State Update

Fletcher: 'File and run'

Beleaguered Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher (R) sounds like he's had it with all of his detractors -- in his own party. The detractors are mouthing off more and more these days, even after a judge ruled that Fletcher can't be prosecuted for violating hiring laws as long as he's in office.

Secretary of State Trey Grayson's been one of the more vocal critics, stoking speculation that he wants Fletcher's job. Here's what Grayson said at a rally in southwest Kentucky, according to the AP:

Meanwhile, Grayson chided Republicans during his speech for not following through on campaign promises to clean up the mess in Frankfort.

"We didn't mean justifying questionable behavior because the other guy did it too," he said. "At least that's not what I meant. When I said let's clean up the mess in Frankfort, I meant that we needed to change the whole culture in Frankfort, because state government was broken."

Among the other state GOP leaders to question Fletcher is Fletcher's own running mate, Lt. Gov. Steve Pence. He too, is being talked about as a potential challenger to Fletcher in 2007. The governor is not amused:

A defiant Gov. Ernie Fletcher, nearly a week after state Republican officials rebuffed his choice for the party's top committee, on Thursday challenged his GOP critics to a political duel.

Fletcher told his critics - who have been mounting lately - they should sign up for the 2007 governor's race if they don't think he can win.

"If folks want to be governor, let them do like I did when I wanted to be governor and do some things for the commonwealth. File and run," Fletcher said Thursday after a Kentucky State Police promotion ceremony in Louisville.

He may just get his wish.

How about a nice stroll to work?

Some people would kill for a commute of only a few hundred feet, especially when the house you live in looks like this and your office looks like this. But Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher (R) apparently makes the commute in a Lincoln Towncar, and now The Associated Press is asking why:

In Kentucky, the lawns of the Capitol and the mansion are separated only by a narrow tree-shaded street, but Fletcher routinely rides to and from his office. In the meantime, his administration is encouraging Kentuckians to walk more as part of a statewide fitness initiative to combat obesity, diabetes and heart disease. The administration has begun running radio announcements calling on residents to walk or bike more.

The Kentucky governor makes no apologies for riding to work.

"I think that's been a tradition for a long time," he said. "That's what security likes."

Not only does the AP story provide us with the stock quotes from Democrats saying Fletcher should practice what he preaches, but it also gives us a glimpse of what other governors do for their commutes.

Across the country, several governors who live near state Capitols routinely walk to work. Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack sometimes jogs the three miles from the Capitol to his home. Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer walks, with his dog Jag, seven blocks to his office. And Nevada Gov. Kenny Guinn routinely walked the 10 blocks to his office before he had hip replacement surgery.

Like Fletcher, Govs. Chris Gregoire in Washington state, Rick Perry in Texas and Haley Barbour in Mississippi routinely ride to work from their homes next door.

Who knows? Barbour just launched a get-healthy initiative too. As the Clarion-Ledger reported a few weeks ago:

Maybe now Barbour'll start walking to work. Or maybe he'll just read about his short commute in the paper.

"Let's face it, those of us who grew up in Mississippi -- and particularly up in the Delta like I did -we're used to the worst of it," Gov. Haley Barbour said. "We cooked everything in lard, put sugar on anything. If you couldn't fry it, you couldn't eat it.

"Heck," he said, "I've even had fried ice cream."

Barbour pledged Thursday to "set an example" for the rest of the state in following a healthy lifestyle from now on.

Best wishes

Recently, both New York Gov. George Pataki (R) and Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher (R) have undergone surgery and are still hospitalized. We wish them both well.

Pataki is suffering intestinal problems after having his appendix removed. Fletcher spent his 10th day in the hospital after having his gall bladder removed. Connecticut Gov. Jodi Rell (R) was involved in a car accident after she was clipped by a teenage driver, but the governor emerged unscathed.