As more evidence mounts that Rep. Ben Chandler plans to run for Governor in 2007, any glimpse into what that might mean for Kentucky could be enlightening.
For today's insight, we turn to Jon Corzine's New Jersey.
Corzine, a former U.S. Senator and currently Democrat governor of New Jersey, has caused a partial but growing shutdown of state government while he tries to force through a large tax increase on the people of his state.
Chandler, who favors expanded gambling and -- after refusing to swear off tax increases in '03, switching gears and promising not to raise taxes in '04, and then flip-flopping again and voting for tax increases since then -- has a problem telling the truth on taxes, might be a Jon Corzine kind of Governor.
The funny thing is that the New Jersey government shutdown will likely result in the shutdown of the state's twelve casinos.
And I thought casinos were supposed to be the Holy Grail for big government spenders, making tax increases unnecessary.
This is with a Democrat-controlled legislature. How bad would the train wreck be in Kentucky under similar circumstances?
Monday, July 03, 2006
Calderon Wins In Mexico!
This is very good news. Al Gore's lawyers on probably on the next plane down to start the protest for leftist Andrés Manuel López Obrador, but Felipe Calderon has won a close one. This should help slow the tide of Mexican pioneers fleeing their nation's chaos.
Sunday, July 02, 2006
Viva La Revolucion!
The most important election in America Sunday was in Mexico.
I'm up at the last minute, hoping for a result that is not going to come. If the leftist candidate wins, the flow of illegals coming into our country will explode.
Reports from Mexico are that the close election results may not become available for a few days. In other words, let the cheating begin!
I'm up at the last minute, hoping for a result that is not going to come. If the leftist candidate wins, the flow of illegals coming into our country will explode.
Reports from Mexico are that the close election results may not become available for a few days. In other words, let the cheating begin!
Fletcher Strikes Back
This is a good one. While the national media has picked up on the hysteria of Governor Fletcher riding to work in a car, the Administration announced transportation projects Friday.
To top it off, he announced a "walk to school" initiative. I like to see the Governor answering gratuitous whining from opponents with meaningful policy. Nice job.
To top it off, he announced a "walk to school" initiative. I like to see the Governor answering gratuitous whining from opponents with meaningful policy. Nice job.
The Terrorists' Right To Know
Larry Dale Keeling jumps on Jim Bunning this morning in the Lexington Herald-Leader for rebuking the treasonous New York Times.
Pat Buchanan, on the other hand, suggests putting the Times editors in jail.
Incidentally, Buchanan is representative of a chunk of the electorate who has expressed extreme displeasure with the President, but wouldn't vote for someone more liberal. That is why Karl Rove isn't slashing his wrists over Bush's 40% approval rating.
Pat Buchanan, on the other hand, suggests putting the Times editors in jail.
Incidentally, Buchanan is representative of a chunk of the electorate who has expressed extreme displeasure with the President, but wouldn't vote for someone more liberal. That is why Karl Rove isn't slashing his wrists over Bush's 40% approval rating.
Saturday, July 01, 2006
Frankfort, Put Committee Votes Online
KentuckyVotes.org's Caleb Brown is on KY Newsmakers this morning pushing for the General Assembly to put committee votes on the internet.
There is no reason for lawmakers to resist this. Still, they resist.
There is no reason for lawmakers to resist this. Still, they resist.
Friday, June 30, 2006
Return Of The Open-MInded Liberal Blogger
After a long hiatus, the folks at BluegrassRoots.org are back to posting their stuff on the net.
They allow anonymous posts and they don't block comments expressing ideas they fear.
Check them out here.
They allow anonymous posts and they don't block comments expressing ideas they fear.
Check them out here.
John Yarmuth's Culture of The Kook Left
As I write this, 3rd district congressional candidate John Yarmuth hasn't gotten the word that he has been voted off Virginia tax-raiser Mark Warner's island.
When he does -- good morning, John! -- expect him to scrub any evidence of his support for Warner's presidential bid and go looking for another national Democrat to lock arms with.
Yarmuth is clearly following the Dem strategy of nationalizing congressional races. His site is heavy on minimum wage tax increase, socialized medicine tax increases, and refusing to derail the Social Security/Medicare train wreck while we can still do something about it rather tha raise taxes. Oh, and he is going to "stand up to George Bush." What is funny is the races are becoming nationalized but only helping to underscore liberal weaknesses on the key issues.
What will John Yarmuth think of next?
When he does -- good morning, John! -- expect him to scrub any evidence of his support for Warner's presidential bid and go looking for another national Democrat to lock arms with.
Yarmuth is clearly following the Dem strategy of nationalizing congressional races. His site is heavy on minimum wage tax increase, socialized medicine tax increases, and refusing to derail the Social Security/Medicare train wreck while we can still do something about it rather tha raise taxes. Oh, and he is going to "stand up to George Bush." What is funny is the races are becoming nationalized but only helping to underscore liberal weaknesses on the key issues.
What will John Yarmuth think of next?
Chandler Acting Like D.C. Democrat
A good indication of his 2007 plans comes again from Rep. Ben Chandler's actions. Yesterday he voted against tracking terrorist financial records and rebuking the New York Times. He also has issued a press release apologizing for voting for the recent resolution against cutting and running from Iraq.
The one thing Chandler had going for him in his 2003 run for Governor was he had no voting record.
The one thing Chandler had going for him in his 2003 run for Governor was he had no voting record.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
ACLU Aids Georgia Sex Predators
A U.S. District Court judge issued a temporary restraining order this afternoon against a new Georgia law that would prohibit registered sex offenders from living within 1000 feet of places where children congregate.
Are we going to have to pass a constitutional amendment to get rid of child molestors?
And no, I don't care a bit about their "rights."
Are we going to have to pass a constitutional amendment to get rid of child molestors?
And no, I don't care a bit about their "rights."
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Shooting The Wounded
David Williams put a bullet in Ernie Fletcher today.
It's an age-old practice and the timing, really, is good. President Williams did the right thing in an effort to provide guidance to GOP candidates who have essentially no Governor to campaign with. Governor Fletcher, I know, has a better response to Williams' non-endorsement than he gave today. Holding his fire for later is no longer an option. Fletcher's timeframe for making his case just got scooted forward for him. This is going to get uglier, but the main point is that it is going to happen now and that is a good thing.
The wound Williams inflicted on the Governor is not on Ernie's back. As such, now is not the time to feign hurt feelings and retreat to safety. Let's have this out now. The Democrats are hoping we let this continue to fester.
It's an age-old practice and the timing, really, is good. President Williams did the right thing in an effort to provide guidance to GOP candidates who have essentially no Governor to campaign with. Governor Fletcher, I know, has a better response to Williams' non-endorsement than he gave today. Holding his fire for later is no longer an option. Fletcher's timeframe for making his case just got scooted forward for him. This is going to get uglier, but the main point is that it is going to happen now and that is a good thing.
The wound Williams inflicted on the Governor is not on Ernie's back. As such, now is not the time to feign hurt feelings and retreat to safety. Let's have this out now. The Democrats are hoping we let this continue to fester.
Let's Do Tax Holiday Right
Pre-filed bills are rolling into Frankfort and another shot at the bogus "Back to School Sales Tax Holiday" should be coming along soon.
It sounds good at first, but the tax holiday -- which exempts clothing and computer items from state sales tax, usually for a three day period in late summer -- is nothing more than a political stunt.
In fact, retail groups betray the fallacy of sales tax holidays by promoting the additional expenditures consumers will make while out shopping their 6% sale. So they know -- but hope you don't -- that you will probably spend more elsewhere than you will save on sales taxes. Further, I don't know about you, but I would never be motivated by a 6% sale. Better to wait until inventory change time and buy at 50% or more, don't you think?
Of course the largest thing we are supposed to overlook in weighing the Sales Tax Holiday is that all the back-to-school items are already burdened with embedded income taxes that far outweigh state sales taxes. That's a far more egregious wrong to address, and a permanent fix as well.
If you haven't already, go to www.fairtax.org and see what real tax reform looks like.
It sounds good at first, but the tax holiday -- which exempts clothing and computer items from state sales tax, usually for a three day period in late summer -- is nothing more than a political stunt.
In fact, retail groups betray the fallacy of sales tax holidays by promoting the additional expenditures consumers will make while out shopping their 6% sale. So they know -- but hope you don't -- that you will probably spend more elsewhere than you will save on sales taxes. Further, I don't know about you, but I would never be motivated by a 6% sale. Better to wait until inventory change time and buy at 50% or more, don't you think?
Of course the largest thing we are supposed to overlook in weighing the Sales Tax Holiday is that all the back-to-school items are already burdened with embedded income taxes that far outweigh state sales taxes. That's a far more egregious wrong to address, and a permanent fix as well.
If you haven't already, go to www.fairtax.org and see what real tax reform looks like.
Abortion Sally Gets Off Easy
Sally Jacobsen, the disgraced NKU professor who went on a mad rampage through a campus pro-life display in April and got caught, isn't going to jail. After she "apologized" and paid for the property she destroyed, the charges of criminal mischief, theft by unlawful taking, and criminal solicitaton were dropped yesterday.
I wish she could be hauled back in again and charged under the desecration of venerated objects (the crosses she broke) statute. The same kind of criminal behavior Sally Jacobsen exhibited at NKU has happened at other schools -- including the University of Kentucky in March -- but this one got all the publicity because Abortion Sally got caught. If there is no real penalty for these people, they will just keep doing their thing.
I wish she could be hauled back in again and charged under the desecration of venerated objects (the crosses she broke) statute. The same kind of criminal behavior Sally Jacobsen exhibited at NKU has happened at other schools -- including the University of Kentucky in March -- but this one got all the publicity because Abortion Sally got caught. If there is no real penalty for these people, they will just keep doing their thing.
School Choice, Not Racial Quotas
Race-baiter Jesse Jackson was in Louisville yesterday issuing plans for a 10,000 person rally in support of racial quotas in city public schools.
He would do better to support school choice for everyone instead of artificial racial-assignment policies that now cause some children to be denied admission based on the color of their skin. It flies in the face of all reason to suggest that a percentage of students with a certain skin color in any school would affect educational achievement for anyone. Of course that is beside the point for Jackson, but his hypocrisy didn't need to no unanswered again.
It is a bugaboo to education establishment types, but vouchers would at least give some at-risk kids a chance. Racial profiling student populations only provides press conference fodder for aging demagogues.
He would do better to support school choice for everyone instead of artificial racial-assignment policies that now cause some children to be denied admission based on the color of their skin. It flies in the face of all reason to suggest that a percentage of students with a certain skin color in any school would affect educational achievement for anyone. Of course that is beside the point for Jackson, but his hypocrisy didn't need to no unanswered again.
It is a bugaboo to education establishment types, but vouchers would at least give some at-risk kids a chance. Racial profiling student populations only provides press conference fodder for aging demagogues.
Warren Buffett Gives It Up
Uber-investor Warren Buffett's donation of $30 Billion to charity last week might have you thinking what good you could do with so much money. His ill-considered comments in favor of the Death Tax -- "It's very equitable," he said -- and the money it sucks from the economy suggests an idea that puts another bad liberal plan in some perspective.
Refusing to reform Social Security put that system another $600 Billion in the tank last year. Buffett's gift is much less impressive when thought in terms of picking up the tab for only two weeks of intransigence on this one federal program.
Refusing to reform Social Security put that system another $600 Billion in the tank last year. Buffett's gift is much less impressive when thought in terms of picking up the tab for only two weeks of intransigence on this one federal program.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
While You Were Working...
J.R. Gray (D-Benton) pre-filed a 2007 bill today to raise taxes.
Yes, it is a minimum wage bill -- a wedge Democrats hope to use in November -- but it works just like an off-the-books tax increase for businesses who employ minimum wage workers. Why don't Democrats show some courage and propose a tax increase rather than try to make it look like some kind of a fairness issue?
The Kentucky legislature is in special session right to trying to cut taxes on small businesses and Rep. Gray wants to raise them back up at the same time.
By the way, take a look at Gray's Republican opponent Marvin Wilson.
Yes, it is a minimum wage bill -- a wedge Democrats hope to use in November -- but it works just like an off-the-books tax increase for businesses who employ minimum wage workers. Why don't Democrats show some courage and propose a tax increase rather than try to make it look like some kind of a fairness issue?
The Kentucky legislature is in special session right to trying to cut taxes on small businesses and Rep. Gray wants to raise them back up at the same time.
By the way, take a look at Gray's Republican opponent Marvin Wilson.
Media Appearance
I will be weighing in on the goofy, pointless, and ultimately harmful liberal efforts to rewrite the First Amendment on tomorrow's Lexington Herald Leader editorial page.
Speaking of the First Amendment, here it is:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Nothing in there about state employees not having to bring a laptop to work so they can read blogs all day long.
The low point of today's update on this ridiculous "scandal" was in this quote: "The government is not a private employer, the government cannot decide what content they want to ban," said Mark Nickolas, U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler's former campaign manager and operator of a Web log. "It's not constitutional."
While the libs are distracting with this stuff and the Fletcher Driving-Not-Walking scandal, the General Assembly is getting away with tweaking the AMC when they should be repealing it.
Speaking of the First Amendment, here it is:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Nothing in there about state employees not having to bring a laptop to work so they can read blogs all day long.
The low point of today's update on this ridiculous "scandal" was in this quote: "The government is not a private employer, the government cannot decide what content they want to ban," said Mark Nickolas, U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler's former campaign manager and operator of a Web log. "It's not constitutional."
While the libs are distracting with this stuff and the Fletcher Driving-Not-Walking scandal, the General Assembly is getting away with tweaking the AMC when they should be repealing it.
Monday, June 26, 2006
Required Reading in AP Economics
While Kentucky politicos are irrationally consumed with what can or can't be read in the state Capitol, one Georgia high school has the right idea.
An Advanced Placement Economics course at Northview High School in Duluth is requiring students to have read The Fair Tax Book before classes start in the fall.
That should get Nancy Pelosi worked up since she won't let her minions talk about the Fair Tax, but it is good news for the future that these kids will be learning about it now.
An Advanced Placement Economics course at Northview High School in Duluth is requiring students to have read The Fair Tax Book before classes start in the fall.
That should get Nancy Pelosi worked up since she won't let her minions talk about the Fair Tax, but it is good news for the future that these kids will be learning about it now.
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