What a day...

I just got back from Frankfort within the past hour. The College Democrats of Kentucky have elected a new stateboard with students from around the state. Even though I didn't win, I will remain an active Democrat nonetheless. Was it hard to run against a good friend of mine? Of course, it was. Do I offer any hard feelings towards my former opponent? No way. I'm a Democrat and that would be unlike me.

Anyway, I offer my sincere congratulations to the new board. As soon as I have the proper spellings, I will post the new board.

Alright, St. Louis is looking to sweep the Cincinnati Reds. The Cardinals are 14-13 this month so far. Another win will keep their consecutive winning months streak alive. Mark Grudzielanek got his 500th career RBI last night. St. Louis is guaranteed home field advantage in the NLDS and NLCS. The Cards need another win for back-to-back consecutive seasons of 100 wins. Based on Pujols' debut, he reached 200 home runs in 4 years, 181 days. With regards to age, he was the third youngest at 25 years, 257 days. Gates open tomorrow at 11:15 AM. The pre-game starts at 12:45 PM. Farewell ceremonies will start moments after the game. Matt Morris starts tommorrow. Last night was a 12-6 win, and tonight was 9-6.

Boston and the Yankees have split the final series of the year. I have faith in Boston that they can beat the Yankees.

Tim Kaine, the Democratic candidate next door in Virgina, needs your help. He and Jerry Kilgore are tied at 45% each. We need a Democrat in Virginia.

Bill Straub asks if scandals were damage the GOP prospects in the next elections?

Republicans have maintained control of both Congress and the White House for five years, but the party has been put on edge by a run of adversity - from ethical questions dogging its leaders to an apparent public disaffection with the country's overall direction.

Over the past week, House Republican Leader Tom DeLay of Texas was indicted for violating his state's campaign finance laws, and Senate Republican Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee learned that he is under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission for possible insider trading violations.

Meanwhile, President Bush is reeling from negative public reaction to the economy, the war in Iraq and the federal government's reaction to the hell wrought by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Democrats hope the GOP tribulations will damage Republicans in the 2006 midterm elections. Republicans lost big in 1976 after the political avalanche that was Watergate, and Democrats lost control of the House in 1994 when back-bench Republicans, led by soon-to-be Speaker Newt Gingrich, made stick charges that Democrats were maintaining a "corrupt institution."

But times change. In 1976 and 1994, during less partisan times, dozens of congressional seats were competitive and could conceivably change hands election after election.

That no longer is the case. Drawing the lines of congressional districts has become a fine art, intended for the most part to provide either a safe haven for incumbents or an opportunity for the party in power - the Republicans in this case.

I believe that the scandals will affect the GOP results. Look at the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the GOP is falling apart.

Daniel Groves has been indicted. We are getting very close to the top of the charts here.

Prosecutor Scott Crawford-Sutherland said he does not believe Fletcher's Aug. 29 pardons for nine people previously indicted in the investigation cover the latest charges.

For more than four months, a special grand jury in Franklin County has been examining the influence of politics in Fletcher administration personnel practices after a Transportation Cabinet whistleblower took reams of evidence to the attorney general's office. Nine people were indicted on criminal personnel charges before Fletcher issued the pardons. Fletcher later fired several of those indicted, and other employees.

Friday's indictment includes two counts each that Fields and Groves conspired with others to award jobs in the district highway office in Breathitt County to political friends.

The other charges are broader in scope and take the investigation closer to Fletcher.

Groves is alleged to have created the Gov.'s Personnel Initiative to circumvent the state Merit System and punish or reward state jobholders, "based on their political affiliation." Fletcher said the initiative was supposed to educate his administration on the intricacies of state personnel laws, but prosecutors have previously described it as a "corrupt political machine."

You knew Fletcher and gang were going down when a Republican sued his campaign to disqualify Hunter Bates, the former chief of staff to Mitch McConnell.

Who's afraid of the "liberal jury?" Thomas Delay.

The head of U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay's legal team said that he might seek to have the trial moved out of Austin, saying that one of Texas' last remaining liberal citadels might not be able to give the Republican a fair shake.

"That's something we're considering," Dick DeGuerin, a high-profile lawyer who is no stranger to criminal cases tinged with Texas politics, said Thursday.

"Everything is on the table, but nothing's been decided."

DeLay was a powerful player in Texas politics and the No. 2 leader in the U.S. House until he was indicted Wednesday on a charge that he conspired to circumvent the state election code during the 2002 campaigns.

His first Austin court appearance has been set for Oct. 21, when a judge will formally notify him of the charge against him.

Although no trial date has been set for DeLay, DeGuerin said he plans to ask the judge to expedite the process by either dismissing the charge against him or seating a jury before the year is out.

An Austin lawyer with more than three decades of experience defending some of Texas' best-known political figures, DeGuerin said that if DeLay insists upon a speedy trial, he would probably have to place his fate in the hands of jurors from Travis County.

Ben Karlin got his start for The Onion while at the University of Wisconsin. He now is the executive producer for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

Will comedian Mike Myers play former Who drummer Keith Moon. The project was delayed for a while but may actually happen.

Paul McCartney is in New York this week for his tour.

Eric Clapton is making a deal to write his life story.