Somebody needs to spill the beans. And pronto.

I realize Sells’ husband is budgetmeister Dudley Cotton. But that doesn’t explain what’s going on.

Who wants to tell me what the deal is?

“The arrival of Black History Month is an opportunity to reflect on the many extraordinary contributions made toward the formation and success of our Commonwealth and our nation by great African-Americans.

“The willing spirit of African-Americans throughout this nation’s history has helped fuel the fight for quality education, access to good jobs and equality and decency in the workplace and beyond. It has been and will continue to be their voices that have at times, pointed out the failures of our government and led to a stronger union.

“There are many Kentuckians whose voices are among those heard in the course of history. William Hobbs Childress was a member of the General Assembly who drafted the legislation that became the foundation for the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights.

“President Woodrow Wilson honored Mary E. Merritt, the first African-American nurse in Kentucky and the namesake of the Merritt Building at Central State Hospital, for her work in the Red Cross camp during World War I. These, and other notable African-American leaders who have hailed from our native Commonwealth, are threads in the fabric of our shared pride in this state.

“We should not limit this commemoration to only one month of the year. Throughout the year, let us celebrate those who have given of themselves to better our society - regardless  of race, gender or background. We should repeat their stories in the classroom and at dinner tables across the nation so their legacies are remembered by future generations.”

What the hell is going on at the University of Louisville? How is UofL so g.d. wasteful? JESUS H! Remember when I did those records requests to find out what UofL had spent on public relations? Turns out they were hiding it all via the foundation. [Ryan Alessi]

When will Mitch McConnell apologize to law enforcement for his ridiculous attack last week? [Think Progress]

Take a look at Barack Obama’s 2009 state-by-state approval/disapproval numbers from Gallup. [Click the Clicky]

Phillip Bailey went to the Louisville mayoral forum last night. Dig in and read all about it. Lisa Moxley is spot-on when it comes to the film tax incentive. Kentucky needs to do a better job at beefing that up. Jim King apparently started showing his actual personality, which consists of a real human being and not just a numbers robot. Good for him standing up to the press. [Fat Lip]

Trey Grayson is up on the radio. I’m too tired lazy to upload it from the press release, so go here to listen to it. [Bluegrass Politics]

Pulaski County Republicans do not care for Rand Paul and told him he wasn’t welcome at their event. [Joe Arnold]

The clock is ticking, Mitch McConnell. You need to apologize to the FBI and law enforcement for your ignorant remarks. [Politico]

The mainstream press hopped on the Bible bill I wrote about yesterday. [Bluegrass Politics]

It’s interesting to see particular folks shilling for the payday loan industry. I guess PR guys who harp on every issue under the sun are real experts. Ha. Also interesting to see Jeff Greer continuing to screw thousands of Kentuckians. [Ronnie Ellis]

Republicans are wondering whether or not Rand Paul’s campaign is coming apart at the seams. [Bluegrass Bulletin]

Really, Jim Newberry? You want to go down this road of homophobia in the Lexington mayoral race?  Your campaign staffers tell me you didn’t poll this issue, but well-trusted sources say otherwise. You need to clear this up ASAP by providing documentation. [Barefoot & Progressive]

Sarah Palin and Mitch McConnell are going to fight so hard that they pull hair and earrings. [The Hill]

Snowbilly Quitter Sarah Palin’s hypocrisy on the use of “retard” is quite ripe. [AMERICAblog]

Don’t forget who Daniel Mongiardo promoted as someone who signed his filing for the office of U.S. Senate. None other than national embarrassment Julian Carroll. It’s also a shame Gerald Neal would stand so publicly with someone who works against women and equality. [TwitPic]

The Courier-Journal editorial board has penned something worth reading. This is a worthy rebuttal of the horse shiz misinformation so often spewed by Mitch McConnell. He is, indeed, reckless, shameful and dangerous. [C-J]

Speaking of “soft-spoken” Mitch, he’s afraid to change filibuster rules because that’s the only maneuver he’s ever been able to use. Things like actual discussion of ideas and meaningful leadership are lost on Mitchypoo. [WaPo]

The EPA revealed last week the high hazards and potential for environmental damage and human death for more than 40 coal ash ponds. [ENS]

The Judds are reuniting for a farewell tour this year. Betting the tour will include a few Kentucky dates. So get ready. [Copious Notes]

Why are people being so mean to poor Sarah Palin?! [Barefoot & Progressive]

Governor Steve Beshear hosted a ceremonial bill signing this afternoon for House Bill 302. Those in attendance were Beshear, Rep. Don Pasley and other legislators, Adjutant General Edward Tonini and Lexington mayoral embarrassment Jim Newberry. [LRC]

The Metro Louisville chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) is offering a scholarship.

The award is intended to assist applicants with their post-secondary education. And all applicants should:

• Be a resident of Kentuckiana or be attending a post-secondary institution in Kentucky
• Not have been awarded this scholarship in the past (but if you’ve applied in the past and were not awarded, apply again!)
• Be enrolled as a full-time student for the period of the scholarship.
• Be gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender or know someone who is (how has that affected your life?)

Click here to download the application. The awarded scholarship amount will be a minimum of $500, though the actual amount may end up being more. Multiple awards may be given. You’ve got until Sunday, February 28 to apply.

PFLAG promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons, their families and friends through: support, to cope with an adverse society; education, to enlighten an ill-informed public; and advocacy, to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays provides opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity, and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity.

But he’s consistently spewing crap. Like this mess on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell:

Rep. Geoff Davis, R-Kentucky, supports “Don’t ask, don’t tell,” saying it best supports the interest of national security and those serving in the military.

“At a time when our nation is involved in two wars, it is inappropriate to attempt to change controversial social policy,” said the West Point graduate. “When it comes to our national security and our defense, we should be worrying more about what potential terrorists are doing than what our soldiers are doing in their personal lives.”

Yeah. The gays are terrible for national security. We’d just hump, dance and redecorate everything so the terrorists can win.

At least Mitch McConnell had the guts to ignore the issue.

But he should be flogged for giving Frankfort this hilarious idea:

But it might be a good thing they’re not busy passing legislation like the state Senate in Georgia. Politicians in the Peach State passed a bill that would prohibit corporations and rogue doctors from implanting microchips in people without permission — despite the fact that there doesn’t appear to be a problem with that sort of thing.

But who knows, a good microchipping might just be the 21st-century form of a Mickey.

Click here to read his entire piece on the shenanigans in Frankfort. It’s a good refresher.

Joe should probably be careful. He knows fully well that our elected representatives and alleged leaders in Frankfort are so jacked up on the crazy sauce that they’re highly likely to do just as Georgia did.

Unremarkable, right? Yeah. Until you read the letter and find out he’s going balls-to-the-wall for the militia-paranoia crowd.

Get a load (pun intended) of a few excerpts:

How many politicians profess to support gun rights and then vote for things like the Brady bill?

How many politicians claim support for the Second Amendment and then vote against those same rights?

How many politicians come to your gun club meetings, but then disappear when it comes to a real, substantive agenda to keep and restore your rights?

Paul goes on to detail that he’s a gun owner and a member of Gun Owners of America.

Oh, what’s that? You’re alarmed that Paul wants to repeal the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act? The piece of legislation that requires background checks for gun purchasers? Well, I’ll be.

Some more:

How many supposedly pro-gun politicians supported the McCain-Feingold Act which makes it illegal for gun rights groups to buy advertising criticizing a federal legislator for voting for gun control?

Apparently, these fair-weather friends don’t believe the First Amendment applies to paid political speech.

Yup. He’s working to make Greater Wingnuttia believe campaign finance reform is all about TAKIN YER GUNS!

But you’re still not convinced Rand Paul loves working folks over into a paranoid froth?

Here:

How many supposed pro-gun politicians voted for the Patriot Act, which gives the government the right to search your home without a warrant, when you’re not home, leave listening devices, and use any and all information to prosecute you on any charge, regardless of their original reason for the search?

Yup. Scaring the dickens out of people with Big Brother.

Things he says he’d like to support if he gets to go to Washington:

1. H.R. 1096, which includes provisions repealing the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act and the Federal Firearms License Reform Act of 1993, two invasive and unconstitutional bills.
2. H.R. 1897, which would end the ban on carrying a firearm in the National Park System, restoring Americans’ ability to protect themselves in potentially hazardous situations.
3. H.R. 3305, which would allow pilots and specially assigned law enforcement personnel to carry firearms in order to protect airline passengers, possibly preventing future 9/11-style attacks.
4. H.R. 1146, which would end our membership in the United Nations, protecting us from their attempts to tax our guns or disarm us entirely.

Yup. Now the United Nations is trying to take your guns. FEAR!

He goes on to passive-aggressively attack Trey Grayson - or, I assume he does, as he has more than one opponent:

You can help me defeat my opponent, a career politician who will carry water for the Party but can’t be counted upon if the Party decides to go along with gun control

And he closes his fancy letter with a cutesy beg for money.

You’ll want to read it all for yourself:

DOWNLOAD THE PDF

And let us know what you think in the comments. That is, if the UN and Big Brother don’t get to you first.

What’s in the water?

Check out SB 142:

AN ACT relating to Bible literacy courses in the public schools.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 156 to require the Kentucky Board of Education to promulgate administrative regulations to establish an elective social studies course on the Hebrew Scriptures, Old Testament of the Bible, the New Testament, or a combination of the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament of the Bible; require that the course provide students knowledge of biblical content, characters, poetry, and narratives that are prerequisites to understanding contemporary society and culture, including literature, art, music, mores, oratory, and public policy; permit students to use various translations of the Bible for the course; amend KRS 158.197 to permit a school council to offer an elective social studies course on the Hebrew Scriptures, Old Testament of the Bible, the New Testament, or a combination of the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament of the Bible.

Introduced in the State Senate late Friday by David Boswell, Julian Carroll and Ed Worley.

When you dig in? Check this:

(2) The purpose of a course under this section is to:

(a) Teach students knowledge of biblical content, characters, poetry, and narratives that are prerequisites to understanding contemporary society and culture, including literature, art, music, mores, oratory, and public policy;

They’ve added language to say all laws will be followed. But if that’s the case, they need to legislate classes from the Koran and other religious texts right away.

What a waste of time and money.