It’s great to see discussions in the conservative-o-sphere about collaborating to revitalize the movement. A North Carolina Congresswoman has presented an excellent opportunity for just such action by filing a bill to cut off authorization to bank bailout funds that are not already spent.

It would cut the bailout in half and serve notice that we have had enough of rewarding bad management and unworkable business models with massive amounts of taxpayer money.

Everyone in Congress should have to explain his or her position on the current state of the bailout by either co-sponsoring Rep. Virginia Foxx’s bill or by stating why we need to keep the bailout train running.

If each of us reading this hits up the representatives in his or her state for an answer, we could make progress fast.

Here is my first effort in Kentucky. I won’t let up until I get answers. Who else wants to play?

Just saw native Kentuckian Diane Sawyer go blank when Bill O’Reilly asked her on Good Morning America who the head of the Republican National Committee is. The point he was making in asking her the question was that “no one knows” who heads the Republican Party, the party has no message, and that “there is no leadership.”

You may know that Kentuckian Mike Duncan chairs the RNC. But most people don’t have any idea. Looks like fuel on the fire to put someone like Newt Gingrich in the party’s top spot.

When parties melt down like the Republican Party has, heads usually have to roll. Mike Duncan certainly did the best he could with what he had, but if has to go, let’s make sure his replacement is loud and clear every day about the need to return to free market principles and the capitalism that made this country great.

This is going to sound like a commercial. Given all the manure we’ve been fed about bankrupt banks needing us to borrow money we don’t have and give it to them because they made bad government-backed loans, though, I think we can handle an extra helping of free enterprise.

While the banking crisis seems to be not so much reality as Washington-speak, a little web site called Prosper.com is lining up lenders and borrowers. And you can keep your FDIC insurance and your federal entanglements if you don’t mind doing your own homework.

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In an effort to distract from the embarrassment of his fellow Dems celebrating Hurricane Gustav, Sen. Barack Obama has put out an email to supporters urging them to send donations to the Red Cross to help with disaster relief.

“We do not yet know what the impact of Hurricane Gustav will be, and we hope with all our hearts that the damage will not be as great as it was three years ago.”

“But we know there will be damage, and there is something you can do right now.”

“Your financial support will strengthen organizations like the American Red Cross that are evacuating Gulf Coast residents and planning to help communities get back on their feet.”
Glad to see the Obamatons responding to reality with this move and, of course, following the example of Republicans.

What’s next, not forcing a pregnant teenage girl to have an abortion?

Sen. Barack Obama can be forgiven for not understanding economics given his life as a “community organizer” and rabble-rousing government employee.

We can even sympathize with his lack of business acumen for the same reason.

But when he tries to pass off a muddle-headed equal-pay policy as some kind of attack against Gov. Sarah Palin, it is out of more than a sense chivalry that our patience runs out.

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Half of all states have set up web sites to allow taxpayers to see how their money is being spent. Gov. Sarah Palin’s Alaska is one of them. She saw to this by having her administration create a state “Online Checkbook.”

Voters in states like Ohio, Florida, and Pennsylvania — and while we are at it, Kentucky — should demand that their governors invite Palin to show them how it is done.

Creating spending transparency on the state and local levels is critical to cutting government waste by increasing fiscal accountability. Palin is a proven leader on this front.

Thanks to action by the Kentucky Public Service Commission, big spenders and enviro-activists will be able to put their money where their mouths have been.

From the PSC press release:

“In an order issued today, the PSC granted Kentucky Power’s request to begin a “green pricing option” that allows customers to purchase renewable energy. A customer will be permitted to purchase up to 500 blocks of 100 kilowatt-hours per month, at $2 per block. A kilowatt-hour is the amount of electricity used by a 100-watt light bulb in 10 hours. A typical Kentucky Power residential customer uses about 1,350 kilowatt-hours per month. Kentucky Power will use the revenue produced by the optional payments to purchase renewable energy certificates (RECs) from generators of renewable energy. Sources include wind power, solar power, hydroelectric power, landfill gas, biomass and others.”

That’s a whole lot of green for being green. It will be very interesting to see how many people voluntarily get on board.

And if Gov. Steve Beshear decides to provide some of that elusive “leadership” by volunteering to put the Governor’s Mansion on this silly scheme, I vote no.

On Saturday, October 25, nearly 60,000 southerners will congregate in Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington, Kentucky to watch the Arkansas Razorbacks take on the Kentucky Wildcats in a game of football.

If Barack Obama shows up to wave at the crowd and perhaps mutter a few generalities, will the media ignore the game and report on the tens of thousands of screaming fans who turned out to express repentance for their formerly racist ways?

cross-posted on Kentucky Progress

cross-posted on Bluegrass Policy Blog

Parents and students stuck with failing schools in Kentucky have no opportunity to move their children into a charter school like they would in California, or a private school like they would in Washington D.C. Our soon-to-be legislative liaison from the Kentucky Department of Education Frank Rasche saw to that (here and here).

Kentucky’s Democratic primary voters rejected Sen. Barack Obama. Seems like they would reject this, from the Wall Street Journal, as well:

“A visitor to Mr. Obama’s Web site finds plenty of information about his plans to fix public education in this country. Everyone knows this is a long, hard slog, but Mr. Obama and his wife aren’t waiting. Their daughters attend the private University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, where annual tuition ranges from $15,528 for kindergarten to $20,445 for high school.”

“When the day arrives that these two candidates face off, we hope Senator McCain comes prepared to press his opponent hard on change, hope and choice in the schools.”

Americans who value our freedoms are genuinely proud to see people from around the world risk everything they have to come here for the opportunity to enjoy what we often take for granted.

Few of us, however, include in our definitions of freedom the unfettered ability to live off the efforts of others through welfare and public benefits. Unfortunately, too many of those few who do are elected officials.

For the rest of us, Jenean McBrearty of Danville, Kentucky comes to the rescue today as the author of a lawsuit in federal district court in Lexington. You can get details of the lawsuit here.

McBrearty said inaction by Lexington officials left her no choice but to file the lawsuit:

Dr. David Duncan has been a high-profile voice for fiscal responsibility and public safety. He blasted Mayor Jim Newberry of Lexington for falling short of his public responsibilities in these areas.

The importance of this case will become apparent as citizens come forward and file similar suits in other cities across the state and nation.

cross-posted on http://kyprogress.blogspot.com/2008/07/landmark-lawsuit-rocks-sanctuary-city.html

Austin Texas is blogger central this weekend as it plays host to Yearly Kos and Americans for Prosperity (that’s the left and right, respectively).

Keynote speaker Robert Novak is not optimistic about Republican chances in Congress and says Obama is currently 12 electoral votes ahead of McCain.

“Why in the world is this race so close?” Novak asked.

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