Dig in, political turkeys. Once again, the list of what local pols and voters should be thankful for on this Thanksgiving Day:

        Gov. Paul Patton, thankful that egos don't bruise as visibly as skin.

        The governor is looking raccoonlike this holiday week, sporting a pair of black eyes from, of all things, a snowmobile accident he suffered while attending a recent governors' conference in Utah.

        But Mr. Patton's real injuries were suffered Election Day, when he couldn't help the Democrats carry Kentucky for Al Gore, take back the state Senate or win U.S. House races in the 1st, 3rd and 6th Congressional Districts. Ouch.

        Lovers of political scandal, thankful for the city of Dayton.

        A couple of other dysfunctional Northern Kentucky cities have calmed down. Villa Hills Mayor Steve Clark was not indicted on charges of cutting an unauthorized $25,025 check for sidewalk work, which should quiet things there for at least awhile. And voters in Ludlow cleaned house by electing a whole new council.

        Well, now there's Dayton, which just impeached Mayor Bobby Crittenden. Small-city politics can be such fun.

        Villa Hills voters, thankful for write-in council candidates.

        Problems between Mayor Clark and a majority of council members inspired four residents to run as write-in candidates in the Nov. 7 election.

        None won, but collectively they garnered more votes than any single candidate on the ballot. Not only that, but a non-incumbent, Julie Schuler, was the top vote-getter among the candidates on the ballot. That should be a wake-up call to the council as well as the mayor — quit fighting and start leading.

        Kentucky Republicans , thankful for U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, the Louisville Republican and owner of one of the sharpest political minds in the state GOP.

        Back in August during the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia, Mr. McConnell talked of hitting a political trifecta — when a horse track bettor picks the top three finishers — in the election by the GOP winning the presidency and holding onto control of the U.S. House and Senate.

        Well, Mr. McConnell seems to have hit a grand slam in Kentucky. He led the effort to help George W. Bush carry Kentucky; helped the GOP hold its majority in the state's federal delegation, as well as in the Kentucky state Senate; and was heavily involved in the passage of the ballot issue allowing the governments of Louisville and Jefferson County to merge.

        Northern Kentucky Democrats, thankful that the next big election is almost two years off. At least they have a long wait until they get whacked by the Republicans again, as they did Nov. 7.

        Residents of Covington's neighborhoods, thankful for their new mayor and city commission.

        All of those winning candidates promised more attention to the neighborhoods, some of which have clearly been neglected in the last few years. And politicians always live up to their promises — right, folks?

        Yours truly, thankful for readers of this column and the many sources who trust me with their information and their identities. This couldn't happen without you. Thanks.

       Patrick Crowley covers Kentucky politics for The Kentucky Enquirer. He can be reached at 578-5581, or by e-mail at Pcrowley9@home.com.

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