Conservative Musings

Surprise Agreement

I'm in rather surprised agreement with a Courier-Journal editorial today, concerning Eight Belles' tragedy in this past Saturday's Kentucky Derby.  Their comments are some of the most balanced I've ever heard from them.

On the more unbalanced side comes PETA's request to have Eight Belles jockey suspended.  The  Kentucky Horse Racing Authority yesterday has defended Gabriel Saez's actions as her jockey.  Wise move by the authority.

As much as I was pulling for Big Brown on Saturday, my memories of the 134th Run for the Roses has been seriously clouded by this accident.  Yet that is was it was...a very bad accident.  I hate accidents as much as anyone else.  In today's society of posting blame on someone or something, we've taken way too much away from what amounts to an accident of life.

Yes, I agree with those who wish to make sure this does not happen again to one of life's beautiful animals.  Much as we've made automobile and aircraft travel safer thru the years, so should we do the same for these magnificent thoroughbreds.  Let's not let a blame game get in the way of moving forward.

-Colonel Steve

Sad Kentucky Derby Ending

Our condolences to the owners and trainers of Eight Belles.  She hung with the boys today, beating out 18 of them for a 2nd place in the Kentucky Derby.

Sadly, some folks (and their blogs) don't miss a political jab in anything.  As much as I dislike Hillary Clinton and the reasons behind her bets, this is not the time to make digs about it.

-Colonel Steve

Pat Day's "Job" in Retirement

It's nice to see the platform that fame allows you to have.  A platform to present the passion of your heart.  Pat Day has used it well in the Louisville area, as well as his original home state of Colorado, to discuss his passion - his passionate relationship with Jesus Christ.

I'm also impressed with the platform that the Courier-Journal allowed him to have here.  Not often you see them allow Jesus such prominence in a story.

-Colonel Steve

Thunder Over Louisville

Every year the city of Louisville hosts a big fireworks display called Thunder Over Louisville to kick off the Kentucky Derby Festival.  It is considered the largest annual fireworks display in North America.  The event is preceded during the day with a fairly large air show.

This wasn't the year to go down to the riverfront and watch it.  It was a gray, cloudy day with temperatures hovering around 50. 

However, we did watch it on television.  As usual, the display was spectacular and the accompanying music was so-so.  I greatly enjoyed the Star Wars, Star Trek, and other space-themed music which was accompanied by fireworks stars and planets.  The other music was a hodge-podge of styles including rap, show tunes, 50's tunes, etc.  Very little of it fit together well enough to create an aural landscape complementary to the fireworks. 

The other pleasant part of this event is imagining the conniption fits it must give the lefties.  The environmentalists hate the smoke and the noise.  The anti-war crowd hates the military aircraft and the martial and patriotic nature of some of the fireworks music.  And the ACLU had to have been trying to call it's lawyers when they played "Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory" at this civic-sponsored event!

--Red

A New Restaurant to Visit

I'm sure everyone's heard by now of last Friday's Louisville event with O.J. Simpson.  After a week, most folks seem to be falling on the side of the restaurant owner.  Amen!  For those interested in voting with your dollars, here's Jeff Ruby's website.  Maybe we'll see ya' there!

-Colonel Steve

Cruising Plan a Success?

This weekend's Broadway cruising went off without a hitch.  That is, unless you count that the city backed down from it's original plan.  This year, the metro police were planning to close off Broadway to keep cruising from occurring.  That was until the threat of moving the cruising over to the exclusive east side Lake Forest neighborhood.

Sounds to me like the city police flinched and backed down.  Not a good precedent in my opinion.

-Colonel Steve

Some of the Last of Derby Festivities

Tomorrow, I will be off to one of the last Derby festivities going on.  Starting at Noon, I'll be over at the Kentucky Colonels Reunion BBQ.  This will take place at one of the sites the Colonel's donations have helped to support, Louisville's Saint Joseph's Childrens Home.

-Colonel Steve

Derby Fever

The Kentucky Derby Festival in many people's eyes has now officially started.  The whole 2 weeks leading up to the Derby is full of festivities.

Last night, the festival got it's start with Thunder over Louisville.  Yeah, other functions happen before then, like Friday's There Off! Luncheon, but everyone really starts the countdown to Derby with the fireworks.

Some of my favorite Derby activities include Thunder (although not this year), the Chow Wagon, the Great Balloon Glow and Race, the Great Steamboat Race, the Pegasus Parade, and of course the Kentucky Derby itself on May 6th.

This year, for the first time, I do intend on attending the Kentucky Colonels Barbecue on the afternoon of May 7th. 

-Colonel Steve