Oklahoma Makes Trivial Pursuit!!!
The following appeared in the Tulsa World's reader call-in column today:
Aren't we Oklahomans proud? The 20th anniversary edition of Trivial Pursuit finally has a question about Oklahoma. It is on card No. 15, and it wants to know what sport was still legal in New Mexico, Oklahoma and Louisiana in 2001. Yes, be proud, Oklahoma! Cockfighting made Trivial Pursuit.
Friday, January 17, 2003
Drew Edmondson hits Nail on Head
In a Tulsa World editorial today they point out that the cockfighter's continuing effort to overturn the results of an election outlawing their cruel activity in Oklahoma is giving the state a poor image. The worsening image is a result not only that we were one of the last states to ban cockfighting but that some of our rural judges have cooperated with the cockfighters to prevent enforcement of the ban. These gamblers, law breakers, and inhumane characters don't give a damn about Oklahoma.
The World offers a great qoute from our state Attorney General, Drew Edmondson:
"My opinion is that the issue is bigger than cockfighting. It is about the validity of the constitional right to engage in the initiative petition process. The power of the people is what is at issue here."
Right on Mr. Edmondson.
In a Tulsa World editorial today they point out that the cockfighter's continuing effort to overturn the results of an election outlawing their cruel activity in Oklahoma is giving the state a poor image. The worsening image is a result not only that we were one of the last states to ban cockfighting but that some of our rural judges have cooperated with the cockfighters to prevent enforcement of the ban. These gamblers, law breakers, and inhumane characters don't give a damn about Oklahoma.
The World offers a great qoute from our state Attorney General, Drew Edmondson:
"My opinion is that the issue is bigger than cockfighting. It is about the validity of the constitional right to engage in the initiative petition process. The power of the people is what is at issue here."
Right on Mr. Edmondson.
Wednesday, January 15, 2003
Update on Lt Gov
As a followup to the blog from last week - word is that the Lt Governor accepted the forced resignations of three of her former staff people. Now lets see if she denies these former employees unemployment benefits. I hope not. That would be dirty, dirty, dirty.
Word is that her chief of staff , Levy, is already out to undermine Governor Brad Henry. The new Governor seems to be serious about bipartisanship though and Levy needs to give him some room and some time.
While I applaud the bipartisanship let's hope Governor Henry doesn't make the mistake of putting his close friends to work for him. Former Governor Bellmon said the worst thing a Governor can do is hire his friends. Especially his old Senator friends. And that goes for both parties. The new Governor doesn't need a corruption scandal to divert him from the business at hand.
As a followup to the blog from last week - word is that the Lt Governor accepted the forced resignations of three of her former staff people. Now lets see if she denies these former employees unemployment benefits. I hope not. That would be dirty, dirty, dirty.
Word is that her chief of staff , Levy, is already out to undermine Governor Brad Henry. The new Governor seems to be serious about bipartisanship though and Levy needs to give him some room and some time.
While I applaud the bipartisanship let's hope Governor Henry doesn't make the mistake of putting his close friends to work for him. Former Governor Bellmon said the worst thing a Governor can do is hire his friends. Especially his old Senator friends. And that goes for both parties. The new Governor doesn't need a corruption scandal to divert him from the business at hand.
Reverse discrimination
The News: President Bush, stepping into a politically charged affirmative action case, asserted Wednesday that a program of racial preferences for minority applicants at the University of Michigan was "divisive, unfair and impossible to square with the Constitution."
Well, I have to agree with the President on this one and applaud him for doing what is right. I was disgusted by the Senator Lott matter but I'm equally disgusted by reverse discrimination. Many universities and government agencies have indulged in reverse discrimination and it is time it stopped. I once had to change my career because I was told that my race and gender was not being hired and that I might as well go somewhere else. Racial discrimination is wrong, no matter who is being discriminated against. Intergenerational bookkeeping doesn't work and isn't right, period.
The Democrats are all over Bush on this one and even Republicans are jumping on the "affirmative action"bandwagon and criticizing Bush for voicing opposition to racial quotas. I don't agree with Bush on much but this is one time I have to hand it to him.
About the time I think I'm edging toward the Democrat side of political life they remind me why I can't be a supporter. Their frenzy to jump on the politically correct side and to deride Bush for being "anti-Civil Rights" is repulsive. Reminds me why I'm an independent.
The News: President Bush, stepping into a politically charged affirmative action case, asserted Wednesday that a program of racial preferences for minority applicants at the University of Michigan was "divisive, unfair and impossible to square with the Constitution."
Well, I have to agree with the President on this one and applaud him for doing what is right. I was disgusted by the Senator Lott matter but I'm equally disgusted by reverse discrimination. Many universities and government agencies have indulged in reverse discrimination and it is time it stopped. I once had to change my career because I was told that my race and gender was not being hired and that I might as well go somewhere else. Racial discrimination is wrong, no matter who is being discriminated against. Intergenerational bookkeeping doesn't work and isn't right, period.
The Democrats are all over Bush on this one and even Republicans are jumping on the "affirmative action"bandwagon and criticizing Bush for voicing opposition to racial quotas. I don't agree with Bush on much but this is one time I have to hand it to him.
About the time I think I'm edging toward the Democrat side of political life they remind me why I can't be a supporter. Their frenzy to jump on the politically correct side and to deride Bush for being "anti-Civil Rights" is repulsive. Reminds me why I'm an independent.
Tuesday, January 14, 2003
Crossing the Oklahoma
Dustbury has a good point about a state legislator's effort to rename the "North Canadian River" the "Oklahoma River". As he points out, it has to be mowed twice a year.
Dustbury has a good point about a state legislator's effort to rename the "North Canadian River" the "Oklahoma River". As he points out, it has to be mowed twice a year.
Naive Koreans
Flyovercountry illuminates the naive nature of some South Korean young people:
Some people in South Korea think they don’t need U.S. troops anymore:
"If the United States left, I wouldn't mind," says Kim Young Ran, 29. "If North Korea wants nuclear weapons, I think they should have them. The U.S. and so many other countries have them. There's no way North Korea will attack us with their nuclear weapons. I don't think so. We're the same country. You don't bomb and kill your family. We share the same blood."
posted by Chris at 12:08 PM
Young South Korean college students are among the most naive humans on Earth. I've heard the above sentiment from more than one. If you ask these students "who started the Korean War"? - most of them will say it was started by the United States. By the way, that would be an incorrect answer. Many of them actually believe the kindly North Koreans would never kill their brethren in South Korea. I hope they don't have to find out how wrong they are.
Flyovercountry illuminates the naive nature of some South Korean young people:
Some people in South Korea think they don’t need U.S. troops anymore:
"If the United States left, I wouldn't mind," says Kim Young Ran, 29. "If North Korea wants nuclear weapons, I think they should have them. The U.S. and so many other countries have them. There's no way North Korea will attack us with their nuclear weapons. I don't think so. We're the same country. You don't bomb and kill your family. We share the same blood."
posted by Chris at 12:08 PM
Young South Korean college students are among the most naive humans on Earth. I've heard the above sentiment from more than one. If you ask these students "who started the Korean War"? - most of them will say it was started by the United States. By the way, that would be an incorrect answer. Many of them actually believe the kindly North Koreans would never kill their brethren in South Korea. I hope they don't have to find out how wrong they are.
So Who's a Cult?
I watched an NBC Dateline story tonight on the Raelian's claims to have cloned a baby. The interview of the religious group's founder, Rael, was predictably mocking. After all, these people believe that space aliens cloned humanity from themselves. On top of that, Rael has a Jetson idea of fashion and hair style. Their beliefs are so unique that our media refers to the Raelians as a cult. During the Dateline interview Rael's off camera attendant could be heard asking the interviewer to be more respectful of Rael and Rael himself asked if the journalist would be as disrespectful if he was interviewing the Pope or a rabbi. Good question.
Then I surfed on over to TBN and a lady evangelist was in a state of heightened religious frenzy. She was absolutely irrational, frothing, scary. I contrasted this with what I had just seen of the Raelians. At least they seemed composed.
If we step back, and look at these matters from a viewpoint from beyond our own beliefs, can we really afford to ridicule the Raelians? Are their beliefs more bizarre than the beliefs of the major religions? No, I don't think so. No less and no more.
As a footnote to this it is worth noting that the Raelians believe that they must build an embassy called Elohim for our alien ancestors. As many of you will remember, some white supremacist religious group established an encampment near the Oklahoma-Arkansas border in the early 90s and called it Elohim City. There were alledged ties to Elohim City in the investigation of the Oklahoma City bomber/murderer.
I watched an NBC Dateline story tonight on the Raelian's claims to have cloned a baby. The interview of the religious group's founder, Rael, was predictably mocking. After all, these people believe that space aliens cloned humanity from themselves. On top of that, Rael has a Jetson idea of fashion and hair style. Their beliefs are so unique that our media refers to the Raelians as a cult. During the Dateline interview Rael's off camera attendant could be heard asking the interviewer to be more respectful of Rael and Rael himself asked if the journalist would be as disrespectful if he was interviewing the Pope or a rabbi. Good question.
Then I surfed on over to TBN and a lady evangelist was in a state of heightened religious frenzy. She was absolutely irrational, frothing, scary. I contrasted this with what I had just seen of the Raelians. At least they seemed composed.
If we step back, and look at these matters from a viewpoint from beyond our own beliefs, can we really afford to ridicule the Raelians? Are their beliefs more bizarre than the beliefs of the major religions? No, I don't think so. No less and no more.
As a footnote to this it is worth noting that the Raelians believe that they must build an embassy called Elohim for our alien ancestors. As many of you will remember, some white supremacist religious group established an encampment near the Oklahoma-Arkansas border in the early 90s and called it Elohim City. There were alledged ties to Elohim City in the investigation of the Oklahoma City bomber/murderer.
Tuesday, January 07, 2003
What's Going on With Lt Governor Mary Fallin?
Oklahoma's Rasputin Takes Charge of Lt Gov's office
Word from the Capitol is that Lt. Governor Mary Fallin and her chief of staff, Michael Levy, forced all of the staff of her office to submit resignation letters this week. An unknown number were accepted. This method of getting rid of employees denies them unemployment benefits. Nice, if you have no principles.
Levy, like the two chiefs of staff that preceded him, has a reputation for cold political calculation and Machiavellian tactics. Sources at the Capitol say he has alienated most he comes in contact with. Others question why the Lt. Governor has a penchant for selecting overbearing chiefs of staff that seem to have a strange degree of control over her. This seems to be yet another case of a politician so hungry to continue in office that she puts her principles and good gut feelings aside to allow political hacks to control them. Mary Fallin is a good person that has lost her way. OkiePundit hopes she gets back on track.
Oklahoma's Rasputin Takes Charge of Lt Gov's office
Word from the Capitol is that Lt. Governor Mary Fallin and her chief of staff, Michael Levy, forced all of the staff of her office to submit resignation letters this week. An unknown number were accepted. This method of getting rid of employees denies them unemployment benefits. Nice, if you have no principles.
Levy, like the two chiefs of staff that preceded him, has a reputation for cold political calculation and Machiavellian tactics. Sources at the Capitol say he has alienated most he comes in contact with. Others question why the Lt. Governor has a penchant for selecting overbearing chiefs of staff that seem to have a strange degree of control over her. This seems to be yet another case of a politician so hungry to continue in office that she puts her principles and good gut feelings aside to allow political hacks to control them. Mary Fallin is a good person that has lost her way. OkiePundit hopes she gets back on track.
Sunday, January 05, 2003
Senator Goofball
Senator Frank Shurden had the following letter published in the Tulsa World this week:
( Published in the Tulsa World - 1-05-03)
"First they came for the Communists, but I was not a Communist so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Socialists and the Trade Unionists, but I was neither, so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Jews, but I was not a Jew so I did not speak out. And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me."
-- The Rev. Martin Niemoeller, a Protestant pastor in a German church and a concentration camp survivor of the Holocaust of World War II.
No, I am not a fan of cockfighting.
No, I have no financial interest in any game fowl.
No, I have not received any money from the Game Fowl Breeders Association or any of its members.
Yes, I am a hunter, a fisherman, a cattleman, a fan of rodeos, livestock shows, circuses and zoos.
Yes, if I live (my life has been threatened by animal rights zealots), I will continue to fight and speak out for the rights and freedoms of the minority because I know that my rights and freedoms and yours are next. Frank Shurden, Henryetta
Frank Shurden is a Democratic state senator from Henryetta.
The thought of the Nutty Senator from Henryetta putting on the cloak of persecution and comparing his cockfighter/gambler buddies to the Jews of the Holocaust is both outrageous and pitiful. People who pit animals against each other in forced fights to the death for entertainment and gambling are not deserving of either support or pity. Pornographers get as much sympathy from me.
Frank Shurden is a sad and pitiable case. An embarrassment to the state and its people. He is also a dangerous person that has, most regretably, been empowered by his district to wreck havoc on democratic principles and make a laughing stock of Oklahomans.
Senator Frank Shurden had the following letter published in the Tulsa World this week:
( Published in the Tulsa World - 1-05-03)
"First they came for the Communists, but I was not a Communist so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Socialists and the Trade Unionists, but I was neither, so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Jews, but I was not a Jew so I did not speak out. And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me."
-- The Rev. Martin Niemoeller, a Protestant pastor in a German church and a concentration camp survivor of the Holocaust of World War II.
No, I am not a fan of cockfighting.
No, I have no financial interest in any game fowl.
No, I have not received any money from the Game Fowl Breeders Association or any of its members.
Yes, I am a hunter, a fisherman, a cattleman, a fan of rodeos, livestock shows, circuses and zoos.
Yes, if I live (my life has been threatened by animal rights zealots), I will continue to fight and speak out for the rights and freedoms of the minority because I know that my rights and freedoms and yours are next. Frank Shurden, Henryetta
Frank Shurden is a Democratic state senator from Henryetta.
The thought of the Nutty Senator from Henryetta putting on the cloak of persecution and comparing his cockfighter/gambler buddies to the Jews of the Holocaust is both outrageous and pitiful. People who pit animals against each other in forced fights to the death for entertainment and gambling are not deserving of either support or pity. Pornographers get as much sympathy from me.
Frank Shurden is a sad and pitiable case. An embarrassment to the state and its people. He is also a dangerous person that has, most regretably, been empowered by his district to wreck havoc on democratic principles and make a laughing stock of Oklahomans.
Friday, January 03, 2003
From Hermes to Red Man?
Word on the street is that Governor-elect Brad Henry chews. Tobacco that is. He was recently seen whackin that tobacky agin his pants leg. Hope he doesn't do that in polite company. What a contrast that would be with the quite proper Frank Keating. Frank "Hermes" Keating and First Lady Cathy Keating always represented Oklahoma with diplomacy and style. Let's hope the new residents at the Mansion represent us in cosmopolitan style. We have enough trouble shaking the bumpkin image without our Governor traveling with a spitoon. Will there be a First Spitoon in the Mansion?
Word on the street is that Governor-elect Brad Henry chews. Tobacco that is. He was recently seen whackin that tobacky agin his pants leg. Hope he doesn't do that in polite company. What a contrast that would be with the quite proper Frank Keating. Frank "Hermes" Keating and First Lady Cathy Keating always represented Oklahoma with diplomacy and style. Let's hope the new residents at the Mansion represent us in cosmopolitan style. We have enough trouble shaking the bumpkin image without our Governor traveling with a spitoon. Will there be a First Spitoon in the Mansion?
New Mexico, cockfighters and Lexus
The following is from the Ar-news.org website:
"A bill to ban cockfighting in New Mexico is making promising headway through the Legislature, but is abruptly terminated when state lawmakers, after meeting with generous cockfight lobbyists, suddenly discover cockfighting is an important part of New Mexico's cultural heritage. Three lawmakers put down payments on a new Lexus. New Mexico, having caved once again to the cockfighting lobby, maintains her status as the most stupid state in the nation."
While the cockfighters and the legislators deserve all the ridicule they get, the good people of New Mexico shouldn't be painted as stupid of course. A large majority of Oklahomans had opposed cockfighting in our state for decades while our Legislature and corrupt judiciary ignored the will of the people. The profits from illegal gambling trump the people's will ALMOST all the time after all.
The following is from the Ar-news.org website:
"A bill to ban cockfighting in New Mexico is making promising headway through the Legislature, but is abruptly terminated when state lawmakers, after meeting with generous cockfight lobbyists, suddenly discover cockfighting is an important part of New Mexico's cultural heritage. Three lawmakers put down payments on a new Lexus. New Mexico, having caved once again to the cockfighting lobby, maintains her status as the most stupid state in the nation."
While the cockfighters and the legislators deserve all the ridicule they get, the good people of New Mexico shouldn't be painted as stupid of course. A large majority of Oklahomans had opposed cockfighting in our state for decades while our Legislature and corrupt judiciary ignored the will of the people. The profits from illegal gambling trump the people's will ALMOST all the time after all.
Sunday, December 29, 2002
Oklahoma's College Saving Plan
You've probably read about the college savings plans that most states have now. They are called 529 plans. Oklahoma has one too and according to consumer advocate Clark Howard, Oklahoma's plan is in the top 11 plans in the nation. Clark evaluated each state plan and came up with a list of those that charge no commission and very low management fees. You can see Oklahoma's 529 plan at www.ok4saving.com
You've probably read about the college savings plans that most states have now. They are called 529 plans. Oklahoma has one too and according to consumer advocate Clark Howard, Oklahoma's plan is in the top 11 plans in the nation. Clark evaluated each state plan and came up with a list of those that charge no commission and very low management fees. You can see Oklahoma's 529 plan at www.ok4saving.com
Friday, December 27, 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.
Saturday, December 21, 2002
Christmas Driving
I've done almost all of my Christmas shopping but today I had to do a little last minute shopping. What is it with people behind wheels at this time of year? A minority, a very noticable minority, of them go crazy just before Christmas. They become rude, aggressive, monsters that will risk lives to get a parking place. Even in Oklahoma, where most drivers will stop to let pedestrians cross a street (try that in Dallas!), the normal civility is hard to find at these times.
I've done almost all of my Christmas shopping but today I had to do a little last minute shopping. What is it with people behind wheels at this time of year? A minority, a very noticable minority, of them go crazy just before Christmas. They become rude, aggressive, monsters that will risk lives to get a parking place. Even in Oklahoma, where most drivers will stop to let pedestrians cross a street (try that in Dallas!), the normal civility is hard to find at these times.
Friday, December 20, 2002
BBB to the Rescue?
I recently had a need to enlist the aid of the Better Business Bureau of Central Oklahoma. I had been ripped off by an auto repair shop in a small town near Oklahoma City and they were refusing to even deal with me. I didn't want to go to the expense of suing the shop so I contacted the BBB on their national website, filled out their online complaint form and waited. The BBB in Oklahoma City was pretty quick about writing the auto shop and asking for their side of the story. The crooks at the auto shop wrote back and denied any responsibility even though I had written statements from a car dealership saying the little shop caused hundreds of dollars of additional damage to my car in their bungled attempt to fix a small problem.
Here's where I thought the BBB would either whip the crooks into shape or at least force them to settle with me - or maybe just humor me a bit. Instead, the BBB did nothing. They did not reply to my letter stating my dissatisfaction with the auto shops refusal to consider a remedy and with the BBB's lack of aggressiveness in the matter. Apparently, the BBB can't do a thing about businesses that rip customers off. The most the BBB does is keep a record of complaints. And that is not reliable. Months after I filed my complaint it still hasn't shown up in the BBB online database on that auto shop. All their database tells one about the company is that it is a member of the BBB! Hmmmm?
If you have a complaint against a business that rips customers off and doesn't care - don't waste your time with the BBB of Central Oklahoma. Where do you go to file a complaint against the BBB?
I recently had a need to enlist the aid of the Better Business Bureau of Central Oklahoma. I had been ripped off by an auto repair shop in a small town near Oklahoma City and they were refusing to even deal with me. I didn't want to go to the expense of suing the shop so I contacted the BBB on their national website, filled out their online complaint form and waited. The BBB in Oklahoma City was pretty quick about writing the auto shop and asking for their side of the story. The crooks at the auto shop wrote back and denied any responsibility even though I had written statements from a car dealership saying the little shop caused hundreds of dollars of additional damage to my car in their bungled attempt to fix a small problem.
Here's where I thought the BBB would either whip the crooks into shape or at least force them to settle with me - or maybe just humor me a bit. Instead, the BBB did nothing. They did not reply to my letter stating my dissatisfaction with the auto shops refusal to consider a remedy and with the BBB's lack of aggressiveness in the matter. Apparently, the BBB can't do a thing about businesses that rip customers off. The most the BBB does is keep a record of complaints. And that is not reliable. Months after I filed my complaint it still hasn't shown up in the BBB online database on that auto shop. All their database tells one about the company is that it is a member of the BBB! Hmmmm?
If you have a complaint against a business that rips customers off and doesn't care - don't waste your time with the BBB of Central Oklahoma. Where do you go to file a complaint against the BBB?
Saturday, December 14, 2002
The Dangers of Staffing by Patronage
Brad Henry has charged his transition team with reviewing the various state agencies he will take nominal charge of on January 13th. I say nominal, because boards and commissions control so many of the state's agencies that the Governor does not have has much control as the public would expect. In many cases, agencies are overseen by appointed commissions whose membership he has not appointed. Nevertheless, the transition team has been broken up into three or four-member committees that are interviewing the leadership of the state agencies now. Word is that their recommendations are due next week.
Brad Henry has taken a bipartisan approach thus far - appointing both Democrats and Republicans to the transition team. Preliminary signs are that he is not going to politicize the agencies he controls. Politicization, replacing everyone in state agencies with partisan cronies and friends-of-cronies, is destructive in the short and long-terms. In Texas, even the secretaries in the agencies get replaced if they aren't of the "right" party. It's one reason Texas' state government is as ineffective as it is. Their agencies have no institutional memory. Everyone that knows what mistakes not to repeat, get thrown out everytime the Governor changes. Texas' state government is so politicized that there is constant political struggling in every section of every state agency. It's hard to get the peoples' work done if everyone from agency head to secretary and mail room clerk owes their position to political patronage. That has, to a large degree, not been the case in Oklahoma. Let's hope it stays that way.
Brad Henry has charged his transition team with reviewing the various state agencies he will take nominal charge of on January 13th. I say nominal, because boards and commissions control so many of the state's agencies that the Governor does not have has much control as the public would expect. In many cases, agencies are overseen by appointed commissions whose membership he has not appointed. Nevertheless, the transition team has been broken up into three or four-member committees that are interviewing the leadership of the state agencies now. Word is that their recommendations are due next week.
Brad Henry has taken a bipartisan approach thus far - appointing both Democrats and Republicans to the transition team. Preliminary signs are that he is not going to politicize the agencies he controls. Politicization, replacing everyone in state agencies with partisan cronies and friends-of-cronies, is destructive in the short and long-terms. In Texas, even the secretaries in the agencies get replaced if they aren't of the "right" party. It's one reason Texas' state government is as ineffective as it is. Their agencies have no institutional memory. Everyone that knows what mistakes not to repeat, get thrown out everytime the Governor changes. Texas' state government is so politicized that there is constant political struggling in every section of every state agency. It's hard to get the peoples' work done if everyone from agency head to secretary and mail room clerk owes their position to political patronage. That has, to a large degree, not been the case in Oklahoma. Let's hope it stays that way.
Saturday, December 07, 2002
U.S. versus The World
I try to focus OkiePundit on matters related to Oklahoma but it is undeniable that we are not isolated, that what happens in Bali or Buenos Aires also often affects Oklahomans. It's with this global scope in mind that I want to draw your attention to just how out of step our foreign policy is with that of most other countries. I wouldn't argue that the U.S. needs to compromise our principles or allow others to determine a foreign policy for us that is not in our best interests. But I would argue that a principle-centered foreign policy would be in our best interest and that such a standard often eludes us.
The examples below illustrate the isolationist voting of the United States on important selected issues over a two-decade period at the United Nations:
U.S. Voting Record
Ending the US embargo against Cuba 155 countries voted Yes 2 countries voted No
Abolition of land mines treaty 133 countries voted Yes Only the U.S, voted NO
UN Convention on rights of children 180 countries voted YES Only the U.S. and Somalia voted NO
Condemnation of Israel for human rights abuse 121 countries voted YES Only the US voted NO
Can so many other nations be wrong? Why do we so often find ourselves totally alone in our stance? What does this tell us?
I try to focus OkiePundit on matters related to Oklahoma but it is undeniable that we are not isolated, that what happens in Bali or Buenos Aires also often affects Oklahomans. It's with this global scope in mind that I want to draw your attention to just how out of step our foreign policy is with that of most other countries. I wouldn't argue that the U.S. needs to compromise our principles or allow others to determine a foreign policy for us that is not in our best interests. But I would argue that a principle-centered foreign policy would be in our best interest and that such a standard often eludes us.
The examples below illustrate the isolationist voting of the United States on important selected issues over a two-decade period at the United Nations:
U.S. Voting Record
Ending the US embargo against Cuba 155 countries voted Yes 2 countries voted No
Abolition of land mines treaty 133 countries voted Yes Only the U.S, voted NO
UN Convention on rights of children 180 countries voted YES Only the U.S. and Somalia voted NO
Condemnation of Israel for human rights abuse 121 countries voted YES Only the US voted NO
Can so many other nations be wrong? Why do we so often find ourselves totally alone in our stance? What does this tell us?
Friday, December 06, 2002
Brad Henry a bi-partisan leader?
Brad Henry is talking bi-partisanship and his transition team tends to confirm his desire to be a governor for ALL of Oklahoma. There are a lot of Republicans on that transition team. Even Governor Keating's former chief-of-staff, Ken Lackey, is on the team. That's a good start. Let's hope it's not window-dressing.
Robert Butkin is weilding big influence with Governor-elect Henry - that's good news for anyone interested in honest, crony-free government. Butkin, widely respected by Democrats, Republicans and independents, is said to be in charge of vetting cabinet postings. Let's hope he searches out the best candidates for the cabinet. Invariably, the best candidates are those who don't put themselves forward for the posts. The really good ones have to be sought out and asked in the name of public service.
If they want it so much to ask for it or demand it, please don't give it to them Mr. Henry.
Brad Henry is talking bi-partisanship and his transition team tends to confirm his desire to be a governor for ALL of Oklahoma. There are a lot of Republicans on that transition team. Even Governor Keating's former chief-of-staff, Ken Lackey, is on the team. That's a good start. Let's hope it's not window-dressing.
Robert Butkin is weilding big influence with Governor-elect Henry - that's good news for anyone interested in honest, crony-free government. Butkin, widely respected by Democrats, Republicans and independents, is said to be in charge of vetting cabinet postings. Let's hope he searches out the best candidates for the cabinet. Invariably, the best candidates are those who don't put themselves forward for the posts. The really good ones have to be sought out and asked in the name of public service.
If they want it so much to ask for it or demand it, please don't give it to them Mr. Henry.
Monday, December 02, 2002
Henry Cabinet?
Among the names being tossed around for Governor-elect Brad Henry's cabinet include former Tulsa mayor Rodger Randle, or Senate staff director Connie Irby as Henry's pick for Secretary of Commerce. Former state senator Brooks Douglas for Secretary of Tourism. Former state senator Paul Muegge for Secretary of Agriculture. Former Keating chief-of-staff Ken Lackey as Henry's chief-of-staff. Former OU football coach Barry Switzer can have any slot he wants.
Among the names being tossed around for Governor-elect Brad Henry's cabinet include former Tulsa mayor Rodger Randle, or Senate staff director Connie Irby as Henry's pick for Secretary of Commerce. Former state senator Brooks Douglas for Secretary of Tourism. Former state senator Paul Muegge for Secretary of Agriculture. Former Keating chief-of-staff Ken Lackey as Henry's chief-of-staff. Former OU football coach Barry Switzer can have any slot he wants.