Hillbilly Report - 2010 Kentucky Senate Race

What is happening?

Acebass — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 04:20:11 GMT

Like most of you I'm sitting here with my jaw on the floor. How can someone like Rand Paul have a 15 point lead on Jack Conway? I'm numb. I don't care if you hate Jack Conways guts, how the hell does Rand Paul do this? What is wrong with Kentucky? Are the rest of the people in this state really that stupid? Is everything they say about Kentucky true? I'm at a loss for words.

For starters he thinks coal mines should set their own safety standards and minors are expendable, I mean accidents happen don't they? Mountains are just in the way of coal and coal is what it's all about.

There's no problem with drugs is there? I may be for legalizing cannabis but cannabis and oxycotin are two different things. Why would someone want to put that kind of a burdon on a county that doesn't have money now from all the tax cuts to the wealthy.

He doesn't think it's good business to foster racism and restrict services to selected races but he doesn't think we need laws to prohibit them from doing it either. After all they are all fine upstanding business people aren't they?

Rand Paul is a corporate shill. I don't care what you may think of Jack Conway but Rand Paul is the worst thing that could happen to this state. I would honestly rather see Bunning hold that seat as I would Rand Paul get it.

Who In The Hell Is Putting Jack Conway's Videos Together?

Hillbilly — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 21:41:04 GMT

When I watched the video below i was embarrassed by the audio quality. I hope Jack didn't pay someone to shoot and edit that piece of s**t. Hell Jack I've shot and edited better videos in my sleep.
Mr. Conway when I look at videos like the one below, I have to wonder if you're really serious.

Tyler Collins - Fancy Farm Apology

Hillbilly — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 21:00:00 GMT

I received the following from Tyler Collins today. His full letter is after the fold.

This past week I attended and took part in the 130th Annual Fancy Farm Picnic. For years it has been a bi-partisan event where partisanship was part of the fun. This year there were a few different people who dressed up and partook in political satire to make a political statement. The former mayor of Louisville dressed up as a Neanderthal and was called “NeanderPaul” and claimed Paul will take us back to the Stone Age. Additionally, there were two men dressed up as grim reapers who walked through the crowd holding signs that said, “Conway’s Death Tax” and a man in a dolphin suit who held up a sign that read Conway flips on “Cap and Trade”. Unfortunately, the dolphin does not end my summary of the Fancy Farm theatrical getups.
I did something that was stupid, not in the best of taste, and that I have regretted since the moment I left Fancy Farm, and for this act, I deeply apologize. I wore a tin foil hat “to keep the government out of my head”, sported a Rand Paul 2010 sign on my back, and had a sign with a Dora the Explorer piñata (a Hispanic cartoon character) that was duct taped to it that read, “They take our Jobs, Steal the American Dream, corrupt our children, Rand Paul 2010.” The purpose was to use satire to protest the lack of sympathy that I felt Hispanics were not given considering some of their situations. I respect all opinions and justified convictions that people who disagree with me may have.
I paraded around Fancy Farm as a Rand Paul supporter and sorry to say was taken seriously by some. While there are a few people who are motivated by race in whom or what they support, I do not believe that includes the majority of Rand Paul supporters. While I have criticized the TEA party movement in the past, I recognize them as Patriotic Americans who want to make a difference and bring about change that this country is in desperate need of, and my words have not been guarded as well as they should have been. For that I cannot express enough remorse. I have never tried to infiltrate a Tea Party event and I never will. Furthermore, I believe that infiltration is wrong—period , even if someone believes that the end justifies the means. There is no justification in trying to infringe on anyone’s 1st amendment right, and I believe Tea Party infiltration fits that bill.
I am not associated nor do I stay in contact with either the Rand Paul or Jack Conway campaigns. There is a huge difference in merely being a supporter of a candidate and being asked by that same campaign to parade around in a derogatory costume. I was not asked by anyone to act as I did. Those that truly know me understand that unfortunately I “did stupid” all by myself. I didn’t need any help. I would like to apologize for the disturbance and hurt feelings that I caused this last week and I have denied contact with the media because I have no desire to become “Joe the Plumber” of 2010.
When being interviewed by Channel 11 News, the reporter asked me a few questions in which I am addressing in this article. I reacted the way I did because I had never been interviewed before, and I was struggling with the spur of the moment decision to explain it as satire or stay in character. I wrongly chose staying in character. I have not released an apology sooner because I have tried to shield my family from any backlash, and I did not want a sensationalized media story. I further apologize to my family, Crittenden County and my readers for not holding myself to the standards that I have for myself. What I did was wrong and I will not try to justify it.
I have always tried to fight for people who do not have a voice and are afraid of being bombarded if their views might differ from someone else’s. For several reasons I have decided to stop writing for the Crittenden Press and put a temporary hold on any political involvement during this campaign cycle except for voting. I do encourage everyone to look at all of the issues in full and think long and hard before they cast their ballot this November.

Tyler Collins

Will Dr. Rand Paul Except Gold For Office Visit Payment?

Hillbilly — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 19:16:35 GMT

Click here to listen to the entire interview.

Rand Paul had to worry about having beer thrown on him at Fancy Farm

kilowat — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 15:11:12 GMT

Rand Paul has angered western Ky and St. Jerome church. I've attend for the last five years I have never known of any objects being thrown, here McConnell and the Paul's get out of the same SUV

West Kentucky Star even had a story on this! that from a rt leaning online new org
http://tinyurl.com/3x8hxs2

Paul told conservative radio personality Sean Hannity that he and other politicians who attended the picnic at St. Jerome Parish had to worry about having beer thrown on them.

Lexington Herald leader has more on the story

http://tinyurl.com/2umvsfq

My Message To Jack Conway

Hillbilly — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 02:53:56 GMT

I realize it's tough to run for the US Senate, especially when you have children and a spouse to consider. I know this because I've been married for 51 years and I understand most of the problems that come with marriage and child raising, however you choose this course and it's time you started acting like a Candidate for the US Senate.

Some folks in rural Kentucky seem to think you don't really care about their situation and they are serious about real change.

Let me introduce you to a few. Ed Marksberry, Jim Holbert and John Waltz. These men, all Democrats, have stood up and have spoken out about what's wrong with America, and you Mr. Conway have, in my opinion, ignored them. Maybe you feel you're above these men or maybe you feel these men are beneath you, but I'm here to tell you that these men are for real and they actually stand for something. For example: Ed Marksberry traveled to Evansville, Ind. to stand up for the workers, John Waltz stood up for Health Care reform on a street corner in Fort Thomas, Kentucky and Jim Holbert let the world know where he stood on Heath Care reform, on a street corner in Somerset, Kentucky.

Jack I know all the big-shot Democrats have endorsed you, but I haven't seen them on the streets with regular folks like me, Jim Holbert, Ed Marksberry or John Waltz.

Do you really believe that one good speech at Fancy Farm will win you a US Senate seat? Really Jack are you that naive?

What is it that you don't get Jack? Is it asking too much that you treat John Waltz, Ed Marksberry and Jim Holbert with a little respect?

Jack this race is yours to win or lose. I can deal with a loss if you fight the good fight, but if you continue down the the road you're traveling, then the results will lay on your shoulders and your shoulders alone

My Perspective Of Fancy Farm 2010 Photos And Videos

Hillbilly — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 08:07:18 GMT

Fancy Farm, Kentucky August 07, 2010.
This is the place to be if you're a political junkie like me, and I’m going to do my best to give you a flavor of the event. Please don't expect me to totally fair and balanced, but I will be honest.

Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul slipped in and out of the event faster than Senator David Vitter can change his diaper. Hell these two guys are slicker than K-Y Gel when it comes to slipping in and out of events and avoiding their constituents and now that Rand is in bed with Mitch they may need some of that Gel.

It didn’t seem to bother Rand Paul or Mitch McConnell to be sitting next to a Congressman, Ed Whitfield, that has accepted money from a known terrorist, and didn’t seem to bother Rand Paul to be sitting next to a Senator that loves to start wars, but finds a way to get out of serving.

Senator Mitch McConnell seems to know everything when he's on the protected environment of the Senate floor or on fox News, but when it comes to singing "My Old Kentucky Home" (see the video clip below) here in Kentucky he don"t know the words and then he has the gall to say "now whenever I'm in Washington I'm proud to remind people I'm from Kentucky." Really Mitch, Hell even kids at your High School alma mater know the words to "My Old Kentucky Home." Give me a break.

I got the feeling Rand Paul thought he was running against Nancy Pelosi rather than Jack Conway (see the video clip below). Who knows maybe Rand Paul thought he was in California or maybe he thought he was in North Carolina, where his tour bus is licensed.

Jack Conway told it like it is. As many of you know I've been critical of Jack, but yesterday I saw a little bit of the the Jack Conway I've been looking for. (see the video clip below)

Ed Marksberry, Democratic candidate for Kentucky's 2nd Congressional District had a booth and was using his carpenter skills to make a point about the budget (see the video clip below).

I was critical of the Democrats in 2008 and 2009 for their lackadaisical participation, but this year was much better. Not yet good enough to suit me but progress is progress. Kudos to the Kentucky Democrats and the Conway gang.

We got tons of photos of the event. Mike Watt a Progressive Activist out of Western shot some great photos, click here to view his photos. I managed to get a few photos too, click here to view them. If you find a photo you want or like feel free to download them for personal use.

Dick Durbins Survey

Acebass — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 23:21:28 GMT

Dick Durbin started this survey a few years ago and it will put money in our candidate's campaign if he wins. He's in third place now lets see if we can put him over the top.

Please copy this web address and pass it around.

http://ga3.org/dickdurbin/survey2010.html

Is this the man we want representing us?

Acebass — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 20:23:10 GMT

No one will work at an unsafe mine. Are you Nuts? Well let me restate that. We know your nuts but if you keep your mouth shut no one else will.

This slays me and should show every Kentuckian going to the polls this November. Rand Paul is so out of touch with Kentuckians, where did this guy come from? Mars?

People this man is corporate owned and operated. My God people wise up!

Paul claims mine safety regulations are unnecessary because ‘no one will apply’ for jobs at dangerous mines.

In April, two miners were killed at the Dotiki Mine in Western Kentucky after the mine’s roof collapsed. The non-union mine had been cited for 840 safety violations by federal inspectors since 2009, and the Kentucky Office of Mine Safety and Licensing issued 31 orders to close sections of the mine or to shut down equipment during the same period. But when asked about the incident, Kentucky’s Republican Senate candidate, Rand Paul, said “maybe sometimes accidents happen.” And as it turns out, Paul doesn’t believe that the federal government has any responsibility at all to set safety standards to protect mine workers:

“The bottom line is: I’m not an expert, so don’t give me the power in Washington to be making rules,” Paul said at a recent campaign stop in response to questions about April’s deadly mining explosion in West Virginia…“You live here, and you have to work in the mines. You’d try to make good rules to protect your people here. If you don’t, I’m thinking that no one will apply for those jobs.”

Time for Unity in Kentucky U.S. Senate Race

Hillbilly — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 18:42:49 GMT

Berry Craig

Berry Craig is a professor of history at the West Kentucky Community and Technical College in Paducah, a member of AFT Local 6010 and the author of "True Tales of Old-Time Kentucky Politics: Bombast, Bourbon & Burgoo" and "Hidden History of Kentucky in the Civil War."

by Berry Craig, Jul 15, 2010
Kentucky Lt. Gov. Dan Mongiardo (D) didn’t quite pull a “Happy” Chandler when he told the Lexington Herald-Leader he is “not taking a position” in the U.S. Senate race between fellow Democrat Jack Conway and Tea Party-backed Republican Rand Paul.

Albert B. “Happy” Chandler, a former U.S. senator and two-time Bluegrass State governor, lost the 1967 Democratic gubernatorial primary to Henry Ward. Happy was so miffed that he supported Republican Louie B. Nunn in the general election. Nunn won.

In May, Mongiardo lost a close primary battle to Conway, the state attorney general. Both have good labor records. So before the primary, the Kentucky State AFL-CIO didn’t endorse either candidate, leaving individual unions to support whomever they pleased.

The state AFL-CIO this month unanimously endorsed Conway for the general election. Meanwhile, Mongiardo’s decision not to back Conway is sad news to more than a few union members, including some who voted for him. Says United Steelworkers (USW) member Jeff Wiggins, president of the Paducah-based Western Kentucky Area Council:

I am very disappointed that he would take that stance when we have a chance to elect a senator who will support labor.

Wiggins, who is also on the state Kentucky AFL-CIO Executive Board, voted for Mongiardo.

Union members in Kentucky know what’s at stake now. We must unite behind Conway. Paul despises unions.

Paul was pleased to get a $2,500 contribution from the National Right to Work Committee. He fiercely opposes the Employee Free Choice Act, too. He bashes “big labor.”

Polls show a close race and Wiggins worries that Mongiardo’s neutrality, if it continues, could tilt the election to Paul. “I hope Mongiardo will change his mind and step up to the plate for Conway.”

Trey Grayson, the guy Paul pummeled in the GOP primary, has gone to bat for the victor, at least for public consumption. Grayson, Kentucky’s secretary of state was also the favorite of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

No sooner did Paul win than he, Grayson and McConnell joined hands and sang Kumbaya at a Republican “unity rally.” Looking at the united trio, Wiggins warns fellow union members, “None of them are our friends, that’s for sure.”

Wiggins says Mongiardo should take a lesson from the GOP’s post primary unity and the Paducah labor council’s solidarity following the May vote. Before the primary, the council voted better than three-to-one to recommend Mongiardo’s endorsement to the state AFL-CIO. After the primary, the council voted unanimously to recommend Conway’s endorsement.

We don’t always agree on things that come up in the council. Sometimes we fuss. But then we take a vote, the majority rules and we go out the door united. That’s what’s got to happen in the Senate race. Jack Conway won, but Dan Mongiardo is our friend, too. I urge him to stand with his many labor friends behind Conway.

Jack Conway And Rand Paul Respond To Each Other In Louisville CN2 Politics Videos

Hillbilly — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 20:42:02 GMT

Videos courtesy of CN2 Politics.

Rand Paul Wages Have To Fall - Tough Love You Have To Accept

Hillbilly — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 18:42:41 GMT

This video was put together with video footage captured by the folks over at Liberal In Kentucky, and put together by Hillbilly Report, enjoy.

Hey Mitch McConnell Who's The Boss Now? Rand Paul Maybe?

Hillbilly — Tue, 25 May 2010 08:06:13 GMT

Watch ol' Mitch Squrim while Rand Paul speaks. Poor Mitch McConnell! Looks like Mitch is playing second fiddle here in Kentucky.

Rand Paul Raking In The Money

Hillbilly — Thu, 20 May 2010 05:47:45 GMT

If Democrats are serious about winning in November then go over to Jack Conways's site and chip in a little dough, because Rand Paul will have more money than Mitch McConnell and Jack Conway before this is over with. It's time for all those that endorsed Jack Conway to get off their A** and start raising money.

Email From Connie Morris

Hillbilly — Thu, 20 May 2010 04:15:13 GMT

From what I can see, Conway is part of the Democratic Party establishment and as such cannot and will not do anything that isn't approved by the party leaders. And make no mistake, the Democratic party leaders are part of the problem just as the Republican party leaders are. I want a candidate who is willing to stand up to them. That's why I voted for Darlene Price. How can anybody who takes corporate/PAC donations stand up to anybody???? Darlene didn't take corporate money with those invisible strings attached.
As far as not taking a stand on anything I'd like to offer the following quote from the Bible. King James Bible – Rev 3:16. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. I'm not afraid of Rand Paul for what he says, at least I know where he stands. No matter what Conway says, and that's not much from reading his web site issues, he will do the bidding of the party leaders. He's bought & paid for. Hopefully, he really thinks that's the only way there is. Worse case scenario, he knows and he's going for the brass ring.

We must wake up and start using the power of our vote. No matter who takes how much money from deep pocket special interests, it's our votes that elect. We must remember that when we see those useless TV ads. Those candidates accepted lots of money from people who expect something in return. What people and what do you think they'll want in return are the questions. Follow the money.

And we must remember that this corrupt system of political funding is facilitated by a media that benefits financially. That's why they focus their coverage on the candidates who buy ads. I was irate at the lack of coverage given to the candidates like Darlene Price. The KET forum moderator was down right rude when he spent too much time questioning Conway and Mongiardo on their TV ads and ignored Darlene Price and the other two candidates. It was embarrassing and such a disservice to the voters. Most mainstream media articles just give a cursory mention of lesser known candidates. Journalism is all but dead as far as mainstream media goes.

This is a catch 22 situation. The remarks by media pundits that such and such a candidate doesn't have a chance to win (usually based on how much money they have raised) becomes a self fulfilling prophecy when the media ignores all but the candidates who purchase air time. The media pundits are arrogant when discussing the candidates as if they are privy to insider information that of course can't be shared with the masses. Just trust them to give you all the information you need to make an informed decision. How un American. That's not journalism.

Concerning our Presidential elections, here we find corrupt politics taken to new heights. The take over (yes, take over) by the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) of the Presidential Debates which was created by leaders of both parties does a disservice to the American people and helps keep us mired in the politics of dysfunction. This was and is an outright effort to exclude anyone but the two major party candidates. When the League of Women Voters would not agree to their demands to be allowed to provide the questions for their candidates and stepped away from the debates, America entered a dark period in our history of being conned by both parties. Both parties wanted to make sure that there was no chance of another Ross Perot upsetting the game.

Both parties fight to block ballot access whenever possible which means independent and third party candidates must often raise funds to pay legal fees to remedy the situation. We are talking about candidates who could theoretically win the election but are being marginalized by the major parties and media. The CPD who is of course biased has arbitrarily set the bar for qualifying to be in the debates at getting 15% in the polls or better. And just how is that supposed to happen with the major party candidates spending lots of money on TV ads and the media giving little or no coverage to third party candidates. The flawed argument that candidates must raise money to have a chance to be elected keeps us mired in a catch 22 situation of only having the two major parties participate in the Presidential Debates and getting elected. Remember, once candidates accept the corporate/PAC donations to buy TV ads and pay expenses, they too become part of the problem. NEWS FLASH. As long as we allow this scam, neither party has to listen to the voters or change anything. They only have to say they're going to change things. They have no real competition!!! They don't have to change as long as we buy into the scam. There will be no meaningful campaign election reform until we vote enough honest people into office. We have not been using the leverage of our votes to our advantage.

Attached is a pamphlet I created to share with my friends and family in preparation for the primary election. If you see some truth in my words, please help break this dysfunctional system and educate people to the power of their vote. Otherwise, there's no way out.

As G. Edward Griffon, author of The Creature from Jekyll Island, A second Look at The Federal Reserve says, think of this current state of politics like a tennis game. Sometimes one player wins (D) and sometimes the other player wins (R), but the ball (the voters) never wins.
Thanks for listening and thanks for your reporting, your web site and the front page email service. No matter how busy I am, I always try to read your headlines and the stories that are of particular interest to me.
Connie Morris

Rachel Maddow Interviews Rand Paul

Hillbilly — Thu, 20 May 2010 03:47:30 GMT

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Conway Campaign Denies Robo Call Mongiardo Plans To File Federal Election Commission Complaint

Hillbilly — Sun, 16 May 2010 00:28:24 GMT

Yesterday, Friday May 14, 2010, several people told me they had received robo calls from what they thought was the Jack Conway campaign. However the Conway campaign is saying it's not from them.

Ryan Alessi cn|2
Allison Haley, spokeswoman for Conway, said the Conway campaign wasn’t aware of the call until alerted by reporters.
“I can categorically deny that that’s ours,” she said. “It’s not a claim we’re even making.”
Kim Geveden said the Mongiardo campaign plans to file a complaint about the call to the Federal Election Commission and will include the campaign of Jack Conway, Mongiardo’s chief rival in the Democratic primary, in the complaint.

The Robo Call Audio is below:

Mitch McConnell Will Be At An Undisclosed Location And Rand Paul Will Be In The Winners Circle

Hillbilly — Fri, 14 May 2010 06:54:31 GMT

Senate Minority leader, Mitch McConnell will not be in Kentucky to congratulate the winner of the Kentucky Republican Senate Primary. Poor Mitch election night and no where to go. No, Mitch McConnell, hand picked candidate in the winners circle and poor Mitch will have to drink Rand Paul's tea at the Kentucky GOP "unity" event Saturday, May 22.
I've always hoped that a Democrat would put "Bankster" Mitch McConnell in his place, but my hopes were never realized. So in this case Rand Paul the enemy of my enemy is my friend, but not enough of a friend to get my vote in the general election. That being said, it sure is nice to see Mitch McConnell put in his place. Kudos to Rand Paul!

SurveyUSA Poll: Jack Conway and Daniel Mongiardo Statistically Tied - Rand Paul Ahead By 16

Hillbilly — Thu, 13 May 2010 17:19:06 GMT

Bluegrass Politics
A new SurveyUSA poll conducted for The Courier-Journal of Louisville and WHAS-TV in Louisville shows Democrats Jack Conway and Daniel Mongiardo in a statistical tie in Kentucky’s U.S. Senate primary.

Wendell Ford Endorses Jack Conway

Hillbilly — Mon, 10 May 2010 20:00:47 GMT

From the Conway Campaign:
This is huge. Former U.S. Senator Wendell Ford has endorsed our campaign.
Senator Ford was my inspiration for entering public service and receiving his endorsement is incredibly humbling. With less than 10 days until Primary Election Day, you and I have the power to return this senate seat to the people for whom Wendell Ford fought.
My good friends Crit Luallen, Greg Stumbo, and Ben Chandler joined Senator Ford in their enthusiastic endorsement of the work that we're doing together on the campaign trail by appearing in an influential television ad. We need to raise another $10,000 to keep this critical message up on the air. By making an immediate donation, you have the power to get this ad up on the air and into the homes of undecided voters.
Click here to watch the ad and make a donation so we can keep this ad on the air.
Thank you so much for your support in these eight days before Primary Election Day.
Sincerely,
Jack Conway