So...

In two weeks, blogging will be as back to normal as it can.

The Red Sox lost yesterday but not before David Ortiz went yard for the 40th time. In case you did not know, the single-season HR record in the American League is still 61, and yes, it still belongs to Roger Maris. Julian Tavarez (2-4) picked up the loss.

Little Green Footballs uncovered a major mishap by Reuters the other day. Obviously, what Reuters did was wrong and the photo should never have been published but even this is just well, it speaks for itself.

"Where is Ernie" seemed to be the theme of the day at Fancy Farm over the weekend. Heck, it even had Trey Grayson announce that he is looking at the big race himself. Grayson announced in March or April 2005 (I believe it was 2005) that he was running for re-election to the post he now serves. If you didn't read it in the news, you're correct as it was on The Nightly Show with yours truly that he announced.

Luallen rattled off various problems in the state and then let Democratic partisans shout out, "Where is Ernie?"

Treasurer Jonathan Miller, who is leaving his options open for a gubernatorial bid until after November's elections, congratulated Grayson as the only Republican in Frankfort who knows how to use a BlackBerry.

"He put Fancy Farm on his schedule," Miller said, taking an apparent jab at the trouble some Fletcher officials have encountered in the grand jury investigation for their frequent e-mails about state hiring practices.

Stumbo called upon Fletcher and the General Assembly to recoup the $450 million Kentucky loses each year to casinos in other states by expanding gambling and using $100 million to take the state property tax off cars and trucks.

Casino gambling is something I will be promoting in the commonwealth for the rest of my life if need be.

Sen. Lieberman counters his critics with the following:

"I am the only Democrat in America to run against George Bush in a national election twice," Lieberman told supporters at a rally Sunday. "You know why I ran for president in 2004? Because I believe that his agenda was wrong for our country and our future. And that's the truth."[...]

At his campaign rally, Lieberman said he has opposed nearly major domestic issue Bush has backed, including a ban on stem cell research and a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.

Lieberman laid out his stance on Iraq, saying he did support the resolution giving the president authority to take out Saddam Hussein, as did many Senate Democrats.

"I still believe that was right. What I don't think is right, as I have said over and over again, are many of the Bush administration decisions regarding the conduct of the war," he said.

He criticized the president for not having a plan to win the peace and for a shortage of troops and allies.

"Don't think for a minute I do not grieve for every casualty of this war," Lieberman said. "In fact, as someone who voted for the war, I feel a heavy responsibility to try to end it as quickly and successfully as possible."

Did Don McKay just make an endorsement for Ben Chandler for President? Chandler's grandfather ran for president if I recall.

When Dyche’s column was posted to blogger Mark Nicholas’s Web site, Nicholas (Chandler’s former campaign manager) noted that Ben Chandler could be a candidate for national office someday.

I agree with Nicholas.

I have a huge disclaimer. Before becoming a political commentator, I supported Jody Richards in the 2003 Democratic primary against Chandler, but supported and donated to Chandler in the general election. I also helped Chandler when he first ran for Congress.

Chandler shouldn’t start plotting his inauguration speech based on my thoughts. A couple of years ago, I came close to writing that Ernie Fletcher would be a good candidate for president. Although Fletcher had the right paper credentials, he is not on track for the White House. Many think he is politically dead.

To Fletcher’s defense, being politically dead is not what it used to be. Chandler looked politically dead in December of 2003. He got over it.

He is young (47 in September) and a rising star in Congress. He is the only Kentuckian capable of making the jump to the White House. Mitch McConnell and Hal Rogers have tremendous power within Congress, but are not presidential candidates.

No one is looking at Ben Chandler as a presidential candidate in the next cycle, but he could appear on the radar screen after that.

Bayh-Chandler anyone?

This was in a JTA Breaking News Update emailed to JTA subscribers:

Ehud Olmert asked North American Jews for help in fighting Hezbollah. "I believe this is a war which is fought by all the Jews," the Israeli prime minister said in a conference call and webcast Monday. The call was sponsored by the United Jewish Communities to launch its Israel Emergency Campaign.

The DCCC is unlikely to pay for ads in KY-3.

Time to tune in to the Cards-Reds game. Go Cards!