Louisville C-J Endorses Conway. "Paul's campaign has been a loopy journey of bizarre positions..."

[jefferson_dem]

Editorial Endorsements | Jack Conway for U.S. Senate in Kentucky

When Kentucky voters go to the polls Nov. 2, they will be casting a verdict on one of the most closely watched Senate races in the nation.

The Republican candidate, Rand Paul, a Bowling Green ophthalmologist, is widely viewed as a measuring stick of the appeal of the libertarian values of much of the tea party movement. His candidacy rests largely on voter discontent with the administration of President Obama, who fared poorly in the 2008 election in Kentucky. Republican strategists view a victory by Dr. Paul as almost essential if they are to capture a Senate majority.

The Democratic candidate, Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway of Louisville, supports the oft-maligned national health care reform, but has tried to distance himself from Mr. Obama. Instead, he has leaned more heavily on former President Bill Clinton, who has scheduled two Kentucky visits on his behalf. Some pundits and Democratic operatives view this Senate position, which became open when incumbent GOP Sen. Jim Bunning announced his retirement plans, as the only Republican seat in the country that might be captured by a Democrat.

While all of that is interesting and indeed significant, Kentucky voters should also look out for their own interests in the United States Senate. If they do, they will elect Mr. Conway, whose candidacy we enthusiastically endorse

<SNIP>

Dr. Paul's campaign, on the other hand, has been a loopy journey of bizarre positions, often followed by reversals or clarifications. At various times, he has questioned the government's right to prevent racial discrimination by businesses, brushed off the need for the Americans with Disabilities Act (there are at least 12,000 disabled veterans alone in Kentucky) and tough mine-safety regulations, suggested federal anti-drug programs aren't essential in this state, floated the idea of a $2,000 deductible for Medicare and briefly seemed to endorse a regressive 23 percent sales tax to replace income taxes.

As these positions suggest, Dr. Paul has a national ideology but little understanding of Kentucky. At its core, his anti-tax, anti-spending agenda appears not to recognize that Kentucky receives far more in money from the federal government than it sends to Washington. At best, Dr. Paul's odd positions might embarrass Kentucky. At worst, he could cast votes that would inflict serious harm on the state.

Kentuckians should not gamble on a candidate far out of the political mainstream. They should send Mr. Conway to the Senate.

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20101024/OPINION01/310240024/Editorial+Endorsements+%7C+Jack+Conway+for+U.S.+Senate+in+Kentucky

[calimary]

1. Loopy is a very good word for it, and for him.

What a World-Class Ding Dong! He and that christina (Ditztina?) oughta run off together - maybe on that ol' Appalachian trail?

:rofl:

[Kdillard]

2. They are correct but will enough people care to stop Rand Paul.

[Fire1]

3. Caing is not the problem. Ky. has been red for so long it may

take another ten to twenty years for it to show the slightest signs of turning blue.

[Cosmocat]

4. flat out spot on editorial ...

in that what he would advocate for runs directly in opposition to the needs of the state, and frankly, this is the honest assessment that the media should make of ALL republicans ...

But, as you noted, are there enough people there who care about THEMSELVES more than the party and insane republican ideology?

[tblue37]

5. And he also felt sorry that poor BP was criticized by this

administration. He called such criticism "un-American."

[karynnj]

6. Very well thought out recommendation

The best lines are the conclusion - "As these positions suggest, Dr. Paul has a national ideology but little understanding of Kentucky. At its core, his anti-tax, anti-spending agenda appears not to recognize that Kentucky receives far more in money from the federal government than it sends to Washington. At best, Dr. Paul's odd positions might embarrass Kentucky. At worst, he could cast votes that would inflict serious harm on the state."

Just stepping back and thinking - this is so right and so contrary to the CW about "authenticity" and wanting someone whose votes always can be defined by a rigid, narrow ideology. The media has punished many who do what this editorial calls for - looking at each bill and voting the state's interest. It is refreshing to see a paper arguing the opposite.

[catgirl]

7. A loopy journey

A sly way of calling him loopy, which he is. :-)