McConnell on Obama's Iraq Victory Speech

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell issued the following statement regarding President Barack Obama's "mission accomplished in Iraq" speech. McConnell made the statement at the Commerce Lexington Public Policy luncheon:

As some of you may know, the President tonight is expected to declare the end of U.S. combat operations in Iraq. As the Senator from a state that has carried a very heavy burden in this war, I think we can all say this is very welcome news. This is a time to be grateful for the incredible sacrifices the men and women in the armed forces have made, are making, and will continue to make on our behalf in the struggle against terrorism.

“But I think we should also be thankful that another President had the determination and the will to carry out the plan that made tonight's announcement possible. You might recall that the surge wasn't very popular when it was announced. You might also recall that one of its biggest critics was the current President. One of his colleagues said the war was already a lost cause, implying, of course, that any further efforts on the part of our troops would be in vain.

“So it makes it easier to talk about fulfilling a campaign promise to wind down our operations in Iraq when the previous administration signs the security agreement with Iraq to end our overall presence there.

“It sure makes things easier when you reject your own campaign rhetoric about how the surge—the Petraeus plan—shouldn’t happen and wouldn’t work.

“It makes things easier when you reject the left-wing calls for defunding our troops in the field and instead continue the policies put in place by the previous administration and keep the same Secretary of Defense and until recently Gen. Petraeus to help guide our efforts there.

“By adopting the Bush administration's plan for winding down the war and transitioning security responsibilities to the Iraqi military over time the President has enabled us and the Iraqis to build on the gains our troops have made.

“This bilateral relationship must also be managed realistically, and based on conditions on the ground as we move forward. Much hard work remains in Iraq. And this President could very well find himself negotiating a new security agreement next year.

“But thankfully we can say today that our troops, the Surge, and the Petraeus Plan all succeeded where many in Washington thought they would fail.”

Careful What You Wish For

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell may get to try his hand at herding cats, if all the maverick-y Tea Partiers get elected. (The Washington Examiner, via Instapundit, has the list.)

Rand Paul has been left behind, as these upstarts in Republican Senate primaries across the country try to outdo each other in professing their love for the constitution and their loathing for debt.

And that's fine, in theory. The looming question is whether any of these people will be able to transition from candidate to Senator -- will their ideological purity prevent them from getting anything done?

Remember when Rand Paul was all shiny and new and exotic? There are now enough Rand Paul clones to form a caucus. He is starting to look mainstream.

Jack's Bogus Bomb

The whole point of a money bomb is the excitement of raising a big wave of donations simultaneously.

Jack Conway's bomb, however, has what Joe Arnold called a "long fuse." That is, Conway is soliciting donations now even though the "money bomb" is not scheduled for detonation until September 7th. Conway's campaign sent an email to announce that he's received $45,000 toward the goal of $260,000 for the bomb.

As Joe observes, "Not that there are any necessarily any rules to follow when any campaign is using such a gimmick, but this appears to be less money "bomb" than a traditional deadline with a set goal."

By calling it a "money bomb," Conway just reinforces the impression that he's a big phony

John Yarmuth Faces Down Green-headed Monster; Monster Wins

The only thing saving Rep. John Yarmuth's hide this election year is that Republicans have so many opportunities for picking up seats that the NRCC has to prioritize. Yarmuth is vulnerable all right, but until Todd Lally can close the gap, the NRCC money will flow elsewhere.

Yarmuth is able to avoid the onslaught of NRCC ads only because it is such a target rich environment for Republicans.

As a smart man, Yarmuth knows this. And he knows that as Nancy Pelosi's designated "messenger," that voters no longer like the "message." All that he cheerfully advocated -- bigger bailouts, single-payer health care, more government at every turn --is about to be rejected by voters. It has begun to dawn on Yarmuth is that he is "messaging" a product that did not work, that nobody wants. All that leaves him with is a hope that voters don't sack the messenger.

This is probably why Yarmuth, who is generally an affable guy, melted down on the Mandy Connell Show when asked about Sen. Republican Leader Mitch McConnell's point that raising taxes on individuals hurts small businesses that file taxes as individuals. For a small business considering hiring new employees, the prospect of a tax hike creates uncertainty about costs, and thus deters job creation just when the country needs it most.

Yarmuth responded by calling McConnell "devious" and "rarely honest." But even as he ranted on about why he supports tax hikes, Yarmuth acknowledged that McConnell was "meticulously accurate."

The subject arose on Connell's show after a listener email questioned why Yarmuth refused to stand up when McConnell entered the Kentucky Farm Bureau ham breakfast at the State Fair, and why Yarmuth muttered that McConnell was lying when McConnell discussed the danger of Democrats raising taxes during a recession.

Even coverage in the Courier-Journal, Yarmuth's biggest cheerleader, made Yarmuth look like a petulant jerk over the incident.

It seems so out of character for Yarmuth. Has the spectre of Democrats losing the House really put him in such an ill mood?

Yarmuth didn't suddenly lose his manners over a question of tax policy. Or ideology. Or even electoral prospects, though all of those things undoubtedly soured his mood.

McConnell and Yarmuth started out together 40 years ago, back when Yarmuth was a Republican. McConnell went on to become the most powerful Republican in Washington. Yarmuth clipped coupons, perfected his golf game (best handicap in Congress!) and now serves as Nancy Pelosi's "messenger." He may get to keep his job another term, but Yarmuth knows that he is becoming irrelevant -- at a time when McConnell is becoming more relevant.

This is perhaps not the outcome Yarmuth had envisioned and so bitterness got the best of his good manners. It doesn't happen often, but this week Yarmuth lost the ability to conceal how much he envies McConnell.

EPA Backs Down

The EPA asked for comments on whether lead bullets should be banned and it got an earful -- so much, so, that the EPA has denied the petition even before the comment period was supposed to close. EPA did not have jurisdiction over bullets under the Toxic Substances Control Act.

Lead fishing sinkers, however, are still on the line. (Sorry, I couldn't resist.)

EPA Backs Down

The EPA asked for comments on whether lead bullets should be banned and it got an earful -- so much, so, that the EPA has denied the petition.

Paul Attacks EPA Lead Bullet Ban

Rand Paul's campaign is getting quicker on the draw, so to speak: Team Paul attacked the EPA's proposed ban on lead bullets before most of us had even heard of said ban.

It's a wonderful example of an over-reaching, clueless government. Is the administration worried that hunters will give deer lead poisoning? Note that the EPA did not even have jurisdiction over the issue, which means it will probably end up in court.

Forcing hunters to use non-lead bullets will raise the cost of ammunition exponentially. Given Election Day's proximity to various hunting seasons, this was a politically tone deaf move by an administration that has shown complete contempt for the sort of people who buy ammunition. Oh, and fishermen -- the ban would apply to lead sinkers, sort of a metaphor for the president's approval ratings.

Here's the release from the Paul campaign:

The EPA is considering a petition by environmentalists to ban ammunition containing lead. It may sound outlandish, but with Obama's EPA you never know what they may decide to regulate next.

The EPA is already out to get Kentucky's coal industry through the back-door with climate legislation like Cap and Trade. This would cost Kentucky families dearly in lost jobs and wages in this bad economy.

Rand Paul will work to stop the EPA from killing Kentucky jobs, and stop the Obama administration from trying to regulate away our freedoms. Dr. Paul wants to sunset all wrongheaded regulations by the EPA. That's why Kentucky needs to send Rand Paul to the Senate; he is the only one who will stand up against the out of control feds.

Does Jack Conway stand with the Obama administration and the EPA on banning ammunition?

David Williams Proposes Amending Law on Student Enrollment

Senate Pres. David Williams supports amending the law that Judge Irv Maze just used to uphold the Jefferson County Public School District student assignment plan.

The plan is voluntary, not court-mandated. Parents who want their children to attend neighborhood schools for which they were denied challenged the plan. The basis of the suit is a Kentucky statute that permits parents to "enroll" children at the neighborhood school. Because the Kentucky legislature amended the law to drop the language "for attendance," Judge Maze held that the right to enroll a child does not equate with the right for the child to attend the school where the parents enrolled him or her.

Republicans have pre-filed a bill to add back in the "for attendance" language -- making clear that JCPS must provide neighborhood schools now denied under its assignment plan.

Even aside from the obvious benefits of neighborhood schools -- and the drawbacks of making small children spend hours a day on a bus -- the bill makes sense from a budgetary standpoint. JCPS receives roughly $3500 per child per year in state "SEEK" money. JCPS spends more than $5 million to bus children all around the county. At a time when Kentucky cannot even afford to buy new text books for its students, that $5 million could be better spent.

H/t: Joe Arnold

Max Baucus: Read the Bill? Seriously?

Sen. Max Baucus -- the administration's point man on Obamacare -- has suggested that he didn't read the bill he not only voted for but actively promoted.

Baucus responded to a constituent at a town hall, who questioned whether he did and should read the bill by saying, " “I don’t think you want me to waste my time to read every page of the healthcare bill,” Baucus said, according to the Flathead Beacon. “You know why? It’s statutory language. ... We hire experts.”

Why Kentucky Lost Race to the Top Funds

Rep. Brad Montell has written an op-ed on why Kentucky lost out on the second round of the Race to the Top grant: it's our lack of charter schools:

In an interview with the Lexington Herald-Leader shortly after learning Kentucky once again was not selected for ‘Race to the Top’ Federal funding, Education Commissioner Terry Holliday said that he quote “…called around (to) a few folks, and it looks like we would have been in the money if we had (charter schools).”

Indeed Kentucky once again finished out of the running in the second round of ‘Race to the Top’ funding for schools, only getting 412 of a possible 500 points and losing to surrounding states like Ohio, North Carolina, Georgia and Maryland. Those states scored 32 points on their assessment simply because they allow public charter schools. Kentucky currently doesn’t allow for public charter schools, meaning our score was ‘zero.’

I’ve filed legislation several times, including the 2010 Regular Session of the General Assembly, seeking to add Kentucky to the other 40 states and Puerto Rico that have passed charter school legislation. But sadly the voices of those who support charter school legislation went unheard as the House Education Committee chose not to call the bill for a hearing.

While we sit on our hands, other states that receive ‘Race to the Top’ funding continue to pass us by, meaning our children and our education system ultimately suffer. While Kentucky sits in the slow lane, between 300 and 400 charter schools open each year in the 40 states and Puerto Rico where charter schools are allowed by law.

In his response to the loss of funding, Gov. Beshear said he is confident that the steps Kentucky is taking will significantly improve the education experience for our students. Until we pass public charter schools legislation in the Commonwealth, our children and our educational system will remain stuck in neutral.

Rep. Brad Montell (R)-Shelbyville is a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives

Conway, Copy Cat

Jack Conway has announced that he, too, will launch a moneybomb -- just like Rand Paul. This is the point at which Ethel Merman sings "Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better."

Conway notes that Paul's latest money bomb fell short of its mark, raising $258,000 instead of his goal of $500,000. Note that Conway waited to replicate Paul's moneybomb until Paul launched one that was, relative to the others, a bust. In so doing, Conway lowered expectations and perhaps avoids unflattering comparisons.

Oddly, Conway felt constrained to explain the whole moneybomb concept to his supporters: "a single day where supporters from all over the state and the country make contributions in the same 24 hours." If Conway's supporters don't know what a moneybomb is at this point, they probably don't have a computer with which to contribute to his moneybomb.

And why couldn't Conway think of a different name other than "moneybomb"? Is he that unoriginal? Then again, Conway has not shown much originality on the issues, now that he supports extending the Bush tax cuts, loves coal and has never heard of Barack Obama.

With all the material Rand Paul has given Conway lately -- think Aqua Buddha -- the Conway campaign could have had some fun with this. Those folks take themselves so deadly seriously that they have no sense of humor.

Let's face it. Conservatives have cornered the rhetoric on anything related to war-making and military might. It's uncomfortable to watch a Democrat implore people to chip in for his own little bomb and try to explain the concept. Instead, Conway should have used the language with which progressives are most comfortable and simply asked for a bailout.

Perhaps the strangest thing about Conway's moneybomb is that he is asking for $5 contributions. It's not so much a moneybomb as amo for a bb gun. Plainly, he's looking for broad support, so a modest number makes sense in that regard. But $5? That's not enough to pay for a daily dose of styling gel for Jack's hair.

No Payola Here

There is speculation that some bloggers are getting paid to post favorable coverage of candidates. The Daily Caller writes

But increasingly, many bloggers are also secretly feeding on cash from political campaigns, in a form of partisan payola that erases the line between journalism and paid endorsement.

It’s standard operating procedure” to pay bloggers for favorable coverage, says one Republican campaign operative. A GOP blogger-for-hire estimates that “at least half the bloggers that are out there” on the Republican side “are getting remuneration in some way beyond ad sales."

Apparently some conservative bloggers in California take the payolo in the form of inflating the cost of ads run on their blogs.

The question begs an answer and here it is: this blog has never taken money from any campaign. No campaign has offered any, and if one did, I would tell them to go suck (salmonella-laden) eggs.

According to the Daily Caller, many demo-blogs take money from liberal groups like Media Matters, the Center for American Progress and the Campaign for America's future. To the extent that there are conservative groups that mirror these liberal ones, they have not offered money to this blog and we would not accept it in any event.

Rand Paul Touring Drug Rehab

Rand Paul's previous comments on the drug problems of Kentucky reveal a certain lack of knowledge and depth of thought. It is to his credit, therefore, that he is educating himself on the issue. Paul is spending several hours today in Western Kentucky at Wingshadow Lodge, a faith-based rehabilitation center that operates without tax-payer money.

Paul is also meeting with a prosecutor to better understand the drug problem.

According to the Paul campaign, the facility is 50 years old, has an 86 percent success rate, and was endorsed by Ronald Reagan and the Rev. Billy Graham.

Private-sector initiatives of this sort are wonderful, particularly when they address the spiritual component of addiction and recovery.

But it is critical that Paul recognize the supply-side of the drug equation: drug abuse occurs not just because addicts want a fix, but because dealers are there to provide it at huge profits.

Yes, Kentucky has fields of marijuana and an ever-increasing supply of meth labs (and these are no longer a rural problem). Paul needs to recognize, however, that much of the illegal drug supply comes from out of state. This is a law enforcement problem that cannot be addressed solely on the state level because the distribution is inter-state and often international.

The federal government therefore plays an essential role in combating drug use.

Paul is correct in calling for a more limited role of the federal government, particularly with respect to bailouts and the economy.

When, however, an issue truly affects interstate commerce -- as does the distribution of illegal drugs -- it would be an abdication of federal duty to not step in. Conservatives want limited government, but they also want competent government on those issues that are appropriately within the purview of the federal government.

State Debt Beauty List

The Daily Beast has analyzed the debt levels of the 50 states and Kentucky comes in 23rd. The Commonwealth is $14.25 billion in debt. Our GDP for 2009 was $154.94 billion. That leaves a debt to GDP ratio of 9.2 percent.

Compare that to the most debt-laden state in the nation relative to its income -- not California, as I had expected, but Rhode Island. That state is $10.02 billion in debt with a 2009 GDP of $46.5 billion. It's ratio of debt to GDP is 21.54 percent -- more than double Kentucky's. California comes in 32d with a debt to GDP ratio of 7.3 percent.

Massachusetts has the second-highest ratio of debt to GDP: 20.73 percent. That makes Sen. John Kerry look even slimier for evading taxes by docking his ginormous yacht in New Hampshire (which with a debt to GDP ratio of 13.55 percent doesn't exactly need to poach tax revenue from neighboring states.)

Number 51, the state least in debt, goes to Tennessee, with a debt to GDP ratio of 1.95 percent. How is it that the state immediately to our south is in so much better financial shape than Kentucky?

More Conway Hypocrisy

Remember how Jack Conway mocked Rand Paul at Fancy Farm for "want[ing] to be the prince of cable TV"?

Now, according to Joe Arnold, Jack Conway has decided that Paul is his best bet for national exposure. To that end, Conway wants his debates against Rand Paul to appear on national television. He thinks Meet the Press or Fox would do nicely.

As Joe observed, "Few, if any, local candidates have similar access to the national media. In a sense, Conway would be riding Paul's coattails to gain the exposure."

Maybe Jack would like Paul to launch a money bomb for him while he's at it.

New NRSC Ad

The interesting thing about this NRSC ad is that it steals a page from Rand Paul's play book. Paul's best line has been, in response to the accusation that he's extreme, that what's extreme is our debt. The NRSC extends that to include the Mosque at Ground Zero, health care and all the other excesses of the Obama-Reid-Pelosi triumvirate.

Anyone who was shocked that Paul won -- note that his ideas and rhetoric are now fueling the NRSC. The maverick has co-opted the establishment. I understand that the NRSC has decided to catch the Paul wave, but the lack of creativity in so doing alarms me.

Solidarity

I read a few e-mails over the weekend expressing concerns of our candidate Todd Lally. I have to admit this is exactly where Yarmuth’s people want us. The dissention among our ranks is perfect for a win for Yarmuth. Who was it that said, leave the enemy alone while they are in the process of destroying their selves?

Come on people get behind this candidate!!!!!! We have only just over two months to get Lally elected. This will help in taking over the house, sending a message to our president, and helping to change the direction of our country. I think we all can agree on the fact that these goals/premises need to happen and Yarmuth is not the person to do this.

I saw comparisons of Lally to McCain. Are you saying that McCain would not have been a better president than Obama? Would McCain have taken over the financial institutions, the automobile companies, made the policies that are misdirected? Would we have Kagen in the Supreme Court as we do now?

There is not one candidate on either side that will make all of us 100% happy with the decisions they make. Lally was given the banner to run with and it is our job to insure that he gets in. NO MATTER HOW HE DIRECTS HIS CAMPAIGN.

Do you want Yarmuth to continue as our representative? Let man up and quit being "Cry Babies" and get behind our candidate and get him elected. Anything less than that at this point, so close to the elections, is just being defeatist.

What if Washington quit at Valley Forge?

One last point. If we are unhappy with our candidate we need to let HIM know, not complain to our fellow citizens and e-mail groups. Quite frankly I was going to send this to the Lally campaign as well but I thought it best that we clean our house first.

As a group that is unsatisfied it is important to let the candidate realize our opinions. If we are not united as a group then the candidate has no reason to listen to us.

LETS GET IT TOGETHER AND LETS ROLL THIS NOVEMBER!!!!


P.S. Todd's Dad had a stroke this past week and needs our prayers.

Pres. Polls Drop Further

These poll numbers don't give Democrats much to work with in the way of issues. Gallup polled presidential approval on 13 issues and found more Americans disapprove than approve of the Obama administration's performance on 9 of the 13 issues. A majority disapprove of the Obama administration's handling of:

• taxes,
• health care policy,
• the economy,
• Iraq,
• Afghanistan,
• the federal budget deficit,
• immigration,
• and even the environment -- usually an issue on which voters prefer Democrats.

A Wall Street Journal/NBC poll confirms these results and amplifies them on the Obama administration's plan to raise taxes by letting the Bush tax cuts expire. According to that poll, 71 percent support extending current tax law for one year so Americans are not faced with massive tax hikes in the midst of the recession. Two-thirds support maintaining tax relief for families making less than $250,000 a year, and a majority opposes eliminating relief for those making above that level -- those so-called "wealthy individuals," which includes small businesses that file tax returns as individuals.

The WSJ/NBC poll in particular explains why Jack Conway now favors extending the Bush tax cuts. He's held his finger up to the wind; his only chance of winning in Kentucky is to run as a Republican.

KDP Wants a Moral Leader

The Kentucky Democratic Party, according to B&P, questions whether Rand Paul has "any other activity in his background that could affect his ability to be a moral leader in the United States Senate?" KDP illustrates that the only thing worse than a hypocrite is a sanctimonious hypocrite.

To be sure, it's easy to see why the KDP longs for a "moral leader" in the United States Senate. Democrats have had slim pickings this session, what with Ted ("I was too drunk to know I killed her" Kennedy, Robert "KKK" Byrd, Maxine"Don't call me corrupt" Waters, Charlie "I'm not corrupt, just stupid" Rangel and Chris "Countryside" Dodd.

That's what passes for "progressive" moral leadership in the U.S. Senate these days -- crooks and liars who worship the Aqua Buddha known as the Potomac River, and who will do anything to stay within its reach.

She Recants! Damsel in Distress Not Kidnapped

Anonymous Source has resurfaced briefly to explain that Rand Paul did not kidnap her; she calls the reaction to her interview "overblown." Her encounter with Paul now seems to be consistent with the NoZe brothers' tradition of "kidnapping" willing co-eds, and taking them places they did not expect, often via a U-Haul truck.

My theory is that she let Paul blind-fold her and went with him -- willingly, as she makes clear -- because she had a crush on him. Thirty years later, she can't get him out of her head.

Meanwhile, other Baylor undergraduates describe "Rand(y)" as a nice guy who liked to talk about Austrian school economics. That is, at the time of life when Trey Grayson was experimenting with (Bill) Clintonianism, and Barry Obama with Saul Alinsky, Rand Paul's ideology already had coalesced.