Frank Shurden, Cockfighters and Castration
Just two days after the people of Oklahoma overwhelmingly passed a ballot measure to ban cockfighting Senator Frank Shurden Democrat of Henryetta told the Daily Oklahoman that he would introduce legislation next session to weaken the law the citizenry passed. Shurden said his objective was to reduce the penalties for the new law from a felony to a misdemeanor with no chance of jail time for cockfighters. Shurden was reported to have stated, erroneously, that the new law would make it illegal just to own gamefowl. Voters on Tuesday passed the question, 565,967 votes, or 56.2 percent, to 441,220, or 43.8 percent. A hefty margin in light of a campaign of disinformation by cockfighters whose advertising had tried to convince voters that the cockfighting ban would threaten hunting, rodeos and even raising chickens.
So who is this State Senator with so little regard for the voters of Oklahoma? He's the same Senator who tried every trick in the book to keep the vote on cockfighting off the ballot and then when those efforts failed, to put another question on the ballot to double the number of voters' needed to get any animal-related issue on the state ballot. The citizens of Oklahoma roundly defeated that attempt at creating two classes of voters when they defeated SQ 698 this week also. Among many others, the Daily Oklahoman and the Tulsa World had voiced their opposition to Shurden's attempt to make animal-related initiative petitions nearly impossible to get on a ballot. The Daily Oklahoman called the measure "the cockfighters' revenge" because it was introduced by Senator Shurden in an attempt to keep the cockfighting vote off the ballot. The Daily Oklahoman, a very conservative newspaper, had this to say about Shurden's bill:
Last spring the Legislature, not in one of its finest moments, placed the measure on the Nov. 5 ballot at the behest of Sen. Frank Shurden. The Henryetta Democrat was highly critical of the anti-cockfighting petition that circulated statewide, as an effort to outlaw cockfighting once and for all.
Shurden is also the Senator that introduced legislation last session to chemically castrate first offense rapists and sex offenders. When Governor Keating vetoed the bill because it clearly was a potential violation of the U.S. Constitution's 8th Amendment against cruel and unusual punishment Shurden called the Governor a "liar" and an "arrogant smart aleck". Keating responded:
"What would you do if Frank Shurden came up to you and said, 'Are you going to sign my castration bill?' You'd probably laugh and say, 'Oh sure, I'll sign your castration bill.' I mean it was considered by most (as) silly season then and it's silly season now," To have a castration law that could apply to a person who is found innocent years later "is reckless and not progressive criminal justice policy," the governor said.
Shurden had tried for several years to pass a castration bill but they had never reached the House floor until the 2002 Legislature finally passed his bill.
So, the question to Henryetta, Oklahoma is this: is Frank Shurden representative of Henryetta? I hope not.
Sunday, November 03, 2002
America's Most Liberal Newspaper Right Here in River City?
The "Friends of Jim Inhofe" took out a full-page ad in the Tulsa World today to run a copy of the Daily Oklahoman's editorial endorsing Jim Inhofe for US Senate. The Tulsa World, endorsed former Governor David Walters for the Senate race. The Jim Inhofe ad reproduces the Daily Oklahoman editorial and takes a swipe at the Tulsa World by calling it "one of the most liberal newspapers in America" and refering to the Daily Oklahoman as "the largest newspaper in Oklahoma". Amazing that the World would even run such an ad, but it's admirable. It's something I cannot see the Daily Oklahoman doing.
Perhaps if you were a rightwing conservative like Jim Inhofe and his friends, and viewing the world from that extreme vantage point, you could call the Tulsa World "one of the most liberal newspapers in America". But not if you are a reasonable person. A look at the list of candidates that the World endorsed would put the lie to the Jim Inhofe ad. The World endorsed almost equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans this election cycle. They endorsed Republican Steve Largent for Governor, Democrat David Walters for US Senate, Republican John Sullivan for Congress, and Democrat Ed Edmondson for Attorney General. The Daily Oklahoman, in contrast, endorses Republicans straight down the line. Now tell me who is predictable? Who is more balanced?
Since being called "America's Worst Newspaper" by the Columbia Review of Journalism a couple of years ago, the Daily Oklahoman does seem to have improved a bit. They were ruthless in their attacks on Oklahoma Coalition Against Cockfighting founder Janet Halliburton a couple of years ago but the DO has since called for the banning of cockfighting and the defeat of SQ 698, the cockfighters attempt to change our constitution to their benefit. That editorial position could not have been expected a few years ago.
The Tulsa World, while still maintaining a moderate editorial position, does seem to have become a little more conservative lately. Let's hope for more pragmatic, independent moderation from both paper's editorial boards. Let's hope Jim Inhofe comes to moderation soon.
The "Friends of Jim Inhofe" took out a full-page ad in the Tulsa World today to run a copy of the Daily Oklahoman's editorial endorsing Jim Inhofe for US Senate. The Tulsa World, endorsed former Governor David Walters for the Senate race. The Jim Inhofe ad reproduces the Daily Oklahoman editorial and takes a swipe at the Tulsa World by calling it "one of the most liberal newspapers in America" and refering to the Daily Oklahoman as "the largest newspaper in Oklahoma". Amazing that the World would even run such an ad, but it's admirable. It's something I cannot see the Daily Oklahoman doing.
Perhaps if you were a rightwing conservative like Jim Inhofe and his friends, and viewing the world from that extreme vantage point, you could call the Tulsa World "one of the most liberal newspapers in America". But not if you are a reasonable person. A look at the list of candidates that the World endorsed would put the lie to the Jim Inhofe ad. The World endorsed almost equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans this election cycle. They endorsed Republican Steve Largent for Governor, Democrat David Walters for US Senate, Republican John Sullivan for Congress, and Democrat Ed Edmondson for Attorney General. The Daily Oklahoman, in contrast, endorses Republicans straight down the line. Now tell me who is predictable? Who is more balanced?
Since being called "America's Worst Newspaper" by the Columbia Review of Journalism a couple of years ago, the Daily Oklahoman does seem to have improved a bit. They were ruthless in their attacks on Oklahoma Coalition Against Cockfighting founder Janet Halliburton a couple of years ago but the DO has since called for the banning of cockfighting and the defeat of SQ 698, the cockfighters attempt to change our constitution to their benefit. That editorial position could not have been expected a few years ago.
The Tulsa World, while still maintaining a moderate editorial position, does seem to have become a little more conservative lately. Let's hope for more pragmatic, independent moderation from both paper's editorial boards. Let's hope Jim Inhofe comes to moderation soon.
Saturday, November 02, 2002
It's getting deep
As we wind up to the day of election the campaign ads are getting more negative. Jim Inhofe has a new one out that features a Bill Clinton lookalike that is pictured teaching a David Walters lookalike how to lie. It's pretty outrageous and childish - but it probably works with the nitwit portion of the audience. And Jim Inhofe is a devout Christian? Hey, I'm not surprised.
The cockfighters are beyond bad, they have begun to lie to the public with newspaper inserts that claim on the one hand that SQ 687 won't really ban cockfighting but on the otherhand it is somehow threatening hunting and fishing. Come on guys, you can't have it both ways. But of course, your strategy is to so confuse the public that they won't know what they are voting for or against. That's your only hope.
As we wind up to the day of election the campaign ads are getting more negative. Jim Inhofe has a new one out that features a Bill Clinton lookalike that is pictured teaching a David Walters lookalike how to lie. It's pretty outrageous and childish - but it probably works with the nitwit portion of the audience. And Jim Inhofe is a devout Christian? Hey, I'm not surprised.
The cockfighters are beyond bad, they have begun to lie to the public with newspaper inserts that claim on the one hand that SQ 687 won't really ban cockfighting but on the otherhand it is somehow threatening hunting and fishing. Come on guys, you can't have it both ways. But of course, your strategy is to so confuse the public that they won't know what they are voting for or against. That's your only hope.
Tuesday, October 29, 2002
Cockfighter TV Ads
I just saw the first pro-cockfighting TV commercial! Of course the huckster in the ad doesn't even mention cockfighting - he says State Question 687 is really a ploy by "California radicals" to attack hunting, fishing and rodeos. Why are these miscreants lying like that? Because they have no case. The Oklahoma Gamefowl Breeders (cockfighters) strategy is to try to confuse the voters and hope the confusion will go their way in the election. Their strategy and tactics are an insult to Oklahomans. We aren't nearly as stupid as they treat us. Can we have a lottery on who gets to personally kick these idiots out of Oklahoma all the way to Louisiana?
I just saw the first pro-cockfighting TV commercial! Of course the huckster in the ad doesn't even mention cockfighting - he says State Question 687 is really a ploy by "California radicals" to attack hunting, fishing and rodeos. Why are these miscreants lying like that? Because they have no case. The Oklahoma Gamefowl Breeders (cockfighters) strategy is to try to confuse the voters and hope the confusion will go their way in the election. Their strategy and tactics are an insult to Oklahomans. We aren't nearly as stupid as they treat us. Can we have a lottery on who gets to personally kick these idiots out of Oklahoma all the way to Louisiana?
Vacuum Cleaner Huckster
Ouch! The Claremore Progress newspaper doesn't mince words when evaluating candidate Gary Richardson:
Independent Gary Richardson is straight out of the good ol’ boys club, exhibiting the salesmanship of a vacuum cleaner huckster. If he weren’t such a successful lawyer, he would probably be a tent revival preacher performing miracles and leading repentant sinners away from perdition.
When the election is over, Richardson will return to his lucrative law practice in Tulsa and will continue to pay tolls when driving the Turner Turnpike to Oklahoma City.
They go on to endorse Steve Largent.
Ouch! The Claremore Progress newspaper doesn't mince words when evaluating candidate Gary Richardson:
Independent Gary Richardson is straight out of the good ol’ boys club, exhibiting the salesmanship of a vacuum cleaner huckster. If he weren’t such a successful lawyer, he would probably be a tent revival preacher performing miracles and leading repentant sinners away from perdition.
When the election is over, Richardson will return to his lucrative law practice in Tulsa and will continue to pay tolls when driving the Turner Turnpike to Oklahoma City.
They go on to endorse Steve Largent.
Oklahoman Victim in Moscow
Very sadly, an Oklahoman was the American hostage killed in the Moscow theatre when Russian troops tried to rescue hostages held by Chechens. The family of Sandy Booker was notified this morning that his body was identified as one of the more than 100 killed in the siege. The Daily Oklahoman reports that Sandy Booker had gone to Moscow to see his Russian-Kazakh fiance and her child and was in the theatre when Chechen terrorists took it over and demanded that Russian troops leave the breakaway region of Chechnya. Wire reports indicate most of the hostages died from a powerful mysterious gas used during Saturday morning's raid of the theater. Russian troops have been criticized for using a gas that they refused to identify to doctors who needed to treat the hostages felled by the gas.
Mr. Booker worked for 18 years as an electrician at the General Motors Plant in Oklahoma City. The Daily Oklahoman reports that workers at the Oklahoma City plant continued Monday to wear red, white and blue ribbons in support of Sandy Booker and his family.
118 innocent hostages died in the tragedy. 50 of 54 terrorists were killed by the Russian troops. The Russian troops may or may not be found to have made serious errors in their attempt to end the hostage situation but the Chechen terrorists who organized and instigated the hostage taking are the ones who bear direct responsibility for the heinous crime against innocent people. If they were planning on world sympathy for their cause they failed miserably.
My heart goes out to the family of Sandy Booker and to all the others who lost loved ones in this senseless crime.
What's going on?
Yulia Latynina, a Russian journalist, has an interesting viewpoint on how the Moscow tragedy fits into a bigger picture:
President Vladimir Putin kept his word and wasted the terrorists. Not in the outhouse as promised, it's true, but in the orchestra pit. The West expressed its support. The reason for this support was the West's unexpected discovery that it is waging a third world war against Islamic extremism. In that war, just as in World War II, wild and rather uncivilized Russia turns out to be an ally. I have no intention of indiscriminately knocking Islam, but for some reason we haven't seen Shintoist terrorists. The snipers captured in Washington had accepted Islam, not Buddhism.
Very sadly, an Oklahoman was the American hostage killed in the Moscow theatre when Russian troops tried to rescue hostages held by Chechens. The family of Sandy Booker was notified this morning that his body was identified as one of the more than 100 killed in the siege. The Daily Oklahoman reports that Sandy Booker had gone to Moscow to see his Russian-Kazakh fiance and her child and was in the theatre when Chechen terrorists took it over and demanded that Russian troops leave the breakaway region of Chechnya. Wire reports indicate most of the hostages died from a powerful mysterious gas used during Saturday morning's raid of the theater. Russian troops have been criticized for using a gas that they refused to identify to doctors who needed to treat the hostages felled by the gas.
Mr. Booker worked for 18 years as an electrician at the General Motors Plant in Oklahoma City. The Daily Oklahoman reports that workers at the Oklahoma City plant continued Monday to wear red, white and blue ribbons in support of Sandy Booker and his family.
118 innocent hostages died in the tragedy. 50 of 54 terrorists were killed by the Russian troops. The Russian troops may or may not be found to have made serious errors in their attempt to end the hostage situation but the Chechen terrorists who organized and instigated the hostage taking are the ones who bear direct responsibility for the heinous crime against innocent people. If they were planning on world sympathy for their cause they failed miserably.
My heart goes out to the family of Sandy Booker and to all the others who lost loved ones in this senseless crime.
What's going on?
Yulia Latynina, a Russian journalist, has an interesting viewpoint on how the Moscow tragedy fits into a bigger picture:
President Vladimir Putin kept his word and wasted the terrorists. Not in the outhouse as promised, it's true, but in the orchestra pit. The West expressed its support. The reason for this support was the West's unexpected discovery that it is waging a third world war against Islamic extremism. In that war, just as in World War II, wild and rather uncivilized Russia turns out to be an ally. I have no intention of indiscriminately knocking Islam, but for some reason we haven't seen Shintoist terrorists. The snipers captured in Washington had accepted Islam, not Buddhism.
Monday, October 28, 2002
Sullivan Gets Personal, Dodd Upset
Candidate for Congress, Doug Dodd, held a press conference today to call on his opponent, John Sullivan, to stop criticizing Dodd's children. Later, on KRMG radio in Tulsa Dodd claimed that Sullivan had been telling donors in telephone calls critical things about the Dodd children. In an interview on KRMG later, John Sullivan stopped short of a complete denial of Dodd's allegations. Dodd also complained that Sullivan had misrepresented Dodd's stand on guns to a crowd in Wagoner County. Dodd claimed to be just a cozy with the NRA as is Sullivan and blasted Sullivan for telling voters that Dodd was anti-gun. It's a shame neither of these candidates stands up against the NRA but it's also a shame that candidates bring their opponents children into the mud-slinging. It's reprehensible.
John Sullivan's tactics during the Republican primary contest with Oklahoma First Lady Cathy Keating last year were reportedly so underhanded that many of the Keating supporters couldn't support Sullivan in the general election. Many of them were rooting for Dodd when he faced off against Sullivan the first time to fill Congressman Steve Largent's vacated seat.
Years ago, when Inhofe was running against Jim Jones for Congress I went to a fundraiser for Inhofe. During Inhofe's talk I remember him telling mean-spirited jokes about Jim Jones' wife. I was so shocked at his mean-spiritedness that I not only didn't support Inhofe anymore, I've never voted for him since. We should punish this kind of candidate rather than reward them.
Despite Dodd's support of the NRA I will be voting for Doug Dodd this time.
Candidate for Congress, Doug Dodd, held a press conference today to call on his opponent, John Sullivan, to stop criticizing Dodd's children. Later, on KRMG radio in Tulsa Dodd claimed that Sullivan had been telling donors in telephone calls critical things about the Dodd children. In an interview on KRMG later, John Sullivan stopped short of a complete denial of Dodd's allegations. Dodd also complained that Sullivan had misrepresented Dodd's stand on guns to a crowd in Wagoner County. Dodd claimed to be just a cozy with the NRA as is Sullivan and blasted Sullivan for telling voters that Dodd was anti-gun. It's a shame neither of these candidates stands up against the NRA but it's also a shame that candidates bring their opponents children into the mud-slinging. It's reprehensible.
John Sullivan's tactics during the Republican primary contest with Oklahoma First Lady Cathy Keating last year were reportedly so underhanded that many of the Keating supporters couldn't support Sullivan in the general election. Many of them were rooting for Dodd when he faced off against Sullivan the first time to fill Congressman Steve Largent's vacated seat.
Years ago, when Inhofe was running against Jim Jones for Congress I went to a fundraiser for Inhofe. During Inhofe's talk I remember him telling mean-spirited jokes about Jim Jones' wife. I was so shocked at his mean-spiritedness that I not only didn't support Inhofe anymore, I've never voted for him since. We should punish this kind of candidate rather than reward them.
Despite Dodd's support of the NRA I will be voting for Doug Dodd this time.
Sunday, October 27, 2002
Cockfighters State Their Case
A contact sent me a photo of a card some cockfighters left on his relative's car in an Owasso, Oklahoma parking lot this weekend. The anti-cockfighting group doesn't need to say anything. If they leave it up to the cockfighters to promote their "sport" the cockfighters will convince Oklahomans to not only ban their bloodsport but possibly go one step further and ban the cockfighters themselves.
A contact sent me a photo of a card some cockfighters left on his relative's car in an Owasso, Oklahoma parking lot this weekend. The anti-cockfighting group doesn't need to say anything. If they leave it up to the cockfighters to promote their "sport" the cockfighters will convince Oklahomans to not only ban their bloodsport but possibly go one step further and ban the cockfighters themselves.
Thursday, October 24, 2002
Daily Oklahoman Wins Two Darts from CJR
As Dustbury points out, the Daily Oklahoman newspaper of Oklahoma City is awarded two of seven Darts from the Columbia Journalism Review. Seems that the Daily Oklahoman doesn't like to disclose when their owner has a financial interest in subjects they write and editorialize about.
As Dustbury points out, the Daily Oklahoman newspaper of Oklahoma City is awarded two of seven Darts from the Columbia Journalism Review. Seems that the Daily Oklahoman doesn't like to disclose when their owner has a financial interest in subjects they write and editorialize about.
Attacking candidate's families
Shame on JOHN M. WYLIE II who is publisher of the Oologah Lake Leader LLC. On a website for Oklahoma Democrats, Mr. Wylie posts a story with allegations against the children of governor candidate Steve Largent. I won't even go into the allegations for to do so would only play into Mr. Wylie's hands. The point to be made here is that such efforts to smear the children of candidates is reprehensible in the extreme. It's unethical, unfair and destructive of the public good. Many good people are either getting out of public service or refusing to enter public service because their families and children have become "fair game" for ruthless political hacks who will stoop very low to win at any cost - to others
You can criticize others for their beliefs, policies, and actions but don't tear down their families, especially their children - just for being related.
People With Big Brains Can't be Fooled
Further on in Mr. Wylie's post he attacks David Simpson of the Tulsa World for his political cartoon described in my October 18th post. In the cartoon Mr. Simpson shows Largent, Henry and Richardson supporters with small brains of varying sizes. Simpson's point in drawing small brains is that the supporters are not too bright (relatively speaking). However, in Mr. Wylie's post he accuses Simpson's cartoon of "stigmatizing mental illness and brain disease". This is no doubt because Mr. Wylie's candidate is shown with a smaller brain than Mr. Largent's. Any nitwit with half a brain can see that the cartoon has nothing at all to do with stigmatizing mental illness. This is an example of how partisan hacks try to tag their opponents with exagerated offenses, knowing full well that they are twisting their opponents meaning. It's a form of lying, nothing less and nothing more. Folks with Big Brains will see through it.
Shame on JOHN M. WYLIE II who is publisher of the Oologah Lake Leader LLC. On a website for Oklahoma Democrats, Mr. Wylie posts a story with allegations against the children of governor candidate Steve Largent. I won't even go into the allegations for to do so would only play into Mr. Wylie's hands. The point to be made here is that such efforts to smear the children of candidates is reprehensible in the extreme. It's unethical, unfair and destructive of the public good. Many good people are either getting out of public service or refusing to enter public service because their families and children have become "fair game" for ruthless political hacks who will stoop very low to win at any cost - to others
You can criticize others for their beliefs, policies, and actions but don't tear down their families, especially their children - just for being related.
People With Big Brains Can't be Fooled
Further on in Mr. Wylie's post he attacks David Simpson of the Tulsa World for his political cartoon described in my October 18th post. In the cartoon Mr. Simpson shows Largent, Henry and Richardson supporters with small brains of varying sizes. Simpson's point in drawing small brains is that the supporters are not too bright (relatively speaking). However, in Mr. Wylie's post he accuses Simpson's cartoon of "stigmatizing mental illness and brain disease". This is no doubt because Mr. Wylie's candidate is shown with a smaller brain than Mr. Largent's. Any nitwit with half a brain can see that the cartoon has nothing at all to do with stigmatizing mental illness. This is an example of how partisan hacks try to tag their opponents with exagerated offenses, knowing full well that they are twisting their opponents meaning. It's a form of lying, nothing less and nothing more. Folks with Big Brains will see through it.
Tuesday, October 22, 2002
Tech Center Director Leaving?
Word on the street is that Dr. Randy Goldsmith, president of the state's Tech Center, is leaving the position in November. Goldsmith was a real find for Oklahoma and it's our loss that he is leaving. The street also says that the Alliance for Manufacturing Excellence and the Tech Center, both funded by the Oklahoma Center for Science and Technology (OCAST), will be combined into one organization. A group of economic developers are pushing for Greg Main, former Secretary of Commerce under David Walters and currently a venture capital leader, to take over the combined organizations.
Word on the street is that Dr. Randy Goldsmith, president of the state's Tech Center, is leaving the position in November. Goldsmith was a real find for Oklahoma and it's our loss that he is leaving. The street also says that the Alliance for Manufacturing Excellence and the Tech Center, both funded by the Oklahoma Center for Science and Technology (OCAST), will be combined into one organization. A group of economic developers are pushing for Greg Main, former Secretary of Commerce under David Walters and currently a venture capital leader, to take over the combined organizations.
Gary Richardson's Bad Ideas
Gary Richardson, independent candidate for governor, seems to be getting increasingly desperate as his poll numbers dip from 16% to 13% in recent days. His television ads in recent days have focused on attacking his opponents, Brad Henry and Steve Largent. Richardson's anti-Largent ad was in particularly poor taste as he sought to attack the Congressman for being on a hunting trip in Idaho on 9-11. The ad in question showed the twin towers ablaze and used music he had failed to get the musicians' permission to use. Richardson had to pull the ad when the artist threatened action. The point Richardson tries to make, that Largent should have stayed in DC for 9-11 is as nonsensical as the rest of his agenda. Was Largent supposed to put the upcoming 9-11 tragedy on his calendar?
Richardson has also called for drastic cuts in funding for the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, the state agency that is responsible for recruiting new business to come to Oklahoma. The 150-person department also operates a wide range of programs designed to assist Oklahoma businesses to grow, to export, and to stay in Oklahoma. The agency also oversees the funneling of federal money into communities in Oklahoma for infrastructure development. It's actually one of the better run agencies in the state and is widely reported to be doing a good job of growing the economy. What does Richardson want to do? For unknown reasons he wants to hand over the funding to chambers of commerce around the state. Richardson doesn't understand the different roles the Department of Commerce and chambers of commerce have. Chambers of commerce represent the interests of the businesses that are members while the Department of Commerce mission is to work for the economic development of the entire state, its communities and businesses. Sometimes their missions converge but sometimes they don't. Not infrequently, what's good for a small number of businesses is not necessarily good for the wider community. Existing businesses, for example, often don't want new competitors recruited to come into the state. Ironically, Richardson the populist, would hand over economic development to a minority of business interests. This is another of Richardson's plans that he has not thought through. That should be cause for concern for voters. Leaders need to be able to think through to unintended consequences.
The idea of an independent as governor is appealing and I hope someday we get a good independent non-partisan governor. Richardson isn't the right one. He would be a disaster for Oklahoma with his poorly researched ideas and shoot-from-the-hip policies.
Gary Richardson, independent candidate for governor, seems to be getting increasingly desperate as his poll numbers dip from 16% to 13% in recent days. His television ads in recent days have focused on attacking his opponents, Brad Henry and Steve Largent. Richardson's anti-Largent ad was in particularly poor taste as he sought to attack the Congressman for being on a hunting trip in Idaho on 9-11. The ad in question showed the twin towers ablaze and used music he had failed to get the musicians' permission to use. Richardson had to pull the ad when the artist threatened action. The point Richardson tries to make, that Largent should have stayed in DC for 9-11 is as nonsensical as the rest of his agenda. Was Largent supposed to put the upcoming 9-11 tragedy on his calendar?
Richardson has also called for drastic cuts in funding for the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, the state agency that is responsible for recruiting new business to come to Oklahoma. The 150-person department also operates a wide range of programs designed to assist Oklahoma businesses to grow, to export, and to stay in Oklahoma. The agency also oversees the funneling of federal money into communities in Oklahoma for infrastructure development. It's actually one of the better run agencies in the state and is widely reported to be doing a good job of growing the economy. What does Richardson want to do? For unknown reasons he wants to hand over the funding to chambers of commerce around the state. Richardson doesn't understand the different roles the Department of Commerce and chambers of commerce have. Chambers of commerce represent the interests of the businesses that are members while the Department of Commerce mission is to work for the economic development of the entire state, its communities and businesses. Sometimes their missions converge but sometimes they don't. Not infrequently, what's good for a small number of businesses is not necessarily good for the wider community. Existing businesses, for example, often don't want new competitors recruited to come into the state. Ironically, Richardson the populist, would hand over economic development to a minority of business interests. This is another of Richardson's plans that he has not thought through. That should be cause for concern for voters. Leaders need to be able to think through to unintended consequences.
The idea of an independent as governor is appealing and I hope someday we get a good independent non-partisan governor. Richardson isn't the right one. He would be a disaster for Oklahoma with his poorly researched ideas and shoot-from-the-hip policies.
Monday, October 21, 2002
He said, She said Diplomacy
Now that North Korea has admitted that they have already developed nuclear weapons in violation of the agreement of 1994 President Bush must decide how to handle two ends of the Axis of Evil simultaneously. The Administration is mulling over strategies to take on North Korea diplomatically while attacking Iraq with a "vast coalition" that they are cobbling together. I'm surprised the obvious hasn't occurred to them. This is actually a splendid opportunity and should be handled the way any high schooler would. Colin Powell should surprise everyone and make a trip to Baghdad to meet Saddam. After having lunch with the Iraqi dictator he should proceed on to Pyongyang to have dinner with Kim Jong-il, the alien life form that rules North Korea. While at dinner Powell should whisper in Kim's ear that Saddam thinks Kim's hair is positively the goofiest he's ever seen. And besides that, Saddam is telling all the other dictators that Kim can't keep any of his kidnapped Scandinavian hos satisfied. Powell should get Kim really pissed off before shuttling back to Baghdad to tell Saddam that Kim said that his lips were fat like a camel's and show him Kim's Little Red Book of Saddam Jokes that the CIA created in their fake documents lab. Powell should keep this up until Iraq and North Korea attack and annihilate each other. We won't have to fire a missile.
Now that North Korea has admitted that they have already developed nuclear weapons in violation of the agreement of 1994 President Bush must decide how to handle two ends of the Axis of Evil simultaneously. The Administration is mulling over strategies to take on North Korea diplomatically while attacking Iraq with a "vast coalition" that they are cobbling together. I'm surprised the obvious hasn't occurred to them. This is actually a splendid opportunity and should be handled the way any high schooler would. Colin Powell should surprise everyone and make a trip to Baghdad to meet Saddam. After having lunch with the Iraqi dictator he should proceed on to Pyongyang to have dinner with Kim Jong-il, the alien life form that rules North Korea. While at dinner Powell should whisper in Kim's ear that Saddam thinks Kim's hair is positively the goofiest he's ever seen. And besides that, Saddam is telling all the other dictators that Kim can't keep any of his kidnapped Scandinavian hos satisfied. Powell should get Kim really pissed off before shuttling back to Baghdad to tell Saddam that Kim said that his lips were fat like a camel's and show him Kim's Little Red Book of Saddam Jokes that the CIA created in their fake documents lab. Powell should keep this up until Iraq and North Korea attack and annihilate each other. We won't have to fire a missile.
Sunday, October 20, 2002
Supermarket Reading and Halloween Grocery Sacks
Who decides what magazines go on the racks at supermarkets? I want to know who this person or persons (it must be a conspiracy of at least a few) is/are. Whoever it is, they must be sex-crazed gun and auto nuts that are into planning weddings. Tonight at the Reasor's I had forgotten what I was looking for (happens often) when I found myself standing in front of the magazine racks. Well, while I'm here I might as well see if they have the latest issue of Scientific American. Ummm. Well, they have Guns & Ammo and American Metal over there. There's Rod and Steel, Soldier of Fortune, Heavy Metal, and Maxim there. No, it wouldn't be there. Up here are the women's magazines, Redbook, Home & Garden, Sixteen, etc, etc. Every one of them had a big headline about how to have super sex and satisfy their man. Who are these women who are obsessed with sex? Where are they? I know where they aren't - anywhere within sight. There must be over 100 publications before my eyes and not a one of them is the least bit cerebral in nature. Every magazine is designed to appeal to testosterone, homemaking, or the most mindless of pastimes. Forget Scientific American, they don't even carry Popular Science. Do college graduates not shop for groceries? Is there a secret food supply for the thinking part of society that I don't know about?
I was awakened from my fog by loud voices from the checkout stand. A portly lady in a sweatsuit was refusing to have her groceries bagged in a paper sack adorned with Halloween bats and ghosts. It was "unholy" she was telling the checkout lady. "God doesn't like Halloween!", she squealed. The checkout lady accommodated her with a plain, blank sack. How appropriate I thought.
Who decides what magazines go on the racks at supermarkets? I want to know who this person or persons (it must be a conspiracy of at least a few) is/are. Whoever it is, they must be sex-crazed gun and auto nuts that are into planning weddings. Tonight at the Reasor's I had forgotten what I was looking for (happens often) when I found myself standing in front of the magazine racks. Well, while I'm here I might as well see if they have the latest issue of Scientific American. Ummm. Well, they have Guns & Ammo and American Metal over there. There's Rod and Steel, Soldier of Fortune, Heavy Metal, and Maxim there. No, it wouldn't be there. Up here are the women's magazines, Redbook, Home & Garden, Sixteen, etc, etc. Every one of them had a big headline about how to have super sex and satisfy their man. Who are these women who are obsessed with sex? Where are they? I know where they aren't - anywhere within sight. There must be over 100 publications before my eyes and not a one of them is the least bit cerebral in nature. Every magazine is designed to appeal to testosterone, homemaking, or the most mindless of pastimes. Forget Scientific American, they don't even carry Popular Science. Do college graduates not shop for groceries? Is there a secret food supply for the thinking part of society that I don't know about?
I was awakened from my fog by loud voices from the checkout stand. A portly lady in a sweatsuit was refusing to have her groceries bagged in a paper sack adorned with Halloween bats and ghosts. It was "unholy" she was telling the checkout lady. "God doesn't like Halloween!", she squealed. The checkout lady accommodated her with a plain, blank sack. How appropriate I thought.
Saturday, October 19, 2002
David Walters for cockfighting?
An Associated Press report on Saturday claims that U.S. Senate candidate David Walters is against the ban on cockfighting that Oklahomans will vote on in November. According to the AP story Walters says he is against the ban on the blood sport because it will impact poor people. Walters apparently doesn't address the matter of the gambling that is an integral part of all cockfighting. The poor generally suffer the most in gambling situations but Walters does not apparently address the matter. Dismayed Democrats are wondering why an otherwise intelligent politician such as Walters would align himself with cockfighters. Polls in Oklahoma consistently show cockfighting going down to defeat by a wide margin in Oklahoma. It calls into question the wisdom and ethical character of a politician that would support cockfighting in any way.
An Associated Press report on Saturday claims that U.S. Senate candidate David Walters is against the ban on cockfighting that Oklahomans will vote on in November. According to the AP story Walters says he is against the ban on the blood sport because it will impact poor people. Walters apparently doesn't address the matter of the gambling that is an integral part of all cockfighting. The poor generally suffer the most in gambling situations but Walters does not apparently address the matter. Dismayed Democrats are wondering why an otherwise intelligent politician such as Walters would align himself with cockfighters. Polls in Oklahoma consistently show cockfighting going down to defeat by a wide margin in Oklahoma. It calls into question the wisdom and ethical character of a politician that would support cockfighting in any way.
Friday, October 18, 2002
Simpson of the Tulsa World
In today's Tulsa World the editorial cartoon by Simpson featured three people in silhouette. One was identified as a supporter of Steve Largent, another a Brad Henry supporter, the third as a Gary Richardson supporter. In each figure we could see the brain cavity of the person, and their brain. None of the cavities were completely full but the Largent supporter had the most grey matter. The Richardson supporter had so little it was hardly visible. Brad Henry's supporter was half-full, or was it half-empty? I cringed when I saw the cartoon. Simpson is almost always good - better than most of the nationally syndicated political cartoonists - but I thought this one might go over the line a bit. If, however, he was trying to make the point that we don't really have any one candidate that a non-partisan voter with any brains can support wholeheartedly - then he was right on target.
In today's Tulsa World the editorial cartoon by Simpson featured three people in silhouette. One was identified as a supporter of Steve Largent, another a Brad Henry supporter, the third as a Gary Richardson supporter. In each figure we could see the brain cavity of the person, and their brain. None of the cavities were completely full but the Largent supporter had the most grey matter. The Richardson supporter had so little it was hardly visible. Brad Henry's supporter was half-full, or was it half-empty? I cringed when I saw the cartoon. Simpson is almost always good - better than most of the nationally syndicated political cartoonists - but I thought this one might go over the line a bit. If, however, he was trying to make the point that we don't really have any one candidate that a non-partisan voter with any brains can support wholeheartedly - then he was right on target.
Who is Denise Bode?
So who is Denise Bode? She is running against incumbent Edmondson for the Attorney General of Oklahoma. Here and there I had heard a few people say she was the Christian conservatives' hope to put one of their kind in this crucial job. I've met her. She seemed like a nice person. Now I hear that the National Rifle Association has given GOP attorney general candidate Denise Bode an A rating for her conservative stance on gun issues. Well, that's nothing for Bode to brag about. I thought I better look a bit deeper into this race.
According to the Daily Oklahoman Ms. Bode has been a Democrat most of her life. She worked for David Boren when he was Governor and U.S. Senator. She received a law degree from George Mason University and a masters from Georgetown. After Clinton was elected she switched to Republican and then Governor Keating (a fellow Georgetown grad) appointed her to fill a vacant Corporation Commission seat in 1997. Bode's husband, a longtime Republican, worked for President Reagan's administration. She was elected to the position in 1998.
In reading through newspaper reports in both the Tulsa World and the Daily Oklahoman it would seem that Bode has chosen the old "God, guns and gays" strategy to unseat Drew Edmondson. She has criticized Edmondson's friend of the court brief in a case heard before the U.S. Supreme Court that pitted the Boy Scouts of America against a gay scout leader. Bode says the brief advocated big government against individual rights. Edmondson sez, and the three deans of Oklahoma's law schools agree, that the amicus brief actually defended states' rights . Bode seems to have made several accusations against Edmondson that would indicate a lack of knowledge about what the job of the attorney general is. As the Tulsa World editorialized in today's paper, Denise Bode has focused on criticizing Edmondson for not doing things that the AG's office is not supposed to do. She has criticized him for not getting into law enforcement and legislation - both areas that an AG is not supposed to get into. If she doesn't know what the job really is, do we want her in that job? I don't think so. She might be a great friend to the NRA, homophobes, and religious fundamentalists but not to Oklahoma taxpayers. Her apparent ideological agenda would make Oklahoma a laughing stock and the target of lawsuits and Supreme Court challenges.
I listened to Edmondson the other day on KRMG radio. He seemed levelheaded, reasonable, articulate. He may be a Democrat (I don't care) but he seemed grounded in law and didn't seem to care about partisan politics or ideological agendas. I like that.
So who is Denise Bode? She is running against incumbent Edmondson for the Attorney General of Oklahoma. Here and there I had heard a few people say she was the Christian conservatives' hope to put one of their kind in this crucial job. I've met her. She seemed like a nice person. Now I hear that the National Rifle Association has given GOP attorney general candidate Denise Bode an A rating for her conservative stance on gun issues. Well, that's nothing for Bode to brag about. I thought I better look a bit deeper into this race.
According to the Daily Oklahoman Ms. Bode has been a Democrat most of her life. She worked for David Boren when he was Governor and U.S. Senator. She received a law degree from George Mason University and a masters from Georgetown. After Clinton was elected she switched to Republican and then Governor Keating (a fellow Georgetown grad) appointed her to fill a vacant Corporation Commission seat in 1997. Bode's husband, a longtime Republican, worked for President Reagan's administration. She was elected to the position in 1998.
In reading through newspaper reports in both the Tulsa World and the Daily Oklahoman it would seem that Bode has chosen the old "God, guns and gays" strategy to unseat Drew Edmondson. She has criticized Edmondson's friend of the court brief in a case heard before the U.S. Supreme Court that pitted the Boy Scouts of America against a gay scout leader. Bode says the brief advocated big government against individual rights. Edmondson sez, and the three deans of Oklahoma's law schools agree, that the amicus brief actually defended states' rights . Bode seems to have made several accusations against Edmondson that would indicate a lack of knowledge about what the job of the attorney general is. As the Tulsa World editorialized in today's paper, Denise Bode has focused on criticizing Edmondson for not doing things that the AG's office is not supposed to do. She has criticized him for not getting into law enforcement and legislation - both areas that an AG is not supposed to get into. If she doesn't know what the job really is, do we want her in that job? I don't think so. She might be a great friend to the NRA, homophobes, and religious fundamentalists but not to Oklahoma taxpayers. Her apparent ideological agenda would make Oklahoma a laughing stock and the target of lawsuits and Supreme Court challenges.
I listened to Edmondson the other day on KRMG radio. He seemed levelheaded, reasonable, articulate. He may be a Democrat (I don't care) but he seemed grounded in law and didn't seem to care about partisan politics or ideological agendas. I like that.
Tuesday, October 15, 2002
Too busy rounding up the pigs to build the fence
During the last two weeks as the murderer/sniper that has terrorized the Washington DC area has killed one innocent person after another, no one seems to be asking why there are so many weapons floating around and why its so easy to get such guns in America. Sure, the main reason this is happening is because there is an evil person willing to do it. But it wouldn't be possible if it wasn't so easy to obtain weapons in our country. And it wouldn't be so easy for the murderer to escape capture if the police had no idea where to begin searching because we are awash in weaponry. There is no reason why we should accept this deplorable situation. Is it more important thay gun enthusiasts have their toys or is it more important that we be free of fear of being offed by irate drivers, angry spouses, or insane terrorists?
Here again, we Oklahomans and Americans are not treating the root causes. We rightfully try to catch Al Quida but we do not address the causes of the terrorist problem (blind support of all that Israel does, tyranny in Islamic countries, + misinformation about America). We try to catch murderers at home but we fail to address root causes (free-flowing guns, hate, and lots of people unable to handle anger).
During the last two weeks as the murderer/sniper that has terrorized the Washington DC area has killed one innocent person after another, no one seems to be asking why there are so many weapons floating around and why its so easy to get such guns in America. Sure, the main reason this is happening is because there is an evil person willing to do it. But it wouldn't be possible if it wasn't so easy to obtain weapons in our country. And it wouldn't be so easy for the murderer to escape capture if the police had no idea where to begin searching because we are awash in weaponry. There is no reason why we should accept this deplorable situation. Is it more important thay gun enthusiasts have their toys or is it more important that we be free of fear of being offed by irate drivers, angry spouses, or insane terrorists?
Here again, we Oklahomans and Americans are not treating the root causes. We rightfully try to catch Al Quida but we do not address the causes of the terrorist problem (blind support of all that Israel does, tyranny in Islamic countries, + misinformation about America). We try to catch murderers at home but we fail to address root causes (free-flowing guns, hate, and lots of people unable to handle anger).
Monday, October 14, 2002
Allah the taste, Allah the time
Many Muslims in the Middle East are calling for a boycott of American products and Coke, Pepsi, McDonalds, Nike, and Starbucks are taking the brunt of the boycott.
The Raven notes: "The big deal, naturally, is the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, whereat sales of bottled water and yoghurt drinks are astronomical—and Coke and Pepsi have traditionally been big players in the market. Zam Zam has done so well, in fact, that other entrants are scrambling to get into the picture, with French Muslim entrepeneur Tawfiq Mathlouthi leading the herd with his Mecca Cola that promises to give "10 per cent of the profits" to a Palestinian children's charity. Hard to compete with that."
On BBC radio tonight Mathlouthi was interviewed spewing his anti-American advertising and calling on everyone to boycott American products - and buy his lousy immitation of the real thing. Of course, this French citizen stands to become rich taking advantage of the Arab boycott of Coke and Pepsi. He is targeting the millions travelling to Mecca for the annual Ramadam pilgrimage to the Saudi Arabian city that bars all non-Muslims. If there is a hell there must surely be a corner of it reserved for those humans, who like Mathlouthi, use religion, faith and their God to make a buck or get votes by stirring up or playing off hatred.
Many Muslims in the Middle East are calling for a boycott of American products and Coke, Pepsi, McDonalds, Nike, and Starbucks are taking the brunt of the boycott.
The Raven notes: "The big deal, naturally, is the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, whereat sales of bottled water and yoghurt drinks are astronomical—and Coke and Pepsi have traditionally been big players in the market. Zam Zam has done so well, in fact, that other entrants are scrambling to get into the picture, with French Muslim entrepeneur Tawfiq Mathlouthi leading the herd with his Mecca Cola that promises to give "10 per cent of the profits" to a Palestinian children's charity. Hard to compete with that."
On BBC radio tonight Mathlouthi was interviewed spewing his anti-American advertising and calling on everyone to boycott American products - and buy his lousy immitation of the real thing. Of course, this French citizen stands to become rich taking advantage of the Arab boycott of Coke and Pepsi. He is targeting the millions travelling to Mecca for the annual Ramadam pilgrimage to the Saudi Arabian city that bars all non-Muslims. If there is a hell there must surely be a corner of it reserved for those humans, who like Mathlouthi, use religion, faith and their God to make a buck or get votes by stirring up or playing off hatred.
Sunday, October 13, 2002
Jim Inhofe Promises Christian Conservatives Rewards from the Lord
The Christian Coalition's annual Road to Victory conference in Washington DC gave both President Bush and Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe top billing. According to the Associated Press, Senator Inhofe exhorted the crowd to vote liberals out of office. "If you don't do it, it ain't gonna be done," he said. "You will be doing the Lord's work, and he will richly bless you for it." Note: This is not a parody, he really said that. That we have a US Senator that says and believes this is sad. Is the Lord taking sides? Is the Lord political? I guess our junior Senator thinks so. Or could it be that he is using the Lord as a political tool? Wouldn't the Lord be really pissed about being used to manipulate voters?
Senator Inhofe will also appear in Tulsa tomorrow at the Victory Church to lecture on the Christian marketplace. I guess David Walters, candidate for Inhofe's seat, doesn't make the grade as far as Victory Church is concerned. Sure, he's a devout Catholic but he's a moderate. To garner the Christian fundamentalist's support you can't just dedicate your life to Christ, you also have to be politically conservative.
To see how outrageous Senator Inhofe's and the Christian Coalition's position of linking faith and politics is look at the Senator's statement above and read it as if it were a Muslim cleric calling for tossing liberals (eg. infidels) out and promising them that Allah will reward them for it. Shouldn't we be disgusted? Perhaps Senator Inhofe will soon start promising conservative Christian voters 72 virgins when they get to Heaven.
Speaking of disgusting. Goobernatorial candidate Gary Richardson attended the Gamefowl Breeders Association (the cockfighters and gamblers) meeting in Oklahoma City today. As mentioned in earlier postings Richardson is opposed to banning cockfighting statewide. Wouldn't it be great to have him out there recruiting businesses to Oklahoma? Gheez.
The Christian Coalition's annual Road to Victory conference in Washington DC gave both President Bush and Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe top billing. According to the Associated Press, Senator Inhofe exhorted the crowd to vote liberals out of office. "If you don't do it, it ain't gonna be done," he said. "You will be doing the Lord's work, and he will richly bless you for it." Note: This is not a parody, he really said that. That we have a US Senator that says and believes this is sad. Is the Lord taking sides? Is the Lord political? I guess our junior Senator thinks so. Or could it be that he is using the Lord as a political tool? Wouldn't the Lord be really pissed about being used to manipulate voters?
Senator Inhofe will also appear in Tulsa tomorrow at the Victory Church to lecture on the Christian marketplace. I guess David Walters, candidate for Inhofe's seat, doesn't make the grade as far as Victory Church is concerned. Sure, he's a devout Catholic but he's a moderate. To garner the Christian fundamentalist's support you can't just dedicate your life to Christ, you also have to be politically conservative.
To see how outrageous Senator Inhofe's and the Christian Coalition's position of linking faith and politics is look at the Senator's statement above and read it as if it were a Muslim cleric calling for tossing liberals (eg. infidels) out and promising them that Allah will reward them for it. Shouldn't we be disgusted? Perhaps Senator Inhofe will soon start promising conservative Christian voters 72 virgins when they get to Heaven.
Speaking of disgusting. Goobernatorial candidate Gary Richardson attended the Gamefowl Breeders Association (the cockfighters and gamblers) meeting in Oklahoma City today. As mentioned in earlier postings Richardson is opposed to banning cockfighting statewide. Wouldn't it be great to have him out there recruiting businesses to Oklahoma? Gheez.