Here’s where we mentioned Auge in 2009:

Kathy Groob confidant Roger Auge has been accused of fondling a student. Auge filed numerous campaign finance complaints against Jack Westwood on behalf of Groob and is an appointed (by Governor Steve Beshear) AARP representative for the Council on Aging. [Enquirer]

How terrible of us to link to an article in a newspaper. Even more terrible for me to offer to write a story about the dismissal.

However, Auge didn’t want to pass along information about the dismissal. He accused us of being abrasive (no shiz), questioned how long we’d been in existence and then claimed to have never heard about Page One.

Unfortunately, Auge has a history of reading Page One and in 2008 called me several times (and sent several emails) regarding then-candidate Michael Kelley.

I wouldn’t be writing about this, but making demands and questioning our integrity while feigning ignorance at our existence is not exactly something we take lightly.

UPDATE: Should be noted that Auge resigned his position as a member of the Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in January:

By virtue of the authority vested in me by Section 163.506 of the Kentucky Revised Statutes, I, Steven L. Beshear, Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, do hereby appoint Edward A. Schickel, 2000 Shannon Drive, Bardstown, Kentucky 40004, as a member of the Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, representing the American Association of Retired Persons, to replace Roger J. Auge, II, Covington, who has resigned. Mr. Schickel shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term ending July 1, 2011.

Received and filed in the Secretary of States Office on January 8, 2010.

Just wanted to include that.

On a December story about Daniel Mongiardo, some random guy calling himself Larry Kenter left a comment praising fringe candidate Darlene Fitzgerald:

Larry Kenter // Dec 18, 2008 at 10:19 pm

Hey guys, there’s a woman named Darlene Price that has already announced that she is a democrat candidate against Jim Bunning. She’s already gotten alot of support from veterans, cops, unions and women’s organizations. She’s a former federal investigator and government corruption whistle blower. Check out her web site, it’s very impressive: www.Darlene4Senate.com

We all thought it was majorly hilarious. Major.

Then well-known political activist Mike Bailey left a comment, which was spot-on:

Mike Bailey // Dec 19, 2008 at 10:23 pm

I spoke with Darlene, and I think she is very sharp. Unfortunately her wardrobe and website are not sharp, and her campaign staff and volunteers are not interested in feedback to correct those image problems. The atrocious website and dated outfits distract us from Darlene’s message. She can’t compete with Mongiardo or Conway or Crit in any case, but if she cut a more modern figure and had a decent site and some good staff, she could get her whistle-blower issues out into the public eye and maybe get the eventual nominee to adopt those issues. If something does not change in her campaign, she will end up fading into the background – which would be a shame.

Fine and dandy. Then yesterday, nearly a month-and-a-half later, this guy named Austin Price, who is affiliated with Fitzgerald’s “campaign” as her Campaign Chairman left a comment attacking Bailey:

Austin Price // Jan 23, 2009 at 5:39 pm

Mr. Bailey you have never spoken to Darlene. It was I who responded to your email request to be a paid consultant on Darlene’s campaign. I agree with your comment that Darlene is very sharp, and that is why she is needed in Washington. The rest of your comment seems disingenuous when compared with the overwhelmingly positive feed back regarding Darlene, her website and campaign in general. Don’t lose sight of what is really important: to send qualified people to Washington who will vote our interest.

Unfortunately for Mr. Price, Bailey sent me those emails a week earlier after my original story about Darlene and her awful website. And we decided to publish the email exchange between Bailey/Fitzgerald/Price. When you read them, you’ll see that Price is not only lying about what Bailey said but that Fitzgerald is apparently endorsing such a bad deed.

Here’s our original comment containing the messages.

UPDATE: HAHAHA! As a commenter has pointed out, Austin is Darlene’s HUSBAND. That information makes it even worse.

Mike Bailey did not request to be a paid consultant– or even to be a consultant– on Fitzgerald’s campaign. Bailey and former U.S. Congressional candidate Dr. Michael Kelley encountered Fitzgerald at an event. Bailey sent an email to Fitzgerald telling her how nice it was to meet her and offered some positive feedback. This guy Austin Price, an attorney, responded like an ignorant buffoon.

Let’s take a look at those emails.

Darlene,

Dr. Kelley and I greatly enjoyed meeting you, and were very impressed with you in person. We love the way you fight corruption and the “pay to play” system. We think you are tough and principled. Jack Conway and Dan Mongiardo will likely enter this primary. (By the way, when they get in, are you planning on sticking it out? )

I have some questions about issues that are not on your website. I’m not really looking for yes or no answers, but reasoned opinions on how you will deal with the wedge issues such as abortion, separation of church and state, gays, and guns. … I’d like to hear how you feel about those cultural hot-button issues, and how you will deal with them.

Read the rest of the juicy, juicy hilarity with which we prove Fitzgerland’s campaign is libeling Mike Bailey after the jump…

Also, would you be willing to sit with Dr. Kelley and discuss healthcare policy together? He has over a decade or real-world experience that tells him that both Obama and McCain are getting it wrong with their current proposals. He would be willing to help you come up with a workable solution and practice talking about it.

I’d also like to offer some non-issue feedback about your campaign. I offer this as constructive criticism, not to tear down anyone’s efforts to date. I want to re-state that we are very impressed with your intellect, charisma, and positions thus far. The suggestions I offer here are only meant to improve upon your excellent foundation.

1. Always take off sunglasses when meeting folks. They want to make eye contact.

2. Update your wardrobe. It is time to update your wardrobe and to remove images on your front page that show you in out-dated clothing. Image management is an unfortunate reality of campaigns. You are incredibly sharp, and your wardrobe should reflect that. Sarah Palin is a perfect example of the kind of outfits you should be wearing.

3. Update your website. Websites are like clothing (that image thing again.) Websites need to be modern and sharp in order to reflect how sharp YOU are.

4. When your website is finalized, it would be good if your business cards, flyers, and other gear synergized with the site (similar fonts, colors, etc.) This causes folks to associate your campaign with the “brand” that you are reinforcing. Look at Obama gear. It almost always uses colors and fonts and styles that synergize with the website.

Darlene, if you are interested in talking about the race, please let me know. Again, we were very impressed with you as a person and we think that with a bit of image work, you will give a good accounting of yourself in the primary. Please respond about the cultural wedge issues as well.

Mike Bailey

Now let’s look at the jackassery Austin Price sent back:

Dear Mr. Bailey,

Thank you so much for your interest in our candidate. We are very pleased at how Darlene’s campaign is skyrocketing! Her message and story of her ten year fight against high-level government corruption has certainly resonated across Kentucky. In just the few weeks that her campaign began Darlene has already spoken in front over two thousand Kentuckians, at over 20 events. Moreover, Darlene continues to be invited to speak at numerous other events/groups by the people who hear her story.

While we appreciate your interest and helpful hints, Darlene’s Committee already has consultants in those areas that we are very happy with. Darlene looks forward to working with all candidates and representatives in the future, and we hope that your interest and support will continue. We look forward to seeing you on the campaign trail!!

Sincerely,

Austin Price, Esquire
Campaign Chairman

Larry King
Co-Chair and Campaign Manager

These messages, sent in mid-October 2008, are truly revealing. Mike Bailey sent very positive comments and suggestions for improvement (like Darlene’s horrendously awful website) and they blew him off. Then they made up some crap about Darlene already having “consultants” who help her with her image (hahaha, oh, the schadenfreude!) and that they were happy with them.

I’m pretty sure I don’t even need to make a comment.

More creepy, loopy fringe candidates attempting to turn the race for the United States Senate into amateur hour. It’s like 2008 all over again.

We think Fitzgerald and her band of “esquire” attorney pals owe Mike Bailey a public apology for libeling him. Something we’re pretty damn sure attorneys can be disbarred over.

Aww. Mitch McConnell’s net approval rating is at a minus 5. How sad. Rats jumping from a sinking ship, ladies. Rats jumping. [SurveyUSA]

Marcus Carey is still peddling this racist mess. We’ve removed our link to his website until he can stop. He can no longer pretend that he’s not pushing hateful and racist material. I mean, really, STILL attempting to paint Barack Obama as a Muslim and trying to tie him to the Nation of Islam? What the heck is wrong with you, Marcus? Just start using the n-word and get it over with. You’re worse than Jennifer Moore when she pretends to be powerful and important. [Sickening and Shameful & More Racism]

Carey continues to take major stories out of context. Joe Biden said Barack Obama will be tested as a new president and that some global crisis is likely to hit. Biden never said that Obama would cause an international crisis, but leave it up to Marcus to make it up with spin. [Shame]

There was an armed robbery at the Student Activities Center just before 11:00 P.M. last evening. Seriously. Some asshats ROBBED COLLEGE KIDS! On a college campus! Don’t these nuts realize that most people on a college campus are as broke as the government? And if they’re not, they’ve got $30,000-$40,000 in debt? Jeez. [Email Reports]

Chickenhawk Mitch McConnell blames his inability to stop being an obstructionist on those darn libruls. He brags about clout, but what does he use it for? The only group Mitch McConnell has ever helped is Wall Street– when he helped deregulate the banking industry. [H-L]

And Michael Kelley is a pompous fool? Really? The only thing pompous I can see is the ridiculous attitude that a handful of people in the Commonwealth seem to have that all Republicans are the jesus of everything. And a serious fear of non-whites. SCARY BLACK PEOPLE! AH! [BGRS 1, 2, 3]

Even David Adams can’t believe that uppity black man, Colin Powell, endorsed Black Muslin terraist Barack Obama. [David Adams]

Watch the third district congressional debate last night? Anne Northup sure knows how to stutter and get confused when she’s SIXTEEN POINTS DOWN. You’ll get another chance to see her choke tonight on WLKY at 7:00 P.M. Eastern. Oh, and Anne? Get over John Yarmuth hating Christmas. You’re done. [C-J]

Check this attack site Davis launched.

And now read the Kelley Campaign’s response:

This negative political attack site is good for a chuckle, but not much more. Let’s start by addressing the overall attack, and then move on to the specific claims of this stereotypical political attack site.

Why is Davis attacking an opponent who has raised approximately one percent of Davis’ fundraising total? Because Mitch McConnell is going to lose, and Davis is afraid the voters will flush Davis down the toilet along with Mitch. Michael Kelley is delighted that Mitch – who has utterly failed Kentucky – will be replaced by Lunsford. But many people believe Davis is making a tactical error by attacking Michael Kelley. The negative attacks only draw attention to Davis’ many wrong-headed votes, and make Davis look like he is running scared of the little guy. Davis must have some internal numbers showing his massive polling lead is evaporating, because when a politician has a massive lead, they tend to pretend their opponent has never been born.

The bottom line is that Davis is wrong for northern Kentucky and wrong for America. Davis knows the voters want change, and he is trying to hide behind a smokescreen by smearing a small-money family doctor who can’t afford to purchase TV ads to respond. Davis is a failure of the past, and Michael Kelley is the prescription for change.

Read the rest after the jump…

Davis’ negative claim: Michael Kelley wants to continue to rely on foreign sources of energy.

This is an outright lie. Michael Kelley has stated repeatedly in interviews and in writing that he wants to increase America’s investment in renewable energy to move COMPLETELY beyond fossil fuels in the future. Kelley also stated in the Francene radio interview that drilling alone was not a long-term
solution, but Kelley has never said he would vote against more drilling. Instead he has attempted to educate voters about the realities of supply and demand, oil as a global commodity, rising demand for oil in China and India, the threats of global warming, and the security threats created by enriching Russia, Venezuela, and middle-eastern nations.

The “fairy dust” quote referenced on Davis’ negative attack site refers to Geoff Davis’ attempts to pander to voters by promising them that drilling will quickly bring down prices at the pump, which is untrue. Kelley has been honest with voters, saying that conservation is the only swift way to bring down gas prices.

Davis’ negative claim: Michael Kelley wants to raise your taxes but he didn’t even pay his own.

This is an outright lie. Michael Kelley has emphatically supported rolling back the Bush tax cuts to the wealthiest 1% in our nation, which would have no tax impact on the average Kentuckian. Michael Kelley owns his home in Oldham County (or rather, the bank owns it and he pays a mortgage just like the rest of us) and his taxes are paid in escrow, just like the rest of us. Michael Kelley and his fellow doctors and partners co-own the building in which they practice medicine, as well as a neighboring property. The office manager of the medical practice is held accountable for paying all mortgages and taxes in full and on time. We are unaware of any collection agency ever attempting to collect any unpaid debt of any kind from Michael Kelley, let alone unpaid taxes.

Davis’ negative claim: Michael Kelley wants to fund healthcare reforms by adding 20 million new smokers to pay for it.

Please don’t make us laugh. When was the last time your doctor tried to get you to START smoking? Michael Kelley is doing a lousy job of adding new smokers, because Dr. Kelley spends hours each day trying to get his patients to STOP smoking. If he were really trying to add smokers, this would be
counter-intuitive. In Dr. Kelley’s opinion, any doctor who promoted smoking would be in violation of their Hippocratic Oath.

This may be the Davis campaign’s pathetic response to Dr. Kelley’s support of FDA regulation of tobacco. Dr. Kelley’s official position on his website covers the FDA.

Davis’ negative claim: Kelley wants to cut Social Security:

The Kelley campaign is pleasantly surprised to see this distortion contains at least a grain of truth. Dr. Kelley has long publicly stated that looming entitlements like Medicare and Social Security will have to be reformed. If these entitlements are not reformed, then the entitlement system will collapse
completely. Reforms can consist of cutting benefits (raising eligibility age, means testing, etc.,) raising revenues, or some combination thereof. It is shocking to hear a so-called fiscal conservative like Davis crying foul about being honest with voters with regard to the looming entitlement fiscal crunch.
It is clear from these attacks that Davis does not intend to honestly address the entitlement fiscal crisis. Dr. Kelley would have thought this was one area in which Dr. Kelley and Geoff Davis might actually agree, but it seems Davis is taking the coward’s way out.

Davis’ negative claim: The media agrees Kelley is not suited for Congress:

This claim contains another surprising grain of truth, but only if you consider one media outlet, the Enquirer, to be the entire “media.” Our campaign has already responded here.

Davis’ negative claim: Michael Kelley doesn’t want the job:

Michael Kelley has stated repeatedly and publicly that he already has the job he loves – being a family doctor. He is only running to salvage his children’s future after four years of Davis’ party-line enabling of George Bush’s incompetence. Dr. Kelley has every intention to return to medicine once this nation is set back on the right track.

Would you want to leave the job you love and spend time away from your kids to work in a sewer like Washington, D.C.? Damn right, Michael Kelley doesn’t DESIRE the job. But the job sure isn’t being done right with Geoff Davis representing the 4th District of Kentucky – so we need an agent of change, and Dr. Michael Kelley is the prescription for change.

Recently the Editorial Board of the Enquirer endorsed my opponent, Geoff Davis, in the upcoming congressional election for KY-04. The Board seemed to view Davis as post-partisan, and a man unafraid to “buck the desires of his party leadership.” Here are a few things they seem to have overlooked when evaluating Congressman Davis’ record:

Geoff Davis has voted with a majority of his Republican colleagues 94% of the time during the current Congress. During happier times we could simply chuckle at the Enquirer board for implying Davis was anything resembling a “maverick,” but since the Republican philosophy has led our nation to the brink of disaster, this failure in judgment is far from amusing.

Read the rest after the jump…

In one of Davis’ most outrageous offenses against the common morality of his constituents, Davis voted against HR976, a bill which would have expanded healthcare for children. He voted, of course, with his party. Davis also voted for FISA (S1927,) an Act that allows our government to spy on us without oversight, and which we have recently learned is being abused. Davis voted repeatedly against a timeline to withdraw our troops from Iraq, even though the American public made it clear in 2006 that we want our troops and our treasure to come back home. On HR4, Davis voted against allowing the government to negotiate directly with drug-makers for lower prescription drug prices for individuals using Medicare. Davis also voted against HR1, a bill to implement the remaining 9/11 Commission recommendations, such as funding first-responders and improving cargo security. All of the above were party-line votes.

The Enquirer Editorial Board also mentions that Congressman Davis is becoming increasingly influential. This is clearly true. But rather than use his power on the house Financial Services Committee to help avert the recent Wall Street disaster, he used his power to shake down Wall Street lobbyists for
campaign cash. This shameful abuse of power was recently documented by the Lexington Herald Leader. The article reveals that in recent months Congressman Davis has been sending out fund-raising invitations to Wall Street firms such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, promising lobbyists “intimate” meetings in exchange for thousands of dollars in suggested campaign contributions. Congressman Davis, one of the Representatives responsible for overseeing Wall Street on our behalf, was instead busy trading access for cash. The board states that Davis is “crafty.” Maybe the right word is “shifty.” The Center for Responsive Politics reports that Davis has raised around 1.5 million dollars from the financial industry in the last three years. This gives him the cash do things that “serious candidates” do, like bus in paid workers from out of state to knock on Kentucky doors for an astro-turf ground game.

As one of the few things that the Board accurately pointed out, indeed I have “done few of the things someone has to do to actually get elected.”

First, I have refused to prostitute my integrity for any special interest cash that might have helped to counter Geoff Davis’ ill-gotten gains. Just minutes of research (on the Federal Election Commission or Open Secrets web sites) makes it clear that Congressman Davis does not have any qualms about
grabbing fists-full of out-of-state cash from the special interest sewer – no matter how many strings are attached.

Second, I also work full-time as a family doctor and I am very involved with my four young children. This has limited my campaign to about two events per week. Since I am not a financially-independent self-funder, or a professional politician, my campaigning time has been more limited than in a traditional campaign. I have never pretended to be anything other than what I am – a concerned citizen and parent who will fight for change with the resources at hand while refusing to compromise my integrity.

We have a political system in which the candidate who raises the most money almost always wins, and the best fundraisers are usually the ones who share Congressman Davis’ moral flexibility with regards to special interest cash. The result is a Congress that most Americans don’t trust to work in the best
interest of our nation and the voters.

I am a small money candidate. I am not taking a single dime of special interest money. Obviously, this makes my chances of winning lower, but if I am elected I will work for the voter – not for special interests.

Michael Kelley MD

Sources:

• Enquirer Endorses Davis
• Davis Votes 94% with Republicans
• Davis’ Party Line Votes on Kids’ Healthcare, FISA, Iraq, Medicare Drug
  Negotiations, 9/11 Recommendations
• U.S. Eavesdropping on Innocent American Citizens
• Lexington Herald Leader Article Exposes Davis’ Shakedown of Financial Industry
• Davis’ Career Take from Financial Industry – 1.5 Million

Here’s Trey Pollard on Davis being a total wuss:

With incumbent U.S. Rep. Geoff Davis (R-Ft. Mitchell) skipping last night’s 4th Congressional District candidate forum on Kentucky Educational Television, Davis’ Democratic opponent slammed the incumbent on numerous issues and defended himself from earlier attacks by the Republican.

Last week, Davis’ campaign said its candidate wouldn’t debate physician Michael Kelley (D-Lagrange), claiming Kelley “is not taking this race seriously” and pointing to Kelley’s low fundraising take. That jab afforded Kelley the chance to launch into a critique of the campaign finance system during last night’s televised appearance.

“Saying that I am not a serious candidate because I am not going to wade into the sewer and grab special interest cash no matter how slimy or filthy it makes me – well, I guess I disagree with him on that one,” said Kelley.

You’ll definitely want to read the rest. And then read the Herald-Leader’s editorial about Davis and people like Mitch McConnell being total chickens.

If you missed the debate, definitely go watch the archive on KET’s website. Sickening that Davis didn’t have the guts to show.

Kathy Stein is leading Chuck Ellinger 55% to 33%. The 13th District Senate race is over. Chuck needs to hang up his hat and get on with his life. There’s no way a Republican can win election in liberal land. Kathy’s even leading in the name i.d. field 61 to 32. Ouch. [PolWatchers]

Update: Just because Kathy is way ahead doesn’t mean Democrats should be complacent. Everybody needs to pony up the cash.

Geoff Davis leads Michael Kelley 58% to 36% in the latest SurveyUSA poll. Independents favor Davis by 21 points. Unfortunately, the race is over. But imagine what could happen if there were a candidate in the race who actually did fundraising and campaigned against Davis? Hoo boy, Geoff’s days are numbered. [SurveyUSA]

What was that about poor Renee True not breaking the rules? Yeah, so, PVAs were told not to hire their relatives. She did so anyway, obviously. By the way, does True remind anyone of Sarah Palin? Kinda? Totally creeps us out. [Mark Hebert]

All the nutbags in Louisville are getting worked up over St. Xavier and Trinity high school football games. Good lord! Check out those comments. People really get fired up. [The 'Ville Voice]

McConnell totally wussed out and bailed on the KET debate. Blaming KET for being inflexible with its schedule? Give me a break. Mitch McConnell is afraid to debate Bruce Lunsford. Afraid. Absolutely afraid. Grow a pair, Mitch. [The Arena]

CLICKY CLICKY

The Journal-Times incorrectly gives the Courier-Journal credit for reporting on the Felner emails last week. Credit should go to WHAS11′s Adam Walser and this site. But we love how mainstream newspapers love to ignore the facts. It wouldn’t be a normal day without some newspaper– usually the C-J– jacking some sort of story up. [Journal-Times]

The Herald-Leader editorial board is none too happy with Mitch McConnell and his filibustering everything. Everything from curbs on oil speculation, home heating and cooling assistance for the poor and elderly, tax credits for wind and solar energy along with clean coal and electric vehicles. Yay, the McConnell way of life is great for our country. [H-L]

Thought we were finished with this gambling stuff? Does anyone really care about slot machines at race tracks? Will anyone actually support Greg Stumbo’s attention-seeking bill? We can all agree that using the revenue to replace vehicle taxes would be nice, but come on. [C-J]

How did Kentucky end up on the sidelines in presidential election years? We have fewer African Americans, we’re more conservative, yadda yadda. And no one important is stopping by Fancy Farm this year. Daniel Mongiardo reminds us of his loss to Jim Bunning. [H-L]

We all know how Geoff Davis voted when congress was working to extend FDA authority over tobacco. So take a look at Michael Kelley’s response to Geoff’s ridiculous decision to vote no. [Barefoot & Progressive]

And in the 4th District (Ashland, etc.), second-termer Geoff Davis (R), heretofore considered a shoo-in, has a similarly tepid lead — for an incumbent — of 54% to 41% over political neophyte Michael Kelley (D), a self-described “country doctor.”

It’s pretty clear to those of us on the ground here in Kentucky that the 13-point spread between Davis and Kelley is a result of Republican unfavorables. But it should still signal to everyone that Davis doesn’t have a cake walk on his hands. He may actually have to fight against the guy the Kentucky Democratic Party and DCCC has totally ignored. (Prove to me that either entity has done jack for Kelley before complaining)

Thoughts?

Check it out:

Part 1

See the rest after the jump…

Part 2