BluegrassReport.org

Let The GOP Circular Firing Squad Begin -- Sen. Bunning Says Northup Would Have Done Better In Today's Election

Governor Fletcher (R) hasn't even conceded yet and the widely-expected GOP fratricide is already underway. Here's what U.S. Senator Jim Bunning (R) told the Courier-Journal:

Bunning: Northup would have done better than Fletcher
James Carroll, The Courier-Journal

With Kentuckians giving their verdicts in the governor's race today, Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky., still maintains that the Republicans would have done better with former Rep. Anne Northup at the top of the ticket.

Bunning endorsed Northup instead of Gov. Ernie Fletcher in the Kentucky GOP primary.

"I thought that Anne Northup would be a better candidate in the general election," Bunning told reporters today in a conference call, referring to the former Louisville congreswoman. "And that's the reason I was trying to salvage the Republican Party and our nominee for governor, because I thought Anne would make a much more difficult campaigner to defeat in the general election."

"Obviously, I was in the minority of the Republicans and Ernie prevailed during the primary," the senator said. "But I guarantee you that if Anne Northup had prevailed during the primary, we wouldn't be looking at polls we are looking at presently."

Spectacular.

(P.S. -- Bunning is 100% correct, for once.)

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.

The Man With Nothing Positive To Say

The most remarkable thing about this gubernatorial race has been how the Fletcher-Rudolph campaign has only offered attacks on Steve Beshear (D) and the singular theme of opposition to expanded gaming...and nothing else. Nothing positive. No issues. No discussion of their abysmal record. Nada.

Sadly, this desperate campaign -- and its equally desperate national party -- have launched another smear on Beshear, again doctoring photos to try to convince voters of their lies. (BlueGrassRoots has the scoop).

But what's so audacious about Fletcher's current desperate tactics is the 180 they've done since the primary when they blasted Anne Northup (R) for only attacking and not offering any substance -- just like they are doing now.

Here's a look back at the two-faced lectures from these crooks:

January 19:

Fletcher's campaign manager denied the allegations and said they set a dire mood for an election the campaign hoped would focus on ideas.

They are "unfounded," Marty Ryall said. "It would be nice if we could hear what her plans for the future are, what her vision for the future is."

"She's been in the race only 24 hours and already has the sound of a desperate candidate," he said.

March 5:

"Ann Northup has been on a negative rampage against Gov. Fletcher since entering this race," Ryall said in an e-mail. "She has no ideas or agenda other than to tear down our first Republican governor in 32 years.

March 12:

'The voters deserve better than what they're getting out of the Northup campaign,' Ryall said. 'All we've seen from them is attacks.'

March 23:

In response to questions today, he told reporters he wouldn't get involved in "the politics of destruction" and said "I'm not going to comment on my opponent".

You can almost smell the desperation, can't you?

GOP Districts Got Disproportionate Share Of Road Bond (Loftus, Courier-Journal)

Pay-to-play rears its ugly head once again with Fletcher & Crooks.

Though, this certainly isn't the first time there have been suggestions that Fletcher and his Transportation Cabinet have been rewarding counties where their leadership is supporting their corrupt ways. Recall this Madisonville Messenger story from last November, not to mention similar allegations made by former U.S. Rep. Anne Northup (R) during this year's gubernatorial primary. And don't forget Ryan Alessi's story earlier this year about the $13.9 million in local development funds were doled out to just those counties with strong supporters.

Shameless crooks.

GOP Districts Got Disproportionate Share Of Road Bond
Defenders: It offset decades of neglect
By Tom Loftus, The Courier-Journal

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- The districts of Republican state legislators got a disproportionate share of the $311 million generated by a 2005 road bond issue.

If the spending were charted using Senate districts, about 75 percent went to those represented by Republicans, though they control only 55 percent of the 38 seats in the Senate.
   
Charted by House districts, 55 percent went to those held by GOP lawmakers, though they hold only 44 percent of the chamber's 100 seats.

The Courier-Journal examined records detailing the projects after former state Highway Engineer Sam Beverage made allegations that politics influenced how the 2005 bond money was spent.

In a statement given last year to investigators, Beverage charged that Gov. Ernie Fletcher, a Republican, had used the bond-funded road projects to reward senators who voted for his legislative agenda.

Fletcher Only Gubernatorial Candidate to Attend Tomorrow's GOP "Unity Rally"

u·ni·ty [yoo-ni-tee]

1. the state of being one; oneness. 
2. a whole or totality as combining all its parts into one. 
3. the state or fact of being united or combined into one, as of the parts of a whole; unification. 

Seems a little odd that the Republican Party of Kentucky's unity rally set for Saturday won't include two of the three gubernatorial candidates. Apparently, there won't be much unity.

From Pol Watchers:

The two Republicans defeated by Gov. Ernie Fletcher in the GOP primary for governor will not stand beside him during a unity rally scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday at party headquarters in Frankfort.

Instead of attending, former congresswoman Anne Northup will send a "positive letter," said Ted Jackson, a senior advisor to her campaign.

"For us to be there might be a bit of a distraction," Jackson said. "This is their day."

Jackson said Northup will not play a role in Fletcher's campaign. "She's not going to take an active role in politics for the foreseeable future," he said.

Instead of attending the rally, Jackson said he will be "going fishing" on Saturday. Northup's running mate, state Rep. Jeff Hoover of Russell Springs, has also sent a letter in support of Fletcher.

Beshear Warns Fletcher About Stones And Glass Houses

(...ok, back to work)

Gubernatorial nominee Steve Beshear (D) made clear yesterday that Governor Fletcher (R) isn't going to get any free passes on his distortions and lies for the next six months:

Beshear sent a warning to Fletcher during the rally. "Ernie Fletcher, people who live in glass houses should not throw stones."

"We're going to defend ourselves also.  And, if anybody wants to stand up and question our integrity, and our ethics, and our honesty, folks you ain't seen nothin' yet," said Beshear said to thunderous applause.

I like how this race is shaping up.

Also, lots of talk that a number of Northup-Hoover supporters are beginning a "Republicans for Beshear" effort. I'm not surprised by the idea, just how quickly this is coming together.

NKU Prof: Beshear Will Bury Fletcher (Kentucky Post)

So true.

Will Republican primary voters realize this before they vote tomorrow? If not, get ready for a first-rate ass-kicking come November.

A Fletcher versus Beshear general election is precisely the scenario that should give Secretary of State Trey Greyson (R) cold sweats at night because it's the only scenario that makes him vulnerable, in my opinion:

NKU prof: Beshear will bury Fletcher
Post staff report [Kentucky Post]

Gov. Ernie Fletcher will survive a political scandal to win Tuesday's Republican gubernatorial primary election, but will be soundly defeated in November's general election by Democrat Steve Beshear, figures Northern Kentucky University political science professor Michael Baranowski.

Beshear, because of a crowded six-person Democratic primary field, won't get the necessary 40 percent of primary votes Tuesday to be the party's candidate, and will be forced into a runoff election against Bruce Lunsford, Baranowski forecasts.

Beshear will win the June 26 runoff, Baranowski said, and then have an easy time of it in November against Fletcher.

"Fletcher is going to get slaughtered," he said.

..."I think the fact that Fletcher is facing such a strong challenge in the first place is an indication of general dissatisfaction in the Republican Party," said Baranowski.

"That is something that has been said by the media, but also most clearly by (Republican U.S.) Sen. Jim Bunning and, to a lesser extent, by (Republican U.S.) Sen. Mitch McConnell."

Blue Grass Poll

The Courier-Journal has just released its numbers from its Blue Grass Poll taken May 10 through May 15. It shows the gubernatorial primary races as follows:

Beshear 27%
Lunsford 21%
Henry 13%
Richards 7%
Galbraith 4%
Hensley 1%

Fletcher 41%
Northup 26%
Harper 10%

My quick thoughts: 1) The poll began a week ago, which means it would not have taken full account of strong surges of late by Beshear and Northup; 2) Fletcher has to be terrified that he's only at 41% just a week from the election as the INCUMBENT, knowing that late undecideds rarely break for an incumbent, not to mention what would happen to him in a runoff; 3) how many of Harper voters will cast a vote for the guy who can't win instead of Northup who has a shot?

KDP Chairman Jerry Lundergan's Noticeable Silence Over Bruce Lunsford's (D) Attacks On Steve Beshear (D)

Now that Bruce Lunsford (D) has begun a methodical attack on Steve Beshear (D) for his stance on expanded-gaming (hypocritically, Lunsford pushed those very same arguments during his failed 2003 gubernatorial bid) will Kentucky Democratic Party Jerry Lundergan admonish Lunsford since he signed the KDP's pledge to run a positive campaign, or was that pledge designed by Lundergan to merely protect Lunsford, his preferred candidate? So far, Lundergan has stayed quiet.

Also, since it's clear that a Beshear victory will result in Lundergan being immediately thrown out of KDP headquarters as chairman, should we begin a collection of moving boxes to help facilitate Lundergan & Crew's departure? Seems that Lundy might not have more than a week left in his incompetent reign.

If fact, if both Beshear and Anne Northup (R) were to win their respective primaries next week, we would get rid of Lundergan and Governor Fletcher (R) in one fell swoop. That would be a whole lot of incompetence out of work at the same time...

Lt. Governor Pence (R) Hits Governor Fletcher (R) In Just-Released Ad

Devastating:

This Is Called An Ass-Kicking

I get a good deal of crap from Democrats for my efforts and support of Anne Northup (R) over Governor Fletcher (R) in the Republican primary. I fully agree that Northup would be a much tougher opponent in the fall than Fletcher, but it is my opinion that you deal with the options you have, not the ones you hope to get down the road.

Right now, the biggest problem all of us have is another four years of the embarrassment and incompetence of the Fletcher-Rudolph administration. Period. We have to ensure that administration comes to an end as soon as possible, and if it means a tougher Republican opponent in the fall to guarantee it, so be it. I am not willing to run the risk that Democratic voters might opt for a truly un-electable nominee like Bruce Lunsford (D) or Steve Henry (D) who might provide Fletcher, as despised as he is, a possible path to re-election.

While I disagree strongly with Northup on many policy issues, I am one Democrat who would prefer four years of Northup-Hoover over Fletcher-Rudolph. Frankly, I don't have the confidence level in our present field to believe for certain that Fletcher is 100% toast and I'm willing to accept a 60% chance of defeating Anne Northup over a 90% chance of defeating Fletcher. Fletcher has shown us he is not worthy of an extra day in office and I want to see him defeated and hope that happens on May 22 so that he cannot continue to abuse the office of governor and treat the general fund as his campaign slush fund for the general election.

Finally, I am rooting for Anne Northup because she's been the only one that has said the things that need to be said about the Fletcher administration. She has called them out on their unethical and criminal behavior and their lies. What you hear in the video below are things that the incompetent Kentucky Democratic Party has wholly failed to articulate over the past few years.

THIS is why I'm rooting for Anne Northup on May 22. This is one hell of an ass-kicking and, while I don't imagine I'll be voting for her in November, she has earned my respect in many ways for taking this guy on:

Governor Fletcher's (R) Palpable Desperation

One of them more amusing developments of late has been the hysterical hyper-ventilating by some of Governor Fletcher's (R) devotees over public reports that Anne Northup (R) has now surpassed him in recent polling. So desperate are the Fletcher cronies that they've essentially accused gubernatorial candidate Billy Harper (R) of not being truthful about his own internal poll that shows one of his opponents -- not himself -- in the lead. As though Harper would have any reason to mislead about which of his opponents is leading the pack.

Now comes this act of desperation that I reader forwarded to me:

I just got an automated call from former Representative Bob Barr.  He was kindly letting me know that Anne Northup was the only member of the Kentucky delegation to vote against some religious liberty bill that Rep. Barr sponsored a few years ago.  He knows  "because he was there."

He was also helpful enough to tell me that Governor Fletcher supported that bill.

I wonder if the robocall mentioned that Barr left the Republican Party late last year and joined the Libertarian Party?  Or that he's recently become a leading member of the ACLU or that he's since renounced his past work on the War on Drugs and now is now a lobbyist for the Marijuana Policy Project. I'm guessing they forgot to let Republican Party voters know those tidbits when touting him like this.

Update (10:58 am): Looks like the Northup campaign was thinking the same thing as they put this out just as I published this post:

Fletcher continues outlandish attacks on Northup
Northup voted 14 times to support school prayer!

Ernie Fletcher has spent thousands of dollars blanketing Kentucky with a mailer claiming that Anne Northup voted against school prayer. It is another desperate attempt by Fletcher to salvage a campaign built on falsehoods and passing out ceremonial checks.

“I’ve supported school prayer on numerous occasions and Ernie Fletcher knows that,” Northup said. “I am disappointed that he would resort to such a personal attack. As a Christian, I am astonished that he has chosen to deceive the voters into thinking I am against school prayer.”

Anne has consistently supported school prayer and continues to support allowing young people to pray in school.  In fact she has voted to support it 14 times.

Now Ernie Fletcher has former Georgia Congressman Bob Barr making recorded phone calls to Kentucky’s Republicans attacking Anne on school prayer.

And who is Bob Barr?

Former Congressman Bob Barr lobbied to legalize marijuana, left the Republican Party, announced that he voted against George Bush in 2004 and appeared at events with Al Gore.  He joined with Democrats to weaken the Patriot Act, and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has called him a “friend,” (FOX News April 18, 2007).

It seems the only friend Ernie Fletcher can find these days is one who has completely deviated from the Republican Party.

Harper: Northup Pulls Ahead (Bartleman, Paducah Sun)

From Bill Bartleman's story in this morning's Paducah Sun:

Harper: Northup Pulls Ahead
By Bill Bartleman, The Paducah Sun

Paducah businessman Billy Harper said the race for the Republican nomination for governor is changing, and that his internal polls show that former congresswoman Anne Northup is slightly ahead of Gov. Ernie Fletcher after being down by nearly 20 points.

Harper said that some Republican leaders have suggested that he drop out of the race and support Northup to keep Fletcher from getting the nomination because they don’t think he can win in November.

But Harper said he won’t drop out. “The polls also show that I’m moving up and within striking distance,” he said in an interview Friday. “I’m in it to stay. People are just starting to get focused on the election. I plan to peak on election day ... and it is logical to think I’ll benefit because both of my opponents are going negative.”

[...]

“You don’t go negative if you have a big lead,” Harper said.

...Harper said it is difficult to run against an incumbent governor who benefits from the resources of his public office. However, he said voters are getting tired of seeing Fletcher traveling around the state handing out cardboard checks for state-funded projects.

“I think people see right through that,” Harper said.

Source: Billy Harper (R) Releases Internal Polling To Media Showing Anne Northup (R) Now Leading Governor Fletcher (R)

A source has told me that Republican gubernatorial candidate Billy Harper (R) has confirmed that his latest internal polling shows Anne Northup (R) now leading Governor Fletcher (R) and this will be reported by the print media tomorrow.

This is awful news for Fletcher, considering the source is not the Northup camp but another gubernatorial candidate who is acting against his own interest by acknowledging this late Northup surge. 

This also makes me wonder (just my speculation), whether Harper is waiting for until next week to make a final determination as to whether or not to drop-out and support Northup. Why else confirm internals like this?

Stay tuned. It's going to be a wild 11 days...

Update (7:15 pm): I'm told by a reporter that Harper didn't disclose the actual poll numbers, but did confirm that Northup is leading the pack in his most recent internal poll.

Northup On Fletcher's Heels With 11 Days To Go

Lots of chatter among some Republican insiders that Anne Northup (R) has dramatically closed the gap against Governor Fletcher (R) in past week or so in the latest polling. Seems that the rise in the polls for Fletcher over the past few months were not only short-lived, but was the result of very soft support. Now that Northup has come out with strong and effective ads which remind Republican primary voters what they will have to overcome this fall by the Democratic nominee, it seems many are taking a second look at Northup.

The looming question for me is whether Billy Harper (R) remains in this race if his late polling fails to show any significant movement while Northup and Fletcher go after each other (which was his only path to victory)? I suspect he won't stay in and will endorse Northup, putting her over-the-top on May 22. But that's just my own speculation. I've not heard anything indicating that is likely to happen.

Both Larry Dale Keeling and Ronnie Ellis note the clear dynamic change in Republican primary in their latest offerings.

Keeling:

The Northup and Fletcher campaigns are slinging ads and press releases at each other like one is a Hatfield and the other is a McCoy.

All of which leads me to believe there is a poll (or two) out there showing Northup closing the gap significantly or even taking the lead since the latest SurveyUSA numbers came out 10 days ago. That's the most logical explanation for the vehemence of the response from a Fletcher campaign that heretofore shrugged its collective shoulders at Northup's negative comments and criticisms.

Ellis:

Candidates with 20-point leads cruising to election – as the Fletcher campaign claims it is – don’t often go negative against their opponents – as the Fletcher campaign has done.

"Sublimely Flabbergasting"

Here's Larry Dale Keeling's take on Governor Fletcher (R) editing of his Wimp ad to include a girl in pigtails among the bullies:

It's an ad that goes far beyond being odd and into the realm of the sublimely flabbergasting.

I can't conceive of Fletcher doing anything that could make him appear more whiny and wimpish -- and less gubernatorial -- than airing an ad that complains about him being pushed around by a little girl in pigtails.

So true...

Lt. Governor Pence (R) Demands Disclosure Of Governor Fletcher's (R) Secret Legal Defense Fund Contributors

Lt. Governor Pence (R) is stepping-up criticism that Governor Fletcher (R) reveal those who gave to his secret legal defense fund:

"Without knowing who gave and the amount, it is impossible to rule out any quid pro quo," said Pence, a former federal prosecutor."… What are we going to do if we wake up after the election and find out that someone paid the governor $50,000 and two days later got a contract worth $20 million? Would we just shrug that off?"

Governor Fletcher's (R) Biggest Problem --- It's Called Hubris

Pat Crowley makes an excellent point on Governor Fletcher's (R) insistence on keeping secret the donors to his legal defense fund:

Behind the debate between Gov. Ernie Fletcher and Anne Northup over the legal defense fund Fletcher set up to pay off his legal bills from the merit hiring criminal probe is, to me, a very fundamental question; why not just release the names?

Fletcher, locked in an increasingly bitter GOP primary contest with Northup and Paduch businessman Billy Harper, has refused to reveal who has given him money. He is following the law. But he is also opening himself up to charges, allegations, hints and rumors that he may be rewarding contributors with state contracts. As long as the names stay secret, Fletcher can claim nothing of the sort has gone on. But he can't prove it. And that keeps the attacks coming.

The truth is that Fletcher is probably being stubborn because he doesn't want it to look like he's disclosing simply because Anne Northup (R) is demanding it.

But it's that very display of hubris that is only going to keep these issues alive. It's the same hubris that caused Fletcher to hunker down in 2005 and refuse to acknowledge any wrongdoing when Attorney General Stumbo (D) launched the Merit System investigation, instead of just owning-up to his administration's wrongdoing at the beginning. Instead, he only emerged after indictments, pardons, the 5th Amendment, losing his 2003 running mate, 30% job approval rating, alienation of Senator McConnell (R), and handing his 2007 opponents -- from both parties -- a treasure trove of goodies to use against him.

I've learned a few lessons during my time in politics. One is to pick and choose which attacks are worth responding to, and which ones are harmless enough to simply ignore and not even acknowledge. Another lesson is recognizing when you have to take a hit for something and do so as quickly as possible, while doing your best to limit damage. It seems to me that Fletcher, Rudolph, and those giving them political advice, never learned those lessons, hence the reason why they keep repeating the same mistakes.

Fletcher could do himself some good by looking back at his soaring campaign rhetoric from 2003 when he said:

"Now, we're not perfect," Fletcher said, referring to elected officials. "And no one has said that. But I think it is important that we do realize that elected officials have a higher standard. And if there are things that come out, elected officials ought to answer them squarely."

Seems that our ordained-minister-turned-governor can't practice what he preaches...

Governor Fletcher's (R) Political Darwinism

Gotta love this nine-month evolution from Governor Fletcher (R):

August 2006:

Fletcher Dares His Critics To Run
Tom Loftus and Elisabeth J. Beardsley, The Courier-Journal
August 18, 2006, Page 1A

Gov. Ernie Fletcher, responding to a call to end his re-election campaign, challenged his GOP critics yesterday to formally run against him if they don't think he can be re-elected.

..."If people want to run for this office, then they need to file and run. I certainly welcome anyone that wants to run to go ahead and file if that is what they want to do," he said, speaking after a chamber of commerce luncheon at the London Country Club.

Fletcher said primary challenges are "healthy" for the party and described the disagreement within the party about his political future as "family differences."

March 2007:

While his closest allies are apparently doing everything they can behind the scenes to torpedo Northup's campaign, Fletcher won't be baited into bashing Northup. In response to questions today, he told reporters he wouldn't get involved in "the politics of destruction" and said "I'm not going to comment on my opponent".

Today:

“Anne Northup is the last person who should be preaching to anyone about ethics," said Marty Ryall, Fletcher's campaign manager.

Meanwhile, Ted Jackson had this to say about Fletcher's latest attack on Northup this afternoon:

"Ernie Fletcher has had trouble following the law since he took office and his desperate attacks are simply a way for him to avoid the questions at hand.  Why is he hiding the names and donation amounts from public view?  And how can Ernie Fletcher claim to have high ethical standards when he took the 5th Amendment, got indicted, then pardoned his entire administration, used taxpayer dollars for campaign trips and established a secret legal defense fund?”

Nothing But Net

You know those basketball games, where a team that you expect to perform well just languishes for the first three quarters and under-performs, and then in the final quarter finally hits its stride and the team which had been leading looks confused and not sure how to react?

Well, we're seeing it right now.

Anne Northup (R) is starting to bury three-point shots in rapid succession, while Governor Fletcher (R) is playing the incompetent style of play that we've grown so accustomed to for the past few years and keeps turning the ball over or missing easy shots. In politics, like basketball, you can always feel when one side is making "a run" and we're seeing it right now. If Fletcher can't shake this and re-group very quickly, my money is on Northup closing out this primary on a 20-0 run and winning it.

Here's the latest three-pointer from Northup, and this time they've got Lt. Governor Pence (R) involved:

Northup Calls On Fletcher To Release Names To Legal Defense Fund
Lt. Governor Pence: ‘Is there a quid-pro-quo’

LOUISVILLE- Today, Anne Northup’s campaign challenged Ernie Fletcher to release the names of the donors to his legal defense fund.

“With the election two weeks away and so many questions surrounding the ethical lapses of this administration, we can no longer sit back and let Ernie Fletcher hide the names of donors from public view,” said Ted Jackson, Senior Advisor to the Northup Campaign.

In Monday’s KET debate, the Governor responded to the question about his legal defense fund and refused to give the public a view of who is contributing to his fund.  It is unknown if state contractors, people seeking appointments by the Governor or people seeking to influence the administration have donated large sums to his fund, which has no financial limit.

“Republicans across the state need to know if this is the next looming scandal,” said Lt. Governor Steve Pence, Ernie Fletcher’s 2003 running mate.  “The public deserves to know whether anyone that is doing business with the state, that has a contract or is seeking a contract, or received a commission or appointment from the state, has donated to this secret legal fund.”

“Did the Governor take $50,000 on one day then give $20 million in public money to the contributor the next day?” asked Pence, a former federal prosecutor.  “He must answer that question now; otherwise there will be continued suspicion of a quid-pro-quo.”

Just this morning, the Courier-Journal even editorialized asking: “Who gave? Coal operators? Road contractors? Bankers? Doctors? Hospital operators? Insurance moguls?  Why won't the half-hidden candidate show the voters?”

“With two weeks to go before the election and questions abound about this Governor’s conduct while in office,” continued Jackson. “This Governor has more baggage than a loaded UPS 747-- indictments, pardons, misuse of taxpayer money, hiding donors to his secret fund from public view; it is too much for Republicans to endure.”

###

Nothing but net...

Bingo

Larry Dale Keeling's column in today's Herald-Leader hits the nail on the head as far as whether Governor Fletcher (R) believes the Republican primary race is tightening.

Yesterday, we witnessed Fletcher going ballistic over the tough ad that Anne Northup (R) launched against him over his taxpayer-funded campaigning, forcing him to attack her in his own.

Recent poll numbers show Fletcher with a relatively comfortable lead in the primary. Maybe calling him out on his record will help Northup close that gap in the next two weeks. Maybe not. (A good guide for judging her effectiveness will be the level of response from the Fletcher camp.)

All signs are pointing to a run-off in both parties following the May 22 primary.

Kaboom!

This one is going to hurt...

Update: You are NOT going to believe this...Fletcher has just re-edited his Wimp ad to include a schoolgirl in pig-tails. Seriously.  Not only won't he stand-up to the boy bullies, but apparently young Ernest Lee is afraid of girls too...

The Idiocy Of Club For Growth

One national political organization that has seen its political clout go down the tubes over the past few years is Club for Growth. It's now just a shell of its former self when it was well-run by Stephen Moore, a misguided individual, but one who understood the dynamics of political campaigns quite well. The current group ousted Moore in 2004 after an internal fight.

Apparently, the Kentucky chapter of the group is whole-heartedly backing Governor Fletcher (R) -- despite his clear record of raising taxes on Kentucky businesses -- which used to be the group's rallying cry.

Today, Club for Growth has attacked Anne Northup (R) on the basis of four votes she cast in Congress. But the funny thing is that she joined Kentucky's Republican delegation on nearly all of those votes.

Here's what they wrote in their press release and the "facts" in red:

Like Nancy Pelosi, Northup voted "no" on all the Flake amendments that would have seriously reduced wasteful "earmarks." (Northup joined Hal Rogers and Geoff Davis in opposing all 19 of these amendments; Lewis opposed 16 of 19; and Whitfield opposed 14 of 19)

Rep. Northup voted against the line-item veto (RC 317 in 2006). (So did Hal Rogers)

Rep. Northup voted against cutting sugar subsidies (RC 234 in 2005). (Also voting with Northup was Hal Rogers, Ed Whitfield, Ron Lewis and Geoff Davis)

Rep. Northup never supported the fiscally conservative RSC alternative budget. (Also voting with Northup was Hal Rogers, Ed Whitfield and Ron Lewis. Geoff Davis hadn't been elected.)

In essence, Northup joined Hal Rogers on every one of these votes, and with the rest of the state's Republican delegation on the vast majority of them. But Club for Growth doesn't care about facts.

I think it's so sad that screwball and out-of-touch groups like Club for Growth can't even be honest about their support of our pathetic, tax-raising Governor Fletcher.

Northup Responds To Fletcher's Desperate Attack

I can't help but believe that Governor Fletcher's (R) own tracking is showing this race to be moving in the wrong direction for him in the final two weeks. Why else would he go on the attack and so foolishly hit Anne Northup (R) on congressional franking privileges when his past is so littered with complaints about the same thing, not to mention that he exceeded her in spending? Tells me there a great deal of concern over at Fletcher-Rudolph.

From Northup-Hoover campaign manager Michael Clingaman:

The Fletcher campaign’s statement is clear evidence that their campaign is desperate and spiraling out of control. It is becoming clearer every day why this Governor is so disliked by his own party. Thankfully Anne Northup and Jeff Hoover are offering a chance for the Republican Party to have a fresh start. We hope that instead of slinging mud that Ernie Fletcher’s campaign will directly address their abuse of taxpayer money.

Is Billy Harper (R) really prepared to play spoiler? Seems like it...

Governor Fletcher (R) Hypocritically Attacks Anne Northup (R) On (Gasp!) Abusing Congressional Franking Privileges! Is He Nuts?

It seems that Governor Fletcher (R) is getting real desperate and is now firing back at Anne Northup (R) over her very legitimate questioning of the taxpayer-funded portion of his political campaign travel. It seems that Fletcher has purged the term "waste, fraud and abuse" from lexicon now he's been elected.

Now Fletcher attacks Northup for her use of congressional franking privileges while in Congress. Hardly the same thing as having the taxpayer pick-up the actual cost of your campaign travel, which for Fletcher included a suite in Manhattan, dinner at San Domenico (with truffles), and jaunts to Bloomingdale's.

But there's just a little problem with that Fletcher attack. It's called rank hypocrisy.

You see, then Congressman Fletcher had quite a history of abusing his congressional franking privileges while he was in Congress, and since he's opening-up this subject, let's all take a little look at Ernie's closet.

The following is from my 2003 files on Fletcher's congressional record:

And then the 212-page document that I have goes on to discuss other questionable items that Congressman Fletcher charged to taxpayers. Among them was over $25,000 on leased cars, car insurance and car washes during a three-year period (1999-2002). Yes, car washes.

Of course, when Fletcher's opponents complained about his franking privileges, he just shrugged it off:

From an August 2, 2000 Joe Gerth story in the Courier-Journal:

Congressional candidate Scotty Baesler is accusing U.S. Rep. Ernie Fletcher of using taxpayer money to help finance his re-election campaign.

In the past six weeks, Fletcher's congressional office has sent out three pieces of franked mail and bought an eight-page advertising supplement in newspapers throughout the state's 6th Congressional District using taxpayer money.

But Fletcher said yesterday the mailings and advertisements are needed to keep constituents abreast of his doings in Washington and are nothing that other Republican and Democratic representatives haven't done for years.

He said they have nothing to do with his campaign.

In the past 1-1/2 months, Fletcher's congressional office has sent two franked mailings on prescription drugs and tobacco, a franked letter to doctors about a patients' bill of rights and then the eight-page ad supplement.

[...]

The problem, Baesler contends, is that Fletcher's congressional literature and his campaign advertisements contain similar phrasing and even some of the same people.

"I ran against Scotty in 1996, and he did the same thing and I'm very surprised he's bellyaching now,'' Fletcher said. "We understand that it's the responsibility of an incumbent to keep constituents informed and we've tried to do that.''

But Baesler notes that Fletcher's taxpayer-funded ads have come out at virtually the same time Fletcher's campaign was on radio and television with advertisements on the same issues. That is something Baesler said he never did.

I also remember an all-color, multi-page mailer that Fletcher sent out just before the November 2003 gubernatorial election. I don't recall him having concern about the issue then.

Now that I've located by 2003 box of goodies, I'm eager to share more of the hypocritical side of Ernie Fletcher...This will be fun...

Update: And then there's this August 7, 2000 gem by Frank Lockwood in the Herald-Leader where it shows Fletcher besting Northup in amount spent on franking. Amazing hypocrisy:

In 1996, during his unsuccessful race for Congress, Republican challenger Ernie Fletcher said taxpayer-funded mass mailings should be prohibited during an election year.

Today, incumbent Fletcher -- elected to the position in 1998 after Democrat Scotty Baesler gave it up to run for U.S. Senate -- says the three-month pre-election blackout probably is sufficient.

Says Baesler, who's seeking the seat back this year: "It's interesting that the old boy changed his tune once he got to Washington."

Fletcher said his fliers are similar to past Baesler fliers that painted the Democrat as a friend of tobacco farmers, an opponent of school violence and a critic of the IRS.

Baesler's attacks on the mass mailings are "disingenuous and hypocritical," Fletcher said.

"I'm rather surprised that Scotty Baesler is bellyaching. I think he's being a bit of a crybaby because he did the same thing every year he was in there," Fletcher said.

Representatives' spending

Here are the franked mail expenses of Kentucky's House members in 1999, according to congressional records:

Ron Lewis, R-Cecilia $76,737

Ed Whitfield, R-Hopkinsville $71,171

Ernie Fletcher, R-Lexington $69,254

Anne Northup, R-Louisville $60,958

Ken Lucas, D-Union $60,675

Hal Rogers, R-Somerset $57,340

Anne Northup (R) Calls Out Governor Fletcher (R) On More Taxpayer-Funded Campaigning That He's Failed To Reimburse

Anne Northup (R) has stepped-up her challenge to Governor Fletcher (R) to stop raiding the public piggy bank and repay the taxpayers for all his political and campaign travel, not just those self-selected items from last week. She makes a very good point:

Anne Northup today called on Ernie Fletcher to repay the state for any travel expenses taxpayers incurred to the 16 additional campaign events which he has attended.

Last week, after newspapers caught him, Ernie Fletcher was forced to repay over $19,000 in taxpayer money he spent on behalf of his campaign.  Part of his repayment was for a campaign trip to New York City, in which he billed the taxpayers for visits to Bloomingdales and expensive dinners.  It is not known whether or not he repaid taxpayers for the truffles.

“He was caught last week wasting taxpayer dollars and he was forced to repay them for his abuse of office,” said Ted Jackson, Senior Advisor to the Northup campaign.  “Now we call on him, to not just pay a portion of the money he owes the state but, to pay it all back.”

Over the last three months Ernie Fletcher has traveled to dozens of campaign events in his automobile, helicopter and airplane—all paid for by Kentucky taxpayers.

“Only in Ernie Fletcher’s world would it be alright for taxpayers to foot the bill for his campaign,” concluded Jackson.  “He needs to do what is right and repay the taxpayers for these trips.”

The taxpayers pay for transportation for the Governor when he attends official events, but since there is no “official purpose” in attending a Lincoln Day Dinner or debate other than to get reelected, one would think the burden of these expenses should not fall to Kentucky’s taxpayers.

The events are as follows:

• 2/3/2007 RPK LDD
• 2/15/2007 Jessamine Co. LDD
• 2/20/2007 UK College Rep LDD
• 2/23/2007 Pulaski County LDD
• 2/24/2007 Monroe Co. LDD
• 2/24/2007 Bullitt Co. LDD
• 2/25/2007 Oldham Co. LDD
• 3/2/2007 Hardin Co. LDD
• 3/9/2007 Madison Co. LDD
• 3/10/2007 4th Dist LDD
• 3/17/2007 5th Dist. LDD
• 3/17/2007 6th Dist LDD
• 4/9/2007 KET Debate
• 4/13/2007 KFCR Boots and Bluegrass
• 4/21/2007 Hopkinsville River Run Rally
• 4/22/2007 Scott Co. LDD

Pay-up, Governor. The state's general fund is not your campaign petty cash jar...

Gloves Off In Debate For Governor (Gerth, Courier-Journal)

Joe Gerth has an excellent story about last night's Republican gubernatorial debate in the Courier-Journal. With two weeks to go, I sense a significant momentum shift in the race in Anne Northup's (R) direction and she appears to be hitting her stride of late.

Will it be enough to force a runoff? Will H