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Coming Soon: Legislative Report Cards
2008-04-17 01:19:00
So how did our regional legislators fair in the 2008 regular session of the Kentucky General Assembly? We will review as many bills as possible and if any passed. Also, if it doesn't turn into a full time job, we will review some crucial votes from our esteemed legislators. We will also blister a few if needed, I am sure a few need it. Rep. Rick Nelson (D) House District 87 Rep. Charlie Siler (R) House District 82 Rep. Leslie Combs (D) House District 94 Rep. Scott Alexander (D) House District 84 - did he show up? Rep. Ancel Smith (D) House District 92 Rep. Jim Stewart (R) House District 86 Rep. Tim Couch (D) House District 90 State Senator Brandon Smith (R) State Senator Johnny Ray Turner (D) State Senator Robert Stivers (R)
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Governor Beshear's First Session a Failure
2008-04-16 23:52:00
Times have changed, the days of loyalty to your Governor is over, no matter how important the issues. This session is a complete failure on many fronts, most notably it will be considered a failure and a black X for Governor Beshear's first year in office. The buck stops with him and he must bear the brunt of the criticism. Casinos: A 30 day into the session proposal probably is the single most important reason the measure failed. The horse racing industry and the politics surrounding the number of guaranteed gaming facilities at the tracks was a catalyst to delay, obstruct, and ultimately destroy the proposed legislation. It was an orchestrated obstruction of this legislation and it ultimately damaged the relationship between the horsie set and the Governor. Without that team, Casinos will only be a discussion not a reality, ever. The Budget: A miserable session and the sweeping cuts issued by Governor Beshear before the session set the stage for a budget that is both anemic a...
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Bruce Lunsford Touts 2003 Fletcher Endorsement
2008-04-15 23:54:00
I guess Larry Keeling was board absolutely to death Saturday and stopped by a Lunsford meet and greet. Keeling posted on his blog that Bruce Lunsford is attempting to spin his endorsement of former Governor Ernie Fletcher (R) in 2003 in a way that it will aid him in the fall. Bruce Lunsford is attempting to slam Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R) for abandoning Fletcher during the blackberry jam scandal and the spin is he supported Fletcher and McConnell did not. Huh? He is trying to sale his endorsement of Fletcher in a way that will get him Republican crossover votes. As stupid as it sounds that is what he is attempting to do. I don't know who is running his campaign but this is ridiculous. Keeling tried to stomp on Lunsford for looking to the fall before we wins in the spring, unless he drops out or Lord forbid he dies, he will certainly win. SurveyUSA has released new poll results and the other candidate Fischer has 9%, yea 9 fricking 9%, but he is a viable candidat...
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Mark David Goss is resigning from the Kentucky Public Service Commission (P
2008-04-15 23:43:00
Harlan native Mark David Goss is resigning from a sweet appointment with the PSC, Public Service Commission . He said in his statement that he doesn't really know what he will do after his resignation. I suspect if he resides in Harlan some will be pushing him toward running for something in 2010 or 2011.

Barack Obama is Climbing up a Slime Covered Slope
2008-04-14 23:45:00
I have been watching our great national media's reaction to Illinois Senator Barack Obama 's heartburn over the last month. His oh shit with Reverend White, his oh shit when he tossed rural America under the bus pandering to an elitist San Fran crowd and now he is fighting back about those comments. CNN has been reporting all day that Obama is refusing to back down about his comments that us gun toting, bible thumping bigoted ass country folk are bitter rural Americans. I have also been soaking up his poor wife's embarrassing attempt to defend her husband's statements as well. We live in isolation, and because of that isolation we fear one another. Now we are bitter, gun toting, bible thumping, bigoted ass, isolated, scared of the blacks! rural Americans. We fear one another? This solidifies that he has no clue who rural Americans are inside, he is severely out of touch with most of America. Some blogs in Kentucky have used this opportunity to remind their congregations that...
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Page One Says Trey Grayson is "A" Awesome "Speech Giver"! Feel better
2008-04-14 23:19:00
Lets see how awesome little Mitch McConnell "Trey Grayson"  is in 2011, I am sure when his daddy Mitch is stumping for him for Governor, he will not be so awesome. Page One is a savvy look at politics but not a very forward thinking look at politics in Kentucky.   When the other,,, or Republican blogs call Grayson Awesome in a couple of years when he is gearing up for a gubernatorial run remember Page One said it first.
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Trey Grayson Attacks Governor Beshear
2008-04-14 11:00:00
Secretary of State Trey Grayson (R) is gearing up for a run for Governor , you can take that to the bank. He is already producing live sketches attacking Governor Steve Beshear (D). Grayson reportedly issued the Democratic Governor a political report card at the Northern Kentucky's Lincoln Day dinner last night. Pol Watchers has his speech (here). Governor Beshear has had a horrible start and now has to peddle up hill to gain any political momentum and only has one more budget session to get it right. The way I figure it is he has a small window of time to reinvent himself or his administration, I am done being nice about it. I will predict that a few in the Democratic party will be beating their heads against the wall for not working harder to elect Bruce Hendrickson and snuffing out Grayson when they had the chance. He will be a monster by 2011.
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President Jimmy Carter is a Traitor if he Meets with Hamas
2008-04-14 10:00:00
I think it is time for former President Jimmy Carter (D) to hang it up, you know retire on one of his peanut farms in Georgia. Carter should be considered a traitor and arrested if he negotiates with Hamas . If any other American citizen went as far as to seek out the terrorist group Hamas and have a sit down with them, would be detained on sight upon their return to the United States, but I suspect he will get away with it and advance his Anti-Semitic agenda. The former President has called Israel "a system of apartheid" and has issued many stupid comments in regards to Israel, he said in his poorly written book , Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid, that the militant group Hezbollah "was formed in Lebanon in 1982 to resist the Israeli occupation". The last time I check Hezbollah was formed with one goal in mind, death to Israel and the West.
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The KKK Really is the Invisible Empire, No Public Rally in Pineville
2008-04-13 18:27:00
The Klan have seemingly abandoned a scheduled public rally in Pineville, I have not heard one word and rode around the small town for an hour or so last night looking, but saw nothing. Someone asked last night for an update, well the Lexington Herald Leader has been paying attention. The word on the street was that some officials in Bell County were planning on turning a blind eye to the so called Aryan Bash 2008, but I suspect the massive public reaction may have played a roll in these same officials changing their tune over the past few weeks. What people do in private is their business, even the KKK has the right to meet and stomp all they want. But it certainly looked like the people of Bell County were not going to entertain the Klan in public. Even I was surprised at the response and it was all due to the Internet blog and forum and the medium's ability to get the word out.
More About: Public , Rally , Empire , Invisible

Obama's Remarks are Changing Minds, Does his Apology cut it?
2008-04-12 22:23:00
Too bad Obama feels the need to pander to the extreme left in San Fran by throwing moderate Democrats or RURAL DEMOCRATS under the bus. I have been soaking up some of Obama's comments over the past few weeks and I am disappointed. I have removed his banner for now; I am now soaking up his apology for slamming the rural citizen. MUNCIE, Indiana (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, attacked by his rivals as an elitist for describing small-town voters as people who "cling to guns or religion," said on Saturday he erred in how he expressed the concerns of those voters. UPDATE SUN: I have a new nick-name on Bluegrassroots,  "/People Caught Up In Self-Interest" This is what happens in politics, and I am guilty of it as well, when you don't agree, people want to get nasty. Well Ben Ray, you can kiss my ass! I warned everyone that my Give-A-Damn Box was breaking and now it is broke.  
More About: Minds , Changing , Apology

UPDATED: Riddle me this: What Candidate for State Representative...
2008-04-12 01:40:00
UPDATE SUN 12PM: Riddle me this: The name has been written but what does it mean? What sins of his honor have been buried and not yet seen?  UPDATE SAT 1PM: Riddle me this: What clues in the comments 1, 2 maybe more can be used to eliminate 159 down to 4. Riddle me this: What Candidate for State Representative can be described by a Creedence Clearwater Revival song and certainly can claim to be grateful for Kentucky's somewhat confusing expungement laws? I will give a little more tomorrow. One thing is for sure, if they are reading this "the candidate in question" and are smart enough to figure out, should drop out of this race and fast.
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F.B.I Investigating Highway Contracts Awarded under Fletcher
2008-04-09 14:50:00
Current Transportation Secretary Joe Prather confirmed the F.B.I was investigating the department. Another official with the Kentucky DOT says the feds are looking into the possibility that confidential cost estimates may have been leaked to potential bidders for state contracts. That is, of course, highly illegal. http://www.wkyt.com/wymtnews/headlines/17 417334.html
More About: Contracts , Highway , Fletcher

Future of Da Blog
2008-04-09 14:23:00
Bright is the future I say, and while we covet the outsider reputation, we appreciate other view points. BUT and this is a big BUT, too many of our so called leading blogs are playing musical chairs, following me today games and that makes for a boring as hell Kentucky blogosphere. The Black Wolf Motorcycle Club (MC) is close to being up and running. That will be the last mention of the Black Wolf MC here, unless we are announcing a public event. Make no mistake, while our main mission is to raise awareness for Native American graves, this is a motorcycle club, so be mindful of that when you see one of our Brothers out and about. We wish Diane Brumback all the luck in the world in her fight with breast cancer. Everyone deals with cancer, I think it is a life requirement these days.
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New Project - Back in a Couple of Days
2008-04-06 19:52:00
I have a new project and I will be tied up with that project for a couple of days. The Black Wolf Motorcycle Club (MC) will be formed by summer, hopefully. We will be a constant presence in Harlan, Bell, Knox, Clay, Perry, Letcher, Whitley and Laurel Counties for the protection of our Native American Graves. We are a fun loving MC and want nothing to do with the OMG tag and will be an incorporated 501(c)(3), which means don't bring politics into the clubhouse. Changing
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U.S Senate Candidate Kenneth Stepp: "You can't buy a Democratic nomination"
2008-04-04 23:32:00
We appreciate when Kenneth Stepp leaves well thought out comments on this little blog. A comment left in our thread on Col. Andrew Horne's endorsement of U.S Senate Candidate Bruce Lunsford (D) needs to be posted. So here it is. U.S. Senate Candidate Kenneth Stepp (D) Like Andrew Horne, I am on the Democratic Primary ballot for U.S. Senator KY May 20, I am a veteran, I am a lawyer, and I was on the Democratic Primary ballot for U.S. House in 2006. I'm surprised that Andrew Horne endorsed Bruce Lunsford instead of me. You can't buy a Democratic nomination, as Bruce Lunsford should've learned in his unsuccessful run for Governor against Steve Beshear, and in his unsuccessful run for Governor against Ben Chandler. If Kentucky Democrats want a workhorse, they will vote for Kenneth Stepp for U.S. Senate D-KY; if they just want a showhorse, they will vote for a millionaire.
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Pineville Mayor Bobby Madon: "We've been so fortunate to have wonderful bla
2008-04-04 15:36:00
Do what?? Fortunate to have wonderful black people! I am not even going to analyze that comment because I will be the one to get it. As we reported here in March, the KKK is planning a 3 day event in Pineville called "Aryan Bash 2008" and since the first story drafted about the subject Pineville Mayor Bobby Madon's phone has been ringing off the hook. He is now singing a different tune about how welcome the KKK really is in Pineville, Madon now says the Klan will NOT be allowed to hold a three day rally. But the last quote from Madon in today's Lexington Herald Leader article takes the cake. "We've been so fortunate to have wonderful black people," http://www.kentucky.com/779/story/366109. html
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Col. Andrew Horne Shows He is a Real Democrat
2008-04-04 01:42:00
What a day to go out of town, the budget passes and goes to the governor and Col. Andrew Horne endorses Bruce Lunsford. We had heard rumors it was coming but never bothered to confirm it. I am a supporter of Andrew Horne and thought he was handed a crappy deal. He displayed today why he is a REAL Democrat . I am a partisan hack a Democrat to the end, a party person. That fact sometimes skews my thinking toward the party line and reflects the politics of it all instead of the gut wrenching reality. I am an idealistic Democrat, I still believe this is the best PARTY and the majority of Kentucky Democrats make this state great. But towing the party line is sometimes impractical, impossible and despicable. I listen to the old timers, the people with a few grey hairs, they have the gift of life wisdom. It pays for a young person to listen to their elders and respect them. When I first got involved in politics a old Harlan County Magistrate gave me my first real dose of political advic...
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Complete Incompetence Describes This Session
2008-04-03 04:22:00
I have to rant, again, about the need for recurring revenue in our budget Our budget process has became politicized, but isn't it always, and we have no options for revenue and the most disappointing aspect of this session, besides the fact that virtually NOTHING happened, is the fact the we had choices. Mark Hebert has coined this budget as the "trust me budget" because House leaders are begging members to vote YES for NO projects with the promise they will create a magical bill to give them their projects later and it will magically pass both chambers of the Kentucky General Assembly before session end. Throw casinos to the hungry wolves, its over, with KEEP going after Governor Beshear's throat we might as well declare the possibility dead. And so goes the revenue that would have been generated from the concept. We may experience another disaster in regards to the failure of casino gaming in Kentucky and that disaster is the likely deterioration of Kentucky's horse racing ...
More About: Incompetence , Complete

Not So Fast Stumbo, House Speaker Richards Says Budget Will Pass House
2008-04-03 00:07:00
House Speaker Jody Richards (D) is predicting the holy moly tooth picks and glue budget patched together by politics instead of reality will pass the State House but Rep. Harry Moberly (D) says he will NOT vote for it. Moberly did not say why he just said NO. Richards also said he is ABSOLUTELY running for speaker next year and is not concern about Stumbo, if one reads between the lines, it means Stumbo is creating a faction in the House and word is spreading. Who will win? Do I care? I will say this, Stumbo would at least fight back against King David Williams and that is a step up in my book.
More About: House , Budget , Fast , Pass

Brereton Jones Slams Governor Beshear
2008-04-02 05:06:00
This could get ugly fast and if this situation is not tamed quickly it could create yet another rift in the ever growing fault-line for casinos in Kentucky. Former Governor Brereton Jones (D) told Bloodhorse.com that Beshear's handling of this years casino legislation was improperly handled. As we had said before, we heard some rumblings within KEEP in regards to the casino legislation and had no reason to believe it would go all the way to the top. But now it appears the gloves are off and Jones is ready for a fight. If KEEP thinks they can lead the charge for casinos in Kentucky without the leadership of Governor Beshear, they might as well pack up and move because it will never happen. Also Governor Jones slammed Beshear over the debacle that was the 30th Senate District special election and again has shown that people outside of this region have NO IDEA what they are talking about. The issues here ran a lot deeper than Beshear backing the Democratic candidate, a lot deeper....

Is Rep. Greg Stumbo Making His Move?
2008-04-02 04:52:00
Cyberhillbilly says his sources are indicating that this could be the Coup de' ta we have been anticipating and the bear-trap we knew House Speaker Jody Richards (D) would step in. Cyber's sources suggest that Rep. Greg Stumbo (D) is leading a group of bipartisan house members against the inadequate budget forced upon us from the Senate majority. If Greg Stumbo manages to defeat this budget in the State House, he would be in a perfect position to challenge Richards for the top spot in the House majority. Many mountain legislators are unhappy about the elimination of all coal severance projects in this budget. All projects would appear to be under the command of GOLD and that could start small civil wars in many coal house districts among the representatives and the county judge executives. Governor Beshear is rumored to be starting a charge of his own and has already voiced his displeasure for this so called budget, a budget with no reoccurring revenues. I smell a special sessi...
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House Speaker Richards Whipped Again, Budget full of Funny Money
2008-04-01 18:37:00
As we expected House Speaker Jody Richards has been whipped again by Senate Republicans and mainly Senate President David Williams in regards to the our Funny Money Budget . While lawmakers will apparently enjoy a 5% increase in the legislative budget the rest of the Commonwealth is slashed. The revenue that is included in this budget is mysterious to say the least. First the budget will be funded by a so called savings from some 3400 state employees that are scheduled to retire at the end of this year and as said before our legislators couldn't wait to claim the money. But does anyone out there actually believe those jobs will go unfilled? I would predict that 3/4 of those jobs will be filled by mid-2009 so 3/4 of some $85 million would evaporate. That is called funny money. More funny money was created by squeezing $7 million from our state lottery, Mark Hebert had a wonderful analysis in regards to what it would take to increase those revenues from the state lottery. We would hav...

Barack Obama Wins Texas Delegate Race
2008-04-01 03:50:00
Even though Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by a very narrow margin in the Texas Democratic primary, Barack Obama has edged her out in the total delegate count according to the AP. If you remember, once the Democratic primary was complete the state went into caucus mode and Texas has pretty much been in total chaos from then on. The Associated Press has award some 9 remaining delegates and Obama is the delegate winner in Texas. Obama leads Clinton 1,631 to 1,501 in the delegate race. Clinton is in big trouble.
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Greg Fischer's Trainwreck of a Campaign Could be in Trouble, it is time to
2008-04-01 01:35:00
Page One has apparent proof of yet another snafu for Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Greg Fischer as they may have clearly violated Kentucky's Charitable Gaming laws. I have a close friend that runs a charitable gaming operation and I will tell you this, if you don't dot every I and cross every T you are in for it and it appears Greg Fischer is in for it. What moron would run a raffle and not know Kentucky laws in regards to raffles! Page One Fischer’s manager, A.J. Carrillo, outlines an opportunity for the supporter that is able to raise the most $25 contributions by midnight tonight (March 31) to win two tickets (valued at $1,500 for the pair) to attend the event. Individuals donating $100 are given the same opportunity to receive one of five pairs of tickets and if you’re one of 20 high-rollers and contribute $1,500, the campaign will also give you a pair of tickets. And to beat it all Greg Fischer is being destroyed in a recent SurveyUSA Poll, he is not only bei...
More About: Time , Campaign

Will These Secret Budget Negotiations Produce Fruit?
2008-03-31 13:00:00
We know we need revenue and we had an opportunity to inject a massive amount of new revenue into the Commonwealth's economy with expanded gaming, but we failed to realize the importance of that strategic plan. Now we have a few choices, yes I am still pounding my shoe on the table about those three choices, casinos, higher taxes, or cut services. Now it does not matter how many ways you stack crap, at the end of the day it is only stacked crap. This oil painting budget is only a pretty picture of political spin, not a viable budget that will create opportunity for this Commonwealth. The House has the better of the two budget plans, the Senate being the obvious nemesis here. Even with a 25% increase in the cigarette tax it will create revenue, the Senate's plan in regards to a rearrangement in lottery revenues is that classic funny money approach, a political ploy for an election year. Many on the Senate can stand and say "we did not raise taxes" while it will cause crue...
More About: Fruit , Secret , Budget , Negotiations , Produce

Obama is rising and staying steady in National poll
2008-03-31 12:19:00
Many national pundits are predicting an historical bloodletting in Pennsylvania between the Democratic candidates and the GOP is praying for that analysis to become reality. The infighting in the Democratic party may just create a very difficult situation for our party nominee and cause our candidate to be at a huge disadvantage in the fall. Clinton fever spread throughout Kentucky like a bad flu this weekend and it looks like Hillary will shore up Kentucky as many had predicted. Obama has been climbing steady in the National Gallop poll and has seemingly stabilized at the most crucial time in this Democratic primary. With Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey's endorsement, it will hopefully pull Obama a little closer in the Keystone State. According to a recent Rasmussen poll, Clinton leads Obama by 10 points. Hopefully Obama's national trends translate into a close race in Pennsylvania. Obama would certainly covet a Beshear endorsement, and as much as I support Obama, Beshear would ...
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Budget Hypocrisy Revealed, Everyone Suffers Except the House
2008-03-28 03:59:00
Mark Hebert did the math and read the fine print to reveal a ridiculous and disappointing showing of State House hypocrisy in regards to our destitute state budget. Rep. Harry "funny money" Moberly (D) has been caught sneaking in an additional 5% increase for the House for each of the next two years while the rest of the Commonwealth suffers. Moberly explains it away as the need for a House rainy-day fund, you know to cover special sessions and such, sure Harry we all believe you, we really do. I am sure his trash will soon be vetted by lobbyists for social service groups and our state's universities, but I am sure EKU will find a way to get theirs. Governor Steve Beshear (D) is not happy and hopefully he finds a way to veto this budget, if it passes or lobby to remove the increase, better yet take that increase that the State House sure thinks should be added to the budget and beef up our soon to be gutted social services. 
More About: Hypocrisy , Budget , The House

Casinos in Kentucky Are Officially Dead
2008-03-27 23:23:00
Again the Kentucky General Assembly refuses to listen to the people and allow a vote for and or against casinos in Kentucky. Governor Beshear has conceded the casino issue in 2008. It is not a victory for any opposition group or any one group of legislators. It is another example of a dysfunctional legislative body and its willingness to allow egos and petty politics to dictate the future of our Commonwealth. No one can blame Governor Beshear for what is to come, being higher taxes and or massive cuts in services, he tried. If I would have had his ear at the start, I would have begged him to bury the enabling legislation and concentrate on the ballot initiative. But the Commonwealth needed the cash sooner than later, now the Commonwealth gets nothing. 
More About: Dead , Casinos

Aryan Bash 2008 to held in Pineville, Mayor says they are Welcome
2008-03-27 23:06:00
UPDATE SAT 11:05AM: I have received a couple of phone calls informing me that I should not ridicule the Klan. Now I have not been threatened but I told them without hesitation that they can F**K OFF, I will ridicule anyone I please. Now do not pass threats on this blog, I do not condone it. You read it right, “Aryan Bash 2008 ”, that means the following upstanding groups will take over the small town of Pineville for a couple of days in April; Appalachian Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, American National Socialist Workers’ Party (ANSWP) (Nazis), Hammerskins, Brotherhood of Klans (BOK), and Keltic Knights, Imperial Klans of America (IKA) and the Empire Knights. It also means if you are Black, Indian, Jewish, Catholic,,,oh shit, if you ain't some piece of shit racist idiot you will not be welcome to attend this bash. To beat it all Pineville Mayor Bobby Madon says "They are welcome to come, they have constitutional rights", he is correct about the constitutional part b...
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Ramond Harris to Get Life in Paul Browning Jr Murder
2008-03-26 22:47:00
Raymond Harris will likely avoid the death penalty and spend the rest of his natural life behind bars. But many in Harlan simply do not think this story is over. Deputy and former neighbor Mike Petra has either been fired or resigned in connection to a third covert video tape that mysteriously showed up in a Sheriff's department evidence file cabinet last week. Quite a few people are shaking in their boots right now and the feeling in Harlan is a few more will go to jail for this murder.
More About: Murder , Life , Paul