Kentucky: California

White Male Liberty Patriots are aflutter all over Kentucky:
Bob Resnick didn't believe all the right-wing militia conspiracy theories — the FEMA internment camps or the government coffins stockpiled for the day the feds declare martial law and round up dissenters. But they made him wonder.

Then America's economy tumbled and the nation elected Barack Obama, and the resulting chatter about socialist incursion, rampant gun control and a government takeover of health care made him fear where the nation was heading.

So the 43-year-old disabled Louisvillian searched the Internet for local militia groups that seemed to echo his misgivings.

“The way everything's going nowadays, if the economy tanks and they do declare martial law, and they do like California with all the riots and stuff, I'd like to know I've got a group I can be with so I'm not on my own,” he said.

As someone who works with entrepreneurs trying to establish "green energy" enterprises, I'd like to see nothing better than instant success for these folks. But the truth is, it'll be a hard slog for years to come to establish their industry.

Joel Kotkin explains why in Forbes:

All told, green jobs constitute barely 700,000 positions across the country--less than 0.5% of total employment. That's about how many jobs the economy lost in January this year. [A new study] finds that, for the most part, green jobs constitute a negligible factor in employment--and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Policymakers, he warns, should avoid "overpromising about the jobs and investment we can expect from government spending to support the green economy.

Got my hands on the report, and it confirms everything that was leaked to Jake from the campaign this weekend.

Here's the trainwreck funny:

• Fundraising Managment Group was paid over $30,000... to raise a pitiful $300k. But hey, they didn't have much to work with.
• Bluegrass Mailing received $18,000 for their services. Who are they? Oh, just another non-Union company. Well, just another non-Union company that worked for Mitch McConnell's campaign last year. Niiiiice.
• Kim Geveden actually got paid!!!!!!!! But only around $1,800 a month. Still, that debt got slightly smaller... congrats, Kim!!!
• CarryOn Interactive was given $1,000 for website development services. Who are they? Well, they are based in LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

Today Gurney Norman was sworn in as Poet Laureate of Kentucky. I know that most of you check this site to hear my opinions on Appalachian literature, but nonetheless I'll be brief. If you'll indulge me a quick post about Gurney, I promise that I'll include at least one (1) tasteless and crude joke about Republicans.

Gurney writes about Appalachia, but his writing has also helped shape Appalachia. That is, his characters are a reaction to the region, but the region has reacted to his characters just as much. Whenever I read his work, I'm so taken with the sound of his characters' voices that when I put down the book I can't help but speak like them, think like them, and to what degree I comprehend it, act like them.