AFL-CIO to Beshear: Are You Nuts?

Many times in the past here on The Valley Report as well as privately among friends, I have stated my long-held belief that Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson would not seek another term. The reasons were often varied and occasionally complicated, yet I remain confident in my assessment of the situation. I even went as far as to make a large cash wager on the issue and expect to collect a rather handsome amount when this debacle is over.

We have since learned that Governor Beshear, in one of the heaviest and most terrible mistakes of his soon-to-be-over political career, is seeking to add Abramson to his ticket as the candidate for Lt. Governor. Many good people that follow these things closely are upset over the idea. In today's Courier Journal, Joe Gerth reports that Kentucky AFL-CIO President Bill Londrigan has gone on record opposing the addition of Abramson as a running mate.

In the article, Londrigan said, "Mayor Abramson has established a long record of antipathy towards organized labor, both during his tenure as Mayor of Louisville as well as the merged Metro Government." Truer words were never spoken. Naturally, one of the mayor's spokespersons squawked about how Jerry is a friend of the working man and how he hadn't made any decisions about his future. Those are two lies told right in a row.

Not only is this likely to destroy the Democrats' chance of retaining the Governor's Mansion in 2011, it also appears to be a foregone conclusion. People in the know in and around Frankfort have stated the Beshear/Abramson team is a "done deal".

Let me know what you think about a Beshear/Abramson ticket. I really want to hear what people have to say about this.