Dems Give Two Thumbs Up to C-J

The "progressives" at the Courier-Journal must be proud of all the accolades they've earned from Democrats this week -- a good omen for invitations to all the celebrity-studded parties at the Democratic National Convention.

First, the C-J won an implicit compliment from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, when the DSCC quoted a C-J editorial. This is at least the second time that the DSCC has highlighted the C-J in connection with Kentucky's 2008 U.S. Senate campaign. That's no surprise, because the DSCC communications director, Matt Miller, has helped the C-J with previous attempts to smear Mitch McConnell.

The C-J's reach exceeds its grasp, as the DSCC relies upon the C-J as "documentation" for its TV ad against Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS). That's right, the same agitprop that Louisvillians endure is now being used to justify negative ads against Republicans in Mississippi.

Taking a cue from his handlers at the DSCC, Bruce Lunsford once again quoted a C-J editorial in his latest ad attacking Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell. If only the C-J would just go ahead and endorse Lunsford once and for all; its supposedly impartial reportage is like a leaky faucet that keeps dripping Lunsford talking points. Make no mistake, however, the C-J is writing for Lunsford, not vice verse.

More DSCC Hypocrisy

The headline looks like typical Democratic agitprop, to those who don't recognize the byline. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee's headline reads "McConnell Chooses Politics Over Bills To Stop Child Predators, Fight Disease."

The author, Matthew Miller, knows first-hand what it's like to place politics above the needs of children, including protecting children from predators. Miller sat on emails that suggested that that former Congressman Mark Foley was propositioning Congressional pages. Rather than report the matter to Congressional leadership, Miller shopped the story to three newspapers. Congressional pages remained in harm's way while Miller sought to advance his own career and his partisan agenda.

So Miller's headline -- "McConnell Chooses Politics Over Bill To Stop Child Predators, Fight Disease" -- reeks of hypocrisy.

As to the substance of Miller's piece, he ignores that the bills he waxes on about will get a vote -- and will probably pass with large bipartisan majorities -- just as soon as the Democrats stop blocking a vote on the McConnell energy bill.

Politico reports:

Republicans stuck together in blocking this bill not because they oppose all of the programs, but because they have decided to block everything small and large this week until they get votes on stalled energy legislation.

The vote sent [Senate Democratic Leader Harry] Reid into one of his trademark tirades on the Senate floor, as he basically accused Republicans of voting against people with strokes, people in wheelchairs and those suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease. . . .

McConnell held his ground, saying the Republicans were launching blockade of everything not related to oil prices. The two sides are actually negotiating on energy amendments, but there was no breakthrough yet.

Democrats need to let the vote on domestic drilling take place now. Three-fourths of all Americans want to let our country drill off-shore; even one out of four environmentalists favor domestic drilling. Stalling the inevitable will just make voters madder at the Democrats who are trying to keep the price of gas as high as possible until Election Day.

"We know the American people are interested in seeing the Congress work together on the number one issue in the country, and that's the price at the pump," McConnell said.

National Dems Tell Fischer to Play Nice

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee's spokesman, Matt Miller, warned Greg Fischer to stop attacking other Democratic candidates, such as Bruce Lunsford.

Fischer's campaign confirmed remarks that Fischer made Saturday at the Kentucky Democratic State Central Executive Committee in Frankfort, as reported on Kypolitics.org.

Fischer took a shot at Senator Chuck Schumer and the DSCC for interfering in the Kentucky primary for U.S. Senate --interference on behalf of Lunsford, that is. Suffice to say that in the unlikely event that Fischer is elected, he will not be known as one of the Senate's best orators:

"Because there’s powers in Washington D.C. - you know, led by Chuck Schumer, and you all are hearing this just as well as I am – that he’s trying to manipulate this election in Kentucky.”

Then Fischer attacked Lunsford, stating at least three times that the Democrats should nominate someone with a "clean record."

“It’s clear to anyone who follows politics in the state Kentucky that the Senator from New York and his folks are trying to force upon the voters of Kentucky a failed candidate who has more baggage than Samsonite. We need a fresh candidate with a clean record who offers bold ideas and new solutions.”

"More baggage than Samsonite" -- this is Fischer, the bored rich guy who wants to be Senator, attempting to sound like a man of the people by pretending that he uses Samsonite instead of Louis Vuitton or whatever.

His point that Lunsford has a dirty record, however, is correct. Indeed it's starting to look like Lunsford engaged in some legal gymnastics to buy his two million dollar Phoenix mansion by using his Chicago address -- and now substituting his Kentucky address. The poor rich guy has so many properties he doesn't know where he lives.

Since he has the property in Illinois and Arizona, Lunsford might as well try to run for either John McCain's or Barack Obama's Senate seat. Then maybe he could dupe voters who have not heard the name Vencor. If elected, Lunsford could contribute a unique perspective on the housing market, given all that he has done to stimulate it.

Update: Lunsford's loan documents contain a rider that allows him to use the Phoenix mansion as a second home.