Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Good News… She’s Only Losing
From Blue Grass, Red State:
After hearing obviously bogus reports of a poll that shows Fletcher up 22 points on Anne Northup, I decided to go another source of information, a Northup campaign insider. This is what I found out:
They did do internal polling.
They will not release the poll because it would give the Fletcher campaign too much information.
They are not being beaten by anyone by 22 points.
They are down by about 5 points.
That paints quite a different picture than the one that other guy did for you last week, doesn't it? Well, this one is true. It makes much more sense, considering Northup's television blitz.
So, keep on keeping on Northup supporters! She can definitely gain 5 points in three weeks if we keep working! That other poll was probably a survey of one county or something.
These are the facts… Anne Northup is not losing huge. She is merely losing. This picture is different. Last week, Fletcher said Northup is losing huge. She is not. She is only losing. Everyone must know this. She is ONLY losing.
After hearing obviously bogus reports of a poll that shows Fletcher up 22 points on Anne Northup, I decided to go another source of information, a Northup campaign insider. This is what I found out:
They did do internal polling.
They will not release the poll because it would give the Fletcher campaign too much information.
They are not being beaten by anyone by 22 points.
They are down by about 5 points.
That paints quite a different picture than the one that other guy did for you last week, doesn't it? Well, this one is true. It makes much more sense, considering Northup's television blitz.
So, keep on keeping on Northup supporters! She can definitely gain 5 points in three weeks if we keep working! That other poll was probably a survey of one county or something.
These are the facts… Anne Northup is not losing huge. She is merely losing. This picture is different. Last week, Fletcher said Northup is losing huge. She is not. She is only losing. Everyone must know this. She is ONLY losing.
Derek Combs (Blogging Between the Lines)
From Blue Grass, Red State:
Lexington, Kentucky
Today I join Senator Bunning, Steve Pence and many others around the Commonwealth! I proudly and enthusiastically announce that I am endorsing Anne Northup for the Republican Nomination for Governor. Over the last several years I have watched the current administration bumble, stumble and fall.
(Today, I joined Senator Bunning, Steve Pence, and many others in renouncing my mind. I proudly and enthusiastically announce I support someone with one three word talking point. I am not deterred by her campaign, which has bumbled, stumbled, and fallen repeatedly)
I watched the Governor make numerous puzzling decisions in politics, taxes, and policy. In the early days of this administration, I have observed this Governor go after the teachers health care. In a Commonwealth that proclaims "Education Pays", I couldn't help but wonder why the current Governor would go back on his campaign promise and attack hard working teachers' health care. There are teachers in the Governor's home county of Montgomery, that have cried out to me about the hardships of those original policies. Fortunately, the teachers brought enough pressure to make the Governor change his mind and position.
(I have watched Anne make several puzzling mistakes in her campaign. Her education report was uneducated. Fortunately, Kentucky Steele was there correcting her.)
Kentucky Deserves Better! (Than Anne Northup)
I was dumbfounded that the first Republican Governor in 30 years, would raise taxes on small business. This Tax was a Mill Stone tied around the necks of small businesses of Kentucky. This tax had the effect of strangling the Entrepreunerial Spirit, which is the backbone of the Republican Party. This TAX caused Kentucky to fall behind it's surrounding states. Kentucky's job growth and business friendliness have been adversely compromised.
(I was dumbfounded when the Kentucky Club for Growth revealed the truth concerning Northup.)
Kentucky Deserves Better! (Than Anne Northup)
Governor Fletcher announced continually and proudly that over 61% of his political appointees are registered Democrats. Many of these appointees are still involved with the leadership of the democrat party. Many of these appointees are holdovers from past Democrat administrations. This is ridiculous for a Republican Governor! For those who support Governor Fletcher and believe that he has appointed bad people, remember . . . The Governor is the man that made these judgments.
(Governor Fletcher should fire all Democrats. However, he tried this and was branded unethical. Congresswoman Northup would have continued acting unethically. Why did Governor Fletcher stop?)
Kentucky Deserves Better! (Than Anne Northup)
Governor Anne Northup is Kentucky's best choice! (For failure in November)
Derek L. Combs
Chairman Emeritus
Montgomery County Republican Party State
Chairman Emeritus Kentucky
Young Republican Federation
Chairman Emeritus
6th District
KY Young Republican Federation
Lexington, Kentucky
Today I join Senator Bunning, Steve Pence and many others around the Commonwealth! I proudly and enthusiastically announce that I am endorsing Anne Northup for the Republican Nomination for Governor. Over the last several years I have watched the current administration bumble, stumble and fall.
(Today, I joined Senator Bunning, Steve Pence, and many others in renouncing my mind. I proudly and enthusiastically announce I support someone with one three word talking point. I am not deterred by her campaign, which has bumbled, stumbled, and fallen repeatedly)
I watched the Governor make numerous puzzling decisions in politics, taxes, and policy. In the early days of this administration, I have observed this Governor go after the teachers health care. In a Commonwealth that proclaims "Education Pays", I couldn't help but wonder why the current Governor would go back on his campaign promise and attack hard working teachers' health care. There are teachers in the Governor's home county of Montgomery, that have cried out to me about the hardships of those original policies. Fortunately, the teachers brought enough pressure to make the Governor change his mind and position.
(I have watched Anne make several puzzling mistakes in her campaign. Her education report was uneducated. Fortunately, Kentucky Steele was there correcting her.)
Kentucky Deserves Better! (Than Anne Northup)
I was dumbfounded that the first Republican Governor in 30 years, would raise taxes on small business. This Tax was a Mill Stone tied around the necks of small businesses of Kentucky. This tax had the effect of strangling the Entrepreunerial Spirit, which is the backbone of the Republican Party. This TAX caused Kentucky to fall behind it's surrounding states. Kentucky's job growth and business friendliness have been adversely compromised.
(I was dumbfounded when the Kentucky Club for Growth revealed the truth concerning Northup.)
Kentucky Deserves Better! (Than Anne Northup)
Governor Fletcher announced continually and proudly that over 61% of his political appointees are registered Democrats. Many of these appointees are still involved with the leadership of the democrat party. Many of these appointees are holdovers from past Democrat administrations. This is ridiculous for a Republican Governor! For those who support Governor Fletcher and believe that he has appointed bad people, remember . . . The Governor is the man that made these judgments.
(Governor Fletcher should fire all Democrats. However, he tried this and was branded unethical. Congresswoman Northup would have continued acting unethically. Why did Governor Fletcher stop?)
Kentucky Deserves Better! (Than Anne Northup)
Governor Anne Northup is Kentucky's best choice! (For failure in November)
Derek L. Combs
Chairman Emeritus
Montgomery County Republican Party State
Chairman Emeritus Kentucky
Young Republican Federation
Chairman Emeritus
6th District
KY Young Republican Federation
Rx for Corruption
Governor Fletcher and Congresswoman Northup are politicians. The assumption is their policy is purchased. Previously, this assumption concerned state contracts, not substantive legislation such as healthcare. Unfortunately, the aforesaid is now untrue.
From the Kentucky Post:
Until this campaign season, Dr. Phillip Aaron had never given money in a governor's race. But the Adair County family physician said he would really like to see Gov. Ernie Fletcher re-elected. So much so that he contributed $250 to help with campaign costs. Doctors have become a force in Kentucky politics, providing from their ranks two candidates for governor and one for lieutenant governor, and lavishing them with cash.
So far this campaign season, they have made some 350 contributions worth more than $200,000 to Kentucky gubernatorial candidates who will appear on the ballot in the May 22 primary, according to records from the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance. Marty White, head of government relations for the Kentucky Medical Association, said physicians have traditionally been involved in the political process, and that their influence seems to be growing in the state.
"I think overall, physicians are becoming more in tune with just what impact public officials can have on the practice of medicine and the delivery of health care in Kentucky," White said. "Health care is a major, major issue for all Kentuckians and all Americans, and physicians probably understand that more than most. It makes sense for physicians to be engaged in the process.”
Like Aaron, most of the physicians who have contributed during this gubernatorial election cycle have given to Fletcher. He has received some 200 contributions worth $108,000. Fletcher's opponents this time around haven't fared as well, at least not yet, according to campaign finance records. Republican challenger Anne Northup received 63 contributions totaling $45,700, and the GOP's Billy Harper received donations from three physicians totaling $1,500.
On the Democratic side, physicians split their contributions among five candidates. Former Lt. Gov. Steve Henry, a Louisville physician, has received 34 contributions totaling $27,000 from doctors. Former Lt. Gov. Steve Beshear, who has a physician, state Sen. Daniel Mongiardo of Hazard, as a running mate, received 37 contributions totaling $53,000.
Democratic contender Jonathan Miller, the current state treasurer, received 34 contributions totaling $16,800. Other non-doctor candidates didn't fare as well when it came to campaign contributions from physicians. Speaker of the House Jody Richards got $3,900 from eight physicians. Louisville businessman Bruce Lunsford had $3,000 in contributions from three physicians. Lexington attorney Gatewood Galbraith and Harlan County demolition contractor Otis Hensley received none.
Doctors support candidates who know the importance of improving health care, said Fletcher campaign manager Marty Ryall. Fletcher has used the governor's office to push preventive care programs, to encourage sharing of medical records electronically, and to shore up the state's financially troubled Medicaid program for the poor and elderly. "Physicians from across the commonwealth are supporting his re-election campaign because they know that Governor Fletcher, as a fellow physician, is making improving health care a top priority," Ryall said.
Aaron said he wants to support a candidate who is concerned about the Medicaid patients he sees in his practice. "When I talk to Ernie Fletcher, he talks to me about the poor," Aaron said. "We have to take care of our poor people."
The governor also pushed unsuccessfully for a measure that would have appropriated money to provide vaccines against the sexually transmitted human papilloma virus, which causes cervical cancer. Aaron, a Republican, called that a bold move on Fletcher's part, one that could have had political repercussions. "We need leaders to be leaders," Aaron said. "So many politicians won't come out in support of anything."
In Kentucky's last legislative session, White said the state medical association monitored more than 300 bills that could have affected health care. That, White said, is why physicians want to be part of the process, and that's why they're providing financial backing for doctors who enter politics. "I think for the most part, physicians respect other physicians and believe their brethren have a good understanding of the importance of a strong medical community in Kentucky."
From the Kentucky Post:
Until this campaign season, Dr. Phillip Aaron had never given money in a governor's race. But the Adair County family physician said he would really like to see Gov. Ernie Fletcher re-elected. So much so that he contributed $250 to help with campaign costs. Doctors have become a force in Kentucky politics, providing from their ranks two candidates for governor and one for lieutenant governor, and lavishing them with cash.
So far this campaign season, they have made some 350 contributions worth more than $200,000 to Kentucky gubernatorial candidates who will appear on the ballot in the May 22 primary, according to records from the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance. Marty White, head of government relations for the Kentucky Medical Association, said physicians have traditionally been involved in the political process, and that their influence seems to be growing in the state.
"I think overall, physicians are becoming more in tune with just what impact public officials can have on the practice of medicine and the delivery of health care in Kentucky," White said. "Health care is a major, major issue for all Kentuckians and all Americans, and physicians probably understand that more than most. It makes sense for physicians to be engaged in the process.”
Like Aaron, most of the physicians who have contributed during this gubernatorial election cycle have given to Fletcher. He has received some 200 contributions worth $108,000. Fletcher's opponents this time around haven't fared as well, at least not yet, according to campaign finance records. Republican challenger Anne Northup received 63 contributions totaling $45,700, and the GOP's Billy Harper received donations from three physicians totaling $1,500.
On the Democratic side, physicians split their contributions among five candidates. Former Lt. Gov. Steve Henry, a Louisville physician, has received 34 contributions totaling $27,000 from doctors. Former Lt. Gov. Steve Beshear, who has a physician, state Sen. Daniel Mongiardo of Hazard, as a running mate, received 37 contributions totaling $53,000.
Democratic contender Jonathan Miller, the current state treasurer, received 34 contributions totaling $16,800. Other non-doctor candidates didn't fare as well when it came to campaign contributions from physicians. Speaker of the House Jody Richards got $3,900 from eight physicians. Louisville businessman Bruce Lunsford had $3,000 in contributions from three physicians. Lexington attorney Gatewood Galbraith and Harlan County demolition contractor Otis Hensley received none.
Doctors support candidates who know the importance of improving health care, said Fletcher campaign manager Marty Ryall. Fletcher has used the governor's office to push preventive care programs, to encourage sharing of medical records electronically, and to shore up the state's financially troubled Medicaid program for the poor and elderly. "Physicians from across the commonwealth are supporting his re-election campaign because they know that Governor Fletcher, as a fellow physician, is making improving health care a top priority," Ryall said.
Aaron said he wants to support a candidate who is concerned about the Medicaid patients he sees in his practice. "When I talk to Ernie Fletcher, he talks to me about the poor," Aaron said. "We have to take care of our poor people."
The governor also pushed unsuccessfully for a measure that would have appropriated money to provide vaccines against the sexually transmitted human papilloma virus, which causes cervical cancer. Aaron, a Republican, called that a bold move on Fletcher's part, one that could have had political repercussions. "We need leaders to be leaders," Aaron said. "So many politicians won't come out in support of anything."
In Kentucky's last legislative session, White said the state medical association monitored more than 300 bills that could have affected health care. That, White said, is why physicians want to be part of the process, and that's why they're providing financial backing for doctors who enter politics. "I think for the most part, physicians respect other physicians and believe their brethren have a good understanding of the importance of a strong medical community in Kentucky."
Blatant Immaturity
Their actions are infantile. Their behavior is childish. Yet, we should support their candidates? They reflect their candidates.
From Blue Grass, Red State:
I can't believe those guys at the Fletcher campaign, that one guy, or immature Louisville College Republicans, or whoever registered http://bluegrassredstate.com and pointed it to the Fletcher campaign site.
That's really stupid. It's just more evidence of how the Fletcher people like to stifle and frustrate free speech. Clearly, it doesn't actually stop me from speaking, but it does interfere with search results, therefore pulling traffic away from this site which is not supporting Fletcher in this primary election.
It's also just another reason why I will not vote for Ernie Fletcher in November of 2007 if he wins this primary election. It doesn't really matter all that much, though, because I'm shutting this site down anyway.
UPDATE: It is registered by Domains by Proxy, the same people who registered www.northuphoover.com for that one guy.
From Blue Grass, Red State:
I can't believe those guys at the Fletcher campaign, that one guy, or immature Louisville College Republicans, or whoever registered http://bluegrassredstate.com and pointed it to the Fletcher campaign site.
That's really stupid. It's just more evidence of how the Fletcher people like to stifle and frustrate free speech. Clearly, it doesn't actually stop me from speaking, but it does interfere with search results, therefore pulling traffic away from this site which is not supporting Fletcher in this primary election.
It's also just another reason why I will not vote for Ernie Fletcher in November of 2007 if he wins this primary election. It doesn't really matter all that much, though, because I'm shutting this site down anyway.
UPDATE: It is registered by Domains by Proxy, the same people who registered www.northuphoover.com for that one guy.
Jefferson Review Questions Northup
In 1994 Anne Northup helped draft and then cosponsored HB 366. HB 366 was a 95 page mandated health plan that would require every Kentucky resident to show proof of health insurance before paying Kentucky taxes each year under penalty of fine!
This bill would have required Kentucky taxpayers to guarantee the financial success of the health insurance company whose basic health plan they would be forced to purchase under penalty of fine.
HB 366 also created financial incentives to replace malpractice jury trials with binding arbitration. This far reaching 95 page bill devoted 20 pages to replacing tobacco with an alternative crop and even created regulations and fines for riding a bicycle.
Does Mrs. Northup believe that an ordinary House Bill is a legitimate mechanism for effecting such a paradigm shift?
Mrs. Northup has been a strong supporter of free trade agreements.
How does Mrs. Northup define "Free Trade" and "Global Competition"? Does she define "Global Competition" as changing our identity? Europe, Japan and Canada have "Universal Health Care" and limited access to jury trials. If Mrs. Northup's "Mandated Health Plan" had become law.... Kentucky, like Europe and Japan would have had universal health care and limited access to jury trials. Most Americans do not define giving up their identity and joining the other team as competition!
Does Mrs. Northup believe that Kentucky must have limited access to jury trials and a subsidized health industrial complex in order to compete successfully in a global economy?
Europe and Japan subsidize their health care system, but they also subsidize other key industries using tax dollars to purchase capital equipment and retrain employees . Europe and Japan also have the highest individual savings rates in the industrial world because of their high consumption taxes.[Please note Kentucky is now using our tax dollars to retrain Ford manufacturing employees]
This bill would have required Kentucky taxpayers to guarantee the financial success of the health insurance company whose basic health plan they would be forced to purchase under penalty of fine.
HB 366 also created financial incentives to replace malpractice jury trials with binding arbitration. This far reaching 95 page bill devoted 20 pages to replacing tobacco with an alternative crop and even created regulations and fines for riding a bicycle.
Does Mrs. Northup believe that an ordinary House Bill is a legitimate mechanism for effecting such a paradigm shift?
Mrs. Northup has been a strong supporter of free trade agreements.
How does Mrs. Northup define "Free Trade" and "Global Competition"? Does she define "Global Competition" as changing our identity? Europe, Japan and Canada have "Universal Health Care" and limited access to jury trials. If Mrs. Northup's "Mandated Health Plan" had become law.... Kentucky, like Europe and Japan would have had universal health care and limited access to jury trials. Most Americans do not define giving up their identity and joining the other team as competition!
Does Mrs. Northup believe that Kentucky must have limited access to jury trials and a subsidized health industrial complex in order to compete successfully in a global economy?
Europe and Japan subsidize their health care system, but they also subsidize other key industries using tax dollars to purchase capital equipment and retrain employees . Europe and Japan also have the highest individual savings rates in the industrial world because of their high consumption taxes.[Please note Kentucky is now using our tax dollars to retrain Ford manufacturing employees]
Friday, April 27, 2007
Queen Anne – My Take
This incident screams Queen Anne. She is preening royally. She is acting as she has already mangled May and conquered November. Her “Fletcher can’t win” rhetoric has ballooned her ego. Pathetically, she is parading as Kentucky’s assumed emporess. In reality, she is merely a monarchal pain.
Northup’s actions were juvenile, repugnant, and thuggish. She could have ignored the non-supporter. Instead, she threatened him. She treated him as a don would a target. The aforesaid illustrates that Northup is the wrong selection. Anne Northup is a career politician, a lousy campaign, and a reprehensible human being.
From the Lexington Herald-Leader:
An offhand comment by Anne Northup has caused a political squall within the Republican hierarchy, fueling speculation about just how neutral two of the Kentucky GOP's most prominent officials really are in this primary race for governor.
The names of state Senate President David Williams and U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell -- both of whom have insisted they are not endorsing in the Republican primary for governor -- neverthelesshave been dragged into the strange saga that started Tuesday in Manchester while Northup was campaigning there.
Northup, that afternoon, spotted on the street state Sen. Robert Stivers, who is backing Gov. Ernie Fletcher's re-election bid instead of her candidacy. When she approached Stivers, Northup said she had heard some Republicans were considering challenging Stivers' re-election in 2008. "It was just a little joking matter, which Anne probably shouldn't have done," said Republican state Rep. Tim Couch of Hyden, who was escorting Northup around Clay and Leslie counties. "I wouldn't have done it. But it was a joke."
Once word reached Stivers' Senate colleagues, including Williams, it raised concerns about whether Northup was recruiting challengers to officials who weren't supporting her in this primary. Stivers didn't return calls for comment. Northup's campaign manager Michael Clingaman said the exchange was "lighthearted" and that Northup and Stivers had since talked. "He has assured her there's no ill will," said Clingaman, who declined to discuss the matter further.
But the remark, however, touched off a chain of calls through the GOP's ranks, culminating with a teleconference Wednesday among Republican state senators. On that call, Stivers described the encounter with Northup. And Williams, the Senate president from Burkesville, explained that he called McConnell's state office director, Larry Cox, in Louisville to ask him to tell Northup "not to threaten" senators, said Sen. Tom Buford, R-Nicholasville, who was on the call. "In my personal opinion, that connects Anne Northup to Mitch McConnell," said Buford. "If you call Larry Cox to get to Anne Northup, that tells you where Mitch is. I believe 100 percent that McConnell got her into this (the race) and now he can't figure out how to get her out."
Cox did not return a call for comment. And Williams declined to discuss their conversation. But McConnell's chief of staff in Washington adamantly denied that the state's senior senator and Republican leader in the U.S. Senate is in any way involved in the governor's race. "People from every camp have tried to drag Sen. McConnell into this primary," said Billy Piper, McConnell's top aide. "Any insinuation that he's anything but neutral is 100 percent baseless. We're going to help whoever the nominee is in the fall."
Piper noted that McConnell organized Kentucky's GOP congressional delegation to host a unity rally at party headquarters in Frankfort the Saturday after the May 22 election. Cox did call Northup about the incident with Stivers, said Couch. But Northup's campaign declined to comment on that conversation.
Who's supporting whom?
In addition to the Manchester incident, the Republican senators' conference call also touched on general trends in the GOP primary race, which features Fletcher, Northup and Paducah businessman Billy Harper.
For instance, the senators discussed results of a poll, taken this week by the Tarrance Group for Fletcher's campaign, showing the governor leading, Buford said. Marty Ryall, Fletcher's campaign manager, confirmed a poll was taken Monday and Tuesday. A summary was dispatched in an e-mail to 25 key supporters, he said. Even though Williams convened the conference call and directed the conversation toward the primary, he stopped short of revealing whether he is supporting Fletcher, said Buford.
"I think that he had already decided that Fletcher was it," Buford added.
Williams' spokeswoman at the Senate, Lourdes Baez-Schrader, said she wasn't on the conference call because it was political, but added that "no one endorsed anyone."
Sen. Tom Jensen, R-London, said he sensed from conversations with Williams toward the end of this spring's legislative session that Williams had picked a side --at least privately. But Jensen, who has endorsed Fletcher, said he would not reveal details of those talks. Williams has introduced Fletcher with positive remarks at recent public events in his southern Kentucky Senate district. "Sen. Williams has been quietly helpful and supportive," said Ryall, Fletcher's manager. "We consider him a friend, but publicly he's neutral."
Couch, the state representative and Northup supporter, said he received a phone call from Williams this week that he described as an attempt to "strong-arm" him and determine whether he was helping to recruit a challenger to Stivers. Couch denied talking with any prospective challengers, and he expressed "disappointment" that Stivers allowed Northup's comment to mushroom into a political soap opera. "It's very unfortunate that these guys are doing it," he said of Stivers and Williams.
Couch also said Williams has "flip-flopped" and is outwardly supporting Fletcher. "I guess he's jumped on the bandwagon," Couch said. "He and Fletcher are two peas in a pod. One's just taller than the other."
Northup’s actions were juvenile, repugnant, and thuggish. She could have ignored the non-supporter. Instead, she threatened him. She treated him as a don would a target. The aforesaid illustrates that Northup is the wrong selection. Anne Northup is a career politician, a lousy campaign, and a reprehensible human being.
From the Lexington Herald-Leader:
An offhand comment by Anne Northup has caused a political squall within the Republican hierarchy, fueling speculation about just how neutral two of the Kentucky GOP's most prominent officials really are in this primary race for governor.
The names of state Senate President David Williams and U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell -- both of whom have insisted they are not endorsing in the Republican primary for governor -- neverthelesshave been dragged into the strange saga that started Tuesday in Manchester while Northup was campaigning there.
Northup, that afternoon, spotted on the street state Sen. Robert Stivers, who is backing Gov. Ernie Fletcher's re-election bid instead of her candidacy. When she approached Stivers, Northup said she had heard some Republicans were considering challenging Stivers' re-election in 2008. "It was just a little joking matter, which Anne probably shouldn't have done," said Republican state Rep. Tim Couch of Hyden, who was escorting Northup around Clay and Leslie counties. "I wouldn't have done it. But it was a joke."
Once word reached Stivers' Senate colleagues, including Williams, it raised concerns about whether Northup was recruiting challengers to officials who weren't supporting her in this primary. Stivers didn't return calls for comment. Northup's campaign manager Michael Clingaman said the exchange was "lighthearted" and that Northup and Stivers had since talked. "He has assured her there's no ill will," said Clingaman, who declined to discuss the matter further.
But the remark, however, touched off a chain of calls through the GOP's ranks, culminating with a teleconference Wednesday among Republican state senators. On that call, Stivers described the encounter with Northup. And Williams, the Senate president from Burkesville, explained that he called McConnell's state office director, Larry Cox, in Louisville to ask him to tell Northup "not to threaten" senators, said Sen. Tom Buford, R-Nicholasville, who was on the call. "In my personal opinion, that connects Anne Northup to Mitch McConnell," said Buford. "If you call Larry Cox to get to Anne Northup, that tells you where Mitch is. I believe 100 percent that McConnell got her into this (the race) and now he can't figure out how to get her out."
Cox did not return a call for comment. And Williams declined to discuss their conversation. But McConnell's chief of staff in Washington adamantly denied that the state's senior senator and Republican leader in the U.S. Senate is in any way involved in the governor's race. "People from every camp have tried to drag Sen. McConnell into this primary," said Billy Piper, McConnell's top aide. "Any insinuation that he's anything but neutral is 100 percent baseless. We're going to help whoever the nominee is in the fall."
Piper noted that McConnell organized Kentucky's GOP congressional delegation to host a unity rally at party headquarters in Frankfort the Saturday after the May 22 election. Cox did call Northup about the incident with Stivers, said Couch. But Northup's campaign declined to comment on that conversation.
Who's supporting whom?
In addition to the Manchester incident, the Republican senators' conference call also touched on general trends in the GOP primary race, which features Fletcher, Northup and Paducah businessman Billy Harper.
For instance, the senators discussed results of a poll, taken this week by the Tarrance Group for Fletcher's campaign, showing the governor leading, Buford said. Marty Ryall, Fletcher's campaign manager, confirmed a poll was taken Monday and Tuesday. A summary was dispatched in an e-mail to 25 key supporters, he said. Even though Williams convened the conference call and directed the conversation toward the primary, he stopped short of revealing whether he is supporting Fletcher, said Buford.
"I think that he had already decided that Fletcher was it," Buford added.
Williams' spokeswoman at the Senate, Lourdes Baez-Schrader, said she wasn't on the conference call because it was political, but added that "no one endorsed anyone."
Sen. Tom Jensen, R-London, said he sensed from conversations with Williams toward the end of this spring's legislative session that Williams had picked a side --at least privately. But Jensen, who has endorsed Fletcher, said he would not reveal details of those talks. Williams has introduced Fletcher with positive remarks at recent public events in his southern Kentucky Senate district. "Sen. Williams has been quietly helpful and supportive," said Ryall, Fletcher's manager. "We consider him a friend, but publicly he's neutral."
Couch, the state representative and Northup supporter, said he received a phone call from Williams this week that he described as an attempt to "strong-arm" him and determine whether he was helping to recruit a challenger to Stivers. Couch denied talking with any prospective challengers, and he expressed "disappointment" that Stivers allowed Northup's comment to mushroom into a political soap opera. "It's very unfortunate that these guys are doing it," he said of Stivers and Williams.
Couch also said Williams has "flip-flopped" and is outwardly supporting Fletcher. "I guess he's jumped on the bandwagon," Couch said. "He and Fletcher are two peas in a pod. One's just taller than the other."
Kentucky Pachyderm 2 Pummels Queen Anne
On his kypolitics.org site, former Fletcher spokesman Brett Hall is reporting a confrontation between Anne Northup and State Sen. Robert Stivers that took place earlier this week in Stivers' hometown of Manchester. (The Lexington Herald-Leader has a slightly different take penned by Ryan Alessi in Friday's edition.) Hall says that Northup threatened Stivers, a strong Ernie Fletcher supporter, with a recruited primary opponent.
He further reports that Stivers called Senate President David Williams, who in turn called a Mitch McConnell operative who's a strong Northup supporter, and that conversation was followed in short order by a mea culpa call from Northup to Stivers. If this really happened, and we have no reason to believe that it didn't go down as Hall described it, Northup may have just shot herself in the foot in a staunchly Republican area of the state. Stivers represents the counties of Knox, Clay, Owsley, Lee, Wolfe, Morgan and Magoffin.
The first four are part of the so-called "old 5th" that is the most heavily GOP region of Kentucky. Wolfe remains a Democrat stronghold, but Republicans are on the rise in Morgan and Magoffin. Incidentally, Ernie Fletcher's father spent his childhood in Magoffin County and the governor still has plenty of relatives there. Stivers is very highly thought of in his district and it would be very hard to recruit a challenger who could beat him. Stivers is active in community affairs in most all of his counties.
Northup is picking on the wrong person if she's trying to pick a fight with him. Fundraising numbers posted on Hall's site also show that this is Fletcher country. Northup has received contributions from only two of the counties in Stivers' district, $3,750 in Knox and $350 in Morgan. We have it on good authority that when Fletcher recently attended a public event in one of the smaller counties in Stivers' district, one in which no corresponding fund-raiser was planned, he went home with a similar amount for his campaign.
Fletcher is very popular in this region and many loyal Republicans view Northup with disdain and outright dislike for challenging the incumbent instead of throwing her full support behind him. This is the second really dumb thing Northup has done in the last month or so. Remember this report in which Northup explained her no-show at the Kentucky Press Association's candidate forum by saying she didn't want share the stage with the Democrat candidates and have to listen to what they had to say?
That wasn't exactly the brightest thing to say in a state where Democratic registration still outpaces GOP registration. Now she threatens to "primary" a very popular state senator who happens to support the incumbent governor? Not real bright. Of course it'll be hard for Northup to recruit an opponent for Stivers from her position as an ex-Member of Congress and failed gubernatorial candidate, which is what she'll be after May 22. And it's highly possible her threat to Stivers will be a key reason why she'll lose next month.
Brett Hall Rebukes Queen Anne
State Senator Robert Stivers was leaving the Clay County Courthouse Tuesday in his hometown of Manchester when he spotted Anne Northup talking to a few locals.
Stivers, an attorney and one of 15 state senators backing Governor Ernie Fletcher in the GOP primary, stopped to say hello. That was when things got ugly.
Northup reportedly told the veteran legislator and senate judiciary chair that she was going to contact people in his district to recruit a primary opponent to run against him in 2008, among other things.
None too happy about that news, Stivers contacted his good friend, Senate President David Williams to fill him in on Northup's threat to primary him.
Williams then called Larry Cox, who heads up U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell's state operations, informing him of his displeasure. Basically, it went something like this, "Tell your candidate, Mrs. Northup to kindly stop threatening members of my caucus."
Moments later, Northup was on the phone with Stivers offering a profuse apology for her remarks.
Wednesday afternoon, GOP state senators convened on a conference call to discuss the incident. The Senate President asked them to inform them immediately of any similar incident.
Stivers, an attorney and one of 15 state senators backing Governor Ernie Fletcher in the GOP primary, stopped to say hello. That was when things got ugly.
Northup reportedly told the veteran legislator and senate judiciary chair that she was going to contact people in his district to recruit a primary opponent to run against him in 2008, among other things.
None too happy about that news, Stivers contacted his good friend, Senate President David Williams to fill him in on Northup's threat to primary him.
Williams then called Larry Cox, who heads up U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell's state operations, informing him of his displeasure. Basically, it went something like this, "Tell your candidate, Mrs. Northup to kindly stop threatening members of my caucus."
Moments later, Northup was on the phone with Stivers offering a profuse apology for her remarks.
Wednesday afternoon, GOP state senators convened on a conference call to discuss the incident. The Senate President asked them to inform them immediately of any similar incident.
Queen Anne’s Royal Gaffe
From On the Mark:
Governor Fletcher's former press secretary Brett Hall, claims on his blog that Anne Northup threatened to recruit an opponent for Sen. Robert Stivers because of Stivers' support for Fletcher. Keep in mind that Hall is still a big Fletcher supporter and his wife works for state government, but I'll pass this tidbit on because it's interesting. Here's Hall's website
From OSI Speaks:
Did Northup make a "veiled political threat" against Sen. Robert Stivers, regarding a possible opponent for him, or was her comment a "joke taken out of context"? Read the H-L piece, judge for yourself and please share your thoughts.
Governor Fletcher's former press secretary Brett Hall, claims on his blog that Anne Northup threatened to recruit an opponent for Sen. Robert Stivers because of Stivers' support for Fletcher. Keep in mind that Hall is still a big Fletcher supporter and his wife works for state government, but I'll pass this tidbit on because it's interesting. Here's Hall's website
From OSI Speaks:
Did Northup make a "veiled political threat" against Sen. Robert Stivers, regarding a possible opponent for him, or was her comment a "joke taken out of context"? Read the H-L piece, judge for yourself and please share your thoughts.
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