Sabato: McConnell "Has Got To Be Worried"

Mitch McConnell should be commended for finally deciding to return from Washington and campaign for Governor Fletcher. However, he should be well aware that Kentucky conservatives are not going to forget that even after Governor Fletcher won the nomination, Mitch McConnell decided to carry Teddy Kennedy's water for 3 months before lifting a finger for the Governor:

Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, said McConnell's active support for Fletcher in the fall campaign was a political necessity for the senator to ensure Republicans are united behind him when he runs for re-election in 2008.

"McConnell knows that at least until November his bread is buttered on the side of Ernie Fletcher," Sabato said Monday by telephone.

If Mitch McConnell thinks he can simply stop by a few Fletcher/Rudolph fundraisers for 10 minutes and regain the support of the Commonwealth's conservatives, he is sadly mistaken. McConnell has one last chance to hit the campaign trail and start knocking on doors, or the Republican nominee in 2008 is going to be a true conservative named Larry Forgy.

Rothenberg Downgrades McConnell's Reelection Chances

On the heals of a new Survey USA poll that shows McConnell's support among conservatives is collapsing, national political analyst Stu Rothenberg has downgraded Mitch McConnell's reelection hopes. Rothenberg has traditionally listed the Louisville liberal's seat as "safe," but now only gives McConnell a clear advantage.

That advantage is quickly slipping away as Larry Forgy is gaining steam. McConnell now has a choice: Either deliver for Governor Fletcher or watch your own reelection hopes continue to drop like a rock.

Where's McConnell?

Its been 60 days since the Republican "Unity Rally" and the Louisville liberal Mitch McConnell has yet to praise Governor Fletcher a single time.

Sounds like its about time for Larry Forgy to enter the race...

McConnell Approval Rating Among Conservatives Falls 12 Points In July

Can you even imagine how much farther the Louisville liberal's rating will be when he is exposed by Larry Forgy? McConnell has fooled Kentucky's conservatives for years by saying one thing in Kentucky and doing another in Washington. Now its time to put this to a stop. According to Survey USA, McConnell's approval numbers among Conservatives have fallen from 77 percent on June 11 to 65 percent on July 16.

In Eastern Kentucky, home of our legendary conservative Congressman Hal Rogers, McConnell's approval rating has now fallen to 42 percent approval and 52 percent disapproval.

In McConnell's hometown of Louisville, his approval numbers have fallen to 44 percent approval (down from 51 percent last month) and 49 percent disapproval (up from 44 percent a month ago).

McConnell "Has Some Skeletons In His Closet"

With the entry of Democrat Attorney General Greg Stumbo into the 2008 Senate race, it is more clear than ever that the Republican Party needs a nominee that does not have McConnell's ethical challenges, to provide a clear contrast to Stumbo:

In 2001, a woman sued Stumbo, claiming that he had fathered her child while he was married to another woman and then reneged on an agreement to pay support. A court later ruled that there was no agreement between Stumbo and the woman, but DNA tests proved that the child was Stumbo's. He later began paying support.

In 1991, while opposing tougher drunken-driving laws in the General Assembly, Stumbo pleaded guilty to public intoxication and paid a $100 fine after his car ran into a ditch.

However, McConnell is the last person that will be able to run on ethics as Stumbo made clear:

"I think Senator McConnell has some skeletons in his closet too. If he chooses that route, I promise him that it will be a two-way street."

Time: "McConnell Is Digging His Own Hole"

The leading conservative site RealClearPolitics.com has recently partnered with Time Magazine to provide excellent analysis of the 2008 campaigns. This article made it clear that last weeks events that saw McConnell undermining General Petraeus by playing political games with our troops will not help his reelection hopes:

We wrote recently about some potential electoral trouble in which Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell could find himself, should Iraq remain in a bad state and Congressional Republicans continue to be so unpopular.

Today, more bad news for the Kentucky senator, as the state's Attorney General, Greg Stumbo, has formed an exploratory committee and is thinking about a bid in 2008. But Democrats should be warned, the race will not be a slam dunk.

They are right on. The race will be far from a slam dunk after we nominate a true conservative in Larry Forgy. Recent stories note that while Kentucky is likely to go Republican, the odds are far greater if the Louisville liberal Mitch McConnell is not the nominee:

However, serving in Kentucky, a state likely to go strongly for the Republican Presidential nominee, may make arguments about McConnell's obstructionism moot. But if the presidential race hinges on Iraq, it could be that, by refusing to let Democrats make decisions about the war, therefore giving them responsibility for its progress, McConnell could be digging his own hole from which he'll have to extricate himself next year.

McConnell "Went Home For A Nap" During Iraq Vote

These are the types of theatrics that are simple embarrassing to the Kentucky Republican Party. Mitch McConnell decided he was too tired to lead the Senate Republicans during the Iraq vote last week so he went home to take a nap:

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Louisville, also skipped the 5:13 a.m. vote. During the first half of the night, however, he held court in his leadership office, meeting with lawmakers and even serving dinner to many of them and their staff members. Finally, however, McConnell needed his rest.

"He went home for a nap - had to take a break from the 'theatrical display' organized by the Dems," said his spokeswoman, Julie Adams.

Blitzer Cuts Off CNN Interview After McConnell Lies About Ignoring The Petraeus Report

Wolf Blitzer cut off his interview with Mitch McConnell on CNN's Late Edition today after McConnell lied about listening to the advice of the generals on the ground. The Louisville liberal McConnell made claims about other Senators pledging to ignore the report of General Petraeus, when it was in fact McConnell himself who has made such pledges in the past week:

McConnell said he doesn't know what Petraeus will say in September..."I don't know what's going to happen in September," he said. But if there's a stampede by Senate Republicans defecting on Iraq, he said, "No, I'm not going to lead it."

Its clear that the Republican Party needs leadership on Iraq since McConnell has again been MIA over the Iraq debate. Not only does Kentucky's Republican Party need Larry Forgy, but the national GOP does as well.

New York Times Editorial Board Slams McConnell's "Political Showmanship"

The New York Times compared Mitch McConnell to Tom Daschle this morning, sparking mroe conversation that his scenario is growing increasingly similar to the former Senate minority leader who lost his reelection bid in 2004. Only the Democrats were not smart enough then to replace him and nominate someone who can win. In 2008, Kentucky's conservative voters will have a choice: nominate a sure loser in the Louisville liberal Mitch McConnell or elect a true conservative in Larry Forgy. The editorial board writes:

The minority leader, Mitch McConnell, notes the Democrats engaged in similar guerrilla tactics when they were in the minority. But Mr. McConnell should keep in mind that voters can tell the difference between principled resistance and political showmanship. The Democrats’ former minority leader, Tom Daschle of South Dakota, lost his seat three years ago when he was roundly attacked by the opposition for running a partisan, obstructionist minority.

The Iraq war stands apart as a watershed issue — a downward spiral that the public increasingly sees as a colossal waste of the nation’s blood and treasure.

McConnell Undercutting General Petraeus After He Uses Him For Cover

Fred Barnes has an interesting story in the Weekly Standard in which it becomes clear that Mitch McConnell is using General Petraeus for cover. McConnell has repeatedly said that we need to wait until we hear from the Generals on the ground:

At least until September, he told me, "the president and the military are going to have total latitude." It's in September that General David Petraeus will report to Washington about the success of the so-called "surge" of American forces in Iraq. That's "the critical moment," McConnell said.

However, McConnell is now saying that he doesn't care what the Petraeus report says:

McConnell said he doesn't know what Petraeus will say in September..."I don't know what's going to happen in September," he said. But if there's a stampede by Senate Republicans defecting on Iraq, he said, "No, I'm not going to lead it."

We already know the Louisville liberal will not be leading the Republicans on anything. In fact, it appears he is headed to a no-confidence vote by Republican Senators after his failure to lead on amnesty and now disappearing during the Iraq debate. By saying he will refuse to support a change in strategy even if recommended by General Petraeus, McConnell is undercutting our Generals on the ground. Its time for Larry Forgy to step up and provide the Republican Party with real leadership and give us someone who stops saying one thing at home and doing another in Washington.

Conservative Sen. Norm Coleman Can't Find McConnell

It is becoming more and more clear that Mitch McConnell has not only lost the support of the Kentucky Republican Party, but has lost the confidence of the Republican U.S. Senators. Conservative U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman told the AP:

"At this point, I can't even tell you where Mitch is on some of these" Iraq-related amendments, Coleman added. "This is an issue that is so transcendent - there hasn't been a lot of herding."

Privately, however, some Republicans and their top aides express alarm that McConnell has recently hung back on more divisive issues, allowing party rifts to be highlighted and weakening Bush's position where he can least afford it.

In many cases, Sens. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., who chairs the party's communications operation, and Trent Lott, R-Miss., the whip, have instead taken the lead.

Kentucky's own Al Cross also noted that Mitch is increasingly vulnerable after his failed attempt to push through Teddy Kennedy's amnesty bill:

"McConnell knows he can't take anything for granted, and he doesn't," said Al Cross, who runs a rural journalism center at the University of Kentucky. "The immigration vote was the real signal that he knows he's not a shoo-in for re-election."

Where is McConnell?

He was MIA from the McConnell-Kennedy Amnesty Bill debate. He is still MIA from Governor Fletcher's reelection campaign. And now Mitch McConnell is absent from the Iraq debate:

Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell was conspicuous by his absence when key Republicans met with White House officials last week on how to limit party defections on Iraq.

And weeks earlier he had raised eyebrows among some of his colleagues by disappearing into the woodwork in the immigration debate, then voting against President Bush's plan.

Where is McConnell?

Its been 51 days since the Republican "Unity Rally" and the Louisville liberal Mitch McConnell has yet to praise Governor Fletcher a single time.

Sounds like its about time for Larry Forgy to enter the race...

Conservative Senators Join Forces Against McConnell

Several conservative Senators joined forces yesterday to blast Mitch McConnell for filibustering the Webb-Hagel amendment to support our troops in Iraq. The amendment was offered by Chuck Hagel, who has one of the most conservative voting record in the Senate (he received a 96 from the American Conservative Union in 2005), and would give the troops the same amount of time at home between missions that they spend in Iraq. Conservative Sen. Chuck Hagel hammered McConnell for putting politics before supporting the troops:

“This was not about politics. This was about the right thing to do with regard to the men and women we ask to defend our country,” Sen. Chuck Hagel (Neb.), Webb’s chief GOP backer, said after their amendment went down, 56-41...

Even as Webb vowed to return with a new version of his plan, tension among Republicans consumed much of the Senate’s oxygen. Addressing reporters to tout the GOP victory, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) described the war as “badly mismanaged, terribly mismanaged for a number of years,” prompting reporters to ask McConnell if he agreed with that assessment.

McConnell declined to answer the question and sidestepped inquiries about the political pressure on Republicans up for reelection in 2008 — including himself — to heed voter discontent over the war.

Sara Taylor Pressed On Communications With Mitch McConnell

Former White House Political Director Sara Taylor is testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee and is getting pressed on her communications "outside the executive branch" in regards to the U.S. Attorney scandal. While Taylor is trying to use a letter from George W. Bush to exert executive privilege, the argument will not likely hold up much longer. Why would George W. Bush and Sara Taylor try to exert executive privilege even on outside communications?

Maybe because Mitch McConnell is at the center of the U.S. Attorney scandal:

The special counsel’s office said it had interviewed 21 of the 36 GSA political appointees who attended the Jan. 26 meeting with J. Scott Jennings, the White House deputy director of the Office of Political Affairs.

The counsel’s office also talked to Jennings and interviewed Doan for nine hours over two days...Jennings is the former political director for Republican U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell and is now the White House's deputy director of political affairs under Karl Rove.

E-mail messages handed over to a congressional committee show Jennings used a Republican National Committee e-mail address to discuss the firings with aides to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales...

The top federal prosecutor for Louisville and western Kentucky was on an initial list of prosecutors recommended for removal from office.

David Huber, the U.S. attorney in Louisville since 2003 and former general counsel to U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, was one of 13 prosecutors whose name was sent by the Justice Department to the White House on Feb. 24, 2005, with a recommendation that they be replaced. Seven of the 13 either resigned or were fired...

Looks like its about time to nominate a former Kentucky Supreme Court Justice who actually believes in upholding the law of the land: Larry Forgy.

McConnell AWOL From Iraq Debate

This seems to be a continuing trend with Mitch McConnell. The Louisville liberal has been missing in action from Governor Fletcher's reelection campaign, missing in action from the Senate debate on the amnesty bill after he held Teddy Kennedy's hand in pushing it through, and now Mitch McConnell is missing in action during the important debates on Iraq. Roll Call reports:

A virtual no-show during last month’s divisive immigration debate, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) is expected by his fellow Republicans to emerge soon from the shadows and reassert himself as a leading face of the GOP. But at least in the early hours of this week’s showdown over the Iraq War, that hasn’t happened yet.

McConnell was missing for much of the Senate’s consideration of comprehensive immigration reform — a controversial measure that the Minority Leader quietly opposed and one that divided his party...

What’s more, McConnell has been absent from several high-powered meetings on Iraq with other senior Republicans, including Minority Whip Trent Lott (R-Miss.), Conference Chairman Jon Kyl (Ariz.), McCain and Graham. Those Senators have been in discussions with the White House over the past several days to determine how best to proceed on the Defense Department authorization bill...

“He disappeared during the immigration debate ... and he has yet to reappear,” said one GOP aide to a conservative Senator. “This may be a good re-election strategy, but it could weaken his position in Washington.”

Republicans Need A Candidate That Can Win In 2008

One thing over the past few weeks has become crystal clear. We need a candidate who can win in 2008! With Mitch McConnell splintering the Kentucky Republican Party in half by backstabbing Governor Fletcher, flip-flopping after the votes were cast on Teddy Kennedy's amnesty bill that McConnell pushed through the Senate, and his refusal in the past week to even offer praise for the Governor at his campaign stops, it is time for a true Conservative to unite the Republican Party.

The Washington Post reports that the Democratic Party is launching a new round of ads tomorrow. How funny will it be when we have Larry Forgy as our nominee and their money is left to waste! Many outsiders are skeptical but the Democrats know that the Louisville liberal has split the Republican Party, and conservatives dread having to go to the polls for him.

With the recent news that Mitch McConnell is blocking the legislation already passed by Congress to implement recommendations of the 9/11 Commission from being signed into law, it is time for Conservatives to take stand. Families of victims of September 11 wrote him a letter:

Dear 9/11 Families and Friends,

The bill implementing many of the remaining 9/11 Commissions recommendations is stalled because Senate Republicans have blocked an important ‘next step’. It is called a conference, where the House and Senate hammer out their differences on bills and is therefore a cornerstone of our democratic legislative process.

The bill in question, (S.4), is called Improving America’s Security Act. When enacted, it will improve security on the home front. It is long overdue for passage and as a consequence, American lives remain at risk.

Please voice your strong opposition to this partisan stall tactic. Call, email or fax Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s office. Tell him to stop blocking the Conference on S.4. Tell him to let the bill move forward!

The contact information for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is (202) 224-2541 or McConnell@senate.gov or fax (202) 224-2499.

Thank you for your help.

Carol Ashley
Rosemary Dillard
Beverly Eckert
Mary Fetchet
Carie Lemack
Abe Scott

Gerth: Conservatives Not Pleased With McConnell

Joe Gerth, one of the state's leading political reporters, wrote today in the Courier-Journal of the growing unrest among the conservative base here in the Commonwealth:

Conservative columnist Robert Novak had some harsh words for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., last week after McConnell's performance in the debate over the immigration reform bill.

McConnell had pushed for the bill as part of his duties as the Republican leader in the Senate. But when the bill finally came up for a vote, McConnell didn't take part as the debate neared its climax and then voted against the measure, which he earlier had said was better than one he supported last year.

One unnamed senator told Novak, "If this were a war, Sen. McConnell should be relieved of command for dereliction of duty."

Said Novak: "Until now, McConnell had high marks from GOP colleagues during his six-month leadership following four dreary years under Bill Frist (R-Tenn.). McConnell's non-performance on immigration derived from general Republican malaise going well beyond a single issue."

Once again, its time for Larry Forgy to enter the race. He already gave McConnell another chance to deliver for Governor Fletcher, and McConnell refused to give even a line of support for Governor in his speeches around the state last week.

USA Today: Conservatives Say McConnell Is Running Scared

The USA Today feature says what conservatives in Kentucky now know all too well. We need a nominee who can win in 2008, and its not Mitch McConnell. He knows he's in trouble, and we no longer know where he stands on conservative values because he flip-flops from one poll to the next. Its time too send the Louisville liberal back home and elect someone like Larry Forgy, who represents Kentucky values - not a politician who says one thing in Louisville and does another when he's scared in Washington:

Even so, some Democrats sense an opportunity. "I think he's the most vulnerable that he's been since he ran the first time," said state Sen. Joey Pendleton, a Democrat who represents Hopkinsville.

The local congressman, Rep. Ed Whitfield, is a Republican and a McConnell ally, but he doesn't dispute the forecast. "All of us on the Republican side do have concerns about the political climate next year," Whitfield said.

McConnell denies that he's worried, but there are signs that he's moving to protect his political flanks:

•Two weeks ago, after helping to shepherd the president's immigration bill through several tough fights on the Senate floor, he helped kill the legislation by voting against it.

Conservatives took credit for changing the senator's mind. "If he had voted for that legislation, his position would have been in danger," said Leland Conway, a Lexington radio talk-show host and blogger.

Novak: McConnell's "Major Failure of Leadership"

Bob Novak hammered Mitch McConnell today for what he coined as a "truly major failure of leadership." More and more conservative Senators and columnists are hammering the Louisville liberal for selling out conservatives once again and pushing Teddy Kennedy's amnesty bill through the Senate, only to flip-flop and vote against it once enough votes were cast to guarantee it would fail:

The spectacular failure of the immigration bill for the second time marks an unhappy day for President Bush, Sen. McCain and a handful of Republicans who may have put their reputations on the line by backing it. It also marks the first truly major failure of leadership by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

One of the few conservatives to side with the President in backing the immigration reform bill stated, not for attribution, "If this were a war, Sen. McConnell should be relieved of command for dereliction of duty." Not only did the minority leader end up voting against an immigration bill that he had said was better than the 2006 version that he supported, but he also kept himself off the floor during final stages of Senate debate.

Until now, McConnell had high marks from GOP colleagues during his six-month leadership following four dreary years under Bill Frist (R-Tenn.). McConnell's non-performance on immigration derived from general Republican malaise going
well beyond a single issue.

And while we're on the topic of the Louisville liberal selling out conservatives, did anyone hear Mitch McConnell say a single word of praise about Governor Fletcher during the Independence Day events around the Commonwealth? Larry Forgy said he'd give McConnell one last chance to deliver for the Governor. Now its about time for Larry Forgy to deliver a one-way plane ticket for McConnell to fly back from Washington for good.

Courier-Journal: McConnell's secret

The Courier-Journal editorial board slammed Mitch McConnell today for harming our freedom of speech and allowing a secret hold to be placed on conservative Sen. John Cornyn's open government legislation. It would not be surprising if Grassfire.org, Numbers USA, or another conservative group comes in with another round of TV ads exposing McConnell's hypocrisy once again:

It's our nation's birthday -- the anniversary of our freedoms. It's also the 40-year anniversary of the landmark federal Freedom of Information Act going into effect.

Sadly, Sen. Mitch McConnell celebrated early by maneuvering to block your access to information that would make you a better-informed citizen and a better-prepared voter. He's doing what he can to squelch a bill, S. 223, that would mandate the electronic filing of campaign finance reports...

Our senior senator presumably was jubilant over last week's shameful U.S. Supreme Court decision, gutting the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform, which he thoroughly despises. He's always said what's needed is not laws like that, which he charges restrict political speech, but rather full and swift disclosure of who is giving what to whom.

If so, then why is he playing games to thwart a legislative effort aimed at exactly that?

Austin American-Statesman: Government secrecy clouds this Independence Day

Conservative hero Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, fresh off defeating the McConnell-Kennedy Amnesty Bill, now finds Mitch McConnell harming conservatives once again. Cornyn sponsored legislation to force the government to respond to requests for public documents. The legislation was held up by Mitch McConnell. Why? Maybe because Mitch McConnell is scared what the Senate investigation will find if Karl Rove and McConnell's protege Scott Jennings will finally be forced to turn over their emails. The editorial board writes:

What makes a democracy work is transparency, accountability and an informed public. Washington's disregard for Americans' rights, open government and responsible governance makes for a rather sunless celebration of American independence today.

Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, a Republican, and Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, a Democrat, fashioned a new version of the law and call it the OPEN Government Act. It would put teeth in the act and force the bureaucracy to respond to requests for public documents.

But Republican Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona put a "secret hold" on the bill to keep it from moving to the Senate floor, where it should pass easily. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, has refused to allow even limited debate on the merits of the bill.

Governor Fletcher Appoints Forgy To Boards, Paves Way For Senate Race

Governor Fletcher took a huge step today in boosting the profile of Larry Forgy as he paved the way for a 2008 Senate primary run against Mitch McConnell. Forgy already gave McConnell more than enough chances. Forgy said he would give McConnell another chance to deliver for Governor Fletcher. What did McConnell do? Can anyone think of a single event McConnell has done for the Governor since the "unity rally?"

Gov. Ernie Fletcher appointed one of his most ardent and outspoken supporters to two state boards yesterday.

Larry Forgy, a Lexington attorney and former GOP gubernatorial candidate, will sit on the Crime Victims Compensation Board and the Board of Claims.

Even John David Dyche Acknowledges Conservative Anger At McConnell

The great conservative columnist John David Dyche is typically one of Mitch McConnell's strongest supporters. Not today. Even Dyche noted that conservatives are infuriated with McConnell after the Louisville liberal pushed Teddy Kennedy's amnesty bill through the Senate only to vote against it after enough votes were cast to ensure it would fail:

Leading a divided conference, Republican leader Mitch McConnell wanted a fair process and passable product. He backed amendments toughening the bill, but fled it when failure became clear. Having supported an even laxer immigration measure last year and facing re-election next, McConnell must appease considerable conservative anger over his perceived apostasy. He may try attaching border enforcement amendments to other legislation soon.

McConnell can introduce all the legislation he wants. But Kentucky's conservatives will not forget how he has turned his back on us. Larry Forgy said he would give Mitch McConnell one last chance to deliver for the Governor. Instead, Mitch McConnell abandoned Governor Fletcher once again, while running around Washington, D.C. with Teddy Kennedy.

Novak: Republican Senator Accuses McConnell Of 'Dereliction Of Duty'

We already knew Mitch McConnell lost complete control of the state party when Governor Fletcher trounced him in the May primary. But one more thing is becoming clear: The national party structure is clearing the way for Larry Forgy as well. Bob Novak writes in the Washington Post:

I asked one of the few conservative Republican senators who stuck with President Bush on immigration to assess how Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell handled the issue. Asking not to be quoted by name, he replied: "If this were a war, Sen. McConnell should be relieved of command for dereliction of duty." Not only did the minority leader end up voting against an immigration bill that he said was better than the 2006 version he supported, he abandoned his post, staying off the floor during final stages of the debate.

DeMint and Gingrich gloated because 12 Republican senators who had supported the bill succumbed to pressure and voted against it Thursday -- most without prior explanation -- as McConnell did. He is up for reelection in Kentucky in what will be a difficult 2008 for Republicans, with the state's other GOP senator, Jim Bunning, beating a tattoo on immigration.

McConnell was among six switchers who voted no after the 40 senators needed to kill the bill were recorded.

This is why we need a conservative nominee who can win in 2008: Larry Forgy.