'Now, That's Funny'

Rand's $2,000 Medicare Deductible

Rand Paul believes "the real answer to Medicare would be a $2,000 deductible" -- prompting Kentucky seniors to say Paul's position would put a financial burden on them that they cannot afford.

Editorial comic roundup

(Click for larger image)

Mitch gets fact-checked

Courtesy of FactCheck.org:

On ABC’s "This Week," Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made a false claim about the federal debt — a claim that we debunked in January, when Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, a Republican, made a similar statement. The debt situation has worsened since then, but not enough to make this GOP talking point true.

McConnell: What most Americans think is extreme is the kind of government we’ve been running for the last year-and-a-half. We’ve seen the government taken over banks, insurance companies, car companies, nationalizing the student loan business. We’re on a path to double the national debt in five years and triple it in 10.

First, current projections don’t show the debt doubling in five years or tripling in 10. Second, McConnell incorrectly blames Obama for the bank bailout. Obama supported it as a senator, as did McConnell, but it was signed by President George W. Bush. And, lastly, the changes in the federal student loan program will not increase the federal debt; in fact, they will save the federal government $62 billion over 10 years, according to an analysis by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

Rand Paul: Wrong for Kentucky

McConnell boohoos for rich friends

There's a must-read editorial in today's Herald-Leader:

To hear Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and some of his fellow Capitol Hill Republicans tell it, a failure to extend the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans would cripple the nation's small businesses.

...According to a Bloomberg News report, research by Moody's Analytics Inc. found that wealthy Americans put more money into savings following the Bush tax cuts.

By contrast, they saved less during the Clinton years of the 1990s, when taxes were higher. So, tax cuts for the rich don't provide the kind of economic stimulus McConnell and his fellow Republicans would have us believe.

Memo to Republicans...

Americans DON'T Support Tax Cuts For The Rich

Rand Paul is Soft on Crime

Lessons In Running From The Press

Watch as Rand Paul teaches lessons in running from Kentucky voters as well as Kentucky reporters.

'Liberal Media' Myth: BUSTED

Think Progress has the story:

NBC’s Meet the Press, CBS’s Face the Nation, Fox News Sunday, CNN’s State of the Union, and ABC’s This Week are the five major Sunday talk shows that aim to bring “a diverse group of voices” that “reflect the cultural, economic, and political landscape” of the U.S. However, according to a new study published by George Mason University School of Law this month, the Congressional guests featured in 2009 were anything but diverse, failing not only to represent the demographics of the American population but also the diversity of Congress. In fact, according to the study, the congressional voice was disproportionately represented by one type of guest in 2009: “white, male, senior, and Republican.”

...According to the study, the top guests were Republican Sens. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), John McCain (R-AZ), and Jon Kyl (R-AZ). The Republican leadership “appeared on these shows a total of 43 times” while Democratic Leadership, including the first female Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), “appeared only 11 times.” And 2010 is shaping up to be more of the same, with McConnell “again leading the pack – appearing 10 times on Sunday shows – a rate even higher than he achieved in 2009.”

C-J on Republican hypocrisy

From yesterday's Courier-Journal:

State Agriculture Commissioner (and lieutenant governor wannabe) Richie Farmer has spent about $445,000 on 19 new vehicles for his department this year, including $35,340 for a Chevrolet Suburban for himself, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader. All told, the department has a fleet of 206 vehicles, up from 178 in 2007, when Mr. Farmer removed the department's wheels from the state's vehicle fleet.

Note to Mr. Farmer: The state and nation have been in a deep recession. You may have been on the road and missed reports on this misfortune. Nonetheless, your fellow Republicans bleat ceaselessly about eliminating spending and waste. Most of state government is buying fewer vehicles and using the ones it has longer. Why aren't you?

The Boehner Plan

Editorial comic roundup

(Click for larger image)

President Obama's weekly address

The President marks the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks as a National Day of Service and Remembrance to honor those who lost their lives.

Debating the Economy

There's a great editorial in today's New York Times. Here's an excerpt:

The immediate battle is over President George W. Bush’s tax cuts, which are set to expire at the end of this year. Mr. Obama wants to make the tax cuts permanent for families that make less than $250,000 a year and let the tax cuts expire for those who make more — about 2 percent of taxpayers. Mr. Boehner says he wants to extend all of the tax cuts for two years — although there is little doubt that the goal of Republicans is to extend all of them permanently.

It makes good sense to extend the middle-class tax cuts temporarily because the weak economy needs the boost, but it makes no sense to extend them for the rich. Middle-class Americans spend tax breaks, while wealthy taxpayers generally save them. In the longer term, more revenue will be needed to keep rebuilding the economy and meet health care and other obligations.

...For far too long, Mr. Boehner and others have been dominating the political debate with insincere sound bites, Jedi mind games and plain bad economics. How can they claim to care about the deficit and insist on more tax cuts?

Richie Farmer must curb free-spending ways

Today's Herald-Leader takes on Republican Richie Farmer:

Senate President David Williams, the man who would be Kentucky's next governor, has preached variations on [anti-spending] gospel on numerous occasions in arguing for government belt-tightening during austere times.

But Williams' running mate, Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer, must not have received the memo.

Or if he did, he ignored it, because he keeps spending on vehicles like there's no tomorrow.

Jack Conway pulls even in Senate race

From CNN:

A new poll indicates that the battle for Kentucky's open Senate seat is dead even.

According to a new CNN/Time/Opinion Research Corporation survey of registered voters in Kentucky, 46 percent support Republican nominee Rand Paul, with an equal amount saying they back Democratic nominee Jack Conway. Five percent of those questioned say they'd vote for neither candidate if the general election were held today, and four percent have no opinion.

"Not surprisingly, Paul is winning among conservatives by more than 40 points," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "But Conway has a 22-point advantage among moderates."

'It's a Clear Choice This November...'

Kentucky.gov honored in ‘Best of Web’

Governor Beshear issued this press release today:

FRANKFORT, Ky.– Gov. Steve Beshear today announced that the state’s Web portal, Kentucky.gov, has been recognized by the Center for Digital Government (CDG) as one of the top five sites in the nation for 2010. The nonprofit agency ranked the site fifth among state Web portal entries in this year’s Best of the Web contest based upon innovation, functionality and efficiency. Louisville’s website, Louisvilleky.gov, placed second in the nation for city websites.

“My administration’s firm commitment to keeping government accessible and open to the public has once again earned Kentucky national recognition for its online resources,” said Gov. Beshear. “We work very hard to maintain and improve the site as new technology and resources evolve. This ensures Kentucky.gov is a reliable resource for our citizens to gain information in a timely and accurate manner.”

This award completes a trifecta of national recognition for the state’s websites. The Open Door e-transparency site was recently named best in the nation and the state’s stimulus reporting website, Kentucky at Work, garnered a national second-place award for excellence in accountability for citizens.

Site Offers Services, Accountability for Citizens
CDG is a national research and advisory institute on information technology policies and best practices in state and local government.

According to Cathilea Robinett, executive director of CDG, Kentucky.gov successfully provides government leaders with a way to effectively communicate with citizens while increasing public trust.

“Kentucky.gov, with its increased focus on transparency, is achieving the essence of what it means to be a more open and accountable government,” said Robinett. “The portal gives Kentucky constituents a view into the government’s budget and allows them to see that their tax dollars are put to good use. The site’s increased usability features ensure citizens can conduct their business with the state quickly, efficiently and hassle-free by taking advantage of the multitude of services and transaction options the site offers.”

The site offers multiple services for users. Citizens can use the site to renew driver licenses, register vehicles, find voter information, buy hunting and fishing licenses, register businesses and review the state’s budget.

“Kentucky’s continued commitment to improve service to the businesses and citizens it serves through improved and streamlined technology methods is reflected in this improvement to number five in the nation for this year’s Best of the Web award,” Kentucky Chief Information Officer Phil Baughn said. “Kentucky.gov offers a variety of government-related services and information around the clock.”

History of Excellence for State Websites
Kentucky.gov is the official website of the Commonwealth. The site is managed and operated using no tax dollars through a public-private partnership between the Commonwealth and Kentucky Interactive, the Frankfort-based official eGovernment partner for the state. Kentucky Interactive helps state government entities Web-enable their information services, and is part of eGovernment firm NIC’s family of companies. (NASDAQ: EGOV)

In April 2010, Kentucky was the only state in the nation to receive an ‘A’ rating for openness in government spending for its Open Door website, online at http://opendoor.ky.gov, based upon a report issued by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group. The site was also named one of the best of its kind nationally by the Center for Study of Responsive Law, a nonprofit organization that researches government and corporate accountability. The Commonwealth was recognized as a national leader for transparency in state contracts for publishing the full text of state contracts.

Similar to Open Door, the Commonwealth’s stimulus spending site, Kentucky at Work, online at http://kentuckyatwork.ky.gov, received national attention in January 2009. In a report issued by Good Jobs First, a national policy resource center, Kentucky was recognized for receiving the second highest rating nationally for accountability to taxpayers.

“This most recent reward for a Kentucky government website continues to highlight Gov. Beshear’s persistence for transparency and openness in government,” said Jonathan Miller, secretary of the Finance and Administration Cabinet. “A critical element for providing that transparency is making our internet presence as user friendly and comprehensive as possible and that’s what this award indicates.”

Kentucky at Work and Open Door are both maintained by the Finance and Administration Cabinet.

Biden on this morning's talk shows

This morning, Vice President Joe Biden appeared on ABC's Good Morning America, NBC's Today Show and CBS's Early Show. The clips can be viewed below:

Good Morning America


The Early Show


The Today Show

The End of the Combat Mission in Iraq

Did you miss last night's address from President Obama? Here's the video: