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]

Remember when we brought the mess up just about two months ago? We got all kinds of threats over it. So surely Cheves is going to be threatened. [Page One]

Oh, wait, binge drinking is apparently more common along higher income households, according to the CDC. Just not in Kentucky. [HuffPo]

Dear Brett Guthrie: What? [FMIKY]

Jeff Hoover and the House Republicans are getting what they asked for. Maybe now they’ll realize they shouldn’t have sold out to Greg Stumbo last time on that fake budget solution. [Ronnie Ellis]

And just like that, the Herald-Leader will officially become the state’s top newspaper. [Jim Romenesko]

Does anyone really believe charter schools are going to happen this legislative session? Nope, not even the people pushing for them. [WFPL]

Today’s memorial service will feature Republican Ben Chandler and Lexington Mayor Jim Gray. Should be a really nice service. [H-L]

Warren Buffett challenged Mitch McConnell to help reduce the federal deficit. Something Mitch obviously has no idea how to do. [CNBC]

PEE ALERT: Mittens Romney’s delicate feelings are hurt over Barack Obama having the audacity to talk about his mountains upon mountains of magic mormon cash. He’d prefer to have that sort of thing discussed “in quiet rooms.” HAHAHA. [Wonkette]

Barack Obama raked in $68 million during the final three months of 2011. That’s quite a bit of cash to be raised in a single quarter. [HuffPo]

Jim Ramsey attacking Steve Beshear does serious harm to the University of Louisville and he may need to be replaced? But all the other scandals at UofL are water under the bridge? Really, editorial board? [C-J/AKN]

When reading AP stories like this about the pseudoephedrine bill, remember that it’s not so simple. And that it’s not just “drug companies” opposing it. It’s people with common sense, people who bother to get a look at the facts, folks not terrified by Hal Rogers, folks who don’t believe the state should lose tax revenue while driving costs up for consumers and the Medicaid system (taxpayers). [WKYT]

Who you gonna believe? Nancy Pelosi’s staff or her actual daughter? Our money is on her daughter. [Politico]

The teabaggers lost their payroll tax fight and they don’t seem to be taking it too well. [The Economist]

John David Dyche may be completely clueless when it comes to government in Louisville but he has a good grasp when it comes to Steve Beshear. [C-J/AKN]

Alison Lundergan Grimes appointed some people today and we’re supposed to mention them or whatever. Unfortunately, her office hasn’t learned to stop sending out ancient press releases as attachments. [Press Releases]

As if A Kentucky Newspaper’s mind-blowing white wash of Greg Fischer’s first year of government history wasn’t bizarre enough, the Louisville Metro Animal Services nightmare has decided to rage on into 2012. More of the same. Hot mess. Flustercuck. You name it. [The 'Ville Voice]

Let’s not pretend anyone threatening to a kill an elected official isn’t batshit crazy. Kerri Richardson should have sacked up and offered comment like, “That motherfucker is crazy. Come on. The guy needs to learn the English language before threatening the governor. Stop asking stupid questions.” [WLEX18]

Louisville’s St. Stephen Baptist Church will take Anne Northup’s 30 pieces of silver to pay this guy off in 3, 2… [WFPL]

America’s water and sewer systems are so screwed up that they’re going to kill us all, forever, with the poverty. [WaPo]

66% of Americans cannot even guess the approximate population of the United States of America. We’re all mouth-breathing gasbags. [Wonkette]

You a map nerd? You like fancy things? You should probably read this story about a fancy new map. Northern Kentucky makes an appearance. [Slate]

NDAA, What Would Brett Guthrie Do? Follow the Constitution, Ignore it For Political Gain or maybe he didn’t understand what he read? [FMIKY]

It is shocking to learn that Michele Bachmann had children with Marcus Bachmann. Shocking. It’s easier to believe that Jake and Holly Harris Vonalsdnfkljztrttttt brought a child into this world, which obviously happened. [HuffPo]

Now people are freaking out over Greg Stumbo’s desire to move Owensboro from the 2nd U.S. Congressional District to the 1st.

Todd P’Pool raised significant cash in Owensboro and would have a high primary turnout due in part to a mayoral race next spring.

Could a P’Pool candidacy have the potential to wipe Floridian Ed Whitfield off the map?

That’s the hot gossip.

Gross Sexytime Herman Cain’s campaign manager requested that train wreck of an interview. We are forever grateful for the hilarity. [HuffPo]

It’s a solid move by Adam Edelen to consider a massive educational audit. It’ll need to be conducted with Joe Meyer out of the picture, though. [Ryan Alessi]

This Brooks Wicker guy trying to run against John Yarmuth again needs to give up before he gets going. [Failing For 2nd Time]

Chuck Geveden – the old one – is retiring from the Justice Cabinet at the end of the year. [C-J/AKN]

Mouth-breathing Republicans want your public school children to remain dumb and fat. We’re talking Jim Gooch clones, here, folks. Once again trying to kill school lunch standards. [Wonkette]

Lexington finally realized Central Kentuckians can’t figure out how one-way streets work. [H-L]

Of course Brett Guthrie opposes the plan to move Owensboro into the 1st Congressional District. People are freaking the eff out over it. [Joe Gerth]

Don’t act surprised that Greg Stumbo is still going on and on about how we need to waste taxpayer dollars on a special legislative session to handle redistricting. Frankfort knew this was an issue and ignored it for way too long. [WLEX18]

According to a new report, the Federal Housing Administration may require a taxpayer bailout by the end of next year. [HuffPo]

Republicans are hinting at flexibility on taxes to reach a budget deal. Is it a false dawn? [The Economist]

How crazy is the Frankfort rumor mill this week? The Beshear crew is apparently losing its mine over the Alison Lundergan Grimes victory. Alison is apparently still completely clueless about what’s going on and her campaign staff confirm such. Many seem to think she’s set to have her ass handed to her once she gets into office. [Page One]

If you’re a veteran in need of a job in the Louisville area, 30+ employers hiring more than 500 people will be at John Yarmuth’s jobs fair on the 21st. [Click the Clicky]

And here’s another:

It’s a shame Jack Conway can’t be as honest on the tax front.

Here’s his latest video:

It’s a shame the Kentucky Democratic Party has washed its hands with decent candidates like Ed.

This evening TOMORROW EVENING former Governor Martha Layne Collins and State Auditor Crit Luallen will host a reception for Marty Meyer. Meyer’s still running against Dan Seum for a state senate seat in Louisville. [Email Blast]

There’s an active effort underway in Hopkins County to force the issue of building a new elementary school instead of a career center. A Facebook group has popped up with more than 160 members. [Facebook]

This is an actual headline: Hump Day Weather Woes. [WSAZ]

In a release this morning, Ed Marksberry asked Brett Guthrie if he stands with Rand Paul. [Press Release]

In case you’ve previously missed all the broadband investment news in Kentucky, here’s data from the Vice President’s office that was released today. [External PDF Link]

It’s not Republicans that Jack Conway should be worried about when it comes to flip-flopping on the Bush tax cuts. It’s the Democrats and progressive opinion makers. [CN|2]

Speaking of Jack Conway and embarrassing things, feel free to download this ZIP file of the hilariously pulled Conway video from yesterday. For a limited time only, though, as I’ll likely remove it from my personal server later this evening. [Right-Click To Save As]

In Louisville this afternoon, the Republican mayoral candidate picked up the endorsement of the Fraternal Order of Police. The Democrat picked up – for the second time – the endorsement of the firefighters. [The 'Ville Voice]

ALERT! ALERT! Kentucky First Lady Of Awesome Jane Beshear will be at the Kentucky State Fair tomorrow afternoon harvesting vegetables and such. We love her (not her husband, obv) and will shill for her 24/7. Amen. [Press Release]

The teabagger gubernatorial team had the following to say today: “Beshear has added billions of dollars in debt onto the backs of Kentucky taxpayers in addition to raising taxes and failing to alter the structural imbalance in our state budget,” Moffett said. “That’s why I’ve signed the Americans for Tax Reform Taxpayer Protection Pledge and I challenge anyone else wishing to replace Beshear at the end of his disastrous term next year to do the same. We have to take tax increases off the table right away.” [Press Release]

Rand Paul sent out a fundraising email blast this afternoon: “You’ve seen how the drive-by media misquotes, distorts, and outright lies about my views. … You know they can’t stand the thought of a U.S. Senator actually fighting for Liberty. They don’t understand our issues, our supporters or our mission.” That darn librul media! Always lying about Rand Paul by using his own words in direct quotes. [Email Blast]

Here’s an excerpt:

American taxpaying families are still “footing the bill” for poor oversight. Big Wall Street bonuses amid bad loans and investment schemes, big bank bailouts, a near collapse of our economy, the terrible loss of lives at the Massey Energy coal mine in West Virginia and BP’s offshore oil rig explosion: all are linked to cozy relationships between government watchdog agencies and the corrupting influence of corporate lobbyists. I do not share Republican candidate Rand Paul’s view of the BP oil disaster that “accidents happen.” I contend that poor oversight has led to far too many accidents “waiting to happen.” Taxpayers and our governments… whether local, state or federal… do not have the money to clean up any more financial or man-made disasters that never should have happened.

I urge Rep. Brett Guthrie and Sen. Mitch McConnell to reconsider their cozy industry relationships and to stand up for the middle class, not the corporate lobbyists. They must stop embracing policies that allow unlimited campaign contributions from corporations. Ask Sen. McConnell to return the thousands of dollars he received from Massey Energy while sitting in oversight over mining laws that should protect miners and our environment. Tell Rep. Guthrie to act as guardian of our tax dollars and address the obvious conflicts of interest that this carpenter can plainly see.

As a candidate for U.S. Congress, I’m sounding the alarm. Our government and community leaders must become the tax-dollar watchdogs they are entrusted to be.

Oversight is important at all levels. Kentuckians just recently experienced statewide scandals and abuses of tax dollars involving the agencies, the Kentucky League of Cities and the Kentucky Association of Counties, due to lax oversight. We are fortunate here in Kentucky that our State Auditor Crit Luallen is a dedicated tax-dollar watchdog. Kentuckians should expect the same from all our government leaders.

I agree with him – oversight is important. But unlimited corporate campaign contributions? Since when?

Feeling like his message missed its mark, I hopped over to his campaign website for more information:

I couldn’t find any additional information. Very little info about the candidate. No real reason to vote against Guthrie.

But I did find that there’s no FEC-compliant paid for by language on the site. None in his campaign email blast, either. And his campaign website is designed with a seal to appear as if it’s an official government domain – he may wanna fix that? Heh.

Could we try a little harder, Democrats? This isn’t pat-a-cake.