Danger from the Heartland
Sometimes it's difficult to see the larger social trends that are swirling about. In this culture we have a saying that it's "hard to see the forest for the trees" - meaning that when we are too close to a phenomenon we can't get a good perspective on it. Yesterday's elections, especially in Oklahoma, clearly revealed the growing power of the evangelical Christian vote and the weakness of the youth vote.
In Oklahoma I am surrounded by evangelicals. I have them in my family, living next door, at the workplace, they are everywhere here. And they are voting. The churches have become a center of partisan (Republican) agitation. Every week there is a voting information table at my church and it is loaded with right-wing Christian propaganda. The pastor tells us to vote for Godly people and leaves little doubt as to who those people are. It's difficult to get through an entire day here without an evangelical trying to "save" me into his or her particular brand of Christianity.
Today I was talking with a friend who told me she voted for Bush because he "had a spiritual seed" and was "a born-again Christian". From previous discussions I knew she had no grasp of the issues but she never had a doubt about who she was voting for. She votes straight party Republican because, as she repeatedly says, it's the Godly party. I've learned from innumerable conversations with evangelicals that it is futile to try to have what I'd call a logical discussion on issues with them. To try is akin to speaking with someone who speaks an entirely different language. As they themselves say, they are not concerned with "the natural world" - the world the rest of us live in and think in terms of.
The deficit is ballooning, the war in Iraq is a mess, most of the world hates our guts and all this is trumped in the minds of evangelicals by the thought of a couple of dudes kissing.
Karl Rove was brilliantly conniving to enlist the aid of the evangelicals by bringing social issues into the political discourse. At first, the silk stocking Republicans (country club Republicans to some) balked at the strategy but Rove has proven that the evangelicals will fall for the bait on gay marriage and abortion and do, perhaps unwittingly, the ground work for the rich and ravenous who bankroll the cause (and reap the tax cuts). It's a nice combo for the Republicans. Disaster for America.
From here in the midst of the Bible belt, the evangelical hotbed of mid-America, I'm telling you the evangelicals are not only one of the greatest dangers to a liberal democracy in the United States but a threat to the world at large if they take control of this superpower. More on that later.
Wednesday, November 03, 2004
Tuesday, November 02, 2004
Voting is a Breeze in Oklahoma
When I went to vote this morning I had to wait longer than ever to vote - about a minute to get the ballot. I've never had to wait even a few seconds before. I'm outraged!
Oklahoma has the best voting system in the nation - a uniform statewide system of computerized paper ballots. The ballots are easy to understand. We have enough polling places so lines are never a problem. I wish I knew who to thank for this great system.
When I hear of people waiting in lines in Ohio for two hours to vote I wonder how voting can be so screwed up in other places. It's a no brainer folks - just look at Oklahoma. Of course, you'd never do that. The national media certainly never talks about our excellent system when they are doing reports on voting problems. Meanwhile, Oklahomans, are on to other business while the rest of the country stands in line.
When I went to vote this morning I had to wait longer than ever to vote - about a minute to get the ballot. I've never had to wait even a few seconds before. I'm outraged!
Oklahoma has the best voting system in the nation - a uniform statewide system of computerized paper ballots. The ballots are easy to understand. We have enough polling places so lines are never a problem. I wish I knew who to thank for this great system.
When I hear of people waiting in lines in Ohio for two hours to vote I wonder how voting can be so screwed up in other places. It's a no brainer folks - just look at Oklahoma. Of course, you'd never do that. The national media certainly never talks about our excellent system when they are doing reports on voting problems. Meanwhile, Oklahomans, are on to other business while the rest of the country stands in line.
Monday, November 01, 2004
The Lorton Touch
Last week I wondered in this blog why the Tulsa World, whose editorial board leans toward the moderate Democrat part of the political spectrum, has not endorsed a Democrat for president since Roosevelt days. In looking through the campaign contributions records at Fundrace I see that the World's publisher, Robert Lorton, has given the maximum of $2,000 to the Bush campaign. Seems that his spouse, Roxanna, director of the World Publishing Company, also gave $2,000 to the Bush campaign. Could it be that the Lortons overruled their editorial board?
Speaking of the Lortons, there was a full-page ad in the Sunday World that purported to score Oklahoma Legislators on their economic development voting records. The scoring and the ad were sponsored by something called the Research Institute for Economic Development based in Edmond, Oklahoma. Democrats didn't fair well in REID's scoring scheme. I'd never heard of the REID so I checked it out at www.probizok.com . Wow! There's Bobby Lorton again - on the Board of Directors. I recognize a bevy of Republican CEOs on REID's board - Paula Marshall Chapman to Bob Funk of Express Personnel. In neither the ad nor their website does REID explain their scoring method or the criteria used to score the Legislators. I guess we lowly plebians are just expected to accept the REID Boards' executive wisdom. Why confuse us with facts?
Last week I wondered in this blog why the Tulsa World, whose editorial board leans toward the moderate Democrat part of the political spectrum, has not endorsed a Democrat for president since Roosevelt days. In looking through the campaign contributions records at Fundrace I see that the World's publisher, Robert Lorton, has given the maximum of $2,000 to the Bush campaign. Seems that his spouse, Roxanna, director of the World Publishing Company, also gave $2,000 to the Bush campaign. Could it be that the Lortons overruled their editorial board?
Speaking of the Lortons, there was a full-page ad in the Sunday World that purported to score Oklahoma Legislators on their economic development voting records. The scoring and the ad were sponsored by something called the Research Institute for Economic Development based in Edmond, Oklahoma. Democrats didn't fair well in REID's scoring scheme. I'd never heard of the REID so I checked it out at www.probizok.com . Wow! There's Bobby Lorton again - on the Board of Directors. I recognize a bevy of Republican CEOs on REID's board - Paula Marshall Chapman to Bob Funk of Express Personnel. In neither the ad nor their website does REID explain their scoring method or the criteria used to score the Legislators. I guess we lowly plebians are just expected to accept the REID Boards' executive wisdom. Why confuse us with facts?
Tulsa World Doesn't Make Pick in 1st District
The Tulsa World made endorsements in the presidential, US Senate, Corporation Commissioner, and dozens of state legislative races. The World even made endorsements in two Congressional races outside of Tulsa proper - but declined to make an endorsement in the Congressional contest in Tulsa itself. Neither Doug Dodd nor John Sullivan (incumbant) are listed in the World's endorsements.
Six out of fifteen World endorsements went to Republicans and nine went to Democrats.
The Tulsa World made endorsements in the presidential, US Senate, Corporation Commissioner, and dozens of state legislative races. The World even made endorsements in two Congressional races outside of Tulsa proper - but declined to make an endorsement in the Congressional contest in Tulsa itself. Neither Doug Dodd nor John Sullivan (incumbant) are listed in the World's endorsements.
Six out of fifteen World endorsements went to Republicans and nine went to Democrats.
Ground breaking poll at a critical time
This may come as a surprise to some, but the Oklahoma Poll found last week that Oklahomans think that gasoline is too costly. In related polls Oklahomans also let it be known that they think the weather changes too often and that people in other countries talk with an accent.
This may come as a surprise to some, but the Oklahoma Poll found last week that Oklahomans think that gasoline is too costly. In related polls Oklahomans also let it be known that they think the weather changes too often and that people in other countries talk with an accent.
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
Clothespins for Carson
Thanks to OkieDoke I found Clothespins for Carson. This is another good Oklahoma blog worth reading.
Thanks to OkieDoke I found Clothespins for Carson. This is another good Oklahoma blog worth reading.
I May Skip This One
Wow! The local TV is just full of anti-Carson attack ads tonight. There's a new one from the ClubforGrowth.net that features a cartoon Carson with a cartoon Sen. Kennedy and a cartoon Kerry pulling the strings of a puppet Carson. This group out of Washington DC is getting pretty nasty in their attacks on Carson. As the Tulsa World reports, over a $1million of their money has come from two fat cat energy company executives from Oklahoma City.
There have been some pretty nasty TV ads from Carson too - the worst were attacks on Coburn for allegedly sterilizing a young girl without her permission. The Carson ad was pretty despicable.
I received a mailer yesterday from Carson attacking Coburn for allegedly welcoming both illegal and legal immigration. Yes, illegal immigration is bad but legal immigration is not. To appeal to the anti-immigration prejudices of people is also despicable. After reading the mailer I went out and ripped the Carson sign out of my yard.
Even though I think the duo of Coburn and Inhofe would be a huge embarrassment for Oklahoma I must say Carson is trying my patience and I'm considering not voting in this race. Both Coburn and Carson and their out-of-state proxies have behaved very badly in their campaign tactics.
Wow! The local TV is just full of anti-Carson attack ads tonight. There's a new one from the ClubforGrowth.net that features a cartoon Carson with a cartoon Sen. Kennedy and a cartoon Kerry pulling the strings of a puppet Carson. This group out of Washington DC is getting pretty nasty in their attacks on Carson. As the Tulsa World reports, over a $1million of their money has come from two fat cat energy company executives from Oklahoma City.
There have been some pretty nasty TV ads from Carson too - the worst were attacks on Coburn for allegedly sterilizing a young girl without her permission. The Carson ad was pretty despicable.
I received a mailer yesterday from Carson attacking Coburn for allegedly welcoming both illegal and legal immigration. Yes, illegal immigration is bad but legal immigration is not. To appeal to the anti-immigration prejudices of people is also despicable. After reading the mailer I went out and ripped the Carson sign out of my yard.
Even though I think the duo of Coburn and Inhofe would be a huge embarrassment for Oklahoma I must say Carson is trying my patience and I'm considering not voting in this race. Both Coburn and Carson and their out-of-state proxies have behaved very badly in their campaign tactics.
Tuesday, October 26, 2004
Where Caution Meets Nonsense
Since 911 many people have been saying that "everything changed" on that date. The candidates for president argue over whether terrorism is, or should become a nuisance or an all-consuming fear. I think that if we believe "everything has changed" then the terrorists have won. We should counter their terror but we should strive to maintain our quality of life by refusing to let the terrorists change our lives. Sometimes, we seem to go out of our way to make life a nuisance and blame it on 911.
The other day I was at the Tulsa Airport and needed to drop some mail off before I got on the plane. "No, we don't have a mailbox anywhere on the airport," the hospitality desk lady said. "Haven't had since 911." I found the old mailbox on a wall but the slit had been covered over with a closed sign. Now I can understand not having a mailbox large enough for boxes and bombs but it makes NO SENSE to not have a mailbox with a slit for envelopes. As far as I know, no bomb can fit in a #10 envelope. There are a million places at the airport where bombs could be placed so what's the deal with a small mailbox for the convenience of the public?
This may seem like a small inconvenience to the citizenry but when you add up all the nonsensical inconveniences that we have had put upon us it adds up to a loss of life quality. It's exactly what we should not allow to happen.
Since 911 many people have been saying that "everything changed" on that date. The candidates for president argue over whether terrorism is, or should become a nuisance or an all-consuming fear. I think that if we believe "everything has changed" then the terrorists have won. We should counter their terror but we should strive to maintain our quality of life by refusing to let the terrorists change our lives. Sometimes, we seem to go out of our way to make life a nuisance and blame it on 911.
The other day I was at the Tulsa Airport and needed to drop some mail off before I got on the plane. "No, we don't have a mailbox anywhere on the airport," the hospitality desk lady said. "Haven't had since 911." I found the old mailbox on a wall but the slit had been covered over with a closed sign. Now I can understand not having a mailbox large enough for boxes and bombs but it makes NO SENSE to not have a mailbox with a slit for envelopes. As far as I know, no bomb can fit in a #10 envelope. There are a million places at the airport where bombs could be placed so what's the deal with a small mailbox for the convenience of the public?
This may seem like a small inconvenience to the citizenry but when you add up all the nonsensical inconveniences that we have had put upon us it adds up to a loss of life quality. It's exactly what we should not allow to happen.
Sunday, October 24, 2004
Christian Coalition Voter Guides
My friend tells me his pastor passed out Christian Coalition Voter Guides at church today. The ones I've seen in the past were a large tad partisan but this one by Betty Bowers has a new look altogether.
My friend tells me his pastor passed out Christian Coalition Voter Guides at church today. The ones I've seen in the past were a large tad partisan but this one by Betty Bowers has a new look altogether.
Instructions from On High
At church this morning the pastor reminded us to vote in the upcoming election. "We are fighting for the soul of this nation," he said. "We need Godly people in office. If you don't know who to vote for just find out who the homosexuals are for and vote for the other guy. Find out who or what the gamblers are for and vote the other way. Find out who the pro-abortionists are for and vote for his opponent."
At church this morning the pastor reminded us to vote in the upcoming election. "We are fighting for the soul of this nation," he said. "We need Godly people in office. If you don't know who to vote for just find out who the homosexuals are for and vote for the other guy. Find out who or what the gamblers are for and vote the other way. Find out who the pro-abortionists are for and vote for his opponent."
Friday, October 22, 2004
Ann Coulter Nicked by Pie
Tonight I walked into a Waldenbooks and got spooked real bad. There were three books on the big promo display featuring Ann Coulter's visage. Three books by the liberal-bashing Internet columnist on the shelves at the same time? I half-expected to find an exercise video by Ms. Coulter. Not yet.
Ann was attacked yesterday in Arizona by two pie-wielding students with poor aim. She was merely nicked. Must have been girlie-men.
Tonight I walked into a Waldenbooks and got spooked real bad. There were three books on the big promo display featuring Ann Coulter's visage. Three books by the liberal-bashing Internet columnist on the shelves at the same time? I half-expected to find an exercise video by Ms. Coulter. Not yet.
Ann was attacked yesterday in Arizona by two pie-wielding students with poor aim. She was merely nicked. Must have been girlie-men.
Thursday, October 21, 2004
Castro Falls!!!
Decades of anti-communist embargos have finally paid off. Castro fell today, just two weeks before the US election. Condoleeza Rice interrupted one of her campaign appearances to point out that the President's uncompromising stand against Castro had paid off.
Decades of anti-communist embargos have finally paid off. Castro fell today, just two weeks before the US election. Condoleeza Rice interrupted one of her campaign appearances to point out that the President's uncompromising stand against Castro had paid off.
Swing Voters Lured by Sex
Votergasm has the answer to how to get sex-starved swing voters to the polls on November 2nd. Maybe this will make up some libidos.
Votergasm has the answer to how to get sex-starved swing voters to the polls on November 2nd. Maybe this will make up some libidos.
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
Dancing Brad vs Christian Brad
The latest anti-Brad Carson Republican TV ad features a cartoon of a dancing Brad Carson and a silly claim that Brad wants to increase every Oklahoman's taxes by $7,000 You can view the ad at SoonerPolitics. This race is really getting low - because the stakes are high for the two major parties.
Today I received a Brad Carson brochure in the mail that makes three key points about Carson: 1) he is Christian, 2) a fiscal conservative and 3) an independent leader. Points 2 and 3 I can understand, but why does Brad want to tell us which church he goes to? Obviously, he has to try to neutralize Republican Tom Coburn's appeal to evangelical conservatives. The brochure features photos of Brad hunting, he and his wife holding a Bible in church, and walking next to an oil well. This is what you have to do to win an election in Oklahoma. Pretty sad.
The latest anti-Brad Carson Republican TV ad features a cartoon of a dancing Brad Carson and a silly claim that Brad wants to increase every Oklahoman's taxes by $7,000 You can view the ad at SoonerPolitics. This race is really getting low - because the stakes are high for the two major parties.
Today I received a Brad Carson brochure in the mail that makes three key points about Carson: 1) he is Christian, 2) a fiscal conservative and 3) an independent leader. Points 2 and 3 I can understand, but why does Brad want to tell us which church he goes to? Obviously, he has to try to neutralize Republican Tom Coburn's appeal to evangelical conservatives. The brochure features photos of Brad hunting, he and his wife holding a Bible in church, and walking next to an oil well. This is what you have to do to win an election in Oklahoma. Pretty sad.
Denise Bode Endorses Herself
OkieDoke reports that Bode has won her own endorsement. That's pretty bad if you have to assure voters you really are for yourself.
OkieDoke reports that Bode has won her own endorsement. That's pretty bad if you have to assure voters you really are for yourself.
Monday, October 18, 2004
More on Koch
Maybe it's not just protecting America that Koch is so concerned about. In an article in the Jewish World Review Koch makes it pretty clear that he supports Bush because Bush supports Israel. Maybe this wouldn't be a problem if the interests of the U.S. and Israel were always congruent - but they aren't. When the interests diverge Mr Koch - which way do you go? In this article Koch has the arrogance to suggest the Democrat Party, not he, is headed in the wrong direction.
According to an article in WorldNet Daily:
Koch says he "cannot understand why Jews who care about Israel would vote Democrat this year." Are we saying that American citizens should vote for someone based on what that person will do for some other country? Are you saying, Koch, that our loyalty to our country and its democracy should maybe be 80/20 - or 60/40?
I don't care what you think Koch, I'm 100% American. When it comes to my vote, I don't owe alligence to any other country.
Maybe it's not just protecting America that Koch is so concerned about. In an article in the Jewish World Review Koch makes it pretty clear that he supports Bush because Bush supports Israel. Maybe this wouldn't be a problem if the interests of the U.S. and Israel were always congruent - but they aren't. When the interests diverge Mr Koch - which way do you go? In this article Koch has the arrogance to suggest the Democrat Party, not he, is headed in the wrong direction.
According to an article in WorldNet Daily:
Koch says he "cannot understand why Jews who care about Israel would vote Democrat this year." Are we saying that American citizens should vote for someone based on what that person will do for some other country? Are you saying, Koch, that our loyalty to our country and its democracy should maybe be 80/20 - or 60/40?
I don't care what you think Koch, I'm 100% American. When it comes to my vote, I don't owe alligence to any other country.
Ed Koch lost his marbles?
Ed Koch, former mayor of New York, is on the Daily Show telling me he doesn't agree with President Bush on any domestic issue - but is supporting Bush for re-election for the single reason he thinks the President is better at guarding us against terrorism. I had a pretty good opinion of Koch but if that's his reasoning ability these days I have to rethink that opinion. Ok, I rethought it. Koch has lost it.
If America really thought like Koch apparently does we'd be so obsessed with terrorism we could no longer think straight. We'd toss out our liberties, our principles, our freedom - which is exactly what terrorism's objectives are. We would no longer be the United States - at least not the United States I love.
There's more to life than mere survival.
Ed Koch, former mayor of New York, is on the Daily Show telling me he doesn't agree with President Bush on any domestic issue - but is supporting Bush for re-election for the single reason he thinks the President is better at guarding us against terrorism. I had a pretty good opinion of Koch but if that's his reasoning ability these days I have to rethink that opinion. Ok, I rethought it. Koch has lost it.
If America really thought like Koch apparently does we'd be so obsessed with terrorism we could no longer think straight. We'd toss out our liberties, our principles, our freedom - which is exactly what terrorism's objectives are. We would no longer be the United States - at least not the United States I love.
There's more to life than mere survival.
Saturday, October 16, 2004
Contacting Sinclair Broadcasting
Two of the Sinclair Broadcasting Stations that have been ordered to air the anti-Kerry "documentary" Stolen Honor are in Oklahoma - in Oklahoma City. One is the WB affiliate and the other is the Foxxx TV affiliate. If you'd like to let them know what you think about the largest television chain in the US using our airwaves to present a partisan 90-minute commercial you can contact them at: comments@sbgi.net.
It would be just as egregious an abuse of the public airwaves if Sinclair aired Fahrenheit 911.
Two of the Sinclair Broadcasting Stations that have been ordered to air the anti-Kerry "documentary" Stolen Honor are in Oklahoma - in Oklahoma City. One is the WB affiliate and the other is the Foxxx TV affiliate. If you'd like to let them know what you think about the largest television chain in the US using our airwaves to present a partisan 90-minute commercial you can contact them at: comments@sbgi.net.
It would be just as egregious an abuse of the public airwaves if Sinclair aired Fahrenheit 911.
Class Action Coupons
The Center for Corporate Marketing (CCM) announced Friday that the Center is recommending that more of their corporate members solicit class action lawsuits against themselves. Speaking at the annual conference of CCM in Houston, Turpid Nordstrom said, "Jiffy Lube and Blockbuster have led the way in creating a new marketing tool and strategy for recovering business from agitated consumers. The savvy corporation can now gouge customers and still get them back with class action lawsuit coupons."
CCM spokesperson Smithfield Summers told conference attendees the key to success in the new strategy is "to shop around for a law firm willing to take a $3 or $4 million fee to settle for giving their class action clients nothing more than coupons which they must use at the corporation's stores. The stupid consumers are stuck with coupons which are useless to them unless they are willing to go crawling back to the store that ripped them off in the first place!"
The Center for Corporate Marketing (CCM) announced Friday that the Center is recommending that more of their corporate members solicit class action lawsuits against themselves. Speaking at the annual conference of CCM in Houston, Turpid Nordstrom said, "Jiffy Lube and Blockbuster have led the way in creating a new marketing tool and strategy for recovering business from agitated consumers. The savvy corporation can now gouge customers and still get them back with class action lawsuit coupons."
CCM spokesperson Smithfield Summers told conference attendees the key to success in the new strategy is "to shop around for a law firm willing to take a $3 or $4 million fee to settle for giving their class action clients nothing more than coupons which they must use at the corporation's stores. The stupid consumers are stuck with coupons which are useless to them unless they are willing to go crawling back to the store that ripped them off in the first place!"