Blogging the Bluegrass: Thanksgiving edition

Here's a chance to catch up with what the digital Kentucky political gadflies are buzzing about:

REPUBLICAN-LEANING BLOGS

• Kypolitics.org is reporting that unnamed sources say U.S. Ambassador to Latvia Cathy Bailey is returning to Kentucky and could play a major fund-raising role, perhaps even as GOP chairman, for the Republican Party.
• Cyberhillbilly was first to report that Republican state Rep. John Vincent would retire at the end of this month. That was then confirmed by the Ashland Daily Independent.
• Blue Grass/Red State says Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell won't endorse in the GOP presidential primary. (McConnell told reporters at the state Lincoln Day Dinner featuring presidential contender Mitt Romney last February that he probably wouldn't back any GOP primary candidate because too many of his fellow senators were in the race.)
• KentuckyProgress weighs in on a cost of casinos.

DEMOCRATIC-LEANING BLOGS

• The Rural Democrat discusses a recent announcement by incoming Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo about adventure tourism in Eastern Kentucky.
• KyWomen shines the light on Democratic Party infighting in Northern Kentucky.
• PageOneKentucky pokes at Rep. Jim Gooch, D-Providence, for his appearance on ABC News to talk about his global warming committee meeting.
• Bluegrassreport questions what happened to cause Medco not to settle in Kentucky, while PageOneKentucky does some finger pointing.

Meanwhile, there seems to be growing tension among some of the Democratic blogs stemming from behind-the-scenes jockeying among several Democrats to potentially run against McConnell.

Bluegrassroots seems to be at odds with Bluegrass Report, while DitchMitch has criticized national blogs such as Daily Kos for appearing to favor one potential candidate over another. Others, such as the Rural Democrat, have tried to stay out of the fray.

(McConnell, by the way, has his own blog that answers accusations from cyberspace and offers campaign news and nuggets).

- Ryan Alessi

Comments

Oh my! It appears NKY, particularly Kenton County, has some big problems. Gov. Beshear, are you reading this nonsense? It sounds like it's time for you to step in and make some changes in leadership. Especially if the current leadership is trying to force life long democrats out of the party.

BluegrassReport is fading into its own shortcomings. It's just a way for its owner to make money, either through under the table payments for "consulting" or through Google income. And oddly enough, you'll never get any sort of disclosure of all those other payments that any objective person would identify as reasons to questions someone's "opinions".

Whoever the nominee is will get our full support. That's because we as Democrats believe in the need to make things change in our state and our country. That's a stark contrast to the "Democratic" voices that will do anything and endorse anyone for a buck.

I thought Nickolass was leaving after the election? We have young John Y Brown III, Crit Luallen, & Jonathan Miller to thank for Nickolass causing turmoil. He must be related to those idiots in NKY:

[J. Charles Gaines]

One negative the rise of the blogosphere hathe wrought is giving a "voice" to people so insecure - with good reason - and so uninformed that they never would share their "thoughts" about issues like this in a forum where their faces are seen and their names known. Basically, one down side is all the whineypots without a point who slither out of the slime to spread their special viral ignorance and personal bitterness in the snug safety of anonymity.

[Media Czech]

J. Charles, all that talk of slithering and sliming made me hot. cut that out.

the only "anonymous" person i know in KY is the Draft Forgy dude. everybody else is "out" that i know of.

[Elizabeth]

What I find interesting on PolWatchers is the recent attempts by various posters to intimidate bloggers by making it appear that their identity is known or can be detected.

Being able to share information and ideas without fear is key to reformation of open debate in a society where news outlets and editorial boards are controlled by out-of-state corporate interests. It's just a new form of a proud American tradition going back to John Adams and Ben Franklin.

Is it possible that enthusiasts of the new administration want to discourage the use of PolWatchers by making people feel insecure?

[Kelsey]

I have tried to make some thought out of what Elizabeth said above it if someone could please explain?? She is outthere, in she smoked some good stuff ville. Liz you have been watching too many CSI shows on TV or reading to much Harry Potter, you just dont make good reading.

Kelsey, as evidenced at 7:51, is vulgar and offensive.

Bluegrass reports has served it's purpose. It was hellbent on moving Ernest Lee out of Frankfort and to an extent that blog helped by exposing the lack of leadership by Ernest. It will be interesting to see if it dies a slow death or hangs on to work against McConnell...full time.

I feel compelled to comment on these remarks by Hal Rogers, as quoted in today's column by Jim Carroll in the Courier-Journal:

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071125/COLUMNISTS20/711250494

"A presidential election brings out voters who don't otherwise vote in congressional races, and that can help the GOP, Rogers said.

"The Democratic presidential nominee is likely to be Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., 'and that will be good for us,' he said."

This nonsense has been repeated ad nauseum by the state's Republicans, but the facts speak differently. Recent polling in Kentucky shows Hillary beating Giuliani, Romney, Huckabee and McCain.

http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReportEmail.aspx?g=8d04025f-3b99-41fd-b488-a470924222b1

It's time for this absurd right-wing talking point to end.

I think Hillary Clinton is one of the most brilliant people ever. However, the problem with Hillary is that people either LOVE her or HATE her. There is no in between with Hillary. For instance, you'll not find many people say, "Well, I'm not crazy about her, but I'd voter her if she gets the dem nod."

Most people I know say, "I hate her & I'll vote republican if she gets the nod."

I love Hillary, so I don't have a problem with her getting the nod. I'd prefer Obama get the nod -- I think nationally, Obama has a better shot at winning than Hillary does.

I couldn't care less what any surveyusa poll says right now about Hillary, especially since I couldn't find their "filter" and thus I don't know how many dems and how many republicans were polled & I don't know how many people they tossed out before they came up with the 560 people they reported on.

It's pretty rare that I agree with much that any republican says, but I do agree that it would benefit republicans if Hillary gets the dem. nod.

[gino]

ON Monday Nov the 26th in the Capitol Annex in Frankfort the House Labor and Health and Welfare will have a informational meeting with representatives from the Ky. Nurses Association and The Kentucky Hospital Association talking about patient saftey.

Media, please try to be there!

[gino]

At 1pm

Let's see... we've got a poll from the respected Survey USA saying that Hillary would do well in Kentucky.

Then we've got some anonymous person on a blog who says, "Most people I know say, 'I hate her & I'll vote republican if she gets the nod.' "

I think I'll put more faith in the Survey USA poll, thank you very much.

By the way, I'm not saying this because I'm a die-hard Hillary supporter. I'd actually rather see Edwards or Obama win the nomination. But the claim that a Hillary nomination would help Kentucky Republicans is flat-out WRONG.

If you want to use FACTS to argue otherwise, I'm all ears. But don't rebut with this "well the people I talk to" hogwash.

6:55 - You are such a joke. The only rebut IS ..."People I talk to."

Now, I didn't talk to 560 people about Hillary like Surveyusa did ... but ... the people I have spoken to are all democrats and no republicans and they hate her.

You fool, my point was that unlike other politicians Hillary is one politician that people either love or hate ... no in between.

As for the SurveyUSA results for kentucky ... NOT ALL STATES that Surveyusa surveyed show the same results that Kentucky did ...

I said above ... NATIONALLY, I don't think Hillary would do well and that's why I think the republicans would be at an advantage if she gets the democratic nod.

If I'm wrong .... so be it ... How dare you think that any person evaluating any political campaign would be wrong just bec. surveyusa Ky. poll shows something. I base my conclusions off of what I see ... not what some group of polsters say.

The diff. bet. you & me ... I have my own mind where you base your vote & conclusions from some poll where you have no idea how many republicans or democrats were polled and you have no idea how many polled were tossed out before they posted their 560 person poll data.

I like my way better ... it shows I have more sense than people like you .

PS. Here's what I wrote above that YOU commented on, "I think nationally, Obama has a better shot at winning than Hillary does."

That's my opinion regardless of what the Ky. survey showed. I couldn't care less if you have faith in my opinion or not ... You are clearly a blind mouse that forms opinions based of state polls ... whoot whoot & you a wise apple.

I agree with 2:53 comments. I don't think Hillary will do well nationally regardless of what the survey shows for ky.

A lot of people really do hate that woman. A lot! She might be smart, but she is brash, unladylike, & repells many smart people.