Moonage Political Webdream

After months of speculation and intrigue, a special grand jury investigating the state government’s hiring practices indicted Gov. Ernie Fletcher on three misdemeanor charges of conspiracy, official misconduct and political discrimination.

The foreman of the jury, which has been reviewing reams of documents and hearing hours of testimony for nearly a year, calmly read the charges to Franklin Circuit Court Judge William L. Graham shortly before 4:30 p.m. yesterday.

And, some of the initial fallout and thoughts:

• "It’s a sad day for the commonwealth and for the people," said House Speaker Jody Richards, D-Bowling Green.
• "This is a national embarrassment," said Republican Larry Forgy, a Lexington lawyer who lost a narrow decision to Paul Patton in the 1995 governor’s race.
• "Ernie Fletcher’s cause is greatly diminished today," Dale Emmons of Richmond, a political consultant for Democratic candidates.
• "When you look to 2007, the Democrats have to be salivating over this…" ,Joe Gershtenson, director of the Center for Kentucky History and Politics at Eastern Kentucky University

Now, the article points back to the date of May 5, 2005, as to when this all began.  That’s not even remotely accurate.  There was speculation and rumors running forever before the actual  investigation began.  This feels like it began the day after Fletcher took office.  I mean that seriously.  The Lexington Herald-Leader and Lexington tv channels have made it a point to mention Greg Stumbo’s name every single day for at LEAST a year.  Although political strategists may be salivating at all the negativity Stumbo and the media are dishing out, my gut feeling is the perception a LOT of people are getting is Greg Stumbo is just a big bully picking on the nice guy.  Fletcher just comes accross as a good guy trying to do his best in an evil environment and being attacked every single time he turns around.  Go ahead Herald-Leader et al, take a poll in places like Somerset and Bowling Green and see what people perceive of what’s happening.  It ain’t what the pros say it is, I can guarantee you that.

The second perception I think people will get is after dealing with all this boring and mean spirited garbage for two years or so, all we get are three misdemeanor charges?  Ohhhh  kayyyy.  Next.

My bottom line perception is this is hurting the Democrats, and especially Stumbo, a lot more than it’s helping.  If that smoking gun had been something really bad, like paying off women with state funds to not sue the state for sexual harassment by the governor, then I think people would be a lot more receptive to what’s going on.  But, for the winning candidate to hire people he feels most comfortable with to merit all this attention just don’t grab the common guy’s attention a whole lot. 

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