Thursday, January 25, 2007
One Interesting Thing About Dem Primary 2007
Will all the other candidates eat Jody Richards due to his apparent ambivalence toward casino gambling? Will Richards jump on the bandwagon to avoid being eaten?
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
John Kerry Cuts And Runs From 2008 Bid
...and he has a new website to celebrate his courage, wisdom, and foresight.
"Big Ed" Gatewood Should Stick To Smoking Pot
Gubernatorial candidate Gatewood Galbraith has eschewed his support for legalizing marijuana, but when it comes to education policy he might as well keep on smokin'.
Giving a $5000 higher education voucher to every high school graduate might score some points with the income-redistribution crowd, but even trying to contemplate all the ways this is wrong (tuition inflation, overcrowded classes full of unqualified students, worst ROI for any government plan ever, etc.) is a bad trip, indeed.
Giving a $5000 higher education voucher to every high school graduate might score some points with the income-redistribution crowd, but even trying to contemplate all the ways this is wrong (tuition inflation, overcrowded classes full of unqualified students, worst ROI for any government plan ever, etc.) is a bad trip, indeed.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Did Someone Give A Speech Tonight?
President Bush's approval rating is going down after that one.
Enough of this getting along with the opposition stuff. Other than out-flanking the Democrats on the war -- the actual war, not the political fallout -- Bush giving up the farm on the domestic front gives warm fuzzies to someone, but it mainly just wastes precious time.
I wish I hadn't bothered watching the State of the Union. Yuck.
Enough of this getting along with the opposition stuff. Other than out-flanking the Democrats on the war -- the actual war, not the political fallout -- Bush giving up the farm on the domestic front gives warm fuzzies to someone, but it mainly just wastes precious time.
I wish I hadn't bothered watching the State of the Union. Yuck.
Harper Bus Tour Starts Next Week
Gubernatorial candidate Billy Harper says Frankfort is starving for real leadership and that someone who isn't a politician might be better able to lead state government.
"With fourty years in business, I've learned you can get a lot more done if you don't worry about who is getting the credit," Harper said.
The Harper for Governor campaign takes that message on the road next week, crossing the state by bus. Campaign manager Stan Pulliam says the bus tour will continue "for the duration."
Harper's discussion of issues includes cutting taxes and controlling spending. He scoffs at the idea that the elected officials lining up to express their support for either of his opponents will keep his campaign from gaining traction.
"All the endorsements are like pigs running for the trough," he said.
What quickly becomes clear in talking to Harper, however, is that his passion is for improving Kentucky's schools.
"Education is moving forward in Kentucky but not fast enough to keep up with the rest of the world," Harper said.
Harper expresses enthusiasm for changing laws to allow Kentucky students to escape failing schools and take their state funding with them.
"School choice is a great opportunity for creating competition in the school system," he said.
"With fourty years in business, I've learned you can get a lot more done if you don't worry about who is getting the credit," Harper said.
The Harper for Governor campaign takes that message on the road next week, crossing the state by bus. Campaign manager Stan Pulliam says the bus tour will continue "for the duration."
Harper's discussion of issues includes cutting taxes and controlling spending. He scoffs at the idea that the elected officials lining up to express their support for either of his opponents will keep his campaign from gaining traction.
"All the endorsements are like pigs running for the trough," he said.
What quickly becomes clear in talking to Harper, however, is that his passion is for improving Kentucky's schools.
"Education is moving forward in Kentucky but not fast enough to keep up with the rest of the world," Harper said.
Harper expresses enthusiasm for changing laws to allow Kentucky students to escape failing schools and take their state funding with them.
"School choice is a great opportunity for creating competition in the school system," he said.
Hillary's First Cup Of Coffee Lie For Tuesday
Sen. Hillary Clinton is on The Early Show and is lying right out of the gate.
Harry Smith asked her how she could win over any of the Republicans and Independents who dislike her so much and she responded with her first whopper.
"They told me I couldn't win in New York," she said.
I couldn't find any polls that suggested she would do anything but squash any opponent in liberal New York back in 2000.
Harry Smith asked her how she could win over any of the Republicans and Independents who dislike her so much and she responded with her first whopper.
"They told me I couldn't win in New York," she said.
I couldn't find any polls that suggested she would do anything but squash any opponent in liberal New York back in 2000.
Monday, January 22, 2007
Is Miller For Governor First Casualty of 2007?
Jonathan Miller still hasn't filed to run for Governor. To be fair, Greg Stumbo hasn't filed either and Miller is certainly waiting for him to move.
But Miller has been very quiet recently, giving momentum to speculation that he is on his way to the sidelines.
But Miller has been very quiet recently, giving momentum to speculation that he is on his way to the sidelines.
Surprise, Surprise: RomneyCare Busts Budget
State-by-state socialized medicine looks like it is about to be dealt a serious setback in Massachusetts.
McCain Feingold Gets Another Look
While Hillary Clinton was getting ready to escalate her battle for the White House, the U.S. Supreme Court was making plans to restore free speech to federal campaigns.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
One More For The GOP?
Rep. Lonnie Napier looks like he is going to make the gubernatorial primary a foursome in a 1/27/07 press conference at 11:00 a.m. at the Garrard County Courthouse.
Baby, It's Cold Outside
The Weather Channel is busily trying to destroy its credibility by going AlGore on global warming.
Top-rated Lexington meteorologist Bill Meck has said publicly that the Gore version of our self-destruction is bogus. In fact, you can check out his blog, page down to the July 28 entry, for an extensive discussion about the man-made global warming farce.
Top-rated Lexington meteorologist Bill Meck has said publicly that the Gore version of our self-destruction is bogus. In fact, you can check out his blog, page down to the July 28 entry, for an extensive discussion about the man-made global warming farce.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Not Missing An Opportunity To Miss An Opportunity
President Bush is going to propose making individual health insurance coverage tax deductible on federal tax returns.
There is nothing wrong with this idea except that it is a few decades late and a few billion dollars short of having a real impact on anything.
Yeah, color me unimpressed.
If we do nothing else, we should allow tax filers who do not itemize deductions to pay health premiums with pre-tax dollars. Even this, however, doesn't come close to real tax reform.
There is nothing wrong with this idea except that it is a few decades late and a few billion dollars short of having a real impact on anything.
Yeah, color me unimpressed.
If we do nothing else, we should allow tax filers who do not itemize deductions to pay health premiums with pre-tax dollars. Even this, however, doesn't come close to real tax reform.
Friday, January 19, 2007
Why Did The Chicken Cross The Road?
Looks like Steve Henry has finally found a running mate and will be running for governor.
Howard Dean, Call Your Office
Lexington businessman Dick Robinson sounded like a pretty nice guy earlier in the month when he talked about running for Secretary of State in Kentucky. He even said his foray into politics was "not a reflection on Trey Grayson" and hoped to continue some of Grayson's innovations.
Today, though, Dr. Dick went Deaniac, earning accolades from the far left when he said:
Here Dr. Dick shows that he is just hopping on the D Train and hoping to ride it all the way to Frankfort. Grayson is one member on the Board of Elections and only votes in the event of a tie. The vote Dr. Dick is talking about was 6-0.
Not the best start for a statewide campaign.
Today, though, Dr. Dick went Deaniac, earning accolades from the far left when he said:
Unlike Mr. Grayson, I will not require a judge’s order to know not to attempt to certify a citizen of Indiana as the winner of a Kentucky legislative election.
Here Dr. Dick shows that he is just hopping on the D Train and hoping to ride it all the way to Frankfort. Grayson is one member on the Board of Elections and only votes in the event of a tie. The vote Dr. Dick is talking about was 6-0.
Not the best start for a statewide campaign.
Liberal Economics Is Contagious
America's left coast is famous for raising taxes. Currently, Washington state is trying again to change its constitution to implement an income tax.
While there is little surprising in a group of politicians digging around for more vote-buying money, a justification for this one almost caused me to spit hot chocolate all over my desk. From the liberal Economic Opportunity Institute:
Did you catch that? They want to create a new $1000 tax so some families -- less than one-third of taxpayers itemize deductions on federal returns -- can reduce their federal taxes by $270.
Washington is one of seven states without a state income tax. I can't imagine any of the others falling for such flimsy reasoning.
While there is little surprising in a group of politicians digging around for more vote-buying money, a justification for this one almost caused me to spit hot chocolate all over my desk. From the liberal Economic Opportunity Institute:
By not having a state income tax, Washington loses its opportunity to take advantage of shifting part of the state’s tax burden to the federal government. Taxpayers that itemize deductions on their federal tax returns are allowed to deduct state and local income taxes from their federal taxable income[3]. For example, if a Washington family in the 27% federal tax bracket pays $1,000 in state income taxes they can deduct this amount from their federal taxable income for a savings of $270. By virtue of the deduction, the federal government has paid part of the family’s state tax bill.
Did you catch that? They want to create a new $1000 tax so some families -- less than one-third of taxpayers itemize deductions on federal returns -- can reduce their federal taxes by $270.
Washington is one of seven states without a state income tax. I can't imagine any of the others falling for such flimsy reasoning.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Saving Detroit One Student At A Time
School Choice is having a huge impact in Detroit. There is no reason to imagine the same thing wouldn't happen here.
Another State Goes For Socialized Medicine
This time it is Pennsylvania.
More details on the plan will be available February 6, but the idea is nothing new -- force people to buy health insurance and make large numbers of people sign up for income-based taxpayer subsidies to pay their premiums. The devil will be in the details of course, but it looks a lot like a garden variety government takeover of healthcare.
More details on the plan will be available February 6, but the idea is nothing new -- force people to buy health insurance and make large numbers of people sign up for income-based taxpayer subsidies to pay their premiums. The devil will be in the details of course, but it looks a lot like a garden variety government takeover of healthcare.
Admitting Guilt In The Newspaper Should Preclude Later Claims of Vindication
I really wanted to stay out of the "Fletcher Critic Tax Flap" story. One-car pile-ups have a way of sitting still to be examined slowly. That is what this was.
But the effort to spin this into some kind of false and malicious prosecution story angered a reader and motivated him to call me.
His point was that even though tax cases usually aren't brought to court after restitution is made, the crime occurred. Should the prosecutor drop the case -- and he probably will -- any gloating and charges of dirty tricks can't go unanswered.
Remember that.
But the effort to spin this into some kind of false and malicious prosecution story angered a reader and motivated him to call me.
His point was that even though tax cases usually aren't brought to court after restitution is made, the crime occurred. Should the prosecutor drop the case -- and he probably will -- any gloating and charges of dirty tricks can't go unanswered.
Remember that.
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