Politics on the road in Kentucky

I took a quick round trip to Frankfort today. My first observation is that there is no hint of a gasoline shortage there. In fact, you can find gas for as little as $3.12 a gallon.

On the way, I drove through one of those great community festivals that happen all over the Commonwealth in its small towns. Republicans and Democrats were actively handing out materials, especially about Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and his challenger Bruce Lunsford. I told my parents about the talk down here of the prospect of Lamar Alexander becoming minority leader. I'll just add that they're not fans of McConnell and they both pointed out increased interest around Kentucky in Lunsford's campaign. As I drove along, I saw a few signs saying "Ditch Mitch."

I saw more McCain-Palin bumper stickers and yard signs than I've seen down here, but there were plenty for Obama-Biden, too. That race is also tightening in Kentucky, but no one had any doubts about McCain carrying the state.

Fuming in Nashville

I've been running on fumes most of the weekend. I finally got gas today at the Bellevue Kroger. The wait was only 20 minutes, which wasn't bad at all. The process was organized with attendants directing traffic.

Quite a contrast from Friday night! Knowing I wouldn't be able to find any gas, Bobby and I took his car to get a milkshake. Up ahead the police were already working one accident and I saw the results of another one that had just taken place. I'm not surprised by the rumors of fighting at the pumps.

It's hard to say at this point whether Friday night or Sunday afternoon is going to be typical of the next few months. It's amazing how much unrest is just beneath the surface.

Speaking of oil...

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mike Padgett devotes his Earth Day message to alternative energy sources. He hits Senator Lamar Alexander on gas prices and vote on a recent energy bill:

In 2008, the average Tennessee family will spend close to $5,000 on gas.
“A fellow told me last night he spent more than $90 to fill up his pickup,” Padgett said. “Remember when gas was $1.24 a gallon? That was the average cost before Senator Alexander took office.

“Americans expect their leaders to try to fix the problems that make life tough. But when an energy bill came up in the Senate last December to enforce better mileage and develop other energy sources, Senator Alexander, President Bush and other Republicans threatened to scuttle it.

“Why? Because it would have ended some of the huge tax breaks going to the oil industry. Only when that part of the bill – along with some of the alternative energy funding – was taken out did they agree to let it go through."

His opponent Bob Tuke doesn't say a great deal about energy policy on his site, so I've signed up for his email updates. Tuke does mention the rising gas prices but mainly with respect to its impact upon family budgets.

Senator Alexander recently wrote about energy policy from the point of view of TVA's efforts to find clean energy source to reduce our dependence on coal. Yesterday he spoke about the importance of setting aside more land for parks as a viable form of conservation. In particular, he addresses the Gulf of Mexico Security Act of 2006, which takes oil and natural gas production royalties and devotes them to the Land and Water Conservation Fund. I'm not sure how that addresses the price of gas, but I'd be happy for someone to post and make the connection.

So basically, all three candidates have noticed the price of gas is going up. Padgett, so far, has the clearest message on why that should be a liability for one of his opponents. Whether any of the three candidates can match some concrete policy to the "Gee, gas prices are too high" rhetoric remains to be seen.

Populism West Nashville style

Here's my bad camera photo of a piece of protest art on 51st Avenue North in West Nashville with the title "Fat Cat Oil," part of which is cut off by my car window. Neighborhoods like West Nasvhille are really feeling the pinch. We'll see how this sentiment translates into votes this November.