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Crall makes short list for Owensboro city manager, but he's not the only Republican refugee on the list

It looks like Brian Crall is going to find out if the late poet, Robert Frost, was right when he said, "Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in."

According to WFIE-TV, Crall, who served as Gov. Fletcher's personnel secretary, has made the short list of candidates for the city manager position in Owensboro that will be vacated by Bob Whitmer in February.

The other candidates for the position are Matt McKillip, the outgoing mayor of Kokomo, Ind., and Bill Parrish, who is presently the city's street and sanitation superintendent.  Parrish has overseen the consolidation of the city's street and sanitation departments and is generally well-respected.

I got a chill when I saw McKillip's name on the list.

McKillip -- who, like Crall, is a Republican -- lost his bid for re-election in this year's primary, and is evidently looking to leave Kokomo far behind him after what could, at best, be considered a contentious term.  He's the mayor who was sued by a 16-year-old over access to a city-compiled list of e-mail addresses.  (He lost to the kid.)  He also ordered the removal of private property (specifically newspaper salesracks belonging to the Kokomo Tribune) from the city's streets, claiming "I had no idea they were yours."  Really?  Newspaper boxes?  Belong to a newspaper?  Surely not!

And now he wants to come to Kentucky and work his "magic" in our third largest city.

I'm hopeful that our city commission will perform the due diligence on McKillip (just Google him ... you'll see what I mean) and send him packing.  Even Crall would be a better choice than this guy, but if I were asked, I'd say Bill Parrish ought to get the nod.  He's done a fine job in his present position and deserves a shot.

Just my two cents.

UPDATE 12-20-07 5:15 PM: As Eddie noted in this entry's comments, Bill Parrish got the nod.  I can breathe again.  The best man got the job.

A Week To Go And Fletcher Still Lies About His Administration's Corruption And Law-Breaking

You'd think that with a week until the elections and polls showing him down 23 and 24 points, that Governor Fletcher (R) might try to salvage a molecule of integrity (if any remain) and stop lying about his administration's corruption and law-breaking, especially those parts of it that have been well-documented by evidence.

But then if Fletcher thought that way, he might not be looking a record-breaking loss on Tuesday.

Fletcher's Comment On 'Hit List' Promotions Wrong, Records Show
By Tom Loftus, The Courier-Journal

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- During a debate Monday night, Gov. Ernie Fletcher said the so-called "hit list" that surfaced during the investigation of his administration's hiring practices was actually "more of a promotion list."

"More people were promoted that were on the list," said Fletcher, a Republican. But a review of state personnel records shows that's not so.

The list, drawn up inside the Transportation Cabinet on April 18, 2005, named 23 individuals to be fired or transferred. Three were fired; a fourth was removed from a non-merit-system post but was able to revert to a merit-system job. Three were promoted.

Among the others, nine retired or resigned, and seven remain in state government but have not received promotions.

[...]

It listed the names of nine people who had already been fired or transferred, and then the 23 "pending actions."

Along with each name is the person's Democratic credentials, including any contributions made to Fletcher's 2003 opponent, Ben Chandler, now 6th District congressman.

The list recommends that nine on the list be fired, and that others be transferred.

Washington Post Spotlights Bluegrass Freedom Fund Ads Against Fletcher On Ethics

Very nice story by Chris Cillizza in today's Washington Post on the devastatingly effective ethics ads run by Bluegrass Freedom Fund during this general election. A few days ago, I highlighted the excellent work done by this group.

(Hat tip: Pat Crowley)

Not Your Typical Effort

As we ready ourselves for the Democratic tsunami that is about to hit Kentucky in just 13 days, I wanted to mention one very noteworthy contributor which helped Democrats take advantage of the fertile political environment in Kentucky: the efforts of Bluegrass Freedom Fund.

While there's nothing new about third-party groups getting engaged during elections and talking directly to the voters -- the Republican Governors Association (RGA) did so for Governor Fletcher (R) (at least for a few weeks before bailing when the polls didn't moving and a campaign finance complaint was filed against them for illegal coordination), what makes Bluegrass Freedom's efforts unique is that they didn't simply come into Kentucky, attack a candidate on television, and then leave.

While the issue advocacy groups and political candidates flooded the airwaves with TV commercials, no one seemed to be using the Internet to reach people and raise awareness. Bluegrass Freedom combined the sight, sound, and motion of television by running a highly-targeted streaming video online advertising campaign on the leading newspaper and television sites throughout the state. In addition, they also purchased advertisements on the leading progressive political blogs in the state (I'm sure you remember the one that ran here for two weeks). Its video ads alone saw 2 million impressions on the media sites, and were accessed thousands of times. And unlike the RGA's efforts, Bluegrass Freedom focused on, and promoted, a real issue -- ethics reform -- on top of what it did to Fletcher's candidacy itself.

From what we've seen, I have to believe this has been the largest online issue advocacy campaign in Kentucky history. 

Finally, this effort -- along with the independent efforts by Working Families for Kentucky and the Jefferson County Teachers' Association -- which has wholly benefited Steve Beshear (D) is really a reversal from the 2003 campaign when Fletcher had the lion's share of the independent groups pitching in to help him get elected. This time around, Fletcher has been left to his own devices -- other than the few weeks of television that the RGA gave him out of pity (or obligation) -- and it's been Beshear who's been buoyed by the independent and advocacy groups. And once you add the enormous fundraising disparity between the candidates, there's no doubt why the incumbent Fletcher trails by 20 points with 13 days to go.

(One final note: Contrary to some of the wild rumors, I've not taken -- nor will take -- any money from this group beyond the blog ad that they purchased on BGR at the usual rate. So please stop with that manufactured idiocy.)

New Radio Asks Fletcher "What Is The Unvarnished Truth About You And The 5th Amendment?"

Working Families for Kentucky has just launched its third radio ad that will be running this week across western Kentucky.

While the first two ads (here and here) focused on ethics and questioned Governor Fletcher's (R) constant implication that he is God's chosen candidate, this ad raising the issue of Fletcher's truthfulness and asks the simply question "Governor, what is the unvarnished truth about you and the 5th Amendment"?

Good stuff.

Download WORKING_FAMILIES_FOR_KENTUCKY_WHAT_IS_THE_TRUTH.mp3

Incredibly, Fletcher Took Contributions From The Webbs One Month Ago

One of the most audacious things Governor Fletcher (R) has done during this general election:

In addition, Fletcher received $1,000 each from Lexington developer Donald Webb and his wife, Julie.

Webb and his brother, Dudley, figured prominently in the downfall of Kentucky Central Life Insurance Co., which the Fletcher campaign has tried to make a central issue in the race. Beshear and his former law firm oversaw Kentucky Central's liquidation.

So, at the same time Fletcher is trying to blame Steve Beshear (D) for the downfall of Kentucky Central he takes campaign contributions from the very people most responsible for its downfall and whom paid millions of dollars out of their own pocket to settle claims.

Let's see if the Herald-Leader spends any time reporting this inconsistency. I doubt it.

Truly astounding.

The Most Damning Ad Yet

Bluegrass Freedom Fund has just released its latest spot on Governor Fletcher's (R) ethics and it's, by far, the most damning one yet and simply uses footage from Fletcher's 2003 inaugural address.

Devastating.

Herald-Leader Editorial Dismisses Kentucky Central As "Ridiculous As Ever"

Well, the Herald-Leader editorial board clearly doesn't agree with its own newsroom on the importance or relevance of the manufacturer Kentucky Central non-story:

Ky. Central Flap
Clear campaign trail of red herrings
Herald-Leader Editorial

Fodder for lawyer jokes, yes. A smoking gun bearing the fingerprints of Democratic gubernatorial nominee Steve Beshear, no.

The eagerly awaited confidential report on a 14-year-old conflict of interest involving Beshear's former law firm is out, made public by a lawsuit filed by this newspaper and The Courier-Journal of Louisville.

And Gov. Ernie Fletcher's accusation that Beshear dealt the death blow to Kentucky Central Life Insurance Co. is as ridiculous as ever.

...At that time, Kentucky Central was $100 million in the hole and had been shut down by several states. Fletcher's implication that the company could have revived and returned to doing business if not for Beshear's firm's conflict of interest is ludicrous.

...Politicians are given a good bit of latitude to exaggerate in their advertising. But Fletcher's insistence that Beshear did in Kentucky Central speaks ill of the governor's grasp on reality.

It also raises a question: If Stites & Harbison committed such a foul deed, why has the Fletcher administration continued to employ the firm to oversee the Kentucky Central liquidation?

...Now could we please have a governor's race that's not about something that happened in 1993?

Fletcher has been governor for almost four years. Kentuckians deserve to hear him talk about his record and his ideas for the future.

Another Newspaper Dismisses Kentucky Central Non-Story

You can add the Frankfort State-Journal to the growing list of editorial boards and columnists who are dismissing the manufactured Kentucky Central non-story with their excellent editorial from today's newspaper:

A Teapot Tempest
State-Journal Editorial

It turns out the now-infamous secret report on allegations of a conflict of interest by Democratic gubernatorial candidate Steve Beshear in his handling of the bankruptcy of Kentucky Central Life Insurance Co. was the proverbial teapot tempest.

There was no conflict on Beshear's part, the report, made 12 years ago by a Cincinnati law firm and kept secret until Saturday, found. Beshear's former law firm, Stites & Harbison, should have withdrawn as legal counsel on the bankruptcy case because one of its attorneys advised the Bank of Louisville to sell Kentucky Central securities, but the report said neither Beshear nor other attorneys working on the case knew of the advice.

And two judges -- one now supporting Beshear, the other supporting Gov. Ernie Fletcher for re-election -- later endorsed Stites & Harbison's continuing oversight of the huge bankruptcy litigation, which ultimately recovered about $300 million for Kentucky Central creditors and policy holders.

Surely, this will be enough to put away the conflict of interest issue and turn the gubernatorial campaign to more meaningful issues in the four weeks remaining until the election.

...Or so we fervently hope.

Of course, this won't stop our desperate Governor Fletcher (R) from spending his dwindling campaign cash on more smear attacks in hopes of closing a 17-20 point deficit with just 28 days to go. Is there any doubt he'll get as much traction on this as he did with his seven anti-expanded gaming ads? We know how well that worked out for him...

Once a fool, always a fool.

P.S. -- Speaking of fools, Brian Goettl expects a Pulitzer Prize nomination for Ryan Alessi for his work on this non-story and says "perhaps" he'll win it.

I offer that without comment. No point in piling-on any more...

Where's The Beef? (Courier-Journal Editorial)

An excellent Courier-Journal editorial on Governor Fletcher's (R) desperation in clinging to the Kentucky Central non-story:

Where's the beef?
Courier-Journal Editorial

Voters may safely ignore the Kentucky Central issue, with which the desperate re-election campaign of Gov. Ernie Fletcher will try to weaken the broad and deep support that polls are showing for his opponent, Steve Beshear.

There's no "there" there.

You will see Fletcher TV commercials on this subject, but they will be full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

[...]

What they won't tell you is that the report was written without hearing from the principal witnesses. Nor will they tell you that the special master, to whom the flawed report was submitted -- highly respected Judge Richard Revell, a Republican and a Fletcher campaign contributor -- concluded: "…There was no ethics violation by Stites & Harbison." The judge said, "Steve Beshear and others at Stites & Harbison were off the case for a while, but I recommended they come back on. I even ended up recommending an increased rate of $10 or $15 an hour" for the firm's services.

The report on which the Fletcher ads are based is nothing more than an off-sides call that was reversed after review by the referee.

[...]

Before he drags up and misrepresents old news, Gov. Fletcher should explain the more recent headlines, in which he and others were indicted, after which he pardoned his co-conspirators, pleaded the Fifth Amendment to avoid testifying and made a deal with Attorney General Greg Stumbo to avoid prosecution, while at the same time condemning Mr. Stumbo and declaring the grand jury investigation a witch hunt.

As campaign ammunition, Kentucky Central is no cannonball. It's a dud.

If The Kentucky Bar Association Really Cared About Its Rules Of Professional Conduct (Calling Ted Jackson)

If those running the Kentucky Bar Association really cared about its Rules of Professional Conduct, it would commence action against the repeated comments by two of its members: Larry Forgy and Jessamine County Attorney Brian Goettl for their offensive and shameful accusations against a former judge of actions which constitute bribery and criminal conspiracy, without any offering of evidence whatsoever.

The Rules of Profession Conduct spell out a number of rules concerning "maintaining the integrity of the profession" including:

SCR 3.130(8.2) Judicial and legal officials
(a) A lawyer shall not make a statement that the lawyer knows to be false or with reckless disregard as to its truth or falsity concerning the qualifications or integrity of a judge, adjudicatory officer or public legal officer, or of a candidate for election or appointment to judicial or legal office.

As I'm sure you heard, Forgy against showed how unfit he is to serve in any position of trust with his truly shameful, desperate and outlandish accusations this past weekend concerning the manufactured Kentucky Central story. (Click here to read Forgy's outrageous comments).

As an actual prosecutor -- considered a "Minister of Justice" for the purposes of bar rules -- Brian Goettl is held to an even higher standard of professional conduct when it comes to his public statements about the court. Yet, Goettl has repeatedly made allegations that former Judge William Graham accepted "hush money" and that he ordered a "cover-up" of the Kentucky Central report. Sadly, Goettl never offers a shred of evidence that criminal wrongdoing took place other than what his vivid imagination as a desperately loyal backer of Governor Fletcher (R) is able to conjure-up.

The Supreme Court also offered this commentary about persons like Goettl -- attorneys who hold public office:

Lawyers holding public office assume legal responsibilities going beyond those of other citizens.

Here are a few of the many examples of the Jessamine County Attorney Brian Goettl's disturbing rants:

Posted By:Brian Goettl @ 9/25/2007 6:56:00 PM

It is clear that Steve Beshear is selectively recalling events that fit his campaign spin while ignoring the evidence of his actions, payment of hush money, and cover up of the report of his actions.

Brian Goettl @ 9/22/2007 1:43:00 PM

Beshear's firm wants to review secret report before it is made public 

In an odd turn of events, Steve Beshear's law firm, Stites and Harbison, has asked a Franklin Circuit court to be allowed to review a secret report, that was covered up by Beshear campaign adviser William Grahm back in 1995 while Beshear was running for public office, before it is made public . The request is unusual because Stites and Harbison paid $101934.80 for the investigation into their ethics, but then never reviewed the investigation's report.

Brian Goettl @ 9/22/2007 1:21:00 PM

Steve Beshear: "I don't remember" 
In answering reporters questions about a secret ethics report that was ordered covered up by Beshear campaign adviser William Grahm

Brian Goettl @ 9/18/2007 6:27:00 PM

None, mentioned the secret investigation ordered by Judge William Grahm into Beshear's work for Kentucky Central and subsequent cover-up by Judge Grahm of the investigation .

Seems to me that both Goettl and Forgy are begging for bar association ethics complaints to be filed against each of them.

P.S. -- This might be the perfect opportunity for a McConnell Republican to step-up and file an ethics complaint and let Forgy and Goettl know that their conduct and behavior is not acceptable for a member of the Republican Party -- particularly given all the trash both have heaved at McConnell, Anne Northup, Steve Pence and others within the Kentucky GOP over the past year. Maybe Ted Jackson has some ideas...

Professors: Fletcher Loses Ethics War

John Stamper has an interesting analysis in this morning's Herald-Leader on the effects of the ethics charges between made between the two gubernatorial candidates that is worth a read.

Noteworthy is the assessment by two of the state's oft-quoted political science professors on why this isn't likely to translate into Governor Fletcher's (R) favor. I wholly agree:

"I'm not sure that ethics is an obvious winner for the governor's campaign, but I'm not sure what other choice he has," Gershtenson said.

After all, an investigation of hiring practices in Fletcher's administration led to the governor's indictment and caused him to pardon his entire administration and invoke his Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination.

"What Beshear has is more like a cannonball and what Fletcher has is more like a slingshot," Baranowski said.

Fletcher is further hampered by the complicated task of accurately explaining Beshear's role as a lead attorney for Stites & Harbison in the 15-year-old liquidation of Kentucky Central Life Insurance Co.

The Kentucky Central saga is "a far more complex story and an older story," Baranowski said. "People understand words like 'indictment' and 'taking the Fifth.'"

I have little doubt when the next round of polling comes out, you'll see no change and Fletcher will still trail by the same 17 to 20 point margin he's been struggling with all general election. He's corrupt and incompetent and the voters know that well. He lost his moral standing to criticize anyone else for their actions.

Demoted Worker Due 10% Raise And Apology In Settlement Of Case (Glasser, State-Journal)

The chickens are coming home to roost for the Fletcher criminals, and not a moment too soon:

Demoted Worker Due 10% Raise And Apology In Settlement Of Case
By PAUL GLASSER, State-Journal

A highway district manager will receive a letter of apology and a 10 percent pay raise as part of a settlement in a personnel case related to the Merit System investigation.

Terry McKinney, of Kuttawa, said he was forced to take an involuntary transfer and demotion in February 2005 because of alleged political discrimination. According to his appeal, McKinney said superiors questioned him about his political activity in July and August of 2004.

McKinney said he had not attended any partisan events or donated to any candidates in 2003 or 2004. In February 2005, McKinney said a personnel administrator told him the new Republican administration of Gov. Ernie Fletcher wanted to put "their own people" in state jobs.

McKinney said he was pressured into taking the demotion although his annual salary of $76,800 was not affected.

"I felt I had no option," McKinney wrote. "The involuntary transfer was obtained by use of fraud, duress and coercion in the pursuit of an illegal purpose, that being to punish me for my political views."

He is a Democrat and former Lyon County judge-executive. The transfer moved him 85 miles from Madisonville to Paducah. The vacant position was never filled. 

Beshear Reminds Voters "Ernie Fletcher Puts Himself & His Cronies First"

Steve Beshear (D) just launched a new ad reminding voters who the criminal is in this race:

By the way, I just remembered how much I loved this LEO cover from 2006:

JCTA Launches Second Radio Spot Telling Voters "Steve Beshear Is Here"

Remember last week's 60-second radio ad that the Jefferson County Teachers Association (JCTA) launched all throughout Western Kentucky telling voters that "Steve Beshear Is Here"? 

Well, they've just launched the second installment of that same theme with a new radio ad focusing on education. The first ad discussed ethics. Something tells me there will be more...

Download JCTA_Beshear_Education.mp3

Bluegrass Freedom Releases Another Strong Ethics Ad Against The Fletcher Criminals

Another devastating ad brought to you by the great folks at the Bluegrass Freedom Fund:

JCTA Says "Steve Beshear Is Here"

Unlike the dark and desperate attacks coming from Governor Fletcher (R) and his national political backers (RGA) in their paid media, the Jefferson County Teachers Association (JCTA) has just launched an upbeat 60-second radio spot supporting Steve Beshear (D) which is running throughout Western Kentucky.

Which message do you think voters are going to be more receptive to hearing, this one or the RGA and Fletcher attack spots? Yeah, me too.

Download JCTABeshear.mp3

Delusion Sets In For The Fletcher Criminals

The sense of desperation and delusion coming from the Fletcher peons is getting amusing. Here's what the man who topped the list of unindicted co-conspirators -- Chief of Staff Stan Cave -- had to say in today's State Journal story:

Although several polls show Beshear with a significant lead over Fletcher, Cave said the dark days are over. Cave blamed the adversity the governor has faced on political enemies who are opposed to change and fomented "political shenanigans."

"We feel the excitement building," Cave said. "We need to finish what we started and change the state for the better for the foreseeable future."

And then Cave reveals his true idiocy:

Cave suggested Beshear's role in the collapse of Kentucky Central Life Insurance could provide additional ammunition for the campaign. Beshear's law firm represented both the company during bankruptcy protection hearings in 1993 and a Louisville bank that was involved in the settlement, raising allegations of a conflict of interest.

"If I had that kind of baggage I wouldn't run for governor," Cave said.

"That kind of baggage"? From the man who counseled one of the more corrupt governors in Kentucky history, who pardoned his entire administration, took the 5th Amendment, appointed campaign contributors to the Supreme Court to hear his own case, and then signed a document acknowledging wrongdoing. Astounding.

Meanwhile, lawyers representing the state are now trying to block to release of the Kentucky Central report that Fletcer/Cave tout as evidence of something (we don't really know what they're alleging because their attacks no longer make any sense).

Noteworthy is that Cave said this at a Franklin County Republican Party gathering and this is what he heard in return...from his own peeps:

Campaign volunteer Brenda Rice said polls indicate the message is not connecting with voters. After talking with campaign staffers, she said they promised to attack Beshear on other issues.

[...]

Despite the adversity, Cave said Fletcher is a man of integrity. However, Ida Palmer-Ball said she was offended by a piece of campaign literature that included a digitally altered photo of Beshear. Beshear's head appeared on the body of a Las Vegas gambler holding an alcoholic beverage.

"I was ashamed to be a Republican," Palmer-Ball said.

Cave said the photo was produced by the Republican Party of Kentucky and was intended to be funny.

Even stalwart Republicans aren't buying what Fletcher and Cave are trying to sell.

And how pathetic is it that after four years in office they don't have a record to run on and are asking how to "attack Beshear on other issues" as discussed in the story? They've got nothing left other than smears. Nothing.

What a bunch of delusional fools.

Good riddance to them and their criminality.

P.S. -- For old times' sake, click jump-link below...

How About Some "Three Card Ernie" To Start The Week

As we get closer and closer to the November 6th election, it's remarkable just how mealy mouthed Governor Fletcher (R) has become, particularly on the issue of which corporations and state contractors have given to his private legal defense fund.

I want to highlight a particularly painful parsing that Fletcher told the media following a Northern Kentucky event last week when asked whether any contributors to his legal fund are doing business with the state:

"The people that I'll accept donations from, at least up to this point, are not doing business with the state," Fletcher said after participating in an economic development announcement in Kenton County. "If anybody wants to see the people that have donated, all they have to do is look at my donors in the primary; they're there."

The thing that jumps out is his carefully worded "at least up to this point" comment.

Seems to me that Fletcher just telegraphed that he's waiting until after the election before actually taking money from state contractors? It's so disappointing that the media isn't hitting Fletcher hard for this pathetic shell game and pressing him for his clear refusal to offer a direct and clear statement, rather than the tortured mangling of the English language that he offered us last week at the KET debate (click here).

However, regardless of when Fletcher takes their dirty money, the concern is whether a quid pro quo exists is what angers the public. Whether Fletcher is playing some game with his state contractor cronies, asking them to wait until after November before tendering their checks, isn't any solace whatsoever. In fact, it's even more offensive that he'd be that much more dishonest about this important issue.

Of course, the easiest explanation for all this is that Fletcher is simply lying to us, again. But as I wrote last week, we're going to have long memories if we find out he lied.

Bluegrass Freedom Uses Anne Northup (R) In New Ad On Governor Fletcher's (R) Ethics

Bluegrass Freedom Fund has just released a new spot, this time using Anne Northup's (R) own words about Governor Fletcher's (R) ethics.

Thank you, Anne, for speaking the truth this year.

Anne Northup Was Right!

Watching the latest Bluegrass Freedom Fund ad concerning Governor Fletcher (R), I can't help but notice how Anne Northup (R) perfectly predicted the line of attack against Fletcher, almost to the tee as the ads recite the same numbers as far people indicted and counts against them.

Too funny. Northup was right.

More Kentucky Shame: McConnell, Rogers Named Among "Top 22 Most Corrupt Members Of Congress"

This morning, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) released its third annual report on the most corrupt members of Congress. Making their report of "The 22 Most Corrupt Members of Congress" are Kentucky's very own Senator McConnell (R) and U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers (R).

Lucky us.

Click here for the group's report on McConnell and Rogers.

Fletcher Can't Answer Simple Question About Whether Contributors To His Secret Legal Defense Fund Are Doing Business With The State

How painful is it to watch Governor Fletcher (R) stutter through a simple question of whether anyone who does business with the state has contributed to his secret legal defense fund?

See for yourself how Fletcher can't be candid about his special interests patrons in this evening's debate with Steve Beshear (D). It gets real painful about 45 seconds into the clip.

What a shameless fraud.

Fletcher & Crooks Still Argue They Followed Merit System

It's remarkable that after all these years Governor Fletcher (R) and his top officials continue to deny that they ever did anything wrong or, if they did, so did previous administrations. Nevermind that Fletcher ran on the singular theme of doing things differently.

Governor's Job Actions Defended
By PAUL GLASSER, State Journal

Personnel Secretary Brian Crall presented information to the Personnel Board Friday that he says shows the administration of Gov. Ernie Fletcher has complied with the Merit System.

Crall distributed a fact sheet that compared personnel actions under the Fletcher administration to those under four recent Democratic governors, including Wallace Wilkinson, Brereton Jones, Martha Layne Collins and Paul Patton.

The report tabulated all personnel actions, including but not limited to hiring, firing, transfers and promotions, between 2004 and Aug. 1, 2007. Of the 38,500 personnel decisions, Crall said fewer than 30 were considered questionable. That amounted to less than one-tenth of one percent of all personnel actions since Fletcher was elected, Crall said.

"The Fletcher administration compares more favorably in almost every category for any administration of the previous 24 years," he said.

They still don't get it. Maybe the ass-kicking the voters are going to give them in just 50 days will overcome their present pathological denial.

Bye, Bye Ernie

From the Herald-Leader's poll:

Fletcher's Ten Commandments message not resonating

...More than half of the 600 likely voters surveyed said they agree that Fletcher misused his power by pardoning members of his administration who were under investigation for improperly hiring and firing state workers based on politics.

Only 35 percent of those surveyed said they agree that Beshear does not represent Kentuckians’ values because he issued an opinion as attorney general that said court rulings prohibit Kentucky schools from displaying the Ten Commandments.

...More than 60 percent of independents agree that Fletcher misused his power, but only 20 percent agree that Beshear does not represent Kentuckians’ values.

53 more days...

Fool Me Once Shame On You, Fool Me Twice...

A blast from the past:

Corruption, Patronage Jobs Must Go: Fletcher
By Bill Bartleman, Paducah Sun (August 27, 2003)

..."The most pervasive thing I hear as I travel is that people want real change in Frankfort," Fletcher said Tuesday during a meeting with The Paducah Sun Editorial Board. "They want a government they can be proud of. There've been some embarrassing things that have happened not just with the governor, but because of the culture of state government."

He said the only way to change state government is to elect a Republican and end 32 years of Democrats holding the governorship.

Heck of a job, Ernie...

This Is Too Good To Be True

Just when you think Governor Fletcher (R) can't make any worse tactical mistakes in this campaign, you find out that you're wrong. These guys are going to re-write the manual on how not to run a re-election campaign.

According to the press release his hemorrhaging campaign put out this afternoon, it seems that Fletcher now wants to make this race about ethics. Seriously. I kid you not. Our corrupt governor -- the man with no ethics -- now wants this race to be decided on which candidate is more ethical. Good Lord.

It's simply amazing what being down 18 points with 54 days to go will do to a campaign's ability to make sensible strategic decisions. Ironically, Fletcher now resembles the gambler at the racetrack who's down $5,000 heading into the last race and tries to win it back by betting on the long-shot. In politics, like horse racing, those bets are long-shots for a reason.

Now might be time simply to trot out what Fletcher's fellow Republicans -- like Steve Pence, Anne Northup, Ted Jackson, Jack Richardson, and John David Dyche -- have said about him and ethics and competence-related issues.

I think this is my favorite:

"Ernie Fletcher is the David Koresh of Kentucky Republican politics," Jackson said. "He's boarded the windows and locked the doors and said, 'Take it from us, we'll burn it to the ground.'"

But this one is really good too:

“The joke in the Republican Party is that if you gave him a choice of A, B or C, with C being the worst choice, he’d choose C every time,” Richardson said.

And this one too:

"But the facts are what they are. The fact is the pardons happened. The fact is he did take the Fifth (Amendment before a grand jury). The fact is he was indicted. The fact is he does have a legal defense fund. The fact is he said we were going to get to the unvarnished truth, but we didn't."

I like this one a lot too:

"Getting by is not good enough if the Governor really wants a second term. Fletcher must convince the people that he is not corrupt, has proposals that will improve their lives, and is savvy and powerful enough to get them passed. Yet his team is now reduced to raw rookies and demoralized survivors and will soon face simultaneous combat on two fronts -- court and legislature."

No, wait...this is easily the best of all. Do yourself a favor and spend the 2 minutes, 43 seconds needed to listen to this excellent summation of the catastrophe of the Fletcher Administration.

Herald-Leader Hit Piece On Beshear

If you haven't noticed, today's Herald-Leader has a story on Steve Beshear's (D) lawfirm's (Stites & Harbison) involvement in the Kentucky Central Life Insurance case that can only be described as a hit piece.

Let me make four quick points about Ryan Alessi's story.

1. The story dealt with actions that at worst would have constituted professional negligence by a lawfirm which could have resulted in a lawsuit. Of course, no lawsuit was filed.

Contrast that with the rampant criminality of the Fletcher administration in the conduct of their official duties which resulted in dozens of criminal indictments (including Governor Fletcher), blanket pardons and the governor refusing to testify before the grand jury and invoking his 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination.

2. Despite the fact that Alessi raises the matter in the context of the governor's race, nowhere is it disclosed that the main defendants at the center of the collapse -- the Webbs -- have given Fletcher-Rudolph thousands of dollars in contributions during this cycle.

3. The story also fails to mention one other important fact. The firm that succeeded Stites in handling the Kentucky Central matter -- Frost & Jacobs (later Frost Brown Todd) -- was ordered by a judge in 2000 "to pay the Webbs $500,000 because of inadequate legal representation and poor case preparation." No such finding was ever made against Stites. The story also doesn't mention that a separate legal investigation of Stites was conducted and that their findings did not result in either a law suit or legal actions against the firm. Odd that was left out.

Also, we know that Fletcher's own attorney is Sheryl Snyder, one of the top partners at Frost Brown Todd. Why is that relevant? Well, if Kentucky Central is going to be raised in the context of this race, let's be sure that all the connections to this case and the two candidates are disclosed, and not cherry-pick aspects of it.

4. The most salient point is the night-and-day difference between how Beshear has reacted to questions about his firm's handling of Kentucky Central and Fletcher's handling of the Merit System scandal.

Beshear wants everything out in the open. Fletcher wants no such thing.

Last week, when asked by the media whether he would agree to would allow records under seal to be released, Beshear said:

Beshear said unsealing some of those records is up to the courts but added that he didn't have a problem with it.

"There's nothing in there that would be a surprise to anybody," he said.

And that was reiterated in today's story:

When asked whether Beshear would favor the report's release, spokeswoman Vicki Glass said Beshear believes "anything in the Kentucky Central Life case can be made public."

"Steve Beshear conducted himself in an ethical manner in the Kentucky Central Life case and in every other case since becoming an attorney," Glass said. "Ernie Fletcher, on the other hand, was indicted by a grand jury, pleaded the Fifth amendment, pardoned his political cronies and entered into a plea bargain so that he would never have to testify about his unethical and illegal violations of state hiring laws."

Compare those responses to pretty much every facet of the Merit System investigation when Fletcher invoked the 5th Amendment, fought to keep law firm billing records from being released, tried to disband the gran