Missing The Point - SQ744

State Question 744's defeat was resounding and left no ambiguity about how Oklahoma taxpayers feel about the current public education system.  They told the spin-doctors and the unions that they need to go back to the drawing table and quit misleading the public about how they want to be compensated.

At the heart of the issue was not teacher pay, but rather the disingenuous manner in which this "regional average" concept has been presented.  Oklahoma taxpayers have proven that there is, in fact, hope for the electorate and hope for the future of this great state.  The concept of "regional average" per-pupil spending is so dishonest, so deplorable that even the most uneducated among us see it for what it is:  A lie.

I challenged the soon to be gone Superintendent of Public Instruction, Sandy Garrett, about this very issue some years ago when I was the afternoon drive guy on WKY.  She admitted that the formula used to determine these regional averages for per-pupil spending was faulty at its core because the proponents did not consider something as simple as the cost of living indexes for each state in the study.  So, if Oklahoma's per-pupil spending was to equal that of Colorado, for example, the ratio for median income spending would be almost twice that of Colorado.

Talking about increasing funding for education is sexy, it's hot.  It makes us feel good.  But like the magic bullet that was to be the lottery (for the children), we have learned that not is as it seems in education-land.  We are constantly given messages from members of the media just how silly we are if we don't approve this measure or that measure because it's "for the children."  It makes the mainstream media all misty and get the vapors when they talk about teachers and how they deserve more and our kids deserve more but at the end of the day, it's the administrators who end up stealing the money and using it for their own over-inflated egos and disgusting salaries.  But it is sexy, it is hot and it is exactly what we have come to expect from the mainstream media.

I read a fascinating piece by M. Scott Carter for the Journal Record, providing his take on the whole State Question 744 issue.  In part, he writes:

There are no easy answers, but there are some positive signs.

In the House of Representatives incoming Speaker Kris Steele has acknowledged the state’s funding problem and seems focused on solving it. Additionally, Fallin has moved quickly to build her administrative team and, on several occasions, has spoken about the state’s financial challenge and the need to move quickly to develop a budget for the next fiscal year.

That focus and attention to detail could serve both leaders well.

But the state’s new government can only go as far as we Oklahomans will allow. And right now, while it’s easy for many to congratulate themselves on defeating 744, the fact remains that the issue 744 tried to solve is still on the table and still remains unsolved.

But somewhere, sometime soon, the entire system will collapse under its own weight. And, sadly, that may be the only way to get the public’s attention.

Kris Steele has admitted that there is a "funding problem," but there is no way that the Speaker of the House will tell the vast majority of Oklahomans that they are wrong in their decision to tell the proponents of the "regional average" misdirection to pound sand - not if he wants to keep his leadership position, anyway.

Carter starts with a faulty supposition (as is the case with most in the media who are left-leaning), that the "regional average" proposal is a solution.  He ignores the fact that the population of the state of Oklahoma is less than the city of Houston (8), but has 425 independent school districts.  He ignores the fact that each of those independent school districts have in leadership a superintendent whose pay averages six-digits.  He ignores the fact that we are top heavy in Oklahoma and that one solution that actually makes sense would be to consolidate administrative functions for districts, thereby freeing up money to actually go to the classrooms rather than to fund bloated superintendent salaries...which, we presume, is what the people who supported SQ744 desired to begin with.

At least that's what their commercials portrayed.

It's time we wake up.  We do, in fact, have a problem with public education in Oklahoma, but the problem isn't with the amount of money we're spending...the problem lies with how bureaucrats are spending our taxpayer dollars.  That was the message of SQ744's defeat.  That is what the taxpayers are demanding, whether or not Carter and the rest of the government big-spenders realize.

And let We The People not forget that a few years ago, former Representative Dank proposed administrative consolidation and the State Senate shot it down using one of Carter's classic "fear of loss" techniques outlined in his column:

At some time in the near future, Oklahoma’s small rural schools and their FFA clubs, 4-H programs and state championship-winning football and basketball teams will fade, killed because there wasn’t enough money to go around and because voters put anti-tax pledges ahead of public education.

Just remember why we voted the way we did and don't be misled by the tactics of the mainstream media.

Veteran's Day 2005 Monologue

This is a monologue from Veteran's Day, 2005 back when I was the afternoon drive guy on the station formerly known as "Supertalk 930, WKY."  Today, the station's format is Mexican cantina music.

If you enjoy your freedoms, thank a veteran, not a politician or elected official.  Regardless of what they tell you, very few actually do support our veterans and even fewer have ever stood a post.  It's the veteran who protects your freedoms, who swears an oath to defend the Constitution against enemies both foreign and domestic and when they do, they lay their lives on the line and immediately put themselves in harm's way.

Thank the families of veterans who struggle, who worry and pray about their loved ones who are on the front lines of the fight for freedom.  Pray and support the families who have actually lost loved ones in this fight to preserve our experiment in self-government.

I remember when Westboro Baptist Church decided to show up to a funeral in Central Oklahoma of a fallen service member.  We rallied our troops, held a fundraiser that same day for the Blue Star Moms at Johnnie's and the people of Central Oklahoma showed up in unbelievable numbers to support the family as they withstood not only the loss of their son, but the attacks of a bunch of people who will never "get it."

Campus Concealed Carry Arguments (Again)

Fox 25 aired a story this evening about a concerned young lady who wants to push to allow for concealed carry permits on college campuses.  This comes after a student at the sacred ground overseen by St. Burns Hargis (OSU) was shot - by a criminal who brought the firearm on campus.

The criminal must not have listened to the sermon presented by St. Hargis.

The young lady in the news report handed out flyers saying to the criminals that because campuses are "gun-free zones," they have basically a free ride.

Lest we forget, just a couple years ago the House in Oklahoma passed a campus concealed carry bill but former State Senator Kathleen Wilcoxson opposed it and sure enough, the man whom Governor-elect Mary Fallin slated for her transition team made sure the bill died a quick and painful death.  Who was that man?  Glenn Coffee.

This is going to be another test for Governor-elect Mary Fallin - she boasted of her NRA support, her support for those of us who are defenders and believers in the 2nd Amendment. 

There will be legislation again to push for a campus concealed carry, and in this climate, God help the legislators who oppose it.

If it doesn't pass after all the promises made this last election cycle, there will be hell to pay.  How many more students have to be needlessly attacked before the establishment pays attention?

Even More Personal Stuff

Here is another video installment.

Alvin Greene To Run for President?

For decades, liberal Democrats have teased conservatives about some of the presidential candidates the Right has put forth and it seems as though finally, it's our turn to giggle.  We still hear the Ross Perot jokes and of course, the Ron Paul jokes and now, the tables have turned.

Okay, we laughed quite a bit at Senator John Kerry's candidacy for president, but this one takes the cake.

Remember the guy in South Carolina who ran for U.S. Senate against Jim DeMint?  No, not that guy - the other guy.  The guy who actually won the Democratic nomination.  Alvin Greene, the brain trust of the South Carolina Democratic electorate is actually pondering a run for the White House.  Read the story here, and join me in a few snickers.

One one hand, you have to admire the guts of a guy like Greene to put it out there against the juggernaut that is/was Senator DeMint, but this is the aggregate result of believing the hype put forth in your own press releases.  God bless America.

Fallin: Denise Northrup Is Chief of Staff

From the Alex Weintz Press release:

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma Governor-elect Mary Fallin today announced that longtime aide Denise Northrup will serve as her chief of staff in the governor’s office. Northrup previously served as district director in Fallin’s congressional office before managing the Fallin for Governor campaign.

“Denise is a dedicated public servant and an experienced and capable manager. She and I have worked together for over a decade and I’m excited to have her with me in the governor’s office,” said Fallin. “We have a lot of challenges in front of us, and I know she’s up to the task.”

In addition to her work in Fallin’s congressional office and with the Fallin for Governor campaign, Northrup managed the successful re-election campaigns of then Lieutenant Governor Fallin in 1998 and 2002, as well as the 2006 and 2008 Fallin for Congress campaigns. She has also spent time working for the Oklahoma Republican Party.

Northrup lives in Oklahoma City with her son and her husband, who is a sergeant in the Oklahoma City Police Department.

Even More Personal Stuff

Here is another installment to the Heart of Home series.  Some thoughts about my mother from others who knew her.  Surprising revelations about how my mother died and why. 

Kenny Goza, Senate District 47 Candidate

Lt. Governor-elect Todd Lamb's Senate Seat is up for grabs and so far, we have three names:  Greg Treat (GOP Victory Campaign, Fred Morgan's former campaign manager, former Coburn staffer), Carol Hefner (Mom, concerned Christian, philanthropist) and now, Kenny Goza.

Goza has an interesting, though difficult to read, website listing his qualifications and one thing that stands out more than anything is his willingness NOT to take a paycheck for his work as State Senator.  He doesn't NEED the job, he WANTS the job, so it seems. 

Here is a thumbnail sketch of Mr. Goza:
*Army veteran.
*Former food clerk.
*Former produce manager.
*Small business owner/entrepreneur.
*Practicing attorney.
*Holds a B.A. in History from OU, a B.A. in International Studies of Latin America from OU, an M.A. in International Relations from OU, and a J.D. from OCU.

Quite the pedigree.

He will be competing against Greg Treat who is one of the stars of the Republican Party and has been a political insider his whole life.  He will also face Carol Hefner whose last name alone will garner huge financial contributions and more than likely will receive most of the endorsements from the energy sector in Oklahoma. 

Can Goza win?  That is going to depend on his ground game and refining his message on specific issues.  If the people of Senate District 47 are serious about change and reform of state government, he stands a pretty good chance of making some hay.  If, however, they are what some define as "country club Republicans," Goza will have an exceptionally tough time.

The Great "Calling"

Across this great country we have seen numerous candidates who have been "called" to public service.  Many of these same individuals have worked in political circles their whole lives and made the leap into candidacy as a result of what they have said was/is a "calling from God."  Some, unfortunately, have mistaken indigestion to be a calling from the Creator, but it does make us wonder:

Does God call people to run for public office?

In the Scriptural sense, the only "calling" we see is to that of ministry.  And I suppose if we want to call elective office "ministry," then I suppose the hermeneutical gymnastics required are appropriate.  But that opens up a whole new set of problems, doesn't it?  If elective office is truly a "calling," then wouldn't it be safe to argue on some level that our government is, by default, theocratic in nature?  Wes Lane used to call himself the "Minister of Justice," but he then lost to David Prater...does that mean his "calling" to elective office was only temporary or was the calling less of a calling and more of a desire of personal vocation?  We also remember the legendary campaign of the televangelist, Pat Robertson - the one who was sure that parts of Florida would be destroyed because of the gay agenda.  Was he wrong and if so, what do to?  The questions are endless.

We know that the Apostles were "called" - but they were called into ministry, to service of the Church and the furtherance of the Gospel itself. Christ called each and every one of His disciples and even Paul had a "calling," but he continued to work as a tent-maker so as to not be a financial burden on the Church.  A friend of mine asked me recently whether or not a person could be called to elective office for the purpose of serving the Church.  That, my friends, is a spectacular question and one with a number of possible answers - the most obvious is that if someone feels as though the seat of government is a place of power for the Church, then, so be it.  (See Mt. 23) 

Yet, being "called to elective office" to "serve the Church" is almost an oxymoron, isn't it?  The Church has a very defined mission and that is to care for the widows and orphans in their time of need and to make disciples.  And if someone is using a vocation of elective office to accomplish those missions, is it then the role and responsibility of said government to care for the widows and the orphans and thereby take that responsibility away from the Church?  Or, has the government itself become the Church - or a religious institution in and of itself? 

Perplexing dilemmas this creates, doesn't it?

And what then if the person who believes he/she is "called" to that elective office faces an opponent who also believes it is a "calling" to the same elective office?  Is one a prophet and the other a false prophet for we certainly can't elect TWO people for the same office?  And what does the Scripture say we are to do with false prophets?  Dt. 13 is pretty clear, but pretty darned scary.  Dt. 18 is a little less scary, admonishing us not to fear such a knucklehead.  Of course, there will be the compulsory excuse, "God called me to RUN for this office, not to win it," put forth by the loser of the race, but we can see that one a mile away and call it what it truly is:  Balderdash.  Because God is efficacious in His calling(s) (see Romans 8:30), right?

So, this is quite the perplexing mess we find ourselves in, isn't it?  We have in more than one case, two candidates for elective office wherein both feel a "calling" to run for elective office.  Now, we will get to decide who has the real calling, and who has indigestion.

Lamb's Seat Warming Up

State Senator Todd Lamb hedged his bets before winning the post of Lt. Governor and now, the race is beginning to heat up with Carol Hefner announcing on her Facebook page that she will be receiving the endorsement of some pretty well-known names.  Her opponent, Greg Treat, has launched his website (here).

Hefner has acquired the assistance of Fount Holland and his A&H Strategies as her consultant, though she claims exceptional independence.  Fount Holland and his crew ran Kevin Calvey's campaign for Oklahoma's 5th Congressional District as well as Rob Johnson's attempt for Corporation Commissioner, then his successful bid for the State Senate.

Greg Treat, who recently ran the 2010 Oklahoma GOP "Victory Campaign," will more than likely run his race on his own - he has plenty of experience.  He's worked with the legendary Senator Tom Coburn, was the campaign manager for former State Representative Fred Morgan's 5th Congressional District race and most recently working for the Oklahoma GOP.  Greg has been in politics pretty much his entire life.  On his website under the "Who is Greg Treat? heading, it lists the following:

*Devoted Christian
*Faithful Husband to Maressa
*Proud Father of Mason (3) and Cooper (5 months)
*Hard worker, dedicated leader and lifelong conservative
*Passionately advocated for pro-life issues
*Working HARD to be your next Senator!

All wonderful qualities and for the GOP-insiders, Greg is well known and very well respected - though the lack of a bio on his page is quite the glaring omission.

Carol Hefner and Greg Treat both appear to feel a "calling" on their life and part of said "calling" is to run for public office.

[Sidebar:  Times certainly have changed...there was a time when God "called" people to minister, to care for the poor, for the widows and orphans in their time of need.  Today, God calls people into politics, it appears.]

This is going to be an exceptionally fun race to watch and oh yes, we'll be watching.

More Personal Stuff

I shared last week that I made my trip to Washington, saw family and experienced emotions I thought to be buried decades ago.  I have been in the process of putting together the video, so, here are the first two elements for your viewing pleasure - the intro and segment 1:

On A Personal Note...

Some of those closest to me know that I recently went on a pilgrimage to my home state of Washington and it came at just the right time.  There was a primal need within me to go back, to see my family, to visit the grave of my mother and to reconnect with my son, Matthew.  I shot a great deal of video and have been in the process of producing a bit of a documentary of my life, my memories of this previous existence I recall bits and pieces of - though now, things have become more clear for me.

The whole trip was surreal, as though I was having an out-of-body experience, witnessing the revelations of another man who lived what seemed to be a completely different life.  "Butch" was my nickname growing up and everyone in my family calls me by that name and frankly, I don't even remember when everyone began calling me "Ron," but it was yet another of those strange moments that there really is no explanation for.

My son, Matthew, is a handsome and wickedly intelligent young man and his son (my grandson) Rylan are amazing.  I could not be more proud of them both.  Seeing Matthew, hugging his neck and reconnecting was a moment in my life that I will never forget and will cherish until my last breath. 

Seeing my mother's grave was difficult to say the least.  Then, learning more about her death at the age of 33, secrets that no one had shared or perhaps had tried to shield me and my brother from were astounding and at one point, brought me to my knees.  She need not have died - there were misdiagnoses all along and her cancer was more that treatable, and she need not have died.  But, she did. 

The death of my grandmother as well was shrouded in mystery but my Uncle Cliff (my mother's younger brother) who was with her up until the end explained it to me.  Another senseless death that could have been prevented. 

I reconnected with my "little" brother who has lost part of his leg due to complications with diabetes.  He lives now in Vancouver, running his Internet-based business and like me, trying to make sense of it all.

My Uncle told me as we met on the first day of my trip that "some questions will never have answers, and that's okay."  He was right.  I had a list of questions I wanted answered as I made my trek across the western half of Washington, learning that childhood friends had passed, some had married and had kids of their own, that some of my closest family members were gone and he was right - some of the questions I never will have answers for are "okay." 

I guess I wanted my kids to know more about my youth, about their family members whom we haven't had much contact over the years were/are and what they are doing.  It was an enormous blessing and it will probably take months for me to process it all - but at least I am now in a position to be blessed with the opportunity to have something to process.

Oklahoma Democrats Wondering, "What Now?"

After landslide victories across the state of Oklahoma, the GOP and its leadership are relishing the fruit of their labor.  It's an exciting time for the GOP to be sure but not so much for the Democrats.

On the Democratic chat board, Demookie.com, Tim Reese asks the question, "Have we hit the bottom?  Where do we go from here?"  The responses are fascinating to read.

One person writes:

Not even incumbents like Holland or Fields were competitive. State House disaster, Senate with Gumm going down, the great sharia law menace to our state averted...YES...we are OFFICIALLY on the bottom. The projected state deficit within range of a billion dollars will exert ENORMOUS pressure on any and all welfare, social service, and health care programs, the prison system, the educational system, etc., and the bad news? The state of oklahoma voted for that outcome by a 60+% majority!!! The upside? Absolutely no evil state Democrats left to blame for the state's future problems because they don't hold a single office now, and we can be the crazy bomb throwers. BUT, they will now double and triple down on the greatest satan of all, one Barack Obama, to blame for all that goes wrong, and with their money and media power, they'll likely do well with that ongoing strategy. Nationally, utter gridlock, likely government shutdown over some confrontation, a serious effort to impeach President Obama, all lie ahead, but the worst thing of all is the coming economic depression because there WILL be a financial crisis ahead. It will be another "double dip down" or worse in the stock market, a major sell-off in the US Debt security markets, a collapsing dollar, or even some international event, any of which will lead us to the "Brink of the Abyss" just like where we were in 2008, but we won't have a Congress that will have the sense to do what's necessary to attempt to avert that outcome. The crazy right-wing and tea party crowds WON'T let anything resembling bailouts or stimulus spending to happen, so we will be in deep you-know-what when that inevitably occurs.

This person has a point.  If things continue to head south, there will be no Democrats to blame, but rather the Oklahoma voters will be frothing at the mouth to blame Mary Fallin.

Another writes:

Now is the time for the democratic party leadership to begin the blame game publically of which the repugs have done so effectively over the last 8 or so years. If the democratic leadership will start using TV, radio and BUY newspaper advertisement to enlighten the public of the reality of all of this...We have no one to blame but ourselves for this overwelming defeat..we are going to see a significant turn down of Oklahoma economy in the next 6 to 8 months. When this happens an advertisement campaign should come out telling people this is brought to you by the republican party...."are you better off today than you were 3 years ago?".... hold on it is going to be a helluva ride for the next two years.

Analysis By Ron Black, the 400lb Gorilla

More of the same sentiment as expressed earlier, but here is my analysis:
If you recall, the Oklahoma Democratic Party's demise began right about the time Howard Dean let loose with his horrific scream on national television.  The Democratic Party Chair at the time started a shift to the left, away from the vast majority of the base - which happens to be quite conservative.  The Democratic Party in Oklahoma is not the socialist, Marxist breed that we find in Washington.  And the shift to the left destroyed the Party's ability to raise money, to communicate a coherent message that distances itself from the national platform.

Is there hope for Oklahoma Democrats?  Other than switching parties and becoming Republicans, there may be, but it's going to require wholesale change at the top.  Guys like Ben Odom need to step up to the plate, reasoned Democrats like Tim Reese and even Brad Henry need to reach out to their base and explain to them that they screwed up.  And yes, they have got to communicate a stronger message that truly represents who they are...unless they truly ARE socialists.

The problem is that in many cases, perception is reality and this is what one member of the chat board said, and it's the kind of thing that scares the hell out of people:

*sigh* How did we go from being a state that had a strong agrarian Socialist Party to a state that is almost overwhelmingly Republican?

Smoke Clears...Who Runs For What?

You thought the campaigns were over, didn't you?  Actually, there are a few that have only just begun.  In my estimation and based on emails and messages I have received in the last 24 hours, the race to watch will be that of Lt.Governor-elect Todd Lamb.  Senate District 47 will be up for grabs and there are more than a few names being bantered about, willing to throw their hat in the ring.

Greg Treat - Former Senator Coburn staffer, former campaign manager for Fred Morgan (who was the State Senate attorney and now head of the State Chamber of Commerce) and Director of the Victory Campaign for the GOP.  The Victory Campaign worked to get Oklahoma Republicans elected across the state, with the focus on statewide offices - such as that of Todd Lamb, who sailed to victory and is now the Lt. Governor-elect.

Carol Hefner - The name sounds familiar, doesn't it?  Deer Creek High School graduate, LSU grad with a major in mass communications and journalism, the bride of Robert Hefner IV has been active in Republican politics for a very long time and is a supporter of veterans as well as a well-known advocate in the energy sector. 

There will probably be no less than six or seven names in the special election that will be set because Lamb chose NOT to resign his Senate seat to run for Lt. Governor, but the cost to taxpayers will be minimal.  Though one could easily argue that our Lt. Governor-elect actually cost taxpayers money just by winning his election.

This will certainly be one of the more entertaining races to watch.

Amazing Turnout, Some Predictions

My precinct isn't exactly a lazy precinct - we get pretty good voter turnout though we are often overlooked by the door-knockers.  And today, I was shocked and pleasantly amazed at the turnout for this mid-term election.  Over 750 when I voted at around 1400, which is staggering considering the time of day.

Something of note:
There were a lot of cars in the parking lot of the church that boasted large Mary Fallin bumper stickers - which bodes well for James Lankford and the rest of the Republican ticket.  When this is all said and done, Mary and her crew should send a very large bouquet of flowers to President Obama.  More than anything, he will have helped her to win this election.

Prediction Time
1.  Governor's Race:  Mary Fallin wins with close to 60% of the vote, prepares for her Palin-esque rise to fame. 
2.  Lt. Governor's Race:  Todd Lamb wins with about the same margin as Fallin, goes on vacation to a super-secret place only known to former CIA agents.
3.  Auditor's Race:  Gary Jones wins with 57% of the vote, Burrage retires to his ranch, muttering "I coulda been a contender."
4.  Superintendent of Public Instruction Race:  Janet the dentist wins with 60% of the vote, carries even some rural, Democratic counties. 
5.  Labor Commissioner Race:  Costello wins with over 60% of the vote, hires both Jim Marshall and Richard Engle.  Charlie Meadows spontaneously combusts with joy, Cheryl Williams takes over OCPAC.
6.  Insurance Commissioner Race:  While I had thought that Doak would pull off an upset, Mike McCarville doing the voice work for Kim Holland will definitely draw Republican votes away from Doak. 
7.  OK5:  James Lankford wins with over 60% of the vote, sending the first-ever camp counselor to Congress.  The rest of the country giggles.
8.  Christine O'Donnell:  Once again, she is NOT a witch, though a little magic might have helped her in this race.  She gets soundly defeated, joins Palin in a national "Republican Hotties Of 2012 Tour."
9.  State Questions:  Pretty much as I predicted, the most notable being SQ744 - bitch-slapped in the same manner as the gasoline tax increase a few years ago. 

This has been an exciting cycle for Republicans and under the new leadership of the Republican Party in Oklahoma, it appears as though as long as the promises made are truly kept, Republicans will have the opportunity to do what we elected them to do:

a.  Foster an environment where business can grow and flourish in Oklahoma.
b.  Lower business taxes and personal income taxes.
c.  Create more accountable government entities.
d.  Improve the standards of public instruction.
e.  Lower worker's compensation costs for business.
f.  Let the streets flow with milk and honey.

Good luck.

The Most Important Statewide Race: Auditor

There are a lot of sexy government jobs up for grabs tomorrow.  The governor's office is pretty sexy and the winner gets to have some say as to the legislative process, to propose a budget and the like - and even veto lousy bills.  The Lt. Governor gets to cut ribbons, get lots of pictures taken and travel to exotic locations as the head of the Tourism Committee.  Those are two of the sexiest jobs in the state of Oklahoma but this election cycle, neither are the most important or critical.  Don't get me wrong:  They have significance to be sure, but this cycle, the most important is that of State Auditor and Inspector.

Bean-counting is a turn-off for most of us who have long ago thrown away our pocket protectors, but it is the State Auditor and Inspector who will hold the keys to good, conservative and accountable government over the next four years.  Accountability in government has been one of the critical elements we have lacked in Oklahoma and there really is only one man for the job - Gary Jones.

Gary has ran before and lost to an opponent that has been removed from office because of the corruption that Gary himself has exposed.  The role of the Auditor is to do just that and as a private citizen, he has found more corruption than the elected officials who have held that post. 

Imagine for a moment if the Republicans sweep the statewide offices, but the Brad Henry appointee is still in office.  Do you think for a moment his job won't be to find some kind of payback?  He will be a bee in the bonnet of every statewide office holder who happens to have an "R" next to their name.  With Gary, you have objectivity and non-partisan ass-kicking.  Those who know Gary know that he is an equal opportunity destroyer where corruption is concerned.  He doesn't give a damn whether or not you're a Republican or Democrat. 

Tomorrow, when you go to the polls, don't forget to tell your friends and family how important this office is to the taxpayers of Oklahoma and make sure they vote for the right guy...Gary Jones for State Auditor.

Get Our Heads Right

Tomorrow we go to the polls to elect some really good, qualified candidates and in other cases we're forced to elect the lower-life-forms posing as human beings because that's pretty much all we have to choose from.

As many of you already know, I have just returned from a pilgrimage of sorts to my home of Washington state where I reconnected with my oldest son, Matthew, and saw my father and also visited the grave of my mother.  It's given me new insight as to what really matters. Politics, you see, more than anything is a revenue producer for most.  It no longer really is about public service - no matter what you've been told.  It's about making money and with a very few exceptions, it is the case across the nation, not just in the great state of Oklahoma.

People are supporting candidates whom they have previously bitch-slapped and they are doing so because of hope of future employment.   Others support the same candidates because they have been fooled into believing the press releases sent out by the same.  It's a game and a sick one.  Once in a while (and it isn't very often), we run into a few good candidates but generally, they aren't the ones getting the big endorsements because after all, endorsements are all about payback later on anyway.

The next 24 hours will be a little nutty, but remember what really matters.

Another Coburn Staffer To Run For Office?

Greg Treat and his wife, Maressa are well-known Republican activists in Central Oklahoma and it doesn't come as much of a surprise to see that there is a possibility that Greg Treat may be running for Senate District 47 - Todd Lamb's seat if he wins the Lt. Governor's office. 

Sidebar:  Why in the hell didn't Todd resign his seat before running for Lt. Governor?  But anyway...

Here is a "note" from Mrs. Treat found on Facebook:

Dear Family and Friends,
I trust that you and your family had a wonderful summer and enjoying the cooler weather. I know we are! With our new addition to the family, it has been nice being able to take the boys for walks and to let Mason play outside.

As you may know, this is an election year so it is a very busy time for our family. Since Dr. Coburn asked Greg to run the Oklahoma Victory program, he has been working around-the-clock. The Victory program, which is dedicated to electing Republican candidates at all levels, is extremely important to the success of the Republican Party in Oklahoma! After the election, Dr. Coburn has asked Greg to return to the U.S. Senate, but we are not so sure that is what God wants for us. Though Greg has truly enjoyed working for Dr. Coburn off and on since 1999, we feel the Lord is leading Greg in a different direction. After many hours of prayer and discussion, we feel strongly God is calling Greg to run for office to provide our state with godly leadership and service.

The circumstances surrounding Greg’s potential race are quite unique. Currently, Senator Todd Lamb represents Senate District 47. Senator Lamb is running for lieutenant governor and is well positioned to win that race. In fact, we are working hard to make sure he wins – Greg as Victory director and me as a Republican activist in the district. We hope you’ll vote for Senator Lamb, not for the sake of his seat opening up, but so Oklahoma will have a conservative leader in the lieutenant governor’s office.

If Senator Lamb doesn’t win, District 47 will remain in capable and conservative hands. However, if he does win, which is very likely, the governor will call for a special election to replace him, likely to be held in February or March. Because the seat is not technically open and because Greg is focusing on ensuring Republicans win this fall, he is not yet campaigning. However, we will be ready to hit the ground running on November 3. And that’s why I am writing to let our family and friends know of our major decision. I am doing all I can to be a supportive wife and help Greg be ready and organized on November 3.

We will need your prayers, love and support along the way. I truly believe the Lord has called us to be public servants and it’s the right time for Greg to run for office. This will be a huge sacrifice for our family, but with God all things are possible!

Thank you in advance for your prayers and support!
Sincerely,
Maressa Treat


Sounds A LOT like the James Lankford "calling" to run for office, doesn't it?

Scary Saturday Predictions

Things have been truly bizarre this election season with unbelievable attacks, allegations and some of the worst television commercials in political history.  The anti-Obama sentiment is rampant and the Republican Party is going to sweep many elections.  Hell, it's so crazy that even a candidate like Christine O'Donnell won her primary.  It's just, plain bizarre.

So, here are some of my predictions for this Tuesday as I sit here with there kids watching Halloween 43 or something of FX.

SQ744:  Will fail about as badly as the gasoline tax increase proposal a few years ago.  The recent actions of the Yukon School Superintendent pushing teachers to hand out pro-SQ744 literature to students may have been the final nail in the coffin of all that is SQ744.  It's a deplorable proposal and the people of Oklahoma, believe it or not, are smarter than we are given credit.  The ridiculous "regional average" proposal has been ripped to shreds and we just won't take it any longer.

GOVERNOR:  Yes, I have predicted it before...Fallin will win this race, but it won't be a runaway victory like many believe.  The Askins campaign missed some opportunities to do some serious contrasts with what Mary has promised in previous campaigns contrasted with what she has delivered since serving in Washington.  In many ways, it shows that Askins is the nice person she campaigns as, rather than just another political hack.  Unfortunately, the cost will be the election.  Fallin wins.

LT. GOVERNOR:  Lamb will defeat Corn and that is primarily because Corn didn't read the opposition research closely enough and allowed his campaign to launch a ridiculous attack against Todd Lamb.  Lamb wins this one in a walk. 

STATE AUDITOR:  Gary Jones will win this race and deservedly so.  Steve Burrage, the Governor Henry appointee, has attacked Jones and it is backfiring - polls show Gary up even after the attacks.  Jones has been outspent in this race and has not received the assistance from the GOP he should have, in my opinion, though a statewide mailer apparently has gone out on his behalf.  Auditor isn't a "sexy" job and you have to truly have a passion for rooting out corruption and Gary is that man.  If this election cycle has shown us anything, it has shown us that corruption is rampant and we need Gary to expose it.  Gary is going to win, but it will be a close one.

SD6:  The Gumm/Brecheen race has made headlines and State Senator Gumm is in the political fight of his life.  I believe that he'll win, but it will be a much more narrow win than he or his supporters expect.  Brecheen does have a career ahead of him in politics but Gumm will win this one.

LABOR COMMISH:  Costello wins easily.  Richard Engle, Jim Marshall and crew have run a wickedly good campaign against the amazingly silly incumbent Lloyd Fields.  Fields should never have been elected to begin with, but the sentiment against Brenda Reneau was so great that even the political whiz Pat McGuigan couldn't save her.  Costello wins.

CD5:  Lankford defeats Billy Coyle, and Oklahoma will send the first-ever camp counselor to Washington.  Lankford's campaign was brilliant from the beginning, and he really hasn't made any promises to be held accountable for when he gets there.  He's pretty much run a campaign that is identical to Tom Cole's campaign in CD4 and in two years, when he's up for re-election, there won't be much to stick to the guy.  Congrats to Neva Hill and crew for running a historic campaign.

There are a few of my predictions on this Scary Saturday.  I'll add some of the other races later this weekend.

The sun is shining, the weather is wonderful and the kids get to dress up in their favorite costume and get treats tonight.  In a few days, some very undeserving candidates will get their treats for tricking voters into believing their hype.

Gumm Responds To Brecheen's Response

From the Gumm release:

DURANT, Okla. – In a desperate bid to save his failing political aspirations, Josh Brecheen continued a longstanding pattern of deception in a news release issued Friday, according to Senator Jay Paul Gumm.

In the release, Brecheen attempts to “refute” an advertisement now airing from Senator Gumm. The advertisement, paid for by Gumm’s Senate campaign, points out glaring inconsistencies in the carefully crafted image Brecheen has manufactured.

Brecheen challenged the media to “take seriously their duty to the public to investigate the allegations and expose these misrepresentations.” While he doubts Brecheen really means that, the senator said he would welcome such an examination because each assertion in the advertisement is backed up by documentation available through public records.

“I truly had expected more of Josh,” Gumm said. “At least I hoped he would have shown fidelity to the image he crafted, if not to the truth.

“However, I suppose a little too much ‘Washington’ rubbed off on him during his time working for a ‘D.C.’ politician.”

In his news release, Brecheen continues his effort to deceive voters, first by evading the fact he does not own real property. According to Coal County public records, Josh Brecheen does not own any land.

He does own a 1984-model manufactured home (VIN CA0693556S17003AB), which is sitting on his parents’ land, meaning it is not subject to real property tax. Also, the red farm truck he has driven for months on the campaign trail, and which appears in one of Brecheen’s television commercials, is registered to his father.

Gumm’s commercial points out that Brecheen did not cast a vote until he was working for a politician who appeared on the 2004 primary ballot. Brecheen asserts he voted while in Payne County while in college. The Payne County Election Board twice confirmed no record of Josh Brecheen having been registered in that county.

Coal County election records show Brecheen registered in his home county on March 15, 2000. He did not cast a vote until the 2004 primary election – the election at which the politician for which he worked was on the ballot. In fact, he was so negligent in voting, he had fallen to “inactive voter” status and had to be reinstated to cast that August 2004 vote.

“We also know that Josh did not vote in this year’s Republican run-off election,” Gumm said. “One of the most important duties of a senator is to step up and be counted on the floor of the Senate – and we are prohibited from doing so if the vote could benefit us personally. It certainly appears, however, that is when my opponent does vote.”

Brecheen did not deny that he collected large government paychecks, as asserted in the advertisement. In fact, Brecheen seemed to indicate he took even more from taxpayers than was listed in the commercial, saying he had an average annual salary of $45,000. According to congressional pay records, Brecheen’s highest annual salary was $53,500.

“We were being conservative on the amount of money Josh took from taxpayers,” Gumm said. “Josh fessed up to taking even more – up to $270,000 – all while taking the predictable shot at me because I have to work for a living to support my family.”

In his press release, Brecheen attempts to allege some impropriety in the fact Gumm – like virtually every member of the Legislature – has outside work, including ownership with his wife of rental properties.

“Josh shows his lack of real world experience when he talks about my rental properties,” the senator said. “As a renter himself, he should know that landlords make money by providing quality and affordable places for people to live. How I afford rental properties is they show a modest profit after I pay expenses, insurance and the mortgages. If they did not, I wouldn’t be much of a business owner.”

Ethics Commission records show that Gumm has filed financial disclosures as required by law. Brecheen, however, has not filed the financial disclosure form required of state officials and candidates when they file for office. “The old saying about ‘Those who live in glass houses…’ certainly seems to apply here,” Gumm quipped. “Failing to file would probably earn you an ‘F’ in any transparency grade.”

As Brecheen concludes his press release, he quotes his political godfather, U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn, with the often-repeated clip in which Coburn says Brecheen has “no arrogance” and “no guile.”

“Josh apparently shows his boss a different side of himself than the one he shows to many who encountered him in the field and during this campaign,” Gumm said. “Many have seen Josh become verbally abusive when speaking to someone who disagrees with him, including a respected state judge.”

In a letter to Coburn earlier this year, LeFlore County Associate District Judge Ted Knight took Brecheen to task for being “disrespectful and rude” with his secretary on the telephone. Once transferred to the Judge, Brecheen displayed “arrogance” and a “demanding tone” when speaking about a subject the Judge said Brecheen “obviously does not understand.” Further, according to the letter, Brecheen made wild accusations and threatened the judge.

Gumm said the responsibility for this campaign becoming negative rests solely with Josh Brecheen.

“We have endured deception from the moment I was called in late May by a constituent who told me Josh was telling people he was going to run,” he said. “In the last week, it has just gotten completely out of hand. The air of desperation gripped the Brecheen campaign and they brought Washington, D.C. gutter politics to southeastern Oklahoma.”

From a $50,000 negative television-commercial-buy from a shady group with hidden donors, to a weekly-newspaper advertisement with bald-face lies about Senator Gumm’s record, the Brecheen campaign continues to reach new lows.

“I would much rather have spent time talking about the real issues of this campaign,” Gumm said. “However, it was obvious I had to defend my family, my record and myself. Because, if I won’t defend them, how can the people I have had the honor of serving the past eight years count on me to defend them on the floor of the Senate?

“The mud Josh refers to in the new commercial with him in the shower got on him only when he reached into the sewer to sling it at my family and me.”

JUDGE RULES SQ744 LITERATURE AS “ADVOCACY”

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK:  Judge Patricia Parrish ruled today that Yukon Superintendent Bill Denton’s request for teachers to distribute materials supporting State Question 744 to be “advocacy,” and that political advocacy in is not allowed by law.  While not issuing an injunction or restraining order, Judge Parrish admonished the defendants not to “engage in advocacy within public schools.”

Shawnnessy Black, plaintiff attorney stated, “While the relief was not granted, we are not disappointed with the ruling of the judge in this case.  We are hopeful that the unethical electioneering styles conducted by superintendents across the state will cease as a result of this ruling.”

Anthony J. Ferate, co-counsel said, “It was fun to watch the defendants do their song and dance, saying that none of them were responsible.  Sandy Garrett’s office directly claimed they ‘had no control of the superintendents across the state.’  It really makes me wonder what the Superintendent’s job truly is.”

If anyone has additional information about possible electioneering in public schools, both attorneys would appreciate correspondence via email for the express purpose of ensuring appropriate law enforcement agencies, including District Attorneys, are notified promptly.

Shawnnessy Black:  Shawnnessy@hotmail.com

Anthony J. Ferate:  aj@feratepllc.com

Citizen Files Injunction Against Garrett and Yukon Schools

"It's for the children," we hear all the time and this time, school superintendents and officials plan to use our children as campaign volunteers for the infamous State Question 744.  Today, a Yukon resident filed a temporary injunction and restraining order against Sandy Garrett and Superintendent Bill Denton of Yukon.  The plan was to give out materials to children to take home the day before the vote on State Question 744.

Bill Denton and Sandy Garrett have a great deal of explaining to do and friends, this is exactly the kind of campaign tactic that has created the tsunami of support against incumbents and against the status quo.

Contact your local school superintendents immediately and tell them that this kind of behavior will not be acceptable under any circumstances and if they try to pull what Denton has pulled in Yukon, you will work diligently to see them ousted.

We have seen the news reports, we have put up with the garbage from the teacher's unions, it's time for us to act.  Attorneys Shawnnessy Black and Anthony Ferate have assisted a citizen in the move to tell the status quo system HELL NO.  Please share this link with your friends and let them know that they now have another reason to vote NO on SQ744 and demand the prosecution of public officials who use the schools as their campaign headquarters.

Here is the contact information for Yukon Public Schools:
Yukon Public Schools Administrators

Mr. Bill Denton, Superintendent
Dr. Fred D. Rhodes, Assistant Elementary Superintendent
Mr. Kent Mathers, Assistant Secondary Superintendent


Office: (405) 354-2587

HEARING SCHEDULED, 4PM, 7TH FLOOR BEFORE THE HONORABLE JUDGE PATRICIA PARRISH.

Behind the Green Doak

I have just learned that consultant Chris Lowther is working on the Doak for Insurance Commissioner race and that OCPAC stalwart Richard Engle is Doak's campaign manager.

Well, that certainly changes things, doesn't it?

Stand Up To Obama? From Oklahoma?

I have been called a "partisan hack" for many, many years.  I've been a Republican conservative and have made no bones about it.  I have completely decimated Democratic leadership on the air while on WKY and have ripped to shreds many liberal, feel-good policies that hinder our economy and have cost jobs.

But I am an equal opportunity offender.

So, while cruising Facebook, I came across a picture of Congresswoman Mary Fallin speaking at a State Chamber event and the caption to the picture read:

From The State Chamber forum: "I believe President Obama and Nancy Pelosi are out of touch and out of control ... and I'm the candidate who is ready to stand up to them."

Mary Fallin in Washington where, apparently, she was too close to Pelosi and Obama to actually take them on.

Now, I may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but that statement BEGS the following questions:
1.  Are you running for Congress?
2.  Why are you choosing NOW to "stand up" to Obama and Pelosi?
3.  Didn't you serve in Washington where you could have "stood up" to Democratic leadership?
4.  Why did it take you four years IN WASHINGTON to muster up the courage NOW to stand up to Pelosi/Obama?
5.  How freaking stupid do you think we are?

Apparently, very.

No doubt, Congresswoman Mary Fallin will win her bid for governor.  Jari Askins will fall victim to the anti-Obama/Pelosi/Reid sentiment and Fallin will be the first-ever female governor of the great state of Oklahoma in the same year we send a camp counselor to Washington as our congressman.

I like Mary Fallin.  She's fun, she's funny and a very, very sweet person.  This being said, if she says that she is going to take on Washington from the governor's mansion one more time, I may lose what's left of my cotton-picking mind.

State Question Guide - Share With Your Friends

Here is my take on the upcoming state questions, how I plan to vote and since I am such a cult of personality, you'll very likely do whatever I say...


SQ744 - EDUMACATION FUNDING
Hayl No. This "regional average" line of crap they are feeding us is just that - crap. The teacher's unions and bureaucrats use an intellectually dishonest formula that does not include even the most simplistic of measurements...cost of living indexes.

SQ746 - VOTER PHOTO ID
Hayl Yes. While I think it would be more important to have poll workers who aren't busy watching reruns of Matlock, having photo identification for voters is important.

SQ747 - TERM LIMITS
Hayl Yes. This will term-limit statewide elected officials from serving more than two four-year terms (total of eight years). Unfortunately, this doesn't go far enough. We need to limit terms for offices that include PRIOR service as an elected official.

SQ748 - REDISTRICTING
Hayl Yes. Increases the redistricting commission members from three to seven. We need more accountability, this is one way to get it.

SQ750 - BALLOT ACCESS
Hayl Yes. I am all about the First Amendment to the Constitution and this question protects our right to petition the government. I like it a lot.

SQ751 - OFFICIAL LANGUAGE...ENGLISH, PLEASE
Hayl Yes. While we may still be stuck "pressing 1 for English," state agencies will no longer be required to print documents in Swahili.

SQ752 - HERE COME DA JUDGE COMMISSION
Yep. Increases the number of members of the Judge's Commission to 15 members.

SQ754 - APPROPRIATIONS
Hayl No. If this passes, the legislature would not be required to use predetermined formulas to set agency budgets. It would end up being a free-for-all with your tax dollars and we just can't give Ken Miller that kind of power.

SQ755 - SHARIAH LAW
Yes, yes, yes. This is that state question everyone on the Right is talking about...forbidding state courts from considering or using international law or even Shariah Law (scary Muslim stuff) when deciding cases. We prefer the Constitution, thank you.

SQ756 - Obamacare No-Go
Hayl Yes. We don't need no stinkin' Obamacare.

SQ757 - RAINY DAY MONEY
No, no, no. Increases the Rainy Day from from 10% to 15% of the general budget. Look, our state government has already proven that the Rainy Day Fund is not being used for emergencies like FLOODING, why give them more money to jack with? VOTE NO on this pile of waste disguised as a state question.

Political Circle of Life

Every two years, we get ourselves all lathered up about how this candidate or that candidate will save us from ourselves, save our country from this or that perilous course and how our involvement in the process itself can make or break our future.  We wear our campaign t-shirts with pride, we decorate our front lawns with signs showing our allegiance to our particular candidate(s) and we tell the world how important our political affections are to us.

We lather, rinse and repeat.  Tragically, we expect different results every single time.

Sometimes, there are new faces in the crowd but even those "new" candidates are owned and operated by the same cast of characters who brought us the perennial candidates from years gone by.  Their tepid messages are the same, their lack of coherent policies are the same, their negative and often misleading attacks are no different than that which we swore we would refuse to accept in years past.

As Solomon wrote, "There is nothing new under the sun," but we fool ourselves into thinking so.  Candidates promise us the sky but deliver nothing more than hot air, and we love every minute of it because they inflate the balloons that are out carnivorous egos.

Politics is not life itself, but it is an unfortunate part of life.  We live in a country where we have been led to believe that "one person can make a difference," but the evidence points to something completely different in the macro, doesn't it?  Tea Party rallies, pastoral convocations, reclaiming this or that for this or that - all part of the cyclical processes by which we entertain ourselves and pretend that the man behind the green curtain doesn't exist...unfortunately, he does.  As a matter of fact, there are lots of green curtains, lots of men (and women) hiding behind those green curtains and you and I know it to be true...we just refuse to accept the truth and do something about it.

We are born, we live, we give birth, we die.  The circle of life is what it is and there isn't a damned thing we can do to change it.  As I have said before:   "Life is a series of mistakes.  Sometimes, we get it right - but that is a mistake too."

Once in a while, we can do something to make a minor change, to implement something for a short period of time that actually has meaning, that can create a blip on the radar and perhaps the effort therein is worth it for that brief moment in time.  We find reasons, excuses to justify our excitement about the temporal, ignoring the eternal or worse yet, intermingling the two - making that which is sacred somehow secular and making that which is truly secular, sacred.

The cycle continues and even though this litter of candidates has within its brood a couple potential superstars who can and will deliver that which they have promised, we will probably overlook them because we enjoy feeding at the trough of hyperbole and flashy television commercials.  And in two years, then again in four, the political circle of life will continue and we'll be bitching and complaining about the incumbents like we are right now.

Cue the Lion King...

(Not So) Serious Sunday

It's time for the weekly round-up and analysis of the week to come brought to you by your friendly former 400lb Gorilla of Oklahoma media...you ready?

Oklahoman Takes After Terrill (Again):  In a story published by the ever-so-objective Oklahoman, questions about the "investigation" of Representative Randy Terrill by Oklahoma County District Attorney, David Prater.  Michael McNutt implies that Terrill didn't return calls for an interview, but answered questions in an email and in the email (which Terrill sent me), McNutt was given the pimp-hand.  One of the funniest exchanges was where the implication that Terrill's opponent said there were many voters out there concerned about the so-called investigation, to which Terrill replied, "To be completely candid, most of my constituents say they don’t even know who my opponent is, so I  seriously doubt many of them are “voicing concerns” to her. Be that as it may, i have knocked a lot of doors, and not many have told me they have any questions on the subject.  That's most likely because they recognize the allegations as the baseless, politically-motivated election-year garbage that they are."

Ouch.  But seriously, the real problem is that since Terrill was the unashamed author of HB1804 and plans a tougher illegal immigration bill next session, the Oklahoman has painted a target on Randy's back.  Why?  It's simple:  Cash.  Large corporations that comprise a significant revenue stream for the down-sizing Oklahoman do not support HB1804 and the advertising agency that handles said corporations place ad dollars with the Oklahoman.  As long as Terrill is a hawk on immigration issues, and the Oklahoman is in the hip pocket of one or two ad agencies and their "branded news," Randy can expect continued attacks.  Hell, if Gene Stipe himself were running against Terrill, the Oklahoman would endorse Stipe over Terrill.

RGA Is A-OK For OK Corps:  Wondering where all the money came from to fund those anti-Askins commercials?  Well, the money flowed from the heavenly streams of Oklahoma corporations, of course.  According to the Oklahoman's Paul Monies' analysis...here is the breakdown of contributions:

Devon Energy....$650,000

Rooney Holdings....$282,145

Chesapeake Holdings....$225,000

And so on, so forth totaling $1.4 million.  Contrasted with the Democratic Governor's Association wherein Oklahomans contributed a whopping $1,250.  And you wonder why Jari Askins is getting spanked in the polls?  You have to wonder why Devon and CHK is so willing to fund such nasty ads against Oklahoma's Lt. Governor - particularly since Jari Askins is a mineral rights owner...

Sooners/Cowboys/Huskies Get Whipped:  It was a bad week for my Washington Huskies as well as the Oklahoma college franchises (yes, I called them franchises because that is truly what they are), but we live to fight again next week.  Oklahoma's undefeated streak comes to an end. 

Jones Goes It Alone:  Gary Jones has been fighting corruption for a very long time in Oklahoma and because of his work, former State Auditor Jeff McMahancan't is gone.  And now, the Republican Party has all but forgotten the fact that it was under Jones' leadership that the House and Senate went to Republicans and we maintained control of the Corporation Commission.  Todd Lamb, Mary Fallin, Ken Miller, Dana Murphy, Glenn Coffee and Speaker Steele owe Gary a debt of gratitude and their support - financial and otherwise.  Locked in their own races of course, they are focused on their own opponents and it's understandable.  BUT, the GOP continues to support the other statewide races and have even purchase ads on social networking media such as Facebook on behalf of Mary Fallin, but has failed to adequately support Gary Jones.  The irony is that when these other candidates needed Gary, he was there for them but in politics, there is rarely a quid pro quo.  What these candidates need to remember, however, is if that Henry appointee wins, his office will be auditing the hell out of them just for political purposes...   It's time for the GOP to support their candidate for Auditor.  Period.

How To Beat A Democrat: Invoke the "O"-Word

There are some words in the English language that are just wrong.  No matter who says them and in what context they are used, people cringe when they are heard and in this election cycle, no word is more powerful than the "O"-word.  The Big "O", if you will is being invoked across the land and in Oklahoma, it has reached epic proportions and so far, it's working out very well for Republicans.

The word?  Obama.

To use a quote from my favorite Robin Williams film, Dead Poets Society:

No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world.

Doesn't matter whether the idea is good, or that the words are in and of themselves meaningful, it's the use of the Big O that is changing the tide for Republicans throughout Oklahoma and dare I say, the rest of the country.  In a story written by the conservative blogger and Oklahoma talk radio legend, Mike McCarville, friend of the 2nd Amendment Jay Paul Gumm may be getting a lashing because of his so-called connection with the Big O - through a polling firm.   It doesn't really matter to some that Gumm really does not support Obama's policies, what matters is that the needle in the haystack has been found and the Republican machine is at work to make sure that the six degrees of separation from the Big O and Gumm is in full effect.

In my home state of Washington - a Democratic stronghold to be sure - the Big O is being invoked across the state with some of the most blistering attacks on incumbent Democrats ever seen in politics.  The "P" word is being used there as well and it is working thus far.

Truth be damned and the heavens fall, for this is the year when the Big O becomes a problem for virtually every Democrat running for office in any state, county or even city.  The Republican apparatus is laser focused on finding any connection to Obama and exploit it through the use of every known form of media.  The Big O is so toxic, that none of us should be surprise if the private sector doesn't start invoking it to increase market share:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
From:  Scope


NEW YORK, NY:  President Obama uses Listerine.  Good, patriotic Americans use Scope and if the Founding Fathers were here, they would have used only the constitutionally conservative and remarkably delicious Scope, not the communist, socialist Listerine.

Well, you get the picture.

Words and ideas can change the world and sometimes, these words have meaning and sometimes they don't.  You make the call.

The Plan: Talk About A Plan

Some day, I plan to see the Grand Canyon.  Some day, I plan to once again ski Whistler/Blackcomb mountains.  One day, I plan to see my kids head off to college.  We all have plans and apparently, Congresswoman Fallin has a few plans too for when she is elected governor of the great state of Oklahoma, but you'd be hard-pressed to find said plans anywhere in writing, so we're forced to simply take her at her word.

Her new ad claims she is the "only conservative" in the race for Governor and I suppose we're to take that at face value.  She's been endorsed by the NFIB - a small business lobbying group.  And of course, she stood up to Obamacare.  The ad also informs us that she supports the Arizona immigration law - which is horrifyingly ironic because the biggest problem with illegal immigration has been caused by inactivity in Congress...where she has served for the last four years.

She has a plan to:
Lower Taxes
Reduce Government Spending
Bring New Jobs

But we don't know what those plans are, or how she intends to lower taxes, reduce government spending or to bring new jobs to Oklahoma.  Can't find the "plans" on her website.  Can't find her plans for any of the three anywhere.

But that's kind of what we expect in this election cycle, isn't it?  Talk about a plan without really telling what that plan entails.  We have heard over and over again that we need to lower taxes, we need to reduce government spending and we need to bring new jobs to Oklahoma but not a damned one of the Republican or Democratic candidates have shared with us just how in the hell they propose to do just that.  Instead, we're being pumped full of feel-good messages that pollsters have vetted and makes us feel all tingly inside.

Well, here's Mary's new ad.  Enjoy.

Lamb With A Side Of Corn

Ladies and gentlemen, we have one of Oklahoma's very first edible elections in memory and it is being served up piping hot.  Grab a beer to wash this one down...

I have a confession:  I really haven't been paying much attention to the Lt. Governor's race and it appears as though I have missed out on quite the delicacy.  Kenneth Corn apparently went on the attack against Todd Lamb and Lamb responded with fire and vigor, using comments even from Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater.

I have known Kenneth Corn for a while now and though our relationship started out on rocky ground after he was a guest on my former talk show on WKY, he and I got to know each other and he even invited me on a hunt down in his part of the state.  We hunted hogs with dogs and it was an experience I will not soon forget.  He is well known, and very well liked in his part of the state and while there, it was almost like he was a celebrity.

I have also had the opportunity to meet Todd Lamb at a Friends of the National Rifle Association banquet a couple years ago and he seemed engaging, intelligent and though a little polished for my liking, very approachable and friendly.  Lamb has the "look" of someone running for office, someone who will probably run for one office or another for the rest of his life.  More than likely, if he wins, he will bide his time until the Governor's mansion becomes vacant or the opportunity to run for Congress or the U.S. Senate presents itself. 

Both men are really good guys and it is rather disgusting that their campaigns have devolved to this negative garbage.  Yes, people are wickedly sick of negative campaigning but at the end of the day, negative campaigns often work well.  People respond to negative attacks as well as negative robo-calls and I fully suspect calls to be flying within the next couple weeks.

The GOP coffers are emptying on behalf of Lamb and Fallin (which is just plain silly to me) and by the time comes to help out Jones for Auditor or Doak for Insurance Commissioner, there will be little left - other than a compulsory mailer or two that will be sent out using one of the GOP consultant's mailing houses.

Lucky for the GOP, the Democratic party machine needs a tune-up and hasn't been lubricated so well these days.

Negative Ads, Same Sorry Excuses

What happens when fear takes over?  If you're trained to control fear, make it your ally and use it to your advantage, it can be a good thing.  A little fear of the Creator is certainly a good thing - we need to remember that He is God and we're not.  But without training, fear can make us do some crazy things.

Steve Burrage apparently experienced a little fear after seeing that he was losing in recent polling and what was his response to Gary Jones?  A typical negative attack ad that tells us a lot about whether or not he is "political" or not.

Burrage was appointed by Governor Henry to fill the Democratic statewide office vacated by former State Auditor Jeff McMahan - who is now dealing with much bigger issues than he was as Auditor and that is largely thanks to the work of the man who desires to replace the Henry appointee.  Gary Jones has been tenacious and that is really the kind of person we want as auditor and inspector.  Jones has the respect of many Blue Dog Democrats across the state and that probably scares the crap out of Burrage.  And his response to the fear and losing in the polls shows that he is not the outsider he has tried to portray himself as and accuse Gary of being.

Gary is a good guy and he is more than qualified for the job he seeks.  He has private sector experience and he has a good relationship with people from both sides of the aisle. 

When fear takes over, we can do some stupid things.  In my opinion, Burrage has proven my point.

State Auditor Race

Yes, we're at the cusp of election day and  most of us have already realized that the Republicans are going to have a clean sweep.  There are a couple races that the state GOP needs to get more involved in - such at the State Auditor race and the Labor Commissioner race as well, but I have spoken to Matt Pinnell personally, and he has assured me that the GOP will be doing something to ensure we don't have another four years of a Henry-appointed Auditor.

Think about it:  If Gary Jones does not receive the help necessary from the GOP and loses to a Henry-appointed Democrat, and the Republicans sweep other races, Gary's opponent will have something to prove and he will expend untold energy toying with the other statewide office holders.  It is critical that Matt Pinnell and the new leadership team at the GOP focus time and energy on this race otherwise, Burrage will be a proverbial bee in the bonnet of every statewide Republican-controlled office.

Conventional wisdom dictates that the GOP will be laser focused on the Governor's race, but in this climate, the Governor's race probably requires the least amount of attention.  Mary Fallin has a pretty damned good team around her and she has incredible financial resources at her fingertips.  Not only that, but the RGA (Republican Governor's Association) has spent a bunch of money in this market as well.  So, you see, Fallin doesn't need Pinnell nor the Victory Fund to waste untold dollars on her race - Jones, Doak and Costello need the help.

I consider Gary Jones to be a friend and though we have not agreed on every finer point of political dogma, Gary is probably the best suited candidate for State Auditor we Republicans have seen in many years.  Gary has uncovered more corruption and fiscal shenanigans in state government than the last three auditors combined - and he's not even our State Auditor yet.

I highly recommend you vote for Gary, November 2nd.  We need a State Auditor who will work hard for the people of Oklahoma and not spend $350,000 of our hard-earned dollars to redecorate their office.

Gary's website.