Published: September 19, 2008 11:57 am            

ELLIS COLUMN: It's hard to figure out this election

FRANKFORT — I concede I’m easily confused, but this is just too much.

Bruce Lunsford, the Democratic candidate trying to unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, appears to be running with Republican presidential candidate John McCain. McConnell, who has opposed McCain on major legislation such as campaign finance reform, now relishes running on the same ticket with him. McCain seems to be running against Republican President George W. Bush. McCain runs against Bush, Lunsford runs with McCain? I’m confused.

McCain charges his Democratic opponent Barack Obama is too inexperienced and lacks the judgment to be president. But McCain chooses for vice president a first-term governor of Alaska whose only previous experience is as mayor of a small town of fewer than 7,000 residents. Sarah Palin was for the “bridge to nowhere” before she was against it – which sounds a bit like the line Republicans used so effectively four years ago against John Kerry on the war. Given the attention to Palin, I’m even confused about who is at the top of the Republican ticket.

A free-market Republican administration subsidizes mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and chooses to prop up AIG, the world’s largest insurance company. Thank goodness for Republican Sen. Jim Bunning. At least he’s consistent, opposing both moves. But I thought he was supposed to be our erratic senator. McCain on the other hand says on one day the economy’s fundamentals are sound and the next airs a commercial saying it’s in crisis. McCain, who for years championed deregulation, says the financial markets need more regulation.

“We’re going to put an end to the unbridled corruption and greed” on Wall Street, McCain said Friday in Green Bay, Wis. Greed on Wall Street? Say it ain’t so! McCain is the Republican. Obama is the Democrat. Go figure. The man who grew up in a military family, attended a service academy and owns seven homes calls his opponent, the bi-racial son of a single mother who resorted to food stamps, elitist.

Obama isn’t a model of consistency, either. He promised to abide by public financing and then backed out. He seemed at first to welcome McCain’s call for joint appearances at town hall gatherings but then decided it isn’t in his best interest. Democrat David Boswell – running for the 2nd District Congressional seat -- won’t allow Obama’s name to pass his lips. Chicago native and former Arkansas First Lady and New York Sen. Hillary Clinton is now “the adopted daughter of Kentucky” and is as popular in eastern Kentucky as Loretta Lynn.

Then there is my friend, the ardent Democrat who two years ago couldn’t believe Kentucky Democrats might somehow figure out how to lose the election for governor. Remember him? He was going to move to Indiana if Democrats couldn’t defeat scandal ridden Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher. He called again this week.

“We’ve got the most unpopular president in history, a war that won’t end and the economy is collapsing around us!” he said in a rather loud, exasperated voice. “And John McCain still might win this thing. If he does, I’m going to change my registration to Republican. You know, I’d just like to win once in a while.”

See, I’m not the only one who is confused. I bet you are, too.

RONNIE ELLIS writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort. He can be reached by e-mail at rellis@cnhi.com.

        

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