Kentucky’s corrupt conservatives: We have been meaning to include Kentucky Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher and his shenanigans in our Conservative Values database for a while. Here is a good re-cap of what he’s been up to:
- A whole bunch of people on Republican Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher’s staff were implicated in a major hiring scandal, centered around violations of the state’s merit-based employment laws. Several were even indicted. I know, I know: Right now you’re thinking, “Republicans? Cronyism? No way!” But believe it!
- Fletcher decided to do the upstanding thing in response: He pardoned everyone involved, declaring that the state Attorney General’s investigation was (that old bugaboo) “politically motivated.” A textbook move from the GOP playbook: Go on the offensive, and attack your opponents with no regard for the truth.
- Despite the pardons, the AG (Greg Stumbo) has kept up with his investigation – and when it involves Republicans, you know the corruption runs deep. E-mails filed with court documents to get a search warrant for the office of Fletcher’s chief-of-staff indicate that it might go as high as Fletcher himself. Again, I know: You’re shocked, shocked!
- With the walls closing in around him, Fletcher belatedly announced he was firing nine staffers. Heavens to Murgatroyd! Fletcher also called for the head of the state Republican party, one Darrell Brock, to resign. Another playbook-textbook: When you’re under seige, find someone else to take the fall.
And now the update:
According to the Bluegrass Report, not a single prominent Kentucky Republican, such as Senate Majority Whip Mitch McConnell, has got Fletcher’s back. They are all leaving him to twist in the wind. He’s about as isolated as John Rowland, former Connecticut Governor and current resident of the Federal Correctional Institution in Loretto, PA. If he doesn’t resign soon, Fletcher will be the lamest of lame ducks – and also probably the most heavily investigated.