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Truth-telling by the Senate Minority Turtle.

via WDRB, Louisville.

INTERVIEWER: McConnell has become a national figure. But why should Kentuckians send him back to Washington?

MITCH McCONNELL: "For a fairly small state like ours to have someone who is a major player in the country is an enormous advantage to Kentucky because every time I'm in a negotiation, I always try to look for the things that I think will have the most adverse impact on us.

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It sure would be nice to see Mitch McConnell get the boot in Kentucky if Judd does decide to get in: Ashley Judd Senate Run: Actress, Activist Planning To Declare Candidacy, Sources Say:

Ashley Judd, the 44-year-old actress and social activist, has told key advisers and political figures that she is planning to announce her candidacy for U.S. Senate here this spring.

Judd told one close ally that she plans to announce her run for the Democratic nomination for the 2014 race “around Derby” -- meaning in early May when the Kentucky Derby brings national attention to Louisville and the Bluegrass State.

Reached for comment by email Saturday, Judd offered a not-quite-ironclad denial to The Huffington Post. “I am not sure who is saying this stuff, but it is not I! I’d prefer as a fan of your journalism that you stay accurate and credible. We told everyone who called us yesterday these stories are fabrications.”

But she declined to specify which "stories,” did not say what wasn't "accurate,” and did not respond when asked directly whether she had, in fact, decided to run or chosen a time to declare her intentions.

“I know she knows she has to declare soon,” said one source, a highly placed elected official who declined to be identified because he was discussing private plans.

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Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) is dismissing actress Ashley Judd as an "attractive woman" who does not deserve to be a Kentucky senator because she owns a home in Scotland.

During an interview with Paul on Sunday, CNN's Candy Crowley pointed out that a recent attack ad created by Karl Rove's Crossroad GPS suggested that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) was threatened by the possibility that Judd could take his Senate seat.

"Is he at this point looking weak?" Crowley wondered.

"You know, when I heard Ashley Judd might run for office, I thought maybe it was [the British] Parliament because she lives in Scotland half of the year," Paul smirked. "But no, I think really part of politics is making sure that people know about who you're running against."

"Ashley Judd is a famous actress, she's an attractive woman and presents herself well and -- from what I understand -- is articulate," he added. "But the thing is she doesn't really represent Kentucky. I mean, she was a representative for Tennessee last year. She lives in Tennessee. So, I think you do need to make sure people know about that so people don't think she's really from Kentucky or lives here."

According to her biography, Kentucky is Judd's childhood home. She moved there in 1972 after her parents divorced, and the actress is considering moving back to Kentucky to challenge McConnell.

"I cherish Kentucky, heart and soul, and while I'm very honored by the consideration, we have just finished an election, so let's focus on coming together to keep moving America's families, and especially our kids, forward," Judd said last year.

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Actress and environmental activist Ashley Judd has riled the coal industry of Kentucky with her sharp criticism of their sordid practices. In response someone made a poster of Ms. Judd, the point of which was to denigrate her. Hillbilly humor, or something.

(AP) LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A topless photo of Ashley Judd emblazoned on a poster that mocks the actress' outspoken opposition to mountaintop removal mining was on display at a coal industry-sponsored golf tournament in Kentucky.

"Ashley Judd makes a living removing her top, why can't coal miners?" the 5-by-3-foot poster reads in bold, black letters. It was hanging at a golf tournament Wednesday at StoneCrest Golf Course in Prestonsburg, Ky.

Judd is covering her breasts with her hands in the photo, which appears to be from a 2006 issue of Marie Claire magazine.

Judd said in a speech last month to the National Press Club that mountaintop removal, which blasts the tops off mountains to extract coal, is the "rape of Appalachia."

The entire speech was captured by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). Dave Neiwert wrote about it here at Crooks and Liars.

On June 9, 2010 artist and activist Ashley Judd spoke at the National Press Club. Her speech on mountaintop removal mining, and her ties to Kentucky, are moving and inspirational.

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Ashley Judd's caustic response to the poster and the golfers is below the fold. Judd doesn't suffer fools gladly and pulls no punches with them and their kind.

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