Courier Journal catches Obama fever

It's not unusual to see Louisville Courier Journal writers get light-headed and sniffly in support of a Democratic party presidential nominee, but when they start convulsing, their eyes roll back in their heads and white foam starts gathering at the corner of their mouths, it's a little hard to ignore.

Especially for someone who had friends who lost their businesses after Kentucky tried in 1994 what is essentially Barack Obama's healthcare plan, it is a little much to see the CJ proclaim, unattributed to anyone, that it would "cut the medical cost for all families."

You can read the whole plan here, but if you know anything about healthcare finance you will probably want to do it on an empty stomach.

Beshear earning his first lawsuit

When you get a letter from an attorney that says "Hopefully, we can work together to resolve this within the law and without unnecessary legal expense," you should know you are about to get sued.

Governor Steve Beshear is about to get sued.

The letter is from Senate President David Williams. It should be clear to the Governor, after he reads this, that he won't be in court arguing about stopping the clock or if ten days really means eleven days. This will be a lawsuit Governor Ernie Fletcher already fought and lost about gubernatorial spending authority.

Bipartisan discussion on Kentucky pension reform

House Speaker Jody Richards went off his meds before he wrote a letter to the editor of the Danville Advocate Messenger:

Today, Senator Dick Roeding responds by setting the record straight some and then finishes off Richards by agreeing with House Democrats who called Richards a liar:

I'm glad we have everyone, save our MIA Governor Steve Beshear, talking about our fiscal future and I'm glad we have all agreed Jody Richards is full of it. But we need more than just political points on public employee benefit reform. Kentucky needs to get our political class off the gravy train now, before we bankrupt the state.

Mitch McConnell is a Club for Growth guy

The Club for Growth put out its Congressional Scorecard last night and it is good news for Senator Mitch McConnell. McConnell actually edged out Senator Jim Bunning, 84% to 82%. On the House side Rep. Geoff Davis and Rep. Ron Lewis managed to get 85%, followed by Rep. Hal Rogers, who turned in a 68%, and Rep. Ed Whitfield, who got a 58%.

Rep. Ben Chandler scored a Sen. Barack Obama-like 7% by voting for tax increases, bloated spending bills, the Death Tax, and bills to expand the power and reach of the federal government into citizens' lives. Rep. John Yarmuth earned a 1%.

Oh, did I mention Rep. Chandler is now really, really close to Sen. Barack Obama?

(Thanks to Mark Hebert for pointing out the video)

Kentucky watches while Ohio walks into the light

State government officials in Kentucky are wasting our time talking about being fiscally responsible until they start putting government expenditures online so citizens can keep track of what is going on with our money.

Now even Ohio is ahead of us on this.

How big an anchor will Barack Obama be in KY?

Rep. John Yarmuth took a poll back in February, but has not said anything publicly about his results. Now that Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama is headed for a crushing defeat in KY-3, it's hard to imagine Yarmuth would have any current numbers to brag about either.

"Whip me, beat me, make me use bad grammar!"

Rep. Susan Westrom is so upset at House Speaker Jody Richards, she can't even speak correctly:

"As a legislator representing a Republican district, should I be replaced
this fall by Mike Farmer, I can assure you he be (sic) as ineffective as I
feel I have been this session."

Richards, in turn, called Rob Wilkey a liar:

"I can only assume that this email was written out of frustration and in haste without appropriate attention to accuracy," Richards said.

And this came, of course, after Wilkey's email attack on Richards culminated in his own grammatical malfunction:

"I hope our members think long and hard about re-election (sic) some members of this leadership group," Wilkey wrote.

Ron Bishop shows his hand

Fayette County Detention Center Sgt. John McQueen is on administrative leave with pay, which means Director Ron Bishop is still hoping the federal investigation into inmate abuse at the Lexington jail will just go away.

Kentucky Progress fans inside the facility have been calling May 14 "Black Wednesday," speculating that the first inmate abuse indictments will come down that day.

Gun grabbers freak alert: McCain won't die in KY

When the National Rifle Association convention comes to Louisville next week, concealed carry permit holders will refrain from assassinating GOP presidential nominee John McCain.

Let the seething begin.

Some people are lying about the economy

Here's what I don't understand: Al Gore and friends have spent the last decade campaigning for higher gasoline prices. Thanks to their ability to inhibit domestic oil exploration, they have succeeded in getting us higher gas prices.

They should be happy and proud, right?

Well, no. Instead, they are trying to divert attention from this happy circumstance by overstating the economic slowdown and blaming Republicans. The following conversation took place today:

"The fracas started after Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D., Texas), said lawmakers needed to move aggressively to help homeowners avoid foreclosure. “We’re not in a recession,” she said on the House floor. “We’re moving toward a 1929 Depression.”

Rep. Pete Sessions (R., Texas) took umbrage at her characterization of the economy: “My Gosh! Let’s at least tell the American public the truth… Let’s not make things worse than they already are. Let’s not lie to the American public.”

Lee, who was sitting down at that point, rushed back to the podium.

“Are you calling me a liar?” she yelled. Shouting erupted in the room.

“It is not a true statement,” Sessions yelled back."

Yes, Sheila Jackson Lee, you are a liar. Rep. Ben Chandler and Rep. John Yarmuth should have to explain whether or not they condone her histrionics.

Is Obama stealing Indiana?

It wouldn't surprise me if by Wednesday morning, there are charges of voting "irregularities" in the Indiana Democratic primary.

If it happens, the focus will be on Michael Jackson's hometown.

Wouldn't that be fun?

UPDATE: and here it is.

Trey Grayson responds

I put up a post on the Bluegrass Policy Blog this morning urging Secretary of State Trey Grayson to get on board with the transparency movement by posting his office's expenditures online.

Trey has responded by sending me a copy of an email dated May 2, 2008 in which he described his efforts to Rep. Jim DeCesare to do just that "even without legislation."

Guess this fits someplace between timing being everything and great minds thinking alike. Expecting the House Dems and the Governor to lead on an important issue like this will mean nothing more than a long, disappointing wait. By the way, did I mention Grayson will be our speaker at the Bluegrass Institute's June meeting in Frankfort?

Press one for John McCain...

Seeing that Senator John McCain has a Spanish language website presents an opportunity for blanket amnesty opponents to remind people that their opposition has nothing to do with skin color and everything to do with real welfare reform.

Have at it...

Governor from poor state wants you to vote Obama

Just noticed a press release from the Obama campaign saying that former Mississippi Governor Ray Mabus will be campaigning today and tomorrow across Kentucky for Obama.

Two things: I guess Brereton Jones was too busy battling off banking regulators. And maybe Obama thinks Kentuckians won't know the difference between an old politician from our own poor, Southern state and one from another poor, Southern state.

Did Stu Silberman cheat, or did he lie?

As the discussion about Peggy Petrelli continues to slowly fill in some of the blanks, it's becoming apparent Fayette County Schools Superintendent Stu Silberman either had to know there was cheating going on or he just made the whole thing up to get rid of a principal he didn't like.

Also, there's interesting insight here. And much more here.

How can you tell a teachers' union official is lying?

Yep, you guessed it. Here's proof.

Another conflict for Kentucky Department of Ed

The Kentucky Department of Education can't be impartial in the retaliation of Stu Silberman against former Booker T. Washington Academy principal Peggy Petrelli. Putting KDE in the position to decide if Fayette County Public Schools should write a big check to someone who has been defamed (Petrelli) or not would only make sense in the corrupt educational backwaters of Kentucky.

And, of course, there is no sense expecting any help from Governor Steve Beshear.

Petrelli's best option is probably to leave the state. That is Kentucky's loss.

Tick tock, tick tock: FCDC update

Internal affairs will hand a hot potato to Fayette County Detention Center Director Ron Bishop on Tuesday. That's when he gets the use of force report on Sgt. John McQueen and has to decide whether to suspend, fire, or reinstate him.

If Bishop fires McQueen, likely a key target of the prisoner abuse scandal, that would open up a can of worms at this late date in the investigation. Why open a hole in the stone wall at this point?

Suspending or reinstating McQueen puts him back in a position to hurt inmates way too soon.

So which way will Director Bishop go on this? He won't say. Fayette County Public Safety Commissioner Tim Bennett and Mayor Jim Newberry are playing dumb too.

Can Obama give Rev. Wright to Hillary Clinton?

Hollywood actor Ben McKenzie wrapped up a two-day tour of Kentucky colleges today. I caught up with him at Transylvania University in Lexington. Speaking on behalf of Senator Barack Obama, McKenzie tried, amazingly, to attach the words of Obama's pastor of two decades to Senator Hillary Clinton.

And then there is Obama's plan to get all of our troops out of Iraq in sixteen months unless, of course, it can't be done that fast. Oh, and then he wants to leave a few troops there to "minimize terrorism."

A couple of bright spots in Kentucky's future

Watching actor Ben McKenzie bumble through his campaign appearance today on behalf of Senator Barack Obama was a pretty painful hour. On the bright side, I got to meet some outstanding young people at Transylvania University.

Amanda Moore is a Montgomery High School student attending her first political event. She was diplomatic in describing Mr. McKenzie, calling him "informative but not thorough." Her grasp of the issues shows a wisdom I'm sure she doesn't even realize she has.

Fine young lady.

Daniel Rison is a Transy student from Mount Sterling and the host of a campus radio program. He came to the event to see if he might be persuaded to support Obama rather than his preferred candidate, Senator Hillary Clinton.

He said the presentation didn't change his mind. He said "the further along we get in the process, the more I think I made the right decision. Unfortunately, it seems that may be a lost cause."

Daniel hopes Kentucky policymakers don't lose sight of the opportunities presented by the upcoming World Equestrian Games in 2010.