Al Cross | Speeches are hint of politicking to come

[BridgeTheGap]

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The dinner included chicken, steak and some killer mousse cake. Western Kentucky barbecue would have been more fitting.

The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce's annual opening-of-the legislature dinner, on the first Thursday in January, was much like the political speaking at the Fancy Farm Picnic in Graves County on the first Saturday in August.

The likely gubernatorial nominees of the two major parties spoke back to back, referring to each other; the speaker of the House played comedian but ultimately statesman as he roasted speakers of both parties; and the minority caucus leaders contributed to a veritable circus of politics and public policy.

There were no Fancy Farm-type hecklers, of course, but the record crowd of more than 1,200 at the Lexington Convention Center was close to the typical number that actually listens to the speeches at St. Jerome's Catholic Church. And the audience got a preview of the expected summer face-off between Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear and Republican Senate President David Williams, with some clues to their strategy and tactics for the November election.

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20110109/COLUMNISTS12/301090043/1016/OPINION/Al+Cross+%7C+Speeches+are+hint+of+politicking+to+come