Senator Hillary Clinton Is Coming To Town For The Kentucky Democratic Party

BluegrassReport.org has learned from sources in Washington, D.C. that Senator Hillary Clinton has confirmed that she will be the guest of the Kentucky Democratic Party on December 2 for a fundraiser in Louisville, likely a Jefferson-Jackson dinner for the state party. However, Clinton will also host her own event which will benefit her senate re-election campaign, and presumably her 2008 presidential campaign since all excess senate campaigns funds can rollover into an eventual presidential account.

This raises a couple of points.

First, given the significant number of Democratic donors who are energized by the Republicans' culture of corruption but have no interest in giving money to the present state Democratic Party, a Clinton-only fundraiser will give these donors an opportunity to express their financial support without enriching this state party.

Also, how will state Democratic leaders justify their many public derogatory comments of Hillary Clinton over the recent years, yet welcome her to the state to help them fundraise? I won't post any of the many quotes at this time, but suffice it to say, it will interesting to watch how they will walk this tightrope.

Comments

[Eric]

I can think of nothing better to invigorate a lackluster Republican Party......

[Mark Nickolas]

For once, I agree with Eric.

[Human]

Hillary Clinton - another reason I'm not a Democrat. If she does run for President,I as an Independent I will most likely vote Republican.
Peace.

I like Hillary Clinton; that being said I think her status as a lightning rod for rightwing hate makes her a poor choice.

Because the inherent frenzy of republican hate is a tool for these idiots- why juice up their base?

Let's bring somebody in who's good at reminding republicans how corrupt and despicable they truly are- like Harry Reid.

God forbid a WOMAN with power...this gives me another reason to leave this sad and very pitiful state.

I'm pretty sure Harry doesn't want to nationalize his political career.

-former Sen. Tom Daschle

Your source in DC? This has been common knowledge in KY for weeks. HELLO? Talk of making belittling comments, was it not you who belittled the Party's efforts in previous posts for even thinking they could actually bring HRC to KY? Was it not you who cited your "close fundraiser source" who works so closely with Washington DC candidates who said HRC would never come to KY to help this Party? Your treated efforts by Party officials to bring HRC to KY as a big joke and completely unrealistic as if we are a bunch naive political hayseeds. I don't know if you fully appreciate how very petty and self-centered you come off in this post. You ridiculed and dismissed those at the Party for even having the temerity to try and get someone like HRC to KY. Then when they do in fact get her here, you act like you are providing breaking news, her visit is nothing unexpected or out of the ordinary. Also you completely ignore your past comments/posts of derision and ridicule, instead urge people to support her but not the party's fundraising efforts. Is your ego so massive it prevents you from even acknowledging someone else's good work - even though you may not like the person/people? Why could you not post her coming visit, acknowledge you are personally surprised that the Party was successful and then congratulate those responsible for convincing her to come - though you have strong political disagreements - simply been magnanimous about it? I bet in your campaigns, you are the type who likes to take credit for the good things/outcomes and avoid taking responsibility for the bad. As someone who does not really agree with our Party's leadership, I have followed your blog and believed you were doing a good job and providing a good service to Dems across KY. But after reading this post I am beginning to think your site is driven more by ego, fantasies of power and personal agenda than simply calling it like you see it. It's disappointing.

If it wasn't for Mark, Ben Chandler would be selling used cars in Versailles.

i thought the dccc said the campaign was so poorly run they had to take it over completely?

the dccc didn't get chandler elected, but nice try. Ben, Mark, the campaign staff, and local volunteers won that election and quite handily- 12 points is not a victory the DCCC has enjoyed anywhere else.

haha - that campaign staff sure did a great job losing by 10 points to ERNIE FLETCHER when they didnt have the DCCC overriding them!

Boy Chandler got in on his Grand-daddy's name and Mark thought Jody Richards could be governor. Sometimes it is better to be lucky than good

Oh c'mon! Paul Patton lost the election for the Dems. And Bruce Lundsford didn't help much. You think the DCCC is responsible for Ben's victory? That's crap. I volunteered with that campaign nearly everyday and can tell you the mastermind of Nickolas and the hardwork of the small but highly effective staff clearly won that election. But this post isn't about Ben Chandler or Mark Nickolas. It's about the idiocy of bringing in someone as devisive as Hillary Clinton to Kentucky. Why, after the Repubs have done a great job of screwing all of us, would we want to remind leaning voters why they hate Democrats? This is the worst idea the KDP has produced in my memory.

11:15 poster is quite funny. Must be someone from the state party who's pissed that Mark keeps pointing out when they trip over themselves and what they've publicly said in the past.

Last year, Fletcher was at rock bottom because he shorted the teachers' health care. Jody and the House Dems rescued him by laying down during the session.

Now, Jerry et al are doing their best to rescue Ernie. Probably will not be enough, but House challengers will be able to effectively use this to unseat a few House Dems.

"Also, how will state Democratic leaders justify their many public derogatory comments of Hillary Clinton over the recent years, yet welcome her to the state to help them fundraise? I won't post any of the many quotes at this time, but suffice it to say, it will interesting to watch how they will walk this tightrope."

It is unfortunately quite obvious from Mark's quote above that he is more interested in tearing down the State Democratic Party than he is in any gains made by a Hillary Clinton visit. How sad.

His threat that "I won't post any of the many quotes at this time" is a clear indication that as December 2 rolls closer, he certainly intends to post these at a later date. No doubt he has spent a few hours researching these quotes he plans to use, whose only value is to discredit the State Democratic Party. Again, how sad.

Tightrope as it may be, I am sure that the State Democratic Party will suck down some humble pie, something Mark has probably never tasted, and indeed welcome the Senator to our Commonwealth with open arms, and even more widely opened pocketbooks. That Mark chooses to deride the State Democratic Party for this effort says much more about his commitment to negativity than to any good work he has done or proposes to do in this Commonwealth.

Like his recent derision of the Biden event in the north, Mark will likely spend the next month doing every thing in his power to see that this event is as much of a failure as he can possibly make it, so as to later blame that failure on the insufficiencies of the State Democratic Party. How such work is beneficial to anyone is anyone's guess.

I am sure Senator Clinton will appreciate his work on behalf of the Democratic Party.

Don't blame Mark when the Party messes this one up, too. Don't critize him for telling it like it is. I'm sick and tired of Jerry, Dale, Jody- ALL OF THEM- trying to tell us they know what's right for us. Please. Jerry is only head of the defunct party because no one else wanted it. He's done NOTHING for us.

And so the tear down begins.

Two others wanted it. Joe Graviss of Versailles and some woman from Louisville.

Don't forget Kathy Groob as well.

I am not sure what it is he is telling it like it is. Londrigan brought Biden to town. Londrigan is bringing Clinton to town. They are liberals, he aint. How is this telling you how to think? Explain, be specific.

Did Groob want it too? The previous poster said only Londergan wanted it.

Mark is still upset that Jerry is chairman. He wouldn't be doing this had Ben won.

Audrey Haynes was the other name but she pulled out.

This all goes back to January of this year when Jerry was named chair.

Can anyone tell me how much was raised at the Biden event? How much to they expect to raise with HRC?

I guess if Ben was governor, Mark would be in Frankfort, and we'd all have to post over on Daniel Solzman's site.

Of course, if Ben were governor, he (Ben, not Mark), would have named the Chair of the Party rather than have the Chair elected democratically in accordance with the National Party By-Laws.

Since the event was controlled and operated by the N KY Executive Committees, I'd ask Milliken or Groob.

I wonder if Governor Chandler would have sided with the State House Republicans as much as Congressman Chandler has sided with the US House Republicans?

Mark:

Is it possible for your determine where these posts come from? I would bet anything that the ones posted at 11:15 and 12:41 were from party HQ. If they spent a little more time on the phone raising money and a little less posting on this site, maybe they would not need Hillary to come in and rescue them.

[Mark Nickolas]

Of course I can.

They came from two different people both Democrats but I'll refrain from publicly embarrassing them at this time.

I posted the latter, but not the former. I am not at the HQ or on the Payroll in anyway.
Some of my posts are anonymous, and some are marked with a name. I have been consistently critical of Mark's and others criticism of the State Party. Mark can tell you where these posts come from based on the addresses. He can confirm I am not the earlier poster.

Jeff Noble

By the way, how much did you bet? You lost.

[NKYInsider]

Sometimes I am amazed at the "pac" behavior on this blog. Hillary Clinton is the leading contender and leading fundraiser for the Democratic nominee for the 2008 presidential election. She is the most exciting, dynamic candidate on the scene in years, and although many people see her as a lightening rod, it is awesome to have her visit KY, both in support of Democrats and to raise money. The men in this country are going to fall over dead when they see the support Hillary will receive from women - both R's and D's. In conservative NKY, many of my Republican female friends want to see her make the run and have promised to donate and vote for her. And, I'll bet if someone conducted a poll and asked if they would prefer Bill Clinton back in the whitehouse, it would be a resounding YES! Don't you get it - they are a two-for-one deal? The best of both worlds - a woman in charge (it's about time) and the smartest man who ever lived back in the white house. (Let's just hope after his heart surgery he's on meds and can't fool around anymore) ;) Lighten up people - Hillary is great and there will be a huge crowd in Louisville to see her. I'll be there with my Republican friends!

[mmqc]

If it is Hillary, I want to take my daughter and granddaughter to see her.

Hillary haters - what has she done to raise your blood pressure all those points?

Good grief. I don't agree with her support of the Iraq War. But I will vote for her every chance I ever get. She is a flesh and blood tough broad. And she makes the GOP act like rabid dogs. Who could ask for anything more?

Is it because she is a woman that you can't stand her?

PS to Friday 1:25- Jerry Lundergan is Chairman of the KDP. Bill Londrigan is a labor leader in Louisville. Neither Bill nor Jerry would appreciate their being confused with each other. Their names are are confusing, but meet them both and you will never confuse them again.

Some observations on this meaner-than-usual "debate":

1. Why does everyone insist on taking "sides" about Ben's victory in the special election? Mark and company did a great job on message, and the DCCC made a HUGE difference in GOTV by bringing in 500 people who joined local volunteers in working their asses off. It is unfortunate that campaign finance laws required a "firewall" between the 2 "sides" in that neither ever got a real understanding of what the others accomplished.

2. It amuses me that commenters agree that Mark would be in Frankfort if Ben had won the governor's race. Fletcher's biggest problems stem from an assumption that close political allies who are good at campaigning are the best choices for governing -- campaign managers overseeing the merit system... and getting appointed to the Supreme Court.

3. Audrey Haynes never really intended to run for KDP chair. Her "candidacy" was part of Lundergan's strategy.

4. Ben would be selling used cars in Versailles if he hadn't won???? So that's what you do with a law degree and experience as state Auditor and AG....

[Campaign Expert]

The people on this site are rabid political people like me. Less than 5% of the population. They are not the "average" voter who will spend less than 15 minutes deciding who they like the most. Hilary Clinton's strength will be with these average voters as she can be very charming and likeable. For the last two years her politics in speech and voting has come to the vital center which is more attractive to the "average voter." The thumping loud hate mongers on the fundamentalist conservative side will be so obnoxious for so long it is likely to backfire at game time. That venom is getting old to the voters who are figuring out that the heavy corrupton and hypocrisy of the far right is so deceitful. They fear Hilary Clinton's ability and popularity.

[DJ]

I would be interested in going to see Hillary, however I cannot support someone whose positions on Iraq are identical to Hannity or Rush's . In many ways she's more hawkish than Bush by claiming we need to send more troops to Iraq.

I admit, I along with most Americans were much better off under Clinton than under Bush. I would love to have that period in the late 90's back, but Hillary's view on Iraq is too much for this otherwise moderate Democrat to take.

Many Democratic senators who voted for the war such as Feinstein and Harkin have stated they were wrong in doing so. Until Hillary does the same, I won't support her or give a dime.

If the KDP brought in Feingold, Boxer, or even Reid then I would be happy to attend, but not for pro-war Hillary or her buddy Biden.

[jaytn60]

Interesting post about Ms. Haynes being a straw candidate. I had never heard that before, but am presently digging out my emails from that time frame to try and substantiate it. It has me curious, to say the least. I know that Graviss was a serious candidate because we had an extended phone conversation as to his interest, and he was there the day the Executive Committee elected Lundergan. I never was officially contacted by Ms. Haynes, whose husband and son are both friends of mine. But I had never given that a thought until just now.

I had a chance to be at the Bullitt County Democratic Party Executive Committee meeting last night - wasn't invited, just attended because of friend of mine, former State Representative Eleanor Jordan was there to speak in lieu of the Attorney General. She did a swell job as usual. I found out that Chairman Lundergan had been there the previous month in an effort to hear what the Democrats of Bullitt County had to say. Next month's speaker is scheduled to be that old hack who doesn't ever do anything, Bill Ryan. He travels from County to County listening and reporting back to HQ in between stints of being an old hack. Their next meeting is at the Shepherdsville City Hall on December 1.

Finally, I agree with the poster who has reservations about Hillary and her take on Iraq. But, presently, I'd vote for her in a heartbeat. Much to Daniel Solzman's dismay, she is my first choice over Evan Bayh and Al Gore. I heard talk of what one person called a "Dream Ticket" for 2008, of Hillary and McCain. As a Democrat, I'd have a hard time voting for such a ticket, should it ever come to reality, which is not very likely.

I am thrilled she is coming to Louisville and Kentucky. I am hopeful that Tim Longmeyer and the local party and Jerry Lundergan and the state party have a great success. But even if they don't, which is damn near impossible, her presence there will create a buzz well worth whatever monies are made from her visit.

When her husband came to Louisville on Hallowe'en Day, 2000 and spoke at duPont Manual HS, the place was just a dynamo of positive force. Hillary can restore that sense of purpose and hope and energy and drive on her visit next month. Again, I am thrilled she is coming to Kentucky.

You have it wrong - "Audrey Haynes never really intended to run for KDP chair. Her "candidacy" was part of Lundergan's strategy." That statement is false.

She was brought in to oppose Lundergan but when she realized that the majority faction was for Jerry she bowed out as did Groob and anybody else who had a brain.

I have to agree with the poster who said Ben C. would be selling cars or would be otherwise barely employed if he hadn't walked into the special election. Hate to admit it, but he didn't really do much of substance in his 12 years of public service. The attorneys in Versailles were scared to death that one of them was going to have to give him a job.

The commenter at 9:08 is part right and part wrong.

It IS true that Haynes "was brought in to oppose Lundergan" -- but that was only the belief of the people who brought her in. She was always a Lundergan supporter, and the people looking for an alternative to Lundergan did not learn that until it was too late for them to find another candidate.

[jaytn60]

I find this Audrey Haynes stuff most intriguing. I may have been duped and didn't know it. Well, not duped, because I told Jerry I would vote for him and I did after we had a long chat. But mislead maybe. Still, this all truly is news to me, and if for no other reason that I like to learn, especially where I may have been obviously ingorant, I would very much like to know more about her straw candidacy. As I said earlier, Graviss lobbied me by phone, but Haynes never made a contact - nor did Groob for that matter.

Unrelated, a friend and I just came from a showing at the Baxter Theatres in Louisville of George Clooney's new movie "Good Night and Good Luck" about Edward R. Murrow, Fred Friendly, Bill Paley, and Senator McCarthy. Kind of a politely freaky art-noir type of movie, highlighted by the fact that it is done in black-and-white. Two thumbs up. People interested in this blog and what Mark (purports to be) is doing here will find it worth the ticket.

Y'all educate me on the Haynes non-candidacy.

[nonya]

Couldn't Ben have set out his own shingle? Or jumped into the family business? (The Woodford Sun newspaper...)

[EK Indy]

nonya: Ben could start his own practice if he wanted to. The only reason he lost to blackberry ernie was due to patton's stupidity. And I do believe that the majority (if not all) of Dem's that voted for ernie because they BELIEVED his promise of cleaning up the mess in Frankfort would now support Ben in any position he chooses to run for.

Ben Chandler go into private practice? Don't make me laugh! I guess he could, but he could not make it work. What would he specialize in, seriously? There isn't much need in the marketplace for an attorney who just takes credit for the work of others. He could do a Dan Quayle and putz around at the family newspaper. Not all Democrats who didn't vote for Ben are, as Mark repeatedly says, dupes or traitors. Some of us just know Ben too well.

jaytno:

You were not duped. Crit and Jonathan were. They were trying to find an alternative to Jerry and Audrey Haynes seemed perfect. She and Jonathan go way back to Gore stuff and she and Crit work together on women's issues.

The committee vote was 6-6, so fair decision was to let the full Executive Committee decide. And that's when Audrey quit. It was then too late for Crit and Jonathan.

The mastermind is Audrey's husband, Mike. He and Jerry go WAY back.

So when it came to the full Exec. there was no choice -- either Jerry or no one. Brilliant!

[jaytn60]

Ah yes. I know Mike - have known of him since junior High School when he was an assistant to old Mr. Jordan in the State YMCA programs. I always attended the KYA and KUNA conventions the State Y put on as a student. And I know their son is a good worker in a very confortable job under Councilman Tandy on the Council. But, for whatever reason, I missed the Mike-Jerry connection. I remember that Mike went to work for Hatchett while he was State Auditor.

[Northstar]

An unbiased opinion from nobody special:
1. I couldn't believe how much energy and time is wasted on Dem. bashing on fellow Dem. in these postings.

2. Is there any way to capture all that energy and make it positive for achieving your main objective?
3. RE: Dem. challenge for Dem. seat.... Scores tied, bottom of the 9th. The manager gets paid to send his best batter to the plate reguardless of what might happen.
4. RE: Your chairman....Love him or hate him, it doesn't matter. Can he take your party in the direction you need to go in obtaining your objectives? Most of you show distaste and I'd bet that most of you are unqualified to make that decision from not knowing enough about him. He is a fair minded leader that doesn't look at life or issues through a tunnel. He also won't be bulldogged around by other party members looking to better their personal agenda. I really can't see anyone else going to the plate, let alone out performing him.

Summary: Put your knives away, show a little support and time will give you a true evaluation of Mr. Lundergan's capabilities, strengths and or weakness.

Wake up, to start playing this game as a team you will need to abandon the tunnel vision and its effects.

Through the eyes of a non Dem....Good day.

[Kims2cool]

Hillary is in denial because she has no other options but to keep fighting. Kentucky and Oregon, normally "nothing" states to Hillary, are now precious prizes to keep her fighting another day. Hillary has been riding the coat tails of Bill all during this election and has had strength in name recognition only. However, even THAT support is waning. At a speech with Bill in Oregon, he only drew a little over 1,000 people, while an Obama rally amassed over 60,000. Hillary is happy for any exposure at this point as she claws ahead claiming victory as hers. One has to wonder how she would operate as president if she fails to recognize the facts and surrounds herself with "yes" people who say she actually has a shot at this. Hillary is just in the way now and everyone is starting to step around her. Even the banter over Iran between McCain and Obama does not include Hillary anymore. No one even seems to care what her opinions are. Second best is STILL second, and it appears that there are now too many cooks in the kitchen.