Wes Clark wins Oklahoma

It was close, but Clark won his first state tonight. This is remarkable for a man that just entered politics five months ago. Okiepundit was at the watch party in Oklahoma City tonight and the atmosphere was electric. Clark's performance keeps getting better every day and the former General's speeches are connecting with those lucky enough to see him in person.

On the downside, listening to most of the media tonight you'd think Oklahoma and Wes Clark didn't exist. The talking heads are talking only about "frontrunner" Kerry and Senator John Edwards. The networks were interviewing everyone but the librarians in South Carolina, Missouri, or Arizona but the Clark event in Oklahoma City was largely ignored by the national media. Fox News Radio repeatedly dissed Oklahoma. Even as I write, early Wednesday morning, CNN is still saying it's "too close to call" in Oklahoma although 100% of the vote was completed hours ago. They can't say enough about Edwards win in his home state of South Carolina but Clark's win in Oklahoma is hardly mentioned. Only WGN Radio in Chicago is talking about Clark's win.

Senator Edwards spent a lot of time in Oklahoma - 14 trips at last count (more than any other candidate) - but still didn't beat Clark here. But all you hear from the national media is about Edward's "strong and surprising showing in Oklahoma". We are left to wonder where the apparent bias comes from?

Maybe the media just loves the Senator's handsome looks - like the Edwards supporters I have met in recent weeks. I ran into several women that said they were voting for Edwards because he was cute. Enough to make you puke isn't it? It is shocking how many dimwits choose their candidates based not on their experience or intellect or stands on issues - but on their cuteness. Senator Edwards is undoubtedly a good and intelligent man but his experience doesn't compare well next to Wes Clark's. While Wes Clark was managing a successful war in Europe, John Edwards was a trial lawyer for Pete's sake.

I didn't know this until CNN mentioned it tonight - that former OU coach Barry Switzer had endorsed Edwards and that apparently helped Edwards in Oklahoma. This is scary if people actually pay attention to what a coach has to say about politics. Switzer was a good coach but (and OkiePundit knows him) he is not one we should listen to on non-football subjects. Switzer endorsed Governor Brad Henry when he was running for governor - and look where that got us.

As I was on the way home after the Clark party was over I stopped in at the Texaco Foodmart where a gap-toothed cashier pointed at my Clark button and said "I was for him until I saw the pictures of him on CNN shaking hands with those terrorists." I looked at her in dismay. I had no idea what this woman was talking about - but I didn't even want to know what foolish ideas must be knocking about in her head. All I could think about was that General Clark spent decades putting his life on the line for this idiot woman that apparently - in her tiny little brain - thought he was buddy-buddy with terrorists. It's a miracle our democracy even functions at all with people like her loose.

Despite the threat people like her pose to our well-being, we still have the least worst system on Earth.

Federal investigation is ordered into Joe Lieberman's boob at Debate

By David Horne
03 February 2004

America was in a tizzy last night over the exposure given to Joe Lieberman, one of the candidates in the Democratic presidential primary.
With a little help from Dennis Kucinich, with whom he was doing a debate routine, he let slip a little too much flesh - his right breast, adorned with a gold "solar medallion".

By last night the incident was the subject of a federal investigation. Michael Bowell, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, called the brief display "a classless, crass and deplorable stunt". KBEZ, the station that aired the debate was moved to issue an apology. Kucinich, who was in the midst of an exchange with Lieberman when he reached over and ripped open his shirt to reveal his breast, blamed a "cue card malfunction".

The debate, which was watched by hundreds of Americans, was produced by the League of Lesbian Voters. The League said it was unaware that such a display was planned and suggested that it “totally grossed us out.”

There was no comment from Lieberman. Which left Kucinich to explain. "I am sorry that anyone was offended by the cue card malfunction during the debate," he said. "It was not intentional and is regrettable."

Hypo-crisy on the Turnpike

Just days after we blogged about speeding politicians and Highway Patrolmen (Hypo) our pick for the Democratic presidential nomination (Wes Clark) has his convoy stopped by the Highway Patrol for speeding in Oklahoma. It was a top story by the TV "news" in Tulsa - featuring a photo of Wes Clark as if it was he that had been ticketed for speeding. Sure, the Hypo should ticket anyone speeding but the truth is THEY DON'T. The Hypo drives the Governor around Oklahoma with absolutely no regard for the speed laws. You see the Governor's security detail barreling down the turnpikes at 90-100 mph in an unmarked Hypo car on a daily basis. The Highway Patrol ignores speeding Legislators everyday and the Highway Patrol themselves speed in non-emergency situations everyday. That's the hypocrisy of this event that the media gloss over. I wouldn't expect our Sesame Street media to point this out but wouldn't it be nice...

Why Wes Clark for Oklahoma?

He is not a professional politician.
He is independent-minded and moderate (ie electable).
Has experience running huge organizations (the US Army and NATO)
Hates war - especially unnecessary war -
But served his country in the military.
Has diplomatic experience.
Seems to care.
Good communicator - in three languages.
He's whip-smart (Rhodes scholar).
Bush can't accuse Clark of being soft on security.

No one else meets all these criteria.

Clark, unlike his rivals, has no long history of votes and campaign contributions from special interests for which the Republicans can assail him.

Why would the Democrats put someone else up against Bush when they have a candidate like Wesley Clark? Unless they are dead set on losing.

Will Black and Decker Refund the Kwikset subsidies?

The Kwikset Lock Company that is closing down in Bristow, Oklahoma and moving to Mexico received considerable subsidies from the people of Oklahoma over the past several years. Kwikset took advantage of the state's Quality Jobs program which pays corporations up to 5% of their expanded payroll. The companies in this program receive quarterly checks from the state. Kwikset also took advantage of the state's Career Tech system. It is unknown just how much Kwikset received in subsidies but the question is whether their owner, Black and Decker, will repay the state now that they are eliminating 1,100 jobs and moving to Mexico.

New Job Recruitment Strategy Overlooked by Media

The decision by Bill Lobeck to move the HQ (and 700 jobs) of his Vanguard Car Rental USA from Florida to Tulsa received headline news in the Tulsa area this past week - for good reason. But all the media missed the story behind the story. The Secretary of Commerce of Oklahoma slept with the CEO of Vanguard prior to getting the deal. Is this strategy a last ditch effort to turnaround the ailing Oklahoma economy?

Only the Tulsa World even mentioned that Vanguard CEO Lobeck is married to Secretary of Commerce Kathy Taylor. The two live in an enormous mansion in mid-town Tulsa and made their gazillions in the rental car industry. Newly-elected Governor Brad Henry appointed Taylor to his cabinet in 2003. Lobeck and Taylor are large contributors to Democratic political campaigns in Oklahoma. Taylor is thought to have national political ambitions in a future Democratic administration.

One might logically ask what would have been the outcome had Lobeck decided to consolidate in Florida rather than in Oklahoma? To have the Secretary of Commerce's family business move jobs OUT of Oklahoma would have garnered more notice than sleeping with an investor has.

US News and World Report on Oklahoma:

Parmley (chairman of Ok Dem Party) says Oklahoma, a politically conservative state with five military bases, 47,000 active-duty soldiers, 300,000 veterans, and plenty ofcentrist "blue dog" Democrats, is an ideal proving ground for anyone trying to defeat George W. Bush. "Whoever wins here will have the best chance for winning in November," claims Parmley.

Parmley is absolutely right about that. Wes Clark has the best chance to beat Bush - for this very reason.

Ignoring Oklahoma

The presidential candidates aren't ignoring Oklahoma - several were in the state today - but the national media sure is. Since New Hampshire I've been watching to see if Oklahoma would be a topic but it seems like the media rushed to Missouri instead. Last weekend both the Tulsa World and the Oklahoman published polls showing Wes Clark in a big lead in Oklahoma. Now that's newsworthy - looks like Oklahoma will be the first or among the first states for Clark to win. But no, the media is too busy proclaiming Sen. Kerry as the frontrunner and all but telling us he'll be running against Bush.

I love it when the media gets it so wrong - as they did with Howard Dean and Iowa. The media - and the Democratic "leadership" had all but proclaimed the Democratic nomination over - it was going to be Dean. Gore, David Walters, Bill Bradley et al. told us to support Dean. Dean's not a bad candidate but I loved seeing the public shove the Iowa results right back in the faces of the media and the party leaders.

Well some newspapers are talking about Oklahoma. The Christian Science Monitor sez:

But the type of Democrat who can win over Democrats in South Carolina may be the type of Democrat who can pick up one, maybe even two Southern states.

They might also appeal to Oklahoma. The local filling station in Canadian, Okla., doesn't yet have automated credit-card machines. The pumps are the old kind - use, and go inside to pay. Senator Edwards has never been here - but he's visited the area. That sits well with the locals.

"I like John Edwards, a lot," says Mary Beth Jones, a short woman hunkering down in a blue windbreaker on a bitterly cold day. "He's been around these parts a lot, that means something. He talks about the economy. And he's cute."

This southeast region of Oklahoma, popularly known as Little Dixie, is Democrat-happy. People care about the economy, healthcare, education, and Iraq, especially since nearby McAlester has an ammunition depot the size of Washington D.C. that manufactures virtually all of the United States's nonnuclear bombs.

"He's cute."? So you're going to vote for someone because he's cute? With folks like Mary Beth representing Oklahoma maybe it would be best if the media did ignore us.

Sapulpa Dogfighter


In 2003 a large dogfighting operation was discovered near Sapulpa (Creek County) Oklahoma and the convicted perp is set to be sentenced soon. On Tuesday, February 3, notorious dogfighter James Fiarris will be sentenced for felony dogfighting charges in Sapulpa, Oklahoma. Fiarris pleaded guilty to the felony charges last year, following a lengthy investigation in which authorities found dozens of bloody, scarred fighting dogs on his property, along with dogfighting tools and a bloodied fighting pit. The dogs, which authorities failed to seize during the raid, were later sold off by Fiarris, most likely to other dog fighters and further cruel fates.


For Oklahomans upset with having our state's image tarnished by cruel dogfighting letters to the judge are now needed to ensure that Fiarris does not get off lightly for causing so many dogs to suffer such terrible pain and fear. Respectfully urge the Judge (contact info below) to give Fiarris considerable jail time (he faces a maximum ten years for each felony charge) for his cruel crimes.

The Honorable Donald Thompson
Creek County District Court
222 E. Dewey
3rd Floor
Sapulpa, OK 74066
Fax: 918-227-5030

Speeding Legislators et al

On the Turner Turnpike today I was poking along at 75 mph (the speed limit) when a series of cars bearing H's and S's went zipping by at speeds of 80-100 mph. For those that don't know, Oklahoma tags issued to House of Representatives members bear an "H" and State Senators have an "S" on the tag. For example, the tag "H-7" that sped by today was on the car belonging to the House of Representatives member representing House District #7 - which would be Rep. Larry Roberts of Miami, Ok. His vehicle was going about 80 mph. The next one went by so fast all I could see was the "H". Chances are, their speeding was legal, because many years ago our Legistalators passed a law exempting themselves from speeding laws if they were going to or coming from a Legislative session. In other words, our Legislators believe that their work is so urgent and important that risking others' lives is a risk worth taking. This says a lot about their sense of entitlement and self-importance.

The Legislators aren't the only drivers out there with a sense of entitlement - Oklahoma Highway Patrol officers routinely speed in non-emergency situations. Today I passed a trooper that had a car stopped at the side of the turnpike - apparently handing them at ticket. A minute later, the same trooper driving a HP Chevette passed me at a steady speed of approx 80-85 mph. I watched him speed on until he pulled behind an overpass to hide and look for speeders. I'm not sure if it is legal for a trooper to speed in non-emergency situations but it is certainly unethical to ticket others for doing exactly what one does himself.

This Just In:

"The number, the industry, and the morality of the priesthood, and the devotion of the people have been manifestly increased by the total separation of the Church from the State."

- James Madison, Father of the US Constitution

Adventures in Customer Service

I just spent almost 50 minutes trying to get an egg and sausage biscuit from McDonalds. I went through the drive through and peeked into the bag to check the order when they gave it to me but it wasn't until I got home and unwrapped the food that I found the sausage and egg biscuit had no sausage or egg on it. I went back. The place was in chaos when I walked in. A middle-aged woman was yelling at her co-workers to stop serving breakfast. Customers were yelling that they had been standing in line for 30-minutes and wanted their (*%* breakfasts. I got in line and worked my way to the front. By this time the whole system had broken down and the English-speaking staff was yelling at the apparently uncomprehending Hispanic cooks. All of them ignored the customers for a good ten minutes while they yelled at each other. By the time I got my chance to be waited on I settled for french fries instead of hashbrowns and no apology. I just wanted to get out of there and never come back. If the food hadn't of been meant for my daughter I would have just thrown my naked biscuit at them all and left.

Note: if you ever want to give a company a piece of your mind, try www.planetfeedback.com

Expanding the Search


I'm all for a beefed up space program that will take us back to the Moon and on to Mars but I had to laugh at Kucinich's observation that President Bush must be expanding the search for WMD to other planets since he couldn't find them in Iraq.

Who Got Life First?

Hugh Ross (aka: Reasons to Believe) sez that we'll find life on Mars but that it came from Earth - not the other way around, as some believe. It would be very inconvenient if we determined that the first life in the universe did not originate on Earth. After all, we humans are the center of the Universe and the whole shebang was created just for us. The discovery that our solar system didn't revolve around us was unwelcome news - just imagine what the discovery of life on other planets that predates life on Earth would do?

Our pastor pointed out again last week how ludicrous the theory of evolution is. He pointed out that if you throw a piece of meat on the ground it won't evolve into something else. Now that's what I call proof positive! Scary.

Gone Nuts

Aaron Mitchell Gordon at Freezerbox thinks America has Gone Nuts and points to sodomy, Ann Coulter, and Queer Eye as proof.

Jerry Falwell wants $75 from me? For Israel?

Knowing that Israel is the number one recipient of foreign aid from the United States ( over $1 billion a year) I almost gagged tonight when I saw Jerry Falwell on my tv asking me to send $75 to the Guardians of Israel to help Israel. Truth be told, Falwell triggers the gag reflex in me anyway, but to hear him and others asking me to send yet more money to Israel was over the top. I think Ethiopia, Haiti etc are full of truly needy, starving people who desperately need help to stay alive. I feel sorry for those who suffer poverty and starvation and I do everything I can to help out, through World Neighbors (based in Oklahoma) and Feed the Children - but Israel has enough money (much of it from US taxpayers like you and me) to take care of its small population. Judging by the jowls on Falwell he's not doing too bad either.

Gun Drawn in Bar!!

The following news was front-page material in Hong Kong recently:

Gun Drawn in Bar - Hong Kong: An anti-triad officer was disarmed in a Yau Ma Tei bar yesterday during a dispute over free drinks.

However, he later retrieved the service revolver with the help of 30 friends who allegedly stormed the bar on Nathan Road about 4am.

During the scuffle, the bar manager received a black eye and an injury to a finger.

A police spokesman would not confirm or deny the involvement of an officer attached to the anti-triad squad of a Kowloon police station.

I had to laugh. Can you imagine what our newspapers would look like if everytime a gun was drawn in a bar it was headlines? We don't have enough newsprint.

Look Me In the Eyes Governor

A few days ago I was in a meeting with Governor Henry. He was civil and polite as usual, but the thing that bugs me is he won't look you in the eyes. He seems uncomfortable with any extended eye contact. This is probably different with people he knows well but in our culture (American) it is not a trait that engenders trust. Averting ones eyes tends to signal that one is hiding something, not sure of himself, or intimidated. I really like humble people - can't stand aggressive a**holes - but humble does not equal meek or elusive.

Tired of the anti-Semitic Label

In a Reader's Forum article on Dec 21st in the Tulsa World Perry Simons and Robert Cohen of the Jewish Federation of Tulsa attack the Rev. Naim Ateek, the retired canon of St. George's Cathedral in Jerusalem for recent talks in Tulsa in which he gave some supportive remarks about the Palestinian people. Simons and Cohen took issue with Rev. Ateek's reported statement that he could understand the Palestinians frustration:

"Ateek doesn't understand American democracy. He claimed that America's support for Israel is because of a "large and powerful Jewish population," but such claims are now recognized simply as anti-Semitism. That's bigoted stereotyping."

I hate to break it to Simons and Cohen, but beating people who don't agree with them over the head with the nuclear anti-Semitism label is old and bound to backfire. Those of us who have legitimate complaints about Israel's policies and behavior get real tired of being charged as anti-Semites. More and more Americans who are uncomfortable with our one-sided approach to the Israel/Palestine issues are speaking their minds. The irritating refusal of pro-Israel groups to listen is bound to backfire on them as people in the middle get fed up with their obstinacy and overuse of the anti-Semite label as a means of cutting off debate.

To deny that the US politician's lop-sided support of Israel is largely attributal to a large and powerful Jewish population is a blind refusal to acknowledge reality. If Simons and Cohen can't see this reality then how can anything else they say be believed? Granted, much of the "Israel-Right or Wrong" crowd is made up of fundamentalist Christians that believe that Biblical prophecies about the restoration of Israel are coming true and must be supported - even if the means are unjust. So, to be honest, our politicians (and especially Bush) are unapologetically pro-Israel because of a large and powerful Jewish and fundamentalist Christian population in this country.

Others, including thinking Jews and Christians, think we owe the Israelis and the Palestinians (and the USA) a more objective and even-handed approach to solving the conflict. Our lop-sided support of Israel guarantees no solution will be found AND causes the US problems far beyond this one serious issue.

World on Henry

According to the Tulsa World on December 24th:

"(Governor) Henry has been in a sort of Alice in Wonderland since he won the seat in 2002. He wasn't expected to win, he keeps reminding us, and he obviously wasn't prepared to be governor."

The World, a usually pro-Democrat centrist newspaper, has admirably come down hard on Henry and Sen. Stratton Taylor over Taylor's efforts to recruit lawsuits to Oklahoma and Henry's refusal to address the awful publicity Oklahoma is getting as a result AND his refusal to address tort reform. This is very significant since if Henry loses the World's support in the next election he'll have both major papers in the state against him.

As the World states, Henry seems to be a good person but OkiePundit thinks he is not right for the job and that Oklahomans made a big mistake in selecting him. But we didn't have any great choices in the general election. But that's primarilly our own fault for not paying attention.