This has been somewhat abuzz in the Kentucky blogs and I'm not sure what to make of it. It does raise several questions, mainly, was Mitch vindictive in having her job? Obviously and undeniably, I'm far from a McConnell fan but I try to be reasonably objective in listening to both sides. Will the McConnell team offer an explanation or will they, like Graeme Frost, just ignore it and hope to buy it away?

Mark:

How on earth does this incident raise a question of McConnell's involvement? Sheer conjecture on your part on that one. But I'm glad to see someone paying attention to some of the crazy stuff the Nutroots have been churning out. If Republican blogs or websites had been half as crazy as the liberal KY blogs are, you can bet it'd be all over the web.... witness the T-Shirts KYRepublican.com sold back in 2004 or coverage of Bret Hall's work.

just a old Ky voter,
i like to go to one of Mitch campaign speeches but i don't have 250.00, does he give any free ones?Mitch can vote against the schip bill but he can come up with 35 million for Paducah reconstruction!!!

Sheer conjecture in characterizing a mother with a video camera as strange, as well. What is so strange about wanting to ask a senator who WORKS FOR YOU a question?

Some questions for you Mark...

Is it "strange" when you "chase" down people with your camera and ask them questions? Didn't you do the same thing to McConnell after the Don Stewart email surfaced smearing the Frost family? Or is it only "strange" when the commoners do that, as they are not "serious" people like Mark Hebert? And do you "use your position" with WHAS in order to get access to these people?

Who are "McConnell's folks" that you refer to in the piece? Did you talk to them personally? What are their names? Did they refuse to go on the record? Did you call Mitch McConnell's office? Did you ask them how asking a person a question in a public alley is "using her position?

Did you even bother to talk to Heather Ryan herself, as I know who had her phone number? Or do important people like Mark Hebert not associate with "strange" commoners like Heather Ryan, who think they are special enough to ask someone like Mitch McConnell a question?

Will someone please tell me, where is the proof that McConnell had her fired? Even if he urged the board to fire her, they would have done it anyway. She basically broke her contract. When we are hired, we are expected to behave with respect to others in regards to our workplaces. This is not rocket science. No common-sense board would keep her on. She behaved so unbelievably childish and ignorant. The liberal blogs are throwing out so much propaganda about what happened, but their so-called facts can't be substantiated. They are using Heather Ryan for their anti-McConnell agenda. Her behavior stands on it's own. Can someone please show me the absolute proof that McConnell was the driving force behind her dismissal? Also, I am not Republican...before the judgments start.

Dear Concern Troll,

Heather's employers told her that McConnell's staff complained to them. McConnell's staff denies it. Heather's employers still REFUSE TO COMMENT. If Mark Hebert wants to be a responsible reporter, he will ask every one of the Paducah Film Society Board and ask them if McConnell's people had any contact with him after the incident.

And how is asking a person a question in a public alley "breaking a contract"?

Why hello there, usual suspects. It's beginning to look like you three are the only ones who think there's a McConspiracy at work here. But at least you're all posting on the same websites together. That's so sweet.

May I remind people that Miss Ryan was quick to brag on her own accord about how she chased the McConnell posse around the interior halls of her former place of employment. She even confesses to abusing her position in her self-promoting emails to blogs.

From her own email:

Then, the magic happens. Mitch's party is breaking up. He's done schmoozing with his wealthy donors - 'er - filming his re-election commercial with his constituents - and he makes his way out the back way of my lobby, toward my office. Who does this guy think he's avoiding? I have the keys! I can let myself in to cut him off from going out the back door! What an amateur! My heart is pounding, my mind is racing, I run down the alley to the alternative entrance to my office to cut him off so he can't avoid me! Wham! He sees that I am playing these silly Tom Foolery games as I enter the exit he had planned to use. Kerblammo - he turns around, posse in tow and heads back toward the main entrance of my theater, back through the lobby. He's on the run, I feel so "Michael Moore", playing cat and mouse with an evasive elected official. Jezuz, what did this guy fear about me, for God's sake? Zip, I run back down the alley and cut him off again! This time, his people have prepped him, they'll detract the crazy woman and her annoying kid, just make your way to the running vehicle parked directly outside the door.

Kids, drop the charade-- Miss Ryan was fired for abusing her professional position and breaking the bond of trust she had held with her employer. The YouTube video is incomplete-- she neglects to mention that she filmed her cat-and-mouse session inside the building. Furthermore, the portion that was posted was edited to omit a most colorful comment that she didn't want the world to hear.

Enough is enough.

From Heather's first email, Heather knew she could possibly get fired.

** Heather wrote: "What would I say to the Senate Minority Leader should the chance present itself? Should I remain in my professional capacity as an Executive Director most assuredly should?" "What to do, what to say, would I lose my job"

From Heather's first email, she admits to exploiting her daughter and using her as a tool to confront McConnell because she feared if she didn't remain professional, as she most "assuredly should" she could get fired.

** Heather wrote: "Then, it dawned on me - I didn't have to do anything, I could simply put the kid up to the dirty work. Hell, that's why we have kids - to make them do all the crap to which we are too cowardly to own up."

From Heather's own words we know she knew she could get fired if she didn't remain professional as she "most assuredly SHOULD." We also learned, from reading her first email, her daughter was truant from school on Jan. 15 and Heather illegal sped the wrong way down a one-way road. Maybe she should take parenting classes?

TO Heather: I didn't have kids to make them do my "dirty work" ... in fact, if I were to have "dirty work" I wouldn't want my kids to watch me. It's called being a parent FIRST and a combative politico second.