>> Renee: WELCOME TO FANCY FARM KENTUCKY, A SMALL COMMUNITY IN WEST KENTUCKY WHERE ON THE FIRST SATURDAY IN AUGUST THE TOWN POPULATION SWELLS TO THE THOUSANDS.

SINCE 1880 THIS EVENT HAS SERVED AS A FUNDRAISER FOR ST. INJURE SO MANY CATHOLIC CHURCH AND A FAMILY REUNION OF SORTS.

ON THIS 141st PICNIC THERE ARE SIZABLE PORTIONS OF PORK, PIE AND POLITICS ARE THOSE ARE DOLED OUT TO THOSE EAGER FOR BARBECUE BOMBAST AND BINGO AND WE ARE HERE FOR IT ALL.

THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING KET FOR OUR LIVE UNINTERRUPTED COVERAGE OF THE FANCY FARM PICNIC DOWN HERE IN GRAVES COUNTY.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO BE IN YOUR HOMES TODAY FOR THIS BIG EVENT, AND I AM GLAD TO BE JOINED BY LAWRENCE SMITH WHO IS WITH WDRB TV IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, AND HE'S A BIG POLITICAL REPORTER THERE, AND HE'S ON THE SCENE EVERYWHERE, IT SEEMS, NOT JUST POLITICS.

AND IT'S BEEN INTERESTING, LAWRENCE, LEADING UP TO THIS PICNIC.

AS WE KNOW, LAST YEAR DURING THE PANDEMIC THERE WERE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE PICNIC.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE POLITICAL SPEAKING.

THEY WENT ON WITH THE FUNDRAISER.

BUT NOW THEY'RE BACK, AND WHAT'S THE MOOD AND THE SENSE THAT YOU HAVE ABOUT HOW THINGS FEEL RIGHT NOW?

>> Lawrence: LIKE YOU SAID AT THE BEGINNING, THERE'S LOTS OF BINGO STILL, LOTS OF BARBECUE, BUT NOT AS MUCH BOMBAST.

WE'RE MISSING THE BOMBAST, THE CROWD GENERALLY IS SMALLER AND, OF COURSE, AS YOU CAN SEE BEHIND US THERE'S ONLY ONE SIDE OF THE STAGE OF THE CROWD THAT'S FILLED.

DEMOCRATS ARE NOT HERE.

THAT'S GOING TO MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN THE ATMOSPHERE HERE BECAUSE WE'RE USED TO SEEING THE BACK-AND-FORTH BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES, BUT GOING TO BE ONE-SIDED THIS YEAR PRIMARILY AT THIS EVENT.

>> Renee: CALL AND RESPONSE IS A BIG PART OF WHAT MAKES FANCY FARM SO SPECIAL, THE POLITICAL SPEAKING EVENT, THAT GIVE AND TAKE, POLITICAL THEATER.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE CARTOON CHARACTERIZATION AND CARDBOARD SIGNS AND DRESS-UP THAT MAKES THE AUDIENCE INTERACTION SO KEY TO THE FANCY FARM.

DO YOU THINK IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE A LOW-KEY LETTING HEARING OR SOMETHING?

>> PROBABLY NOT THAT, BUT IT IS GOING TO BE LOWER KEY.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME YELLING AND SCREAMING BUT NOT NEARLY TO THE LEVEL BECAUSE IT'S JUST ONE SIDED.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE NAME-CALLING AGAINST DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS CALLING NAMES OF DEMOCRATS, SO IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT DIFFERENT THAN IT USUALLY IS, SO IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW PEOPLE ONSTAGE KIND OF REACT TO THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE USED TO GETTING HECKLED AND THIS YEAR THEY MAY NOT GET SO MUCH WHAT THEY'RE USED TO GETTING.

>> Renee: YOUR THOUGHTS, YOU HAVE BEEN COVERING POLITICS FOR A LONG TIME.

DO YOU SEE THE DEMOCRATS AND ANDY BEAR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR COLEMAN HAS MADE IN NOT BEING HERE?

>> Lawrence: I CAN TELL YOU WHAT HE SAID ABOUT THIS.

OBVIOUSLY HE'S CONCERNED ABOUT COVID.

IN GRAVES COUNTY WHERE THIS IS HELD IS IN THE RED ZONE.

IT HAS A LOW VACCINATION RATE.

THAT'S THE FACTOR OF WHY THE CROWD PROBABLY IS DOWN AND THE GOVERNOR IS NOT HERE ACCORDING TO WHAT HE SAID, BUT ALSO HE DOESN'T RUN UNTIL 2023, SO HE HAS MADE THE CALCULUS THAT HE WANTS TO STAY AWAY THIS YEAR AND COME BACK, I ASSUME, NEXT YEAR AND REALLY GET INTO THE GOVERNOR'S CAMPAIGN, BUT RIGHT NOW WITH COVID AND BEING SO FAR AWAY FROM HIS ELECTION, RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN, HE'S GOING TO STAY AWAY FOR NOW, AND THAT'S THE CUE FOR OTHER DEMOCRATS ALSO NOT TO BE HERE.

>> Renee: AND ALSO THEIR EVENTS.

THE PRELIMINARY EVENTS THAT LEAD UP.

THEY WERE ALSO CANCELED.

>> Lawrence: EXACTLY.

>> Renee: THE GOVERNOR YOU CAN SAY TO THIS POINT COVID HAS BEEN HIS DEFINING I-THINKS ADMINISTRATION, TO BE HERE PERHAPS MIGHT HAVE SEEMED A LITTLE HYPOCRITICAL.

>> Lawrence: PERHAPS.

I THINK SO.

OF COURSE, REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO CRITICIZE HIM FOR THAT.

YOU'RE ALREADY HEARING, WELL, HE'S ABANDON WESTERN KENTUCKY, WHICH THAT'S NOT TRUE.

THAT'S A GOOD POLITICAL TALKING POINT.

BUT I THINK WITH HIM CALLING FOR NOT MANDATES AGAIN BUT SAYING PEOPLE SHOULD NOT GATHER IN LARGE CROWDS, AND IF YOU DO, TO WEAR A MASK, I'M NOT SEEING MANY MASKS AROUND HERE.

IT MAY SEEM A BIT HYPOCRITICAL FOR HIM TO SHOW UP HERE AMONG THIS LARGE CROWD AND THEN TAKING PART IN THIS EVENT.

>> Renee: ALSO ABSENT TODAY IS U.S.

SENATOR, THE MINORITY LEADER MITCH McCONNELL AND OUR JUNIOR U.S.

SENATOR RAND PAUL BECAUSE THEY'RE DOING SOME BUSINESS IN WASHINGTON, VOTING AND DOING ACTION ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE, BUT SENATOR McCONNELL DID SEND THIS VIDEO MESSAGE TO KET AND WE'LL SHARE THAT WITH YOU.

>> HELLO, FANCY FARM.

I'M SORRY CANDIDATE BE WITH YOU IN PERSON.

I -- CAN'T BE WITH YOU IN PERSON.

I DOUBT I'VE GONE TWO YEARS WITHOUT A FANCY FARM SINCE THE 1980S.

IT'S AN INCREDIBLE KENTUCKY TRADITION.

SO I WANT TO RECOGNIZE MARK AND LAURIE WILSON FOR THEIR DECADES OF DEDICATION, THANKS AS WELL TO STEVEN ELDER, BOB BABBAGE OUR EMCEE TODAY, AND, OF COURSE, TO ALL THE FOLKS ANOTHER ST. JEROME'S.

UP IN LOUISVILLE THEY DON'T SEEM TO CARE ABOUT FANCY FARM ANYMORE.

THEY SEEM TO HAVE LOST INTEREST.

WE DON'T REALLY CARE, FRANKLY, IF THE GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WERE TOO CHICKEN TO PAY THE BIDEN GAS PRICES TO DRIVE OUT HERE AND TAKE THEIR LUMPS.

FANCY FARM HAS TO GO ON WITHOUT THEM, AND IT WILL.

MY DAY JOB UP HERE IS FIGHTING FOR YOUR FAMILIES ON CAPITOL HILL.

CHUCK SCHUMER SCHEDULED IMPORTANT VOTES TODAY, SO RAND AND I ARE UP HERE FIGHTING THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT YOU ALL ARE DISCUSSING OUT THERE AT THE EVENT TODAY.

HOW DEMOCRATS'EST RECKLESS SPENDING THE DRIVING THE COST OF EVERYTHING HIGHER FOR KENTUCKY FAMILIES.

HOW THEIR TAX HIKES WOULD CRUSH FAMILY FARMS AND SMALL BUSINESSES, HOW THE FAR LEFT WON'T SECURE OUR BORDER, SUPPORT THE POLICE OR CUT VIOLENT CRIME REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP GOT OUR COUNTRY THROUGH THE COVID CRISIS IN 2020.

JOE BIDEN, CHUCK SCHUMER AND NANCY PELOSI WERE HANDED AN AMAZING INHERITANCE, BUT THEY HAVE FUMBLE THE HANDOFF.

EVEN WITH AMAZING VACCINES FOR EVERYONE, DEMOCRATS WANT TO TURN THIS TEMPORARY PANDEMIC INTO A TROJAN HORSE FOR PERMANENT SOCIALISM.

MY JOB IS TO DO MY BEST NOT TO LET THAT HAPPEN.

SO WE'RE GOING TO KEEP FIGHTING FOR FANCY FARM.

WE'RE GOING TO KEEP FIGHTING FOR KENTUCKY JOBS, KENTUCKY VALUES, AND KENTUCKY FAMILIES.

HAVE A GREAT DAY, AND I'LL BE NEXT YEAR.

>> Renee: SO, LAWRENCE OF -- >> Lawrence: I THINK HE JUST GAVE YOU HIS FANCY FARM SPEECH.

>> Renee: 2 MINUTES AND FIVE SECONDS WHICH NIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN MUCH SHORTER THAT HE WOULD HAVE DONE ON THAT STAGE, SAYING THAT THE DEMOCRATS, HE SAID LOUISVILLE DEMPS ARE DEMS DON'T CARE ABOUT FANCY FARM AND THEY'VE TURNED THIS TEMPORARY PANN PANDEMIC INTO A TROJAN HORSE.

THEY WERE TOO CHICKEN TO TAKE THE BIDEN LUMPS.

>> Lawrence: LOUISVILLE DEMOCRATS ARE HOLDING A SEPARATE EVENT.

THEY USUALLY FALLED IT FANCYVILLE, IT WAS GOING TO FEATURE POLITICAL SPEECHES BY LOCAL DEMOCRATS CANDIDATES, BUT THEY HAVE PIVOTED FROM THAT AND NOW THEY'RE DOING WHAT THEY WALL A FANCY VAX WHICH IS KAY VACCINATION EVENT, AND DEMOCRATIC LEADER NOW VOLUNTEERING AT THAT EVENT, SO THEY'RE NOT HERE BECAUSE THEY'RE HOLDINGS A SEPARATE EVENT NOW IN LOUISVILLE.

>> Renee: RIGHT.

THERE IS IS ALSO A VACCINATION CLINIC HERE.

>> Lawrence: THERE IS.

I TALKED IS TO ONE OF THE ETHYL COUNTY HEALTH WORKERS, AND SHE SAID BUSINESS IS BETTER THAN EXPECTED.

THEY HAVE HAD SOME VACCINATIONS BUT THEY'RE HERE IN PEOPLE WANT TO GET THEM.

>> Renee: EVER.

>> Renee: SO LET'S TALK ABOUT WHO YOU HAVE SEEN.

THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO WERE ON THE STAGE WHO WERE PART OF THE SPEAKING REPORT OF BUT IT'S ALSO INTERESTING TO TAKE STOCK OF WHO IS ROAMING THE CROWDS AND ALREADY WORKING IT DOWN HERE INNER WESTERN KENTUCKY.

WHO STANDS OUT TO YOU?

>> Lawrence: I'VE TALKED TO A COUPLE OF PEOPLE HERE.

SAVANNAH MADDOX, REPRESENTATIVE SAVANNAH MADDOX FROM NORTHERN KENTUCKY IS HERE, AND I INTERVIEWED HER, AND SHE SAID SHE IS STRONGLY CONSIDERING RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

SHE'S GETTING LOTS OF ENCOURAGEMENT.

SO IT LOOKS LIKE SHE MAY BE JUMPING INTO THIS RACE.

SO, OF COURSE, RHODE ISLAND RYAN QUARLES, THE AG COMMISSIONER IS GOING TO BE ON STAGE WHO IS CONSIDERING, STRONGLY CONSIDERING A RUN FOR GOVERNOR.

AND THERE ARE OTHERS AROUND THAT ARE KIND OF LOOKING AT OTHER OFFICES.

THEY'RE NOT ON STAGE AND THEY MAY BE STATE REPRESENTATIVES OR NOT EVEN ELECTED OFFICIALS RIGHT NOW BUT THEY'RE HERE GETTING THEIR NAME AND FACE OUT THERE AND KIND OF CHECKING THE TEMPERATURE, LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THAT THEY MAY BE INTERESTED IN ANOTHER OFFICE.

>> Renee: SO ONE POINT THAT'S BEEN MADE LIE LOO I BY A LOT OF FOLKS IS THAT WESTERN KENTUCKY USED THE TO BE THE DEMOCRATIC GIBRALTER.

THAT DEMOCRATS RULED THIS AREA AND MANY DECADES SINCE THAT TIME THERE'S BEEN A FALL FROM THE DEMOCRATS INTO REPUBLICAN HANDS, AND I TALKED TO BOB PACKAGE WHO IS TODAY'S EMCEE.

>> Lawrence: THE ONLY DEMOCRAT ON STAGE.

>>> FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE AND FORMER STATE AUDITOR, AND HERE'S WHAT HE HAD TO SAY ABOUT WESTERN KENTUCKY NOT GOING THE DEMOCRATIC GIBRALTER THAT IT ONCE WAS.

>> Bob: FOR A LONG TIME THE WESTERN PART OF THE STATE REFERRED TOASTIES THE JACKSON PURCHASE, PART OF THAT BIG LAND MASS PURCHASED UNDER THE JACKSON ADMINISTRATION, ONE OF THE BEST REAL ESTATE DEALS IN HISTORY, THAT REGION WAS SOLIDLY DEMOCRATIC.

SO GEORGE HUMPHREYS, A PROFESSOR OUT OF WESTERN KENTUCKY, HAS SPENT AP ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF TIME TRACING THAT HISTORY OF HOW THE WEST DAME BECAME DEMOCRATIC.

HIS BOOK THAT'S A RESULT OF ALL THIS WORK WILL BE OUT THIS YEAR FROM THE UNIVERSITY REST OF WESTERN KENTUCKY THAT SETS THE STAGE FOR HOW ALL THAT CAME TOGETHER AND THEN HOW ALL THAT BEGAN TO COME APART.

EVERY COUNTY JUDGE IN THOSE COUNTIES IS REPUBLICAN TODAY, AND THE VOTE TODAY IS MUCH DIFFERENT THAN IT WAS THEN.

SO WHEN DID THAT OCCUR?

HOW DID THAT OCCUR?

AND WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM IT?

I ALWAYS WATCHED THE VOTER REGISTRATION NUMBERS EVERY MONTH, HAVE SINCE I WAS SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE MOST PART BUT PARTICULARLY THERE'S A DOZEN OR SO YEARS, AND THE REGISTRATION CHANGES A LITTLE MORE R TO D EVERY MONTH, MORE REPUBLICANS THAN DEMOCRATS.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE UPDATE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MONTH.

AND A HECK OF A LOT MORE INDEPENDENTS.

SO WE'RE GOING TO GO FROM 46-44 DEMOCRATS TO REPUBLICAN AND 9 INDEPENDENT BY THE FALL OF 2 2S WE'LL BE 45-10.

ONE IN TEN VOTERS WILL BE OTHER, LARGELY INDEPENDENTS, MAYBE LIBERTARIANS FIT THERE AND A FEW OTHER STRIPES BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE ALMOST DEAD EVEN IN REGISTRATION.

THAT'S THE WAY THE STRENGTHENED IS.

AND TO HUMPHREY'S BOOK WEEK WHICH I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL ENJOY, IT WILL SHOW HOW OVER THE COURSE OF DECADE THINGS CHANGED.

>> Renee: SO WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT, LAWRENCE SMITH?

>> Lawrence: I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT BOOK FOR ONE THING.

BUT I THINK HE'S RIGHT.

OVER THE YEARS WHAT HAS BEEN A DEMOCRATIC STRONGHOLD IN WESTERN KENTUCKY HAS BEEN REPUBLICAN.

I THINK IT'S ALWAYS BEEN CONSERVATORY DEMOCRAT, BUT AT THE TIME THEY STARTED VOTING THE PARTY WHICH REFLECTED WHAT THEY BELIEVE THEIR CONSERVATIVE VALUES TO BE, AND NOW IT'S A SOLID REPUBLICAN PRESENCE HERE.

>> Renee: AND WE DID ASK DEMOCRATS TO BE A PART OF OUR PROGRAM JUST DURING THIS PRE-GAME JUST TO GIVE US SOME COMMENT, AND THEY DID DECLINE, AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF KENTUCKY TWEETED OUT A FEW HOURS AGO, GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR, THIS IS WHAT THEY SAY, "CAN'T BE AT FANCY FARM BECAUSE OF THE DELTA VARIANT" BUT HERE HE IS OUT AND ABOUT MASKLESS IN FRANKFORT.

APPARENTLY HE WAS AT THE FRANKFORT FARMERS MARKET THERE.

SO DO YOU THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF HAY TO BE MADE OF ABOUT HE COULDN'T HERE BUT YET HE'S MILLING ABOUT IN HIS BACKYARD?

>> Lawrence: SURE.

THAT'S ONE THING YOU CAN EXPECT FROM THE STAGE AND ELSEWHERE, IS THEY'RE GOING TO BE GOING AFTER GOVERNOR BESHEAR, THEY'RE GOING TO BE GOING AFTER HIS -- THE MANDATES WHICH MOST ARE NOW NOT IN EFFECT, BUT HOW HE SHUT DOWN THE ECONOMY AND THAT SORT OF THINGS, BUT IN TALKING TO DEMOCRATS THEY SAY THEY NEED TO BE CAREFUL WITH THAT BECAUSE THE FACT IS THAT KENTUCKY HAD FEWER COVID CASES, FEWER COVID DEATHS THAN THE SURROUNDING STATES, AND NOW THE KENTUCKY ECONOMY APPEARS TO BE REASON, BACK, SO THEY HAVE TO WALK A TIGHT LINE BETWEEN CRITICIZING THE GOVERNOR AND LOOKING AT THE FACTS AND WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED BECAUSE OF WHAT HE DID.

>> Renee: AND KENTUCKY SEEMS TO BE IN THE MIL OF THE PACK OF THOSE STATES WHEN IT COMES TO VACCINATION RATES AS WELL.

>> Lawrence: WE'RE UP TO 50% NOW, WHICH IS HIGHER THAN SOME STATES, AND IT'S PRIMARILY THE RURAL COUNTIES LIKE GRAVES COUNTY THAT ARE LESS VACCINATED.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE AN INTERESTING DYNAMIC TO SEE HOW THEY CRITICIZE GOVERNOR BESHEAR BUT SEE IF THEY CRITICIZE HIM GENTLE OR REALLY GO AFTER HIM.

>> Renee: GOOD THINGS TO BE LOOKING OUT FOR.

WE TALKED ABOUT WHO IS NOT GOING TO BE ON THAT STAGE, BUT THERE'S GOING TO BE A NEW FACE THAT IS KIND OF INTERNAL WHO RUNS THE THINGS AROUND HERE, THAT MAKES THE POLITICAL SPEAKING EVENT GO.

WE HAVE LULL BECOME VERY FOND OF MARK HILL WILSON WHO HAS BABY THE LONGTIME POLITICAL CHAIRMAN AT FANCY FARM.

HE'S PASSING THE REINS TO MR. STEVE ELDER.

OUR CASEY PARKER-BELL CAUGHT UP WITH HIM A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO TO TELL US MORE.

>> Casey: FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS ONE FANCY FARM LOCAL HAS BECOME A FAMILIAR FACE TO THOSE IN ATTENDANCE AT THE ANNUAL PICNIC.

>> I MIGHT BE ON THE COVER ROLLING STONE NEXT MONTH!

>> Casey: MARK WILSON HAS BEEN THE CHAIR OF THE FANCY FARM POLITICAL SPEAKING SINCE 2004.

HE ORGANIZED THE SPEAKING EVENT WORKING WITH POLITICIANS AND SELECTING EMCEES.

>> HERE WE ARE AGAIN AT FANCY FARM.

>> Casey: THIS YEAR HE HANDS THE REINS OFF TO STEVEN ELDER WHO'S FAMILY HAS BEEN IN FANCY FARM SINCE INCEPTION OF THE PICNIC.

>> DAVE AND I HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR YEARS.

HIS FAMILY AND MY FAMILY GREW UP AND WE'VE BEEN IN THE FANCY FARM/ST.

INJURE SO MANY COMMUNITY.

STEVEN, HE HAS A PASSION FOR POLITICS AND HIS PARRISH CBD THE COMMUNITY LIKE I DO, SO I APPROACHED DAVID A FEW YEARS AGO WITH THE IDEA OF EVENTUALLY A SUCCESSION PLAN TO COME ONBOARD, AND GRACIOUSLY HE ACCEPTED.

I DON'T KNOW.

IT'S A LITTLE CLICHE OR STOLI SAY BUT IT'S A DREAM COME TRUE.

AGAIN, FROM A LITTLE BOY TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE FOLKS ONSTAGE TO NOW BEING, YOU KNOW, THE GUY THAT'S KIND OF RUNNING IT ALL IS SOMETHING SPECIAL.

THE THE LITTLE TOWN OF FANCY FARM, BEING A COMMUNITY-ORIENTED THAT WE ARE, THIS IS A BIG JOB.

IT'S A BIG DEAL.

AND SO YOU'VE GOT TO PRESENT YOURSELF TO NOT ONLY THE COMMUNITY BUT TO THE STATE AND THE WORLD THAT YOU CAN HANDLE THIS.

>> Casey: TO MANY THE PICNIC IS BARBECUE AND BINGO.

>> O72.

>> Casey: BUT THAT WASN'T THE DRAW FOR STEVEN ELDER.

THE 41-YEAR-OLD NOW ADMITS THAT HE WOULD SKIRT SOME PICNIC RESPONSIBILITIES TO HEAR THE POLITICAL STUMP SPEECHES.

>> I'VE BEEN TO THE PICNIC EVERY YEAR OF MY LIFE, AND I STARTED DOWN BY THE MEAT STAND AND, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS ALWAYS A RUMBLE UP HERE ON TOP OF THE HILL.

AND AS A LITTLE BOY I ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW WHAT THAT WAS ALL ABOUT, SO I WOULD SNEAK OFF FROM THE MEAT STAND AND EVERYBODY CHOPPING DOWN THERE, AND COME UP AND LISTEN TO ALL THE LEADERS OF THE STATE.

IT WAS INTERESTING.

IT WAS ALWAYS INTRIGUING.

>> Casey: IN HIS FIRST YEAR IN CHARGE OF ORGANIZING THE POLITICAL SPEAKING, ELDER WAS TASKED WITH TANSING QUESTIONS THOUGHT THE IMPLAUSIBLE JUST OVER A YEAR AGO.

THE FANCY FARM PICNIC DIDN'T SHUT DOWN DURING WORLD WAR II AND A PANDEMIC DIDN'T STOP THE EVENT LAST YEAR, EITHER, BUT 2020 WAS DIFFERENT FANCY FARM.

THE CROWDS SPARSE.

THE POLITICAL SPEAKING AND BINGO PAVILIONS EMPTY.

>> YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE POLITICAL SPEECHES LAST YEAR.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO MAKE THAT DECISION IN THE MIDDLE OF 2020?

>> WELL, IT WAS DISAPPOINTING.

IT REALLY WAS.

IT WAS A -- THIS LAST BEEN GOING ON FOR 141 YEARS NOW THIS YEAR, AND TO NOT HAVE IT WAS DISHEARTENING.

IT REALLY WAS.

>> WHAT IS THE PICNIC FOR YOU ALL LIKE LAST YEAR?

>> IT WAS A GHOST TOWN ALMOST.

IT'S NOTE -- THE PICNIC AT ST. JEROME THAT WE'VE BEEN ACCUSTOMED TO.

I MEAN WE WERE ON THE PICNIC GROUNDS AND THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE HERE, BUT IT'S JUST -- THERE WAS NO SEMBLANCE OF THE PICNIC THAT WE'VE GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO.

I BROUGHT MY TEN-YEAR-OLD AT THE TIME DOWN TO FANCY FARM, TOOK A PICTURE IN FRONT OF THE EMPTY BINGO PAVILION, HIM WITH A MASK ON WITH A POUND OF BARBECUE JUST TO KIND OF CEMENT THAT, THIS IS WHAT IT IS.

>> MARK, HOW DID THE COMMUNITY REACT TO FANCY FARM, THE PICNIC HAVING TO BE SCALED BACK?

>> I LIKE TO HAVE MY GLASS HALF FULL ALL THE TIME BUT MY GLASS WAS STARTING TO GET HALF EMPTY COMING TOWARDS THE TIME WE HAD TO RENDER A DECISION ON THAT, SO THE MAIN THING I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT WAS WILL WE KEEP THE RELEVANCE OF THE PICNIC AT FANCY FARM.

>> Casey: IN 2021 MARK AND STEVEN SAY THE RELEVANCY WILL BE BACK.

POLITICIANS WILL BE BACK ON STAGE.

FAMILIES WILL GATHER AROUND GAMES.

AND THE FANCY FARM COMMUNITY WILL DO WHAT IT ALWAYS DOES, PREPARE BARBECUE AND BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.

>> WHAT WILL THIS YEAR LOOK LIKE FOR PEOPLE?

>> WELL, AS FAR AS THE POLITICAL, WE CALLED IT THE OFF-YEAR SINCE THERE'S NO ELECTIONS, BUT I'VE BEEN AT THE HELM THROUGH TWO OR THREE OFF-YEARS AND THERE'S NEVER AN OFF-YEAR UP THERE.

FOR AN OFF-YEAR THIS IS GOING TO BE A BIG YEAR.

EVERYBODY'S READY TO GET OUT.

BINGO, PRESS THE FLESH, YOU KNOW, HUG THE WOMEN, KISS THE BABIES, ALL THAT, SLAP BACKS.

EVERYBODY'S READY TO GET BACK TO SOME NORMALCY.

>> AND WE'RE EXCITED AND READY TO GET BACK TO THE PEOPLE COME TO WESTERN KENTUCKY.

>> Casey: FOR KET, I'M CASEY PARKER-BELL.

>> Renee: SO WE KNOW SOMEBODY WHO IS ON THIS STAGE RIGHT NOW IS READY TO PRESS THE FLESH, HUG THE WOMEN, KISS THE BABIES.

SCOTT JENNINGS, A GOOD FRIEND TO KET.

YOU KNOW HIM.

YOU READ ABOUT HIM.

HIS COLUMN IS IN THE COURIER-JOURNAL I THINK EVERY THIRD WEDNESDAY.

>> EVERY TWO WEDNESDAYS.

THEY'VE GOT ME WORKING HARDER.

>> Renee: BUT THE THE WAY NOT COMMISERATE WITH THAT PERHAPS.

HE'S RUN SEVERAL DIFFERENT KIND OF CAMPAIGNS, CONGRESSIONAL, U.S. SENATE, STATE AND LOCAL RACES, SO HE'S THE GUY.

SCOTT JENN, POLICE TO SEE YOU.

>> Scott: NICE TO SEE, YOU RENEE.

>> Renee: I WANT YOU TO TALK ABOUT THE VISUAL THAT'S BEHIND US, WHAT YOU TAKE AWAY FROM WHAT YOU'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW.

>> Scott: I'VE BEEN COMING DOWN HERE FOR OVER 20 YEAR, AND WHEN I STARTED REPUBLICANS OCCUPIED ONE OF THESE BLEACHERS, AND TODAY IF YOU LOOK OUT OVER THIS CROWD, HALF OF THIS PAVILION IS LITERALLY EMPTY WHERE DEMOCRATS WOULD NORMALLY BE, AND VIRTUALLY EVERYONE HERE IS A REPUBLICAN.

THERE'S A FEW SCATTERED DEMOCRATS OVER HERE I THINK BUT IT'S -- IT'S REALLY A SHAME CANDIDLY.

THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW REMAINING EVENTS IN AMERICA WHERE BOTH PARTIES COME AND SPEAK TO THE SAME GROUP.

MOST POLITICAL EVENTS NOW ARE SILOED WHERE REPUBLICANS TALK TO MANY REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS TO DEMOCRATS, AND I THINK IT'S A REAL SHAME.

I WISH THE GOVERNOR WERE HERE.

I SAW HIM OUT A FARMERS MARKET THIS MORNING.

>> Renee: WE MENTIONED THAT.

>> Scott: AND WE'RE IN FANCY FARM.

I KNOW IT'S A LITTLE BIT FARTHER DRIVE.

I WISH HE WAS HERE.

I WISH HIS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WAS HERE.

AND I WISH THEY HADN'T TURNED THEIR BACK ON THIS EVENT.

IT'S MORE THAN JUST POLITICAL SPEAKING.

THERE'S A CHARITABLE ENDEAVOR HERE.

THERE'S A CHURCH PICNIC.

BUT FOR OUR PUBLIC DISCOURSE, WE ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO THIS BECAUSE YOU HAVE BOTH PARTIES TOGETHER, AND I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING SYMBOLIC AND IMPORTANT ABOUT THAT.

>> Renee: BUT THERE WAS A TIME WHEN MATT BEVIN TOOK A PASS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

>> Scott: HE DID, AND HE AT TIMES DENIGRATED THE TRADITION.

HE CAME AND THERE WERE CROWDS HERE, AND REPUBLICANS NEVER ESSENTIALLY BOYCOTTED IT EN MASSE THE WAY I THINK DEMOCRATS ARE DOING THIS YEAR, SO I'M HOPING IN 2 GUESS '23 IN A SENATE YEAR AND A GOVERNOR'S RACE YEAR THAT THE DEMOCRATS COME BACK.

THE REPUBLICANS WILL DEFINITELY BE HERE BECAUSE OF HOW MANY OFFICE HOLDERS WE HAVE, BUT WE REALLY NEED TO PRESERVE I THINK THIS IMPORTANT TRADITION OF PUBLIC AND BIPARTISAN DISCOURSE.

>> Renee: AND IT IS AN OFF-YEAR, AND SO MANY PEOPLE JUDGING FROM THE CROWDS, MANY PEOPLE MAY HAVE THOUGHT SECOND ABOUT COMING, AND WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF PEOPLEY GET GO TO BOXES AND WE STILL ARE IN A PAN PANDEMIC AND I KNOW THAT'S A CONCERN TO A LOT OF FOLKS.

>> Scott: WALKING THROUGH THE CROWDS, I'VE SEEN IT MORE FULL BEFORE BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS HERE AND I'M SURE THE CHURCH ORGANIZERS ARE HAPPY TO HAVE THE CROWDS BACK VERSUS WHAT THEY HAD TO DO LAST YEAR.

I'M REALLY HOPING THAT THIS TRADITION GOES BACK AN UPSWING BECAUSE WE HAVE TWO YEARS IN A ROW WITH A SENATOR RACE AND A GOVERNOR'S RACE WHERE THERE WILL BE GOOD REASON FORCH.

I'M A WESTERN KENTUCKIAN.

WE OFTEN FEEL FORGOTTEN BY STATE POLITICIANS.

FANCY FARM BRINGS THEM DOWN HERE, AND CISE WESTERN KEANE I WANT TO SEE THEM DOWN HER AND GIVE WEST KENTUCKY AND RURAL KENTUCKY THE ATTENTION IT DESERVES.

>> Renee: AL CROSS MADE THAT IN HIS RECENT COLUMN, HOW WESTERN KENTUCKIANS FEEL FORGOTTEN.

THEY'RE CLOSER TO MEMPHIS THAN THEY ARE TO LOUISVILLE, AND THEY FEEL THEY'RE NOT AS CONNECTED, AND SO THE IMPORTANCE OF A GOVERNOR BEING HERE CERTAINLY HAS THAT.

BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT LAST NIGHT.

THE REPUBLICAN DINNER IN MARSHALL COUNTY AND KELLY CRAFT WAS THE KEYNOTE AND THE SHOW STOPPER BUT SHE STOPPED SHORT OF MAKING AN ANNOUNCEMENT.

GIVE US THE SKINNY.

FILL THE OF TEA.

>> Scott: AMBASSADOR CRAFT, I'VE KNOWN HER -- WE WERE FIRST GETTING GEORGE W. BUSH GET ELECTED, AND SHE HAS HAD A LONG AND DISTINGUISHED POLITICAL CAREER P. AMBASSADOR TO CANADA BY TRUMP AND I THINK SHE IS THE HIGHEST RANK KENTUCKIAN SINCE HENRY CLAY.

SHE'S COME BACK.

SHE'S TALKING ABOUT RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

NO ONE OTHER THAN MIKE HARMON ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE HAS ANNOUNCED.

ALL THE THINGS SHE'S DOING OUT THERE LOOK TO ME LIKE SHE'S SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING IT, AND I -- >> Renee: WHY DIDN'T SHE COME TODAY?

>> Scott: I DON'T KNOW TRUTHFULLY.

I KNOW SHE HAD A BIG TIME AT THE REPUBLICAN EVENT LAST NIGHT.

TRUTHFULLY I'M NOT SURE.

THAT RACE IS TWO YEARS AWAY AND SO AS AN OFFICE HOLDER MY ASSUMPTION IS SHE'LL BE BACK.

>> Renee: BUT WE ARE SEEING SAVANNAH MADDOX, STATE REPRESENTATIVE FROM DRY RIDGE WHO REPRESENTS THE 61ST HOUSE DISTRICT.

WE'RE SEEING SOME OTHERS WHO ARE HERE, RUSSELL COLEMAN WHO IS HERE, SAMARRA HAVEN STATE REPRESENTATIVE, O.J.

ALECA.

SOMETIMES YOU SEE FOLKS THAT DON'T HAVE A CONNECTION TO WESTERN KENTUCKY YOU WONDER WHAT IS GOING ON.

>> Scott: SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE YOU MENTIONED, O.J.

ALECA A STATEWIDE STAINED, I THINK.

COLEMAN, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT HIM RUNNING FOR A STATEWIDE OFFICE AT SOME POINT.

REPUBLICANS HAVE A PRETTY DEEP BENCH FOR ALL THESE OFFICES THE NEXT TIME AROUND.

MENTIONED MIKE HAMMER, HE'S ALREADY RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

THE AG COMMISSIONER RYAN QUARLES IS TALKING ABOUT RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

THE TRUTH IS WITH KELLY AND ALL THESE OTHER PEOPLE, THE REPUBLICANS HAVE A REALLY DEEP BENCH FOR ALL THESE OFFICES.

I REMEMBER YEARS AGO IT WAS LIKE PULLING TEETH TO GET FOLKS TO RUN FOR THESE THINGS, AND NOW YOU'VE GOT REPUBLICS COMBING OUT OF THE WOODWORK TO DO IT, SO IT'S A TESTAMENT TO SOMETHING THAT HAS HAPPENED.

WHICH IS HAVING A REPUBLICAN IN ANY OFFICE IS A VALUABLE ITEM.

>> Renee: DO YOU THINK THERE WILL BE SOME QUESTION ABOUT AUDITOR HARMON, THOUGH, WHICH POT OF THE MONEY IS COMING OUT OF FOR HIM TO BE HERE TO PERHAPS MAKE HIS CASE TO BE GOVERNOR, BUT YET HE IS IN A SITTING CAPACITY AS STATE AUDITOR, AND AS THE WATCHDOG OF THE TAXPAYER DOLLARS, COULD THERE BE SOME CONFLATION THERE?

>> Scott: I'M SURE SOMEBODY MIGHT LEVEL THAT ATTACK BUT I THINK ONE THING MIKE HARMON HAS PROVEDOVER HIS CAREER, HE DOTS THE Is AND DOTS THE TS AND DOES EVERYTHING BY THE BOOK WHEN IT COMES TO HIS JOB AS STATE PARTICIPATED I HAVE NO DOUBT HE WILL MEET THE ETHICAL OBLIGATIONS OF KEEPING THOSE THINGS SEPARATE.

>> Renee: YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE EMCEE ON THAT STAGE.

YOU DID IT IN 2016.

WHAT KIND OF VIEWS WOULD YOU GIVE PEANUT BUTTER PACKAGE WHEN HE IS IN THAT ROLE TODAY?

>> Scott: I'M A REPUBLICAN, AND I HAD TO TELL SOME JOKES.

X MY ADVICE TO BOB BABBAGE IS THERE'S NO SACRED COWS.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO TELL SOME JOKES QUICK MAKE SURE IT'S EQUAL OPPORTUNITY.

AND AT THE SAME TIME ALSO BE RESPECT OF THEFUL SPEAKERS.

SO I GAVE EVERYBODY A FULL-THROATED INTRODUCTION, DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN ALIKE, BECAUSE I WANTED THEM TO FEEL LIKE -- I STOWED EVERYBODY UP THERE THAT DAY, I WANT YOU TO FEEL LIKE I'M INTRODUCING YOU AS THE STARTING POINT GUARD FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY WILDCATS.

THAT'S HOW I'M GOING TO DO IT.

SO MY ADVICE IS GIVE A BIG ROUSING INTRO FOR EVERYONE WHO MADE THE TRIP.

>> Renee: WE CAUGHT UP WITH BOB BABBAGE A FEW DAYS AGO TO ASK HIM HOW HE'S BEEN PREPARING, AND HE'S BEEN ON THAT STAGE BEFORE HASS BECAUSE HE RAN FOR STATE AUDITOR AND WON.

HE RAN IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY FOR GOVERNOR AND WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN HERE IN THAT CAPACITY BUT THIS IS HAD A NEW ROLE FOR HIM, SO HE TALKED TO US ABOUT HOW HE'S PREPARING FOR IT.

>> MY JOB BASICALLY IS TO GIVE PAY INTRODUCTION AND MAYBE SOME HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE ABOUT MY FAMILY TIES THERE AND MY EXPERIENCES AND HOW MANY OF I LOVE THE TRADITION, AND THEN INTRODUCE TEN OR 12 PEOPLE I ADMIRE TREMENDOUSLY, WORK WITH REGULARLY.

AND MAKE A GOOD DAY OF IT.

>> LET'S GO BACK TO TALK ABOUT YOUR ROOTS THERE AND THE TIMES THAT YOU HAVE BEEN ON THE STAGE AND THE PRESSURE OF THAT STAGE.

IS IT STILL THE SAME?

>> IT'S NOT FOR ME.

IT'S A LOT OF PRESSURE IF YOU'RE A CANDIDATE.

I GET TO HAVE AN ENTIRELY GOOD TIME.

THE PRESSURE, IF YOU ARE RUNNING, IS GREAT ON PEOPLE.

TO BE UP THERE IN A PLACE -- THIS IS PICNIC 141 WHERE PARTS OF THREE CENTURIES, ALL OF ONE AND BIG PARTS OF OF TWO, HAVE HAD THIS EVENT.

THE.

STUMP SPEAKING GOING BACK PROBABLY TO THE 30s, 1930S.

MY OWN GRANDFATHER, KEEN JOHNSON, HAVING SPOKEN THERE PROBABLY 80 YEARS AGO, BEST AS THEY CAN TELL AT FANCY FARM, MAYBE EVEN 60 YEARS AGO AS WELL, YOU PUT ALL THAT TOGETHER AND IT'S A POWERFUL EMOTIONAL MOMENT.

I FEEL IT SITTING HERE TALKING TO YOU ABOUT IT, AND I'M SURE I'LL FEEL THERE IT.

BUT THE MAIN JOB OF THE EMCEE IS TO GIVE THE BACKGROUND AND AN INTRO FOR PEOPLE WHO HOLD SIGNIFICANT ROLES IN OUR NATION AND STATE AND IN OUR CIRCLE OF FRIENDS.

THAT MATTERS A LOT.

I WANT TO BE ENTIRELY FAIR AND ENTIRELY POSITIVE IN THAT.

I'M ALSO PREPARING, IF HECKLERS FORGET THE MANNERS THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAUGHT BUT FAILED TO LEARN, THEY MIGHT 6 6 RECEIVE SOME COACHING OR INSTRUCTION FROM DEAR UNCLE BOB.

>> Renee: DEAR UNCLE BOB IS GOING TO BE GENTLE IN HIS COACHING AND INSTRUCTION IF THEY GET TOO ROUDY.

GIVEN THIS IS NOT AN LEEKS YEAR, PEOPLE ARE THINKING MAYBE THIS IS THE YEAR TO SIT THIS OUT, NOT GO AND MAYBE NOT EVEN WATCH ON IT STATEWIDE TELEVISION.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THOSE FOLKS?

>> THE TRADITION OF FANCY FARM SHOULD BE RESPECTED, AND IF YOU TAKE THE OATH OF OFFICE IN CAYCE STATE OFFICIAL, THERE IS SOME IMPLICATION OR OBLIGATION TO BE AT EVENTS THAT HAVE STOOD THE TEST OF TIME AND STILL ARE INFORMATIVE, INSTRUCTIVE AND MEANINGFUL, AND THIS BE WOULD BE ONE.

I'VE BEEN WORKING TO PERSUADE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE, AND SOME HAVE LATELY COMMITTED.

SOME DID NOT.

NEXT YEAR WILL BE DIFFERENT.

NEXT YEAR WILL BE MORE OF A REQUIREMENT.

AND SEVERAL FOLKS I TALKED TO DIDN'T EVEN LIKE THAT WORD BEING USED.

BUT IT IS.

YOU EXPECT, I THINK IN THE POLITICAL TRADITION OF OUR STATE YOU EXPECT FANCY FARM TO BE THE PLACE WHERE OUR LEADERS SHOW UP, HAVE A LITTLE FONTANA EACH OTHER'S EXPENSE, MAYBE OFFER SOME CORRECTIVE -- A FUN AT EACH OTHER'S EXPENSE, OFFER CORRECTIVE ADVICE ON POLICY FACING OUR NATION AS WELL AS OUR STATE.

>> Renee: SO DO YOU THINK THE DEMOCRATS MAKING A MISTAKE BY NOT COMING THIS YEAR?

>> SOMEONE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP SHOULD BE SPEAKING AT FANCY FARM.

SOMEONE SHOULD.

>> THE SOMEONE BEING THE GOVERNOR?

>> OR A SUBSTITUTE.

THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, THE PARTY CHAIR.

ALL THOSE FOLKS WERE SUBJECTED, AND THERE ARE OTHER FOLKS IN THE OVER CAN BE CONSULTED, AND THEIR OTHER FOLKS IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND ALL THE GOVERNOR'S TEAM THAT COULD HAVE ATTENDED AND SAID SOMETHING.

THAT'S JUST MY OPINION.

I DON'T MEAN AT THE HURT ANY FEELINGS.

I JUST FEEL STRONGLY THAT FANCY FARM IS DIFFERENT, IT'S IMPORTANT, AND WORTHY OF ATTENDANCE EVEN IN A NON-ELECTION YEAR.

THERE'S PLENTY TO TALK ABOUT.

PLENTY TO TALK ABOUT IN WASHINGTON AND FRANKFORT, AND IT SETS THE STAGE FOR '22 AND '23 AND 24/1 ALL ENORMOUS ELECTION YEARS FOR KENTUCKY.

IT'S DEFINITELY KIND OF THE START OF GOVERNOR'S RACE OF '23 AGAINST A POPULAR GOVERNOR WHO POLLNESS THE MID TO HIGH 50s, MAYBE EVEN 60% APPROVAL AND STARTS FROM A GOOD SPOT THERE AND HAS THREE OR FOUR OR FIVE PEOPLE WHO ARE LIKELY TO BE ON THIS STAGE.

>> ONE ANNOUNCED FOR SURE.

>> THAT RIGHT.

HARMON IS IN.

AND THAT HAS SPARKED THE CONVERSATION ABOUT WHO ELSE WILL GET IN, TOSS WHO IS A EXAMINATION YOU WILL HEAR SOME MESSAGES A FANCY FARM THAT RELATE MORE TO '23, SOME THAT RELATE TO '22, AND SOME TO THE CURRENT MOMENT.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT WHEN YOU'VE BEEN ON THE STAGE AS A CANDIDATE BECAUSE YOU SERVED, OF COURSE, AS SECRETARY OF STATE AND AS AUDITOR RAN FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION FOR GOVERNOR, SO DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR SPEECHES THEN?

AND DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR INTERACTIONS WITH VOTERS WHO WOULD ASK,, NOW, WHY SHOULD I VOTE FOR YOU?

>> I DO REMEMBER BEING IN THE LINE AT FANCY FARM IN 1987.

AND I DO REMEMBER A LINE OF MY REMARKS THAT DAY.

THE OTHERS I'VE HAD TO THINK ABOUT.

I WAS IN THAT FOOD LINE, AND THAT'S A GREAT PLACE TO GO BECAUSE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE PASS THROUGH.

THE FOOD IS OUT OF THIS WORLD.

IT'S GREAT.

THE BINGO, ALL THE TRADITIONS.

SO A WOMAN TOOK A LOOK AT ME AND SHE WAS NOT SMILING.

AND I SAID, "I'M BOB BABBAGE AND I'M RUNNING FOR STATE AUDITOR.

LIKED TO ASK FOR YOUR VOTE."

AND SHE LOOKED BACK AND SAID, "YOU LOOK LIKE A STOKE BROKER FROM LEXINGTON."

I SAID, "YOU'RE PRETTY CLOSE.

I AM FROM LEXINGTON."

SHE SAID, "WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD I VOTE FOR YOU?

REALLY, WHY?"

I SAID, "WELL, MY WIFE IS EXPECTING OUR FIRST CHILD, AND I REALLY NEED THIS JOB."

SO THAT CAUGHT HER OFF-GUARD.

SHE LAUGHED UNCONTROLLABLY.

SAID, I'VE BEEN ASKED THAT QUESTION OF LOTS OF PEOPLE FOR A LONG TIME.

THAT'S THE BEST ANSWER I'VE EVER GOTTEN.

SO FROM THEN ON I TRIED TO CLOSE EVERY SET OF REMARKS WITH ASIDE FROM THESE OTHER GOOD REASONS, HERE'S THE BEST.

>> THIS IS THE TOUGHEST QUESTION.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> WHAT'S YOUR BEST JOKE?

GIVE IT TO US.

>> WELL, I KNOW WHAT SECRETARY OF STATE ADAMS IS LIKELY TO SAY.

HE'S A VERY FUNNY INDIVIDUAL.

AND I HELD HIS OFFICE AND HAVE WORKED WITH THE PRIOR SECRETARY OF STATE TO MY TERM AND EVERYONE SINCE.

SO HE'S GOING TO SAY THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS THE STEPPING STONE, THE WAY TO CATAPULT INTO THE FUTURE.

BUT TRUTH BE TOLD HE WILL ALSO LATER CORRECT THIS AND SAY THE LAST SECRETARY OF STATE TO MOVE UP WAS 1851.

SO WHAT HE WILL USE AS THE JOKE IS TO SAY, YOU ALL KNOW THE STEPPING STONE PEOPLE I'M REFERRING TO.

YOU REMEMBER GOVERNOR BOB BABBAGE, REMEMBER GOVERNOR TREY GRAYSON, GOVERNOR JOHN BROWN III, GOVERNOR ALISON LIKE TO TURN BEGAN GRIMES.

FRANKLY, NO, I DON'T REMEMBER.

SO IT WILL BE A GOOD ONE.

>> THAT'S GOOD.

VERY CLEVER.

>> MY LITTLE COMMENTS ABOUT MY FRIENDS THAT I WILL GET TO INTRODUCE WILL BE VERY TAME, MAYBE A SNICKER, BUT NOT A BELLY LAUGH, FOR SURE.

>> Renee: SO WE'LL SEE IF IT'S JUST A SNICKER, NOT A BELLY LAUGH WHEN BOB BABBAGE TAKES THAT STAGE IN JUST A MOMENT.

RIGHT BEHIND US YOU'RE SEEING EXTENSIVE ELDER TOSS THE NEW POLITICAL EVENT CHAIRMAN HERE AT FANCY FARM AND SO HE'S MAKING OPENING REMARKS AND SCOTT JENNINGS, I HAVE TO ASK YOU BEFORE WE LET YOU GO, ARE YOU EXCITED?

ARE YOU PUMPED?

DO I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE MEH?

>> Colmon Elridge: COVERAGES I AM EXCITED BECAUSE THE TRADITION IS BACK.

WE DIDN'T HAVE IT LAST YEAR.

THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST IN 20 PLUS YEARS OF COMING, THE BEST WEATHER DAYS WE HAVE HAD EVER HAD.

NICE LOW 80s, VERY LITTLE HUMIDITY, AND I'M EXCITED FOR THE TRADITION TO COME BACK, FOR IT TO GO BACK ON THE UPSWINGS.

I THINK THE SPEECHES ARE GOING TO BE GOOD BASED ON WHAT I HAVE HEARD.

I AM EXPECTING FIREWORKS OUT OF OF THE SPEAKERS.

I THINK BOB IS GOING TO DO A GREAT JOB.

FROM ONE FORMER EMCEE TO THE CURRENT ONE, BOB, I JUST GOOD LUCK.

I JUST WANT KENTUCKY TO BE A PLACE WHERE WE CAN HAVE CIVIL POLITICAL DISCOURSE.

I HOPE DEMOCRATS LOOK IN THIS HOLE IN THE AUDIENCE AND SAY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET THAT HAPPEN AGAIN, AND THIS TRADITION CONTINUES ON AS IT HAS FOR 140-PLUS YEARS WHERE BOTH PARTIES COME TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE THE LOOK AT THE OFFICIALS AND CANDIDATES THAT THEY HAVE ON THE BALLOT AND SHOW PEOPLE, WE CAN ALL TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS, POKE FONTANA EACH OTHER, AND THEN GO HAVE A CAMPAIGN.

>> >> Renee: LET'S WATCH IT ALL UNFOLD.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE GOING TO HEAD TO THE STAGE WHERE STEVE ELDER IS TAKING THINGS OVER.

WE GO RIGHT TO HIM.

>> ON A APPRECIATE MARK AND LAURIE.

ALSO WENT TO REMIND THE YOU ALL THAT THIS IS A FUNDRAISER FOR OUR PARISH.

BE SURE TO TRY SOME OF OUR GREAT BARBECUE, PLAY BINGO FOR GREAT PRICES AND TAKE A CHANCE ON THAT CHEVY PICKUP TRUCK.

WE USE ALL THIS MONEY FORT YOU MINISTRIES AT THE TIME SURGEON MAJOR PARISH.

I WANT TO INTRODUCE REVEREND BISHOP OF THE DIOCESE WHO WILL COME FORWARD AND LEAD US IN THE INVOCATION.

BISHOP.

>> THANK YOU.

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO FATHER AND ALL THE PEOPLE AT ST. JEROME AT FANCY FARM WHOY EXTEND YOUR HOSPITALITY TO THE WORLD THIS DAY VIA ALL THE MEDIA.

SO LET US PRAY.

ALMIGHTY AND ETERNAL GOD, YOU HAVE REVEALED YOUR GLORY TO ALL NATIONS.

GOD OF POWER AND MIGHT, WISDOM AND JUSTICE, THROUGH YOU AUTHORITY IS RIGHTLY ADMINISTERED, LAWS ARE ENACTED, AND JUDGMENT IS DECREED.

BLESS, LORD, THE PEOPLE OF ST. JEROME AND FANCY FARM WHO TODAY WELCOME TO THEIR COMMUNITY TENS OF THOUSANDS.

MAY THE WELCOMING AND FOOD THEIR GUESTS RECEIVE NOURISH BOTH THEIR BODIES AND THEIR SPIRITS.

MAY ALL BE GREETED HERE AS CHRIST, THAT THE LIGHT OF YOUR DIVINE WEST YOU COME DIRECT THE DOERS OF ALL WHO WOULD BE PUBLIC SERVANTS.

BLESS THEM, LORD, FOR THEIR GENEROSITY AND WILLINGNESS TO I HAVE NOT PUBLIC REALM AND PROTECT THEM FROM UNCHARITABLE SCRUTINY.

WE PRAY FOR THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND ALL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

WE PRAY FOR THE GOVERNOR OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY AND ALL MEMBERS OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

WE PRAY NOR LOCAL LEADERS AND SERVANTS.

MAY ALL THOSE SEEK TO PEACE, PROMOTE COMMON GOOD AND HAPPINESS, AND CONTINUE TO BRING THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY AND CALL THE EQUALITY TO ALL WHO HAVE BEEN CREATED OF CHILDREN IN ONE GOD AND CREATOR.

BLESS THE CITIZENS OF OUR FACING NATION, THAT WE MAY PROSPER IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD'S WAYS AND BE SANCTIFIED IN THE OBSERVANCE OF GOD'S LAW.

MAY WE SERVE IN UNION AND THAT PEACE WHICH THE WORLD CANNOT GIVE.

BLESS THE LORD, THOSE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE OUR NATION, PARTICULARLY THOSE TODAY WHO MIGHT SERVE IN ARMED CONFLICT.

BLESS IN AN EXTRAORDINARY WAY THOSE CALLED TO BE LEADERS OF STATE, OF EDUCATION AND CHURCHES, TO CALL ALL PEOPLE TO SACRIFICE FOR THE COMMON GOOD AS OUR COMMUNITY, OUR NATION AND THE WORLD STRIVES TO BRING HEALING FROM THE PANDEMIC.

BLESS HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND SCIENTISTS, THAT THEY SHOW YOUR WISDOM AND YOUR CHARITY.

WE TRUST, DEAR GOD, THAT YOU ARE THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIGHT THAT WILL LEAD TO US PEACE AND WELLNESS.

BLESS AND COMFORT VICTIMS OF WAR.

KEEP THEM SAFE FROM HARM.

MAY EACH OF US BE INSTRUMENTS OF PEACE, THAT THE DAY MAY SOON COME THAT CONFLICTS MAY NOT BE RESOLVED BY VIOLENCE.

BLESS THE POOR OF OUR NATION IN THE WORLD.

NEVER LET US FORGET, LORD, THAT THEY ARE SISTERS AND BROTHERS AND THE BOUNTY OF YOUR CREATION IS INTENDED FOR ALL.

LORD, LET CHARITY PREVAIL HERE TODAY, THAT EVERYTHING WE SAY AND EVERYTHING WE DO MAY SERVE PO BUILD UP YOUR KINGDOM OF JUSTICE, LIGHT AND TRUTH, AND WE SPEAK OUR HUMBLE PRAYER IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.

AMEN.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, BISHOP MEDLEY.

ALL RIGHT.

THIS YEAR'S SINGING OF OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM WILL BE MS. KENTUCKY.

SHE'S COME ALL THE WAY FROM EASTERN KENTUCKY TO JOIN US HERE IN THE WEST.

ON JUNE 19th, 2021, HALEY B. WILLER OF CLAY CITY WAS CROWNED MS. KENTUCKY 2021.

SHE IS A 23-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER OF GREG AND SHERRY WILLER.

SHE IS A GRADUATE OF WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY WITH A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN COMMUNICATIONS SCIENCES AND DISORDERS AND A MINOR IN ASL STUDIES, AND A MASTER OF SCIENCE IN SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY.

AS MS. KENTUCKY HALEY SERVES AS THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE E. CAN PROUD PROGRAM WHICH ENCOURAGES CONSUMERS OF ALL AGES TO PURCHASE PRODUCTS PRODUCED HERE IN KENTUCKY.

MISS KENTUCKY -- WHERE IS SHE AT?

COME ON UP, MISS KENTUCKY.

THE MICROPHONE IS YOURS.

[APPLAUSE] >> LET'S PLEASE RISE.

♪ O SAY CAN YOU SEE ♪ BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT ♪ ♪ WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAILED ♪ ♪ AT THE TWILIGHT'S LAST GLEAMING ♪ ♪ WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS 32 THROUGH THE PERILOUS FIGHT ♪ ♪ O'ER THE RAMPARTS WE WATCHED WERE SO GALLANTLY STREAMING ♪ ♪ AND THE ROCKETS' RED GLARE ♪ ♪ THE BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR ♪ ♪ GAVE PROOF THROUGH THE NIGHT ♪ ♪ THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE ♪ O SAY DOES THAT STAR-SPANGLED BANNER YET WAVE ♪ ♪ O'ER THE LAND OF THE FREE ♪ ♪ AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE ♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> I KNEW HER TALENT WAS SINGING.

FANTASTIC.

ALL RIGHT.

THE NEXT ARTIST IS A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF BALLARD COUNTY, ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORING COUNTIES, AND A PARISHIONER AT ST. CHARLES CATHOLIC CHURCH.

SHE HAS BEEN INVOLVED A CHOIR MEMBER AND SONG LEADER FOR SEVERAL YEARS, MS. STORM WILSON.

WILL YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD TO SING MY OLD KENTUCKY HOME.

SHE IS JOINED BY PLANT DRAPER WHO WILL PERFORM WITH HIS GUITAR GUITAR.

♪ O THE SUN SHINES BRIGHT ♪ ♪ ON MY OLD KENTUCKY HOME ♪ ♪ 'TIS SUMMER, THE OLD FOLKS ARE GAY ♪ ♪ WELL, THE CORN TOP'S RIPE ♪ ♪ AND THE MEADOW'S IN THE BLOOM ♪ WHILE THE BIRDS MAKE MUSIC ALL THE DAY ♪ ♪ WELL, THE YOUNG FOLKS ROLL ♪ ♪ ON THE LITTLE CABIN FLOOR ♪ ♪ THEY'RE MERRY ♪ ♪ ALL HAPPY AND BRIGHT ♪ ♪ BY AND BY HARD TIMES WILL COME KNOCKING ON MY DOOR ♪ ♪ THEN MY OLD KENTUCKY HOME, GOOD NIGHT ♪ ♪ WEEP NO MORE MY LADY ♪ ♪ O WEEP NO MORE TODAY ♪ ♪ WE WILL SING ONE SONG ♪ ♪ FOR MY OLD KENTUCKY HOME ♪ ♪ FOR THE MY OLD MY OLD KENTUCKY HOME FAR AWAY ♪ [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> Bob: WOW, DON'T WE HAVE SOME GREAT THEN FROM EASTERN TO WESTERN KENTUCKY LET'S GIVE THEM ONE MORE ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

[APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT.

NOW I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUR TIMEKEEPER, MY SEVENTH GRADE TEACHER SUSAN BARTON IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF US.

MS. BARTON WILL STAND IN INCREMENTS.

TIME REMAINING FOR YOU SPEAKERS HERE, ONE MINUTE.

YOU'LL HAVE A SIGN THERE.

THEN 30 SECONDS.

AND THEN TIME'S UP.

AND IF THE SPEAKERS GO OVER, WE'VE GOT A SONG TO PLAY.

HIT HER, CHARLIE!

FINAL COUNTDOWN.

THAT'S IT.

♪ THE FINAL COUNTDOWN ♪ >> DON'T GO OVER.

WE'RE GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT LENIENT WITH THE MUSIC MAYBE, SO JUST KIND OF WRAP YOUR REMARKS UP ONCE YOU HIT THAT STOP SIGN.

ALL RIGHT.

BEFORE INTRODUCING THIS YEAR'S EMCEE, WE DO HAVE A SPECIAL HONORARY EMCEE THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE PRESENTED BY MARK WILSON.

MARK, WILL YOU COME BACK TO THE PODIUM, PLEASE.

>> I COULDN'T RESIST COMING BACK HERE ONE MORE TIME.

I'M IN MY ELEMENT UP HERE.

I'M LIKE A HOG IN A SLOP TROUGH.

BEFORE I FORGET IT, I KNOW MY GOOD FRIEND JACK GRAMMER -- BRAMMER WITH THE LEXINGTON HERALD IS WATCHING AND JACK HAS HAD SOME HEALTH ISSUES.

HE WASN'T ABLE TO BE HERE.

JACK COMES HERE EVERY YEAR.

JACK, I KNOW YOU'RE WATCHING.

I GOT TO SHOUT OUT TO YOU, BUDDY.

YOU STILL HAVE YOUR PARKING SPOTTS SPOT RESERVED FOR NEXT YEAR SO I'VE GOT YOU COVERED, JACK.

THE REASON I'M UP HERE TODAY, THERE'S A VERY EXPERIENCIAL GENTLEMAN WE WANT TO DESIGNATE AS HONORARY EMCEE THIS YEAR, AND I JAUNTS TO REED HIS BIO THAT WAS FROM THE KENTUCKY JOURNALISM HALL OF FAME.

AS A FRANKFORT CORRESPONDENT FOR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER HOLDINGS FROM 2005 TO 2018, RONNIE ELLIS PLAYED A UNIQUE ROLE IN KENTUCKY JOURNALISM COVERING THE STATE CAPITOL FOR LARGEATELY APPALACHIAN COMMUNITIES WHERE HE OFTEN WENT -- STORIES.

HE OFTEN SCOOPED UP LARGER NEWS OUTLETS AND WITHSTOOD ATTACKS FROM DIFFERENT OFFICE HOLDERS.

WHERE HE WAS A SKILLED TV COMMENTATOR AND HE 'YOTE INCISE OBVIOUSLY AND INFORMATIVE ARTICLES THAT DIFFERED FROM THOSE TYPICALLY FOUND AT LARGER NEWS OUTLETS.

A USEFUL SERVICE IN AN AREA OF POLARIZED POLITICIANS HELP HIS I'M ATCMHI FOLLOWED STINTS AS A REPORTER OF IN HENDERSON AND HIS NATIVE GLASGOW, INTERRUPTED BY A CAREER IN THE UNITED WAY.

HE RETIRED IN 2018 BUT CONTINUED TO WRITE A POLITICAL COLUMN.

RONNIE DIED IN 2020, SOON AFTER HIS ELECTION TO THE HALL OF FAME.

HE WAS A GRADUATE OF WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY.

RONNIE ELISTS, A POLITICAL REPORTER AND COLUMNIST WHO WAS THE ONLY RURAL CORRESPONDENT IN KENTUCKY'S STATE CAPITOL, DIED OF YOUNG DISEASE.

HE WAS 68 YEARS OLD WHEN HE PASSED AWAY.

BEING FROM FANCY FARM MYSELF, I UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF SOMEONE BEING FROM THE RURAL COMMUNITIES AND REPRESENTING THE VALUES THERE.

DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR ANDY BEAR SAID, RONNIE ELSE'S' JOURNALISTIC INSTINCTS WERE SURPASSED ONLY BY HIS JOURNALISTIC INTEGRITY.

THE THE ROLE HE PLAYED FOR SOME OF KENTUCKY'S MORE RURAL OUTLETS WAS INTEGRAL TO THE CAPITOL PRESS COURSE.

SENATE LEADER MITCH McCONNELL SAID ELLIS EARNED A REPUTATION AS ONE OF THE HARDEST-WORKING REPORTERS IN KENTUCKY.

HE WAS ALWAYS ARMED WITH THE TOUGH QUESTIONS, AND HE HELPED SET THE STANDARD FOR OTHER JOURNALISTS.

RONNIE GAVE HIS READERS A FIRSTHAND LOOK INTO THEIR GOVERNMENT AND HELPED SHAPE COUNTLESS CONVERSATIONS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH.

EVEN WHEN HE DISAGREED WITH YOUR POSITION, YOU KNEW HE WOULD TREAT EVERYBODY FAIRLY.

I'M GOING TO MISS HIS INSIGHTFUL PERSPECTIVES.

THE KENTUCKY JOURNALISM HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCED THAT REGION ELLIS WOULD RONNIE ELLIS WOULD BE IN ITS 40th ANNIVERSARY CLASS TO BE INDUCTED LATER THAT YEAR.

IT JUST GOES TO SHOW THAT WHAT HE DID WAS SO GOOD, A GLASGOW FRIEND CHRIS EATON IN AN AUDIO TRIBUTE ON TWITTER, EVERYONE WANTED TO TALK TO RONNIE ELLIS.

PEOPLE FOLLOWED HIM THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH, INCLUDING MYSELF.

RONNIE AND I DEVELOPED A STRONG PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIP.

HE WAS A GREAT MENTOR TO ME AND WAS ONE OF MY CONFIDANTES.

WE LOVED TO DISCUSS KENTUCKY POLITICS, WHICH WE LOVED.

I'M GETTING A LITTLE CHOKED UP.

HE WAS MY BUDDY.

RONNIE WAS TO BE MY EMCEE AFTER HE RETIRED.

BUT HE PASSED AWAY TOO SOON.

HE WAS DENIED THE HONOR TO BE AN EMCEE OF OUR FANCY FARM POLITICAL VENUE WHICH HE SO LOVED.

HE LOVED OUR VENUE.

GOD BLESS HIM.

BUT IT IS WITH GREAT HONOR THAT I CAN BESTOW AN HONORARY EMCEE TITLE TO MY OLD PAL AND MENTOR AND CONFIDANTE, RONNIE ELLIS.

REST IN PEACE, BUDDY.

[APPLAUSE] EVERYBODY GIVE HIM A STANDING ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

RONNIE ELLIS WAS A FIXTURE AT OUR VENUE.

WE APPRECIATE THAT.

[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU.

HIS FAMILY WAS NOT ABLE TO BE HERE TO RECEIVE THIS AWARD, TO SPEAK ON BEHALF HIS FAMILY IS A LOCAL GALLON, MS. CAROL HIGDON.

CAROL AND HER HUSBAND, BORN AND RAISED, RESIDED HERE IN FANCY FARM.

GREG HAS BEEN THROUGH THE POLITICAL ROUTES AS A LOBBYIST, OUR ELECTED SENATOR, SO ON AND SO FORTH, VERY GOOD PERSONAL FRIENDS OF RONNIE ELLIS, I'M GOING TO ASK CAROL HIGDON TO PLEASE COME FORWARD AND READ A STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE FAMILY.

>> YES, WE DID ENJOY BEING WITH HIM.

AND THIS MESSAGE IS FROM SCOTTY ELLIS.

THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE FOR HONORING MY DAD.

RONNIE ELLIS.

THERE WERE A FEW THINGS MY DAD LOOKED FORWARD TO: A GOOD STORY.

HIS LATEST PIECE WENT LIVE.

UK BASKETBALL.

"COMMENT ON KENTUCKY."

DRINKS WITH HIS FELLOW JOURNALISTS.

AND FANCY FARM.

IN TRUE RONNIE PASSION, FASHION, HE WOULD BE HONOR, HUMBLED AND LIKELY A LITTLE EMBARRASSED.

RONNIE HAD A UNIQUE TALENT FOR TELLING STORIES WE ALL NEEDED TO HEAR.

HIS LIFE TOOK ON A WHOLE NEW MEANING WHEN HE MOVED TO FRANKFORT.

POLITICS AND THE PEOPLE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY FUELED HIM AND HIS FASHION.

I WAS SO PROUD OF HIM.

I WISH I WOULD HAVE TOLD HIM MORE, BUT IT GIVES ME WITH GREAT FAITH WITH DAYS LIKE THIS AND THE KIND WORDS OF SO MANY KENTUCKIANS OF HOW HE AND HIS WORK IMPACTED SO MANY.

I WISH I COULD BE HERE TO THANK YOU PERSONALLY ON BEHALF OF RONNIE AND TO SHARE WHAT I KNOW HE WOULD WANT ME TO SAY TO HIS OTHER FELLOW JOURNALISTS.

JOURNALISTS, KEEP GIVING IF KEEP GIVING IF FACTS TO THE PEOPLE.

THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] [APPLAUS E] >> THANK YOU, MARK.

ALL RIGHT.

OUR EMCEE THIS YEAR IS NO STRANGER TO FANCY FARM.

HE HAS BEEN ON THIS STAGE MANY TIMES BEFORE.

BOB BABBAGE IS FREQUENTLY CITED BY THE MEDIA AS A LEADING LOBBYIST.

PRIOR TO ESTABLISHING BABBAGE CO-FOUNDER 22 YEARS AGO, BOB SERVED AS LEXINGTON COUNCILMEMBER AT LARGE FOR SIX YEARS, FOLLOWED BY ELECTED TERMS OF SECRETARY OF STATE AND STATE AUDITOR.

BEFORE HE WAS THE ASSISTANT TO ISLANDS MAYOR, ASSISTANT TO A GOVERNOR, PART-TIME MEMBER OF THE WHITE HOUSE ADVANCE STAFF.

AS AN ADVOCATE, CLIENTS BECOME COMPUTERS BABBAGE.

HE WORKS ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECK FORUM FROM GROUNDBREAKING HEALTH CARE ACTION TO ADVANCEMENT IN TECHNOLOGY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

BOB CO-FOUNDER ADDRESSES MULTIPLE ISSUES.

CHARLIE.

THE ISSUES WAR ROOM IN WASHINGTON TO SUPPORT FOR THE JOBS BILL IN 2004 WHICH INCLUDED THE TOBACCO BUY-OUT TO CONSOLIDATE SUSTAIN FARMING INET AND SOUTH.

BABBAGE TEAM COVERS 50 STATES AND WASHINGTON DC.

BOB IS THE CO-FOUNDER OF KENTUCKY.

THE KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN RECENTLY NAMED BOB ONE OF THE TOP POWER BROKERS IN KENTUCKY AND HE'S MR. SUPERMAN.

AT THIS TIME WOULD THE EM SEIF OUR 141st ANNUAL PICNIC PLEASE COME FORWARD.

MR. BOB BABBAGE!

[APPLAUSE] >> Bob: THAT I WAS WONDERFUL EULOGY.

I'M GLAD I TO BE HERE TO HEAR IT.

[LAUGHTER] BUT HE ASKED ME WHAT MY WALK-UP SONG WAS, AND I WANTED TO PLAY THE LOBBYISTS NATIONAL ANTHEM, THAT VERY SENTIMENTAL "I CAN MAKE A LIVING OUT OF LOVING YOU."

[LAUGHTER] IT'S HUMBLING TO BE HERE.

IT MEANS A LOT TO ME.

I HAVE SEVERAL INTRODUCTIONS REAL QUICK.

I DON'T THINK THE TIME CLOCK APPLIES TO THE EMCEE.

LAURA BABBAGE, MY WIFE.

JULIE BABBAGE MY DAUGHTER.

YOU'RE STANDING UP TO APPLAUSE.

BRIAN BABBAGE.

BRIAN KEANE BABBAGE AND.

[APPLAUSE] MY IN-LAWS DOWN FRONT STEVE AND CINDY, REBECCA -- DR. IRAQI HURTSO.

LAUREN SYDNEY HOGAN OF FRANKFORT AND JASON.

ALL PART OF THE BABBAGE TEAM.

YOU'RE WELCOME TO APPLAUD THEM ENTHUSIASTICALLY AND LOUDLY IF YOU'D APPLYING YOU'VE BEEN SO QUIET I WAS GOING TO DO CHANTS LIKE "I SAY FANCY, YOU SAY FARM."

OKAY.

I GET IT.

NOT SO MUCH.

BUT THERE'S MORE.

SO LET ME SLIP THROUGH SOME PAPERWORK HERE.

ONE THING WE CAN AGREE ON, ALL OF US, IS THAT FANCY FARM IS A GROWING, GLOWING TRADITION HONORING FAITH, FLAG, HOME-COOKING WITH SOME OF THE BEST POLITICAL DISCOURSE YOU CAN GET, LOUD, ENTERTAINING AND MEMORABLE.

SO HERE'S TO LIVES CHANGED AT FANCY FARM, FRIENDSHIPS BEGUN, ENDORSEMENTS THAT HAPPENED, FANCY FARM CAN MAKE A CANDIDATE SOAR.

THAT'S SOAR OR JUST SORE FROM GETTING BEAT UP A LITTLE BIT.

INTERNS GET AN ADVANTAGE HERE.

ALL YOU GREAT YOUNG FOLK, I THOUGHT I WAS AT A COMER RALLY.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] THAT'S A LOT OF AVAILABLE INTERNS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

FOLKS COME FOR VOTES.

THEY COME FOR A GREAT TIME.

AND THEY COME FOR THIS TRADITION.

FROM ALL CORNERS OF THE STATE, AS YOU CAN TELL, TO THIS HISTORIC CURVE IN THE ROAD.

SO THE BIRDS GET THROWN BUT THE BONDS ARE MADE.

OUR DEAR BISHOP MEDLEY AND OUR WONDERFUL FATHER VENTERS HAVE A REAL GOOD DAY HERE AT THE BRANCH OFFICE.

SO KEEP SPENDING YOUR MONEY.

LET ME JUST SAY A COUPLE OTHER THINGS ABOUT STEVE ELDER, MARK WILSON, 900 VOLUNTEERS, KENTUCKY PROUD FOOD, AND ALL THAT GOES WITH IT.

A WONDERFUL PICNIC, THE BEST.

IN 1896 OUR GRANDFATHER WAS BORN IN LYON COUNTY NEAR HERE.

HE WENT TO WORLD WAR I, BECAME A FIRST LIEUTENANT, GRADUATED FROM UK, BECAME A NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER.

THEN LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND GOVERNOR.

WHEN HAPPY CHANDLER POPULARIZED FANCY FARM IN THE LATE '30s.

SO YOUR TWO STATE LEADERS WERE HAPPY AND KEANE.

KEANE JOHNSON, HAPPY CHANDLER, ONE OF THE GREAT POLITICAL BUTTONS OF ALL TIME.

HAPPY AND KEEN.

BEHIND ME THERE ARE SEVERAL SPEAKERS WHO WILL BE MAKING HEAP AND KEEN COMMENTS SHORTLY.

BUT IT'S AN HONOR FOR ME TO STAND NEAR WHERE MY GRANDFATHER MAY HAVE SPOKEN 80 YEARS AGO ACCORDING TO YOUR CHURCH RECORDS WITH BRIAN KEEN BABBAGE FOURTH GENERATION AND FILLING IN FOR BONNIE ELLIS, AS IF ANYBODY COULD.

YOU MAUVE READ THE STORY THAT FANCY FARM COULD FALTER.

IT WAS IN 1957 IN THE LOCAL PAPER, AND IT WAS A BAD PREDICTION.

IT JUST DIDN'T MAKE SENSE.

BUT YOU MIGHT HAVE READ EVEN MORE RECENTLY JUST THIS WEEK A SOMEWHAT NARROW-MIND NEANDERTHAL COLUMN -- ATTEMPTED TO DISAND DOWN PLAY FANCY FARM.

IT FALLS INTO THAT WONDERFUL REPUBLICAN EXPRESSION SOME YEARS BACK OF NATSERING NAY BOB OF NEGATIVISM.

IT WAS BUNK, PURE BUNK.

FANCY FARM IS DOING GREAT.

YEAH, WE'VE BEEN IN A ZOOM ERA AND WE'VE HAD TO CONNECT BY SOCIAL MEDIA AND EVERY OTHER WAY.

GET YOUR FANCY FARM FACEBOOK PICTURE OUT THERE.

INVITE PEOPLE BACK NEXT YEAR.

WE'LL BE BACK WITH YOU NEXT YEAR AND WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER GREAT TIME.

SO PERHAPS YOU CAN TELL -- [APPLAUSE] -- I DO LOVE THE PEOPLE OF JOURNALISM.

JUST GIVE THEM A LITTLE ADVICE EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE.

I ALSO LIKE AND LOVE THE PEOPLE OF POLITICS.

I'M GRATEFUL TO BE FRIENDS WITH THOSE BEHIND ME AND MANY HERE TODAY FOR MANY YEARS.

NOW, JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE FRIENDS, AND I LIKE THE HECK UNFORTUNATELY THEM DOESN'T MEAN THAT I AGREE WITH EVERY MOVE THEY MAKE, EVERY VOTE THEY TAKE OR EVEN A RARE REMARK THEY MIGHT THINK.

BUT WHEN THEY NEED REASONED, SEASONED, POSITIVE, PROVEN ADVICE, I AM GENEROUSLY AVAILABLE, AS IS MY WONDERFUL TEAM.

SO WE'LL TAKE ATTENDANCE HERE.

BE READY TO ANSWER.

THERE ARE JUST THREE CATEGORIES.

DO WE HAVE ANY REPUBLICANS HERE TODAY?

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] AND DO WE HAVE ANY DPS HERE TODAY?

DEMOCRATS HERE TODAY?

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ONE IN TEN KENTUCKIANS SHOWS UP IN THE STATS.

THERE'S AN OTHER OR INDEPENDENT.

MIGHT WE HAVE ANY INDEPENDENTS HERE TODAY?

ONE.

THAT'S GOOD.

THAT'S GOOD.

YOU'RE CHEERING THE INDEPENDENT DELEGATION -- CHAIRING THE INDEPENDENT DELEGATION, MA'AM.

THANK YOU SO MANY SOW.

I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE SOME PEOPLE AND START WITH THE OUTSTANDING COUNTY EXECUTIVE, AND THAT IS JUDGE JESSE PERRY WHO WANTS TO GIVE US A SPECIAL WELCOME TO TO ONE OF KENTUCKY'S GREAT PLACES, GRAVES COUNTY.

JUDGE, COME ON UP.

[APPLAUSE] >> I GUESS CAN I SAY I'M THE OTHER INDEPENDENT THAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT?

YOU KNOW, WE WELCOME YOU HERE TO FANCY FARM.

THIS IS A WONDERFUL COMMUNITY.

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT POLITICS.

IT'S ABOUT THE PEOPLE HERE.

THEY ARE VERY WONDERFUL FOR ALL OF OUR AREA, FOR KENTUCKY.

THIS DOESN'T JUST AFFECT FANCY FARM.

THERE'S LOTS OF EVENTS THAT'S HELD THROUGHOUT THE WEEK THAT A LOT OF OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM, BUT THIS IS A WONDERFUL FUNDRAISER FOR THE CHURCH, AND I'M JUST SO THANKFUL THAT YOU ARE HERE AND YOU COME BACK EVERY YEAR, AND THE SHOW MUST GO ON AND IT'S GOING ON TODAY.

WE'RE PROUD OF THAT AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

[APPLAUSE] >> SO NEXT UP IS OUR POPULAR STATE SENATOR FROM THIS REGION, A WELL EDUCATED, WELL EXPERIENCED LAWYER IN KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE.

SENATOR HAL AND RENEE HAVE THREE WONDERFUL CHILDREN.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT MAKES ME SICK?

SOMEBODY WHO RUNS UNOPPOSED.

THAT NEVER HAPPENED TO ME.

NOT ONCE.

THIS GUY RAN UNOPPOSED IN THE PRIMARY AND THE GENERAL.

THAT'S WINNING BY ACCLAMATION, ANOINTMENT.

IT'S INCREDIBLE.

BUT THEY SAY HE DESERVED IT, AND WITH A LITTLE EXPERIENCE WE'VE HAD WITH HIM, HE SURE DOES.

WELCOME, SENATOR HAL.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> GOOD AFTERNOON, FANCY FARM.

MY NAME IS JASON HAL AND I'M HONORED TO BE YOUR DISTRICT 1 STATE SENATOR.

AS BOB MENTIONED MOST OF YOU DO NOT REMEMBER ME FROM MY CAMPAIGN LAST YEAR BECAUSE THERE WASN'T ONE.

TODAY I I'M MEETING MANY OF YOU FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.

AS SUCH I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO INTRODUCE MYSELF.

I LIVE IN MURRAY WITH MY WIFE RENEE AND MY THREE CHILDREN MARY, MADELINE AND OWEN.

I'M FROM THE GREATER CASEY COMMUNITY IN FULTON COUNTY ORIGINALLY.

THANK YOU.

AND LIVED IN CHATTANOOGA AFTER MOVING BACK CLOSER TO HOME IN 2004.

WE MOVED BACK TO WESTERN KENTUCKY BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE I WANTED TO LIVE AND WHERE I WANTED TO RAISE MY CHILDREN.

I BELIEVED THEN AS I DO NOW THAT THE VALUE SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE HERE THAT IS PART OF OUR WAY OF LIFE IS SECOND TO NONE.

IT IS INSTILLED IN ME CORE VALUES YOU THAT I NOW PASS ON TO MY CHILDREN.

THE MAIN REASON I'M MEETING OF FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY ALSO IS BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE A DEMOCRATIC OPPONENT LAST YEAR.

THESE DAYS YOU CAN'T FIND ANY DEMOCRATS IN WESTERN KENTUCKY.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] THE ONLY DEMOCRAT THAT CAN MAKE IT DOWN HERE IS BOB BABBAGE AND HE'S NOT EVEN FROM HERE.

[APPLAUSE] WHERE IS YOUR PARTY, BOB?

IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU ANYWAY HERE, BOB.

I KNOW YOU TRIED.

I WAS RAISED HERE IN WESTERN KENTUCKY.

MY PARENTS TAUGHT ME RIGHT FROM WRONG.

BECAUSE OF THIS, I'M NOT GOING TO SIT UP HERE AND CALL OUT THE DEMOCRATS FOR ONCE AGAIN REFUSING TO LEAVE THEIR CITY STREETS AND VENTURE OUT INTO RURAL KENTUCKY.

NOPE.

NOT GOING TO DO IT.

EVEN THOUGH SINCE HE TOOK OFFICE THIS GOVERNOR HAS SPENT ALL HIS TIME MAN DONATING HOW WE LIVE OUR LIVES, I'M NOT GOING TO CALL HIM OUT FOR BEING AFRAID TO SHOW UP TODAY AND FACE THE CONS ESSENCE CONSEQUENCES OF HIS ACTIONS.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] MY MAMA TAUGHT ME NOT TO TALK ABOUT PEOPLE BEHIND THEIR BACK, SO, NOPE, NOT GOING TO DO IT.

I COULD SIT HERE AND GO ON AND ON ABOUT HOW THE DEMOCRAT PARTY HAS TURNED ITS BACK ON RURAL KENTUCKY AND FALLEN PREY TO THE BIG CITY LIBERAL INTERESTS.

BUT MY DADDY TAUGHT ME NOT TO PICK ON THE WEAK AND THE LESS FORTUNATE.

SO, NOPE, NOT GOING TO DO IT.

[APPLAUSE] MY PARENTS ALSO TAUGHT ME PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU TO STOP TALKING WHEN I'VE GOT NOTHING LEFT TO SAY, SO, YEP, I'M GOING TO DO IT.

BUT BEFORE I GO, BECAUSE I LOVE YOU AND YOU ARE IN MY DISTRICT, I DO WANT TO WARN YOU ABOUT SOMETHING THAT YOU MAY HEAR LATER ON TODAY.

I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT COMMISSIONER QUARLES HERE IS A FINE, FINE MAN BUT HE CAN GET A LITTLE DECIDED SOMETIMES.

SO IF HE STARTS TALKING ABOUT HIS BARBECUE STILLS UP HERE, I CAN PROMISE YOU THAT THEY DON'T EVEN RIVAL MINE, MUCH LESS THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE FIXED THE GREAT FEAST THAT WE HAVE HERE TODAY.

[APPLAUSE] ALL JOKING ASIDE, I'M HONORED TO BE FROM WESTERN KENTUCKY, TO STAND HERE WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT ST. JEROME PATIENTISH TO TO BE OUR STATE SENATOR AND YOUR VOICE IN FRANKFORT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> WOULD SO I SAID THAT IN THE SOUTH YOUR BORN WITH A FAITH AND A PARTY, AND I WAS, BUT THEN YOU UNHIRTE STEPCHILDREN LIKE THE MANY GOP FRIENDS THAT I HAVE AND LIKE SO MUCH, AND A WHOLE LOT MORE.

SO I WANT TO TALK ABOUT RICHARD HEATH.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] RICHARD AND RUETHER TWO OF THE THE MOST KIND AND POPULAR PEOPLE IN FRANKFORT.

REPRESENTATIVE HEATH IS IR REPLESS I. PRESSBLY POSITIVE.

BUT THEN ONCE A YEAR HE STEPS TO THIS MICROPHONE.

[LAUGHTER] AND SOMETHING HAPPENS.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT COMES FROM BUT IT'S THAT HEATH FIRE IN THE BELLY.

HE'S BEEN RE-ENGINEER AND TURBO CHARGED FOR TODAY.

PLEASE WELCOME RICHARD HEATH!

[ APPLAUSE ] >> IT'S GREAT TO SEE ALL NIGH MY FRIENDS AGAIN.

WELCOME TO GRAVES COUNTY.

ON BEHALF OF THE 1st DISTRICT 23, 2nd DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY BOTTOM FANCY FARM PICNIC.

IT'S SHAME EVERYONE COULDN'T MAKE THEIR TRIP OUT THERE BUT I GUESS SOME OF THEM DIDN'T KNOW THEIR WAY AFTERNOON.

BEFORE I STATELETS ME SAY THANK YOU TO FATHER, THE ST. JEROME PARISH, THE FANCY FARM PICNIC COMMITTEE, THE PUBLIC SPEAKING COMMITTEE, ALL THE VOLUNTEERS THAT IT TAKES TO PULL THIS EVENT OFF AND TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

SENATOR HOWL, I HOPE THAT YOU ENJOY HAVING THE FIRST WORD A FANCY FARM AS MUCH AS I DO, BUT WE BOTH KNOW IT'S THE VOTERS OF KENTUCKY THAT HAVE THE FINAL WORD.

[APPLAUSE] THEY SPOKE CLEARLY WHEN THEY ELECTED A HISTORIC NUMBER OF CONSERVATIVES TO THE HOUSE, TO THE SENATE, AND ALL BUT TWO OFFICES TO THE STATEWIDE OFFICERS.

NEED MORE EVIDENCE?

JUST LOOK AT THE RECORD STRIDES WE'RE MACING IN VOTER REGISTRATION -- MAKING IN VOTER REGISTRATION.

KENTUCKIANS ACROSS THE SIGHT REALIZE THAT THEIR PRIORITIES ARE BEST REPRESENTED BY PEOPLE WHO VALUE LIFE AND LIBERTY.

IN FACT, IF YOU'RE THE GOVERNOR, IT MUST GET AWFUL LONELY IN THE MANSION, BUT DON'T GET TOO SYMPATHETIC.

HE'S THE ONE THAT PUT THE FENCE AROUND IT TO KEEP THE PEOPLE OF END ZONE OUT.

-- PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY OUT.

FOLKS, I'M PROUD TO SCHAUER WHAT WE'RE DOING UNDER THE HOUSE SENATE MAJORITIES IN KENTUCKY.

THIS SESSION WE PASSED A RESPONSIBLE BUDGET WITHOUT INCREASING TAXES OR CREATING FUTURE DEBT FOR OUR GRANDCHILDREN.

[APPLAUSE] WE INVESTED $1.3 BILLION WITH A "B" FOR WATER PROJECTS, BROADBAND EXPANSION, SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION, AND VOCATIONAL SCHOOL RENOVATIONS.

WE PAID OFF THE GOVERNOR'S UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE LOAN.

WE MANDATED THAT HE OPEN UP THE UNEMPLOYMENT OFFICES AND PUT MORE PEOPLE ON THE STAFF TO HANDLE CLAIMS.

ONCE AGAIN, WE COMMITTED A RECORD AMOUNT OF MONEY IN THE PER PUPIL SCHOOL FUNDING AND FULLY FUNDED TEACHER AND STATE EMPLOYEE PENSIONS.

[APPLAUSE] WE PASSED LEGISLATION TO PREVENT FUTURE GOVERNORS FROM USING A CRISIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO UNILATERALLY LEAD OUR STATE WITHOUT MEANINGFUL OVERSIGHT.

[APPLAUSE] THIS ISN'T POLITICAL AND IT ISN'T JUST ABOUT THIS GOVERNOR.

HE MIGHT BE A NICE GUY, BUT IT'S HARD TO SAY WHEN HE WON'T MEET WITH THE LEGISLATURE OR WORK WITH ANYONE WHO HOLDS A DIFFERENT OPINION.

OF COURSE, WE ALSO PASSED STRONG PRO-LIFE LEGISLATION BUILDING ON OUR LEGACY AS THE MOST PRO-LIFE LEGISLATURE IN STATE MEMORY.

[APPLAUSE] WE PASSED LEGISLATION AIMED AT HEALING KENTUCKIANS RECOVERING FROM THE STATE'S RESPONSE TO THIS PANDEMIC.

THIS INCLUDES BUILDING ON THE WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE TO BUILD OUR ECONOMY.

KENTUCKY WENT INTO THIS ECONOMY OR THIS PANDEMIC WITH THE STRONGEST ECONOMY IN OUR STATE'S HISTORY.

WE HAD RECORD LOW UNEMPLOYMENT, HISTORICAL HIGH INVESTMENT, AND SHATTERED REVENUE RECORDS.

WE CAN GET THERE AGAIN, AND WE WILL.

THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE ONLY POSSIBLE BECAUSE REAL LEADERS RELY ON THE MIDNIGHT OIL AND NOT THE LIMELIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO KEEP DELIVERING RESULTS LIKE THIS FOR THE PEOPLE OF OUR STATE.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] AFTER ALL, WE KNOW THAT YOU DON'T SPEND MORE MONEY THAN YOU CAN NEIGHBORHOOD TO SPEND.

YOU TAKE CARE OF WHAT YOU HAVE.

AND GOVERNMENT WORKS FOR THE PEOPLE AND NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

[APPLAUSE] THE OLD FRANKFORT LIBERALS LIKE TO TELL YOU THAT THEY KNOW WHAT'S GOOD FOR YOU.

I WANT YOU TO ASK THEM WHERE THEY'VE BEEN FOR THE PAST 100 YEARS.

WHERE IS THE PROGRESS THEY MADE?

FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY OUR STATE'S LEADERS FOCUSED MORE ON POLITICAL GAIN THAN THE PEOPLE THAT THEY SERVED, BUT WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE SMARTER TODAY THAN WE WERE YESTERDAY.

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY OUR TIME.

KENTUCKY IS READY TO RISE UP AND TO REACH OUR POTENTIAL.

WE'RE WILLING TO WORK WITH THE GOVERNOR, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO SACRIFICE OUR VALUES OR OUR MISSION TO MAKE THIS THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE AND TO RAISE A FAMILY.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] AFTER ALL, WE DO-GATE GREAT THINGS WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER BUT WE JUST HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE DO THE RIGHT THINGS.

GOD BLESS UP.

GOD BLESS THE COMMONWEALTH.

[APPLAUSE] >> WOULD AFTER ZIPPING THROUGH THE COUNTRYSIDE HERE TO CARVAJAL EVER CAVORT CITY AND OTHER PLACES IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S A LAW THAT IF YOU LIVE OUTSIDE OF THE CENTER CITY YOU MUST HAVE A LARGE PERMANENT COMER SIGN IN YOUR YARD.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] AND AFTER THEY REDESTRUCT, AND WE NEVER GERRYMANDER, RECOGNIZED, BUTTED AFTER WE REDISTRICT AND PUT FOSTER IN THE FIRST DISTRICT THEN WE'LL HAVE COMER SIGNS UP IN CENTRAL KENTUCKY.

IT WILL BE GREAT.

THAT'S PRETTY DARN FUNNY FOR YOU WHO ARE NOT LAUGHING.

I KNEW SOMETHING LIKE THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN LIBERIAN HOGAN AND JULIE BABBAGE AND I CALLED ON OUR NEW CONGRESSMAN UP IN WASHINGTON SOME YEARS BACK, I WALKED OUT AND SAID, THIS GUY'S GOT WHAT IT TAKES TO CATCH ON AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN DC, AND HIS DECISION TO STAY IN DC IS SIGNIFICANT.

[CHANTING COMER] >> Bob: THAT'S GOOD.

GO AHEAD.

[CHANTING COMER] >> Bob: THAT'S GOOD.

YOU CAN DO BETTER WHEN HE GETS UP HERE.

OKAY?

[LAUGHTER] NOW, A WARNING TO PREVIOUS EMCEE SCOTT JENNINGS AND MATT JONES WHO MAKE A FORTUNE IN MEDIA, WATCH OUT FOR COMER.

HE'S A RISING STAR.

FOX NEWS CAN'T GO THREE HOURS WITHOUT ASKING JAIME COMER WHAT HAPPENED.

PLEASE EXPLAIN IT TO US.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] AND IF YOU MISS ONE, HE'LL TWITE FOR ABOUT A WEEK SO YOU'LL GET IT.

TWEET IT FOR ABOUT A WEEK SO YOU'LL GET IT.

BUT STAYING IN THE HOUSE IS GOOD NEWS.

CONGRESSMAN COMER IS A RISING, NOW THE RANK MEMBER OF OVERSIGHT REFORM AND A KEY MEMBER OF ANOTHER BIG COMMITTEE THAT MATTERS TO US.

KENTUCKY CLEARLY BENEFITS FROM HAVING OUR NAMES, THE NAMES YOU KNOW IN IMPORTANT POSITIONS IN WASHINGTON.

OBVIOUSLY McCONNELL, PAUL, YARMOUTH, ROGERS, BARR, GUTHRIE.

AND IN HISTORY FROM THIS REGION ALVIN BARCLAY AND JOHN CHER MANN COOPER AND CARL D. PENSIONER AND OTHERS I PERK UNS.

THIS GUY HAS MEDIA A MARK AND HE WILL AGAIN.

PLEASE WELCOME OUR HOMETOWN CONGRESSMAN JAIME COMER.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> ALL RIGHT!

[CHANTING COMER] >> THANK YOU!

6!

IT'S GREAT TO BE BACK AT FANCY FARM!

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] BUT LET ME BEGIN BY APOLOGIZING FOR THE FACT THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE 141-YEAR HISTORY OF THE FANCY FARM PICNIC, THERE ARE NO DEMOCRAT SPEAKERS ON THE STAGE.

NOW, I TRIED MY DARNEDEST TO FIND ONE.

I EVEN CALLED THE WHITE HOUSE TO SEE IF THEY WOULD SANDY SURROGATE.

IN FACT -- SEND A SURROGATE.

IN FACT, WHEN I CALLED, I ASKED TO SPEAK TO PRESIDENT BIDEN.

BUT THE WHITE HOUSE OPERATOR TOLD ME THE PRESIDENT WAS ON THE PHONE AT THAT PARTICULAR MOMENT OF GETTING HIS MARCHING ORDERS FROM BERNIE SANDERS SO HE DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO SPEAK.

HOWEVER, HOWEVER, THEY COULD PUT ME THROUGH TO HUNTER BIDEN INSTEAD.

SO I TALKED TO HUNTER BIDEN AND HE WAS ACTUALLY VERY NICE.

BUT HE SAID THAT NO BIDEN FAMILY MEMBER COULD ATTEND THE FANCY FARM PICNIC THIS YEAR BUT HE WOULD SEND US SOMETHING NICE.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I PRESENT TO YOU AN ORIGINAL PIECE OF ARTWORK BY HUNTER BIDEN!

NOW, I HEAR THESE THINGS CAN FETCH AS MUCH AS HALF A MILLION DOLLARS IN PLACES LIKE UKRAINIAN AND CHINA.

[LAUGHTER] SO STEVEN ELDER, IF YOU WILL COME UP, PLEASE, STEVEN, EMCEE.

I'M GOING TO DONATE THIS ORIGINAL HUNTER BIDEN PORTRAIT TO ST. JEROME PARISH, AND I THINK YOU COULD PUT THAT ON EBAY CHINA ASK GET A LOT OF MONEY FOR THAT FOR THE CHURCH AND GET A LOT OF MONEY FOR THAT FOR THE CHURCH.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

[APPLAUSE] YOU KNOW, ANDY BESHEAR WOULDN'T COULDN'T MAKE IT THIS YEAR.

IN FACT, HE CHOSE TO GO TO LOUISVILLE INSTEAD OF HERE IN BEAUTIFUL WEST KENTUCKY.

NOW, I REALLY DON'T BLAME HIM.

LOUISVILLE IS 20% OF THE POPULATION OF KENTUCKY.

AND ADD LEXINGTON, THAT'S ANOTHER 10%.

THAT EQUALS 4030%.

THAT'S ABOUT WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE VOTE ANDY BESHEAR WILL GET IF HE RUNS FOR RE-ELECTION FOR GOVERNOR IN 2023, 30%.

SO THIS IS MY TENTH YEAR HERE ON THE STAGE HERE AT FANCY FARM.

ONE THING I ALWAYS DO IS SPEND A LITTLE TIME COMPARING THE ISSUES THAT REPUBLICANS ARE FIGHT FOR ADVICE THE ISSUES THAT DEMOCRATS FIGHTING FOR, AND I MUST SAY EVERY YEAR OVER THE PAST DECADE THE DEMOCRATIC AGENDA MOVES FURTHER AND FURTHER TO THE LEFT.

SO HERE WE GO.

DEMOCRATS SUPPORT OPEN BORDERS WHICH HAVE LED TO THE BIDEN BORDER CRISIS.

AND REPUBLICANS WANT TO SECURE THE BORDER AND FINISH THE WALL THAT DONALD TRUMP STARTED TO BUILD.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] DEMOCRATS WANT TO DEFUND THE POLICE!

REPUBLICANS BACK THE BLUE AND SUPPORT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] DEMOCRATS THINK THAT PUBLIC SCHOOL SHOULD TEACH CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

[BOO] REPUBLICANS THINK OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS NEED TO TEACH READING, WRIGHT AND ARITHMETIC.

DEMOCRATS WANT STRICT GUN CONTROL.

REPUBLICANS BELIEVE IN THE 2nd AMOUNTED.

DEMOCRATS LOVE DR. FAUCI.

BUT REPUBLICANS THINK DR. FAUCI HAS A LOT OF ANSWERS THAT -- A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT HE NEEDS TO ANSWER.

AND DEMOCRATS WANT TO EXTEND THE EVICTION MORATORIUM AND PAY PEOPLE NOT TO WORK.

[BOOING] REPUBLICANS WANT EVERY ABLE-BODIED PERSON WHO IS NEITHER WORKING FOR PAYING THE RENT TO GET OFF THEIR BUTTS AND TAKE ONE OF THE 8 MILLION JOBS THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] IT'S JUST NOT FAIR FOR THE REPUBLICAN BASE TO GO TO WORK EVERY DAY AND PAY THEIR TAXES, TO HAVE TO SUPPORT THE DEMOCRAT BASE WHO CONTINUE TO LIVE OFF THE GOVERNMENT.

YOU KNOW, I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

IN KENTUCKY.

WE HAVE SOME CONSTITUTIONS OFFICERS ONE LIMITED POTENTIAL.

PEOPLE BIKE ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON, SECRETARY OF STATE MICHAEL ADAMS.

AND THERE ARE TWO NAMES THAT I THINK EVERYONE IN KENTUCKY IS GOING TO BE HEARING A LOT ABOUT ALL ACROSS KENTUCKY IN 2023, AND THOSE ARE AMBASSADOR KELLY CRAFT AND MY VERY GOOD FRIEND STATE SENATOR MAX WISE FROM CAMPBELLSVILLE.

[APPLAUSE] ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO FLIP THE HOUSE, AND WHEN WE FLIP THE HOUSE, WE'RE GOING TO FIRE NANCY PELOSI.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] WHEN WE FLIP THE HOUSE, I'LL BECOME CHAIRMAN THE OF THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE WHICH HAS FULL SUBPOENA POWER AND BLOD JURISDICTION.

IN FACT, MY COMMITTEE WILL BE THE MAIN OBSTACLE BETWEEN THE BIDEN SOCIALIST AGENDA AND THE U.S. CONSTITUTION.

I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE IN WEST KENTUCKY FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND FRIENDSHIP OVER THE PAST FOUR AND A HALF YEARS.

AS YOUR REPRESENTATIVE, I PLEDGE TO CONTINUE TO BE AN ACTIVE AND ACCESSIBLE REPRESENTATIVE IN ALL 35 COUNTIES ALL ACROSS THE 1st DISTRICT.

I ALSO PLEDGE TO CONTINUE BUYING CONSERVATIVE PRO-BUSINESS VOICE IN CONGRESS.

AS BOB BABBAGE SAID LESS THAN FOUR YEARS OF SERVICE IN THE HOUSE I ROSE TO THE HEIST LEVEL ON THE MOST HIGH PROFILE COMMITTEE IN WASHINGTON ISSUE AND PROMISE TO PARLAY MY NATIONAL PLATFORM WHICH HAS CAUSED ME TO BECOME A REGULAR GUEST ON FOX NEWS AND ONE AMERICA NEWS TO HAVE A STRONG CREDIBLE LEADER WHO WILL HAVE A HAND IN EVERY PIECE OF LEGISLATION AND APPROPRIATION BILL THAT GOES ACROSS CONGRESS BUT WE CANNOT TAKE FOR GRANTED THE SUCCESS WE HAVE HAD IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

WE MUST CONTINUE TO WORK.

WE MUST CONTINUE TO HOLD OUR GREATLY REPUBLICANS LEADERS ACCOUNTABLE.

LET'S MAKE OUR COUNTRY GREAT AGAIN.

LET'S FLIP THE U.S. HOUSE.

LET'S GET A REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR.

LET'S CONTINUE TO GET MORE REPUBLICANS IN KENTUCKY AND CONTINUE TO WIN ELECTIONS!

THANK YOU AND MAY GOD BLESS THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY!

THANK YOU ALL.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> Bob: SO I JUST GOT A TEXT FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYING, COMER, BOB IS HUGE.

HE IS REALLY HUGE.

AND I GOT A LITTLE VOICE MAIL FROM LEADER McCONNELL SAYING, U.

UH, UH, UH, NEXT TO YOU COMER'S THE SMARTEST GUY DOWN THERE.

SO OKAY.

THAT'S RIGHT.

NEXT STEPHEN ELDER WANTS MIKE HARM P ON UP NEXT BECAUSE HE WAS LAST LAST TIME.

A GRADUATE OF EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY, AS ARE LAURA AND I, MIKE HARMON HAD THREE MAJORS.

YOU'LL NEVER GUESS.

MATHEMATICS, BORING.

STATISTICS, NERD.

AND DRAMA.

NOW, WHEN MOST OF YOU THINK OF MIKE HARMON, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF?

DRAMA, RIGHT?

DRAMATIC MIKE HARMON.

TO LIVE UP TO IT, HE MADE A LITTLE ANNOUNCEMENT TWO OR THREE WEEKS AGO THAT HE'S A CANDIDATE IN 2023, FIRST REPUBLICAN UP.

YOU GOT TO ADD FIRE THAT.

[APPLAUSE] HE'S WORKED ON SOME DRAMATIC PROBLEMS AS AUDITOR, AND HE IS THE UNDISPUTED LEADER OF DAD JOKES.

LAST NIGHT IN A MOMENT THAT KIND OF HURT MY FEELINGS, A WOMAN CAME UP AND SAID, "I REMEMBER WHEN YOU WERE HERE 25 YEARS AGO AND SPOKE.

YOU WERE ALMOST SKINNY.

NOW YOU'VE GOT -- I HATE TO SAY IT -- A DAD BOD."

A DAD BOD.

HARMON SAYS -- WAIT A MINUTE, WAIT A MINUTE.

WE DON'T SAY THAT ANYMORE.

BOB JUST TURNED 70, SO WE SAY FATHER FIGURE.

MUCH BETTER.

MUCH BETTER.

AND I'VE HELPED HIM WITH THIS STUFF AND SAID TO MIKE, HAVING HAD THIS POST LONG, LONG AGO, YOU KNOW WHEN A DAD EJECTION A DAD JOKE, RIGHT?

WHEN IT BECOMES APPARENT.

[OOH] SO PLEASE WELCOME OUR NEXT DRAMATIC SPEAKER, MIKE HARMON.

>> THANK YOU, BOB.

APPRECIATE IT.

HOW IS EVERYBODY DOING?

WELL, IT IS SO GREAT TO BE BACK IN FANCY FARM.

IT REALLY IS.

ESPECIALLY AFTER THE YEAR THAT WE'VE HAD, BUT THE FIRST THING I WANT TO DO IS I WANT TO THANK THE ST. JEROME PARISH AND ALL THE ORGANIZERS WHO WORKED SO HARD FOR THIS PICNIC.

SO NOW THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE, I WAS ACTUALLY RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION, AND SOMETHING HAPPENED IN 2019.

I BECAME THE OLDEST CURRENTLY SERVING CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICER, NOT BY ONE, NOT BY TWO, BUT BY ALMOST TEN YEARS.

REALLY THE CLOSEST IS SECRETARY ADAMS.

HE'S 43.

AND -- I'M SORRY.

HE'S 45.

AND I THINK THE GOVERNOR IS 43.

I'LL BE 55 IN OCTOBER.

SO YOU CAN IMAGINE BEING THE OLD GUY ON THE BLOCK.

I WAS FEELING JUST A LITTLE BIT DOWN.

AND THE OTHER DAY, WELL, MY LOVELY BRIDE OF 31 YEARS, LYNN, SHE COMES IN, SHE NOTICES THAT I'M LOOKING IN THE MIRROR AND SHE'S LIKE, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"

I SAID, "HONEY, LOOK.

I LOOK SO OLD.

I LOOK SO.

CAN YOU TELL ME JUST ONE GOOD THING ABOUT MYSELF?"

WELL, SHE LOOKS AND SHE THINKS AND SHE LOOKS AND SHE THINKS, AND FINALLY SHE SAYS, "WELL, AT LEAST YOUR EYESIGHT'S STILL GOOD.

I GUESS IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE GOOD THING AS AUDITOR, IT SHOULD BE YOUR EYESIGHT.

SO AS WAS MENTIONED, SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE HEARD, I MADE A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT A FEW WEEKS AGO THAT I ENTERED THE RACE FOR THE 2023 RACE FOR GOVERNOR, AND I IMAGINE OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS SOME OF MY FRIEND MAY MAKE A SIMILAR ANNOUNCEMENT.

NOW, IN THE SPIRIT OF MY FAVORITE MODERN PRESIDENT, RONALD REAGAN, I WANT NUKE TO MAKE A PROMISE.

I WILL NOT MAKE AGE AN ISSUE IN THIS INTERIM FINAL CAMPAIGN.

I AM NOT GOING TO EXPLOIT FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES ANY OF MY OPPONENTS' YOUTHIN AND EXPERIENCE.

THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] YOUTH AND INEXPERIENCE.

IT'S BEEN A LONG JOURNEY.

AFTER LOSING MY FIRST TWO RACES FOR THE STATE HOUSE, I HAD SEVERAL TELL ME THAT IF ONLY, IF ONLY I WOULD CHANGE TO DEMOCRAT, I COULD WIN.

BUT, OF COURSE, I COULDN'T DOUGH THAT BECAUSE MY VALUES LINE UP WITH THE REPUBLICAN PARTY'S VALUES.

I'M PRO-LIFE.

I'M PRO-FAMILY.

PRO 2nd AMOUNTED.

PRO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THOSE ARE ALL SO IMPORTANT TO ME ME.

SECOND AMENDMENTS.

I KNOW WHEN YOU COME TO FANCY FARM, ESPECIALLY SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE EXPECT ARE SOME GOOD OLD-FASHIONED, YOU MIGHT BE A LIBERAL DEMOCRAT JOKES, AND I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO DISAPPOINT.

YOU KNOW IT'S CERTAINLY A SHAME THE DEMOCRATS DIDN'T COME, BUT THEY'D RATHER BE FANCY IN LOUISVILLE THAN SPEND TIME DOWN IN FANCY FARM.

BUT LET'S GO.

ARE WE READY?

ALL RIGHT.

IF YOU THINK REQUIRING A PHOTO I.D.

TO VOTE IS OUTRAGEOUS BUT REQUIRING A VACCINE PASSPORT IS A-OK, YOU MIGHT BE A LIBERAL DEMOCRAT.

[APPLAUSE] IF YOU THINK FUNDING MASK ENFORCEMENT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN FUNDING LAW ENFORCEMENT, YOU MIGHT BE A LIBERAL DEMOCRAT.

[APPLAUSE] IF TACO BELL IS THE CLOSEST YOU WANT TO GET TO THE MEXICAN BORDER, YOU MIGHT BE A LIBERAL DEMOCRAT.

[APPLAUSE] IF YOU THINK PEOPLE ATTENDING CHURCH ARE CRIMINALS BUT ABORTION CLINICS ARE ESSENTIAL, YOU MIGHT BE A LIBERAL DEMOCRAT.

[APPLAUSE] IF THE BIGGEST CROWD YOU SAW LAST YEAR WAS THE LINE OF UNEMPLOYMENT APPLICANTS OUTSIDE YOUR OFFICE, YOU MIGHT BE A LIBERAL DEMOCRAT.

NOW, REALLY, THOUGH, I KNOW EVEN OUR LIBERAL DEMOCRAT FRIENDS ACTUALLY JUST WANT TO HELP PEOPLE.

WELL, THOSE THAT CUT THEIR HAIR, ANYWAY.

AND ONE I THOUGHT I COULD RETIRE AFTER THE 2019 ELECTION, BUT APPARENTLY NOT.

IF YOUR NAME IS ANDY, BUT IT SHOULD BE A BOY NAMED SUE, AND SUE AND SUE, WELL, THEN YOU JUST MIGHT BE A LIBERAL DEMOCRAT.

YOU KNOW, IN 2023 THE VOTERS OF KENTUCKY WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO HELP ANDY BESHEAR IN THE SWAIM HIS POLICIES HELPED MANY OF THEM 1 BY HENDING HIM HOME.

THE LIBERAL POLICIES OF GOVERNMENT OVERREACH WE SEE COMING TOT FROM THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION MIGHT BE WELL-INTENTIONED BUT THOSE POLICIES HAVE ALL CLOSED BUSINESSES, CREATED RECORD LEVELS OF UNEMPLOYMENT, AND KEPT A LOT OF KIDS FROM GETTING THE EDUCATION THEY DESERVE.

IF YOU'RE A DEMOCRAT HERE AT FANCY FARM TODAY, YOUR PARTY LEADERS HAVE QUITE LITERALLY ABANDONED YOU, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE A DEMOCRAT WHO IS PRO-LIFE, PRO SECOND AMOUNTED AND PRO USA, YOU MIGHT BE A DEMOCRAT LEFT BEHIND BY YOUR PARTY.

BUT GUESS WHAT?

THERE'S STILL PLENTY OF ROOM ON THIS SIDE FOR YOU.

[APPLAUSE] PLEASE, PLEASE CONSIDER COMING TO THIS SIDE.

THIS IS WHERE THE PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT PROTECTING YOUR LIBERTIES, YOUR FAITH AND YOUR ABILITY TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR FAMILY STAND.

THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS.

AND EVERYBODY TAKE CARE.

[APPLAUSE] >> Bob: SO NEXT IS DANIEL CAMERON, OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] YOU KNOW I WAS A LITTLE WORRIED IN 2019 ABOUT SANDRA, HIS MOTHER, BECAUSE HE TOOK HER EVERYWHERE.

EVERYWHERE HE SHOWED UP, THERE WAS SANDRA.

AND WE WERE GETTING A LITTLE WORRIED, OUR CREW, THAT HE JUST COULDN'T GET A DATE.

ALL OF A SUDDEN, GUESS WHAT?

HE IS MARRIED.

PRETTY EXCITING NEWS.

AND THERE'S MORE TO THAT STORY I'LL SHARE IN JUST A MINUTE.

SO SANDRA, YOU GET A BREAK, AND WE GET DANIEL CAMERON.

ATTORNEY GENERAL CAME OUT OF E'TOWN TO THE NEAREST MAJOR SIGNIFICANT OUTSTANDING UNIVERSITY WEEK UofL, PLAYED FOOTBALL, NOT AFRAID TO KNOCK HEADS, WENT TO UofL LAW, WON A FEDERAL JUDGESHIP.

MAJOR NOTICE CAME HIS WAIST GENERAL COUNSEL TO SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER MITCH McCONNELL, AND THEN LATELY, BOY, DID THE HEADLINES TURN WHEN THEY SAID, OH, BOY, CAMERONS ARE EXPECTING A I.

SON THIS WINTER.

THAT DESERVES A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

[APPLAUSE] 6.

SO DESPERATE WAS I WHEN I RAN FOR CITY COUNCIL AT LEXINGTON TO LOOK OLDER, THAT I FORMED A GROUP OF BABIES, POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE AND I HAVE THIS BUMP PER STICKER FROM THAT TIME THE BUMPER STICK ERR READS, "I'M A BABY FOR BOB."

THEN WE GOT MORE SERIOUS, LAURA WAS EXPECTING IN 1987.

WE GOT THE BABY BOUNCE.

WE GO THAT THE VOTE AT FANCY FARM.

THEN IN '91 BEEN MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE TRIED OUR TIMING A LITTLE BETTER.

THAT LAST ONE DIDN'T WORK OUT SO WELL.

NOT THAT FUNNY.

SO YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE WHY THE STANDING OVATION WENT TO DANIEL CAMERON LAST NIGHT.

A BIG WELCOME TO ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> MY WIFE'S A -- WELL, IT IS GREAT TO BE BACK AT FANCY FARM.

IT IS GREAT TO SEE THIS AMAZING CROWD.

AND, BOB, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE BUMPER STICKER AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT KIND INTRODUCTION.

YOU KNOW, NOW THAT I THINK ABOUT IT, YOU MIGHT BE THE ONLY ONE ON THIS STAGE THAT HASN'T BEEN CHASTISED OR SUED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

BUT DON'T WORRY, I'M SURE HE'LL GET TO YOU SOON ENOUGH.

COME TO THINK OF IT, WHEN I GET BACK TO THE CAPITOL I'LL PROBABLY HAVE A LAWSUIT WAITING ON ME FOR WHAT I HAVE SAID TODAY.

II WANT TO THANK MARSH WILSONY AND STEVEN ELDER AND THE THE BISHOP AND THE PARISH WHO BROUGHT US BACK TOGETHER FOR THIS TIME-HONORED TRADITION.

A LOT HAS HAPPENED SINCE I WAS HERE ON STAGE IN 2019.

I GOT MARRIED LAST JULY, AND I'M GLAD TO HAVE MY WIFE.

[APPLAUSE] I'M GLAD TO HAVE MCKENZIE HERE WITH ME TODAY.

I WILL TELL YOU HOWEVER SHE IS SMILING BUT SHE IS A LITTLE UPSET BECAUSE SHE'S MISSING HER GRANDFATHER, MITCH McCONNELL.

[LAUGHTER] THAT'S NOT TRUE.

HE IS NOT HER GRANDFATHER.

AND, MARK, I AM TOLD THAT YOU ACTUALLY DID SEND AN INVITATION TO THE GOVERNOR, BUT THAT HE DECLINED BECAUSE YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO BUILD A WALL AROUND THIS STAGE FOR HIM.

[APPLAUSE] BUT LET ME JUST SAY, LOOK, IT REALLY IS TOO BAD BECAUSE WEST KENTUCKY NEEDS A GOVERNOR WHO CARES ABOUT THE ENTIRE STATE AND NOT JUST FANCYVILLE.

[APPLAUSE] AND SOME FOLKS MIGHT BE GOOD AT IGNORING WEST KENTUCKY, BUT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS HERE TO STAY.

[APPLAUSE] YOU KNOW, DRIVING HERE I WAS A LITTLE BIT WORD THAT THERE WOULDN'T BE A CROWD.

AFTER ALL, WE KNOW HOW SOME FOLKS LIKE TO FORCE OTHERS TO PATROL CHURCH PARKING LOTS.

IT SEEMS THAT SOME DEMOCRATS ONLY VALUE OUR POLICE WHEN THEY'RE WRIGHT TICKETS ON EASTER SUNDAY.

HERE'S THE TRUTH.

REPUBLICANS BACK THE BLUE.

WHILE OTHERS WANT TO DEFUND THE POLICE, WHILE OTHERS WANT TO DEFUND THE POLICE, REPUBLICANS WILL DEFEND THEM, AND IT'S THAT SIMPLE.

[APPLAUSE] AND LET ME JUST SAY JOE BIDEN MIGHT HAVE SOME NICE TWEETS BUT HIS AND THE DEMOCRATS' POLICIES ARE JUST DOWN RIGHT MEAN TO KENTUCKY.

THIS IS THEIR PLAN FOR KENTUCKY FAMILIES.

CLOSE YOUR SCHOOLS, CLOSE YOUR BUSINESSES, AND CLOSE YOUR CHURCHES.

BUT HERE'S WHAT REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR, TO OPEN YOUR SCHOOLS, TO OPEN YOUR BUSINESSES AND TO OPEN YOUR CHURCHES.

[APPLAUSE] YOU KNOW, NOW THAT I THINK ABOUT IT, MARK, IF YOU WOULD HAVE TOLD THE GOVERNOR THAT THIS WAS A PRESS CONFERENCE, HE AND DR. STACK WOULD HAVE BEEN HERE AN WHO ARE EARLY, I THINK.

I WILL TELL YOU I ACTUALLY KIND OF MISS THOSE PRESS CONFERENCES BECAUSE IT WAS THE ONLY HOUR OF THE DAY I COULD BE SURE HE WASN'T SIGNING SOMETHING THAT WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

[APPLAUSE] LET ME JUST CEJA THE BIG GOVERNMENT DEMOCRATS AND BUREAUCRATS AND FRANKFORT IN WASHINGTON WANT YOU TO FOLLOW THE SCIENCE SO LONG AS IT'S THEIR SCIENCE THAT YOU'RE FOLLOWING.

BUT AS YOUR ATTORNEY GENERAL, I'M MAKING SURE WE FOLLOW THE SCIENCE AND THE CONSTITUTION.

[APPLAUSE] I'M MAKING SURE WE DEFEND YOUR RIGHT TO SPEAK AND NOT BE CANCELED.

I'M MAKING SURE YOU AS LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS ALWAYS HAVE YOUR SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS PROTECTED.

[APPLAUSE] AND I'M MAKING SURE THAT WE DEFEND THE RIGHTS OF UNBORN BABIES ALL THE WAY TO THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT'S!

[APPLAUSE] AND I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP GOVERNMENT OUT OF OUR CHURCH PARKING LOTS.

[APPLAUSE] AND I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HOLD THOSE RESPONSIBLE BEHIND THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC.

[APPLAUSE] NOW WE HAVE GOT A LOT OF KENTUCKY REPUBLICANS IN FRANKFORT AND WASHINGTON THESE DAYS, A LOT MORE THAN WE USED TO, BUT IN 2022 WE HAVE TO SEND RAND PAUL BACK TO THE SENATE, JAIME COMER BACK TO CONGRESS, AND HOLD ONTO OUR MAJORITIES IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] AND LET ME JUST TELL YOU WE'RE GOING TO NEED A GOVERNOR WHO IS GOING TO SHOW UP FOR WEST KENTUCKY AND WHO CARES BEVER PART OF THE STATE AND COME NOVEMBER 2023, WITH YOUR HELP, WE WILL HAVE THAT GOVERNOR.

THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> Bob: IS THAT A HECKLER OUT THERE?

IT'S ABOUT TIME SOMEBODY SHOWED UP.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE CALL THIS IS SUPER BOWL OF KENTUCKY POLITICS BUT THAT ASSUMES BOTH TEAMS SHOW UP AND TEAM CAPTAINS GET CONGRESS TO ADJOURN FOR FANCY FARM, SO THAT'S THE WORK OF THE FUTURE.

AND I WANT TO SAY TO OUR WONDERFUL CLERGY TO PLEASE PRAY FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.

THINK OF IT THIS WAY.

AT HOME WE SAY PRAY FOR WHAT YOU WANT.

AND I KNOW THESE TWO GREAT CLERGY HAVE US ON THE HIGHWAY TO HEAVEN, BUT HERE ON EARTH WE NEED A LITTLE WORK ON ROADS AND BRIDGES.

SO LET'S HOPE FOR THAT.

RYAN QUARLES IS KNOWN AT OUR HOUSE AS THE SHEEP AND COW GUY.

CAME ONE TIME AND THE NICKNAME STUCK.

HE AND I SHARE A PROBLEM, THAT OUR HAIRDRESSER PUTS TOO MUCH WHITE IN OUR HAIR.

NOW, THINK ABOUT THIS.

RYAN QUARLES IS BA, BA, BA, MBA, JD, EDD.

IS THAT RIGHT?

OR WAS IT MA?

HE'S GOT MORE INITIALS AFTER HIS NAME THAN IN HIS NAME.

THAT'S PRETTY DARN GOOD, DR. QUARLES.

FOUR YEARS IN THE STATE HOUSE, SECOND TERM AS AG COMMISSIONER, GREW UP ON A FARM.

I'VE BEEN ON THAT FAMILY FARM.

WORKED WITH HIS DAD ON THAT TOBACCO BILL YEARS AGO.

IT IS NOT PAY FANCY FARM.

IT IS A WORKING FARM TO THIS DAY DAY.

SO I'VE NEVER RUN INTO ANYBODY WHO DIDN'T KNOW THE COMMISSIONER OR HADN'T RUN INTO HIM SOMEPLACE INJURIES, WANT TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT JUST AS A PERSONAL FAVOR, HE IS KENTUCKY'S MOST ELIGIBLE BACHELOR.

[LAUGHTER] ANY SINGLES IN THE ROOM?

ANYBODY KNOW ANYBODY SINGLE UNDER 40, LET'S SAY?

UNDER 50.

OKAY.

[LAUGHTER] PLEASE WELCOME A GREAT GUY AND A GREAT FRIEND, COMMISSIONER RYAN QUARLES.

[APPLAUSE] >> WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON, FANCY FARM.

IT'S GREAT TO BE BACK, AND MAY I SAY A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO FATHER VENTERS AND STEVEN ELDER.

MY FELLOW KENTUCKIANS, IT IS TIME FOR A NEW GOVERNOR OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY!

[APPLAUSE] THE FACT THAT GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR DID NOT SHOW UP TODAY PROVES THAT HE ABANDONED RURAL KENTUCKY.

HE HAS GIVEN UP ON ONE OF THE COMMONWEALTH'S MOST LONGEST POLITICAL TRADITIONS BECAUSE HE STILL HEARS THE BOOS FROM THE KENTUCKY DERBY RINGING IN HIS EARS.

BUT, HEY, ABANDONING THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY IS JUST HIS STYLE AS HE IGNORED 400,000 UNREADY EMAILS FROM OUT OF WORK KENTUCKIANS BEGGING FOR HELP WITH THEIR UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS, BUT I MUST ADMIT THIS PAST YEAR HAS BEEN IF YOU HAVE FOR EVERYONE, AND WE HAVE ALL SACRIFICED, FROM OUR FRONTLINE HEALTH CARE HEROS TO OUR FARMERS WHO KEPT US FED.

BUT LIKE YOU, I WAS CAUGHT OFF-GUARD WHEN BESHEAR RESPONDED STONEMAN DOUGLAS TO COVID BY VIOLATING OUR BASIC RIGHTS AND INDIVIDUAL LIBERTIES BY BECOMING THE SHUTDOWN GOVERNOR.

LET'S REVIEW HIS RECORD, SHALL WE?

FIRST HE MADE IT ILLEGAL FOR US TO GATHER WITH OUR OWN FAMILIES.

SECONDLY, HE SENT STATE TROOPERS TO HARASSES CHURCH GORES ON EASTER SUNDAY.

THEN HE ALLOWED LOUISVILLE TO MAKE NATIONAL HEADLINES AND STOOD BY BY WATCHING IT BURN.

FINALLY, HE SHUT DOWN MOM AND POP FAMILY BUSINESSES WHILE ALLOWING BIG CORPORATIONS TO REMAIN OPEN WHILE HE PICKED THE WINNERS AND LOSERS OF KENTUCKY.

OVER THE LAST YEAR BESHEAR HAS ACTED MORE LIKE THE GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA THAN THE GOVERNOR THAT KENTUCKY NEEDS.

INSTEAD OF BUILDING TRUST, HE THREATENED US.

INSTEAD OF BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER, HE DIVIDED US.

INSTEAD OF TRULY LEADING, HE LECTURED US LIKE THE VERY SCHOOLCHILDREN THAT HE REFUSE TODAY LET BACK INTO OUR SCHOOLS TO LEARN.

BUT HE DOES DEVER ONE ACCOMPLISHMENT.

SINCE HE'S DROVE SO MANY KENTUCKIANS OUT STATE FOR BUSINESS LIKE GETTING THEIR HAIRCUT BUYING GROCERIES AND GOING OUT TO EAT, HE DOES DESERVE THE TENNESSEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MAN OF THE YEAR AWARD.

[LAUGHTER] AND NOW.

[APPLAUSE] AND NOW WITH JOB OPTIONS EVERYWHERE BESHEAR RENEWS TO HELP OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY BY ELIMINATING THE UNEMPLOYMENT BONUS.

AS A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE, IT IS BRONCH FOR PRIVATE EMPLOYERS TO HAVE TO COMPETE AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT ON WAGES.

WE SHOULD BE ENCOURAGING KENTUCKIANS TO GO BACK TO WORK AND NOT PAYING THEM TO SIT AT HOME.

[APPLAUSE] UNLIKE ANDY BESHEAR, MY DADDY WASN'T GOVERNOR.

MY DAD IS A FARMER AND MY MOM WAS A TEACHER.

UNLIKE ANDY, I DID NOT GROW UP WITH A SILVER SPOON IN MY MOUTH.

I GREW UP IN A TOBACCO PATCH AND WORKED 70 HOURS A WEEK WHEN I WAS TEN YEARS OLD.

FOR KENTUCKIANS LIKE YOU AND ME, WE HAVE HAD TO EARN EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE.

AND LIKE YOU, I RESPECT THE MAN AND WOMAN WITH GREASE ON THEIR ELBOWS JUST AS MUCH AS I RESPECT SOMEONE IN A SUIT AND TIE.

BUT THIS GOVERNOR JUST DOESN'T GET IT.

ALL HE UNDERSTANDS IS BIG GOVERNMENT HAND-OUTS AND HE SUES ANYONE AND EVERYONE WHO DISAGREES WITH HIM, AND HIS PETTINESS IS WHAT HE'S SUING ME, THE KENTUCKY COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE,OVER THE KENTUCKY STATE FAIR.

THE I THINK HE SHOULD GO BACK AND REWATCH SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK, HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW.

GOVERNOR, YOU MAY DISAGREE WITH ME, BUT TRYING TO RUN THE STATE BY SUING PEOPLE IS NO WAY TO GOVERN AT ALL.

INSTEAD, KENTUCKY DESERVES A GOVERNOR WITH A POSITIVE VISION TO LEAD KENTUCKY, A GOVERNOR WHO WILL WORK WITH OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND NOT AGAINST THEM, WHO WILL LIBERATE KENTUCKY AND NOT LOCK US DOWN, AND A GOVERNOR WHO WILL RESPECT INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY RATHER THAN IGNORING OUR BASIC RIGHTS.

FOLKS, I'M FRUSTRATED THAT THIS GOVERNOR AND I'M FRUSTRATED WITH THE STATE OF AFFAIRS IN OUR WHITE HOUSE AND THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION.

OUR LEADERS HAVE SEEMED TO HAVE FOR DuPONT THAT IN THIS COUNTRY WE RESPECT THOSE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.

WE STAND FOR OUR FLAG.

AND WE NEIL BEFORE OUR KNEEL BEFORE OUR GOD.

THAT'S WITH AEST WHY I WAS PROUD TO CHALLENGE OUR GOVERNOR OVER HIS UNCONSTITUTIONAL OVERREACHING EXECUTIVE ORDERS.

THAT'S WHY I WAS PROUD TO LEAD THE CHARGE TO FORCE HIM TO REOPEN KENTUCKY THIS PAST SPRING.

AND THAT'S WHY I'M PROUD TO CONTINUE THAT FIGHT GOING FORWARD EVERY SINGLE DAY.

KENTUCKY DESERVES A NEW GOVERNOR WITH SOME KENTUCKY COMMON SENSE IN 2023.

BUT BEFORE THE GOVERNOR RACE GETS STARTED, LET'S FOCUS ON 2022 FIRST.

WE WILL RE-ELECT OUR MAJORITIES IN BOTH THE STATE HOUSE AND STATE SENATE.

WE WILL RE-ELECT CONGRESSMAN COMER TO UNITED STATES CONGRESS.

AND WE WILL SEND THE GOOD DOCTOR, DR. RAND PAUL, BACK TO THE U.S. SENATE TO FIRE ANTHONY FAUCI!

AND IN 2023.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] CAN BE -- UFL A NEW CONSERVATIVE GOVERNOR.

KENTUCKY, I LOVE YOU.

AND I BELIEVE THAT OUR BEST DAYS LIE AHEAD OF US.

MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND MAY GOD BLESS THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> Bob: SO I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT WE HAVE A GREAT ASSET IN THIS STATE CALLED KET, AND THEY'RE BROADCASTING HERE TODAY.

I HOPE WE HAVE SOME KET FANS ON THE STAGE IN PARTICULAR AND OUT HERE IN THIS AUDIENCE.

I THANK SHAE HOPKINS THE CEO THERE AND I ALSO THANK WONDERFUL RENEE SHAW.

I'VE GOT AN IDEA.

GOT SOME RENEE FANS HERE.

NOW, EVERY TIME WE HAVE A PRESIDENTIAL OR VICE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE, PEOPLE OFTEN SAY WE OUGHT TO GET SOMEBODY FROM AMERICA'S HEARTLAND.

WELL, WE'RE GOING TO GET A HEAD START ON THIS.

OUR LITTLE TEAM IS GOING TO START A CAMPAIGN FOR KENTUCKIANS AND OTHERS TO SUGGEST RENEE SHAW FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL OR VICE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE SCHEDULE IN 20 -- EXCUSE ME -- 2024.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] I'LL MAKE SURE WE FIND YOU AND MAKE SURE YOU WEIGH IN.

RENEE FOR MODERATOR!

[APPLAUSE] SO I KNOW A GOOD SECRETARY OF STATE WHEN I SEE ONE.

AFTER ALL, I WAS ONE.

PRETTY GOOD, ANYWAY.

BUT ALL WHO HAVE FOLLOWED ME, I HAVE TO SAY IN THE TWO OFFICES I HELD HAVE DONE CONSECUTIVELY BETTER AND BETTER -- SUCCESS I WILL HAVE BETTER AND BETTER ALL ALONG AND CERTAINLY MICHAEL ADAMS GETS GREAT MARKS FOR HIS SERVICE.

HE'S FROM PADUCAH.

YOU CAN CLAP ANY TIME YOU WANT.

[APPLAUSE] HE'S FROM PADUCAH.

WENT TO UOFL.

THEN TO HARVARD LAW.

AND HAS TWO SEMINAL ACHIEVEMENTS IN HIS TERM IN OFFICE NOT EVEN HALFWAY THROUGH.

ONE WAS CONDUCTING THE ELECTION OF 2020 AGAINST PHENOMENAL ONCE IN A CENTURY CIRCUMSTANCES.

THE SECOND WAS 2021 THIS YEAR, AND I ASK YOU TO LISTEN CLOSELY BECAUSE HERE'S A LESSON THAT WE SHOULD ALL TAKE WITH US.

THE NATION WAS BUILT ON COMPROMISE.

I GET TIRED OF HEARING PEOPLE SAY COMPROMISE IS A DIRTY WORD.

AND WE SHOULD NOT BE COMPROMISING.

IT'S A BAD THING.

ONE THING I KEEP ON THE SCREEN OF THE CELL PHONE IS THAT MARKED-UP DRAFT OF OUR CONSTITUTION THAT MOST EVERYBODY HERE SAYS IS A PRECIOUS DOCUMENT.

IT'S NOT THE PRETTY COPY YOU SEE, THE FINAL VERSION.

IT'S THE MARKED-UP VERSION.

IT WAS MARKED UP WHY?

BECAUSE WE COMPROMISED TO GET THIS STARTED AND TO GET US HERE, AND I COUPLE OF GUYS COMPROMISED TO GET THIS ELECTION LAW CHANGED, AND THAT WAS GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR AND SECRETARY OF STATE MICHAEL ADAMS, AND I COMMEND IT THEM FOR IT.

THIS IS THE MOST AMBITIOUS ELECTION REFORM SINCE 1891.

AND THE HOUSE AND SENATE SAID YES.

SO MICHAEL ADAMS IS KNOWN FOR A LOT OF THINGS.

HIS FASHION FORWARD LOOK.

HIS TREMENDOUS SELF-HUMOR.

AND HIS CLASSIC, DYNAMIC BACK-TO-SCHOOL HAIR CUT.

PLEASE WELCOME SECRETARY OF STATE MICHAEL ADAMS.

[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

WELCOME TO DOWN TICKET DAY.

THANK YOU, STEPHEN ELDER AND THE OTHER ORGANIZERS OF THIS WONDERFUL EVENT.

I'M PROUD TO BE THE ONLY PERSON FROM FAR WESTERN KENTUCKY TO SERVE AS STATEWIDE OFFICE SINCE THE 1970S.

MY FAMILY SETTLED HERE IN GRAVES COUNTY IN 1821, RIGHT AFTER THE JACKSON PURCHASE.

I GREW UP 27 MILES FROM THIS STAGE, AND THIS IS MY 20th FANCY FARM.

[APPLAUSE] FANCY FARM IS WHERE WE COME TO CELEBRATE KENTUCKY'S LIVELY TWO-PARTY SYSTEM OR, SHOULD I SAY, OUR ONE AND A HALF PARTY SYSTEM.

THANK YOU, SECRETARY OF STATE BOB BABBAGE FOR EM SEEING TODAY.

BOB IS THE ONLY DEMOCRAT SPEAKING HERE TODAY, AND HE LEFT OFFICE 25 YEARS AGO.

NOW HE'S GOT TO A HIGHER MORE POWERFUL OFFICE, THE ONLY ONE AVAILABLE TO AMBITIOUS DEMOCRATS IN KENTUCKY, LOBBYISTS.

I'M ALSO SORRY THAT ANDY BESHEAR COULDN'T BE WITH US TODAY.

WE DON'T SEE MUCH OF HIM IN WESTERN KENTUCKY.

ACTUALLY, I'VE BEEN ALL OVER THE STATE.

WE DON'T SEE MUCH OF HIM ANYWHERE.

I DON'T EVEN SEE HIM ON A ZOOM.

HE'S NOT ABLE TO CHECK LITTLE BOXES THAT SAYS "I'M NOT A ROBOT."

[LAUGHTER] ANDY BESHEAR HAS HAD A PAST TOUGH BE 20 MONTHS BUT LET'S GIVE HIM CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE FOR GOING TO TEACHERS BACK INTO SCHOOLS.

DO YOU KNOW HOW HE IT?

HE THREATENED TO PUT THEM BACK INTO OUR UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM.

THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY ONLY BELIEVES IN ONE THING, REDISTRIBUTING INCOME, AND THEY COULDN'T EVEN DO THAT RIGHT.

ANDY BESHEAR SAYS HE'S RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR AGAIN.

WELL, THE 2023 CAMPAIGN CYCLE HAS ALREADY BEGUN.

MIKE HARMON JUST LAUNCHED HIS CAMPAIGN FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

MIKE HAS TWO DECADE OF EXPERIENCE IN STATE GOVERNMENT, BUT LET'S NOT FORGET HIS PRIVATE SECTOR EXPERIENCE, WRITING JOKES FOR SOUTHWEST AGERS.

WE'VE ALSO GOT BEGIN AIRLINES.

WE'VE ALSO GOT RYAN QUARLES WHO IS CONSIDERING A RUN HIMSELF.

RYAN HAS A CLEAR ADVANTAGE WITH NAME RECOGNITION.

NO KENTUCKY CANDIDATE HAS EVER BEEN THE SUBJECT OF SO MANY TAYLOR SWIFT SONGS.

ENOUGH ABOUT POLITICS.

LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT WE'VE ACHIEVED IN FRANKFORT.

THE MOST SIGNIFICANT REFORM OF OUR ELECTION SYSTEM SINCE 1891.

WITH PHOTO I.D.

REQUIRED TO VOTE IN OUR ELECTIONS, OUR VOTER ROLLS BEING CLEANED UP, EXPANDED IN-PERSON VOTING, A BAN ON BALLOT HARVESTING, A MOVE AWAY FROM ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINES TOWARD UNIVERSAL PAPER BALLOTS SO WE ALWAYS HAVE THE SECURITY OF A PAPER TRAIL.

DEMOCRATS TALK A BIG GAME ABOUT VOTING RIGHTS BUT IT'S REPUBLICANS THAT HAVE MADE IT EASIER TO VOTE AND HARDER TO CHEAT.. [APPLAUSE] IT'S REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE LED ON THESE ISSUES, BUT WE GOT TESTIMONY VOTES THE IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY AS WELL FOR EACH OF THESE MEASURES.

DEMOCRATS ARE SO PLEASED WITH THE GREAT JOB THAT WE'VE DONE THAT AS A SIGN OF RESPECT AND SUPPORT FROM ME, THEY'VE RECRUITED AIM McGRATH TO RUN AGAINST ME IN 2023.

AMY McGRATH.

WE'VE ACHIEVED ALL THIS WITH BIPARTISAN BACKING, SOMETHING NO OTHER STATE IN AMERICA HAS DONE THIS YEAR.

IN 2019, ANDY BESHEAR PROMISED THAT IF YOU ELECTED HIM GOVERNOR, YOU'D SEE BIPARTISANSHIP, MUTUAL RESPECT, CIVILITY IN GOVERNMENT.

HE WAS ELECTED GOVERNOR, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU'VE GOTTEN, BUT FROM ME.

SOME DAY WE'LL HAVE A GOVERNOR WHO SITS DOWN WITH THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE.

SOME DAY WE'LL HAVE A GOVERNOR WHO DOESN'T ATTACK LEGISLATORS.

SOME DAY WE'LL HAVE A GOVERNOR WHO DOESN'T DEFY OTHER BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT OR OUR CONSTITUTION.

SOME DAY YOU'LL HAVE A GOVERNOR WHO WILL CHANGE THE TONE IN FRANKFORT.

AND SOME DAY WE'LL HAVE A GOVERNOR WHO WILL BRING US TOGETHER.

THERE'S SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT FANCY FARM.

HERE ON THIS STAGE AND OUT THERE IN THE AUDIENCE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS APPEAR DIVIDED.

YOU SHOUT AT EACH OTHER.

WE HECKLE EACH OTHER.

BUT WE ALSO LAUGH TOGETHER.

AND WHEN THE SPEECHES ARE ALL DONE, WE PLAY BINGO TOGETHER AND EAT BARBECUE TOGETHER.

THAT'S WHEN WHAT WE NEED IN FRANKFORT.

WE CAN WEAR OUR RED JERSEYS AND BLUE JERSEYS.

WE CAN OWN THE OTHER SIDE WITH A TWEET, BUT WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE WE MUST RECOGNIZE EACH OTHER'S HUMANITY BECAUSE WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

UNITED WE STAND KENTUCKY, DIVIDED WE FALL.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] >> Bob: SO I BE WANT YOU THOU AGAIN FOR INDULGING MY TIME AND MY LEFT SIDE AND RIGHT SIDED BRAIN, BLUE AND RED, DNR.

I WANT TO JUST GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO ALLISON BALL, OUR STATE TREASURER.

[APPLAUSE] SHE IS PLANNING ON ATTEND CAN NEXT YEAR BUT SHE GETS AN EXCUSED ABSENCE THIS YEAR FOR THE BIRTH OF MARY GOLD, A DAUGHTER, LITTLE SISTER TO LEVI.

OUR BEST TO TREASURER BALL AND PROUD PAPA AS AA SWAN.

MUCH APPLAUSE.

TO BRING UP THE BIG CONCLUSION IS A WONDERFUL MEMBER OF OUR BENCH, JUDGE CHRIS McNEIL.

HE'S A TREMENDOUS MEMBER OF THE COURT OF APPEALS, AND WHEN HE WAS A PUBLIC DEFENDER -- I WANT YOU TO GET THIS -- AS THE DIRECTING ATTORNEY, HE WAS INVOLVED IN OR SUPERVISED OVER 70,000 LEGAL CASES IN THIS PART OF THE STATE.

HE HAS AN INCREDIBLE RESUME FROM FULTON, FAMILY FARM.

HE AND MILLIE HAVE TWO SONS AND LIVE IN PADUCAH.

I'VE KNOWN HIM FOR A LONG TIME.

I ADMIRE HIM FOR BEING FULL-TIME IN STATE GOVERNMENT WHILE AT NIGHT HE WENT TO LAW SCHOOL IN NORTHERN KATY MKU.

THAT TOOK A HELL OF A COMMITMENT -- EXCUSE ME -- A HASK COMMITMENT.

SORRY, LIBERIAN, YOU LOOKED SHOCKED.

A HECK OF A COMMITMENT.

THAT'S IN THE SCRIPT.

AND HE'S A GLUC, SO PLEASE GIVE HAME BIG WELCOME.

JUDGE, COME ON UP.

[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU, BOB.

AND THANK YOU, ST. JEROME PARISH FOR BRINGING BACK THIS LONGSTANDING EVENT.

SO GOOD TO BE HERE.

I AM CHRIS McNEIL.

I AM JURYING U.

YOUR JUDGE ON THE KENTUCKY PORT OF APPEALS, DISTRICT 1, DIVISION 1.

YOU WANT TO THANK THE ORGANIZERS FOR ORGANIZING THIS EVENT.

I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR COMING NOT ONLY TO PARTICIPATE AS CITIZENS BUT ALSO TO HELP SUPPORT THE GOOD WORK OF THE CHURCH.

IT IS AN HONOR TO HAVE HAD THE SUPPORT TO HAVE BEEN ELECTED BY A STRONG MARRIAGE IN 24 COUNTIES IN MY DISTRICT THAT INCLUDES RIGHT HERE GRAVES COUNTY.

IT'S AN HONOR TO REPRESENT YOU.

AS YOUR JUDGE ON THE COURT OF APPEALS, IT'S MY JOB TO MAKE SURE THAT LAWS ARE FOLLOWED THAT COME OUT OF CIRCUIT COURTS.

IT IS HOLLAND APPROPRIATE THAT MY APPEARANCE ON THIS STAGE FOLLOWS THAT OF REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS FROM THE AREA BECAUSE THAT IS MY JOB, IS TO FOLLOW THE LAWS THAT THEY ENACT.

IN FACT, THE MOST IMPORTANT JOB THAT I HAVE IN REPRESENTING YOU ON THE COURT IS TO FOLLOW THE LAW, INCLUDING THE CONSTITUTION.

FANCY FARM IS A WONDERFUL EVENT.

IT'S A PERFECT MERGER OF FOOD, FUN, AND FAITH.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO BE A SPEAKER ON THIS STAGE, HOWEVER.

I'VE ATTENDED FANCY FARM FOR MANY YEARS, SINCE I WAS A VERY YOUNG MAN.

MY WIFE GREW UP ABOUT 20 MINUTES FROM HERE OVER IN BALLARD COUNTY.

I GREW UP ABOUT 40 MINUTES THAT WAY A FARM IN FULTON COUNTY.

WE LIVE IN PADUCAH NOW.

I CAN SAY THAT I AM FROM AROUND HERE, AND I'M PROUD OF IT.

BUT I'LL SAY THIS.

SPEAKING TO YOU IS AS IMPORTANT AS IT IS, I ASKED A COUPLE OF PEOPLE WHAT MAKES A GOOD SPEECH A FANCY FARM, AND A COUPLE OF THEM SAID, MCNEILL, IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A GOOD SPEECH WEEK MAKE IT SHORT.

SO WITH THAT I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN AND MAY GOD BLESS.

[APPLAUSE] >> WOULD SO I DID GET A TEXT FROM MY IAN PRIEST WHO SAID IT'S OKAY TO MENTION HELL HERE, WE'RE AGAINST IT AND WE CAN KEEP YOU FROM TIME TO TIME OH WRITE THAT DOWN AND REMEMBER IT.

A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR STEVE ELDER.

TREMENDOUS JOB.

U.S. BANK ASSIST BANK, ALL YOUR BANKING NEEDS FROM STEVE EARNED ELDER.

COME ON UP, STEVE, AND GIVE US A BIG DISMISSAL.

>> THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING.

PLEASE STICK AROUND, BUY SOME BARBECUE, GET A SUN DROP.

THANK FOR COMING, AND PLAY THAT FINAL COUNTDOWN NOW IF YOU WANT TO, CHARLIE.

YOU GOT THAT GEARED?

THIS IS THE FINAL DOWNTOWN.

EVERYBODY HAVE A GOOD DAY.

THANK YOU.

♪ IT'S THE FINAL COUNT DOWN ♪ >> Renee: ALL RIGHT.

THE FINAL COUNTDOWN IS ON, AND THAT IS IT FOR THE POLITICAL SPEAKING EVENT FOR FANCY FARM 141.

I'M RENEE SHAW, KET.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR SPENDING YOUR AFTERNOON OR A LITTLE BIT OF IT WITH US TODAY, AND IT WAS A QUICK LITTLE PROGRAM, QUICKER THAN USUAL IN MOST YEARS, AND MORGAN WATKINS WHO IS THE CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER FROM THE COURIER-JOURNAL IS HERE WITH US TO GIVE US HER TAKEAWAYS AND THINGS SHE'S GOING TO WRITE ABOUT OR PROBABLY ALL RIGHT WRITTEN ABOUT.

MORGAN, THANK YOU FOR GIVING US A FEW MINUTES OF YOUR TIME.

>> Morgan: THAWING.

DEFINITELY MY FIRST FANCY FARM WAS IN 2016 WHICH WAS VERY ROWDY FOR A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

>> Renee: THAT'S A HIGH BAR.

>> Morgan: IT WAS, AND THIS IS A LAID-BACK EVENT ABOUT IT SEEMS PEOPLE WERE HAPPY TO HAVE THE SPEECHES BACK BE P. DEFINITELY EVEN THOUGH HE WAS HERE GOVERNOR BESHEAR CAME UP QUITE A BIT WHICH ISN'T SURPRISING SINCE HE'S THE MOST POWERFUL GM IN THE STATE.

>> Renee: DID YOU HEAR ANYTHING YOU DIDN'T EXPECT TO HEAR FOR JABBING GOVERNOR BESHEAR?

>> Morgan: NOT REALLY.

A COUPLE OF THEM FOCUSED PARTICULARLY ON HIM BEING SPECIFICALLY SKIPPING AN EVENT IN WEST KENTUCKY.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS A REALLY INTERESTING THING FOR THEM TO KIND OF HONE IN ON.

>> Renee: YOU KNOW, WE KIND OF HEARD THAT THEME THROUGHOUT, THAT DEMOCRATS HAVE TURNED THEIR BACK ON WEST KENTUCKY.

WE HEARD IT EVEN MITCH McCONNELL IN A TWO-MINUTE SPEECH THAT HE PROVIDED TO US THAT WE AIRED DURING OUR 1:30 BLOCK THAT PRETTY MUCH SAID THE SAME THING, THAT DEMOCRATS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT LOUISVILLE BUT THEY'RE ABANDONING THE REST OF THE STATE, AND THAT WAS A RESONATING THEME THROUGHOUT THE SPEECHES TODAY.

>> Morgan: YEAH, DEFINITELY.

AND I THINK IT'S INTERESTING FOR THEM TO TAKE THAT SO IT'S NOT JUST CRITICIZING MISSING ONE POLITICAL TRADITION OR EVENT.

IT'S TYING IT MORE TO WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO COME TO A TOWN LIKE THIS IN THIS PART OF THE STATE.

>> Renee: BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT MATT BEVIN SKIPPED OUT TWO YEARS IN A ROW.

THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES I THINK DATING BACK TO 1996 WHERE THERE WERE NO REPUBLICANS HERE AT THE TIME BECAUSE DEMOCRATS WERE IN CONTROL, SO IT'S NOT LIKE THIS IS REALLY PRECEDENT SETTING.

>> Morgan: NO, BUT I THINK THE WHOLE SPIRIT OF FANCY FARM, ESPECIALLY THE POLITICAL PART, IS TO TAKE POT SHOTS AT YOUR OPPONENTS, SO IT'S AN EASY SHOT TO TAKE IF HE'S NOT HERE TO DING HIM FOR THE ABSENCE.

HE DID FAMOUSLY HATE HEYNS FARM SO IT'S NOT OUT OF THE FORM FOR SOMEONE TO SKIP.

>> Renee: HE THOUGHT THAT WAS A CHILDISH KIND OF EVENT BUT HE STILL WAS HERE A FEW TIMES.

THE CROWD -- WE TALKED ABOUT WITH THIS LAWRENCE SMITH WDRB AND SCOTT JENNINGS -- THE CROWD AND THE INTERACTION IS REALLY WHAT MAKES THIS WHAT IT IS, RIGHT, THAT CALL AND RESPONSE, AND NOT BEING THERE, IT JUST SEEMS LOOK A KIND OF GLORIFIED LEGISLATIVE HEARING OR SOMETHING.

I DON'T KNOW.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> Morgan: DEFINITELY VERY LAID BACK THIS YEAR.

I MEAN, I THINK PART OF IT IS JUST THAT IT'S AN OFF-YEAR.

THERE ARE NO ELECTIONS THIS YEAR SO YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE PEOPLE FIRED UP FOR, YOU KNOW, ELECTIONS THAT ARE MORE THAN A YEAR AWAY.

I I MEAN, A LOT OF TIMES WHEN YOU TALK TO POLITICIANS, THEY'RE LIKE, ANYTHING YOU DO A LOT OF TIMES IT'S NOT UNTIL A COUPLE MONTHS BEFORE AN ELECTION THAT PEOPLE REALLY START TO PAY ATTENTION.

YEAH, TRAS IT WAS INTERESTING.

IP INTERVIEWED DIFFERENT PEOPLE, WANDERING AROUND AND I WAS SURPRISED AT THE PEOPLE WHO SAID I DON'T REALLY COME HERE FOR THE POLITICS ANYWAY.

THE SPEECHES ARE NICE BUT I COME FOR THE BARBECUE AND THE RAFFLE AND THE COMMUNITY AND TALKING TO PEOPLE.

>> Renee: AND THE LOCALS, TOO, PROBABLY TAKE STOCK IN THE FACT THAT THIS IS A FAMILY REUNION OF SORTS AND THEY GET TO SEE EACH OTHER.

IT'S A HOMECOMING AND THEY GET A CHANCE TO RAFFLE AND IT'S TO BENEFIT ST. JEROME CATHOLIC CHURCH.

I DO WANT TO JUST HOYT A COUPLE OF THINGS.

THERE WAS AN EVENT LAST NIGHT THE MARSHALL COUNTY REPUBLICAN DINNER AND KELLY CRAFT WAS THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER THERE BUT SHE IS NOT HERE TODAY.

SHE MAYBE BEHIND THE.

WHAT DID YOU TAKE AWAY FROM WHERE SHE SEEMS TO STAND RIGHT NOW?

WHAT'S HER POSTURE AS IT COMES TO ENTERING THE 20 THE END ZONE GOVERNORS' RACE?

>> Morgan: I SPOKE WITH HER AND ANOTHER REPORTER AND I SPOKE WITH HER AFTER THE DINNER LAST NIGHT, AND BASICALLY SHE SAID, ON THE RECORD, SHE'S SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING A RUN FOR GOVERNOR BUT SHE POINTED OUT THAT YOU'RE STILL MORE THAN A YEAR OUT FROM WHEN YOU CAN LIKE OFFICIALLY BECOME A CANDIDATE IN TERMS OF FILING CERTAIN PAPERWORK FOR OR WHATEVER.

SHE DEFINITELY SAID, I'M SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING IT.

AND IT IS TWO YEARS AWAY.

WHILE OUR AUDITOR MIKE HARMON JUMPED IN EARLY, ITS SEEMS LIKE SHE'S DEFINITELY THINKING ABOUT IT BUT ISN'T IN A RUSH TO ANNOUNCE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

>> Renee: AND SHE'S GOT A HUGE FUNDRAISING ADVANTAGE, SO WHEREAS MIKE HARMON MIGHT NEED MORE TIME, THAT'S THE BENEFIT OF COMING OUT THIS EARLY, IS FOR FUNDRAISING.

>> HOSSEIM: >> Morgan: OH, YEAH, THERE'S TOTALLY VALID STRATEGIES TO GETTING IN THERE AREA AND PLANTING A FLAG AND SAYING, HEY, I'M IN.

E HE EVEN MENTIONED IN HIS FANCY FARM SPEECH AND IS A GOOD NOD TO THE FACT THAT, HEY, THERE'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES UP HERE THAT YUM?

TOO.

>> Renee: YOU LOOK AT THE ROSTER.

-- AND YOU LOOK AT RYAN QUARLES.

THE AG COMMISSIONER.

I GOT A CHANCE TO SPEAK TO HIM OFF-CAMERA.

WILL YOU ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE A DISANNOUNCEMENT?

I DON'T WANT TO DISAPPOINTMENT.

HE DID SAY KEV DESERVES A NEW GOV BUT SHE SHOULD CONCENTRATE TO '22, SO WHAT YOU DO YOU READ INTO THAT.

>> Morgan: I MEAN, IT SEEMS LIKE HE HASN'T SHUT DOWN THE OPTION, RIGHT?

>> Renee: YEAH.

>> Morgan: IT SEEMS LIKE THAT'S SOMETHING YOU'RE HEARING FROM A LOT OF THEM, LIKE A LOT OF THE FOLKS THAT TALKED TODAY, THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT ON THE FORGET ABOUT 2022.

EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A KENTUCKY EVENT, AND MAYBE THIS IS JUST BECAUSE I WENT TO THE 2016 ONE, PUT ITS DEFINITELY SEEMS LIKE NATIONAL POLITICS COLORS IT ALL, SO TODAY AT LEAST I HEARD A LOT MORE ABOUT KIND OF WANTING TO FLIP TUESDAY HOUSE, WHICH REPRESENTATIVE COMER TALKED ABOUT, AND PEOPLE SAYING, LOOK, WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE WE GET RAND PAUL ELECTED IN 202, THE, SO IT SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE CLEARLY SAYING WE NEED TO GET BESHEAR OUT BUT STATEMENT THEY'RE NOT READY TO SAY, YEAH, I'M IN FOR 2023.

IT'S STILL SO FAR OUT.

>> Renee: I KNOW YOU DO THIS.

YOU LOOK TO SEE WHO'S ON THE STAGE BUT NOT SPEAKING AND WHO IS MILLING THE GROUNDS BUT NOT SPEAKING.

YOU KNOW, MAX WISE'S NAME CAME.

HE IS THE SENATOR FROM CAMPBELLSVILLE FORMER FBI AGENT.

HE CHAIRS THE SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE.

I DON'T REMEMBER WHICH CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICER MENTIONED HIM BUT IT MADE ME THINK, OKAY, WHAT HAS MAX-WISE GOT HIS EYES ON HERE?

>> Morgan: WE'LL FIND OUT.

THERE WAS A SHUTOUT, I WANT TO SAY IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY THAT HIS NAME GOT SHOUTED OUT IN THE SAME BREATH PASS KELLY CRAFT SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS INTERESTING.

>> Renee: THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

IT'S LIKE, OKAY, WHICH ONE IS HE OR THEY -- OF COURSE YOU TONIGHT ON THE HAVE TO NAME A TICKET LIKE YOU USED TO HAVE TO.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE THE PAIRING WHEN WE FINAL GET TO THAT POINT.

DO YOU HAVE ANY INTEL ON THE DOWN TICKET?

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS ABOUT HOE YOU THINK MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN SOMETHING LIKE STATE TREASURER?

BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE ARE TERM-LIMITED SO THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME OPEN OPPORTUNITIES HERE.

>> Morgan: NOT AT THE MOMENT.

I'LL LET YOU KNOW ONCE I DO BUT IT SEEMS LIKE EL WA JUST TO HAVE WAIT AND SEE.

THEY'RE ALL HOT OFF OF SUCCESSFUL ELECTIONS IN 2019, SO I THINK WE'VE STILL GOT SOME TIME.

AND I THINK MAYBE IN PART BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC AND HOW IT WAS CAUSING 2020 AND THE ELECTIONS OF 2020 WERE THAT THE VIBE I'VE GOTTEN HERE IS MAYBE EACH FOR FANCY FARM PEOPLE ARE A LITTLE PUNTER BURNT OUT POLITICALLY.

HEY, IT'S OUR OFF YEAR.

WE CAN KIND OF RELAX.

>> Renee: AND EAT BARBECUE AND STOP HAVING TO ANSWER SO MANY QUESTIONS FROM NAGGING REPORTERS.

SO TRUE.

SO WHAT'S YOUR STORY?

WHAT'S GOING TO BE WHAT YOU REALLY WRITE ABOUT AS LIKE, OKAY, THIS IS WHAT EP IT ADVERTISEES OR THIS WAS THE ESSENCE OF FANCY FARM PICNIC NUMBER 141?

>> Morgan: I'VE ALREADY GOT A STORY WITHOUT THE EARLY TOWER FOR THE JOURNAL.

KIND OF WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT, HOW IT'S A PRETTY LAID BACK AFFAIR, WHETHER THAT'S JUST BECAUSE, I'M SURE PART OF IT HAS TO BE BECAUSE OF THE CORONAVIRUS BEING IN A ENCOURAGE WITH THE DEALT VARIANT.

MAYBE THAT'S WHY FOLKS DIDN'T COME OUT.

JUST THE FACT THAT IT WAS A LAID-BACK VIBE AND A LOT OF PEOPLE SEEMING TO BE HAPPY TO COME OUT, PLAY SO MANY BINGO, EAT SOME BARBECUE, AND ALSO THE FACT THAT YOU DID HAVE THE GRAVES COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT OUT HERE OFFERING VACCINES TO PEOPLE.

THEY SAID -- OR EARLY THIS AFTERNOON WHEN I TALKED TO THEM, THEY SAID THEY GOT A FEW PEOPLE WHO CALM IN TO GET VACCINATED.

I THINK IN TERMS OF SPEECHES IS ABOUT THE THE FACT THIS IAN THOUGH BESHEAR WASN'T HERE, HIS NAME DID COME UP QUITE A BIT.

HE'S CLEARLY THE MAN TO BEAT FOR KENTUCKY REPUBLICANS WHEN 2023 COMES AROUND BECAUSE HE IS THE TOP DEMOCRAT IN TERMS OF A STATEWIDE RACE AND THE FACT THAT SOME OF HIS FELLOW CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICER FOLKS, THEY DIDN'T MISS A CHANCE TO ZING HIM AT THIS EVENT.

>> Renee: BUT THEY COULD HAVE GONE HARDER.

>> Morgan: DEFINITELY.

I THINK I WAS EXPECTING THAT.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE.

AND IT WASN'T AS INTENSE.

IT WAS LIKE YOU HEARD SOME FOLKS WHO REALLY KIND OF MENTIONED -- EITHER CRACKED JOKES AT HIS EXPENSE OR SAID, YEAH, WE'VE GOT DO GET HIM OUT, BUT IT WAS INTERESTING ITS SEEMED THEY WERE REALLY TALKING ABOUT MORE THE PARTY AS A WHOLE, LIKE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP OUR EYES ON '22 AND TURN OUT WELL IN '22 TO HELP WITH THE STATE LEGISLATIVE RACES AND RAND PAUL'S RACE AND NIPPING THE HOUSE SO THAT COMER CAN BECOME CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE IT.

DID SEEM LIKE A PARTY UNITY EVENT WHICH ISN'T SURPRISING WITH ALL OF THEM ON STAGE.

>> Renee: AND SO CONGRESSMAN COMER HAS SOLIDIFIED WHERE HE STANDS.

THERE HAS SO MUCH TALK ABOUT HIM AS BEING A GUBERNATORIAL CONTENDER BUT HE'S PUT THAT ASIDE.

HE'S GOT HIS EYES ON THAT CHAIRMANSHIP.

>> Morgan: THAT'S WHAT HE SAYS.

THE INTERVIEW HE GAVE THIS WEEK AND SIMILAR TO THE PAST, HE SAID RIGHT NOW HIS FOCUS IS ON WINNING BACK THE HOUSE, GETTING NANCY PELOSI OUT OF THE HOUSE SPEAKERSHIP, BECOMING CHAIRMAN OF A VERY POWERFUL HOUSE COMMITTEE WHICH HE'S ONE STEP AWAY FROM.

AS FAR AS I KNOW HE HASN'T TOTALLY RULED OUT THE POSSIBILITY BUT BASICALLY HE'S LIKE, YEAH, I'VE GOT HARRISON VISION ON '22.

>> Renee: FINAL THING.

WE KNOW THERE WAS SOME TWITTER PIECES THAT WERE FLOATING AROUND FROM THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF KENTUCKY THAT SHOWED GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR AT AN EVENT I BELIEVE IN FRANKFORT, MAYBE A FARMERS MARKET, AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME HAY MADE ABOUT THE FACT THAT HE WAS NOT HERE BUT HE WAS STILL IN PUBLIC SOCIALIZING AT AN EVENT WHERE THERE WERE LOTS OF PEOPLE, AND SO HOW DO YOU THINK THAT'S GOING TO PLAY DOUR ANTICIPATE THERE BEING ANY FALLOUT FURTHER THAN WHAT WE'VE ALREADY SOUTHEASTERN HIS ABSENCE HERE BUT MAYBE BEING INVOLVED IN OTHER ACTIVITIES AWAY FROM HERE?

>> Morgan: IT CERTAINLY GIVES THEM ONE MORE THING TO DING HIM ON, RIGHT?

ONE OF HIS REASONS FOR NOT COMING WAS HE SAID HE WANTED TO SPEND TIME WITH HIS FAMILY, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY FINE, BUT I'M SURE HIM SHOWING UP AT A PUBLIC EVENT, PEOPLE CLEARLY POINTED IT OUT, RIGHT?

>> Renee: YEAH.

>> Morgan: PART OF THAT BROADER NARRATIVE.

>> Renee: IT'S SO INTERESTING WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BEING AN OFF YEAR, WE CAN'T GET THERE FAST ENOUGH.

WE'RE ALREADY AT '22 AND AT '23 AND HE'S JUST HOW KENTUCKY POLITICS GOES.

WE LOVE OUR BOURBON AND OUR HORSES AND OUR POLITICS AND BASKETBALL.

>> Morgan: ALWAYS BASKETBALL.

>> Renee: WE WON'T RANK THOSE IN ANY KIND OF ORDER.

MORGAN WATKINS, THANK YOU FORE GIVING US SOME OF YOUR TIME.

I KNOW YOUR BUSY TRYING TO GET THAT INK OUT AND WE APPRECIATE YOU GIVING US A LITTLE BIT OF YOUR TIME TODAY.

>> Morgan: GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> Renee: THANK YOU AT HOME FOR SPENDING SOME OF YOUR AFTERNOON WITH KET AS WE PRESENT YOU THE POLITICAL SPEAKING EVENT FROM FANCY FARM 141.

YOU CAN THUNE IN MONDAY NIGHT AT 8 EASTERN 7 CENTRAL FOR A RECAP, A HIGHLIGHTS REEL, IF YOU WILL, OF THE BIG ONE-LINERS AND ZINGERS THAT HAPPENED HERE AND SOME ANALYSIS AS WELL, AND WE'LL SHOW YOU SOME OF THE CROWD AND SOME OF THE OTHER ACTIONS THAT HAPPENED HERE AT FANCY FARM.

I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A BIG SHUTOUT TO THE EMCEE WHICH I DIDN'T GET TO HAVE THIS EARLIER.

BOB BABBAGE IS A FAN AND I THANK HIM FOR SAYING SOMETHING VERY KIND ABOUT ME EARLIER.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BOB BABBAGE.

OUR THANKS TO THE ORGANIZER STEVE ELDER WHO HAS TAKEN THE HELM AND LONGTIME EVENT CHAIRMAN MR. MARK WILSON.

THANK YOU ALL FOR WORKING WITH KET TO BRING THIS EVENT ACROSS THE STATE TO YOU AT HOME.

TUNE MONDAY NIGHT AND MAKE SURE YOU WATCH "KENTUCKY TONIGHT" OFTEN, "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY."

YOU'LL SEE MORGAN ON THERE OCCASIONAL AS WELL.

IF IT'S ABOUT POLITICS AND THE IGS ISSUES THAT MATTER TO YOU, KET IS THERE.

THE TAKE REALLY GOOD CARE AND I'LL SEE YOU REAL SOON.

GOODBYE.