It will depend on how you measure it.
On Tuesday, it seems clear that Democrat Steve Beshear will hand incumbent Governor Ernie Fletcher a crushing defeat. Just how crushing will depend whether you go by straight vote margin or by the share of the electorate.
Mark Nickolas believes the following:
The magic number for Tuesday’s election is 331,490.
That is the current record vote margin in a gubernatorial election held by Wallace Wilkinson (D) when he defeated John Harper (R) in 1987 — ironically the year that Wilkinson came out of nowhere to win the Democratic primary at a time when Steve Beshear (D) was one of the front-runners. Funny how things have a way of coming around full-circle, even if it takes 20 years.
Mark is right on the facts and Beshear stands a chance of winning one big record. It’s possible, of course, that Beshear could set two records: one for his share of the vote and one for his vote margin.
To claim both, Beshear needs a victory of more than 331,490 and a margin of more than 29.6%. Possible? Certainly.
The Washington Post has a fairly comprehensive story about Democrats’ resurgence
in Kentucky. The story ends with a quote from Steve Beshear:
Beshear said he believes Democrats nationwide have often put too much emphasis on policy pronouncements and not enough on polishing their personal appeal to voters. Too much about issues, he said, and too little “about who they are and their values.”
Values are one thing. Values inform public policy. But if Beshear ends up being all sizzle and no steak, in four years he might be facing the same problems Ernie Fletcher faces right now.
As Aaron has pointed out, Beshear’s plan for some gambling funds includes constitutional earmarks for a few of the largest portions of the state budget. In other words, he wants to take a large share of gambling revenues and dump it into the general fund. Because, as you know, that money has been spent so very, very well.
The Cato Institute has revamped its Web site.
(actual photo)
As he entered the building and began screaming and shooting, employees ran out of the building to a safe location.
No one was harmed, and law enforcement know exactly who the culprit was: Morgantown Police Officer Travis McIntosh, doing his part in a drill for employees at Casco Products Incorporated.
As McIntosh walked through the building shooting 6 mm blanks into the air and yelling that he was going to kill someone…
This is the second time that Phelps has been involved in such a drill at Casco, he said: The company has decided that it’s important to be prepared in the event someone enters the business with a weapon.
Morgantown Police Chief Billy Phelps said Casco is the only company in Morgantown that has done such planning.
“I’m impressed that the business was this forward-thinking,” he said.
Three questions here. Firstly, does this business also run fire, flood, lightning, tornado and earthquake drills at least twice a year?
Secondly and if not… why do they have reason to suspect that it is MORE likely that someone will come in and start shooting than any of those things will happen? Exactly what kind of place is this to work in?
And finally, this is what Kentucky police officers consider to be forward thinking? Exactly what kind of employment practices does this company have if they feel the need to drill for the violently disgruntled?
