| What's the Matter With Kentucky? |
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| November 6, 2008 |
In 2004, Thomas Frank wrote "What's the Matter With Kansas? How Conservative Populism Won the Heart of America." Maybe the 2008 version should be "What's the Matter With Kentucky?"
While states like Virginia, the Old Dominion, turned blue, Kentucky gave John McCain one of his few reasons to smile on Tuesday evening. At least one television network called Kentucky for McCain with 3% of the polls reporting.
It was a good night to be a Republican incumbent. Mitch McConnell won. Ed Whitfield won. Hal Rogers won. Geoff Davis won. State Senator Ken Winters won. Rep. Rudy won.
It was also a good night to be a Republican running for an open seat. Brent Guthrie won in the Second Congressional District. Brent Housman took Frank Rasche's old seat in Paducah.
There were Democratic wins - John Yarmuth, Ben Chandler, Kathy Stein, to name a few.
Overall, I'm left feeling slightly guilty because I should be happier that Barack Obama won the presidency. Kentucky's continuing tilt into GOP red is depressing. Not because I think that voters understand the real issues facing America and choose Republican candidates. It is depressing to think that they don't and still vote Republican. A Republican president and his policies helped drive the economy not into a ditch - but into the Grand Canyon. We still don't have universal health care, like the rest of first world countries. We are in two wars with no end in sight. So why did Kentucky vote for incumbents McConnell, Whitfield, et al?
Are we still fighting over God, guns and gays?
What about the Dems? If there is something went wrong, what can the Dems do to fix it?
Ack!! My brain is exploding. Help me out here!
I want to hear your thoughts.
Email me at editor@westkypolitics.org or, log in, pick a scream name, and tell everybody what you think.
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