Kentucky
updated
10:47 p.m.
Talking Points Memo: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has embraced the argument that President Obama was able to pass every bit of his legislative agenda in his first two years thanks to large Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress. It’s intended as a counterpoint to the President’s re-election strategy of attacking the congressional GOP as do-nothing obstructionists. But it...
Barefoot and Progressive - Thu 11:48 a.m. - 14 clicks 
Greg Stumbo pushed a House redistricting bill that unnecessarily splits counties and disenfranchises voters. The House passed this plan on to the Senate. Damon Thayer and David Williams created a nuclear response, using Senate redistricting to stick it to Jefferson County and totally remove a Senator from Lexington/Fayette. The two Houses refused to alter the other’s plan and instead voted a...
Barefoot and Progressive - Thu 9:45 a.m. - 11 clicks
Did you see the Herald-Leader editorial on Tuesday? For Beshear, will coal money drown out Lynch? Almost half the residents of the historic Harlan County town of Lynch are poor, and their per capita income of $11,206 is half that of Kentucky as a whole. They can’t afford to protect their interests by showering money on political campaigns and parties — in sharp contrast to the owner of the V...
Barefoot and Progressive - Thu 8:01 a.m. - 12 clicks
A lot of people are frustrated with the Democratic Party. Here in Lexington, Fayette Dems are treated to a largely proactive and excellent set of Party leaders, which makes sense because most everything in Fayette County is excellent. What we don’t always have are responsive elected leaders — like a Congressman who votes to slash food and medicine aid to HIV-infected women and poor chi...
Barefoot and Progressive - Thu 6:25 a.m. - 11 clicks
In yesterday’s post on the Beshear/Thayer tag teaming of David Williams, we mistakenly said Rev. Herschael York of Frankfort’s Buck Run Baptist Church had warned Thayer about supporting gambling by quoting the Bible passage Amos 5:6-7 at the Republican Senator/Kathy Stein Remover/Beshear Ally. Herschael was good enough to correct our mistake on twitter. He actually tweeted Amos 5:10-15...
Barefoot and Progressive - Thu 5:08 a.m. - 12 clicks
Let’s start with Damon Thayer. The Republican State Senator (and master mapmaker) is Steve Beshear’s new best friend as the two appear to have come to some agreement over gambling. Steve desperately needs Senate Republicans to believe they can safely vote for gambling without a David Williams punishment. Thayer looked to be providing that cover and Beshear seemed closer to getting the ...
Barefoot and Progressive - Wed 11:02 a.m.
The Democratic Party’s annual gala is coming up… Saturday, February 11! Tickets start at $100. They’d like you to purchase them by February 9th (that’s next Thursday), but the betting money’s on them still accepting your checks at the door. Here’s the official invite, so consider yourself officially invited: To purchase a single ticket (or a Platinum one for jus...
Barefoot and Progressive - Wed 10:21 a.m. - 11 clicks
Urban County Council Districts 1-12 [Incumbents in bold.] Here are the final candidates… unless you get on your high horse and go write-in on the election. District 1 Chris Ford (face/site) Marty Clifford (face/site) District 2 Lisa Sanden (face/site) Shevawn Akers (face/site) Brannon Dunn (face/site) District 3 Diane Lawless (face/site) Stephanie Spires (face/site) Rock...
Barefoot and Progressive - Wed 9:47 a.m. - 17 clicks
The Democratic governor, Steve Beshear, approves of the project and supports the huge tax break. Unfortunately at the same time they are cutting 286 million from education and cutting social services. Someone has their priorities out of order. Here are the words of Australia's evangelical speaker at his own website called Answers in Genesis. Were Dinosaurs on Noah’s Ark? He g...
DailyKos (Kentucky) - Tue 9:00 p.m. - 3 clicks
Checks and balances…at least for now the Judicial Branch of our State Government has stepped in where the Legislature and the Governor failed Kentucky. Today, Judge Phillip Shepherd of the Franklin Circuit Court, ruled that the filing deadline would be delayed against the wishes of defendant/Speaker of the House Greg Stumbo. This would allow for further review of a lawsuit fil...
Barefoot and Progressive - Tue 2:24 p.m. - 15 clicks
For those of us in The Ville, this is not news. Our representative, when elected in 2006, promised to do this as long as he served, so this is the fifth year he has done this. Still, it's pretty cool, and I like to share any good news coming out of Washington, so here you are. More below the fold. ...
DailyKos (Kentucky) - Mon 7:48 p.m. - 3 clicks
The Hunger Games director Gary Ross believes that Jennifer Lawrence's performance at Katniss Everdeen is strong enough to be worthy of an Oscar nomination. “The range in this performance, the emotional terrain that she investigates, the demands of what this role are,” he raves of Lawrence’s portrayal of series heroine Katniss Everdeen, a 16-year-old forced alongside other children into a telev...
Kentucky Democrat - Mon 5:24 p.m. - 2 clicks
Indie filmmakers tend to have their films play at art houses more than the mainstream cinemas. I know. I've seen a large number of films across the city in Louisville when I could drive just 2-5 minutes away to see something at Cinemark. David Bordwell and Kristin Thompson looks at the future of the Art House. ...
Kentucky Democrat - Mon 4:40 p.m. - 13 clicks
It was a big win for The Help tonight over Oscar favorite The Artist . But if you recall, in January 2010, Inglorious Basterds took home best cast. However, George Clooney was getting a clean sweep through awards season for his role as Matt King in The Descendants . It is hard to say whether a loss in the SAG Awards will help or hurt his chances...the only difference is that Leonardo DiCa...
Kentucky Democrat - Sun 8:08 p.m.
In addition to Amazon.com for your one-stop shopping needs, booksellers need your help now, perhaps more than ever before. Barnes and Noble, perhaps, is on its last stand . THESE are trying times for almost everyone in the book business. Since 2002, the United States has lost roughly 500 independent bookstores — nearly one out of five. About 650 bookstores vanished when Borders went out of busin...
Kentucky Democrat - Sun 4:48 p.m.
Seth Rogen talked about 50/50 being snubbed by the Academy. Yesterday when the Academy announced this year’s nominees, it tellingly avoided giving comedy blockbuster Bridesmaids that 10th Best Picture slot in favor of a Supporting Actress nod for Melissa McCarthy and one for Original Screenplay, while the touching, poignant, critically adored 50/50 was left completely shut out. Actually, ...
Kentucky Democrat - Jan 26
Redistricting of the state legislature of Kentucky is done. Democrats gerrymandered the State House and Republicans did likewise for the State Senate. Now, the sticking point appears to be the Congressional map. Democrats want to move Owensboro to KY-01 and shorten its finger into the Republican counties of southern Kentucky; give Ashland to the 5th and make the 5th more of an ...
DailyKos (Kentucky) - Jan 25 - 3 clicks
The morning that the Oscar nominations are announced are one of the times of year that I look forward to. It’s tied with Selection Sunday. Why is that? Because the nominations are chosen by people within the industry. Sometimes, like today, they don’t get it right. Other times, there are just so many great fucking performances that there just are not enough slots to be able to award everyone ...
Kentucky Democrat - Jan 24 - 2 clicks
Here is the complete list of nominees for 84th Academy Awards (Oscar) ceremony. Actor in a Leading Role Demián Bichir, A Better Life George Clooney, The Descendants Jean Dujardin, The Artist Gary Oldman, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Brad Pitt, Moneyball Actor in a Supporting Role Kenneth Branagh, My Week with Marilyn Jonah Hill, Moneyball Nick Nolte, Warrior Christopher Plumme...
Kentucky Democrat - Jan 24 - 2 clicks
Crossposted from the Worldwatch Institute's Nourishing the Planet . Beyond the traditional lessons on reading, writing, and math, schools across America are now teaching their students about another crucially important subject that will build the foundation for the rest of their lives: nutrition. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 17 percent...
DailyKos (Kentucky) - Jan 24
Adam McKay and Will Ferrell produced Bachelorette , which debuts this week at Sundance . Here's a brief synopsis of the film written and directed by Leslye Headland: Regan is used to being first at everything. Imagine her horror and chagrin when she finds out the girl everyone called Pig Face in high school is going to tie the knot before she does! But Regan sucks it up and takes on bridesmaid ...
Kentucky Democrat - Jan 23
Rand Paul was alledgedly detained by the TSA today. The Kentucky senator triggered an alarm during routine airport screening and declined to finish the process, said a TSA official, but was “not detained at any point.” A targeted pat-down is usually used to address the alarm. “Passengers, as in this case, who refuse to comply with security procedures are denied access to the secure gate area. H...
Kentucky Democrat - Jan 23 - 2 clicks
Back in 2008, I wrote a diary about an abandoned house in Kentucky. Through foreclosure and eventual forced tax sale, it came into the possession of a Florida bank that made no attempt whatsoever to sell it. It set abandoned for years. A tree fell on it and damaged the roof. Nothing was done about the tree for years. The Florida bank did not pay the property taxes on the house. At long last ther...
DailyKos (Kentucky) - Jan 22 - 2 clicks
Hardcover: 320 pages Publisher: Putnam Adult (January 10, 2012) I have not laughed this hard since I watched Bridesmaids . Let me repeat. I have not laughed this hard at ANYTHING since watching Bridesmaids . Abbott and Costello. Laurel and Hardy. Hope and Crosby. Martin and Lewis. Matthau and Lemmon. Belushi and Aykroyd. Farley and Spade. Now comes the buddy comedy team of H...
Kentucky Democrat - Jan 21
Since Steve Beshear signed the redistricting plans into law and could not stand up to David Williams, then the Kentucky Democratic Party will never get any of my money ever again. If KY allowed independents to vote in primaries, I'd have switched a long time ago. But no, Beshear is gutless and has no fucking spine at all. Go read a piece at Kentuckians for the Commonwealth . he House, Senate, ...
Kentucky Democrat - Jan 21
TOP COMMENTS Top Comments recognizes the previous day's Top Mojo and strives to promote each day's outstanding comments through nominations made by Kossacks like you. Please send comments ( before 9:30pm ET ) by email to TopComments@gmail.com or by our KosMail message board . Just click on the Spinning Top™ to make a submission. Look for the S...
DailyKos (Kentucky) - Jan 21
That is a lot of power given without much scrutiny...to those who formulate and grade the tests that judge so many. One of the biggest of these is Pearson, and they greatly affect many states. Recently in the New York Times Michael Winerip told of some investigations being done about educators being treated to trips paid for by Pearson Foundation, one of the largest publishers of educati...
DailyKos (Kentucky) - Jan 20
Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear said January 9, 2012 for the second time in two weeks that he was rejecting a hospital merger of the publicly-funded University Hospital with a Catholic-oriented consortium, Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI). Written by Rev. Matthew Westfox and Carol Savkovich for RH Reality Check . This diary is cross-posted; commenters wishing to engage directly with the ...
DailyKos (Kentucky) - Jan 20
A sad day has already gone to a shitty day. Steve Beshear decided to send a "FUCK YOU" to all of us who voted for him when he decided to sign HB 1 and thus kicking State Senator Kathy Stein out of the Senate. This is not just a loss for the Lexington district she represents (they will be represented by a Western Kentucky Democrat who represents an area closer to Evansville than Lexington) but fo...
Kentucky Democrat - Jan 20
CBS Sports writer Gregg Doyel writes that the head coaching job with the Indianapolis Colts is the best one on the market because of the franchise quarterback factor. Colts owner Jim Irsay made even more changes as he fired 8 assistant coaches . Among the eight assistant coaches let go Thursday were defensive line coach John Teerlinck and his son, Bill; Frank Reich, the onetime quarterbacks co...
Kentucky Democrat - Jan 20
We all know the truth. Dane Cook is not a comedian. He just thinks that he is. So bravo to my good friend, T.J. Miller , for giving it to Dane. “Fucking Dane Cook is eating [shit] at the laugh factory. He bumped [Bobby Lee] and is being just mean… The hubris of this man unfortunately led to his fall, but I'm afraid he is a damaged man & well, that's about it. He [is] certainly not a comedian… ...
Kentucky Democrat - Jan 19
If you live in Kentucky, speak up now or forever hold your peace. Republicans are removing a democratically-elected official from her Senate seat NOW through their redistricting map. The Republican-controlled House, with the help of Democrats (!!!WTH??), have passed the Senate redistricting bill that disenfranchises Lexington in the state Senate for the next two years (Kentucky's 2nd l...
DailyKos (Kentucky) - Jan 19
Kentucky State Senate Dictator David Williams can go fuck himself. How dare he treat Kentucky Democrats in the State Senate with the least amount of respect is beyond me. Instead of bringing this state forward into the 21st century by helping the senate push for a decent bill on allowing expanded gambling in this state, he would rather fucking force out Kentucky Democrats that actually give a da...
Kentucky Democrat - Jan 19
These are some pretty cool stats coming from Ben Roberts at Next Cats . Looking at average scoring, most of the higher scoring stats come from the freshman class of 2007-08. There are several pages so be warned. It's an excellent read. ...
Kentucky Democrat - Jan 19
Sundance is right around the corner and there are 1 0 performances to look out for . However, Seth Rogen's wife, Lauren Miller, may be on to a big year in 2012--depending on who buys the distribution rights, of course. Lauren Miller, For A Good Time Call... (directed by Jamie Travis) – Not only does Lauren Anne Miller ( 50/50 and Superbad ) have a producer and co-writing credit in this Sunda...
Kentucky Democrat - Jan 19
Boston Celtics General Manager Danny Ainge is considering move that would be considered ballsy with the fan base. The Boston Globe reports: Celtics vice president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said today he would consider a major move involving the Big Three if it would help foster the team's transition to the next era.[...] "First of all it’s a different era," Ainge told the Globe. "I ...
Kentucky Democrat - Jan 18
Rob Lowe tweeted earlier that he heard Peyton Manning was going to retire. Hearing my fave, #18 Peyton Manning will not return to #NFL. Wow. #Colts Chris Mortenson asked Archie Manning and got this response. Archie Manning laughed when he heard @RobLowe said Peyton will retire, "Noooo...he ain't retiring. I think he would've told me." #NFL32 Another response from Archie via Mort: Archie's ...
Kentucky Democrat - Jan 18
I wrote this on yesterday's Golden Globes awards ceremony...if you wish you call it an awards ceremony as the HFPA picks favorites instead of voting for the BEST PERFORMANCES. I, umm, shit you not. The fucking Hollywood Foreign Press Association has done it again. Any other year, I would have had no fucking problem with Meryl Streep taking home another award. Not this year. Not with her fel...
Kentucky Democrat - Jan 16
I have received confirmation that The Artist will indeed be opening in Louisville, KY either this Friday (January 20) or next Friday (January 27). About dang time. THR was reporting an expansion of 500 screens for this weekend. ...
Kentucky Democrat - Jan 16
Aside from pitting the race between Hugo , The Descendants , and The Artist for best picture, the shock of the night was Viola Davis losing out to Meryl Streep. The HFPA did an injustice right there. HOLLYWOOD FOREIGN PRESS ASSOCIATION 2012 GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2011 BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE : CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER...
Kentucky Democrat - Jan 15
Hardcover: 320 pages (January 5, 2012) Publisher: Blue Rider Press/ESPN Books Gene Wojciechowski, a senior national columnist for ESPN.com, takes college basketball fans back to March 28, 1992, whether we like to revisit that game or not. When I originally saw that there was going to be a book published on that game, I wanted to know why. Of course, I'm one of those Kentucky fans that is fo...
Kentucky Democrat - Jan 14
The winners are posted below. Best Picture: The Artist Best Director: Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist Best Actor: George Clooney, The Descendants Best Actress: Viola Davis, The Help Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer, Beginners Best Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer, The Help Best Original Screenplay: Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris Best Adapted Scree...
Kentucky Democrat - Jan 13
Okay, obviously the majority of this is a failure to properly account for surplusing of old items. But 3 laptops issued directly to Richie Farmer in a two day period? That’s significant. Looks like newly elected auditor Adam Edelen may … Continue reading → ...
Blue Bluegrass - Jan 13
I knew Gatewood (perennial candidate for the governorship of KY) back when I was an undergraduate at the University of Kentucky. Whenever his name came up during the intervening years, not often but often enough, I would usually confide that I slapped his face way back then, and for good reason. Ah well. ...
DailyKos (Kentucky) - Jan 4
87 % of Kentuckians can’t agree the sky is blue. But they agree that David Williams’ attack on Kentucky’s horse industry needs to stop. More precisely, 87 % of Kentuckians agree Kentucky voters should decide on expanded gaming. Expanded gaming … Continue reading → ...
Blue Bluegrass - Dec 28
Last week, an absolutely horrifying incident happened in a central Kentucky school. Nine-year-old Chris Baker has autism, and is enrolled in a special program at Mercer County Intermediate School for special-needs kids. Last Thursday, he started acting out, and someone punished him by putting him in a duffel bag . The day had barely begun when his family was called to the school b...
DailyKos (Kentucky) - Dec 23
First, from last week, Representative Keene’s bill: The actual text of his bill can be found here. Longtime Lexington horseman and retired county clerk Don Blevins shares his thoughts: Rep. Keene has pre-filed a bill allowing for referendums in counties … Continue reading → ...
Blue Bluegrass - Dec 20
A few years ago, the coal industry decided to cheer up the holiday season with some sacriligeous caroling . Let us remember that the Frosty the Snowman story ends in a way to tug at the hearts: melting away with a promise to come back some day . In consider their decision to link coal to Frosty the Snowman, amid many other Christmas carols, perhaps the coal industry was showing a short atten...
DailyKos (Kentucky) - Dec 20
Admittedly, calling it “Rupp Renovation” is a misnomer. The proposal is not about Rupp. First, the politically tone-deaf Lexington Mayor Jim Gray said that Lexington would be seeking $20 million from the state for a downtown renovation project. Tone-deaf because … Continue reading → ...
Blue Bluegrass - Dec 19
The year 1811 was the 35th year of the United States. Most Americans lived along the east coast, but the newly opened Louisiana Purchase opened up new opportunities. Along the Mississippi, new towns and cities were being established, serviced by barge traffic moving down the Ohio to the Mississippi, and then onward to New Orleans and the sea. ...
DailyKos (Kentucky) - Dec 16
On Tuesday, as Senate President David Williams got close enough to touch the inaugural podium, were other Republicans thinking of how Williams’ loss might reverberate into 2012? Ryan Alessi runs the numbers: In this fall’s governor’s race, Republican Senate President … Continue reading → ...
Blue Bluegrass - Dec 15
Come on down, and join Lexington Democratic supporters and elected leaders at Main and Midland on Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. The parade starts at 10, proceeds straight down Main and ends at Centre Point. Who knows? Maybe even David … Continue reading → ...
Blue Bluegrass - Dec 8
The only question is, will the Indiana defender and killer of Kentucky jobs (aka Senate President David Williams) be overthrown, or will he continue to protect his Indiana casinos at Kentucky’s expense? Unlike nice guy Jody Richards, Kentucky’s Speaker of … Continue reading → ...
Blue Bluegrass - Dec 8
