BTW, I don't think the money was given to the Beshear campaign, but to a 527 (remember Swift Boat Veterans). The 527 ran TV ads supporting the positions of Beshear or attacking Fletcher, i don't remember which.

 

I too am glad that this board has moved to the side of public financing of elections so that we can remove all of the special interest contributions, b/c we know that the republicans (Mitch) are excellent at raising that money.

As I recall, most Fletcher critics focused on hypocrisy because they could not deny that the Democratic governors who preceded him engaged in the same hiring practices. Apparently it is OK to rake in $million donations from out of staters seeking to influence Kentucky's legislative agenda because cleaning up state government was not a cornerstone of Beshear's campaign.

 

Thank God Beshear did not set himself for allegations of being a hypocrite! Gov. Beshear can now deliver the kind of government for which his supporters have paid. :lol:

Yung is from Kentucky, you know.

The money went to Bluegrass Freedom Fund, which spent 3 million on the campaign... which goes on top of the 6.8 from Beshear. That percentage of money just keeps shrinking.

Didn't you say earlier in the thread that Beshear ALREADY supported casinos before Yung's donation? Methinks you're missing the smoking gun here.

Methinks you are not reading the previous posts closely enough. I have already said that if I had evidence of a crime, I would have already blown the whistle on Beshear.

 

In politics, the appearance of impropriety can be as damaging as criminal actions. This is a case of smoke without a gun. I have no idea why Beshear supports casino gambling and I have no idea when and if Yung (or his people) first made contact with Beshear (or his people) - and I am guessing that neither do you.

I have no idea why Beshear supports casino gambling and I have no idea when and if Yung (or his people) first made contact with Beshear (or his people) - and I am guessing that neither do you.

I have no idea if the Vatican started supporting drinking wine before or after they bought their first cask... do we think there's a big conspiracy of vineyards in the Catholic church?

:lol:

The money went to Bluegrass Freedom Fund, which spent 3 million on the campaign... which goes on top of the 6.8 from Beshear. That percentage of money just keeps shrinking.

I never said that the $1 million dollars was part of Beshear's campaign expenditures. I only compared the size of the donation to a special interest group that worked to get Beshear elected to the size of Beshear's campaign war chest. (Please try quoting my posts instead of inaccurately paraphrasing them and responding to statements that I did not make.)

I never said that the $1 million dollars was part of Beshear's campaign expenditures. I only compared the size of the donation to a special interest group that worked to get Beshear elected to the size of Beshear's campaign war chest. (Please try quoting my posts instead of inaccurately paraphrasing them and responding to statements that I did not make.)

 

I never claimed you did say that, so tone the personal attacks back if you don't mind... but you never mentioned the other total, either. Just trying to help you get all the facts out there.:thumb:

I have no idea if the Vatican started supporting drinking wine before or after they bought their first cask... do we think there's a big conspiracy of vineyards in the Catholic church?

:lol:

Pretty weak analogy.:lol:

 

Campaign contributions influence the behavior of elected politicians. That is why special interest groups work to get their candidates elected. A million-dollar donation by a single casino owner to get a candidate elected in a state where casino gambling is illegal is very suspicious. If anybody thinks otherwise, I wonder what type of contribution would raise a red flag for them.

Pretty weak analogy.:lol:

 

Campaign contributions influence the behavior of elected politicians. That is why special interest groups work to get their candidates elected. A million-dollar donation by a somg;e casino owner to get a candidate elected in a state where casino gambling is illegal is very suspicious. If anybody thinks otherwise, I wonder what type of contribution would raise a red flag for them.

Yes, very strange that he would support the election of a governor who wants to make his livelihood legal in the state...

I never claimed you did say that, so tone the personal attacks back if you don't mind... but you never mentioned the other total, either. Just trying to help you get all the facts out there.:thumb:

I clearly stated that the $1 million dollar donation was not made directly to Beshear and if you reviewed my posts you know that is the case. The total amount of contributions to the same group is irrelevant and there was no reason for me to bring it into the discussion. As for personal attacks, I made none.

I clearly stated that the $1 million dollar donation was not made directly to Beshear and if you reviewed my posts you know that is the case. The total amount of contributions to the same group is irrelevant and there was no reason for me to bring it into the discussion. As for personal attacks, I made none.

1) If the total from Beshear is relevant, then in my opinion so is the total from BFF. But if you disagree, that's fine; I just don't see how, without mentioning you or your posts at all, my quoting those statistics meant that I was "inaccurately paraphrasing them and responding to statements that I did not make." For the record, I was responding to acemona's questions about the 527 group.

 

2) I'm very glad that we've cleared all this business about personal attacks and misquoting... now we can talk about the issue and not each other.:thumb:

I hope the casinos happen, with that, I find no fault in what Beshear did, or Yung...

1) If the total from Beshear is relevant, then in my opinion so is the total from BFF. But if you disagree, that's fine; I just don't see how, without mentioning you or your posts at all, my quoting those statistics meant that I was "inaccurately paraphrasing them and responding to statements that I did not make." For the record, I was responding to acemona's questions about the 527 group.

 

2) I'm very glad that we've cleared all this business about personal attacks and misquoting... now we can talk about the issue and not each other.:thumb:

There is really not much left to discuss. IMO, this is the same kind of shenanigans that has earned Kentucky state government its reputation for corrupt government. It amazes me that the people who attacked Ernie Fletcher for continuing some of the crooked hiring practices of his Democratic predecessors see no problem with Yung's donation. I cannot help believing if Beshear was a Republican, there would be demands for an investigation or some kind of "reform" initiative put forward by Democrats.

 

This is my last post on this subject. Kentucky has the state government that it deserves and its concerned Democrats continue to wonder why companies are so reluctant to locate major operations there. Wilkinson, Patton, Beshear,...the Democratic procession of ethical governance continues.:lol:

So what should Beshear have done differently, so as not to earn your ire? How could Beshear have stopped Yung's donation to an independent 527?

 

If you consider all the factors, I think this is a non-issue.

Beshear supports Casinos because he has close ties to the horse industry, as do most politicians in this state. The horse industry is really the one that wants the casinos so that they can increase their purses and attract better races to the tracks in Kentucky. Tracks in other parts of the country are already associated with Casinos so that they can have the big purses and thus we are losing some ground in the horse industry.

 

Beshear was probably a supporter of Gambling before Yung and will be a supporter after. Yung comes late to this party and was simply doing his part and exercising his freedom of speech.

 

Gambling by the way is not illegal in kentucky.

 

And if you think Beshear created this budget mess, well . . . How about a poor tax code and Grover Nordquist. I think both have played a significant role.