It is customary for Democrat congressional candidates to make statements about the issues they deem important or to run and hide from anything that might tie them down to any kind of policy position. Both strategies are fun to watch.
What happens is candidates either get way out trying to speak "truth to power" or they spend a great deal of time saying absolutely nothing. While John Yarmuth admits with a straight face that he wants to surrender Iraq and put every man, woman, and child on Medicare, can you guess which approach Mike Weaver is taking?
Seriously, I don't think I've ever seen so many words on a "Principles" page without mentioning a single principle -- unless you count "faith trust."
Friday, June 09, 2006
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Don't Like The Death Tax? Think FairTax
When we stop taxing incomes and wealth and start taxing consumption, we spread out taxation more evenly. A side benefit is that we wouldn't have to endure idiotic Washington post columns like this one.
Liberals like to harp on Social Security since they consider screwing up reform their greatest policy achievement in years. The FairTax makes it a moot point.
Liberals like to harp on Social Security since they consider screwing up reform their greatest policy achievement in years. The FairTax makes it a moot point.
Another Reason To Vote Republican
In case you needed another reason to vote Democrats out of office this November, we see today that we have too many of them in the U.S. Senate to kill the Death Tax.
So, if you are keeping score at home, just this week it's one special election victory for an anti-amnesty congressional candidate, a gay marriage "victory" for Democrats in the Senate, and now they are trying to bring the Death Tax back in 2011.
Don't bother coming up with a "message" this year, Democrats. We already know.
So, if you are keeping score at home, just this week it's one special election victory for an anti-amnesty congressional candidate, a gay marriage "victory" for Democrats in the Senate, and now they are trying to bring the Death Tax back in 2011.
Don't bother coming up with a "message" this year, Democrats. We already know.
One If By Port, Two If By Homebuilder
Lost in the al-Zarqawi killing hoopla is the news that a Dubai company bought up a California homebuilding firm for $1 Billion in cash.
Could it be that the fabulous news of the death of a terrorist leader is enough to knock the economic illiterates who screamed bloody murder about the Dubai Ports deal off the trail of this one?
Let's hope so.
Attracting foreign investment has built this nation and continues to help us grow. The doomsayers who predicted in the 1980's that we would be turned into a Japanese colony because of their investments don't need another run today.
Could it be that the fabulous news of the death of a terrorist leader is enough to knock the economic illiterates who screamed bloody murder about the Dubai Ports deal off the trail of this one?
Let's hope so.
Attracting foreign investment has built this nation and continues to help us grow. The doomsayers who predicted in the 1980's that we would be turned into a Japanese colony because of their investments don't need another run today.
Fiscal Conservatism? In Kentucky?
Could it possibly happen here? Well, actually, yes.
The Club for Growth is close to announcing establishment of a Kentucky State Action organization to make an impact on this November's legislative races.
Fiscal liberals in both parties may not know what this means for them just yet, but they will soon enough.
Please go here to join the Club for Growth. And you might want to go here and see what some of the other CFG state groups are up to.
The Club for Growth is close to announcing establishment of a Kentucky State Action organization to make an impact on this November's legislative races.
Fiscal liberals in both parties may not know what this means for them just yet, but they will soon enough.
Please go here to join the Club for Growth. And you might want to go here and see what some of the other CFG state groups are up to.
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Fletcher's Strong Move On Tax Policy
After today's LRC meeting in Frankfort, both Jody Richards and David Williams said they had not heard anything from Governor Fletcher about when a special session might be called to repair some nastiness that has hurt small businesses.
Observers were left to speculate there may not be a special session.
But the Herald Leader's Jack Brammer was on the case. He called the Governor's office and got the scoop.
It seems the Governor's office is working with legislators other than the top two in leadership:
Cave said the administration has talked to certain members of the legislature who are working with "a constituent group" on formulating a tax plan. He declined to name them, saying they have come to him in confidence and include senators and representatives. Cave also said legislative leaders will play a role in a tax plan, but they have not yet been contacted out of respect for their time.
Ooooohhhh.... A power play. I like it!
Observers were left to speculate there may not be a special session.
But the Herald Leader's Jack Brammer was on the case. He called the Governor's office and got the scoop.
It seems the Governor's office is working with legislators other than the top two in leadership:
Cave said the administration has talked to certain members of the legislature who are working with "a constituent group" on formulating a tax plan. He declined to name them, saying they have come to him in confidence and include senators and representatives. Cave also said legislative leaders will play a role in a tax plan, but they have not yet been contacted out of respect for their time.
Ooooohhhh.... A power play. I like it!
Democrats Lose Only "Policy Position"
Democrats have been campaigning all year on one thing: their contention that all Republicans should be dead or in jail. I think they are going to have to come up with one more talking point.
Francine "You don't need no stinking green card" Busby lost yesterday's bellwether special election to Brian Bilbray (R) in the race to replace disgraced convicted criminal Randall "Duke" Cunningham, a Republican.
Busby was running a close race when she destroyed herself by getting caught telling an illegal immigrant "supporter" that citizenship wasn't necessary to vote for her or work on her campaign.
Dems are already skating on thin ice with this "culture of corruption" platform. In a time when they need something else to offer the American people, they come up empty.
Francine "You don't need no stinking green card" Busby lost yesterday's bellwether special election to Brian Bilbray (R) in the race to replace disgraced convicted criminal Randall "Duke" Cunningham, a Republican.
Busby was running a close race when she destroyed herself by getting caught telling an illegal immigrant "supporter" that citizenship wasn't necessary to vote for her or work on her campaign.
Dems are already skating on thin ice with this "culture of corruption" platform. In a time when they need something else to offer the American people, they come up empty.
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Shining More Light On Frankfort
The Bluegrass Institute is pushing the legislature to post committee votes online and the legislature is pushing back.
Showdown tomorrow in Frankfort. Here are details.
Showdown tomorrow in Frankfort. Here are details.
Monday, June 05, 2006
Yarmuth Stooge Unmasked
Robert Kahne admits to being a liberal. He proudly states that he hates all Republicans and dreams of killing them all. He says "I wish we could have a liberal inquisition and do like the Spanish, where we would go up to people and say 'are you a Republican?' and if they said yes, we would kill them. With swords, of course. Guns would be illegal."
Mr. Kahne sounds like he needs professional help. But he was providing valuable assistance to the John Yarmuth for Congress campaign when, as a Yarmuth intern, he attempted to infiltrate the Anne Northup campaign as a spy, steal her materials, and -- if he could sneak in a weapon -- who knows what else?
While Congresswoman Northup is used to all kinds of craziness from her hapless string of past opponents, it looks like the latest one plans to sink to the lowest of lows. Northup's campaign had this to say.
Yarmuth hasn't worked up an apology yet. Don't hold your breath. If this is the sort of thing we get from Yarmuth now, just imagine how he will crack up when he realizes he can't kill enough Republicans (or sensible Democrats) to win his race.
Update: The Herald Leader has picked up the story and it looks like the Yarmuth campaign is going to throw young Robert overboard and claim they didn't know anything about it. Right...
Mr. Kahne sounds like he needs professional help. But he was providing valuable assistance to the John Yarmuth for Congress campaign when, as a Yarmuth intern, he attempted to infiltrate the Anne Northup campaign as a spy, steal her materials, and -- if he could sneak in a weapon -- who knows what else?
While Congresswoman Northup is used to all kinds of craziness from her hapless string of past opponents, it looks like the latest one plans to sink to the lowest of lows. Northup's campaign had this to say.
Yarmuth hasn't worked up an apology yet. Don't hold your breath. If this is the sort of thing we get from Yarmuth now, just imagine how he will crack up when he realizes he can't kill enough Republicans (or sensible Democrats) to win his race.
Update: The Herald Leader has picked up the story and it looks like the Yarmuth campaign is going to throw young Robert overboard and claim they didn't know anything about it. Right...
Might As Well Drop An F-Bomb Here
The main frustration with the Fletcher administration has always been about communication.
Today's Ryan Alessi column sums it up all too well:
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Cave insists the governor's troubles with getting out his message have less to do with the internal communications strategy than with "a biased press."
"We have not been able to communicate effectively through the print media because I think it's no secret that the print media does not like this administration," Cave said, although he declined to list any specifics.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
What, not even one? When you complain to a reporter that he isn't giving attention to your accomplishments and then --when asked point-blank -- can't tick off three or four immediately just to drive your point home, you should realize what the problem is.
Might as well have dropped an F-Bomb.
Today's Ryan Alessi column sums it up all too well:
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Cave insists the governor's troubles with getting out his message have less to do with the internal communications strategy than with "a biased press."
"We have not been able to communicate effectively through the print media because I think it's no secret that the print media does not like this administration," Cave said, although he declined to list any specifics.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
What, not even one? When you complain to a reporter that he isn't giving attention to your accomplishments and then --when asked point-blank -- can't tick off three or four immediately just to drive your point home, you should realize what the problem is.
Might as well have dropped an F-Bomb.
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Welcome DOJ Readers!
Senator Ed Worley's problems continue to mount. Someone in Washington D.C. on a U.S. Department of Justice computer yesterday wound up reading this post on Kentucky Progress via a Google search for "Ed Worley."
Try it here. Fun!
Try it here. Fun!
Saturday, June 03, 2006
A Fletcher Revival?
Well, clearly I was wrong when I said last week Governor Fletcher was going to drop out of the 2007 race very soon. He spoke forcefully this morning to Republicans in Louisville and clearly is not leaving the scene without a BIG push. I had surmised that encouragement from above would get it done before the June 7 arraignment. Witnesses were split on whether or not the move to add Robbie Rudolph would ultimately help him win re-election, but no doubt remains about his plans to fight on through next year.
The next thing to happen is the court case on the merit hiring thing. Governor Fletcher didn't sound like a man who is about to go plead guilty to make it all go away. (Not that that would work at this point, anyway.) Concerns were voiced about today's new enthusiasm being too little and too late. Time will tell, but I don't think we have heard the last of the ugliness with Steve Pence.
Now the focus (with regard to the Governor's race) has to be on Congress. Democrat hopefullness aside, the Republicans might lose seats but can't realistically be expected to lose the majority in the House. Even if the D's get close, Chandler is still in the minority and, I think, becomes slightly more likely to jump into the 2007 race. Hal Rogers also becomes significantly more likely to stay put, leaving Governor Fletcher a clear shot through May. Chandler has a little pink in his voting record, which could be a real liability for him in trying to move up. If Ernie can revamp his image sufficiently, the current conventional wisdom that Chandler would win in a walk notwithstanding, Ben may even become dissuaded from running.
Even a damaged Fletcher beats anyone else on the Dem side next year.
The next thing to happen is the court case on the merit hiring thing. Governor Fletcher didn't sound like a man who is about to go plead guilty to make it all go away. (Not that that would work at this point, anyway.) Concerns were voiced about today's new enthusiasm being too little and too late. Time will tell, but I don't think we have heard the last of the ugliness with Steve Pence.
Now the focus (with regard to the Governor's race) has to be on Congress. Democrat hopefullness aside, the Republicans might lose seats but can't realistically be expected to lose the majority in the House. Even if the D's get close, Chandler is still in the minority and, I think, becomes slightly more likely to jump into the 2007 race. Hal Rogers also becomes significantly more likely to stay put, leaving Governor Fletcher a clear shot through May. Chandler has a little pink in his voting record, which could be a real liability for him in trying to move up. If Ernie can revamp his image sufficiently, the current conventional wisdom that Chandler would win in a walk notwithstanding, Ben may even become dissuaded from running.
Even a damaged Fletcher beats anyone else on the Dem side next year.
Friday, June 02, 2006
What You Can Do About Prices
Americans spend a lot of time talking about the price of things like gasoline, food, clothing, and education. We also spend a lot of time and energy concerned with the price of money (namely, interest rates), but we think of it as something we have even less control over than the commodities we can't live without.
I have an idea for you.
There is one thing Americans can do to take back some measure of control over our interest rates. We simply must support the FairTax. Doing so would cause our interest rates to decline by as much as one-third.
To understand why, it is helpful to view interest rates from the proper perspective. Interest rates are nothing more than the price we pay to purchase money. That is what we do when we take a mortgage, a car loan, or plunk down a credit card. When we do these things we obligate ourselves to pay back the borrowed money and pay interest as well. That interest "price" pays the financial institution's profit and overhead, which, of course, includes its federal income taxes. When the FairTax is implemented, there will be no more federal income tax. So banks will be able to make the same profit on approximately one-third less revenue. In the hyper-competitive financial services industry, that means prices are coming down.
So if were looking for one more reason to support the FairTax, here is one: lower interest rates. Spread the word.
I have an idea for you.
There is one thing Americans can do to take back some measure of control over our interest rates. We simply must support the FairTax. Doing so would cause our interest rates to decline by as much as one-third.
To understand why, it is helpful to view interest rates from the proper perspective. Interest rates are nothing more than the price we pay to purchase money. That is what we do when we take a mortgage, a car loan, or plunk down a credit card. When we do these things we obligate ourselves to pay back the borrowed money and pay interest as well. That interest "price" pays the financial institution's profit and overhead, which, of course, includes its federal income taxes. When the FairTax is implemented, there will be no more federal income tax. So banks will be able to make the same profit on approximately one-third less revenue. In the hyper-competitive financial services industry, that means prices are coming down.
So if were looking for one more reason to support the FairTax, here is one: lower interest rates. Spread the word.
Eighteen Months
Problems have a great way of focusing the mind. Well the Governor's Administration has problems.
It is time to focus on what can be accomplished in the next 18 months.
You want a positive legacy? Focus on education.
The fact is that waste, fraud, and abuse have been reduced during the Fletcher administration. Bringing in the World Equestrian Games for 2010 will prove to be a great coup as well. But it has all been trashed by bad (no, make that horrible) public relations.
Kentucky public schools would benefit from injecting some form of school choice into the process of educating our children. This administration may not be the one to pull it off, but it is time for this idea and the home team needs a little help.
It is time to focus on what can be accomplished in the next 18 months.
You want a positive legacy? Focus on education.
The fact is that waste, fraud, and abuse have been reduced during the Fletcher administration. Bringing in the World Equestrian Games for 2010 will prove to be a great coup as well. But it has all been trashed by bad (no, make that horrible) public relations.
Kentucky public schools would benefit from injecting some form of school choice into the process of educating our children. This administration may not be the one to pull it off, but it is time for this idea and the home team needs a little help.
US House To Kill Amnesty Bill?
The Washington Times reports House conservatives can kill the U.S. Senate's immigration bill for Constitutional reasons. All bills that raise revenue to the federal government -- as the Senate bill does -- must originate in the House.
Bill Frist says the bill can be added on to a bill the House already passed and then sent on to the conference committee.
Bill Frist says the bill can be added on to a bill the House already passed and then sent on to the conference committee.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Don't Fire Pence, Fire Brett Hall!
I worked my tail off as Jessamine county co-chair of Fletcher Pence to help get Ernie Fletcher elected Governor in 2003. So now, in the last days of the Fletcher administration, I sure would like to see the focus removed from politics and on to moving the state forward. Some of that has happened, but not nearly enough to balance out the bad stuff.
And Brett Hall, the Governor's spokesman, just makes it so much worse when he handles a bad question classlessly: "F**k no, he's not going to resign." For the record, Hall was talking about the Governor of Kentucky. And yes, I will take Larry Dale Keeling's word for it. I don't like his politics, but he gets quotes right and Hall has done this kind of thing before.
And Brett Hall, the Governor's spokesman, just makes it so much worse when he handles a bad question classlessly: "F**k no, he's not going to resign." For the record, Hall was talking about the Governor of Kentucky. And yes, I will take Larry Dale Keeling's word for it. I don't like his politics, but he gets quotes right and Hall has done this kind of thing before.
Herald Leader Staffer Caught Shilling Condemnation Disguised As A Squirrel
Check out a website called Lexington Mayor's Race 2006 in which a newspaper staff writer is caught writing nastygrams against Kentucky/American Water Company.
Abuse of government condemnation power will be the biggest issue in Lexington again this year.
Abuse of government condemnation power will be the biggest issue in Lexington again this year.
Thought of The Day
The answer to almost everything is persistence. Pushing on in a worthwhile pursuit while facing resistance usually leads to some measure of success. The corollary to this is the answer to everything else is indifference. If a failure causes dejection and prevents future effort, all is lost.
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