Central Kentucky election officials are used to watching area voters show up at the polls with Lexington Herald-Leader endorsements in hand, ready to vote against the paper's recommendations.
The paper's predictable calls work like this: pick the weakest Republican candidate in the primary and pick the Democrat in the fall. Case in point: the Herald-Leader endorsed Steve Nunn just prior to his 3rd place finish for Governor in 2003. This year, they endorsed Albert Spencer, a good candidate and a very good man, who is nonetheless ill-equipped to handle the vicious, dirty campaigning tactics of Sen. Ed Worley.
For the first time, The Richmond Register today endorsed candidates for election. In stark contrast to the Herald Leader, they chose to support the stronger Republican candidate -- former Senator Barry Metcalf.
Interestingly, they also suggested voters bring a new Sheriff to town, replacing an incumbent. Also, they counsel keeping a popular and efficient county clerk.
Monday, May 15, 2006
Money Monday: Give A Little, Get A Lot
Today is a great day to donate $10, $20, $50, $100 or more to Kentucky Votes. They are the folks who sort through the muck to put General Assembly votes online. They are currently leading the fight to give the public greater access to committee votes. The futile resistance they are getting from hapless House Speaker Jody Richards won't stop them, but your donation will help.
Go here and give a little green. You will feel better when you do. I did.
Go here and give a little green. You will feel better when you do. I did.
Ben Chandler For Governor?
Ryan Alessi's Herald-Leader column this morning about the Governor's race mentioned Ben Chandler's name a dozen times.
Meanwhile, Chandler's comfort in his Congressional office might come back to bite him when he tries for another run at the Mansion.
Just last week he voted to raise your taxes, abort more babies, and cut missile defense spending.
Good thing he represents only the shrieking minority of Congress and doesn't speak for the people of Kentucky, don't you agree?
Meanwhile, Chandler's comfort in his Congressional office might come back to bite him when he tries for another run at the Mansion.
Just last week he voted to raise your taxes, abort more babies, and cut missile defense spending.
Good thing he represents only the shrieking minority of Congress and doesn't speak for the people of Kentucky, don't you agree?
Sunday, May 14, 2006
2006 Political Trump Card: Economy And Taxes
Click here for some perspective on the economy and taxes.
And yes, Ben Chandler voted again to raise your taxes. Too bad he is running unopposed this year.
And yes, Ben Chandler voted again to raise your taxes. Too bad he is running unopposed this year.
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Jessamine Countians For Jim Newberry
Lexington mayoral candidate Jim Newberry wants to add a sales tax onto purchases made in Fayette county.
As a resident of neighboring Jessamine county, I think that sounds great. Y'all come on down and make your purchases in Nicholasville!
Of course, I'm kidding. Lexington is the engine for the region and we don't need to see them take a hit like this. If you live in Lexington, do the right thing and vote for Bill Farmer.
As a resident of neighboring Jessamine county, I think that sounds great. Y'all come on down and make your purchases in Nicholasville!
Of course, I'm kidding. Lexington is the engine for the region and we don't need to see them take a hit like this. If you live in Lexington, do the right thing and vote for Bill Farmer.
"No Comment" Would Have Been A Lot Better
"We would prefer that the governor not appear and deprive Greg Stumbo the satisfaction of making the governor do a perp walk. That's unbecoming of the office of the governor. Especially for a measly misdemeanor," Fletcher spokesman Brett Hall said.
Friday, May 12, 2006
Andrew Horne Wades In Over His Head
Greg Stumbo is, uh, "stuck out on the sand bar overnight" again. This time, though, we know who he had with him.
Third district Congressional candidate Andrew Horne has joined AG Stumbo in an ill-advised attack on Secretary of State Trey Grayson.
Horne campaign volunteer Shawn Reilly is being used as a pawn by people who support voter fraud. This whole thing started when Grayson's office joined with South Carolina and Tennessee to compare voter registration databases and clear out people who were registered in more than one state. Reilly had moved from Kentucky to South Carolina. This move invalidated his Kentucky voter registration. It got a little tricky when he moved back to Kentucky. But what the Stumbo/Horne people don't want you to know is that this would not have prevented Reilly from voting in the May 16 Democrat primary. There are well-established procedures that would have quickly corrected the oversight. Interestingly, it is Reilly's own error in registering as a Republican that will keep him from voting for Horne or any other Democrat on Tuesday.
So when Stumbo spokeswoman Vicki Glass said "there are going to be a lot of Shawn Reillys out there," we must assume that she is talking about people who are trying to vote in the wrong primary and not about the silly lawsuit that has the AG and Horne all worked up now.
Incidentally, Stumbo and Horne were just about to start a joint press conference at the Jefferson county clerk's office when they were informed that doing so would be illegal electioneering.
Oops!
Today is Day 1092 of wishing Kentucky had elected Tim Feeley as Attorney General.
Third district Congressional candidate Andrew Horne has joined AG Stumbo in an ill-advised attack on Secretary of State Trey Grayson.
Horne campaign volunteer Shawn Reilly is being used as a pawn by people who support voter fraud. This whole thing started when Grayson's office joined with South Carolina and Tennessee to compare voter registration databases and clear out people who were registered in more than one state. Reilly had moved from Kentucky to South Carolina. This move invalidated his Kentucky voter registration. It got a little tricky when he moved back to Kentucky. But what the Stumbo/Horne people don't want you to know is that this would not have prevented Reilly from voting in the May 16 Democrat primary. There are well-established procedures that would have quickly corrected the oversight. Interestingly, it is Reilly's own error in registering as a Republican that will keep him from voting for Horne or any other Democrat on Tuesday.
So when Stumbo spokeswoman Vicki Glass said "there are going to be a lot of Shawn Reillys out there," we must assume that she is talking about people who are trying to vote in the wrong primary and not about the silly lawsuit that has the AG and Horne all worked up now.
Incidentally, Stumbo and Horne were just about to start a joint press conference at the Jefferson county clerk's office when they were informed that doing so would be illegal electioneering.
Oops!
Today is Day 1092 of wishing Kentucky had elected Tim Feeley as Attorney General.
Newberry Strikes Back: "HillaryCare Not All Bad"
Mayoral hopeful Jim Newberry (Liberal #2) must be getting nervous. He has unleashed an attack ad on conservative candidate Bill Farmer.
In the ad, Newberry tries to spin his work in support of the health insurane mandates that destroyed Kentucky's individual insurance market twelve years ago.
For the record, the HillaryCare analogy really fits.
Conservative voters in Lexington really just have one choice this year.
In the ad, Newberry tries to spin his work in support of the health insurane mandates that destroyed Kentucky's individual insurance market twelve years ago.
For the record, the HillaryCare analogy really fits.
Conservative voters in Lexington really just have one choice this year.
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Jessamine Newspaper Too Afraid To Print This
Jessamine County Sheriff's Captain Kevin Corman has quietly been shopping a plan to hand over the law enforcement duties of the Sheriff's office to the Nicholasville Police Department.
It isn't a new idea, but the fact that the Democrat nominee and heir apparent to Sheriff Joe Walker is discussing consolidation makes it worth asking about.
Interestingly, when questioned directly about his idea, Corman launched a distorted attack on the plan to spread citizen representation evenly across town with a Nicholasville City Council. He then denied that he wants all the salary that comes with election to the office but little of the responsibility that normally comes with the job.
(Note to reader: skeptical newspaper columnists love it when targets answer a direct question with dodges and unrelated political attacks. Kind of like waving a bloody shirt in front of a charging bull.)
Captain Corman might want to get better at answering questions before this fall, but an analysis of his years on the Sheriff's department suggests he lacks the experience necessary to really benefit public safety. All this might explain somewhat why four Republican candidates signed up for the chance to run against him.
After many years of picking Jessamine county's elected officials in the May primaries, registered Democrats eager for a law enforcement upgrade will have to wait to see who Republicans vote for in Tuesday's election.
Fortunately for all of us, three of the four candidates running in the Republican primary have some qualifications that suggest preparation for the job. But limited media coverage of the race has relegated what is easily 2006's most important countywide contest to a yard sign counting competition. That is a shame.
The job of primary voters is to choose their party's best chance to get elected in the November election. That charge would best be met this year by voting for Deputy Sammy Brown.
The Democrat nominee is a political appointee to the position of Captain. As Jessamine county growth brings more law enforcement challenges to the area, the time for partisan favoritism is past. Nevertheless, the fall campaign will be fierce -- and probably will get nasty. The most important base to cover is to nominate someone who knows the needs of the department. As a current Deputy, Brown can best fill the bill. This basic fact should keep voters focussed when the mud starts flying.
Deputy Brown earned the 2002 National Deputy of the Year Award. He won the award for keeping his cool on the morning of November 13, 2001 when all hell broke loose in Jessamine county.
Deputy Brown was serving a warrant with two other officers when the man they were pursuing opened fire with an M-1 carbine rifle at close range. Brown was hit with three shots and Deputy Billy Ray Walls and Captain Chuck Morgan were killed. Deputy Brown stopped the shooter and struggled to get to his car to radio for help.
At the time, Brown was only thirty years old and had been on the job a grand total of five months. He had already been awarded three letters of commendation.
Deputy Brown says that his first actions as Sheriff would be to put more officers on the street and to pursue grant money available to the department. The Sheriff's department already has the money for three additional deputies but, in an act of sheer political gamesmanship, Corman is promising jobs for after the election rather than filling them now. Poor recordkeeping in the Jessamine county department explains our inability to gain grants, a staple in well-run departments.
Jessamine county Republicans would do very well to vote for Sammy Brown on Tuesday. In a low turnout off-year election, every vote will count. And in this race, we can't afford for your voice to go unheard.
It isn't a new idea, but the fact that the Democrat nominee and heir apparent to Sheriff Joe Walker is discussing consolidation makes it worth asking about.
Interestingly, when questioned directly about his idea, Corman launched a distorted attack on the plan to spread citizen representation evenly across town with a Nicholasville City Council. He then denied that he wants all the salary that comes with election to the office but little of the responsibility that normally comes with the job.
(Note to reader: skeptical newspaper columnists love it when targets answer a direct question with dodges and unrelated political attacks. Kind of like waving a bloody shirt in front of a charging bull.)
Captain Corman might want to get better at answering questions before this fall, but an analysis of his years on the Sheriff's department suggests he lacks the experience necessary to really benefit public safety. All this might explain somewhat why four Republican candidates signed up for the chance to run against him.
After many years of picking Jessamine county's elected officials in the May primaries, registered Democrats eager for a law enforcement upgrade will have to wait to see who Republicans vote for in Tuesday's election.
Fortunately for all of us, three of the four candidates running in the Republican primary have some qualifications that suggest preparation for the job. But limited media coverage of the race has relegated what is easily 2006's most important countywide contest to a yard sign counting competition. That is a shame.
The job of primary voters is to choose their party's best chance to get elected in the November election. That charge would best be met this year by voting for Deputy Sammy Brown.
The Democrat nominee is a political appointee to the position of Captain. As Jessamine county growth brings more law enforcement challenges to the area, the time for partisan favoritism is past. Nevertheless, the fall campaign will be fierce -- and probably will get nasty. The most important base to cover is to nominate someone who knows the needs of the department. As a current Deputy, Brown can best fill the bill. This basic fact should keep voters focussed when the mud starts flying.
Deputy Brown earned the 2002 National Deputy of the Year Award. He won the award for keeping his cool on the morning of November 13, 2001 when all hell broke loose in Jessamine county.
Deputy Brown was serving a warrant with two other officers when the man they were pursuing opened fire with an M-1 carbine rifle at close range. Brown was hit with three shots and Deputy Billy Ray Walls and Captain Chuck Morgan were killed. Deputy Brown stopped the shooter and struggled to get to his car to radio for help.
At the time, Brown was only thirty years old and had been on the job a grand total of five months. He had already been awarded three letters of commendation.
Deputy Brown says that his first actions as Sheriff would be to put more officers on the street and to pursue grant money available to the department. The Sheriff's department already has the money for three additional deputies but, in an act of sheer political gamesmanship, Corman is promising jobs for after the election rather than filling them now. Poor recordkeeping in the Jessamine county department explains our inability to gain grants, a staple in well-run departments.
Jessamine county Republicans would do very well to vote for Sammy Brown on Tuesday. In a low turnout off-year election, every vote will count. And in this race, we can't afford for your voice to go unheard.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
FairTax Kentucky On The Move
If the United States repeals federal income taxes and replaces them with retail sales taxes, the resulting economic boom will cause many states to consider the same approach.
The obvious problems that would result from inconsistent comprehensive reform on a state-to-state basis suggests that all states will want to move together on this. Several states have begun studying how this would work. Today, Kentucky joined them.
Details are forthcoming.
The obvious problems that would result from inconsistent comprehensive reform on a state-to-state basis suggests that all states will want to move together on this. Several states have begun studying how this would work. Today, Kentucky joined them.
Details are forthcoming.
Cegelka Goes Negative
Just saw the first negative ad in the Larry Roberts/Bill Cegelka County Attorney race in Fayette County. Cegelka plays an audio tape of Roberts calling early-morning female joggers "dumb" and has Roberts saying homosexuality is "not a victimless crime at all." The climax was a printed quote from Roberts explaining that black criminals are more likely to get caught because they are more noticeable.
Wow, hot stuff!
And Roberts is running ads prominently featuring Democrat Senate candidate James Keller.
Looks like Fayette isn't going to get much a County Attorney upgrade.
Update: The Dems are going CRAZY about this race. Funny.
Wow, hot stuff!
And Roberts is running ads prominently featuring Democrat Senate candidate James Keller.
Looks like Fayette isn't going to get much a County Attorney upgrade.
Update: The Dems are going CRAZY about this race. Funny.
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Still Courting The Convict Vote
Fresh off a failed attempt to re-enfranchise convicted felons, Kentucky Democrats are cooking up a plan to push for conjugal visits in prisons.
Now that all Democrats are conservative Bible-thumpers, I can't wait to see which one has to sponsor this one.
Now that all Democrats are conservative Bible-thumpers, I can't wait to see which one has to sponsor this one.
Tweaking The Energy Crisis
Former Congressman John Kasich suggests eliminating most of the federal gas tax and letting states replace it and take care of their own roads, while the feds maintain the interstates.
The main benefit of this is wiping out a lot of the pork sweepstakes that inspire so many Congressional press releases.
Another little goody he doesn't mention is that this would take the sting out of the federal mandate to keep state drinking ages up to 21, as that is currently tied to receiving federal highway dollars. I am assuming several states would take the opportunity to lower the drinking age back down to 18.
I think if we could do this in conjunction with a required significant loss of driving privileges for first time drunk drivers I would be okay with it.
The main benefit of this is wiping out a lot of the pork sweepstakes that inspire so many Congressional press releases.
Another little goody he doesn't mention is that this would take the sting out of the federal mandate to keep state drinking ages up to 21, as that is currently tied to receiving federal highway dollars. I am assuming several states would take the opportunity to lower the drinking age back down to 18.
I think if we could do this in conjunction with a required significant loss of driving privileges for first time drunk drivers I would be okay with it.
"Some of My Best Friends Are Diverse"
Classic quote from Madison County Clerk candidate David Johnson:
“I believe in a diversity society,” Johnson said. “As for reaching out to the community, looking for diverse people, today I was campaigning in a pretty good subdivision, and I seen [sic] some diverse people, and there are diverse people throughout Madison County.”
I got the story from kynews.org.
“I believe in a diversity society,” Johnson said. “As for reaching out to the community, looking for diverse people, today I was campaigning in a pretty good subdivision, and I seen [sic] some diverse people, and there are diverse people throughout Madison County.”
I got the story from kynews.org.
Million Moron March?
Wonder why next week's Network of Spiritual Progressives march on Washington D.C. hasn't gotten much media attention yet.
Democrats' notion that all will be well at the ballot box will be fine if they can just out-Godspeak Republicans would actually be kind of fun to watch. The show will be May 17-20.
Democrats' notion that all will be well at the ballot box will be fine if they can just out-Godspeak Republicans would actually be kind of fun to watch. The show will be May 17-20.
Monday, May 08, 2006
Ky Democrat Prediction of Resurgence Premature
Don't look now, but the same Democrats who crowed earlier in the year they were going to take over the Kentucky Senate now seem to be pinning all their hopes on their one candidate who seems to have any life in him at all. The really bad news for them is the one candidate is convicted felon Carroll Hubbard who is running for Sen. Bob Leeper's 2nd district seat.
A stealth campaign by former Senator Barry Metcalf against Democrat Leader Sen. Ed Worley is shaping up to be the big story of this fall election season.
A stealth campaign by former Senator Barry Metcalf against Democrat Leader Sen. Ed Worley is shaping up to be the big story of this fall election season.
More Government Reform: Disband SEC
The Securities And Exchange Commission could be eliminated without hurting public confidence in our financial markets. The internet makes all the relevant information readily available to individuals, the SEC is swamped and terribly inefficient at enforcement, and yet the fact that investors drop their guard because they have the illusion of SEC oversight leaves us ripe for victimization by corporate criminals. Corporate income tax elimination on the way to instituting the FairTax would also make corporate financial records easier to decipher because convoluted "tax planning" would no longer be necessary.
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Herald Leader Kiss of Death for Isaac, Newberry
Lexington's mayoral race got a nice jolt this morning with the Lexington Herald Leader's endorsement of Mayor Teresa Isaac and Jim Newberry.
Conservative voters now know to vote for Councilman Bill Farmer. They should have already known that, but I'm sure the Farmer camp appreciates the help. By endorsing both liberals in what is really a three way race, the paper now hands Farmer a 250 word opportunity to make his case. And, for good measure, they will likely print a picture of their two favorites on their election day list of endorsements.
This should help give Lexington voters a conservative choice for mayor in November. After all, the Herald Leader endorsed Jim Gray four years ago. On the strength of that plug, he dropped to third and out of the race. I wouldn't be surprised to see the same happen to Newberry, who has tried to be on both sides of the water condemnation issue and seems to have very few real plans for office.
Conservative voters now know to vote for Councilman Bill Farmer. They should have already known that, but I'm sure the Farmer camp appreciates the help. By endorsing both liberals in what is really a three way race, the paper now hands Farmer a 250 word opportunity to make his case. And, for good measure, they will likely print a picture of their two favorites on their election day list of endorsements.
This should help give Lexington voters a conservative choice for mayor in November. After all, the Herald Leader endorsed Jim Gray four years ago. On the strength of that plug, he dropped to third and out of the race. I wouldn't be surprised to see the same happen to Newberry, who has tried to be on both sides of the water condemnation issue and seems to have very few real plans for office.
D.C. Dems Contract To Raise Taxes, Seriously
The Washington Post reports Nancy Pelosi and friends are measuring for drapes in majority leadership offices already.
That's the good news. The great news is they are coming clean on some of their policy initiatives for the first week of their return to power.
They want to require corresponding tax increases for any government increase in spending. Since everyone knows the government spends more money each year, that means they want to not only roll back all the Bush tax cuts, they want annual tax increases as far as the eye can see.
Once again, frustrating Republican "leaders" will get to skate because Democrats are worse.
Beautiful.
That's the good news. The great news is they are coming clean on some of their policy initiatives for the first week of their return to power.
They want to require corresponding tax increases for any government increase in spending. Since everyone knows the government spends more money each year, that means they want to not only roll back all the Bush tax cuts, they want annual tax increases as far as the eye can see.
Once again, frustrating Republican "leaders" will get to skate because Democrats are worse.
Beautiful.
Bad Democrat: Stumbo Misses Chance To Preen
What is the world coming to when ten states sue the Bush adminstration of something as critical to the Union as gas mileage requirements for SUV's and Kentucky's leaky chief prosecutor doesn't make Kentucky one of them?
Was he out "running late for a vote" with Patrick Kennedy or something?
Was he out "running late for a vote" with Patrick Kennedy or something?
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