As we saw in an entry Mon, Aug. 20 by Kos, the Washington Times is saying that my homestate senator, Mitch McConnell could be in electoral trouble next fall. I think much of that is nothing new. McConnell's always in trouble (as recent ads highlight, here, here, and here, for instance), and the infighting in the Kentucky Republican party, which McConnell has a lock on, is actually a broader southern phenomenon right now.
In fact, scandals and party infighting threaten to unseat Governor Ernie Fletcher, who didn't get an endorsement from McConnell in the spring primaries, but who seems poised to get the Senator's reluctant help this fall.
Alot of this is good old Kentucky politics, and reflects the weakness of the Republican party heading into 2008 while at the same time providing a window into the factionalized Republican Party in Kentucky.
But, actually, I'm taking up this diary entry in response to what potential Republican "candidate" Larry Forgy had to say about the war in Iraq and its impact on Kentuckians.
The moonies, er, Washington Times quoted him as saying:
"And the war in Iraq is less troublesome in Kentucky than in many other places."
Really? Really?? Seriously?!? I guess I can't imagine what it's done to other states, but let's put "less troublesome" into the context of what President "Look, A Shiny Object"'s war in Iraq has meant to Kentuckians. A few stats:
According to nationalpriorities.com the war has cost:
--62 Kentuckians dead
I know that for our Republican politicians "supporting the troops" doesn't equate to "trying to keep them from dying uselessly," and Kos highlighted a very good essay that made the case that Republican leaders see the troops less as people than as G.I. Joe-type action figures. Look at how they handled the VA, for chrissakes.
But Kentucky is about nothing if not small town and community. So, what the "less troublesome" war look like in the heartland?
Well, we know that the south is always overrepresented, service-wise.
And, Kentucky sends alot of people to the armed services, especially given the abject poverty that exists in the Appalachians.
Meanwhile, one leading candidate's sons are supporting the troops by . . . helping their wingnut father get elected.
But let's look at this:
--$3.5 billion of Kentuckians' tax dollars.
In my congressional district (KY-02) that breaks down to $609 million. I know that on the coasts, and in the more populated and prosperous areas, $3.5 billion might buy a few miles of congestion-clearing highway. But Kentucky is one of the states that lags in almost every significant area of development, from education to health
So, what would $3.5 billion buy in my state?
Well, here's a pretty cool and depressing running calculator that lets you do a comparison of war costs versus things like education, public housing, children's health, etc. It has the war cost at $3.5 billion for Kentucky.
60,000 teachers
271,000,000 children insured for a year. [yes, million]
What could Ron Lewis' KY-02 have gotten for the $609 million we've committed our grandchildren to through a debt-funded war?
Health care for almost a quarter million kids [just in the district]
Head Start for almost 100,000 kids
More than 12,000 new elementary school teachers
College scholarships for more than 100,000
Renewable electricity for almost 500,000 homes
Hey, Ron!! PULL YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR *SS!
I don't know about Larry Forgy, but I'd call mortgaging our children's future for a failed policy "very troubling." He needs to think more about Kentucky's priorities and a bit less about being a lapdog for Republican warhawks.
Dear God, writing that was depressing.