Greg Stumbo for Kentucky Senate

A.G. Stumbo discusses Mitch McConnell's Re-Election Prospects

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 01:35:28 GMT

As A.G. Greg Stumbo Fought for Fair Elections

Tue, 18 Sep 2007 16:08:58 GMT

We all know how terrible Mitch McConnell has been for Kentucky and America. Besides rubber-stamping every failed policy of the Bush Administration he has constantly been an opponent of fair elections. From opposing McCain-Feingold, to assuring that money will continue to drive the process, to opposing paper trails, Mitch McConnell does his best to make sure the the big monied special interests that drive his campaign has more clout than the voters of Kentucky and America.

In the 2008 elections a Democrat in Kentucky who believes in fair elections and the rights of ALL Americans to have their votes counted is considering running. His name is Greg Stumbo, the Democratic Attorney General of Kentucky who held our Republican Governor responsible for his unethical and illegal hiring practices. While this is what garnered him national fame, Greg Stumbo's work as A.G. went far beyond that.

One of the things that Greg Stumbo fought for as A.G. of Kentucky was fair elections. Look at this story from two years ago when Greg Stumbo's office issued a minority report on Campaign Finance Reform to the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance:

FRANKFORT KY (September 19, 2005) - Representatives from the Office of the Attorney General are presenting a Minority Report on Campaign Finance Reform to the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance at its regular meeting at 1:30 p.m. today.

In the report, the Attorney General agrees with the Advisory Task Force’s recommendations to the Registry regarding: reenacting exploratory committee provisions, requiring the full disclosure of ballot issue advocacy, mandating electronic filing for candidates spending $25,000 or more and recommending that the General Assembly take action to further regulate vote hauling.

Unfortunately this is where the agreements with the Advisory Task Force ended. Here are some of the things A.G. Stumbo dissented on, and some of the reccomendations A.G. Stumbo made to the task force:

The Task Force recommended that candidates for Governor be permitted to name their running mate for Lt. Governor after the primary. The Attorney General objects as such a recommendation may be unconstitutional.

The Task Force recommended that the contribution limits be increased according to federal limits referencing the Consumer Price Index (“CPI”). The Attorney General objects to the increase to more than double the current contribution limit and objects to the application of the CPI without a cap on what the contribution limit may reach without further legislative action. (NOTE: The contribution limit was $500 in 1992 and was raised to $1,000 in 1996).

I happen to agree with the A.G. on this one. How are we ever going to keep big money from ruling the process if we allow them to donate more and more to control our elected officials? We definately need the limits he describes.

He goes on:

The Task Force recommended that no caps be placed on how much a candidate may loan his campaign with the expectation of repayment after the election. The Attorney General recommends that some limit be placed on candidate loans to avoid the quid pro quo corruption of post-election contributions going to the candidate’s pocketbook.

To me, this proposal is just plain common sense.

Another proposal from Stumbo's office:

The Task Force chose not to consider the regulation of electioneering communications. The Attorney General recommends that the Registry adopt McCain-Feingold provisions and recommends that the legislature adopt language to regulate electioneering communications, rather than maintaining the untenable "magic words" test for express advocacy.

The fact that the Task Force did not even consider regulating electioneering communications was a huge failure on their part. The reccomendations to the Registry and legislature to adopt McCain-Feingold would have been a huge step in the right direction for our state.

Lastly, A.G. Stumbo made this reccomendation:

The Task Force chose not to consider the public financing of elections. The Attorney General recommends that the Registry revisit public financing and recommend to the legislature a more thorough analysis of public financing.

It was a disgrace yet again that the Task Force did not even consider Public Financing of Elections. I am one of the millions of Americans who believe that the only way we will ever achieve truly fair elections is through public financing. It would be nice to have a Senator from Kentucky who at least believes we should study and come up with an accurate analysis of the benefits of this proposal. It seems a Senator Stumbo from Kentucky would help lead us towards this, instead of fighting all forms of progress on this most important issue as McConnell does.

Of course, by the narrowest of margins, the Registry rejected Stumbo's ideas:

By a tie vote, the Task Force rejected the Attorney General’s motion to require the registration and reporting of Section 527 organizations that influence Kentucky elections. Clearly, there is support for the state regulation of these "sham" PACs. The Attorney General recommends that the Registry adopt this position.

Despite this, A.G. Stumbo vowed to continue fighting for fair elections in Kentucky:

I will continue to push for election laws that protect citizens from corruption and hidden influence,” Stumbo said. “We must all pull together in keeping our elections honest and our officials accountable.”

http://ag.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/7CBBD418-9F51-40B9-B606-EBAB9E363303/0/AttorneyGeneralGregStumboMakesRecommendationsonCampaignFinanceReform.htm

Honest elections? Holding elected officials accountable? It is no surprise the Republican Party of Kentucky has already begun to spread rumors of Greg Stumbo's demise in this race, and has set out to smear him. He stands for everything they oppose, namely honest and fair elections not decided by big special interest money and accountability of elected officials for their actions.

We need Greg Stumbo in the Senate fighting for honest and fair elections on the national level. We need another Senator who is at least open to the idea of Public Financing. Greg Stumbo has shown in the past that he will fight for Fair Elections, and that he believes first and foremost that the voters, not the special interests should dictate the direction of our government.

Please go to his Exploratory site and encourage A.G. Stumbo to run against Mitch McConnell here:

http://www.stumbo2008.com/

While your there, contact them with any questions you may have, and better yet, make an investment in the defeat of Mitch McConnell and contribute to a Democrat who is not afraid to fight for what is right!! His site has been recently updated, so please give it a look!!

Best wishes fellow Democrats!!

Stumbo would Fight for the Constitution

Fri, 07 Sep 2007 03:42:06 GMT

There is a candidate here in Kentucky I think has what it takes to defeat Mitch McConnell, Greg Stumbo. Greg Stumbo is Kentucky's Attorney General and spent many years as a prosecuter. He knows firsthand the processes involved in obtaining warrants, and upholding the rule of law and our Constitution.

I wasn't exactly sure how A.G. Stumbo felt about the granting of broad new powers to wiretap without warrants so I emailed them and asked them. Their response in no way disappointed me, and in fact made me proud that I am supporting A.G. Stumbo to run against Mitch McConnell. I would like to share his committee's response to my question, "How does Greg feel about the FISA law called for by Bush and passed by Congress granting expanded wire-tapping authority"? Here it is:

Greg is absolutely not in favor of Expanding the Government's powers to blatently violate the constitution that way. Even as a prosecutor, he understands that prosecuting entities have to have checks and balances, and particularly because of how the Republicans have politicized the Justice Dept.

The simple truth is, if they run into something they believe to be a credible threat, they would have no trouble getting a warrant for the wiretap. They already have very broad latitude. They know that, but they use the fear of terrorism to justify their actions.

Thanks again.

So there you have it fellow Democrats. If we would have had Greg Stumbo in the Senate, there would have been at least one more voice to defend our Constitution. I want to remind everyone that this issue is one of the most important any candidate must face, and A.G. Stumbo's response was just what I wanted to hear.

As the top law enforcement official in Kentucky Greg Stumbo definately believes in upholding the Constitution. He believes in the checks and balances provided all Americans by the Constitution. More importantly, he realizes this bill was a politicizing of the Justice Department, and completely unneccesary. Most importantly, his rhetoric also seems to indicate that he doesn't believe the "War on Terror" should compel lawmakers to ask citizens to give up Constitutional rights.

I personally think they should've just shown competence in doing their duty to the people they were elected to work for like Stumbo did protecting consumers and prosecuting Predators as Kentucky's Attorney General.

We need Greg Stumbo in the Senate. How many Democrats in the Senate DIDN'T take this stance on this most important issue? Just think if the misled ideology of Mitch McConnell was replaced by someone who believes in the rule of law over blindly following partisan agendas and misled ideologies. Just think if it was another Democrat who would proudly stand with the grassroots on Constitutional rights of the American people. I think this answer speaks volumes about the character of Greg Stumbo and his priorities. We can rest assured the protection of the Contitution is at the very top of A.G. Stumbo's list.

Please help us to nominate a Democratic fighter to run against Mitch McConnell. He has been fighting McConnell's underlings and their radical agendas in Kentucky for a long time. It is time he takes the fight to McConnell himself!! Go to his Exploratory Site and tell A.G. Stumbo we need Senators who protect the Constitution first, and encourage him to run!!!:

http://www.stumbo2008.com/

You can also make an investment in the defeat of Mitch McConnell and the protection of our Constitution in the Senate here:

http://www.actblue.com/page/gregstumbo

This to me is the most important Senate race in the nation in 08!!! We could rid ourselves of seeing the sneering face of Mitch McConnell telling us why Progressive change was once again defeated in our time. We could send a definate message to those who would shred the Constitution by defeating Mitch McConnell, and replacing him with Greg Stumbo, a man who believes in the rule of law, and most importantly upholding the Constitution!!!

Best wishes fellow Democrats!!!

Mitch McConnell: The Darth Vader of American Politics

Fri, 07 Sep 2007 02:34:02 GMT

Darth McConnell

As a lifetime devoted Democrat in Western Kentucky I have never been much of a Mitch McConnell fan, but his antics the last few years have even surpassed anything I though remotely possible. From opposing Fair Elections to opposing Children's Healthcare, Mitch McConnell never misses an opportunity to challenge Dick Cheney in his role as the Darth Vader of American politics.

Yes, it is McConnell, not Cheney who is the Darth Vader of American politics. Think about it. Darth Vader was very powerful but never could do anything without the approval of his master. Now think of Mitch McConell. Though elected to represent the people of Kenucky, Darth McConnell must consult with the Emporer before he knows what to do. Long gone are the wise days of Obi-Wan.

Think about his days as Senate Majority Whip. Darth McConnell always had to do master Frist's bidding. He would never break ranks with his master on anything. Yes, his string was pulled and Darth McConnell pranced around with his lightsaber and did his master's bidding. From the defeat of Campaign Finance Reform to the shameful Terry Schiavo incident, Darth McConnell sought out to destroy the Jedi.

Now as Minority leader himself and supposed leader of the Republicans in the Senate, Darth McConnell must once again submit to his master, the Bush Administration. This is most evident on Iraq. Although Darth McConnell is elected to represent the people of Kentucky, who can only be the Jedi, he does his master's bidding to attempt to destroy them by ingnoring their wishes.

Just look at some of this speech given on Aug. 30 in Berea, Kentucky. It lets you know just how much Darth McConnell is slave to the Emperor. First there is this pathetic spewing:

Americans would not accept the “police state” environment that would allow the country to rely on a defense-only strategy against terrorism, McConnell said. While not using the president’s name, the senator agreed in principle with the “offensive strategy” that the Bush administration adopted after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on U.S. soil.

“While a war that drags on for years is bound to be drained of public support, there have been no successful attacks on our homeland in nearly six years,” McConnell said.

He fails to mention how the first attack should have been avoided if it wasn't for the incompetence of the Bush Administration. He fails to mention how the Emperor picked the wrong country and has failed numerous times on numerous opportunities with taxpayer lives and money.

So what does he base this "expert opinion" on?:

He identified al Qaeda, the terrorist organization behind the 2001 terrorist attacks, and Iran as the two biggest threats to American safety. Dealing with those adversaries in their home region would be better than “dealing with them in Washington, D.C., and in New York City,” he said.

A long-term commitment of U.S. troops to the Middle East “should be about us and nobody else,” McConnell said. Iran and al Qaeda, however, also are the biggest security concerns of three U.S. allies in the region, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Israel.

If al-Queda is the problem then why did Darth McConnell and Emporer Bush surrender to them and run off to fight a misled war in Iraq? You notice the one name McConnell fails to mention: Osama bin-Laden who we were told attacked us in the first place? What of our "ally" Saudi Arabia, who sported a majority of the 9-11 attackers? Darth McConnell fails to mention these business associates of the Emperor, who can only be the Trade Federation.

What else did Darth McConnell fail to mention? Well, lets look:

Avoiding the issue of a timetable for withdrawing U.S. troops, which even some his fellow Republican senators have begun to support, McConnell compared his Middle East proposal to the stationing of U.S. troops in South Korea after an armistice ended the Korean conflict in 1953.

So, instead of bringing our troops home, Darth McConnell does the emporer's bidding and uses rhetoric to suggest we should be in Iraq for the next 54 years at least?

And just listen to this, which is very revealing:

Assessments due next month from U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker and Gen. David Petraeus, commander of U.S. troops in Iraq, will still leave questions, said McConnell, who was elected Republican leader of the Senate early this year.

Unless it makes dramatic moves in the next few days, Crocker’s report “will not have much good to say about the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki,” the four-term senator said. Based on what he has heard from colleagues who have visited Iraq this summer, McConnell said Petraeus would likely report the U.S. troop build-up this year “is doing well.”

Now, check out the double-speak. The report will not have anything good to say about the surge, but yet it "is doing well"? We all know how well:

http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-09-04-voa98.cfm

What is really disturbing and insulting is he confirms my suspicions from listening to right wing hacks like Hannity and Limbaugh that they all already know that the Patreaus report is going to reccommend we stay in Iraq even longer, and spend even more money and young lives there. Hannity can only be Greedo, the incompetent bounty hunter, and who else could be the fat stinking tub of lard that is Jabba the Hutt but Rush Limbaugh? Han Solo must've been smuggling Oxycontin!! All of this was not lost on the Jedi who had gathered outside:

The chants of about 60 protesters outside on the sidewalks could be heard inside the Boone Tavern dinning room, as McConnell told a sold-out luncheon of 150 that “the war on terror” was the biggest issue facing the country. There also were about 10 McConnell and war supporters outside.

http://www.richmondregister.com/localnews/local_story_242083313.html

I once called Dick Cheney Darth Cheney, but now I realize Darth McConnell is far more true. Mitch McConnell has earned that name as a powerful man constantly following a misguided leader and doing his evil bidding without question. This may be a good story for Hollywood, but sadly it has bombed at the box office in Washington for the citizens of Kentucky.

As a Kentuckian who wants McConnell defeated, I support Greg Stumbo to run against Mitch McConnell in 2008. I believe Stumbo is a fighter who would stand toe to toe with the vicious Darth McConnell Death Star dollars. Please go to his site and look around and encourage him to run. Email them with any questions you may have. It is here:

http://www.stumbo2008.com/

We can defeat Darth McConnell here in Kentucky and restore balance to the force!!!

Welcome to the Supporters of Greg Stumbo Blog!!

Fri, 07 Sep 2007 01:53:41 GMT

This Blog is dedicated to electing Greg Stumbo to the United States Senate in 2008. Nobody has to tell Democrats in Kentucky or the United States for that matter just how bad Mitch McConnell has been as a Senator. Democrats in Kentucky have watched in horror as Mitch McConnell has rubber-stamped the increasingly failed policies of George W. Bush. They are hungry for a Senator that will fight for their interests instead of the big monied special interests that rule Washington these days. Well don't despair, we have an awesome candidate to rally around.

Greg Stumbo is the current Attorney General of Kentucky. He has a long and distinguished record of public service in Kentucky. He has announced an Exploratory Committee to investigate the possibility of running against Mitch McConnell in the Kentucky Senate race of 2008. I believe he represents our best chance of defeating Mitch McConnell in 2008 and deliver a Senate seat once again to Kentucky Democrats. The stakes are far too high in this next election. There are too many serious problems confronting our state and nation for us to continue to allow Mitch McConnell to rubber-stamp a failed agenda in our name. We need a real public servant who will listen to and respect the opinions of the people who elected him over the big-monied interests in Washington.

Greg Stumbo has always listened to his constituents and served their interests in elected office. Please keep watching our blog as we attempt to get a Democratic fighter to fight against McConnell, and ultimately fight for the interests of the everyday citizens of Kentucky in Washington D.C.!!

Visit his Exploratory site here!!!:

http://www.stumbo2008.com/

Please help us elect a Democratic Fighter from Kentucky to the Senate in 2008!!