VOTED.

This is NOT surprising: I have NEVER missed voting in an election. I have a 100% participation in elections by voting in ALL of them.

There are many people who stay home and REFUSE to vote on election day because they COMPLAIN about CROOKED politics and politicians, but not voting is the way to GUARANTEE that CROOKED politicians, who normally can get out CROOKED supporters out to vote, will win.

So I urge ALL my fellow Kentuckians to go and vote, too, and send the CROOKED politicians HOME.

Otherwise, NO one who plans on NOT voting in today's election SHOULD have a right to complain later, about ANYTHING related to voting, whether it goes WRONG (as it has over the past 4 years) or right as we hope after today's election!

For fun, I will entertain guesses as to who I voted for. (Tip: Do NOT go by the blog endorsements!) Winner gets a prize.

... And they are off!

The primary season is officially off and running, according to a press release from Trey Grayson's office:

County clerks’ offices across the Commonwealth must have begun today in-house absentee voting, where voters actually vote on voting machines similar to those used on Election Day. All county clerks’ offices must allow in-house absentee voting at least twelve working days before Election Day. [For most people, this day was yesterday, May 8th].

The actual start date for this voting may vary depending on whether the offices are open on Saturdays. Voters will have until May 21, 2007 to cast an in-house absentee ballot. Some counties opened absentee balloting prior to the required deadline.

Voters might also be eligible to apply for a mail-in absentee ballot. Those applications are available from voters’ respective county clerks’ offices and must be received in those offices by May 15, 2007. After receiving an approved application, county clerks will mail a ballot to the respective voters, and voters will have until 6:00 p.m. on Election Day to return their ballots to the county clerk.

There are a variety of reasons why a voter might request to cast an absentee ballot, including:

* Advanced age, disability, or illness
* Military personnel, their dependents, and overseas citizens
* Students who temporarily reside outside the county
* Other voters who temporarily reside outside of Kentucky, such as a vacationer
* Voters incarcerated but not yet convicted
* Voters’ employment takes them out of the county all hours the polling place is open
* Voters who will be out of the county on election day
* Military personnel confined to base who learn of it within seven days or less of an election

* Voters who have surgery scheduled that will require hospitalization on election day, and the voter’s spouse

* Pregnant women in third trimester

So do what you can to cast an in-person absentee ballot, or if you meet the above criteria, to request a mail-in absentee ballot. This way, at least, you NOT only do your civic duty but you'll help prevent the French from putting us to shame with their 85% voter turn-out!

Say what you may about the French, they CLEARLY understand their civic duty.

The French have just elected a new Conservative leader, a U. S. friendly Nicolas Sarkozy, who resembles France's former leader, Napoleon Bonaparte -- he's a tad taller -- but shares more in profile with King Louis XIV. Read the story and watch his victory speech.

So I say to Monsieur Jacques Chirac (their departing leader), Au revoir, and Bonjour to Monsieur Nicolas Sarkozy.

What is more telling about Sarkozy's election to me is the fact that, no matter how much Americans choose to berate the French now -- though it is clear to me (and other objective students of history) that the Revolutionary war would most likely have failed if NOT for French assistance -- the French understand civic responsibility a lot more than we do. It is reported that election turnout was in the near record 84 percent range. Compare that percentage to Kentucky's anticipated 15 percent and you get the picture!

So let's see if Kentuckians can top the French in something more constructive than easy criticisms and the renaming of their French fry the Capitol fry, by showing up at the polls to vote this May and this November; and then let's see if our ENTIRE country can emulate the French next year and follow suit.

OUI?