Hillbilly Report

Thank you Jennifer Moore

After weeks of speculation, Jennifer Moore has decided to step down as chairman of our state party. While I realize there are several reasons for this I think it has a lot to do with the percieved failures of our party at the state level in the last election. While some of this critisizm does have some base, I believe we can far from blame Ms. Moore for the failings. The truth is we did have some successes with her at the helm. From her email:

As I prepare to return full-time to my law practice in Louisville, I have reflected on all we have accomplished together the past 21 months during my tenure as KDP Chair and Vice Chair.  Together, we took part in an astounding renewal of the Kentucky Democratic Party.  We helped elect Governor Steve Beshear, won five of seven special elections, and maintained every Democratic seat in Congress and picked up seats in the State House and State Senate.  I believe firmly that we are now positioned to take back Senator Wendell Ford's seat in 2010.

Together, we did so much more than campaigns as usual.  We concentrated on building the party from the ground up.  We increased the number of Democrats who participated in the reorganization of the party from the precinct level to State Central to more than 5,000, many of whom are new to the party.  We hosted a free training for all Democratic candidates, county chairs, and activists.  We devoted a substantial amount of money to developing one of the best voter files in the country and providing that as an in-kind contribution to all Democratic candidates, a program unheard of in other states.  We focused on being a party of inclusion by communicating regularly through our weekly email blasts, monthly electronic newsletter, talking points to elected officials and party leaders, and our redesigned website.  And, in order to accomplish all of this, with your help we raised more than $3 million since December 2007.

We could not have done any of this without your leadership and the dedication and commitment of our Governor, Vice Chair Nathan Smith, elected officials, county chairs, and the entire staff at KDP.  I have witnessed a desire for change that has made being your Chair one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

I for one got to meet Ms. Moore several times and found her a most bright, articulate leader and a defianate asset to our party. She always treated me with respect and never refrained to thank me for the work I had done on the various campaigns. She did her best under tough circumstances and put much work into the rebuilding of our party. The only beef I would have with her is the fact that the KDP under her leadership failed to help us in the First Congressional District with Heather Ryan.

But overall, I found Jennifer Moore to be a classy lady, who tried her best to forward our party in a tough year with an unpopular candidate in Kentucky at the top of the ticket.

So, to Jennifer Moore I would like to say thank you for your class, and your dedication as leader of our party. I wish you all the best in all the endeavors you pursue in your very bright future.

Barack Obama's Weekly Address Video Feb. 28, 2009

James Pence Videos

Kentucky House on the Verge of a Huge Mistake

In Kentucky, a huge mistake is on the way. In the Kentucky House, a bill originated in the Senate cleared committee, a bill which will raise a moratorium on the building of Nuclear Power plants in Kentucky until a way can be found to safely dispose of the waste.

This bill was introduced by my State Senator, Bob Leeper and "Independent" who was first elected as a Democrat, then changed to Republican, and is now an Independent who might as well just call himself a Republican.

You see, Paducah has a Nuclear Power Plant, and Leeper seems to want more in Kentucky:

The House Tourism Development and Energy Committee signed off on the measure with a 12-6 vote and sent it to the full House for consideration. The Senate approved the bill Feb. 12 on a 29-6 vote.

The sponsor of Senate Bill 13, independent Sen. Bob Leeper of Paducah, said it opens up discussion about bringing nuclear energy to the state.

http://www.kentucky.com/210/story/708744.html

Unfortunately for us, our Democratic Governor seems to agree with Leeper:

In his State of the Commonwealth Address, Gov. Steve Beshear called Leeper's bill "a vehicle for starting that dialogue."

Fortunately, there are others who are advising caution as part of that "dialogue":

But environmentalist Tom FitzGerald with the Kentucky Resources Council said the bill "prejudges the outcome."

FitzGerald unsuccessfully urged the committee to move slowly. "This is an issue that cries out for a study," he said.

Still, FitzGerald and Bruce Williams, legislative liaison for the Kentucky Conservation Committee, said there are too many unanswered questions about nuclear waste storage to approve Leeper's measure.

It seems that Leeper's solution is to just let future generations come up with solutions as to how to actually be rid of the dangerous waste that these plants create:

Nuclear plants currently store waste at their facilities. There are no permanent storage or disposal facilities in the country, Leeper said.

He said waste can be stored on-site for up to 100 years, which would provide ample time for the development of long-term solutions.

Now, is it just me or is it ridiculous to just assume that a solution will be found for something as dangerous as the disposal of this waste?? Another Kentucky lawmaker was quick to point out how well this worked in the past:

Rep. Robin Webb, D-Grayson, said the issue reminded her of the state's problems with the Maxey Flats nuclear waste site in Fleming County. It was once one of the nation's most infamous environmental messes.

Maxey Flats opened in 1963, but environmental monitoring in the early 1970s indicated that contaminated water might be leaking from the 55-acre site. It was closed in 1977 and the state has taken corrective measures over the years.

In fact, much closer to home if Bob Leeper was actually listening to many workers from the plant in Paducah he would realize that many of those workers were made sick, and in many cases have actually died from exposure to heavy metals at the Paducah plant. They are still awaiting compensation from the government for their illnesses and lost work, and men like Leeper, Ed Whitfield, Mitch McConnell and Jim Bunning have ignored their pleas to be recognized.

It is ridiculous to just keep building these plants with no plan to rid ourselves of the waste they produce. It is insanity to just assume that someone else will solve the problem some time in the future. I hope Kentucky lawmakers will wake up and realize that our state should not be a laboratory experiment for something like Nuclear Power. It has poisoned our workers and our environment in the past, and with visionless "leaders" like Leeper willing to pass the buck to future generations on how to clean up the mess, it promises to cause more problems than it solves yet again.

Kentucky can lead the way for Alternative sources of energy. However, our state should use her abundant resources such as our rich farmland, our wind, and the many rivers and dams in the Commonwealth to achieve that goal. We don't have to pile up poison with no place to put it, and no way to get rid of it to lead the way in our country becoming Energy Independent.

The risks of Nuclear Power far outweigh the rewards.

 

Another Day, Another Jim Bunning Rumor

Ahh, Jim Bunning. The gift that keeps giving. It seems when he is not hopefully predicting an early demise for Supreme Court justices, he is fending off his own demise in the Senate that cannot come a moment too soon for Democrats, and now Republicans. Yes, when your own party led by your former "buddy" Mitch McConnell is trying to replace you in your own campaign with Sleepy the Dwarf you must feel the walls closing in around you. 

Now, it seems someone is trying to give ol "screwball" a hint by spreading the rumor that if Bunning doesn't get a bunch of money from the Republicans he will simply resign to avoid an embarrassing defeat in the primary, or against the Democratic nominee. However, Bunning threw a curveball at his own party once again today:

Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) told a room full of lobbyists this week that he'd resign his Senate seat early if he doesn't get campaign money from national Republicans, according to three sources with knowledge of the situation.

But Bunning insists he's going to run for reelection and says that the sources are "lying."

"It's not true," Bunning said in a statement. "I intend to fulfill my obligation to the people of Kentucky. If you are going to write something like this, you'd better make your sources known because they are lying."

According to the sources, Bunning suggested at a campaign fundraiser in Washington that his resignation would be politically damaging for the GOP, since the Kentucky's governor, Steve Beshear, is a Democrat and would presumably select a Democrat to fill the seat — potentially giving the Democrats the 60 votes they need to overcome Republican filibusters. 

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0209/19423.html

Of course, we all know how successful his "buddy" Mitch McConnell was in keeping what little manhood he had in the Senate, so a filibuster-able minority means little to the Republicans at this juncture. Of course, Republicans are showing the character of their beloved  but toothless leader in the Senate with their loyalty to one of their own:

Republicans have grown increasingly concerned that Bunning will lose reelection in 2010, given his streak of erratic behavior and his poor fundraising.

And people with knowledge of the meeting say it's Bunning who is not being forthright about his comments.

"He may not resign and automatically give the seat to the Democrats, but his behavior and actions are going to have the results of handing the seat to the Democrats," said one leading Kentucky GOP operative.

Whatever the case, Bunning will be in New York City on Monday and is considering holding a breakfast or lunch fundraiser, according to a person familiar with the plans.

Something tells me that as with other Conservative gatherings lately, expect a bunch of empty seats at that Bunning fundraiser. 

Watching the Republicans get their butts kicked all over the country, and then feed their own to the lions here in Kentucky is becoming so much fun!! With a stable full of capable Democrats that include Mongiardo, Luallen, and Conway, this race promises to be a satisfying experience for Democrats in Kentucky!!

Hell, maybe we should donate to Bunning to help insure that we will get to watch him make a fool of himself and his party in 2010. As if their rubber-stamping of the complete failure that were the Bush years weren't enough!! It would be a shame to lose the gift that keeps giving!! Until then, I will be watching the Republican Party in Kentucky implode around this race with a gleam in my eye, and a warmth in my heart. It couldn't happen to a nicer group of folks!! 
 

 

Elliott's Hardware Offers George W. Bush A Real Job.

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Elliott's Hardware offers George W. Bush a real job. 

The Seats Are Empty At CPAC-2009

James Pence Videos

The Conservative Political Action Conference-2009 (CPAC) is full of empty seats, but never fear, their leader Rush, Oxycontin, Viva Viagra, Limpball will be there Saturday Feb. 28, 2009 at 5:00pm to fill the seats and Faux News will air his speech. Wow I can't wait. Reckon Rush will let the cat of the bag about George Bush's new job offer?

Senator Jim Bunning Leaves Senator Mitch McConnell's, "Baseball For Dummies", Training Camp!

James Pence Videos
Parody
When Senator Jim Bunning was elected to the senate he had a choice to suit up and pitch for the folks who sent him there or for the Neo Cons that were, and are, against the folks that sent him there. Senator Bunning made his choice and has been throwing his constituents curve balls ever since, but when his constitiuents started hitting his ever worsening curve balls out of the park he went to Senator Mitch McConnell's, "Baseball For Dummies", training camp to learn how to throw shit spit balls, but Senator Bunning couldn't figure out if he was supposed to shit on the ball or spit on the ball and as a result Senator Mitch McConnell kicked him out of the camp and is looking for a new pitcher to throw for the Neo Cons and "Sleepy" David Williams seems to be his choice.
It has been reported that Senator Bunning left Senator Mitch McConnell's, "Baseball For Dummies", training camp in a huff and went directly to Rush limbaugh's "Limp Ball Arm Rejuvanation" training camp and with the help of a few pills has stiffened up his pitches.
The 2010 election is going to be funnier than Comedy Central.