Tuesday, May 03, 2005
Kentucky Progress Radio Wednesday
Tune in to 1340 AM WEKY Wednesday afternoon 5:15 to 6:15 for the latest on Kentucky politics.
Ed Worley Talks Tough
Senate Minority Leader Ed Worley (D-Richmond) says he isn't worried about the indictment of Sen. Johnny Ray Turner for vote fraud and doesn't think Turner should resign or that Republicans can take the seat if he doesn't. The following statement, though, will go up in the locker room for motivation and for a future laugh.
"That is a Democratic seat in a district that even the Republicans would concede it would be virtually impossible for them ever to hold," Worley said.
That reminds me of the story Governor Louie Nunn used to tell about the Barren county clerk who told him in 1950 that if he registered Republican he would never be able to make a living there.
"That is a Democratic seat in a district that even the Republicans would concede it would be virtually impossible for them ever to hold," Worley said.
That reminds me of the story Governor Louie Nunn used to tell about the Barren county clerk who told him in 1950 that if he registered Republican he would never be able to make a living there.
A Tale of Two Papers: Coverage of Voter Fraud Begins
Louisville Courier Journal reporter Elisabeth Beardsley clearly got the Senator Johnny Ray Turner voter fraud story early yesterday. The Herald Leader was beaten so badly that their best quote was from a retired teacher at the end of the story who was clearly called because no else could be reached. In contrast, Beardsley's quote from Senate President David Williams, who expressed simpathy for Sen. Turner and his family added significantly to her article.
Beardsley's report took a turn for the worse, though, when she sought a response from Common Cause Chairman Richard Beliles who called the indictment a "great loss to the public" and said "They need to really have a high regard for the process and also for the legislators."
Now what the heck does that mean? It wasn't clear, but I took it to mean that Beliles was saying that prosecutors were doing something wrong. If the indictment is the "great loss," then it seems to follow that "They" in the next sentence referred to prosecutors. Was he alleging some kind of prosecutorial misconduct?
The red flag went up, so I called Mr. Beliles. He explained that he was speaking broadly about any allegations of public abuse and talking about how when any case like this comes up, the public trust in the process is diminished and more people tend to tune everything out. He said he wasn't misquoted but said other things that, when left out, made his comments difficult to decipher.
He told me twice that he has no idea about guilt or innocence in this case.
Incidentally, he told me "When things like this happen, the public develops a cynicism." I could easily make that look like he was talking about when politicians buy votes, if I chose to do so.
See my point?
Beardsley's report took a turn for the worse, though, when she sought a response from Common Cause Chairman Richard Beliles who called the indictment a "great loss to the public" and said "They need to really have a high regard for the process and also for the legislators."
Now what the heck does that mean? It wasn't clear, but I took it to mean that Beliles was saying that prosecutors were doing something wrong. If the indictment is the "great loss," then it seems to follow that "They" in the next sentence referred to prosecutors. Was he alleging some kind of prosecutorial misconduct?
The red flag went up, so I called Mr. Beliles. He explained that he was speaking broadly about any allegations of public abuse and talking about how when any case like this comes up, the public trust in the process is diminished and more people tend to tune everything out. He said he wasn't misquoted but said other things that, when left out, made his comments difficult to decipher.
He told me twice that he has no idea about guilt or innocence in this case.
Incidentally, he told me "When things like this happen, the public develops a cynicism." I could easily make that look like he was talking about when politicians buy votes, if I chose to do so.
See my point?
Monday, May 02, 2005
Ky. Democrat Senator Turner To Be Indicted Tuesday
The interesting thing is not that Kentucky Senator Johnny Ray Turner is going to be indicted by the U.S. Attorney for vote hauling on Tuesday. The interesting thing is how curious the mainstream media will be about Attorney General Greg Stumbo's role in the scandal and who else will get caught in the net.
This will be fun to watch, as vote hauling is a time-honored Democratic Party tradition in Kentucky.
This will be fun to watch, as vote hauling is a time-honored Democratic Party tradition in Kentucky.
Shalom: Jewish People Fleeing Democratic Party
"The number of proud Jewish Republicans will continue to grow, and this is a trend that won't be reversed," said Republican Jewish Coalition Executive Director Matthew Brooks, citing President Bush's and Congressional Republicans' support for Israel and the War on Terror.
Exit polling showed President Bush's support among Jewish voters increased nearly ten percentage points in 2004 over the 2000 election.
The Republican Jewish Coalition has a Cincinnati chapter, but nothing yet in Kentucky. I think that may be about to change...
Exit polling showed President Bush's support among Jewish voters increased nearly ten percentage points in 2004 over the 2000 election.
The Republican Jewish Coalition has a Cincinnati chapter, but nothing yet in Kentucky. I think that may be about to change...
The Conservative Case Against Bush's SSI Proposal
Peter Ferrara nails what is wrong with the Progressive Price Indexing plan and has a warning for Republicans who go along with it.
School Choice: Mean, Money Drunk Liberals Say No
Did you know that Washington D.C. spends $13,330 per student each year to educate the District's students, who score the lowest reading and math scores in the nation?
Here is an interesting article about how reform-hating politicians and their obstruction for obstruction's sake hurts poor children.
The District of Columbia School Choice Incentive Act passed despite heavy opposition from Democrats. Expanding the program to other states, according to the article, could save billions of dollars each year.
Can't have that, can we?
Here is an interesting article about how reform-hating politicians and their obstruction for obstruction's sake hurts poor children.
The District of Columbia School Choice Incentive Act passed despite heavy opposition from Democrats. Expanding the program to other states, according to the article, could save billions of dollars each year.
Can't have that, can we?
The Next Liberal Attack on Social Security
Former Clinton Labor Secretary Robert Reich is out of the closet with the next line of attack on Social Security reform.
President Bush just wants to avoid the smart move of creating HillaryCare, Reich says. That's why, Reich suggests, Bush continues to push Social Security reform so long after Harry Reid and Ben Chandler have announced that they don't want it. What is curious to me is why the mainstream media, nearly unanimous in calling the proposed change that really isn't a cut in benefits a cut, has missed another point. Progressive Price Indexing isn't my favorite plan, but it is significantly better than the Democrats' plan. The change from wage indexing to price indexing is not necessary and, obviously, gives the left the opportunity to scream "cuts." But it creates a reduction in the rate of increase in benefits for about 70% of recipients. The Democrats plan -- doing nothing (oh, except whining) -- would mean an actual 28% cut in baseline benefits for 100% of recipients, legally mandated for when the well runs dry.
Here is a pretty good explanation of what is happening.
President Bush just wants to avoid the smart move of creating HillaryCare, Reich says. That's why, Reich suggests, Bush continues to push Social Security reform so long after Harry Reid and Ben Chandler have announced that they don't want it. What is curious to me is why the mainstream media, nearly unanimous in calling the proposed change that really isn't a cut in benefits a cut, has missed another point. Progressive Price Indexing isn't my favorite plan, but it is significantly better than the Democrats' plan. The change from wage indexing to price indexing is not necessary and, obviously, gives the left the opportunity to scream "cuts." But it creates a reduction in the rate of increase in benefits for about 70% of recipients. The Democrats plan -- doing nothing (oh, except whining) -- would mean an actual 28% cut in baseline benefits for 100% of recipients, legally mandated for when the well runs dry.
Here is a pretty good explanation of what is happening.
Sunday, May 01, 2005
Go to Covington, Hang a Hard Left
In case you needed a good reason not to send your kids to Northern Kentucky University, we now know that they have invited liberal pundit shriekmeister Helen Thomas to speak at graduation May 7.
Saturday, April 30, 2005
Straw Man: Jonathan Miller Makes Up Quote, Attacks
State Treasurer Jonathan Miller said "There is no justification for the General Assembly to say '... we're going to break all these contracts with all these 8900 families.'"
The only problem with this is that no one in the General Assembly has said anything like this or done anything to jeopardize the KAPT contract holders, despite Miller's rhetoric.
That is why even the Louisville Courier Journal has called Miller's actions "grandstanding."
Meanwhile, you are still paying for his self-serving, money-wasting lawsuit.
The only problem with this is that no one in the General Assembly has said anything like this or done anything to jeopardize the KAPT contract holders, despite Miller's rhetoric.
That is why even the Louisville Courier Journal has called Miller's actions "grandstanding."
Meanwhile, you are still paying for his self-serving, money-wasting lawsuit.
Misquoted Two Days Ahead of Time?: Miller Blames Herald Leader For KAPT Misstatement
State Treasurer Jonathan Miller blamed the Lexington Herald Leader for a charge that he made against the state Senate in a March 1 press release that has been removed from his website and a March 2 guest blog on BluegrassRoots. Miller had stated that the Senate "raided" KAPT to build a practice gym for UK.
"I love UK basketball, but raiding a fund that holds the personal college savings of thousands of Kentucky families is inexcusable, unconstitutional, and immoral," Miller said.
Speaking on the Kentucky Focus program, he admitted he was wrong, but said it wasn't his fault.
"That was an incorrect statement ... we were basing that on a Herald Leader story that indicated that that was the case," Miller said.
That would be news to the good folks at Midland and Main, since they never mentioned the controversy until March 3.
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CLARIFICATION: The last sentence of this post is incorrect. As an alert reader has pointed out, The Lexington Herald Leader did indeed mention the bonding project for the UK practice gym but didn't include the linkage to the KAPT program Miller asserted afterward (that is why my search didn't catch it). The mistake was my fault, though.
Interestingly, the article in question did clearly state that the $15 million was to be bonded and did not, as Miller stated repeatedly, involve General Fund cash from his program or any other.
"I love UK basketball, but raiding a fund that holds the personal college savings of thousands of Kentucky families is inexcusable, unconstitutional, and immoral," Miller said.
Speaking on the Kentucky Focus program, he admitted he was wrong, but said it wasn't his fault.
"That was an incorrect statement ... we were basing that on a Herald Leader story that indicated that that was the case," Miller said.
That would be news to the good folks at Midland and Main, since they never mentioned the controversy until March 3.
-------------------------------------
CLARIFICATION: The last sentence of this post is incorrect. As an alert reader has pointed out, The Lexington Herald Leader did indeed mention the bonding project for the UK practice gym but didn't include the linkage to the KAPT program Miller asserted afterward (that is why my search didn't catch it). The mistake was my fault, though.
Interestingly, the article in question did clearly state that the $15 million was to be bonded and did not, as Miller stated repeatedly, involve General Fund cash from his program or any other.
Friday, April 29, 2005
Congressional Budget '05 Foreshadowing of KY '08?
Both houses of Congress passed a budget late last night that includes spending restraint not seen from Capitol Hill in many years. Interestingly, the budget passed without a single Democrat vote.
Could this be a sneak peak at how Kentucky's budget process will go in 2008 with Republicans in the majority of the House and the Senate?
Could this be a sneak peak at how Kentucky's budget process will go in 2008 with Republicans in the majority of the House and the Senate?
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Liberals Can't Do Basic Math
State Treasurer Jonathan Miller and ABC News's George Stephanopolous have one very notable characteristic in common. Neither seems capable of telling the difference between a dollar that is an asset and one that is not.
Miller persists in his stupid claim that the money-losing KAPT scheme is backed up by more than $100 million in cash from liquidated unclaimed property. The reality of course is that there is no such money, no such fund, and the only surprise is that the mainstream media in Kentucky is so willfully blind to this simple truth. Perhaps they don't mind raising your taxes to fill the growing hole KAPT will require us to fill in future years. I do.
Stephanopolous looked like he was going to wet himself when he exclaimed, absurdly, that the President of the United States was "caught in a contradiction" by describing Social Security Trust Fund "dollars" as a filing cabinet full of IOU's and contending that personal accounts would include an option for nervous investors that would include all Treasury Bonds backed by the "full faith and credit of the USA." The difference is that the Social Security Trust Fund money has been spent (that makes it just like the KY unclaimed property "fund" if you are keeping score at home.) When money is gone, it can't honestly be counted as an asset. Surely they taught that to you at Harvard, Treasurer Miller. And it is a shame that Stephanopolous is too thick to see that President Bush just pulled the "gambling in the stock market" rug out from under the Democrats' feet. No doubt the New York Times and Washington Post slept through that one as well.
Democrats are mighty smug on this one right now. They had better hope that their electoral math is better than their financial math.
I'm so glad that President Bush mentioned that the GOP is clearly the party of ideas. Democrats are counting on ignorance in the voting public to stop their slide into oblivion. The numbers (as in the simple math) are on our side. We can only hope that the votes will be.
Miller persists in his stupid claim that the money-losing KAPT scheme is backed up by more than $100 million in cash from liquidated unclaimed property. The reality of course is that there is no such money, no such fund, and the only surprise is that the mainstream media in Kentucky is so willfully blind to this simple truth. Perhaps they don't mind raising your taxes to fill the growing hole KAPT will require us to fill in future years. I do.
Stephanopolous looked like he was going to wet himself when he exclaimed, absurdly, that the President of the United States was "caught in a contradiction" by describing Social Security Trust Fund "dollars" as a filing cabinet full of IOU's and contending that personal accounts would include an option for nervous investors that would include all Treasury Bonds backed by the "full faith and credit of the USA." The difference is that the Social Security Trust Fund money has been spent (that makes it just like the KY unclaimed property "fund" if you are keeping score at home.) When money is gone, it can't honestly be counted as an asset. Surely they taught that to you at Harvard, Treasurer Miller. And it is a shame that Stephanopolous is too thick to see that President Bush just pulled the "gambling in the stock market" rug out from under the Democrats' feet. No doubt the New York Times and Washington Post slept through that one as well.
Democrats are mighty smug on this one right now. They had better hope that their electoral math is better than their financial math.
I'm so glad that President Bush mentioned that the GOP is clearly the party of ideas. Democrats are counting on ignorance in the voting public to stop their slide into oblivion. The numbers (as in the simple math) are on our side. We can only hope that the votes will be.
Mongiardo Under Fire; Needs Miller To Count Money
Nice lightweight Sen. Daniel Mongiardo is now officially "the embattled Senator from Hazard" as his wind-aided campaign for the U.S. Senate has been shown to be bankrupt (or as Jonathan Miller would say "actuarially sound.")
Particularly funny in Ryan Alessi's story was Democrat state Chairman Jerry Lundergan's offer to do "anything we can," maybe even a fundraiser. After the failed John Edwards fundraiser from earlier this month, that may be tough.
Particularly funny in Ryan Alessi's story was Democrat state Chairman Jerry Lundergan's offer to do "anything we can," maybe even a fundraiser. After the failed John Edwards fundraiser from earlier this month, that may be tough.
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Social Security Expert on Kentucky Progress Radio
Be sure to tune in this afternoon 5:15 pm to 6:15 pm to WEKY 1340 AM for my interview with Peter Ferrara, Director of the Social Security Project and author of the foremost conservative plan for Social Security reform.
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Social Security: Cards on The Table
The Senate Finance Committee heard testimony on five different Social Security reform plans today. And ladies and gentlemen, we have one clear winner.
Two of the plans are tax increase non-starters that don't even include personal accounts. In fact both plans, by Peter Oszag of The Brookings Institution and Joan Entmacher of the National Women's Law Center spent all their time beating the same drum about how awful it would be to allow people to own their own Social Security only to finish up with a quick line about soaking the rich. You can read their plans here and here, if you must.
Two plans urge establishing personal accounts but fall short by advocating benefit cuts. Doing this just doesn't make any sense politically. Again, if you are as masochistic as you are ambitious, these two are here and here.
Only one plan shows an understanding of how personal accounts provide a better deal for workers and sustains the system permanently (and includes a neat wrinkle that calls for reduced government spending, which everyone claims to want). Peter Ferrara, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Policy Innovation. This one is worth reading and the link is here.
The Social Security Trust Fund has as much money in it as Jonathan Miller's Unclaimed Property Fund. Zero. In 2018, (less than thirteen years away if you are keeping score) we will have to dig into other programs or raise taxes to meet current obligations of Social Security. If we do nothing, present law dictates that benefits be cut 28% when Social Security can't pay all its own obligations. The "there is no crisis" crowd can't be allowed to win this one.
It is time to engage.
Two of the plans are tax increase non-starters that don't even include personal accounts. In fact both plans, by Peter Oszag of The Brookings Institution and Joan Entmacher of the National Women's Law Center spent all their time beating the same drum about how awful it would be to allow people to own their own Social Security only to finish up with a quick line about soaking the rich. You can read their plans here and here, if you must.
Two plans urge establishing personal accounts but fall short by advocating benefit cuts. Doing this just doesn't make any sense politically. Again, if you are as masochistic as you are ambitious, these two are here and here.
Only one plan shows an understanding of how personal accounts provide a better deal for workers and sustains the system permanently (and includes a neat wrinkle that calls for reduced government spending, which everyone claims to want). Peter Ferrara, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Policy Innovation. This one is worth reading and the link is here.
The Social Security Trust Fund has as much money in it as Jonathan Miller's Unclaimed Property Fund. Zero. In 2018, (less than thirteen years away if you are keeping score) we will have to dig into other programs or raise taxes to meet current obligations of Social Security. If we do nothing, present law dictates that benefits be cut 28% when Social Security can't pay all its own obligations. The "there is no crisis" crowd can't be allowed to win this one.
It is time to engage.
Social Security War Begins
The Senate Finance Committee begins work today on Social Security reform. Despite the questionable polling data, ranting editorials (forget the link, you know what I am talking about), and obstructing politicians (see Ben Chandler), the time to do the right thing has come.
Saving Social Security must include personal investment accounts. Otherwise we are just raising taxes or cutting benefits. We have already poured trillions into this rat hole. Let's at least look at ways to get better value. I haven't heard anything from the Democrats to lead me to believe that compromising on the accounts will do anything but make a flawed program worse.
Saving Social Security must include personal investment accounts. Otherwise we are just raising taxes or cutting benefits. We have already poured trillions into this rat hole. Let's at least look at ways to get better value. I haven't heard anything from the Democrats to lead me to believe that compromising on the accounts will do anything but make a flawed program worse.
Monday, April 25, 2005
2020 Democrats: Bush To Draft You Now, Starve You Later
A group of young liberals from Boston called 2020 Democrats connects their misunderstanding of Social Security to their continued confusion over the war on terror. The funny part is they lay it out in a talking points memo.
The group says President Bush "played those games with our generation once and wound up with a war and a potential draft" and "his (Social Security) plan would cost nearly $5 trillion over the first twenty years."
The "potential draft" quote relates to a long-since discredited late attempt by candidate John Kerry to scare young voters against supporting the President in the 2004 election. The $5 trillion "cost" represents the Social Security Trust Fund dollars that have been spent as off-budget money and will have to be replaced eventually whether Social Security investment accounts are set up or not. The cost is real, but the reason for the cost has nothing to do with personal accounts. These young "future leaders" in the liberal movement might need to have someone check their homework.
The group says President Bush "played those games with our generation once and wound up with a war and a potential draft" and "his (Social Security) plan would cost nearly $5 trillion over the first twenty years."
The "potential draft" quote relates to a long-since discredited late attempt by candidate John Kerry to scare young voters against supporting the President in the 2004 election. The $5 trillion "cost" represents the Social Security Trust Fund dollars that have been spent as off-budget money and will have to be replaced eventually whether Social Security investment accounts are set up or not. The cost is real, but the reason for the cost has nothing to do with personal accounts. These young "future leaders" in the liberal movement might need to have someone check their homework.
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