Sorry, bado463 … but it seems that the people of Kentucky approve of Gov. Beshear’s actions so far. A poll today says that he’s enjoying a 60% approval rating, which is pretty high for an American politician: http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080930/NEWS01/809300325. The poll was taken last week, though, so it could easily change if this thing drags out over the course of a few months, which it very well may do.
Unofficially, I believe that Gov. Beshear’s actions are gestures to Kentucky’s huge horse racing interests. I don’t think it’s going to be successful, and I think that maybe they know it won’t be successful, but it’s the sort of “moral” crusade that a lot of U.S. voters gobble up.
It’s too bad, too. Kentucky really is a beautiful state with some really friendly people, but all this is just going to increase its reputation as some kind of unsophisticated backwater.