McConnell, Paul and Conway compete for Fancy Farm bragging rights
(CNN) - The major powerbrokers of Kentucky politics gathered Saturday for the annual Fancy Farm Picnic, a rough and tumble political event in which candidates serve up their best stemwinder and hope it's not drowned out by the raucous audience.
At this year's event, Senate hopefuls Rand Paul and Jack Conway were joined onstage by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and much to the delight of the crowd, the three heavyweights each took their turn slinging one-liners.
If a candidate overruns their allotted speaking time at Fancy Farm, they are shooed offstage by a band, just like the Academy Awards. And the gathering is probably the only political event in the country that features an opening prayer that includes the line: "Lord, may our words be gracious and tender today, for tomorrow we might have to eat them."
Last year, the event gained notoriety after Democratic Attorney General Jack Conway overstepped the established rules and used a forbidden word, telling the audience he is "one tough son of a bitch."
Paul, an ophthalmologist from Bowling Green, will face Conway in November's general election.
On Saturday, the candidates went to town, with Paul and McConnell focusing just as much on the Democratic establishment in Washington as they did on Conway.
And even though McConnell had endorsed Paul's opponent for the party nomination, the veteran senator delivered a full-throated endorsement of the Tea Party favorite.
"We need Rand Paul to keep us from drowning in a sea of debt," a very animated McConnell said before adding, "Rand Paul has spent his entire professional career helping people out of ambulances. Jack Conway has spent his professional career chasing ambulances."
Conway was not to be outdone, however, delivering a biting line about Paul.
"This is an important election," Conway said. "It's not about me and it's not about a waffling pessimist who just wants to be the prince of cable T.V."
Rhetoric at Fancy Farm can become overheated, but the event plays an important role in Kentucky politics, serving as the unofficial kickoff to the general election campaign season. Saturday's event is the 130th time the event has been held.
From CNN Politics
- Pressure builds on Biden to act on guns in wake of Colorado mass shooting March 23, 2021 01:03 pm
- Sidney Powell argues in new court filing that no reasonable people would believe her election fraud claims March 23, 2021 12:15 pm
- Postmaster General set to announce 10-year plan including longer mail delivery times and cuts to post office hours March 23, 2021 12:02 pm
- Progressive group launches $3.2 million advertising buy to push federal voting law March 23, 2021 11:01 am
- US and allies announce sanctions against Chinese officials for 'serious human rights abuses' against Uyghurs March 23, 2021 10:32 am
- Analysis: Trump's army takes aim at 2022 touting his election lies March 23, 2021 05:01 am
the two retards from the party of NO should be under the bus, they do not belong anywhere else.....
So shocking! The 2008 Republican Vice Presidential candidate is raising money for the Republican party! Mr. Riley, do you wake up in a new world every day?
Conway is toast!
They are proud of not helping the president clean up their mess!!! They are hoping the country fails so they can regain power, how sad!! I think a lot of americans will remember and not vote for these clowns!!!
With righty and white supremacist like Angle who wanted to use second amendment, it is better for Michelle and Sasha to take vacation outside of USA.
Sounds fun. I'd like to see the band shoo a politician off stage.
Their biggest ASSET is Sorry Sarah the GOP new Bi lingual spokes person for the GOP and Tea party. Biggest problem is her limitation as a bilingualist .She specializes in the one word specialty called [COJONES.] not sure how much she actually knows what she is talking about.
sounds like a good venu for our repo brothers. They are good at on liners. Actually on worders NO NO No
aaaah southern politics. Bunch of good ol boys. Most are repos or tea baggers.
As one who would love to see a Democrat hold a Senate seat in Kentucky, I hope this boosts Conway's poll numbers. And yes I live in Kentucky so I can speak about this issue.
I love the "party of no" talk. Where were you in 2000-2004 when it was the Dems blocking Bush's major initiatives with filabuster after filabuster? Obama had a 60
Vote majority much of the past 2 years. He didn't need any republicans anyway. That's why these past two years have been all about the spending. The republicans have only done what they could not to push this country over the mountain of debt!