Papaw is really good at cutting educational funding while preserving funds for the bullshiz Ark Park. [Think Progress]

Have you read the latest from Ronnie Ellis? I’m betting that if you’ve followed the redistricting contortions birthed by the Democratic controlled House and Republican controlled Senate, you’re hardly shocked. [Ashland Independent]

Greg Fischer just got his ass handed to him – again – by Ed Hart and Bruce Lunsford. This time for campaign finance corruption. And Jennifer Moore was dumb enough to believe Fischer was telling the truth. She needs to ditch that crew because she’s better than that. [Dan Klepal]

Don’t hold your breath, Curt. Emily Dennis isn’t about to dig too deeply. And if the case got to the point where Jack Conway had to appoint a special prosecutor, it’d take a couple years for anything to happen. And then folks would plead down to misdemeanors. Won’t even get that far unless you’re willing to spend $30,000ish on attorneys to push it. [Curt Morrison]

You come across as partisan, disingenuous and disconnected, sadly, when you push the talking put that only Republicans in Washington are bought and sold by King Coal. Ignoring the reality that Democrats are probably in deeper with coal than Republicans really kills your argument. [H-L]

But when an organization as great as Kentuckians For The Commonwealth also pushes that same dishonest talking point by promoting your op-ed, well, then you just have to bang your head against a desk. [Twitter]

How many fights are there going to be over redistricting in Frankfort? [WTVQ]

Look how angry people were in Lexington over Kathy Stein’s State Senate seat getting ripped away by Greg Stumbo and Steve Beshear. [WKYT]

Wait for it. Wait for it. Rick Santorum is having a Conservatives Unite Moneybomb. You read that correctly. [CLICK THE CLICKY]

Are libertarians worrying too much about the presidency? Probably. [FMIKY]

We’re trying hard to remain positive, working diligently not to roll our eyes. But it doesn’t seem likely that Steve Beshear can actually get 300 new positions going at the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (it’s a whole cabinet, WFPL, not just a department). [WFPL]

HAHAHA. Here’s Greg Stumbo trying to “set the record straight” with “the hard facts, not political spin.” We almost died laughing. [House Dem Caucus]

Greg Fischer is getting his butt handed to him by Ed Hart and Bruce Lunsford at the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance. It’s a real shame Fischer and Jennifer Moore are trying to play pat-a-cake with campaign finance law with people who actually, you know, know campaign finance law. [The 'Ville Voice]

Redistricting political games are most certainly still being played in Frankfort. You can bet some folks are getting rich off the mess. [Ronnie Ellis]

Don’t miss Comment on Kentucky tonight on KET at 8:00 P.M. Eastern. Scheduled guests: Jack Brammer, Joe Gerth, Greg Stotelmyer. [KET]

Greg Stumbo isn’t merely “elusive” on redistricting. He’s playing pat-a-cake. All the Democrats are just too afraid to call him out. [WLKY]

David Williams – the guy with the talky box – filed for Congress in the 2nd District today. [Greaaaat]

Who pussed out today? That’s right, Papaw Steve Beshear pussed out today. His goal in 2008 was to hang Kathy Stein out to dry and today he accomplished that goal. She never should have believed him when he promised her a judgeship. [Page One]

Taxiing the rich in America. The wealthy need to pay more but is there a need to raise their income tax rates? [The Economist]

Kentucky education officials are working to prevent public school students from being restrained or confined alone in small rooms after citing two schools for violating the rights of three disabled students subjected to such treatment, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press. [H-L]

Mittens Romney has parked millions upon millions of dollars in offshore accounts. ABC News

Meanwhile, adulterous skank Newt Gingrich paid a 32% tax rate in the year 2010. [WaPo]

More than two-thirds of Americans would consider voting for a third-party presidential candidate, while nearly half of all voters think a third-party is needed, a new poll shows. [Politico]

Here’s a look at how property taxes climb even if your home’s value plunges off a cliff. [NPR]

Eastern Kentucky electeds are beginning to make noise in protest of using coal severance funds to make the University of Pikeville a public school. [C-J/AKN]

They’re hyping that Crit Luallen will run for the office with Jack Conway as her running mate. Will it happen? Of course not. Crit loves to be courted, though. And, no, she won’t be running with Bruce Lunsford but we’d love to see that happen. Maybe then the state wouldn’t be bankrupt.

The other rumors? Crit will run for the U.S. Senate against Mitch McConnell. Will it happen? Highly unlikely. If she was serious, she’d already have gotten her hands on the McConnell research book and she has not done so. It remains under lock and key in my possession. Related note: Mitch McConnell’s people continue to hint that he won’t run for re-election, which is super-weird.

Jerry Abramson could run against McConnell. Will it happen? HAHAHAHA. Please. In his dreams.

Happy Tuesday.

We’re not sure why it matters for someone running to be the Auditor of Public Accounts but Adam Edelen says he received the “highest rating” from the National Rifle Association. [Press Release]

Mitch McConnell says President Barack Obama wants gridlock. Like he doesn’t want the same damn thing? Please. [CBS News]

Todd P’Pool won some statewide award for child support enforcement from the Cabinet for Families and Children. That’s sure to aggravate Jack Conway. [Press Release]

What could the results from West Virginia mean for Kentucky’s gubernatorial race? Absolute nothing. [Twitter]

Two Berea College students were harassed (one gay, one not) after marching to address the city council. As they walked along downtown Chestnut Street after the meeting, a car passed closely by them from which the anti-gay slur “fucking faggots” was hurled along with a full bottle of water, which narrowly missed the students. Both of the students targeted will address the Berea City Council tonight, 6:30 p.m. at the Police and Municipal Building, 304 Chestnut Street. [Press Release]

This week’s PPP poll says 2012 is shaping up to be a referendum on President Barack Obama. [Daily Kos]

What can your money do for you, in politics? Quite a bit if you’ve got enough of it. [The Economist]

Let’s hope the cause of this fire– with a burned body– isn’t the result of arson. Eastern Kentucky doesn’t need yet another problem to deal with. [H-L]

Wanna gouge your eyes out? Read about the Louisville Orchestra and its union going insane and embarrassing the entire city for years. [C-J/AKN]

Don’t you love it when television stations have no clue what they’re talking about when it comes to politics? Louisville’s NBC affiliate needs to leave the politics to WHAS11 and FOX41. Because Steve Beshear isn’t “increasing” his appearances with Democratic candidates. [WAVE3]

If Little Todd Hollenbach’s financial literacy program had worked, do you think John Calipari would be launching a joint effort with some banks in order to teach kids financial literacy? [H-L]

The U.S. Postal Service wants to cut 120,000 jobs and pull out of federal benefits plans. Let’s see how long it takes half that workforce to, uh, go postal. [HuffPo]

There are some crazy things going down in Richmond these days. It’s gotta be something in the water in Central Kentucky. [Richmond Register]

What was that, again, about religious hospital systems being a-okay safe? We have a system right here in Kentucky that cheated the government out of $9 million. [C-J/AKN]

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raided a Mexican restaurant in Harlan. So you know meemaw and poppop are going to be even more askeerd of the foreigns. [WYMT]

Here’s a weird story about Bruce Lunsford living in a condo in Saratoga during the summer. [The Business Review]

Just in case you were wondering why Perry Clark has gone full-on teabagger using the Hitler-Obama bits lately? It’s rampant with all the teabaggers and the Rascal crowd. [Wonkette]

Remember that psych job pastor who wanted to burn the Koran? He’s planning a 9/11 Ground Zero visit. [HuffPo]

Remember when everybody freaked out over criticism of Kentucky Farm Bureau? Remember when that organization admitted to discriminating against people who didn’t hate the gays enough? Here’s Farm Bureau receiving and doling out tons of government cash. [Ashland Independent]

Want to win copies of The Kentucky Bourbon Cookbook and The Kentucky Bourbon Cocktail Book? I’ve got ten copies of each to give away. [The 'Ville Voice]

Smokers are apparently avoiding the cancer stick tax by using self-rolled cigarettes and buying small cigars. [H-L]

Dewayne Bunch, a legislator injured breaking up a school fight, is continuing to recover. [WLEX18]

Which states enjoy the biggest fiscal transfers? Let’s just say Kentucky is bad news bears. [The Economist]

Today marks the 89th day Republican Party of Kentucky Chairman Steve Robertson questioned Jack Conway: “We’re beginning to wonder what’s keeping our Attorney General so busy that he cannot answer our questions,” said Robertson. “We know that he hasn’t been fighting Obamacare or investigating public corruption, which leads us to believe he is simply avoiding the issue because he has something to hide.” [Press Release]

HAHAHAHA. Watching this guy in Tennessee freak out because he thinks Shariah is taking over is terrific. [NY Times]

The Environmental Protection Agency proposes new rules or emissions released by fracking. [Pro Publica]

A new Medicare rule would decrease payments to hospitals with high re-admission rates and would force facilities to pay closer attention to patients after discharge. [WaPo]

Economic growth in the United States is much worse than thought. This is how the foreigns are looking at the U.S. and A. [BBC]

The older Pat Boone gets, the crazier he gets. What kinda pat-a-cake will he play in Kentucky this year? [Politico]

Really? We’re shocked that President Barack Obama faces grumbling from the left? [NPR]

Kentucky’s graduation rate will likely drop as the state uses a new way to calculate. [H-L]

Looks like Bruce Lunsford has had some thoroughbred fun lately. [ESPN & The Saratogian]

Remember when state government employees faked mine reports? And then papaw axed some folks who complained about it? Yeah, thought you needed a reminder. [Page One Flashback]

FIRST IN SCORE – KNIFE FIGHTER: The Democratic Governors Association has chosen Lis Smith, a veteran of former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland’s 2010 campaign, to serve as its new communications director. Smith’s appointment puts an aggressive and battle-tested operative in place to serve as the DGA’s chief spokesperson as it prepares to compete in four off-cycle elections – and as Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley leans into his role as chairman of a national campaign committee. The Dartmouth grad has worked on nine campaigns and was on the front lines of both governor’s races in 2009, first working for ex-DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe’s primary campaign in Virginia and then signing on with New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine for the general election.

When reached for comment, Smith threatened to cut me.

ELISABETH SMITH, PICTURED WITH KNIFE

This could be major news for Governor Steve Beshear, who is one of the few Democrats with a major race in 2011. Unfortunately for the DGA, Steve Beshear is Steve Beshear. And that isn’t such a great thing these days.

With Smith’s recent experience on the ground working for Bruce Lunsford and Greg Stumbo, she’s already got strong ties to the Commonwealth.

Burned human remains were discovered in the Cumberland Gap but few details are being made public. [H-L]

Astroturfers have launched an Appalachian bus tour to promote the virtues of not-yet-existent “clean coal” to your kids. [Mother Jones]

Jack Conway and Rand Paul are disputing gubmint’s role in our economic recovery. [AP via Forbes]

Lou Dobbs, like other former CNN anchors, is a raging racist. And a hypocrite. Because he loves employing the very illegal immigrants he hates. [The Nation]

On the heels of Crit Luallen’s latest audit of the Department of Corrections and ARAMARK comes news that a Northpoint guard’s identifications are being called into question. [H-L]

A boy in Bowling Green’s getting a visit from CNN’s Anderson Cooper, thanks to his effort to raise awareness about bullying. [BG Daily News]

Jack Conway’s shindig with former President Bill Clinton will take place at the University of Kentucky. You have to RSVP, apparently, if you wish to attend. [Jack's Site]

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano was in Louisville today to discuss immigration. [FOX41]

Massey Coal has again been cited for dangerous mining violations in West Virginia, thanks to a surprise inspection. The findings reveal that the violations could have caused an explosion. [HuffPo]

Wingnuts, who run around screaming about sharia or whatever, are pissed that Campbell’s Soup offers halal food products. THE MUSLINS ARE TAKIN OVER!!1! [Wonkette]

National politics could be in play in Louisville’s crazy ass mayoral race. [WFPL]

Did you see the person get their panties all in a twist over the bigots in Oldham County? [We Get Comments]

Funeral arrangements have been made for the victims of the trailer park massacre in Jackson. [H-L]

Bruce Lunsford spent $450,000 on a horse Monday night (he already owned half the horse). So those of you wondering what he’s up to these days? Horses. That’s what. And spending fortunes. [Thoroughbred Times]

Will these issues of getting arrested in 1993 for using a fake driver’s license, public drinking in 1999 and then lying about those arrests on his application for a government job be a big deal in the 6th District congressional race? [DCCC]

Is Frankfort going to turn into Kentucky’s shooting capital? One man was shot dead and another was wounded last night. [State-Journal]

The Herald-Leader editorial board wants an increased tobacco tax to help shore up the state’s health care nightmare. I think we need a fat tax. [H-L]

Jack Conway’s beloved Bush tax cuts are causing some serious problems in Warshington these days. [Politico]

The U.S. power sector is changing, even without a climate bill. [SAGA]

The recession is dragging on and crime keeps calling, because America is too fat. [Wonkette]

Did lobbyists cause the decline of the middle class in the 1970s? [Baseline Scenario]

The Sixth Annual Not Good For Nothing Quiz is upon us! [LEO Weekly]

A plethora of numbers traces a decade of change. [H-L]

The Commonwealth of Kentucky is so broke it can’t afford the letter “B.” Thanks to the Courier-Journal for pointing this out. [Page One]

It is decided. I need a baby camel. [Daily Squee]

Horses are leaving Kentucky… for Canada. [H-L]

The blue moon of Kentucky could be here on New Year’s Eve. [HuffPo]

Candidates raised $1.4 billion in 2008. Bruce Lunsford and Mitch McConnell combined was $29 million, the second-most expensive. [Hotline]

A look at job loss by county. [Rural Blog via WFPL]

Do you like cutting stuff up and gluing it on paper? You’re in luck. There’s a wild “Scrapbooking Weekend” planned for January 15th & 16th at Greebo Lake State Resort Park. Registration fee is $45 and you can stay at the lodge (and park your gas hog) for a mere $105. [Press Release]

Louisville Republican Metro Councilcritters just did not care for Jerry Abramson’s alleged “accomplishments” so the crew released their own little list. [The 'Ville Voice]

Jim Gray pulled in 137 contributions in under 48 hours. I’m betting Jim Newberry pulled in almost none. [Stuff on the Internets]