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Friday, July 09, 2010

McCarville: Fallin Campaign Manager Responds to Brogdon Ad

Don't know how I missed this one, but Mike caught it (as usual).  Read the response here on the McCarville Report.

Replay: When A Coin In The Coffer Rings...

[Written April 9, 2010]

Johann Tetzel was a Dominican monk who was allegedly the motivation for the writing of Martin Luther's "95 Theses" nailed to the door at Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany on October 31, 1517. Luther's intent was to reform the church from the selling of indulgences, to call into question some of the financial practices therein. The aggregate result was not the reformation of the Church, but rather the Protestant Reformation itself.

Thus, the rule of unintended consequences.

In my opinion, the consequences reclaimed the ideology of sovereign grace, the priesthood of all believers, the supremacy of the Scriptures, the belief that faith alone in Christ alone were all good things. But to say that there weren't bad things is to hold the protestant reformation in far too high regard. No doubt, the Peasant War that came about was terrible and even Luther mentioned that the pastorate had learned to "live as pigs" as the protestant churches sprung up all across Europe.

So, you take both the good with the bad.

Today, there is very little difference between the indulgence-peddlers of the 16th Century and the politics of today. It is a foregone conclusion that many in this great nation consider partisan politics to be a religious experience, the rallies and gatherings resembling a hyped-up religious worship service with music and guest "preachers" who push forth their message of salvation through political activism. The attendees walk away feeling charged up emotionally, a heightened desire to "do something," though that "something" has yet to be determined.

Rather like loading up a hyperactive child on candy, coffee and energy drinks and turning him loose in the back yard to go play.

The tune, "when a coin in the coffer rings, a soul from purgatory springs" has been replaced with a more familiar, less foreboding tune entitled, "Constitutional conservatives are we." The verses themselves and harmonies have yet to be worked out fully, but the message of political salvation is still the same. Which part of the Constitution we need to "restore" is really irrelevant in this religious movement because to discuss specifics would be very much like arguing how many angels could - or should - dance on the head of a pin.

But we all know that dancing is of the devil so it's a moot point. But I digress.

In all fairness, there are serious problems within the GOP and the problem begins with the mindset that the GOP is, in and of itself, able to save us. The GOP has no Christological merit any more than the Democratic Party has saved the poor from poverty. As a matter of fact, THE Christ warned us that "the poor you will have with you always." The GOP is becoming as fractured and splintered as the Church did in the 16th Century, but the split of the Church actually had and has for some, eternal consequence.

At a recent Bible study, we discussed whether or not at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, the tables would be garnished with American flags and segregated by political affiliation. We all agreed, thankfully, that it would not.

We agreed that Matthew 22 is pretty clear about "rendering unto Caesar that which is Caesar's" and it makes sense, and we also agreed that Paul's declaration of priorities regarding the Christian's view of government is also important as stated in Romans 13. Most importantly, we agreed that the Constitution is not to be considered canon nor should be added to the accepted books of the Bible - contrary to popular "Constitutional conservative" world views.

No militia necessary.

There are a multitude of meritorious aspects of various political movements in contemporary America to be certain. Less wasteful government benefits everyone and in this time of fiscal crisis, the concept of good financial stewardship is critical for our future success. The fact that some who have been disengaged from the political process over the years are now coming forward and taking part in the process is a good thing that benefits every American whether we accept that fact or not.

There are good candidates for political office running right now and each are doing so for their own reasons and only the Father can determine just what their desires are and will be in the future. I have candidates I support and my reasons are often very clear - but I also know that all of them are human, fallen creatures who are created in the Imago Dei.

At the heart of the issue is just that - our hearts. If we realize that in many ways, we're polishing the proverbial brass on the Titanic, it makes it all much easier to swallow from a theological perspective. We know that we can be active in politics but we also should know that politics themselves are not salvific.

It's just my opinion, my take on things, and I could be wrong...but I seriously doubt it.

Ron

Sign Pairings

Cruising around Central Oklahoma you will find literally hundreds of candidate signs in yards, empty lots and even on the back of fences.  As one astute observer once said, "signs don't vote," and she is quite correct yet it is intriguing to me to see how people are aligning themselves right now.

In my neighborhood, I saw a Brogdon sign with a Calvey sign, then three doors down, I saw a Lankford sign with a Brogdon sign.  Just down the road, there were four Fallin houses side by side...and then, another Fallin sign with a Roy sign.

I have seen Owen Laughlin signs coupled with Lankford signs, but none paired up with Calvey or Roy. 

I have seen a bunch of Thompson signs at corner lots across the street from Lankford signs, and I have seen Thompson signs with more Fallin signs than Brogdon signs.

What does it all mean?  Who knows?

Just struck me as interesting.  Of course, I'm easily entertained.

Thursday, July 08, 2010

Brogdon Attack Ad: McCarville Report

The McCarville Report was the first to locate the attack ad against Mary Fallin, put out there by State Senator Randy Brogdon.  Here is the ad to review, my thoughts below:


First, it was officially the first attack ad of the political season in this cycle so there are probably more than a few politicos breathing a sigh of relief.  Second, the ad misses the mark on a couple of points.  In terms of production, the voice-over is of a low tonal register which could present problems for those watching who are moderately hearing impaired.  Secondly, the TARP bailout discussion is getting old and so far, voters are willing to overlook the issue because Mary did in fact vote against the second bailout.  It may appear to some viewers that Brogdon is being less than genuine.  Third, the last :10 of the ad, there is only one mention of Senator Brogdon.  There should have been something that underscores why he believes he is a legitimate contrast to Congresswoman Fallin.

Again, hat-tip to Mike McCarville.

Wednesday, July 07, 2010

Fallin Nabs Edmond Life and Leisure Endorsement

Congresswoman Mary Fallin nabs yet another endorsement and this time, not from an elected official.  Edmond Life and Leisure, the paper that has been giving the Edmond Sun fits for the last decade, has endorsed Mary for Governor.  From the publisher's endorsement:
It has become very popular for newspapers to have “editorial boards.” There is no such beast here at Edmond Life & Leisure. It is an informal process and the entire staff has input into the call. However, the buck stops at my desk. There is no corporate structure here friends. I am the one you can poke in the nose if you don’t like what is said. I would prefer just a “Letter to the Editor” but do what you think you are up to.
We endorse with full confidence and excitement our current Fifth District Representative in Congress and former Lt. Governor of the great state of Oklahoma, Mary Fallin, for the Republican nomination in the July 27 primary election. This will also come as no surprise for those of you who read this column regularly. The disclaimer I have here is that she is a personal friend and has been one since our kids were young enough to play together at Rotary Christmas dinners.
Does this endorsement hurt or help Congresswoman Fallin?

"The Insider" Insights

This weekend, we watched the movie "The Insider" for the first time and yes, it was an amazing movie.  The dramatic depiction of what took place with big tobacco and the subsequent media onslaught was both delightful to watch as well as horrific.  And it certainly explains the demise of CBS news and the downfall of 60 Minutes as a credible news source.

Unfortunately, it has become the norm rather than the exception.

During tough economic times, the mainstream media finds itself struggling right along with the rest of corporate America for revenue.  Ever dollar counts and advertisers know this.  Advertising agencies that have vested interests in what would otherwise be newsworthy have an edge in this process and it makes it difficult and creates conflict for reporters and news directors. 

The loser, in the end, is the general public. 

The movie sparked all kinds of dialog in my home, including staying up until 3am talking with the kids about the 10th Amendment, the founding fathers' ideas about a truly free press, freedom of religious expression and how far we've come in the last couple hundred years.

We talked about how advertising agencies are, in many cases, creating their own "news" departments and feeding material to the general public and making it appear as though it is legitimate news.  My son was shocked and amazed, but his eyes were opened a little more. 

Bloggers have taken up much of the slack to be sure, but admittedly, it's often hard discern what is news and what is opinion.  Visitors to this site know without a doubt that they are going to get a bit of both.  When I provide news, I provide attribution and of course, there's always my color commentary.

If you haven't seen it yet, go rent or buy the DVD.  It's worth it.

Tuesday, July 06, 2010

AZ Governor to Endorse Fallin

Candidate for Governor and U.S. Congresswoman Mary Fallin has announced that today, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer will be endorsing Fallin.

From the release:
"I've known Mary for a long time and I know her to be a tireless public servant, a strong leader and a good conservative. I worked with her while she was lieutenant governor, and there was never any doubt in my mind that she was ready to take the reins in Oklahoma and move that state forward.
"I have also appreciated Mary's strong, principled stance on immigration. At a time when many have been willing to attack the common sense, rule-of-law reforms we've put into place, Mary has stood with the people of Arizona and defended our right to enforce our laws and protect our citizens. I'm pleased to announce my support of Mary Fallin in her campaign to lead Oklahoma, and I look forward to seeing another strong conservative governor in office."
The Randy Brogdon campaign will certainly be following up with press releases to discredit this endorsement.

OkiePundit: Harris supporter blames cheating for upcoming loss

OkiePundit has a very interesting story about an R.J. Harris supporter who believes firmly that Congressman Tom Cole may be...cheating.

Here is an excerpt:
The first sentence is a superfluous statement of fact. If an election were held today, anywhere, it is possible a candidate will lose. The issue is not one of possibility but probability, and in no way, shape or form is it likely that Tom Cole will lose to RJ Harris.
Furthermore, RJ Harris has not made deep inroads into the district. He is virtually unknown anywhere except in Norman, where the most receptive audience towards the Ron Paul movement resides. Which makes it puzzling that Warren would say Harris has not made inroads into Norman. Warren, it should be noted, has a reputation for incoherence and inaccuracy.
Read the whole article here.

Sunday, July 04, 2010

Blues Jam: Rainy Success

The 2nd Annual Blues Jam and Wail held out at Paradise Farm started off early Sunday with what seemed like never-ending rain.  For an outdoor music jam, that presents serious problems.  Namely, guitars and equipment subject to its archenemy...water.  Undeterred, John Greening, Steve Jones, Pat & Frank Paradise, Shawnnessy and myself had heard from a bunch of people who were still planning to come so, the show must go on, right?

About two hours before the jam, we received a call from Seven of Swords from Stillwater, letting us know that they were not going to risk their equipment in the rain.  Totally understandable, but they were going to bring the flatbed trailer and the cover for the trailer to ensure the gear didn't get wet.  So, what were we to do?  Adapt.  Improvise.

As you know if you've been following this blog, I have had more than a few problems with my Chevy pickup truck and have had numerous diagnostics done wherein the answer from the mechanics to the problems have been, "Gee, I can't figure it out."  My truck decided to remind me as we were out getting tarps for covering that there is, in fact, a God and I am not Him.  After swapping out vehicles, we arrive at Paradise Farm and get the tarp put up along with the gazebo - not an easy task.

By the time we get that completed, it's about 30 minutes until guests are to arrive and it hit me:  No one has fired up the grill yet.  We had a bunch of hot dogs to cook, some sausage to get simmering and food to prepare.  Fortunately, we had some volunteers who were ready, willing and able to get the job started. 

People started arriving just as we were putting in place the music equipment and the music began.

Keep in mind, the rag-tag group of misfits have only really practiced together twice so our song set is pretty limited.  Even so, we still had a great time and at the end of the day, we raised money for the Mid-America Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America, ate some great food and played some music.  And yes, there is video of the whole disaster to follow real soon.

Again, thanks to everyone who came out.  We got to see some old friends and meet new ones. 

We will be having another one closer to the end of summer and maybe, just maybe, we won't have the rain to contend with and our group will have practiced.