The most interesting place to be in Kentucky next Saturday will be in Frankfort at the GOP Unity Rally, if it happens.
The RPK website doesn't list the event. May not happen anyway, as the bad blood between the Fletcher camp and the Northup camp is boiling.
If Ernie Fletcher wins out on Tuesday, I can't imagine many Northup supporters will be ready to go cheer on the governor by Saturday after Fletcher called her anti-Christian. And how many Fletcher supporters will be able to muster support for a freshly nominated Anne Northup after she called Governor Fletcher a crook?
And if the two of them are locked in a run-off Tuesday, there will obviously be no Unity Rally on May 26.
So what Republicans really need to think about is how we are going to pull off any kind of unity, especially if it is delayed by a really nasty extra campaign that eats up half the summer.
After you have thought about that, think about how that is another good reason to vote for Billy Harper on Tuesday. Even if he comes in second on Tuesday, he should easily win a run-off. After not making enemies in the primary, Billy Harper will be very well positioned to unite the state in November.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Georgia Governor Signs School Choice Bill
Kentuckians should watch closely to see how much the state of Georgia saves by offering special needs scholarships to families with handicapped children, which the legislature passed last month and the governor signed yesterday.
Rep. Stan Lee tried to give us the same thing here, but House Democrats would have none of it.
Rep. Stan Lee tried to give us the same thing here, but House Democrats would have none of it.
Friday, May 18, 2007
"You Misunderstood Me When I Misquoted Myself"
See if you can make any sense out of this from Bruce Lunsford and his trashy running mate Greg Stumbo.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Ben Chandler's Moderate-ectomy Is Complete
Dick Gephardt arrived in Washington D.C. in 1977 as a moderate midwestern Democrat and by the time he was losing the 1988 Democratic Presidential nomination because of his somewhat normal past, he had transformed into a raving, foaming at the mouth zealot for abortion, trade protectionism, socialized medicine, and massive tax increases.
Ben Chandler turned into Dick Gephardt today when he voted for the second largest tax increase in the history of the United States.
Ben Chandler turned into Dick Gephardt today when he voted for the second largest tax increase in the history of the United States.
Mix In A Little Fiscal Conservatism, Please
The Kentucky Club For Growth will hold a press conference in the Capitol Rotunda tomorrow at 11 am.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Grab Your Ankles: LFUCG Class Action Lawsuit
Mismanagement of the Fayette County Detention Center will cost taxpayers dearly. Despite official statements from the Detention Center that there is no lawsuit, next Tuesday is the deadline for joining the class action suit, which is already pretty big. Anyone who has worked there in the last five years just needs to fill out a little form.
There is a hearing Friday morning at ten about the official misstatements. I'll keep you posted.
There is a hearing Friday morning at ten about the official misstatements. I'll keep you posted.
More Political Squabbling On My Telephone
Got this message on my phone last night:
Seriously, isn't it time we got to the issues and beyond the nonsense? It seems to me the best way for us to have a fall campaign about differences on policy that really affect our state is to nominate Billy Harper.
Hello, I'm calling on behalf Anne Northup's campaign for governor. Ernie Fletcher's campaign is desperate and desperate candidates do desperate things. He has attacked Anne Northup's faith and now he is attacking Anne Northup's record on guns...
Seriously, isn't it time we got to the issues and beyond the nonsense? It seems to me the best way for us to have a fall campaign about differences on policy that really affect our state is to nominate Billy Harper.
Planes Versus Trains: Newberry Botches The Odds
Lexington Mayor Jim Newberry told the Lexington Herald Leader he is sending Vice Mayor Jim Gray on a government trip to Colorado on a different airplane as a protection for Lexington taxpayers in case Newberry's plane goes down.
It is amazing Newberry would show such attention to detail to protect against something that won't happen, yet can't even work up a comment about a the sure-thing taxpayer nightmare of paying for the lawsuits springing up as a result of horrible mismanagement of the Fayette County Detention Center.
Wishing this train weren't coming down the track won't make it go away, Mayor Newberry.
After looking at the preliminary list of trip attendees, Newberry noticed that 13 of the 15 Urban County Council members were going, Newberry said. “It struck me as though we needed to make some kind of arrangements for local government to continue in the unlikely event that something happened to the airplane.”
It is amazing Newberry would show such attention to detail to protect against something that won't happen, yet can't even work up a comment about a the sure-thing taxpayer nightmare of paying for the lawsuits springing up as a result of horrible mismanagement of the Fayette County Detention Center.
Wishing this train weren't coming down the track won't make it go away, Mayor Newberry.
School Choice Isn't About Shutting Down Schools
If we expanded school choice options in Kentucky -- an idea that makes liberal activists sputter and foam at the mouth any time it is mentioned -- we would make public schools better.
Kentucky schools are run by administrators who can choose to focus on educating students or on promoting a social agenda. Currently, that choice is mostly a matter of conscience for county superintendents. Some make the right choice and some don't, but their paychecks clear the bank either way.
If parents had the option to remove their money from the school district they live in, more school districts would be motivated to hire superintendents who are serious about educating kids. School choice is the surest way to accomplish this and the time is right for a statewide debate on the issue.
Kentucky schools are run by administrators who can choose to focus on educating students or on promoting a social agenda. Currently, that choice is mostly a matter of conscience for county superintendents. Some make the right choice and some don't, but their paychecks clear the bank either way.
If parents had the option to remove their money from the school district they live in, more school districts would be motivated to hire superintendents who are serious about educating kids. School choice is the surest way to accomplish this and the time is right for a statewide debate on the issue.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Campaigns Cut Off Noses, Spite Faces
Governor Fletcher's campaign has scored a lot of points going after Anne Northup on school prayer.
Today, though, they may have gone too far.
A mailer that hit mailboxes this afternoon has a picture of Northup gleefully shovelling dirt next to a bold sentence stating "Anne Northup said an amendment to give our children the right to pray in school was 'Extreme.'"
The ad is effective. At first, I thought it was pretty funny. But while it probably helps wipe out Northup in the primary, it kills Fletcher in the general. Louisville Republicans especially will take this personally and sit on their hands in the fall.
The only candidate who can take advantage of the current environment and win in the fall against a certain-to-be weak Democratic nominee is Billy Harper.
Watch Harper's ads over the next week. It will be some of the best stuff you have ever seen.
Today, though, they may have gone too far.
A mailer that hit mailboxes this afternoon has a picture of Northup gleefully shovelling dirt next to a bold sentence stating "Anne Northup said an amendment to give our children the right to pray in school was 'Extreme.'"
The ad is effective. At first, I thought it was pretty funny. But while it probably helps wipe out Northup in the primary, it kills Fletcher in the general. Louisville Republicans especially will take this personally and sit on their hands in the fall.
The only candidate who can take advantage of the current environment and win in the fall against a certain-to-be weak Democratic nominee is Billy Harper.
Watch Harper's ads over the next week. It will be some of the best stuff you have ever seen.
I Like Billy Harper's Idea Of Road Privatization
Four years ago, I had hopes Ernie Fletcher would become the best fiscally conservative governor in America. Today, though, it's South Carolina's Mark Sanford who is best.
Recorded Phone Message I Got Last Night
More cutting edge campaigning to improve the lives of real Kentuckians:
Hello this is Anne Northup and I am running for governor as a Republican. In recent days, you may have received another phone message saying that I am against school prayer. That is simply not true. I have voted fourteen times to allow school prayer. As a mother of six children, I know the importance of faith in our society including prayer in our schools. I was frankly disturbed that Ernie Fletcher asked Congressman Bob Barr to attack me on this issue. I think you should know a little bit more about Bob Barr. He has left the Republican party. He has announced that he voted against George Bush in 2004. He has appeared at events with Al Gore and now he supports such extreme positions as legalizing drugs. Believe me, I would never ask anyone so radical to support my campaign or speak for me. Election day is just a week away.
Hello this is Anne Northup and I am running for governor as a Republican. In recent days, you may have received another phone message saying that I am against school prayer. That is simply not true. I have voted fourteen times to allow school prayer. As a mother of six children, I know the importance of faith in our society including prayer in our schools. I was frankly disturbed that Ernie Fletcher asked Congressman Bob Barr to attack me on this issue. I think you should know a little bit more about Bob Barr. He has left the Republican party. He has announced that he voted against George Bush in 2004. He has appeared at events with Al Gore and now he supports such extreme positions as legalizing drugs. Believe me, I would never ask anyone so radical to support my campaign or speak for me. Election day is just a week away.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Mayor Newberry Has No Comment; Actions Speak
Lexington Mayor Jim Newberry still won't talk about the abuse of power, official misconduct lawsuit filed against him Friday by federal whistleblower John Vest.
But today his administration delayed the illegal termination hearing for Vest it had originally scheduled for later this month.
But today his administration delayed the illegal termination hearing for Vest it had originally scheduled for later this month.
Calling All Bruce Lunsford Opponents!
Opponents of Bruce Lunsford's gubernatorial campaign may have missed the story over the weekend about Lunsford staffer Teresa Isaac getting sued for slander, abuse of power, violation of Kentucky's Whistleblower Act and official misconduct relating to her demonstrably false statements to the media and her subsequent actions relating to last year's FBI raid of the Lexington jail.
Illinois Dems Reject Kentucky-like Tax Increase
A gross receipts tax on businesses, like Kentucky's Alternative Minimum Calculation, was unanimously rejected by Illinois' House of Representatives last week.
The idea behind their increase was to finance socialized medicine.
The Wall Street Journal has the story. This should be a big blow to the Hillarycare folks. Too bad Kentucky couldn't have pulled together to fight against the idea that taxing businesses more doesn't really hurt anyone.
The idea behind their increase was to finance socialized medicine.
The Wall Street Journal has the story. This should be a big blow to the Hillarycare folks. Too bad Kentucky couldn't have pulled together to fight against the idea that taxing businesses more doesn't really hurt anyone.
I'm Voting For Billy Harper For Governor
Call it a protest vote if you want. I'm voting for Billy Harper.
In an embarrassing primary food fight between Anne Northup and Ernie Fletcher, "supporting the winner" just doesn't cut it this time.
Harper offers a consistent conservatism and no-nonsense style Kentucky could use if we are to escape backwater status. And with Democrats likely to nominate a baggage-laden politician, Republicans would do well to represent themselves with someone not encumbered with evidence of questionable judgement.
Harper's support of KERA is a little tough to forgive, but that is overwhelmed by his continuing involvement in education and his current solutions, which involve more than just spending more money and would likely reverse a lot of KERA's damage while placing us on a course for substantial gains.
Economic development is something everyone talks about, but really belongs in the hands of someone who can move it along with more than just subsidies.
Pulling the state out of debt will require someone with a solid mandate. Listen closely to Harper. It isn't immediately apparent, but he is the type of leader who can inspire people to look beyond partisanship and toward the vision of the little guy from Paducah who said and meant "and I mean NO!"
In an embarrassing primary food fight between Anne Northup and Ernie Fletcher, "supporting the winner" just doesn't cut it this time.
Harper offers a consistent conservatism and no-nonsense style Kentucky could use if we are to escape backwater status. And with Democrats likely to nominate a baggage-laden politician, Republicans would do well to represent themselves with someone not encumbered with evidence of questionable judgement.
Harper's support of KERA is a little tough to forgive, but that is overwhelmed by his continuing involvement in education and his current solutions, which involve more than just spending more money and would likely reverse a lot of KERA's damage while placing us on a course for substantial gains.
Economic development is something everyone talks about, but really belongs in the hands of someone who can move it along with more than just subsidies.
Pulling the state out of debt will require someone with a solid mandate. Listen closely to Harper. It isn't immediately apparent, but he is the type of leader who can inspire people to look beyond partisanship and toward the vision of the little guy from Paducah who said and meant "and I mean NO!"
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