Governor's Troubles Threaten G.O.P. in Kentucky

The New York Times ^ | June 20, 2006 | IAN URBINA

[DaveLoneRanger]

FRANKFORT, Ky. — The real risk in noodling, which involves sticking your arm into a catfish nesting hole and yanking out whatever swallows your fist, is not in getting caught doing it out of season, but in reaching too far into the hole and getting snagged by spiny fins.

Just consider the case of Gov. Ernie Fletcher of Kentucky.

A year ago, after being accused of illegally forcing Democrats out of state Civil Service jobs and giving the jobs to political loyalists, Mr. Fletcher, a Republican, dismissed the charges as little worse than noodling in March. (Noodling is legal only from June 1 to Aug. 31.)

But 15 indictments later, Mr. Fletcher's administration — including his self-titled Disciples, accused of being the ringleaders of the patronage scheme — is still feeling the sting as his approval ratings drop below 30 percent.

Most of his former backers, including his mentor, Senator Mitch McConnell, have distanced themselves from him, and Democrats point to the case as another example of Republican corruption and overreach. Mr. Fletcher was indicted on three misdemeanor charges; while on vacation in Florida in early June, he had his lawyer enter a plea of not guilty.

[DaveLoneRanger]

More info on Kentucky's Governor Fletcher and his hiring scandal woes. I'll say it again; I've worked personally, side-by-side with the man. And he's let us down. Democrats were going to try something no matter what, since they were bitter about losing control, but Fletcher, shrewd devil that he is, forgot about the need to be above reproach, and dipped his oar into the sordid sea of corruption. He needs to move on and not harm the Republican party this upcoming election.

[Patrick1]

Does the New York Times even know where Kentucky is?

[stuartcr]

Aren't you supposed to label him an obvious RINO?

[DaveLoneRanger]

It's a small province in "Flyover Country". But they want you to think they do because of the mention of "noodling".

[futurekentuckylawyer]

Thanks to Ernie Fletcher, the Dem's will hold the Governor's mansion for another 30 years.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

The Slimes also did a story about how Democratic Washington Governor Gregoire stole the election through vote fraud.

And they did a story about WI Governor Jim Doyle getting votes from homeless people who were paid off in cigarettes, votes from senior citizens in nursing homes paid with bingo game money, and college students who voted multiple times. And the story about the WI AG getting popped for drunk-driving? Why, that was front-page news.

[DaveLoneRanger]

Who, Fletcher? No RINO is he. Just an inept Republican.

[stuartcr]

I was curious, usually these guys are just called RINOs.

[reagandemo]

What's funny is that 2 former Democratic Governors said that the law was poorly written and they had done the same thing when they were in office. In orther words if the Rats do it it's OK if the Rebubs do it off with their heads. And yes you are right it probably will be anther 30 years before we have another Republican Governor.

[theDentist]

Does the New York Times even know where Kentucky is?

Sure. Get on a plane for Lost Angeles, and when you're half-way through your 3rd martini, look out the window to your left.

[nkycincinnatikid]

Had even one democrat been deprived of his de facto patronage job, even if by by accident or oversight: the democrat Atty. Gen. and the democrat media, would have created this "scandal". We are very proud of how stoopid we are here in Kaintuck, but the times will be surprised when they are shown we are still not as dumb as their subscribers.

[Republican Wildcat]

It is difficult to have worse communication than the Fletcher administration has had. If you cannot communicate, you cannot lead. That's been his problem from the very beginning. He wasn't prepared for the executive branch.

[mosquitobite]

I would have done the same thing Fletcher did had I got the office. I WISH Bush had done the same (like within the CIA).

It's not Fletcher's fault that the everyday idiot voter just hears "hiring scandal" on the radio and reads it in the CJ and doesn't piece together that it means a Republican might have fired a Democrat. Big Whoop.

[reagandemo]

My only beef on Earnie is that he and his handlers did not understand that they would crucify him on this. He should have played even cleaner than by the books. That said I feel a lot depends on what happens in Washington and Iraq on his future.

[mackfire]

From the point of view of a state employee who does investigation work for the state to protect the public, Ernie the clown has greatly slowed my ability to do my job. This is just another idiot move in a long line of politically motivated knee jerk reactions. Regardless of the party, we as state employees must endure the every changing bureaucracy of the powers that be. It is amazing how easily the general public accepts what ever new plague the administration brings down on the people who pave your roads, teach your kids, and protect your communities.