We have just about reached the point where Ed Worley's fraud-for-land scandal deserves a name.
Any ideas?
Since Sen. Worley was caught on tape trying to wiggle out of a world of woe in the multi-million dollar racketeering lawsuit he faces, I thought some kind of alliteration would be catchy, but I am struggling to come up with a good one.
A special prize to the reader who comes up with the best name.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Worley Scandal Makes Front Page
The Richmond Register picked up on Sen. Ed Worley's (D-Richmond) fraud trial today with a front page story.
Unfortunately, the Register story swings a wide berth around the most interesting facts made public so far about the case.
For example, we know Ed isn't happy part of his scheme got caught on audio tape. Sen. Worley's effort to get the tape thrown out of court is humorous as he seems not to know that telephone calls in Kentucky can be recorded by one party to the call without the knowledge of the other.
A closer look at his complaint shows even more. Worley says in an August 23 court motion that the tape of his conversation was "improperly concealed" and should have been presented as part of the discovery process. The victim in the case, Earl Estes, responded in an electronic filing today as follows:
"The defendents (Worley and partner A.D. Grant), having
defrauded the Plaintiff, having been caught in the fraud on
tape, and then having testified falsely under oath about the whole
thing, now cry foul and claim that Plaintiff's failure to turn over the
tapes or the transcripts before they perjured themselves in their
depositions isn't fair."
The taped conversations with Worley and Grant are pretty funny, knowing what we know now, but prior to the depositions in which they both contradicted their taped statements, the victim could not have known the tapes represented valuable evidence to confirm what he previously only suspected.
Again, from today's filing by the attorney for the victim:
"Up until Worley and Grant gave their depositions it was not at all clear that the statements would become impeachable evidence, since until then there was no way of knowing what their story would be."
Unfortunately, the Register story swings a wide berth around the most interesting facts made public so far about the case.
For example, we know Ed isn't happy part of his scheme got caught on audio tape. Sen. Worley's effort to get the tape thrown out of court is humorous as he seems not to know that telephone calls in Kentucky can be recorded by one party to the call without the knowledge of the other.
A closer look at his complaint shows even more. Worley says in an August 23 court motion that the tape of his conversation was "improperly concealed" and should have been presented as part of the discovery process. The victim in the case, Earl Estes, responded in an electronic filing today as follows:
"The defendents (Worley and partner A.D. Grant), having
defrauded the Plaintiff, having been caught in the fraud on
tape, and then having testified falsely under oath about the whole
thing, now cry foul and claim that Plaintiff's failure to turn over the
tapes or the transcripts before they perjured themselves in their
depositions isn't fair."
The taped conversations with Worley and Grant are pretty funny, knowing what we know now, but prior to the depositions in which they both contradicted their taped statements, the victim could not have known the tapes represented valuable evidence to confirm what he previously only suspected.
Again, from today's filing by the attorney for the victim:
"Up until Worley and Grant gave their depositions it was not at all clear that the statements would become impeachable evidence, since until then there was no way of knowing what their story would be."
More 2007 Buzz
Linda Greenwell got 49% of the vote for Auditor of Public Accounts in 2003, narrowly losing to Paul Patton's cabinet secretary Crit Luallen.
She is running again.
"I'm definitely running," Greenwell said. "I plan to file the day after the election in November."
Other speculation has Richie Farmer weighing a run for Governor.
She is running again.
"I'm definitely running," Greenwell said. "I plan to file the day after the election in November."
Other speculation has Richie Farmer weighing a run for Governor.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Free Speech and Fair Tax
The Johnson amendment allows the federal government to use the U.S. Tax Code to abuse the free speech rights of non-profit organizations.
The Fair Tax would help. Here is how.
The Fair Tax would help. Here is how.
GOP Losing On Gas Prices?
How can the Republicans possibly be losing support because of gas prices when the closest the Democrats have gotten to an actual idea on the subject has been to raise gas taxes by fifty cents a gallon?
And that was four years ago.
And that was four years ago.
Monday, August 28, 2006
The Dropout Problem In Kentucky
The best problems for big government to have are those that have no solution but do possess a very active constituency. So much the better if that active constituency persistently campaigns for increasing sums of money to "solve" the problem.
The high school dropout rate is a great problem for big government fans in Kentucky. Any education bureaucrat worth his salt can preach convincingly on the need to reduce the dropout rate. The income statistics and crime statistics tied to education attainment -- or lack of it -- really are compelling.
A former effort to reduce the dropout rate had us forcing kids to stay in school or lose their drivers licenses. This law served an educational function as hundreds of affected teenagers learned how to exploit the hardship loophole when caught driving on a license suspended due to dropping out of school. (Hey, it was more fun than civics class!)
We keep trying program after program to reduce the dropout rate, all to no avail. Yet the next program is just a brainstorm away. Open your checkbooks. Here it comes!
I have an alternative approach. Let's see how high we can push the drop-out rate. Class sizes are always a problem so let's see how we can encourage those who don't want to be in school to clear out so willing students can get what they need.
If the state offered to pay sixteen year old public school students $500 to drop out of school, we would see those who valued education that little head for the exits.
Good riddance, good luck with the job search, and -- most important -- good for the willing students who remain in school. And good for the state as well. Five hundred dollars and a pat on the back is much less money than it would cost to house an uninterested student for another couple of years and no real public benefit.
Okay, the diploma counts for something. So let's give $1000 to the same would-be dropout if he can pass the GED exams. A little incentive is a good thing.
This would be a positive for everyone involved. Kids who don't value education will get more than they eat up otherwise to hit the street. Some of those same low achievers will decide to hit the books before hitting the door in order to get the extra GED money. In the process, they will pick up a diploma. The most important lesson will be for those who stay in school, seeking higher education rather than going for the quick -- and small -- bucks.
The high school dropout rate is a great problem for big government fans in Kentucky. Any education bureaucrat worth his salt can preach convincingly on the need to reduce the dropout rate. The income statistics and crime statistics tied to education attainment -- or lack of it -- really are compelling.
A former effort to reduce the dropout rate had us forcing kids to stay in school or lose their drivers licenses. This law served an educational function as hundreds of affected teenagers learned how to exploit the hardship loophole when caught driving on a license suspended due to dropping out of school. (Hey, it was more fun than civics class!)
We keep trying program after program to reduce the dropout rate, all to no avail. Yet the next program is just a brainstorm away. Open your checkbooks. Here it comes!
I have an alternative approach. Let's see how high we can push the drop-out rate. Class sizes are always a problem so let's see how we can encourage those who don't want to be in school to clear out so willing students can get what they need.
If the state offered to pay sixteen year old public school students $500 to drop out of school, we would see those who valued education that little head for the exits.
Good riddance, good luck with the job search, and -- most important -- good for the willing students who remain in school. And good for the state as well. Five hundred dollars and a pat on the back is much less money than it would cost to house an uninterested student for another couple of years and no real public benefit.
Okay, the diploma counts for something. So let's give $1000 to the same would-be dropout if he can pass the GED exams. A little incentive is a good thing.
This would be a positive for everyone involved. Kids who don't value education will get more than they eat up otherwise to hit the street. Some of those same low achievers will decide to hit the books before hitting the door in order to get the extra GED money. In the process, they will pick up a diploma. The most important lesson will be for those who stay in school, seeking higher education rather than going for the quick -- and small -- bucks.
Why Liberals Hate WalMart
A Washington Post (!) essay comes to a devastating conclusion that Democrats have turned on WalMart because the company does more to help low-income people in its normal business practices than government entitlement programs could ever pretend to.
Now is a great time to point out pandering to anti-business interests is good for Democrat pot-stirrers but bad for the nation.
Also would be nice to see more analysis about the demonization of oil companies. That is another one out of their playbook that doesn't hold water.
Now is a great time to point out pandering to anti-business interests is good for Democrat pot-stirrers but bad for the nation.
Also would be nice to see more analysis about the demonization of oil companies. That is another one out of their playbook that doesn't hold water.
Not Big Steve Henry Fans
Wow. The Louisville Courier-Journal has a happy re-cap of Dem Gov. wannabe Steve Henry's habit of blaming his misdeeds on others for the last decade.
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Lie Into The Microphone, Ed Worley
The federal racketeering lawsuit against KY Democrat Senate leader Ed Worley is getting interesting.
Apparently, Worley got caught saying something on tape that he wishes he hadn't said.
In a motion Worley filed Wednesday is U.S. District Court, he said "At no time did Earl Estes disclose to me that any conversation I ever had with him, including any conversation I had with him in November of 2005, was being recorded and I did not know the conversation was being recorded. I did not and do not consent to being secretly recorded and would not have talked to Mr. Estes if I knew that I was being recorded."
Kentucky law does not require a crime victim to notify a perpetrator he is recording a telephone call to collect incriminating evidence.
Apparently, Worley got caught saying something on tape that he wishes he hadn't said.
In a motion Worley filed Wednesday is U.S. District Court, he said "At no time did Earl Estes disclose to me that any conversation I ever had with him, including any conversation I had with him in November of 2005, was being recorded and I did not know the conversation was being recorded. I did not and do not consent to being secretly recorded and would not have talked to Mr. Estes if I knew that I was being recorded."
Kentucky law does not require a crime victim to notify a perpetrator he is recording a telephone call to collect incriminating evidence.
KY Republican Revolution 2006
I'm hearing reports all over the state of Republican candidates for local office who are winning wide support despite Ernie Fletcher's woes.
In the last few hours I have heard very encouraging central Kentucky news from County Judge candidates John Wilson in Garrard county, Danny Godbey in Lincoln county, and Randy Bowen in Powell county. All three seek to succeed Democrat incumbents. Lincoln and Powell counties are both historically Democrat counties.
I hesitate to wonder out loud how things might be turning out with a Republican governor engaged in the local races all this year.
In the last few hours I have heard very encouraging central Kentucky news from County Judge candidates John Wilson in Garrard county, Danny Godbey in Lincoln county, and Randy Bowen in Powell county. All three seek to succeed Democrat incumbents. Lincoln and Powell counties are both historically Democrat counties.
I hesitate to wonder out loud how things might be turning out with a Republican governor engaged in the local races all this year.
Friday, August 25, 2006
GOP "Insurgency" Not Dead Yet
Larry Forgy said of the Fletcher Deal: "I feel the Republican insurgency is killed by this."
I'm not sure which side is actually leading the "insurgency," but the Fletcher administration can't depend on yesterday's end of the merit hiring court case to heal what ails his bid for re-election.
It is going to take one heck of a 2007 General Assembly session to do that.
I'm not sure which side is actually leading the "insurgency," but the Fletcher administration can't depend on yesterday's end of the merit hiring court case to heal what ails his bid for re-election.
It is going to take one heck of a 2007 General Assembly session to do that.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Warning To State Employees
E-mail scammers have apparently sent a phony message to Kentucky state employees and their families who have accounts at Commonwealth Credit Union. The subject line on the e-mail is "Urgent Notice: Five question survey" and promises to insert $100 into the accounts of people who respond.
The Commonwealth Credit Union did not send this message. Spread the word.
The Commonwealth Credit Union did not send this message. Spread the word.
All Allegations?
Governor Fletcher issued a statement this afternoon that read "I have been cleared of all charges against me and exonerated of all allegations."
I wish he had stuck to "moving Kentucky forward."
The Republican primary for Governor will be moving forward very soon. Billy Harper is polling right now.
I wish he had stuck to "moving Kentucky forward."
The Republican primary for Governor will be moving forward very soon. Billy Harper is polling right now.
Greg "Cut And Run" Stumbo Gives Up
Saying the Governor was likely to pardon himself anyway, AG Greg Stumbo today gave up the merit hiring investigation that he hoped would cause Kentucky voters to forget his own sordid past.
What a coward.
The big question now is will Governor Fletcher make the most of this mulligan and engage significant policy initiatives for the next session of the General Assembly?
There are no white hats in this affair and this event serves only to pour gasoline on the already-raging political fire in Frankfort. In giving Stumbo a pass today on his "political witch hunt," Governor Fletcher doesn't look so hot either.
This issue now just settles in as a nebulous public sense of the same old cronyism in Frankfort that we were already sick of.
What a coward.
The big question now is will Governor Fletcher make the most of this mulligan and engage significant policy initiatives for the next session of the General Assembly?
There are no white hats in this affair and this event serves only to pour gasoline on the already-raging political fire in Frankfort. In giving Stumbo a pass today on his "political witch hunt," Governor Fletcher doesn't look so hot either.
This issue now just settles in as a nebulous public sense of the same old cronyism in Frankfort that we were already sick of.
Stumbo Press Conference Set
Today at 12:30.
Stay tuned.
UPDATE: The charges against Governor Fletcher have been dropped by Judge Melcher and can't be brought again. Apparently, Governor Fletcher admitted some wrongdoing by his administration.
Stay tuned.
UPDATE: The charges against Governor Fletcher have been dropped by Judge Melcher and can't be brought again. Apparently, Governor Fletcher admitted some wrongdoing by his administration.
The Next Misleading Liberal Rant
Daily Kos is a leftist website with a lot of readers. Because of its many readers, Daily Kos is very likely to cause big problems for Governor Ernie Fletcher next year in his run for re-election.
Yesterday, the site put up a small notice with very large implications:
Mark Nickolas over at Bluegrass Report updates us on his lawsuit against the state of Kentucky. As you might recall, the Republican governor ordered all state agencies to block liberal blogs like his, while leaving conservative ones alone.
They know this isn't true. Kentucky Progress remains one of several conservative sites blocked. But the truth hardly matters here. There will be only three gubernatorial races nationwide next year. When Daily Kos calls on its liberal readers from sea to shining sea to send money to Kentucky to defeat the Governor who blocked liberals, literally millions of dollars will flow in to the campaign of the Democrat nominee.
Yesterday, the site put up a small notice with very large implications:
Mark Nickolas over at Bluegrass Report updates us on his lawsuit against the state of Kentucky. As you might recall, the Republican governor ordered all state agencies to block liberal blogs like his, while leaving conservative ones alone.
They know this isn't true. Kentucky Progress remains one of several conservative sites blocked. But the truth hardly matters here. There will be only three gubernatorial races nationwide next year. When Daily Kos calls on its liberal readers from sea to shining sea to send money to Kentucky to defeat the Governor who blocked liberals, literally millions of dollars will flow in to the campaign of the Democrat nominee.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Merit Hiring Settlement Rumor
All is quiet on the merit hiring case, but rumors are swirling that a settlement is in the works.
Official Frankfort has been buzzing all day with speculation and denials.
Who cares? I don't know. And this late in the day, nothing seems likely to come out before tomorrow anyway.
Just the latest scuttlebutt.
10:53 P.M--- Apparently the Lexington Herald Leader has the whole story and they are holding it for the morning paper. Perhaps a noon press conference.
Official Frankfort has been buzzing all day with speculation and denials.
Who cares? I don't know. And this late in the day, nothing seems likely to come out before tomorrow anyway.
Just the latest scuttlebutt.
10:53 P.M--- Apparently the Lexington Herald Leader has the whole story and they are holding it for the morning paper. Perhaps a noon press conference.
An Issue We Can Agree On?
I'm still waiting for my liberal friends to convince me Kentucky's Certificate of Need (CON) program does anything to lower healthcare costs. Interestingly, I'm still waiting for the same thing from my conservative friends as well.
Could it be the only people who support limiting competition in healthcare benefit financially from the lack of competition?
An example might be illuminating. Do you need a heart catheterization in Kentucky? That will be $10,000, thank you very much.
But in Ohio, $900 will get 'er done.
The only difference is Kentucky has CON and Ohio doesn't.
Why isn't everyone talking about this when we have a doctor for a Governor?
Could it be the only people who support limiting competition in healthcare benefit financially from the lack of competition?
An example might be illuminating. Do you need a heart catheterization in Kentucky? That will be $10,000, thank you very much.
But in Ohio, $900 will get 'er done.
The only difference is Kentucky has CON and Ohio doesn't.
Why isn't everyone talking about this when we have a doctor for a Governor?
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
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