Upcoming Governor's Race

Date: Apr 21, 2007

RE: Upcoming Governor's Race

Date: Apr 21, 2007

Anonymous wrote:

Wow!

I Guess the Democratic Administrations never ever would or have done anything like this, now would they.

let's take a little trip down memory Lane and look at our friend Julian Carroll and a few More, I'll see if I can find that Information and refresh your very short term memories.

We'll be waiting for your examples - we can't wait.

Here are just a small portion of some of Ernie's special poltical grandstanding moments...

Letcher County Check Presentation
City of Falmouth Check Presentation
Magoffin County Check Presentation
Burkesville Check Presentation
Somerset Check Presentation
Monticello Check Presentations
Georgetown Check Presentation
Grant County Check Presentation
Shelbyville Check Presentations
Eddyville Check Presentation
LaGrange Check Presentation
Columbia Check Presentations
Manchester Check Presentations
Barbourville Check Presentations

It's great to see a governor spending thousands of tax dollars for something that should cost no more than that of a wire transfer, and to see him spending hundreds of hours doing something that should take a 10 minute phone call.

We should all feel so blessed.

Date: Apr 21, 2007

Anonymous wrote:

I hear next week Fletcher begins personally delivering individual state tax return checks to people's homes.

Ernie just brought my check by the house, but I wanted a BIG CHECK! He did however deliver a large pizza with it. Must be preparing for his next career.

Date: Apr 21, 2007

Let's take at look at Julian Carroll, Wallace Wilkinson, Paul Patton, remember any of these guys?? Has your memory failed, been to Pike County Latley, seen the Money Invested straight into the side of a Mountain by the Patton Administration??

Sure it's not right to do what Ernie is doing but your crying here just to get back Democrat Control of the State, there has been 10 Times the amount of Corruption over the last 35 years that the Dems held office, maybe you have amnesia, just a Fact and you know it.

Delivering Checks & Pizza, sure there doing this, only this time just a slice is coming to Corbin, London & Williamsburg, when the Democrats win this race, and they more than likley will you'll be back to the same status you were the previous 30 Years ago, watching lexington, louisville & boone county spend OUR tax dollars on turfway park.

You really think Bruce Lunsford & Greg Stumbo are going to Budget money for anything here?? If the last 35 Years are any indication of what the Democrats did before Ernie got in office your going to be very hurt & sad.

Feletcher has appropriated more Money for the Old 5th District here than the democrats did from 1972 till Fletcher was Elected (Over 30 years), of course had some of you lived here and went through these administrations you would know that?

The Dems are gonna win but look for the same thing we got for 35 years from frankfort, NOTHING!!!

Date: Apr 21, 2007

Let me remind you that Democrats were in office when we got the Tri-County Industrial Park, and Paul Patton was Governor when we were provided the Regional Park. A Democrat was Governor when we got the road and bridge that connects Kentucky and Master Streets.
A Democrat was governor when the bypass was approved and built.

I went to two of those announcements and there were no cardboard checks, and the celebration was bipartisan. Each time Fletcher and Nighbert come to town you can bet one thing, the Democrats will be ostracized. It is a fat partisan show and tell followed by a fund raiser to take back area money for campaign contributions.

The tone of your communication is condescending and arrogant. You are the one who has no memory. All you have to do now is read the paper and keep your eyes opened and all across our nation the clouds of corruption are blocking out the sunshine of our great nation.

Date: Apr 21, 2007

I also believe the Technology Center was funded while a Democrat was in Frankfort. I don't recall a dog and pony show with big checks then either.

Date: Apr 22, 2007

Personally I believe we are much safer when Fletcher-Nighbert are out delivering cardboard checks than when they are in Frankfort working. If we can keep both of them out of their offices all the time the State may get along much better.

Date: Apr 22, 2007

The tone of your communication is condescending and arrogant. You are the one who has no memory. All you have to do now is read the paper and keep your eyes opened and all across our nation the clouds of corruption are blocking out the sunshine of our great nation.

Correct. the Tone is tough, somehow, someway you Infer that the Democrats who Owned the Office of the Gov. for the Prevoius 30 Plus Years have never did anything like this, I think your the one who is condesending if you believe that?

We are all well aware of all the Bone Headed things Fletcher & Company have done but I find you arrogant as crap, as you never, not once have ever admitted any Democratic wrongdoing in any of your posts, not a single one. Maybe I missed all that Democratic Sunshine while living through their administrations.

You talk about Building bridges, religion and partnerships to make for a better country, county, city, but you can not seem to see wrong in anyone other than Ernie Fletcher, almost as if when Bush & Fletcher both go away everything will be just rosey.

Sorry, just more Partisian Politics here, if you think the corruption is limited to only the Republicans tell the Tin Man we all said hello as you skip down the Yellow Brick Road!

Date: Apr 22, 2007

Anonymous wrote:

The tone of your communication is condescending and arrogant. You are the one who has no memory. All you have to do now is read the paper and keep your eyes opened and all across our nation the clouds of corruption are blocking out the sunshine of our great nation.

Correct. the Tone is tough, somehow, someway you Infer that the Democrats who Owned the Office of the Gov. for the Prevoius 30 Plus Years have never did anything like this, I think your the one who is condesending if you believe that?

We are all well aware of all the Bone Headed things Fletcher & Company have done but I find you arrogant as crap, as you never, not once have ever admitted any Democratic wrongdoing in any of your posts, not a single one. Maybe I missed all that Democratic Sunshine while living through their administrations.

You talk about Building bridges, religion and partnerships to make for a better country, county, city, but you can not seem to see wrong in anyone other than Ernie Fletcher, almost as if when Bush & Fletcher both go away everything will be just rosey.

Sorry, just more Partisian Politics here, if you think the corruption is limited to only the Republicans tell the Tin Man we all said hello as you skip down the Yellow Brick Road!

You want this poster to admit any wrongdoings by the Dems, but several posts back I asked you to give some examples. Lay out some issues as some of us have done, and if they are valid, we'll admit to it. There is nothing out there like this administration's track record, but I am waiting to hear your issues with the past Dems, even silliness like Ernie's Big Check Waltz.

Date: Apr 23, 2007

Friends in the Frankfort area say that Fletcher will win the primary in May because he has been fortunate that Senator Bunning endorsed Northup. Even most Republicans agree that Bunning has been a failure as a US Senator. His arrogant nature and poor performance hurt the Northup campaign. They also say that the way Senator David Williams criticized Fletcher also garnered him some support from those who are getting sick and tired of Senator Williams.

It looks like Fletcher has gained from some of the Republicans who are against him.

Date: Apr 23, 2007

I was also at the Corbin Civic Center when Gov. Patton announced there would be Regional Business in Corbin, Knox County that would include Bell, Clay, Knox McCreary, and Whitley County. At that time Laurel did not want to be a member, but in 2005 they joined the other five counties.

This was not a partisan political event The head table was made up of Democrats and Republicans. There was no cardboard check. Patton made a non-partisan speech, and Republican Representative Charles Siler also spoke. When you attend the Fletcher-Nighbert celebrations you don't see a Democratic leader anywhere near the head table. At the Civic Center cardboard check ceremony two years ago some people walked out because instead of being a day of celebration for everyone it was a kick the Democrats in the butt day.

Date: Apr 24, 2007

The Republicans feel like they have to do whatever they can to survive. The Republican party prides itself on our self-proclaimed moral superiority, but we have GW Bush, the absolute worst President in our Nation's history, and Ernie Fletcher as Governor, both awash in sin and corruption. Also look at Whitley County politics - it's no different - sin and corruption.

Hypocracy at it's finest - the current Republican Party.

Date: Apr 25, 2007

There is another cardboard check story in today's Lexington Herald. It shows the places the Fletcher team visited on the state's money, and after the meetings how much he took back in campaign contributions. I have also heard that when Senator Bunning endorsed Northup that hurt her chances of winning the primary. Bunning is not that popular with Republicans.

Date: Apr 27, 2007

April 26, 2007 Commentary

FUND-RAISING FUN: FLETCHER OVERINDULGING IN TAX-PAID CAMPAIGNING

Raising money has got to be among the hardest, most unpleasant political chores, one that forces candidates to ask people for money with nothing but a message and a promise to offer in return.

Imagine how much more fun, and easier, it is when the candidate has cold, hard cash -- not just high-minded ideas -- to awaken generosity in the potential giver.
In 2003, candidate Ernie Fletcher had only his sanctimonious message of changing the culture in Frankfort and ending waste, fraud and abuse in government to trade for contributions.

This time, with no promises to change anything and with no help from his former friend and legendary political rainmaker Sen. Mitch McConnell, Fletcher has still been stuffing his pockets at every stop.

All he has to do is waltz into town to hand out big checks in public and then collect smaller checks in private.

Yesterday, Herald-Leader reporter Ryan Alessi detailed recent publicly funded trips Fletcher has taken that dovetailed with private fund-raising events.

Several contributors manage companies that either have been hired to work on state-funded projects Fletcher announced on these trips or are possible bidders on other building projects.

For example, Fletcher presented $500,000 in projects for Perry County in Hazard on March 29 and collected $17,504 at a fund-raiser there that day.

In Williamsburg on April 12, Fletcher presented $58 million for a highway project and went home with $161,247 for his campaign coffers.

Barren County Judge-Executive Davie Greer, a Republican and Fletcher supporter, described the system after a presentation-fund-raiser double-header last week: "He brought $4 million down here today, and we're sending some of it back to Frankfort with him."

The trouble with this golden rule of politics is that Fletcher is traveling on and handing out other people's money, called tax dollars, and getting money for his campaign in return.

The change agents who supported Fletcher's "clean up the mess" campaign now defend this practice by saying it's the way things have always been done.

"I remember Paul Patton going around the state giving out checks when he was considering running for the United States Senate, and I don't remember people raising questions about it," said Fletcher supporter Sen. Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown.

Some states have moved to stop the flow of money between incumbents and those who can benefit from the public money they distribute.

Called "pay to play" laws, they place limits on how much and when people who do business with a state can contribute to candidates.

For example, West Virginia bans campaign contributions to any state candidate, party or political committee from those seeking a government contract from the beginning of a contract negotiation through its completion.

One of the ironies of Fletcher's full-circle trip from criticizing the culture in Frankfort to embracing it is that he's making the case for this type of reform much more effectively this year than he did four years ago.

Date: Apr 27, 2007

Fletcher's legacy will always be remembered that he was the Cardboard Check Governor and the one with the greatest number of mid-terms grants of pardons. He came in to clean up the so
"called mess" and all he has done is make a bigger mess.

Date: Apr 27, 2007

DO US ALL A FAVOR PUT A DEMOCRAT BACK IN THE BIG HOUSE

Date: Apr 28, 2007

Anonymous wrote:

The recent editorial in the Times Tribune about Gov. Fletcher and his boys coming to the area to give out big cardboard checks was outstanding. I have never seen a group that tries to take credit for every nickel of the tax payers money it distributes. They act like it is their own money they are giving away. Thank goodness the Times Tribune has come alive since its new Editor has come to the area. Some of the nicest people in our area are those who grew up in some other state or area. The diversity is good for us. And it is valuable to hear their opinions about our area.

Fletcher has been great to some people in Whitley County. He has given a pardon to one of them that has gotten the person out of two indictments. He gave a top payiing job to a former County Judge who helped Whitley County come close to be taken over by the State. The sons of several of these Whitley County bosses have not had to face a jury for the laws they broke.

The Fletcher and Bush administrations have been corrupt, deceptive, and incompetent. But if they give a little money to Whitley County that washes away all their sins. To whom much is given, much is expected has been replaced with, to whom much is given, they want much, much more.

The Commonwealth of Kentucky owe's Samantha Swindler and the Times Tribune congratulations for the article Ms. Swindler wrote about her interview with Governor Fletcher when he came to Corbin and Williamsburg and other communities with big cardboard checks and went back to Frankfort with a pocket full of campaign contributions. Other newspapers and even members of his own party have joined in the criticism of Fletcher that he is using taxpayers travel expense money to solicit his own campaign funds. Today's newspapers across Kentucky have jumped on board and have blown the whistle on this corrupt practice. When he left Whitley County with over $160,000 just think how that money could have been used to help our people.And he is whining about Eastern Kentucky being sterotyped by the show American Idol, but one thing about it---- they are raising money to help people in Eastern Kentucky, not to take campaign money out of Eastern Kentucky. Hurrah for Samantha Swindler for getting the ball rolling on uncovering and questioning this sorry practice. Someday we will read Samantha's byline in a National Publication. She is a talented young lady.

Date: May 3, 2007

The Fletcher Cardboard steam ride in Whitley County is beginnning To Fade. Anne Northup is catching Steam and beginning to roll. She Should! How can the Republican Leadership in Kentucky support a guy like Ernie Fletcher?????????????????????? Time for a change. Anne Northup is the best choice to beat the Extreme Liberals in November.

Date: May 4, 2007

Agreed

Northup will pose a much tougher foe for the Extreme Liberals this fall, as bad a job as Fletcher has done they could easily defeat him, Northup on the other hand will be a major problem for the Dems.

I was in Boone county & L'ville early this week, Northup is very strong in those areas, if Fletcher does not win by a Massive margin here in the Old 5th District he will not even be in the game!!!

Date: May 4, 2007

I agree. Ms. Northup will be a much tougher opponent in the November election if she wins the primary. She is not considered to be a sinister or selfish type of leader. Good luck Northup!

Date: May 7, 2007

Good luck to Ann Northup in the primary election. I believe she will be serious about cleaning up the mess. She is speaking out about all the pardons Fletcher gave right in the middle of an investigation into corruption in his own administration. The eyes of America are on Kentucky to see if we have the stomach to keep vote in honest politicians. Did you see how much money Whitley County Republicans gave to Fletcher when he recently brought the huge cardboard checks to our area? About $160,000. The big spenders in Whitley County have sold their souls to the bad side of the Republican Party.

Date: May 7, 2007

DONT OVERLOOK TWO POTENTIAL DEMOCRATS LUNSFORD-STUMBO AND BESHEAR-MONGIARDO, POSSIBLY WITH THE DROPPING OUT OF A DEMOCRAT TODAY THINGS WILL GET INTERESTING.

Date: May 7, 2007

These Locals who donated the 160,000 are all on the Fletcher Gravy Train, which is about to come to a screeeeeeeching Halt!!! These folks are completely out of touch with the the common people of Whitley,Knox,and Laurel Counties. These Fletcher supporters could care less if You are paying an unfair PAYROLL TAX in WHITLEY COUNTY. Small Buisness owners are suffereing because of the TAXES FLETCHER raised on LLC's. These Fletcher supporters are only in it to get what they can.

How does Fletcher's Road work Lower your Health Care Cost?
You are paying more TAXES in Whitley County than ever before since Fletcher took office!
Fletcher appointed a Local Magistrate in Whitley Co. Who helped Bankrupt Whitley co. to the tune of about 18 million then slapped a Payroll Tax in your face.

This guy is nothing but a LIBERAL DEMOCRAT disguised as a Republican. Does this sound like the Republican Party, the party of Ronald Reagan, NO WAY! The Republican Leadership in Frankfort as well as Rogers and Mconnell need to Support a true Republican such as Anne Northup. Folk's Fletcher is completly out of Touch with the people of Kentucky.

Date: May 8, 2007

It is time for a change in Frankfort. Fletcher pardoned everyone who may have had to testify against Fletcher to keep themselves out of convictions. His campaign ads are deceptive when he claims he has solved all the problems or seniors, taxpayers, and people without medical insurance. He thinks we are all stupid and it will be clear that we are if we elect him again. Remember, Bill Nighbert tags along with Nighbert and we would have him for four more years as well. I am sick of seeing those big cardboard checks that he hands out and acts like the money is coming out of the Republicans pockets. That money comes from the tax payers who are getting trompted on by the power group.

Date: May 9, 2007

People in Frankfort say that Fletcher is a shoo in against Northup. His travels around the state handing out the big cardboard checks are working. Money is the big thing with voters even when it doesn't trickle down to them. Power and money will be the factors in Governor Fletcher serving four more years as Governor. The people who are upset with him won't get out and vote.

Date: May 9, 2007

You are listening to the people in Frankfort. The people in Kentucky both Republicans and Democrats say Fletcher is a "Shoe Out". Anne Northup is the Best choice for the Republicans in the Fall. Beshear&Mongiardo are the best ticket for the Democrats. Bruce Lunsford has already demonstrated his Judas Iscariot Behavior toward the Democrat party. You just can't Trust ole Bruce.

Date: May 10, 2007

Not sure who will win the Primaries but, Northup is certainly Stronger in the Local Area than most folks thought!!

I think Fletcher has a real Challenger who is actually quite capable of Defeating him. Northup is closing hard on Fletcher.