Anti-Legal Immigration Protests Abound

And you thought the Tea Party protests were big? They were nothing compared to what took place today.

The Associated Press told of stories across the nation, but one in particular focused on the protests against Arizona's new anti-illegal immigration law. According to the report, close to 50,000 people showed up and were exceptionally vocal and angry about what transpired in Arizona.

From the AP story:

Organizers estimated about 20,000 gathered at a park on Chicago's West Side and marched, but police said about 8,000 turned out.
The event resembled something between a family festival - food vendors strolled through with pushcarts - and a political demonstration with protesters chanting "Si se puede," Spanish for "Yes we can." A group of undocumented students stood on a stage at the Chicago park and "came out" regarding their immigration status.
Juan Baca was among those students. Baca, 19, whose parents brought him from Mexico illegally when he was 4 months old, said he has had to drop out of college and work several times already because he can't qualify for financial aid.
"It's been a struggle," he said. "I missed the mark by four months."

Astounding.  First, the student was angry because "he didn't qualify for financial aid," then he has the audacity to say he "missed the mark" by four months.  Not exactly sure what he means but the AP story makes it seem as though the illegal student believes he would be entitled to a free ride were he born here.

These protests were significant - seeing 50,000 in Los Angeles alone.  There were approximately 5,000 at the Tea Party rally in Oklahoma City, and based on what we're hearing, it was a drop in the bucket compared to protests today across the nation against the new Arizona law that actually does what the federal government has failed to do.

I remember during the Istook/Henry gubernatorial race in 2006 when immigration was former Congressman Ernest Istook's centerpiece.  It made many of us cringe because we knew what Henry's response would be:  That Istook spent 14 years in Congress and did nothing about it.  Four years later, the federal government has sat idly by while the important issue of immigration reform looms large.

Recently, a Democratic operative said to me that one of the reasons the GOP has refused to touch this very sensitive issue on a federal level is because "they don't want to lose the Hispanic vote."  Balderdash.  They've refused to do anything about the issue of illegal immigration because they don't want to lose campaign contributions from companies who employ illegal immigrants - or contributions from companies whose subcontractors employ illegal immigrants.

That is the sad truth, my friends.

We need candidates for Congress, for the State Legislature who will speak the truth about this issue - that the system is broken and yes, it needs reform.  We need men and women who are willing to just tell it like it is and present solutions that offer those who want to come here and work legally, the opportunity to do so and to do something serious about those who are here and who come here illegally. 

There is a reason it is called ILLEGAL immigration.  It just might be that it is, well, illegal.

Saturday Style, Part 2

The house was all a-twitter this morning as the ladies of the house prepared to depart for their morning outings - including a fashion show for the older two, and a trip to the Science Museum for the younger two.  Having spent the day at the Science Museum yesterday with Mason and Madison, I know the little ones have a morning of excitement ahead of them.

As for the fashion show...no thanks.  I'll watch ANTM on television, thank you.

So, here are a few items of interest I thought I would share with you on this rainy Saturday in the great state of Oklahoma.

David Holt, Senate District 30:  Received a message from David Holt regarding his Senate District 30 race wherein he talks about the progress of the campaign and his fund raising efforts.  Pretty impressive and it shouldn't surprise anyone that he's leading the very small field of two in money because, well, he's Mayor Mick Cornett's right hand man.  From his message:

Friday, we reported to the Oklahoma Ethics Commission that we have raised $124,152 in total, including $14,136 in the first quarter of 2010. Donations accepted after March 31 were not included in our report.

The campaign has spent $29,909 in total to this point, a “burn rate” of just 24 percent. That means we enter the home stretch of the campaign with $91,754 left in “cash on hand.”

In contrast, our only opponent remaining in the race reported having received just three donations in the first quarter of 2010, totaling $1,425. He has already spent 73 percent of the money he has raised, leaving $9,137 left in “cash-on-hand.” That means we enter the home stretch of the campaign with a 10-to-1 advantage in available funds.

 Holt has pretty much run a campaign any anointed candidate should run.  He has been knocking doors - though rumor has it, very selectively - and he has an aggressive social networking mechanism in place.  Holt is a nice young man.  He named his son "George" after President Bush.  That alone should endear him to many Republicans.  The truth is that the people of Senate District 30 are basically going to get a younger version of Mick Cornett as their State Senator.  That's the bottom line.  He won't screw anything up, but don't expect any earth-shattering conservatism that would make the Tea Partiers piddle.

Lt. Governor Jari Askins:  The McCarville Report is reporting (I know, that sounds redundant, doesn't it?) Jari Askins has spent $62,000 or so on opposition research for her gubernatorial bid.  And that she's spending about $10k a month for her consultant, Don Hoover.  Hoover is good, but he's not $10k a month good.  Read the McCarville Report here.

Dave White for Congress:  I had the opportunity to chat with Dave White, the independent running in Oklahoma's 5th Congressional District this week and frankly, I am impressed.  He's a no-frills, no B.S. kind of candidate with a wickedly impressive resume' - and it isn't massaged and crafted just to run for public office.  He's a Naval Academy graduate, he's a former Navy Seal, he is a successful business owner, and he has specific ideas about just what he would like to do if elected to Congress.  Pretty simple. He is, in many ways, what many of the candidates in the GOP race for the 5th District desire to be.  Here is the story from the Oklahoman.

Ronblackradio.com Transition:  Eventually, all my blog entries will be here on this blogger page rather than just on my website.  The site, hopefully, will be redirected here.  My archives and all will remain intact, or somehow be available here as well.  No clue how to do that just yet though.

Jacking of the Nigh Couple:  Former Governor George Nigh and his wife were attacked in an area most would consider "safe."  In my estimation, if a former Governor of this great state isn't safe, none of us are at this point.  And meanwhile, we're hearing talk of a decrease in the number of law enforcement officers on the streets as a result of budget shortfalls.  It is an atrocity.  There are so many candidates running for public office who are touting their support of public safety, but nothing is being done to adequately fund public safety - and don't get me started on the MAPS3 fiasco.  While I supported certain aspects of MAPS3, I am flabbergasted that the citizens of Oklahoma City are overlooking the fact that everyone who supported MAPS3 had to have known that public safety would take a hit financially.  It's bovine fecal matter.

More to come, I'm sure.

And now for something completely different...

Saturday Insomnia

After watching "The Lovely Bones" followed by "Grudge 3," found myself sitting up trying to find something profound to discuss and unfortunately, this blog entry will be anything but profound.  Perhaps profoundly ridiculous.  Here are some of the stream-of-consciousness thoughts racing through my head this sleepless evening...

Quote of the week - "Horse Hockey."  There is a reason Mike McCarville is a legend in Oklahoma media.  Today, his post regarding the "Mary Fallin contributed to Brad Henry" mess sums it up...

Straw-Grasping: Received an email this week from a supporter of one GOP candidate for governor claiming the other GOP candidate had donated to Democrat Brad Henry's campaign. Horse hockey. The candidate contributed to the inaugural fund, as official records clearly show.

Again, Mike is the master and there is good reason for it.

Oklahoma City Thunder:  Fans of the NBA in Oklahoma City must be very, very proud of their team.  Without question, finishing 12th in the NBA so early in franchise history is astounding and will probably give Oklahoma City leaders another point to check off on their respective resume's. 

Gubernatorial Rum:  The salvos have been coming hot and heavy in the GOP gubernatorial race and the latest was clearly an ill-timed House Resolution giving Puerto Rico some serious choices regarding statehood - or not.  While the timing of Congresswoman Mary Fallin's involvement in this resolution was abject silliness, the responses from the Fallin-haters was equally silly.  Apparently, while quoting the story posted on the Muskogee Politico, they failed to actually READ the story wherein the whole fiasco is explained quite adequately.  The whole mess really only serves to increase rum sales in the state of Oklahoma, rather than do any real damage.  The Fallinistas are probably chuckling about this one.  I crack myself up..."Fallinistas" and "Brogdonites." 

KTOK's Mark Shannon:  Mark and I have worked together at WKY and there is no question that Mark has quite a following and many are lifting him up in prayer and hoping for a miraculous recovery and speedy return to the airwaves on News Radio 1000, KTOK.  Mark has become the Afternoon Delight of Clear Channel Oklahoma, breathing new life into the microphone and offering a unique perspective on news and pop culture of the day.  Mark has been battling illness for most of the year and he and his wife, Kris, need us to continue to pray for him.  They are going through hell right now and Christians on both sides of the aisle should be on their knees, offering up prayers.

There will be more this weekend...stick around.  It's going to be fun.

The Shanster Needs Prayer

KTOK's Mark Shannon has been battling health problems for quite some time as most talk radiophiles know, and according to his website today, he needs our prayers. He writes:

Greetings I cannot tell you how much my life has sucked the past few days. Nevertheless, at least I've had a life to suck.

On Wednesday morning I began to run a fever, experience pain in my kidneys and generally just felt crummy. By 1pm, the my doctor told me to grab an ambulance ride to the hospital, and about 4pm, I was there and going through what's become a very familiar routine, although this time I was incoherent, (though very entertaining babbling away with words that just seemed to come from nowhere.)

I spent most of Thursday "out of it" too, until they started pumping blood and platelets in to my system. Both are at a severe levels, and even adding the blood and platelets hasn't done much t improve either condition.

My kidneys appear to be shutting down slowly, another really bad sign, and a specialist has been called in to see what she can see.

In short, while I haven't given up or given in to "death," we are preparing for it and having the discussions that are needed in the event it is "check out" time.

I've had a life blessed beyond what I deserve, and I have few regrets. If my time here is up, then I am confident that God will prepare me, much as everything leading up to this point in my life has prepared me for the next step in life.

What that truly means is anyone's guess - except for that of the Father.  He knows what's going on and it is to Him we must petition for peace and healing for Mark.  The Shanster and I have not always agreed on things nor methodology, but one thing is certain - mark knows radio and he is exceptionally talented and has been a God-send for KTOK - as has President Obama.

Mark and his wife, Kris, are going through a very tough time right now and if you're a praying person, I would ask on his behalf that you do just that.  God does answer prayer.

How Serious Are We About Reform?

Americans are very, very pissed off.  Gasoline prices are going up, unemployment is still a problem, we feel as though our rights and liberties are being eroded and we feel as though the federal government has its grubby fingers in virtually every aspect of our lives.  First with the bailout of banks as a result of the home mortgage fiasco, then with the auto industry and now, the federal government that touts itself as the "protector of the citizenry" has become the consummate provider of corporate welfare to the insurance industry with Obamacare.

Yes, I said it.  Obamacare does nothing but serve the "big business" they supposedly hate by mandating every American purchase a product thereby propping up an already successful business.  For the conservatives in Oklahoma, why hasn't Frank Keating come out against Obamacare?  Why?  Because he is a lobbyist for the insurance industry.  But I digress.

So, I ask you:  How serious are you about reform?  In Oklahoma, we have seen numerous Tea Party rallies that have succeeded in getting people really fired up, but provided no singular leadership or even a platform for supporters to follow.  Tea Party rallies are a good thing, don't get me wrong, but for an already conservative state like Oklahoma where Republicans own the House and the Senate, own all of the Corporation Commission (the agency that regulates about 80% of the state's economy), and in this election cycle, will own the Governor's Mansion, the position of Lt. Governor, the Labor Commission, the Superintendent of Public Instruction position, and probably even the State Treasurer's office, the rallies are tantamount to having Aubrey McClendon lecture Larry Nichols on the benefits of domestic energy exploration.

At a time when the Tea Party rallies should be focusing on how to help Republicans in tough Oklahoma House and Senate Districts, they degenerated to name-calling and bashing committed Republicans such as Oklahoma GOP Chair Gary Jones.

Again, I ask:  How serious are we, as Republicans, about reform?  In 2004, when President Bush won re-election, most talk radio guys and gals were gushing.  They were tickled pink that George Bush had defeated John Kerry and that Republicans still were in control in Washington.  There were auditory celebrations that became legendary.  I, on the other hand, opened my show with a piece from Mozart's Requiem Mass and warned, "To those that much is given, much will be required."  I warned that if we did not follow through with our promises of more jobs, a more stable economy, reduced deficits and fiscal sanity, we would lose the U.S. House, the U.S. Senate and in 2010, we would see a Democratic President.

I hate to say it, but I told you so.

We have seen Republican after Republican campaign on immigration reform.  We have received none - and the 14th Amendment remains to be interpreted by the SCOTUS fully.  We have seen Republican after Republican campaign on energy policy reform.  We have seen a lurch to the left, an embracing of "green energy," and domestic energy production that is abundant and clean-burning be left virtually out of the equation (namely, natural gas). 

And here is the really sticky wicket for my Republican brethren in the state of Oklahoma:  What is still the biggest growth industry in Oklahoma even after Republican leadership in the House and Senate?  State government.  Government is still the largest employer in Oklahoma...  Follow me?

If we're serious about reform - REAL reform - we have to take a look at candidates running for political office and determine whether or not they are true servant-leaders with an eye to the future or if they are simply more of the same.  At the same time, we have to ask ourselves whether or not candidates aren't just riding the wave of pissed off people to further their own political careers, or if they have truly considered all of the consequences of their positions and the intended and unintended consequences therein.

Don't think that 2010 is "in the bag" for Republicans.  As a party, we've shown how easy it is to snatch defeat from the hands of victory.  While we were reeling from the fact that Nancy Pelosi became Speaker of the House, there were a handful of people willing to admit that we brought it upon ourselves.  It's easy for us to stomp our feet and scream from the rafters how "President Obama hates capitalism," while Republicans in our own state are passing legislation that would make even the Supernanny blush in comparison.

Think about it:  If we're serious about reform, we must begin in our own back yard, in our own neighborhoods and we do so by using the brains God gave us to step away from the elixir of emotionalism and educate ourselves on the candidates and the issues important to us.  And most importantly, we fact-check.  Trust, but verify.

I could be wrong, but I seriously doubt it.

Another Navy Veteran in CD5?

Apparently, there is another Navy veteran who is in the fight for Oklahoma's 5th Congressional District seat being vacated by Congresswoman Mary Fallin.  And according to his website, he's an independent.

His website reads:

The success of my entrepreneurial enterprises, and the various investments I made along the way, allow our family to live without debt. It is a very nice feeling to have no mortgage, no car payments, no credit card debt, and no bills other than utilities, taxes and insurance (which, by the way, requires a full time job to pay). I suppose I could have continued to reinvest my nest egg be­fore paying off all our loans and credit cards, but the pres­ent economy has us a bit scared. My wife and I sleep much better this way. 
Now it’s time for me to give back. I am running for public office. I will run as I am—an independent conservative, and “debt-free.” I will represent the 5th District of Oklahoma without owing any money or any favors to special interests—a pure representative of the people.
I am not an attorney. I am not a career politician. I do not have millions in the bank. I am simply a guy living what was once the American Dream. I started with noth­ing, worked hard, and never, never, never quit.

His website is very interesting, very informative about who he is and what he believes.  He supports a very conservative rule of law, he supports the 2nd Amendment, has a pretty darned good view on energy policy, supports Israel, is pro-life, and is pro-traditional marriage.  And it doesn't appear as though he's a big fan of traditional political consultants as well.  He says:

First - If you are not a multimillionaire capable and willing to wage this kind of battle with one’s own finances (or at least enough to pay the political consultant’s entry fee), or a career politician with immediate access to special interests, lobbyist, PACs, party purse strings, and apparently the time to campaign for 12 to 18 months, then you need not apply. Sadly, this excludes the vast majority of the truly gifted leaders within our society; the business owners, fire chiefs, principals, head nurses, inspiring coaches and true leaders in this great country far to busy working, raising a family, unwilling and unable to subject themselves, their nest egg, and their solid reputations to an 18 month campaign.

If Mr. White is serious about his campaign, and from the looks of it, he is, he'll be facing one of the multitude of Republican candidates from the 5th District - more than likely, it will be Kevin Calvey.

Visit his website here and judge for yourself.

Hat tip to my friend, Bryan Dean, for this heads-up.

Oklahoman Editorial Board Gets It Right. Finally.

The national spotlight was on Oklahoma because of a now exceptionally controversial AP story that contained the scary term, "militia," so, what was the response of the Oklahoma legislature?  To pass a bill to make it illegal to recruit anyone to join a militia or the KKK.  Somehow, the two get confused by legislators and not only that, with the bill that passed the House 98-1, it is entirely possible that most of the talk show hosts being broadcast in Oklahoma could potentially be charged under this incredibly bizarre knee-jerk reaction.

The Oklahoman Editorial Board and I don't agree on much very often, but this time, they nailed it.  In the editorial piece today (here), they state:

...puzzling is the continued inaccurate portrayals of Timothy McVeigh as a militia member. State Rep. Mike Shelton noted in debate that, "In Oklahoma, we have seen the damage done by militia fanatics.” He added that if groups were "going around terrorizing communities, doing drive-by shootings, using ammonium nitrate to blow up buildings,” they’d be considered unauthorized militias.



But McVeigh wasn’t a militia member. He had acquaintances with militia leanings, but the attack on our federal building was plotted and completed by an anti-government loner, not an anti-government militia. Shelton is the latest in a long line of people who have bent those facts to suit a cause.

This instance alone could be enough for folks like OU Political Science Professor Keith Gaddie to write volumes, yet the average taxpayer in Oklahoma is probably following the Oklahoman's lead in "scratching their heads."  I sure as heck don't understand it.

Too often, media bias on a national level likes to combine terms and thereby created "guilt by association."  For example, in conservative circles, the two terms "liberal" and "Democrat" are used with impunity.  On the other side of the spectrum, the terms "militia" and "KKK" are used as well, with the end result being (at least in Oklahoma) knee-jerk legislation that would end in jail time for stupidity.

Last time I checked, it's not illegal to be an idiot.  As Ted Nugent once said, "stupid people should be allowed to say (or do) stupid things as often as possible so we can continue to identify who the stupid people are."  I don't necessarily disagree with that view because my stupidity is on display every day right here on this website and heard on close to 50 stations daily on my energy report.

Even the "conservative Constitutionalists" are guilty of this kind of knee-jerk garbage legislation and it can be found in things like taking DNA samples at the time of a felony arrest - not conviction, mind you, but an arrest.  Or, the ban on breeds of dogs because their owners are idiots many times.  Or legislation that regulates how dead horses are handled.  Or legislation that would ultimately completely dry up federal funding for roads and bridges in Oklahoma...

But I digress.

The Oklahoman nailed it this time, and you're encouraged to read it here.

Tempest, Meet Teapot

There were rumors swirling around this morning that Congresswoman Mary Fallin had contributed to Governor Brad Henry back in 2003, as reported by the Muskogee Politico, and within a few short hours, clarification came from the Fallin campaign. 

Apparently, the contribution was not a campaign contribution, but rather money spent on the Inaugural Ball.  One could easily argue the efficacy of such an investment, but that's a story for another time.

The advantages of the Internet are amazing - we can get information quickly and distribute it effectively.  Unfortunately, sometimes stories get out there that are misunderstood and need clarification.

Kudos to the Muskogee Politico for quickly reporting the story and it's aggregate result before too many Brogdonites gathered up pitchforks and stormed the Fallin Congressional Office.

To Debate or Not To Debate?

More and more chatter about a gubernatorial debate between Congresswoman Mary Fallin and State Senator Randy Brogdon is heating up and talk radio in both major markets in Oklahoma are still fired up about it.  But will it accomplish anything?

We have talked about it previously, friends:  Every election cycle, men and women get fired up about debates and more often than not, it is the trailing candidate and his/her supporters who have the highest volume.  Think about it:  If State Senator Randy Brogdon were the front-runner, do you honestly believe that his campaign strategy would be to give Congresswoman Mary Fallin much-needed earned media to get out her message? 

Of course not!

So, it's fun to listen to the supporters of Randy Brogdon to get all ginned up about debates, but the truth of the matter is that it is simply part of the campaign cycle.  More than likely, if history serves us correctly, we'll see a series of debates that will probably begin at the end of May and conclude two weeks prior to the primary itself.

It's standard protocol, friends.  There will be a debate and the result will be pretty much what most pundits are expecting:  Unless there is a proverbial "smoking gun" in the Fallin camp, State Senator Randy Brogdon will begin his preparation for a Congressional race in a couple years and Fallin will take on the Democratic nominee for Governor. 

In my opinion, most of the issues Brogdon has been talking about truly are Congressional in nature.  I think he would make a spectacular member of the Oklahoma Congressional Delegation.

Democrats are quiet about it, but you can bet they would much rather see Jari Askins rather than Drew Edmondson take on Mary Fallin.

Now, I could be wrong, but I seriously doubt it.

Gorilla

Rep. John Wright Gets OCPAC Nod for Lt. Governor

The Oklahoma Conservative Political Action Committee members have met and decided that Representative John Wright will be the recipient of their endorsement for the stepping stone position of Lt. Governor.

From Charlie Meadows' OCPAC's email:

This past Wednesday, our dues paying members voted to endorse State Representative John Wright over State Senator Todd Lamb in the closest race so far this year. There were a large number of “no endorsement” votes which caused our first run-off vote of the year. Some vote to make no endorsement because there isn’t that much difference between the candidates, couldn’t tell who was the best or perhaps they don’t like any of the candidates. Regardless of the reason, Representative Wright was chosen in a close run-off race. There wasn’t that much difference between them on their perspectives for the job. 

I believe John Wright to be the more conservative candidate, but Senator Lamb certainly displays the persona of a salesman to promote the State of Oklahoma which is a major function for the Lt. Governor position. Both are good communicators, John’s style is thorough and methodical, while Todd’s style is forceful and full of charisma. While I believe either of them will make a good Lt. Governor, our members did select John Wright who now joins these other candidates endorsed by OCPAC. Randy Brogdon for Governor, Mark Costello for Labor Commissioner, Nathan Dahm for 1st District Congress, R.J. Harris for 4th District Congress and Kevin Calvey for 5th District Congress. Congratulations to all of these fine candidates.

Whomever wins the Republican nomination for Lt. Governor will face a seasoned, well-prepared Democratic challenger in Senator Kenneth Corn.

Oklahoma's 5th Congressional District Race Gets Weird(er)

In the beginning there was Representative Mike Thompson, chair of the all-important House Energy Committee, and Mike had pretty much sewn up all the major players in the Oklahoma business community as his supporters.  His consultants, Trey Richardson and Josh Kivett are stalwart Republicans who are well known in the Oklahoma Congressional delegation.  He was leading the pack in fund raising, had an aggressive grass roots operation and then, suddenly, he disappeared.

Enter:  Kevin Calvey.  Riding the wave of Iraq war veteran status, Calvey became the front runner in the race almost over night.  He was always "in" the race, but his media buys pushed him over the top and he has received the endorsement of organizations such as OCPAC and the Oklahoma Rifle Association.  Now, Kevin is clearly the one to beat in this race.  Or so we thought.

Along came Representative Shane Jett, a Navy man from out in the hinterlands of Oklahoma's 5th District whose consultant is the former Speaker of the House, Lance Cargill.  But Jett was overshadowed by the recent announcement that former Corporation Commissioner, former Congressman J.C. Watts endorsed a political newcomer, Mr. James Lankford.

Lankford shocked the Internet universe with his presence on Facebook - boasting over 10,000 fans on his page.  Of course, he hasn't utilized that resource to its fullest extent, but his uber-conservative posture has positioned him as "another Tom Coburn" by J.C. Watts. (Read the endorsement from the Muskogee Politico here.)

One would be hard-pressed to find a more bizarre set of circumstances in any political race than you would in the 5th District race.  And I haven't even mentioned the aggressiveness of Dr. Roy or Rick Flanigan. 

I'll keep you posted...

Sabbath Silliness

Sunday Debate:  In my estimation, cupcakes are an ideal breakfast food - virtually all the major food groups are represented.  Cupcakes are, in my opinion, little more than muffins with icing on them.  There was a little dynamic tension when I walked into the dining room to see the majority of the girls sitting at the table eating cereal, two eating nothing and all the while, a very large tray of delicious cupcakes were sitting on the counter.  I asked the question as to why they weren't eating cupcakes for breakfast and the rather loud response was in the form of a question:  "We can have cupcakes for breakfast?"  I said, "Why, of course.  Cupcakes are simply muffins with icing on them."  Smiles abounded and they dove into the cupcakes.  My wife entered the room with a less than happy look on her face, but they had it covered because I had already approved of such food substances for breakfast consumption.

Apparently, there is still some debate as to the efficacy of cupcakes as approved by the Breakfast Police.  Scored points with the girls, lost a couple points with the wife.  But still, the girls out-number us anyway. 

To be continued...

Sunday Morning News:  There was a time in my life when I lived for the Sunday morning news shows.  I thought the sun rose and set by those programs and anyone who has any interest in politics must, by necessity, follow them with religious fervor.  But then, life happened and I found myself with no interest whatsoever to watch them.  There was a time when I was in the running for the Sunday morning standoff with Mike Turpen over at KFOR, but I didn't quite fit the mold.  I was probably too conservative, wouldn't allow Mike to filibuster the conversations and told him as much.  Former Mayor Kirk is a little more patient, and clearly more connected with the Heritage Hills crowd than am I.  It was then, really, that I realized how the shows are not really designed for open and candid debate, but really are more about pushing a subtle message of unity with just enough dynamic tension to make them appear as though they are real discussions.  Mike and Kirk have a whole lot more in common than one would realize on the surface and We The Sheeple rarely delve into the nuance of media so their alliances continue to fly under the radar.

And since Tim Russert passed, there is nothing on the national scene worth watching - if I want to watch liberal propaganda, I'll turn on 60 Minutes and get my fill.

Saturday Observations

The City:  As Mike McCarville and others have suggested, the nickname for Oklahoma City should be "The Big Friendly."  I tend to agree.  Oklahoma City is, by far, one of the friendliest, most welcoming communities I have ever experienced.  I do love my home state of Washington, but being adopted by brothers and sisters in Oklahoma has been an immeasurable blessing to me and my family.

The State Government:  Wish I could say that we all got what we wanted, but that just isn't the case.  This legislative session has seen more jockeying for position than the last leg of the Kentucky Derby.  A cursory glance at Republican leadership in both the House and the Senate sees a multitude of men and women desirous of higher office and the type of legislation they have presented only serves to prove my point.  I would propose that men and women running for office right now sign a pledge that they desire no higher office than that which they seek right now - it may cull the herd a bit as it were.

The Federal Government:  The Feds have their fingers in just about every pie now, and the sticky residue is beginning to be felt on the flesh of every American.  Never mind the fact that we have boots on the ground in foreign lands, trying to defend our freedoms...what seems to matter is nothing short of expansion of scope and reach of the federal government.  This is an election year and the cocky majority in Washington is about to get their hands slapped by the American voter.  The sad thing is that like Republican majorities before, they still don't "get it."  But they are about to.

Twitterama:  It's amazing to see how many people are using social networking to air their frustrations, to share concerns and to just let loose.  If you're interested, follow me HERE on Twitter and HERE on Facebook.

Illegal Immigration Laughs:  Arizona passes sweeping illegal immigration regulations and of course, the Obama Administration has criticized it, implying that it may not meet Constitutional muster.  Well, that is yet to be seen but there is an interesting quote in the Washington Post that pretty much says it all, and underscores, in my opinion, why we need it. 

"It's going to change our lives," said Emilio Almodovar, a 13-year-old American citizen from Phoenix. "We can't walk to school any more. We can't be in the streets anymore without the pigs thinking we're illegal immigrants."

"Pigs."  Law enforcement are "pigs."  A throw-back to the 1960's anti-war movement, a 13 year-old kid calls the police "pigs."  Personally, I believe that now is the time for the 14th Amendment to be clarified and the whole concept of birthright citizenship to be challenged.  Parents to children who are born in the United States but who are illegal immigrants are hardly "subject to the jurisdiction thereof."  A good example of this is when Governor Henry sent a Mexican citizen back to Mexico who was supposed to fact the death penalty for crimes here in the United States.

Waiting For the Other Shoe To Drop:  There have been rumors upon rumors that public safety is about to take a major hit in Central Oklahoma, but it appears as though those rumors were far less than substantive.  Which is why it's important to check sources, to ensure the information is reliable and that perhaps someone doesn't have an agenda in spreading said rumors.

I am sure there will be more later on today...keep checking back!

Gorilla

Layers of the Onion

I like onions.  I like them grilled, fried and baked in meatloaf.  One thing about onions; the closer you get to the center, the stronger it gets.

Some who have followed ronblackradio.com and my Facebook page know full well some of the interesting drama that has ensued over the last couple weeks and with each passing day, the revelations and depth of understanding has been increasingly powerful and like the onion, stronger and more pungent an odor as we get to the bottom of some of the issues swirling around the two girls who now call our home their home.

On one hand, we have a 13 year-old girl who has never really had the opportunity apparently to just be a kid.  Spend merely 10 minutes with her and you realize that this young lady has a very "old soul" and has had to witness and endure difficulty more troubling than someone twice her age.  You can see in her eyes pain of not only losing her mother a few short weeks ago, but something else darker, more sinister and with each passing day, she is becoming more and more comfortable in sharing with us what she has faced.  And it really, really pisses me off. 

On the other hand, there is a bright, smiling little 7 year-old who seems to be completely oblivious to the magnitude of her loss.  She is opening up more, sharing what she has seen and experienced but there is a kind of "above it all" look in her eyes that hints at what she really knows, but is not yet at a place to put all the pieces together.

And then there's the whole "blended family thing" where my kids and Shawnnessy's kids are getting to know one another and developing boundaries and working amongst themselves to develop a sort of pecking order.  Interestingly enough, they are all alpha-personalities so it makes it rather entertaining to watch.

Earplugs are often a necessity.

Over the course of the next few weeks, I'll share more with you about the wackiness, the triumphs and some of the tears shed regarding this new familial dynamic in which we find ourselves.  Brace yourselves...it's going to be a challenge.

Gorilla

Oklahoma Wildlife Department Announces Season Dates

The following is from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation website:

SPRING 2010 TURKEY
Spring 2010 Season: April 6- May 6, 2010
SQUIRREL: May 15, 2010 - Jan. 31, 2011; statewide

FALL 2010 September 4 & 5: Free hunting days for Oklahoma residents, a hunting license, legacy permit and HIP permit are not required.

ANTELOPE ARCHERY: Sept. 13-26 (Only in open areas)
BEAR ARCHERY: Oct. 1-22, 2010 (Only in open counties)
BEAR MUZZLELOADER: Oct. 23-31, 2010 (only in open counties)
CROW: Oct. 10 - Nov. 16, 2010 and Dec. 9, 2010 - Mar. 4, 2011; statewide DOVE: Sept. 1 - Nov. 9 (70-day season) Statewide (excluding southwest zone) Southwest zone: Will not be announced until August/September.

DEER SEASONS: The archery deer season runs from Oct 1 through Jan 15.

The muzzleloading season opens on the fourth Saturday in October and runs for nine days.

The deer gun season opens the Saturday before Thanksgiving and runs for 16 days.

ARCHERY: Oct. 1 - 2010-Jan. 15, 2011
MUZZLELOADING: Oct. 23 - 31, 2010 (Antlerless days vary by zone) GUN: Nov. 20 - Dec. 5, 2010 (Antlerless days vary by zone)
YOUTH DEER GUN: Oct. 15-17, 2010; statewide

HOLIDAY ANTLERLESS DEER GUN SEASON: Dec. 17 - 26 (Open only in certain zones). Antlerless deer hunting dates for 2010-2011 muzzleloader and modern gun season:

Zone 1 will be open Nov. 20 and Dec. 5, 2010, of the deer gun season and the limit will be one antlerless deer.

Zones 2, 7 and 8 will be open Oct. 23 to Oct. 31 (all of muzzleloader) and Nov. 20 to Dec. 5, 2010 (all of gun). The limit will be two antlerless deer during muzzleloader and two antlerless deer during gun season.

Zones 3, 4, 5, 6, and 9 will be open to antlerless hunting Oct. 23 – Oct. 31 (all of muzzleloader) and Nov. 20 – Dec. 5, 2010 (all of gun). The limit will be one antlerless deer during muzzleloader season and one antlerless deer during gun season.

Zone 10 will be open Oct. 23-25 and Oct. 29-31, 2010 (muzzleloader) and Nov. 20, 27 and Dec. 5, 2009 (gun). The limit will be one antlerless deer during muzzleloader season and one antlerless deer during gun season. 2010 Antlerless Deer Zone Map

PHEASANT: Dec. 1, 2010 - Jan. 31, 2011 Open only in designated areas (Hunting Guide)
QUAIL: Nov. 13, 2010 - Feb. 15, 2011; statewide (second Sat in November thru Feb 15.)
RABBIT:
Cottontail & Swamp Oct. 1, 2010 - Mar. 15, 2011; statewide
Jackrabbit Oct. 1, 2009 - Mar. 15, 2010 (west of I-35 only); no open season on jackrabbits east of I-35. SQUIRREL: May 15, 2010 - Jan. 31, 2011; statewide
SEPTEMBER TEAL: TBA
SPECIAL RESIDENT CANADA GOOSE: TBA
TURKEY: Check regulations pertaining to individual counties. Fall 2010 Season: Gun: Nov. 1 - Nov. 19; open only in select counties. Archery: Oct 1, 2010 - Jan. 15, 2011; statewide
WATERFOWL: TBA
SPRING 2011 TURKEY Special 2011 Youth Turkey Season: April 2-3, 2011 Spring 2011 Season: April 6- May 6, 2011; Statewide
SQUIRREL: May 15, 2011 - Jan. 31, 2012; statewide

Sorting It All Out

So, I had this Blogger site for a couple years now, but just haven't had the opportunity to get it up and running. Having www.ronblackradio.com up and running for as long as I have, it seemed more than enough for me to handle - and then there's Facebook and the like.

Oh, and that thing called "life" with which to deal as well.

I have found some advantages here, however, that I think will be fun to use. Such as the "Networked Blogs" concept wherein it posts automatically to my social networking pages and I can link and direct folks to other pages as well.

Now, the trick is getting this page to update my website as well...


Gorilla

Revisited: Stop Talking

I still get stopped at the grocery store, the mall or even the video store by people who ask, "Hey, you're the Gorilla, aren't you?" I don't mind it too much because it is always entertaining to reconnect with people who either saw me on WILD Oklahoma TV or on Fox News as a political analyst or who have been fans of my former radio show. Inevitably, we end up talking about politics, the current state of the media and the conversation typically ends with, "Damn, I wish you were back doing the afternoon drive slot somewhere...we need some intelligence instead of talking points."

Typically, I take it as a compliment, but more often that not I remind people that there is this massive expanse of dialog called the "Internet" where ideas are exchanged and discussed and are often quite intelligent. Of course, sometimes not so much.

There is a lot of chatter, a lot of talk that really amounts to just jibber-jabber. One personality was justifying threats of physical violence to members of Congress, another was talking about how important it was that we consider storming Washington because of the health care bill. It got so overwhelming at one point, I finally wrote a column on my blog and basically demanded that people "put up or shut up." In my advancing age, my tolerance for intellectual bovine fecal matter has become increasingly short.

Quit talking. Do something. I end the conversation by encouraging people to "get involved." I don't care if we agree or disagree politically, just get active. Do not lack the courage of your convictions.

This week has been a very trying but very blessed one for the Black household. Just yesterday, we were granted temporary guardianship of two very special, very sad little girls whose mother passed away on Tuesday under less than favorable conditions. A 13 year-old and a 7 year-old found themselves without a Mom, without any familial leadership or "covering" as the Scripture discusses and my wife and I became pretty much the only resource these two amazing girls had at their disposal.

Mind you, we have only been married since March 17th. We are still adjusting our family, going through the phase where the blended family becomes a reality and we work together to smooth over the rough spots.

Fundamentally, Shawnnessy and I were not really prepared whatsoever for law enforcement and government agencies to tell us that we were very much the last stop on the road to state custody of these two girls.

We prayed together, talked with my pastor and we realized that we were compelled by God himself to act. Financially, it's tough. Hell, it's tough already in this economy and the "flesh" would seem to dictate that having two more children in our lives was an insane idea, something that is absolutely ludicrous. But spritually speaking, it was the only choice. The only thing that mattered - and matters now - was to provide these girls with an environment where they know without hesitation they are loved and cared for.

We filed yesterday, and received, temporary guardianship of the girls.

I say this not to boast of some hyper-spirituality on my part because if you truly know me, you know that I believe that when Paul called himself the "chief of all sinners," he simply left out the comments about Ron Black being first runner-up. I share this with you to perhaps encourage you to act when you have the chance. Don't sit back and talk about it.

Forgive my rambling...it's been a long week and sleep has been rather elusive.

You can make a difference - just don't talk about it. DO something. I am convinced that when people empty themselves and meet need, the mystery of the Cross is revealed.

Ron

Revisited: A coin in the coffer rings...

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

Thus, the rule of unintended consequences.

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

So, you take both the good with the bad.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

No militia necessary.

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

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

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

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

Ron "Gorilla" Black

A Fresh Start

Trying out the new Blogger system...