Charges are on the way "soon" in the 2000 vote buying scandal.
On the receiving end this time: Greg Stumbo.
Friday, June 10, 2005
Stop The Presses! Greg Stumbo Takes A Break From Partisan Witch Hunt To Support John Roach For Supreme Court!
Governor Ernie Fletcher took the highly unusual step today of appointing a conservative to the Kentucky Supreme Court.
Oh the shame!
Fletcher could easily have made the liberal editorial boards happy by appointing one of their judges instead. If only Ben Chandler had been elected governor, we could have gotten a nice lefty.
Think about that for a minute.
And the best part is those letters of support for Roach's appointment from Stumbo and Democrat former Secretary of State John Y. Brown III.
I'm almost looking forward to the fits of rage about this...
Oh the shame!
Fletcher could easily have made the liberal editorial boards happy by appointing one of their judges instead. If only Ben Chandler had been elected governor, we could have gotten a nice lefty.
Think about that for a minute.
And the best part is those letters of support for Roach's appointment from Stumbo and Democrat former Secretary of State John Y. Brown III.
I'm almost looking forward to the fits of rage about this...
Friday's Felon: Me?
Amid all this gubmint job hubbub in Kentucky, I remember now that I lobbied for a friend to get a job in the Finance and Administration cabinet.
I didn't write a letter and don't recall emailing anyone's blackberry about it, but I did it.
There. I feel much better now.
I'm ready to pay for my crime.
I didn't write a letter and don't recall emailing anyone's blackberry about it, but I did it.
There. I feel much better now.
I'm ready to pay for my crime.
Thursday, June 09, 2005
Thumbs Up For Larry Forgy
If anyone knows about Democrat dirty tricks, it's Larry Forgy. Mr. Forgy had the special experience of practicing law in Kentucky with a Democrat Governor nipping at his posterior for eight years.
So now, Mr. Forgy is suing in federal court to shut down Greg Stumbo's far-reaching merit system investigation.
The AP reports "Forgy went to federal court to challenge the state law because his experience in state courts in Kentucky has been unsatisfactory."
That would be an understatement. Nice job, Larry.
So now, Mr. Forgy is suing in federal court to shut down Greg Stumbo's far-reaching merit system investigation.
The AP reports "Forgy went to federal court to challenge the state law because his experience in state courts in Kentucky has been unsatisfactory."
That would be an understatement. Nice job, Larry.
Harry Reid Obstructs Senate, Blames Republicans For Sluggishness
After years of dragging President Bush's judicial nominees through the verbal muck of Democrats' filibustering, Harry Reid stretches beyond all reason for a partisan attack:
"We've spent endless hours, endless days, too many weeks debating radical judges and Republican attempts to abuse power," Reid spun.
Thanks, Senator. But do you have any real ideas? How about entitlement reform? Taxes?
Silence is often considered golden, but Democrat obstinance and obstruction in the face of real problems isn't a very impressive platform from which to ask for a return to power.
"We've spent endless hours, endless days, too many weeks debating radical judges and Republican attempts to abuse power," Reid spun.
Thanks, Senator. But do you have any real ideas? How about entitlement reform? Taxes?
Silence is often considered golden, but Democrat obstinance and obstruction in the face of real problems isn't a very impressive platform from which to ask for a return to power.
Which Way Will They Go?
Kentucky's Democratic Party State Executive Committee is supposed to meet June 25 at Jenny Wiley State Park in Prestonsburg. This is the meeting at which the party will decide whether to follow Howard Dean to the far left or to become Republican Lite.
You may recall we started reporting on this developing story three weeks ago.
You may recall we started reporting on this developing story three weeks ago.
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
Democrat Sour Grapes In Montgomery County
Brenda Murphy is one angry Democrat.
Murphy ran for Montgomery County PVA last year and lost. Now she is suing the lady who beat her and Kentucky's Finance and Administration Cabinet for $4 million.
She is also dragging Governor Fletcher into the case. Interestingly, she didn't think to object to her firing until May 24, six months after losing the election and in the middle of AG Greg Stumbo's investigation into state hiring practices.
There is a lot more to the story (some of it is here), and we can probably expect more of these things to pop up. Before this is over, Stumbo will have spent his whole term chasing down disgruntled Dems looking to get even rather than actually doing his job.
That's a shame.
Murphy ran for Montgomery County PVA last year and lost. Now she is suing the lady who beat her and Kentucky's Finance and Administration Cabinet for $4 million.
She is also dragging Governor Fletcher into the case. Interestingly, she didn't think to object to her firing until May 24, six months after losing the election and in the middle of AG Greg Stumbo's investigation into state hiring practices.
There is a lot more to the story (some of it is here), and we can probably expect more of these things to pop up. Before this is over, Stumbo will have spent his whole term chasing down disgruntled Dems looking to get even rather than actually doing his job.
That's a shame.
Kentucky Progress Radio
We will be talking about Jonathan Miller's Government Cheese Tour, Harry Moberly's illegal fundraising, Greg Stumbo's waste, a new liberal poll and more this afternoon at 5:15 to 6:15 on WEKY 1340 AM.
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
KY Sierra Club: Save The Environment By Soaking the "Rich"
Kentucky's tree huggers have more to worry about than predicting (again) the imminent end of the world's oil supply. In a front page article for their June newsletter, the Cumberland Sierra Club wades into the Social Security debate with some carefully measured analysis and suggestions. Their prescription: raise taxes already so we can get back to the important work of complaining about the environment.
They even offer political cover for Democrats using a little Berkeleyspeak: "But courageous lawmakers could frame the debate in the appropriate context and become heroes."
Thanks guys. No, really. Don't ever change.
They even offer political cover for Democrats using a little Berkeleyspeak: "But courageous lawmakers could frame the debate in the appropriate context and become heroes."
Thanks guys. No, really. Don't ever change.
Hillary Screams Like Dean
It must be Democrat primary 2008 time already.
Hillary smears and attacks Republicans for attempting to "further their own agenda" at a fundraiser in New York. I'm sure she would prefer that we enact her socialist utopia for her. No doubt Hillary would like us if we only nationalized health care and taxed our way to prosperity for all.
Read this. Particularly hilarious was the part where she attacks the media for not being tough on Bush.
Hillary smears and attacks Republicans for attempting to "further their own agenda" at a fundraiser in New York. I'm sure she would prefer that we enact her socialist utopia for her. No doubt Hillary would like us if we only nationalized health care and taxed our way to prosperity for all.
Read this. Particularly hilarious was the part where she attacks the media for not being tough on Bush.
Sunday, June 05, 2005
WFA: Jonathan Miller's Government Cheese Tour
Kentucky's state Treasurer Jonathan Miller is taking the hugely expensive marketing campaign for his moribund KAPT program on the road this month. Starting in Lexington on June 14, Miller will make a series of "town hall meetings" to dredge up support for more taxpayer spending to rescue what was once considered the crowning achievement of his political life.
Miller's prepaid tuition ponzi scheme (also known as KAPT) came under fire after pulling $13.7 million last December from the Commonwealth's General Fund. Finance and Administration Cabinet officials, already facing runaway Medicaid expenses and other real problems requiring real money, were doubtless relieved when the General Assembly ordered Miller to return the taxpayers' millions by June 30, 2005.
But Miller and AG Greg "Smoking Gun" Stumbo took the money and ran -- to court. Miller has already spent millions of taxpayer dollars marketing (and subsequently propping up) KAPT -- complete with his name and picture on all the materials. Earlier this year, an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote in the General Assembly agreed to slow his gravy train down by recouping the $13.7 million (House Democrats killed the commonsense effort to stop future losses altogether).
The matter is currently before Franklin Circuit Court Judge Roger Crittenden where, of course, anything can happen. And you know the liberal media is for anything that would cause tax increases, so expect lots of fawning coverage and angry Dean Scream editorials.
Many of us voted for change in Frankfort in 2003 and have seen precious little of it. We must demand that Miller be forced to end this waste, fraud, and abuse immediately. And then we need legislation to discontinue the office of State Treasurer once and for all. We can call it the Jonathan "Government Cheese" Miller Act of 2006 and spend his outlandish salary on things that might more positively affect the Commonwealth.
Miller's prepaid tuition ponzi scheme (also known as KAPT) came under fire after pulling $13.7 million last December from the Commonwealth's General Fund. Finance and Administration Cabinet officials, already facing runaway Medicaid expenses and other real problems requiring real money, were doubtless relieved when the General Assembly ordered Miller to return the taxpayers' millions by June 30, 2005.
But Miller and AG Greg "Smoking Gun" Stumbo took the money and ran -- to court. Miller has already spent millions of taxpayer dollars marketing (and subsequently propping up) KAPT -- complete with his name and picture on all the materials. Earlier this year, an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote in the General Assembly agreed to slow his gravy train down by recouping the $13.7 million (House Democrats killed the commonsense effort to stop future losses altogether).
The matter is currently before Franklin Circuit Court Judge Roger Crittenden where, of course, anything can happen. And you know the liberal media is for anything that would cause tax increases, so expect lots of fawning coverage and angry Dean Scream editorials.
Many of us voted for change in Frankfort in 2003 and have seen precious little of it. We must demand that Miller be forced to end this waste, fraud, and abuse immediately. And then we need legislation to discontinue the office of State Treasurer once and for all. We can call it the Jonathan "Government Cheese" Miller Act of 2006 and spend his outlandish salary on things that might more positively affect the Commonwealth.
Friday, June 03, 2005
Dead Democrats Caught Voting In Washington State
Read the story here. I doubt you will see much about this in the MSM, but the story isn't going away and is certainly likely to unearth a few more buried secrets.
UPDATE: Expecting a court decision on the WA Governor's race Monday. If the judge invalidates the very suspicious "victory" of Democrat Christine Gregoire, she will be booted out of office and a new election will be held. Monday's decision won't be final, though. The state Supreme Court has already cleared room on its docket to hear the appeal of this Al Gore repeat that "ended" when they found enough votes for the Dem.
UPDATE: Expecting a court decision on the WA Governor's race Monday. If the judge invalidates the very suspicious "victory" of Democrat Christine Gregoire, she will be booted out of office and a new election will be held. Monday's decision won't be final, though. The state Supreme Court has already cleared room on its docket to hear the appeal of this Al Gore repeat that "ended" when they found enough votes for the Dem.
Papers Go Ballistic For Arbitrary Judicial Activism
Slinging mud and calling a lady names like "discredited nag" are nothing new to the Lexington Herald Leader and Louisville Courier Journal, who call on Republicans to end their effort to seat election winner Dana Seum Stephenson to represent the 37th district in the state Senate.
What is new, which went unreported in all the newspaper coverage, is that the as-yet-undecided contest between Stephenson and Virginia Woodward is now only about one thing: the ability of the state Senate to make internal decisions. The Senate's definition of "residency" no longer matters in this case. It's an interesting side issue, but the crux of the matter is now whether the courts have jurisdiction over internal Senate decisions.
They don't, and the Supreme Court is likely to agree. Liberal editorial writers are certainly free to advise Senators to give up this fight, but unless we want legislators going to court over their committee assignments and meeting start times (and no one should want that), we should support the decision to seat Dana Seum Stephenson and move on to more important issues.
What is new, which went unreported in all the newspaper coverage, is that the as-yet-undecided contest between Stephenson and Virginia Woodward is now only about one thing: the ability of the state Senate to make internal decisions. The Senate's definition of "residency" no longer matters in this case. It's an interesting side issue, but the crux of the matter is now whether the courts have jurisdiction over internal Senate decisions.
They don't, and the Supreme Court is likely to agree. Liberal editorial writers are certainly free to advise Senators to give up this fight, but unless we want legislators going to court over their committee assignments and meeting start times (and no one should want that), we should support the decision to seat Dana Seum Stephenson and move on to more important issues.
Thursday, June 02, 2005
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woodward?
The Kentucky Senate's 37th district constitutional conundrum appears to have the Lexington Herald Leader and Louisville Courier Journal all twisted up in their hopes to install more liberal Democrats in Frankfort.
Both papers today jump on a Franklin Circuit Court ruling that keeps open the question of who will serve the 37th Senate district -- Dana Seum Stephenson or Virginia Woodward.
The Senate voted to seat Stephenson because she won the election. Now Judge Graham is calling that decision "arbitrary." This is the key issue. Whether the decision of the Senate was arbitrary or whether the Court's calling it that is a violation of separation of powers should get the case to the Kentucky Supreme Court. Interestingly, Woodward's due process claims could possibly shift the case to federal courts should she lose before the Kentucky Supreme Court.
I doubt that Kentucky's Supreme Court is going to decide against the Senate on this issue. To do so would open up the legislature to excessive judicial control. Judges would only have to claim that a decision they didn't like was "arbitrary." While that would certainly be a liberal dream come true, the Supreme Court should be slow to go there. We expect more angry editorials about mean old David Williams and his iron fist. Funny.
Both papers today jump on a Franklin Circuit Court ruling that keeps open the question of who will serve the 37th Senate district -- Dana Seum Stephenson or Virginia Woodward.
The Senate voted to seat Stephenson because she won the election. Now Judge Graham is calling that decision "arbitrary." This is the key issue. Whether the decision of the Senate was arbitrary or whether the Court's calling it that is a violation of separation of powers should get the case to the Kentucky Supreme Court. Interestingly, Woodward's due process claims could possibly shift the case to federal courts should she lose before the Kentucky Supreme Court.
I doubt that Kentucky's Supreme Court is going to decide against the Senate on this issue. To do so would open up the legislature to excessive judicial control. Judges would only have to claim that a decision they didn't like was "arbitrary." While that would certainly be a liberal dream come true, the Supreme Court should be slow to go there. We expect more angry editorials about mean old David Williams and his iron fist. Funny.
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
"Smoking Gun" Stumbo To Give Up AG?
A top KDP official said that AG Greg Stumbo looks like a definite go for the Democratic Party's 2007 gubernatorial primary. No word on whether Doug Doerting will be his running mate, but we wouldn't be surprised to hear that he has been promised a good job.
KDP Strategy 2006
Kentucky Democrats will soon be chanting one number: 96,000. That is the number of senior citizens in Kentucky they want to believe will become poverty stricken in the event of Social Security reform. Expect that number to get lots of media coverage.
Also lots of talk about reframing issues. A Berkeley professor has put out a video that talks about how to use language to change perception without actually changing positions. This will, activists hope, allow the party's candidates to support tax increases in the name of "investment," shutting down the active defense against terrorism -- never mentioning the term "national security" by turning the discussion to "economic security" -- and pushing nationalized health care as "health security."
In other words, the Democrats are going hard to the left. Their next step will be to cast Jesus as a Marxist by co-opting the Beattitudes. Good news.
Also lots of talk about reframing issues. A Berkeley professor has put out a video that talks about how to use language to change perception without actually changing positions. This will, activists hope, allow the party's candidates to support tax increases in the name of "investment," shutting down the active defense against terrorism -- never mentioning the term "national security" by turning the discussion to "economic security" -- and pushing nationalized health care as "health security."
In other words, the Democrats are going hard to the left. Their next step will be to cast Jesus as a Marxist by co-opting the Beattitudes. Good news.
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
The Path of Most Resistance
President Bush is coming back to Kentucky for a Thursday lunchtime visit in Hopkinsville to bring attention to the need to reform Social Security.
Consistently and persistently "misunderestimated" by political opponents, Bush is, according to the liberal media, wasting his time trying to get Democrats to address entitlement reform. They are wrong on two fronts. If reform passes and the program's shortfall is addressed successfully, Democrats will have to hope no one notices. And they will be beyond help if personal accounts become the law of the land. While some conservatives complain that the President himself is selling PSA's short by making them too small for maximum effectiveness, anything that provides ownership and better returns on payroll taxes will be wildly popular. What may be even better is if reform opponents prevail and meaningful reform can't be enacted this year. Republicans love running against ideologically intransigent obstructionist Democrats. Democrats were supposed to be idealistic and optimistic. How fortunate for Republicans that Harry Reid's Dems get so juiced by grinding reform to a halt. It is almost as fortuitous as the circumstance of last year that had Democrat candidates running against the War on Terror. (For fun you can look up Ralph Nader's call to impeach Bush for "sexing up" the case for attacking Iraq. Last year? No, today!)
Politicians are famous for taking the easy way out. President Bush is gaining a reputation as one who makes decisions and goes to work to enact his ideas. History may well judge this hard-headed man favorably. If it does, his opponents will take in on the chin.
More fun reading can be found here in another "what liberals have to do to win" essay.
Consistently and persistently "misunderestimated" by political opponents, Bush is, according to the liberal media, wasting his time trying to get Democrats to address entitlement reform. They are wrong on two fronts. If reform passes and the program's shortfall is addressed successfully, Democrats will have to hope no one notices. And they will be beyond help if personal accounts become the law of the land. While some conservatives complain that the President himself is selling PSA's short by making them too small for maximum effectiveness, anything that provides ownership and better returns on payroll taxes will be wildly popular. What may be even better is if reform opponents prevail and meaningful reform can't be enacted this year. Republicans love running against ideologically intransigent obstructionist Democrats. Democrats were supposed to be idealistic and optimistic. How fortunate for Republicans that Harry Reid's Dems get so juiced by grinding reform to a halt. It is almost as fortuitous as the circumstance of last year that had Democrat candidates running against the War on Terror. (For fun you can look up Ralph Nader's call to impeach Bush for "sexing up" the case for attacking Iraq. Last year? No, today!)
Politicians are famous for taking the easy way out. President Bush is gaining a reputation as one who makes decisions and goes to work to enact his ideas. History may well judge this hard-headed man favorably. If it does, his opponents will take in on the chin.
More fun reading can be found here in another "what liberals have to do to win" essay.
Monday, May 30, 2005
Cat Fight: 2006 Democrat Primary in 76th
The Kentucky Democratic Party is preparing to unveil a primary opponent for Rep. Ruth Ann Palumbo. She squeaked past John Hampton by 221 votes in her 2004 re-election bid.
Last Year, Rep. Palumbo was named one of Kentucky's Dean's Dozen candidates and was endorsed by DNC Chairman Howard Dean's Dean for America political organization.
"In today's highly competitive environment, we have to cut loose some of our weak links," an insider said.
Last Year, Rep. Palumbo was named one of Kentucky's Dean's Dozen candidates and was endorsed by DNC Chairman Howard Dean's Dean for America political organization.
"In today's highly competitive environment, we have to cut loose some of our weak links," an insider said.
Friday, May 27, 2005
Stumbo Mumbo Jumbo Meets Changing Winds
A shift in the focus of the so-called JOBTROT affair (with apologies to all the girls Greg has, uh, loved before) happened today.
"Greg Stumbo has no plans to run for governor," Greg Stumbo, egomaniac, said.
It's about time for challengers for the sadly diminished office of Attorney General to start coming forward, actually.
"Greg Stumbo has no plans to run for governor," Greg Stumbo, egomaniac, said.
It's about time for challengers for the sadly diminished office of Attorney General to start coming forward, actually.
MarketWatch: Fletcher Up, Clinton Down
Kudos to Governor Ernie Fletcher for sticking it to the obstructionist hacks accusing him of merit system violations. I loved this:
“After 30 years of Republicans not being in here, we have been flooded with recommendations of folks feeling like in the past they had absolutely no opportunity, and now they did have an opportunity of being part of state government and moving this state forward,” Fletcher said.
And this:
Kentucky has had a Democratic patronage system for two decades, Fletcher said, and his Republican administration is being investigated for what he said were “no irregularities.” In reviewing the 495 names, “no merit system irregularities were discovered,” Fletcher said.
Meanwhile, Arianna Huffington jumps on Hillary Clinton:
Judy Woodruff asked a very specific question: “Record numbers of Americans continue to die in Iraq. No end to the violence in sight that most people can see. When should the United States begin significant troop withdrawals?”
Hillary reacted like a vampire being shown a cross or an ABC executive seeing the ratings for their Trump TV movie… then offered up the following head scratcher:
You know, I am not one who feels comfortable setting exit strategies. We don't know what we're exiting from. We don't know what the situation is moving toward…. How do we know where we're headed, when we don't know where we are?
Wow. Very existential. Very Zen koan. If a foreign policy disintegrates in the desert and no one hears it fail, what does this mean for our country and for our safety?
Moonbat Arianna can't be expected to question Judy Woodruff's "record numbers of Americans" goof. What record is that Judy?
And for those of you worried about the poll said to show Hillary on her way to the White House in 2008, don't go buy your "Hillary Lied and Vince Foster Died" t-shirts yet. The coverage of the poll seems unusually short on details. With the blogosphere jumping on recent bogus polls who publish their methodology, Gallup/USA Today/CNN isn't going to invite any unwanted scrutiny into their little news creation device.
“After 30 years of Republicans not being in here, we have been flooded with recommendations of folks feeling like in the past they had absolutely no opportunity, and now they did have an opportunity of being part of state government and moving this state forward,” Fletcher said.
And this:
Kentucky has had a Democratic patronage system for two decades, Fletcher said, and his Republican administration is being investigated for what he said were “no irregularities.” In reviewing the 495 names, “no merit system irregularities were discovered,” Fletcher said.
Meanwhile, Arianna Huffington jumps on Hillary Clinton:
Judy Woodruff asked a very specific question: “Record numbers of Americans continue to die in Iraq. No end to the violence in sight that most people can see. When should the United States begin significant troop withdrawals?”
Hillary reacted like a vampire being shown a cross or an ABC executive seeing the ratings for their Trump TV movie… then offered up the following head scratcher:
You know, I am not one who feels comfortable setting exit strategies. We don't know what we're exiting from. We don't know what the situation is moving toward…. How do we know where we're headed, when we don't know where we are?
Wow. Very existential. Very Zen koan. If a foreign policy disintegrates in the desert and no one hears it fail, what does this mean for our country and for our safety?
Moonbat Arianna can't be expected to question Judy Woodruff's "record numbers of Americans" goof. What record is that Judy?
And for those of you worried about the poll said to show Hillary on her way to the White House in 2008, don't go buy your "Hillary Lied and Vince Foster Died" t-shirts yet. The coverage of the poll seems unusually short on details. With the blogosphere jumping on recent bogus polls who publish their methodology, Gallup/USA Today/CNN isn't going to invite any unwanted scrutiny into their little news creation device.
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