Pictures!

"If humidity were an energy source, Kentucky would be Saudi Arabia."

Hmm... guess that makes Missouri Iraq, and South Carolina Kuwait!

During the break, many local notables took the time to chat other people up. Among them were Chris Frost, candidate for the 88th State House seat, Charlie Hoffman, 62nd State House Rep, and Jim Newberry, running for mayor in Lexington.

Change For Kentucky leader Jeremy Horton hands out kudos to the volunteers.

Someone forgot to tell these folks that no one goes to political events when it rains!

Many thanks to all who attended!

Not So Fancy Farm Picnic 2006

Just for the record, the biannual "Not-So-Fancy Farm Picnic" hosted by Change for Kentucky fell in a week when major bands of rain were passing through the state. Discussions of postponing the picnic went on for days before the final decision was made to go on with the picnic as planned. The event was not without bumps. Those setting up for the picnic faced downpour after downpour, and fears that nobody would show up. Yet, despite a sultry evening, continued threats of rain, and wet grass, this year's "Not-So-Fancy Farm" was better attended than the 2004 event. This is quite an accomplishment, especially considering general voter apathy in an off-year election.

If you missed it, you missed a lot of important information about the candidates in the 88th. You missed hearing Chris Frost, candidate for the 88th District House of Representatives seat, talk about his reasons for running. Professor Frost is a first-time candidate, but last night's stump speech indicates he is coming on strong in the race. I hope other readers were there last night to meet and talk to him in person. If not, his message and his vision for the 88th can be found on his web site. Just click on the link to the left of this post.

Justin Dobbs, candidate for the 7th District City Council seat, also spoke briefly. I have already stated my reasons for supporting Dobbs in this race, and will not go into them here. I do hope readers will take the time to listen to what he has to say as he walks the neighborhoods of the 7th, or visit his web site.

Judicial candidates Mary Noble and Ross Stinetorf were added to the speakers list after my post earlier this week. Lexington Council at-large candidates Steve Kay and Jim Gray spoke, and both Mayor Teresa Isaac and her opponent Jim Newberry addressed voters last night. Isaac and Newberry are both Democrats, but they offer very different opinions of the direction our city should be taking. All of these races are important to voters of the 88th. If you missed last night's opportunity to meet these candidates, look for the places they will be speaking between now and November. Voting is an important duty, but those votes need to be cast by an informed electorate.

State Government Internet Censorship

For Immediate Release
July 12, 2006
Contact: Susan Klimchak, 502-564-5565
M E D I A A D V I S O R Y
Rep. Kathy Stein To Announce Legislation Regarding
State Government Internet Censorship
Frankfort, KY: Rep. Kathy Stein, (D-Lexington), will hold a press conference on Thursday, July 13, 2006 at 10 a.m. in room 149 of the Capitol Annex to announce legislation intended to prohibit Internet censorship by state government.
She will be joined by Kentucky State Treasurer Jonathan Miller and other guest speakers.

July 12th: Mark Your Calendars!

Change For Kentucky presents:

Not-So-Fancy Farm 2006!

July 12
5-9pm

Location:
Kentucky Horse Park
--site of the 2010 World Equestrian Games
Lexington Ky

Admission Free
Free Barbecue
Live Music
Cash Bar

Special Guest: David Sirota

Blogger and author of “Hostile Takeover”. Sirota is the co-chairperson of the Progressive Legislative Action Network (PLAN), and a Senior Editor at the In These Times magazine. He is also a twice-a-week guest on the Al Franken Show, and a bi-weekly contributor to The Nation magazine.

Other Guests Include:

State Treasurer Jonathan Miller

State Auditor Crit Luallen

Jim Keller (Candidate for Senate 12th)

Senator Dan Mongiardo (State Senator 30th)

Amy Shir (candidate Jefferson for Statehouse 48th)

Carl Rollins (candidate for Statehouse 56th)

Chris Frost (candidate Fayette for Statehouse 88th)

Vicki Welch (candidate for City Council Jefferson)

Councilman Rick Blackwell ('04 CFK candidate Jefferson)

Andrew Horne (candidate Democratic primary US congress Ky 3rd)

Dr. Steve Henry (Lt. Gov. '96-'03)

Mayor Teresa Isaac (Lexington incumbent)

Jim Newberry (candidate for mayor of Lexington)

Patrick Boggs (Sheriff, Mason County)

Linda Klembara (candidate for Statehouse 68th)

Steve Kay (candidate Lexington city council at-large)

Andrea James (candidate for City Council 1st)

Tom Blues (candidate for City Council 2nd)

Justin Dobbs (candidate Lex City Council 7th)

Jamie Millard (candidate Lex City Council 12th)


For more information, see CFK's website at changeforkentucky.com

Everyday Independence

Yesterday, I stayed home puttering in my garden. Preparing food that didn't come from a package. Enjoying the scent of basil picked from the pots on my patio. Quietly relaxing with my wife. Quietly, sitting beside her, watching the fireworks. This is independence, as is whatever you decided to do with your day. I didn't need to go to the old court house to hear the words of that long ago declaration that rocked the foundations of the world. Those words are printed indelabely on my heart.

Somewhere along the line the radical idea that people can respectfully differ from others, desolve political ties, and still hold an equal station to those they disagree took root in American soil. Our founders believed that "Nature and Nature's God" entitled them (us) to a "separate and equal place among nations."

I place both of these quotes in italics because they are the core of the argument going on now. Those who believe America is a Christian nation, read this to mean the Christian God; the rest of us do not. There are others who see a "separate and equal place among nations" as license to do whatever we please, without regard for others. Against that idea are those who think we do not have the right to run through shared resources or dictate how other nations are governed. It is the right speak about those disagreements that makes me love this long running experiment in self-government.

America's greatness is in the belief that ordinary citizens are "endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." The power of government is shared equally by each of us. The success or failure of America is also in our hands. We have the right to "alter or abolish" our government if it fails in its duty. But there is a catch to all this, along with the right to govern comes the responsibility to do so wisely.

In declaring independence there were parameters set. How many of today's leaders would you define as governing with prudence? How many have really worked for the safety and happiness of the people governed?

Yesterday, I celebrated my Independence quietly. Everyday Independence can only continue if each of us demands that our government acts wisely in protecting everyone's life, libety, and right pursue happiness.