I'll leave it to others to criticize John David Dyche's evisceration of Governor Ernie Fletcher in today's Courier-Journal. His point that Steve Pence supports casino gambling "for the sake of the horse industry and state coffers" got my attention.
After falling for the lottery sales pitch in Kentucky, are we really going to tie our hopes to casinos? Dyche's suggestion that "social conservatives" are Pence's only stumbling block to making gambling his cause celebre ignores the facts. Casinos cause drastically higher government spending to attempt repair of the social damages caused by those same casinos. There are lots of ways to go to hell in Kentucky already, so social conservatives have their hands full; the real resistance to casinos should come from fiscal conservatives who aren't interested in inviting even greater need for entitlement spending into the state.
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Herald Leader Screws Up Water Story, Again
This morning's story starts out like this:
About 200 people gathered at Oleika Shrine Temple last night to kick off a campaign they hope will lead to the city owning the local water utility.
Only when you get to the last paragraph do you get this:
If the referendum passes, it doesn't mean the city would immediately take control of the water company -- it means the case would start again. It could be years before a jury sets a price on the company that the city can either accept or reject as too high.
Trying to bury the main issue doesn't benefit the people of central Kentucky. The most important thing to know about this November's referendum is it just prolongs the madness of an ill-fated and expensive campaign whose only winners will be the lawyers. If you want to own the water company, get your friends to buy up shares. If you live in Fayette county, vote no to more wasted effort and resources. Vote no to extending the miserable water takeover fight.
About 200 people gathered at Oleika Shrine Temple last night to kick off a campaign they hope will lead to the city owning the local water utility.
Only when you get to the last paragraph do you get this:
If the referendum passes, it doesn't mean the city would immediately take control of the water company -- it means the case would start again. It could be years before a jury sets a price on the company that the city can either accept or reject as too high.
Trying to bury the main issue doesn't benefit the people of central Kentucky. The most important thing to know about this November's referendum is it just prolongs the madness of an ill-fated and expensive campaign whose only winners will be the lawyers. If you want to own the water company, get your friends to buy up shares. If you live in Fayette county, vote no to more wasted effort and resources. Vote no to extending the miserable water takeover fight.
Democrats For Fletcher, Take Two?
Governor Fletcher went to Lincoln county Monday to dedicate a bridge and drop off $2 million more. Response from elected Democrats was more than a little suspicious:
"This is very familiar territory for the governor, as he represented us so well for many years in Washington, D.C.," said Sen. Ed Worley, D-Richmond.
"We are deeply grateful for Gov. Fletcher's consistent commitment over the years to the quality of life and economic well-being of everyone in Lincoln County."
"We are extremely appreciative of everything that Gov. Fletcher did for Lincoln County while he was in Congress, including his work to make this bridge a reality," said Lincoln County Judge-Executive Buckwheat Gilbert.
"Gov. Fletcher has always been very good to Lincoln County, and we are delighted to have him here today."
Does anyone seriously doubt these two will be singing a much different tune after this November's elections?
"This is very familiar territory for the governor, as he represented us so well for many years in Washington, D.C.," said Sen. Ed Worley, D-Richmond.
"We are deeply grateful for Gov. Fletcher's consistent commitment over the years to the quality of life and economic well-being of everyone in Lincoln County."
"We are extremely appreciative of everything that Gov. Fletcher did for Lincoln County while he was in Congress, including his work to make this bridge a reality," said Lincoln County Judge-Executive Buckwheat Gilbert.
"Gov. Fletcher has always been very good to Lincoln County, and we are delighted to have him here today."
Does anyone seriously doubt these two will be singing a much different tune after this November's elections?
Dem Landslide 2006 Takes A Hit
Lincoln Chafee (RINO) won his primary in Rhode Island and so the GOP is more likely to hold its majority in the Senate. Conservatives are also more likely to suffer heartburn as Chafee is one of the majority of liberals in the upper chamber.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Another Good Day For Reform
The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 101 points today and is now up 7.25% for the year. How is your Social Security doing?
Hillary Enjoys Product Placement
One very effective form of movie and television advertising is called product placement. Almost a quarter of a century ago E.T.'s favorite snack was -- you guessed it -- Reese's Pieces. That's product placement.
Courtesy of ABC News, we have a political type of product placement in a story today about Princess Diana. It seems like every week someone else is writing another book about something she said or did right before she died. And lots of people read anything about Princess Diana and probably will for years. Well, ABC News got worked up when they found out she had said she might want to be first lady of America.
Burrell said that in the mid-1990s Diana had dreamed of following in the footsteps of stylish first ladies. "She's been a huge fan of Jackie Onassis for years, and a huge admirer, too, of Nancy Reagan and Hillary Clinton."
Of the above former first ladies, which one doesn't fit your idea of a "stylish first lady?" Hillary "Pantsuit" Clinton, of course. She wasn't part of any list here, she was a recipient of product placement in the news.
Next week we will read about Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie threatening to move to Africa permanently unless Hillary Clinton is elected President in 2008.
Courtesy of ABC News, we have a political type of product placement in a story today about Princess Diana. It seems like every week someone else is writing another book about something she said or did right before she died. And lots of people read anything about Princess Diana and probably will for years. Well, ABC News got worked up when they found out she had said she might want to be first lady of America.
Burrell said that in the mid-1990s Diana had dreamed of following in the footsteps of stylish first ladies. "She's been a huge fan of Jackie Onassis for years, and a huge admirer, too, of Nancy Reagan and Hillary Clinton."
Of the above former first ladies, which one doesn't fit your idea of a "stylish first lady?" Hillary "Pantsuit" Clinton, of course. She wasn't part of any list here, she was a recipient of product placement in the news.
Next week we will read about Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie threatening to move to Africa permanently unless Hillary Clinton is elected President in 2008.
UK: Domestic Partners To The Rescue!
The University of Kentucky's quest to become a Top 20 research institution is surely in the bag now. The state's flagship institute of higher learning is making plans to introduce same-sex partner health benefits to their employees and everyone knows this will make all the difference.
Rep. Kathy Stein (D-Lexington) is so excited she wants the state to jump on the bandwagon. Won't that make the merit system fantastic?
Rep. Kathy Stein (D-Lexington) is so excited she wants the state to jump on the bandwagon. Won't that make the merit system fantastic?
Monday, September 11, 2006
KY Liberals, Get Ready To Seethe
Lynne Cheney will visit the University of Louisville on Monday September 18 for a Constitution Day program.
Liberal Bloggers Cracking Up On Schedule
Liberal blogger Josh Marshall is letting the stress of the election season get to him. His latest theory is that President Bush "secretly" wants to dismantle Social Security next year. Marshall is convinced Bush intends to keep his plans quiet by telling them to the Wall Street Journal:
It's also no accident he raises the issue in an interview with conservative columnist Gigot. The White House doesn't want to broadcast his interest in phasing out Social Security.
Keep talking Josh!
It's also no accident he raises the issue in an interview with conservative columnist Gigot. The White House doesn't want to broadcast his interest in phasing out Social Security.
Keep talking Josh!
Herald Leader Hires Michael Moore
That is the best explanation I can come up with for the horrible timing of today's Hate-America-First unsigned editorial in that paper.
Steve Pence Back In The News
Ryan Alessi picks back up on the political fortunes of LG Steve Pence this morning. The Anyone But Ernie club seems to have lost momentum (in central KY anyway) and it may just be that the real action starts after this November's elections.
Nevertheless, now might be a good time for Pence to step in and start laying out an alternative agenda. If nothing else, a Republican versus Republican debate this fall could engage GOP voters in a variety of issues for the General Assembly session.
Nevertheless, now might be a good time for Pence to step in and start laying out an alternative agenda. If nothing else, a Republican versus Republican debate this fall could engage GOP voters in a variety of issues for the General Assembly session.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Making Do: A Conservative's Perspective
I just read a ridiculous column in The Richmond Register about the horrors of living on minimum wage. You can read it here.
One part that jumps out was this: "It's hard, that's why you get credit cards," said Tiffany Cooper, a junior at EKU.
Hey, that's the mentality that made America great. Here's another: "let’s create a monthly scenario: Your rent is $400, you spend $200 on groceries, car insurance is $120 and your car payment is $100. This amounts to $820, just $4 less than what you’d make a month before taxes!"
While monthly EITC credits, WIC, food stamps, welfare, Medicaid, CHIP, etc. take some of the sting out this example, what jumps out at me as a problem is the car payment. High quality older cars have glutted the market to the point that very functional $500 are readily available. There is no reason for someone struggling to buy food to be carrying a car payment around as well. My wife and I drive two vehicles that are worth less than $3500 combined, despite fitting firmly into the demographic car dealers strive to provide shiny four-wheel self-expression. The point is two-fold: going in to debt to finance a lifestyle beyond your means is foolish and almost always causes misery. Also, living beneath your means can be fun, creates good habits, and is an almost surefire way out of many financial woes.
We all talk about Mexicans sneaking into this country to get on welfare, but not so much about the Vietnamese, Koreans, and Russians who struggle to get here to start a business and pursue the American Dream. Many of them succeed though they start with little or no ability to even speak the language. And we want an act of Congress to subsidize further the lifestyles of native-born Americans who refuse to break their habits of cable television, fast food meals, credit cards, and new cars?
Saving money and making do are two things people do when they are determined to succeed, often against greater odds than you or I have ever faced.
The best time to buy a car is Sunday night or Monday morning, when the car dealers are wrapping up the weekend with an inventory of low priced trade-ins that will be sold off to wholesalers by Tuesday. Low offers for those vehicles are often gratefully accepted. That's one big money-saving idea. Got any you would like to share?
One part that jumps out was this: "It's hard, that's why you get credit cards," said Tiffany Cooper, a junior at EKU.
Hey, that's the mentality that made America great. Here's another: "let’s create a monthly scenario: Your rent is $400, you spend $200 on groceries, car insurance is $120 and your car payment is $100. This amounts to $820, just $4 less than what you’d make a month before taxes!"
While monthly EITC credits, WIC, food stamps, welfare, Medicaid, CHIP, etc. take some of the sting out this example, what jumps out at me as a problem is the car payment. High quality older cars have glutted the market to the point that very functional $500 are readily available. There is no reason for someone struggling to buy food to be carrying a car payment around as well. My wife and I drive two vehicles that are worth less than $3500 combined, despite fitting firmly into the demographic car dealers strive to provide shiny four-wheel self-expression. The point is two-fold: going in to debt to finance a lifestyle beyond your means is foolish and almost always causes misery. Also, living beneath your means can be fun, creates good habits, and is an almost surefire way out of many financial woes.
We all talk about Mexicans sneaking into this country to get on welfare, but not so much about the Vietnamese, Koreans, and Russians who struggle to get here to start a business and pursue the American Dream. Many of them succeed though they start with little or no ability to even speak the language. And we want an act of Congress to subsidize further the lifestyles of native-born Americans who refuse to break their habits of cable television, fast food meals, credit cards, and new cars?
Saving money and making do are two things people do when they are determined to succeed, often against greater odds than you or I have ever faced.
The best time to buy a car is Sunday night or Monday morning, when the car dealers are wrapping up the weekend with an inventory of low priced trade-ins that will be sold off to wholesalers by Tuesday. Low offers for those vehicles are often gratefully accepted. That's one big money-saving idea. Got any you would like to share?
Senator Daily Kos Speaks
Lack of credibility on national defense has dogged permissive Democrats and the sense that their candidates would "cut and run" if elevated to Congressional majorities has buoyed Republican chances in a difficult year.
Senator John Rockefeller (D-WV), also known as Senator Daily Kos, has said what Americans have only feared until now: Democrats want to step up the appeasement in the war on terror.
WCBS-TV in New York reports: "Does Rockefeller stand by his view, even if it means that Saddam Hussein could still be in power if the United States didn't invade? 'Yes. [Saddam] wasn't going to attack us. He would've been isolated there,' Rockefeller said."
And these people want us to trust them with Iran, North Korea, Lebanon, and Syria, not to mention critical domestic issues like entitlement reform, education reform, and government spending where they also fail to see any problems caused by liberal policies.
Senator John Rockefeller (D-WV), also known as Senator Daily Kos, has said what Americans have only feared until now: Democrats want to step up the appeasement in the war on terror.
WCBS-TV in New York reports: "Does Rockefeller stand by his view, even if it means that Saddam Hussein could still be in power if the United States didn't invade? 'Yes. [Saddam] wasn't going to attack us. He would've been isolated there,' Rockefeller said."
And these people want us to trust them with Iran, North Korea, Lebanon, and Syria, not to mention critical domestic issues like entitlement reform, education reform, and government spending where they also fail to see any problems caused by liberal policies.
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Racino Bill Pre-Filed For 2007
Gambling interests are making another move on Kentucky.
The problem with pinning the hopes of the state on gambling is simple. The real dollar costs associated with setting up casinos are significantly higher than promised tax revenue from the gambling. Frankly, it is a bargain to let those who want to drive to Indiana go there.
This racino business is just a back door method for increasing the size of government and raising taxes.
The problem with pinning the hopes of the state on gambling is simple. The real dollar costs associated with setting up casinos are significantly higher than promised tax revenue from the gambling. Frankly, it is a bargain to let those who want to drive to Indiana go there.
This racino business is just a back door method for increasing the size of government and raising taxes.
Billy Harper Running For Governor
The AP is reporting Billy Harper is ready to announce he is on board to run for the GOP nomination for Governor. The real question is, who is his running mate going to be?
Cold Kentucky Cash
Disgraced -- but still in office -- Congressman William Jefferson (D-LA) saw his eventual prosecution take one big Kentucky step closer when Louisville "businessman" Vernon Jackson was sentenced to federal prison for bribing Jefferson. Rep. Jefferson made international news this summer when $90,000 in bribe money was found in his freezer.
Friday, September 08, 2006
Standing For Nothing
Congressional Democrats have succeeded in stopping much of Republicans' progress on important issues. As we enter our last decade of any measure of solvency in Social Security, Nancy Pelosi issued a press release with no new ideas on the subject.
We still need action on immigration, extending tax cuts, entitlement reform, and energy independence, but the problem is the Republican majority is too small.
At least we criminalized Horse Burgers!
We still need action on immigration, extending tax cuts, entitlement reform, and energy independence, but the problem is the Republican majority is too small.
At least we criminalized Horse Burgers!
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