President Barack Obama is getting ready to pitch to gay voters. Will they catch? [Politico]

Will Katie Stine run for Geoff Davis’ seat in the KY-04 Congressional district? That’d further divide the teabaggers and the Davis people with Massie and Webb-Edgington. [Deep KY-04 Thoughts]

A year ago we wrote about the Douglas Fir-lough Tree spotted around Frankfort. Hasn’t anyone seen it this year? [Page One Flashback]

Budget battles and a stagnant economy greet America’s soldiers as they return from Iraq and Afghanistan. [The Economist]

This happened a few days ago but it illustrates perfectly how teabaggers refuse to understand anything that’s common sense for most. [Politico]

Poverty of children demands attention. Unfortunately, neither Warshington nor Frankfort want to pay the matter any attention at all. [The Hill]

The government is running late with rules for disclosing drug company payments to doctors. So late, in fact, that they conveniently won’t even apply until well after the upcoming election. [Pro Publica]

Brazil’s forest policy could undermine its climate goals and the rest of the world has to pay the damn price. [WaPo]

Owsley Brown Frazier just threw a $25 million cash donation to the University of Louisville. It’ll be used to improve academic, research and athletic programs. [H-L]

We’d just like to remind you that Greg Fischer is allowing Bud Schardein, the guy responsible for the nightmare at Louisville’s Metro Sewer District, to remain on until “retirement.” Even after that scathing audit. All so he can get a sweet payday. [WFPL]

People still believe orange man John Boehner should be trusted with anything. That blows our minds. [Wonkette]

Michele Bachmann and her big ole gurl of a husband were confronted by gay rights supporters in Iowa. [HuffPo]

Today Papaw Beshear directed the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to release all records contained in its reviews of child deaths and near deaths involving child abuse and neglect. If anybody wants the summary released by Papaw’s office about what each state requires in disclosure, let me know and I can send you a PDF. [Press Release]

Prediction: There’s no way Hal Rogers will prevent the rest of Warshington from increasing spending. No way. He’ll get in on the action himself. [The Hill]

That sound you hear is a whole bunch of state-level hypocrisy when it comes to overturn health care reform legislation like Todd P’Pool wanted to do. Those states suing are collecting federal funding. Funny how that works. [HuffPo]

Part of you has to wonder how much responsibility the United States needs to accept as Iraqi youth prepare to inherit a war-scarred nation. [WaPo]

Todd Hollenbach may need to get a grip if he thinks he’s going to run for something in 2015. That office needs to be abolished or absorbed by the Finance Cabinet. [Ryan Alessi]

Everybody is peeing a little bit over Damon Thayer’s fancy new map that’s an alternative to Greg Stumbo’s on the redistricting front. [Joe Gerth]

Basically, everybody and their mother is freaking out over post office closures. Not only would mail be delayed in Frankfort, it’d take even longer to circulate in Eastern Kentucky than it already does. [State-Journal]

Could Sexytime Herman Cain be about to quit, just like Sarah The Quitter Palin, because he’s been practicing his love too much? [Wonkette]

Anybody denying global warming and working to suggest that man has absolutely nothing to do with it has no business speaking in public. What a ridiculous bit. [The 'Ville Voice]

Need some extree outrage for yer evening? Here’s how Hang Paulson gave hedge fund honchos advance warning of financial nightmares. [Bloomberg]

Rick Perry is so crazy/insane/disconnected that he thought the voting age in the United States of America was 21. [HuffPo]

Kentucky Youth Advocates said Governor Steve Beshear’s message regarding CHFS documentation is promising. Executive Director Terry Brooks says the next steps are key to ending child deaths in Kentucky. [Press Release]

At some point, we’ll all need to start talking about how Richie lived out of his SUV for a while, hauling all of his clothing around (he loved telling people that he had all of his clothing with him all the time). And maybe talk about what an asshole he was to campaign staffers the two or three times he decided to show up. During one of those appearances… he had a meltdown because the campaign refused to reimburse him for hundreds of dollars worth of candy. And that’s why I call him an adult baby. [Richie's Many Failures]

Kentucky Retirement Systems is in worse shape than it’s likely ever been despite reforms. But the same shysters running the show are allowed to remain and no one ever has to answer for the crap that goes down. [John Cheves]

Finally, Rand Paul is doing something that isn’t embarrassing. Too little, too late. But not embarrassing. He introduced a resolution to end the war in Iraq. [Click the Clicky]

Kentucky has the highest smoking rate in the country by a large margin. Yet another reminder that Frankfort is flipping embarrassing. [Gallup Here & Here]

All kinds of hookers were arrested in Lexington this week and we can’t wait for them to start spilling names of their clients. [WKYT]

Sexytime Herman Cain is now the first presidential candidate of the campaign cycle to get Secret Service protection. Meaning our tax dollars now effectively support the man. [HuffPo]

Cain is now promising more “powerful pauses” – like him being dumber than a dried up cat turd is reason for celebration. [Reuters]

What the hell sort of rage have these people built up that causes them to behave so violently toward peaceful protesters? [Wonkette]

Really? The Kentucky Retirement Systems is calling for higher state contributions next year? Amid all the scandal corruption? [C-J/AKN]

Industry fights with health care advocates over worker exposure to carcinogens. Meanwhile, people like Rand Paul can’t stop complaining about regulations and such that would prevent problems like this. [The Hill]

We can’t wait for Mormon cultism to face a serious national discussion during the presidential race. White salamanders, sister wives, magical underwear. [NY Times]

Just in case you’re wondering why a particular newspaper continues to lose credibility on a daily basis. [The 'Ville Voice]

Todd P’Pool has run one of the most embarrassing campaigns in Kentucky history. He STILL doesn’t realize he needs Democratic votes to win. So what’s he do? Gets Sarah The Quitter Palin to endorse him. Hahaha. Just what he needs. A quitter’s endorsement. This won’t get him Republican votes, either. And in a race that’s closer than others this year, it’s almost as if Todd wants and deserves to lose. [Ryan Alessi]

The woman is a walking idiot box. Literally. Her latest slams on Occupy Wall Street seem to illustrate that. [HuffPo]

The latest Louisville Metro Animal Services shenanigans involve a massive deficit & smoke-blowing. It’s a literal hot Metro Council mess. [The 'Ville Voice]

Don’t miss Comment on Kentucky tonight at 8:00 P.M. Eastern on KET. Scheduled guests: Jack Brammer, Ryan Craig, Tom Loftus. It may be super-boring but could be informative. [KET]

A wide majority of folks support President Barack Obama’s Iraq troop withdrawal plan. According to the latest polling, 62% support it, 28% oppose it and 9% aren’t sure. [Daily Kos]

According to Republicans and people like Steve Beshear/Jim Gooch, bullying gay kids is cool as long as it’s done under the guise of jesus and morals or whatever. [Wonkette]

You familiar with the bad news behind today’s jobs report? May want to rectify that. [HuffPo]

How lame is this? A man was arrested for ferrying 72 quarts of moonshine and four gallons of wine through a dry county. Guess everybody needs to stop taking five or six handles of bourbon with them when they go home to visit meemaw and poppop in case they get arrested for having booze in a dry county. [H-L]

Here’s how the national press gets spun in Kentucky: the Beshear crew and folks like Al Cross. Reality is David Williams just isn’t liked and that’s the only reason Steve Beshear is cruising to victory. His strategy – or lack of one/always being absent – is not going to help President Barack Obama get re-elected. That’s ridiculous to bother suggesting. Some of the dumbest shit we’ve ever read. [Howard Fineman]

Western Kentucky’s very own magic ice cream, Dippin’ Dots, is filing for bankruptcy. Here’s hoping Regions Bank will do the right thing to protect all of these jobs. [NPR]

Irony is your best friend this week, folks. Herman Cain’s settlement for his sexytime scandal is dated 9/99. [Politico]

The woman that jackass constable shot at Walmart in Louisville? She says she wasn’t a shoplifter and she’s got Maury Kommor’s firm representing her. Kommor doesn’t typically represent fools so here’s betting this Whitlock guy is up shiz creek without a paddle. Thankfully. Maybe he’ll finally be taken off the streets. [C-J/AKN]

The food truck shenanigans in Louisville got even worse today. Our minds aren’t remotely blown. Not surprised at all [The 'Ville Voice Here & Here]

Finally, the racist stunt of the week ISN’T happening in the Commonwealth of Kentucky! [Wonkette]

Don’t miss Comment on Kentucky tonight at 8:00 P.M. Eastern on KET. Scheduled guests: Bill Bryant, Kenny Colston, Laura Ungar. It’ll be loosely boring but maybe worth it. [KET]

Rachel Maddow is pisssssssed and is using her lesbian rage (we applaud this 100%!) to rip into Mitt Romney. [HuffPo]

Rage against the machine? People are right to be angry. But it is also right to be worried about where populism could take politics. [The Economist]

What if we paid off the national debt? Take a look at this no-longer-secret government report. [NPR]

We reiterate, the gap between the rich and the poor is growing. Constantly growing. But it’s the fault of the poors, right? Because they don’t work hard enough? [Politico]

Republican candidates’ tax plans are falling flat because they apparently don’t have a clue what the American people want and need. [Reuters]

Vice President Joe Biden says that Republicans are protecting the rich at the expense of teachers and first responders. He’s 100% correct. [The Hill]

Leaders of nearly 200 major companies around the world have called for tougher action on climate change. In Kentucky, your leaders just roll their eyes and foam at the mouth. [BBC]

Take a look at the ugly parallels between Jim Crow and modern day vote-suppression laws. [Slate]

Kentucky’s unemployment rate has increased to 9.7% but everything is puppies and rainbows in Frankfort if you ask Papaw Beshear. [WKYT]

Claims about Steve Beshear’s record on pardons is at least half true. So Papaw’s crew can quit foaming at the mouth about “lies, lies, lies.” [John Cheves]

ALL U.S. troops will leave Iraq? We’ll hold our breath for a little bit but we won’t believe it until we actually see it. [WaPo]

So here you go…

East Room

2:50 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, everybody. Please be seated. Thank you, Chaplain Kibben. Good afternoon, everyone. And on behalf of Michelle and myself, welcome to the White House.

It’s been said that “where there is a brave man, in the thickest of the fight, there is the post of honor.” Today, we pay tribute to an American who placed himself in the thick of the fight — again and again and again. In so doing, he has earned our nation’s highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor. And we are extraordinarily proud of Sergeant Dakota Meyer. (Applause.)

Today is only the third time during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq that a recipient of the Medal of Honor has been able to accept it in person. And we are honored to be joined by one of the two other recipients — Sergeant First Class Leroy Petry, who is here.

I would point out something else — of all the Medal of Honor recipients in recent decades, Dakota is also one of the youngest. He’s 23 years old. And he performed the extraordinary actions for which he is being recognized today when he was just 21 years old.

Despite all this, I have to say Dakota is one of the most down-to-Earth guys that you will ever meet. In fact, when my staff first tried to arrange the phone call so I could tell him that I’d approved this medal, Dakota was at work, at his new civilian job, on a construction site. He felt he couldn’t take the call right then, because he said, “If I don’t work, I don’t get paid.” (Laughter.) So we arranged to make sure he got the call during his lunch break. (Laughter.) I told him the news, and then he went right back to work. (Laughter.) That’s the kind of guy he is. He also asked to have a beer with me, which we were able to execute yesterday.

Read the rest after the jump…

Dakota is the kind of guy who gets the job done. And I do appreciate, Dakota, you taking my call. (Laughter.) The Medal of Honor reflects the gratitude of the entire nation. So we’re joined here by members of Congress, including somebody from your home state, the Republican leader of the Senate, Mitch McConnell. We are joined here by leaders from across my administration, including Secretary of Veterans Affairs Ric Shinseki and Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, and leaders from across our Armed Forces, including the Commandant of the Marine Corps General James Amos.

We’re honored to welcome Dakota’s father, Mike, who’s here; his extraordinary grandparents; and more than 120 of Dakota’s family and friends, many from his home state of Kentucky. I want to welcome Dakota’s comrades from the Marine Embedded Training Team 2-8, and we are humbled by the presence of the members of the Medal of Honor Society.

Dakota, I realize the past two years have not been easy for you, retelling the story of that day and standing here today. You’re a very modest young man. But, as you’ve said, you do it for a simple reason — retelling the story — because it helps you to honor those who didn’t come home, and to remind your fellow Americans that our men and women in uniform are over there fighting every single day.

So that’s how we’ll do this today. It’s fitting that we do so this week, having just marked the 10th anniversary of the attacks that took our nation to war. Because in Sergeant Dakota Meyer, we see the best of a generation that has served with distinction through a decade of war.

Let me tell the story. I want you to imagine it’s September 8, 2009, just before dawn. A patrol of Afghan forces and their American trainers is on foot, making their way up a narrow valley, heading into a village to meet with elders. And suddenly, all over the village, the lights go out. And that’s when it happens. About a mile away, Dakota, who was then a corporal, and Staff Sergeant Juan Rodriguez-Chavez, could hear the ambush over the radio. It was as if the whole valley was exploding. Taliban fighters were unleashing a firestorm from the hills, from the stone houses, even from the local school.

And soon, the patrol was pinned down, taking ferocious fire from three sides. Men were being wounded and killed, and four Americans — Dakota’s friends — were surrounded. Four times, Dakota and Juan asked permission to go in; four times they were denied. It was, they were told, too dangerous. But one of the teachers in his high school once said, “When you tell Dakota he can’t do something, he’s is going to do it.” (Laughter.) And as Dakota said of his trapped teammates, “Those were my brothers, and I couldn’t just sit back and watch.”

The story of what Dakota did next will be told for generations. He told Juan they were going in. Juan jumped into a Humvee and took the wheel; Dakota climbed into the turret and manned the gun. They were defying orders, but they were doing what they thought was right. So they drove straight into a killing zone, Dakota’s upper body and head exposed to a blizzard of fire from AK-47s and machine guns, from mortars and rocket-propelled grenades.

Coming upon wounded Afghan soldiers, Dakota jumped out and loaded each of the wounded into the Humvee, each time exposing himself to all that enemy fire. They turned around and drove those wounded back to safety. Those who were there called it the most intense combat they’d ever seen. Dakota and Juan would have been forgiven for not going back in. But as Dakota says, you don’t leave anyone behind.

For a second time, they went back — back into the inferno; Juan at the wheel, swerving to avoid the explosions all around them; Dakota up in the turret — when one gun jammed, grabbing another, going through gun after gun. Again they came across wounded Afghans. Again Dakota jumped out, loaded them up and brought them back to safety.

For a third time, they went back — insurgents running right up to the Humvee, Dakota fighting them off. Up ahead, a group of Americans, some wounded, were desperately trying to escape the bullets raining down. Juan wedged the Humvee right into the line of fire, using the vehicle as a shield. With Dakota on the guns, they helped those Americans back to safety as well.

For a fourth time, they went back. Dakota was now wounded in the arm. Their vehicle was riddled with bullets and shrapnel. Dakota later confessed, “I didn’t think I was going to die. I knew I was.” But still they pushed on, finding the wounded, delivering them to safety.

And then, for a fifth time, they went back — into the fury of that village, under fire that seemed to come from every window, every doorway, every alley. And when they finally got to those trapped Americans, Dakota jumped out. And he ran toward them. Drawing all those enemy guns on himself. Bullets kicking up the dirt all around him. He kept going until he came upon those four Americans, laying where they fell, together as one team.

Dakota and the others who had joined him knelt down, picked up their comrades and — through all those bullets, all the smoke, all the chaos — carried them out, one by one. Because, as Dakota says, “That’s what you do for a brother.”

Dakota says he’ll accept this medal in their name. So today, we remember the husband who loved the outdoors –Lieutenant Michael Johnson. The husband and father they called “Gunny J” — Gunnery Sergeant Edwin Johnson. The determined Marine who fought to get on that team — Staff Sergeant Aaron Kenefick. The medic who gave his life tending to his teammates — Hospitalman Third Class James Layton. And a soldier wounded in that battle who never recovered — Sergeant First Class Kenneth Westbrook.

Dakota, I know that you’ve grappled with the grief of that day; that you’ve said your efforts were somehow a “failure” because your teammates didn’t come home. But as your Commander-in-Chief, and on behalf of everyone here today and all Americans, I want you to know it’s quite the opposite. You did your duty, above and beyond, and you kept the faith with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps that you love.

Because of your Honor, 36 men are alive today. Because of your Courage, four fallen American heroes came home, and — in the words of James Layton’s mom — they could lay their sons to rest with dignity. Because of your Commitment — in the thick of the fight, hour after hour — a former Marine who read about your story said that you showed how “in the most desperate, final hours…our brothers and God will not forsake us.” And because of your humble example, our kids — especially back in Columbia, Kentucky, in small towns all across America — they’ll know that no matter who you are or where you come from, you can do great things as a citizen and as a member of the American family.

Therein lies the greatest lesson of that day in the valley, and the truth that our men and women in uniform live out every day. “I was part of something bigger,” Dakota has said, part of a team “that worked together, lifting each other up and working toward a common goal. Every member of our team was as important as the other.” So in keeping with Dakota’s wishes for this day, I want to conclude by asking now-Gunnery Sergeant Rodriguez-Chavez and all those who served with Dakota — the Marines, Army, Navy — to stand and accept thanks of a grateful nation. (Applause.)

Every member of our team is as important as the other. That’s a lesson that we all have to remember — as citizens, and as a nation — as we meet the tests of our time, here at home and around the world.

To our Marines, to all our men and women in uniform, to our fellow Americans, let us always be faithful. And as we prepare for the reading of the citation, let me say, God bless you, Dakota. God bless our Marines and all who serve. And God bless the United States of America. Semper Fi. (Applause.)

MILITARY AIDE: The President of the United States, in the name of the Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Corporal Dakota L. Meyer, United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty, while serving with Marine Embedded Training Team 2-8, Regional Corps Advisory Command 3-7, in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, on 8 September 2009.

Corporal Meyer maintained security at a patrol rally point, while other members of his team moved on foot with two platoons of Afghan National Army and border police into the village of Ganjgal for a pre-dawn meeting with village elders. Moving into the village, the patrol was ambushed by more than 50 enemy fighters firing rocket-propelled grenades, mortars, machine guns from four to five positions on the slopes above. Hearing over the radio that four U.S. team members were cut off, Corporal Meyer seized the initiative.

With a fellow Marine driving, Corporal Meyer took the exposed gunner’s position in a gun truck as they drove down the steeply terraced terrain in a daring attempt to disrupt the enemy attack and locate the trapped U.S. team. Disregarding intense enemy fire now concentrated on their lone vehicle, Corporal Meyer killed a number of enemy fighters with the mounted machine guns and his rifle — some at near point-blank range — as he and his driver made three solo trips into the ambush area.

During the first two trips, he and his driver evacuated two dozen Afghan soldiers, many of whom were wounded. When one machine gun became inoperable he directed the return to the rally point to switch to another gun truck for a third trip into the ambush area, where his accurate fire directly supported the remaining U.S. personnel and Afghan soldiers fighting their way out of the ambush.

Despite a shrapnel wound to his arm, Corporal Meyer made two more trips into the ambush area in a third gun truck, accompanied by four other Afghan vehicles, to recover more wounded Afghan soldiers and search for the missing U.S. team members.

Still under heavy enemy fire, he dismounted the vehicle on the fifth trip and moved on foot to locate and recover the bodies of his team members. Corporal Meyer’s daring initiative and bold fighting spirit throughout the six-hour battle significantly disrupted the enemy’s attack and inspired the members of the command force to fight on. His unwavering courage and steadfast devotion to his U.S. and Afghan comrades, in the face of almost certain death, reflect a great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

(The Medal is presented.) (Applause.)

CHAPLAIN KIBBEN: Let us close in prayer: God, may this ceremony serve as a reminder of the responsibility that comes with receiving the grace gift of freedom. And as we depart this hallowed hall and return to our daily lives, we pray that you would ennoble and enable us, that when called up we would recall the resolute fearlessness of Sergeant Dakota Meyer and all those who wear the stars of valor, and live up to our responsibilities to bring honor to You and to this country.

It is in Your Holy name we pray. Amen.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all for joining us here today. We are grateful for Dakota. We are grateful for all our men and women in uniform. And I hope that all of you have not only been inspired by this ceremony, but also will enjoy the hospitality of the White House. I hear the food is pretty good. (Laughter.)

Thank you very much, everybody. God bless you. (Applause.)

END — 3:06 P.M. EDT

Next Thursday at 2:30 P.M. President Barack Obama will award Kentuckian Dakota Meyer the Medal of Honor. Meyer was born in Columbia, KY and graduated from Green County High School. [Press Release]

The United States Postal Service is nearing default as losses are mounting. [NY Times]

Bill Johnson wants to know why the poors get to continue voting if they insist on being poor. [Wonkette]

Leave it to folks in Kentucky to allegedly commit Medicare fraud. Way to go. And where is Jack Conway on this? We thought he was the Medicare fraud fighter. [H-L]

August was a nerve-racking month for the world economy. September and October will be no better. [The Economist]

We still can’t stop laughing over Unka Dick Cheney asking why Sarah The Quitter Palin quit her job. [WaPo]

Here’s yet another story about the United States getting ready to sue banks over the subprime mortgage nightmare. Jack Conway is still out there saying we should let them all off with nothing but a slap on the wrist. [BBC]

We have absolutely no idea why anybody would trust a mouth-breathing Republican who foams at the mouth when facts, science and reality get tossed out the window. [NPR]

Barack Obama’s “smart power” plan risks a death of 1,000 cuts. [Reuters]

Hahaha, wait for it! The teabaggers are suddenly concerned that Sarah The Quitter Palin and others may be using them for personal gain. [The Hill]

The White House is apparently concocting some sort of deal to save the United States Postal Service. [Consumerist]

President Barack Obama has nominated Mark Brzezinsky to replace now-former Ambassador Matthew Barzun in Sweden. [Open Secrets]

Are you shocked that a state Energy and Environment Cabinet commissioner admitted Kentucky hasn’t done enough to make sure mining companies submit accurate water pollution reports? [H-L]

Talk about inconvenience. The University of Louisville says it has a deal with Baptist Hospital to provide sterilizations. Democrats in Frankfort will think that’s a-okay. [C-J/AKN]

The new hospital “partnership” won’t do much to silence critics and alleviate concerns of the public. [FOX41]

Medicaid’s certainly got a cost conundrum when it’s paying corporations so they can make a profit on the backs of those who rely on Medicaid. [WaPo]

Here’s even more about Merck suing Jack Conway over his hiring of private attorneys. [Legal Newsline]

A decision is expected in two weeks in Harlan County Circuit Judge Russell Alread’s ethics hearing. [H-L]

Marijuana is apparently rather expensive in Kentucky. This junk needs to be turned into a tax base for the Commonwealth. Even those of us who oppose the weed are on the same page. [The Big Picture]

The Kentucky State Fair drew 605,565 paid admissions this year, up from 602,897 last year. [C-J/AKN]

Fourteen people died in separate crashes on Kentucky roadways from Monday, August 22 through Sunday, August 28. [KSP Release]

You can pretty much blame all of this country’s problems on Iraq because that’s where all the money is getting flushed down the drain. [Wonkette]

Rick Perry may suck the oxygen out of the room but Michele Bachmann kills all brain cells in the room before the C02 gets to everyone. [HuffPo]

Even people who hate each other agree that Bachmann is dumber than a box of rocks. [The Hill]