Ky. governor tries to win second term

[Janett_Reno]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070910/...qOl03gq4BH2ocA

Ernie Fletcher was the fresh face voters wanted four years ago when he swept into the Kentucky governor's office on the promise that he would "clean up the mess in Frankfort."

Disappointed by his predecessor's extramarital affair, voters embraced Fletcher, an ordained Baptist minister, electing him as Kentucky's first Repubulican governor in more than 30 years.

But Fletcher's luster wore thin when a special grand jury indicted him on charges that he violated state hiring laws in a scheme to reward political supporters with state jobs. Now Fletcher is facing a stiff challenge from Democrat Steve Beshear, who built his primary election campaign around a proposal to legalize casinos.

Political scientist Larry Sabato said the outcome of the Nov. 6 election could be an indicator of the nation's political climate leading up to next year's presidential race. Kentucky has voted with the winner in every presidential election since 1964.

"When you're running as a challenger, you promise to clean up the system," Sabato said. "Fletcher did that as a challenger, and now Beshear has the same opportunity. That's one of the few advantages a challenger has."

Beshear is hammering away at the Republican administration's hiring scandal. His first television ad of the general election campaign shows him standing in front of the state Capitol and gesturing toward the domed building, echoing the words similar to those used previously by Fletcher. In the ad, Beshear vows "to finally clean this place up."

Fletcher is framing the election as a referendum on casinos rather than on his first term. He says Kentuckians who don't want casinos should vote for him, and that those who do should support Beshear, a former lieutenant governor and attorney general.

Campaigning across the state on a "No Casinos" tour, Fletcher says gambling would contribute to bankruptcies, divorce and crime. He said Kentuckians would have to lose $1.5 billion at casinos to generate the $500 million a year in additional state revenue that Beshear is predicting.

"He's putting all of his promises to Kentucky on casino gambling," Fletcher said during a radio debate this week.

Beshear says taxes from casinos could help fund education, health care, economic development and other initiatives. He said Kentuckians already spend huge amounts at casinos over the state line in Indiana and Illinois.

"My position is, let's just bring it home and use it for our folks," Beshear said.

Beshear, the son of a small-town Baptist preacher, is attempting a political comeback more than a decade after his name last appeared on a Kentucky ballot. He lost races for governor in 1987 and U.S. senator in 1996.

Kentucky is famed for its horse racing, but opening the state to casino gambling would require amending the state's constitution, which Beshear favors.

Fletcher had said he would not oppose efforts to put such a measure on the ballot, but abruptly changed his stance during the primary, citing his personal opposition to gambling. He says he'll fight any effort to change the constitution and that casinos won't come on his watch.

In his latest ad, Fletcher highlights an Illinois woman who went to prison for embezzling $241,000 to feed a gambling addition. Beshear spokeswoman Vicki Glass said Fletcher was trying "to keep the spotlight on other people's illegal activities to keep it off his own."

The grand jury that indicted Fletcher alleged the governor had approved a "widespread and coordinated plan" to skirt state hiring laws. The goal, according to the panel, was to reward Fletcher's GOP political supporters with protected state jobs at the expense of state workers who backed his opponent.

Fletcher claimed the Democratic state attorney general pursued the case for political gain.

[FishForLunch]

I live in Kentucky, the politics here is all about how you can get elected and get your cronies into good jobs, so nothing will change if Beshear gets elected he will bring his choice of cronies. It does not matter if they are minister/preachers sons or atheists, they are politicians first.

[Janett_Reno]

Ernie Fletcher is a crook. Look what he has done. Fletcher is a faith and values man, a Baptist precher that was indicted on charges that he violated state hiring laws in a scheme to reward political supporters with state jobs.

Guess how he was elected? Saying he was going to clean KY up with the crooks when he is a crook himself. He is no more than another hypocrite.


Is Beshear a crook also? I do not know but he is the son of another Baptist preacher. What KY citizens need to thnk of. Do i want the crooked hypocrite that is in now or do i want to elect one that is going to open up gambling in Ky. Money is being poured into Metropolis, IL and if you do not know ehere this is, it is right beside Paducah, Ky. People are taking there paychecks and cashing and spending them at a casino there. They are also pouring into Indiana spending there money at casinos there.

The casinos will bring money into the state and big time and especially from TN. If Ky gets them, then about 5 years from when they do, TN will. So if you are highly against casinos, you need to vote against Beshear because he will bring this up and i feel it will pass. On the other hand, you have a crook in office in Fletcher but he won't bring casino's in, unless he get's paid off.

This will be a nasty race.

[FishForLunch]

Casinos are good thing for State so they spend more, have new department to manage the Casinos, good times to be had for a lot of people and more State jobs at the expense of the poorer strata of society, spending what they barely have to strike it rich in the casinos that are now nearer to them.

Anyway I don't go to Casinos so I don't care if there are casinos in the State or not. If people don't want to be responsible and get addicted to gambling they should blame themselves not the government.

You must be naive to think that a Democrat as Governor will not also want to get State jobs for his cronies.

Maybe the Democratic presidential candidate will benefit if the Kentucky governor is also a democrat, you never know this state is a pretty conservative red state and no way will they vote for a liberal like Hillary or Obama.

[Janett_Reno]

I think the casinos will be a good thing also.

Ky is a red state but let's not forget in 1996 a man named Bill Clinton made the state blue. He won Ky and Tn and both are red states and Clinton turned them blue.

In the year 1992 Clinton won Ky, Tn and unheard of winning the huge red state of GA. I agree it seems impossible but it wasn't.

As far is it a difference between Bill and Hillary? Yes. Bill is a good ole boy from the south and that is a good enough to get any southerners vote. It was the same with W. Hillary is a woman and she will have a problem with white men from the south. It seems alot feel a woman is less than a man but she will do very good among all women across the USA. It hasn't been that many years since a woman or a black person would be accepted and could be elected. I feel this is changing fastly and many women and many black people are being elected. Now will Hillary do what Bill did in the south? I doubt it because she is a woman. If Hillary was a Republican, then the white males of the south would vote mostly Democrat.

No matter, the Republicans are going to win most all of the south and they have to or they would not have a chance. One year Bill took FL and another year he lost FL. I think he took OH both races. Very important state. In usually goes Republican but with Bayh Hillary would win it, unless Rudy grabs Richard Lugar and now Ind is a toss up and so would be OH.

The Lane Report magazine shows Beshear up by 18 points with 49 percent compared with Fletcher's 31 percent and 16 percent undecided. Three percent refused to answer.

http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/148495.html

Attorney general -- Democrat Jack Conway led Republican Stan Lee, 27-17 with 53 undecided and 3 who refused.

• Secretary of state -- Incumbent Republican Trey Grayson out-polled Democratic challenger Bruce Hendrickson, 33-20, with 46 undecided and 2 percent refusing.

• State auditor -- Incumbent Democrat Crit Luallen edged Republican challenger Linda Greenwell 32-26 with 40 percent undecided and 2 percent refusing.

• State treasurer -- Democrat Todd Hollenbach opened with a 20-point lead over Republican Melinda Wheeler, 39-19, with 41 percent undecided and 2 percent refusing.

It looks like to me, Fletcher is in trouble.

Fletcher-Republican
Patton-Democrat
Jones-Democrat
Wilkinson-Democrat
Collins-Democrat
Brown-Democrat
Carroll-Democrat
Ford-Democrat
Nunn-Republican
Breathitt-Democrat
Combs-Democrat
Happy Chandler-Democrat

I did not go on back but if you can see a pattern, it looks to me if the red state of Ky is very pleased with Democrat Govs. I think since the early 60's, whoever win's or is Gov of Ky is the same party the president will be and win. I also think, which party wins the state of Mo win's the whitehouse. So your state of Ky is important on who win's this next Gov, because if Fletcher win's, most likely Rudy will. If Beshear win's, most likely Hillary is going to be your president. Hillary is winning now in MO but it is early.

If KY get's casino's it will pull alot of money from TN. TN will then try to get them 5 years down the road. Tunica, MS is pulling alot and i mean alot of money from TN, KY and other states. Ky will go alot to IL and IN to gamble but also to MS. Tunica and that area was one of the poorest places in the USA untill they opened up casinos. That place is doing well now.

[FishForLunch]

If I was forced to choose between Hillary and Obama, I will surely choose Obama, he seems to be a more honest person.

Rudy is my man, a fiscal conservative and strong on National security and pays less attention to stuff like Family Values etc... I am fed up with the constant harping on Family Values from the repubs, while they struggle to practice what they preach.

[Janett_Reno]

In some of the latest polls it looks like Fred is surging some on Rudy. I think in the end, Rudy will be the nominee.

[Janett_Reno]

THE ARENA
Politics in Kentucky

http://www.courier-journal.com/blogs...olid-lead.html

Friday, September 14, 2007

H-L poll shows Beshear with solid lead

The Lexington Herald-Leader has released the results of its polling that shows Democrat Steve Beshear leads Gov. Ernie Fletcher 56-39 percent.

The poll of 600 likely voters has a margin of error of plus of minis 4 percentage points.

The poll found that Beshear has double digit leads in every region of the state and has a 2-1 advantage in Jefferson County.

The poll is the latest in a series of public surveys that shows Beshear leading by 15-20 percentage points. The big concern for Fletcher has to be that the constant drumbeat of polls that show him well behind could dry up fundraising for him.

Such polls could also discourage national groups such as the Republican Governor's Association, which is currently running ads in Kentucky, from spending significant amounts of additional money in the state.

One thing that could counter that is the continuing questions being raised about Beshear's dealings during the Kentucky Central Life Insurance Co. liquidation.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Republicans for Beshear


http://www.courier-journal.com/blogs...r-beshear.html
The son of the last Republican governor of Kentucky said he plans to endorse Gov. Ernie Fletcher's Democratic opponent on Monday.

Former state Rep. Steve Nunn said he will take part in a Beshear campaign event on Monday in Lexington and expects to be joined by other Republicans when he does it.

"I believe in good government," Nunn said. "I believe we need to elect people who are going to govern and the core group around the governor and the governor himself haven't demonstrated an ability to do that or to deserve another four years."

Nunn, who lost his seat last year, said he has no plans to become a Democrat. "I think Republicans should be for good government and this Republican is for change."

Nunn, who backed former U.S. Rep. Anne Northup, R-Louisville, in the primary said the Fletcher administration has been arrogant, has flip-flopped on issues and has "shot straight" with people.

Jason Keller, a spokesman for the Fletcher campaign, said he didn't know if that campaign has any "Democrats for Fletcher" events planned. We'll update the blog when we get an answer.

[Janett_Reno]

Kentucky governor faces long re-election odds
After years of scandals in office, Democratic opponent moves ahead in polls


Oct 3rd

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21118168/

Two news organization polls in recent weeks showed the first-term Republican trailing Democratic challenger Steve Beshear by as many as 20 percentage points in his bid for re-election Nov. 6.

"Gov. Fletcher is toast," said Michael Baranowski, a political scientist at Northern Kentucky University. He said the best Fletcher can hope for is "to avoid getting creamed at the polls, and even that doesn't look likely."

Several state employees who appeared before a grand jury claimed to have been passed over for promotions, transferred, demoted or fired for blatant political reasons.

At least 14 people were indicted, including the governor himself, who was charged last year with scheming to violate state hiring laws. But Fletcher created another furor when he issued pardons to everyone but himself.


Kentucky is one of only three states electing governors this year. The others are Mississippi and Louisiana.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Looks to me like KY is going to probably get gambling casinos and for sure a Democrat governor. Maybe Fletcher will go back to preaching but i am not sure.

The gambling and casinos can be a very hot topic. Very debated both way's. Here is what is happening now, it is casino's in IN, MO, IL that are taking huge amounts of money from KY as Kentuckians are pouring across borders to take their money gambling. It is also huge casino's in MS some go to. KY had several horse tracks where you could bet on horse races on weekends and that has almost dried up. KY has a lottery and that was so good and huge to KY and Tennesseeians came daily buying lottery tickets untill TN got a lottery.

So i actually feel, why not keep the money in state? Gambling is not a great hobby especially if you are addicted but they are losing to much money to states all around them, just like TN is and when KY approves then TN will probably follow. McConnel is trying to campaign for Fletcher but it just isn't helping.

If you want to see some very heated things and campaign, go to youtube and watch some of the campaign speeches with Beshear, Fletcher and McConnel. At a Fletcher rally McConnel was booed off the stage and it was also Fletcher and McConnel supporters at that rally but was both sides very, very vocal. You talk about McConnel ripping into Beshear, he did and making jokes but when Beshear got up and spoke he ripped right back into McConnel.

I might be wrong but i do not think even Beshear is all that popular but the dislike of Fletcher is so high, that it get's pretty wild at the speeches and rallies. McConnel has been a fixture in KY politics so long that i figure any Democrat would fear of getting creammed by him but with his support of Fletcher, the current adm, some hard hitters of Republicans, Democrats and Independents, plus alot of anti war supporters, even his position is not completely safe anymore. It is now Democrats wanting to run against him and think they have an actucal shot at winning.

You never know as the next elections like i have been reporting are going to go hard one way and when guys like Allen, Sununu can be beat you never know about McConnel. That put Mitch in a bad spot, having or being asked to campaign for Fletcher because people see scandal and then think, why is Mitch stumping for him but in politics i feel this is normal and goes both way's and Democrats do it also. Keep in mind Steve is no saint either so it will be fun watching the very heated debates and rallies around in KY and you can catch alot or most on youtube.

[dude1394]

Richardson dog catcher seeks 4th consecutive term.

[Janett_Reno]

I am sorry the Ky gov is not a dog catchers job and i am sorry you feel that bad about people from Ky but do not forget that is where one of your hero's live, in Mitch. The country and politics is more than the neocons, Hillary, Obama, Edwards, McCain, Rudy and Fred.

You might not know it, but Rudy and Hillary will care who is gov of Ky as well they care about senators and congress.

[dude1394]

I like kentucky just fine, they were my neighbors when I grew up in tennessee. But posting stuff about governors a year out deserves to be made fun of.

[Janett_Reno]

I will even add to the Ky gov's race. Beshear say's He will legalize gambling and casino's in Ky. Now you might not think casino's are a big thing in the bible belt but it is for the bible belt and Kentuckians. If some are opposed to it, they need to do all they can to re elect Fletcher because casino's will probably pass under Beshear.

Trust me a Ky gov race is more than a dog catcher and it is not good for you to disrespect people from Ky in that manner. They have issues, politicians and races that are just as important as other states.

Next, are you going to try to tell me that congress and senators are also of no importance? I think you need to read what the responsibilities of a gov, senator and congress member and what they do before you call them dog catchers. You seem to have a problem with what is after's someones name and attack them if they have independent or Democrat behind their name. Sometimes even Republicans if they do not agree with this adm. Our government is more than a cat and mouse game and what you make it out to be.

Try not to player hate so much on dog catchers.

[chumdawg]

Any time a governorship changes parties, it's a big deal.

[Janett_Reno]

It doesn't matter how long it is out. Last time i looked that is how long the next president of the United States will be also. You report on the vietnam war and last time i looked, that was more than a year old war. Let's try to keep it real and not player hate on Kentuckians and dog catchers.

[Janett_Reno]

I know dude you care nothing about other politics, except who get's president but when a party get's in power and if they dominant the senate, house, governors, and even president they have a tendancy to carry a heavy stick and don't mind using it. That means Democrats or Republicans and it makes everything alot easier on a president, if it is all his same party in office. Sometimes it is a big headache for a pres to butt heads with the opposite party for 4 long years. In return it doesn't let any one party start passing bills just for party gain and let our country go down the tubes. This is why our country is so wonderful and part of our great country because of our two party and even three party system and helps with checks and balances.

---------------------------------------

Though governors never formally act as a group, strategists say a majority can help build party strength, turn out votes for presidential contests, and cultivate future national leaders. Their decisions shape domestic policy on health care, social issues and taxes, and often touch citizens more directly than Washington.

------------------------------------------------------------

The three contested this next contest will be a Republican incumbent in Ky named Fletcher, a Democrat incumbent in LA named Blanco and lastly Republican incumbent Barbour of MS.

[Mavdog]

wow, the governor in kentucky has the power to legalize casinos/gambling?

that's a really powerful governorship. most states would require the state legislature to vote and approve legalized gambling...

[Janett_Reno]

Fletcher is highly against legalized gambling and it will be a no issue with him but Beshear is trying to sell it and i promise you Beshear will bring this up to be voted on and it is a very good chance it would be voted in.

The governor's race is more than a dog catchers job and a governor is important and so is the job of a congressman or senator. I am not one to knock a dog catcher or someone from Ky either.

[Janett_Reno]

Let's go a bit farther on this subject. So gambling isn't an issue Mavdog? Then let's say abortion and gay rights is not an issue either. Why do you think so many Republicans are upset with Rudy being the candidate and why some are trying so hard to push Fred in?

For one, alot do not like the fact Rudy was a Democrat but even more powerful is where he stands on gay rights and abortion. Does abortion and gay rights matter to the Republican party? I would say yes about 50% of them, i say it does. So let's push Fred in the door but then James Dobson say's not so fast, Fred want's each state to determine the gay right's issue and Dobson say's no, that is a cop out. He say's if you are conservative, answer the question on gay rights and abortion. Fred brushes it off where he don't have to answer.

Now, we could tell Dobson, hey what does gay rights matter and abortion. No big deal. Rudy, Fred, Hillary and Obama probably won't have an abortion or probably won't marry someone from the same sex but Dobosn might answer and say, well they are part of our law makers of this great USA and they have a say so what i believe in and his conservative background. So issues matters and like it or not gambling is a hot subject in the bible belt.

I will say it again, with Fletcher, it won't be any legalized casinos in KY and with Beshear, it will be a darn good possibility and you can bet your sweet charlie brown, Besear won't veto casino's comming to Ky. I do not blame him as it has taken one of the poorest counties in the United States Of America in MS out of poverty and doing just fine. Property up, people moving in and what use to look like wasteland, is big business and a pretty country side.

[Janett_Reno]

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/...EWS01/70919058

Gov. candidates wrangle over 2 core issues

Gov. Ernie Fletcher offered a rosy scenario Wednesday of Kentucky's performance under his leadership, while Democratic challenger Steve Beshear said the Republican incumbent has been "plagued by corruption and scandal" that has hurt the state.

The rivals in Kentucky's Nov. 6 gubernatorial election wrangled over two core issues in the campaign — Beshear's support of allowing casino gambling and an investigation of the Fletcher administration's hiring practices that led to numerous indictments, including one against the governor.

On another topic, Beshear said that global warming is a reality, but promised to push for more coal production along with new technology to burn the Kentucky-rich resource more cleanly. Fletcher sidestepped a question asking whether he acknowledges that global warming is occurring.

The two candidates took questions on a range of issues while appearing before the Louisville Forum, a nonpartisan public issues group.

Beshear took the offensive first, saying that "almost from the moment that this administration came to power, it has been plagued by corruption and scandal."

"Until this poisoned atmosphere that we have experienced for the past four years in state government is changed, we cannot make much progress" on such issues as health care, education and job growth, Beshear said.

Soon after taking office in 2003, a special grand jury began investigating a complaint that Fletcher's administration had violated state hiring laws in a scheme to reward political supporters with state jobs.

Fletcher and at least 14 of his aides and associates were indicted. Fletcher issued pardons for everyone except himself. His lawyers worked out a deal with prosecutors to have the charges against him dropped.

Meanwhile, Fletcher touted his accomplishments, which he said include more state spending on education, a revamped Medicaid system, increased tourism and efforts to help small businesses afford health insurance. He said he moved the state forward in spite of an atmosphere he described as the "politics of destruction."

"When you go to the polls, bet on sure results, and vote for somebody who has given those results," Fletcher said while taking a stab at Beshear for the Democrat's support of limited casino gambling.

Beshear countered by citing statistics showing Kentucky dropping further nationally in such categories as high tech jobs and its competitiveness.

"That's not a rosy picture, folks," he said. "It is time to change that."

Fletcher kept up his criticism of Beshear for supporting a change to Kentucky's constitution to allow casino gambling. The governor called it "a promise of fool's gold" that doesn't reflect Kentucky values and wouldn't deliver promised revenues.

"We want Louisville to be a world-class city, not a casino town," Fletcher said.

Beshear said it's time for Kentuckians to decide the issue. If voters legalized casinos, Beshear said the expanded gambling would be limited and done responsibly.

He said Kentuckians are spending huge amounts at casinos in other states, and said that revenue collected from such gambling in Kentucky would improve education, health care and job creation.

"I think in the long haul, it will do great things for our state," Beshear said.

On environmental issues, Beshear told the crowd that if he's elected "you're going to have a governor who understands that global warming is a reality."

Beshear said he would push for more coal production "because it's a great natural resource we have." He said he would create a $60 million fund to promote research so "when we burn our coal, it will be burned cleaner."

Fletcher said he has a good environmental record as governor and that he wants to promote clean-coal technology. He cited the energy bill that passed during a special legislative session this summer. The bill allows the state to provide hundreds of millions of dollars in financial incentives to companies that build plants to convert coal to cleaner-burning alternative fuels.

"We need to do everything we can do to take care of the environment," Fletcher said.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You can read the article Mavdog and to some Ketuckians this is an issue. With Fletcher you get no casinos. It is not a right and wrong answer on casinos or what your faith is or what you believe in gay rights or abortion because you can ask 10 people and get 10 different answers. With Beshear, he will push for limited casinos like Il, Mo and In has that i know for a fact, it is taking big money out of Ky. I have no beliefs one way or another on casinos. The south went thru all this for years about a lottery. The bible belt. The facts are gambling is addicting, it brings money in from other states and it also ruins some people that have problems with it.

This governors race has more importance than dude knows and not just in a Democrat/Republican stand point. He keeps points by another Republican in or another Democrat out and as far as issues, i doubt he cares. He pretty much states it, as a dog catchers state and dog catchers job.

The bible belt is changing and for alot they do not like it and for another 50% they love it and are proud the south is moving on also.

[Mavdog]

Originally Posted by Janett_Reno

Let's go a bit farther on this subject. So gambling isn't an issue Mavdog?

is gambling on the ballot?

you said "Beshear say's He will legalize gambling and casino's in Ky."

well, can he "legalize gambling"?

that would be odd a most states don't give their governor the power to do that.

do you mean he will support a gambling bill should the legislature send it to him for signature?

seems that would be more typical, and in that case it is the legislature who is advocating gambling.

if the voters of the state do not want gambling it would seem they would elect representitves who reflect that desire.

so if they do not want gambling they would elect representitives who oppose gambling, and a gambling bill would never make it to the desk of the governor for signature.

or, if they want gambling, they'll elect people who will support gambling, and they would send the bill to the governor, and the governor by signing the bill s merely acting on the will of the people.

that's democracy in action...

[Janett_Reno]

http://www.wkyt.com/news/headlines/8484477.html

Beshear, a former attorney general and lieutenant governor, stressed his support for allowing Kentuckians to vote on a proposed constitutional amendment permitting limited casino gambling, saying it alone would raise the necessary revenue to move Kentucky forward. He projects that the proposal would generate more than $500 million a year in extra state tax revenue.

Proposals to put the issue of expanded gambling on Kentucky's ballot have made no headway in past General Assembly sessions.

Fletcher, a Republican running for a second term, adamantly said that such expanded gambling would not happen "on my watch." He called it a "false promise" that would create a host of social ills - including higher rates of crime, divorce and prostitution.

"We want that to stay in Vegas," Fletcher said. "What happens there, needs to stay in Vegas and not be in Kentucky."

Beshear dismissed Fletcher's claims of casino-generated social ills as "a bunch of baloney." The Democratic challenger said that communities in other states that offer casino gambling are thriving and the states have benefited from the revenue windfall.

"It can be limited, it can be run well," he said. "It is safe, and it's not going to create all of the bad things that the governor wants you to think it will create."

Fletcher also warned that other states that allowed the introduction of casino gambling have seen a proliferation of gambling in ensuing years.

Beshear countered that he wants to keep casino gambling limited to a combination of race tracks along with two to four freestanding locations near Kentucky's borders. Beshear said he would support a local option for communities if casino gambling is legalized.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fletcher said it won't happen on his watch. Is gambling and casinos a hot topic? You bet it is and just like gay rights and abortion is. Face the facts. Just those three issues can sway votes, if the candidate doesn't stand where they stand.


On the other hand Beshear stressed his support for allowing Kentuckians to vote on a proposed constitutional amendment permitting limited casino gambling.

Ms casinos are on the borders where people from Tx, LA, TN, Ms, Ky, Ga, Al, Ar, Mo and even Fl pour in. Peoples rice and cotton farm lands went from nothing much on that Ms River to very well off and wealthy selling those farms.

It is a casino 10 miles out of north western Ky, that the table games are very expensive as they want you hearded in and out and no matter what odds that casino gives and no matter how expensive it is to play, no matter than it is no free anything there, it is people packed inside that casino from daylight to dark and the majority of them are from the state of Ky. They could drive about 4 hours to MS and choose from 5 to 7 big casinos and where the liquor is free and the food is alot of times and the odds is so much greater than Il but 4 hours from 10 mins to an hour is a big difference. The same way with people in northern Ky going across the border in Ind.

Try to get people from TN and Ark to go to the dog track races in West Memphis when the casinos are not 45 mins away to gamble and better odds. I am not saying anykind of gambling is good but what i will say is this, the states are putting these on their next door neighbors state line is making big money from neighboring states. This is very important for a state that Tennesseans don't run up to KY and get their lottery ticket and their groceries and KY was the reason TN got a lottery. IL, Ms and Ind will be the reason Ky gets limited casinos and then will lead to limited casinos in Tn.

Now when a man says it won't happen on my watch, it sounds to me as if he will fight hard against them and then the other man is all for it. Each state of the United States is important and every job is from the pres, senator, congress, gov and even a dog catcher.

Ky is also a big state on the Pres race. It is a swing state with Hillary and Rudy running and Hillary a bit ahead now but with Fred running, TN, Ky and all the south will vote Fred. Tn is normally a red state in pres race and again Hillary is ahead of Rudy but Fred beats her bad. When it is a gov's election in Ky, usually and the % was up in the 90's are even more. It might have been 100% since maybe back in the 60's, what party wins Ky gov's race wins, the same party wins pres race.

This stat is a little unfair to me because Ky is a big time blue Democrat state when it comes to govs but not on pres. This is why dude want's Fred in and who cares where he stands on issues, it really doesn't matter to try to just beat Hillary but what he forgets and it has backfired, Fred is not a Ronald Reagan and won't ever be and he is running bad everywhere else(except south) across the country where Rudy runs good.

In the next election return on cnn, msnbc, fox and where you watch your election returns, you will hear about the great state of Ky and about this gov's race and the issues i am reporting on now. Trust me, it is and these two men are important, just like Mitch McConnel is important.

[Janett_Reno]

do you mean he will support a gambling bill should the legislature send it to him for signature?

Maybe i stated that wrong like he could do it alone over all the citizens and if i said that, i did not mean it that way. What i mean is when the bill comes to Beshear, it is a great chance that a casino will be parked as close on some body of water, as close to the TN line as it can get. Mo line. Ind line and up in east KY also bording another state. If you are highly against casino's then Fletcher will be your man to stop it.

Yes Beshear can help pass the bill for legalizing casinos in Ky.

Fletcher say's it won't happen on my watch.

[Janett_Reno]

Fletcher, Beshear Trade Barbs In Danville

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20779369/

Gov. Ernie Fletcher, speaking Friday in the central Kentucky town where the state constitution was drafted, harshly criticized his Democratic challenger for wanting to change the historic document to legalize casinos.

"He wants to make sure your kids are blackjack dealers and they can only count to 21," Fletcher said referring to Lexington lawyer Steve Beshear, the Democrat who is running against him for Kentucky's top job in state government. "He doesn't have a clue if he thinks casino gambling is going to build a future."

Beshear, who built his primary election campaign around his support for casinos, says taxes from legalized gambling could help fund education, health care, economic development and other initiatives. He said Kentuckians already spend huge amounts at casinos over the state line in Indiana and Illinois.

Opening the state to casinos would require amending the state's constitution, which can be done only if voters consent by approving a ballot referendum.

"People have a right to vote on that issue," Beshear said. "We want to give people a right to vote because we trust Kentuckians on that issue."

But Beshear said there was a different constitutional issue he wanted to raise - one involving the oath officeholders take swearing to uphold the law.

"It's time that the word 'illegal' no longer describes the actions of our governor," Beshear said.

The candidates spoke on a stage across the street from the Constitution Square State Historic Site where Kentucky's Constitution was drafted and signed in 1792.

Fletcher is framing the election as a referendum on casinos. He says Kentuckians who don't want casinos should vote for him, and that those who do should support Beshear, a former lieutenant governor and attorney general.

Campaigning across the state on a "No Casinos" tour, Fletcher says gambling would contribute to bankruptcies, divorce and crime. He said Kentuckians would have to lose $1.5 billion at casinos to generate the $500 million a year in additional state revenue that Beshear is predicting.

Fletcher had originally said he would not oppose efforts to put such a measure on the ballot, but abruptly changed his stance after the primary, citing his personal opposition to gambling. He says he'll fight any effort to change the constitution.

Fletcher, an ordained Baptist minister, was the fresh face voters wanted four years ago when he swept into the Kentucky governor's office on the promise that he would "clean up the mess in Frankfort."

Soon after taking office in 2003, a special grand jury began investigating a complaint that Fletcher's administration had violated state hiring laws in a scheme to reward political supporters with state jobs.

Fletcher and at least 14 of his aides and associates were indicted. Fletcher issued pardons for everyone except himself. His lawyers worked out a deal with prosecutors to have the charges against him dropped.

Now Fletcher is facing a stiff challenge from Beshear who has been hammering away at the Republican administration's hiring scandal. In one of his television ads, Beshear stands in front of the state Capitol, gestures toward the domed building, and promises "to finally clean this place up."

[Janett_Reno]

Beshear beats Fletcher to win race for Kentucky governor

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/...S0106/71106041

Democrat Steve Beshear, returning to Kentucky politics after more than a decade on the sidelines, won a landslide victory over Gov. Ernie Fletcher tonight.

Beshear defeated Fletcher, a Republican seeking to become the first member of his party to serve two terms as governor, by a margin of almost 20 percentage points.

Beshear’s win was a repudiation of Fletcher, who was seriously damaged by a scandal over hiring abuses in the state merit system.

Fletcher refused to testify before a grand jury, was indicted on three misdemeanor counts and pardoned those around him who had been charged.

Beshear, 63, who appeared to have abandoned politics to practice law after losing a 1996 race for the U.S. Senate, will become Kentucky’s 61st governor. The new lieutenant governor will be his running mate, state Sen. Dan Mongiardo of Hazard.

[FishForLunch]

It will be interesting to see how all the State department's change their leadership and watch them bring in their cronies. I am sure there will be another hiring scandal before this guys term is over.

[horse900703]

cant open ur website??????