From the Wolf’s Den:
They came from the four corners of the state, near and far. They came from as far as Frankfort and Paducah and as near as Louisville itself. Some of them had well-known names in Kentucky politics: Fletcher, Beshear,Miller, and Henry. Others not so well known, now: Harper, Galbraith. They all came to the Kentucky Press Association's winter meeting in Louisville, KY to make their case why they should be governor. By all accounts, it was a bust!!! On a side note, I read that my good friend, Steele, at http://steeleskentucky.townhall.com/, was a might perturbed that our favorite RHINO, Anne Northup, was absent from the summit meeting. Not to worry.
Everyone who knows anything about RHINOs knows that on Friday RHINOs get their hair coiffed, nails done and Botox injected so they are ready to campaign for the weekend. So the six who would be king came and talked. The end result was about the same as any campaign stop. It was all style and no substance. The Demobats kept up their "Had Enough" mantra. Far more disturbing to me than their worn out slogan is the new Demobat idea of how to raise revenue for schools , health care and all those unconstitutional state goverment give-away programs.
Demobat candidate Steve Beshear wants to push for a state amendment that would expand legalized gambling.( I wonder if I'm the only one who thinks "legalized gambling" is an oxymoron.)This might play well to the folks up along the northern half of Kentucky, especially with those who own and operate gambling venues, and have a lot of money to buy professional politicians such as Mr. Beshear, but I guarantee you it wont play well down here in Baptist country.
The last time I checked the Bible, gambling was still considered a sin. Billy Harper, to his credit, knows Kentucky needs a better education system than it has now, but opposes expanding legalized gambling not only on moral grounds but also for practical reasons. As a business man he understands that you can't plan an economy based on gambling. He knows that if the state repeals the Alternative Minimum Tax on businesses, more companies will invest in Kentucky, which will increase state revenues. Gov. Ernie, of course, follows the time honored professional politician's course of waffling.
He's personally opposed to it which he believes should satisfy the Baptists, but he wont "stand in the way if it were to be put to the voters to let them decide." which should satisfy the gamblers. In addition, it's a pretty safe bet(if you're a gambler) that Gov. Ernie will wait until after the November election to tell us all what he plans on doing with the state's surplus. Anne Northup's stand on expanding legalized gambling is that she may or may not be for it, adding:"Of course I am a gambler, I gamble everytime I order Chinese food". Ok, Ok, only kidding.
She's taking the safe road like Gov. Ernie: let the voters decide. So the six giants of Kentucky politics met on Mount Louisville and set the tone for the governor's race. Gov. Ernie painfully tried to defend the past actions of his administration with a simple "We're not perfect. But I will say this: We brought the state out of some very difficult times..." The Demobats were, like rats on cheese, crawling all over themselves trying to prove one was more ethical than the other. Those candidates with actual plans and real working ideas were lost in the melee.
Already politicians across the state are predicting run-off elections for both parties. This summit could have been so much more. It could have given the voters actual insights into what platforms the candidates really trully support. Instead it was, to quote Mr. Beshear, where: "many of the policies and plans being talked about ... were merely retreads of promises politicians made in the past." Personally I think we in Kentucky deserve better than that.....
Monday, January 29, 2007
Overstating Her Backers?
Anne Northup requests five hundred supporters. What’s the statement when she fails?
From the Louisville Courier-Journal:
In preparation for Saturday's state Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner, the three GOP candidates for governor are recruiting supporters to fill up the Louisville International Convention Center. The annual dinner, named for Kentucky-born Republican President Abraham Lincoln, is typically a major fund-raiser for the party featuring big-name speakers that often talk about GOP unity.
So it is under that premise that the Republican candidates for governor are eagerly drumming up support so as to divide up the crowd by Gov. Ernie Fletcher's troops, Paducah businessman Billy Harper's people and former U.S. Rep. Anne Northup's backers. Northup, who represented Louisville for 10 years in Congress, has home-field advantage and is shooting for 500 of her supporters to show up, according to a letter she's distributing. "I am hoping you will not only attend this event, but agree to put together a table of ten Northup supporters," the letter dated Jan. 23 says. "A strong showing of 500 supporters will help us demonstrate our strength right from the start."
From the Louisville Courier-Journal:
In preparation for Saturday's state Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner, the three GOP candidates for governor are recruiting supporters to fill up the Louisville International Convention Center. The annual dinner, named for Kentucky-born Republican President Abraham Lincoln, is typically a major fund-raiser for the party featuring big-name speakers that often talk about GOP unity.
So it is under that premise that the Republican candidates for governor are eagerly drumming up support so as to divide up the crowd by Gov. Ernie Fletcher's troops, Paducah businessman Billy Harper's people and former U.S. Rep. Anne Northup's backers. Northup, who represented Louisville for 10 years in Congress, has home-field advantage and is shooting for 500 of her supporters to show up, according to a letter she's distributing. "I am hoping you will not only attend this event, but agree to put together a table of ten Northup supporters," the letter dated Jan. 23 says. "A strong showing of 500 supporters will help us demonstrate our strength right from the start."
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Wanted: Anyone Else
Anne Northup preached electability. What about ideas?Kentucky needs someone worth electing.
From Hillary Spot (National Review):
During her announcement, she never said anything about ideas. Here only message was that she’s the only one that is electable in November. Oh, unless you count this very meaty concept:“I want to help grow our economy, improve our education, and create good paying jobs. And most importantly, I want to make Kentucky a great place to raise a family - a place that those in other states will seek out to live and work.” –word of insight from Anne Northup
Friday, January 26, 2007
Forum Held Sans Northup
Where was Northup at the candidate forum? What is she afraid of? This was her golden opportunity to challenge the Governor...
From Kentucky Kurmudgeon:
Six of the eight announced candidates for governor made their pitches to the Kentucky Press Association in Louisville today. House Speaker Jody Richards and former U.S. Rep. Anne Northup passed up the event. A couple of new ideas surfaced, or at least new to me. For instance, Paducah businessman Billy Harper proposed letting a private company design and build the Louisville bridges project and then collect tolls on them. And former Lt. Gov. Steve Henry said he would like to create a state surgeon general's office to deal with Kentucky's health issues.
From Conservative Edge:
The first gubernatorial debate of the campaign season occurred today in Louisville. The event was sponsored by the Kentucky Press Association. Most of the big names were there, but Anne Northup was a no show in her own home town. Pol Watchers has a recap of the event at it's site.The single most striking aspect of the debate was that all but one of the candidates talked about what they will do. While Governor Fletcher got to tout what he has done. And his list of accomplishments is not meager.
From Bill’s Political Blog:
Meanwhile… Several candidates for governor appeared for a forum before reporters in Louisville. Governor Fletcher said he makes no claim to perfection, but says his administration has overcome major financial hurdles facing the state. Billy Harper said as a businessman, he knows how to get things done and create jobs. Harper also criticized former Congresswoman Anne Northup for not attending the Kentucky Press Association forum. She was campaigning in the heavily Republican southern part of the state.
From Kentucky Kurmudgeon:
Six of the eight announced candidates for governor made their pitches to the Kentucky Press Association in Louisville today. House Speaker Jody Richards and former U.S. Rep. Anne Northup passed up the event. A couple of new ideas surfaced, or at least new to me. For instance, Paducah businessman Billy Harper proposed letting a private company design and build the Louisville bridges project and then collect tolls on them. And former Lt. Gov. Steve Henry said he would like to create a state surgeon general's office to deal with Kentucky's health issues.
From Conservative Edge:
The first gubernatorial debate of the campaign season occurred today in Louisville. The event was sponsored by the Kentucky Press Association. Most of the big names were there, but Anne Northup was a no show in her own home town. Pol Watchers has a recap of the event at it's site.The single most striking aspect of the debate was that all but one of the candidates talked about what they will do. While Governor Fletcher got to tout what he has done. And his list of accomplishments is not meager.
From Bill’s Political Blog:
Meanwhile… Several candidates for governor appeared for a forum before reporters in Louisville. Governor Fletcher said he makes no claim to perfection, but says his administration has overcome major financial hurdles facing the state. Billy Harper said as a businessman, he knows how to get things done and create jobs. Harper also criticized former Congresswoman Anne Northup for not attending the Kentucky Press Association forum. She was campaigning in the heavily Republican southern part of the state.
Liberal Left Loves Fletcher
From Blue Grass, Red State:
MyDD is one of the most liberal blogs out there, with very close connections to Daily Kos, famous recently for its staunch support of kook Ned Lamont over the reasonable Democrat Joe Lieberman.
The guy in the picture was instrumental in creating/implementing a "Google-bombing" scheme by which bloggers could manipulate the Google search engine in order to make it generate anti-Republican web pages at the top (most relevant portion) of its search results. Notice the "Ned Lamont" sticker the guy is wearing. He is a blogger at MyDD and sometimes Daily Kos. Additionally, the guy in the picture, Chris Bowers, is a resident of Philadelphia and a member of the Pennsylvania State Democratic Committee. A recent entry on MyDD written by "kynetroots" encourages Google-bomb action against Northup. It reads:
Its important that the Netroots act now and support efforts that Kentucky activists (even some Conservative Republicans who support Fletcher) are taking (emphasis mine) to ensure that Northup does not build too much strength from defeating the corrupt Governor and cementing her image as a corruption free candidate. This is why we must join together to help the Google-bombing campaign against Northup, and now her running mate Jeff Hoover, that was started by Chris Bowers before the 2006 election.
Bowers may or may not personally be behind the current Google-bombing "campaign," but he certainly worked against Northup in '06, when he posted Google-bomb source code on MyDD for people to embed in their blog source code. The code is essentially a list of junk "news articles" written by liberal "journalists." Now "kynetroots" is on it. Could this be the work of Mark Nickolas? Bluegrass Report is MyDD's official Kentucky state blog. Someone in the Fletcher administration? We may never know for sure, but someone is taking desperate and manipulatory measures to keep Northup/Hoover from winning the Republican primary.
What we do know, however, is that KY Democrats would prefer to run against Fletcher over Northup/Hoover in 2007 and that Democrats from all over the country are participating in the campaign to make that happen. They want Fletcher to win the May Republican primary because they know they can capitalize on their '06 momentum and Fletcher's political problems to take back the governorship. I'm afraid some Republicans have their heads in the sand on this one. If Fletcher is so electable, why are liberals supporting him? Hat tip to abortion-supporter Majikthise for the photo of Comrade Bowers.
Harper Releases Statements
On Jobs & Education:
Businessman and Republican Candidate for Governor Billy Harper stressed education and job growth in the first Gubernatorial candidate forum of the 2007 election cycle.
“As a businessman, I know how to create jobs. As a leader in education reform, I know how to improve schools. As your Governor, I’ll do both,” Harper said in his opening statement to members of the Kentucky Press Association at its winter meeting in Louisville.
Harper also expressed disappointment in former Congresswoman Anne Northup’s decision to skip the forum.
“I wish Anne was able to attend. I think these forums, particularly one sponsored by the state’s press association, are a great opportunity to discuss the issues important to Kentucky in a positive and constructive setting,” stated Harper.
Harper said he plans on attending every candidate forum his schedule allows to discuss the challenges facing Kentucky and his vision for moving the state forward.
Harper chaired Leadership Kentucky, an association of business leaders from across the state, and has also served as chair of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. More recently, Harper brought business people, teachers, and school administrators together from across the state to help write the Harper Report on education. The report made 52 specific recommendations to help improve education for all Kentucky students, and today nearly half of those suggestions have been put into effect throughout the state.
Harper currently serves as president of Harper Industries, a family-owned and operated construction and engineering company based in Paducah. For specific information about Harper’s proposals for job growth and education – including a downloadable copy of the Harper Report – visit the campaign online at www.harperforgovernor.com.
On AMT:
"The Governor’s proposal to extend tax incentives to Ford in order to preserve jobs in Kentucky begs the question of why he won't repeal the Alternative Minimum Tax, which is driving the jobs out of Kentucky in the first place.
The University of Kentucky has documented that a great many of the tax incentives Kentucky has extended to businesses have not resulted in the predicted job creation. This is because Kentucky has collected $100 million more this year than last year in business taxes. If the state left that $100 million in the hands of businesses it would not need to offer new tax incentives, just cut taxes."
Businessman and Republican Candidate for Governor Billy Harper stressed education and job growth in the first Gubernatorial candidate forum of the 2007 election cycle.
“As a businessman, I know how to create jobs. As a leader in education reform, I know how to improve schools. As your Governor, I’ll do both,” Harper said in his opening statement to members of the Kentucky Press Association at its winter meeting in Louisville.
Harper also expressed disappointment in former Congresswoman Anne Northup’s decision to skip the forum.
“I wish Anne was able to attend. I think these forums, particularly one sponsored by the state’s press association, are a great opportunity to discuss the issues important to Kentucky in a positive and constructive setting,” stated Harper.
Harper said he plans on attending every candidate forum his schedule allows to discuss the challenges facing Kentucky and his vision for moving the state forward.
Harper chaired Leadership Kentucky, an association of business leaders from across the state, and has also served as chair of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. More recently, Harper brought business people, teachers, and school administrators together from across the state to help write the Harper Report on education. The report made 52 specific recommendations to help improve education for all Kentucky students, and today nearly half of those suggestions have been put into effect throughout the state.
Harper currently serves as president of Harper Industries, a family-owned and operated construction and engineering company based in Paducah. For specific information about Harper’s proposals for job growth and education – including a downloadable copy of the Harper Report – visit the campaign online at www.harperforgovernor.com.
On AMT:
"The Governor’s proposal to extend tax incentives to Ford in order to preserve jobs in Kentucky begs the question of why he won't repeal the Alternative Minimum Tax, which is driving the jobs out of Kentucky in the first place.
The University of Kentucky has documented that a great many of the tax incentives Kentucky has extended to businesses have not resulted in the predicted job creation. This is because Kentucky has collected $100 million more this year than last year in business taxes. If the state left that $100 million in the hands of businesses it would not need to offer new tax incentives, just cut taxes."
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