Under the circumstances I thought everything was very well organized and my compliments to Madisonville Mayor Will Cox who served as Master of Ceremonies. Hopkins Co. Democratic Chair Brenda Glover welcomed the crowd and former State Senator Henry Lackey sang the National Anthem.
I will try to give few tidbits below and will down load my pictures later.
Governor & Mrs Beshear along with Rep. & Mrs. John Tilley arrived about 7pm.
Gov. Beshear gave a rousing speech regarding his support for West Kentucky issues especially the production of coal. Beshear stated that it was vital to Kentucky to take advantage of our greatest natural resource but added he wanted to do it in a manner that made Kentucky a leader in clean coal technology. The Governor's coal comments got the biggest applause of the evening. Rep. Jim Gooch appeared to be vindicated by the overwhelming support of smiles, winks, nods and hand shakes from supporters as the Governor was speaking.
The Governor's comments put a smile on the faces of area legislators who were in attendance. Those present were Eddie Ballard, John Tilley, Brent Yonts, Jim Gooch, Jerry Rhoads,Melvin Henley and Dorsey Ridley. Senator Joey Pendleton was in Frankfort working on the Budget.
Dale Emmons and Jonathan Hurst arrived and were running the Clinton show. Jerry Lundergan who is heading up the Clinton campaign in Kentucky introduced Sen. Clinton to the crowd. Emmons and Hurst invited legislators and certain folks back for a private meeting and pictures after she spoke. Soyars and myself were forced to wait it out since KACO President Elect Mike Foster was ushered back to meet Clinton by Dale Emmons. I guess our Obama buttons did us in. I'll survive.
As always it was nice to see and converse with State Revenue Commissioner Bill Cox.
The Christian Co. Democrat Women had a number of members in the crowd. Mary Helen Adams and Joan Lester to name a couple.
Murray-Calloway Co. brought a nice delegation. Led by County Chairman David Ramey. Z. Enix, Kathy Jo Stubblefield, Hal Kemp and many others made the trip. I got a great kick from hearing that a few folks in Calloway Co. refer to my site as the "Underground Chicken".
The Unions along with the West Kentucky Labor Council were there in full force. Jimmy Morphew, President Jeff Wiggins, and the Freelander's made quite a presence.
U.S. Senate candidates Michael Cassaro, Kenneth Stepp, and Greg Fischer spoke. Dale Emmons spoke on behalf of Bruce Lundsford.
Heather Ryan who is trying to unseat Ed Whitfield in the First Congressional District Spoke.
There did not seem to be much energy or excitement for the Democrat Candidates for U.S. Senate or Congress. I think the lack of organizing by the candidates would probably have something to do with that. I assume that Lundsford will come in late with Millions in TV. Lundsford is well known and has at least some organization in most West Ky. counties.
Ryan Alessi of the Lexington Herald Leader probably drew as much attention as any of the Pol's in attendance. At one point I looked over at him and he had people lined up 4 deep to talk to him.
I have been told that I made channel 14 out of Evansville's news. I did not see it but I'm sure I looked great. I was told that I was shown scratching my head as Clinton spoke and that would just about sum it up since I am for Obama. With the exception of only a few others, Bill Cox, John Soyars and myself were the only ones daring enough to wear our Obama buttons through out the evening.
I have to give Brenda Glover and the Hopkins Co. Democrat Committee a lot of credit for pulling this off in just a few days. While I don't know all the members of the committee I know that Wendy Ball, Marci Cox, Frankie Taylor, Tim Thomas and Pat Vincent can be proud of their efforts.
It is my understanding that Sen. Obama may be coming to the Gov. Edward T. "Ned" Breathitt Dinner in Hopkinsville. Rep. Tilley and Mike Foster are already talking to campaign officials.
If I did not spell a name correctly forgive me.
1 comment:
The Underground Chicken you say? I did not go to see Mrs. Clinton while she was here in Louisville. I have met her and her husband in their earlier appearances here. When the President was here, Jon Hurst made sure I got backstage to the private party for a meeting and a picture. Jon and Dale are good guys with a lot of history between them.
I had thought about coming down to the event - I like getting out in the state and meeting some "real Kentuckians" as my one friend calls anyone who isn't from Louisville. I know I've got email somewhere from Kathy Jo about an event later in the year, as well as one from Brad Bailey over in Glasgow for a Barren County event.
It's a long way to Denver. Apparently Kentucky is on the way.
JN
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