Um. Aww-kward:
Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo used profanity as he criticized Gov. Steve Beshear and his support of Mongiardo’s U.S. Senate candidacy in a recording posted last week on the Internet.
In the recording, which was placed on YouTube by someone using the name “senrace2010,” Mongiardo is heard saying he is so frustrated with Beshear that he is “close to saying f- it all. I do not need this job. I do not need the U.S. Senate.”
Mongiardo is also heard saying that Beshear, who has endorsed Mongiardo, will be remembered as the state’s “worst” governor and that a “blowup” is coming.
Mongiardo spokesman Kim Geveden said the audio tape was “edited” and that Mongiardo “strongly supports” Beshear. […]
In the recording of Mongiardo, he is heard saying “the only difference between (former Republican Gov. Ernie) Fletcher and Beshear is Beshear has not had a blowup yet. But it is coming.”
Mongiardo is also heard saying he has “zero loyalties with Beshear” and criticizes Beshear for raising funds for his 2011 re-election campaign while Mongiardo is trying to raise money for his U.S. Senate campaign next year.
“He (Beshear) is screwing me every way possible … and what do I get out of it … We finally begged him to show up for one in Northern Kentucky. He is not going to lift a finger, he is not going to do a damn thing, he is just going to show up and his name is going to be on the … listen there is no love.
You can listen to the audio here. It’s a bit choppy and muffled, and its provenance is something of a mystery, though it did first appear on the KY Revolution blog, a site with a decidedly pro-Rand Paul (and anti-everybody else) message. Beshear’s people still say that his endorsement stands, and are refusing to comment on the audio — but you can bet that the release of this thing has caused a few gaskets to blow over at the Governor’s mansion.
One thing’s for sure: someone better put a bar of soap into those Kentucky Demmycrats’ mouths. Oh, the humanity!
UPDATE: Hat-tip to Johnny Longtorso in the comments for rightly reminding us of the big fat stink that Mongiardo made out of Jack Conway’s use of milder profanities at Fancy Farm in August.
RaceTracker Wiki: KY-Sen
Jack Conway will win the right to lose to Trey Greyson.
considering his whining about Jack Conway saying a naughty word in public.
It does explain why Mongiardo is not running with Beshear again.
Conway is better on the issues; so seeing Mongiardo do something stupid is a plus. Also isn’t Beshears approvals pretty high?
Mongiardo is probably frustrated he hasn’t put this thing away yet.
btw, I don’t know why everyone assumes Grayson is this undefeatable top-tier candidate. Sure, he won his election as SoS by 14 points. But Conway won AG by 20 points. After that businessman guy almost took out McConnell last year, I’m not going to put this as any worse than tossup for us.
I always liked Conway better anyway, but I don’t see any way we take this seat.
I really wish politicians stop trying to copy Richard Nixon’s obsession with taping oneself for posterity. If Nixon couldn’t get away with it, what makes anyone think they can get away with it? That said, this could be Mongiardo’s “Macaca” moment (h/t to George Allen, the former senator who provided us meaning for that word today!)
And how wide do we expect it to get?
Back in 1993 or 1994, Dave Letterman had a “Top 10 reasons on why your Senator is crazy”.
Among the answers were “He refers to Bob Dole as the Pineapple Boy” and “He wants all 37 voices in his head to get a vote”.
The last line was that “you lived in North Carolina”. At the time, Helms and Faircloth represented North Carolina.
I honestly believe that Kentucky has started to steal NC’s thunder on insanity. Bunning probably kept his party awake at night wondering what else would come out of his mouth. McConnell, while more polished, has been pretty insane with his anti-Democratic rhetoric while at the same time not promoting any of his own ideas (maybe he had none except to say “NO!” to any Democratic agenda).
Dr. Dan made a major blunder that may or may not play out with his eventual demise. I listened to the audio and it was pretty hard to follow. I don’t know if Conway can exploit it or not, but IMO he will be able to “fan the flames”.
Conway will hopefully win the nomination. He’s far from perfect, but compared to Bunning and McConnell, he’s a hell of a lot better choice for KY.
While a “blue dog” is probably the best we can get out of KY, I think the honesty we’re hearing from the recording is refreshing –
sort of a salty version of Mr. Smith who wants to go to Washington just for a term or two.
I guess I don’t have the same problem with Blue Dogs as most SSP readers do. I understand more and better Democrats, and I agree in most cases, but I would much rather have Bobby Bright than Jay Love, I would much rather have Heath Shuler than UpChuck Taylor, I would much rather have Walt Minnick than Bill Sali, and I would certainly rather have Jack Conway than Trey Grayson. I also don’t mind the Artur Davis and Harold Fords of the world either. If a guy in a red state, but a blue district votes more conservative than his district in order to build an image for a statewide run, I’m all for it, BUT if we need their vote, it damn sure better be there.