Everybody is askeert of the weather so today’s legislation session in Frankfort is canceled. True story. [Everybody]
Suddenly Mitch McConnell wants Barack Obama to play pat-a-cake and not get anything accomplished. WATB alert. [Jim Carroll]
Crit Luallen plans to audit the company that provides prison food. Ruh ro. The governor’s crew (*cough* Larry *cough*) isn’t going to be happy about this. [H-L]
The state house raised more than $12,000 for Hoops for Haiti. [Press Release]
Mike Slaton issued a clean campaign pledge for the 41st District and asked opponent Tom Riner to join him. “I believe voters are tired of mud-slinging and tricks and I hope Mr. Riner will join me in a commitment to a positive campaign that does not include personal attacks, rumor mongering, or any other tactics that have turned so many people away from the political process,” said Slaton. “I intend to keep this campaign focused on the issues that face District 41, my vision for our community, and my opponent’s record in the General Assembly. That is my promise.” He also challenged Riner to a debate, which I’m sure Tom will ignore. [Press Release]
Haha, so, funny story… Daniel Mongiardo/Kim Geveden got upset with Joe Arnold for daring to suggest that Mongiardo is having some trouble making up his mind over Barack Obama or something. [WHAS11]
The Lawson-Nighbert case went to the jury yesterday. What are your predictions? Will Leonard Lawson beat it? [John Cheves]
Lt. Dan announced that he got to participate in a conference call with the White House discussing job creation and economic growth. [Press Release]
Steve Beshear and everybody in Frankfort are fighting over the Northpoint prison riot. [Debby Yetter]
You ready for this mess, state schools? Morehead State’s president says Beshear’s budget cuts could wipe out all progress since the the 1990s. [WAVE3]
Fairdale Bigfoot is still running for mayor and he’s back again with his weekly advice column. [Consuming Louisville]
Will independents be allowed to vote for whatever candidate they like in Kentucky primaries? [Ronnie Ellis]
Knott County is awesome with TWO FELONS running for Judge-Executive. Great, Eastern Kentucky. Just great. Two vote-buying cons. [H-L]
15 responses so far ↓
1 Novena // Jan 29, 2010 at 8:36 am
“Around the Campfire with Mitch”
So, Mitch says Obama is “needlessly partisan,” not “building consensus,” and not “wanting us to work together.” Barack already tried that gracious ploy, Mitch–and you and your Nada Party did nothing. When did you ever search for consensus, Mitch? Are you again just attempting to avoid debate and any action whatsoever?
P.S. Your silly smirk is improving, I must say. You are now running a good race in that department with the abominable Dick Cheney.
2 E // Jan 29, 2010 at 8:36 am
Regarding the independent voter bill…
Is anyone else offended that a bunch of POLITICIANS express a distrust of the citizens/voters of this state, as they make the argument that the potential for mischief exists with such a law?
Seriously?! So I guess mischief and gaming the system is to be the sole property of the political class and the citizenry is not to be trusted by the politicians?
As for Shaunessy…hey big boy…if the taxpayers are going to fund your party’s selection process, then let the taxpayers participate…all of them that aren’t otherwise affiliated. Otherwise…fund your own damned candidate selection process.
I’ve never seen so much arrogance seamlessly melded to such incompetence and cowardice.
3 Andy // Jan 29, 2010 at 8:50 am
It has nothing to do with politicians, E. Political parties are organized associations for the purpose of selecting and supporting candidates. People who aren’t part of those organizations don’t get a say in how those organizations operate.
4 wondering // Jan 29, 2010 at 9:01 am
Open primaries are NOT a good thing.
And speaking of elections…
Jake, you ought to check into the elections for retirement board members. State employees are getting robo-calls at home, e-mails at work, and there’s going to be an ad campaign in the State Journal for a couple of the nominees. Seems like a lot of effort and cost for what should be a meaningless seat on the retirement board.
5 Terri // Jan 29, 2010 at 9:13 am
@ Wondering – Why are open primaries not a good thing?
6 wondering // Jan 29, 2010 at 9:30 am
Because why should a member of one political party have a say in selecting who the nominees of a different political party are?
Open primaries allow the opportunity for one party to sabotage the nomination process of the other party, such as happened in many places in 2000. Gore was the de facto nominee for the D’s, so the D’s had no real reason to vote in presidential primaries. In a lot of places the D’s opted to vote in the R primary and chose the weaker candidate (McCain) that they wanted to face. The D’s wanted Gore to run against McCain, not Bush.
Would you like it if a bunch of Republicans opted to vote in the Democrat primary in Kentucky to pick, say, Mongiardo over Conway?
7 le gardien de but // Jan 29, 2010 at 9:32 am
I am with Terri–”Why are open primaries not a good thing?”
Regarding spending cuts for universities why not simply cut out administrative bloat–”medical condition in which the stomach becomes overstretched by excessive gas content”; appropriate term here….
UofL leads state universities (or used to) in $$$ wasted on administration. Merely jettison 50% of the assistant/associate provosts & vice presidents; and their staffs of sycophants. I am sure there are many less than useful people taking money away from the academic mission…
8 Mark H (Not Hebert) // Jan 29, 2010 at 9:35 am
After that hack-job hit piece they did on the Fairdale Bigfoot on the show Monster Quest, I am throwing my full support behind Big’s run.
I have it from good sources that with the money collected from his controversial St. X fund raising letter Jim King paid to fly the “photographic expert” into Louisville on a private and jet and out him up at the 21C in exchange for his discrediting the bigfoot photo as just a bird.
What’s next….. is the Greg Fischer campaign going to engage in an AstroTurfing effort placing campaign supporters in gorilla suits all over the city?
To quote former Senator Tom Daschel, “outrageous, outrageous!”
9 E // Jan 29, 2010 at 9:37 am
First of all, what is being proposed is a ‘semi-open’ primary…and they work just fine in the 34 or more states that have them already.
‘Open’ primaries are a madhouse…that I’ll agree.
[Political parties are organized associations for the purpose of selecting and supporting candidates. People who aren’t part of those organizations don’t get a say in how those organizations operate.]
No problem Andy…let them pay for their own selection process. I’d no sooner acquiesce to paying for any other association or organization’s selection process than I would for the political party’s. I’m not a member of either of the taxpayer funded parties…so not belonging to your little clubs…I shouldn’t have to pay for your little club’s activities.
10 E // Jan 29, 2010 at 9:44 am
Wondering…
Lets be clear, a vote is a citizens ultimate expression of their First Amendment rights. The vote is NOT the property of the party.
Should a citizen choose to expend their one vote in support of or in opposition to anyone…that is their most fundamental right…and is not to be infringed upon or impeded by some whiny ass titty baby party.
Plain and simple, denying or restricting people the right to have their voice heard, especially in a taxpayer funded process, is indefensible…and simply is an attempt to place the desire for control of a given party ahead of the Constitutional Rights of a citizen in good standing.
11 jake // Jan 29, 2010 at 9:51 am
LET IT BE KNOWN… I will personally castrate any person attempting to discredit Fairdale Bigfoot.
(Hey from Shreveport – where there are eleventeen million old ladies mackin on everybody from the comfort of their rascal scooters)
12 Mark H (Not Hebert) // Jan 29, 2010 at 9:59 am
You know Jake, a guy with a bottle of bourbon and a portable electric charging station, can have a hell of an evening.
13 jake // Jan 29, 2010 at 10:03 am
Sadly, nobody here understands the magic of bourbon. But they sure do love Hurricanes (the drink, not the deadly storm). I guess that’s how these southerners prefer to live… with fruity, frozen messes.
14 jake // Jan 29, 2010 at 10:11 am
Am I missing something? I thought the retirement board was a major deal?
Especially in light of all the mismanagement?
15 James P. Benassi // Jan 29, 2010 at 1:10 pm
Yes, the Ky Ret Systems is a major deal. Please bear with me.
The contribution rates for local govts have gone thru the roof. From FY 03 to FY 11:
* Non-hazardous: EE’s stayed flat at 5%; ER’s increased by 16.93%.
* Hazardous: EE’s stayed flat at 8%; ER’s increased to 33.25%.
What this means is that total expenses for local govts in Ky have gone up somewhere between 7% and 11%. And, when the Ret Syss says state govt is not paying enough, they mean it is not paying the same contribution rates as local govts.
The investment practices of the Ret Syss were criticised by a 1998 Ky State Auditor’s report and by an actuary recent hired by the LRC.
About the “election.” The current election is for 1 of the 2 state worker seats on the Ky Ret Syss Bd. The candidates (including the incumbent) got on the ballot by being nominated by . . . the incumbent board.
There is another way to run: get a nominating petition signed by about 1500 fellow state ee’s or retirees with their names, addresses, and SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS. No one went that route.
The 9 member Bd of the Ky Ret Syss is composed of 5 elected by employees / retirees (2 by state workers, 2 by local govt worker, 1 by state police); the Sect of Personnel; and, 3 appointed by the Gov. There are NO reps of local govt who are getting hit over the head.
Make up your own mind how important the Ky Ret Syss is. It is the biggest pot of money in state (or local) govt and that alone justifies it being watched by those not part of the Ret Syss.
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