McCarville Poll: Doak Deal Stinky

The radio legend, Mike McCarville, took a poll on his blog and sure enough, public sentiment is what reasonable people figured it to be:  John Doak's appointments of former legislators violates the spirit of the law.

He had a football in his ads.

From McCarville's site:

Do the appointments of four former legislators to state jobs violate the spirit of the "no hire for two years" law? (One falls outside the provision.)
No...they're not paid with tax dollars 27% 43
Yes, clearly 60% 96
Yes, but justifiable to use their experience 4% 6
The law should be changed to allow this if "fees" pay their salaries 9% 15
160 votes total

I have read and heard some of the most ludicrous arguments supporting newly elected and sworn in Commissioner Doak as well as the Governor's choice of Glenn Coffee as  Secretary of State.  Most of the apologetics revolve around the "spirit" of the law versus the "technicality" of the law.  The Attorney General's decision, justifying this type of cronyism came about to appease the legislature and career politicians.  The decision itself will probably be challenged and the hope is that the Supreme Court will eventually rule and side with the framers of the Oklahoma Constitution.

Let's be honest here:  Mike Thompson has a real estate background and campaigned about his experience in the same - but not insurance.  In addition, it was Randy Brogdon who said that the state of Oklahoma shouldn't receive federal dollars but ironically, the job he took with Doak is funded with federal dollars...and neither does he have experience in the insurance industry.

John Doak filed suit a year ago, stating that "fees" are really "taxes."  But yet, he has used the term "fees" to hire legislators within the two-year window.  You have to decide whether or not this is acceptable.  According to McCarville's poll, you do not.

We have to decide when enough is enough.  More and more people are getting very, very angry and in 2012, the tide will begin to change once again in the other direction if this type of behavior is tolerated.  And in 2014, if the GOP continues this downward spiral of parsing words, technicalities and misdirection, there will be a severe price to be paid.

What We've Got Here Is A Failure To Communicate

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission and the State Legislature has worked hard to ensure much of the state has high speed Internet access.  That, my friends, is a good thing.  The Oklahoma County Assessor's Office has one of the most aggressive, pro-active websites in the country and is the envy of other assessors.  This also is a good thing.  The Secretary of State has a world-class website, possessing amazing technology to file for your new business in Oklahoma.  That too is a very good thing. 

But there is also a huge problem that exists in Oklahoma and it revolves around local municipalities and their lack of communication with District Courts.  Or rather, that certain infractions are never reported and one of the most dangerous is not often being reported - driving under the influence.

According to state statutes, municipalities have the discretion to reduce the charge of DUI to something like reckless driving and the DUI would never be reported to the District Courts.

Now you understand how it is some people can have as many as a dozen DUIs and no one know about them.

At present, there are legislators working on language of a bill that will rectify the problem - to ensure that first-time recipients of a DUI in rural municipalities undergo mandatory reporting.  There is an iron curtain of open dialog that exists in rural municipalities and the close-knit nature of the same creates an environment wherein "circling the wagons" is far too easy in the attempts to protect one of their own.  Public safety is at risk and We The People didn't sign up for this kind of mess.

Support such legislation to keep our roads safer and to eliminate this failure to communicate.

Golden Voice Continues Drinking

The Associated Press is reporting that the man with the "golden voice" who was previously homeless, has begun drinking again.  Just goes to show that without treatment, returning to the trough is virtually impossible.  People with drinking problems tend to surround themselves with people who enable the problem - those who address the issue are considered the enemy.

From the story:

Williams and his daughter were held at the Hollywood police station for less than an hour and they were not arrested, Massey said.
She declined to name Williams' daughter, but a statement from "Entertainment Tonight" identified her as Janey Williams.
Ted Williams told ET in a Tuesday night show that it was a family gathering that got out of control.
"I wanted to bring it to a close by just saying 'shut the hell up and let me talk to your mother.' When that was said out of my mouth my daughter exploded, just erupted into this jump up in my face type of thing, fists started flying, none of which were mine, none of which were mine, but it could have escalated to the point where it could have gotten really ugly. So in the process of doing that, I got scratched on my face," he told ET.
Janey Williams told ET she was angry because her father, a recovering alcoholic and drug addict, had resumed drinking.
"He has consumed at least a bottle of Gray Goose a night. That's not including the Coronas he ordered, that's not including the Budweisers he ordered, the other alcohol, the wines. He drinks heavily," she said.

Read the rest of the story here.

Fallin's Fabulous Food Fanfare

From Governor Fallin's Press Release:

Governor Fallin’s Inaugural Food Drive a Success

Oklahomans Unite to Feed the Hungry; Food Drive Capped with Large Donation from Contractors

OKLAHOMA CITY - The statewide “Feeding Oklahoma” food drive organized by the inaugural committee of Governor Mary Fallin raised more than 20,000 pounds of food and $100,000, the governor announced today.  The food drive was capped off with a donation Wednesday of 9,000 pounds of food from the Association of Oklahoma General Contractors.  This food and fund drive, which ran through January 10, will provide nearly 680,000 meals to hungry families and seniors this winter.

“Oklahomans are the most caring and giving people around and they proved it by answering the call to participate in the Feeding Oklahoma food drive,” Fallin said. “I want to thank the Oklahoma General Contractors, all our corporate sponsors and everyone who brought in food items. Your willingness to help out our families and neighbors embodies the Oklahoma Spirit which makes our state such a special place to live and raise a family.”

The “Feeding Oklahoma” food and fund drive benefited the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma and the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma. Together, the two food banks serve all 77 counties in Oklahoma.

“We are delighted to be part of such an important initiative,” said Bobby Stem, AOGC executive director.  “Our members are can-do men and women who willingly use our resources to benefit those in most need of assistance.  We applaud the Governor on taking the lead in meeting such a growing demand in the state of Oklahoma.”

Food donation drop-off sites included:  BancFirst locations statewide, the Oklahoma Farm Bureau and all Oklahoma City metro area Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores. UPS picked up and delivered all donations in the Oklahoma City and Tulsa metro areas and local food drive “champions” helped to collect food donations for partner agencies throughout the rest of the state.

In addition to food items, the food drive received significant monetary donations from:  the Made in Oklahoma Coalition, SandRidge Energy, ConocoPhillips, the Choctaw Nation and FSB.  The food drive raised more than $50,000, an amount that was doubled to $100,000 thanks to Chesapeake Energy, which agreed to match all monetary donations to the Regional Food Bank in the month of December.

“We want to thank Governor Fallin for joining the fight against hunger in our state,” said Rodney Bivens, executive director of the Regional Food Bank.  “The Governor’s ‘Feeding Oklahoma’ initiative motivated Oklahomans to donate food and funds to help those who are struggling to keep food on their table this winter and the Oklahoma Food Banks are extremely grateful for the support.”

Oklahoma is the fifth hungriest state in the nation, where one in five children is at risk of hunger every day.  The Oklahoma Food Banks serve more than 130,000 people each week, yet it still not enough to keep up with the increased demand.

Tucson Through The Looking Glass

It is fascinating to see how quickly the discussion of the terrible events of this past Saturday where innocent lives were lost at the hands of a madman.  Critical thought, reason and rationale have been left at the doorstep of ideological suppositions and rather than watching, waiting and seeing what will come of the investigation, ludicrous accusations are flying.

It's Rush Limbaugh's fault.
It's Sarah Palin's fault.
It's Sharon Angle's fault.
It's President Obama's fault.

And so on, so forth.

The macabre loss of life has within itself a multitude of questions that will eventually need answers, but that's just not enough for those who are far too ready to affix blame to someone - anyone.  Almost immediately after the killing, pundits on the left began to say that Sarah Palin and her "target" of House Districts and the use of crosshair imagery must be to blame because Congresswoman Giffords' House District was one Palin targeted.

Nevermind the fact that Palin never advocated violence against anyone.  Nevermind the fact that the killer never said anywhere that Palin influenced him nor did her graphic design work influence or motivate him to this act of violence.

Sarah Palin issues a statement in the form of a video and her use of the term "blood libel" somehow is used to underscore her (non-existent) fault?  Seriously?   We are so far through the looking glass, people, that Alice is laughing her ass off at us.

The same voices who have called for "cooler heads" and for calm are members of the mainstream media who are at present, pushing the issue further and inciting an emotional tsunami and it simply proves that if the presupposition exists wherein you despise one political affiliation and adore another, the aggregate result is that even normal flatulence will be a causal factor in the tragedy in Tucson.  "Oh my Lord!  Sarah Palin passed gas!  See!  She is a fascist and because of her smelly tooting, the madman in Tucson was motivated to kill a Democratic Congresswoman!"

Do you see how stupid that sounds?

Another example:  A story has a title, "PETA Targets Canadian Tourism Industry With New Seal-Slaughter TV Spot."
PETA used the term, "target."  Is PETA targeting tourists to Canada?  Is this a threat of violence to the Canadian tourism industry?  Should visitors to Canada be worried about physical violence?  Hell no.  See how silly that is?

Democrats and Republicans alike have used militaristic language in campaigns.  Liberals and Conservatives alike have used imagery that cause the hyper-sensitive thought-police to tinkle in their bio-degradable, non-flammable, recycled underpanties.  Unfortunately, they will probably point to this blog and the fact that I have a picture of myself at the gun range, enjoying my 2nd Amendment rights, to mean that I have sinister motives.  It is absolutely insane.

It's time we grow the hell up and remember that context matters and stop being so sensitive and so willing to jump to ridiculous conclusions!  Remember:  We have no idea at this point why the deranged gunman opened fire in Tucson.  

I will type that again slowly so the tinkle-panties out there can understand:  We have no idea at this point why the deranged gunman opened fire in Tucson.

Objectivity is paramount right now.  Guess what?  It's the shooter's fault.  Period.

Sarah Speaks Out

Video from Sarah Palin:

Christina Fallin No Longer Lobbyist

Christina & Mary Fallin

The McCarville Report received the report that Christina Fallin, daughter of the newly sworn-in Governor, is no longer a registered lobbyist at our Capitol.  From McCarville:

Yesterday, Fallin said the decision that her daughter, 23, would no longer be a lobbyist was hers: “We felt that that was not in the best interest of her or the best interest of the governor's office,” Fallin said.

Fallin said her daughter is in her senior year at the University of Oklahoma; “She is looking at different job opportunities outside the Capitol and outside being a lobbyist,” Fallin said. “As her mother, it was my decision. But she understands that's something she needs to do.”

The news broke that Christina had registered as a lobbyist back in March of 2010, her career short-lived, and the media frenzy ensued shortly thereafter. 

Coburn Family Tree Blooms

Calling it early...

First, it was the defeat of State Senator Jay Paul Gumm by Josh Brecheen - a former Senator Coburn staffer.  Now, it's Greg Treat who blossoms into the job some would think was created for him. 

Greg Treat, Republican Party stalwart and leader of the "Victory Fund" for the GOP this past election cycle, is now State Senator Greg Treat.  A job he has no doubt coveted for a very long time.

Greg defeated a well-funded Carol Hefner as well as other candidates who just didn't get their message out.  This was Greg's "turn," a time for the voters of Senate District 47 to give him thanks for the work he has done for many years for Republican candidates like Mary Fallin, Tom Coburn and Chamber President Fred Morgan.

This is going to be an interesting legislative session, isn't it?

Congrats to Treat and kudos to Goza, Brawley and Dobbs who ran good campaigns.

Trying To Make Sense Of It All

The horrific shooting over the weekend saw the loss of life that to me, qualifies as an act of domestic terrorism.  Though some do not like the use of such terminology, I can't think of anything more appropriate.

Domestic terrorism.

The event and subsequent responses have been terrifying.  Some of the left and much of the mainstream media immediately jumped to the conclusion that the shooter was/is a a right winger and that Sarah Palin was somehow responsible.  Absolutely ludicrous to be sure.

Today, the sheriff in Tucson is blaming Rush Limbaugh.  We are so through the intellectual looking glass here, people, it makes my head hurt.  Here are some of the stories:

Lawmakers consider curbs on speech.
Elitists attack Palin.
Sheriff blames Limbaugh.

And there are plenty more.  By the time this is all over, there will be new laws, new regulations...sickening.