Santa will be sworn in this Wednesday by Stan Lee. That’s right. Beshear & Crew allowed someone who wants to be sworn in by Stan Lee to win the special senate election. To think Santa’s elves tried to spin me for weeks into believing he was different, that he didn’t stand for bigoted junk. My, how the tides have turned, you lying elves. [Bluegrass Politics]

The Commonwealth is facing the worst budget crisis in eleventy billion years. So Steve Beshear took time out of his busy governing day to attend a press conference with Lexington Mayor Jim Newberry to announce 22 possible new jobs. 22. Because there’s nothing more important than taking peoples’ minds off your own failures while attempting to prop up a sad mayoral re-election campaign. [Press Release]

Oh, Susan Straub: What lies have we printed about Jim Newberry? Care to share specifics and start acting like an adult, or will you continue down the path of typical gubmint staffer who can’t handle criticism of their boss? [Barefoot & Progressive]

Joe Gerth discusses upcoming scare tactics that the legislature will face from Papaw and his Gas Station crew. [C-J]

Jim Gray was on Kentucky Newsmakers this weekend. He won’t turn a blind eye to wasteful spending and he actually knows something about economic development. [Barefoot & Progressive]

It’s so cute how the right-wing is afraid of the gays so badly that they’re wetting themselves with fear that Larry Craig could invade their public restrooms. [Alternet]

Licking Valley Rural Electric Cooperative Corp., serving 17,500 customers in Breathitt, Elliott, Lee, Magoffin, Menifee, Morgan, Rowan and Wolfe Counties, has been given approval by the Public Services Commission to raise its rates by 9.4% on average. The increase will raise annual revenue by $1.94 million, or about 7.7%. Monthly bills for the typical residential customer will increase by $9.10. [Press Release]

That award Pikeville Medical Center won from the American Alliance of Healthcare Providers? Turns out hospitals have to pay a fee to be eligible to “win.” But that won’t stop Steve Beshear from appearing in full-page newspaper ads and television commercials. [See One of Them Here]

Louisville mayoral candidate Jim King proposes the restoration of the LMPD Gang Squad and gets a labor endorsement. [The 'Ville Voice & More VV]

Kentucky Equine Education Project voted to step up its game. [Paulick Report]