Thanks to Rand Paul for the shout-out during tonight’s U.S. Senate debate. Democratic heads everywhere are exploding as we type.
I’ve said it time and again. And you know I’m rather progressive.
I’ve written about it on countless occasions.
Jack Conway was for cap & trade before he was against it.
Read this July 2009 interview I had with Jack.
Wrote about it again earlier this month.
I don’t support Rand Paul, but it’s true that Jack flip-flopped on this issue. Just like he flip-flopped on the Bush tax cuts. Just like he flip-flopped on opposing mountaintop removal and other disastrous environment matters.
He owes it to this Commonwealth to be honest.
UPDATE — The Paul campaign just sent out some flashbacks in a press release to back me up:
PADUCAH SUN: Conway Said “He Supports The Cap And Trade Bill.” “…Attorney General Jack Conway, who issued a statement last week saying he supports the Cap and Trade Bill and believes problems can be worked out to prevent high energy costs. Conway said the House version of the bill was improved from Obama’s original plan because it gives utility companies additional emission credits and more time to meet goals for reducing harmful emissions.” (, “Breaking With Obama,” The Paducah Sun, July 16, 2009)
LOUISVILLE COURIER-JOURNAL: “Attorney General Jack Conway Of Louisville Said He Favors” Cap-And Trade. “The two major Democratic candidates in Kentucky’s 2010 U.S. Senate race disagree on the controversial ‘cap and trade’ energy legislation that is before the Senate… Attorney General Jack Conway of Louisville said he favors it…” (“Cap And Trade’ Energy Bill Splits Democratic Hopefuls,” The Courier-Journal, July 12, 2009)
BOWLING GREEN DAILY NEWS: Conway Originally Supported Cap-And-Trade. “With the unpopularity of Obama administration ideas, which Conway supports, such as ‘Obamacare,’ card check and originally supporting cap and trade, now flip-flopping on that issue, it is hardly surprising that Conway isn’t anxious to have the president visit Kentucky on his behalf.” (Editorial, “Paul Shouldn’t Take BG Voters For Granted,” Bowling Green Daily News, August 26, 2010)
This is where I do my standard HEAD – DESK routine and beg Jack to start being honest with Kentucky and us progressives who used to support him. The Jack I knew a year ago is not the Jack you’re seeing today.
Guess I now have to admit I had a bad feeling in 2009 when I received a telephone call from the Office of the Attorney General. It was one of his staffers – a longtime friend and mentor – telling me that Jack would need to “shift” and “adjust” his position on cap & trade, mountaintop removal and such in order to appeal to voters. I said it then and I’ll say it now: it’s always best to be yourself when running for higher office.
FINAL UPDATE: If I get another threat from Jack Conway’s staff, I’m gonna out cell phone records and will start naming names. This shit is ridiculous.
It’s not the end of the world for me to point out when a Democrat is wrong or flip-flopping. I’ve been doing the same for Rand Paul for nearly two years. And I dare say I got more negative press for Rand in late May and early June of this year than Jack did. For instance: Olbermann, Maddow, New York Times, Washington Post, more Washington Post, CNN, Politico, The Nation, DailyKos, The Hill, Talking Points Memo.
You people need to calm down.
25 responses so far ↓
1 A Fellow // Oct 25, 2010 at 9:18 pm
Let’s face it, anyone with Jack’s style of haircut is physically incapable of honesty. That hair doomed him to either be a politician or a used-car salesman.
2 kaccey // Oct 25, 2010 at 9:50 pm
A Fellow :REALLY his hair ? He could always wear a sad animal on his head like Rand Paul.
And Jake yes my head did explode. Dear Jesus.
3 lebanonfan // Oct 25, 2010 at 10:37 pm
Jake, you do need some “big head” training! Just because you got recognition on the debate (and I did like that) doesn’t mean it’s fair to use your considerable platform to detract from the main points of said debate. But then…maybe you are just getting started. Hope so!
4 jake // Oct 25, 2010 at 10:53 pm
Uh, how am I detracting? I’m pretty sure they didn’t debate here on Page One
Debate synopsis: super-boring. Rand lied a lot, Jack lied a little.
5 Lisa Graas // Oct 25, 2010 at 10:53 pm
Good for you, Jake. You’re right, btw.
lebanonfan, really?
6 Lisa Graas // Oct 25, 2010 at 10:54 pm
Ha! Love the synopsis!
7 bestmid // Oct 25, 2010 at 11:15 pm
You show me where in the Constitution it says you can’t flip flop.
8 Rod // Oct 25, 2010 at 11:18 pm
“Let’s face it, anyone with Jack’s style of haircut is physically incapable of honesty. That hair doomed him to either be a politician or a used-car salesman.”
Rand’s hair is more like a dying animal looking for it’s last breath and Jack’s is more like a Lego/Snap On Helmet.
9 Rod // Oct 25, 2010 at 11:24 pm
Largely, you stand by your beliefs Jake and often call out people on an equal opportunity basis. Gotta respect that …
As for Jack … From the ole George Clooney flick … “The Truth can be Adjusted.”
10 lebanonfan // Oct 25, 2010 at 11:25 pm
Detraction: headlines about only one candidate flip-flopping on an issue when there was plenty of that on both sides throughout this campaign! Your headline gives the casual reader/non-debate watcher/possible voter the impression that you – an important person in the political landscape here in KY – sums up the debate simply as Conway on Cap and Trade. Sorry, Jake. You actually are pretty important to the political discourse in this state, but commensurate with that honor, more is expected of you.
11 Josh // Oct 25, 2010 at 11:32 pm
Jake, thank you for calling out bullshit when you see it in your own backyard.
I’d also like to say that this is a perfect example of what will happen if Rand feels like he needs to to shift his positions and go with the flow in DC.
12 JS // Oct 25, 2010 at 11:34 pm
So we can all be clear here, what exactly did Paul flipflop on?
13 jake // Oct 25, 2010 at 11:41 pm
The casual debate watcher/non-paying-attention-individual isn’t reading a website like this.
I’m only as important as you make me.
This website isn’t meant to be consumed in a split second. It’s my thought process. Meant to be consumed over extended periods of time. There are hundreds of stories pointing out the negatives of Rand Paul. And a few dozen pointing out the negatives of Jack Conway. Pretty easy to see there’s no balance there.
14 JS // Oct 25, 2010 at 11:44 pm
I doubt many people even watch debates, lol…
15 lebanonfan // Oct 26, 2010 at 12:01 am
You may be underestimating your influence.
Plus, headlines in the last week of the election are crucial. Even though careful readers are aware of your coverage over the long term, this is election week and a headline now has a magnification value of wow.
I wish everyone voting cared enough to follow every nuance of the races, but that’s just not the case.
Anyway, the debate tonight was high on radars of people who aren’t even usually following politics closely because of all the drama in the past week or so. Because of that, I am thinking reporting accurately and fully has to be stepped up a bit by those who truly care. Just my opinion. So shoot me.
16 lebanonfan // Oct 26, 2010 at 12:11 am
Speaking of KY media, just one more thought…
Mandy Connell seems to be the local answer to listeners’ Rush Limbaugh fix from 9-12 daily. DAILY. Every single DAY. All over Kentucky. Piped into workplaces everywhere. Mandy and Rush seem to be the oxycontin of the Republican Party. I am a frequent listener because I like to keep up with what’s going on locally, but I have to wonder if she’s pandering for ratings or for what she thinks this KY audience wants to hear or what!? I mean…she has admitted she used to be a !shhhhh! Libruuuul. I guess I really don’t see how she could make such a clean break from liberalism to the uber-conservate talk she leads on WHAS.
But that’s another topic. Just sayin’.
17 isabel // Oct 26, 2010 at 12:28 am
Does making threats indicate anything about a person? Seems like that’s a bigger story than the flip-flopping or who played politics on this or that issue…. Why not discuss what kind of scumbag threatens people?
18 Freemaninky // Oct 26, 2010 at 12:51 am
Lebanonfan,
That’s why she’s a “Libertarian.” We are social liberals and fiscal conservatives.
19 lebanonfan // Oct 26, 2010 at 1:44 am
Freeman,
She may very well be a “Libertarian”, but she comes off as a Rush clone to many of her listeners.
20 daniel // Oct 26, 2010 at 6:47 am
My father listened to her show. I stress listened. He thought she would be like Francene but she isn’t. Nowhere close to it.
21 Freemaninky // Oct 26, 2010 at 8:08 am
Yes, Rush Limbaugh often says he’s cool with gay marriage, legal marijuana and things of that nature?!?
Daniel, to be honest…. Francene would be tough for anyone to replace. When someone is taken from us like that the person to fill that spot is usually judged to an unrealistic standard.
22 Davi // Oct 26, 2010 at 9:55 am
For the record: I hated it that Paul mentioned you during the debate, Jake.
Flip flop or whatever.
Conway is entitled to change his mind as is Paul.
We just have to decide if one or the other is a nutcase with no clue about government or fairness.
And I don’t think it is Conway.
23 jake // Oct 26, 2010 at 10:06 am
Nothing wrong with changing positions. If you just own up to it.
24 Josh // Oct 26, 2010 at 5:06 pm
Did you see the front page of the Kentucky Herald?
http://i.imgur.com/zLil0.jpg
25 jake // Oct 26, 2010 at 5:10 pm
Do you mean the Lexington Herald-Leader?
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