Mitch McConnell

Why Kentucky Can’t Have Nice Things Dept

Blast from the past. Candidate for Treasurer Todd Hollenbach takes his dad on the campaign trail. People all across the state remember him so it’s boding well for the name ID factor. [AP via H-L]

Tough choices ahead? Rep. Ben Chandler furthers the myth that all terra-ists are “Islamic fundamentalists.” He also says there’s no free lunch and that it’s time to tighten our belts. [State-Journal]

Weird omen. Somewhere in Kentucky lives a losing filly bred by Brereton Jones. The name? First Lady Glenna. No kidding. Talk about an omen for Ernie. [KHR]

Captain Obvious. Jim Bunning says Trey Grayson and Richie Farmer face tough races thanks to Ernie’s (ahem) “endeavors.” Rare moment of Bunning clarity. Don’t blink. [Daily Times]

Ship jumpers. More than 250 former Fletcher supporters have contributed and contributed heavily to Steve Beshear. Does anyone think they’ll regret their contribution come November 6? Not likely. [PolWatchers]

Didn’t take long. Even CBS and The Politico are on the McConnell child-hating snafu. Hating kids doesn’t work. [CBS]

Both sides. Letter writers in Elizabethtown highlight their hatred of all things Democratic and the vivid McConnell-Fletcher dishonesty. Takes all kinds. [News-Enterprise]

McConnell Knew, Courier-Journal Chimes In

As we reported last night Senator Mitch McConnell lied to WHAS11’s Mark Hebert.

Could this story get any bigger? Talking Points Memo, Think Progress, Crooks & Liars, FireDogLake, CourtTV have all covered it. Now the Courier-Journal’s James Carroll gives it some legs.

WASHINGTON — Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell knew last week — at a time when he was denying it — that his staff had sent e-mails encouraging reporters to look into the background of a 12-year-old boy used by Democrats to support expansion of a health-care program.

In an interview Friday with WHAS-TV reporter Mark Hebert, the Kentucky Republican said his staff had not been involved in trying to push reporters to look into the financial situation of the boy’s family.

But McConnell’s communications director, Don Stewart, said in an interview Monday with The Courier-Journal that he had told McConnell about the Oct. 8 e-mails sometime around Thursday, the day before the interview with Hebert.

Environmental Insanity Featuring McConnell

Famed Olmstead Parks Conservancy will present Mitch McConnell with its top award on Friday, October 26 during the Roaring 20s Gala at the Henry Clay in Louisville. He’ll be receiving the Frederick Law Olmsted Award for Distinguished Leadership for his “contribution towards advancing our mission to restore, preserve and enhance Louisville’s Olmsted parks and parkways.”

Anyone else rolling their eyes at this laughable irony?

McConnell– the man who consistently receives a 0% rating from the League of Conservation Voters— is receiving an award from one of the most prominent parks and preservation organizations in the world.

Anti-McConnell groups have organized a demonstration to take place on Friday 10/26 from 5:00 – 8:30 P.M. at 3rd & Chestnut in Louisville.

Way to go Olmstead for drawing negative attention. We’re betting an entire bushel of apples that your membership could have come up with a much more deserving recipient of the award.

Cold Weekend Briefing Dept

Sliming Graeme Frost. Paul Krugman chimes in on Mitch McConnell’s role in trashing a 12-year-old boy as the downfall of health care. How is $45,000 in combined income a lot of money? McConnell’s wife and her tight family ties to Chinese shipping probably makes more than that each week. [NYT]

Too little too late? McConnell comes out of hiding to appear with Ernie. Everyone blinks. [H-L]

Seeking injunction. Greg Stumbo’s office seeks an injunction to block a Fletcher-appointed “ethics” panel from investigating the merit hiring scandal. Who in their right mind would let something like that go on, anyway? The “complaint” was filed by an anonymous “concerned citizen.” [PolWatchers]

Congressional Fashion Statement. Rep. John Yarmuth tries to get the Congress to, you know, understand who the heck they are and what they do. We’re shocked (shocked!) that several members of the House have no idea what Article 1 is. Not as shocked that Nancy Pelosi was afraid to wear a button. [NYT The Caucus]

New taxes. City employees campaigned on city time for the new Louisville library tax. Heads explode, library director Craig Buthod afraid to come out of hiding. Still, no one knows where their money will go. We just want to know where Beavis is. [C-J]

Need a paranormal break? The Applegate Landing bed & breakfast in West Point is apparently just the place to unwind. And it’s haunted. Should be an interesting place to check out in a neat little town. [News-Enterprise]

Just some headlines for your Friday

We’re satisfied with all the funny stuff in the news this week so we’ll spare you the commentary today.

Fletcher still trails Beshear in polls and fundraising [Daily Times]

Massaging the Numbers [C-J]

Fletcher, Beshear head to Paducah for debate [H-L]

Business First offers a misleading story: Kentucky’s tax climate for biz ranks 36th nationwide [Business First]

McConnell Staffer Linked to Criticism of 12-year-old [Hebert]

Taking on the Family Foundation’s craziness: Domestic Partners [C-J]

More Republicans Outraged by Fletcherism [StraightNFlush]