So Which Country Would Kentucky Join?

A supposedly respected Russian analyst, who 10 years ago predicted the collapse of the U.S. economy, now says that America will break apart into six or more little countries.

Professor Igor Panarin told Izvestia that the failure of investment banks, U.S. debt and tough times for the auto industry convince him that the end of America is near.

He also cited the "vulnerable political setup", "lack of unified national laws", and "divisions among the elite, which have become clear in these crisis conditions."

That "vulnerable political setup" would be the constitution -- the framework of the longest functioning democracy in the history of the world. That "lack of unified national laws" would be federalism, which has allowed us to survive this long. Those "divisions among the elite" would refer to that consequence of free speech: differences of opinion.

He predicted that the U.S. will break up into six parts - the Pacific coast, with its growing Chinese population; the South, with its Hispanics; Texas, where independence movements are on the rise; the Atlantic coast, with its distinct and separate mentality; five of the poorer central states with their large Native American populations; and the northern states, where the influence from Canada is strong.

He even suggested that "we could claim Alaska - it was only granted on lease, after all." (Note to Igor: Sarahcuda may have something to say about that.)

Now as to those six parts, I don't see where Kentucky fits. We are on Eastern Standard Time (barely) and we do have a "distinct and separate mentality." But I fear that those snobs in East may not want us to join their country. They may not even want Upstate New York. If the Atlantic states are in a different country from the "northern states,"the Atlantic country will probably set its border somewhere around Westchester County.

Does the esteemed professor deem Kentucky one of the five "poorer central states with their large Native American populations"? Kentucky is a poor state, no question. We did have Native Americans at one point, before we drove them west. Consequently, we have a governor who likes gambling but no reservations with casinos. As best I can tell, only the park system in Louisville and the names of a few high schools hearken back to that Native American influence. I don't see Kentucky in the Native American Republic.

Perhaps we fall in the "South with its Hispanics." We are sort of Southern, at least around Derby time. And Kentucky's Hispanic population is on the rise.

Kentucky does not fit neatly into any of the professor's categories. That could be because Kentucky truly is sui generis. Or it could be that the Russian prof does not know we exist: plainly, our "sister city" of Perm, Russia has not been pulling its weight.

If and when the end comes, therefore, we need to form our own Republic. President of Kentucky -- now that would be a fun election.

Barbadian Calls Kentuckians "Hillbillies" And Obama A Proverbial King Tut

Poor Kentuckians and Obama! We now are being called dumb "Hillbillies" by a Barbadian for not voting for Obama, who is called a "Pharoah". I'm not sure which nickname is worse, though apparently the writer intended Obama's new title to be a compliment. Check out this amazing piece of Obama oblation:

Blessings for US, Pharoah Barack Obama
Published on: 11/11/08.

GOD BLESS the United States.
The scales have fallen from her eyes as she travelled metaphorically on the road to Damascus. She has redeemed herself! For God has raised up a horn of salvation, to redeem our low estate from the abyss of slavery, by the enthronement of Pharoah Barack Obama in the House of White in the land of the United States. The God of our Forefathers has not forgotten the plight of our people, neither has he lent a deaf ear to the lamentations of the children of Africa. He has magnified us by this election!
President-elect Obama, who is really a Kabaka of one of the ancient princely houses of the Rift Valley of East Africa, ran a brilliant and finely tuned political campaign which attracted the young educated voters of the United States and the vast majority of all the various groups of voters who participated in that amazing election. The Hillbillies in Kentucky could not bring themselves to vote for a man of colour. But then that group of citizens is not known for cerebral considerations.
. . . .
I salute President-elect Barack Obama, Pharoah of the Upper Nile!
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.

Kentucky Isn't Buying Obama, And His Media Buys Confirm That The Feeling Is Mutual

Jay Cost at Realclearpolitics.com provides a fascinating analysis of the television advertising of the Obama campaign that, among other things, confirms Obama's having completely written off winning in Kentucky. Cost observes that Obama has made no media buy in Kentucky for the general campaign, despite the Commonwealth having a better track record for voting Democratic than certain other states where Obama has chosen to advertise. Indeed, Obama is advertising in places like North Dakota, Alaska, Montana and Indiana, but not Kentucky, even though in 1996 President Clinton won Kentucky but not those states and in 2004 President George W. Bush carried Kentucky by a lower percentage than he did those other states. Obama's camp must really be spooked by his dismal showing in the Kentucky Democratic primary.

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.

Five Dead in Shooting at Henderson, KY Plastics Plant

Our prayers go out to five families who lost loved ones this morning at a shooting rampage in Henderson, Kentucky. The gunman was an employee of Atlantis Plastics, where he shot four co-workers before committing suicide. Two others were shot but transferred to a local hospital, according to the New York Times.

The shooter had argued with his supervisor earlier in his shift. After leaving the plant to take his break, the shooter returned with a handgun.

Kentucky's concealed gun statute allows employees to keep guns in their cars at work.

The names of the victims and the shooter have not been released. Atlantis is scheduled to hold a press conference at 3:00 p.m. today.

The shooting comes just as the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to hold that the second amendment right to bear arms applies to individuals, not just militias. That will form the basis for the Court affirming the D.C. Circuit's decision that the D.C. gun ban -- the strictest in the nation -- is unconstitutional.

The Supreme Court should release its opinion in the Heller case sometime this week, possibly as soon as today. Justice Antonin Scalia, who has not written a majority opinion this Term, is expected write it.

Heller, because it arose in the District of Columbia, probably will not address the question of whether the second amendment applies to the states, by being incorporated into the due process clause of the fourteenth amendment.

Those who oppose gun rights, consequently, will argue that Kentucky employers can -- and should -- ban employees from keeping guns in their cars at work. That will be a hard question. We allow employers to force their workers to forgo certain constitutional rights -- such as the right to free speech, when they sign a confidentiality agreement. So perhaps the employer similarly can condition employment on not exercising the second amendment right to bear arms.

In addition to the human loss, the Henderson shooting reaffirms stereotypes about Kentucky and rural America generally. Barack Obama undoubtedly feels vindicated that at least one bitter person did cling to his gun this week.

Just as bad facts should not make bad law, the Henderson shooting should not be extrapolated to reflect all Kentuckians. The Henderson shooting is an aberration. That's why it is such big news. The District of Columbia, on the other hand, has started to resemble Baghdad, complete with check points. Thirty years of the most stringent gun control law in the country made the District more dangerous, by disarming the citizenry. It is no model for Kentucky.

Update: The death toll is now six.

Update: The U. S. Supreme Court has issued three opinions, but Heller was not among them. If the Court had planned to hand down Heller today, I'm glad they didn't.

SUSA Poll Shows Kentucky Still Red

A new SurveyUSA poll shows that regardless of which Democrat gets the presidential nomination, Kentucky prefers McCain.

The poll, linked by RedState, finds that at this point, Barack Obama would beat John McCain, by 280 to 258 electoral votes. If Hillary Clinton wins the nomination, she would beat McCain by 276 to 262 electoral votes.

Kentucky, however, falls in McCain's column. In a match-up against Obama, McCain would win 54 to 33 percent of the vote. McCain likewise would beat Clinton by 50 to 41 percent of the Kentucky vote.

With months to go, those numbers undoubtedly will change. But for now, the presidential race -- against either Obama or Clinton --looks close in the electoral college. It is far from over for McCain.

In Kentucky, it's not so close; McCain enjoys a comfortable lead against both Obama and Clinton. That's significant not so much for Kentucky's eight electoral votes but rather for what McCain's coat tails can do to help GOP congressional candidates like Anne Northup.

Those Kentucky Super-delegates confront a dilemma. Obama is the weaker Democratic candidate in this commonwealth although the stronger candidate nationally. A Super-delegate like John Yarmuth -- who faces his own close election -- really has a conflict of interest on whom to support. If he wants to keep his job, Clinton is more likely to give him a coat-tail assist. Obama, on the other hand, has a better chance of winning the White House. Yarmuth already has endorsed Obama, but those Super-delegates have been known to switch donkeys.

Illinois Is Not A Presidential Birthplace

Though the weather has not cooperated, Kentucky has tried in the past week to educate the world that Republican President Abraham Lincoln was born in Kentucky, not Illinois. But have you heard the one about the birthplaces of the Democratic presidential candidates?

Reuters reports:

The Republican leader in the Senate, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, joked about all the hero worship surrounding Obama in remarks to reporters at annual congressional dinner on Wednesday.

"But now they're down to just two candidates: a New York senator who was born in Illinois, and a senator from Illinois who was apparently born in a manger," said McConnell.

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.