President Barack Obama is treading fearfully – not carefully – on gay issues in his bid for re-election. [Reuters]

Today Taiwan gave Kentucky a $20,000 donation for the American Red Cross of Kentucky for storm and flood damage. So what on earth does Taiwan want from Kentucky? [Press Release]

Could a tax cut lift the debt ceiling? [WaPo]

University of Louisville President Jim Ramsey says the state pension system should turn into a 401(k)-type plan to save money/so you can lose it all faster. Call us crazy, but we’re not so sure Jim Ramsey has a clue what he’s talking about. Not exactly the sharpest tack on the wall when it comes to speaking in public [Ryan Alessi]

We have to wonder if anyone is shocked that Steve Beshear is attempting to politically benefit from AT&T’s investment in Kentucky. [H-L]

Louisville mayor Greg Fischer caused a bit of a problem for himself by downplaying tornado damage. [The 'Ville Voice]

And caused yet another problem for himself by causing EVEN MORE drama with Louisville Metro Animal Services! [More VV]

Some teabagger legislator lady decided she would just pass a law making a law she hates illegal. Teabagger logic never ceases to amaze us. [Wonkette]

Yep, Republicans are going to jack around with the budget so they can force meemaw and poppop out of nursing homes. [HuffPo]

President Barack Obama’s Afghanistan exit strategery is drawing mixed reviews in Congress. [NY Times]

Environmentalists and liberal celebrities are planning a White House protest. It’s just a shame they don’t come to Kentucky where they could make an impact on a deeper level. [Politico]

Because the war on drugs totally works, amiright??? The United States is going to sink umpteen million more dollars into the fight. [BBC]

The U.S. is set to release 30 million barrels of oil from its reserve. Folks in Old Yerp are figgna release another 30 million. [NPR]

Al Mohler, head of the Southern Baptist Cult, says he needs to brainwash a “very militant community of homosexuals.” Yep. We’re all militant. We think Mohler needs to focus on the sin of gluttony and greed. [C-J/AKN]

It is sad that Michael Steele might not run for the Republican National Committee chairmanship. Mike Duncan won’t be nearly as entertaining. [NY Times]

Oh, there’s hope after all! He may be running again! [HuffPo]

Even *I* think Rand Paul’s win over Jack Conway was one of the top ten political moments of 2010. It didn’t make the Washington Post list, though. [WaPo]

The Public Service Commission says a split of the 270 area code in Western Kentucky isn’t needed at this time. So the new 364 area code won’t be happening. [Press Release]

What are your redistricting predictions for Kentucky? Thoughts? Hopes? [Amanda Van Benschoten]

Those of you with older loved ones and family members, take note: good cholesterol has been linked to a reduced risk for Alzheimer’s Disease. [Bloomberg]

Wanna help a child? Here’s your chance to give back this year. [Family & Children's Place]

The Kentucky Horse Park wants a hotel on its grounds. Does it need it? [H-L]

If you live in Northern Kentucky, you’re woah more familiar with orange man John Boehner than the rest of the state. And you’re way more familiar with his self-tanner addiction. [Wonkette]

How much more of a panderer could he be? Can’t wait til the Ark Park discriminates in hiring on the basis of religion so we can then ask Steve Beshear WTF he’s thinking. Tax incentives for a religious institution. Ha. [H-L]

We can thank Papaw Steve Beshear for the national embarrassment this week. There’s plenty where this came from. [Wonkette]

Like this segment from Countdown on MSNBC last night. It’s only going to get worse. [Countdown]

Have you seen this hilarious new ark park cartoon by Marc Murphy? Funniest man alive. In Kentucky, I mean. [Fakebook]

A 28-foot Norway Spruce was delivered in Frankfort yesterday to serve as the Capitol Christmas tree. Guess the gullible mouthbreathers can’t freak out about how Papaw Beshear hates Christmas this year. [Press Release]

The Public Service Commission ordered the Magoffin County Water District to upgrade its supply sources. The PSC says it lacks a sufficient water supply to deal with drought or heavy usage. [Press Release (Warning: PDF Link)]

Sarah The Quitter Palin came to Lexington to sign a book she claims to have written. Rascal scooters came from miles around. [H-L]

Remember all those Mike Duncan text messages? He’s finally admitted that he’s considering another bid for the the chairmanship of the Republican National Committee. [Enquirer]

Wall Street got a blank check. Literally borrowing money from the Fed at 0.0078 percent interest. While two million Americans are losing unemployment benefits. [HuffPo]

Rosa Parks refused to sit in the back of the bus 55 years ago yesterday. [Politico]

Duncan’s folks is running a text message campaign that sends this message (paraphrased) to his database of contacts:

Can you go to www.chooseyourchairman.com and vote for Mike Duncan? Can you also get some of your other friends to do it too?

Here’s a screengrab of the site the message directs recipients to:

CLICK TO VISIT SITE

The messages come from various state & local Republican Party chairpeople – folks we thought were required to remain loyal to known crazy person and current chairman, Michael Steel.

Will the teabaggers like that Duncan was once a director of the federal reserve bank?

Guess things are gonna get interesting.

Other prominent Kentucky Republicans gave speeches, as well, so let’s take a look at what they had to say…

U.S. Rep. Brett Guthrie:

U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers:

Peep speeches by Ed Whitfield & Mike Duncan after the jump…

U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield:

Former RNC Chairman Mike Duncan:

Governor

• Mike Duncan? Only if Richie can be talked out of it.

Auditor

• Damon Thayer?

Attorney General

• Rob Sanders?
• Bob Stivers (wow, unlikely)?

Secretary of State

• Joe Graviss (Democrat)
• Richie Farmer
• Tim Couch (the footballer)

Commissioner of Agriculture

• Keith Thomas (Democrat)
• Keith Rogers (Republican)

Thoughts on these fancy rumors?

It’s Day 9 of Golden B.S. Awards. Only one day to go. Make your nominations for each category ASAP. [Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8 & Day 9]

Don’t miss the very public meltdown of Louisville Metro Council’s Democratic Spokesman. Live. On the internets. [Page One Hilarity]

And don’t miss the comments about the near-riot situation in Louisville today. Complete with press releases from David Tandy. [More Page One]

For those of you who keep suggesting that the individual health insurance market could solve all of our problems. [Read It]

Mike Duncan spent $103,660 on his re-election bid for the RNC chairmanship. $30,800 of his personal funds. [Kentucky Gazette]

Hello, ladies, let’s track us some of that stimulus money here in Kentucky. The Commonwealth got more per capita funding than the national average. But Barack Obama hates Kentucky because it voted for John McCain, right? Make sure you check out the fancy county list of who got what. Trigg Co got $2,419 per capita. [ProPublica]

Peep the rest after the jump…

Via WHAS11′s Joe Arnold, we learn that Fairmount Park near St. Louis is ending its live racing program this month. Why? Because of a lack of revenue from casinos. And, no, Joe, we don’t have the entire campaign to debate issues. Not when the media is focusing on something so ridiculous. The least the media could do is focus on an instance of hypocrisy or two. [Racing Story & Conway Flap]

Kim Geveden said Jack Conway “folded like a cheap suit under the pressure.” But would a silver spoon, caviar elitist fold anything – let alone a cheap suit? Somebody needs to give Kimball a reminder that his talking points are becoming contradictory. [Politico]

Dear Paultards: This is why you aren’t being taken seriously by your fellow Republicans. [RON PAUL REVOLUTIONZ!!1!]

Did you hear Francene going crazy for an hour about how the White House has gone Orwellian by soliciting tips about disinformation campaigns? Huffington Post has the scoop on the shenanigans and the crazy RNC talking points. [HuffPo]

The Republican birthers are still wondering why John Yarmuth refuses to attend fake health care “town halls”? [TPM]

Beshear guy Larry Hayes was designated Vice-Chair of the Kentucky Commission on Military Affairs today. [Secretary of State Alert]

81,411 Kentuckians are still without power due to the wind storm. Ice storm restoration is now being slowed by our fancy weather from Wednesday. Let’s all scream and yell in frustration. [Press Release]

Thanks to Jim Gooch’s latest idiocy, OPERATION GOOCH is yet again in full swing. Bloviating on the “false promise” of alternative energy, Gooch is just asking for another national media appearance with which to embarrass the Commonwealth of Kentucky. [Barefoot & Progressive]

Stephenie Steitzer is liveblogging the State Senate debate on taxes. 16 senators say they plan to vote yes, 10 are firm no votes. 10 decline to say how they lean. [Stephenie Steitzer]

Isn’t it frustrating to watch this gambling legislation clear committees and such even though it’s on the “back burner”? It’s also a travesty that the gambling bill cleared the Licensing & Occupations committee despite most of the members never having seen a final version of the actual bill. [Bluegrass Politics here & here]

Former RNC Chair Mike Duncan has been chosen to serve as the new chairman of the Tennessee Valley Authority. [H-L]

The mother of a PRP football player who died after practicing on a hot day last summer supports Rep. Joni Jenkins’ sports safety bill. This bill’s chances of passing with a mere three weeks remaining in session are slim, but if if our legislature had any sense at all it’d be working overtime to get something so important pushed through the ranks. Instead, we’ll waste time bickering about gambling, smoking and drinking. [C-J]

Governor Steve Beshear is still wasting our time and tax dollars trying to take over domain names of illegal gambling websites. Our out-of-date Governor’s administration continually reminds us just how back water and ignorant they wish to be perceived every second they waste time and money on this ridiculous effort. We have thousands without jobs, losing their homes, starving. And this is what they waste OUR time and OUR money on. [The 'Ville Voice]

And because this is Kentucky and we love keeping ourselves poor and uneducated, we’re making giant cuts to education because a couple hundred obese jacks in Frankfort can’t get their butts in gear to solve a problem without fluffing their personal feathers first. [Mark Hebert]

Don’t forget to check out our pictures of Jennifer Moore and others from Wednesday night. Some of the photos are too priceless for words. Like Jennifer falling asleep during the meeting. [Page One]

Michael Steele won. (Update: Is winning, faces Katon Dawson)

(Duncan withdrew, technically)

UPDATE: From Huffington Post:

ncumbent Mike Duncan has officially dropped out of the running for RNC Chair, finalizing what was already shaping up as a bad day. With his votes freed up, Michael Steele vaults even further to the status of frontrunner. But Katon Dawson could be the biggest recipient of Duncan’s departure, now assuming the mantle of the party’s social conservative candidate. The fact that the sitting RNC chair is out after three ballots — when he came into the election as the favorite to hold unto the post — must be considered an upset as well as a reflection of just how unpopular people consider the status quo.

Another Update: Watch the proceedings live on CNN.com.

Yet Another Update: From the HuffPo story linked above:

Sure enough, Katon Dawson, the chair of the South Carolina GOP, jumps dramatically into the lead for next RNC Chair, edging out Michael Steele by a two vote margin in the fourth ballot.

And Now: Steele is up 79 to 69 as of last count.

UPDATE: Secretary of State Trey Grayson’s statement:

“Today a dear friend and mentor completed his service as the head of the Republican Party as he is succeeded by another good friend.

“My sincerest appreciation goes out to Mike Duncan for his great service to our party. His friendship and mentorship has helped shape my success and involvement in the Republican Party. There is no finer representation of our Party than Mike Duncan. Kentucky Republicans and Republicans across this great nation owe him our greatest gratitude as he has helped guide our party during the peaks and the valleys of electoral success. My best wishes are extended to Mike and his family as they continue their service to the Commonwealth and their beloved eastern Kentucky.

“My congratulations is extended to my good friend Michael Steele in his election. With his selection, the Republican National Committee has reaffirmed our Party’s commitment to reach across all divides to bring together a winning strategy for the principles that our Party holds dear. I know that Kentucky Republicans stand ready to assist him in electing great conservative leaders to guide our nation, commonwealth, and local communities. I can personally attest that his leadership abilities and vision for our party are exactly what is needed at this critical juncture.

“The Republican Party is stronger today because of Chairman Duncan’s service and will only continue to strengthen under the leadership of Chairman Steele.”

Let’s get one of these for Jim Gooch. [Blankets with Sleeves]

Folks in Frankfort are allegedly making progress on the disaster that is our state’s budget. [Ronnie Ellis]

Geoff Davis a special envoy to Iran? Are the Brits serious? [The Guardian]

Witnessing price gouging in your area? Let us know. Charging $4.89 for gasoline at a time like this is not acceptable. Or legal. [Page One]

Eric J. Frankl has been selected as interim executive director of the Blue Grass Airport in Lexington. Hopefully Frankl won’t spend $300,000 on strippers, luxury hotel rooms and gifts for his family. [H-L]

Kentucky’s Mike Duncan is struggling to keep his job as head of the Republican National Committee. [C-J]

Republicans are playing a high-risk game in search for ways to be relevant. Flexing their muscles and snubbing Obama could backfire. [Reuters]