KY's Number One Homophobe To Challenge Jack "Conscience of the Commonwealth" Conway For Governor

Well of course he's going to run.  Because Loser Mongiardo never learns. And because he still panics at the slightest hint of gay rights.

Sam Youngman at the Herald:

Daniel Mongiardo, the former lieutenant governor and 2010 challenger to Conway for the Democratic U.S. Senate nomination, said in a wide-ranging interview with the Herald-Leader late last month that he is considering a run for the governor's mansion.

"If I get in this race, I will be a late entrant," Mongiardo said. "I know the roads to every county. And I've traveled them, and I've driven them personally. So I know how to get there, and I know who to call when I get there. And if they've committed to somebody else, so be it. I'll take those chances."

Like other Democrats who have been mentioned as possible candidates, Mongiardo is adamant that he would not announce a run before November "because we have to have a friend who's going to help us with these kinds of ideas in Washington."

In a follow-up email Tuesday, after Conway announced he had raised more than $750,000 in his first seven weeks as a candidate, Mongiardo accused Conway of hurting Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes' efforts to defeat Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

"Alison deserves better," Mongiardo said. "Our party deserves better. Should I decide to run for governor, it will not only be a campaign for our commonwealth's future, it will be a campaign for the soul of our Democratic Party."

Former State Auditor Crit Luallen, who considered her own bid for the governor's mansion, said it's "inappropriate" and "disingenuous" to attack Conway over fundraising because he has raised significant amounts for Grimes and House Democrats.

"I would challenge anyone who's criticizing Jack to detail how much they've done for those fall races," Luallen said.

"campaign for the soul of the Democratic Party"  Translation: Conway refused to appeal a federal court decision granting marriage rights to gay couples, so Mongiardo has to run to represent the freakazoid homophobic haters who will never, ever, ever vote Democratic.

We'll know whether he's serious if he shows up at Fancy Farm August 2.

Not that it matters.  Conway will crush him in the Democratic primary on his way to getting crushed in turn by Jamie Comer in November 2015.

"These arguments are not those of serious people."

Judge Heyburn did not let us down; he wordsmithed a homophobe slapdown decision as good as any yet to appear from federal district courts legalizing gay marriage faster than you can wave a rainbow flag at them.

Seriously, whether Steve Beshear sincerely thinks these lawyers know what they are doing or whether he is deliberately throwing the case, he needs to pay their fees out of his own pocket, not the taxpayers', because this is just pathetic.

Wonkette, which calls the decision "the best thing to from Kentucky since Hunter Thompson":

If it’s Tuesday, this must be another post about a federal judge throwing out a state law banning same-sex marriage. The lucky winner this time around is Kentucky, where U.S. District Judge John G. Heyburn II overturned the state’s 2004 constitutional amendment against gay unions, writing another of those decisions (PDF link) that aim for a memorable turn of phrase:

In America, even sincere and long-hold religious beliefs do not trump the constitutional rights of those who happen to have been out-voted.

Yep, that’s pretty good. But is there more? There is more.

Judge Heyburn put the ruling on hold, since there are several other marriage equality cases at the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, so sorry, no rushing off to the county courthouse just yet. Except maybe to wave a sign that mostly says hooray for our side.

As you may recall, Kentucky’s anti-gay amendment was so lousy that the state’s hot Attorney General, Democrat Jack Conway, announced that he would not defend the thing, so Gov. Steve Beshear, also a Democrat, hired an outside firm to defend the law.

And now the Money Quote for this case: the only defense that the state presented for keeping the law was that “traditional” marriages keep the birth rate stable and help to ensure the state’s long-term economic stability, claims that Heyburn almost seemed irked by, saying, “These arguments are not those of serious people”:

Even assuming the state has a legitimate interest in promoting procreation, the Court fails to see, and Defendant never explains, how the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage has any effect whatsoever on procreation among heterosexual spouses.  

Excluding same-sex couples from marriage does not change the number of heterosexual couples who choose to get married, the number who choose to have children, or the number of children they have … The Court finds no rational relation between the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage and the Commonwealth’s asserted interest in promoting naturally procreative marriages

And if he was unconvinced by the “stable birth rate” argument, Heyburn seems almost irritated that the state wastes his time with by the “economic stability” claim:

The state’s attempts to connect the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage to its interest in economic stability and in “ensuring humanity’s continued existence” are at best illogical and even bewildering. These arguments fail for the precise reasons that Defendant’s procreation argument fails.  

Numerous courts have repeatedly debunked all other reasons for enacting such laws. The Court can think of no other conceivable legitimate reason for Kentucky’s laws excluding same-sex couples from marriage.

Once again, Yr Wonkette is compelled to note that Kentucky appears to have escaped the day without a single thunderbolt, meteor, seismic event, or plague of boils being visited upon the state by a vengeful Jehovah. This brings to 21 the number of federal courts that have thrown out state bans on marriage equality, and even though Yr Wonkette hasn’t covered every single one of them, it is getting increasingly difficult to say anything new or creative about them. Isn’t that terrific?

Yeah, of course Beshear is appealing, because no amount of money is too much to waste when it comes to appeasing hateful, homophobic freakazoids.

Also, Fuck You Dan Mongiardo and let's all lift our glasses to Ernesto Scorsone.*

*Then state senator Mongiardo sponsored the hate amendment.  There is a famous picture of him laughing in the background as fellow state Senator Scorsone, who later came out as gay, spoke passionately against the bill on the floor of the Senate in 2004.

Blue Dog Scumbag to the End

Mangy's "supporters" are all repugs who were never going to vote Democratic in November anyway, but it's good to have proof of his perfidy nevertheless.

From the Herald:

Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo said Tuesday that he is “not taking a position” in the U.S. Senate race between Democrat Jack Conway and Republican Rand Paul.

“I have spoken with Jack Conway the week after election day and haven’t heard from him since,” Mongiardo said Tuesday night before speaking at the Community Action Council’s Poverty Forum in downtown Lexington.

Mongiardo, a physician from Hazard, was defeated by Conway in the Democratic primary last month by less than 1 percentage point.

Awww, poor baby - Conway didn't beg for his support and hurt Mangy's tiny widdle feewings.

Look for Mangy to keep backstabbing Conway every chance he gets.

And he's lying about not challenging Beshear in next year's gubernatorial primary.

E. KY Doctor Killed for Refusing Pills to Addict

Wonder why mountain doctors often enable their obviously addicted patients by continue to prescribe narcotics? This is why:

A man seeking prescription painkillers shot and killed a doctor at a Perry County medical clinic Tuesday morning, according to state police.

Dr. Dennis Sandlin, 57, of Delphia died after being shot at Leatherwood/Blackey Medical Clinic in Cornettsville.

John Combs, 46, of Redfox in neighboring Knott County, was arrested after the shooting, state police said. Combs has been charged with murder.

SNIP

"We've all seen patients become visibly upset" when they didn't get the drugs they wanted, said Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo, a doctor from Perry County who said he has known Sandlin for years.

"Here's someone who came back home to help his community ... an innocent victim of a problem that is an epidemic throughout this state."

Wooton said he understood Sandlin previously had been involved in an incident in which he physically fought with a man seeking drugs.

"Denny knocked him out," Wooton said.

But generally, Sandlin was "a very gentle person," Mongiardo said.

"He was very laid-back, mild-mannered, never raised his voice," Mongiardo said. "I can't begin to tell you how heartbroken we all are. He's taken care of generations of families."

Caudill said Sandlin was well-loved. He had recently participated in a program to collect $10,000 worth of Christmas gifts for children.

The gifts are to be distributed next Tuesday, Caudill said.

Sandlin would take time to talk with patients, and he was "particularly gifted" at caring for older people, Wooton said.

The clinic is closed until Monday.

"MCHC is a family and will pull together to overcome this," Caudill said.

The non-profit Mountain Comprehensive Health Corp. is based in Whitesburg and is one of the largest rural health centers in Kentucky, according to its Web site.

Read the whole thing.

Because Kentucky Needs More Democratic Cowards in Congress

So you're one of the top two candidates for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate, and what you really need is a way to separate yourself from your primary competition. Hey, how about using a statewide conference of Democratic women to condem the Stupak "wire hanger" Amendment and announce your strong support of the healthcare public option desperately needed by Kentuckians?

Jack? Dan? (crickets)

This is no longer about the issues. This is now a contest of who can be a bigger sniveling, repug-fellating coward.

Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo and Attorney General Jack Conway refused Saturday to say whether they would have voted for a health care reform bill that passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Nov. 7.

But the other two Democratic candidates for the U.S. Senate who appeared at an event hosted by the Women’s Network, a group that pushes the Democratic agenda in Kentucky, said they would have supported the bill.

Darlene Fitzgerald Price, a retired customs officer from McCreary County, said that she would prefer a single-payer health care system like the one in Canada, but would have backed the House proposal even though it didn’t go far enough.

She called the House plan “a big butt kiss for the insurance companies” but said she would have supported it because “60 percent of something is better than 100 percent of nothing.”

Maurice Sweeney, a businessman from Eastwood, said he would have supported the measure because he believes the current system is broken and something needs to be done to fix it — although he isn’t sure the plan is exactly what’s needed.

“I’m a firm believer that you work with what you’ve got,” he said.

I'd recommend you read the whole thing if Joe Gerth hadn't wasted precious column inches repeating false and idiotic Village conventional wisdom.

No, Joe: Mangy and Unway aren't front-runners because they are more high profile; they are more high-profile because you and the rest of the state media ignore their competitors, including Price and Sweeney.

No, Joe: you can't claim Kentucky voters are "concerned about rising federal spending" until you produce poll numbers proving it. Meanwhile, try calling random phone numbers and asking people which they're prefer: affordable health care or a balanced federal budget.

No, Joe: letting supposed "front runners" spout without challenge lies that have been repeatedly debunked isn't journalism; it's transcription.

I'm still in pox-on-all-their-houses mode, but if you're interested, here are the websites for Price and Sweeney.

Repugs' Favorite Pollster Finds Grayson, Conway Tied

Jake has the scoop:

Rasmussen just released its 2010 U.S. Senate tracking poll for Kentucky:

Scenario 1:
Trey Grayson 44%
Daniel Mongiardo 37%
Some Other Candidate 4%
Not Sure 14%

Scenario 2:
Rand Paul 43%
Daniel Mongiardo 38%
Some Other Candidate 6%
Not Sure 13%

Scenario 3:
Trey Grayson 40%
Jack Conway 40%
Some Other Candidate 3%
Not Sure 17%

Scenario 4:
Rand Paul 38%
Jack Conway 42%
Some Other Candidate 4%
Not Sure 15%

And you folks still wanna run Daniel Mongiardo?

More details from the poll:

Thirteen percent (13%) of the state’s voters have a very favorable view of Grayson, while three percent (3%) regard him very unfavorably. Paul has 16% very favorables and nine percent (9%) very unfavorables.

As for the Democrats, Mongiardo is seen very favorably by 17% and very unfavorably by 18%. Seventeen percent (17%) have a very favorable opinion of Conway, with 11% who view him very unfavorably.

Check it all out here.

Obviously Jack Conway's freakazoid-fellating is making a much deeper impression with the godbots who are inexplicably allowed to vote in Kentucky than Dr. Dan's coal industry deep-throating is making on the poor deluded suckers who think coal can save their jobless asses.

A pox on all their fucking houses. Rasmussen's useful mostly in the negative, establishing the outlier results every other poll contradicts. Primary's still more than 7 months away, deadline for filing still almost four months away.

Still time for a Kentucky Alan Grayson to step forward.

Stay Classy, Mangy.

The shotgun alliance between Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear and U.S. Senate candidate Lt. Gov. Dan Mongiardo was bound to lead to some awkward moments, but this is beyond the fevered dreams of nihilists.

Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo used profanity as he criticized Gov. Steve Beshear and his support of Mongiardo’s U.S. Senate candidacy in a recording posted last week on the Internet.

In the recording, which was placed on YouTube by someone using the name “senrace2010,” Mongiardo is heard saying he is so frustrated with Beshear that he is “close to saying f— it all. I do not need this job. I do not need the U.S. Senate.”

Mongiardo is also heard saying that Beshear, who has endorsed Mongiardo, will be remembered as the state’s “worst” governor and that a “blowup” is coming.

Mongiardo spokesman Kim Geveden said the audio tape was “edited” and that Mongiardo “strongly supports” Beshear.

“He supports him now and he supports him for reelection in 2011,” Geveden said in a statement. “He believes Governor Beshear has provided strong leadership and a steady hand during some of the most difficult times in our Commonwealth’s history.

Geveden declined to answer specific questions about the veracity of the tape, including when and where it might have been recorded.

Earlier Monday, the Mongiardo campaign released a video of Beshear praising Mongiardo at a Sept. 23 fund-raiser in Northern Kentucky.

In that tape, Beshear called Mongiardo “the next United States senator,” praised his knowledge of health care issues and lauded his work on an adventure tourism project.

The U.S. Senate campaign of Attorney General Jack Conway, Mongiardo’s chief rival in May’s Democratic primary election, said Monday that Mongiardo “has a lot of explaining to do to the governor and the people” about the anonymous tape.

Beshear spokesman Jay Blanton said Monday evening that “the Governor continues to strongly support Lt. Gov. Mongiardo’s candidacy for the U.S. Senate.” He declined to comment on the YouTube recording.

SNIP

In the recording of Mongiardo, he is heard saying “the only difference between (former Republican Gov. Ernie) Fletcher and Beshear is Beshear has not had a blowup yet. But it is coming.”

Mongiardo is also heard saying he has “zero loyalties with Beshear” and criticizes Beshear for raising funds for his 2011 re-election campaign while Mongiardo is trying to raise money for his U.S. Senate campaign next year.

“He (Beshear) is screwing me every way possible … and what do I get out of it … We finally begged him to show up for one in Northern Kentucky. He is not going to lift a finger, he is not going to do a damn thing, he is just going to show up and his name is going to be on the … listen there is no love."

Read the whole thing.

You Shouldn't Have Apologized, Jack

The first independent poll of the U.S. Senate race in Kentucky has Dan Mongiardo up 39-31 over Jack Conway among Democratic respondents.

Cross-tabs aren't available yet, and the respondents weren't likely voters, but only one politically significant thing has happened in this race in the last month, since Conway smashed state fundraising records with $1.3 million in the second quarter, out-raising Mongiardo four to one.

That one thing is Conway wimping out and caving to Dr. Dan's prissy demand that he apologize for referring to himself as a "tough son of a bitch." Instead of apologizing, here's what Conway should have said:

"Hey, Dan: I'm just a tough son of a bitch, but you're a lying, puling, corporate-cock-sucking motherfucker."

As Media Czech points out, an eight-point gap puts the lie to Mongiardo's claim of a 20-point lead from a manipulated internal poll in May. Jake has more details.

But the bigger lesson here is that Conway can't beat Mongiardo by competing for the Chandler/DINO/Blue Dog/repug-fellating vote; Dan's got that locked up.

Here's what you do, Jack:

• Congratulate Mongiardo on his 8-point lead, and urge him to enjoy it - it won't last long.

• Condemn Ben Chandler's and John Yarmuth's surrender to the private insurance lobbies, and declare yourself four-square in favor of single-payer/robust public option for health care reform.

• Call down shame on Mongiardo for abandoning his home region to Death By Mountaintop Removal, and declare yourself four-square in favor of tight restrictions on carbon emissions combined with heavy public investment in non-coal clean energy.

• Publicly reject Jonathan Miller's endorsement, and declare that you are also rejecting 217 years of Kentucky politicians serving themselves instead of their constituents.

Grab this opportunity, Jack - set yourself apart. If you don't, you're going to lose the Democratic primary to the most pathetic Senate candidate this state has ever offered up.

Cross-posted at They Gave Us A Republic ....

The "Real Obscenity" in the Kentucky Senate Race

In his speech at Fancy Farm August 1, Attorney General Jack Conway referred to himself as a "tough son of a bitch," causing widespread pearl-clutching and fainting among followers of fancy city boy Dan Mongiardo, who immediately squeaked a foot-stamping demand that Conway apologize for language that wouldn't shock a three-year-old.

Via Page One, departing Courier-Journal editor David Hawpe calls out Mongiardo for his anti-Kentucky hypocrisy.

The real obscenity is the slavish devotion of his opponent, Daniel Mongiardo, to the coal industry. Mongiardo defends the indefensible — mountaintop removal strip mining — as a way to create the kind of flat land that poverty-stricken Eastern Kentucky needs. Never mind that widespread scalping of hills will leave thousands of acres flat and empty land, miles and miles from hookups to basic utility services and existing centers of population and commerce. What Mongiardo considers a viable development strategy will create, instead, an archipelago of environmental ruin in the coalfields.

What then?

When no use can be found for these islands of desolation, will then-Sen. Mongiardo propose the creation of our first national ATV park and name it for Bill Sturgill, who pioneered the joys and benefits of strip mining in Eastern Kentucky?

Talk about profane.

Read the whole thing.

Jake Drops the Hammer on Dr. Dan

He was warned. Page One Kentucky has been saying for months that if Lt. Gov. Dan Mongiardo didn't stop lying and backstabbing, Jake would start publishing all the dirt he's got on Kentucky's favorite homophobic, coal-industry-fellating, DINO Senate candidate.

Mongiardo's disgusting performance at Fancy Farm last weekend was the last straw.

The mainstream media may not talk about your problems, but I sure the heck will. You’ve trashed me about the state for reporting the facts enough that I’ll never shut up.

You can complain all day long about Jack Conway saying he’s a “tough son of a bitch.” Have at it.

But suggesting he should apologize? Haha. Let’s talk about apologizing.

Read the whole thing for the stunning, hilarious and probably less-than-comprehensive list of things for which Mongiardo needs to apologize.

I don't even have to mention that the only thing more embarassing than Mongiardo's pregnant wife mistaking the Graves County Democratic Party Pancake Breakfast for a frat party was her husband, the Lt. Governor who wants to be a U.S. Senator, clapping and cackling and cheering her on like a drunk at a strip joint.

Baseless Senate Race Speculation

How about a 2010 Senate Race Nightmare Scenario to go with your morning coffee?

No one doubts that Jim Bunning hates Mitch McConnell and the rest of the republican party leadership with a white-hot flame. Back in the spring, he threatened to step down, handing Democratic Governor Steve Beshear the chance to fill the seat with a Democrat.

But that was before Beshear endorsed - albeit as weakly as possible - his lite guv Dan Mongiardo in the Senate race.

And that was before Jack Conway blew the doors off political fundraising in Kentucky with a second-quarter haul of $3.25 million - more than four times what Mongiardo raised.

So here's the nightmare scenario:

Bunning, senile and infuriated, fails to take the changed topography into account and steps down in an attempt to fuck over McConnell by handing Harry Reid a 61st Senator.

But this puts Beshear into an impossible bind. He knows now that Mongiardo is an inexcusably weak candidate, but having endorsed Dr. Dan he can't name somebody else to the seat without looking like an idiot.

So Beshear names Mongiardo to the U.S. Senate, where he attaches himself by the hip to the un-Democratic Blue Dogs and votes against health care reform. A proud-and-out homophobe, Mongiardo also votes against repealing DADT and DOMA.

Next year, republican Trey Grayson slaughters Mongiardo in the general election, keeping the seat safely in McConnell's hands.

There is one way Beshear can avoid that outcome, assuming Bunning does leap off that cliff: he can announce that for the good of the Commonwealth, he can't undermine the integrity of the Democratic primary by appointing someone who is already a candidate. So he appoints someone who is unlikely to run for re-election next year, someone who is a Real Democrat who can be counted on to vote with President Obama, someone to whom neither Mongiardo nor Conway can object.

U.S. Senator Julian Carroll, anyone?

Bunning Announces Retirement; Senate Race Now Wide Open

I hate to be the wet blanket here, but Jim Bunning's withdrawal from the 2010 Senate race is not necessarily good news for Democrats.

The republican candidate is no longer a senile, unpopular, broke incumbent hated by his own party leaders, a candidate even Dan Mongiardo could beat.

No, the presumptive republican candidate is now young, smart, popular, rolling-in-dough, loved-by-his-party-leaders Secretary of State Trey Grayson, whom even Jack Conway is going to have trouble beating.

So, Democratic voters, activists, fundraisers and campaigners in Kentucky and nationwide: stop celebrating. Hunker down, dig in and start working. This one's not going to be easy.

Cross-posted at They Gave Us A Republic ....

Dan Mongiardo Copies Sarah Palin

The prospect of losing an election he thought was in the bag can make a politician do stupid things. It made Bill Clinton talk like a racist, it made John McCain choose a running mate who guaranteed his landslide loss, and it's making Dan Mongiardo antagonize the voters he can't win without.

Robert Farley at Lawyers, Guns and Money explains:

Apart for the electoral stupidity, the notion that Louisville isn't the "real Kentucky" rankles in the same way as Sarah Palin's assertions about "Real America." Dividing the country between the pure heartland and the decadent urban cesspools has been a Republican electoral tactic since at least the 1960s, and it still carries a heavy stench of exclusion. One out of every six citizens of Kentucky lives in Louisville, and they're just as real as anyone else in the state. More importantly, their votes count just as much; there is no Electoral College for the US Senate in Kentucky. I detest the notion that rural voters are somehow more authentic than urban voters, and this seems to be what the Mongiardo folks are pushing in order to explain away a weak fundraising quarter.

Read the whole thing.

Broke, Humiliated Mongiardo Keeps Lying About Cap and Trade

From the Paducah Sun, via Penn Energy.

Mongiardo, seeking the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate next year, said at a Paducah news conference (July 15) that the so-called "Cap and Trade Bill" would increase electric rates in Kentucky by at least 70 percent, harm the state's coal industry, and force steel and aluminum plants to close.

As the story was written by Bill Bartleman of the wingnut Paducah Sun, do I need to tell you that Bartleman made no attempt to counter Mongiardo's lies with the facts?

On Sunday, Joe Gerth at the Courier-Journal discussed Mongiardo's and Jack Conway's views on cap-and-trade, and although he let Dan get away with lying for several opening grafs, eventually he pointed out the facts.

There is agreement that the legislation would cost consumers more, but estimates of those costs vary. And the legislation that passed the House attempted to offset some of the costs.

E.On U.S., the parent company of LG&E and Kentucky Utilities, has said that residential customers in Kentucky would see their rates rise about $10.50 a month in three years and about $19 by 2020. Commercial customers could see their rates rise as much as 39 percent by 2020.

Let's review: on the same day that Mongiardo's campaign admitted that in the second quarter it raised less than one-fourth of what Conway raised, Mongiardo goes to DINO-friendly territory to claim cap-and-trade would almost double electric rates, apparently immediately.

This after the biggest electricity supplier in Kentucky explains that cap-and-trade will cause no increase for three years, and then raise rates slowly over the next eight years to a maximum of $19 per month per household. For me, that's a 20 percent increase eleven years from now.

Dan Mongiardo: liar, corporate shill, homophobe, pathetic fundraiser, incompetent campaigner, loser.

New Questions About the 2010 Senate Race

Now that we finally know just how few pennies Dan Mongiardo managed to beg from even his BFFs in the Magic Buggy Whip industry, here are some new questions that need to be answered ASAP:

How long will it take for the MSM to stop referring to the Homophobe-in-Chief as the "favorite" to challenge Jim Bunning?

Will Dan Mongiardo drop out of the race before Governor Beshear names somebody else to be his running mate in 2011?

If he does, will Beshear take him back?

If Beshear pretends he didn't hear about Dr. Dan dropping out and goes ahead and names another running mate, will Mongiardo resign or go for the Lame Duck Embarassment Guinness World Record?

If Mongiardo doesn't drop out before Beshear names another running mate, how long will he stay in the race?

If he stays in the race, how much money is he likely to raise in the third quarter, and will anyone take my bet that it will be less than 50K?

If he stays in the race, will he dare to show his face at Fancy Farm? If he does, can we get Jon Stewart to MC?

If he actually stays in the race all the way through the primary election in May, how few votes will he get, and will anyone actually admit casting one of them?

If Mongiardo drops out, will anyone else jump into the race to challenge Conway? And if nobody does, will we all die of boredom before May?

It's now about four hours since the news broke about Mongiardo's pathetic fundraising - has Jack Conway's campaign staff stopped laughing yet?

It's the Money, Stupid

UPDATE 7:05 p.m. Three hundred grand? Are you fucking kidding me? I think my local girl scout troop did more than $300K in cookies this March. Read Media Czech's full takedown.

It's now been a week since Lt. Gov. Dan Mongiardo's Senate campaign said it would release its second-quarter fundraising totals.

But first thing that morning, Attorney General Jack Conway's Senate campaign announced that Conway had set new Kentucky fundraising records by collecting $1.325 million.

We've been waiting for Mongiardo's numbers ever since. We're still waiting.

Now Page One Kentucky reports a rumor that Mongiardo's fundraising fell short of Conway's by a million dollars.

Taylor Shelton wondered in comments how soon Mongiardo would drop out of the race.

Last Thursday, I speculated in comments at Barefoot and Progressive that Mongiardo would raise less than $500K, and would raise less in his own home region of Eastern Kentucky than the $125,000 Louisvillian Conway raised in the same region.

I don't think Mongiardo's going to drop out, no matter how little money he raised in the second quarter. I think he's going to keep lying, and shilling for the Magic Buggy Whip industry, and fucking over Eastern Kentucky, and bashing gays, and whining about those mean ol' liberal bloggers and how much they love that elitist Jack Conway right up until the day after the 2010 May primary when he sets a new Kentucky record for fewest votes cast.

MTR Thugs

So, it seems the people blasting mountains to smithereens are not just thugs in how they treat irreplaceable mountains, forests and streams, but also thugs in the way they interact with their peaceful neighbors.

What a lovely site (sic): fat, drunken, violent pro-corporate thugs just dying to bring bloodshed to a peaceful 4th of July celebration.

Via Barefoot and Progressive, which points out that these thugs are MTR-lover Dan Mongiardo's supporters.

Dr. Dan Channels His Inner Mitch McConnell

It appears the real reason Mitch McConnell doesn't want Jim Bunning to run for re-election is because homophobic DINO, coal industry apologist and no-hoper Senate candidate Lt. Gov. Dan Mongiardo would be a more reliable republican vote.

Page One nails it:

Daniel Mongiardo says he supports universal health care but not socialized medicine. And he rattles on with Republican talking points about cap and trade.

“The Cap and Trade is basically putting a tax on carbon, on CO2, which means anything that produces CO2, coal being number one, is going to be impacted negatively,” says Mongiardo.

Even though Mongiardo endorsed president Obama in the presidential election, he says the Cap and Trade bill is one area they do not agree on. “The tax that’s going to be levied on Kentucky families, Kentucky businesses, and our economy would be devastating. There’s no way that anyone in this whole state could possibly be “for” this Cap and Trade.”

But Mongiardo says he does agree with the President’s views on health care. “I am for universal health care where everyone has some form of insurance of some form of coverage. I am certainly not for socialized medicine.

What does he think government-run health care is? Socialized medicine, single-payer, universal. It’s all the same thing run by the same government for the same people. Does Lt. Dan think Kentuckians are stupid?

You’ll want want to watch WKYT/WYMT’s story. Click here for that.

Dan Mongiardo: Corporate whore, repug shill, shameless liar or hopeless idiot? How about all of the above? And who cares?

Jack Conway for Senate.

2010 Senate Update: Lt. Col. Andrew Horne Endorses Jack Conway

As Media Czech puts it:

Let's try to see (Dan Mongiardo campaign manager) Kim Geveden call him an elite effete pussy...

Many of my friends, supporters and colleagues have asked for my opinion regarding the Democratic primary for the 2010 United States Senate seat for Jim Bunning's seat.

This is a particularly tough question because currently we have two talented, well-liked Democrats running.

I am endorsing Jack Conway for three specific reasons:

First, I believe Jack gives us the best shot of winning in 2010 especially since it is unlikely that Jim Bunning will survive his Party's nominating process. Jack will proudly fight for our progressive ideals and we all now understand Democrats cannot win by simply being safe regional candidates. More importantly, we need a new brand of political leaders if Kentucky and our country is to make its way through the challenges of this century.

Second, as someone who proudly served in combat, in Iraq, it is clear to me that we need Senators who will ask the tough question and stand up to the powerful. Jack will be that kind of Senator. He is also the kind of man who will not let us forget the sacrifice our men and women made on the battlefield when they come home injured and in need of care. Accountability has taken a back seat to expediency in Washington over the past decade. Our new President gives us hope for a new day, but it is important to remember that Presidents serve relatively short terms and we have long-term challenges before us. As Attorney General and as a lawyer, Jack has proved he is willing to fight for the people and ask the tough questions.

Third, we need a Senator who will tackle a diverse set of issues. Kentucky has many challenges and while I admire Lt. Governor Mongiardo's effort on health care it is important that our next United States Senator have a broad background and intellectual curiosity. The question is not what is known today but what are the issues we will deal with in this changing world. Jack's experience in the governor's office, as a private lawyer, and as Attorney General will be beneficial to Kentucky.

Simply said, I believe Jack Conway has the tools to become a great United States Senator and has the ability to lead our Commonwealth for years into the future.

Please join me in supporting Jack Conway by signing up to volunteer or contribute at www.jackconway.org. By showing strong support for Jack now early in the game we are laying the ground work for the tough road ahead.

Semper Fidelis,

Andrew Horne

Horne, of course, is the retired Marine Lt. Colonel and Iraq veteran who stood up to challenge Mitch McConnell for Senate last year, only to be chased out of the race by national and state DINOs in favor of four-time loser and Democratic Traitor Bruce Lunsford.

Some of those same brain-dead DINOs are trying to promote Coal Industry Shill Mongiardo for Bunning's seat, and it's just too, too sweet that Horne is endorsing Conway. Especially after Gevedon's ham-handed and ridiculous promotion of Dr. Dan as a super-macho killer of defenseless small animals.

Not that Conway has exactly gotten his campaign off to a smooth start. Page One calls out Conway's campaign for a supremely lame online ad. After noting the illegal lack of a "paid for by" line, the broken link to donate, the pathetic ad design and a shitty, slow-loading website, it admonishes:

This is a Senate campaign, not a high school council race. Let’s act like it. Hire a professional development firm that has experience handling high-traffic and high-profile sites. Come on. Mongiardo’s website is currently blowing you out of the water.

We expect all candidates to take campaign finance law seriously. We also have the expectation, as does the general public, that you know what you’re doing. While this lack of a disclaimer is nothing compared to Mongiardo’s dozens of mistakes, there’s still no excuse for it.

UPDATE: Conway camp tells us the ad has been pulled. Good news for those of you who want candidates to adhere to campaign finance law. Apparently the ad did not have the approval of campaign officials before it went live.

Conway's gonna beat Mongiardo in May's Democratic primary, but it won't be the blowout it should be if Conway's campaign keeps taking its lead for granted.

Big Coal Buys Dr. Dan

When an apparently sentient, sane political candidate publicly promotes the destruction of strip-mining as "good for Eastern Kentucky," you can be pretty sure that candidate is in the pocket of Big Coal.

But you don't often see a smoking gun like an email from the industry bragging about its purchase of a potential U.S. Senator.

Page One catches it:

David Moss, Director of Government Affairs for the Kentucky Coal Association, a registered lobbyist agent with the Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission, sent out an email blast begging for campaign contributions on behalf of Daniel Mongiardo to the entire Kentucky Coal Association:

From: David Moss <*****@kentuckycoal.com>
Sent: Mon Jun 22 17:39:20 2009
Subject: [KCA MEMBERSHIP] Fundraising Request

Lieutenant Governor Daniel Mongiardo is requesting all Coal Industry interests to support his campaign for the Democratic Nomination for the 2010 U.S. Senate Election against Attorney General Jack Conway. Lt Gov Mongiardo has continually fought to keep Kentucky a national leader in coal production regardless of the political retribution received from local papers and environmental extremist groups. He is and will remain a Friend of Coal. He desires to collect a large sum of cash before the 2nd quarter reporting period ends next week (June 30). Please send all checks to his campaign address listed below: Dr. Dan for U.S. Senate P.O. Box 4023 Frankfort, Kentucky 40604
————————–
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld

Thought you’d like to see that message, dear readers. Especially because all of us “environmental extremists” and those working at local papers are obviously out for “retribution” - we’re not just out for a discussion of the facts in the U.S. Senate race or anything.

Should be noted that “he desires to collect a large sum of cash” is not sufficient as a campaign solicitation in a federal race. When sending emails like this, the FEC requires that there be ‘paid for by’ language and disclose contribution limits.

Media Czech adds:

There was already no question that Dan Mongiardo was in the pocket of King Coal because of his unequivocal support for the travesty that is mountaintop removal mining. Now, Jake brings home the evidence that King Coal is now actively fundraising for Lt. Dan so that he can help do the bidding of mountaintop removers in the US Senate.

SNIP

This guy shouldn't even come near the Senate. And Kentucky Democrats and Independents of all stripes need to make sure that this doesn't happen.

Let's get behind the candidate that isn't a shill for King Coal and mountaintop removal, eh?

That would be this guy.