The Rural Democrat

Kentucky Wildcat Basketball scandal, Eric Bledsoe at the center of NCAA investigation

We have come out of retirement for one reason only, to rant about the apparent scandal that is unfolding with the University of Kentucky Mens Basketball team. If the NCAA prove their case you might as well burn those nifty UK2K shirts because we will be forfeiting all the games in which Eric Bledsoe participated in, which is pretty much all of them.

Rumors have been circulating for months in regards to a possible NCAA investigation. A Louisville publication said as much a few month ago.

The New York Times is reporting that former UK Basketball player Eric Bledsoe may not have had the grades to go to the next level. And they're also reporting that one of Bledsoe's high-school coaches paid rent for Bledsoe and his mother and demanded that rent from the Universities who recruited Bledsoe. You couldn't make this stuff up.

Brenda Axle, the landlord for the house where Bledsoe and his mother moved for his senior year of high school, said that Bledsoe’s high school coach paid her at least three months’ rent, or $1,200. By moving there, Bledsoe was eligible to play for Parker, which he led to the Alabama Class 5A title game. Maurice Ford, the coach, denied paying the money.

.....

A college coach who recruited Bledsoe said that Ford explicitly told his coaching staff that he needed a specific amount of money to let Bledsoe sign with that university. The coach, who did not want to be named out of fear of repercussions when recruiting in Birmingham, said Ford told him and his staff that he was asking for money because he was helping pay rent for Bledsoe and his mother. Ford denied this, saying, “I don’t prostitute my kids.”

He said he had done nothing wrong, adding: “I’m a poor black man. And when one black man tries to help another black man, there’s always something wrong.”

If this goes the distance John Calipari should be branded on the forehead and sent into exile.

Ryan Alessi: Illegal robo-call targeting Mongiardo! Conway denies knowledge

Dirty, dirty, dirty politics. McConnell wouldn't even stoop to this level.

Ryan Alessi: Illegal robo-call targeting Mongiardo! Conway denies knowledge

http://politics.mycn2.com/2010/05/15/mysterious-robocall-attacks-mongiardo-on-coal/

Even more U.S. Senate race poll results, Mongiardo up by 3

This is nuts; the Lexington Herald Leader recently commissioned a Research2000 poll, renamed it the Kentucky Poll, that showed Daniel Mongiardo up by 7. At virtually the same time, the same pollster Research2000, was commissioned by the extreme left nut-jobs at the Daily Kos to conduct a poll on the U.S. Senate race. Of course those results showed Conway a bit closer, at just 3 points down to Mongiardo with 39%.

But I have to say that both sets of results are within the calculated margin of error. Here are the crosstabs if you can make sense of that mess.

Mongiardo and Conway, U.S. Senate poll analysis

Well the big one is here and it appears to be a dead heat. Or is it? Lets dig into this poll a little. The overall results for the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate was Mongiardo 38% and Conway 37%, the rest are split between no-chance candidates and undecideds.

If we look at the all important composition of likely voters SurveyUSA severely low-balled the Moderate faction of the Kentucky Democratic Party.

(TYPO in the graph! The first PPP tag at the bottom should read SUSA.)

Look at the correlation between the overall results and the composition of likely voters. Liberal samples increased and the Moderate sample took a nosedive. I would suspect that Mongiardo is resting on the high sideof the margin of error. Conways overall results and the Moderate sample increases and decreases at a damn near linear rate. Amazing. So if the Moderates turnout the vote Mongiardo wins.

When they low-ball Moderates by at least 10% you know the results will be a bit skewed. 

I am not saying that Mongiardo is free and clear here, at all. He needs work among Women voters. Conway is cleaning up among the undecided Women voters because Mongiardo has remained basically static between the last two SurveyUSA polls.

 

The big one is coming

SurveyUSA via WHAS11 will release its final, I presume its the last, poll on the U.S. Senate primaries tomorrow at 5:30PM.

It should be interesting.

Churches being used as a front for fraud?

The boys

A look back at all those crazy U.S. Senate race videos

We had our first real YouTube election in history. This is first time when it appeared that YouTube altered the course, maybe only for a bit, of the 2010 Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. Most of those videos, or the ones we liked, took a few shots at Jack Conway.

I didn't even know these videos still existed. Maybe a few of them will stay up a few days.

Jack Conway and Daniel Mongiardo U.S. Senate Poll Analysis

It is hard to tell what trends are developing, or have developed, in a campaign unless you take a look at all the polls, side by side. The big three in the Democratic Party in Kentucky are Moderates, Seniors and Women. Moderates make up around 50+% of the voting Democrats in Kentucky. Seniors tend to vote consistently in high numbers and Women hold the majority in regards to the largest voting block in Kentucky, 56% or so.

Its interesting to see the composition of likely voters within the cross-tabs of the different pollsters, if they provide you that information.

If we are to believe any political poll we must always look hard at the composition of likely voters and keep referencing those percentages throughout the life of the campaign. SurveyUSA is consistent, but if you notice the latest PPP and Research2000 (disguised as the Kentucky Poll) did not provide these key pieces of information. (if someone can direct me to this info I will update this post)

If we look at the overall results, of all the reputable polls, on the Democratic primary 
for U.S. Senate in Kentucky we can pick out a pattern or two, as compared to the composition.

If you look at the voter composition in the 3/4/2010 poll it looks more like reality, as far as REAL turnout is concerned. Moderates dwarf Liberal voters in Kentucky. I expect Moderates to vote in greater numbers as compared to the polling methodology. We should have a huge voter turnout this year. Every podunk office imaginable is up for grabs. If its a sunny day we could see a mammoth turnout. Daniel Mongiardo, the more well-known of the Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate, should benefit greatly, if the turnout is heavy.

The period between the 3/4/2010 and 4/12/10 poll is evidence of Conway's constant barrage of negative ads aimed directly at Daniel Mongiardo. Also providing Conway a name moderate name ID boost. But negative campaign ads can backfire, real fast.

Mongiardo has one apparent fight on his hands and thats among Women voters.

Among Seniors it gets really interesting. Daniel Mongiardo can thank the 65+ crowd for his mammoth lead in a March 2010 poll. Now its a horse race as the undecideds start to pick a side 

The most important group of all in the Kentucky Democratic Party, the same group that continues to send the GOP back to Washington, are the Moderates. Ye who holds the key will win every time.

 

If Mongiardo can maintain his dominance among the Moderates, and the turnout is hot and heavy, he wins this primary. We will have a prediction or two later in the week.

 

Central Kentucky Building & Construction Trades Council Endorses Mongiardo

With all these endorsements flying around its good to get more endorsements from the working folk of Kentucky. You know? The people who vote.

Mongiardo Picks up Central Kentucky
Building & Construction Trades
Council Endorsement

---

FRANKFORT ---Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Dr. Daniel Mongiardo picked up a key endorsement in Central Kentucky today, when the Central Kentucky Building & Construction Trades Council announced their support for Mongiardo in next Tuesday's primary.

The Central Kentucky Building & Construction Trades Council represents more than 20 local trade unions throughout the central Kentucky area. Robert Akin, President of the Council said, "We trust Daniel Mongiardo to represent and give voice to the ordinary, everyday working Kentuckian in the U.S. Senate. Daniel's life story, his life's work and his public record all demonstrate that he will be a senator who fights for us - not the Washington establishment, Wall Street insiders or the moneyed special interests."

Mongiardo said, "I have been fighting my entire life to lift up and improve the lives of Kentucky's families whose voices are seldom heard in the halls of power. I will be a Senator for them. While the political establishment and power brokers line up behind my opponent, I am proud to have the support of the Central Kentucky Building Trades Council and the working families across our Commonwealth who need a champion in the Senate to fight for them."

Mongiardo has been previously endorsed by the Kentucky United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 181, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Owensboro Area Building Construction and Trades Council Tri-State Building and Construction Trades Council, Western Kentucky Area Central Labor Council, Greater Louisville Central Labor Council, Kentucky Laborers' District Council, United Auto Workers Region 3, United Mine Workers of America, and the United Steelworkers Local 1865 of Ashland. A full list of endorsements can be seen by clicking here .

# # #

Jack Conway's "behind-the-scenes" anti-coal position locks in Herald Leader endorsement

The Lexington Herald Leader sums up their endorsement of Jack Conway in one phrase.

Except, unfortunately, where coal is concerned. There, each seems more than willing to put the interests of coal ahead of some of the state's more pressing environmental needs. LINK

The anti-coal, anti-Kentucky sentiment of the Lexington Herald Leader was the deciding factor in picking Conway over Mongiardo.

We all know, without a doubt, that Jack Conway, behind the scenes, supports Cap-and-Trade. His $5 million investment in natural gas confirms Conway's support for the passage of Cap-and-Trade. Conway would stand to make tens of millions of dollars when Cap-and-Trade forces coal offline. So it is ridiculous of Jack Conway to claim he supports coal when his future is invested in the demise of coal.

But quite mysteriously the Herald Leader "says" their endorsement for Conway was because of his achievements yet they fail to mention even one. The endorsement may come back to bite Conway in the rear. The Herald Leader's bias toward coal is front and center for all of their readership to see. Finally

New Kentucky Blog; Kentucky Political Corruption Watch

Its about time! Looks like we have some pissed off Southeastern Kentucky folk and they have started a blog that will deal with poliical corruption directly. I like the idea and I really want them to succeed. So I have agreed to crosspost a few of thier stories and pimp them on the Twitter box. So click through and welcome the Kentucky Politcal Corruption Watch.

Here is the email they sent..........

Eric Bledsoe and Daniel Orton will stay in the NBA Draft

John Calipari told ESPN that Eric Bledsoe and Daniel Orton will remain in the NBA Draft. The deadline to withdraw from the NBA Draft is at 5PM today.ESPN

If Bledsoe and Orton get picked up in the first round then I think they made the right decision but I would not be surprised to see Orton go in the early second round. He has a big enough body to make a roster but he should have returned for another season. The difference between being picked 5th or 35th is huge in regards to the payday one would receive. Orton would have been a lottery pick next year. But with a potential lockout looming for the NBA next year it is probably wise to take the jump now.

Additional charges to be added to Conway complaint

It appears Daniel Mongiardo is dead serious about his ethics complaint against Attorney General Jack Conway. Apparently the complaint will be amended and more charges will be filed on Conway.

But Conway is singing the same old song. He's not refuting the charges made by Mongiardo but babbling about procedure.

Conway campaign manager Jonathan Drobis has called the ethics complaint a political stunt. He says Mongiardo did not sign a document that included the phrase "under penalty of perjury."

"Despite what Mr. Drobis may be 'spinning' to... members of the media, Mongiardo's ethics complaint was not only signed, but was signed 'under penalty of perjury,' and notarized by a public notary with a seal as required by the rules governing ethics complaints," Geveden said. LegalNewsLine

The gist of the complaint for me is the fact that Attorney General Jack Conway settled a utility rate increase for Atmos energy to the tune of $6 million and his stock in Kinder Morgan Energy (up to $5 million worth) benefits from Atmos Energy. Not good and hopefully the Executive Branch Ethics Commission acts swiftly to ensure this doesn't happen again.

 

Atmos Energy getting a little nervous?

Every once in a while, well more often than you think, you get a good hit. Atmos Energy was out searching for their association with Kinder Morgan Energy today on the big net.

I bet the Mongiardo complaint rattled a few cages yesterday.

Mongiardo up by 7 in new Kentucky Poll (excuse me Research 2000 poll)

Daniel Mongiardo leads Jack Conway by 7 percentage points in a new Lexington Herald Leader Kentucky Poll released at 6pm today. link

Conway's 5 week media jump on Mongiardo appears to have peaked. Conway's barrage of misleading attacks may have backfired a bit.

This poll comes on the heels of a PPP poll released yesterday showing Mongiardo up by 9 on Jack Conway. The Conway campaign quickly released bogus internal numbers today because they were probably tipped off from the folks who commissioned the "Kentucky" Poll.

UPDATE: The Lexington Herald leader just had to pimp the Conway campaign by quoting the "Extreme Liberal, anti-coal, anti-working folk, anti-anything Kentucky, and most of all anti-Mongiardo" pollster for the Daily Kos, Research 2000. Absolutely amazing. How can the leading state media claim to have any morsel of objectivity left. Its a complete embarrassment. And the begin all end all reason for the Mongiardo bashing can be summed up in one little word; COAL. Mongiardo is pro-coal and Conway is only pretending to be pro-coal.

So Mongiardo us up 9 in the liberal leaning PPP Poll and up 7 in the extreme Daily Kos, sorry Research 2000 poll that the Lexington Herald Leader renamed The Kentucky Poll. Not too shabby.

Read the crosstabs

John Calipari would be a fool not to take the Bulls job if Lebron James comes along

Now I love Kentucky basketball more than anyone on planet Earth, but John
Calipari would be a fool if he passes up an opportunity to coach Lebron
James. It could be a match made in NBA heaven. But reports that Calipari is
fishing around the NBA for job opportunities may be a bit exaggerated. On
the flipside we can always reference the comment Calipari made about the
Memphis job and how much he loved the place but 5 days later he was in
Lexington.

All animosity aside; if Calipari has an opportunity to coach Lebron James he
should bolt UK and go for it.

Mongiardo Praises Florida Anti-Pill Mill Legislation

Hopefully this legislation will stem the tide of illegal prescription drugs flowing into Kentucky.

Lt. Governor Praises Florida Legislature on Passage of Anti-Pill Mill Legislation
 
 
FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 3, 2010) — Lt. Governor Daniel Mongiardo is applauding the Florida legislature on passage of its anti-pill mill legislation.  The legislation, aimed at shutting down illegally operating pill mills, has been a top priority of Florida Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp and something Lt. Gov. Mongiardo has been pushing for since he testified before a Florida Grand jury last year.
    “This is a positive step toward stopping a drug epidemic in its tracks,” said Lt. Gov. Mongiardo.  “We know the effect it’s had here in Kentucky.  We heard about it at the forums and summits held earlier this year.  Anything that can curtail the flow of those drugs is a step in the right direction.”
    The Florida legislation does a number of things including:
· Prohibits the registration of pain clinics unless they are owned by physicians or licensed by non-physicians as a health care clinic.
· Allows the Department of Health to revoke a pain clinic’s registration when the clinic is not operating according to accepted medical standards.
· Strengthens the existing Prescription Drug Monitoring Program to assist in preventing pill mills from operating in Florida.
· Deters patients from the practice of doctor shopping.

LG&E Energy searching for news

I guess the poor folks at LG&E Energy were searching for some news in regards to Attorney General Jack Conway's announcement that his office will ask for a dismisal of LG&E Energy's $262 million request to jack-up utility rates.

Conway must have used the debate as a press conference.

 

Mongiardo files Ethics complaint on Jack Conway

Oh boy, this could be a real honest to God moment in political history. Its about time someone stood with the people of Kentucky and stands against unethical behavior from fellow elected officials.

I would not hold my breath waiting on an advisory opinion from the Commonwealth.

Below is the entire complaint

Mongiardo up 9 in new PPP Poll

The chickens may have came home to roost on Jack Conway's primary
aspirations as Daniel Mongiardo has a 9 point lead in a new PPP Poll
released today. Rand Paul is destroying Trey Grayson as usual.

Mongiardo - 36%
Conway - 27%

Paul - 46%
Grayson - 28%

View the polling memo here.

http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_KY_504925.pdf

KET U.S. Senate Debate 2010; Slam Dunk Mongiardo

No live blogging just a quick rundown of the highlights, in my opinion, of the debate between the Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate. Well the sparring match between Daniel Mongairdo and Jack Conway. This was not a debate, this was Jerry Springer. But I love the format.

 - To start I thought it was cheesy to plug your own campaign website when asked the question of why should we vote for you for U.S. Senate. Yes that was Jack Conway's response to Daniel Mongiardo's open and factual statement of experience and leadership. No other way to slice it.

 - I thought Mongiardo was slick as Harlan creek rock to let Conway talk first. And Conway said he does not approve utility rate increases?!? He cannot say that he saved the tax payers shit if he has nothing to do with the process. Thats called talking out of both sides of your ass.

 - After the Housing cash question; Mongiardo countered with Conway's real FEC report. Conway lied and said it was not true that he received money from Atmos Energy and tens of thousands of dollars from other utility executives and PACS. Go look it up for yourself, its free to look and Conway denied it. Lie two for Conway.

 - Daniel Mongiardo killed him on the utility contributions. But Conway said that he decided to file a motion to dismiss the rate increase request of LG&E. Conway is caught red handed, he did not have a choice but to dismiss it.

 - One more question for Conway; did you or did you not have a fund-raiser in Houston Texas? Did the big-wigs from Kindred Morgan Energy and Atmos energy throw this little shindig? And during that time Conway was voting in favor of a utility rate increase for Atmos Energy. My God man.

 - I will put the photos of Daniel Mongiardo's broken stove and boiler in his non existent farm house, which is old as hell.

 - Jack Conway is really getting smoked.

 - Conway did mention coal first. You got to give him that. Conway's complicated criteria for his support or opposition to cap-and-trade is just typical gab from an unprepared politician getting destroyed on state-wide TV.

 - Mongiardo also destroyed Conway on his investment in Kindred Morgan Energy and their association with Atmos Energy. The relationship is they make money from one another. Thats a conflict of interest, big time.

 - Mongiardo's mass transit program is absolutely a slam-dunk. Because, as Mongiardo said, it is already paid for and we send our money elsewhere so why not develop it. Its commonsense. Conway went off on the bridge needs of the Louisville area. Mongiardo had to remind him, again, that two accounts exist; a roads and bridges account and a mass transit account. The money is there to do both.

The rest was kind of boring. But Jack Conway looked terribly out of sorts. Mongiardo won this "debate" by a landslide.

Tune in to Kentucky Tonight

Our esteemed Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate will appear on Kentucky Tonight at 8PM.

I don't know if this is billed as a "debate" or not but it should be interesting.

Election fraud in Harlan County? You dont say!

We have been receiving reports like mad out of Harlan County in regards to alleged election fraud on a massive scale. If you remember this POST  from last week I dropped a couple of hints of who and when. But it appears the alleged corruption may go deeper than anyone thought.

For those of you who like to pass threats and think you are going to intimidate anyone associated with The Rural Democrat, think again. We will maintain our tradition of busting corrupt elected officials and others who think they're somebodies.

So stay tuned to The Rural Democrat, we are sure to post some real tasty corruption nuggets (unless the authorities tell me I can't, then I might do it any way)