Of polls, poor taste and a drink in the park

Some quickies:

1. One of the more interesting findings in the Herald-Leader/WKYT Kentucky Poll results published so far involves this year's U.S. Senate race. As expected, wealthy Louisville businessman Bruce Lunsford leads wealthy Louisville businessman Greg Fischer by a substantial margin in the Democratic primary. You can buy a lot of name recognition when you drop $14 million of you own dough into successive, but unsuccessful, gubernatorial campaigns. And frankly, Fischer started late and has run a poor campaign. So poor that veteran political consultant Danny Briscoe told Ronnie Ellis of the CNHI News Service, "Fischer's commercials have been so bad, he ought to sue his people for making them."

But more interesting than the 20-point lead Lunsford has over Fischer in the poll results is the head-to-head match-up of each candidate against Republican U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell. The incumbent minority floor leader led Lunsford in the poll by 48 percent to 36 percent. Against Fischer, McConnell led 47 percent to 35 percent. The two findings indicate a solid base of voters who are going to vote against McConnell no matter who his opponent might be. And the fact that a relative unknown, such as Fischer, who has run a poor primary campaign could go into a fall race trailing the incumbent by just 12 percent suggests that McConnell may still be a bit vulnerable, particularly if the economy remains in the crapper and/or the war in Iraq takes a bad turn.

2. Gov. Steve Beshear's comment at Friday's Democratic fund-raiser about Vice President Dick Cheney being a problem-solver "if he would just take (President) George (Bush) on a hunting trip" - a reference to Cheney accidentally shooting a friend on one such trip -was in poor taste. As a private joke among friends or coming from a comedian, such a remark might be acceptable. But as a public comment from a governor, it was way over the top.

3. State parks are an amenity provided to the public for their enjoyment. As such, we shouldn't expect our parks to turn a profit. If they pay for themselves, great. If they cost us a few tax dollars, that's OK, too, because they provide Kentucky's residents (and visitors) an outlet for recreational activity, an educational reminder of our shared history and an opportunity to relax amid some of Kentucky's most scenic beauty. But we don't want them bleeding red ink all over the state budget, either, as a report released last week by state Auditor Crit Luallen's office reminded us. While there probably is no one easy answer to making the parks pay more of their own way, it wouldn't hurt if the state started letting diners at the resort lodges have a drink with their meals and golfers at the state park courses enjoy a beer during or after their round.

Comments

[ldk]

I would have far less concern about Beshear dropping the F-bomb than I do about a governor suggesting the nation would be better off if someone offed the president.

ldk

[Paul]

I think Beshear can say whatever he wants about our Executive Branch leadership. Remember, we have a Vice President who told a Senator on the Senate floor to "go f**k himself" and expressed no regret over the incident.

[ldk]

I agree there should be better marketing for our state parks. And I agree that liquor sales don't make the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail successful. RTJ offers a superior product that I have experienced first-hand, and that has exposed my many weaknesses as a golfer.

However, I still believe the sale of alcoholic beverages would improve the bottom line for our resort restaurants and our state park golf courses. And since these parks are state property, I'm fairly sure the legislature could exempt them from any local option elections.

But even if that is not possible, wet-dry elections could be held on a precinct basis for the individual parks. The precinct that contains Shakertown took that root to allow drinks to be served in the restaurant there.

[drippingwithirony]

Larry your comment regarding allowing alcohol sales at state parks isn't up to the commonwealth but officials and voters on the local level. Many of our state parks are located in areas where alcohol sales are still frowned upon and would face an uphill battle to getting a local option on the ballot.

Besides alcohol only makes up a small portion of sales for any resort. The key is to increase the marketing especially to travelers in neighboring states. I don't think the popularity of the Robert Jones Golf Trail in Alabama was due to increased alcohol sales but an increased focus on marketing.