Jenni White Running For GOP Vice Chair

Not sure if you're aware, but there is a race going on for the GOP Vice Chair post.  Pam Pollard, very well known in Republican circles, is facing Jenni White.  Who is Jenni White?  Here is a posting from her Facebook page...

I am a lifelong Oklahoman and registered Republican. I have rarely missed even the most local election, and I have become much more active in politics in the last several years.

In 1995 I earned a Master's Degree in Biology from UCO in Edmond and taught science for nearly a decade. My husband David and I have four children ranging in age from 27 to 6 and for a time, I was a stay at home mom, running a home business.

Following the election of Barrack Obama, I became an overnight activist. In early 2008 I helped organize the OKC912Project. As their Education Coordinator, I reached out to candidates for public office to come speak to and educate members about their campaigns. 

In 2009, I discovered that many public schools are not teaching our children the true founding of our country and our Republican form of government. That year I co-founded an organization called Restore Oklahoma Public Education (ROPE) to draw attention to this and many other problems in our current system. Since that time, I have logged countless hours of unpaid research, lobbying and travel to speak on issues surrounding public education. During 2010, ROPE researched and campaigned vigorously against State Question 744, and for candidates such as our current State Superintendent Janet Barresi. During the legislative sessions, ROPE is at the state capitol speaking with legislators about legislation important to all children enrolled in our public schools.

My experience in education and education legislation are the primary reasons I am running for Vice-Chair.

Especially in urban areas, Oklahoma (like most of America) is losing our young people to underachieving public schools. Combine lack of knowledge with an over-emphasis on technology and these two factors tend to foster dependency, making socialistic ideals seem attractive. Without a firm understanding of the vision of America’s Founders and a working knowledge of our representative form of government, many students graduate high school with very lopsided ideas of how our State and Federal government should function.

I have solutions. Oklahomans simply must engage our young people and provide ways to educate them in the Republican principles of freedom and responsibility. We must help train the next generation to develop a healthy work ethic and problem solve our country back to its Republican roots – smaller, more local government and a free enterprise system that allows economic growth and lower taxation. We must introduce our young people to the concept of personal responsibility by allowing them to develop an understanding of the moral basis on which our Founders built this great country.

I am excited at the prospect of being able to work with our current state GOP Chairman Matt Pinnell on his new Emerge46 campaign designed to do just this. If you are not familiar with the program, please read about it and join his efforts.

I was hoping to speak to you before your state convention, but I know I have already missed many. If your leadership has changed, I would ask you to please forward on my message. I will try to contact everyone personally between now and the state conference, but, please, do not hesitate to contact me via email or phone at your convenience. I’m happy to conduct a phone interview, or attend any meeting I’m able, to share my vision and hear from you about yours.


Thank you for your time and I hope to meet you soon.


Jenni White
President
Restore Oklahoma Public Education
www.RestoreOkPublicEducation.com

Gerhart Under Fire

The Muskogee Politico and the McCarville Report are locked and loaded, and it appears as though there is a concerted effort to show that the Tea Party isn't what it was in the last election cycle.  Leadership fragmentation, controversial commentary and a run against the Speaker of the House has attracted the spotlight for a man who many believed to be the catalyst for the conservative groundswell in the last election cycle.  The question will be whether or not they will be effective, or simply serve to divide the already contentious Republican Party.

Prepare for GOP fallout.

Al Gerhart is the target at this juncture and could be the catalyst for further fragmentation of the Tea Party movement in Oklahoma.  Who stands to gain?  Who stands to lose?  Those are questions to be answered in the next election cycle, but for now, two of the mainstays of Republican blogs are putting Gerhart's feet to the fire.

From The Muskogee Politico:

On Tuesday, Gerhart and the OCA was dealt yet another big blow when Tulsa metro-based OKforTea, perhaps Oklahoma's largest and most active Tea Party group, notified Gerhart of their immediate withdrawal from the Oklahoma Constitutional Alliance. Their email, signed by each of OKforTea's organizers, stated "Though OKforTEA has enjoyed being a member of the OCA and though we understand and appreciate its mission, we must withdraw from membership as of March 15, 2011. Please remove the name of our organization from the list of members and any printed materials or websites, immediately."

From The McCarville Report:

Six Republican House members have been singled out for threats by the Sooner Tea Party's Al Gerhart for remarks made in the privacy of their Caucus, leading some to conclude that the collegiality of the Caucus is being violated.

The realization that Gerhart has "inside" information from the Caucus has some members looking over their shoulders and others ready to quit going to Caucus meetings, it appears.

The Tea Party movement as a whole was largely responsible for the amazing victories experienced by Republicans across the nation in both state elections as well as federal elections.  Al Gerhart, the exceedingly controversial figure who once called out Gary Jones (former GOP Chair and newly elected State Auditor), has been both a motivator and a hindrance to conservative movement in Oklahoma and it looks like he has laser-guided missiles directed at him.

Speaker Kris Steele

Gerhart is a man who does not lack the passion of his convictions and as we have all learned at one point or another in our lifetime, such passion is a double-edged sword. 

In many ways, it's as though the GOP is attempting to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.  It didn't take very long for Oklahoma Speaker of the House Kris Steele to show where his loyalties lie - his pastor invoking some of the most bizarre and questionable imagery during his first official prayer before the House, then his move to the center and incessant attacks on House Conservatives like Mike Reynolds and Randy Terrill.  There is talk around town that conservatives in the House who have heretofore been silent are seriously considering a move against the Speaker and his choice for a replacement already (Steele is term-limited). 

Al Gerhart doesn't strike many as the type of guy who will back down from a fight and this one looks to be a bloody, 12-round caged death match.

Bring your popcorn and earplugs.

Groundswell of GOP Discontent

Social networking sites such as Facebook are a-buzz with the lack of satisfaction voters feel from the last batch of Republicans sent to Washington and elsewhere.  Whether it be the Oklahoma Speaker of the House chastising the more conservative members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives or freshmen Congressmen in Washington flying around the country, enjoying their new fame, conservative voters have had their fill.

And it's only March.

The McCarville Report outlines Representative Mike Christian eviscerating Speaker Steele for attacking conservative members of the House who really broke no rules but rather have been a thorn in the side of the moderate Speaker of the House, Kris Steele.  The aggregate result has been anger and ire from the Tea Party members in Oklahoma and it appears as though the fire will spill over into upcoming State House races. 

Sadly, the mantra of "social issue bills" that was first brought forward by the Oklahoman in their editorials has spilled over into even the most conservative writings on the Internet.  It's an effective tool, mind you, on par with liberals calling themselves "progressives" or switching the debate from global warming to "climate change."  The facts still remain the same that the few members of the conservative movement remember why voters chose Republicans last year - they desire stronger immigration policy, stronger personal protection (as in 2nd Amendment bills) and the Speaker of the House in Oklahoma has sold the caucus down the river...and Fred Morgan is the Skipper of the boat.

The talk on the street is that the Tea Party and other conservative organizations are looking for candidates once again across the board - state, local as well as federal.  No office is safe, no elected official will get a "free pass."

I'll keep you posted...

Media Malpractice: A Review

Cruising through the selections on Netflix, I have found some very entertaining and enlightening documentaries over the past couple months and last evening, I found one that got my attention.  Media Malpractice:  How Obama Got Elected and Palin Was Targeted is a new release on Netflix, but came out in 2009, I believe.  A fascinating documentary that truly enlightened me on some very serious issues.

Throughout the documentary, Sarah Palin is interviewed, discussing some of the more difficult moments of the McCain/Palin race and the interviewer shows her watching video segments of members of the media ripping her to pieces.  In one segment, the now infamous Katie Couric interview is reviewed and after listening to how the whole interview went, and what was left out of the final product, my heart absolutely broke for Palin. 

Another point that the documentary makes is how "in the bag" for Obama the mainstream media was during the election cycle.  We all knew that the media thought he was - and is - salvific, but the documentary highlights many of the subtle ways even Fox News helped Obama. 

If you're looking for some interesting perspective on the last presidential election, I highly recommend this video.

Enjoy.

Break From Politics: Alice In Chains

Probably one of the more influential bands of the Seattle-influenced "grunge" era, Alice In Chains had a distinctive sound as illustrated by the below video.  Intense and creative production, AIC's powerful vocals came to an end when Layne Staley died of a drug overdose.  The band still exists, but hasn't reached the acclaim it did under Staley's vocal leadership.

Radicals or Freedom Fighters?

The Tulsa World published a story today about the Southern Poverty Law Center's attack and targeting of three Oklahoma legislators:  Representatives Randy Terrill, Charles Key and Sally Kern.  In the article, the three legislators are called "radicals" by the SPLC. 

Randy Terrill has been an outspoken advocate for controlled borders and punishment of those who come to the United States illegally as well as punishing employers who knowingly and willingly hire illegal immigrants.  Is that a radical concept or is a question of standing up for the rule of law?  It is Constitutional for states to enact laws that deal with illegal immigration because the federal government has failed to do anything about the issue. 

Sally Kern is the wife of a Baptist minister first and foremost and her religious affections drive her.  She has campaigned on conservative, religious moral issues and has resoundingly won re-election in her House District.  While many would disagree with her push of Christianity in the public schools, her District approves of her doing so because she campaigned on these issues - and as a former school teacher, it gives her more credibility with her base of supporters.  Is she a radical or is she fulfilling campaign promises that meet the desires of her constituency? 

Charles Key has always leaned more Libertarian in his views of the role of government and has been a Ron Paul supporter in the past.  Key is a guy who has authored plenty of legislation to reduce the size and scope of government and again, it is what his constituency in his House District asks of him.  Is Key a radical because he believes, according to the article, that the federal government was aware of the attack on the Murrah Building or is he simply misguided and overly suspicious?  Key is not a part of any militia and frankly, there are a lot of people who question the federal government's role in Ruby Ridge, in Waco and in the Oklahoma City bombing but does that make each and every one of them a radical to be targeted by the SPLC?

It seems to politically expedient in today's media climate to attack what most would have considered just a few years back as "common sense" leadership - particularly where the issue of illegal immigration is concerned.  Illegal immigration is expensive to taxpayers, so much so that We The People have decided that something must be done.  We elect members to state legislatures to do something about it but then the Chamber gets a hold of them and with a few exceptions, the argument is forgotten or pushed under the rug to focus on "more important" issues such as "job creation."

You can judge for yourself whether or not the SPLC is off base.

No Politics, Just Vai

One of the most incredible performances you'll see this week.

Newsok.com Superintendent Salaries

The Oklahoman has outdone itself with a recent listing of school superintendent salaries.  Whatever you do, you must read this and pass it along to your friends.  The link has a drop-down to search by county and the listing includes the salaries, the number of enrolled students and the pay per pupil equivalent.

It's magnificent and you MUST share with your friends and then, get very, very pissed off. 

Karl Springer - Oklahoma City Public Schools, $170k/year, $5 per pupil.
Teresa McAfee - Crutcho Schools, $97k/year, $330 per pupil. 

This is just too much fun.

Read this and share it!

First Friday In March Week In Review

This has been a remarkably bizarre week in the news.  Ranging from the turmoil in Libya and subsequent oil prices, to Charlie Sheen showing that for some people, it just doesn't matter how much money you have...you're still wacko.

Huckabee:  This week, former Governor, Fox News show host and candidate for president launched against Natalie Portman for her perceived glamorization of single parenthood.  Being the good Baptist Minister Bass Player that he is, Huckabee just had to "go there" and make an issue of it (read the coverage here).  Appealing to the most base elements of the conservative pathos, Huckabee pulls out an old trump card from the GOP talking points - to get headlines, take a dump on Hollywood or someone in Hollywood who is getting headlines.  Of course, The Huckster made no mention of Bristol Palin and her upcoming memoir wherein she will no doubt sing her own praises, tell us how tough she has had it being a spoiled little rich kid, bemoan the life of a single mother searching for appropriate nannies and make a mint doing it. 

Supremes:  In a move that surprised a lot of people, the Supreme Court actually took the side of Westboro Baptist Church that has made a name for itself protesting fallen soldiers' funerals.  The ruling will impact Oklahoma laws and laws made across the nation to keep families of fallen soldiers from their protestations.  Not really sure how I feel about this one. 

City Council Shock:  The Tea Party was sure that the excitement Oklahomans had regarding a conservative movement was at hand, but it proved only to be temporary and short-lived.  Much like the media cycle in Oklahoma, Republicans apparently have the attention span of a pack of swarming gnats who have completely forgotten from whence they came.  The campaign slogans that energized the conservative base have served to be little more than cheers given on the sidelines of a junior high school football game.  The only real conservative on the Oklahoma City Council, Brian Walters, was defeated by establishment candidates who will rubber stamp virtually any program or idea that Mick "Taco Bell" Cornett has to offer.  And what was the Tea Party response?  Silence.  Welcome to the regime of the paper tigers.  Oklahoma City is moving forward - the rich are getting richer, the middle class is silent and the poor, well, they are looking for room at the proverbial Inn.  Let's see how donations to City Rescue Mission end up this year.

GOP Meets Life Church:  The new "Emerge 46" campaign from the Oklahoma GOP is creative, innovative and anything but unique.  If you follow the movement and growth of Oklahoma's Mega-Church Life Church, you will see very real similarities in marketing/public relations strategies.  The Democrats have dominated where college-aged voters are concerned and Matt Pinnell knows this.  He and his young bucks are beginning to see how the evangelical movement has seen success and they are emulating that with this new program.  This week, a gathering took place with Senator David Holt, Matt Pinnell, Lt. Governor Todd Lamb and a few others who are excited about this new media approach to getting young conservatives to come out of the closet.  Hoping to ride the establishment Republican tidal wave that has seem to overtake the conservative movement last year, the new "hip and happening" GOP wherein anyone over the age of 40 is cast aside (unless you're a donor), this new program will be exceptionally successful.

Sally Kern Writing A Book?   According to the Democratic Chatboard, Demookie.com, State Representative Sally Kern is authoring a book not yet available, but listed on Amazon.com entitled, "The Stoning of Sally Kern."  Bloggers have picked up on the news and the left-leaning blog sites have been all a-twitter about it.   Sally Kern has done a masterful job of keeping herself in the media and with the insurgence of the Baptist movement in Oklahoma, Sally stands to profit immensely from this book - her husband being a Baptist pastor doesn't hurt either and lest we forget, it was the Baptist denomination that helped former camp counselor James Lankford sail to Congress.  Kern is very much like Randy Terrill in that she will have that State House seat for as long as she wants it.  Her supporters are rabid supporters and her detractors have been marginally successful at dealing with Sally's rise to fame, which puts Kern in a very good position to run for higher office in the future.  If her book deal is true, expect another makeover of Sally in the very near future.

So, there you have it, kids.  Some food for thought.

Supreme Court Rules For Westboro Baptist

From the AP:

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that the First Amendment protects fundamentalist church members who mount attention-getting, anti-gay protests outside military funerals.

The court voted 8-1 in favor of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan. The decision upheld an appeals court ruling that threw out a $5 million judgment to the father of a dead Marine who sued church members after they picketed his son's funeral.

Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the opinion for the court. Justice Samuel Alito dissented.

"What Westboro said, in the whole context of how and where it chose to say it, is entitled to 'special protection' under the First Amendment," Roberts wrote, "and that protection cannot be overcome by a jury finding that the picketing was outrageous."

Matthew Snyder died in Iraq in 2006 and his body was returned to the United States for burial. Members of the Westboro Baptist Church, who have picketed military funerals for several years, decided to protest outside the Westminster, Md., church where Snyder's funeral was to be held.

The Rev. Fred Phelps and other family members who make up most of the Westboro Baptist Church have picketed many military funerals in their quest to draw attention to their incendiary view that U.S. deaths in Afghanistan and Iraq are God's punishment for the nation's tolerance of homosexuality.

They showed up with their usual signs, including "Thank God for dead soldiers," ''You're Going to Hell," ''God Hates the USA/Thank God for 9/11," and one that combined the U.S. Marine Corps motto, Semper Fi, with a slur against gay men.

The church members drew counter-demonstrators, as well as media coverage and a heavy police presence to maintain order. The result was a spectacle that led to altering the route of the funeral procession.

Several weeks later, Albert Snyder was surfing the Internet for tributes to his son from other soldiers and strangers when he came upon a poem on the church's website that attacked Matthew's parents for the way they brought up their son.

Soon after, Albert Snyder filed a lawsuit accusing the Phelpses of intentionally inflicting emotional distress. He won $11 million at trial, later reduced by a judge to $5 million.

The federal appeals court in Richmond, Va., threw out the verdict and said the Constitution shielded the church members from liability.

Read more.

Conservatives Lose Oklahoma City Council Races

The votes tallied and as the smoke clears, the Chamber candidates pulled off a significant win, seeing the incumbents Meg Salyer and Pat Ryan sail to victory.  The upset for conservatives, however, aren't just the Salyer and Ryan victories...it was the defeat of Brian Walters from Ward 5.

Walters, one of the only candidates for any public office to dare to say anything derogatory about the MAPS 3 initiative, was defeated by a whopping 450 votes.  David Greenwell defeated Brian Walters in a time when the Tea Party is attempting to exert itself in local races and these defeats will not sit well with conservatives.

The fragmented Tea Party organizations are going to find themselves in world of hurt if they can't put together a cohesive message and more unity.  There are too many different sects in Central Oklahoma and the rank-and-file conservative just doesn't know who to believe or to get behind.  The hardcore activists are in the loop, but what made the Tea Party successful in the 2010 campaign was a unified message and fear on the part of establishment Republicans.  The Tea Party is dangerously close to becoming a paper tiger in Oklahoma and this City Council election underscores that reality.

Sorry, folks, but that is just the way it is.

Statement from Representative Terrill

Statement of Rep. Randy Terrill Re: Andy Lester Closed House Meeting (Where Fox 25 News was ejected by House leadership and other media outlets were either not informed or denied access altogether.)

Unable to claim that I have violated any pre-existing rule, law or Constitutional provision, the Speaker has announced that I will instead be investigated for the bogus equivalent of embarrassing the House.

While I have not done anything of the sort, I must note that this new low ex post facto standard was apparently invented solely for this situation and will apply only to me.

No other House member before, after or concurrent will ever again be subject to an investigative committee using such a subjective standard.

It's clear this ambiguous phrasing was apparently designed to engineer some outcome predetermined by the House leadership.

Yet I have done nothing to embarrass either myself or the House of Representatives.

In fact, I have absolutely nothing to hide.

I have consistently called for a fair and open inquiry into this matter, and I am certain that if I were given such a hearing it would clear me of even any hint of impropriety.

Yet Speaker Steele is denying me a fair and open hearing.

Instead he has created a process cloaked in secrecy and hidden from the public eye.

He is denying me the right to present evidence, cross examine witnesses and challenge the claims my political enemies might make against me.

Amazingly, the Speaker tries to justify the secrecy of his proceedings by claiming he acts out of concern for my right to privacy - a right I have both publicly and privately rejected.

Why is the Speaker trying so hard to keep this matter so secret?

What is he trying to hide?

I am only protected by an open process.

This secret star-chamber proceeding gives me fewer rights than a Guantanamo detainee.

I only ask that I be given a forum to present my side of the story and to have public oversight over any hearing into the allegations leveled against me.

In Case You Missed It: Teen charged in connection with vandalism to DAV building, ballpark

A 14-year-old boy is facing five counts of criminal mischief in connection with vandalism at both the Disabled Veterans building and an Athens ballpark.

On Monday, Athens Police Investigator Chris Slaton arrested the teenager on five counts of third-degree criminal mischief, Capt. Floyd Johnson said. The boy allegedly spray-painted an exterior wall at the Disabled Veterans of America building at 25396 Airport Road in Athens on Feb. 21 or 22, Johnson said. He is also suspected of painting a structure and another dwelling and of damaging a drinking fountain Feb. 25 at the Fifth Avenue ballpark, the captain said. Total damage was listed a $700, records show.

The DAV is listed as the victim in two of the five counts and the city of Athens is listed as the victim in the other three, Johnson said.

The boy was released to the custody of his mother.

The investigation will continue.

Cut And Paste Story of the Day: Oil prices climb as Iran tensions escalate

While we were sleeping and wondering whether or not Christine O'Donnell is going to be on Dancing With The Stars....

NEW YORK (AP) -- Oil prices climbed Tuesday as Iran clamped down on anti-government protesters and unrest in the Middle East threatened to keep energy prices high for months to come.

Benchmark West Texas Intermediate for April delivery gained $1.23 at $98.20 per barrel at midday on the New York Mercantile Exchange. In London, Brent crude gained $1.74 at $113.54 per barrel on the ICE Futures Exchange.

The recent surge in oil has pushed up gasoline prices in the U.S. by nearly 20 cents per gallon in the past week. That's the sharpest increase since 2005, according to the Oil Price Information Service. Americans are now paying roughly $75.6 million more per day to fill up than a week ago.

The national average added another penny on Tuesday at $3.375 per gallon. Prices should keep rising to between $3.50 and $3.75 by spring, according to OPIS oil analyst Tom Kloza. He said future increases will be much more gradual, because gasoline markets have mostly priced in the recent rise in crude. "So we should flatten out" in coming weeks, Kloza said.

Oil prices surged 13 percent last week, peaking above $100 per barrel, as Libyan protesters expanded their control over the country. While the Libyan uprising continued Tuesday, news agencies reported that Iranian authorities imprisoned opposition leaders in Tehran. Iranian authorities denied the reports.

Pro-reform groups have clashed with the Iranian government. Jailing opposition leaders would be a major escalation of the country's political crisis. Iran exports about 2.5 million barrels of oil and natural gas liquids per day, about 3 percent of global demand.

The Iran protests are among the latest uprisings that have churned through North Africa and the Middle East, a crucial region that's responsible for most of the world's crude exports. Analysts say it's impossible to say how long it will take for uprisings to play out, but energy markets likely will be on edge through the summer.

Read the rest here.

Barresi: Doin' The Right Thing(s)

Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction, Janet Barresi, has face quite the uphill battle since being elected.  She has had fights with the self-avowed omnipotent School Board, has had to answer questions about her hires and how those hires are funded, but in the midst of it all, she is winning in the court of public opinion and other statewide elected officials should follow suit.

Barresi is maintaining her social networking pages such as Facebook and Twitter - and she's providing elements of substance rather than photographs of herself with supporters and other elected officials.  Her Facebook page continues to thrive and on Twitter, she's linking stories about her and the implementation of her ideas and campaign promises for followers to enjoy.

Barresi has surrounded herself with people on the cutting edge of technology, people who have the ability to put together video and podcasts and her popularity is soaring as a result.  I'll admit that I was a skeptic in the beginning - wondering aloud whether or not a dentist would make a good Superintendent of Public Instruction and already her leadership and innovation is proving that she means business and she is sincere about her campaign promises.

Other statewide office holders would be well served in following her lead.  Doak, Costello, Jones, Lamb, Murphy, Miller and even Fallin should consider creating a similar environment of transparency.

Oklahoman Endorses Chamber Candidates

It will come as no surprise that today the Oklahoman editorial board gave the proverbial "right hand of fellowship" to the establishment candidates for Oklahoma City Council - Meg Salyer and Patrick Ryan.  Opponents of both candidates have the backing of the FOP and firefighter organizations so, by default, the Oklahoman and the chamber of commerce will not support them.

It's more of the same we've seen here in Central Oklahoma since I moved here in 1998.

If we want real change, we have to get out and vote.  Lest we forget, Mayor Mick Cornett almost lost to a virtual unknown who spent barely $1,400.

Read the Oklahoman's not-so-surprising endorsement here.

A Special Thanks To Three Statewide Elected Officials

Governor Fallin has faced more than just a little controversy since her election, as has Insurance Commissioner John Doak and now, Janet Barresi.  With all of the craziness therein, there are three statewide elected officials who haven't yet faced any trouble from the media or their constituents at this point and I thought it necessary to offer up our appreciation.

Corporation Commissioner Dana Murphy:  Dana Murphy took on the establishment a few years back and defeated Governor Henry's appointment, Jim Roth.  She was under-funded, attacked viciously and yet she still came out on top.  Her superior strategy not only brought her the victory, but she didn't face any real opposition in her bid for re-election.  Thus far, Murphy has been able to stay out of the media spotlight though with crude oil prices being what they are and energy costs soaring, we should expect to hear more from her in the near future.

Auditor/Inspector Gary Jones:  Gary Jones won his tough race by putting together a grass roots operation that will be the model for future statewide races.  Prior to his election to statewide office, Jones had successfully uncovered more corruption in state government than the last two Auditors combined.  Today, Jones is quietly doing that which he promised and the only political hire he made was that of Whitney Jordan Harbour who worked for the GOP and is now his legislative director.  Jones will probably stay out of the limelight until he uncovers more corruption.  Which is exactly why we elected him.

Labor Commissioner Mark Costello:  So, far, so good.  With the madness and mayhem in Wisconsin, we can expect Costello to chime in at some point but for now, he's flying under the radar.

Dana, Gary and Mark...thank you and we appreciate the fact that you're doing the jobs we elected you to do.  Now, please, no scandals. 

Crude Tops $119/Barrel

Crude oil surpassed the $110/barrel mark this week and touched the $119 point and it is not by accident.  Turmoil in the Middle East has created a tsunami of trading fury on the NYMEX and largely, the American public have overlooked it and we do so at our peril.

The Obama administration and its push against domestic energy production has contributed to the unsteady nature of commodities trading, including the ridiculous ban on offshore exploration.  This is a critical time for the United States and if we believe our economic mess couldn't get worse, you're wrong.  Imagine gasoline at $7/gallon this fall.  Imagine what that does to delivery of merchandise and the cost of everything from groceries to shaving cream.  If this administration doesn't act quickly, we're going to be in a world of hurt.

It isn't an accident that I watched an intriguing documentary last evening on the fall of Enron.  "Enron: The Smartest Guys In The Room," is a telling documentary of the global energy giant, Enron, and the massive economic destruction their shell game cost this country.  The participation of banks and accounting firms in what will go down as the worst business scandal in our nation's history shows the frailty of the markets.  Today, we have the housing market boom and bust and the worthless paper many home loans were written on recently. 

I find it horribly ironic that 20,000 people lost their jobs while Ken Lay and his boys walked away with millions of dollars.  And the same banks who participated in the boondoggle for the rich are now foreclosing on average Americans who are struggling.  Hypocrisy, thy name is Wall Street.

We better pay attention, people, and put some pressure on our elected officials in Washington to do something about it quickly.  Of course, our elected officials are still pretty busy patting one another on the back about their victory in November...

Spring Thinking

Enough politics for the day, it's time to turn our twisted little minds elsewhere and consider the possibilities of the future - this spring, in particular.  For some, it will be the time to clean house, to get ready for the summer, while for others in the great state of Oklahoma, the fishing and hunting seasons begin.  So, let's take a look at what's out there...

Spring Turkey:  Spring turkey season starts up April 6th through May 6th for gun, with a special youth hunt the weekend of April 2nd and 3rd.  Turkey hunting is a lot of fun and is probably one of the more entertaining and exciting hunting trips available in Oklahoma.  And it is something that the whole family can enjoy because of the interactivity with the game.  Calling in the tom turkeys, watching them strut...it's all part of the adventure.  Check out the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's website.

Camping:  If you're like me, there's never a bad time to go camping.  I have done it in the winter during hunting seasons, during the spring, summer and fall.  It's affordable, fun and gets you out away from the blacktop for a little while.  There are countless parks and lakes in Oklahoma to do some camping and they are easy to find on the Internet as well.  There is the Army Corps of Engineer's page as well as the Oklahoma Parks Department pages to review potential locations. 

Fishing:  Crappie season is almost at hand and if you can take the cold winds while out on the boat, crappie fishing is not only fun, but the fish itself is mighty tasty. Oklahoma is well-known for its catfish, bass angling and then there's the legendary spoonbill fishing up at Grand Lake - there are so many species of fish in Oklahoma that it's tough to keep up.  Trout fishing has become increasingly popular and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation has done a spectacular job of making sure there are plenty of fish and fishing habitat.

Horses:  It's that time again - time for horse racing at Remington Park.  While the casino isn't my bag, watching the horses race is exhilarating.  Not exactly a family-friendly location, but the horses are beautiful and the racing excitement unsurpassed. 

Baseball:  The Redhawks kick off their 2011 season April 7th, with their home games beginning April 15.  Redhawks baseball is clearly one of the most family-friendly entertainment venues in all of Oklahoma.  Next to perhaps the Zoo, Redhawks baseball is the most affordable and positive environments for the little ones where spring entertainment is concerned.  The Redhawks have tickets that are affordable and there really isn't a bad seat in the house.  Contrasted with the facility formerly known as the Ford Center, the Redhawks' ballpark is easily navigable and the seats are comfy.

Zoo:  Speaking of the Zoo, the schedule of events at the Oklahoma City Zoo continues to grow and truly, if you're looking for an all-day adventure with the family, the OKC Zoo is the place to go.  Generally speaking, most of the animals are out and about during the spring and the kids love seeing the critters doing their thing.  Well, parents do too...  Every season, the OKC Zoo has new attractions, new additions and more critters to eyeball and a season pass is worth every penny.

Little Sahara:  Look, summer is the time for Little Sahara, I know - but if you want to beat the rush to the dunes, spring is the time to do it.  Mostly locals during the spring and few out-of-staters coming in and tearing up the place.  Bust out the Polaris, the Arctic Cat or whatever your ATV of choice and head up to Little Sahara for a weekend your family won't soon forget.  But remember the helmet laws...

Ultimately, things are going to be a little tight this spring and summer.  The economy is still down and fuel prices are continuing to climb.  Today, gasoline in Oklahoma averaged just around $3/gallon and is slated to continue its upward climb.  Spending money in Oklahoma helps Oklahoma businesses.  Sure, it's sexy to go to the "Big D" and act the fool, but it's better for the economy of Oklahoma to be foolish right here in your back yard. 

Showdown At The OK-Education Corral

The Oklahoma Board of Education is strapping on their boots and saddling up, preparing for what will most assuredly be a contentious meeting tomorrow.  Superintendent of Public Instruction, Janet Barresi, let the good-old-boys have it with both barrels last time they met, leading to the state legislature putting together plans to disband the Board as we know know it right this minute.

It's truly a sad state of affairs when the Democrat-appointed Board of Education misses the point completely and their duplicitous wranglings over whom Barresi chooses to hire for her staff has caused most Oklahomans to turn their attention away from educating our kids to political banter. 

Earlier this week, one of the employees Barresi wanted to hire but was told she was "unqualified," has landed a job, ironically, at the Office of State Finance.  Which proves that the Board is more interested in political points with their left-leaning friends who are clearly pissed off that Barresi put the smack-down on their candidate during the election than they are in getting some real work done. 

Tomorrow looks to be interesting and in the interim, read this article from the Oklahoman. 

CHK On the Rise

The Oklahoman is reporting that Oklahoma City's Chesapeake Energy (CHK) posted some nice fourth-quarter profits.  It has also been learned that CHK has purchased even more land in the Nichols Hills part of town. 

From the Oklahoman article:

Buoyed by hedging gains of more than $570 million, Chesapeake Energy Corp. on Tuesday reported fourth quarter earnings of $180 million, or 28 cents a share.

For the year, Chesapeake earned more than $1.6 billion, or $2.51 a share, after losing nearly $5.9 billion, or $9.57 a share, in 2009.

The company's oil and natural gas hedging program brought in more than $2 billion in 2010.

As CHK goes, so goes Oklahoma City and it looks like things are looking up for the independent natural gas giant.

The Other Side of Tort Reform

Tort reform, lawsuit reform, whatever you want to call it...has another side to it.  It has the human side.  The argument from my fellow conservatives is that we need more tort reform because of frivolous lawsuits and it is the liberal trial lawyers who create an environment where businesses are afraid to prosper.

But these are the same conservatives who believe the desires of the founding fathers to be canon - and they find it easy enough to ignore the fact that our founders wanted us to have access to the courts for the redress of wrongs.  It's that simple.

Tort reform in many ways is little more than insurance company profit-making.  That's all it is.  When tort reform is passed, rates do not go down - they never go down.  Just like property taxes...though your real value of your home may be stagnant, the Assessor makes sure you're assessed the maximum increase of 5% every damned year.  Insurance company PACs are huge donor to Republican campaigns and they have effectively bad-mouthed the trial bar to the point where we believe any and all trial lawyers to be bad people.

Even the conservative employee of the Heritage Foundation, Ernest Istook.

There is another side of tort reform, and it is tragically laid out in the following video.  You need to watch it.

Local Tea Parties

Oklahoma House and Senate, Oklahoma statewide races including the Corporation Commission, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Labor Commissioner, Governor, Attorney General and to a lesser degree, State Auditor and Inspector all benefited from both the anger of voters and the publicity tea party movements garnered.  They won their races in 2010, resulting in a Republican sweep unlike anything in our recent history.

But somehow, the media is surprised that they have turned their focus to local races such as School Board and City Council.

In a very well-written story by John Estus, the revelation comes that two of the many Central Oklahoma tea party organizations are getting involved in local races.  And there is even some background about the splits within the tea parties.

The Sooner Tea Party formed in 2009 after several of its members split from the Oklahoma City Tea Party, which earlier that year held a boisterous rally at the Capitol attended by more than 5,000 people.

Since then, the Sooner Tea Party has held its own rallies and aligned itself with other conservative groups in central Oklahoma. It is a part of the Oklahoma Constitutional Alliance, an ultraconservative umbrella organization also run by Gerhart.

The story does not address which candidates are being supported in local races nor those who are being opposed by the tea party organizations, no doubt intentionally.  The incumbents in the Oklahoma City Council races, for example, have carried water for the Chamber and the Oklahoman wouldn't want to enliven the base that supported the Republican base and potentially lose their water-bearers on the Oklahoma City horseshoe.

Neither does the story mention that Al Gerhart, creator of the Sooner Tea Party, is running against Representative Paul Wesselhoft for a State Senate seat.

The tea party movement, though admittedly fragmented in Central Oklahoma, is still a force to be reckoned with and will continue to be involved in local races - much to the chagrin of the establishment.

Guest Editorial: Texting and Driving Bans are Abusive

Texting and Driving Bans are Abusive
By Craig Dawkins

February 18, 2011

The Oklahoma State Senate jumped on the ‘no texting while driving’ bandwagon when the Public Safety Committee approved Senate Bill 146 this week. Texting and driving bans have been approved in 30 other states and it appears that Senator Jerry Ellis –D, Valliant, wants Oklahoma to follow their lead.

Ellis cites discussions with people who’ve witnessed texting drivers driving badly. Perhaps they have. But I’ve witnessed many people driving badly while eating, applying makeup, lighting cigarettes, reading books, talking to people in the back seat, looking at attractive females, and I could go on. I’ll bet you’ve seen that too. So do we need to ban all of those things as well?

To make matters worse, the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) released a study in September of 2010 that compared states that have banned texting and driving with states that do not. The study concluded that states with texting bans experienced increased insurance claims compared with states without bans. The reason? Texting drivers, in order to avoid fines, simply moved their phones further out of sight which caused their eyes to peer further away from the road than before the ban.

HLDI isn’t a partisan organization. They simply gather insurance and highway safety statistics. So why are we considering texting bans? Because it’s something politicians believe to be popular with voters. But impartial data shows that bans actually make us worse off.

These vote seeking, do-gooder Republican and Democrat politicians pretend they can actually make us feel safer by passing texting and driving bans despite the evidence that bans will likely result in more harm. But these new laws will most certainly increase revenue for governmental entities that would love the opportunity to collect more ticketing revenues by enforcing texting bans.

Senate Bill 146 will not make us safer. It will result in more accidents and harm to Oklahomans. There will be more harassment by municipalities looking for additional ticketing revenues. Don’t fall for the idea that politicians know how to protect us more than we know how to protect ourselves.

Here’s an idea. How about the police and other law enforcement agencies start aggressively enforcing existing reckless driving laws?  


Craig Dawkins is a professor of economics and finance, a policy analyst and activist for a freer society. 

Friday Wrap Up

A long and challenging week is behind us so, let's review some of the stories of interest and get your take on them.

Egypt:  Unrest in Egypt this week has resulted in the brutal rape of a CBS reporter and that alone has sparked controversy.  Should CBS report more about the incident and keep the public aware of the reporter's progress?  Should CBS be all over the Embassy, ensuring that what's left of the Egyptian government knows that the United States won't tolerate such atrocity?  It is a difficult situation, and one that Americans are watching, but approach with caution.

Crude Oil:  As a result of the economy, the lack of offshore drilling and the Egyptian crisis, crude oil has topped the $100/barrel mark and doesn't look to be slowing down.  Gasoline prices here in Oklahoma have reflected the crude crisis, seeing gasoline crest $3/gallon.  Meanwhile, Iraq is reporting record exports - a story that seems to have been lost on the general public and the NYMEX as well.

Devon Boathouse Open:  The much-awaiting grand opening of the Devon Boathouse is taking place and according to a story in the Oklahoman (here), the public is invited to check it out.  And for the record - the boathouse isn't what you think.  It's actually for some sport thing they call "rowing."  You won't find any Bass Trackers, Bayliners or Nitro bass boats there.

Sunshine:  The weather in Oklahoma is about as unpredictable as Senate Democrats - one day hot, one day cold.  But thankful nonetheless that the sun is shining.

Stephen Jones Responds To Speaker Steele

    STATEMENT OF STEPHEN JONES,
    REPRESENTATIVE RANDY TERRILL’S ATTORNEY,
    ON THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE FORMATION OF THE
    HOUSE COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATION ALLEGATIONS
    MADE AGAINST REPRESENTATIVE TERRILL
    FEBRUARY 14, 2011

The Speaker and Democratic Floor Leader have chosen eight respected members of the House of Representatives to serve on the committee to investigate allegations against Representative Terrill, and by implication former Senator Leftwich.  Mr. Terrill welcomes the appointment of the committee.  But, he feels it should have been formed eight months ago.  He also appreciates the thankless task of these members who have accepted this responsibility at the same time they are serving their constituents and discharging their other duties as legislators during a period of a financial budget crunch.

However, the public and undoubtedly most of the House will be disappointed that the so-called investigative stage of the committee will be conducted behind closed doors in secrecy.  This rule by the leadership cannot be justified, is inconsistent with what was represented to the Caucus when the committee idea was first broached by the Speaker-Elect, and it smacks of a “Star Chamber Proceeding” in a period when the public and the media have increasingly insisted on transparency and openness in government.  These leadership-imposed rules of secrecy run directly counter to that expectation the public has.  They are also counter to the actions last week which promised that legislative proceedings would be opened to the maximum extent possible.

Openness is particularly important here in view of the widespread leaks from the Executive Branch, and the District Attorney’s Office concerning these allegations.  They were marked by early violations of grand jury secrecy, and the so-called probable cause affidavit is full of speculation, factual errors, innuendos, and omissions of material facts.  It is economical with the truth.

The leadership should have insisted that this procedure be open in all respects.

Representative Terrill has committed no wrong or crime or violated the House Rules in any respect concerning this matter. 

Unlike his accusers who continue to whisper from the shadows, he is prepared to go on the record publicly regarding his knowledge of the events in question.  Anyone who claims to have knowledge of the facts should likewise be willing to testify publicly.

What the rules imposed on the committee by the leadership create is a period of closed-door investigation in which neither Mr. Terrill nor his counsel are present.  This closed-door secrecy cannot be justified.  The committee is not a grand jury.  A grand jury is part of the criminal process conducted by the Executive Branch.  Indeed, in Oklahoma there is so much distrust of grand juries, that 99% of all criminal cases that go forward are heard by a magistrate in open court. 

Here, the committee will apparently take testimony in secret without cross examination and without the public evaluation of the credibility of the testimony at this critical stage.  Without cross examination and publicly opened hearings, the testimony is tentative at best.  It could be used by others as nothing more than a dress rehearsal and an opportunity for them to clean up their testimony before repeating it to the public. 

Moreover, the process is fundamentally unfair to Mr. Terrill at this stage.  Witnesses who provide information have the luxury of making these accusations secretly and without the apprehension of cross examination.
My client is not afraid of the truth or testifying publicly.

The public should insist, and the media should likewise insist, that the leadership should reconsider its rules.  This process should be open.  It is important for the integrity of the House of Representatives, its members, and is equally important to the public’s right to know. 

As a historical note, when Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin was under investigation by the United States Senate in 1954, a committee of distinguished Senators conducted the investigative stage openly and publicly with the right of Senator McCarthy to be present and cross examination of witnesses by his counsel. 
The House of Representatives and the people of Oklahoma are entitled to no less.

The fact that in the third and final stage the committee proposes to have open hearings is not a satisfactory redress.  At that point, it becomes more of a theater than a properly constituted hearing into the facts.

Oklahoma GOP Launches Interesting Campaign

The confetti has long since been cleaned up from the floors of the most exclusive of country clubs, the banners removed, and now, the GOP is headed into a new frontier: Targeting college-aged young men and women. 

"Emerge 46" is a slick campaign, featuring some of the bold and beautiful from the Republican Party including Matt Pinnell (Oklahoma GOP Chair), Lt. Governor Todd Lamb, Congressman James Lankford, Stephanie Milligan (President, Oklahoma Federation of Young Republicans), Megan Barber (Oklahoma Federation of College Republicans), with media production handled by Waterford-located Insight Visual Media Productions.  The objectives and focus of Emerge 46:

Emerge46 is the Oklahoma Republican Party’s program for the emerging generation of conservatives here in the 46th state in the union. Whether you are in college, starting your career or starting a family, this program is for you. We aren’t up to bat next; we are up to bat now. We are the emerging generation; not the “next” generation, and it’s time for us to step up.

This program will connect you with College Republican and or Young Republican clubs and activities. We will be a financial supporter of these organizations, and will provide them with training and tools to help further conservative Oklahoma candidates and causes. So check out our website, and connect with us. We are going to find out once and for all just how powerful a force the emerging generation can be for the conservative movement.

Creative, aggressive and having the feel of a LifeChurch.tv promotion, Emerge looks to be one of the more expensive endeavors the GOP has launched in Oklahoma for quite some time but from a marketing perspective, is on target.

Democrats in Oklahoma have been much more assertive in their outreach to college-aged voters and the universities are fertile breeding ground for the next generation of liberal voters.  Emerge 46 appears to be the GOP answer to the Democratic activism by providing a network, a central location to distribute literature, to train young conservatives in fund raising and "develop new talent" for future Republican campaigns.

So, if you've been contributing to the Oklahoma GOP or have contributed to candidates who have in turn sent their money over to the Oklahoma GOP, you now know where your money is being spent.

Saddest Story You'll Read Today

Remember the story of the three children who died in the RV fire last month?  Well, according to the Oklahoman, the parents are now being charged with felony child neglect. 

The mother whose three children died Jan. 4 in a motor home fire had left them alone there, locked inside, while she was under the influence of methamphetamine, police allege.

Drug use, neglect and now, the mother of these kids is pregnant again, with the baby due in June.

It has all the makings of a Lifetime, made-for-television movie, doesn't it?  The sadness quotient in this story, however, is off the charts.  Three small children trapped in an RV - trapped because their mother locked them in the vehicle, as it burns around them.  And now we learn that methamphetamine may be involved. 

No doubt, more will come out on this case as it progresses, but it is truly one of the saddest stories you're hear about today and perhaps even this month.

The Oklahoman story here.

Rock And Hard Place Welfare Politics

General Motors received $51 billion in bail out money.  AIG was disbursed $68 billion.  GMAC received $16 billion.  And the list goes on...  No one with any functioning brain cells will consider this to NOT be corporate welfare.  There was even quite a fuss over a Chrysler commercial during the Superbowl as a result of Detroit automakers receiving corporate welfare.

And in Oklahoma, there are companies who receive tax incentives regularly - and even the Oklahoma City Thunder receives incentives and relief from payroll taxes.  But now, a bill has been authored to require drug testing for recipients of state aid.

As McCarville Reports, Representative John Bennett has authored HB1083 that requires drug testing for all recipients of state aid.  And it begs the following questions:

1.  Will it withstand Constitutional muster?
2.  Will the bill apply to the aforementioned recipients of corporate welfare and if no, why not?
3.  Will the Oklahoma City Thunder players, staff and management be required to undergo drug testing?
4.  Will companies who receive tax incentives or breaks on ad valorem taxes be required to undergo drug testing?

The answer to all of the above will probably be "no." 

Bennett's bill that is clearly designed to be "tough on drugs," will be labeled as racist and inciting a class war.  The bill targets recipients of state aid who are at or below poverty, but leaves legislators, state employees and board members of corporations receiving tax incentives exempt.

You can expect this bill to be talked about, laughed at and battled over for many weeks to come.  And rightfully so.  The duplicitous nature of the bill speaks volumes.

Bennett's quote from the McCarville Report:

“Everyone knows who the local dopies are and it is extremely frustrating to law-abiding citizens to see those people subsidized with our tax payments,” Bennett said. “People should not get paid to do drugs on our dime.”

Nor should corporate executives be paid to fly around in their Jet Streams on our dime either, Representative Bennett.

Fox 25 VA Hospital Report Sparks Dialog

For years, veterans have complained to the media about the conditions at the Oklahoma City VA Hospital and Oklahoma City's Fox 25 conducted a few interviews and talked to hospital staff.  In the report that ran February 9, we were left with more questions rather than answers.

Veterans have also complained for decades to members of the Oklahoma Congressional Delegation and have received mixed reports on the progress.  Many veteran's groups such as the Mid-America Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America have made great strides with members of Congress and Senator Jim Inhofe has been actively involved in providing legislative assistance in Washington for disabled veterans.

But the problem is much larger in scope than merely legislative assistance.  The problem is societal, emotional.  Going back to perhaps the Korean war, returning troops didn't receive the same warm reception as they did during WWII and the decline of adoration for members of our Armed Services continues.  Men and women who oppose war at all costs have permeated the fabric of the media and the message being sent out is one of apathy.  Today, veterans are looked at as civil service employees - not to say that civil service isn't important, but a distinction must be made at some point.

Currently, we have boots on the ground in more than one theater and yet, we hear very little about the triumphs and strategic victories the men and women of the Armed Forces are experiencing.  We read newspaper reports and watch television stories of the veterans who come home suffering from all sorts of ailments relative to service, with the primary focus on proving the media's point that war is wrong and the mechanism by which war is waged (veterans) are less important than communicating to the masses how evil our country is for even thinking about going to war in the first place.

But our country owes a debt of gratitude to our military.  And our country should care for our veterans.

Reports of how poor the medical care has been to our veterans (including the horrific reports in the past from Walter Reed), should be rare, but unfortunately they are commonplace.

It doesn't have to be this way.  It shouldn't be this way.  Lord willing, it won't stay this way.

The dialog is continuing...let's keep it going.

Snowblind (Again) Observations

Deep thoughts from the artist formerly known as the 400lb Gorilla of Oklahoma Media...

I Wanna Be Sarah:  Christine O'Donnell is at it again and just simply won't go away - regardless of how much water is thrown on her.  She has formed a Political Action Committee (Translated: Income source for her) to combat the evils of liberalism and God knows whatever else.  The latest is to take on George Soros, which seems to be a popular target with Beck listeners.  To hear Christine and some GOP supporters, Soros is the devil himself and will serve to be a good fundraising tool for O'Donnell.  Christine wants to project herself as the virginal Sarah Palin, but those of us with more than 50 functioning brain cells left after the last election cycle know better.  Sarah is taller, prettier and has better legs.  Sorry, Christine.

Terror:  While we're snowed in, Big Sis is telling us that the terror threat level is the worst it's been in ten years.  We're focused on the economy, thinking about the Republican victory and how we can cut the size and scope of the government, but now it appears as though our collective asses are still targets.  Go figure.

Irven Box, AP Photo

Ersland Case Makes Box More Wealthy:  Whether you agree with Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater for prosecuting Pharmacist Jerome Ersland or not, one thing you have to agree on is that Ersland's attorney is making a boatload of cash on this deal.  According to a story in the Oklahoman today, Ersland's defense is breaking his bank, totaling $100,000 thus far.  Irven Box claims that it's not all attorney fees - it's much more than that.  You can make the call yourself but as far as I am concerned and from what I have heard, unless you hire his son, when you sign on the line with his firm, you'd better have some deep damned pockets.  There is no rating system for attorneys - a win/loss ratio (unless you're watching reruns of Boston Legal), but for what Box is charging Ersland, most would expect a full acquittal with a written apology from David Prater for even thinking about prosecuting the guy.  Let there be no question - this is a damned tough case.  On one hand, you have to support Ersland for defending himself and his coworkers.  But as a 2nd Amendment supporter and gun owner myself with some training, I have to say that stopping to reload and pumping rounds into a guy who is incapacitated is just a bit too much to swallow.

Strange Bedfellows:  Remember the campaign season of 2010?  Do you?  Remember how so many Republicans campaigned as hardcore conservatives?  Remember when Governor Fallin campaigned as a staunch 2nd Amendment supporter and a champion for state's rights?  Remember?  Do you?  Do you also remember how the Oklahoman Editorial Board tinkled all over those notions and make it appear as though anyone who agreed with any ideology espoused by the Tea Party or conservative movements were fundamentally unbalanced?  Remember?  Do you?  Well, in this editorial, the Oklahoman is now praising Governor Fallin.  Does that alarm you at all?  Even a little?  Doggone it, it should.  No one is questioning whether Fallin is facing a mess in the Governor's office.  She has some of the best and the brightest working around her to make sure she looks good.  But when you have a newspaper who has made no bones about the fact that they are, at best, a newspaper that supports profits over the rule of law on issues such as immigration reform and the 2nd Amendment and you have a Governor who campaigned as a person who makes even Rush Limbaugh look like a liberal pansy - and somehow these two entities are now supporting and loving each other up...it should make you turn your radar up on high alert.

4-Year-Old Hero:  And for some good news that is uplifting.  A 4-year-old girl in Iowa braved the snow to go get help for her mother.  This is the must-read story of the day.

Go play in the snow.

Update: Snodgrass Tapped For Tourism

From Governor Fallin's release:

February 8, 2011

Governor Mary Fallin Selects Deby Snodgrass to serve as Director of Tourism and Recreation Department

OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin today announced she has selected Deby Snodgrass to serve as executive director of the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department.

The Tourism and Recreation Commission unanimously approved Snodgrass’ appointment Monday. She will replace Hardy Watkins, who is resigning this month. Snodgrass has more than 30 years experience in marketing and public policy in the private sector, most recently as senior director of public affairs for Chesapeake Energy. In that role, she developed and executed strategic political and public policy initiatives, managed both state and federal political action committees and monitored federal, state and local issues in the company’s operating areas.

“Deby Snodgrass will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience in marketing, strategy and public policy to tourism,” Fallin said. “The tourism industry plays a vital role in our economy and I know Deby will ensure the industry thrives. She will be a tireless advocate for Oklahoma as she promotes our state’s wonderful resources and tourism destinations to the rest of the nation.”

Prior to working for Chesapeake, Snodgrass was a founding partner of the public policy and research firm Cole Hardgrave Snodgrass and Associates. She has been a frequent guest speaker and has taught policy and strategy at various international venues.

“I’m honored that Governor Fallin would select me to lead the Tourism and Recreation Department,” Snodgrass said. “I look forward to working closely with the governor to promote and grow the tourism industry in our state.”

In 2011, Snodgrass served as chairwoman of the inaugural committee of Governor Fallin. She previously served as executive director of the 1995 and 1999 inaugurations of former Governor Frank Keating. Former First Lady Cathy Keating said at the time “Deby Snodgrass turns ordinary words into unforgettable visual images, simple ideas into spectacular events and a plain piece of paper into a work of art.”

Snodgrass also was a founding member of the Board of Directors for Friends of the Mansion, Inc. and is a former co-chair of “Opening Night,” Oklahoma City’s annual New Year’s Eve celebration. She served eight years on Oklahoma’s Capitol Preservation Commission and currently serves as a board member for the Arts Council of Oklahoma City.

Snodgrass and her husband John live in Oklahoma City. Their son Chase is a student at Oklahoma State University.

###

Oklahomans for Liberty Message

This from Oklahomans for Liberty:

Whatever side you are on in the whole 7th Amendment debate, Senator Sykes' behavior today was truly disgusting...

James Dunn, Oklahoma National Committeeman for the GOP, just forwarded me an email he sent to Matt Pinnell, the Oklahoma State GOP Chair.

Matt,

I have been at the capital most of yesterday working on this very issue. The Senate Judiciary passed today five bills that in essence destroy the peoples constitutional right to a jury trial. My heart is so heavy to know that leadership through Senator Sykes, the chair of the committee, would not even call me when I personally went to his office and left my phone number. I remember being significant to him when I wrote him a $1000.00 check a few months ago and personally brought him an additional $3,000.00 that I raised for him.

However, it is not the case now just like it wasn't in committee today when he refused to allow one of his constituents to speak on these very serious issues. The committee, through a motion by Senator Crain, unanimously voted against Senator Sykes allowing the constituent to be briefly heard. It truly is a sad day for Oklahoma when the people are not given a chance to be heard by its elected officials. There is blood on the ground today of innocent victims who have been left behind by Oklahoma GOP leadership. I mourn for them and for all the future innocent victims who will suffer further because our current leadership does not care to hear the truth about the need to protect victims rights and our Constitution. It is clear that Oklahoma's GOP leadership is more worried about politics as usual instead of truly following the constitution and our long history of upholding the rights of "we the people".

Sincerely,
James E. Dunn
Oklahoma National Committeeman.

So let's recap. If you're donating money to Senator Sykes, he'll take your call... otherwise, he avoids you like the plague. And if you are one of Senator Sykes' constituents and you want to exercise your 1st Amendment right to petition the government to express your concerns, Senator Sykes will do everything he can to make sure you can't be heard if it goes against what the State Chamber wants passed.

If you are a constituent of Senator Sykes, I hope you will contact him today at (405) 521-5569 and let him know that you expect your voice to be heard, even if it's not what Senator Sykes and the State Chamber want to hear.

For everyone else, please call Senator Breechen at (405) 521-5675 and ask him to reconsider co-authoring this bill. Sen. Breechen ran on being a Tea Party conservative yet he has aligned himself against the Constitution and with the State Chamber on SB 863.

Also, since the bill passed the committee (in record time, I must say), we need you to call your State Senator and tell them to vote NO on SB 863. You can find out the name and number of your Senator by clicking here.

CHK Sell-Off

Oklahoma City-based Chesapeake Energy (CHK) is looking to sell holdings, again, and the rumors are abounding but for now, let's stick to the story.  From the Oklahoman:

Chesapeake Energy Corp. is selling all of its holdings in Arkansas' Fayetteville Shale as part of its plan to slash a quarter of its debt over the next two years, the company announced today.

Chesapeake expects to net more than $5 billion from the sale, which includes its equity holdings in Oklahoma City-based Chaparral Energy Inc. and Frac Tech Holdings LLC of Cisco, Texas.

Chesapeake CEO Aubrey K. McClendon said the company has gotten positive feedback from investors about its debt-reduction plan, which was announced last month, and recent $1.3 billion joint venture with China's CNOOC limited.

“We believe the three proposed assets sales announced today ... will provide us with strong momentum into the second half of 2011 as we move forward in executing our plan,” he said.

Can Oklahoma City afford to lose CHK?  I think not.

Democrats: Fallin To Break Voter Pledge Tuesday

From the Democratic chat board, Demookie.com, there is a buzz about another Fallin appointment and perhaps the creation of a new position in state government:

On Tuesday Governor Mary Fallin will announce a new state tourism Director and will CREATE A NEW POSITION of Assistant Director this Tuesday at 3:30. This despite promising voters to cut government.

She will of course be paying back the chair and asst. chair of her inaugural committee. Deby Snodgrass was the chairman of her Inaugural slush fund and will be named the new director of the Department of Tourism.

More controversial will be her appointment of Bud Elder, former assistant chair of her inaugural committee, who will be named as assistant director. This will be a newly created position.

Elder previously left employment with the state under a cloud which buzzed of abuse of state property and state time. Sources close to republican insiders indicate he was a ghost employee who was placed there for political connections.

Rumors that we are unable to verify include that he had abused state cell phones and eventually had it and his car taken away. Sources familiar with the Department of Human Services indicate he was suspected of using state property for personal use. Governor Fallin will follow the trail blazed by Doak in appointing two cronies to these positions. One position will be created and one or two could only assume a position of someone that actually works will be eliminated to pay for this political "payoff".

I recognize the name Deby Snodgrass, but can't remember from where.  I believe she worked for Chesapeake Energy for a while and then, if I recall, she worked for Ackerman McQueen.  If that is the case, you can rest assured that Ackerman will maintain the Tourism advertising contract.  Slam-dunk for them and congrats.

I know Bud Elder from the WKY days when he and a lady friend ran an hour-long radio show on the weekends talking about movies.

If this is true, can it be construed as breaking a voter pledge?  I don't know.  That's for you to decide.

Superbowl Sunday Shenanigans

The chicken is thawing, the Little Smokies are ready for the barbecue sauce, the living room being cleaned and the ice buckets are ready.   The Superbowl is just about upon us but still, there are other things happening in the world around us and I thought I would share some of the shenanigans out there in Okieville.

Wesselhoft's Lottery Loser:  The folks over at the Oklahoma Truth Council have revealed a very interesting bill authored by Representative Paul Wesselhoft who, by the way, is running for the State Senate.  According to this bill, in order to receive lottery winnings, recipients must show proof of health insurance.  I don't get it.  Paul is a good guy, with good intentions, but this is through-the-looking-glass craziness. 

Steele Board:  The Board of Education has put itself under the microscope and now every Republican with any kind of power is going after them.  Attacking the newly elected Superintendent of Public Instruction and attacking a pregnant woman...well, it was a mistake of Biblical proportions.  Now, the Speaker of the House has decided to get some of the action.  Read it here on the McCarville Report.

Corrupt?  The Oklahoman has a pretty interesting story, asking just how corrupt our government may be these days.  Take a peek at the story and you decide.  Of course, there is a bit of excuse-making, a sprinkle of comparative analysis that gives the reader the feeling that we're not as bad as those other states.  A good read nonetheless.

Superbowl Sunday:  While not a big fan of either team and an even lesser fan of the location of the big game, it is an American tradition wherein we have the ability to eat some great food, enjoy some of the best commercials ever produced and have fellowship of sorts.

Enjoy...