Series on DUI Part 2: Legislators, Elected Officials and Cover-Ups

There have been multiple stories about drunk driving published by the newspapers in Oklahoma and plenty covered by the electronic media.  Most recently, KTOK covered a story regarding a State Representative who came rolling out of a bar late one evening to find his vehicle stolen.  Representative John Trebilcock is not a stranger to problems with drinking, he has been arrested for DUI in the past and his arrest took place two years after he authored DUI legislation himself.

Trebilcock Mugshot

Trebilcock was arrested in March of 2007, refused to take a breathalyzer test, was held for about six hours and then released after paying...wait for it...a bond of $570 (probably less than his bar tab).  His excuse for smelling like booze?  He told officers that he was at a bar, kissing a girl who had been drinking.   The Tulsa World covered this story exceptionally well - particularly the part about his authoring "tough" DUI legislation.  How did Trebilcock's trouble turn out?  Well, he got off with barely a slap on the wrist.  From a DUI blog:

Tulsa, Oklahoma. Republican State Representative John Trebilcock, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma was in court to formally change his plea on a criminal charge stemming from a DUI arrest last year.

Representative John Trebilcock entered into a deal with prosecutors in July of 2007. Trebilcock needed to comply with various court imposed restrictions for six months. Upon successful completion of the court terms Treilcock’s no contest DUI plea would be reduced to a no contest Reckless Driving plea.

Trebilcock was required to work 10 days for the City of Tulsa and attend an alcohol class. John attended a DUI victim impact panel and pay fines of $750.00. This most likely will not help for Trebilcock’s next re-election, but a DUI arrest did not prevent Republican Jane Hague from reclaiming her County Council seat. Too bad our elected officials that make laws cannot follow them.

Rabon Mugshot

KOKH Fox 25 had a pretty fascinating story about a State Senator who found himself in quite the pickle as well.  He was pulled over, refused a breathalyzer test only to find from a blood test that his blood alcohol content to be twice the legal limit.  His BAC was .16.  Mind you, Senator Jeff Rabon wasn't merely pulled over for failing to stop at a stop sign or failure to use his turn signals.  It was a three-car crash that promulgated his arrest.  Like his Republican colleague in the House, Rabon too is not a stranger to problems with alcohol.  The Tulsa World has the whole history on Rabon - a man who was actually given a ride home by a law enforcement officer after being found intoxicated.  Oh, and he was merely charged with a misdemeanor charge.  From Bubbaworld.com:

He was reportedly twice busted for alcohol related offenses in Tulsa in 1989, pleaded guilty to driving under the influence, driving under suspension, transporting an open container and driving without insurance and driving while intoxicated. In the first incident he received a one-year deferred sentence, in the second incident he received two one-year suspended sentences and 40 hours of community service.

In 2005, Rabon’s truck crashed into a ditch in Hugo and an OHP trooper was disciplined for not testing to see if alcohol was involved in the crash.

In the same story by Fox 25, an Oklahoma City Police Officer refused to take a breathalyzer test, as did a former Luther Chief of Police.  You see, the hypocrisy stacks up so fast in Oklahoma where DUI is concerned, you need wings to stay above it.  And the trial lawyers love it because they know the law and they know that the few prosecutors who actually DO give a rip about DUI have their hands tied.

If you think the problem isn't horrific, consider the following hypothetical:
1.  A man gets arrested in Moore by Moore police and charged/convicted of DUI in city court.
2.  The same man gets arrested in Blanchard for DUI, charged and convicted in city court.
3.  The same man gets arrested in Edmond for DUI, charged and convicted in city court.
4.  The same man gets picked up in Oklahoma County by the Sheriff, gets charged and finally is charged in the Oklahoma County Courts.

He cannot be charged with a felony for previous DUIs because the municipal courts are not "courts of record."  Meaning, they sort of "don't count."  This is how we hear of these terrible stories where after multiple DUIs, the jackass ends up killing someone.  Only then, it seems, are people seriously pissed off about the problem.  And if we're talking about a legislator or someone who is on the "inside" of an elected official's web of protection, you can pretty much rest assured that it will be swept under the rug and ignored.  Until that person kills someone, of course.

Legislators and elected officials play fast and loose with the truth of the situation and the gravity therein.  They say they talk DUI seriously, but clearly if they were serious about the problem, they would require all DUI arrests to be handled by "courts of record" - the counties where the arrest was made.  Why, you may be asking yourself, aren't they turning these cases over to the counties?

Because DUI arrests and charges in municipalities are revenue producers for those municipalities.  One legislator told me that they had tried to push for such legislation previously, but the establishment Republicans and many of the rural Democrats fought against it because they small towns and cities would lose that revenue.  Even KWTV did a story about this issue a few years back and ironically, the story was handled by the wife of the current Oklahoma County District Attorney, David Prater.

What was important a few years ago, apparently isn't so important now, is it?

Prosecutors don't want to go "on the record" to talk about it, particularly when it hits close to home.  They have to work with members of the law enforcement community on a daily basis and while trying cases in the media is sexy and easy to do where politics are concerned, it's a little more difficult to navigate the waters where local law enforcement may be forced to answer really tough questions about how DUIs are handled for elected officials and their friends.

Next:  What Is Your Community Doing?

Series on DUI Part 1: The Problem

Driving under the influence of alcohol has reached epidemic proportions across the nation and though some measures have served to deter some drunk drivers, statistics are frightening.  Consider the statistics from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD):

This year, 10,839 people will die in drunk-driving crashes - one every 50 minutes.
An average drunk driver has driven drunk 87 times before first arrest.
Car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens and one out of three of those is alcohol related.

It is certainly enough to get our attention - or at least it should.

There is some discussion, some movement with the Oklahoma legislature to push for a required interlock device for those arrested and convicted of DUI, and that is more than laudable.  From www.thestatecolumn.com:

A bill to reduce Oklahoma’s drunk driving fatalities has cleared the Senate and is on its way to the House of Representatives. Dixie and Keith Swezey, of Edmond, and other family members watched from the Senate Gallery as lawmakers voted unanimously for Senate Bill 529, the Erin Elizabeth Swezey Act. The bill is named for the Swezeys’ 20-year-old daughter, Erin, who was killed by a drunk driver in 2009. 

Sen. Clark Jolley, R-Edmond, is principal author of SB 529, which is authored by Rep. Jason Nelson, R-Oklahoma City, in the House. Jolley and the Swezeys met with reporters shortly after Tuesday’s passage of the measure. 

“We’re trying to keep drunk drivers off the road. That is our purpose. Today was a significant step towards that direction. I’m very honored to serve in a body that agreed with that principle and moved that public policy forward,” Jolley said “I want to thank publicly all the members of the State Senate today who gave their voice of support for this bill.”

This is a great move, a definite attempt to curb the problem.  But there is still a bigger problem looming that just has not yet been addressed - the issue of municipal courts not being required to charge and prosecute DUIs in county court.  Were this the case, many of these habitual offenders would be too busy in jail to be out on the roads. You see, local municipalities are not "courts of record," therefore, prosecutors cannot charge individuals with felonies who have had multiple DUIs unless their previous DUIs have been adjudicated in "courts of record" - such as county courts.

It is a problem that will be discussed at length on this blog in a future report.

Reading stories such as the one in the Oklahoman today, where Midwest City students get a "gory look at  drunken driving consequences," the perception presented that kids believe drinking and driving is a very, very bad thing.  But then, they read stories (or rather see them on television) about elected officials who are at bars in the middle of the week until 2am and get their vehicles stolen - oh, and by the way, this legislator has a "history of DUI."  Or, kids remember stories about State  Senators like Rabon and his friends who were picked up on DUI and what happened to them?  Nothing of consequence. 

We send mixed messages, we hear tough talk from elected officials and prosecutors about DUI, but when it comes to policing their own, well, it boils down to just that...talk. 

Coming next:  Legislators, elected officials and cover-ups.  Are there two sets of guidelines for drunk driving convictions?

I leave you with this video...it is emblematic of the whole problem.  This lawyer speaks of "ethics," and says, "I don't care about my clients' innocence or guilt."

Jam In June - You're Invited

Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA) is one of those organizations that combines orthodoxy with unorthodox appearance and methods.  Child abuse in this nation has reached unbelievable proportions and this group of men and women who happen to be bikers are doing something about it.

They have a radio broadcast entitled "BACA Nation," they have a website and multiple chapters in Oklahoma.  They reach out to children who have been abused and are in the "system" by providing mentoring and a person with an intimidating appearance to be their friend.  They work alongside social workers, the court system and caregivers to reach out to these kids when, in many cases, no one else will. 

And let's face it...a bunch of bikers showing up in a neighborhood will most assuredly intimidate an abuser.

On June 25th, my band, "Organized Chaos," Mark Moore's "Unmanned Blues Band," and Oklahoma's rising stars, "Shotgun Rebellion" (and possibly more) will be coming together to raise money and awareness for BACA.  The location of the event is far north Edmond, Logan County actually.  Take Western north beyond Waterloo and look for the signs about a mile north.  You won't be able to miss it.

Check it out here.

Rocklahoma 2011 Lineup Announced

If you're a fan of Rock & Roll, you will need to be in Pryor, Oklahoma May 26-29th.  The lineup for this year is as follows:

FRIDAY, MAY 27
Whitesnake, Hinder, Skillet, Sick Puppies, All That Remains, My Darkest Days, Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights, Texas Hippie Coalition, New Medicine, Bad Things, Wildstreet, Loveblast, D’Molls, Alias, Blue Tiger, Firststryke, Chuck Cooley and the Demon Hammers, Signum A.D., Silverstone, Return to Custody

SATURDAY, MAY 28
Staind, Sebastian Bach, Drowning Pool, Rev Theory, Cavo, Pop Evil, The Gracious Few, Hail the Villain, Taddy Porter, Electric Touch, Gypsy Pistoleros, Cutlass, Mock Star, Aura Surreal, Aska, Strikeforce, Siva Addiction, A Good Fight, Bait, Rocker Lips, Sweatin Bullets

SUNDAY, MAY 29
Motley Crue, Poison, Papa Roach, Seether, Black Label Society, Saving Abel, Escape the Fate, Crooked X, Art of Dying, One Less Reason, Bad Things, The Glitter Boys, Black Tora, New Cool World, Pretty Little Suicide, Diemonds, Brandon Clark Band, David Castro Band, Desi and Cody

For more information and tickets, go to Rocklahoma.com! 

Open-Carry Closed

A committee in the Oklahoma House of Representatives shot down a proposal to allow for open-carry in the state of Oklahoma.  The vote was 9-8.

From the Oklahoman:

The House Public Safety committee Wednesday voted 9-8 against the measure by Rep. Leslie Osborn. It's identical to a bill approved by the Legislature last year but vetoed by former Gov. Brad Henry.

The bill had passed the Senate and would have allowed anyone 18 or older to openly carry a firearm without a license. The committee struck those provisions with an amendment requiring those who openly carry handguns to have a concealed carry permit that requires criminal background checks.

Not a fan of open-carry myself, however, there is a possibility that voters will get to decide if Oklahomans with their SDA license will be able to openly carry firearms.

Buh-Bye Beck

Glenn Beck...you either love him or hate him and his daily program on the Fox News Channel is going away this fall, according to reports.  Beck is a staple of the talk radio diet, hosting the third-largest syndicated talk show in the nation.  Beck is heard locally on Clear Channel's News Radio 1000, KTOK.

From reports:

Beck’s Mercury Radio Arts and FNC have reached a deal which will see Beck  “transition off of his daily program” later in 2011.

Beck’s much-reported troubles with the advertising community are believed to play a role in the decision.

Nonetheless, News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch has on a few occasions defended Beck and his program from advertiser issues, including in a call with shareholders last year:

    One wanted to know how long Fox News would “subsidize” the show, which is “filled with house ads.”

    “It’s not subsidizing the show at all,” Murdoch fired back, adding that the theatrical Beck gives “a terrific kickoff” to the Fox News evening lineup.

Rumors have abounded regarding Beck's daytime Fox News television program and the consternation and hand-wringing from advertisers appear to have gotten the best of Beck.

Who will replace Beck?  More than likely, another Republican contender for President.  Perhaps even Sarah Palin...

$3.57 A Gallon And Rising

Oil prices continue to soar and along with it, the price of gasoline in the great state of Oklahoma spikes as well.  Today, your humble Gorilla spent $3.57/gallon to fill up and all indications are that there will be no relief in sight.  Previous administrations took seriously the impact of transportation fuel on the economy, but once again, this administration seems to have little concern or is even apathetic about it.  Perhaps the fears of a looming government shut-down in Washington has distracted the President.

Oil peaked today at $123/bbl, the greatest Brent price seen since 2008.  

Why?  In my humble opinion, we're seeing a repeat of the post-9/11 disaster where speculators are taking control of Wall Street and the eyes of the SEC are apparently elsewhere and Congress is too busy gearing up for the 2012 elections to give a damn.  This statement in the above linked story speaks volumes:

The ECB is expected to raise interest rates by 0.25 percent on Thursday in the first hike since the 2008 financial crisis. The expectations have propelled the euro to a 14-month high while the dollar index (^DXY - News) was down 0.34 percent at 1450 GMT.

"Central bankers will always claim that they have no influence on oil prices but recent history has repetitively shown that in the new world, where commodities are a global asset, central bankers can have a greater influence on oil prices than OPEC," said Olivier Jakob from Petromatrix.

Are you following along?  Call your Congressman today and if they aren't out of the office on a vacation, ask them to wake the hell up and get the speculators under control.

Mark Your Calendars - Jam In June

The poster is in the "design" phase - you see it first!

We hosted fundraising music jams for the HUGS Project and for the Mid-America Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America.  Now, we're going to be hosting a Music Jam for another incredible group of people - Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA).

BACA is non-profit organization, with an internationally broadcast radio show entitled "BACA Nation" and it is produced right here in Central Oklahoma.  BACA reaches out to children who are in abusive homes or have been abused and creates sort of a buffer and they act as a reminder to abusers that yes, there is someone who cares and will look after these kids.  BACA is one of a kind and their efforts are to be lauded.

Which is why we're going to do a fundraiser music jam for them in the month of June.

The date hasn't been set yet, but it will be a Saturday evening in the month of June and there will be other musicians and bands represented there and bringing their friends as well.  Of course, we will have representatives from BACA onboard to educate attendees about their organization and how our contributions can help them accomplish their goals in Central Oklahoma.

More details will be following!  The band in which the Gorilla plays, "Organized Chaos," is hosting the event and will open the show for other bands and musicians who want to raise awareness for BACA.

Monday, April 4 Musings

Some observations:

RINO:  Republican In Name Only.  It seems that the term has been misused of late, wherein some of the more moderate Republicans who don't consider OCPAC to be equal to that of the Council of Chalcedon are labeled.  There are, mind you, some legitimate uses of the term and there are most assuredly a few stumbling about down under the methane gas filled dome.  But at the end of the day, we must use caution in our labels for many who are labeled as such are clearly not.  I have heard Randy Brogdon labeled as a RINO because of his acceptance of a state job after campaigning so hard against growth in government.  The latest is that of Representative George Faught (here).  This, I find exceptionally amusing.  Faught is many things, but two-faced is not one of them nor is he a RINO.

City Council Cash:  The Oklahoma City Council races have turned into a profit center for consultants and mailing houses, but the average Joe seems less than impressed.  The Oklahoman put together quite the story on the money pouring into the mess and frankly, it is an indicator of just what direction the City of Oklahoma City is headed.  Oklahoma City does appear to be headed in the right direction, yet the construction has become troublesome and getting around downtown is increasingly difficult.  The finals are tomorrow, and the more moderate of the candidates (Ed Shadid) will face a tough opponent.  As always, it will come down to which of the candidates have a game plan to get voters to the polls.

We Are One Rally:  Today, union members and union supporters gathered on the steps of the capitol and the turn out was pretty good all things considered.  Not as many as the Tea Party Rallies, but still, a very good showing.  The aggregate result is still left to be seen.

2012 Obama Commercial

First Friday In April Week In Review

It has been a wild and wacky week in politics, world news and Oklahoma pop culture, so let's take a trip down memory lane for a few moments and review...

Governor Fallin's Health Care Proposal:  Many conservatives have pimp-slapped this and Governor Fallin has pretty much dismissed any controversy here.  Former Oklahoma City Mayor, Kirk Humphreys, however has other things to say about it.  The Oklahoma Truth Council has the story and some very interesting insight.

Steele vs. Terrill:  The caged death-match continues under the methane gas filled dome between Speaker Steele and uber-conservative Randy Terrill and there seems to be no end in sight.  With the exception of perhaps the conclusion of the legislative session itself, the conservative wing of the House GOP continues to push forward an agenda that includes a return to the Constitution while the Chamber crowd on the left have seen victory after victory.  The real test will be whether or not the cause d'jour of the GOP (tort reform) will reach the Governor's desk.  Terrill isn't one to back down and has been in the ring with the big guns previously.  Pretty much owning his House District, Terrill will have his seat in the House for as long as he wants to keep it.  The fight with Steele and the charges leveled by Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater put on hold any plans for Terrill's supporters to encourage him to run for Lt. Governor, but Terrill is far from finished. 

City Council Races:  The Chamber has spoken and has endorsed their candidate, but the grassroots and Senator Andrew Rice have entered the debate and will be knocking doors all weekend to slow the tide of mailers from the Chamber crowd.  Shadid and Swinton look to be in the midst of a fight of their lives - and all of it for an Oklahoma City Council seat.  It makes you wonder just what is at stake and why the power structure is so interested in this race.

Nuclear Japan:  The tragedy continues to worsen and the death toll will soar before it's all over.  The nuclear cloud has traveled already to the United States, some reports showing up in trace amounts in milk from California and even Spokane, Washington.  Nuclear power supporters are reeling from the negative press, the difficulty in justifying a continued push for this type of energy.  Conversely, alternative energy supporters are gearing up for a huge push to show that wind power and solar power is the answer to these disastrous problems.

Morgan Mess:  Former Democratic Senate Leader Mike Morgan is facing indictments for accepting payments of up to $400,000.  Everyone is upset about this - justifiably so - but how is this different than taking campaign contributions from wealthy donors, and then appointing them to various posts across the state of Oklahoma?  What is the aggregate value of being placed on the Board of Regents, for example?  Politics in Oklahoma has reached an all-time low of corruption.  The Gene Stipe era was supposed to be over, but it lingers doesn't it?  Don't be surprised with there are more corruption charges and investigations into the Republican power structure as well.  Republicans will do well to remember that the ebb and flow of politics means that they will not stay in power forever and human nature being what it is, when the Democrats take over again, there will be retribution.

Libya, Liberal Hypocrisy:  When former President Bush put troops in harms way going into Iraq and Afghanistan, there was gnashing of teeth and wailing by the Left in this country.  Now, this President is putting boots on the ground in Libya and it is now somehow a good thing.  I don't get it.  Our troops are stretched, our military capacity has reached maximum density and all the talk of bringing home our heroes is faded into a distant memory.  Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

And the hits just keep coming...

Downtown OKC: You Can't Get There From Here

If you're one of the unfortunate souls who must travel to downtown Oklahoma City these days for employment, my heart goes out to you - it is a construction nightmare that makes no sense whatsoever.  And the signs posted everywhere that are designed to "help" are little more than irritants, created on the 7th layer of hell to distract you from the fact that soon, your vehicle will need suspension work from the damage done by potholes and unmarked vortexes that are known to destroy even the most expensive shock absorbers.

But it is part of progress, the American way, and the growth of a city destined for greatness, right?

The Devon Tower structure will be magnificent when completed, to be sure, but the thinking that most of 6th Street and Robinson north of the Devon superstructure is just too much to handle at once in my opinion.  Oh, and there's the construction by the arena formerly known as the Ford Center that itself must frustrate even the most avid Thunder fan.  But I digress.

Progress is wonderful, but one must imagine what the conference attendee or out-of-town visitor must think of our fair city.  Nevermind all of the political strife and wrangling that is taking place at present, but consider the infrastructure disaster itself for just a moment...think hard.  We have two boathouses now down on the river and if you've been to the river, you will see that it is still a polluted mess that rivals the shoreline of Cleveland, Ohio a few decades ago. 

The message being communicated to the masses by the city leaders is remarkably different than reality.  Yes, we are a city on the move, a city that is growing and doing our level best to show we have not been adversely impacted by the recession and weakened economy - and it is largely true.  But seriously...if you're trying to get around downtown, pack a lunch and some mood-altering medications because you'll need them. 

Charlie Meadows Takes On CHK (Sort Of)

Excerpted from the OCPAC Blog:

++ CHESAPEAKE WANT’S UTILITIES TO INCREASE OVER 30%?

The presentation and our conversations with Brian Alford at the OCPAC meeting last Wednesday were quite lively. It is very clear that many people are not too enthused about the new smart meters being installed system wide by OG&E. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) will funneled $100 million dollars in subsidies to OG&E to get these meters installed. I believe most of the concern is over the possibility that the EPA might someday order a company like OG&E to ration electricity. While OG&E has no interest in doing that, the technology does make that possible and so far OG&E has not proven a willingness to tell the feds to go to hell.

Prior to our luncheon, there was a meeting held at the Corporation Commission offices with newly elected Attorney General Scott Pruitt taking the lead by explaining his intentions to take legal action against the EPA. The problem is their un-reasonable edict about forcing all of PSO and OG&E’s Oklahoma coal fired generating facilities to either install expensive scrubbers on their equipment or switch to natural gas for fuel which turns the generators to make electricity.

The problem seems to stem from the EPA’s mandate to improve air quality over our national parks and wildlife refuges. One of the things we learned last Wednesday is that the EPA has no scientific evidence that the intermittent haze over the Wichita Wildlife Refuge, West of Lawton, is caused by the 3 coal fired generating plants that are close to 200 miles to the East Northeast of the refuge. Rather, the EPA has determined the problem to be caused by using a model and a model that does not represent the facts of the situation. In reality, OG&E’s coal fired plants already produce electricity at a pollution level below the standards the EPA would want to obtain with the scrubbers.

Therefore, all the expense to Oklahoma consumers and businesses to obtain a certain level of pollution emissions with the installation of scrubbers would be feel good efforts for the radical environmentalists and just another case where the bureaucrats under the Obama administration can prove that they can yank the chains of the people and the states.

When asked if common sense fails to prevail and OG&E might be forced to install the scrubbers or convert the coal fired plants to natural gas, which might be the choice for OG&E? While the answer was speculation, Mr. Alford suggested their preference would probably be scrubbers. The reason is the cost to the rate payers to install scrubbers would probably require a rate increase of 15% or a little more, whereas the cost to convert to natural gas would require a rate increase of more than 30%.

Now, back to the meeting last Wednesday morning at the Corporation Commission. In Thursday’s Oklahoman, it was reported that “A Chesapeake Energy Corp. executive (Tom Price, Chesapeake’s senior vice president of corporate development) said it doesn’t make sense to fight the federal plan because Oklahoma stands to benefit from increased use of natural gas.”

Let me interpret that for everyone: what he should have said is that Oklahoma’s natural gas producers (especially Chesapeake) and state GOVERNMENT stand to benefit on the backs of consumers who will have to shoulder an enormous increase in electric rates. In addition, all Oklahoma businesses other than those in the natural gas industry will also see their overhead increase which will be harmful to their businesses and our attempt to see our economy grow.

In addition, if PSO and OG&E were to convert to natural gas, there would be an additional rate increase in addition to the cost of conversion. This would be a permanent rate increase as the cost of producing electricity from gas is higher than with the use of coal. And of course, when the inevitable occurs again sometime in the future, when supply (we currently have an excess supply of natural gas which is why prices are depressed) will again struggle to keep up with demand, we will see the price of natural gas spike up and our electric rates will skyrocket for some period of time. Of course companies like Chesapeake love that scenario, because their GREED is then temporarily satisfied.

Now, let me make it crystal clear, I am not an opponent of Chesapeake energy or any other Oklahoma gas or oil producer. I want them to be successful. I want them to sell vast amounts of the valuable oil and gas they produce and given enough time they will sell it all. What I do object to is their efforts to use government (in this case the EPA) to obtain an advantage over their competitors (in this case coal) so they can sell their products sooner than what the free market determines is best for the consumers.

AG Scott Pruitt handled it perfectly when he said: “the debate over whether to fuel the state’s power plants with coal or natural gas is worthwhile, but such decisions should be made in Oklahoma, not in Washington D.C. Right on General Pruitt, proceed in the courts with all vigor against the nameless faceless bureaucrats in Washington.

Nanny State In Under Guise Of Meth Law

We all know what a pain in the behind it is just to get some cold and flu medicine that actually works.  After giving up your first-born, samples of your DNA and a retinal scan, the pharmacist looks at you with eyes squinting to see whether or not your vehicle doubles as a meth lab.  After FBI agents follow you home to ensure you don't live in a shanty under the bridge, you are allowed to self-medicate and relieve some of the symptoms a cold or flu ravages you with.

A bill in the Oklahoma legislature would require a doctor's prescription to purchase any medication containing pseudoephedrine and fortunately, the bill authored by the not-so-conservative Doug Cox (R-idiculous), is dead for now, but according to a former meth-cooker, as reported in the Oklahoman, what is needed is an all-out ban of the product.

Enter:  Nanny State government because the government knows what is best.

At some point, We The People have to just say "no" to the Nanny State and tell our elected officials to stop legislating to the lowest common denominator in our culture.  There are plenty of laws on the books at present and if you look at the docket at the Oklahoma County District Attorney's office, it appears as though the laws and subsequent prosecution is working.

The push to require a physician's prescription to obtain products containing pseudoephedrine is as a result of the tragic death of three young children, who died in a fire in an RV.  The logic used by Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater is that since other states are becoming Nanny States (in essence), we must follow suit.   The Oklahoman reads:

Only 10 meth labs were found last year in Oklahoma County, compared with more than 300 in Tulsa County, Prater said.  “But it’s just a matter of time before we’re going to see this in every county in the state,” he said.

Only 10 labs were found last year.  That is a dramatic decrease and it shows that the existing laws are working.

The desire to intrude on virtually every aspect of our lives has reached epidemic proportions in government.  The very officials we elected to maintain our freedoms, to preserve them, are the officials who now want more control, more money to justify their existence.  Rarely will you hear a politician say that what they have done in the past is working - more needs to be done.  It is a never-ending cycle of self-gratification. 

Which begs the following questions:

More people are killed and impacted by drunk driving than meth - why is it that mandatory sentencing isn't mandatory sentencing?  Why aren't district courts notified and municipalities allowed to prosecute DUI's?


People are killed in traffic fatalities every week in Oklahoma...do we ban cars?

The government we elected because they said they would grant us more freedom and be tough on crime is turning out to be the same government we've seen in the past.  Doug Cox is anything but a conservative and is turning out to be a water-carrier for the AMA.  If a bill such as this is passed, the only ones to benefit will be doctors and insurance companies who get to increase their rates and force even more office visits.  Perhaps it will help pay for their new lake homes after the state sells off all of our state parks...

You make the call:  Nanny State or necessary government action?

Closing State Parks?

News Radio 1000, KTOK is reporting that House Democrats are gearing up for a fight against the closure of seven state parks in Oklahoma.  The reasoning for the proposed closure is financial - the state of Oklahoma is running on empty and the Tourism Department's budget is lean (except for the $3 million per year paid to a local ad agency, of course).

Ultimately, we have to ask ourselves what will happen when these state parks are closed.  At Lake Texoma, the famed Catfish Bay area was sold to developers where upscale vacation homes were built.  It's public knowledge as to who was involved in the transaction and you can't blame the wealthy for seizing an opportunity handed them by members of the Oklahoma governmental structure.  Much like the Bass Pro Shops deal, one cannot fault Bass Pro for being given a sweetheart deal...

State Parks are affordable means of outdoor activity for the average Oklahoman.  Even those who are middle or low income can find a weekend get-away with the kids an inexpensive yet exceptional way to truly experience the great outdoors.  The closure of state parks and the eventual sale of the property to wealthy developers is tantamount to public hunting land being sold to out-of-state outfitters who, in turn, charge ridiculous fees for hunting and the taxes go to another state.

Once you lose state park land, it never comes back.  It is gone forever.  

Catching Up - March Monday Madness

Over the last week or so, things have been simply nutty.  Whether it be car accidents, emergency room antics or insurance company shenanigans, it's been a wild one and now, let's get caught up, shall we?

Speaker Steele:  The Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives seems to be facing a bit of a dilemma (again)...this time relating to his position on supporting a requirement for insurance companies to cover autism insurance.  These days, I don't believe there is a human being alive who shouldn't have access to good medical care.  Apparently, in 2008, Speaker Steele had made some comments about supporting bills such as Nick's Law to ensure that insurance companies did not discriminate.  With the new "conservative" feel in the Oklahoma House and Senate, the question remains as to which side of the street Speaker Steele will walk.

Open Carry:  I have been receiving emails quite frequently about State Senator Russell's open carry bill and I have to be consistent on this one - I don't support Open Carry.  Like the Oklahoma Rifle Association, I have some problems with this concept.  Not only is it bad for business (I know, a Chamber response), but it just doesn't make good common sense.  My preference?  Quick, easy access to Concealed Carry Permits.  Problem solved.

More to follow...

Japanese Tragedy

Sometimes, the magnitude of tragedy can render even the most outgoing virtually speechless.  I can be included in that list.  Watching the video of the tsunami, then the nuclear plant, the children, the people of Japan who are struggling to survive right now became almost too much to watch.

Some will say that the event put into perspective their great many blessings, but that itself sounds almost narcissistic and self-indulgent.  In other words, "Gee, I have it bad but at least it's not THAT bad."  I don't know if that is appropriate at this time.

I know that the tragedy and loss of life and ongoing struggle of the Japanese people made me hug my kids a little tighter, appreciate things a little more in the micro, and in the larger picture has made me wonder whether or not nuclear power is the answer to our energy crisis.  It has also made me remember how we as a nation come together when tragedy strikes - and Oklahoma is a great example of people coming together.

Oklahomans have survived the Murrah Bombing and came together, united in grief and sorrow as well as the search for justice.  Tornado after tornado, the loss of property and life serves to bring Oklahomans together to meet need and to appreciate one another a little more. 

The images of what happened in Japan are devastating.  Our country has once again reached out to show that we care and even in the midst of our financial mess, we have pledged our support financial and otherwise.  I think that may be one of the reasons our country is so blessed - we give and we continue to give even from our own poverty.

Prayers and thoughts go out to the victims of this natural disaster.

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...