Greg Fischer is No Moderate

Greg Fischer is polling as well as he is because people look at his moderate demeanor and assume that his politics are moderate, as well.

The list of labor endorsements on his website suggests that to the contrary, he's a classic pro-union Democrat:

United Auto Workers
Laborers Local 576
Kentucky Laborers' District Council
National Conference of Firemen and Oilers 32BJ/SEIU
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
Plumbers, Pipefitters & HVAC Service Technicians Local 502
International Union of Electrical Workers Local 761 IUE-CWA
Louisville Professional Firefighters Local 345
Louisville Federation of Retired Firefighters
United Steel Workers
Greater Louisville AFL-CIO Retirees Council
Sprinkler Fitters Local 669
Amalgamated Transit United Local 1447
International Brotherhood of Teamsters 783
Boilermakers Local 40
International Union of Operating Engineers #181
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers AFL-CIO Lodge #681
United Food and Commercial Workers Local 227
General Drivers, Warehousemen & Helpers Local #89
AFSCME
Painters and Allied Trades District Council 91, Local 118
Greater L'ville Central Labor Council AFL-CIO
Communications Workers of America
Bricklayers Local #4
Sheet Metal Workers Local #110
Retired Police & Firefighters Advocates Inc.
National Association of Government Employees
Iron Workers Local 70
Building Trades

Greg Fischer's candidacy has energized the unions. Their members will turn out on Election Day, and the Hal Heiner campaign better have a strong Get Out the Vote program in place to respond.

Tea Party Can Swing Both Ways

I am always amused with the news media handling the Tea Party Movement. They just never seem to get it correct and I don’t ever see a poll or interview of Tea Party members to see what they truly stand for. They would be surprised if they just ask the question.

The Wall Street Journal's poll mentioned in the below article states we were formed a year ago when it has been over 18 months and on the way to two years. Do you remember Rick Sabtelli’s rant on CNBC???? How long ago was that. This article also mentions that the Tea Party Movement are fiercely ANTI ESTABLISHMENT! When was the last time you heard that phrase out of the sixties. It give a different twist to "You joined the Establishment Man!"

I feel that I am capable of commentary on this subject as I have been an active member since April 15th 2009.

Not a day goes by when I don’t hear something on the mainstream news media stations yet they continue to call us names and brush us off as inconsequential to anything.

Look at all the elected officials that have gotten in office with the support of the Tea Party Movement. Do they seem like they are all republicans? Well not all of them. It just happens that the republicans represent a more fiscal conservative view with less taxes and smaller government for the Tea Party Members.

After attending the second Tea Party March on Washington we were told it is not over on November 2nd but it is just beginning. This was not a message I wanted to hear as I am tired and worn down and my business suffers from lack of attention and our current fiscal policies.

Yes, November 3rd the public and media will get a different perspective of the Tea Party Movement. No matter what the outcome of the November 2nd elections there will be more Republicans in office and hopefully our local candidates will be there as well. If not we are not discouraged as our efforts have obviously changed the political landscape in Washington. We will be there to hold the feet of the newly elected to the fire. More importantly I see a strong potential for the Tea Party Movement to be more active in the Democratic races supporting those conservative Democrats that we all know are out there. As soon as the tide changes they will be moved to concede to the Tea Party Movement agenda.

See, it is not about being a Republican or a Democrat it is about making our country better and stronger for the next generations.

Our Founding Fathers and Patriots had it right the first time. They were fiercely Anti Establishment as well.

Here is the article from:
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/121533-new-poll-shows-tea-party-momentum


New poll shows Tea Party momentum
By Jordan Fabian - 09/29/10 07:51 AM ET

A high percentage of Republicans consider themselves supporters of the Tea Party and a plurality of Americans believe the groups have been a good thing for politics, a new poll shows.

The NBC/Wall Street Journal poll released Monday evening shows that 71 percent of Republicans consider themselves Tea Party supporters. Forty-two percent of the public believes that the conservative groups have been a good thing for U.S. politics.

. . .


Democrats and some centrist Republicans have expressed worry that the Tea Party groups, which have a fierce anti-establishment streak, could divide the GOP by demanding ideological purity from political candidates.

But the survey casts doubt on that argument, showing that a considerable majority of Republicans back the activists. It also shows a majority for Republicans in voter enthusiasm measures and a sub-50 percent approval rating for Obama. . . . .

An Even Better Lally Ad

Hot Air has linked another Todd Lally ad that features the best of John Yarmuth, including that unforgettable line at the Obamacare Town Hall, when Yarmuth responded to the question "How are we going to pay for it ?" by admitting that he did not know, and appeared not to care.

Well, it's not like he's paying for Obamacare with his money; he's paying with ours.

I have always appreciated Yarmuth's honesty. He has never hidden the fact that he is to the left of Obama-Reid-Pelosi. To the contrary, he is proud of his ideology.

The choice for voters in Kentucky's 3rd Congressional District is very clear. This latest Lally ad uses Yarmuth's own voice to remind voters that a vote for Yarmuth is a vote for bigger government, higher taxes, unsustainable deficits and less freedom.

Lally "Fighting" Ad

Todd Lally goes on the air today with his first TV ad. Click here to watch. Well done; hope it's a big buy.

By the way, I saw John Yarmuth having a date-night with his wife this weekend. He looked grouchy and exhausted. What happened to Bon Vivant John? Todd Lally and the Tea Party, that's what happened.

This campaign is probably the hardest Yarmuth's worked since . . . ever.

It's Not a Tie

Notwithstanding its track-record of accurately predicting the final election results, I am not buying the WHAS11 SUSA poll's conclusion that Jack Conway is now tied with Rand Paul.

I do believe that the race has tightened. A lot. But not that much.

Those of us who opposed Paul in the primary knew that his nomination would make this a needlessly close election. Republicans nominated a candidate with more baggage than an Samsonite store.

The Conway commercial with the sheriffs -- in which Paul says he opposes the criminalization of non-violent crimes -- makes me cringe every time it airs, no matter how saturated the Conway campaign's buy. It was bound to move the polls. Perhaps the worst aspect of that ad is Paul's demeanor; his hair is disheveled and he is unusually inarticulate.

So the question must be asked: why didn't Trey Grayson use that video? If he didn't have it then he should have had something similar, given all the interviews Paul sat for during his father's two failed presidential runs.

Still, Paul is solidly conservative on fiscal issues in year when voters are fixated on the size of government and the national debt. It might not be pretty, but he will win.

Natanyahu Addresses U.N.

This is what a statesman looks like: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech to the United Nations yesterday.

Watch this speech with your children. It is that historic; it will rank with the great speeches of Lincoln, King and Churchill.

It is not sufficient to read the transcript, because of Netanyahu's extraordinary use of demonstrative evidence -- Nazi minutes, protocols and plans for the extermination of six million Jews. So morally lost is the United States, that Netanyahu felt constrained to hold up copies of these Nazi documents for those Holocaust deniers to see with their own eyes.

Listen to Netanyahu's comments about the right of a country to defend itself, the nature of Islamo-facism and the clear moral choice that United States confronts with regard to Iran.

GQ Profile Finally Makes it to Print

And now, for the printed version. Jason Zengerle, the journalist who introduced us to "Aqua Buddha" can finally autograph the hard copy of his Rand Paul profile in GQ. Those who want to hear more about what Rand did back in the day will be disappointed: Zengerle adds nothing of substance to the extended "dance mix" of his earlier profile.

Plainly, Paul sells magazines. GQ took its online profile by Zengerle from August 9 -- the big Aqua Buddha expose -- and retooled it for the actual version of GQ that gets printed on paper and sold on news stands and to subscribers.

The newer, printed version includes Zengerle's first-person narrative of his role in making Aqua Buddha a house-hold name. (That is, the journalist covering himself as a player.)

Not much else is new, certainly nothing to compare with the NoZe Brotherhood at Baylor University. The NoZe Brotherhood, by the way, ironically should make Paul more mainstream in the eyes of the Left. As Zingerle reported in his August on-line piece, one NoZe Brother commented that "'[y]ou could have taken 90 percent of the liberal thinkers at Baylor and found them in this small group.'"

Zengerle portrays Paul as socially awkward -- unable to fit in comfortably with country club Republicans in Fayette County. Paul, however, became a force by presenting himself as different, someone who is not a career politician. So Zengerle's depiction of Paul's inability or unwillingness to schmooze actually makes Paul's point.

The only truly creative take on Paul in this piece is Zengerle's description of Paul's hair: his "Timberlake-esque curls." We've seen thousands of images of Rand Paul this past year, and yet his supposed resemblance to Justin Timberlake had escaped me. It's conjuring disturbing images of Rand Paul hosting Saturday Night Live, Rand Paul as a Mouseketeer with Britney Spears, and Rand Paul singing falsetto.

It is a strange and cruel world when GQ analyzes the hair-style of Rand Paul rather than that of Jack Conway. Conway must be spitting mad. Conway is a man who would love to be profiled in GQ. He probably practiced GQ cover shots in his bedroom mirror, growing up. When women describe a man as "very GQ," they are referring to the look that Jack Conway has so assiduously cultivated, to no avail.

GQ does not profile Conway because not even Conway's hair can save him from irrelevance. For the man who attended the college that was supposedly the inspiration for Tom Wolfe's remarkable I am Charlotte Simmons, Conway is remarkably unremarkable. So the best Conway gets is a passing reference in Rand Paul's profile as the "also ran."

The most recent WHAS-11/Courier-Journal Bluegrass poll conducted by SUSA -- showing the race as supposedly a "dead heat" -- suggests that one of these candidates will lose by a Timberlake-esque hair.

Yeah, It's Mourning

Here's the link to the YouTube ad, "Mourning in America," featured in Kathleen Parker's latest column. It makes me too sad to say anything more about it. Watch for yourself.

Too Much Good News

I only have so many fingers to hold my nose, and only one nose. So that info from the Rand Paul campaign that Mike Huckabee is coming to support Paul's U.S. Senate candidacy -- look to someone else to republish that release.

It's all well and good to have a big tent. The Huckabee announcement, right aftter the Sarah Palin appearance, is starting to feel like a parade of horribles for 2012.

Not wanting to be an elitist, but we need to address this reality now.

Does Jack Conway Believe This Stuff?

It's one thing to put on a happy face, to hope for the best, to remain optimistic when confronted with adversity. Jack Conway has crossed the line from cock-eyed optimistic to delusional.

From the Conway campaign:

The "experts" said this race wasn't supposed to be competitive.

But here we are in late September, and the polls show a statistical tie between Rand Paul and me because people are realizing that he's too risky.

That's why national Republicans are going all-out, right now, to beat me: arguably the nation's highest-spending corporate lobbying group, the Chamber of Commerce; the National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee; and even a group headed by former George Bush strategist Karl Rove have all run nasty ads attacking me.

And just last week, Sarah Palin came to Louisville to help Rand Paul shore up his fundraising.

Rand's campaign isn't saying how much she brought in, but we've heard it could be as high as $100,000.

A statistical dead heat? Who is the pollster, Jack's hairdresser?

And about that Sarah Palin fundraiser: the entry fee had to be reduced to attract more people.

NRO: Let's Help Andy Barr

NRO has identified Andy Barr, Republican nominee for KY-6, as one of 20 candidates who are underfunded yet worthy of help. This race takes on national significance just because Kentucky closes the polls so early -- networks will call the result while other states' polls are still open.

Note the choice words for DINO Ben Chandler,

another Democrat who’s running ads that don’t identify him as a Democrat. They barely admit that he sits in Congress, focusing instead on his stint a decade ago as Kentucky’s attorney general.” He seems to think he can overcome public opposition to the stimulus by constantly referring to it as the “recovery act.”

Regrettably, Chandler's ahead in the polls. But there's still time. So send Andy some cash, stat.

Todd Lally Jobs Plan

Todd Lally spelled out his plans for creating an environment in which small businesses can and will hire new employees. We know the C-J will not publish the whole thing, so I reprint his release below in its entirety, uncut and unfiltered.

It's classic conservatism, with the exception of the point about penalizing firms for hiring overseas. That, to me, is too protectionist and restricts the free flow of capital. I don't want the tax code to encourage U.S. employers to take jobs overseas, but I'm not sure we should punish them either.

Here's Todd's plan:

I believe that government doesn't create jobs but it can create an environment that encourages job growth and economic prosperity. As your Congressman, I will promote the following policies to get America back on track and ensure that quality jobs return to Louisville.

Promote Job Growth

Seven out of ten jobs are created by small businesses. Ending the recession means giving small businesses the tax relief they need and not punishing them for being successful. I will support policies that encourage the growth of good paying jobs, including:

- Providing tax credits to incentivize small businesses to expand their operations and hire new employees.

- Penalize corporations that ship good paying American jobs overseas and provide incentives for them to bring both jobs and overseas earnings back to the U.S.

Stop Harmful Regulations & Job Killing Legislation

Over-regulation hits small businesses hardest, and uncertain regulatory environments keep businesses from hiring new workers. I will:

- Oppose new regulations that will result in jobs being lost or have negative impacts on small businesses.

- Support legislation that would identify and repeal regulations that hurt small businesses and limit our economic growth.

- Support reducing or removing regulatory barriers to energy production and support streamlining the approval process for all types of domestic energy production. Doing this has the benefit of lowering energy costs, reducing our dependence on foreign oil and will create jobs.

I would have voted against programs that hurt small businesses like the "Cap and Trade" energy tax, and the government's takeover of our healthcare system. Unfortunately, our current Congressman has supported these and other job killing legislation that has sent us down the wrong course and cost us jobs right here in Louisville.

Cut Out of Control Spending

Washington's crushing debt and reckless spending habits are a threat to our way of life. Despite over $13 trillion dollars of debt, my opponent continues to support policies that allow our debt to grow. I support:

- Freezing domestic discretionary spending until we have a balanced budget. This is a responsible way to curb the massive increases to our national debt.

- Creating a balanced budget amendment that will force politicians to get spending back under control.

- Reclaim the approximately one-third of stimulus money that has not been spent and instead invest the money in incentives for small businesses to create new jobs. It has been more than a year and a half since the stimulus was signed into law, money that hasn’t been spent by now will never be effectively used to create jobs.

Keep Taxes Low

Our out-of-control spending leads to an oppressive tax environment and further fuels Congress’ thirst for more taxes. Now is not the time to raise taxes, especially taxes that impact working families, small businesses and entrepreneurs. That is why I support extending the tax cuts that are set to expire at the end of the year. That is why I have signed a pledge to not raise taxes and also support further tax relief for working and middle class families.

Conclusion

It is time to turn this economy around and empower small businesses to create jobs. We can do it, we have the strongest workforce in the country – but the government needs to be a partner, not an obstacle to job creation. Unfortunately my opponent has put Nancy Pelosi’s San Francisco national agenda before what’s best for us.

I promise you that I am not going to let Washington get in the way of Louisville’s success. Too much at stake, and our children our counting on us to get our country back on track and secure their future.

On Delaware

About that Delaware primary: Christine O'Donnell won the Republican nomination and it is therefore time for Republicans and conservatives to go all in to give her the best possible chance to win the general election.

To those who opposed her in the primary, get over it. She is a more, uh, colorful candidate than many of us might prefer. The downside to the Tea Party movement is that there is no party apparatus to recruit candidates. That's is a serious drawback. But the energy that the Tea Party has brought to the Republican party -- and the insistence that Republicans return to first principles -- has saved our party from irrelevance.

I could care less that Mike Castle would have had an easier shot in the general election because Delaware is a blue state. Mike Castle is a RINO. He would not have voted with Republicans on the close calls, the issues that matter to conservatives. He is not a lost vote because he would not have been a reliable vote.

The only thing that a Castle victory could have contributed is that if his election made the difference between minority and majority status, that would have allowed Republicans to chair Congressional committees. Realistically, however, control of the Senate will not be determined by one seat -- at least not this year.

I am sick and tired of Karl Rove bashing Christine O'Donnell. I am sick and tired of Fox News treating Karl Rove like he matters any more. He does not. He stood by while the Bush administration spent like drunken sailors -- not just the war, but the Energy bill and the Transportation bill and the Medicare prescription benefits. In light of that profligacy, he has lost the authority to speak for conservatives. If he was really such a political genius, he would have seen the back-lash that the Bush administration's spending was bound to cause.

It's hard to believe that Christine O'Donnell is the most electable conservative in Delaware, that there wasn't a true conservative with less baggage. It no longer matters. She is the nominee and its is time to get her elected.

McConnell on End of Primary Season

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell sent this olive branch to the Tea Partiers today:

I would like to thank everyone who participated in Republican primary elections across the country. Whether you were a first-time voter, a lifelong Republican, or simply fed up with Washington and the direction of our country, your participation has made our party stronger and our mission clearer. As we unite in a common effort over the next seven weeks, Republicans will carry an optimistic vision for the future and a conservative alternative to the ‘government knows best’ approach of Washington Democrats.

“Turnout and enthusiasm are off the charts because Americans have had enough of a Congress and an administration who simply refuse to listen to Americans who are speaking out. Now that the primaries are over, the flood of enthusiasm is all pointed in the same direction with the same focus: creating a positive environment for job creation, stopping the damage caused by Washington over the past two years, slowing the growth of the federal government and reducing the debt and tax burdens on our families and job creators.”

Sheriffs Back Rand

This set of endorsements should neutralize Jack Conway's attempt to exploit the drug problems of Eastern Kentucky: Rand Paul has won the endorsements from a number of Sheriffs -- including from Eastern Kentucky:

Todd Wood, Pulaski County

Gus Skinner, McCreary County

James Pruett, Cumberland County

Kevin Johnson, Clay County

Ricky Riddle, Clinton County

Chuck Korzenborn, Kenton County

Mike A. Helmig, Boone County

Colan Harrell, Whitley County Sheriff-Elect

John Root, Laurel County Sheriff-Elect

Ralph Curry, Adair County

The Paul campaign makes an important point I had not considered before in response to Conway's plan to keep throwing federal money at Eastern Kentucky's drug problem. Bottom line, that's not working:

"The issues facing our citizens in today's society are complex and require a person with forward thinking abilities who is not afraid to say our current system is not working for the good of all Kentuckians," said Todd Wood, Sheriff of Pulaski County. "A man who is willing to look beyond and challenge the status quo. A man who will address the important issues, foster an environment which seeks and accepts new ideas and works hard to find the appropriate solutions to the issues we face in Eastern Kentucky."

Conway Should Have Sued

When he decided not to challenge the mandates of Obamacare, Jack Conway was wearing his U.S. Senate candidate's hat rather than his Attorney General hat -- and in so doing, he breached his duty to Kentuckians.

Conway asserted at the time that it would be a waste of money to litigate a baseless suit. Attorneys General from 20 other states looked at the merits, however, and decided to challenge the constitutionality of the Obamacare mandates. (Indeed, a similar suit in Virginia has survived a motion to dismiss.)

Conway's infatuation with Obamacare is such that either it clouded his legal judgement or he decided to advance his career rather than the needs of Kentucky. It was an odd political choice, given how many Kentuckians loathe Obamacare.

Rand Paul's campaign reminded voters that Conway could not join the 20 Attorneys General at a Florida hearing today; Conway has more glamorous (and lucrative) places to be:

So, where is Jack?

The sad truth is Jack Conway is in La Jolla, Calif., one of the richest and most exclusive beach communities in the world. While there, he's spending his time raising money from wealthy liberal elites for his political campaign. In fact, today marks the third day of Jack's Southern California swing, with stops in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and San Diego.

This is just one leg of his nationwide fundraising tour - with 20-plus events scheduled outside Kentucky to rake in cash from wealthy left-wing donors and his left-coast base.

Of course, we shouldn't be surprised. Jack Conway supports Obamacare and has refused to stand up for his state and join the lawsuit to overturn the president's scheme. Jack Conway supports the higher taxes and unconstitutional personal mandate and will stand with his liberal D.C. allies, not for Kentucky.

Fortunately, Kentucky has a choice. Rand Paul is a physician who understands that we need less government in healthcare, not more, and strives to protect the doctor patient relationship. Dr. Paul will stand up for Kentucky and fight to overturn Obamacare in the United States Senate.

McConnell Introduces Bill to Prevent Tax Hikes

This is a big relief after John Boehner went all wobbly this past weekend, suggesting he would about compromise with the Obama administration to allow taxes to go up for some.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell has introduced the Tax Hike Prevention Act of 2010. In addition to preventing the Bush tax cuts from expiring, the bill would help families in a number of ways. It would:

• keep the marriage penalty from coming back
• continue the child credit at $1000 per child
• save many families from the dreaded Alternative Minimum Tax
• keep current rates on the capital gain tax
• reforms the death tax.

H/t: Washington Examiner via Instapundit

The Nation Profiles Rand Paul

Kentucky native Dan Bischoff has a good piece on the Kentucky Senate race in The Nation. I particularly liked the conclusion:

It's not as if Kentuckians don't know what Washington can do—you can see the Kentucky Lakes from outer space, for God's sake. The first question for any Democrat has to be, Why has the government done so little about unemployment and restoring consumer confidence? Maybe Jack Conway can answer that better in the next two months than my brief experience of him on the stump showed. Or, as Conway evidently hopes, maybe Rand will order a Jack Daniel's and call it bourbon, or set fire to the Daniel Boone National Forest.

If not, it's like the Republican primary never ended, in a way. There are still two Republicans fighting it out: one young, native-born, rich and (this time) a handsome lawyer, and one a quirky outsider pushing economic fundamentalism. We know how that race turned out the first time.

H/t: RealClearPolitics

Rand is Right on Spending

Rand Paul is absolutely right when he complains that Republicans missed the opportunity to control spending when they were in the majority. Republican spending has since been dwarfed by the Democrats' current binge, but still, Republicans must do better if given another chance to govern.

Paul didn't specify the excesses. Two that spring to mind are the Energy bill and the Transportation bill passed under the Bush administration. Both were rotten with pork. Those two pieces of legislation were pivotal; they caused many of us to think of ourselves as conservatives first, rather than Republicans.

Speaking last night in Bowling Green, according to the Daily Caller, Paul said

“We as Republicans have taken the easy way out a lot of times,” said Paul, a first-time candidate who portrays himself as a political outsider. “We vote to cut taxes but we don’t ever vote to cut any spending. Because as soon as you do, as soon as you bring up a program, it’s somebody’s program and they love it.

“You can’t have it both ways. You can’t tell me that you’re taxed enough already, and that you want constitutional government and then in the next breath say, ‘Bring me home some bacon.’ The pig has been picked clean.”

Tea Party Gathering

The Louisville Tea Party will hold a "roving social" tomorrow evening, Thursday, September 9 from 6:00-8:00 at Zazoo's, on Bauer Avenue in Louisville. Resa Camoriano has details.

KY. Resolution on State Sovereignty

Here's an interesting joint resolution pre-filed by Stan Lee. It's a publicity stunt, to be sure, but he is on the right track.

It's called the: "Joint Resolution to Secure Sovereign Power for Kentucky." The obvious fallacy is that the extent of Kentucky's sovereign power is determined by the U.S. constitution and cannot be "secured" or otherwise altered by joint resolution (or even actual legislation). This is a matter, ultimately, for the courts.

Still, the resolution expresses the frustration many of us feel about our Attorney General Jack Conway's failure to protect the Commonwealth's interests; he should have joined the multi-state suit against the Obamacare mandates. And it expresses the growing concern that federal government has so overstepped its proper role in relation to the state as to jeopardize our liberty.

Here's the press release on the resolution:

Believing that the Federal government continues to infringe on the rights of Americans, Representative Stan Lee (R)-Lexington has pre-filed a Joint Resolution which seeks to protect Kentucky’s sovereign rights against overreaching mandates and threats of lost funding. BR 55 seeks to reinforce Kentucky’s right as a sovereign state under the Ninth and Tenth Amendments of the United States Constitution.

"The health care debacle and failed stimulus bill are but two examples of the Federal government’s attempt to cast a long shadow over Kentucky and our people, “ said Rep. Lee.

“This joint resolution serves as a reminder to those who seek to make our Federal government an eight-headed monster that we will no longer stand by and see our sovereign rights taken away.”

BR 55 states that the joint resolution quote “…serves as notice and demands to the Federal government…to cease and desist, effective immediately, mandates that are beyond the scope of these constitutionally delegated powers.”

“It is our belief that any and all Federal legislation that threatens Kentucky and other states with loss of funding, civil or criminal penalties is illegal under the Constitution and should be forbidden or repealed, “ Lee adds. “Our forefathers sought to protect the rights of all Americans, and it’s time that we in Kentucky take back those rights under the Constitution that have slowly been taken away by the Federal government.”

Trey: We Check Our Voter Lists

Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson responded to my question about the accuracy of Kentucky's voter registration lists, and a "notice" letter from an election lawyer who complained about the Commonwealth's supposed failures to purge the lists of ineligible voters. (See this morning's post, below)

I had asked whether the Secretary of State had received a "notice" letter from J. Christian Adams, Esq., regarding Kentucky's compliance with Motor Voter Act. Adams sent such letters to 16 states; private citizens have standing under the Motor Voter Act to sue states that fail to check their voter lists.

Grayson replied,

We just got letter at State Board of Elections today. He sent it to wrong person (Sarah Ball Johnson at SBE is not chief election official, I am).

We probably have done more list maintenance than any state in country. We were the first to match with other states for dupes. We regularly mail voters who haven't voted in several cycles to see if they still reside at registered address, starting NVRA inactive process. We also regularly purge felons and dead people including a recent match with Social Security Death Index which we hope to repeat.

We have either purged or made inactive hundreds of thousands of voters since 2003.

Not sure why we are on his list. We are probably a model state for list maintenance.

To be sure, any voter list will contain some inaccuracies. But Grayson has demonstrated an awareness of the issue and persistence in addressing it for the last seven years.

Suits by private individuals such as Adams would make good sense if (1) a state refused to clean up its lists -- thereby allowing live people to "vote early and often" using the names of dead people and (2) the Department of Justice failed to take action (not impossible, with Eric Holder as A.G.).

Given Grayson's methodical attention to Kentucky's voter lists, Adams should concentrate on the other states to which he sent letters.

More Lunacy from the Obama Administration

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and yet expecting a different result. But here comes the Obama administration with a new proposal for more stimulus. Because the last round of stimuli worked so well.

Some progressives apparently believe that the only thing wrong with TARP is that it wasn't big enough. There is no reasoning with these people.

The Wall Street Journal details the sad history of all these failed attempts to jump-start the economy. How quickly we forget about such goodies as "cash for clunkers" and such cliches as "timely, targeted and temporary."

I See Dead People

J. Christian Adams, an election lawyer, writes at Pajamas Media that 16 states have failed to clean up their voter lists as required by federal law, including Kentucky.

The Motor Voter law permits citizens to register to vote at welfare offices and Department of Motor Vehicle offices. In addition to making voter registration easier, the law requires states to review their voter lists on a regular basis and purge ineligible voters: dead people, felons and voters who have moved.

To make the Department of Justice accountable, moreover, the law includes a private right of action. Citizens can sue. And Christian Adams, who has sent notice letters to 16 states, may just bring suit. He writes:

Every two years, states must report to the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) information about their voter rolls. The latest report is troubling. South Dakota, Texas, Mississippi, Kentucky and Indiana report in excess of a dozen counties with more registered voters than living people old enough to vote. Having more voters than living humans tells you something is wrong. In West Virginia, one county reported 113% of the voting age population was registered to vote. Baltimore, Maryland, reported 104% of voting age citizens on the rolls. Iowa and North Carolina also reported counties with more voters than living citizens of voting age.

All of these states received a notice letter.

I'm waiting for a response from the office of Kentucky's Secretary of State to see if they have received a "notice letter" from Adams and, if so, how Kentucky responds to his allegations. This may be an issue of military personnel rotating in and out of Kentucky.

H/t: Instapundit

SUSA Poll Shows Paul Up by 15

The latest WHAS11/ Courier-Journal poll by Survey USA shows Rand Paul has widened his lead over Jack Conway to 15 points. SUSA has the best track record for accuracy in polling Kentucky races.

Paul leads 55 to 40. That's a four point gain over last month, and a three point drop for Conway.

The poll shows an extraordinarily large gender gap; men are fleeing from Conway like he has bedbugs or something. Men favor Paul by 34 points. Among women, the gender gap is less pronounced: Conway leads by three.

Democrats are attempting to spin the poll as inaccurate by arguing that it over-samples Republicans. John Yarmuth said much the same thing in his interview with Joe Arnold about the 3rd Congressional district poll. What Democrats can't seem to grasp is that more voters are identifying themselves as Republican. That's not a problem of oversampling, but it is a problem for the Democrats.

How Lally Helps McConnell

If Todd Lally defeats Rep. John Yarmuth -- a real possibility, according to the SUSA poll -- it could set in motion a chain of events whereby Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell becomes majority leader.

Kentucky polls close at at 6:00 in the 3rd Congressional district, a bellwether district. Unless the election is so close as to require a recount, we probably will know the winner by 7:30. That's 4:30 in California, where Carly Fiorina (for whom McConnell recently attended a fundraiser) has great chance at knocking off Barbara Boxer.

A Lally win would energize California Republicans to get to the polls, if they need that extra push. And it would discourage California Democrats, who instead of heading to voting booth might go straight to their favorite watering hole to cry in their Chablis.

Lally and Yarmuth Respond to Poll

Joe Arnold has the unedited tape of his interviews with Todd Lally and Rep. John Yarmuth regarding the SUSA poll that shows the candidates are in a statistical dead heat for Kentucky's 3rd Congressional district.

These interviews are worth watching in their entirety -- particularly for those of us who have not had much opportunity to listen to Todd Lally. I was impressed with Lally. He's very collected, serious and forthright. And there is no doubt that he is a real conservative. The Republican primary voters have chosen wisely.

Yarmuth, in contrast, does not come across nearly as well. That surprised me, because no matter how much I disagree with the man's ideology, in the past he has always seemed like a truly decent guy. In this interview -- like a wounded animal -- he seems mean and nervous. And he sweats profusely.

Check out Yarmuth's campaign strategy: he calls Todd Lally "extreme" and lumps him with Rand Paul.

This is the same bone-headed strategy that Jack Conway is attempting to employ -- the same strategy that Trey Grayson used. Did none of these Democrats notice the Republican primary for U.S. Senate? Grayson was skewered. His campaign was a giant focus group for the Democrats to study. So instead of learning from what did not work for Grayson, the Democrats are replicating his failed strategy.

Republicans need to watch Yarmuth's interview until the end, when Joe Arnold asks him about campaign finances. Yarmuth makes clear that he will have the funds he needs; Yarmuth actually sneers at this point of the interview.

So any conservatives who are still employed and solvent after Obama's "recovery summer" should go to Todd Lally's website and donate now.

Lally and Yarmuth Tied!

Joe Arnold is calling it a "Congressional shocker," but count me not shocked. Todd Lally is in a statistical dead head with Rep. John Yarmuth, according to the WHAS 11/Courier Journal Bluegrass Poll conducted by SUSA. Yarmuth has 47, Lally has 45 and 5 percent remain undecided.

Yarmuth has pridefully resisted his constituents' demands that he moderate his extreme positions for too long. He is too far to the left, even in this district where he enjoys a tremendous registration advantage.

This should attract the attention -- and money -- of the NRCC. But it probably won't, I'm told, because Republicans have such a "target rich environment."

Until the NRCC has the sense and the resources to get behind Lally, it is up to Kentucky Republicans to dig deep for Todd Lally ASAP.

Here's his web site. Give $ now!

Heiner and Fischer Tied

The WHAS 11/Courier-Journal Bluegrass Poll conducted by SurveyUSA -- which I am not, repeat not calling the "SUSA" poll -- shows that the Louisville mayoral race is tied at a statistical dead heat: Greg Fischer 47, Hal Heiner 45. Only five percent remain undecided. The margin of error is plus or minus four percent.

Fischer has moved up two points since the last poll. But given the Democrats' registration advantage, this poll is still very good for Heiner.

Most of the movement from the previous poll was offset by movement for the other candidate; that is, most of the change is a wash.

A few notes from the cross-tabs. First, Heiner improved with younger voters. To be sure, Fischer cancelled that gain out by making gains with older voters. It is extremely good news for Heiner, as the Republican, to appeal to the younger voters, particularly given how Barack Obama appeared to own the youth vote just two years ago. Wonder whether Heiner is the draw to this demographic, or his conservative message?

Second, both candidates have a gender gap. Fischer appeals to ladies, and Heiner to men. This reflects longstanding trends at the national party level. Taken together, the gender gap is 28 percent.

The one movement that is not offset by the other campaign is that Heiner has lost some support among Republicans, and Fischer has picked up that support without losing any points among Democrats. (Indeed, Fischer actually increased slightly.) This hearkens back to the early days of the campaign, when Fischer held a number of fundraisers that featured Republicans as hosts -- not big-time prominent Republicans, just people who are well-known and liked within their neighborhoods.

Jack Conway, "Unscrutinized"

The Daily Caller has a feature on the "unscrutinized" Jack Conway, who has received so little press that some around the nation don't know who is running against Rand Paul (The notable exception is Joe Klein from Time magazine, who scrutinized Conway from head to toe and pronounced him "wicked handsome.")

Two points emerge. First, Conway is getting a pass from the mainstream media because they are too fascinated by Rand Paul to waste the ink on Conway.

Second, in comparing the websites of the two campaigns, Conway looks like an empty albeit stylish suit.

Rand Paul's website lists positions on 18 substantive issues: "abortion, bailouts, campaign finance, reform, energy innovation, federal reserve, guns and politicians, health care, home schooling, illegal immigration, inflation, national defense, privacy and liberty, sovereignty, taxes and debt, term limits, United Nations, veterans and World Bank and IMF."

Jack Conway's website lists positions on just five issues: "cutting the deficit, small business, protecting social security, Wall Street reform and hometown tax credit." Notably absent: Conway's support of Obamacare.

But then again, Conway does have The Hair, and The Chiseled Jaw.