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Letter to the Editor – Mike Bryant

Administrator — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:06:20 +0000

Dear Editor:

I am writing to express my concern that members of the KY General Assembly voted to furlough most state workers for six days, but didn’t offer to reduce their own pay by a single cent. In addition to the lost pay the workers will lose, the general public will not have these services available during the days when the offices are closed. This is the first time in modern history that a furlough has been required across the entire state of Kentucky.

During this year’s regular session, a budget seemed to be an afterthought for state legislators. When finally it came time to discuss the budget, they failed to pass anything. The State House wanted to increase taxes by $280 million dollars AND put the state $1.2 Billion dollars in debt. Our local legislator agreed and, in fact, voted for that. Can you imagine raising taxes and going over a Billion Dollars in debt in an economy like this! Even the ultra-left group Kentuckians for the Commonwealth criticized the budget that the House wanted to pass. It’s just another example of how Washington DC politics have invaded Frankfort. You simply cannot tax, borrow, spend or gamble your way into prosperity.

Since legislators did not pass a budget during their regular session, they had to return and do a budget in a special session- costing taxpayers and additional $64,000 per day. That’s over $300,000 dollars we paid so they could do what they were supposed to have already done. And our Representatives did not do it for free. Each person in the Legislature got paid for their time during the special session where they voted to allow state workers to be furloughed.

I am no fan of expanded spending. In fact, I think that many state programs could be merged together or cut out entirely. But when people have a job to do, they have a valid expectation of getting a paycheck in return. Sending people home without pay is never acceptable.

Our members of the General Assembly should have been working the past number of years on expanding the Kentucky work force, the tax base, and making Kentucky a state that businesses want to operate in so when hard times come along we don’t have to send people home without pay. Blaming Kentucky’s problems on the national economy is passing the buck- take a look around this great country and you will notice that not all states are suffering as bad. In fact, some are doing quite well. Why aren’t we one of them?

/s/ Mike Bryant

Rand Paul Scared to Face Position on Guantanamo Bay

Administrator — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 20:50:50 +0000

Republican - Breathitt County - Mike Bryant

Frankfort, Kentucky – Earlier today Rand Paul quickly fled from his own press conference after he was afraid to be thanked for his support of closing the facility at Guantanamo Bay by a group of Kentuckians. The group, organized by the web site TooKookyForKentucky.com, held signs and distributed flyers about Rand’s position of closing Guantanamo and sending suspected terrorists back to their country of origin.

Mike Bryant, who runs the TooKookyForKentucky.com web site said, “Rand Paul advertised today’s event for his supporters to join him as he officially filed paper work to run for U.S. Senate, but instead of fulfilling his promise to supporters he had a member of his staff file the papers and ran away because he was afraid to face his kooky, dangerous position on Guantanamo Bay. This is a very important issue, especially with the events that took place on Christmas Day. Kentuckians deserve to know his position on the issue. Rand Paul is too kooky for Kentucky and too dangerous for America.”

Rand Paul has said numerous times that he wants to close Guantanamo Bay and send detainees back to their country of origin. For more information about Rand’s previous statements, watch this YouTube video and read below:

“ … it’s kind of unclear whether these people are guilty, not guilty … So I really think deportation or sending them back to their country of origin might be the best way to go. And none of it’s fair, because some of them have been held years and years …” – (Alex Jones Show, YouTube video, 5/21/09)

“I think they should mostly be sent back to their country of origin or to tell you the truth I’d drop them back off into battle … you’re unclear, drop ‘em off back into Afghanistan. It’d take them a while to get back over here.” – (YouTube video of Rand Paul speaking in Paducah, KY, 5/8/09)

Rand Paul “couldn’t agree more” with those who believe Guantanamo has “significantly damaged the reputation of the United States” and who want to “see it shut down.” – (Rand Paul official campaign web site post, posted by the site Administrator, 5/25/09)
“Oh I agree with you. And then ultimately though if you cannot figure how to have a trial and cannot have enough evidence to do this I think deportation is the only acceptable way and I think you deport them to where they were captured. Now they say oh these countries won’t take them back. Well I think we have enough military force in Afghanistan that they can be taken back to Afghanistan at the very least and I think that would be acceptable to the vast majority of people. It gets rid of the idea of having to try them. And then you know a lot us aren’t going to be too happy if you take people who are potentially violent, and we don’t know this, but are potentially violent, and put them on the streets of Austin. You know I think sending them back to where we captured them is probably the best thing.” – (Alex Jones Show, YouTube video, 5/21/09)

###
Too Kooky for Kentucky is an effort by a few proud Kentucky conservatives who believe the Ron and Rand Paul show is wrong for the GOP, wrong for KY and wrong for the United States Senate. Our goal is simply to educate Kentucky folk about the extreme and odd views of Ron and Rand Paul.

Thoughts on KY Senate Candidate Rand Paul

Administrator — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:46:26 +0000

Rand Paul (Click image to enlarge)

Dear Conservative Leader:
Since I started the informational web site TooKookyforKentucky.com, I’ve been amazed by public interest. I’ve been interviewed by the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times, and I’ve appeared on WTVQ to challenge Rand to answer questions on where he stands on important conservative issues. I’ve also been harassed by Ron/Rand Paul supporters from across this great country. I will continue trying to educate conservatives about the threat that the Ron Paul/Rand Paul campaign poses. That threat, in a nutshell, is this: Rand Paul is a libertarian, not a true conservative.
Over the past few weeks America has received three wakeup calls. The first, the recent shootings in Ft. Hood by a man who was as much a terrorist as any hijacker. The second, the recent round up of terror prospects who were headed to Somalia to learn the trade of terrorism. And the third came in the form of the President’s national address this week to announce a new surge in Afghanistan.
On every issue Rand Paul takes views that put America’s security at risk. He opposes FISA and the Patriot Act; tools that could help prevent another 9/11 or rampage at places like Ft. Hood. These tools are also valuable in helping our law enforcement and security experts crack conspiracies like the one involving Somalia. That Paul opposes tools like these is extremely reckless.
Meanwhile, only this week Rand Paul is AWOL on the issue of the War on Terror. While everyone from the President to Senator Bunning to each KY candidate for the U.S. Senate weighed in on a troop surge for Afghanistan, Rand Paul was silent. The Lexington Herald Leader tried contacting Rand Paul about the surge to get his opinion on the matter. Paul refused to return their phone call. Could it be that Rand has trouble reconciling his national base with Kentucky conservatives’ robust views on National Defense? We think the answer’s yes!
Paul says on the matter of National Defense- “Defending our Country is the most important function of the federal government. When we are threatened, it is the obligation of our representatives to unleash the full arsenal of power that is granted by and derived from free men and women.”
Unfortunately, Paul is shrinking from this obligation at this most important time by not speaking out about the Afghan surge the way Senator Bunning, Congressman Hal Rogers, Congressman Geoff Davis, Secretary of State Trey Grayson and others have.
Please continue to view my site and feel free to let me know what you think. Over the coming weeks we intend to ramp up our campaign to educate conservatives about this most important fact: Rand Paul is Too Kooky for Kentucky.
Sincerely,
Mike Bryant

Breathitt County mentioned in the NY Times twice- a century between stories- both relating to politics…

Administrator — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:33:26 +0000

Republican

The last time Breathitt County, KY was mentioned in the New York Times was Sunday, November 7, 1909. The Times then ran a story about an election night feud in Jackson. Fast Forward 100 years and a few days and we see Breathitt County in the NY Times again. And, again, it is regarding politics: On November 25, 2009, almost exactly one century since the last story, the Times reports of Mike Bryant, a Breathitt Countian, who is involved in the KY Senate Republican Primary race as owner of the blog TooKookyForkentucky.com.

- Mike Bryant
http://timestraveler.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/breathitt-county-kentucky/

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/26/us/politics/26kentucky.html

Kentucky- Holiday Tree or Christmas Tree? Mike Bryant

Administrator — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:24:42 +0000

Christmas Tree "NOT Holiday tree" (Click image to enlarge)

When I first learned that Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear had succumbed to the will of the politically correct crowd of calling a festive, brightly lit, very large evergreen that was revealed with much fanfare and celebration during the latter part of November anything but a ‘Christmas Tree’, I wrote a letter. I mean, ‘Holiday Tree’? Please…

I quickly got an email reply, the text of which is below:

—————————————————————————————-

October 30, 2009 Michael Bryant

Jackson, KY 41339-7686

Dear Michael:

Thank you for taking the time to contact me. State government is using the same terminology that has been used in the past, which is intended to be inclusive of the entire holiday season, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year’s. What is more important is to remember what this time of the year is all about – family and caring for those less fortunate.

Your views are important to me, and I am grateful for your willingness to be involved in Kentucky’s future. Please feel free to contact me whenever an issue is important to you.

Sincerely,

Steven L. Beshear

—————————————————————————————-

Then, just a few short days later, here comes another reply to my inbox:

—————————————————————————————-

November 4, 2009

Michael Bryant

Jackson, KY 41339-7686

Dear Michael:

Thank you for taking the time to contact me. During the first Christmas holidays in 2008 after I became governor, Jane and I had the honor of lighting the Commonwealth’s Christmas tree, and we are looking forward to doing so again this year, and every year while I am governor.

We invite you to attend this year’s Christmas tree lighting Monday, November 30, 2009 at 6:30 PM on the Capitol steps. To Jane and me and other Christians, the Christmas tree is part of the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. To people of other faiths, it may hold other significance, and I encourage all Kentuckians to enter into the spirit of this holiday season by remembering their commitment to family and by helping those less fortunate.

Your views are important to me, and I am grateful for your willingness to be involved in Kentucky’s future. Please feel free to contact me whenever an issue is important to you.

Sincerely,

Steven L. Beshear

—————————————————————————————-

In the second email, the word ‘Christmas’ is used four times. He also uses the word ‘Christian’ and even invokes the name ‘Jesus Christ’. I am very glad he has come around, but it’s kinda sad that the people of Kentucky had to bombard him with calls and emails to make the change happen. I am not Jewish, but as a Christian I would personally think it offensive to have a big Menorah at the Capital and the Gov. calling it a ‘Holiday Candle Holder’. By the same token, how pathetic would it be to have a big ‘ol Christmas tree and try to make it all-inclusive by simply calling it a ‘Holiday Tree’.

Please… What’s wrong with a Christmas tree and a Hanukkah menorah both at the Capitol if the Gov. wants to be inclusive? I have no issue with that. Heck, have some Kwanzaa candles if he wants. And, yes, yes, yes, a thousand times: yes! I know that the so-called ‘Christmas tree’ has pagan origins, as do many of our current traditions. But, come on, a Christmas tree has been in use as a part of the celebration of Christ’s birth since the year 1521 (in Germany). Surely, in that amount of time I think it fair to say that we can call it a Christmas tree.

Some thoughts on KY Senate Candidate Rand Paul

Administrator — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:25:47 +0000

Kicking some ... (Click image to enlarge)

Dear Republican Leader:

Over the past few months I’ve grown increasingly disturbed about the efforts of Rand Paul’s Libertarian attempts to hijack the GOP. As you know, a sizable number of Republicans think Rand Paul is a conservative. However, Rand Paul is anything but a conservative; he’s a libertarian.
To highlight this, I’ve created a web site for informational purposes. It’s not affiliated with any political campaign and its sole purpose is to educate conservatives about Paul’s kooky views.

My web site, which was recently discussed on Comment on Kentucky and explained by me on WTVQ, can be found at www.TooKookyForKentucky.com. It points out some of the weird positions held by Rand.
First, it’s important to note that Ron Paul and Rand Paul are joined at the hip. Rand has been a key surrogate of Ron Paul’s since his 1988 bid for President as a Libertarian. Back then, the Ron Paul campaign called Rand his “aide-de-camp.”
Way back then Ron and Rand complained about government being in “our bedrooms”, advocated for America to withdraw from NATO and abolish the CIA, campaigned to abolish all public education, and pushed for the legalization of all drug laws. Here’s the NY Times 1988 story on that campaign.
More recently, Rand has campaigned with his dad and continued to argue that the Patriot Act should be repealed, that he and his dad were against the War on Terror, and that it would be just hunky dory if Iran got a nuke. Rand even indicated he’d abolish the DEA and be in favor of repealing federal drug laws.
All of the positions in the previous paragraphs are Rand Paul’s positions, not just his father’s positions, and are often documented in a video.
By the way, did you know that Rand Paul thinks Ron Paul’s supporters and Dennis Kucinich’s supporters would get along just fine? With views like this, it’s no wonder we caught Rand Paul on the radio saying that in order to win KY’s Republican Senate primary he’d have to nationalize the race.
The reason Rand wants to nationalize this debate is he knows that KY conservatives won’t abide by his kooky views.
I will continue to try to educate KY’s true conservatives about the faux conservatives that are attempting to hijack our party. Please visit my site when you have time and feel free to let me know what you’re thinking.

Mike Bryant

A Proud Conservative in Jackson KY

Are Republicans Evil?

Administrator — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:02:30 +0000

The View From The Right

By: Mike Bryant

Since being elected as GOP Chairperson in Breathitt County, I have heard a number of ideas about

Republicans. To put it mildly, I have been shocked by the pure hatred of anything Republican. Let’s

look at a list of some of the things that local people have said about those ‘evil’ Republicans:

•

Republicans think people in Eastern KY are ignorant, incestuous, snake-handling leeches on

society.

•

Republicans are elitist.

•

Republicans will say and do anything.

•

Republicans hate poor people.

•

Republicans are against the ‘little guy’.

Wow! If all that is true… Who in their right mind would be associated with such a party? If all that is

true…Who would even consider voting for a Republican?

If all that is true… So, it it?

In my experience, it most certainly is not! First, it seems to me that many people outside of of Eastern

KY think little of us hillbillies. That is true regardless of of their political beliefs. As county GOP

chair, I have access to some elected officials that others may not have. I know that many Republicans

on the state and federal level are interested in bringing economic opportunities and helping to curb the

drug problems that face our part of the state. The very people that have been promoting the sorry, sad,

Eastern KY stereotype are the leftist, artsy crowd of Shelby Lee Adams and Rory Kennedy (yes, of

those

Kennedy’s). I challenge anyone to watch the pathetic documentary ‘American Hollow‘ by Rory

Kennedy and then tell me it’s the Republicans who put down Eastern KY!

Are Republicans elitist? Historically, they certainly have been. These days, however, things have

changed. Republicans are still portrayed as elitist by many in the media and those people who choose

to ignore the facts, but in reality there are many, many hard-working middle class people who hold

Republican values. And they are welcome in the party. In contrast, look at what the Democratic Party

does to an old country boy from Georgia who has the guts to challenge his own party (anyone

remember Zell Miller?) Speaking of elitist, what about the 2004 standard bearer for the Democrats,

John Kerry. How more elitist can you be?

Will Republicans do anything, say anything, to get elected or get their way? My honest answer: some

will, yes. So will some Democrats. Fact is, many politicians would happily sell their eternal soul to

get what they want regardless of party. That’s a fact for Republicans as well as Democrats. It’s silly to

blanketly say that one party has a monopoly on that.

Do Republicans hate poor people? Are they against the little guy? This is actually kind of funny since

it is so ridiculous. The answer: no. This stems from the basic philosophy of the two major parties.

Take the old adage:

Give a man a fish and feed him for a day; Teach a man to fish and feed him for a

lifetime

•

Republicans want to give you the opportunity to get a good job and allow you to advance;

Democrats want to write you a check every month.

•

Republicans want to make it illegal to kill babies that, if born, could easily live; Democrats

think it’s a matter of choice and convenience whether to allow a baby to live.

•

Republicans think it is up to you whether you should have any guns in your home; Democrats

want to confiscate your guns, or at least make you register them so you can be on their list.

•

Republicans support union labor and recognize that collective bargaining is sometimes

necessary, but also support the right of workers to decide whether to unionize; Democrats

support union leaders and want to publicly ostracize those who don’t want to unionize.

•

Republicans remember that our country was founded on Christian principles, and while we

should respect all religions and Christianity should not be the ‘State Religion’, we should not

forget that fact; Democrats believe that God has no place anywhere in public life.

•

Republicans recognize that coal is critical to US energy consumption and to those who work in

the coal industry; Democrats want to shut down coal and put thousands of our neighbors out of

work because of a little bat.

•

Republicans want to keep your electricity costs low; Democrats want them to skyrocket out of

control via ‘Cap and Trade’.

(and they are for the little guy?)

•

Republicans believe that people have a right to be homosexual if that is their preference, but

that you and I should not be made to support that lifestyle if we do not agree with it; Democrats

think you are evil if you don’t consider homosexual marriage valid and give the same tax payersubsidized

benefits to gay couples that married couples get.

•

Republicans want to show you how to fish and will even help you get your first boat and tackle,

then let you go out and catch the biggest fish you can; Democrats want to give you a little

Bluegill and tell you exactly how you are allowed to fry it, then expect you to be happy and

keep voting for them.

So then, are Republicans evil? Personally, it seems to me that not only are they not evil, but rather

stand for good and noble ideals. And I for one am proud to stand for what is right.

The View From the Right

Administrator — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:52:07 +0000

People across America are upset. (Click to enlarge)

By: Mike Bryant

I was listening to C-SPAN radio the other day (yes, I really do enjoy listening to the inner workings of

our government, though it is often very scary) and on the radio was the US Senate Committee on

Health Care. Sen. Orrin Hatch, a Republican from Utah, had proposed an amendment that said quite

simply if the health care bill Sen. Baucus (a Democrat) has proposed would change the current health

care of more than 1,000,000 US citizens then the bill would not be implemented. All Sen. Hatch was

doing was putting President Obama’s words into law: that if you like your current health care plan you

can keep it.

Simple enough, right? If you like what ya got then you get to keep it. Pres. Obama and Vice Pres.

Biden have been saying that over and over and over. Well, when it came time for the Democrats to ‘put

up or shut up’– when it came time to vote on the amendment that did nothing but put the President’s

promise into law… What did the Democrats do? Ha! The Truth comes out! Do Democrats really care

about our health care, or about seniors? Or has the Democratic party,

honesty and integrity

movement? It seems to me that the latter is the sad, obvious answer.

Sen. Hatch, deserves praise for his efforts, not only in that amendment but also for his efforts to fight

for senior citizens in rural America to keep their health benefits under Medicare Advantage. On Sept

23, Sen Hatch proposed an Amendment to the Baucus bill that would require no benefit reductions for

Medicare Advantage. Again, sounds very straight forward to me. Not a single Democrat voted for it.

The Democrats say that seniors’ health care will not be reduced under the new plan. But they refused

to put it into law. And while they can promise what they want, the Congressional Budget Office

disagrees also. Just last week, the Associated Press reported that, quote:

claims that Medicare benefits will not be cut, Congressional Budget Office Director Douglas

Elmendorf told senators Tuesday that the elderly in the private Medicare Advantage plans could see

reduced benefits under Baucus’ bill.”

a party that used to have morals,, been taken over by the ends-justify-the-means Machiavellian Socialist“Despite Obama’s repeated

And on Sept 28, the Washington Post reported that

nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, agree that the Medicare Advantage cuts are likely to hurt,

causing insurance companies to scale back popular extras such as dental coverage and gym

memberships. They could also pull out of suddenly unprofitable markets, leaving seniors without a

popular program and violating Obama’s pledge that people who like their insurance can keep it.”

“Many health policy analysts, along with the

Medicare Advantage helps many seniors, especially in rural areas of the US. Like the rural area we live

in. I honestly don’t know which scares me most: the fact that the Democratic party has gone this far

overboard or the fact that many people around here will continue to vote for these socialists in spite of

their very own health care.

The View From The Right

Administrator — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 22:43:08 +0000

By Mike Bryant - July 13, 2009

Some interesting quotes to consider…

“When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people… the separate and equal

station to which the Laws of Nature and Nature’s God entitle them…”

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their

Creator with certain unalienable Rights…”

“And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence,

we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”

–

The Declaration of Independence

Second Continental Congress, July 4, 1776

“It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be

grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor.”

–

George Washington

First President of United States of America

“We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by

morality and religion. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly

inadequate to the government of any other.”

–

John Adams

Second President of the United States of America

Signer of the Declaration of Independence

“And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a

conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be

violated but with His wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His

justice cannot sleep forever.”

–

Thomas Jefferson

Third President of the United States

Signer (and primary author) of the Declaration of Independence

“There is no dissonance in these [legal] proceedings… These are not individual sayings, declarations

of private persons: they are organic [legal, governmental] utterances; they speak the voice of the entire

people… These, and many other matters which might be noticed, add a volume of unofficial

declarations to the mass of organic utterances that this is a Christian nation.”

–

Unanimous Decision of the US Supreme Court

Church of the Holy Trinity v. U.S. , 1892

“It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by

religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason

peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here.”

–

Patrick Henry

Patriot and Statesman

“Blessed is the nation whose GOD is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen.”

–

The Holy Bible, KJV

Psalm 33:12

“… yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD. “

–

The Holy Bible, KJV

Psalm 144:15b

“Whatever we once were, we’re no longer a Christian nation.”

–

Senator Barack Hussein Obama, Democrat

June 2007, CBS interview

“… we do not consider ourselves a Christian nation …”

–

US President Barack Hussein Obama, Democrat

April 6, 2009, News Conference in Turkey

“If you actually took the number of Muslim Americans, we’d be one of the largest Muslim countries in

the world.”

–

US President Barack Hussein Obama, Democrat

June 1, 2009, interview on French TV

Some words for thought as our nation sinks deeper and deeper into a lack of morals and Godlessness.

The View From The Right

Administrator — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:42:43 +0000

Mike Bryant, Chairperson

Breathitt County Republican Party

Haven’t you heard? I thought there would be joyous dancing in the streets when

the news came out about this… What’s the great news, you ask? Well,the Great

Wisdom of Washington prevails again! President Obama and his happy horde of

Democrats have seen to it yet again to save us from ourselves. This time, they

are going after smokers (again) and putting further limits on coal mining (again).

I guess they really need to do that, save us from ourselves. After all, you know,

there is a problem with ignorance in rural Kentucky– isn’t that how fellow

Democrat and strong Obama supporter Lt. Gov. Dr. Dan Mongiardo put it?

Now the FDA has unprecedented control of tobacco. What’s the big deal? We all

know tobacco is bad; we all know it kills people. And we all know that no one

should smoke or chew tobacco. So the federal government stepping in to force

us out of a bad habit is a good thing, right?

Be careful what you wish for. I thought I lived in a free country, where the

federal government was supposed to keep out of people’s personal business,

where we were free to make our own choices– not have our choices made for us

for our own good

. And where does it stop? Cigarettes are an easy target. But