The RP’s KY Political Brief Special Edition — ALL the Fancy Farm News and Links

Subscribe FOR FREE to The RP’s KY Political Brief – an email prepared every weekday morning by former journalist Kakie Urch – with links to all of the day’s Kentucky political news. Click here NOW.

Kakie Urch, the longtime Kentucky journalist who prepares The RP’s KY Political Brief every weekday morning, has outdone herself and found everything that was written, taped and videoed about yesterday’s Fancy Farm picnic, and compiled it for our growing list of KPB subscribers.  Enjoy your free sampling below:

FANCY FARM *EXTRA*
On Saturday, Aug. 3, the 133 annual Fancy Farm Picnic was held in Graves County, Ky. The annual event features BBQ, crazy hats, cars, signs, costumes and rowdy crowds. It sets the tone for the Kentucky political season, which this year features the heavyweight bout for the U.S. Senate 2014.  KPB’S IN-DEPTH ROUNDUP OF COVERAGE:

PRE-GAMING: PARTY BREAKFASTS, BEAN SUPPERS ARE THE UNDERCARD
ON THE BUS: ALISON LUNDERGAN GRIMES ON ISSUES, FINALLY
One of the calls from the press throughout the pre-Fancy Farm festivities was “When Will Alison Take A Question?” The candidate glided past press lines without addressing issues. But in this pre-FF interview, she tells HuffPost’s Howard Fineman that she is pro-choice down the line and would delay the implementation of the Affordable Care Act for small businesses. She also talks about female mentors. And the Chippendale Dancers. [HuffPost]

THE MAIN EVENT: MUTTON, PORK BBQ, EIGHT STUMP SPEECHES, 12,000 PEOPLE
CANDIDATES SPAR AT ANNUAL PICNIC
Jack Brammer and Beth Musgrave report from Western Kentucky. McConnell says “This is an election about where America is going to go.” Lundergan Grimes says, “Come 2015, you can call me “Senator.”
[H-L]

MCCONNELL: ‘I TAKE KENTUCKY’S FIGHT TO THE LIBERALS EVERY DAY’
Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, in his Fancy Farm speech, highlighting the strength of his leadership position and the way it allows him to represent Kentuckians against the Obama agenda. [The Daily Caller]

COURIER-JOURNAL: FANCY FARM PACKAGE
The Courier-Journal pulls its special package layout for its Web presentation of Fancy Farm coverage. Includes several strong videos by Matt Stone, coverage by Joe Gerth, et al. [www.courier-journal.com]

QUIPS, JABS, RIPOSTES, SMACK: CALL IT WHAT YOU WILL, IT’S FANCY FARM
Ronnie Ellis of CNHI News Service rounds ups what you really came for – the quotable quotes. The bon mots. Whose kidding whom, there’s very little “bon” going on. But it’s the red meat they came for. [CNHI in Ashland Independent]

MCCONNELL TALKS TOUGH ON OBAMA AT FANCY FARM
Ronnie Ellis of CNHI reports from the picnic. {CNHI News Service in Ashland Independent]

THE SENATE RACE SPEECHES: GRIMES, BEVIN, MARKSBERRY 3-on-1 AGAINST MCCONNELL
Ryan Alessi takes a comprehensive look at the Senate speeches. With speech highlights video. [CN|2}

MCCONNELL, BEVIN, LUNDERGAN GRIMES TRADE BARBS AT FANCY FARM
Jonathan Meador takes the trip to Fancy Farm. Here’s his take. [WFPL]

MCCONNELL NATIONALIZES HIS RE-ELECTION: A VOTE FOR MY OPPONENT IS A VOTE FOR REID
Looking at the way Mitch McConnell went on the offensive, but not at all specifically against challenger Alison Lundergan Grimes. [CN|2]

FANCY FARM PUTS KY IN THE POLITICAL SPOTLIGHT
Scott Wartman reports from Fancy Farm [KY ENQUIRER]

IN KENTUCKY, MCCONNELL AND GRIMES TRADE BARBS AT QUIRKY CAMPAIGN STOP
Here’s the account of Fancy Farm running in today’s Washington Post. {WaPo]

MCCONNELL, LUNDERGAN GRIMES TEE OFF IN KENTUCKY SENATE RACE
A look at Fancy Farm from USA Today. [USAT]

KENTUCKY’S SENATE RACE OFF TO A WILD START AT ANNUAL PICNIC
Buzzfeed’s Kate Nocera makes the scene in Graves County to take a look at Kentucky’s annual political tradition. [Buzzfeed]

KENTUCKY TEA PARTY CANDIDATE BEVIN OFF TO A GOOD START
Matt Bevin, of Louisville, is a challenger for the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate in 2014 and made his Fancy Farm debut on Saturday. Looks like a thumbs up from Howard Fineman. [HuffPost]

MCCONNELL, SENATE CHALLENGERS SHARE STAGE IN KY
Sen. Mitch McConnell and the challengers for the Kentucky U.S. Senate seat took the stage in Fancy Farm, Ky. [AP in Boston Herald]

FANCY FARM INTRODUCES START TO POLITICAL SEASON
Report with video [WDRB]

GATEWOOD GALBRAITH’S SPIRIT CARRIES ON AT FANCY FARM
When perennial gubernatorial candidate and Lexington attorney Gatewood Galbraith passed away in 2012, Kentucky lost one of its most unique political voices. Known for running on the legalization of marijuana, for riding in Willie Nelson’s hemp oil powered Mercedes, for a big cigar and a big hat, Gatewood embodied the spirit of Fancy Farm. “Gatewood’s Army” carries on the memory. [C-J Blog]

ANALYSIS: NOTHING IN KENTUCKY HAPPENS OUT OF CONTEXT
TOM EBLEN: MCCONNELL’S DAY AT FANCY FARM SHOWS LONG 15 MONTHS AHEAD
Herald-Leader columnist Tom Eblen was on the scene at Fancy Farm and puts what he saw there through his long experience with Kentucky politics. His finding: Mitch McConnell may have gotten a glimpse how rough his road back to the Senate may be, with two challengers on the stump. [H-L Eblen]

BURNT ENDS, TWEETS AND SWEET TEA
The RP site hosted a live tweet feed, which you can review from the website if you missed the real-time fun. Includes some great one-off photos from politicians’ and reporters’ Twitter and Instagram feeds. [The Recovering Politician]

IMAGES: PICTURES
HERALD-LEADER PHOTO GALLERY  [H-L Photo]
C-J PHOTO GALLERY [C-J Photo]

VIDEO: INSTAMENTARY, SOUNDBITES, COLOR
STATE REPRESENTATIVE DOCUMENTS FIRST FANCY FARM ON “INSTAMENTARY”
State Rep. Jonathan Shell (R-Lancaster) used his Instagram feed to create an “Instamentary” of his first Fancy Farm. [http://instagram.com/jshellky]

THE PEOPLE MAKE FANCY FARM
Links to a great people feature and player for all other C-J Fancy Farm video. [C-J Video]

RP ON THE SCENE WITH :30 VIDEOS OF MOVERS, SHAKERS
The Recovering Politician Jonathan Miller (former Treasurer of KY) was at Fancy Farm covering the action as a “civilian” for the first time. He got video comment from many of his former government colleagues. [The Recovering Politician]

GOVERNOR’S RACE:2015 GOVERNOR’S RACE HEAVILY OVERSHADOWED AT FANCY FARM
With several potential candidates in attendance and several others not making an appearance at 2013 Fancy Farm, the usual hinting and hat-tossing about the real power position in Kentucky politics – the governor’s chair – took a back seat to the marquee Senate race. But with big names like Abramson, Conway, Comer, Edelen, Luallen and others in the hopper and Alison Lundergan Grimes’ name out because she is in the Senate fight, it won’t be long. [C-J]

TRIO GETS OFF TO A START ON 2015 GOVERNOR’S RACE
Come for the Senate race, stay for the governor hints. Ronnie Ellis takes a look at some of the people at the annual Fancy Farm picnic who may be eyeing the 2015 governor’s race. [CNHI News Service in Ashland Independent]

AG JACK CONWAY (D) AND AG COMMISH JAMES COMER (R) ON GOVERNOR HOPES
Herald-Leader video. Asks two possible candidates the question that is often answered at Fancy Farm: Will you run for governor next time?  [H-L Video]

ON THE KENTUCKY SHOWS:
“One To One with Bill Goodman,” KET 1 p.m. Sunday Aug. 4: Guest, David Gergen
“Fancy Farm Highlights Show,” (with Renee Shaw and Bill Goodman) KET 8 p.m. Monday Aug. 5
.
DAYS UNTIL : Next fundraising deadline: 57 … Primary Election filing deadline: 177…  Ky. 2014 Primary Election day: 289 … Fancy Farm 2014: 363 … 2014 General Election day: 457

TODAY’S FRONT PAGES: The Courier-Journal … Lexington Herald-Leader … The Kentucky Enquirer …Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer … Bowling Green Daily News … The Winchester Sun … Danville Advocate-Messenger … Maysville Ledger Independent … Madisonville Messenger – Note: Some front pages are not available daily.

TODAY IN POLITICAL HISTORY: 1987: Repeal of the FCC Fairness Doctrine which required equal coverage in political races by broadcast radio and television.

BIRTHDAYS – Blowing out candles today: President Barack Obama, 52…Jeff Gordon, 42…Billy Bob Thornton, 58…Actor Richard Belzer, 69…Author Dennis Lehane, 42.

JOHN Y’s MUSINGS FROM THE MIDDLE – John Y. Brown III: ICYMI Check out John Y.’s Fancy Farm reflections, a beautiful account of his moment in the (hotter than expected) sun, on The Recovering Politician site in Fancy Farm Memories. (It goes with the “boxing” theme we’re using today.)

COMING MONDAY: Your regular edition of KPB – right to your inbox. Click here to subscribe,