CORBIN —
You know, if the problems we face weren’t so serious and threatening, the state Capitol would be about the most entertaining place one could find.
The mood isn’t very festive with redistricting fouling the atmosphere, but where else can one see a penguin fouling an august setting like the Senate? But it wasn’t the sublimely insouciant penguin which created outrage among Republican senators about breach of decorum.
That was prompted by a supporter of Sen. Kathy Stein, who dared complain to Senate President David Williams about Stein being maneuvered out of a job without the silly inconvenience of an election. The man’s behavior is indefensible. But in a body where last year a Republican senator walked down the center aisle daring a Democratic colleague to bring it on, decorum probably depends on one’s perspective — or party.
No one in the legislature is better at relieving tension with humor than Democratic House Speaker Greg Stumbo. Asked if splitting Pulaski County, home of Hal Rogers, and moving Wayne County, Rogers’ native county, out of the Republican congressman’s district might be a negotiating ploy, the Speaker responded with mock outrage: “My heart is pure.” Of course, he also said there was no intention to “harm or hurt or do foul to anyone” in the way the redistricting plan was drawn.
Fortunately for Democrats, Republicans in the Senate are equally pure of heart. State Government Committee Chairman Sen. Damon Thayer, D-Georgetown, assured reporters his district maps were dictated by population trends and regard for existing districts and not by political motivation, Stein notwithstanding. So he had to be jesting Thursday when he told a potential Democratic challenger to another Republican senator that he’d drawn that district specifically to benefit the incumbent Republican.
Gov. Steve Beshear promises “transparency will be the rule” in the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Then on the day the Cabinet was to release records of child abuse deaths and injuries — having been ordered to do so by Franklin Circuit Court — the state filed an appeal of the judge’s order. Then again, this is the governor who told reporters he’d propose a gambling amendment during the first week of the 2012 General Assembly. One-fourth of the way through the 60-day session we are still waiting.
Unintended humor is regularly on display. There was the lawmaker who noted that after an amendment to a bill his earlier objection to the legislation “is now mute.” Or the one who quoted the 2010 U.S. “Consensus.”
Such humor isn’t restricted to Frankfort. A candidate for congress from the 4th District told Ryan Alessi that “the founding fathers weren’t career politicians.” Really? George Washington commanded the Continental Army for eight years, then served eight more as President. Thomas Jefferson served in the Virginia legislature, as governor of Virginia, ambassador to France, secretary of state, four years as vice president and eight as president. Franklin, Adams, Madison and Hamilton spent most of their adult lives in government positions.
Meanwhile, Newt Gingrich says a bi-racial son of a single mother who depended on food stamps, the grandson of a bank teller and furniture appliance salesman is one of the “elites” trying to “force us to quit being Americans.” That from a former college professor, former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, a man paid a couple of million dollars as an “historian” by Freddie Mac, and who maintained a line of credit with Tiffany’s. You know, just a regular guy.
But the funniest thing is the question I always get: “How do you put up with all of this?” Lord, what would I do without it?
RONNIE ELLIS writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort. Reach him at rellis@cnhi.com. Follow CNHI News Service stories on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cnhifrankfort
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