From Elendil's Journal:
I have followed Northup's career for a number of years and have met her several times. She is undoubtedly one of the most impressive people I have ever met. She is a genuinely nice person who people want to be around. Her work ethic is second to none, and she has shown that she can raise n incredible amount of money for her campaigns.
It is a shame that she lost in November to ultra liberal Yarmuth because she truly reflected the average person in the third district as a moderate Republican. Personally, I think she should wait until 2008 and have a rematch with Yarmuth when the national scene will probably be more favorable. What she souldn't do is run for Governor. It would be an unmitigated disaster for the Republican party.
Why? First off, the Fletcher campaign will be able to shred her in the primary because she is a moderate. The fact that she gets C's and D's from the NRA shows that she has a history of being anti-gun. In fact I believe she voted against the concealed carry legislation when she was a state representative. On top of that, her years in Congress show her to be the queen of pork. There is no way she could claim the mantel of fiscal conservatism. And lastly she is from Louisville. Outside of the metro area in Kentucky, Louisville is a four letter word. Being from there will be yet another strike against her.
What does that mean for the primary? It means that Northup is going to have an up hill battle to win the nomination. It will not be as easy as those backing her believe it will be because of the reasons previously stated. That means a bloody and expensive battle where the winner will be damaged and penniless.
Let's say Northup wins the primary. The key to a Republican victory in the fall will be western Kentucky. With Northup's exposure as a gun hating moderate in the primary, the Democrats will have a chance to run to the right of her. Combine her political record with the fact that she is from Louisville and I believe the Dems will recapture the western part of the state. Negating any advantage Northup might have in Jefferson county. Securing a Democratic victory in the fall.
Now if Fletcher wins, whatever Northup's team digs up on Fletcher will only be used against him in the fall campaign. She will also have successfully drained him of any financial advantage he may have had going into the fall election.
Not only that, but a divisive primary will split the party which is still the minority in the state and will weaken whoever the nominee is. And in a state where Republicans are still in the minority, it seems like a difficult way to maintain power.
So please Northup don't run. It will end badly for the party and we will assuredly lose the Governor's mansion.
Friday, January 12, 2007
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Northup-Gonzo
Sports fans will appreciate this comparison. Anne Northup is Anthony Gonzalez. Both are overhyped and neither won.
Win If You Can, Lose If You Must, But...
Looks as if Northup’s people are up to their old dirty tricks. It cant be a coincidence that this video is released as she prepares to announce.
Harper Discusses Education
Billy Harper's radio interview with Kentucky Public Broadcasting:
http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wkyu/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1022878§ionID=1
http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wkyu/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1022878§ionID=1
“Kentucky schools must and can do better”
Local businessman and Republican candidate for Governor Billy Harper responded today to the Cradle to Career: Quality Counts 2007 Report, which gave insight on how Kentucky ranks against the rest of the nation in education. The report showed Kentucky’s fourth graders are dramatically behind the rest of the nation in math proficiency.
“It is unacceptable for Kentucky students to be so far behind the rest of the nation when it comes to a subject as important as math. We must act now to implement creative reforms to our public schools. The first step is implementing the remaining parts of the Harper Report,” said Billy Harper, Republican Candidate for Governor.
According to Natalie Jordan’s article in the Bowling Green Daily News, the report showed that an average of 26.1 percent of fourth graders are proficient in math as compared to the national average’s 35.3 percent. The national average of eighth-grade math is 28.5 percent which is higher than the state average of 22.5 percent.
“Some have expressed surprise that the state is below the national average. Our school leaders should no longer be surprised by the results of our children but be in touch enough to know what is expected. That’s why one of the recommendations of the Harper Report is to hold teachers, principals, school councils, students and superintendants personally accountable for student achievement,” said Harper.
The Quality Counts Report also showed that the percentage of students proficient in reading was slightly above the national average. According to Ms. Jordan’s article, the report showed an average of 30.8 percent of fourth graders are proficient—the national average is 29.8 percent—and 30.6 percent of eighth-graders—the national average is 28.9 percent.
“I applaud that our Kentucky student proficiency in reading is improving, but as a state, Kentuckians must ask themselves, do we consider ourselves an average state, or one that will provide a world-class education system to our students, ensuring the future of Kentucky’s economy thrives?” asked Harper.
Billy Harper brought together business leaders, school administrators and teachers to come up with 52 recommendations to create the Harper Report to make Kentucky schools better. Among these are funding for full day kindergarten, requiring school councils to collaborate with superintendants on hiring principals and allowing for regular business review of educational standards. Billy Harper is also a strong advocate of giving parents authority over their children’s educational future.
The first five statewide campaign advertisements for Harper’s campaign all focus on educational reforms needed for Kentucky.
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.
Harper is a professional race car driver on the American Drag Racing League. He developed a “Race for Education” program designed to improve attendance among middle school children — and it has. Every participating middle school reports that the number of children in attendance per day has increased from five percent to 50 percent. He also uses his racecar as a teaching tool during engineering and career days at the Paducah campus.
Please direct questions to the Harper Campaign Headquarters 270-448-0663
“It is unacceptable for Kentucky students to be so far behind the rest of the nation when it comes to a subject as important as math. We must act now to implement creative reforms to our public schools. The first step is implementing the remaining parts of the Harper Report,” said Billy Harper, Republican Candidate for Governor.
According to Natalie Jordan’s article in the Bowling Green Daily News, the report showed that an average of 26.1 percent of fourth graders are proficient in math as compared to the national average’s 35.3 percent. The national average of eighth-grade math is 28.5 percent which is higher than the state average of 22.5 percent.
“Some have expressed surprise that the state is below the national average. Our school leaders should no longer be surprised by the results of our children but be in touch enough to know what is expected. That’s why one of the recommendations of the Harper Report is to hold teachers, principals, school councils, students and superintendants personally accountable for student achievement,” said Harper.
The Quality Counts Report also showed that the percentage of students proficient in reading was slightly above the national average. According to Ms. Jordan’s article, the report showed an average of 30.8 percent of fourth graders are proficient—the national average is 29.8 percent—and 30.6 percent of eighth-graders—the national average is 28.9 percent.
“I applaud that our Kentucky student proficiency in reading is improving, but as a state, Kentuckians must ask themselves, do we consider ourselves an average state, or one that will provide a world-class education system to our students, ensuring the future of Kentucky’s economy thrives?” asked Harper.
Billy Harper brought together business leaders, school administrators and teachers to come up with 52 recommendations to create the Harper Report to make Kentucky schools better. Among these are funding for full day kindergarten, requiring school councils to collaborate with superintendants on hiring principals and allowing for regular business review of educational standards. Billy Harper is also a strong advocate of giving parents authority over their children’s educational future.
The first five statewide campaign advertisements for Harper’s campaign all focus on educational reforms needed for Kentucky.
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.
Harper is a professional race car driver on the American Drag Racing League. He developed a “Race for Education” program designed to improve attendance among middle school children — and it has. Every participating middle school reports that the number of children in attendance per day has increased from five percent to 50 percent. He also uses his racecar as a teaching tool during engineering and career days at the Paducah campus.
Please direct questions to the Harper Campaign Headquarters 270-448-0663
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