Ready for the weekend...

Pol Watchers, the Herald-Leader's political blog, has now been added to the blogroll.

Has The Second City run it's course in Denver?

It looks like the big issue for KEEP in 2007 will be tax equity as opposed to gaming. I have said time and time again that I am a proponent of expanded gaming within the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Look at the revenue that we could get as a result of, at the very least, legalized slots at the race tracks such as Keeneland, Turfway, or Churchill Downs, etc. Listen, we need the expanded gaming. Sure, they don't have to be full-blown casinos like in Southern Indiana but stop sending all our money over there. Let's do the right thing and keep the revenue in the state to help our schools.

In 2007, the legislative session in Kentucky is "short," and there also is a gubernatorial election. Observers of the political scene believe it's not a good time to pursue expanded gambling in the state.

"The decision of the KEEP board of directors was that we needed to focus on what's now realistic, so the feeling was that trying to get tax equity legislation passed in an 'off' session should be the primary objective," KEEP chairman Brereton Jones said. "If other people are pushing the gaming issue, our position hasn't changed. But we need to put a major push on tax equity. Getting the sales tax off a sack of feed helps every breed of horse."[...]

KEEP remains in favor of racetrack gaming, Jones said, as a means to help not only the horse industry but residents of Kentucky through a new revenue stream. He said 2008, when a regular-length General Assembly session is held, would be "time to roll up our sleeves."

Horse racing and breeding interests in particular have said competition from other states with racetrack gaming has been harmful. The competition could get a lot closer should Ohioans on Nov. 7 pass the "Learn and Earn" ballot initiative that calls for video lottery terminals at the Buckeye State's seven racetracks.[...]

Jones, who owns Airdrie Stud in Central Kentucky with his wife, Libby, served as Democratic governor of Kentucky from 1991-95. There was talk in 2002 he may seek the Democratic nomination but he declined; that talk of him running for governor is back again this year.

"There have been a lot of people trying to promote that, but I've not been one of those," Jones said. "We'll see how it shakes out. I've been encouraging Ben Chandler to run, and if he does, I think he can win and be a good governor."

Chandler, a Democrat, currently represents the Sixth District of Kentucky in the United States House of Representatives. He won the term in November 2004. Previously, Chandler served two terms as attorney general of Kentucky, and before that was state auditor.

Senator Evan Bayh was recently in Mason City, Iowa, to talk about both local and state politics.

Bayh spoke on behalf of State Sen. Amanda Ragan, D-Mason City, to about 50 Democrats at the Country Kitchen restaurant.

Bayh’s father, former U.S. Sen. Birch Bayh, was runner-up to Jimmy Carter in the 1976 Iowa Democratic caucuses, although “uncommitted” garnered the most votes.

Evan Bayh talked about the importance of re-electing Ragan but spent most of his time talking about national politics.

“Washington is too polarized, too idealistic and — it pains me to say this — too corrupt,” he said.

He also recently stopped in Mishawaka to help congressional candidate Joe Donnelly.

Senator Bayh stopped in two places in Mishawaka, before heading to LaPorte to continue his campaign here in Michiana.

Senator Bayh met with Joe Donnelly at the United Steelworkers hall in Mishawaka.

Both candidates talked about the need to work to create legislation that would help keep jobs on American soil.

After that, the campaign continued on to the hummer one plant in Mishawaka.

Union workers had a chance to meet the candidates and ask questions.

This is one of three stops, Bayh made in Indiana, to help democratic candidates.

Senator Evan Bayh said, "I think Hoosiers are going to vote for a change in Washington they know its not doing a job of people on behalf of people across our state that means I think Joe Barron Brad are all going to be successful I don't think it’s a partisan. I think it reflects the fact that Washington is broke and people want to change they know we can do better they are going to vote for that change.”

Holy crap! Since when did David Zucker become a Republican?!?

Zucker sees threats to America and Israel mounting, and he believes the Democrats are unable or unwilling to confront those challenges, so he has decided to go public with his belief that the Democrats have lost their way. Starting Oct. 9, the first of two ads Zucker directed and co-wrote will begin running on the Internet in hopes of helping the Republicans retain control of the House in the November elections. Like his movies, Zucker's edgy spots employ his trademark fast-paced, gag-a-second-slapstick humor that has made him the undisputed king of spoof.

Ernie and Robbie have made a million bucks in their short campaign.

A former page to Congressman Ron Lewis has been contacted by the FBI in regards to the Mark Foley scandal.

The Republicans are losing their main support of their base.

Lynn Sunde, an evangelical Christian, is considering what for her is a radical step. Come November, she may vote for a Democrat for Congress.

Sunde, 35, manages a coffee shop and attends a nondenominational Bible church. "You're never going to agree with one party on everything, so for me the key has always been the religion issues -- abortion, the marriage amendment" to ban same-sex unions, she said.

That means she consistently votes Republican. But, she said, she is starting to worry about the course of the Iraq war, and she finds the Internet messages from then-Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.) to teenage boys "pretty sickening." When she goes into the voting booth this time, she said, "I'm going to think twice... I'm not going to vote party line as much as to vote issues."

Even a small shift in the loyalty of conservative Christian voters such as Sunde could spell trouble for the GOP this fall. In 2004, white evangelical or born-again Christians made up a quarter of the electorate, and 78 percent of them voted Republican, according to exit polls. But some pollsters believe that evangelical support for the GOP peaked two years ago and that what has been called the "God gap" in politics is shrinking.

A nationwide poll of 1,500 registered voters released yesterday by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center found that 57 percent of white evangelicals are inclined to vote for Republican congressional candidates in the midterm elections, a 21-point drop in support among this critical part of the GOP base.

I mean, look, here you have a Republican party that campaigned in 2004 on the basis of moral and family values, and look what they do. There have been way to many scandals on the GOP side that go against what they say they stand for. When it comes out that something happened, what happens? They deny that they even knew about it!

Holy crap! That sure didn't sound good.

The leading powers of the world have met or will be meeting to discuss what to do with Iran.

Hmmm...

JTA has a very nice feature story on Maryland Congressman [and future Senator] Ben Cardin.

See you tomorrow night.