Politics

To quote Donne: Never ask for whom the bell tolls, It tolls for thee. The South Carolina primary will likely be the end of Jeb Bush’s run for the Whitehouse. I’m on the record decrying the idea that we’ll have yet another member of either the Clinton or Bush family lead our nation. Still, I’m struck by what this means, not only for Jeb and his personal legacy, but also for the Party and our nation as a whole. The saddest part of the slow-motion denouement of Jeb Bush’s campaign: This is not who Jeb is. ...

So, working late(-ish) last night, I drove home listening to the dulcet tones of Governor Steve Beshear delivering his annual State of the Commonwealth speech. I’ve long held Beshear to be a dichotomy: He’s a moderate, reasonable with genuine communication and leadership ability who has a folksy, drawling twang that drives me bonkers. Though he sounds like a character from Hee-Haw, he’s been genuinely good for the state, surmounting two scandalous previous administrations and noted egomaniac Senate President David Williams. Beshear has both the common touch of a well-meaning Grandfather, and the business administration sense of a decent CEO. ...

In a phrase: It obviates your need to think. It encourages you to simply react. I’m reading this great book by Andy Hunt called, Pragmatic Thinking and Learning. A key thesis in Chapter 5 is “Think, Don’t React”. Reaction is emotional, and involves the fear-based lower brainstem, engaging in stuff like “Fight or Flight,” Territorialism, Hissing at problems. If you’ve read my blog from years past, I’ve done plenty of hissing at a problem. ...

I live in a dysfunctional state. Actually scratch that…I live in a dysfunctional Commonwealth. Looking at this logically: We have 4.3 million people We rank 22nd in population density We have a state sales tax of 6%, except on foodstuffs. We have a state income tax of 6%, basically for everybody. We pay property tax assessed on cars, yearly. We pay property tax on LEASED CARS. Think about that for a minute. Lots of our local municipalities levee income taxes as well Yeah, so of course we’re flat broke. Comically so, like your friend who’s lived off credit cards for the last 10 years, then can’t convince Citibank to up his limit. ...

Sorry. KACO financial abuses was discovered by Le… Dash - Jan 2, 2010 Sorry. KACO financial abuses was discovered by Lexington Herald–not State auditor, as was the Lexington Airport financial abuse and League of cities abuse. C.J. State Salares: Agency is U of Lou 2616 employees High of $912,288-to low of $351,487 agency is U of KY 4469 employees high of $804,726-Low of $412,500 Agency: Ky Community College 1498 employees from High of $212,484-to low of $145,714 Agency: KY JUDICIAL SYSTEM: 545 employees from high of $139,164-to low of $128,760 Agency: Legislative Research Comm 196 employees from high of $132,840-to low of $99,744 Agency: LOTTO 62 employees from high of $220,200to low of $99,100 Agency:KY HOUSING CORP 95 employees from high of $137,957 to low of $76,500 STATE 5269 $222,718-50,000 EXECUTIVE BRANCH ADMINISTRATION ASSISTANTS 86 EMPLOYEES from high of $100,000 to low of $55,650 ...

Someone gunned-down George Tiller in cold blood in his church Sunday. That he happened to be an abortion clinic doctor is immaterial. Vigilante justice, retribution, and demagoguery are not roads we need go down in this country–it’s been done before.

i don’t get ur reference to Marat….esp since tha… Whitney - Jun 2, 2009 i don’t get ur reference to Marat….esp since that wasn’t “in this country” (see entry)…….. ??? It’s a stretch, I admit. We haven’t been there in this country, but France has, and it’s a bitter lesson. That’s the parallel I was trying to draw. ...

Ah, Revolution. Romantic thought, isn’t it? Taking an untenable social and political situation and hitting the big ‘Reset’ button on the old Nintendo. Start fresh. Start clean. Do it RIGHT this time. Certainly, it worked for our Founding Fathers. You see, I’ve been hearing the ‘R’ word bandied about quite a bit in the last few weeks. Casually, as if people were trying it on for size, or as a rhetorical caper: “Do __________, and you’ll have revolution in the streets, Mr. Chairman!” ...

Oligarchy This country is an oligarchy–a country ruled by a narrow, incestuous, elite class bent on maintaining their tenuous grip on power. Where once we had a broad spectrum of representative government and limited federal powers, we now have an all-encompassing federal government, controlled by two parties that look suspiciously like one another. Where’s the healthy disagreement? Where are the extremist whackos (Libertarians, Greenies, Communists, Socialists, and…heck…Whigs) that are the hallmark of a functioning democracy? They don’t exist in this country. What we have instead are two centrist parties bent on maintaining the status quo, keeping the constituents fat, dumb, and happy. ...

When do we “call in fed up” or start the march, du… Jeff Roberts - Feb 1, 2009 When do we “call in fed up” or start the march, dude? I’m ready.

Wanted to snapshot this so I remember it when Maria’s 30, has kids of her own, and they keep her up all night. So, Whitney and I watched Mr. Holland’s Opus, then tuned-in the election coverage at 10:20 pm to get some returns (at the time Obama only had 200+ of the 270 needed). Maria was a bit fussy, but fell back to sleep around the same time. Then, the fun began. ...

Two decent things came out of last night: 1. McConnell’s still our Senator. Yay, Kentucky! 2. There’s not a Democrat supermajority in the Senate. At least there’s a *little* checks-and-balances remaining :-) * * * Congrats to John McCain on a solid campaign.

And I figure if things go well, so be it. But if … Jeff Roberts - Nov 3, 2008 And I figure if things go well, so be it. But if we’re worse off in 4 years it’s all on the Dems. Meanwhile, shame on us if we don’t find a coherent voice in the next 2 and 4 years. And although I have concerns about the endgame, if they get us out of Iraq, that will be a non-issue for 2012. ...

Well, today’s the day. Either way it goes, we make history–the first African-American president, or the first female vice-president. Whitney got up and voted a little after 6, and faced a long line at our polling station. I went a little after 7; while there were lots of folks, I was done in 10 minutes. Everyone was chatty and “up”–we know this is a big deal today. I guess that ever-present barrage of advertising (particularly in the vitriolic McConnell/Lunsford Senate race) is good for something! ...

link After the committee meeting broke up, several expressed doubt that a compromise could be reached this session. Stumbo, for instance, said the horse industry may have asked for too much and doomed any casino proposal. “What you saw today was an industry that cut off its nose to spite its face,” Stumbo said. “I think the bill’s probably dead.” w0000000000000000000t! Maybe this isn’t a fait accompli, afterall!

Looks like we’re down to Obama -v- Clinton, McCain -v- Romney. There are other players, but it’s apparent that Huckabee can’t play on the coasts, and Super Tuesday should seal that. Probably the best phenomenon of this primary season hasn’t been the campaigns or races themselves, it’s been the “race to decide” among the media. I used to identify this as a Fox News only phenomenon (NEWS DAMNIT!), but it seems to spread to others. Thing is, the networks seek certainty–Who’s the front runner? Who is soon to be out? ...

Spoke with Mom this morning…she’s resting at home, and letting Dad and my Aunt Norie take care of her, which makes me smile. She’s taken care of so many people her whole life…thanks to everyone who’s written-in and keep up those prayers. I heard from Stu and Cathy that churches throughout the Louisville area are praying for Mom – neighbors of theirs and their prayer groups. She goes in Friday for the lowdown on where things are and what the next steps are. ...

Wow, if I just throw sex in there, we’ll have all three taboo topics in one, n’est-ce pas? Response to my post yesterday has been overwhelming (well, for me. I’m no Dawn). I think my wife put it best: “Jesus wouldn’t have been [Republican or Democrat]. He was a-political.” Let me say this right up front–Christianity is tremendous. To me, it is Truth personified, the Creator of the universe reaching out to us as lovingly as He can, trying to reconcile the ultimate divide (sin) between Himself and us. ...

I was trying to find a way to word something simil… Jeff Roberts - Oct 2, 2007 I was trying to find a way to word something similar yesterday. Jesus did indeed stand apart from the government - one of the reasons the Jews rejected him was they were looking for a king and that’s not why he came. He didn’t downplay the fact that there were commandments, rules, laws and consequences, and he didn’t say that right and wrong are in the eye of the beholder, or changing at the whim of the culture. ...

Article Pending a recount, looks like Varney is out and Tingle-Sames is in. Also, our guy Marvin Thompson is back in for city council. I would like them to change to a district-based council structure…voting for 8 folks in the at-large is too hard!