Blind As An… Ernie?

We always thought the Governor was out of touch. Now, we have an example!

From the Kentucky Kurmudgeon:

Thanks to a reader for pointing this one out to me:

In visiting Paintsville recently, Gov. Ernie Fletcher learned that Paintsville High School has no cafeteria. In a story by the Paintsville Herald's Jennifer Lawson, the governor was quoted as saying, "I didn't know that we had a school in the state that didn't have a cafeteria."

Frankfort High School is located about six blocks from the state Capitol. Frankfort High School has no cafeteria. I guess Fletcher hasn't gotten to know the new neighborhood since moving into the Governor's Mansion three years ago.

Brought to You By Governor Fletcher

From the Lexington Herald-Leader:

State Rep. Darryl Owens, D-Louisville, filed a constitutional amendment today to prohibit Kentucky governors from pardoning themselves and others unless they have been formally charged or convicted of a crime.

If approved by the legislature, Kentucky voters would consider the measure in November 2008. "There is no intrinsic right of a governor to issues pardons," Owens said in a statement. "That's a power that's been granted to the state's highest elected official by the citizens of this Commonwealth, and the citizens have a right to refine that power if they feel it's being abused."

The amendment would prohibit blanket pardons of persons who had not been charged with a crime, and would require the individual seeking a pardon to apply for the reprieve. Owens noted that Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher in 2005 issued pardons to all persons indicted in an investigation of state hiring practices and extended the pardon to all persons who might have been indicted under the investigation in the future. "We need to restore the public's confidence that justice will be meted out fairly," Owens said.

The bill is expected to be assigned to the Elections, Constitutional Amendments and Intergovernmental Affairs committee, which Owens chairs.