A Washington D.C. pollster called my home via robo-dial Friday night. But guess what? I wasn't there so I missed the call. Like more and more people, the best way to reach me is on my cell phone.
Meanwhile, fewer people are tuning in to broadcast television every day. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to see the internet playing a greater role in this gubernatorial election. And between Ernie Fletcher, Anne Northup, and Billy Harper, only Harper has really used new technology to his advantage.
In a 10-15% turnout election, the opportunity for this to create a surprising result can't be ignored.
Monday, May 21, 2007
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Bipartisan Scam To Advance Casinos
Bruce Lunsford has jumped all over Steve Beshear for claiming casinos will benefit Kentucky. But Lunsford's running mate Greg Stumbo cooked up a scheme in 2005 with the ethically-challenged Sen. Ed Worley to try to make casinos easier to legalize.
Lunsford has given us solid reasons not to trust him already. Don't take your eye off the ball here.
The subtle scheming to turn our state government over to out-of-state casino operators crosses party lines and will usher in an era of corruption far beyond what Kentucky has experienced before if we don't stomp it out now.
Billy Harper is the only viable candidate in either party to stand consistently against allowing this plague to advance. The numbers don't add up and Harper seems to be the only one who wants to really do the math.
Lunsford has given us solid reasons not to trust him already. Don't take your eye off the ball here.
The subtle scheming to turn our state government over to out-of-state casino operators crosses party lines and will usher in an era of corruption far beyond what Kentucky has experienced before if we don't stomp it out now.
Billy Harper is the only viable candidate in either party to stand consistently against allowing this plague to advance. The numbers don't add up and Harper seems to be the only one who wants to really do the math.
Dangerous Liaisons On The Campaign Trail
Senate Democrat Leader Ed Worley of Richmond says he is against casino gambling when he is in his conservative central Kentucky district. But when he is talking to gambling groups or trolling for $1000 checks from very shady characters like R.D. Hubbard of Palm Desert, California, he tells a much different story.
Is this really who Governor Fletcher wants standing up with him just days before an election?
A Primary Opponent For Mitch McConnell In 2008?
I'm not sure who will lose more votes over this, Anne Northup or Ernie Fletcher, but I don't think it helps either one.
Voters are angry enough about politicians playing power games rather than staying focused on improving government. Again, the surest way to move the party away from this kind of nonsense this year is to nominate Billy Harper for governor.
Voters are angry enough about politicians playing power games rather than staying focused on improving government. Again, the surest way to move the party away from this kind of nonsense this year is to nominate Billy Harper for governor.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Northup Whiffs On Right To Work
The Kentucky Right to Work Committee candidate survey hit mailboxes today.
It was no surprise that none of the Democrats answered their questions about supporting employee rights versus unions. Republican Anne Northup, though, joined them:
Only Billy Harper and Ernie Fletcher answered "yes" to all six questions.
It was no surprise that none of the Democrats answered their questions about supporting employee rights versus unions. Republican Anne Northup, though, joined them:
1. Will you support efforts by the Kentucky legislature to enact a statutory right to work law in Kentucky (including procedural and amendment votes)?
2. Will you support legislation that would ban monopoly bargaining over Kentucky's employee's by union officials?
3. Will you support legislation terminating "agency shop" privileges for public section union officials?
4. If elected, will you oppose so-called "neutrality agreements" and allow workers to hear all available information?
5. If elected, will you oppose all attempts to pass so-called "project labor agreements" and allow contractors to bid on state construction projects regardless of whether or not their employees pay dues to a union boss?
6. If elected, will you support legislation eliminating the automatic payroll deduction of public employees' union dues by government entities?
Only Billy Harper and Ernie Fletcher answered "yes" to all six questions.
Billy Harper Is The Only Candidate Who Can Unite The Republican Party In May, State In November
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.
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.
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.
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