Joe Sonka January 9th, 2008

(crossposted at BlueGrassRoots and DailyKos, go recommend it!)

Why will Andrew Horne beat Mitch McConnell? Because he will not just win over people in Louisville and Lexington. He will win over rural voters. People like Tim Havrilek.

Havrilek (possible Czech brother?) commented yesterday about how he was going to hear Horne speak in Hopkinsville that night. He was quite skeptical of Horne, but eager to find out more about him. Havrilek, as you can tell from his blog, is probably a little right of center, though not a far right-winger.

Havrilek saw Horne, and was quite impressed.

I had the opportunity to meet and speak at length with Col. Andrew Horne tonight and was quite surprised at his candor and understanding of the issues important to Rural and Western Kentucky. Answering my questions for almost 30 minutes, Col. Horne addressed all eight issues that I selected as a sampling. Many of these issues have been a draw back for most Democrats seeking to go to Washington the last 15 years. I found Horne to be impressive in his delivery and appreciated his honesty. At no time did Col. Horne try to dodge a question or spin an answer. He was forthright and appeared eager to hear about some of the issues that affect the Pennyrile.

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Col. Horne made it pretty clear that he believes in the Constitution and that his political convictions were not the convictions of a Democrat or a Republican but were convictions derived by someone who believes in the United States Constitution.

I found Col. Horne to be unique in his positions and philosophy about issues. Whereas we in Rural Kentucky have always required a litmus test for our candidates, Col. Horne seemed to make his candidacy very simple in this regard, If the Constitution affords you the right to do something then he supports your right to do so as protected under the Constitution.

As a Conservative on most issues, I'm known for being a hard sell for Democrats trying to get elected down here but I will have to admit that I found Col. Andrew Horne very appealing. He has all the qualities of a good candidate. While not giving up his personal beliefs and support of issues like the enviorment, Col. Horne came across as someone who is practical in his approach to finding solutions to our Nations problems. It was obvious to me that Col. Horne was very sensitive to the prevailing view that Republicans and Democrats have failed the middle class and that Rural voters are looking for new leadership that will provide a no non-sense and common sense approach to government. While we don't always like what others do, I believe Col. Horne will fight to preserve our God given rights and the rights of others whom we may not always agree with. For Col. Horne it is not about left or right, liberal or conservative, Democrat or Republican its about an oath he took to protect, defend and uphold the Constitution of the United States for all Americans.

It is still a little early but I think Col. Andrew Horne may have enough matches in his box to start a big fire down here in Western Kentucky.

A big fire, indeed.

McConnell will surely trot out the liberal boogeyman against Horne, the cut-and-runner, tax-and-spend label that appears to be the only campaign tactic that people like Mitch McConnell know. For Mitch, this usually works.

But not this year.

People are fed up with politics as usual in Washington. They are fed up with politicians that enable the incompetence of people like George W. Bush. They are fed up seeing their tax dollars go to fund "bridges to nowhere" in far away states because a Senator wanted to reward contributors while their collegues, like Mitch, look the other way while our deficit grows even larger. They are tired of seeing our soldiers put their lives on the line for a government that would prefer to sit back and do nothing while we do all of the work. They are fed up with politicians like Mitch McConnell who refuse to admit that there is a health care crisis in this country and that drastic measures are needed. They are fed up with career politicians like Mitch McConnell that would rather cynically obstruct popular legislation and blame the other side, than help move our country forward.

Lt. Col. Andrew Horne is the candidate that they will be looking for. Honesty, integrity, experience and straight-talk. That's what will cut into McConnell's support in Western Kentucky and other rural or "conservative" areas.

Enjoy D.C. while it lasts, Mitch. Your time is up.

• Andrew Horne , Mitch McConnell , Rural America
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