Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Pleasant Valley Blogging

Raw Story reports that several Democratic staffers are upset with the hiring of Marshall Wittman has Sen. Lieberman's communication director.

A likability poll shows some bad news for Senator John Kerry, the 2004 presidential candidate.

Sen. Evan Bayh recently took some time to speak about Iraq.
Because Baghdad wasn't considered safe enough, the President will meet with Iraq's Prime Minister in Jordan. Over the weekend he pleaded for an end to the sectarian conflict, and Bush is expected to step up the pressure on the Iraqi government itself to do more.

Indiana Democrat Evan Bayh has been saying that's exactly what the President should do.

"We are never going to stabilize Iraq, no matter how long we stay, no matter now much we spend, no matter how many of our brave soldiers die, until the Iraqis get their act together," said Bayh.

Concern about the war swept Democrats to power in Congress, and more lawmakers now want a withdrawal of troops to begin. Even backers of the war acknowledge the political reality for the President.
The Kentucky State Board of Elections has certified the results from the November 7th elections.

All buildings at the University of Kentucky are now completely smoke-free. This is in light of a state mandate requiring all public universities in the state to set a policy.

Governor Ernie Fletcher has officially filed for re-election.

Senator Bayh is doing all the right things to win.
U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., has done all the right things to get the nomination," Pierce said, while U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., faces a "bedrock of opposition," and not just from Republicans.

A number of Democrats "really don't like her," Pierce said of Clinton.

In a lot of cases, Pierce said, the candidate's appeal "is to not be the guy in office.

For example, Pierce said, Ronald Reagan's mandate in 1980 was simply to not be former president Jimmy Carter.
I knew it! Michael Richards is the only cast member of the main four on Seinfeld not born a Jew. That said, read this:
Amid all the hoopla, bloggers and others labeled the former “Seinfeld” star Jewish but others reported he was not.

Howard Rubenstein, who was hired as Richards’ publicist, told JTA that Richards has not formally converted to Judaism but that some of his mentors were Jewish and he “adheres to Jewish philosophy.”
This is a good sign.

It's been said for the past few weeks that Bill Cox has all but announced that he is running for treasurer.
That is why I am intrigued by the potential candidacy of Bill Cox for State Treasurer. Bill is one of Kentucky’s brightest and most experienced leaders.

I met Bill in 1979 when I was a sophomore in college. One of my college instructors, Bob Babbage, introduced us. Babbage, who later became Kentucky’s Secretary of State and Auditor, said that Cox would definitely be governor and probably be President of the United States.

I was impressed with Cox’s quick mind and no nonsense attitude. I signed on for his campaign for Lt. Governor.

Bill wasn’t an old hand in 1979, he was a young lion. He had been one of the youngest people ever elected to the Kentucky legislature and was one of the highest ranking Kentuckians in Jimmy Carter’s administration.

Bill was head of the Federal Highway Administration, an important position to Kentuckians, where many federal highways intersect and trucks come rumbling through.[...]

Now he is looking at the treasurer’s race. Twenty-eight years later, remnants of Cox’s army are still around. Cox will do well in Western Kentucky and his son Will followed in Bill’s footsteps as Madisonville mayor.

Cox will be tough to beat.

Jonathan Miller has made the treasurer’s office an office worth seeking. When Miller took the office eight years ago, it was a resting spot for old hacks, not old hands, like Cox.

Miller’s predecessor was elected because his name was similar to a former U.S. President. He made news only when he got into trouble with the law.

Miller makes news in other formats. I’ve seen him on CNBC, discussing high-powered financial issues.

Jonathan used his office as a forum on issues where the state treasurer makes a difference. He ventured into new areas, like pre-paid college tuition and also wrote a book called the Compassionate Community, that is doing well.

Jonathan is being touted for offices like governor, congress or attorney general. You never saw a previous treasurer mentioned for higher office. The office has changed.

Which is why a guy like Bill Cox makes sense. There are serious issues on the horizon as to how the state deals with its finances, the lottery and its employee pension fund. The treasurer will have a big say so in what happens and why.

What happens will not just affect thousands of state employees, it will affect every Kentuckian.

When those issues come up, I’d like a slow and experienced hand at the table. Cox is one of the brightest and most experienced hands I know.
In other news, State Senate Minority Leader Ed Worley is looking at a run for Lt. Governor.

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