I'm gonna be sick

Starting in Centerfield for the Chicago Cubs today...

...Jim Edmonds.

To quote Bill Murray in Ghostbusters: "Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!"

More signs of the coming 2008 collapse of the Republican Party

As I mentioned this morning, the Republican Party has now lost 3 consecutive special elections this Spring in heavy Republican districts.

Just a sign of things to come.

Want some more evidence? Check out these numbers from red red red red Alaska (via Swing State Project):

Alaska- Congress at-large
Ethan Berkowitz (D): 50 (49)
Don Young (R-inc): 40 (42)

Alaska- Senate
Mark Begich (D): 48 (47)
Ted Stevens (R-inc): 43 (41)

Oh dear!!! The tubes must be clogged! This can't happen in Alaska, can it?!?

It sure can.

Bush compares Obama to Nazi appeasers, Lieberman piles on

George W. Bush is a miserable failure who has no shame.

Today in Israel, Bush essentially compared Barack Obama to Nazi appeasers. (Or "included" him, as Perino tries to spin).

Will Bunch basically lays out the obvious:

To use a diplomatic setting on foreign soil to score a cheap political point at home is way beneath your office, way beneath your country, and way beneath the people you serve. You have been handed an office once uplifted to great heights by fellow countrymen from Washington to Lincoln to Roosevelt to Eisenhower, and have plunged it so deeply into the Karl-Rove-and-Rush-Limbaugh-fueled world of political destruction and survival of all costs that have lost all perspective — and all sense of decency. To travel to Israel and to associate a sitting American senator and your possible successor in the Oval Office with those who at one time gave comfort to an enemy of the United States is, in and of itself, an act of political treason.

Yep.

Joe Biden called it "Bullshit and Malarkey"

Nancy Pelosi said it was ‘beneath the dignity of the office of the president and unworthy of our representation”

Rahm Emmanuel said "Does the President have no shame?"

John Kerry said he should apologize to the American people.

And Joe LIEberman? "The President got it exactly right"

What else would you expect from this man with no principle or shame?

Governor endorsements, and Beshear's big chance

As we saw yesterday, 4 former KY governors endorsed Hillary Clinton for President: including Paul Patton and John Y. Brown.

As the elitist Mark Hebert notes, what's more interesting is the name that is missing, that of our first female governor, Martha Lane Collins.

But Hebert misses the most glaring omission, however: that of Brereton Jones, who is close to Steve Beshear. Could Brereton's reluctance also signal reluctance on the part of Beshear?

Whereas the Lundergan-Governors John Y. Brown and Paul Patton are falling in line between the eventual-loser Hillary Clinton, there is a great opportunity for Steve Beshear to step away from the old guard of Lundercrooks and take a step towards the future of the Democratic Party: Barack Obama.

Many have credited the failure of the current legislative session to Beshear surrounding himself with the old guard Democrats. Wouldn't it send a great message if he turned his back on this crowd and joined the new vanguard of Democrats along with John Yarmuth, Ben Chandler and Dan Mongiardo?

How about it Steve? Would you like to join and score big points with the new wave of Democrats all over this state that reject the Lundergan-era Good ole' boys?

(and I echo Stephen Shepard's sentiments)

Kicking somebody when he's down

So Bruce Lunsford decided to punch back against Greg Fischer yesterday with a negative personal attack ad of his own.

A few thoughts on this:

First of all, it's completely unnecessary. We all know that Bruce is going to win this primary by a wide margin in 5 days, so why is it even necessary to go down this road? The only thing this ad accomplishes is alienating people who support Greg Fischer, who he is going to need once this election is over so he can take on Mitch McConnell. This rubs me as a petty grudge against Fischer's attacks more than anything. Sure, it sucks when someone attacks your character in an ad (regarding Vencor), but you have to get over that and do what's smart, and this ad doesn't strike me as that. It seems more like petty ego defense, just like his turning on Chandler in 2003. Yet I can't really blame Bruce for this, as we all know that he's not calling the shots in this campaign. Everyone knows that puppet master Achim Bergmann runs the show, and he made a tactical error in this case, in my opinion.

Second, if you're going to make a negative attack ad, why not make it against, you know, Mitch McConnell? After all, as I've said endlessly, it's all about Mitch. Eyes on the Prize, right? And, counter-punching or not, it seems pretty damn hypocritical to go after Fischer's business crap when you're making a big stink against his Vencor ads with the petition. That crap (and Fischer's family cradle-Democrats fudging) isn't even necessary to go down at this point.

Third, I think the argument that this ad is a response to poor internal polling is kind of ridiculous. Bruce is going to win this big.

I do find it odd that Fischer's camp doesn't even bother to release another bogus internal poll showing this as a sub-10 point race. It seems like the right strategy at this point to boost the morale of supporters who he needs to get out the vote. If his volunteers believe that he's down 20 points, many of them aren't even going to bother. Once more, it's almost like he doesn't want to win this race. His campaign has been a disaster from day one, when Fischer wouldn't open up his damn wallet and build his name ID statewide with ads.

Regardless, this thing is academic at this point, and Bruce really didn't need to go down this road.

Eyes on the prize, Bruce (Achim). It's about Mitch.

In Frankfort, some people matter more than others

The Herald-Leader has a few stories out today which show where the priorities of our legislators lie.

I can tell you where it isn't: meeting the needs or demands of the public.

First, as our state budget is in desperate need of money and we are facing big cutbacks in important programs, Frankfort has shown a complete unwillingness to do the right thing and increase the cigarette tax.

And the public? They want it.

A majority of 600 likely voters surveyed in a Herald-Leader/WKYT Kentucky Poll said they favor increasing the state’s cigarette tax by 70 cents to $1 a pack, a proposal unsuccessfully pushed by Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear during the 2008 session of the General Assembly.

The poll found that 55 percent support the tax increase, 34 percent oppose it and 11 percent were not sure.

***********

Most survey respondents also disagreed with the Republican-controlled state Senate’s decision to nix a 25-cent increase in the cigarette tax that cleared the Democratic-controlled state House.

Fifty-seven percent of those surveyed disagreed with the legislature’s decision, compared with 36 percent who agreed.

Republican Senate Leader David Williams is of course the big enemy, as he can simply threaten to vote down anything in the Senate. But it's disappointing that our Democrats couldn't even come up with a unified front for it.

And what do Kentuckians want in even larger numbers? A vote on casinos.

A Herald-Leader poll of 600 likely voters, conducted in early May, found that 81 percent disagreed with the General Assembly’s decision not to approve a constitutional amendment allowing casinos.

Those numbers are virtually unchanged from a similar poll in September.

Again, why go with what the public wants in a democracy when you can simply....

... do what the King Coal lobbyist tell you to do.

John Cheves shows where our dwindling budget dollars are going, in Jim Gooch's Kentucky.

FRANKFORT — Kentucky gives about $400,000 a year in tax dollars to the coal industry for public campaigns that promote mining, including the controversial practice of mountaintop removal.

The money is funneled through non-profit groups controlled by the coal industry, such as the Kentucky Foundation, which is run out of the Lexington office of the Kentucky Coal Association and led by Bill Caylor, the association's president, according to tax and corporate records.

The money is used largely for statewide classroom programs designed "to carry a positive message about the coal industry," according to records. A Web site with teaching materials and games describes mountaintop removal mining as "simply the right thing to do -- both for the environment and for the local economy -- a true win-win."

And what's sickening is that they knew this was wrong when presented with this ugly fact.

State officials ordered the Web site's content altered to sound more neutral this week after the Herald-Leader asked about it.

**************

After the Herald-Leader asked about www.coaleducation.org, a Web site run by the Kentucky Foundation, state officials acknowledged that some of its content crossed the line into marketing. One example: a page promoting mountaintop removal mining and attacking what it called "emotional statements in the press about this form of mining."

Mountaintop removal is actually good for the environment and does very little damage, according to the site.

"Only the topmost portion of the mountain is mined and generally leveled for the maximum recovery of coal," according to the site, which claims a daily average of 2,775 page views. "What's left is flatter, more useful land on the top of the mountain."

Excellent stuff... our tax dollars going towards selling our kids and citizens propaganda so they can satisfy the sick and greedy whims of Jim Caylor and all of his King Coal crooks.

And I'm glad that Ernie Fletcher is gone and we have a Democrat in the Governor's mansion, but this is damned hard to swallow:

Faced with a tight state budget, then-Gov. Ernie Fletcher diverted money from the coal education program to help balance the books during his four years. The coal industry was irritated but held its tongue, said Caylor at the Kentucky Coal Association. However, Beshear has restored the program to its full strength.

So... to all of those students paying increased tuition rates: take heart in the fact that those extra dollars you're paying are going to pay for the propaganda being taught to the students you just left behind in high school.

My Old Kentucky Home.

(and I should note that this is yet another example of why John Cheves is the best damned journalist in this state. Just like his series on the prison system in KY shamed our legislature into action, his work on this issue has already shamed Beshear's office into action and will hopefully lead to a public outcry that ends this ridiculous waste of our tax dollars.)
.

Lotsa National News

A lot of stuff happening since my internet went out at 5:00 yesterday... (you don't want to be around me when my internet isn't working... frightening stuff...)

-John Edwards endorses Barack Obama. Better late than never, John. And Barack: John edwards will be a GREAT Attorney General. The corrupt ones within Corporate America are shaking in their boots.

-Have you heard that George W. Bush is sacrificing, just like our troops in Iraq? Why, in August of 2003, he tells us that he gave up golf as his tribute of sorts to the sacrifice of American troops.

How touching.

National treasure Keith Olbermann rips him a new one. But as the Post's Dan Froomkin points out today, Bush's golf story isn't accurate at all. How surprising that Bush would deceive us, eh?

-George Bush's America: one in which we torture prisoners to death.

The NCIS document contains new information about the deaths of some of these prisoners, including details about Farhad Mohamed, who had contusions under his eyes and the bottom of his chin, a swollen nose, cuts and large bumps on his forehead when he died in Mosul in 2004. The document also includes details about Naem Sadoon Hatab, a 52-year-old Iraqi man who was strangled to death at the Whitehorse detainment facility in Nasiriyah in June 2003; the shooting death of Hemdan El Gashame in Nasiriyah in March 2003; and the death of Manadel Jamadi during an interrogation after his head was beaten with a stove at Abu Ghraib in November 2003.

-For the third straight Special Election this Spring, The Democrat has put the whoopin' on a Republican candidate in a Republican district, this time in Mississippi with Travis Childers winning big.

In fact, John "I cry like a baby at the drop of a hat" Boehner is facing some heat from fellow Republicans for being such a failure:

Frustration among the House Republicans with Minority Leader John Boehner is apparently so great that some members are already considering a challenge.

As the Republicans lost their third special election in a row on Tuesday — a feat not seen in 30 years — Chuck Todd reported on MSNBC:

It is a seismic sort of shift, and sort of think of what you’re gonna see the Republican Caucus… I have already been hearing whisper campaigns about John Boehner, the Republican leader, people are thinking about challenging him. Is he not being strident enough? You’ve got all sort of back biting and in-fighting. It is not a good night in the House Republican Caucus.

-Is John McCain such a big friend of Israel only because he wants them to hurry up and be annihilated so we can get The Rapture started?

-Chris Matthews calling other people out of touch never ceases to be funny. How long has this guy lived in the Beltway? First ripping Obama for being elitist because he drinks orange juice, now he's ripping him because he plays the elitist game of non-betting pool. Not joking.
.

Profiles in Idiocy

(h/t Page One)

Ugh...

And according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution poll, 34% of Georgians believe that portraying Obama as a monkey eating a banana isn't racist.

*looks for a drink...*

Mitch gives $70,000,000 to millionaire horse owners

(crossposted at Ditch Mitch)

There is no greater advocate of handing out pork in return for political favors than Senator Mitch McConnell.

And it appears that Mitch McConnell has outdone himself again in political cronyism.

While Mitch McConnell is busy filibustering to stop the expansion of health care for poor families, he has finally found a constituency that is worthy of our tax dollars.

Millionaire thoroughbred owners.

Seriously.

This week, Congress is expected to take up a $300 billion farm bill, which President Bush has vowed to veto. The AP reports that the bill “contains something for everyone” — including the following important project tucked within the massive bill:

A tax break for horse owners was included by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

Politico’s Crypt explains:

The measure would essentially allow race horse owners — who pay millions for Triple Crown contenders — to write down their investment over four years. … Senate aides say it will cost between $60 million and $70 million.

Shocking, eh?

Well, if sick kids can't get the health care they need, at least our millionaires' will be able to cover all of their thoroughbreds' veterinarian bills. After all, we need to have our priorities in order, right Mitch?

Anyway, a review:

Covering sick kids from poor families = socialism

Giving $70 million in tax breaks to millionaires = The American Way

And once more, I can't wait to see Mitch "Porky" McConnell and John "Pork-Intolerant" McCain on the same stage campaigning this year. I will literally pay money to see that uber-awkwardness.

If you make a choice to play in the mud...

... you can't be surprised when you get dirty.

Lunsford follows through on his "Mr. Blonde" promise...

Quick Hit: Our Sisters

It's been a while, I know, but I think it's time again for another post about how awesome Javacia Harris is. Need proof? Check out this excellent interview she conducted with photographer Kylene Lloyd, whose exhibit, "Sisters: A Journey Inside India," will open at Bellarmine tomorrow.

Mitch is still vulnerable

We all know that few people are thrilled that Bruce Lunsford is our nominee to take on Mitch McConnell (like me), but we can take heart in the fact that Kentuckians still just aren't that into Mitch McConnell, as he remains below the dreaded 50% in both favorability rating and a head-to-head matchup against Bruce.

McConnell:
48% approve
44% disapprove

McConnell- 48%
Lunsford- 36%
Undecided- 16%

Undecided will break heavily for the anti-incumbent, and expect McConnell to make some big gaffs and piss some people off in the Senate over the next 6 months.

We may be a big underdog, but this thing ain't over yet.

And despite Greg Fischer's deception, Bruce Lunsford is not the same as Mitch McConnell. That is complete nonsense, and everybody knows it. So you may not like Lunsford, but it's time to get behind him 100% on May 21st.

Kentuckians to State Leg: "You're fools and we don't like you"

Wow. That's pretty damn unpopular. Beshear at least isn't that unpopular.

Obama ROCKS the River City

(Sorry for the delay... I've been working on an article for ACE Weekly on the contrast in energy of the Hillary and Obama events.)

As far as jaw-dropping, inspiring political events, I thought it would be tough to top 300 people marching 15 minutes to Mitch McConnell's apartment in Louisville to shout at him to end the war, while he cowered inside in the dark.

Last night's Barack Obama rally in Louisville was quite a different scene, but it rivaled it in the goose-bump factor, nonetheless.

10,000 people jammed into the Louisville International Convention Center to see their next president.

Over a thousand people crammed into the overflow room in just the hope of catching a glimpse of him.

Thousands lined up around the block outside and were unable to get in.

It seemed quite feasible that Freedom Hall or Rupp Arena would have had to turn people away, as well.

And when Barack Obama walked up onto the stage... well, the room shook like Tony Delk hit a game winning 3 in Rupp Arena. This is not just a political candidate. This is not just a "rock star". The man is a walking, talking icon. And everyone in the room, whether they be a supporter, detractor, or objective journalist, realized that they were witnessing a key moment in history. Not this rally itself, but the campaign that transformed America.

Hyperbole? I'm rather reluctant to do so, as a cynical pol-watcher. But I really can't deny the effect that Barack Obama will have on the people of this country. And I don't mean policy wise, though that will certainly be huge. This guy has the power to touch people, inspire them, and move them to action. If people who have never paid attention to politics are willing to stand in a crowded line for 5 hours in order to hear someone speak about policy for 40 minutes? The possibilities for how he could transform peoples lives and actions for the better are endless.

The comparisons of Obama to Kennedy might be considered a stretch for some, but a comparison to Elvis might have even more credence.

(I heard several cold-heartened bloggers refer to being moved and being so excited they were about to wet themselves. Sir-yusly...)

As has happened all over the country at Obama speeches, the excitement simply overwhelmed some of his supporters. Whether it was because of the crowded conditions, the long wait, the exhaustion of cheering, or the man’s words, two women in front fainted and had to be attended to by the Secret Service.

Quite literally, the man single-handedly summoned the Vapors Patrol.

(by the way, Hillary had several people falling too, but they were simply keeling over from old age.)

As for all of the details of the speech, lots of other folks have covered those in great detail. But I'll just go over two of the highlights: One was how gracious he was to Hillary Clinton, saying we'll be united come Fall, and there is virtually no difference between their positions when compared to the Bush/McCain crew.

Another was when Obama said that he was trying to make the campaign about the American people, but the right was ready to make the campaign about HIM, Barack Obama. Well, he bascially said, bring it on. Raised by a single mother. Grandparents fought the Nazi's in WWII. Got a home on the GI Bill. Their kid went to college, able to reach the American Dream, despite his setbacks... go ahead, tell my story, that's what this country's about.

Boo-ya.

A few other notes:

Ben Chandler received a roaring ovation upon his entrance, and the crowd was responding big to his every word. I can say this with 100% certainty: Ben Chandler will never ever have such a crowd in the palm of his hand again for the rest of the man's life. That's not a knock on him, it's just a simple fact. Barack Obama is making history, and Ben was lucky enough to briefly get on the ride. And Ben mentioned lots of problems with Bush/Cheney involving the economy, but didn't mention anything about Iraq. Disappointing if that omission was intentional... but kudos nonetheless for getting on the Obama train.

The Obama team are PROS at crowd control and coordinating. They're used to it, and their placement of people and signs and etc... was top notch.

I liked that an average Union worker introduced Barack Obama. It was much better than the Lundergan sleaze that welcomed Hillary.

My view from the riser was incredibly sweet, a big thank you to the Obama folks for taking care of the bloggers (but hook a brutha up with some wi-fi next time, yo...)

GOBAMA!!!

(Go check other accounts from The Hillbilly, Ben, Jake Jake, Yellow Dog, and Ralph Long)

More Obama blogging from last night

Ralph Long was there with his daughter, getting the blogger VIP treatment (which the man deserves)

Ryan Alessi's roundup.

The Gerth (who has no clue who I am, but was polite to humor me)

Stephen Shepard shot some video.

LEO's Stephen George.

Rick Redding with some pics of the overflow room.

I should have something short up soon, something longer to come, once I can free up some time.