Isn’t it entertaining to watch reporters act surprised to find out Hal Rogers has earmarked more than $7 million since 2002 to directly benefit his family? [H-L]

Mitt Romney’s mormon cultism or whatever it is he’s calling it doesn’t sell well with the American people. Here’s just one tiny example of why people will think he’s crazy when the time comes for him to really campaign. [Wonkette]

Do you trust Republicans in Warshington to put an end to insider trading in Congress? You shouldn’t – not if you don’t trust the Democrats. [HuffPo]

Papaw Beshear says there’s plenty of time remaining in the legislative session to address the expansion of gambling. [Bluegrass Politics]

Why is it the current state of affairs that we’re forced to shop around for surgery in the United States of America? Making health care costs transparent is a good thing but let’s get real. [The Economist]

Meet the obscure regulator who is not helping homeowners. This is why America can’t have nice things. [Pro Publica]

The payroll tax cut extension isn’t just a mess in the making. It’s been a nightmare for a long time. [Politico]

Here’s a shocker: second-hand smoke in cars with kids is a bad thing. [NPR]

It’s still hilarious to us that there are communities in Kentucky that refuse to allow alcohol sales. [H-L]

Just because the woman that crazy constable guy shot got arrested for drugs? Doesn’t mean his actions are okay. [C-J/AKN]

Lawwwd, you can’t even drive around near Georgetown College these days without getting car jacked. [WLEX18]

How do you feel about Sylvia Lovely getting to continually play with your tax dollars? [Page One]

Another grocery store in the poorer end of Bowling Green has closed. The food deserts are growing all over the state. [BGDN]

A bunch of Kentucky’s school districts are run by absolute brainless whackadoos, as we’ve proved here time and again. So leaving the drop-out age up to school districts? Really? Well, you get what you pay for. [CN|2]

How long have we been yelling about Frankfort not doing enough to promote the bourbon industry in Kentucky? [H-L]

Remember William Shackleford? He’s got a documentary coming out about black metal called Out of the Black. [Site & Video]

The more things play out in Frankfort, the less likely a gambling bill that will pass seems realistic. Primarily because Steve Beshear still has not met with legislators. [C-J/AKN]

Do America’s infrastructure problems go beyond crumbling roads and bridges? [HuffPo]

How can a police chief in a city the size of Georgetown be “relieved” of his duties without an explanation? [H-L]

Because it seems this story is about to spiral out of control unless some folks in Georgetown start talking about what went down. [WKYT]

A forum is being held on Monday, February 6 from 10:00 A.M. to noon in Booth Auditorium at the University of Pikeville to discuss its potential move into the state system. [News-Express]

Rick Santorum, the political genius, says you will have health care if you stop buying iPads and such. Because you have money for that and all. [Wonkette]

He really is a genius, warning of America’s demise and scaring meemaw and poppop half to death. [HuffPo]

Publisher of A Kentucky Newspaper, Arnold Garson, is retiring on March 2. You knew this was just a temporary dumping ground for him. Did he even bother putting Kentucky plates on his vehicle? [Deep Newspaper Thoughts]

Someone has hired SYLVIA LOVELY as a lobbyist in Frankfort!

I repeat – Sylvia Lovely has convinced someone that she can get something passed through the legislature.

She was last spotted talking to Kate Wood, of the Govenror’s office, down the hallway from the cafeteria.

We can only guess the folks who hired her cannot read English and have never heard that the Google can translate.

Wow.

According to every Democrat and Republican in Frankfort, he’s the one playing pat-a-cake with Kathy Stein’s Senate seat.

Damon’s feelings were hurt for the last time, apparently, and he’s thrown all kinds of tantrums over her. How cute is that?

This is going to be extra-fun to watch. Damon’s nails may be longer than Kathy’s but she can slap harder.

Tomorrow, Susan “chickens in the yard” Westrom will file legislation pushing a statewide smoking ban. This is a good thing. [Press Release]

Make your own racist newsletter with this fancy magnetic Ron Paul Kit! It is terrific. [Gawker]

Today Congressman John Yarmuth introduced the Muhammad Ali Legacy Act in Warshington. [The 'Ville Voice]

The Legislative Ethics Commission chimes in saying everyone backed the Keith Hall fine. Unfortunately, Ethics folks still privately tell us that state law doesn’t allow them to go far enough with their punishment. [Page One - We Get Comments]

Julian Carroll has apparently gotten so old and forgetful that he believes Steve Beshear got the tax reform effort in Kentucky started. [State-Journal]

Here’s Jim Ramsey complaining about budget cuts. He still wants a hospital merger or a management contract for University Hospital. Note that there was no discussion of his massive pay raise. [FOX41]

Looks like the teabaggers have caused the tea party to start going cold. [The Hill]

The Supreme Court holds the fate of Medicaid in its hands. Which could spell bad news for states like Kentucky. [Politico]

In a positive move, that same court rejected an appeal over predominantly christian prayer at public meetings. Something that is sure to outrage the faux family set. [HuffPo]

You should probably go tell your meemaw that there’s some fancy strain of TB in India that can’t be cured. [BBC]

What this Mitt Romney 15% tax rate headline fails to mention is that he’s only taxed 15% on investments. An important clarification. He probably pays way less than that in actual income taxes. [Reuters]

A majority of Americans believe that former President George W. Bush is more responsible than President Obama for the current economic problems in the country, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. [WaPo]

From the Department of Things That Actually Happened: Rick Perry called on a mannequin with its hand raised to ask him a question. [Wonkette]

Did President Barack Obama give up on diplomacy too soon when it came to Iran? [The Economist]

Surely we’re not the only folks excited to see how many millions of dollars Newt Gingrich has wasted on jewels and shiz. [Politico]

Rick Perry says it’s just a kid mistake for Marines to urinate on Afghan corpses. Yep, just a kid mistake and not a nightmare for diplomacy. [CNN]

What does Ron Paul want out of this presidential race stunt thing he’s got going on? [The Hill]

You are super-excited that Kentucky’s public universities are bracing for cuts and performance-based funding. As Jim Ramsey rakes in millions and Shirley Q rakes in just as much. [Ryan Alessi]

A record 84 percent of Americans say they disapprove of the way the Congress is doing its job compared with just 13 percent who approve of how things are going, according to a Washington Post/ABC News poll. [Reuters]

Cutting-edge text analytics are helping the Obama campaign determine voters’ hopes and fears. [Slate]

Indiana issued the nation’s first LGBT license plate. Faux Family Foundation folks are freaking out. [The Bilerico Project]

On Thursday, Jamie Comer will attend a press conference to introduce industrial hemp legislation with Richard Henderson. On Friday night, he’ll eat porkchops in Bowling Green. [Press Release]

The weather was crazy today, it was 60 degrees and there were all kinds of tornaders. Just like Frankfort. [H-L]

People are still freaking out over First Lady Michelle Obama’s “angry black woman” remark because they’re afraid to deal with race. [The Hill]

More older Americans than ever before are employed because they can’t even afford to buy cheap cat food and dog food to eat. [WaPo]

Kentucky’s child protection system is in shambles and no one responsible wants to try to resolve problems. Social workers face retribution, they’re forced to sign documentation prohibiting them from acting as whistleblowers and messes continue to unfold. [H-L]

We’re still waiting for someone to tell us what the benefit to the community versus the cost is for this “Workforce Ready” program is. [Click the Clicky]

Ronnie Ellis takes on the crazy ass cat fights going on in Frankfort these days. [Ashland Independent]

Don’t miss Comment on Kentucky tonight at 8:00 P.M. Eastern on KET. Scheduled guests: Kenny Coleslaw, Greg Hall, Phil Pendleton. Ferrell will have to carry the humor load this week but it should still be interesting. [KET]

Whaaaaat?! Chris Christie told Oprah he was a doughnut burglar?! This is too much for Gays With Decent Taste to handle. [Wonkette]

President Barack Obama is seeking greater power to shrink the federal government and consolidate duplicative services. Naturally, the teabaggers are melting down over it. It’s a secret muslin commie takeover attempt, obviously. [HuffPo]

Just what Kentucky needs. Those Amish folks are taking their buggy case to the Kentucky Supreme Court. [WKYT]

There’s not gonna be any trash pick up in Louisville on Monday so you can bet tensions will rise even further in the river city. [C-J/AKN]

The State Senate Judiciary Committee failed everybody in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. This sort of behavior is as bad as that of Greg Stumbo and Keith Hall. [Page One]

It’s irresponsible of Sara Beth Gregory to use this child’s death in a push for requiring prescriptions for pseudoephedrine when she admits it was the Cabinet for Health and Family Services’ fault for not taking warnings seriously or bothering to investigate. [Ryan Alessi]

Misinformation is the name of the game in Frankfort when it comes to proposed prescription-only legislation. Misinformation driven by lobbyists and those paid to shill, no less. [Page One]

Jimbo Ramsey is on a mission to castrate Jack Conway for making one of the only decisions that isn’t suspect in a long time. So here’s Jack explaining his hospital merger position. [FOX41]

The Justice Department says that President Barack Obama’s recess appointments are constitutional. [HuffPo]

You can’t even walk around Richmond these days without getting robbed by two men on the street. [WKYT]

Greg Fischer delivered his State of the City Address from a members-only club in Louisville today. Check out the highlights and keep track of his promises. [The 'Ville Voice]

Kentucky’s bourbon trail netted a record number of tourists in 2011. But Frankfort still fails the industry and allows it to hobble along like a mish-mash of random clubs. [H-L]

Today Steve Hohmann was appointed commissioner of the Department for Natural Resources by the Energy and Environment Cabinet. He’s a former abandoned mine inspector. [Press Release]

Are you as excited as A Kentucky Newspaper that Jerry Abramson will keynote at the St. Matthews Chamber of Commerce gala? Because it’s been running non-stop like it’s the most important news in Kentucky. [C-J/AKN]

Rocky Adkins says he wants to make state schools greener – a good thing. Yes, that’s irony you’re feeling as your eyes roll back in your head. [Bluegrass Politics]

Here comes Judge Irv Maze, running for Court of Appeals. [SoS]

Frankfort is having all kinds of fun speculating about what Adam Edelen’s audit of Richie Farmer’s office will bring to the surface. So far, all of that speculation includes missing automobiles, hookers, more wasted money than you can imagine, sexscapades in the office and all-around stupidity. [Ronnie Ellis]