The Rural Democrat

Coming Soon: Legislative Report Cards

So how did our regional legislators fair in the 2008 regular session of the Kentucky General Assembly? We will review as many bills as possible and if any passed. Also, if it doesn't turn into a full time job, we will review some crucial votes from our esteemed legislators. We will also blister a few if needed, I am sure a few need it.

• Rep. Rick Nelson (D) House District 87
• Rep. Charlie Siler (R) House District 82
• Rep. Leslie Combs (D) House District 94
• Rep. Scott Alexander (D) House District 84 - did he show up?
• Rep. Ancel Smith (D) House District 92
• Rep. Jim Stewart (R) House District 86
• Rep. Tim Couch (D) House District 90
• State Senator Brandon Smith (R)
• State Senator Johnny Ray Turner (D)
• State Senator Robert Stivers (R)

Governor Beshear's First Session a Failure

Times have changed, the days of loyalty to your Governor is over, no matter how important the issues. This session is a complete failure on many fronts, most notably it will be considered a failure and a black X for Governor Beshear's first year in office. The buck stops with him and he must bear the brunt of the criticism.

• Casinos: A 30 day into the session proposal probably is the single most important reason the measure failed. The horse racing industry and the politics surrounding the number of guaranteed gaming facilities at the tracks was a catalyst to delay, obstruct, and ultimately destroy the proposed legislation. It was an orchestrated obstruction of this legislation and it ultimately damaged the relationship between the horsie set and the Governor. Without that team, Casinos will only be a discussion not a reality, ever.
• The Budget: A miserable session and the sweeping cuts issued by Governor Beshear before the session set the stage for a budget that is both anemic and porous. But some legislators managed to get their all important project money during an election year while the mentally retarded and the poor will certainly suffer the consequences of a bleak 2 year budget. But no sweeping vetoes were issued by Beshear in regards to those cuts, so it is business as usual.
• Pension Reform: Beshear is caught in the vortex of damed-if-you-do and damned-if-you-don't in regards to how to lead the charge for his pet legislation. If he does too little he is called out on the floor for not being a leader and if he does too much he is kicked backed into the mansion in a fury by turf protecting legislators. So it is no surprise that pension reform died on the floor.
• Ethics Reform: Shot full of holes and useless, of course dead in the water.
• 70 cent cigarette tax increase: The only time during this session when the press sided with the Governor and praised his leadership was during the debacle of the 70 cent increase in the cigarette tax. But our childish legislative body proved the accusations of being immature obstructionists by pitching a fit at the thought of raising that tax by that amount. Why? It is an election year for many legislators and raising ANY tax can be used against them, EVEN though the majority of the Commonwealth approved of the tax increase. Amazing.

So all of Governor Steve Beshear's initiatives have been killed and nothing of substance has passed this unproductive session of the Kentucky General Assembly. Now the blood bath begins; Stumbo will likely challenge Richards for the top spot in the House and the question everyone will be asking is; will Stumbo seek Beshear's help. I would suspect Beshear to have nothing to do with that, if he is smart. But Stumbo should make his move, even though I was critical of him during the 2007 gubernatorial primary I will support that move, if only for the reason that he would stand up to King David Williams.

Now we wait for a probable extraordinary session of the Kentucky General Assembly. Does Beshear call that session and attempt to flex his executive muscles or does he fall into damage control and prepare for 2010? It will be interesting how he recovers from this terrible session and any Beshear supporter who thinks recovery is not needed, is a fool.   

Bruce Lunsford Touts 2003 Fletcher Endorsement

I guess Larry Keeling was board absolutely to death Saturday and stopped by a Lunsford meet and greet. Keeling posted on his blog that Bruce Lunsford is attempting to spin his endorsement of former Governor Ernie Fletcher (R) in 2003 in a way that it will aid him in the fall.

Bruce Lunsford is attempting to slam Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R) for abandoning Fletcher during the blackberry jam scandal and the spin is he supported Fletcher and McConnell did not. Huh? He is trying to sale his endorsement of Fletcher in a way that will get him Republican crossover votes. As stupid as it sounds that is what he is attempting to do. I don't know who is running his campaign but this is ridiculous.

Keeling tried to stomp on Lunsford for looking to the fall before we wins in the spring, unless he drops out or Lord forbid he dies, he will certainly win. SurveyUSA has released new poll results and the other candidate Fischer has 9%, yea 9 fricking 9%, but he is a viable candidate you know. At least he is leading the OTHER David Williams now, wouldn't it be a hoot if David L beats his ass for second place in May.

Mark David Goss is resigning from the Kentucky Public Service Commission (PSC).

Harlan native Mark David Goss is resigning from a sweet appointment with the PSC, Public Service Commission. He said in his statement that he doesn't really know what he will do after his resignation. I suspect if he resides in Harlan some will be pushing him toward running for something in 2010 or 2011.

Barack Obama is Climbing up a Slime Covered Slope

I have been watching our great national media's reaction to Illinois Senator Barack Obama's heartburn over the last month. His oh shit with Reverend White, his oh shit when he tossed rural America under the bus pandering to an elitist San Fran crowd and now he is fighting back about those comments.

CNN has been reporting all day that Obama is refusing to back down about his comments that us gun toting, bible thumping bigoted ass country folk are bitter rural Americans. I have also been soaking up his poor wife's embarrassing attempt to defend her husband's statements as well.

We live in isolation, and because of that isolation we fear one another.

Now we are bitter, gun toting, bible thumping, bigoted ass, isolated, scared of the blacks! rural Americans. We fear one another? This solidifies that he has no clue who rural Americans are inside, he is severely out of touch with most of America. Some blogs in Kentucky have used this opportunity to remind their congregations that rural Kentucky hates the gays and how all of us slack jawed yokels should put our Bibles down and sell our guns.

I can only wonder what is going on inside of Obama's campaign. I bet the sweat is pouring and the line is split right down the middle. I compare trying to please all Democrats in an election like ice skating on a razor blade. It doesn't take much to cut yourself wide open. The moderate Democrats are screaming he didn't mean it the way it sounded and the liberal Democrats are screaming he meant exactly what he said.

Page One Says Trey Grayson is "A" Awesome "Speech Giver"! Feel better

Lets see how awesome little Mitch McConnell "Trey Grayson"  is in 2011, I am sure when his daddy Mitch is stumping for him for Governor, he will not be so awesome. Page One is a savvy look at politics but not a very forward thinking look at politics in Kentucky.   When the other,,, or Republican blogs call Grayson Awesome in a couple of years when he is gearing up for a gubernatorial run remember Page One said it first.

Trey Grayson Attacks Governor Beshear

Secretary of State Trey Grayson (R) is gearing up for a run for Governor, you can take that to the bank. He is already producing live sketches attacking Governor Steve Beshear (D). Grayson reportedly issued the Democratic Governor a political report card at the Northern Kentucky's Lincoln Day dinner last night. Pol Watchers has his speech (here).

Governor Beshear has had a horrible start and now has to peddle up hill to gain any political momentum and only has one more budget session to get it right. The way I figure it is he has a small window of time to reinvent himself or his administration, I am done being nice about it. I will predict that a few in the Democratic party will be beating their heads against the wall for not working harder to elect Bruce Hendrickson and snuffing out Grayson when they had the chance. He will be a monster by 2011.

President Jimmy Carter is a Traitor if he Meets with Hamas

I think it is time for former President Jimmy Carter (D) to hang it up, you know retire on one of his peanut farms in Georgia. Carter should be considered a traitor and arrested if he negotiates with Hamas. If any other American citizen went as far as to seek out the terrorist group Hamas and have a sit down with them, would be detained on sight upon their return to the United States, but I suspect he will get away with it and advance his Anti-Semitic agenda.

The former President has called Israel "a system of apartheid" and has issued many stupid comments in regards to Israel, he said in his poorly written book , Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid, that the militant group Hezbollah "was formed in Lebanon in 1982 to resist the Israeli occupation". The last time I check Hezbollah was formed with one goal in mind, death to Israel and the West.

The KKK Really is the Invisible Empire, No Public Rally in Pineville

The Klan have seemingly abandoned a scheduled public rally in Pineville, I have not heard one word and rode around the small town for an hour or so last night looking, but saw nothing. Someone asked last night for an update, well the Lexington Herald Leader has been paying attention.

The word on the street was that some officials in Bell County were planning on turning a blind eye to the so called Aryan Bash 2008, but I suspect the massive public reaction may have played a roll in these same officials changing their tune over the past few weeks.

What people do in private is their business, even the KKK has the right to meet and stomp all they want. But it certainly looked like the people of Bell County were not going to entertain the Klan in public. Even I was surprised at the response and it was all due to the Internet blog and forum and the medium's ability to get the word out.