Greg Main named to head Oklahoma Technology Commercialization Center
Again, OkiePundit was half-right! On October 22, 2002 this blog said former Secretary of Commerce, Greg Main, was being promoted as new leader of the OTCC. Yesterday, the OTCC announced his selection. There was talk at the time of combining the OTCC and the Oklahoma Manufacturers' Alliance. That may yet happen, but for the time being we'll take 50%. Greg Main is an excellent selection. He has years of economic development and venture capital experience.
Saturday, February 22, 2003
Friday, February 21, 2003
Cockfighting Could be Culprit in Spread of Exotic Newcastle disease
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) today called on Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman to crack down on the organized cockfighting industry, which operates illegally throughout the United States and which now appears responsible for bringing a highly infectious poultry disease, known as Exotic Newcastle disease (END), to California, Arizona, and Nevada and causing an outbreak that has already cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars. Oddly enough, Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture, Dennis Howard, has been an outspoken advocate of cockfighting. The webpage of his own agency currently has an alert displayed warning Oklahoma farmers of the threat of Exotic Newcastle disease. Ironically, the alert warns the "gamefowl industry", the euphemism for the underground cockfighting network, to guard against the spread of END.
Howard is currently under fire from agriculture groups in Oklahoma and many have asked Governor Brad Henry to remove Howard from his new cabinet.
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) today called on Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman to crack down on the organized cockfighting industry, which operates illegally throughout the United States and which now appears responsible for bringing a highly infectious poultry disease, known as Exotic Newcastle disease (END), to California, Arizona, and Nevada and causing an outbreak that has already cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars. Oddly enough, Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture, Dennis Howard, has been an outspoken advocate of cockfighting. The webpage of his own agency currently has an alert displayed warning Oklahoma farmers of the threat of Exotic Newcastle disease. Ironically, the alert warns the "gamefowl industry", the euphemism for the underground cockfighting network, to guard against the spread of END.
Howard is currently under fire from agriculture groups in Oklahoma and many have asked Governor Brad Henry to remove Howard from his new cabinet.
Senators vote to rewrite an initiative adopted by voters in November by a margin of 124,000 votes.
Following up on our story on the Oklahoma Senate Appropriations Committee vote to rewrite and weaken the anti-cockfighting bill passed by the citizens last November we have some information on the vote. The Committee approved a bill by Senator Shurden that would decrease the penalty for cockfighting from a felony to a misdemeanor.
The Senators in the Committee did not take a roll call vote but passed the weakening bill out of Committee by voice vote. Observors at the Committee vote do report that the following Senators voted in favor of the bill to weaken the anti-cockfighting law: Charles Ford of Tulsa, Maxine Horner of Tulsa, Mike Johnson of Kingfisher/Oklahoma City, Jerry Smith of Tulsa, and Daisy Lawler of Comanche.
Voting in favor of honoring the law (and the people) as passed by a statewide vote in November were Senators: Mike Morgan D-Stillwater, Cliff Branan R-OKC, Randy Brogden R-Owasso, Jim Williamson R-Tulsa, Monson D-OKC, Jonathan Nichols R-Norman, Nancy Riley R-Tulsa, Mark Snyder R-Edmond, and Cliff Aldridge R- Wagoner. Sen. Mark Snyder, said the public knew what they voted on in November. "The majority has spoken. We have a responsibility to the public to accept their will," Snyder said.
The cockfighters friend, Senator Shurden, said rural Oklahoma had been victimized by a smear campaign by animal rights activists pushing the cockfighting ban. He said the ban passed only because of a heavy vote for it in the metropolitan areas. I suppose he means urban voters either should refrain from voting in statewide elections or their votes should count less than rural votes. Urban voters should take note that several of their Senators voted for Shurden's bill and thus apparently agree with Shurden's odd "logic" of democracy. Urban Legislators that vote in favor of the cockfighters position should be targets for defeat at the polls in the next election.
Shurden's bills can still be defeated on the floor of the Senate and House. Make your calls.
Following up on our story on the Oklahoma Senate Appropriations Committee vote to rewrite and weaken the anti-cockfighting bill passed by the citizens last November we have some information on the vote. The Committee approved a bill by Senator Shurden that would decrease the penalty for cockfighting from a felony to a misdemeanor.
The Senators in the Committee did not take a roll call vote but passed the weakening bill out of Committee by voice vote. Observors at the Committee vote do report that the following Senators voted in favor of the bill to weaken the anti-cockfighting law: Charles Ford of Tulsa, Maxine Horner of Tulsa, Mike Johnson of Kingfisher/Oklahoma City, Jerry Smith of Tulsa, and Daisy Lawler of Comanche.
Voting in favor of honoring the law (and the people) as passed by a statewide vote in November were Senators: Mike Morgan D-Stillwater, Cliff Branan R-OKC, Randy Brogden R-Owasso, Jim Williamson R-Tulsa, Monson D-OKC, Jonathan Nichols R-Norman, Nancy Riley R-Tulsa, Mark Snyder R-Edmond, and Cliff Aldridge R- Wagoner. Sen. Mark Snyder, said the public knew what they voted on in November. "The majority has spoken. We have a responsibility to the public to accept their will," Snyder said.
The cockfighters friend, Senator Shurden, said rural Oklahoma had been victimized by a smear campaign by animal rights activists pushing the cockfighting ban. He said the ban passed only because of a heavy vote for it in the metropolitan areas. I suppose he means urban voters either should refrain from voting in statewide elections or their votes should count less than rural votes. Urban voters should take note that several of their Senators voted for Shurden's bill and thus apparently agree with Shurden's odd "logic" of democracy. Urban Legislators that vote in favor of the cockfighters position should be targets for defeat at the polls in the next election.
Shurden's bills can still be defeated on the floor of the Senate and House. Make your calls.
Wednesday, February 19, 2003
Oklahoma Senate Appropriations Committee Shames Itself
The Senate Appropriations Committee today voted to pass Senator Shurden's bill to overturn the vote of the people on cockfighting. This outrageous bill now goes to the entire Senate for a vote. The sheer arrogance of the Senators that voted to ignore the vote of the people is amazing, even by Oklahoma Legislature "standards". We will have a list of those Senators who voted in favor of Shurden's bill here as soon as it is available. In the meantime, call your Senator at 405-524-0126 and let him/her know how outraged we are that they would even consider re-writing and weakening a law that the people just passed through the initiative petition process. We should also call Governor Brad Henry at 405-523-4232 and ask him to publicly say he will veto any bill sent to him that seeks to overturn the will of the people as expressed in their overwhelming vote to ban cockfighting a few months ago.
The Senate Appropriations Committee today voted to pass Senator Shurden's bill to overturn the vote of the people on cockfighting. This outrageous bill now goes to the entire Senate for a vote. The sheer arrogance of the Senators that voted to ignore the vote of the people is amazing, even by Oklahoma Legislature "standards". We will have a list of those Senators who voted in favor of Shurden's bill here as soon as it is available. In the meantime, call your Senator at 405-524-0126 and let him/her know how outraged we are that they would even consider re-writing and weakening a law that the people just passed through the initiative petition process. We should also call Governor Brad Henry at 405-523-4232 and ask him to publicly say he will veto any bill sent to him that seeks to overturn the will of the people as expressed in their overwhelming vote to ban cockfighting a few months ago.
Tuesday, February 18, 2003
Don't Miss the Super War II
In Borders bookstore tonight I noticed a Point of Sale display for a book called "Dessert Warfare" the coming war in Iraq. The cover said the book contained all the latest poop on the likely war strategies, the weaponry, the forces on each side, etc. With this book warphiles can closely follow the war as it unfolds and keep tabs on how many points each side scores. I can imagine these people sitting before the TV watching CNN and rapidly flipping through the book to find the likely weapons system or smart bomb that just blew up the building on the screen in front of them. It's all rather ghoulish isn't it? What does this kind of book say about us?
In Borders bookstore tonight I noticed a Point of Sale display for a book called "Dessert Warfare" the coming war in Iraq. The cover said the book contained all the latest poop on the likely war strategies, the weaponry, the forces on each side, etc. With this book warphiles can closely follow the war as it unfolds and keep tabs on how many points each side scores. I can imagine these people sitting before the TV watching CNN and rapidly flipping through the book to find the likely weapons system or smart bomb that just blew up the building on the screen in front of them. It's all rather ghoulish isn't it? What does this kind of book say about us?
The Axis of Confused Principles
William Safire has a good point about the China-Russia-France-Germany Axis inconsistency in principle:
For the past year, the central message that Saddam's protectors have been sending to the United States is: Do not "go it alone." On the contrary, take the multilateral route. Seek the world's support through UN consensus.
.
But when it comes to the weaponry menace on the other side of the world, the message of Paris-Berlin-Moscow-Beijing is exactly the opposite.
Safire points out that the Axis is telling the US to handle the North Korea problem on its own while telling us not to handle Iraq on our own. Beijing and Moscow have been particularly unwilling to lift a finger to help with the nuclear madmen in North Korea, in their own backyard. Russia and China are too interested in business opportunities in North Korea and don't want to spoil their chances.
William Safire has a good point about the China-Russia-France-Germany Axis inconsistency in principle:
For the past year, the central message that Saddam's protectors have been sending to the United States is: Do not "go it alone." On the contrary, take the multilateral route. Seek the world's support through UN consensus.
.
But when it comes to the weaponry menace on the other side of the world, the message of Paris-Berlin-Moscow-Beijing is exactly the opposite.
Safire points out that the Axis is telling the US to handle the North Korea problem on its own while telling us not to handle Iraq on our own. Beijing and Moscow have been particularly unwilling to lift a finger to help with the nuclear madmen in North Korea, in their own backyard. Russia and China are too interested in business opportunities in North Korea and don't want to spoil their chances.
Senator Inhofe and John Erling and Church and State
John Erling of KRMG radio in Tulsa is in a spat with US Senator Jim Inhofe. In a recorded interview with Erling the Senator blasted Erling for criticizing him for his trips to Africa, for not calling in on time for scheduled interviews, etc. The Senator informed Erling he was canceling his periodic on-air discussions and taking his interviews to Erling's more conservative KRMG radio host, Wes Minter. It was an interesting exchange but Inhofe came off as a vindictive brat.
Several months ago I was in an audience when Pastor Billy Joe Daugherty of Tulsa told the audience that Senator Inhofe sets up meetings with African heads of state on the pretense of official discussions and then uses the meetings to proselytize his Christian beliefs and to "bring the Africans to Christ". Whether one believes in Christianity or not, it is certainly not ethical for our elected officials to arrange meetings on the pretense of official discussions and then to promote a certain religious viewpoint. That is a misuse of official standing and position. That is a role for missionaries, not elected officials. This kind of behavior is an illustration of the need for separation of church and state.
John Erling of KRMG radio in Tulsa is in a spat with US Senator Jim Inhofe. In a recorded interview with Erling the Senator blasted Erling for criticizing him for his trips to Africa, for not calling in on time for scheduled interviews, etc. The Senator informed Erling he was canceling his periodic on-air discussions and taking his interviews to Erling's more conservative KRMG radio host, Wes Minter. It was an interesting exchange but Inhofe came off as a vindictive brat.
Several months ago I was in an audience when Pastor Billy Joe Daugherty of Tulsa told the audience that Senator Inhofe sets up meetings with African heads of state on the pretense of official discussions and then uses the meetings to proselytize his Christian beliefs and to "bring the Africans to Christ". Whether one believes in Christianity or not, it is certainly not ethical for our elected officials to arrange meetings on the pretense of official discussions and then to promote a certain religious viewpoint. That is a misuse of official standing and position. That is a role for missionaries, not elected officials. This kind of behavior is an illustration of the need for separation of church and state.
Republicans, Wes Watkins and Worms
The Daily Oklahoman reports today that the national Republican Party donated more than $500,000 to three Oklahoma organizations as part of an arrangement to get leftover campaign money from retired U.S. Rep. Wes Watkins.
The Republicans gave $275,000 to the Oklahoma State University Foundation; $140,000 to Rural Enterprises Inc. in Durant; and $100,000 to the Oklahoma Foundation for Career and Technology Education.
At the end of last year, Watkins still had almost $200,000 in his campaign account. He said he might use the money to establish a charitable organization that would donate fertilizer to poor countries where soil quality inhibits agricultural productivity. This is apparently related to Watkin's latest passion, vermiculture - or worm farming. Watkins wants to farm worms to create fertilizer and sell or give it to Africa. Watkins has made more than one trip to Nigeria in recent years.
The Daily Oklahoman reports today that the national Republican Party donated more than $500,000 to three Oklahoma organizations as part of an arrangement to get leftover campaign money from retired U.S. Rep. Wes Watkins.
The Republicans gave $275,000 to the Oklahoma State University Foundation; $140,000 to Rural Enterprises Inc. in Durant; and $100,000 to the Oklahoma Foundation for Career and Technology Education.
At the end of last year, Watkins still had almost $200,000 in his campaign account. He said he might use the money to establish a charitable organization that would donate fertilizer to poor countries where soil quality inhibits agricultural productivity. This is apparently related to Watkin's latest passion, vermiculture - or worm farming. Watkins wants to farm worms to create fertilizer and sell or give it to Africa. Watkins has made more than one trip to Nigeria in recent years.