Republicans and Democrats these days find themselves engaged in contentious primaries, up and down the ballot.
Before things get out of hand, best advice both parties can follow is to get a grip and think long and hard before going nuclear.
Democrat state party leader Jerry Lundergan got all seven of his party’s gubernatorial campaigns to sign the equivalent of a Ronald Reagan 11th Commandment. Nice work.
Time will tell if it works, but at least everyone’s on notice that they understand the consequences of their actions, IF they do choose to load their guns with live ammo.
On the GOP side, Anne Northup is trying to find 50 ways to say “Ernie can’t win.” The ex-congresswoman from Louisville got a tepid response from party faithful at last week's Franklin County Lincoln Day Dinner as she delivered this message.
Meanwhile, the incumbent governor travels the Great Commonwealth announcing highway projects and cutting ribbons on new projects with the energy of a happy warrior. Fletcher’s apparent strategy is to good naturedly confront his opponents with his record of accomplishment and a challenge for them to propose something better.
Only Billy Harper has stepped forward to offer something, a plan to improve public schools by spending more money with corresponding accountability on the part of educators. Revolutionary? Maybe not, but Harper has his sincerity going for him. Something voters tend to favor over glibness and in-your-face posturing.
Saturday, February 24, 2007
The Fourth Horseman?
From Lexington Herald-Leader:President Bush will visit Kentucky early next month to attend an event raising money for Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell’s re-election campaign, the White House said Friday. The March 2 event at a downtown hotel also will benefit the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
Democrats seized control of the Senate by the slimmest of margins after last year’s election, preventing McConnell from becoming Senate majority leader. McConnell, the Senate minority leader, has been an unwavering Bush supporter on the Iraq war and the president’s domestic policies. McConnell has said he’ll seek a fifth term next year. No Democrat has announced plans to challenge him.
McConnell has been the chief architect of the Republican rise to power in Kentucky in recent years. Republicans hold both of Kentucky’s U.S. Senate seats, four of the six U.S. House seats, the governorship and control the state Senate. A recent Bluegrass Poll published in The Courier-Journal of Louisville showed that about half of Kentuckians think McConnell should oppose a plan to send more American troops to Iraq. Bush easily carried Kentucky in winning the White House in 2000 and 2004.
President Bush supports McConnell. Does President Bush support Northup?
Is President Bush part of the Vast McConnell Wing conspiracy?
Friday, February 23, 2007
Fletcher’s Fund… Another Rock In His Ethical Gray Canyon?
Kentucky Pachyderm labeled this article “Fletcher media bias.” Are they kidding?This is a relevant voter’s subject. Governor Fletcher is ethically challenged. He could be exchanging future favors for defense fund contributions. The public is entitled to know.
From the Lexington Herald-Leader:
In addition to raising money for his re-election bid, Gov. Ernie Fletcher is on a fund-raising drive to help pay his legal bills that remain from the 16-month state hiring investigation.
But any money he raises for the "Governor's Legal Defense Fund" this year won't have to be disclosed to the public until the spring of 2008 -- long after he is either re-elected or defeated. Lt. Gov. Steve Pence said that was too long to wait in an election year. "I think the governor would probably be best served by making a full disclosure, especially during the campaign year," said Pence, who got elected with Fletcher but whose relationship with the governor has grown chilly over the past year.
Bill Stone, president of Louisville Plate Glass and an ardent Fletcher supporter, said he intended to contribute to Fletcher's legal defense fund but has not yet decided how much. He added that he hoped "the hundreds and thousands of Kentuckians, who believe like I do, that when you go into public offices we don't expect you to give up everything," decide to contribute as well. Fletcher and dozens of other administration officials incurred legal costs during the investigation into state hiring practices. A special grand jury indicted 15 former or current officials, including the governor.
Stone said Attorney General Greg Stumbo -- a Democrat who is running for lieutenant governor with Louisville businessman Bruce Lunsford -- forced Fletcher and his aides who appeared before the grand jury to have to pay high legal bills. "As a general philosophical matter, whether it's those kids who were subpoenaed by Stumbo ... or whether it's the governor who exposed his entire net worth to a political witch hunt, I see nothing wrong with it," Stone said, of the fund.
Fletcher earns a salary of $116,520. In addition, Fletcher said last year he had made a real estate investment in Florida of between $160,000 and $170,000, using the proceeds from the sale of his home and a rental property. R. Kent Westberry, one of Fletcher's personal attorneys, declined to discuss Fletcher's legal bills. Stone also was among several Republicans who tried to set up a legal defense fund in 2005 for some of Fletcher's aides.
That account received so few donations after Fletcher pardoned everyone in his administration on Aug. 29, 2005, that the fund was disbanded and the contributions were returned, Stone said yesterday. Fletcher did not pardon himself but agreed to a deal with Stumbo last August that ended the investigation. The governor's general counsel, Jim Deckard, issued a statement last night saying Fletcher would adhere to the law with the fund. "Disclosure of any gifts to the governor, including those made to defer legal expenses, will be disclosed pursuant to each and every legal requirement," Deckard said.
Showing donors
Such a fund would be loosely watched by the Executive Branch Ethics Commission, which has released several advisory opinions on the issue over the past two years. In August, the commission gave Fletcher permission to accept donations for a defense trust as long he didn't take checks from companies or individuals who have business with the state -- specifically not those "with which the governor has had or will have direct involvement or participation in such issues."
An earlier opinion from Sept. 2, 2005, said any executive branch official who receives money from such a defense trust must "disclose the source of the gift, including the source's name and address" on an annual financial disclosure report. Those reports -- which are due to the ethics commission by Feb. 15 each year -- require officials to list gifts they received in the previous calendar year that are worth more than $200. Those reports are then released to the public by the end of April.
That would mean donations to the legal fund made in 2007 wouldn't show up on Fletcher's report until next spring. Stone said he didn't believe waiting until next year was too long. "I think he should disclose it in a timely manner, which is a year after it's done, just like any other gift," he said.
Seeking funds
Scott Bucher, owner of S&B Cattle in Lexington, said he has been approached to contribute to Fletcher's legal fund but couldn't remember whether he has written a check yet. He said he also couldn't recall who asked him to give -- whether it was Fletcher or Mira Ball, one of the governor's chief supporters who has been working with the defense fund.
"I know the Balls fairly well. And I know the governor on a personal basis," Bucher said.He said it was a cause he could support.
"I think he was mistreated and abused, and I think he is a good governor," said Bucher, a co-owner of Blue Grass Stockyards. "I will help him and do anything as long as it's legal."
Ball did not return a call to her office. A woman answering the phone at her home said she was "on holiday." The August ethics commission opinion gave Fletcher the go-ahead to allow the chairperson or trustee of a defense fund to be "an individual who serves on a board or commission affiliated with state government" as long as that person doesn't have another conflict, such as serving as a government lobbyist. Fletcher has appointed Ball to the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees as well as the state Historic Properties Advisory Commission.
Fletcher’s Fordfare Receives Stamp of Approval
From the Louisville Courier-Journal:The House Appropriations and Revenue Committee tonight approved a bill that would make tax credits available to the Ford Motor Co. as part of an effort to make sure that the company keeps its two plants and their 8,000 jobs in Jefferson County.
The vote on House Bill 536, which now goes to the full House, was 24-0. The committee made no changes in the bill. The automaker, which last year lost $12.7 billion, has announced plans to close 14 parts and assembly plants nationwide, though it hasn’t identified which ones.
Granted, a bipartisan stamp. However, Fletcher proposed the handout.
Fordfare is unnecessary. Simply cease taxing unprofitable businesses.
Correcting Cyber Hillbilly
As for his reelection campaign, he’s raked in millions, has an effective running mate at his side, and, at last count, has garnered the endorsements of at least 18 County Judge Executives in vitally important Eastern and South Central Kentucky. His top opponent has, thus far, kept the gloves on and resisted calls to hit hard.
To top it all off, in terms of delivery, he’s made two very important speeches, one to activists, the other a televised address to the General Assembly viewed by thousands of Kentucky voters. In sum, the Guv’s on a roll; which is why his latest Survey USA numbers have to come as a terrible disappointment to Team Fletcher. In spite of all his recent successes, the Governor still receives only 36% approval rating. While he did manage to climb to 50% approval rating among Republicans, only 25% of Democrats, still a substantial majority of the voters in this state, said they approved of the Governor’s job.
In terms of ethnicity, as Osi Speaks pointed out, the Governor received only 18% of black voters’ approval while only 37% of all whites voiced approval. I’m sure someone will try to spin these numbers in a positive way, but the folks who doubt Northup’s contention that this Governor- in spite of the fact that he is a good man- just can’t be reelected, are beginning to look like the proverbial boy who was convinced that there was a pony in there somewhere.
Their headline? “Latest Poll Reiterates Northup-Hoover's Key Message: Governor Can't be Reelected”
The aforementioned is not their key message. The aforementioned is their only message. The Northup-Hoover campaign does not have talking points. They have chant practice every day. “Fletcher cant win, Fletcher cant win…”
Voters want more.
Just noticed... in December the SurveyUSA poll showed that the Governor had the support of 41% of pro-life voters. This month, following Bunning's endorsement of Northup at a pro-life function, the numbers slipped to 37%. Anyone have any ideas about this?
Four percent fewer pro-life voters are supporting Fletcher. However, they have not said they are supporting Northup. Talk about your worthless stat.
To top it all off, in terms of delivery, he’s made two very important speeches, one to activists, the other a televised address to the General Assembly viewed by thousands of Kentucky voters. In sum, the Guv’s on a roll; which is why his latest Survey USA numbers have to come as a terrible disappointment to Team Fletcher. In spite of all his recent successes, the Governor still receives only 36% approval rating. While he did manage to climb to 50% approval rating among Republicans, only 25% of Democrats, still a substantial majority of the voters in this state, said they approved of the Governor’s job.
In terms of ethnicity, as Osi Speaks pointed out, the Governor received only 18% of black voters’ approval while only 37% of all whites voiced approval. I’m sure someone will try to spin these numbers in a positive way, but the folks who doubt Northup’s contention that this Governor- in spite of the fact that he is a good man- just can’t be reelected, are beginning to look like the proverbial boy who was convinced that there was a pony in there somewhere.
Their headline? “Latest Poll Reiterates Northup-Hoover's Key Message: Governor Can't be Reelected”
The aforementioned is not their key message. The aforementioned is their only message. The Northup-Hoover campaign does not have talking points. They have chant practice every day. “Fletcher cant win, Fletcher cant win…”
Voters want more.
Just noticed... in December the SurveyUSA poll showed that the Governor had the support of 41% of pro-life voters. This month, following Bunning's endorsement of Northup at a pro-life function, the numbers slipped to 37%. Anyone have any ideas about this?
Four percent fewer pro-life voters are supporting Fletcher. However, they have not said they are supporting Northup. Talk about your worthless stat.
K-Pac Is Revolting
Amidst their Fletcher kissing, Kentucky Pachyderm 2 has begun leveling vicious personal assaults.
K-Pac is pathetic. They should be ashamed.
From K-Pac 2:
Put in terms of marital infidelity, something [Greg] Stumbo should understand very well, Wells has accused Stumbo of cheating. And he has also accused Stumbo of the political equivalent of verbal spouse abuse (terroristic threatening) because he claims Stumbo threatened retaliation because of the refusal to endorse.
K-Pac is pathetic. They should be ashamed.
From K-Pac 2:
Put in terms of marital infidelity, something [Greg] Stumbo should understand very well, Wells has accused Stumbo of cheating. And he has also accused Stumbo of the political equivalent of verbal spouse abuse (terroristic threatening) because he claims Stumbo threatened retaliation because of the refusal to endorse.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Candidates Pitch UK
Jeff Hoover’s learned the talking points… Fletcher can’t win, Fletcher can’t win, Fletcher can’t win… Governor Fletcher: “We’re reaching out through facebook.”
Twenty dollars says Fletcher wouldn’t know Facebook if the site entered his office and slapped him in the face.
From Pol Watchers:
In another example of the growing influence of younger party activists, the Central Kentucky College Republicans drew more than 90 people and representatives from all but four statewide GOP candidates' campaigns to a Lincoln Day Dinner last night.
"People realize that we are the grassroots effort," said Matt Ballard, a University of Kentucky student, who is co-chair of Gov. Ernie Fletcher's campaign at the university. "People realize it is the college students who give the most time to go door to door and make campaign calls at a nominal cost -- which is usually free."
Many of the GOP candidates who showed up to the event at the King Alumni House on UK's campus did ask the students for their help in the coming election. Fletcher, making a surprise appearance even though his running mate Robbie Rudolph already spoke, told the college Republicans that he was trying to reach out through a campaign site on Facebook.
But he also made a general pitch for young people to get involved in Republican politics, even if it means working for his opponents, former U.S. Rep. Anne Northup and her running mate state Rep. Jeff Hoover or Paducah businessman Billy Harper and his lieutenant governor candidate, Dick Wilson.
"If you support Jeff and Anne, go out and work hard for them. If you support Billy, go out and work for him. There's no better experience then going out on the campaign trail," Fletcher said. "Politics is getting more brutal than ever. But don't let that drive you away."
"But please know: We get up every day and try to do what's right," Fletcher added. "Sometimes we've looked and some of our friends weren't even there."
Hoover, representing the Northup campaign, thanked the various activists from College Republican organizations. He then made a general pitch for replacing Fletcher as the nominee. "When Republicans run on issues, as you all know, the Republicans win in Kentucky," Hoover said. "If the current governor is the nominee, we will have a campaign -- again, right or wrong, fair or unfair -- from the Democrats talking about grand juries, indictments, pardons, plea bargains, Fifth Amendment, who said what under oath and who didn't say what under oath."
And Harper, a construction company from Paducah, introduced himself to the crowd. "The state needs leadership. And I bring bold leadership," he said. "Leadership is about making the tough decisions."
Twenty dollars says Fletcher wouldn’t know Facebook if the site entered his office and slapped him in the face.
From Pol Watchers:
In another example of the growing influence of younger party activists, the Central Kentucky College Republicans drew more than 90 people and representatives from all but four statewide GOP candidates' campaigns to a Lincoln Day Dinner last night.
"People realize that we are the grassroots effort," said Matt Ballard, a University of Kentucky student, who is co-chair of Gov. Ernie Fletcher's campaign at the university. "People realize it is the college students who give the most time to go door to door and make campaign calls at a nominal cost -- which is usually free."
Many of the GOP candidates who showed up to the event at the King Alumni House on UK's campus did ask the students for their help in the coming election. Fletcher, making a surprise appearance even though his running mate Robbie Rudolph already spoke, told the college Republicans that he was trying to reach out through a campaign site on Facebook.
But he also made a general pitch for young people to get involved in Republican politics, even if it means working for his opponents, former U.S. Rep. Anne Northup and her running mate state Rep. Jeff Hoover or Paducah businessman Billy Harper and his lieutenant governor candidate, Dick Wilson.
"If you support Jeff and Anne, go out and work hard for them. If you support Billy, go out and work for him. There's no better experience then going out on the campaign trail," Fletcher said. "Politics is getting more brutal than ever. But don't let that drive you away."
"But please know: We get up every day and try to do what's right," Fletcher added. "Sometimes we've looked and some of our friends weren't even there."
Hoover, representing the Northup campaign, thanked the various activists from College Republican organizations. He then made a general pitch for replacing Fletcher as the nominee. "When Republicans run on issues, as you all know, the Republicans win in Kentucky," Hoover said. "If the current governor is the nominee, we will have a campaign -- again, right or wrong, fair or unfair -- from the Democrats talking about grand juries, indictments, pardons, plea bargains, Fifth Amendment, who said what under oath and who didn't say what under oath."
And Harper, a construction company from Paducah, introduced himself to the crowd. "The state needs leadership. And I bring bold leadership," he said. "Leadership is about making the tough decisions."
Cheating Delayed
Runoff repeal vote delayed? They should not even consider this!
From the Lexington Herald-Leader:
Lawmakers delayed voting on a bill that would eliminate the governor's race runoff, to give themselves more time to decide how to cover that election's costs as well as what the legal ramifications of junking it might be.
After a lengthy discussion about the bill that would eliminate the runoff starting with this spring's governor's race, Rep. Rob Wilkey, the Democratic House whip, asked members of the Elections, Constitutional Amendments and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee to pass over the issue and pick it up again in "a day or two" at a special meeting. "I think there have been some questions raised about whether or not we ought to repeal this particular statute after people have already filed and begun to run for this office," Wilkey told reporters after the meeting.
As the law stands now, a runoff election would kick in for the governor's race if no candidate in the May 22 Democratic or Republican primaries received at least 40 percent of the vote. The special overtime election between the top two finishers in a party's primary would be held five weeks after that May 22 election was certified.
It's possible candidates could file a lawsuit if the General Assembly eliminates the runoff, thereby changing the rules in the middle of a race, Wilkey said. He said he hadn't heard from any of the 10 candidates for governor urging legislators to keep or repeal the runoff. But Secretary of State Trey Grayson said he spoke in November with a candidate whom he wouldn't identify -- before that person filed to run for governor -- and "volunteered to that potential candidate that the runoff provision would be in place for this race."
"I asked, 'Would this make it more likely you would run?' And the candidate said 'Yes,'" said Grayson, a Republican. He declined to say what party affiliation that person has.
"It's easier to finish in the first two," Grayson noted.
In addition to the possibility of litigation, lawmakers also raised the prospect that a runoff election could be delayed by a legal challenge to the primary election results. That could bump back the runoff to as late as July or August.
County clerks across the state are pushing to eliminate the runoff, considering that it would cost counties as much as $1,500 per precinct to hold that extra election. "The money is a big issue for me. That's the reason we filed the bill," said Rep. Rick Nelson, D-Middlesboro, the sponsor of the bill. The Kentucky Board of Elections passed a resolution 6-0 yesterday to support the clerks' position. But Les Fugate, spokesman for Grayson, said that aside from the clerks, the secretary of state's office hasn't received any calls urging repeal of the runoff.
Another issue regarding the runoff that came up at yesterday's committee meeting was the effect it would have on absentee ballots. Leslie County Clerk James Lewis said that having to put together an election after five weeks provides only a limited window of 15 days to get such ballots to and back from Kentuckians who are overseas, including military personnel. Nelson, meanwhile, has filed another bill related to the runoff that would require the state to cover the estimated $5 million in total costs to the 120 counties for setting up voting booths and paying poll workers.
Wilkey said he thought that the legislature would at least decide to cover the counties' costs. But the House Democrats' position remains fluid. "I think we're going to have a runoff but it's going to be paid for by the state," Nelson said after the noon House Elections Committee meeting.
But three hours later, he said the chances of getting rid of it were back to "50-50."
House Democrats will meet today to decide where their caucus stands on the issue, said Rep. Charlie Hoffman, majority caucus chairman.
From the Lexington Herald-Leader:
Lawmakers delayed voting on a bill that would eliminate the governor's race runoff, to give themselves more time to decide how to cover that election's costs as well as what the legal ramifications of junking it might be.
After a lengthy discussion about the bill that would eliminate the runoff starting with this spring's governor's race, Rep. Rob Wilkey, the Democratic House whip, asked members of the Elections, Constitutional Amendments and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee to pass over the issue and pick it up again in "a day or two" at a special meeting. "I think there have been some questions raised about whether or not we ought to repeal this particular statute after people have already filed and begun to run for this office," Wilkey told reporters after the meeting.
As the law stands now, a runoff election would kick in for the governor's race if no candidate in the May 22 Democratic or Republican primaries received at least 40 percent of the vote. The special overtime election between the top two finishers in a party's primary would be held five weeks after that May 22 election was certified.
It's possible candidates could file a lawsuit if the General Assembly eliminates the runoff, thereby changing the rules in the middle of a race, Wilkey said. He said he hadn't heard from any of the 10 candidates for governor urging legislators to keep or repeal the runoff. But Secretary of State Trey Grayson said he spoke in November with a candidate whom he wouldn't identify -- before that person filed to run for governor -- and "volunteered to that potential candidate that the runoff provision would be in place for this race."
"I asked, 'Would this make it more likely you would run?' And the candidate said 'Yes,'" said Grayson, a Republican. He declined to say what party affiliation that person has.
"It's easier to finish in the first two," Grayson noted.
In addition to the possibility of litigation, lawmakers also raised the prospect that a runoff election could be delayed by a legal challenge to the primary election results. That could bump back the runoff to as late as July or August.
County clerks across the state are pushing to eliminate the runoff, considering that it would cost counties as much as $1,500 per precinct to hold that extra election. "The money is a big issue for me. That's the reason we filed the bill," said Rep. Rick Nelson, D-Middlesboro, the sponsor of the bill. The Kentucky Board of Elections passed a resolution 6-0 yesterday to support the clerks' position. But Les Fugate, spokesman for Grayson, said that aside from the clerks, the secretary of state's office hasn't received any calls urging repeal of the runoff.
Another issue regarding the runoff that came up at yesterday's committee meeting was the effect it would have on absentee ballots. Leslie County Clerk James Lewis said that having to put together an election after five weeks provides only a limited window of 15 days to get such ballots to and back from Kentuckians who are overseas, including military personnel. Nelson, meanwhile, has filed another bill related to the runoff that would require the state to cover the estimated $5 million in total costs to the 120 counties for setting up voting booths and paying poll workers.
Wilkey said he thought that the legislature would at least decide to cover the counties' costs. But the House Democrats' position remains fluid. "I think we're going to have a runoff but it's going to be paid for by the state," Nelson said after the noon House Elections Committee meeting.
But three hours later, he said the chances of getting rid of it were back to "50-50."
House Democrats will meet today to decide where their caucus stands on the issue, said Rep. Charlie Hoffman, majority caucus chairman.
KYProgress Choice Compliments
Giving Kentucky parents the right to choose how the tax dollars allocated to educate their children are spent should be very easy to implement. That is school choice. Call it vouchers if you want to.
Taking the power from the teachers union and giving it to parents makes a lot of sense in terms of creating competition for our struggling schools. Competition will make our education process stronger and it can be done without any additional costs to the taxpayers.
All we need is a little leadership. Billy Harper was the only gubernatorial candidate to show up at the school choice rally today in the Capitol. His staff worked vigorously to get him a speaking role in the event and deserves a ton of credit for their efforts. Harper's words in support of school choice set him apart in the Republican primary. I know Governor Fletcher and Anne Northup had other events scheduled this morning, but where are they on school choice now?
Back in 2003 while in Congress, both Northup and Fletcher voted for parents and children in Washington D.C. to have access to a pilot charter school program. The program has been so successful, the worst thing critics can say about it is too many families want in.
Surely Fletcher and Northup don't want to deny Kentucky families the same thing they saw fit to grant families who live in Washington D.C.
Taking the power from the teachers union and giving it to parents makes a lot of sense in terms of creating competition for our struggling schools. Competition will make our education process stronger and it can be done without any additional costs to the taxpayers.
All we need is a little leadership. Billy Harper was the only gubernatorial candidate to show up at the school choice rally today in the Capitol. His staff worked vigorously to get him a speaking role in the event and deserves a ton of credit for their efforts. Harper's words in support of school choice set him apart in the Republican primary. I know Governor Fletcher and Anne Northup had other events scheduled this morning, but where are they on school choice now?
Back in 2003 while in Congress, both Northup and Fletcher voted for parents and children in Washington D.C. to have access to a pilot charter school program. The program has been so successful, the worst thing critics can say about it is too many families want in.
Surely Fletcher and Northup don't want to deny Kentucky families the same thing they saw fit to grant families who live in Washington D.C.
Desperately Seeking Supporters
Eager to introduce herself to Knox Countians who might not know their primary race options, state governor candidate Anne Northup visited business and community leaders at Tri-County National Bank in Corbin Friday."I think there’s some real value about getting out and making your own pitch," Northup said. "It’s not what one restaurant manager tells you, it’s what the 25th manager tells you about what’s really going on." "I need every ambassador I have," Northup said. "Jeff and I feel like we can provide an alternative. We both value the perspective of people who are on the front line."
Anne Northup values the opinion of anyone registered to vote.
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