>> SPEAKER RICHARDS WARMING TOWARDS CASINO, ORGANIZING STUDIES COMMITTEE, EDUCATION BOARD COOLS TO GOOFY SELECT BESHEAR, ORGANIZES TO SOON NAME COMMISSIONER, REPRESENTATIVE GOOCH SCOFFS AT CLAIMS OF GLOBAL WARMING, ORGANIZING OPPOSITIONS TO SCIENTISTS, THIS ON THE EXPANDED ONE HOUR EDITION OF "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY" MY LAST SHOW WITH 340 FRIENDS AND A FEW SOREHEADS, MOST OF WHOM ARE A LIVE AUDIENCE CELEBRATING 33 YEARS OF "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY" >> OUR GUESTS FOR THE FIRST HALF OF THE SHOW ARE AL CROSS, DIRECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY'S INSTITUTE FOR RURAL JOURNALISM AND COMMUNITY ISSUES, JAMIE LUCKE EDITORIAL WRITER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER, MARK HEBERT, STATE CAPITOL REPORTER FOR WHAS TV, AND JOHN DAVID DYCHE, POLITICAL COMMENTATOR FOR THE COURIER-JOURNAL.

THE REASON YOU ARE GETTING ALL THE APPLAUSE FROM THIS ROOM OF POLITICAL PEOPLE, THEY DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE MY TAKE MY PLACE AND THEY MAY AS WELL GET ALONG WITH ALL OF THEM FOR A WHILE, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND WE ARE SO GLAD TO SEE SO MANY FRIENDS, DIDN'T KNOW I HAD THIS MANY HERE AT KET THIS EVENING, A FEW YEARS AFTER WE DID THE FIRST SHOW IN 1974, THE FIRST "COMMENT" WITH FEDERAL JUDGE WINFORD, I WAS SO NERVOUS, IT WAS GOING TO BE AN INTERVIEW, HAD NEVER MET A FEDERAL JUDGE BEFORE, AND I LOCKED MYSELF OUT OF MY CAR AND HAD TO CALL THE FORD DEALER BACK IN RUSSELLVILLE TO GET A CUT NUMBER AND SOMEBODY CAME OUT AND UNLOCKED THE CAR SO I COULD DO THE SHOW.

WE SAT THERE LIKE TWO CORKED BOTTLES, BOBBING BACK AND FORTH IN A ROCKING CHAIR.

THAT WAS THE FIRST "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY" AND SOMEWHERE SINCE THEN, NOBODY HAS EVER CLAIMED WE WERE ORGANIZED, BUT WE BEGAN TO FOCUS THE SHOW AS KIND OF A WRITERS SHOW, A REPORTERS SHOW.

AND I USED TO SAY WE'VE GOT FOUR GOVERNORS HERE INCLUDING THE NEW GOVERNOR-ELECT, THE OTHER THREE TOLD GOVERNOR-ELECT BESHEAR MAYBE HE IS THE ONLY ONE THAT COUNTS, BUT THE OTHER THREE DO COUNT, THEY ALL CONTRIBUTED A GOOD DEAL WITH THE COMMONWEALTH IN THEIR TIME.

IT IS GREAT TO SEE GOVERNOR BROWN HERE AND GOVERNOR PATTON HERE AND GOVERNOR JONES HERE WITH GOVERNOR-ELECT BESHEAR AND MRS. BESHEAR, THE INCOMING FIRST LADY.

(APPLAUSE) >> A FEW PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING ON THE INAUGURATION WHICH WILL BE WHEN?

>> I AM NOT A WORKING REPORTER ANYMORE.

>> DECEMBER 11TH.

>> AT LEAST TWO MEMBERS OF THE HOST INAUGURAL COMMITTEE ARE HERE, TRACY FARMER AND HIS WIFE, CAROL.

DOES TRACY DANCE?

WHATEVER, THEY ARE HERE, HARD-WORKING PEOPLE.

AND SOME OTHER PEOPLE WHO FIGURED IN THE RECENT ELECTION, INCLUDING THE STATE AUDITOR, REELECTED, MISS CRIT LUELLEN, AND PROBABLY A FEW PEOPLE I LEFT OUT.

>> EVERYBODY HERE IS A MEMBER OF THE TRANSITION TEAM.

>> THEY HAD TO COME, IS THAT THE IDEA?

>> AND DR. MONGIARDO IS HE DELIVERING BABIES?

>> LET'S HOPE NOT, IS HE AN EAR, NOSE AND THROAT SPECIALIST.

>> THE DO HAVE-ELECT HAD A BUSY WEEK.

IT BEGAN WITH SOME MORE APPOINTMENTS.

AND I BELIEVE MR. CROSS IS OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER WHO THE NEW TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY WAS WHEN HE WAS THE HIGHWAY -- NO, WHEN HE WAS THE MAJORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE.

>> HE WAS PRESIDENT PRO TEM, JOE PRATHER, HE WILL BE THE NEW SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION, COMING OF SOMETHING OF A SURPRISE TO SOME PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY PROBABLY PRESUMED JOE'S POLITICAL CAREER WAS OVER.

>> I NEVER DID.

>> AND THERE HAVE BEEN SOME PROBLEMS IN THE TRANSPORTATION CABINET.

AND I THINK THERE IS GENERAL AGREEMENT A NEW BROOM NEEDS TO SWEEP CLEAN OVER THERE.

AND HERE YOU HAVE WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD IDENTIFY AS SOMEBODY FROM THE GOLD OLE BOYS SYSTEM BEING THE TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY.

MY TAKE ON THAT, JOE PHATHER IS AN HONEST MAN.

AND HE ALSO KNOWS HOW TO PLAY GOOD OLE BOY POLITICS WHEN YOU HAVE TO, MAYBE THE CHANGES WILL GO DOWN EASIER.

I AM PERSONALLY GRADE TO SEE HIM HAVE ONE MORE CHANCE ON THE PUBLIC STAGE AS HIS FINAL ACT SO IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE LOSING TO RON LEWIS.

>> NOBODY SHOULD BE REMEMBERED FOR MORPHING INTO BILL CLINTON.

>> I HOPE HE BUILDS A STATE-OWNED ASPHALT PLANT.

>> THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> DO YOU THINK LAWSON WOULD LET GOVERNOR BESHEAR -- HOW DOES THAT GO?

>> YOU HAD IT RIGHT.

>> WOULD HE SUPPORT THAT OR WOULD HE BE ON THE PHONE?

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BUILD A GOVERNMENT-OWNED AS SFAULT PLANT, ARE YOU?

BY THE WAY, YOU SHOULD NOTE THAT WITH US, MR. PRATHER BACK IN OFFICE, YOU ALSO SORT OF HAVE AN ECHO OF A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HIM AND LARRY HAYES.

>> YES, LARRY WILL BE SECRETARY OF THE CABINET, THE JOB HE HELD PRIOR.

>> AS BESHEAR GOES ALONG WITH MORE APPOINTMENTS, WILL WE JUST BE LOOKING AT THE MIRROR AT THE COLLINS ADMINISTRATION OR AT LEAST THOSE YEARS BECAUSE SO FAR THAT IS WHAT WE'VE SEEN WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE CHIEF OF STAFF, WE REALLY DON'T KNOW, IT IS KIND OF AN UNKNOWN ITEM RIGHT NOW.

HE WAS A POLITICAL GUY, HANDLING CAMPAIGNS, THE SO OUTSIDE OF HIM WE ARE LOOKING AT OLD FACES IN THE BESHEAR CAMP.

>> BUT ALSO LOOKING AT SOME INTERESTING FACES, WHILE THEY MAY NOT BE NEW, THEY ARE GOOD, SOLID APPOINTMENTS I THINK PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE WOULD AGREE ON AND I WOULD NAME MARY LASSITER AND ELLEN HESSEN, I THINK EVERYBODY WOULD REGARD THEM AS REALLY SOLID.

>> IN 33 YEARS OF DOING "COMMENT" WE'VE NEVER HAD ANY APPLAUSE BEFORE.

EVERYBODY IS ON GOOD BEHAVIOR.

I WOULD NOTE TO GOVERNOR BESHEAR THAT MR. HEBERT CLEANED UP HIS LANGUAGE TOO SINCE DESCRIBING SOME OF YOUR NEW YOU APPOINTEES AS "HACKS" >> I NEVER SAID THAT.

>> HE DENIES IT.

>> NOW THE TRANSITION TEAM, WE DON'T WANT TO SAY ALL 204 OF THEM -- >> THAT'S ALL YOU HAVE TO KNOW, THE NUMBER.

>> DID THEY FIRE REPUBLICANS?

>> THERE ARE SOME REPUBLICANS ON IT.

YOU HAVE SOME OF THESE TEAMS, IN EACH CABINET I THINK THERE ARE A DOZEN OR MORE TRANSITION MEMBERS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY WILL DO.

I THINK IT IS MORE OF A CEREMONY TO SHOW STEVE BESHEAR HAS WIDE-RANKING SUPPORT THAN A PRAGMATIC MATTER.

>> SOME PEOPLE WILL BE DOING THAT.

>> IT GIVES THE NEW GOVERNOR EYES ALL OVER STATE GOVERNMENT, KIND OF A QUICK COURSE IN WHAT'S GOING ON THERE, I THINK.

>> SO THAT IS THE POSITIVE SIDE.

I DIDN'T SEE ANYBODY THAT HAD A BAD RECORD, THE LIST WAS IN THE PAPER.

>> WITH THE EXCEPTION OF LACEY SMITH WHO HAD LEGAL PROBLEMS BUT CAME THROUGH THEM WITHOUT BEING SCARRED UP.

>> IN THIS WORLD, THAT ISN'T EXACTLY AN INDICTMENT.

>> HE DID HAVE AN INDICTMENT BUT HE WASN'T CONVICTED.

>> ALL RIGHT.

NOW THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, TELL US WHY THEY NEVER SEEM TO HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE MAJORITY BY WHICH BESHEAR WON THE ELECTION THAT NIGHT?

>> ORDINARILY WE WOULD WANT TO PRESERVE THAT INSULATION FROM POLITICS AND THE SELECTION OF THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION BUT THIS WAS SORT OF AN EXTRAORDINARY SITUATION.

AND GOVERNOR-ELECT BESHEAR ASKED THEM TO DELAY THE SELECTION AND TO EXPAND THE SEARCH.

AND HE HAD A LOT OF SUPPORT IN THAT REQUEST FROM THE EDUCATION COMMUNITY.

BUT THIS IS THEIR SECOND SEARCH, THE FIRST ONE FAILED PRETTY BADLY.

AND I GUESS MAYBE THEY FELT SOME OBLIGATION TO THE CANDIDATES WHO WERE BRAVE ENOUGH TO APPLY FOR THE JOB UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

AND THIS WEEK THEY IDENTIFIED FINALISTS, BUT THEY HAVE NOT REVEALED THE NAME OF THAT PERSON YET.

>> TO BE FAIR TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AFTER THE IRWIN FIASCO, EVERYBODY WHO CAME THERE SAID WE TRIED GOING OUTSIDE, IT DIDN'T WORK, THERE WAS A COLLAPSE, SO LET'S TRY TO FIND SOMEBODY FROM KENTUCKY.

I THINK ALL THE MAJOR EDUCATION GROUPS ARE SAYING WE HAVE PLENTY OF GOOD CANDIDATES WITH TIES TO KENTUCKY, LET'S FIND ONE OF THEM, SO THAT'S WHAT THEY DID.

IT WASN'T A GOOD NATIONAL SEARCH AND TO STEVE BESHEAR'S CREDIT, THE CANDIDATES MAY BE A LITTLE BETTER THAN THE FOUR WE HAVE, THEY ARE IN BETWEEN GOVERNORS, I DON'T KNOW WHO THE NEW GUY WILL BE, I PROBABLY WON'T APPLY FOR THE KENTUCKY JOB, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION BASICALLY WENT WITH WHAT THEY HAD AND THEY WERE ASKED TO FIND KENTUCKY CANDIDATES, THEY CAME UP WITH FOUR AND THEY SAY GOVERNOR, THIS ISN'T YOUR BALLGAME.

>> HISTORY WAS MADE THIS WEEK, THE FAMILY FOUNDATION AND THE PRITCHARD COMMITTEE AGREE THE GOVERNOR-ELECT WAS RIGHT AND THEY SHOULD HAVE A HONEST NATIONAL SEARCH, THEY SHOULD DELAY, BOTH OF THE LARGE PAPERS SAID THIS IN THE STATE.

I DON'T BELIEVE THE BOARD OF EDUCATION READS THE NEWSPAPERS OR LISTENS TO ANYBODY.

>> PRETTY ROUGH, AL.

>> THIS IS THE LAST SHOW.

>> BUT YOU HAD A DISCUSSION WITH ONE CANDIDATE, PERHAPS THE FAVORITE.

>> MR. WARFORD CALLED FROM FLORIDA AND HE SAID HE WANTED ME TO GIVE HIM A CHANCE, I AM A KENTUCKYIAN, GREW UP VERY POOR ON A FARM, AND I HAVE WORKED IN FLORIDA, I WALKED OUT OF JEB BUSH'S ADD MINE TRAX.

>> YOU DIDN'T NEED TO HEAR ANYTHING ELSE AFTER THAT.

>> HE SAID: GIVE ME A CHANCE.

HE GAVE ME AN IMPRESSIVE CONVERSATION ABOUT HIS CREDENTIALS.

HE RAN A SCHOOL DISTRICT, THIS THING AND THE OTHER THING.

AND AFTER I HUNG UP I CALLED SOMEBODY WHO SAID THEY TALKED IN FLORIDA AND SAID THE GUY IS PERSUASIVE BUT HE ALSO DOESN'T DO AS MUCH AS HE SAYS.

>> HE IS A WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY GRAD, AL, HE CAN'T BE ALL THAT BAD.

>> THIS IS KIND OF INTERESTING, THE LIBERAL PERSUASION OF KENTUCKY POLITICS, THE DO-GOODERS I BELONG TO, WE WANT TO INSULATE THIS BOARD FROM GOVERNOR POLITICS, SO WE DID.

APPOINTED BY GOVERNOR FLETCHER, THUMBING THEIR NOSE AT GOVERNOR BESHEAR.

SO WE WHO WANTED TO KEEP EVERYTHING NICE AND CLEAN, WHAT CAN WE SAY ABOUT IT EXCEPT THAT WE WISH THEY HAD LISTENED.

>> OR YOU ARE HYPOCRITES.

>> THE HERALD-LEADER ACTUALLY ASKED THEM ALL TO RESIGN.

WE HAVEN'T HEARD BACK FROM THEM.

>> MEANWHILE, UNLESS THEY CHANGE THEIR MIND THAT WILL REMIND THEM THERE ARE 650,000 SCHOOL KIDS AND 340,000 TEACHERS AND THERE IS SOME OBLIGATION TO THEM, BESIDES THEIR OWN EGO ABOUT THE BOTCHED SEARCH BEFORE, THERE ARE OTHER SEARCH COMMITTEES IN THE COUNTRY.

OKAY, GLOBAL WARMING.

IN THIS COAL-RICH STATE, WE HAVE IGNORED A LOT OF THINGS IN OUR PAST, AND WE CERTAINLY DIDN'T BELIEVE SMOKING WAS BAD FOR US, AND WE CERTAINLY DIDN'T THINK COAL WAS HARMFUL WHEN IT WAS PAYING THE RENT.

BUT NOW AS THE SCIENTISTS AT OUR RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES ARE TELLING US, YES, GLOBAL WARMING IS A FACT OF LIFE AND WE HAVE TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT IT.

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE AGRICULTURAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE TELL US ABOUT MR. GOOCH'S EFFORTS AT PERSUADING US THAT WE DON'T NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TOE GLOBAL WARMING THREATS.

>> HE IS A DEMOCRAT FROM PROVIDENCE, COAL TERRITORY, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE.

HE INVITED TWO GENTLEMEN WHO ARE NOT BELIEVERS IN GLOBAL WARMING OR AT LEAST DON'T BELIEVE IT IS CAUSED BY HUMANS, NOT SCIENTISTS EITHER, TO COME TO A COMMITTEE MEETING AND TALK ABOUT THEIR BELIEFS ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING BECAUSE CHAIRMAN GOOCH SAID THAT THE OTHER SIDE HAD BEEN SAID OUT THERE BY THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA, SAID IT WAS A DONE DEAL, AND AL GORE, BUT I GOT A COUPLE SOUNDBYTES, FROM GOOCH AND LORD MOMPTON WHO USED TO ADVISE MARGARET THATCHER.

>> WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT THE EARTH IS WARMING, BUT WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT ALL SCIENTISTS ARE TOTALLY IN AGREEMENT.

I THINK THAT IS WHAT YOU WILL HEAR TODAY, NOT ALL SCIENTISTS ARE TOTALLY IN AGREEMENT THAT HUMANS ARE TOTALLY RESPONSIBLE.

>> NATURE, NOT MANKIND CAUSED MEDIEVAL WARMING, THERE WAS NO DISASTER AS A RESULT, NATURE COULD THEREFORE BE CAUSING TODAY'S WARMING.

>> BRITISH COMEDIES ARE SOME OF MY FAVORITES.

(LAUGHTER) >> BASICALLY YES, THE EARTH IS WARMING A LITTLE BIT, BUT IT IS NOT CAUSED BY HUMAN THE, THAT IS WHAT HE SAID.

AFTER HIS PRESENTATION ABOUT HALF OF THE MEMBERS ON THE COMMITTEE APPLAUDED.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THIS POINTS OUT, AS WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST ON TOBACCO AND AUTOMOBILE EMISSIONS ISSUES BETWEEN THE KENTUCKY DEMOCRATS AND THE MORE LIBERAL NATIONAL DEMOCRATS, AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THERE ARE REPUBLICANS WHO WOULD URGE THEIR PARTY TO GET OUT AHEAD ON THESE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.

I THINK BOTH PARTIES UNDERESTIMATE THE RECEPTIVENESS TO A FORWARD-LOOKING ENVIRONMENTAL MESSAGE.

JONATHAN MILLER CAME THE CLOSEST TO PUTTING ONE OUT WHEN HE RAN FOR GOVERNOR, BUT I REALLY THINK THIS IS A POTENTIAL AREA FOR POLITICAL GAIN, WHOEVER HAS THE BOLDNESS AND COURAGE.

>> AMONG THE DEMOCRATS, WAY OUT THERE AT THE FAR RIGHT END.

>> BUT HE IS A COMMITTEE CHAIR.

>> DON'T YOU THINK IT IS MORE ECONOMIC, GOOCH IS FROM A COAL AREA, IF THEY SAY GLOBAL WARMING EXISTS, DON'T BURN COAL -- >> THE COAL INDUSTRY IS NOT BEING DONE FAVORS WHEN YOU HAVE SUCH A STUPID HEARING AS HELD BY GYPSIES GOOCH THIS WEEK.

>> TELL US WHAT YOU REALLY THINK.

>> GOOCH IS NOT A STUPID MAN BUT WHEN HE DOES THINGS LIKE THAT HE MAKES KENTUCKY LOOK STUPID.

>> WHAT KIND OF PROGRESSIVE ENERGY POLICY CAN A NEW GOVERNOR IN KENTUCKY PURSUE THAT WOULD BE SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE PARAMETERS OF DOABLE POLITICS BUT PROGRESSIVE IN TERMS OF RECOGNIZING ENVIRONMENTAL GLOBAL WARMING AS A SERIOUS ISSUE, RECOGNIZING THE ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF COAL?

>> ONE THING TO DO WOULD BE TO INCREASE THE SUPPORT AND THE FUNDING FOR RESEARCH ALREADY UNDER WAY AT THE RESEARCH CENTER INTO HOW TO MAKE COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS MORE EFFICIENT.

>> AND CARBON SEQUESTRATION.

>> PEOPLE ARE DOING THAT, BUT PEOPLE DON'T GET EXCITED ABOUT EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION.

>> THE PROBLEM WITH COAL, YOU BUSH IT, IT RELEASES CO2 INTO THE ATMOSPHERE AND TECHNOLOGY CAN KEEP IT UNDERGROUND, RESEARCH IS BEGINNING AT UK ON THAT, AND THE STATE OUGHT TO BE THE LEADER IN THE KIND OF RESEARCH LIKE THAT, WE ARE THE ONLY STATE WITH TWO DIFFERENT KINDS OF COAL FIELDS, ALL KINDS OF LIMESTONE AND SHALE STRATA THAT CAN TRAP THE CARBON AND THEY SHOULD GET TO FIGURE IT OUT.

>> MORE TO IT THAN GLOBAL WARMING, CLEAN AIR, CLEAN WATER, MOUNTAINTOP REMOVAL, LITTER, WHICH REMAINS A HUGE PROBLEM IN KENTUCKY.

>> A QUICK RUN THROUGH A COUPLE OTHER ISSUES, THE CASINO THING, SPEAKER JODY RICHARDS ORGANIZED A COMMITTEE IN THE HOUSE TO STUDY THE ISSUE OF CASINOS.

WHERE IS THAT GOING TO GO?

>> IT APPEARS TO ME, IT LOOKS LIKE JODY RICHARDS TRYING TO GET ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF STEVE BESHEAR IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO ME, GETTING OUT THERE BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE SESSION STARTS TO TRY TO COME UP WITH SOME STUDY, TASK FORCE REPORT ON WHAT KIND OF CASINOS WE SHOULD DO.

FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, A LOT OF STUDYING HAS BEEN DONE, AND I DON'T FRANKLY THINK THERE WILL BE A LOT COME OUT OF THE STUDY COMMITTEE THAT WE HAVEN'T ALREADY SEEN BEFORE.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE RACE COMING UP NEXT YEAR, THE SENATE RACE THAT SENATOR McCONNELL, NOW THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE U.S. SENATE WILL FACE BACK IN KENTUCKY AS HE SUPPORTS A PRESIDENT WHOSE POPULARITY CONTINUES TO DROP ACROSS THE UNITED STATES?

>> IT WILL ALMOST GET AS LOW AS CONGRESS'S POPULARITY RATING IF THE PRESIDENT ISN'T CAREFUL.

SENATOR McCONNELL DREW AN OPPONENT, DOCTOR NAMED MICHAEL CASSARO, A DOCTOR, ENGINEER AND LAWYER, COMBINING THE FORMAL TRAINING OF NOT JUST ERNIE FLETCHER, BUT ALL OUR LAST THREE GOVERNORS.

>> BUT IN THIS ROOM TONIGHT IS THE REELECTED STATE AUDITOR, CRIT LUELLEN AND OTHER PEOPLE HAVE INDICATED THEY WOULD BE INTERESTED IN NEXT YEAR'S SENATE RACE.

HOW DOES IT LOOK TO YOU?

>> GREG STUMBO, THE OUT-GOING ATTORNEY GENERAL IS TAKING A POLL, AND THINGS LOOK GOOD FOR HIM AND WE MAY HAVE A REPLAY BETWEEN THE FIGHT BETWEEN HIM AND LUELLEN ABOUT CONTROL OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATS CLEARLY FAVOR CRIT LUELLEN AS THEIR CANDIDATE AND SHE CAN ATTRACT A LOT OF MONEY FROM WOMEN'S GROUPS.

THERE IS WORD SHE HAS BEEN PROMISED AS MUCH AS TEN MILLION DOLLARS TO BE FUNNELED INTO THE RACE BY THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND ITS ASSOCIATED GROUPS.

I THINK SHE WOULD GIVE McCONNELL A PRETTY SHARP RACE.

BUT SO MUCH DEPENDS ON WHAT HAPPENS AROUND THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD BETWEEN NOW AND NEXT NOVEMBER.

>> TELL ME SOMETHING ABOUT THE REPUBLICAN FUTURE IN KENTUCKY, PENCE AND NORTHUP.

>> STEVE PENCE WAS SPOKEN ABOUT AS THE POTENTIAL CHAIRMAN FOR RUDDY GUILIANI, BUT TODAY ANN NORTHUP WAS NAMED AS THAT POSITION.

>> THE REPUBLICANS REELECTED THEIR CHAIRMAN, STEVE ROBERTSON.

NOW WE WILL SHOW YOU A FILM ABOUT RUSSELLVILLE, WHERE I WAS LIVING WHEN WE STARTED THIS SHOW IN 1974.

IT IS A LOOK BACK WITH SOME NOSTALGIA, THE STORY MAY REMIND YOU OF YOUR OWN SMALL TOWN BACKGROUNDS, I KNOW MANY OF YOU CAME FROM COMMUNITIES LIKE RUSSELLVILLE, AN WHEN WE COME BACK FOR THE SECOND HALF-HOUR, THERE WILL BE ANOTHER PANEL OF JOURNALISTS WITH US TO SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS.

I THANK THIS PANEL FOR BEING WITH US.

LET'S ROLL THE TAPE ABOUT RUSSELLVILLE.

>> I HAVEN'T LIVED IN RUSSELLVILLE IN 27 YEARS, SO AS I TRAVEL THE FOUR-LANE IMPROVED HIGHWAY 68 I WAS REMINDED OF HOW FAR LOGAN COUNTY HAD COME.

WHEN I GOT OFF THE BUS IN 195, SLIGHTLY NUNGOVER, IT WAS A DIFFERENT PLACE AND I WAS A DIFFERENT PERSON.

ON A OVERCAST DAY IN OCTOBER RECENTLY I REVISITED MY ROOTS, THINKING ABOUT THE DAYS OF OLD AND MEETING NEW FRIENDS CARRYING ON THE WORK I ONCE DID IN THAT NEWSPAPER OFFICE ON THE PUBLIC SQUARE DOWNTOWN.

>> I HAVE BEEN RUN OUT OF NEW ORLEANS, I WAS A DRUNK, AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW IT BUT THEY HIRED ME BECAUSE THEY WERE DESPERATE FOR AN EDITOR, LIKE IN YOUR CASE.

SUDDENLY, I HAD AN EPIPHONY, WHY AM I RUNNING AWAY FROM THESE FOLKS, THEY TOOK ME WHEN NOBODY ELSE WOULD HIRE ME.

INSTEAD OF LEAVING I BOUGHT THE DAMN PAPER AND STAYED 20 MORE YEARS, BUT THAT'S ANOTHER STORY.

THE NEWS DEMOCRAT LEADER IS ONE OF THE OLDEST WEEKLY PAPERS IN KENTUCKY, PART OF MY PAST AND I GUESS MY LEGACY.

AS I LOOK AROUND, SOME THINGS HAVE CHANGED, BUT THERE REMAINS SOME OLD FIXTURES OF HOW THINGS USED TO BE.

YOU WRITE A STORY, AND THEN YOU PICK UP THE STORY, AND YOU PUT IT RIGHT HERE IN THIS DUMBWAITER AND SEND IT RIGHT UP TO THE COMPOSING ROOM.

IT TOOK 12 YEARS TO TURN THE PAPER INTO HEADQUARTERS FOR A TWO-STATE COMPANY AND THAT IS WHEN I BOUGHT THE LONDON KENTUCKY PAPER, THE STATE'S LARGEST WEEKLY.

BY THAT TIME WE HAD PAPERS IN THREE OTHER PLACES IN KENTUCKY AND ONE LOCATION IN TENNESSEE, ALL PRINTED IN THE RUSSELLVILLE OFFICE.

WE ARE AN EARLY MINI MEDIA MCDONALD'S AND MY FRIEND, BOB JOHNSON AT THE COURIER-JOURNAL SAID I HAD BECOME A MIDGET MEDIA MOGUL.

RECENTLY I GET UP WITH MY FRIEND DON NEAGLE E ONE OF THE MOST TRUSTED PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY.

HE DOES A LIVE FEEDBACK SHOW ON THE LOCALLY OWNED STATION OF WHICH HE IS ONE OF THE OWNERS, A MIXTURE OF TOPICS AND VIEWS AND PEOPLE THAT INCLUDE SOME NATIONAL FIGURES.

>> DON'T FORGET, THIS IS THURSDAY AND IT IS THE DAY FOR LOCAL HISTORY.

>> DON, WE CAME TO LOGAN COUNTY ABOUT THE SAME TIME.

>> I CAME FROM BOWLING GREEN.

I HAD PREVIOUSLY HAD A BRIEF STINT IN HIGHER EDUCATION, BUT I GOT SICK AND GOT MARRIED AND WAS DOING EXTREMELY WELL IN SOME COURSES, AND NOT OTHERS.

I UNDERSTOOD THAT SOMEBODY WAS NEEDED AT WRUS IN RUSSELLVILLE AND I THOUGHT I WOULD COME DOWN HERE UNTIL I FIGURED OUT WHAT I WANTED TO DO, AND I NEVER GREW UP SO I STAYED.

>> HERE WE ARE, A COUPLE COLLEGE DROP-OUTS 50 YEARS LATER, I AM IN THE BLUEGRASS AND YOU ARE ONE OF THE OWNERS OF THE STATION WRUS.

TELL THE FOLKS HOW WE COVERED THE NEWS.

>> WE WOULD SWAP IT OUT.

I MIGHT GO TO FISCAL COURT, YOU MIGHT GO TO CITY COUNCIL.

WE NEVER HAD AN OVERWHELMING ABUNDANCE OF REPORTERS.

SO I WOULD COVER ONE, YOU WOULD COVER THE OTHER AND WE WOULD MEET BACK SOMEWHERE AND SWAP NOTES AND MAYBE MRS. EVANS, YOUR BOSS, WOULDN'T KNOW HOW WE WERE COOPERATING AND MAYBE MY BOSS WOULDN'T KNOW EITHER.

>> WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE POLITICS DOWN HERE?

>> WELL, THERE IS NO POLITICAL ORGANIZATION OR MACHINE, AS SUCH.

>> IS THAT A GOOD OR BAD THING?

>> I WONDER ABOUT THAT.

I HAVE SORT OF BLOWN HOT AND COLD ON THAT.

I GUESS OVERALL IT IS PROBABLY A GOOD THING, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT A LOT MORE GOT DONE WHEN YOU HAD A STRONG POLITICAL ORGANIZATION.

WHEN I CAME TO LOGAN COUNTY, THE YEAR OF THE FAMOUS STUBBLEFIELD ALLEGATION ELECTION OF STOLEN BALLOTS, AND TODAY I THINK WE HAVE AS CLEAN AND HONEST ELECTIONS HERE AS YOU WILL FIND ANYWHERE.

>> BUT THEY ARE NOT AS INTERESTING.

I LIKE THE ONES THEY STOLE.

WHEN I WAS IN RUSSELLVILLE WE FOUGHT OVER SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION.

WHEN THAT ISSUE WAS SETTLED WE CRUSADED FOR BETTER HOSPITALS.

HAD WHEN SCHOOLS CONSOLIDATED I HAD LEFT FOR WASHINGTON, BUT SHORTLY AFTER WHEN THE NEW SCHOOL BASKETBALL TEAM WON A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP, I WROTE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR AND SAID: I TOLD YOU SO.

THE PHYSICAL LANDSCAPE ALSO HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY, AND OBSERVATION BILL FUQUA MADE, THE CIRCUIT JUDGE HERE FOR 25 YEARS AND LATER A JUSTICE ON THE SUPREME COURT, BUT I WON'T TELL WHO LOBBIED FOR HIM UNTIL I GET OFF KET.

>> I HAVE SEEN RUSSELLVILLE TRY AND BE TRANSFORMED FROM AN AGRICULTURAL-BASED COMMUNITY, PRACTICALLY COMPLETELY, NO AN INDUSTRIAL AND AGRICULTURE BASE ALMOST 50/50 I WOULD SAY.

WE ARE VERY PROUD OF OUR INDUSTRIAL BASE WHICH HAS SURVIVED REAL WELL, EVEN DURING THESE TIMES WHEN JOBS ARE BEING EXPORTED.

>> THE ROADS WE CAME DOWN HERE ON TO PAY THIS SENTIMENTAL VISIT BACK TO THE ROOTS OF "COMMENT" IT IS A FOUR-LANE HIGHWAY AND MY WIFE SAID THEY SHOULD NAME IS THE FUQUA PARKWAY FOR ALL THE WORK YOU AND YOUR DAD DID LOBBYING FOR BETTER ROADS, OF COURSE YOU HAD SELF-INTEREST, HAD A BUS LINE AND WANTED TO GO OVER BETTER HIGHWAYS.

>> WE REALLY FOUGHT FOR IT FOR SO MANY YEARS THAT HAD ALLOWED THE US, WE FINALLY GOT THAT IN ABOUT 1995 OR SO WHEN THE BIG BOND ISSUE WAS PASSED AND I THINK WALLACE WILKINSON AT THE END OF HIS TERM, AND WE GOT THE HIGHWAY.

BUT THERE IS ANOTHER PROBLEM PEOPLE DO NOT MENTION VERY MUCH WHICH MAY MEAN MORE THAN THE HIGHWAY, AND THAT IS THAT WE HAVE SOLVED OUR WATER PROBLEM FOREVER.

AND ALL MY LIFE GROWING UP, WE HAD WATER RATIONING EVERY SUMMER.

THAT WAS THE BIG THING, ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT KEPT US FROM HAVING OUR EFFORTS GO FORWARD FOR INDUSTRIALIZATION.

WE HAD REACHED THE END OF THAT IF WE DIDN'T GET WATER.

AND NOW WE HAVE A 36-INCH WATERLINE RUNNING DOWN THE RAILROAD ALL THE WAY TO LAKE CUMBERLAND, AND WE HAVE A TREATMENT PLANT IN GUTHRIE TREATING SEVERAL MILLION GALLONS, AND THAT IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THAT HIGHWAY YOU CAME IN ON.

>> WHILE WATER, AS FUQUA, PUTS IT, MAY BE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS BLACKTOP, EDUCATION NEEDS RIFLE THEM BOTH, THERE WAS NEVER A SCHOOL TAX OR A FIGHT OVER SCHOOLS THAT I DIDN'T GET INTO.

WE JUST NEVER DID ENOUGH.

WE ALL KNOW THAT EDUCATION DOESN'T STOP IN THE CLASSROOM, AND THERE ARE GOOD FOLKS LIKE BEVERLY TERRY PROVIDING BOOKMOBILE SERVICES TO RESIDENTS AND NURSING HOMES SO THAT THEY CAN KEEP LEARNING.

>> I DRIVE IT ABOUT 700 MILES A MONTH ALL OVER THE COUNTY.

>> YOU KNOW I WAS A TRUSTEE OF THIS LIBRARY WHEN WE BUILT IT.

WAS I AN EASY BOSS TO WORK FOR?

>> WELL, YEAH, I DID WHAT I WANTED TO DO, AND YOU MADE SURE I DID WHAT YOU WANTED ME TO DO.

>> EVELYN RICHARDSON WHO LIVES ON A FARM IN SOUTH LOGAN COUNTY KNOWS AND LIVES BY THE MAXIMUM OF LIFELONG LEARNING.

SHE BEGAN WORKING AT THE LOGAN COUNTY LIBRARY IN THE '60S AND SHE MOVED INTO THIS NEW BUILDING, IT WAS NEW THEN IN AUGUST OF 1967, SO DEVOTED TO THE MISSION OF EDUCATION AFTER SHE RETIRED AS REGIONAL LIBRARIAN, SHE CAME BACK TO WORK FOR NOTHING AS A VOLUNTEER WHERE SHE HAD GIVEN SO MANY YEARS OF HER LIFE AND HER CAREER.

WHEN DID YOU AND I START WORKING TOGETHER?

>> IT'S BEEN A WHILE, AL, BUT I DID SOME PIECE-WORK FOR THE NEWSPAPER OFFICE WHEN WE PUT OUT SPECIAL EDITIONS FOR THE TOBACCO FESTIVAL.

>> 1958.

>> PERHAPS, I DON'T REMEMBER THE DATES, BUT IT CERTAINLY WAS IN THE '50S.

THAT WAS ABOUT THREE I WAS EDITOR OF FOR YOU, AND THEY WERE AN INSERT IN THE WEEKLY PAPER.

>> ABOUT THE TOBACCO FESTIVAL?

>> CORRECT.

>> ACTUALLY, WE CELEBRATED RAISING TOBACCO, WHICH ISN'T POLITICALLY CORRECT ANYMORE, BUT IT WAS THE BIGGEST CASH CROP.

>> YES, THE FOUNDATION OF LOGAN COUNTY, AND WE HAD THE LARGEST TOBACCO MARKET IN THE WORLD.

>> WHAT HAPPENED AFTER WE WROTE THAT TOBACCO FESTIVAL PAPER ABOUT THE OLD SCHOOLS, THAT HAPPENED TO MR. REED?

>> EACH PAPER HAD A THEME, AND ONE HAD THE THEME OF EDUCATION IN RUSSELLVILLE AND ONCE WE WERE A COLLEGE TOWN WITH A WOMEN'S COLLEGE AND A MEN'S COLLEGE.

WE HAD PICTURES AND THE HISTORY OF THOSE COLLEGES.

AND I THINK YOU MAILED ONE TO MR. REED WHO LIVED IN NEW YORK, AND HE WAS BROUGHT UP IN RUSSELLVILLE AND HIS HOME STILL STANDS.

AND HE APPRECIATED THE EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND OF THIS COUNTY.

AND HE DECIDED HE WAS GOING TO LEAVE HIS ESTATE TO THE CITY OF RUSSELLVILLE.

HE STIPULATED IN HIS WILL THAT IT BE USED FOR THE EDUCATION OF THE PEOPLE THEREIN, AND OF CORE THE LIBRARY, NOTHING IS MORE OF AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION THAN THE LIBRARY FROM THE LITTLEEST TO THE BIGGEST.

>> LOOKING AT THE OLD PAPERS BRINGS BACK RICH MEMORIES OF NOT ONLY THE PEOPLE AND STORIES, BUT ALSO OF THE PRINTERS AND STAFF WHO PUT THE PAPERS TOGETHER AND PUT UP WITH ME.

LORD OF MERCY, THIS WAS MY LIFE.

>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE LONG-TIME HOST OF "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY" THE ONE AND ONLY, AL SMITH.

(APPLAUSE) >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THOSE WERE INDEED THE ROOTS OF "COMMENT" AND WE WILL SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THAT A LITTLE LATER.

BUT THE LAST PANEL YOU SAW ON THIS SHOW WAS A PANEL DRAWN FROM OUR CURRENT POOL OF JOURNALISTS WHO THINK THEY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

THE PRESENT PANEL IS CONSISTING OF PEOPLE TO USED TO THINK THEY KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON.

I CALL THEM THE GOLDEN-OLDIES, DAVE NAKDIMEN AND DIANA TAYLOR AND FERRELL WELLMAN AND BILL STRAUB.

(APPLAUSE) >> WELCOME ALL.

TELL ME SOMETHING, STRAUB, WHY WAS IT THEY CALLED YOU JERSEY, AND WHY DID YOU COME TO THE UK?

>> IT MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE FACT I CAME FROM NEW JERSEY.

AND I ALWAYS TOLD PEOPLE, THERE ARE ACTUALLY TWO ANSWERS TO THE QUESTION.

ONE, WE DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY GROWING UP AS A KID.

AT THE TIME THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY DIDN'T TAKE AN APPLICATION FEE.

SO I APPLIED, THEY ACCEPTED ME, I FIGURED I SAVED ABOUT $200 BY NOT APPLYING ANYWHERE ELSE.

I ALWAYS SAID IT WAS CHEAP, EASY AND FAR AWAY FROM HOME.

>> TELL THEM ABOUT YOUR FIRST JOB AND WHERE YOU LIVED WHEN YOU WORKED AT CORBIN KENTUCKY AFTER GRADUATION.

>> FIRST JOB WAS AT THE TIMES TRIBUNE, THE CRAWFORDINGS, OF ALL THE PEOPLE I WORKED FOR, THEY PROBABLY TREATED ME AS WELL AS ANYBODY.

BUT WHEN I WENT DOWN THERE, I DIDN'T HAVE ANY MONEY.

SO THERE WAS A REST AREA THERE ON I-75, AND DAVE NAKDIMEN PROBABLY REMEMBERS IT, BUT IT IS CLOSED NOW.

I LIVED IN MY CAR FOR ABOUT A MONTH OR SO WITH A DOG THAT I HAD WITH ME.

AND THERE WAS A TRUCK STOP THERE, IF YOU WERE QUICK ENOUGH YOU COULD SPEAK IN AND TAKE A SHOWER IN THE MORNING.

>> THAT CAREER THAT STARTED AT THE TRUCK STOP AND THE REST STOP AT CORBIN, YOU WENT TO THE KENTUCKY POST WHICH WAS THEN A LARGE NEWSPAPER, AND MARK NEIKIRK, THE FORMER MANAGING EDITOR IS HERE TONIGHT.

THE POST IS CLOSING DECEMBER 31ST, I AM SORRY TO SAY.

BUT THE CAREER THAT BEGAN AT THE REST STOP AFTER LEAVING UK, IT FINISHED WITH BILL AS A WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT.

(APPLAUSE) >> AND DAVE NAKDIMEN I BELIEVE YOU WERE ON THE FIRST DEBATE WE DID BETWEEN GOVERNOR CARROL AND BOBBY GABLE E WEREN'T YOU?

>> I WILL NEVER FORGET IT, MY FIRST APPEARANCE ON KET.

>> THE FIRST STATEWIDE DEBATE DONE ANYWHERE IN KENTUCKY IN 1975 AND CARROL WAS FINISHING A YEAR HE GOT FROM WHEN FORD WENT TO THE SENATE, LEAVE BE ONE YEAR OF THE FOUR-YEAR TERM TO BE SERVED BY THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND IN THOSE DAYS THERE WASN'T MUCH LOVED LOST BETWEEN THEM, BUT IT WORKED THE OUT AND CARROL HAD THE YEAR TO RUN BUT GABLE WAS HIS OWE UPON ENTER, AND TELL THEM WHAT HAPPENED?

>> I AM ESTIMATING THERE, AND THE DEBATE STARTED, AND GOVERNOR CARROL MADE A STATEMENT AND BOB GABLE PULLED OUT THIS LITTLE BELL AND STARTED SHAKING IT.

AND YOU LOOKED AT HIM AND WE ASKED HIM: WHAT IS THAT?

AND BOB SAID, THAT IS MY TRUTH BELL.

AND EVERY TIME YOU AND CARROL TELL A LIE, I WILL RING THE TRUTH BELL.

AND YOU SAID: YOU ARE NOT.

YOU TOLD HIM TO PUT THAT THING AWAY, THAT YOU DIDN'T WANT TO SEE IT AGAIN.

AND PUTULENTLY HE PUT THE TRUTH BELL ASIDE AND THE DEBATE WENT ON ANOTHER TEN MINUTES OR SO, AND THEN AGAIN OUT CAME THE BELL.

AND YOU SAID, A LITTLE LOUDER: I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU TO PUT THAT AWAY.

SO HE PUT IT AWAY, AND IT DIDN'T APPEAR AGAIN.

>> FROM THAT POINT FORWARD, NO PROPS ON KET.

>> YES, NO PROPS OR VISUAL AIDS.

>> WELLMAN SAID WHEN HE CLEANED OUT THE ATTIC AFTER HIS FATHER'S DEATH A FEW WEEKS AGO, WHAT KIND OF POLITICAL DOCUMENT DID YOU FIND?

>> A KENTUCKY COLONEL SEED I APPARENTLY GOT FOR BEING BORN, THE BEST I CAN FIGURE, IT IS DATED FROM THE LATE 40'S AND THE REASON I MENTIONED IT TO YOU, WEATHERBY WAS THE GOVERNOR AT THE TIME BUT I GUESS HE WAS OUT OF THE STATE BUT IT WAS SIGNED BY, YES, EMMERSON DOC BEACHEM.

(APPLAUSE) >> MY WIFE MADE ME TAKE IT OUT OF SOMETHING I WROTE FOR THE FINALE TONIGHT, BUT I WILL PUT IT IN WHEN I SPEAK TO THE RURAL ELECTRICS ON MONDAY NIGHT AT A DINNER THEY ARE HAVING.

THE FIRST ELECTION I COVERED IN LOUISIANA, "MAD" EARL LONG STOLE A SEAT IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE FOR HIS YOUNG NEPHEW, RUSSELL, WHO WENT TO BECOME A LONG-TIME VETERAN SENATOR AND LEADER OF THE SOUTHERN BLOCK, AND THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.

THE FIRST ELECTION TEN YEARS LATER THAT I COVERED, HE STOLE THE SEAT FOR HIS FRIEND, FRANK STUBBLEFIELD.

SO BEACHAM DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING AGAINST STUBBL.

FIELD'S RIVAL, BUT THE RIVAL WAS "HAPPY" CHANDLER, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

BUT NOW TIMES HAVE CHANGED.

THESE GUYS COVERED EIGHT GOVERNORS WITH US OVER 33 YEARS OF THIS SHOW'S LIFE.

THE GOVERNORS WHO WERE INVOLVED WITH, FORD, CARROL, BROWN, COLLINS, WILKINSON, JONES, PATTON AND FLETCHER, FOR SOME OF THE LAST LITTLE WHILE.

BY THAT TIME, DIANA HAD GONE INTO A VERY STRONG CAREER, WORKING FOR NONPROFITS BASICALLY ON THE EDUCATIONAL SIDE.

RECENTLY WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING?

>> I DO A LOT OF THAT KIND OF WORK, CONSULTING FOR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, THE PRITCHARD COMMITTEE AND THE STATE CHAMBER.

>> HOW DO YOU THINK POLITICS HAVE CHANGED IN KENTUCKY SINCE YOU WORKED FOR THE ASSOCIATED PRESS AND WERE BUREAU CHIEF FOR THE HERALD-LEADER IN FRANKFORT?

>> IT IS A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE AND A LOT MORE NEGATIVE, I THINK.

>> WHAT DO YOU SEE IN THE CURRENT POLITICAL SCENE, ANYTHING THAT REMINDS YOU OF THAT TIME?

>> I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU FELLOWS BUT I FEEL 30 YEARS OLD BECAUSE ALL THE PEOPLE I COVERED ARE BACK IN TOWN.

(APPLAUSE) SO I FIGURE YOU SHOULD SIGN ON FOR ANOTHER 20 YEARS.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK IS DIFFERENT ABOUT POLITICS TODAY FROM WHEN YOU AND I WERE DOING "COMMENT" EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT TOGETHER?

>> BEFORE ANSWERING THAT, AND I WILL ANSWER IF, I WILL TAKE KIND OF A PERSONAL MOMENT.

I FIRST OF ALL WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE TO SUPPORT ME OVER THE LAST THREE DECADES, AND NOT JUST ME, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE FOR SCORES OF JOURNALISTS IN THE STATE, THE FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN ON THIS PROGRAM.

YOU HAVE BEEN OUR FRIEND.

(APPLAUSE) I THOUGHT IT NEEDED TO BE SAID DURING THE SHOW, NOT ONLY DID YOU HAVE US ON, YOU SUPPORTED DOZENS OF JOURNALISTS, BROADCAST AND PRINT, FOR THE LAST THREE DECADES.

>> THAT'S NICE.

I REMEMBER WHEN FERRELL DECIDED HE WANTED TO GO BACK TO COLLEGE, FINISH HIS DEGREE AND BECOME A PROFESSOR.

AND HE LEFT, AND IT WAS A SHOCK TO US THAT HE WAS LEAVING.

WENDELL FORD CALLED ME THE NEXT WEEK AND SAID WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO GET HIM TO COME UP HERE AND BE MY PRESS SECRETARY?

I SAID I DIDN'T THINK THERE WOULD BE ENOUGH MONEY TO GET HIM TO DO IT, HE HAD MADE UP HIS MIND, HE WANTS TO BE A TEACHER.

I SEE IT IS OLD HOME NIGHT, TIT FOR TAT, AND IS HE TURNING OUT WONDERFUL YOUNG REPORTERS OUT OF EASTERN UNIVERSITY.

TELL ME WHAT OR HOW DO YOU THINK KENTUCKY IS DIFFERENT NOW THAN 25 YEARS AGO?

>> IN TERMS OF POLITICS WHICH IS BASICALLY WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT, I THINK THE BIG DIFFERENCE, THE GOVERNOR DOESN'T HAVE THE POWER THE GOVERNOR HAD THREE DECADES AGO; THE JOB HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY.

IN MANY WAYS, I THINK GOVERNOR-ELECT BESHEAR FACES AN ENORMOUS CHALLENGE THAT WOULD BE GREATER THAN IF HE HAD BEEN ELECTED 30 YEARS AGO BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE IS STRONGER THAN IT WAS WHEN WE STARTED THIS PROGRAM, WE ARE MORE OF A TWO-PARTY STATE THAN WHEN WE STARTED THIS PROGRAM, THE FINANCIAL PROBLEMS FACING THE STATE TODAY ARE GREATER THAN THEY WERE 30 YEARS AGO, BUT WE HAVE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS IN SOME AREAS, BUT FACING A LOT OF EXPENSIVE PROBLEMS.

I JUST DON'T THINK THE JOB IS AS ATTRACTIVE OR POWERFUL AS WHEN THE PROGRAM STARTED IN 1974.

>> INTERESTING THING GOVERNOR-ELECT BESHEAR TOLD ME TONIGHT BEFORE THE PROGRAM, HE SAID THAT HE DOESN'T HAVE A FUTURE, BUT WHAT HE MEANT WAS I AM GOING TO PUT EVERYTHING I HAVE INTO DOING WHAT I CAN TO BE A STRONG GOVERNOR BECAUSE I AM AT THE POINT IN MY LIFE, MY LEGAL CAREER IS BEHIND ME, AND MOST OF MY POLITICAL CAREER WAS BEHIND ME, AND I ENJOYED HEARING THAT.

>> I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE I THINK FOR SOMEONE WHO IS GOING TO BE GOVERNOR OF KENTUCKY AT THIS JUNCTURE IN THE STATE'S HISTORY, THE KINDS OF DECISIONS THAT NEED TO BE MADE ARE PROBABLY NOT THE KINDS OF DECISIONS THAT ARE GOING TO ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE A LONG-RANGE POLITICAL FUTURE.

>> ONE OF BENEFITS OF THE GOVERNOR-ELECT, ALL DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS IN OUR EXPERIENCE ALSO HAD A DEMOCRATIC HOUSE AND SENATE.

NOW HE HAS TO DEAL WITH A REPUBLICAN SENATE WHICH IS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM.

THAT IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST THING I CAN RECOLLECT, BEGINNING BACK IN ABOUT 1984 WHEN McCON ELD BEAT HUDDLESTON, AND BUILDING ON THAT OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS WHERE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WAS MORE THAN A VIABLE ENTITY IN THE STATE, ACTUALLY A COMPETING ENTITY WITH THE DEMOCRATS.

>> THAT'S TRUE, BUT I THINK HAVING AT ONE POINT WORKED FOR A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR, THE EMERGENCE OF THE LEGISLATURE AS A CO-EQUAL BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT HAS REALLY CHANGED THE DYNAMICS OF THAT LEGISLATIVE EXECUTIVE RELATIONSHIP, AND THAT HAS BEEN, I THINK, EMPHASIZED BY THE SPLIT PARTISANSHIP WE NOW SEE.

BEGINNING IN THE CARROL ADMINISTRATION WITH THE BLACK SHEEP SQUADRON, MOVING THROUGH THE BROWN YEARS EITHER THROUGH BENIGN NEGLECT OR ON PURPOSE HE ENCOURAGED THE CREATION OF MORE INDEPENDENT THINKING, MOVING THROUGH THE COLLINS YEARS WHERE HER PERSONALITY WAS NOT SUCH THAT SHE COULD ASSERT AND RECLAIM TERRITORY THAT HAD BEEN SEEDED FROM GUBERNATORIAL POWER SHIFTING FROM LEGISLATIVE AND WITH WILKINSON, THE STRONG CONFLICT YOU WOULD FIND BETWEEN THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP AND THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR, AND THEN MOVING ON THROUGH JONES, AND NOW YOU REALLY HAVE SEEN THE EMERGENCE, TO MY WAY OF THINKING, THE CO-EQUAL BRANCH OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT IF NOT THE MOST SIGNIFICANT POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS.

>> YOU DON'T SEE THE GOVERNOR PICKING THE HOUSE SPEAKER ANYMORE, AND THAT STARTED NOT DURING A REGULAR SESSION.

IF YOU REALLY, THE BLACK SHEEP REALLY SURFACED WHEN THELMA STAVALL CALLED A SPECIAL SESSION AN IT CAN BE TRACED BACK TO THAT, IN A WAY.

>> MY FIRST YEARS OF GOOFING THE LEGISLATURE IN THE '60S, THE LEGISLATURE WAITED FROM WORD ON THE FIRST FLOOR FOR WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO DO.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IS THE CASE >> WHILE DEBATE WAS STILL GOING ON, THAT LEGISLATOR WOULD BE BE CALLED DOWN TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND THEN STAND UP AND SAY HE HAS BEEN EDUCATED ON THE ISSUE AND WAS NOW WILLING TO VOTE FOR IT.

>> ONE LEGISLATOR CAME BACK UP AND VOTED THE BILL DOWN, VOTED THE GOVERNOR'S BILL DOWN AND HE MOVED TO BRING IT BACK UP AGAIN, AND HE SAID WHY, HE SAID I HAD BEEN DOWN ON THE FIRST FLOOR AND THE LIGHTING IS A LOT BETTER DOWN THERE.

HE WAS ABLE TO READ SOME THINGS HE HAD NOT SEEN BEFORE.

>> SOME INTERESTING THINGS HAPPENED IN THE ADMINISTRATIONS OF THE JONES AND PATTON TO ARE HERE TONIGHT.

GOVERNOR JONES WAS GOVERNOR WHEN WE GOT THE SUCCESTCHLT SION AMENDMENT AS WELL AS NEW ETHICS LAWS, AND HE FOCUSED ON HEALTHCARE, AND WE NEVER COULD QUITE GET IT TOGETHER BUT HE BEGAN TO REALLY PUSH THE IDEA THAT WE HAD TO DO MORE AND WE STILL HAVE A LOT MORE TO DO TO GET SOME SORT OF RATIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM IN THIS STATE.

SOME WILL SAY IT IS A NATIONAL THING, WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT NATIONAL HELP, THAT MAY BE TRUE.

BUT WE WILL SEE.

AND GOVERNOR PATTON TOOK ON THIS ENORMOUS CHANGE IN HIGHER EDUCATION.

FERRELL DID YOU THINK YOU WOULD LIVE LONG ENOUGH TO SEE THAT SPRIT WORK THAT PATTON LAUNCHED AND TO GET THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES SEPARATED?

>> I NEVER THOUGHT THAT WOULD HAPPEN.

AND I CAN ALSO TELL YOU, SINCE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HIGHER EDUCATION WHICH I AM NOW INVOLVED IN, YOU DO SEE IMPROVEMENTS.

LET ME TELL YOU ONE OTHER THING I NOTICED.

I HAVE TAUGHT AT EASTERN 13 YEARS AND WE HAVE SEEN THE CYCLE OF SCHOOL REFORM REALLY WORK, AND I CAN TELL YOU THE QUALITY OF INCOMING FRESHMEN IS BETTER TODAY THAN IT WAS 13 YEARS AGO.

AND THERE ARE BENEFITS.

(APPLAUSE) NOT ONLY DID I THINK WE WOULDN'T SEE THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES AWAY FROM UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY THERE ARE STILL WEAKNESSES IN ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION, A LOT OF PROBLEMS.

IN TERMS OF THE STUDENTS ABILITY TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES IN WRITING, THE PREPARATION THEY HAVE, AT LEAST IN MY CLASSES, IT IS BETTER TODAY THAN WHEN I STARTED IN 1994 AT EASTERN.

>> THAT IS IMPORTANT TO HEAR.

THIS WEEK I HEARD JOHN HALL, A RETIRED CEO OF ASHLAND OIL AND HAS GIVEN A LOT TO A LOT OF SERVICE TO HIGHER EDUCATION IN THIS STATE, BEFORE RETIRE.

AND SINCE THEN I HEARD HIM SAY, AS HE GOT THE BIG AWARD FOR LONG-TERM POLICY CENTER FOR SERVICE, HE SAID THAT ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT HAS HAPPENED IN KENTUCKY IN THE LAST TEN YEARS HAS BEEN THE BUCKS FOR BRAINS PROGRAM.

(APPLAUSE) HE SAID THAT WE HAVE RAISED A BILLION DOLLARS FOR ENDOWED PROFESSOR SHIPS AND NEW PROGRAMS RAMS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE.

AND IT WAS GOOD TO HEAR THAT.

I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE SOMEBODY IN THE AUDIENCE TONIGHT MY OLD FRIEND, LARRY HAGER WHO IS SITTING OVER HERE WITH HIS WIFE.

(APPLAUSE) HE AND HIS BROTHER JOHN SOLD THE MESSENGER INQUIRER AND EACH PUT A FOUNDATION TOGETHER FROM SOME OF THE MONEY, AND THE FOUNDATIONS THAT THE TWO BROTHERS HAVE FOCUS ON THE COMMUNITY WHERE THEY MADE THEIR MONEY AND WHERE THEY WERE CIVIC LEADERS AND PHILANTHROPISTS IN THEIR TIME AND LARRY HAS TAKEN A STRONG INTEREST IN UNMARRIED MOTHERS WITH CHILDREN, THE DISADVANTAGED MINORITY PEOPLE IN HIS COMMUNITY.

HE HIS REALLY DONE AN AMAZING JOB OF FOCUSING ATTENTION WITH THE MONEY IN THE FOUNDATION ON THOSE PEOPLE.

AND JOHN HAS FINANCED PROGRAMS FOR EDUCATION DOWN THERE, AND THIS PAST WEEK THEY HAD A COMMUNITY MEETING AND ATTRACTED 600 PEOPLE, THE TWO BROTHERS TOGETHER HOLD AGO COMMUNITY MEETING TO DISCUSS WHAT DOES THIS COMMUNITY, DAVIS COUNTY, WHAT DO THEY WANT FROM THE NEW GOVERNOR, FROM EDUCATION, FROM HEALTHCARE.

IT WAS AN EXERCISE IN DEMOCRACY AND IT WAS VERY INSPIRING IN A DAY, WHEN AS I SAID ON THE PROGRAM, TO SEE THESE MEN STILL WORKING AT THE HOMETOWN LEVEL AT THE GRASS ROOTS.

(APPLAUSE) TWO LITTLE MORE GRASS-ROOTS NOTES.

A LONG TIME AGO, PETE MAHURON FROM BOWLING GREEN DRAGGED ME OVER TO HILLIARD AND LYONS OFFICE AND SAID: LET'S BUY THE COURIER-JOURNAL AND MAKE AL THE PUBLISHER.

EVERYBODY AT THAT OFFICE, EXCEPT HENNING, LAUGHED AT THAT IDEA, AND THAT WAS 22 YEARS AGO.

AND THIS MORNING PETE WAS STANDING THERE IN THE OFFICE IN LOUISVILLE WHEN HOUCHEN'S INDUSTRIES OF BOWLING GREEN OF WHICH HE IS A PRIME FINANCIAL ADVISOR AND COUNSELOR BOUGHT THE HILLIARD AND LYONS COMPANY FOR, WE'RE NOT SURE HOW MUCH, THEY WOULDN'T TELL ME, BUT P AND C BOUGHT IT, AND A THOUSAND PEOPLE WORKED THERE IN KENTUCKY AND THE REGION.

THE ADVANTAGE OF THIS SALE WILL BE THAT THE BUSINESS WILL BE KEPT AS AN ENTITY IN KENTUCKY, AND IT WILL STILL BE BASED IN LOUISVILLE.

BUT PETE HELPED ME IN MY CAREER ACQUIRE NEWSPAPERS, AND WE WERE PARTNERS AND GOOD FRIENDS.

AND HE HAS BEEN SUPPORTING EDUCATION PARTICULARLY AT WESTERN, AND WE APPRECIATE THAT.

FINALLY, ANOTHER ONE OF MY BUSINESS PARTNERS, GYPSIES HOST, HIS NAME SURFACED AGAIN THIS WEEK BECAUSE HOST SPORTS COMMUNICATIONS WAS PURCHASED BY THE LARGEST, I BELIEVE, SPORTS MARKETING COMPANY IN THE WORLD.

THAT IS GOING TO BE ANOTHER STEP FORWARD FOR THIS INTERESTING COMPANY THAT HAS HAD SO MANY DIFFERENT EVOLUTIONS IN THE TIME WE'VE BEEN IN KENTUCKY.

WHAT IS YOUR HOPE, DIANA, FOR THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION, THE BEST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?

>> FOR SOMEONE TO FIND A BIG POT OF MONEY AND BRING IT IN.

BUT NO, I THINK SINCE MY WORK IS LARGELY IN THE EDUCATION AREA, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A RENEWAL OF A COMMITMENT TO EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS, STARTING WITH EARLY CHILDHOOD ALL THE WAY THROUGH POST-SECONDARY.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.

I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

AND FINALLY, I HAPPEN TO KNOW THAT THE MATERNAL GRANDFATHER OF LARRY FORGIES CHILDREN WAS A SHERIFF IN BATON ROUGE WHEN I WORKED ON THE PAPERS THERE.

LATER THE THEN ON SUNDAY MORNINGS AT DOC BEACHAM'S HOUSE, DEMOCRATS WOULD PLOT DESTRUCTION OF "HAPPY" CHANDLER UNTIL MISS BEACHAM RETURNED FROM CHURCH, SCATTERING US ALL OVER THE PORCH.

BUT AFTER THEY TAUGHT ME ALL THEY KNEW AND I HAD SOBERED UP AND BOUGHT THE PAPER AND MARRIED MARTHA HELL I AM AND WAS RAISING THREE CHILDREN, FOUR INTERVIEWS WITH "HAPPY" CHANDLER GOT THIS PROGRAM OFF THE GROUND.

LATER IT HELPED THAT THREE KET DIRECTORS WHO ARE HERE TONIGHT STUCK BY ME, DETERMINED THAT IF I WAS GOING TO SCREW THE SHOW UP, I COULD DO IT BY MYSELF.

(APPLAUSE) NOW AS I LEAVE, WHATEVER FUTURE REMAINS TORE ME I WILL FIND IT IS THE CONSOLATIONS OF HISTORY LIKE IN LOGAN COUNTY 50 YEARS AGO WHERE ANDREW JACKSON HAD A DUAL, WHERE THE PRONE FEAR PEACHERS IGNITED A GREAT REVIVAL, CIVIL WARS SPLIT FAMILIES I WAS HELD BY THE STORIES OF THE PAST AND CREATED A NEW LIFE.

I THANK YOU ALL FOR LETTING ME SHARE IT AND FOR SHARING YOURS, HISTORY IS A COMPASS FOR THE FUTURE.

WE LOOK BACK, AND THEN WE GO FORWARD, AND IF WE'RE LUCKY WE JOURNEY TOGETHER IN WISDOM AND FAITH, AND PERHAPS EVEN LOVE.

THAT IS "COMMENT" FOR NOW.

THANKS, AND GOODBYE.