Will you beat Mitch McConnell and not get paid?

If you really think Greg Fischer or Bruce Lunsford is going to beat Sen. Mitch McConnell in November, you might want to look at Intrade.com.

A more Democratic Senate might get you free government healthcare, or nationalized oil companies (free gas, anyone?), or whatever.

But at a last trade of $17 for a contract on "any Dem beats Mitch," the prediction market presents an excellent opportunity for you (if you really believe!) to put someone else's money in your mouth.

Kentucky's rigid political spoils system too costly

Tennessee is pushing for government spending transparency and Ohio is pushing for an end to back-slapping double-dippers.

Kentucky would do well to pursue both (or even just one) of these initiatives. But all we get is hot air.

Each day with no positive action is another day in which we draw closer to disaster.

What kind of Republican gets KEA's endorsement?

A little action in Kentucky's Sixth

Congressional candidate Tony McCurdy appeared on the Leland Conway Show in Lexington this morning and announced his support for the FairTax.

Skippy on the stump

Kentucky Finance and Administration Cabinet Secretary Jonathan Miller today endorsed Barack Obama for President and railed against gas prices to a huge crowd of adoring fans who really wish he had been elected governor.

The Obama campaign provided the podium. And the crowd. And the videographer.

Trousers ablaze

Congressman Ben Chandler promised the citizens of Kentucky's Sixth district in 2004 he would never vote for a tax increase if they honored him by sending him to Congress.

Today he broke his promise for the fifth time in the current session.

Does Senator Barack Obama condone such blatant chicanery?

Louisville Metro Council race heats up

See if you can spot any problems with this mailer in the ongoing battle between Jon Ackerson and Ellen Reitmeyer:

Playing Fayette Jail Twister

The federal grand jury investigating the Fayette County Detention Center has extended its term one month into June, fueling speculation one or more targets in the inmate beatings scandal has provided new information necessitating a delay in the proceedings.

Also getting some interesting details in about the city's investigation into possible embezzlement at FCDC.

Will Hillary out-Nader Nader?

The Drudge Report suggests this morning Sen. Hillary Clinton could shift to an independent run for POTUS after she sees the handwriting on the Democratic Party wall.

Apparently, 29% of Democrats want her to go indy after Sen. Barack Obama clinches their party's nomination.

Why we can't all just get along

Recent polling suggests widespread disgust with Kentucky's legislature, much of it for good reason.

But the real problem is the finding that, despite our rapidly expanding entitlement spending, bonded indebtedness, and unfunded fringe benefits, 58% of Kentuckians don't think state government is spending enough money.

Black Wednesday open thread

I'm not expecting any official announcements tomorrow regarding the federal investigation into the Fayette County Detention Center.

So if you know anything, please put it in the comments section below.

Busy morning

House Speaker Jody Richards had to fend off two Legislative Ethics Commission complaints this morning in Frankfort.

He was successful at shutting down one of them.

The Republican Party of Kentucky filed a complaint against Richards, Rep. Joni Jenkins, and Rep. Tim Firkins. That complaint was dismissed.

A complaint by Amy Mischler was heard and found worthy of further discussion at the Commission's next meeting in June. Mischler's complaint is against Richards, Rep. Greg Stumbo, and Rep. Kathy Stein.

RINO hunter bags a sign stealer

Louisville metro council candidate Ellen Reitmeyer was caught by police this morning stealing signs from opponent Jon Ackerson.

Thanks for the tip, Corley Everett.

Changing your underwear times two

Yeah, you're just going to have to read this.

Obama runs home to blow up local governments

The Obama campaign has just announced cancellation of tomorrow's campaign event in Lexington so he can go back to Washington D.C. to force unionization of fire fighters and police officers nationwide and stop contributions to the strategic petroleum reserve so politicians can claim to be doing something about gas prices.

Hebert: Beshear should apologize

WHAS reporter Mark Hebert suggests Governor Steve Beshear should apologize for urging Vice President Dick Cheney to assassinate President George W. Bush.

Might be a good opportunity to poll the Democratic presidential candidates to see if Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama condone the actions of this undecided superdelegate.

Also, if disgraced former Governor Paul "Beshear should have shot David Williams" Patton had been able to keep his pistol in his pocket five years ago, Congressman Ben Chandler would now be a disgraced former Governor himself.

Chandler: bomb North Carolina and Virginia

Rep. Ben Chandler has 142 co-sponsors on his bill requiring the expansion of prevailing wage laws to states like North Carolina and Virginia that currently save millions of dollars by not saddling their school building projects with added prevailing wage costs.

Technical difficulties on Bluegrass Blog

The Bluegrass Policy Blog is off-line right now and we are working on getting it back up.

If you go to the site now, it looks like you are back in 2006. Should be fixed pretty soon.

Deck chairs

Kentucky's two largest newspapers can't agree on which candidate should lose to Senator Mitch McConnell in November.

Some interesting choices for Veep

Help pick a VP candidate for John McCain, single-elimination tournament-style.