Jeff Hoover on the House redistricting plan: “The proposal on Congressional redistricting drawn up by House Democrats and passed today is nothing more than a political document to protect Congressmen in the 3rd and 6th Congressional Districts, and a negotiating ploy since they know this plan will never pass the Senate. Unfortunately for Hoover, it has nothing to do with John Yarmuth. He’ll always win Louisville and Louisville won’t be split up. [Press Release]

Adding the University of Pikeville to the state system runs counter to national trends. And this map of “geographic responsibility” is the dumbest thing we’ve ever seen. [H-L]

Social workers in Jefferson County are buckling under overwhelming workloads. One of the many things Frankfort needs to get right this session. [Debby Yetter]

The University of Louisville says Steve Beshear’s rejection of a hospital merger plan will lead to cuts in indigent care. Which means it’s time for Steve Beshear to finally grow a set of balls, fire Jim Ramsey, empty out the board of trustees, nix the foundation board and get some folks hired who can solve whatever problems exist without making threats with our tax dollars. [WFPL]

Papaw is in Detroit with Greg Fischer and Jim Gray to tout Kentucky and such. Fortunately, Beshear and Gray aren’t embarrassing anybody. [FOX41]

It’s time for a reality check on the meth problem in Kentucky. If we’re gonna get a handle on this issue, we at least need to keep the facts straight. [Page One]

Mittens Romney is now the princess of New Hampshire, where he won the pretzeldential funtimes last night. [Wonkette]

Charter schools aren’t going to happen in Kentucky this legislative session. The Hal Heiner push is a total waste of secretive money. Until those folks realize this isn’t a partisan issue and stop pushing only the conservative bits and pieces, it’s dead and the water and should remain dead in the water. [H-L]

The RNC is fighting to take Citizens United one step further. The push to aid corporations in their attempts to fund candidates and candidate committees directly is heating up. [HuffPo]

Is everything in Lexington just burning down now? Is that the new thing for the Bluegrass region? [WKYT]

Wait. Now everything in Kentucky is just burning down left and right. This is why we can’t have nice things. [WLEX18]

Advisers are working to put MIttens Romney’s career in corporate buyouts (read: firing everybody) in a positive light. But you know that’s not going to fly on a national level. Also, magic underwear and sister wives. [NYT]

Remember when Jonathan Miller was pushing these things left and right? Turns out they’re a disaster. [Reuters]

You know you shed a tear when Sexytime Herman Cain suspended his presidential campaign so he has more time for sexytime. [HuffPo]

Rumors of extramarital affair end campaign of presidential candidate who didn’t know China has nuclear weapons. [The Onion]

Yes, your Sexytime Herman Cain bravely quit the presidential race because people were just cold making crap up. Because that’s what you do when it’s not true – you quit instead of fighting back. [Wonkette]

Let us bow our heads in hilarious prayer as we read this devastating recap of Sexytime Herman Cain’s failure of a presidential bid. This contains bullet points so you know we love it. [Mother Jones]

Congratulations to Les Fugate and his wife, Katherine, on the birth of Kensington Lee Fugate. Beautiful baby girl. [It's Baby Time]

Why is it, exactly, that Jim Ramsey never, ever has to answer for people repeatedly stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars on his watch? When this happens at other schools, the buck stops with the individual at the top and they take ultimate responsibility. He’s yet to do so. Ever. For any reason. [C-J/AKN]

Tom FitzGerald resigned in protest from two state environmental boards in reaction to Steve Beshear’s environmental corruption. It won’t matter and no one will care in two weeks. [WFPL]

It’s flipping crazy that county magistrates who do next to no work get state retirement benefits. The same goes for city council members who only work a couple hours per month. Absolutely crazy and wasteful. [H-L]

Postal Service cuts are going to slow first-class mail to a halt, to say the least. So where is Steve Beshear on this? The mayors of the state’s largest cities? Apparently, they aren’t aware of the potential harm that will fall upon their constituencies. [NPR]

Liberty Christ’s dad, Ron Paul, says he’s the flavor of the decade in the Republican presidential primary. [WaPo]

At least he had the sense to attack crazy man Donald Trump for being crazy. [Politico]

Here’s Liberty Christ Rand Paul trying to call the U.S. Senate’s bluff. He’ll surely be all over television for a few weeks talking about it instead of actually working. [The Hill]

Remember when Jonathan Miller and his pals were touting all of that sweet broadband flooding rural Kentucky? And then a bunch of years passed and nothing has happened? There’s a sweet new subsidy that also probably won’t solve the problem. [The Economist]

Just a note that absentee voting in the gubernatorial election is down about 70 percent from 2007. [Press Release]

The state has spent $56,000 on rent, utilities and satellite TV for a building for KSP to use near Steve Beshear’s farm since March 2008. Which really isn’t that expensive. The fact that the Beshear’s claim the farm needs their constant attention is probably a stretch, though. Cause Jane Beshear’s folks say it’s because she prefers to stay at the farm instead of the executive mansion. We don’t blame her. [Bluegrass Politics]

We hear National College is running this anti-Jack Conway ad in eleven papers around the state this week. [Page One]

Student loans in America could be the next big credit bubble. Or they could just be mountains of debt. [The Economist]

All these protesters have is time. All Mitch McConnell and his staff have is a bunch of time and, you know, lack of giving a flip. They should focus on someone who can help them – not an obstructionist sellout. [WaPo]

Just in case you have no idea why it’s absurd for Greg Fischer to play radio DJ and to spend all day, every day going to Lexington and various ribbon cuttings: Louisville has a $6 million deficit. And that’s despite growth in revenue. [Dan Klepal]

Rick Perry thinks he is Jesus or whatever. Now we finally know what’s wrong with the man. [Wonkette]

That’ll go over well in Eastern Kentucky since a million percent of people there receive Medicaid. No wonder so many folks still roll their eyes when you mention Appalachian Regional Healthcare. [WKYT]

Of course Republicans in the Senate like Mitch McConnell are blocking infrastructure projects around the country. Despite knowing infrastructure is an absolute disaster in the United States. [HuffPo]

Here’s more obfuscation and obstruction from Mitch McConnell. He and his pals wrote a letter that is now mucking up deficit talks. Just what this country needs. [NY Times]

Yesterday marked the 126th day Republican Party of Kentucky Chairman Steve Robertson questioned Jack Conway over his involvement in his brother’s drug scandal: “Time is running out for Jack Conway to credibly address this issue,” said Robertson. “Even in the face of police documents that indicate he helped his brother obtain legal counsel and failed to notify police that their investigation had been compromised, Jack blissfully maintains that he did not intervene. Kentucky voters are rightfully outraged.” [Press Release]

Here’s what Joe Scarborough thinks America looks like ten years after September 11. [Politico]

Steve Beshear has backed out of YET ANOTHER forum. This one is in Louisville’s West End, a predominantly African American community. He must think non-whites won’t vote against him. [C-J/AKN]

Even the state’s major editorial boards realize it’s silly for Beshear to tuck tail and run so frequently while he’s so far ahead. He’s got time for all these ribbon cuttings and announcements he’s had no involvement with but can’t show up to discuss Kentucky’s problems. [H-L]

Get a load of all the mega-wealthy hacks sucking down your tax dollars in Warshington. [The Hill]

Of course Republicans are stepping up attacks on public funding for birth control. They’re too ignorant to realize their tax dollars are going to have to pay for all of the accidental babies that can’t be aborted. [NPR]

It seems Jonathan Miller is taking a KDRP play and running with it. And it doesn’t seem smart for an attorney to insinuate something is illegal if it isn’t – it wasn’t even unethical, according to Ethics’ dismissal. And don’t let him pretend he doesn’t know who is behind the PAC. You’d think getting caught in the same hotel room with his female staffer (he got her a zillion dollar raise, too, on the public draw) would be enough for him to stop trying this crap. [HuffPo]

The Fact Checker takes on President Barack Obama’s “whopper of a claim on tax cuts.” [WaPo]

In case you were wondering why Steve Beshear was so gung ho to hitch himself to the dentistry grant? Eastern Kentucky media exposure. [WSAZ]

Adam Edelen outlined his proposals for the office of State Auditor or Public Accounts. [H-L]

Surely we’re not the only folks snickering every time Hal Rogers gets nervous about getting in trouble for spending. [Politico]

It’s super-sad that teabaggers like this guy don’t realize the entire country is laughing at them over their ignorance. [Wonkette]

At least one kinda mainstream news organization took note of the 100th day in the Come Clean [Jack] Conway campaign. [WFPL]

But maybe Jack’s “campaign manager” should get to know what’s actually happened in Kentucky and maybe watch the video footage of what Jack has said himself about the drug scandal before she opens her mouth, sounding like an out-of-touch hack? [More WFPL]

Isn’t it a shame Huffington Post would publish a pro-Steve Beshear piece like this – presented as fact – without any disclosure that Jonathan Miller worked directly for Beshear? [HuffPo]

The messenger may be flawed, but the United States should take heed of the message from Standard & Poor’s. [The Economist]

Is this an actual bright spot? Is this good news about the nation’s economy? [NPR]

With retail sails rising a whopping 0.5% in July (heh), maybe things really are turning around. [BBC]

Julian Carroll’s son, Bradley, died in a car crash on Sunday in Franklin County. [H-L]

Remember that debt “supercommittee” rigged up in Warshington to fix this country’s woes? Turns out it, you know, lacks the same diversity Warshington lacks. [WaPo]

After 75 years, the nation’s last public hanging still haunts Owensboro. [C-J/AKN]

We don’t know many people who think a health care mandate is a good idea. But health care reform? The only folks against that are wealthy Republicans who already receive free government health benefits. [Slate]

Democrats are wasting absolutely no time calling Ron Paul and Michele Bachmann batshiz crazy. Though, it’s probably unfair to say Paul is as crazy-eyed as the psycho lady from the north. [The Hill]

Marcus Bachmann can’t tell Michele Bachmann which blouse to wear to work (HAHAHA) but he can tell her not to touch Medicare because that would be bad for the family business. [Wonkette]

Coal Miner Appreciation Week is apparently a thing and it is kicking off this week? [WKYT]

Why don’t these two Kentucky sisters have Social Security numbers? Totally bizarre and embarrassing for Commonwealth. [HuffPo]

Here he is tooting his own horn, again, as usual:

Two weeks ago in this space, I wrote a column lambasting Kentucky GOP elder statesman Larry Forgy — a prominent supporter of David Williams for Governor — for the following comments he made in an article about the role of faith in politics, written by Jack Brammer of the Lexington Herald-Leader:

-SNIP-

Williams, to his credit, distanced himself from Forgy’s slur in an interview with Pure Politics, a cable news show/political blog hosted by Insight Communications.

As head – desk as Jonathan Miller is these days, even HE says David Williams has distanced himself from Forgy – something A Kentucky Newspaper continues to lie about.

Unfortunately for Jonathan, who will never be able to run for office again because of his own foibles – and who has helped finance attacks against people like myself (regardless of what he wants to admit, he and his sister have definitely helped), he continued:

The Herald-Leader, whose own reporter broke the story, never made another comment. And not until two weeks later did the Louisville Courier-Journal editorial board weigh in, declaring that Forgy’s original remarks about Abramson’s faith being his only qualification for the ticket “risk stirring up latent anti-Semitism, and they are despicable.” But it made no mention of Forgy’s far more offensive followup interview; no rebuttal to his bizarre conspiracy theories.

And that’s all folks.

Yup. He’s attacking the media for not covering the non-incident enough. While excusing Bob Farmer’s ridiculous behavior.

Guess we’ll no longer have to wonder why Jonathan Miller is nobody these days. And you won’t have to wonder why people like Jeff Smith and John Y. Brown III are backing away from his website.

Remember the 2009 Finance Cabinet/Mountjoy Bressler audit of the Kentucky Retirement Systems-Holly Hill land deal?

No? Go read John Cheves excellent coverage of the nightmare.

At the time, no one bothered mentioning during a KRS board meeting that KRS executive staff had had the audit on-hand for several weeks. But Cheves found the findings of the report so significant that he wrote a story about it and the Herald-Leader made it front-page news. Seems pretty darn shady no one bothered to bring it up – only to go on a spree damning and attacking the findings of the audit.

What gets me, though, is in an August 31, 2009 letter to Mike Burnside, CCd to Jonathan Miller, from Auditor of Public Accounts Crit Luallen. Here’s what she said:

The OPA report thoroughly documents the circumstances of the Holly Hill purchase transaction, and OPA has made recommendations to your organization. We have also reviewed your agency’s responses to the report draft and the recommendations. Because the review of this transaction has been very comprehensive and KRS appears to be working to implement improvements in internal control to avoid similar situations in the future, I do not believe further action on the part of the Auditor’s Office is needed at this time.

Catch that? “The OPA report thoroughly documents the circumstances of the Holly Hill purchase transaction…”

That entire line of text was what I’d call horseshiz.

Robert Kellerman, counsel for the KRS at the time, appeared at a May 21, 2009 board of trustees meeting to provide a complete legal review of the organization’s options in the Holly Hill snafu. Turns out, though, Mr. Kellerman neglected to mention the Finance Cabinet audit. And he conveniently forgot to mention an August 4, 2006 memo he wrote recommending the KRS notify the seller of the property that they wanted to rescind the entire land deal. All during a board meeting to discuss possible legal action (for alleged fraud) against the seller.

That memo (I’ve got it if anyone wants to see it) wasn’t made available until much, much later. So it seems to me the OPA report didn’t thoroughly document the circumstances of the Holly Hill deal. At all. And it would seem to us that Crit knew better – for some odd reason – not to do more than scratch the surface in her questioning.

KRS knew the land deal was a hot mess in 2006 and did nothing about it. Other than spin 24/7 to defend it, that is. So what was the reason behind it? Was it for the money? Was it to make Chief Investment Officer John Krimmel and Chief Operating Officer Don Mullis, who were responsible for the land deal, look like fools so they could be forced out of KRS so placement agents could get back to slinging cash around?

All I know is Crit’s whitewash of a letter and the legal counsel conveniently forgetting to mention his own memo – along with the most recent audit – raise more questions than we have time to consider. Maybe neither were purposefully turning a blind eye but the stench is strong enough to make us squinty-eyed and deeply suspicious.

Even the Jewish press recognize that Steve Beshear/Jonathan Miller are dragging that horseshiz out. Otherwise they wouldn’t use David Williams’ quote without taking it out of context. [JTA]

Why not redact the personally identifying information in this David Williams investigation and release the documents? And which one of these “interested parties” is someone sought out by Jennifer Moore and the KDP? [H-L]

Laaaawd jesus Rod Blagojevich was convicted of trying to sell Barack Obama’s U.S. Senate seat. [TPM]

Feeling sadistic? Read this story about Michele Bachmann being well-positioned for Iowa and maybe beyond. [CNN/Peter Hamby]

Police officers in Hazard fear criminals will know the laws better than they do. Maybe they should, you know, learn the law, then? [WKYT]

URGENT BREAKING IMPORTANT NEWS: Richie Farmer spent $40 on candy – as much as $19.57 in two days. Yes, I’m serious, KDP sent out an urgent press release to be published by the mainstream. Meanwhile, the KRDP conveniently ignores $85,000 in airplane expenses for which Steve Beshear is responsible. Woops. [Joe Gerth]

Lexington was ranked the most sedentary “city” in the United States. We’re shocked that it wasn’t Louisville. [Baltimore Sun]

How cute! Jeremy Horton got a $60,000 appointment from Steve Beshear as a “policy advisor.” Funny how that works – especially since Crit Luallen said the agency was jacked up and wasted boatloads of cash. Guess Jonathan Miller is still getting his pals jobs. [H-L]

Here’s what the RPK had to say about Jerry Abramson yesterday: There is no telling how high this number will climb. It is astonishing that Steve Behsear chose this man as his running mate when his record shows nothing but a black hole of reckless, disrespectful and arrogant spending. This $214,000 is merely a preview for the spending show we will endure if a Beshear-Abramson administration rules our commonwealth. Jerry Abramson fooled us once, so shame on him. He won’t get the chance to fool us twice,” said Steve Robertson. [Press Release]

The Pentagon confirmed yesterday that people are still getting kicked out of the military for being gay. And you wonder why the military can’t have nice things. [The Advocate]

Food bank shortages around the country are surprisingly leading to innovation. [NPR]

Businesses are learning to serve the growing number of hard-up Americans. Which basically means people are getting fatter and are buying crappier stuff. [The Economist]

Forgot to mention that Steve Beshear praised Ernie Fletcher for his initial action(s) to bring the World Equestrian Games to Kentucky. [H-L]

Coal pollution has gotten worse in Kentucky after an agreement with the state. That’s right – it’s gotten worse. [Ronnie Ellis]

You’ll want to read what No-Kill Louisville had to say about Fischer’s inaction. It is absolutely scandalous. [More VV]

Mitch McConnell says it is too dangerous to try the Bowling Green Terrorists in Kentucky. Glad to see him ginning up fear in an election year. [H-L]

Ever wanted to take a look inside an abandoned coal power plant? Here’s your chance. [Click the Clicky]

The Ark Park folks won’t like that researchers have been able to determine dinosaurs’ temperature(s) with teeth. [Reuters]

Here’s an interesting look at how the right-wing spin machine goes insane and starts conspiracy theories. [Slate]

The Environmental Protection Agency’s fracking study will focus on five states but not Wyoming. [Pro Publica]

Congress rejected President Barack Obama’s Libya policy. Was a snub? We think so. [WaPo]

The White House released its DNC meeting names and we’re left wondering when Democrats will start taking campaign finance reform more seriously. [Politico]

No, Jonathan Miller, David Williams didn’t blame you for spreading anti-Semitic remarks. He blamed you for starting a controversy with known bigot/idiot/jacktard/shizstain Larry Forgy, which you most certainly did and for direct personal gain (trying to sell that damn book). And quit acting like Jews aren’t the target of tons of hate in Kentucky. Quit pretending a sizable portion of the electorate isn’t mouth-breathing. They are. In Kentucky and everywhere. Oh, and how’s that Bobby Kennedy book coming along? He loves to tell people about you trying to bogart his time when he visits Kentucky. [Jonathan Miller]

Same-sex marriage and the United States of America: a status check. [WaPo]

Meanwhile, the “traditional” family is the preserve of a minority. The decline of marriage can’t be blamed on the gays. [The Economist]

Steve Beshear said in a press release today that the World Equestrian Games had a $201 million impact on Kentucky. $128.2 million in direct spending and $73.3 million in indirect spending. 419,853 visitors apparently attended the games – that includes those who received complimentary tickets. No word on if those were individuals or multiple visits. [Press Release]

HAHAHA! David Adams and Cathy Bailey think they’re going to take over the Republican Party of Kentucky. Don’t these teabaggers realize that money doesn’t raise itself and that becoming the machine is precisely what the Tea Party fights against? Hahahaha. Major pee alert. [HAHAHA]

Dear Beth Musgrave: It’s Democratic Judge-Executive, not “Democrat judge executive” – k? That said – Wayne T. Rutherford is hilarious and says Bob Farmer is not welcome in Pike County! HAHAHA! [Bluegrass Politics]

Steve Beshear and Jonathan Miller did insert religion into the gubernatorial race. Purposefully. But Larry Forgy is a tool. [CN|2]

Basically, eleventeen million tornadoes ruined Louisville last night. Then the floods from hell came. [H-L]

Money man Don McNay takes a deeper look at the Bob Farmer “comedy” snafu that has put him on an island politically. [HuffPo]

Aww, Mitch McConnell says he isn’t jealous that Orange Man John Boehner and President Barack Obama played golf. [The Hill]

Rand Paul can’t believe his miniature junk has to get touched now and again in an airport so he melted down, asking all kinds of questions about children getting the pat from the TSA. But here’s my concern: why SHOULDN’T kids get patted down? Aren’t some parents psychotic enough to use their children to further extremist agendas? [H-L & The HIll]

California suspended legislative pay because no one wanted to balance that state’s budget. We should start doing that in Kentucky ASAP. [Wonkette]

The United States Postal Service is suspending pension payments. Yep, that’s the state of this nation. [WaPo]

China’s high-speed rail is a major boon to development, regardless of cost. We can’t even get basic transit rail in Kentucky. [NY Times]

Half of college-educated gays hide their sexual orientation at work. It’s almost as if, oh, right – people still get fired for being gay – even in Kentucky. [Slate]

A new study says tax hikes are necessary for states to meet funding needs for pension systems. [Reuters]

Mitch McConnell is living in fantasy land again and says 2012 could be like 1980 politically. Maybe he means in the sense that a young parking garage attendant and he will make pals? [Politico]