The Warning: A Must See PBS Documentary

I will have to admit that I'm behind the curve regarding having seen this documentary. Much to my surprise I can't find anybody who has seen it. This appeared in October of 2009 and I caught it a few days ago. Regardless of one's political stripes this is a must see. This is a jaw-dropping documentary that quite frankly may scare you when you see that the same folks are in charge of our financial markets today.

The story is about how one woman, Brooksley Born, who tried to warn Congress and the American people of a financial situation and practices that could possibly cripple our financial institutions. Born, who was Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, tried to regulate what is known as over the counter derivatives. This has to do with things that derive their value from something else like currency or bond rates.

Our financial guru's at the time and at present, Alan Greenspan, Robert Rubin, Arthur Levitt, and Larry Summers set out to stop her and they did. Born's credibility was attacked from every sector from Congress to Wall Street. This documentary offers up her testimony before Congress as well as interviews with all those who now admit she was right and they were wrong. I find it a little frightening that the Lieutenants of Greenspan and Rubin( Summers & Geitner) are now running things in Washington. I was amazed at watching Greenspan admit that everything he spent a lifetime believing about financial markets was wrong. These men freely admit in this segment that they did not like or respect this woman sticking her nose into areas that were reserved for them.

This is worth dedicating an hour to watch if you want to have a better and inside look at how and who put the Nation into this financial mess.

The program is a Frontline Documentary on PBS entitled "The Warning".

www.pbs.org

Kentucky Senate Race: Mongiardo Has Big Week

Dan Mongiardo took a big step this week towards winning the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Kentucky.





It was almost 10pm eastern time when I picked up the phone and found Lt. Governor Dan Mongiardo on the other end. I figured that I would keep it short considering the time and knowing the brutality of a day in Kentucky politics. I just knew the Lt. Governor would be tired and at best I was receiving a short courtesy call.





Well-I was wrong. I suddenly felt that I was at Fancy Farm standing in front of the podium listening to Dan Mongiardo speak. Was the Lt. Governor fired up!, that would be an understatement. Not only was he excited, but he was obviously mad and frustrated. I asked about the present mood of the voters regarding the national debt and Mongiardo replied," I've been to every county, people are upset, Washington works great for Wall Street. The majority in the Senate is not Democrats or Republicans, it's lawyers."

Mongiardo Has 18 Point Lead Over Conway
Receives Louisville Area Labor Council Endorsement
Jefferson County Leaders Announce Support

We covered many issues in our conversation from regional issues to those that concern all of Kentucky. Dan discussed in length about how our national debt and dependence on foreign oil have become issues of national security. Mongiardo has been a long time champion of creating jobs through the harvesting of Kentucky's natural resources- Agriculture & Coal. Committed to an energy policy that utilizes every possible source of energy to decrease foreign dependence, Mongiardo stated that the U.S. should invest in clean coal technology in a manner that creates jobs from coal and not reduce them.

We talked about what is a good use of taxpayers dollars and the Lt. Governor was adamant about government wasting money when we should be investing in infrastructure. "locks and dams, roads, high-speed rails, this is where we should be investing," said Mongiardo. "If we help create more jobs then this will mean more revenue."

I wanted to hear more about the mood of the voters and kept pressing the issue with the Lt. Governor. Mongiardo said he wanted to be clear on this issue and reemphasized that voters all across Kentucky were not only angry but very concerned about the direction Congress was taking regarding fiscal responsibility. Mongiardo said, "Tim, when I was growing up we had to have a litmus test for spending because we did not have any money to waste. It's a simple test, do we need it, do we have to have it, can we do without it."

We also talked about the military and our veterans. With Fort Knox and Fort Campbell being in Kentucky and growing everyday, I asked Lt. Governor Mongiardo how the military and veterans issues stacked up against other issues. Mongiardo replied, "National security is the most important issue." Regarding our veterans Mongiardo spoke of his experience as a medical doctor serving our veterans at the Lexington VA Hospital. "We have to take care of them when they come home, it is our responsibility to make this county a better place while they are fighting for us and I don't see that happening."

The health care debate is a hot topic and we discussed the issue. It was clear that Dr. Daniel Mongiardo believed that the issue has to be addressed in Washington and that any solutions would have to lower cost for people.

A good interview and a good week for Kentucky's Lt. Governor, Dr. Daniel Mongiardo. He topped off his week with the announcement that many prominent leaders in Jefferson County had given their support to him as opposed to Jefferson County resident Jack Conway. While many times these announcement's don't mean much I believe this announcement cut the Conway Campaign to the bone. I have listed some these folks below.

Larry Clark-Kentucky House Speaker Pro-Tem

(All Democrat State Senators in Jefferson County)

Sen. Denis Harper Angel, Sen. Perry Clark, Sen. Gerald Neal & Sen. Tim Shaughnessy.

Rep. Tom Burch- Chairman of the House Health & Welfare Committee

Sherry Conner-Mayor of Shively

David Karem-Former Senate Majority Leader

4- Metro Council Members, not to mention 4 former Chairman of the Jefferson County Democratic Party.

And a whole list more of local civic and labor leaders.

I appreciate the Lt. Governor spending some time with me on the phone and only wish I had the energy he did. As a former football coach I'm convinced that Mongiardo does not waste countless hours looking at himself in the mirror and combing his hair.I've said many times that winning the nomination for U.S. Senate would require bridging the gap between Urban Kentucky and Rural Kentucky and I think Dr. Daniel Mongiardo has successfully accomplished that this week in a big way. Dr. Daniel Mongiardo has proven that he is willing to work like a dog for all Kentucky. If Kentucky Democrats want to have success in the field come November, I believe it may be time to take the leash off- because this dog can hunt.

Sen. Pendleton Cleared After Long Witch Hunt

The Attorney Generals Office cleared State Senator Joey Pendleton of any wrong doing from a partisan complaint that was filed years ago. Pendleton, who served many years as the Farm Manager at Murray State University had been accused of- what I'm not real sure but something about being paid as an MSU employee while serving in the Legislature.

Murray State University President Randy Dunn cut the position and the Agriculture budget when he became President. Dunn came to Kentucky after his exodus from Illinois as a political lieutenant to indicted former Governor Blagojevich.

I'm glad this matter has come to a close and I know Senator Pendleton is also glad to put this lame issue to rest. Many a political opportunist have hung this issue over Senator Pendleton's head using the issue at hand as a tool for political blackmail. In the end if your going to throw skubala at a State Senator of 17 years you better hope it sticks, because I would imagine the good Senator being a farmer probably has a field or two of it to throw back.

Rep. Tilley Files for Third Term

It seems like yesterday that we were sitting up to all hours of the early morning in my den working on issues, ads and strategy. Not much sleep to be had in the Fall of 2006 between handling the issues and media for Tilley, Madisonville Mayor Will Cox, & Rep. Carl Rollins. I'm starting to look back on that fondly as the years go by. At the time it could be aggravating staying up late while Rep. Tilley sat in my floor working endlessly for hours at a time to maybe change one word, in one sentence, in one paragraph. Tilley, the son of an English major, has an OCD streak in him when it comes to details. Some nights his wife Shelly would be forced to just fall asleep in one of my chairs. There were times I just went to bed and left Tilley and his campaign manager John Lindsey Adams with his one word to fix.

Today, four years later, Rep. John Tilley has filed for another term. Many things have changed since then. Rep. Tilley is now Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. Carl Rollins is Chairman of the House Education Committee, & Will Cox will be seeking his second term as Mayor of Madisonville.

The last couple of years have gone by quickly. John & Shelly were married before the Fall Campaign began and now have a new baby. John has work tirelessy on many issues that don't make headlines as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. He has managed well in representing his constituents in a very diverse district. House District 8 includes the City of Hopkinsville and part of Trigg County.

I am proud to say that the passage of the Military Income Tax Exemption will go down as one of John Tilley's greatest accomplishments. I often tell Rep. Tilley that one day we will look back and see just how important this legislation was to our area. Many have pushed the Exemption and deserve a piece of the credit but Tilley made it a center piece of his agenda from day one.

Why will John Tilley go unopposed in the Primary and General Election? because he respects the beliefs of his constituency even though he might not always agree. Tilley understands that you run at home not in Frankfort. District 8 is a tough district. The South West end of Hopkinsville along with the Trigg County portion is very Conservative. Inner City Hopkinsville has one of the largest African-American populations in Kentucky per capita. The district comprises a large number of military families and veterans.

Rep. Tilley understands that he can't always balance the geography & ideology with his votes but he can and does try to find issues to champion, that unite the District instead of dividing it. Focusing on issues like education, protecting our children, health care and our military & veterans is the reason why Rep. Tilley will be returned to Frankfort without opposition.

Conway Embraces Conservatism in West Kentucky

I don't think a candidate should be criticized for changing their mind on an issue every once in a while but for Jack Conway to come to Western Kentucky and claim to be the Conservative candidate well that is a stretch for me. The good folks at West Kentucky Journal of Politics & Issues reported that Conway was campaigning as the Conservative choice. You can read their full report at www.westkypolitics.org

I gave credit to Conway's campaign in 2007 for doing a much better job with their media in the General Election. If you remember Jack slapped on some boots and boarded a tractor to lessen the Liberal Louisville image. Remember "Jack's Got Your Back"--It worked!

In the past year Lt. Governor Dan Mongiardo has worked Western Kentucky as hard any candidate since maybe Grady Stumbo or Wallace Wilkerson. It would be hard for anyone to claim that Mongiardo does not line up well with most Rural Kentuckians on most issues. I'm glad to see that Conway is coming to the middle on issues but in all fairness you can't blame the Mongiardo Campaign for taking him to task on his quick exodus from the left after the upset in Massachusetts. Mongiardo's Campaign called his conversion "An Extreme Make Over" in a press release this week.

Now is Rand Paul just smarter than everyone else-capitalizing on a message & platforms that ended up being dead on? I don't know but but he gets an "A" for timing anyway. The interesting thing about the Kentucky Senate race for the Democrats is that you have to be able to win a Primary without losing the General Election in the process. This is not an easy thing to do because unless you have your own millions to spend then Democrats are forced to raise money like a Liberal and run like a Conservative. It sounds like hypocrisy but as a Southerner, hypocrisy is probably our finest trait with the exception of our hospitable demeanor.

Again, I'm glad that Conway is getting right with God & West Kentucky as they say, but Jack could be going down a dangerous road if his shift ends up being disingenuous. Kentucky is a diverse place with contrasting political opinions. People in the Golden Triangle support certain issues as vehemently as we do certain issues in Western Kentucky. So who is right then? I don't know but I will assure you that God and myself will figure that out one day and we will let you know.

Mongiardo has every right to call into question Conway's shift and the media has a responsibility to inform the voters where each candidate stands. Conway is correct and probably smart to focus on jobs, the economy, deficit reduction & a health care reform package we can afford and live with. Rand Paul has been running on these issues for a long time while Trey Grayson and everyone else slept. Conway has a harder row to hoe than Mongiardo. Conway does not expect to win Western Kentucky but he must get his fair share of vote out of here and still leave himself room issues wise to have a chance in November. Mongiardo has an easier road because Urban folks in Kentucky or more apt to vote for Mongiardo in November than Rural folks for Conway.

In truth- it is going to be a tough going for either candidate come November. People are mad and folks down here like to get even when there angry. As I like to say, West Kentucky would rather vote against somebody as opposed to voting for someone. I don't blame them though, the Democrat Party has done a poor job or maybe a good job of opposing the political and religious beliefs of most Rural Kentuckians.

Candidates such as Jack Conway or anyone else for that matter need to be forthcoming and truthful on all the issues. I noticed at Conway's website he does not talk about very many issues that are important to Rural Kentucky. Jack has shown that he is pretty good at dating the issues but he is going to have to marry some if he is going to have any success in Rural Kentucky. People who disagree with you can still respect you and even vote for you if they know that your sincere in what you believe.

There is an ever growing gap between the political thought of Urban Kentucky and Rural Kentucky. The results in Massachusetts have caused the Democrats to vellicate. Now that they are convinced that even Urban America is not happy with a Liberal Democrat Agenda- everyone is changing their make-up. It's OK by me to change your position or switch directions but candidates like Jack Conway need to discuss all the issues important to Rural Kentucky not just the ones that smell good to him on a windy day.

Gov. Beshear Punts on Third Down

They say offense wins games and defense wins championships. Well, tonight Governor Beshear punted on third down. I'm guessing that he is hoping that his defense will hold and he can win in over-time.

As a friend likes to say, "he kicked the can down the street." Governor Beshear delivered his budget address to a joint session of the Kentucky General Assembly tonight, presenting his budget that included revenue from expanded gaming. Revenue that does not exist mind you.

My conclusion is that the Governor has decided that he is not going to be the "bad guy" all by himself anymore. If the Legislature is not going to give him his gambling bill then he is going to let the House and the Senate share the blame of having to cut government jobs & services. The Governors action served a dual purpose tonight politically. I will have to admit that I expected Beshear when he was elected to be better at the governing aspect of the job as opposed to the political piece. Much to my surprise he has been a pretty shrewd politician.

As I like to say he has put an "X" where there was an "O". Not much offense but a good defense. I did not think so until he chose Jerry Abramson as his running mate. At first I thought that was a lousy choice but after careful review it began to appear to me as a quite brilliant political maneuver. With the growing popularity and power of the triumvirate faction of Chandler, Conway & Luallen, most expected that Conway would would run for Governor as a fall back position should he lose the Senate race. By choosing Abramson as his running mate it would be awful hard for someone from Jefferson County to run for Governor. Beshear also gave a nice position to Chandler's wife. Actions that compromise. He put an "X" where there was an "O".

I have been disappointed in the Governor's efforts to empower Western & Rural Kentucky. When he was campaigning we were led to believe that we would have a seat at the table but that has not happened. The Governor has filled most of his positions and appointments with Liberals and fellow trial lawyers. So what does the Governor do as opposed to being labeled a Liberal?,he endorses Lt. Governor Dan Monjiardo, a Rural Populist, over the Liberal Jack Conway. Again, He puts and "X" where there was an "O".

So what was the dual purpose served by the Governor's actions tonight.First, By punting the ball to the Legislature he eliminates any free ride Speaker Stumbo might have regarding a possible Primary challenge. Stumbo along with Sen. Williams will have to assume some shared responsibility regarding any negative outcomes from a budget.

Secondly, remember about kicking the can- well, the Governor may also be able to buy some time here. Call it waiting on Washington. The General Assembly may very well put all this off until a Special Session can be called giving time to see if Kentucky will prevail in receiving more stimulus dollars. More Federal help will buy time while we wait on a better economy and possibly delay in making drastic cuts to government jobs and services.

Beshear was elected by appealing to a small fraction (10%) of independent minded voters. He works to end up in the middle most days and that will be more important than ever come next year. Beshear was elected in the first wave of these newly defined, undecided & independent minded voters. This started in 2006 not in New Jersey or Virginia. I will be discussing this new era in my next post. The problem with sticking to the middle sometimes is that eventually you will get hit by traffic from both ways. The Governor will have to be careful not alienate Rural Kentucky any more than they already are because the political environment is ripe for a good Republican candidate like Mike Duncan to run.

Even though I have not been real happy so far with Steve Beshear, I will have to give him credit-he can tread water in the deep end with a gun in his hand. He has one hell of a defense but he still going to have to put some points on the board.

Rep. Mike Cherry: 2010 Session

Rep. Mike Cherry represents District 4 in the Kentucky House of Representatives which includes Caldwell, Crittenden, Livingston, & part of McCracken county. Cherry is Chairman of the House State Government Committee. Rep. Cherry has sponsored the following legislation:
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(HB-145) Amend KRS 18A.205 to provide that a retiree who has been reemployed in a full-time position within state government on or after Sept. 1,2008, shall be eligible for life insurance benefits; amend KRS 61.510 and 78.510 to provide that the retirement systems shall add one or more fiscal years to the fianl compensation calculation for employees participating in the Kentucky Employee Retirement System or the County Employee Retirement System on or after Sept. 1, 2008, if the member does not have five complete fiscal years of service upon retirement; amend KRS 61.637 to make technical changes.
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(HB-146) Amend KRS 61.645 to require that two of the three members appointed by the Governor to the Kentucky Retirement Systems Board of Trustees posses ten years of investment experience and to define investment experience; amend KRS 61.650 to establish a five member investment committee for the Kentucky Retirement Systems comprised of the two gubernatorial appointess with investment experience and three trustees appointed by the board chair; limit the amount of assets managed by a single external investment manager to no more than 15% of the systems' portfolio; amend KRS16.642 and 78.790 to clarify that the investment committee established by KRS 61.650 is the investment committee for the State Police Retirement System adn the County Employees Retirement System; limit the amount of assets managed by a single external investment manager to no more than 15% of the systems' portfolio.
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(HB-164) An act relating to the transfer of faculty and staff providing educational services to Dept. of Corrections' inmates and declaring an emergency.
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(HB-75) An act to honoring military service. Amend KRS 18A.150 t require that an employing state agency offer an interview to all finalists entitled to preference points if there are fewer than five finalist, and to no fewer than five if there are five or more; amend to clarify veteran eligibility.
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(HB-96) To permit the surviving spouse of a Purple Heart recipient to keep special license plate assigned to the recipient.
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(HB-147) Amend KRS 65.003 to include property valuation administrators with in local governments' codes of ethics'. Require codes of ethics to include policy on employment of members of families of PVA's with exemption as to employees hired prior to effective date of Act; amend KRS 132.370 to provide that PVA's are subject only to local governments codes of ethics.
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(HB-148) relating to organizational units with the Dept. of Law, to create an office of Criminal Appeals, office of Consumer Protection, Department of Criminal Investigations, office of Special Prosecutions, office of Prosecutors Advisory Council, office of Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Control, office of Civil and Environmental law, office of Victim's Advocacy and office of Administrative Services, and abolish the Child Support Enforcement Commission, Administrative Hearing Division, and Financial Integrity Enforcement Division; amend various other statutes to conform.
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(HB-149) An act relating to executive branch employees and declaring an emergency.

Update On Sen. Pendleton & AT&T

As I reported regarding Senator Joey Pendleton being upset with Hopkinsville officials regarding the lawsuit filed by the City of Hopkinsville pertaining to AT&T's attempt to provide internet protocol video service to Hopkinsville: The Hopkinsville City Council reached an agreement with AT&T that was satisfactory to them. The City of Hopkinsville also dropped its lawsuit. It's all butterflys and rainbows now. Never discount the value of a big stick.