BluegrassBulletin.com

Standing O For Arnold Simpson

Until about a year ago I had never heard of "Angel Investors".  I had just invented a breakthrough technology which met a clear need among airline travelers who were willing to go through the body scanners but worried that a high resolution image of their nude body parts would end up on a government computer.

After testing our product and rolling it out as an e-commerce idea, within days our system crashed from the number of orders.  We were off to a great start.  It was a highly desirable product, easy to understand and as soon as people heard about it, we had sales.  The issue was, how do we keep people hearing about it?

After meeting with a number of nationally recognized marketing firms I discovered that the chance to literally make millions in a few short months was right there in front of me.  But, to launch the scale of marketing necessary to make millions, I had to have about half a million in advertising money.

Well, needless to say, I don't have that kind of money.  In my experience whenever people needed that kind of money they went to a bank, had to qualify for the loan, pay the going rate of interest and usually had to put up their homes and their entire lives as collateral.

But then a very successful friend of mine said "Why don't you try to find some 'Angel Investors'"?  Never having heard the term before I wanted to know more about them.  I met with a great company in Lexington who makes it their practice to help start up companies find investors who will put up their own money, usually acting in groups, in exchange for a piece of the profits.  He assured me that my product would likely get the money it needed and that we would be off to making our millions.  All I needed was about $40,000 for him to try to find investors.

The opportunity that these people can provide for new and start up businesses is limitless.  If you have a good idea, but need money to get it started, Angel Investors just might be your ticket to success.

This week State Representative Arnold Simpson's bill to give Angel Investors tax credits in order to inspire them to become more pro-active in helping new businesses in Kentucky cleared the House Committee on Economic Development, unanimously. 

What a great idea!  Now every single house member and each member of the Senate needs to give this bill their full support.

Arnold Simpson is a gentleman.  He is a calm and steady hand.  I have always considered him a friend and even though we might belong to different political parties, we have the same interests at heart, making the world in which we live a better place for our community, our Commonwealth and our children.

I hope that Arnold's bill gets unanimous support at every step of the process.  I'm not sure any bill has ever enjoyed that level of support but this one certainly deserves it.  And whether he gets 100% of the votes or not, let me be among the first to jump to my feet and give him a standing ovation for his forward thinking, prosperity inducing full bore effort to inject hope into what far too many see as a hopeless world.

HERE, HERE ARNOLD!

Thayer Finally Fights Back

Damon Thayer has taken the point position on legislation written to place the issue of expanded gambling on the ballot as a proposed constitutional amendment.  As a result he has been under attack by opponents of that bill.  Some have suggested that his relationship with the horse industry raises ethical questions.

Well, no matter which questions have been raised, the legislative ethics opinion Thayer produced early on shouuld have put an end to them.  Thayer was unequivocally exonerated from any ethical dilemma resulting from his private work as a consultant in the Thoroughbred industry and his role as a state senator sponsoring the legislation at issue.  But of course the attacks continued.

Now, finally, Thayer is fighting back.  Today he sent this press announcement:

STATEMENT OF SENATOR DAMON THAYER

February 9, 2012

“Some questions have been raised about my professional career outside of the State Senate and whether it impacts my views on public policy, particularly whether Kentucky should let the people vote on expanded gaming. I can unequivocally state that none of my company's private sector clients stand to benefit from simply letting the people decide whether Kentucky should expand gambling, but because I have been a fierce advocate for transparency in government I am releasing my client list. Like most members of the General Assembly, I am a part-time legislator with a full time job outside of the legislature, just as the framers of our state constitution intended. My clients have released me to share our business relationship with the media and the public, and I am proud to do so.

“My position on this issue is clear – I believe the people should decide once and for all whether Kentucky will expand gaming. I am not pushing for legislative fiat on this issue, but rather for the people to make the final decision. Politicians in Frankfort have been debating this issue for decades; now it is time for the politicians to get out of the way and let the people make the choice. It is time for Kentucky to make this decision and move on.

“The implication that a legislator who wants to allow the people to decide an issue is somehow engaging in a conflict of interest is ludicrous. This is why more and more people don’t want to participate in politics these days. Personally destroying someone’s reputation is somehow more acceptable than just debating the issues and letting the best ideas rise to the top. I am offended that my integrity was called into question but am happy to put any questions to rest in the interest of moving this issue forward. I believe a vast majority of Kentuckians see it the way I do – that a public referendum is the right way to lay this issue to rest.”

Shortly thereafter he sent this email from one of his clients:

The following statement is from Ro Parra, owner of Millennium Farms:

“While I am resident of Austin, Texas, I have a substantial investment in the Commonwealth of Kentucky through my ownership of Millennium Farms, which I purchased in 1999. We operate the farm as a stallion station and provide services such as boarding and sales representation. For the past several years, I have utilized the services of Damon Thayer and his company, Thayer Communications and Consulting. Mr. Thayer is in my employ simply because of his knowledge of the industry and his Marketing/Public Relations expertise and for no other reason. There are no projects that Mr. Thayer does for my farm that have an impact on the legislative process, nor am I the beneficiary of that process. Mr. Thayer has been a valued member of the Millennium Farms team as a consultant for several years and I look forward to my continuing working relationship with him for many years to come.”

In politics there are a number of truths which one ignores at his peril: 

• Perception is reality
• You only have one chance to make a first impression
• First impressions are lasting impressions
• You must control your own image
• You must address controversy very quickly
• You must succeed in turning controversy away quickly
• Damage control must be immediate
• Honesty, transparency and humility can never be repeated too often

Thayer is in all likelihood clean on this one, but despite early urgings by me and others to deal with this more forcefully from the beginning, the timing of today's push back left his wounds open too long to avoid any scars. 

Now what he needs to do is hammer his accusers very, very hard.  The opportunity to turn this around on them will escape him if he doesn't

Tom Wurtz Files For 4th District Seat

Tom Wurtz has filed to run in the GOP primary for the 4th District seat being vacated by Geoff Davis.  Wurtz will face Thomas Massie, Gary Moore, Brian Oerther and Alecia Webb-Edgington in May and so far the winner of that contest will face democrat Greg Frank of Corinth Kentucky in the general election, according to the Secretary of State.

According to Wurtz's web site he lists the following as his history:

• (Former) President and Chief Operating Officer of the $70 Million Sheakley Group of Companies.
• 30 Years of Leadership & Profit Experience.
• Built 15 Divisions from $500,000 to $70 Million.
• Generated 25% - 50% Operating Profits.
• "Leadership & Profit Tip of the Week," Heard Monday – Friday on WLW 700AM Radio (Cincinnati) between 5:20 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
• Interviewed on WLW 700AM Radio with Jim Scott. (2008)
• Interviewed on WDJO 1160AM Radio with Dusty Rhodes. (2008)
• Featured throughout April 2008 on the Northern Kentucky Chamber’s "Leading Businesses…Leading Communities"
• Partner with the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce - Chamber University. (2008)
• Featured in April/May 2006, June/July 2008 and August 2008 edition of Cincy Magazine.
• Keynote Speaker – Toyota, Kentucky Chamber Distinguish Speaker Series (2), Sibcy Cline Realtors (2), Kentucky Society of Human Resources Managers, National Association of State Associations.
• Author – "The Eagle Within – Success Principles from a Simple American" & "The Score’s Wrong – The Lunatic Rantings of a Volleyball Dad."
• Read 467 Business & Leadership Books.
• Absorbed 31,670 Minutes of Business & Leadership CDs.
• Earned a Business Degree from Northern Kentucky University in 1977 with a Solid GPA of 2.55.
• Married My Third-Grade Sweetheart in 1976.

Wurtz also publishes a blog type website called "POLI-TICKED" where he discusses a variety of topics including politics, current events and history.

Wurtz is currently the owner of Tom Wurtz consulting where his company offers on-site leadership and profit workshops plus one-on-one executive consulting.

The deadline for filing for the 4th Congressional seat was due to expire today, but both the Kentucky House and Senate voted to extend the deadline until February 7th. Governor Beshear signed the bill into law.

Deal With This Damon!

Damon Thayer is in the cross hairs of the Lexington Herald Leader and a group of folks opposed to gambling legislation in Kentucky.  Damon, who runs a consulting business out of his home, acknowledges that his clients include various segments of the equine industry.  What he hasn't cleared up, is just who they are.

Now that gambling is on the front burner and Damon is running point, some have questioned whether he shouldn't be more transparent when it comes to revealing who his clients are.  In my opinion, he should definitely do that.

Damon is a pretty determined kind of fellow.  His consulting business has been built upon a long track record of working in the racing industry.  However, his role as a state senator should never be compromised by his personal interests.

Damon, get this cleared up right away.  Although some say that all publicity is good publicity, this is one instance where the odds are against you.  Deal with this ASAP.

Feeding Their Addiction

Have you been keeping up with the legislative session in Frankfort?  In a nutshell they have come face to face with the reality that any number of government funded programs will have to be cut because there is insufficient revenue to keep them going.  But  just in time, the pusher man arrives to feed their addiction.

An economic-impact study conducted for Kentucky’s pro-casino groups projects that eight racetrack casinos would produce $1.14billion in income in 2015, the first year all expanded gambling sites would be fully operational.The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce released the report Monday. It was conducted by Spectrum Gaming Group, a New Jersey firm that specializes in casino industry studies. An executive summary said the consultants were hired by a “consortium of Kentucky horseracing interests.” [NKy.com]

For legislators this is like a cocaine addict finding a free pound of powder behind the seat of a rented truck.  I can just hear them saying now "Let the party begin".

But here's the problem.  If you give the legislature money to spend, they find ways to spend it.  This results in any number of newly created expenditures which brings to mind Ronald Reagan's quote that the closest thing on earth to eternal life is a government program.  That is where they get hooked.

If we get expanded gambling and then our politicians find new ways to spend all that money, we are at the mercy of the casino interests forever.  They could threaten to pull out of Kentucky, lobby for more favorable treatment and since they would then be the source of a large portion of the budget, they would be able to exercise considerable control over our government, smothering out citizen voices given enough time.

There is only one sure fire, 100% guaranteed way to escape addiction: never start taking the drug in the first place.

We must first elect enough people to the legislature that we can trust will use  any new source of revenue to pay existing bills and then, once that has happened, use the new source of revenue to cut the old source of revenue by reducing taxes.

Unless and until we get enough of those kind of folks in office, gambling revenues should be avoided like narcotics.

Gatewood Galbraith Dies In Sleep

Several news sources are reporting breaking news that well known lawyer and familiar candidate for Governor, Gatewood Galbraith, died over night at his home.

Details to follow when they become available.

WARNING, DANGER, BE ALERT!

Your financial well being, community morality, civil liberties and general welfare are now at risk as the Kentucky General Assembly convenes in Frankfort this week for a session bound to seduce someone to take some action which will tighten the shackles around the rest of us.  Be alert, become involved and stay tuned.

Nathan Smith Spends Big On Media

Lots of talk about Nathan Smith running for Congress might take a new turn.  He has just spent a rumored $200,000 in Louisville and Cincinnati media markets for his business. 

Nice jump start for a Congressional Campaign "Name ID strategy", and it's all legit.

 

Watch Out Frankfort, Here Comes Hatter!

When Alecia Webb-Edgington decided to run for Congress she nixed a re-election bid for her state house seat.  As people began to ponder who might run in her stead the usual suspects came to mind, but as soon as talk about David Hatter began, the room got as quiet as a mouse house with a cat on patrol.

David Hatter is a Fort Wright councilman and for that he gets a big "whoop-de-do".  But the reason he freezes the field with his serious talk about running has far more to do with his personality, his outspokenness and his notable success in business.

Hatter and his partner own Libertas Technologies, widely respected as one of the areas better success stories.  His regular appearances on television news, his blog about technology issues, his innovation in the field of software solutions, his role as the author of 11 books, teacher and winner of numerous awards tells more of the story, but not all.

Hatter is not one to pull punches.  He speaks his mind and in so doing reflects the sentiments of his district very well.  If Hatter runs, wins and begins to serve trust me, there will be no mamby pamby political crap coming out of this guys mouth.  Expect nothing but the unvarnished truth.

Hatter: the best choice in decades.  'Nuf said.

The Rise Of The New RINO

I just received a comment to an earlier post which I think makes a pretty good case for the argument that the common understanding of the acronym RINO (Republican In Name Only) might need a secondary definition.  At first the term was used to define liberals, progressives and moderates posing as republicans.

But lately another ideological group has emerged to some extent under the umbrella of the GOP.  At first they seemed to be core conservatives, dedicated to smaller government, lower taxes and free markets.  This group was identified as the TEA party.  But then, as I have talked about before, the cohesiveness of the TEA party, its energy and organization was harnessed by those with additional items on their agendas.

Many from both the original TEA party and those who piggybacked on it for their own purposes rallied behind Phil Moffett in the May 2011 Kentucky Gubernatorial primary.  They were attracted to the theme "It's about principles, and not about politics."  But even that theme was about politics in so far as it was used for the purpose of trying to win the votes of those attracted to it and to the extent that it defined one candidate as being different from the other.

Now as we head into another round of important elections certain voices are beginning to sound very familiar.  They contend that there is something inherently wrong with any candidate not selected by their faction within the GOP.  That much is fine, but what is worse is what seems to be their intention of either getting the candidate they want in the May primary, or threatening to continue the primary fight all the way through November harming the GOP chances to succeed with the duly elected nominee.

This kind of mind set suggests that there may very well be a new kind of RINO on the rise.  Not one born out of liberalism, progressivisim or former allegiance to the democratic party, but one born without any sense of teamwork, blind to the realities of the world of politics and so determined to have it their way all at once, that they would rather see the system collapse than gain ground in increments working through the republican officeholders.

Third party mindsets like these guarantee the success of liberals.  This could be the single most dangerous aspect of the new RINO.