2007 Kentucky Governor’s Race – Awesome opportunity for us!!!

[TheEngineer]

2007 Kentucky Governor’s Race – Awesome opportunity for us!!!

A potentially outstanding opportunity may have just been dropped in our lap. The Kentucky gubernatorial election has essentially turned into a referendum on gambling, and the pro-gaming candidate is the heavy favorite. Additionally, the fact that it’s off year adds to the visibility of the election (and to the effort we and others can devote to it). And, we can leverage the results against Sen. McConnell [R-KY], who’s running in 2008.

Gov. Ernie Fletcher [R], the incumbent, has been under the cloud of scandal for the past eighteen months. He was indicted for rewarding political supporters with state jobs. Fletcher made a deal with the prosecutor’s office to get the charges dropped, then pardoned his entire administration. As a result, while he did win the primary, he’s way down in the polls.

Steve Beshear [D], the challenger, wants to pay for education reforms with casino profits. Many neighboring states, including Indiana, Illinois, and West Virginia, have casinos at which KY residents frequently play. Despite this, Fletcher has taken a hard line against casinos, saying they cause crime, divorce, and bankruptcy. “I don’t subscribe to Steve Beshear’s math and science program that teaches children only to count to 21,” Mr. Fletcher said. Basically, Fletcher has decided to run as a pure social conservative.

So, I think we have an awesome opportunity to demonstrate what we can do. It seems we can write letters of support to Beshear and can contribute, even if only token amounts, to his campaign. Then, we can send photocopies of the donations to Sen. Mitch McConnell with an explanation of our beliefs in our freedoms. Then, once Beshear wins, we can lobby McConnell, claiming that the people of Kentucky have spoken in favor of allowing people to choose to play cards.

One more benefit….I live in Kentucky, so I can keep a good eye on all this. Also, I can write and contribute without being seen as an outsider.

Here are some articles:

www.nytimes.com/2007/08/06/us/politics/06kentucky.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.d...7130382/-1/all
http://news.enquirer.com/assets/AB79143713.PDF (Fletcher’s PowerPoint)
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.d...7300362/-1/all
[ QUOTE ]
Gov. Ernie Fletcher honed his attack in the governor's race last week as he tried to portray Democrat Steve Beshear as out of step with Kentucky's social and religious conservatives.

[/ QUOTE ]
http://frontier.cincinnati.com/blogs...ave-prayer.asp

So, what do you all think of this?

[TheEngineer]

Latest poll:

Ernie Fletcher (R) - 36.7%
Steve Beshear (D) - 57.3%

www.wkyt.com/polls?pollID=8190272

[TheEngineer]

One more thing....a Beshear win will significantly weaken McConnell, as his party will be out of power in the state. It will harms his reelection chances for the same reason (Democrats will control the statehouse, and the associated political structure). McConnell has already been targeted by the Democratic National Committee as one of the four incumbent Republicans they identified to run early ads against.

[johnnycakes]

I'll definitely be voting. (see location)

[TheEngineer]

[ QUOTE ]
I'll definitely be voting. (see location)

[/ QUOTE ]

Sweet! See you at the polls.

This race is custom-made for our cause.

[Uglyowl]

Good luck guys, I will definitely contribute some as there is not much going on politically at the moment.

[TheEngineer]

Results: If the Kentucky governor's election were today, for whom would you vote?

Poll Results:
Ernie Fletcher (R) - 36.7%
Steve Beshear (D) - 57.3%
other (non-partisan candidates have until August to file) - 6.0%

www.wkyt.com/polls?pollID=8190272

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

Results: Do you support casino gambling in Kentucky?:

Yes - 52.8%
No - 43.5%
Undecided - 3.7%

www.wkyt.com/polls?pollID=9360371

[dlk9s]

[ QUOTE ]
Despite this, Fletcher has taken a hard line against casinos, saying they cause crime, divorce, and bankruptcy. “I don’t subscribe to Steve Beshear’s math and science program that teaches children only to count to 21,” Mr. Fletcher said.

[/ QUOTE ]

I would have so much fun responding to this in a debate.

[MikeSmith]

beshear has my vote

[TheEngineer]

My letter to McConnell. I scanned and printed my contribtion check to Beshear, in rich color (it looks real) but without my account number, and attached it to my letter to draw attention to the decision voters everywhere, Republicans included, are making.

This election represents the opening salvos of the 2008 race. If gambling wins in a somewhat Southern state, we'll see a decline in the influence of the nanny staters. This is our fight. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]



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

August 9, 2007

Senator Mitch McConnell
United States Senate
361-A Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator McConnell:

I am writing to share with you my displeasure in your endorsement of Gov. Fletcher. I am most disturbed by his attempts to take the focus off of his own issues by attempting to scapegoat poker and gaming. This pandering to what I call "big government social conservatives" who prefer a nanny state to free will and small government will significantly wound our party going into 2008. I strongly urge you to disavow this man and his nanny state vision for our great state.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,




[my name]


Attachments: My letter to Gov. Fletcher and a copy of my contribution to Steve Beshear