Larry Dale Keeling will always be my favorite newspaper columnist. His latest on the Frankfort comings and goings is a testament to his hilarity. His detailed knowledge of the rift between Gas Station Governor Steve Beshear and the Democratic State House is front and center. It’s just a shame he hasn’t started to talk about how the Governor’s top staffers are allegedly referring to Larry Clark as a terrorist. [Larry Dale Keeling]
Really, Jim Newberry? You want to go down this road of homophobia in the Lexington mayoral race? Your campaign staffers tell me you didn’t poll this issue, but well-trusted sources say otherwise. You need to clear this up ASAP by providing documentation. [Barefoot & Progressive]
Sarah Palin and Mitch McConnell are going to fight so hard that they pull hair and earrings. [The Hill]
Snowbilly Quitter Sarah Palin’s hypocrisy on the use of “retard” is quite ripe. [AMERICAblog]
Don’t forget who Daniel Mongiardo promoted as someone who signed his filing for the office of U.S. Senate. None other than national embarrassment Julian Carroll. It’s also a shame Gerald Neal would stand so publicly with someone who works against women and equality. [TwitPic]
The Courier-Journal editorial board has penned something worth reading. This is a worthy rebuttal of the horse shiz misinformation so often spewed by Mitch McConnell. He is, indeed, reckless, shameful and dangerous. [C-J]
Speaking of “soft-spoken” Mitch, he’s afraid to change filibuster rules because that’s the only maneuver he’s ever been able to use. Things like actual discussion of ideas and meaningful leadership are lost on Mitchypoo. [WaPo]
The EPA revealed last week the high hazards and potential for environmental damage and human death for more than 40 coal ash ponds. [ENS]
The Judds are reuniting for a farewell tour this year. Betting the tour will include a few Kentucky dates. So get ready. [Copious Notes]
Governor Steve Beshear hosted a ceremonial bill signing this afternoon for House Bill 302. Those in attendance were Beshear, Rep. Don Pasley and other legislators, Adjutant General Edward Tonini and Lexington mayoral embarrassment Jim Newberry. [LRC]
Are you gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered? Know someone who is? Then you should apply for this scholarship.
The Metro Louisville chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) is offering a scholarship.
The award is intended to assist applicants with their post-secondary education. And all applicants should:
Be a resident of Kentuckiana or be attending a post-secondary institution in Kentucky
Not have been awarded this scholarship in the past (but if you’ve applied in the past and were not awarded, apply again!)
Be enrolled as a full-time student for the period of the scholarship.
Be gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender or know someone who is (how has that affected your life?)
Click here to download the application. The awarded scholarship amount will be a minimum of $500, though the actual amount may end up being more. Multiple awards may be given. You’ve got until Sunday, February 28 to apply.
PFLAG promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons, their families and friends through: support, to cope with an adverse society; education, to enlighten an ill-informed public; and advocacy, to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays provides opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity, and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity.
You know, I’d occasionally like not to absolutely detest everything about Geoff Davis.
But he’s consistently spewing crap. Like this mess on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell:
Rep. Geoff Davis, R-Kentucky, supports “Don’t ask, don’t tell,” saying it best supports the interest of national security and those serving in the military.
“At a time when our nation is involved in two wars, it is inappropriate to attempt to change controversial social policy,” said the West Point graduate. “When it comes to our national security and our defense, we should be worrying more about what potential terrorists are doing than what our soldiers are doing in their personal lives.”
Yeah. The gays are terrible for national security. We’d just hump, dance and redecorate everything so the terrorists can win.
At least Mitch McConnell had the guts to ignore the issue.
But it might be a good thing they’re not busy passing legislation like the state Senate in Georgia. Politicians in the Peach State passed a bill that would prohibit corporations and rogue doctors from implanting microchips in people without permission — despite the fact that there doesn’t appear to be a problem with that sort of thing.
But who knows, a good microchipping might just be the 21st-century form of a Mickey.
Click here to read his entire piece on the shenanigans in Frankfort. It’s a good refresher.
Joe should probably be careful. He knows fully well that our elected representatives and alleged leaders in Frankfort are so jacked up on the crazy sauce that they’re highly likely to do just as Georgia did.
On/around February 5, voters in Kentucky started receiving fancy letters from Republican U.S. Senate candidate Rand Paul.
Unremarkable, right? Yeah. Until you read the letter and find out he’s going balls-to-the-wall for the militia-paranoia crowd.
Get a load (pun intended) of a few excerpts:
How many politicians profess to support gun rights and then vote for things like the Brady bill?
How many politicians claim support for the Second Amendment and then vote against those same rights?
How many politicians come to your gun club meetings, but then disappear when it comes to a real, substantive agenda to keep and restore your rights?
Paul goes on to detail that he’s a gun owner and a member of Gun Owners of America.
Oh, what’s that? You’re alarmed that Paul wants to repeal the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act? The piece of legislation that requires background checks for gun purchasers? Well, I’ll be.
Some more:
How many supposedly pro-gun politicians supported the McCain-Feingold Act which makes it illegal for gun rights groups to buy advertising criticizing a federal legislator for voting for gun control?
Apparently, these fair-weather friends don’t believe the First Amendment applies to paid political speech.
Yup. He’s working to make Greater Wingnuttia believe campaign finance reform is all about TAKIN YER GUNS!
But you’re still not convinced Rand Paul loves working folks over into a paranoid froth?
Here:
How many supposed pro-gun politicians voted for the Patriot Act, which gives the government the right to search your home without a warrant, when you’re not home, leave listening devices, and use any and all information to prosecute you on any charge, regardless of their original reason for the search?
Yup. Scaring the dickens out of people with Big Brother.
Things he says he’d like to support if he gets to go to Washington:
H.R. 1096, which includes provisions repealing the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act and the Federal Firearms License Reform Act of 1993, two invasive and unconstitutional bills.
H.R. 1897, which would end the ban on carrying a firearm in the National Park System, restoring Americans’ ability to protect themselves in potentially hazardous situations.
H.R. 3305, which would allow pilots and specially assigned law enforcement personnel to carry firearms in order to protect airline passengers, possibly preventing future 9/11-style attacks.
H.R. 1146, which would end our membership in the United Nations, protecting us from their attempts to tax our guns or disarm us entirely.
Yup. Now the United Nations is trying to take your guns. FEAR!
He goes on to passive-aggressively attack Trey Grayson - or, I assume he does, as he has more than one opponent:
You can help me defeat my opponent, a career politician who will carry water for the Party but can’t be counted upon if the Party decides to go along with gun control
And he closes his fancy letter with a cutesy beg for money.
You’ll want to read it all for yourself:
DOWNLOAD THE PDF
And let us know what you think in the comments. That is, if the UN and Big Brother don’t get to you first.
AN ACT relating to Bible literacy courses in the public schools.
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 156 to require the Kentucky Board of Education to promulgate administrative regulations to establish an elective social studies course on the Hebrew Scriptures, Old Testament of the Bible, the New Testament, or a combination of the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament of the Bible; require that the course provide students knowledge of biblical content, characters, poetry, and narratives that are prerequisites to understanding contemporary society and culture, including literature, art, music, mores, oratory, and public policy; permit students to use various translations of the Bible for the course; amend KRS 158.197 to permit a school council to offer an elective social studies course on the Hebrew Scriptures, Old Testament of the Bible, the New Testament, or a combination of the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament of the Bible.
Introduced in the State Senate late Friday by David Boswell, Julian Carroll and Ed Worley.
When you dig in? Check this:
(2) The purpose of a course under this section is to:
(a) Teach students knowledge of biblical content, characters, poetry, and narratives that are prerequisites to understanding contemporary society and culture, including literature, art, music, mores, oratory, and public policy;
They’ve added language to say all laws will be followed. But if that’s the case, they need to legislate classes from the Koran and other religious texts right away.
Why is the University of Louisville paying Alicia Sells even though she hasn’t lobbied for the school since November? And why is there an agreement to use her as a consultant? What does this woman know and why is she being paid off? Somebody at UofL needs to start talking. [Nancy Rodriguez]
The Kentucky Coalition for Responsible Lending will hold a press conference on the payday loan interest cap today at 2:30. Frankfort. Room 110 in the Capitol. Thanks to Jenkins, Marzian, Owens, Riner, Burch, Watkins, Wayne, Weston, Smith, Henderson and Stacy for standing up. [Press Release]
Why wasn’t Randy Rand Paul at this fancy teabagger convention? [Wonkette]
Ronnie Ellis loves playing 20 questions. For real. You’ll love this closing bit about Gas Station Governor Steve Beshear, which caused me to cackle out loud. [Ronnie Ellis]
Keep Our Jobs In Kentucky spent $842,520.55 on two special elections. $670,000 on advertising. Wow. It’s obscene that Democrats and Republicans spent a combined $3.1 million on those two special elections. [Bluegrass Politics]
The Tea Party’s opening speaker suggested the law that kept blacks from voting should be reinstated. Tom Tancredo, indeed. [Raw Story]
Jack Conway just does not care for Sen. Shelby and issued this statement Saturday afternoon,“Senator Shelby’s decision to hold the government hostage to obtain special favors for his state is distasteful. It is reminiscent of the backroom deal on health care struck by Senator Ben Nelson, D-NE, in December.” [Press Release]
Did you miss the Swift-Butchertown mess last week? The foreign conglomerate and the union lawyers have started personally attacking and defaming people who have the audacity to want the giant to follow the law. [The ‘Ville Voice]
State Rep. Tim Couch gave $40,000 to a group of vote buyers in 2002. [H-L]
Rand Paul says he’ll win without the GOP’s help. But his campaign manager says otherwise. [Twitter]
HILARIOUS rumor: I hear the infamous Thom Karmik is headed back to Kentucky. Who will he be working for? Greg Fischer? [Hilarious Rumor]
UPDATE: The Fischer Campaign tells me Karmik would NEVER be hired by them. So, who is it? Mongiardo? He’s hopping his butt around Louisville talking to everybody.
FINAL UPDATE: Looks like he’s working for David Tandy. Hahahahaha.
Former Lt. Governor Steve Pence endorsed Republican Bruce Wicker for Congress in Kentucky’s 3rd District against John Yarmuth. [The ‘Ville Voice]
It’s time for some WHAS11-Kentucky Kingdom schadenfreude. [More VV]
What is it with Uncle Tom Riner putting his personal benefit ahead of all else? His lame measure wouldn’t stand a chance on its own in either house of the legislature. [Page One Gets Comments]
Go watch Teabagger Chief Randy Rand Paul on CNN. He says he can win without the GOP’s help. [Bluegrass Politics]
Fancy payday loan shark rumor: I hear the House Democratic Caucus has a fancy slush fund with about $500K from three industries: payday loan sharks, king coal and the nursing home industry. Imagine that. [Fancy Frankfort Rumor Mill]
Tonight’s scheduled guests for Comment on Kentucky are: Linda Blackford (Herald-Leader), Ronnie Ellis (CNHI) and Stephenie Steitzer (Courier-Journal). Tune in to KET 1 at 8:00 P.M. Eastern! [Press Release]
Mitch McConnell should issue an official apology to federal law enforcement everywhere. [Think Progress]
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Are you gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered? Know someone who is? Then you should apply for this scholarship.
