Aqua Buddha: The Prequel

The Courier-Journal has two columns today that explain Jack Conway's decision-making process for ending his political career with the Aqua Buddha ad.

From Al Cross, we learn that Conway never showed the ad to his political mentor, Crit Luallen. (She also chaired Conway's campaign.) According to Cross, Conway described the ad to Luallen and told her he was very uncomfortable with it. Luallen advised Conway that if he had doubts about the ad, he should listen to his instincts. Instead, Conway listened to his consultants.

The C-J also includes a reprise from David Hawpe (remember him?). Hawpe retired from the C-J and has been volunteering on the Conway campaign. No surprise there.

But get this: Hawpe got to preview the Aqua Buddha ad before it was aired. Conway did not show this ad -- about which he had doubts -- with his political mentor and campaign chair, but he did show it to one of his volunteers, David Hawpe.

Hawpe wrote about Kentucky politics for 40 years. He of all people should have foreseen the reaction the ad was sure to evoke. But apparently he did not, and now he is trying to justify the ad for posterity.

Hawpe said he thought the ad was "rough but OK. Still do." He then offers a post hoc rationalization of why the ad was less "odious" than other things done or said by various politicians.

Hawpe states that he is "not prepared to say whether using it was a good tactical decision."

Please. It was obvious the instant it aired that the Conway campaign was done. Conway must have served some strong Kool-Aid to his volunteers.

The Hawpester Retires

The Courier-Journal has confirmed what has been rumored for weeks: David Hawpe will retire. It is appropriate, given Hawpe's 40-year tenure with the C-J, that the paper let Hawpe retire rather than can him with its most recent batch of terminations. We wish him all the best in his retirement.

It's hard to imagine the Courier-Journal without David Hawpe -- sort of like Nightmare on Elm Street without Freddy Krueger. Hawpe personified a love for big government liberalism and a commensurate hatred of anything or anyone conservative or Republican. To his credit, however, he did it as a pundit rather than under the guise of any supposed objectivity. And he can write.

One weird piece of Hawpe trivia: when Bill Murray was in Kentucky to film Stripes, he stayed at Hawpe's former home in Anchorage.

Hawpe says that "he has no specific plans for retirement but is considering writing a book or two, teaching, doing volunteer work and involving himself in political campaigns that reflect his philosophy." (Emphasis added.)

John Yarmuth and Jack Conway, you have been forewarned.

George Will and David Hawpe Square Off On McConnell's Significance

George Will and David Hawpe have competing columns published today on the Courier Journal's editorial pages. (Will's piece is linked here; Hawpe's is here.) The topic is whether Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell is the greatest Republican congressional leader that Kentucky has ever produced. Judge for yourself which of these writers has the best argument. My money is on Will, who calls McConnell "Kentucky's most important politician since Henry Clay, 'the Great Compromiser.'"
Please note: The postings of "G. Morris", written by John K. Bush and which end in 2016, stated his views as of the dates of posting and should not be understood as current assertions of his views. The postings, which have not been altered since they came to an end, remain on this blog to preserve the historical record. In 2017, Mr. Bush took a position that precludes further public political comments or endorsements. He will no longer be contributing to this blog.