http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com Covering Kentucky politics and government Tue, 22 May 2012 21:44:15 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/09/15/beshear-seeks-meeting-with-obama-during-presidents-cincinnati-visit/ http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/09/15/beshear-seeks-meeting-with-obama-during-presidents-cincinnati-visit/#comments Thu, 15 Sep 2011 21:08:50 +0000 Jack Brammer http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/?p=19008 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/09/15/beshear-seeks-meeting-with-obama-during-presidents-cincinnati-visit/feed/ 0 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/08/25/state-fair-attracts-candidates-charity-ham-auctioned-for-600000/ http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/08/25/state-fair-attracts-candidates-charity-ham-auctioned-for-600000/#comments Thu, 25 Aug 2011 14:24:33 +0000 Accountability Editor http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/?p=18812 By Jack Brammer jbrammer@herald-leader.com LOUISVILLE — Candidates for state office swarmed to the state fair early Thursday to meet and greet more than 1,600 people at the 48th annual Kentucky Farm Bureau Country Ham Breakfast, where a charity ham was auctioned for $600,000. Both Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear and his Republican challenger, Senate President David Williams, said they were pleased with their campaigns so far. But Williams’ wife, Robyn Williams, told reporters she abhors TV ads by an independent group that attack her husband as a gambler and a big spender. One ad criticizes Williams for spending $17,000 for an entertainment center with a large-screen TV for his Capitol Annex office in 2006. Outside the breakfast, the Kentucky Democratic Party introduced “TV Man,” a young man who carried a replica of the TV with Williams’ picture. The ads, paid for by the Kentucky Family Values PAC, are “disgusting,” said Robyn Williams.]]> http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/08/25/state-fair-attracts-candidates-charity-ham-auctioned-for-600000/feed/ 0 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/08/06/videos-from-speeches-at-fancy-farm-2011/ http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/08/06/videos-from-speeches-at-fancy-farm-2011/#comments Sun, 07 Aug 2011 02:37:10 +0000 admin http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/?p=18673 Gov. Steve Beshear: Sen. David Williams: ]]> http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/08/06/videos-from-speeches-at-fancy-farm-2011/feed/ 0 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/08/06/political-heat-turned-up-at-parties-pre-fancy-farm-breakfasts/ http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/08/06/political-heat-turned-up-at-parties-pre-fancy-farm-breakfasts/#comments Sat, 06 Aug 2011 16:50:28 +0000 Beth Musgrave http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/?p=18655 By Beth Musgrave and Jack Brammer bmusgrave@herald-leader.com jbrammer@herald-leader.com MAYFIELD – Senate President David Williams told Graves County Republicans Saturday morning that Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear has not done enough to create jobs or make Kentucky’s economy more business-friendly. Williams, speaking at a Republican breakfast at Graves County High School, said Beshear recently made a joke about Williams’ frequent references to Tennessee and how the state has surpassed Kentucky in many key economic areas. But the Kentucky economy is not a joke, Williams said. “When you have double-digit unemployment, it’s not a laughing matter,” Williams said. Williams said he would be a pro-life governor who has a plan to change Kentucky’s tax structure and “get us back in the job-building business.” ]]> http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/08/06/political-heat-turned-up-at-parties-pre-fancy-farm-breakfasts/feed/ 0 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/07/18/beshear-abramson-campaign-tout-economic-records-in-new-tv-ads/ http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/07/18/beshear-abramson-campaign-tout-economic-records-in-new-tv-ads/#comments Mon, 18 Jul 2011 18:52:57 +0000 Jack Brammer http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/?p=18439 Steve Beshear and his running mate, former Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson, started airing two TV ads Monday touting their economic records. The ads come on the heels of a TV ad by the Republican Governors Association that claims Kentucky’s economy has suffered over the last four years with one of the Top 10 unemployment rates in the nation and that GOP gubernatorial nominee David Williams has a plan to improve it. Beshear and Abramson are featured in the 30-second Democratic campaign’s new ads. Williams is not mentioned. ]]> http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/07/18/beshear-abramson-campaign-tout-economic-records-in-new-tv-ads/feed/ 0 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/07/06/fancy-farm-schedules-speakers-for-annual-political-picnic/ http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/07/06/fancy-farm-schedules-speakers-for-annual-political-picnic/#comments Wed, 06 Jul 2011 15:47:35 +0000 Jack Brammer http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/?p=18316 By Jack Brammer - jbrammer@herald-leader.com Candidates for governor, U.S. senators and a “farewell” speech by Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo will highlight this year’s Fancy Farm picnic, which traditionally kicks off the fall campaigns in Kentucky. Mark Wilson, political chairman for the 131st annual picnic on Aug. 6 at St. Jerome Catholic Church in the small Western Kentucky community of Fancy Farm, released information Wednesday about the picnic’s political speaking program. Wilson said Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear and Republican Senate President David Williams have confirmed they will speak at the picnic about their campaigns for governor. Wilson also said Lexington attorney Gatewood Galbraith, who is running for governor as an independent, will be invited to speak if his required candidacy papers have been formalized.]]> http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/07/06/fancy-farm-schedules-speakers-for-annual-political-picnic/feed/ 7 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/06/27/marshall-county-judge-executive-picked-to-emcee-fancy-farm-picnic/ http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/06/27/marshall-county-judge-executive-picked-to-emcee-fancy-farm-picnic/#comments Mon, 27 Jun 2011 21:11:52 +0000 Jack Brammer http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/?p=18272 Mike Miller has been selected to emcee the 131st annual Fancy Farm political picnic that unofficially will kick off this fall’s campaigns for governor and other state offices. Miller, a Democrat, has held the county judge office since 1974. Mark Wilson, who organizes the political speaking at the free picnic on the campus of St. Jerome Catholic Church in Graves County with his wife, Lori Wilson, said the picnic’s committee tries to alternate between Democrats and Republicans in finding an emcee. “They’d run me out of town if we picked someone from the same party every year,” he said, noting that, in some years, persons not affiliated with any party are selected to emcee. ]]> http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/06/27/marshall-county-judge-executive-picked-to-emcee-fancy-farm-picnic/feed/ 0 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/06/22/mcconnell-wont-say-where-he-stands-on-libya-mission/ http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/06/22/mcconnell-wont-say-where-he-stands-on-libya-mission/#comments Wed, 22 Jun 2011 23:04:03 +0000 Accountability Editor http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/?p=18263 By David Lightman and Halimah Abdullah — McClatchy Newspapers WASHINGTON — Republicans are divided over how to proceed on endorsing — or trying to curb — the U.S. mission in Libya, and on Wednesday Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell illustrated his party's political dilemma. Pressed repeatedly by reporters at a Washington breakfast sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor, the Kentucky Republican refused to state a position. "I've got a variety of different views in my conference," McConnell said, referring to the Senate's 47 Republicans. Asked for his own view, or even a gut feeling, he wouldn't even hint at his position.]]> http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/06/22/mcconnell-wont-say-where-he-stands-on-libya-mission/feed/ 0 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/06/16/williams-wants-bowling-green-suspects-moved-to-gitmo/ http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/06/16/williams-wants-bowling-green-suspects-moved-to-gitmo/#comments Thu, 16 Jun 2011 20:17:12 +0000 Beth Musgrave http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/?p=18208 By Beth Musgrave bmusgrave@herald-leader.com FRANKFORT -- Senate President David Williams wants two terrorist suspects arrested in Bowling Green to be moved to Guantanamo Bay, saying that the move would ensure the safety of Kentucky residents. Williams comments come on the heels of a similar request made by Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who made the request on Tuesday in a speech on the Senate floor. McConnell says that the two men were plotting attacks on U.S. military forces and should therefore be moved to the military prison in Cuba. Holding a trial in Kentucky federal court could attract retaliatory actions by other terrorist groups, McConnell and others have said. The U.S. Department of Justice has countered that the two men are accused of plotting attacks while they were in the United States. The best place to hold their trial is in the United States in federal criminal court. Hundreds of others have been convicted on federal terrorism charges in federal court. There have been no problems with those trial, justice officials have said. ]]> http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/06/16/williams-wants-bowling-green-suspects-moved-to-gitmo/feed/ 1 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/05/21/republican-leaders-try-to-unify-party-at-frankfort-rally/ http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/05/21/republican-leaders-try-to-unify-party-at-frankfort-rally/#comments Sat, 21 May 2011 21:20:20 +0000 Jack Brammer http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/?p=18011 By Jack Brammer jbrammer@herald-leader.com FRANKFORT — Republicans tried to heal rifts from Tuesday's primary elections for state offices and unify party support for November's general election at a rally Saturday at party headquarters. The two losing candidates for the Republican primary for governor — Louisville businessman Phil Moffett, who enjoyed widespread Tea Party support, and Jefferson County Clerk Bobbie Holsclaw, who prevailed in the state's most populous county — were there to stand by party nominee David Williams. But they said later that their roles in Williams' fall campaign remain uncertain. ]]> http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/05/21/republican-leaders-try-to-unify-party-at-frankfort-rally/feed/ 2