By RONNIE ELLIS
FRANKFORT — An amusing story and some political musings.
Some stories are just too good to be true. A highly successful central Kentucky Republican acquaintance who grew up in a rural southern Kentucky Republican county went home to visit during the height of concern over H1N1 or swine flu. While there, he decided to re-visit his childhood by stopping by a country store where he used to spend time listening to political stories and old men's lies.
When he walked in there were four or five characters he’d known for years, sitting on a bench trading stories. My friend was greeted warmly as the prodigal son who moved away, made good and had come home to visit. As they talked, he decided he’d enjoy another staple of rural country stores, a bologna sandwich thick sliced and made right there on the spot. But when he told the proprietor what he wanted, one of his old buddies cautioned it might be risky to consume pork with “all this swine flu going around.” The owner behind the counter sighed and said the bottom had fallen out of sandwich sales since news of swine flu began dominating headlines.
My friend smiled and offered: “Well, Richie Farmer said it’s okay to eat pork as long as the pig is from Kentucky.”
At the mention of the former basketball icon and present Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner, the old men shifted on their bench and one proclaimed: “Well, if Richie says it’s okay, then I reckon it’s gotta be safe.” And then, according to my buddy, two of the four stood up and told the proprietor they’d just have a bologna sandwich too.
My friend has been known to spin a few tales, and this may be one of them. But it illustrates the popularity of Farmer in rural Kentucky.
On the other side of the political aisle, Attorney General and U.S. Senate aspirant Jack Conway finds himself in a bit of a bind thanks to fellow Democrat Jody Richards, the former Speaker of the House from Bowling Green. Richards wants an advisory opinion from Conway on whether legislation to allow electronic slots at race tracks requires a constitutional referendum by voters.
As reported this week by CNHI News Service, Conway’s father, Tom Conway, is a thoroughbred owner and member of the racing commission. That’s tough enough. But worse is the prospect of coming down on one side of a controversial issue which divides Kentucky voters whose support Conway needs to go to Washington.
Conway points out there’s really no precedent or procedure for him to recuse himself and insists he’ll follow the law – and only the law – in researching the question and issuing an opinion. But whichever conclusion he reaches, he’s going to upset a lot of people.
Finally, Republican Secretary of State Trey Grayson announced members of his finance committee as he explores a run for the U.S. Senate seat held by his friend Jim Bunning. It was Bunning who for some reason encouraged Grayson to set up an exploratory committee. After seeing some of the prominent Republican names on the list, Bunning might regret it.
When he looks at the names of some of his long-time financial backers on that list, Bunning may reconsider running for a third term, especially if Grayson out-raises him the second quarter of the year, After all, he vowed after losing the 1983 gubernatorial race never to be outspent again.
