Friday, May 08, 2009
Preparing for the tax battle ahead
Please join a public discussion of Kentucky tax reform in Lexington on Thursday, May 14, 6:30 pm, at The Inn on Broadway.
Where's your press release, Dr. Dan?
Lt. Gov. Dan Mongiardo is keeping some strange company -- for a Dem in a U.S. Senate primary -- this weekend in Danville. And he doesn't appear to want you to know about it.
Mongiardo and WLAP radio's Leland Conway will speak to a Friends of the NRA fundraiser in Danville on Saturday (5:30 pm at the American Legion Hall.)
Just found it odd that I haven't gotten a press release from the LG's office (at taxpayer expense). Mongiardo has been sending one out every time he sneezes since he filed to run for federal office.
Nothing on his web site either.
Of course, you wouldn't catch his primary opponent, Attorney General Jack Conway, at an NRA event. Maybe that has something to do with it.
Mongiardo and WLAP radio's Leland Conway will speak to a Friends of the NRA fundraiser in Danville on Saturday (5:30 pm at the American Legion Hall.)
Just found it odd that I haven't gotten a press release from the LG's office (at taxpayer expense). Mongiardo has been sending one out every time he sneezes since he filed to run for federal office.
Nothing on his web site either.
Of course, you wouldn't catch his primary opponent, Attorney General Jack Conway, at an NRA event. Maybe that has something to do with it.
Should we believe David Williams now?
In February, Senate President David Williams said that if Republicans voted against tax increases, Democrats would cut spending in politically sensitive areas and blame Republicans for it.
Last week, he spoke to the Louisville Courier Journal:
So, what has changed? Anything? Williams made similar comments the month before his big flip-flop in the 2009 General Assembly.
Williams has encouraged speculation that he could be a candidate for U.S. Senate in 2010 and/or Governor in 2011. Williams is scheduled to speak Saturday at the state GOP Lincoln dinner.
Last week, he spoke to the Louisville Courier Journal:
"Williams told reporters after the briefing that he didn't think higher taxes would be part of the solution."
""I don't see any movement out in the public or in their elected officials that would indicate that there would be any call for any additional tax increases," he said."
So, what has changed? Anything? Williams made similar comments the month before his big flip-flop in the 2009 General Assembly.
Williams has encouraged speculation that he could be a candidate for U.S. Senate in 2010 and/or Governor in 2011. Williams is scheduled to speak Saturday at the state GOP Lincoln dinner.
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Run, Ronnie, Run!
Sources at the Fayette County Detention Center report Director Ron Bishop was deposed recently related to some of his activities at the Lexington jail.
Will have full details as soon as his sworn testimony is made publicly available. That should be about as fun as the depositions of Lexington Mayor Jim Newberry and former Mayor Teresa Isaac.
Will have full details as soon as his sworn testimony is made publicly available. That should be about as fun as the depositions of Lexington Mayor Jim Newberry and former Mayor Teresa Isaac.
Conway seizes an opportunity
About the last thing we need right now is Attorney General Jack Conway lecturing us via press release about "swine flu" scammers.
Reminds me of last fall when Conway, Gov. Beshear, and friends were busy accusing gasoline retailers of sex crimes.
Conway is clearly still struggling to keep up with Lt. Gov. Dan Mongiardo's ridiculous attention-seeking spree.
Reminds me of last fall when Conway, Gov. Beshear, and friends were busy accusing gasoline retailers of sex crimes.
Conway is clearly still struggling to keep up with Lt. Gov. Dan Mongiardo's ridiculous attention-seeking spree.
National Day of Prayer in Louisville
I'm headed to Louisville for a National Day of Prayer event. Check back for updates later today.
UPDATE: Here is my speech.
"The key function of human wisdom is the ability to see things as they really are. Though we live in times of difficulty and trials and disagreements, my Bible tells me this this is the very purpose of our mortal sojourn, not a temporary circumstance for us to wait out before we act."
"All our pains are growing pains and so we must embrace them and learn from them. We live in a nation conceived in liberty and raised up in freedom. Though we may as Americans and as Kentuckians dispute among ourselves the shapes that liberty and freedom shall take we must persist in inviting the proper spirit to dwell within us as we sharpen the fine points of our public policy and the status of our shared destiny."
"We may among ourselves see differently the nature of prayer and prayers but let us not confuse their purpose -- which is personal growth. We may among ourselves see differently some of the doctrines and details pertaining to the hearer of our prayers, but let us not mistake the attitude we must embrace for our prayers to have and give to us true, unconquerable, and divine power."
"That attitude, of course, is an attitude of gratitude. We can hardly expect to be blessed with greater blessings if we are not sufficiently grateful for the blessings we already have. Indeed, we will lose the freedoms we possess if we take them for granted."
"Expecting a great battle in our time and wearing an armor of gratitude and optimism will prepare us well for the victory that lies ahead."
UPDATE: Here is my speech.
"The key function of human wisdom is the ability to see things as they really are. Though we live in times of difficulty and trials and disagreements, my Bible tells me this this is the very purpose of our mortal sojourn, not a temporary circumstance for us to wait out before we act."
"All our pains are growing pains and so we must embrace them and learn from them. We live in a nation conceived in liberty and raised up in freedom. Though we may as Americans and as Kentuckians dispute among ourselves the shapes that liberty and freedom shall take we must persist in inviting the proper spirit to dwell within us as we sharpen the fine points of our public policy and the status of our shared destiny."
"We may among ourselves see differently the nature of prayer and prayers but let us not confuse their purpose -- which is personal growth. We may among ourselves see differently some of the doctrines and details pertaining to the hearer of our prayers, but let us not mistake the attitude we must embrace for our prayers to have and give to us true, unconquerable, and divine power."
"That attitude, of course, is an attitude of gratitude. We can hardly expect to be blessed with greater blessings if we are not sufficiently grateful for the blessings we already have. Indeed, we will lose the freedoms we possess if we take them for granted."
"Expecting a great battle in our time and wearing an armor of gratitude and optimism will prepare us well for the victory that lies ahead."
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
U.S. Senate primary opponents in Lexington
Possible U.S. Senate candidate Rand Paul will be in Lexington Saturday morning for a Republican party breakfast at the Hilton Suites. Cost is $10 at the door.
Secretary of State Trey Grayson will speak to the Women Republicans of Central Kentucky lunch meeting on Wednesday, May 13. Reservations can be made here.
Secretary of State Trey Grayson will speak to the Women Republicans of Central Kentucky lunch meeting on Wednesday, May 13. Reservations can be made here.
Kentucky Post falls into Steve Beshear vortex
This afternoon when Gov. Steve Beshear put out a bogus press release stating falsely that Kentucky has the 5th most competitive economy in the nation, it was just a matter of time before a hapless media outlet got sucked in. (Debunking here.)
Enter the nearly-dead Kentucky Post:
No word on why it took a whole hour and a half to copy the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development press release word-for-word and post it to their web site. It will be interesting to see how others handle this.
Enter the nearly-dead Kentucky Post:
No word on why it took a whole hour and a half to copy the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development press release word-for-word and post it to their web site. It will be interesting to see how others handle this.
Change a policy, fix a school building
The Kentucky Opportunity Coalition pointed out Wednesday that repealing the state's expensive Davis Bacon requirements would save enough money repairing two schools in Adair County to completely repair another school in Kenton County.
This is a heck of a time for our politicians to be clinging to taxpayer-funded political payoffs to labor unions.
This is a heck of a time for our politicians to be clinging to taxpayer-funded political payoffs to labor unions.
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Everyone likes a food fight...
Fox News Channel will be in Louisville on Saturday night for the state GOP Lincoln dinner featuring Sen. Mitch McConnell, Sen. Jim Bunning, and Secretary of State Trey Grayson.
"Practically giving 'em away!"
This is what happens when your federal government gets in the car business: flimflam money deals that sound great but benefit only the scam artist.
All we need now is President Obama on tv commercials telling us he must be going crazy and slapping the hoods of the cars before he takes us in the back room, takes our money, and gives some of it back with a flourish.
And while he is doing this, Kentuckians have to hope Japan doesn't go after its own companies with business interests in other countries and put the Toyota plant in Georgetown at risk. But then Japan surely wouldn't be that stupid.
All we need now is President Obama on tv commercials telling us he must be going crazy and slapping the hoods of the cars before he takes us in the back room, takes our money, and gives some of it back with a flourish.
And while he is doing this, Kentuckians have to hope Japan doesn't go after its own companies with business interests in other countries and put the Toyota plant in Georgetown at risk. But then Japan surely wouldn't be that stupid.
Monday, May 04, 2009
What is Kristine Lafoe saying?
With the Fayette jail inmate abuse trial one month away, attorneys for defendant Kristine Lafoe have been working overtime hunting down potential witnesses to interview. Multiple sources report she has agreed to a deal with federal authorities limiting her prison time in exchange for testimony against others.
Meanwhile her husband, Officer Darren Lafoe, still employed by the jail, is feeling the wrath of those who don't want anyone talking.
Meanwhile her husband, Officer Darren Lafoe, still employed by the jail, is feeling the wrath of those who don't want anyone talking.
Sunday, May 03, 2009
Cutting through the crap in Kentucky
Did the Courier Journal on Sunday really whine and complain because some of us have had enough of their touchy-feely nonsense in our public schools?
From the Sunday CJ editorial page:
Yes, I believe they did. Fortunately, more of us are catching on to their game.
Resolution of Kentucky's CATS testing mess should serve as encouragement to those of us who still believe we can turn things around in America.
From the Sunday CJ editorial page:
"What's likely to result is a narrower, lazier effort at accountability, with weak but expedient "program review" substituted for effective testing in some important parts of the curriculum. Certainly the emphasis that has been placed on writing portfolios will be diminished, if not lost, unless eventually salvaged by those who create a replacement for the Commonwealth Accountability Testing System (CATS). And, worst of all, the Kentucky Education Reform Act's original and longtime opponents now will be free to impose on the state the kind of inexpensive, off-the-shelf nationally normed testing they prefer — testing that gets at low-level knowledge and skills, in limited disciplines."
"It's the long-awaited opening for those who prefer the kind of accountability attached to the federal No Child Left Behind law, which, as Jefferson County teacher spokesman Brent McKim complained last year, "fails to address the needs of the whole child, and reduces the guiding purpose of education from the development of effective and contributing citizens to an unending quest for higher scores on tests that cannot assess what we value most in a democratic society — things like critical and creative thinking, problem solving, effective and persuasive communication, cooperation, perseverance, caring, respect and appreciation for diversity.""
Yes, I believe they did. Fortunately, more of us are catching on to their game.
Resolution of Kentucky's CATS testing mess should serve as encouragement to those of us who still believe we can turn things around in America.
Rand Paul weighs in again
Potential U.S. Senate candidate Rand Paul just said the following:
"Some politicians travel to Washington, DC to ask permission to run for office or recieve some regal blessing. I will travel to Teresa's Restaurant at 509 Gordon Ave Bowling Green this Thursday at 7am to ask Kentuckians what they're concerned about."
On Friday, Paul will speak in Paducah at the Downtown Gazebo at 4pm about preserving liberty in the era of big government.
Paul will also be in Lexington next Saturday for a discussion about Republicans and taxes.
"Some politicians travel to Washington, DC to ask permission to run for office or recieve some regal blessing. I will travel to Teresa's Restaurant at 509 Gordon Ave Bowling Green this Thursday at 7am to ask Kentuckians what they're concerned about."
On Friday, Paul will speak in Paducah at the Downtown Gazebo at 4pm about preserving liberty in the era of big government.
Paul will also be in Lexington next Saturday for a discussion about Republicans and taxes.
Saturday, May 02, 2009
Friday, May 01, 2009
Wanna bet on sin taxes again?
Can we all agree that saving the state with sin taxes hikes is a horrible idea? Perhaps not. But that is mainly because those who still think they are a great idea just won't pay attention to the facts.
The experience of some other states might help.
And when Kentucky's state revenue numbers come out on Monday, May 11, the first month of the new, higher, cigarette tax rate should convince us all how dumb it is to gamble on bad tax policy. Unfortunately for us, we've already lost the bet.
The experience of some other states might help.
And when Kentucky's state revenue numbers come out on Monday, May 11, the first month of the new, higher, cigarette tax rate should convince us all how dumb it is to gamble on bad tax policy. Unfortunately for us, we've already lost the bet.
"Can I run my Ipod on switchgrass?"
One competitive advantage Kentucky has had for decades has been low energy prices. At the rate we are going, soon all we will have left will be Mint Juleps and fast horses.
And we'll be riding the horses to school and work.
A job-killing, consumer suffocating energy tax hike Dems slipped into the recent Obama budget, in addition to efforts to destroy coal mining, and plans to tax exhaling should leave no doubt as to where we are headed.
Rep. John Yarmuth and Rep. Ben Chandler have supported every bit of this. Remember that.
And we'll be riding the horses to school and work.
A job-killing, consumer suffocating energy tax hike Dems slipped into the recent Obama budget, in addition to efforts to destroy coal mining, and plans to tax exhaling should leave no doubt as to where we are headed.
Rep. John Yarmuth and Rep. Ben Chandler have supported every bit of this. Remember that.
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