The Spotted Bass -

Fletcher to retaliate against 'turncoat' whistleblower

No love from the Gov: This Baptist had one too many drinks

Times often get rough on the campaign trail, but rarely does the candidate himself fall into the trap of frustration, anger and despair that flakes off so many well-meaning volunteers and even staffers. But Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher, a Republican now running for a second term, has done just that, after learning that a former personnel officer who blew the whistle on illegal hiring practices in his administration is volunteering for his opponent.

Doug Doerting, who worked in the Transportation Cabinet, turned over a proverbial mountain of evidence in 2005 to Attorney General Greg Stumbo, who launched what became one of the broadest investigations of a sitting governor in Kentucky history, landing 29 indictments — 14 of them criminal — including one for Fletcher.

Doerting is now stuffing envelopes for Democratic challenger Steve Beshear.

“We’re ecstatic,” said Beshear spokesperson Scott Robeson. “They’re falling apart over there. We knew it’d be a big gamble to leak this to the media, pardon my pun, but it seems to be working beautifully.”

In a tirade one source described as “deranged,” Fletcher unleashed fury on his two-person campaign staff, threatening to “disembowel that freak show turncoat Doerting like I did that catfish in Dawson Springs last weekend, God help me.” Fletcher, a lay Baptist minister, also took the Lord’s name in vain, according to the account, given to The Spotted Bass by a campaign volunteer, who also said Fletcher was sweating and heaving and “appeared to be melting somewhat around the hairline.”

As if to demonstrate his 21st century acumen, Fletcher then took to the message boards — of the state’s largest newspapers, The Courier-Journal and the Lexington Herald-Leader, as well as several political blogs — making the case that Doerting’s “defecation (sic) shows that the merit system investigation was truly political in intentions.”

Fletcher was expected to get back to “the people’s business” today, his campaign said, with stops scheduled across the eastern portion of the state, where the governor was expected to hand out a series of oversized checks with money promised from his “second term” for highway and infrastructure projects.

Fletcher still has large lead among likely non-voters
Despite the Governor's troubles on the campaign trail, a new Bluegrass Trot poll shows the incumbent has a commanding lead over Democrat challenger Steve Beshear among likely non-voters in the November 6 gubernatorial election. Fletcher leads Beshear 94.2% to 5.8%, with 0% undecided (which was not an option in the poll).

In response to the Bluegrass Trot poll results and another poll among likely voters, which shows Beshear with a commanding lead, Fletcher campaign director and intern Jason Keller, one of the two remaining staffers, said, “Ernie Fletcher has always believed in the right not to vote and stay out of the elections altogether. We were actually thinking of changing the ‘No Casinos Tour’ to the ‘No Casinos and No One Can Force You to Vote Tour,’ but that seemed a little long. Ernie Fletcher and Robbie Rudolph have always believed in the non-voters. We fully support their rights, and we hope they all stay home for us.”

Beshear even struggled to a tie, 0.05% apiece, among non-voters at Centre College, who typically lean left, apparently because the Fletcher-Rudolph campaign website oddly sports the same black and gold as the Centre Colonels.

Beshear, however, squeezed out a strong 3 to 1 majority among bewildered pilots and physicians.

Among those who would wear a yellow shirt to the annual U of L vs. U of K football or basketball game, Fletcher has an impenetrable 100% of those who will likely stay at home on election day.



Home > News > Fletcher to retaliate against 'turncoat' whistleblower Fletcher to retaliate against 'turncoat' whistleblower No love from the Gov: This Baptist had one too many drinks Times often get rough on the campaign trail, but rarely does the candidate himself fall into the trap of frustration, anger and despair that flakes off so many well-meaning volunteers and even staffers. But Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher, a Republican now running for a second term, has done just that, after learning that a former personnel officer who blew the whistle on illegal hiring practices in his administration is volunteering for his opponent. Doug Doerting, who worked in the Transportation Cabinet, turned over a proverbial mountain of evidence in 2005 to Attorney General Greg Stumbo, who launched what became one of the broadest investigations of a sitting governor in Kentucky history, landing 29 indictments — 14 of them criminal — including one for Fletcher. Doerting is now stuffing envelopes for Democratic challenger Steve Beshear. “We’re ecstatic,” said Beshear spokesperson Scott Robeson. “They’re falling apart over there. We knew it’d be a big gamble to leak this to the media, pardon my pun, but it seems to be working beautifully.” In a tirade one source described as “deranged,” Fletcher unleashed fury on his two-person campaign staff, threatening to “disembowel that freak show turncoat Doerting like I did that catfish in Dawson Springs last weekend, God help me.” Fletcher, a lay Baptist minister, also took the Lord’s name in vain, according to the account, given to The Spotted Bass by a campaign volunteer, who also said Fletcher was sweating and heaving and “appeared to be melting somewhat around the hairline.” As if to demonstrate his 21st century acumen, Fletcher then took to the message boards — of the state’s largest newspapers, The Courier-Journal and the Lexington Herald-Leader, as well as several political blogs — making the case that Doerting’s “defecation (sic) shows that the merit system investigation was truly political in intentions.” Fletcher was expected to get back to “the people’s business” today, his campaign said, with stops scheduled across the eastern portion of the state, where the governor was expected to hand out a series of oversized checks with money promised from his “second term” for highway and infrastructure projects. Fletcher still has large lead among likely non-voters Despite the Governor's troubles on the campaign trail, a new Bluegrass Trot poll shows the incumbent has a commanding lead over Democrat challenger Steve Beshear among likely non-voters in the November 6 gubernatorial election. Fletcher leads Beshear 94.2% to 5.8%, with 0% undecided (which was not an option in the poll). In response to the Bluegrass Trot poll results and another poll among likely voters, which shows Beshear with a commanding lead, Fletcher campaign director and intern Jason Keller, one of the two remaining staffers, said, “Ernie Fletcher has always believed in the right not to vote and stay out of the elections altogether. We were actually thinking of changing the ‘No Casinos Tour’ to the ‘No Casinos and No One Can Force You to Vote Tour,’ but that seemed a little long. Ernie Fletcher and Robbie Rudolph have always believed in the non-voters. We fully support their rights, and we hope they all stay home for us.” Beshear even struggled to a tie, 0.05% apiece, among non-voters at Centre College, who typically lean left, apparently because the Fletcher-Rudolph campaign website oddly sports the same black and gold as the Centre Colonels. Beshear, however, squeezed out a strong 3 to 1 majority among bewildered pilots and physicians. Among those who would wear a yellow shirt to the annual U of L vs. U of K football or basketball game, Fletcher has an impenetrable 100% of those who will likely stay at home on election day.