Friday, May 14, 2004

Another reliable source..

On Hannity and Colmes I just watch Brent Bozell of something called the Media Research Center complaining about the media's shock over the abuse of the Iraqi prisoners. Bozell was sounding a lot like Inhofe on this. I decided to check out who this guy was - after all Media Research Center sounds like a pretty scientific and non-partisan institution right? I should have known...
An Oklahoman on Inhofe's Remarks

While virtually everyone else is condemning the abuse of the Iraqi prisoners James Inhofe, the US Senator from Oklahoma (oh it pains me to say that!) has distinguished himself by not being so outraged - even after viewing photos of forced homosexual sex and other violations of the Geneva Conventions AND US law. To be fair, Inhofe says he was outraged by what seven or so US soldiers did (and he's careful to limit the outrage to those seven) but he is "more outraged by the outrage" over the abuse. His argument is that Saddam Hussein was much much worse in his torture methods, That comparison is apparently supposed to make us feel better?

James Inhofe is no doubt really ticked off that the scandal is directly or indirectly eroding support for the war in Iraq and for President Bush. He feels Democrats are taking advantage of this situation. It's hard to have sympathy in this regard for one of the most intensely partisan persons on planet Earth. I notice the GOP website is holding Inhofe up as a fine example for his statements.

Inhofe's equivocating statements on the abuse are shameful. What the photos show are clearly illegal and immoral. As an American who loves my country I am deeply ashamed of what these particular representatives of my country have done. I am also deeply ashamed of James Inhofe's statements and hope they do not fairly represent the majority of Oklahomans. I don't believe they do.

Knowing Inhofe to be a religious (Presbyterian)man, at least in his mind, I am curious how he can be more outraged over "do-gooders" exposing the abuse than over troops engaging in abhorrent behavior that I'm pretty sure his religion frowns upon. Oddly enough, Inhofe is only mildly outraged that US troops would reportedly force prisoners abroad to have homosexual sex while being truly outraged over homosexual marriage at home. Where is the moral consistency in this?

Inhofe tries to lessen the seriousness of the prisoner abuse by saying the prisoners in these cells were murderers and terrorists. The International Red Cross says they estimate about 70% of the prisoners in the US prison in Iraq were swept up and have nothing to do with terrorism. The truth may lie somewhere inbetween but nonetheless, as one Senator said, "if we lower ourselves to torture prisoners then what are we fighting for in Iraq"?

I was glad to see in the Tulsa World today that Bishop Slattery of the Eastern Oklahoma diocese condemned the prisoner abuse and took an indirect slap at Inhofe. Inhofe was quoted in the Tulsa World article that he was disappointed that the Bishop didn't call him to get the facts.

While it is not a good comparison I can describe my feeling over the abuse of our prisoners by saying, for an Oklahoman, it would be like finding out the national champions OU Sooners football team cheated on their way to victory (which isn't the case). It's just so deflating and shameful. My America is just not like that.

Thursday, May 13, 2004

Oklahomans for Jobs Now - Who Are They?

Have you seen the TV commercial attacking Governor Henry and Senate Pro Tem Cal Hobsen for their lack of action on getting tort reform passed? The commercial shows a group of supposed legislators and lobbiests sitting around a very dark smoke-filled room rubbing cigars back and forth between their thumbs and fingers and laughing - at the hapless voters no doubt. From personal experience I can tell you this scene is close to accurate - except they usually carry on in well-lit offices with the door shut. That is except when the lobbyists are treating them to drinks at the Clarion or dinner at the T.

But who are these people who call themselves the "Oklahomans for Jobs Now"? The commercial doesn't tell us. Even their website is quiet on their identity - except in one of their press releases they let it be known that OKC magnate Bob Funk (CEO of Express Personnel Services)is their honorary chairman. On their board of directors are Paula Marshall-Chapman (CEO of Bama Pie) and Wes Stucky (Ardmore Economic Development CEO), Larry Mocha of Air Power Systems in Tulsa; Ike Glass of Glass Trucking LLC in Newkirk; and Ricky Dickson of Blue Bell Creameries in Broken Arrow.

The ad is pretty pointed in its criticism of Henry and Hobsen. This must sting both gentlemen. Wes Stucky was Brad Henry's first pick for state Secretary of Commerce but he declined. Stuckey is the most effective economic development professional in Oklahoma - at least at attracting distribution centers. Not too long ago I was sitting near Cal Hobsen when he called Bob Funk to ask for a political donation. Bob Funk thought Hobsen was calling to ask for his input on legislation and was miffed when all Cal wanted was money.

Tuesday, May 11, 2004

Awaiting condemnation

I won't be watching the video of Nick Berg, the American gentleman that was beheaded by the Islamic militants. It makes me sick just knowing about it. How could anyone, in the very name of Allah (God), be so cruel? How could anyone in the name of a religion believe that murdering an innocent person would be moral? The people who did this are sub-human at the very least.

I was very pleased today to hear that the National Council of Churches in the USA condemned the mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners. Now, I'm waiting to hear that Muslim clerics in the Middle East have condemned the barbaric "revenge" murder of the American civilian. How long will I have to wait?
Inhofe on TV

I've seen Senator (James) Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma on TV several times lately to talk about the Iraq prisoner abuse scandal and each time I pray (to no avail) that the network would not identify the state he represents. In each case Inhofe seems more interested in talking about how bad the enemy is rather than on what our standards must be. Inhofe said today he was "more outraged by the outrage (over the Iraqi prisoner scandal) than about the mistreatment (of the Iraqi prisoners). "Aren't these the people that are out killing our soldiers?" he asked. The answer of course is they may or may not be - they are suspects. Does Inhofe think foreign suspects should be presumed guilty and subjected to illegal treatment in American custody? It appears to be so.

In a slap at Inhofe on Nightline tonight Senator John McCain (a former POW) made the point that America is defined by how we treat our prisoners. Everytime McCain speaks it reminds me how much we are missing by not having him in the Oval Office. It also reminds me of why Inhofe's influence doesn't begin to compare with McCain's.