Last Night's Dinner - Steak and Potatoes; Today's Dessert - Sour Grapes

A good time was had by all.

Last night, the Louisville - Jefferson County Democratic Party held its Wendell H. Ford Dinner at the Executive West on Phillips Lane in Louisville, returning to the venerable hotel after a several-year absence based on a labor dispute grudge against the hotel's late owner Al J. Schneider. Mr. Schneider has gone on to his Eternal Reward so the local Party returned to its old haunt for this year's dinner. The crowd was estimated between 450 and 600 people, who enjoyed a large piece of thinly sliced steak, with some veggies, and a slice of Chess Pie, served with your choice of beverage (mine was coffee). A cocktail hour began the evening with libations available poolside before the crowd was directed into the cavernous and well decorated hall for the event. The Louisville Metro Police Color Guard presented the colors followed by an invocation (invoking only the Father's name, but not the Son), followed by the singing of the National Anthem by Jefferson County PVA Tony Lindauer, who has become our regular crooner at Jefferson County events. Years past have seen those duties fall to Anne Elizabeth Delahanty, Lisa Tanner, and Heather French Henry.

Among the 450 to 600 attendees were several Louisville Metro Council members and candidates (David Tandy, Ken Herndon, Tom Owen, Tina Ward-Pugh (boasting a "Meet Me in Ohio" Hillary Clinton t-shirt), Council President Jim King, Rick Blackwell, Vicki Aubrey Welch, Kungu Njuguna, and Brent Ackerson). Legislators in attendance included Senators Denise Harper Angel, Tim Shaughnessy, Gerald Neal, and Perry Clark, all of whom are running for reelection. From the House were Joni Jenkins, Tom Riner, Mary Lou Marzian, and Dennis Horlander. The evening was especially poignant for Horlander who accepted a posthumous Memorial Award on behalf on his aunt Nelle Horlander, one of the local Party's dearest and most supportive members who passed away a few weeks ago. Nelle was precinct captain for many years of the old B-49, which was later renumbered as Q-122 voting at Hartstern School on Fern Valley Road. She was one of the few political friends I knew through my Noble side of the family, as opposed to the Hockensmith side where they were all political one way or another. Several awards were delivered - to Nicole Candler, Kungu Njuguna, Dottie Winfield, and someone else whose name (and speech) escapes lo these twenty-four hours later. The John W. Crimmins Democrat of the Year Award was presented to Jefferson County Attorney Irv Maze, who was first elected to the Jefferson County Committee in 1980. Speeches were delivered by Maze, Congressman John Yarmuth, and Lieutenant Governor Dan Mongiardo (who was standing in for the governor, whose father-in-law had fallen ill). The lieutenant governor addressed this crowd of Louisvillians with a speech about new building and construction in Lexington and something else about rabbit hunting - not that it mattered - Jefferson County has always been good to Daniel Mongiardo at election time, last year being no exception thanks in large part to the efforts of the aforementioned Jefferson County Attorney. That was last night, and as I said a good time was had by all.

Today a meeting of the Kentucky Democratic Party State Central Executive Committee was held at the Wendell H. Ford Democratic Party Headquarters on Democrat Drive in Frankfort. After addresses by United States Senate candidates Greg Fischer, Michael Cassaro, and Bruce Lunsford (all of which were taped by Jim Pence of the Ditch Mitch and Hillbilly Democrat blogs), the Party got down to business. We discussed a number of things, which if you had been in attendance, you would know about given that all meetings of the Party are open to all registered Democrats in Kentucky. The meeting devolved into several parliamentary motions including two to adjourn so as to avoid the discussion at hand, both of which failed.

This is where the Sour Grapes come in - on my part. I've been working for sometime - somewhat erratically since 2006 - to change parts of the By-Laws pertaining to Jefferson County - and Fayette County as well. I've sent notices to many different folks outlining these changes but had received no first-hand opposition in return. Today I was handed my oppostion on a large platter - much bigger than last night's steak - by one member from Jefferson County, and second by another member from Fayette County, neither one of which had ever expressed any opposition in the past. Truthfully, this was my fault. I guess I hadn't communicated all this as well as I had thought. And, after the vote, I took the floor and took issue with another member's words on the matter. At that point I said something that I believed at the time was right, but came home and looked up and now know it wasn't. What I said was wrong; something I'll need to correct and will in an email later this evening. I've been operating under the erroneous idea that the nomination of a legislative candidate in Jefferson Counmty in 2006 was not done according to the By-Laws, even though I supported the person nominated. I WAS WRONG. I should not have been so upset after the vote and I don't like the taste of the Sour Grapes in my mouth. So, I wanted, with this second part of tonight's entry to set the record straight, admit my error, and apologise.

One more thing - it is good to have Chad Aull back on the Committee.