Judge Roy Moore, which version of the Ten Commandments?
Many of the Christians who are calling for Judge Roy Moore's monument of the Ten Commandments to be placed in our public buildings are asking our nation to annoint the great code as the basis of our judicial system. But who's version would they like for us to annoint?
Sunday, August 31, 2003
Wednesday, August 27, 2003
Poor Man on an On-ramp
Last weekend I was getting on an onramp when my passenger asked me to pull over and pick up an elderly gentleman seated on a briefcase. He was thin, frail and dressed in a rumpled suit - in 100 degree weather. The old fellow hopped into my car with his briefcase in his lap and told us he needed to meet someone across town at a certain offramp. "A kid is supposed to meet me there and give me a ride to Illinois," he whimpered. On the ride he explained that his wife had died in Arizona and he was on his way to live with his daughter in a small town in Illinois. Having been burned so many times I was suspicious - but it seemed like this gentleman might really be in tough times. I volunteered to give him $20 to see him on his way to Illinois.
Today, I spotted the same man, at the same on-ramp, seated on the same briefcase - waiting for some chump to pick him up and take him across town.
Last weekend I was getting on an onramp when my passenger asked me to pull over and pick up an elderly gentleman seated on a briefcase. He was thin, frail and dressed in a rumpled suit - in 100 degree weather. The old fellow hopped into my car with his briefcase in his lap and told us he needed to meet someone across town at a certain offramp. "A kid is supposed to meet me there and give me a ride to Illinois," he whimpered. On the ride he explained that his wife had died in Arizona and he was on his way to live with his daughter in a small town in Illinois. Having been burned so many times I was suspicious - but it seemed like this gentleman might really be in tough times. I volunteered to give him $20 to see him on his way to Illinois.
Today, I spotted the same man, at the same on-ramp, seated on the same briefcase - waiting for some chump to pick him up and take him across town.
Stillwater Awash in Texans
I continue to get rumblings from Stillwater that new OSU President David Schmidley continues to move old Texas buddies in to replace Oklahomans in his administration. The dissatisfaction has moved from the faculty into the Regents, a couple of whom plan to challenge Schmidley to explain the magnitude of the Texas influx. One regent said it was normal for a chief executive to bring one or two old colleagues in with him/her but that Schmidley has gone far beyond what is normal. Whitehurst, the OSU building where the administration is housed, has become known around campus as Texas Central.
Latest talk around campus is that Schmidley plans to bring another Texan in to run a new community outreach program or project he is putting together. It wouldn't seem to make since to start a new outreach program to communities with an out-of-stater that lacks knowledge of the state. We really do have some smart people in Oklahoma Mr. Schmidley.
I continue to get rumblings from Stillwater that new OSU President David Schmidley continues to move old Texas buddies in to replace Oklahomans in his administration. The dissatisfaction has moved from the faculty into the Regents, a couple of whom plan to challenge Schmidley to explain the magnitude of the Texas influx. One regent said it was normal for a chief executive to bring one or two old colleagues in with him/her but that Schmidley has gone far beyond what is normal. Whitehurst, the OSU building where the administration is housed, has become known around campus as Texas Central.
Latest talk around campus is that Schmidley plans to bring another Texan in to run a new community outreach program or project he is putting together. It wouldn't seem to make since to start a new outreach program to communities with an out-of-stater that lacks knowledge of the state. We really do have some smart people in Oklahoma Mr. Schmidley.
Tuesday, August 26, 2003
Todd Huston's Game
I don't have anything against the "No" on Vision 2025 Campaign in Tulsa - they have a right to argue their case. I don't agree with them - but that's OK. But now the small group of people in Tulsa that oppose the Vision 2025 projects have tried to take the debate outside the realm of civic discussion and off to the courts. Their intent is obviously to stop the vote - and that is not OK.
The Tulsa NO campaign apparently got former Tulsa City Councilman Todd Huston to file a desperation lawsuit against the upcoming vote. The suit could prevent the people of Tulsa County from voting on the issue. The suit claims "logrolling", or putting several different issues in one vote. Todd Houston has reportedly enlisted the aid of Gary Richardson, the rich personal injury attorney that ran unsuccessfully for Governor last year, to help with the lawsuit.
I don't think this suit is about logrolling. If it was, the suit would have been filed weeks ago and not at the 11th hour - the language of the vote has been known for months. This is really an attempt to stop a vote because the opponents now believe they are going to lose the vote. This is an overused anti-democratic tactic that losers in our democratic system use to overturn a majority vote or to stop one from happening. We have seen this in the Oklahoma cockfighters attempts to reverse the peoples' vote to ban their cruel "sport" and we see it in California with a mid-term recall vote on the Governor. Now we see this sort of poor democratic sportsmanship in Tulsa by the anti-Vision group. This sort of gamesmanship is reprehensible and should not be used to stop the people from exercising their will.
This attempt to hijack the election not only endangers democracy but it has the very real potential of scaring Boeing off from investing in Tulsa. At the very least it makes recruiting Boeing that much more difficult. If , heaven forbid, this game did cost Tulsa thousands of high-paying aviation jobs I think Todd Houston and the group he fronts for should have to tell each and every person without a job just why they thought their actions were justified.
I hope the proponents of Vision 2025 will expose Huston's move for the political gamesmanship it is. The people won't like having their right to decide denied them.
Sidenote: There is nothing at all wrong with running for elected office and losing. I admire people who tilt against the wind even if it is for a seemingly hopeless cause. People who run for election and lose have more moral authority to speak out than those who don't run for elective office or don't vote. That said, I cannot help but notice that every single leader I can think of in the NO campaign in Tulsa has run for office recently and been defeated. I don't know if the issues they were defeated on relate directly to the Vision 2025 projects but they might want to reflect on that possibility.
I don't have anything against the "No" on Vision 2025 Campaign in Tulsa - they have a right to argue their case. I don't agree with them - but that's OK. But now the small group of people in Tulsa that oppose the Vision 2025 projects have tried to take the debate outside the realm of civic discussion and off to the courts. Their intent is obviously to stop the vote - and that is not OK.
The Tulsa NO campaign apparently got former Tulsa City Councilman Todd Huston to file a desperation lawsuit against the upcoming vote. The suit could prevent the people of Tulsa County from voting on the issue. The suit claims "logrolling", or putting several different issues in one vote. Todd Houston has reportedly enlisted the aid of Gary Richardson, the rich personal injury attorney that ran unsuccessfully for Governor last year, to help with the lawsuit.
I don't think this suit is about logrolling. If it was, the suit would have been filed weeks ago and not at the 11th hour - the language of the vote has been known for months. This is really an attempt to stop a vote because the opponents now believe they are going to lose the vote. This is an overused anti-democratic tactic that losers in our democratic system use to overturn a majority vote or to stop one from happening. We have seen this in the Oklahoma cockfighters attempts to reverse the peoples' vote to ban their cruel "sport" and we see it in California with a mid-term recall vote on the Governor. Now we see this sort of poor democratic sportsmanship in Tulsa by the anti-Vision group. This sort of gamesmanship is reprehensible and should not be used to stop the people from exercising their will.
This attempt to hijack the election not only endangers democracy but it has the very real potential of scaring Boeing off from investing in Tulsa. At the very least it makes recruiting Boeing that much more difficult. If , heaven forbid, this game did cost Tulsa thousands of high-paying aviation jobs I think Todd Houston and the group he fronts for should have to tell each and every person without a job just why they thought their actions were justified.
I hope the proponents of Vision 2025 will expose Huston's move for the political gamesmanship it is. The people won't like having their right to decide denied them.
Sidenote: There is nothing at all wrong with running for elected office and losing. I admire people who tilt against the wind even if it is for a seemingly hopeless cause. People who run for election and lose have more moral authority to speak out than those who don't run for elective office or don't vote. That said, I cannot help but notice that every single leader I can think of in the NO campaign in Tulsa has run for office recently and been defeated. I don't know if the issues they were defeated on relate directly to the Vision 2025 projects but they might want to reflect on that possibility.
Monday, August 25, 2003
The Tulsan Exclusive Reveals Brain-sucking Bush
As The Tulsan reports, shocking photos have surfaced showing President Bush sucking the brains out of donors.
As The Tulsan reports, shocking photos have surfaced showing President Bush sucking the brains out of donors.
Thursday, August 21, 2003
James Madison on Freedom
Who does not see that the same authority which can establish Christianity, in exclusion of all other religions, may establish with the same ease any particular sect of Christians, in exclusion of all other sects?
Who does not see that the same authority which can establish Christianity, in exclusion of all other religions, may establish with the same ease any particular sect of Christians, in exclusion of all other sects?
Abraham Lincoln on Religious Freedom:
The United States government must not undertake to run the Churches. When an individual, in the Church or out of it, becomes dangerous to the public interest he must be checked.
I'd want to add that the churches should not attempt to run the government.
The United States government must not undertake to run the Churches. When an individual, in the Church or out of it, becomes dangerous to the public interest he must be checked.
I'd want to add that the churches should not attempt to run the government.
Freedom of and from Religion at Stake in Alabama
Although this isn't directly about Oklahoma it could, but for the grace of God, be happening in our state ....
Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore’s attempt to defy the federal courts and keep a Ten Commandments display in the state Judicial Building may be nearing an end, according to Americans United for the Seperation of Church and State. This broohah has cost Alabamans a lot of money already and Judge Moore is determined to drag everyone along with him as he behaves badly by pushing conflict between Americans on religious issues.
But the money isn't the most important issue at stake. If Moore and his supporters had their way the US would edge toward becoming a Christian theocracy. They don't use those terms of course but let's not kid ourselves about their real agenda. They want to force everyone to recognize their religious beliefs as the standard - as the recognized religion in America. If we don't stop them we will all pay a price in freedom down the road.
Many Christians realize that gaining government sponsorship can be the kiss of death for their church. These Christians look at what has happened to the official churches in Europe and realize that when the government gets involved in religion - both suffer. In fact, in Western Europe, membership in the "official" churches has dropped dramatically in the last century.
It is a relief that Moore seems to be out in right field on this and has no support in judicial circles. Nonetheless, Moore's supporters pose a threat to our freedoms and we need to take that threat seriously.
Although this isn't directly about Oklahoma it could, but for the grace of God, be happening in our state ....
Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore’s attempt to defy the federal courts and keep a Ten Commandments display in the state Judicial Building may be nearing an end, according to Americans United for the Seperation of Church and State. This broohah has cost Alabamans a lot of money already and Judge Moore is determined to drag everyone along with him as he behaves badly by pushing conflict between Americans on religious issues.
But the money isn't the most important issue at stake. If Moore and his supporters had their way the US would edge toward becoming a Christian theocracy. They don't use those terms of course but let's not kid ourselves about their real agenda. They want to force everyone to recognize their religious beliefs as the standard - as the recognized religion in America. If we don't stop them we will all pay a price in freedom down the road.
Many Christians realize that gaining government sponsorship can be the kiss of death for their church. These Christians look at what has happened to the official churches in Europe and realize that when the government gets involved in religion - both suffer. In fact, in Western Europe, membership in the "official" churches has dropped dramatically in the last century.
It is a relief that Moore seems to be out in right field on this and has no support in judicial circles. Nonetheless, Moore's supporters pose a threat to our freedoms and we need to take that threat seriously.
Tuesday, August 19, 2003
Oklahoma Blogger Alert
I found a new Oklahoma blogger with some interesting observations on life. Check out The Soundtrack to My Life.
I found a new Oklahoma blogger with some interesting observations on life. Check out The Soundtrack to My Life.
Saturday, August 16, 2003
Clifton Taulbert's Surprising Climax
I went to a two-hour long talk by author Clifton Taulbert tonight. It was very unusual. Taulbert, the author of several great books like "Once Upon a Time When We were Colored" and "The Eight Habits of the Heart" lives in Tulsa but gives lectures all over the world - as he will often remind you.
tonight's lecture was at a church and thus the theme was to tie his Eight Habits of the Heart book to a Christian message. You have to respect Taulbert's apparently sincere religious feelings and his success story. He's a very good speaker - a quiet voice that reasons with the audience. But after almost two hours I was ready to go when it seemed that he was bringing the lecture to an end. I was standing up ready to go when he launched into "singing in tongues".
Some of you will be familiar with Pentecostal "speaking in tongues" and some of you won't. It's when God gives you a joyful language with which to talk to him. To others it sounds like gibberish. Well, Taulbert went on singing and talking in "gibberish" for a good ten minutes while the audience stood. Some joined in and others stood politely waiting, and waiting, and waiting for it to end. Can you see that picture? A crowd of several thousand standing and watching/listening to Taulbert walk around in front of them for ten minutes singing unaccompanied, "in tongues". If this had been in New York he'd have been arrested.
I remember the first time I went to a church that practiced speaking in tongues. I was a teenager. I had never heard of speaking in tongues. Suddenly, halfway through the hour, at an unseen signal, everyone (except me) started babbling incoherently and gesticulating wildly. I was scared $%#@less!! What the hell was going on? Had everyone on earth suddenly been zapped with an alien signal that caused them to go berzerk? How had I been spared?
After living in Oklahoma for many more years I'm used to this now. I respect the practicioners for their sincere beliefs but it still seems - well, really hard to believe. But it's harmless isn't it?
I went to a two-hour long talk by author Clifton Taulbert tonight. It was very unusual. Taulbert, the author of several great books like "Once Upon a Time When We were Colored" and "The Eight Habits of the Heart" lives in Tulsa but gives lectures all over the world - as he will often remind you.
tonight's lecture was at a church and thus the theme was to tie his Eight Habits of the Heart book to a Christian message. You have to respect Taulbert's apparently sincere religious feelings and his success story. He's a very good speaker - a quiet voice that reasons with the audience. But after almost two hours I was ready to go when it seemed that he was bringing the lecture to an end. I was standing up ready to go when he launched into "singing in tongues".
Some of you will be familiar with Pentecostal "speaking in tongues" and some of you won't. It's when God gives you a joyful language with which to talk to him. To others it sounds like gibberish. Well, Taulbert went on singing and talking in "gibberish" for a good ten minutes while the audience stood. Some joined in and others stood politely waiting, and waiting, and waiting for it to end. Can you see that picture? A crowd of several thousand standing and watching/listening to Taulbert walk around in front of them for ten minutes singing unaccompanied, "in tongues". If this had been in New York he'd have been arrested.
I remember the first time I went to a church that practiced speaking in tongues. I was a teenager. I had never heard of speaking in tongues. Suddenly, halfway through the hour, at an unseen signal, everyone (except me) started babbling incoherently and gesticulating wildly. I was scared $%#@less!! What the hell was going on? Had everyone on earth suddenly been zapped with an alien signal that caused them to go berzerk? How had I been spared?
After living in Oklahoma for many more years I'm used to this now. I respect the practicioners for their sincere beliefs but it still seems - well, really hard to believe. But it's harmless isn't it?
Word on the Street on Vision 2025
The pro-Vision 2025 campaign in Tulsa seems to be gaining steam as more and more Tulsa County voters realize what is at stake for the county. Just judging by what I overhear in the city my perception is that people that don't normally get politically active are finally determined to put a stop to the decline of Tulsa and the surrounding cities. One elderly lady I overheard today said that she had voted against the previous two efforts but was going to vote "yes" this time because her children asked her to "for my grandchildren's sake."
Some of the reasons I've heard for voting "no" on Vision 2025 leave me cold. My neighbor said she was going to vote "no" because her children have already grown up and moved away. "Why should I pay for other people's kids?" she said. When I asked her why her kids moved away from Tulsa she said it was because they couldn't find the jobs they wanted in Tulsa. She doesn't see the connection between quality of life and jobs - or between infrastructure and quality of life. I think her attitude displays an all-too-common selfishness among us. If it doesn't directly benefit ME then I'm against it. Where is the sense of community with these people?
Another blogger expresses sympathy with the "no" folks because he thinks Tulsa should be unique and not seek to duplicate what Oklahoma City has done. What is left unsaid is that Oklahoma City, by investing in its infrastructure over the past decade, has succeeded at improving its quality of life and spurring economic development. Just take a look at the number of quality companies that have opened new operations in OKC this last year - and compare it with Tulsa. Tulsa should not be too proud to want to duplicate that kind of success. To be uniquely underdeveloped is no vision for a great metro area like Tulsa.
There are two kinds of businesspeople, those who invest in their business and grow it and those who don't - and slowly kill it. A city or county is no different. You've got to invest in it if you plan on maintaining it or handing it off to your children someday.
The pro-Vision 2025 campaign in Tulsa seems to be gaining steam as more and more Tulsa County voters realize what is at stake for the county. Just judging by what I overhear in the city my perception is that people that don't normally get politically active are finally determined to put a stop to the decline of Tulsa and the surrounding cities. One elderly lady I overheard today said that she had voted against the previous two efforts but was going to vote "yes" this time because her children asked her to "for my grandchildren's sake."
Some of the reasons I've heard for voting "no" on Vision 2025 leave me cold. My neighbor said she was going to vote "no" because her children have already grown up and moved away. "Why should I pay for other people's kids?" she said. When I asked her why her kids moved away from Tulsa she said it was because they couldn't find the jobs they wanted in Tulsa. She doesn't see the connection between quality of life and jobs - or between infrastructure and quality of life. I think her attitude displays an all-too-common selfishness among us. If it doesn't directly benefit ME then I'm against it. Where is the sense of community with these people?
Another blogger expresses sympathy with the "no" folks because he thinks Tulsa should be unique and not seek to duplicate what Oklahoma City has done. What is left unsaid is that Oklahoma City, by investing in its infrastructure over the past decade, has succeeded at improving its quality of life and spurring economic development. Just take a look at the number of quality companies that have opened new operations in OKC this last year - and compare it with Tulsa. Tulsa should not be too proud to want to duplicate that kind of success. To be uniquely underdeveloped is no vision for a great metro area like Tulsa.
There are two kinds of businesspeople, those who invest in their business and grow it and those who don't - and slowly kill it. A city or county is no different. You've got to invest in it if you plan on maintaining it or handing it off to your children someday.
Republican National Committee hires India-based Telemarketers?
As Juscuz notes "In what can only be a test of voter loyalty in the face of an economy suffering from massive job loss the RNC has hired a firm in India to do their fundraising calls." Juscuz points out the irony of President Bush running around the country calling for job creation and his RNC simultaneously hiring a telemarketing firm in India to call Americans and ask them to contribute to the President's campaign. If this is true, the RNC decision-maker has some explaining to do.
I have nothing against India or Indians or international free-flow of services but to have citizens of another country hired to do fundraising for our political parties is inappropriate in the extreme. How callous can the RNC be?
As Juscuz notes "In what can only be a test of voter loyalty in the face of an economy suffering from massive job loss the RNC has hired a firm in India to do their fundraising calls." Juscuz points out the irony of President Bush running around the country calling for job creation and his RNC simultaneously hiring a telemarketing firm in India to call Americans and ask them to contribute to the President's campaign. If this is true, the RNC decision-maker has some explaining to do.
I have nothing against India or Indians or international free-flow of services but to have citizens of another country hired to do fundraising for our political parties is inappropriate in the extreme. How callous can the RNC be?
Friday, August 15, 2003
Early Primary Brings Oklahoma a Little Attention
Oklahoma has been ignored by presidential candidates for decades so in one of its rare moments, the Legislature moved our 2004 primary to February 3rd - one week after the New Hampshire primary, the nation's first. As the Washington Post notes from Stillwater:
STILLWATER, Okla., Aug. 12 -- Democratic presidential hopefuls visited a state today that has been virtually ignored in past races, bringing with them their criticism of the Bush administration.
Oklahoma has been ignored by presidential candidates for decades so in one of its rare moments, the Legislature moved our 2004 primary to February 3rd - one week after the New Hampshire primary, the nation's first. As the Washington Post notes from Stillwater:
STILLWATER, Okla., Aug. 12 -- Democratic presidential hopefuls visited a state today that has been virtually ignored in past races, bringing with them their criticism of the Bush administration.
Oklahoma City has competition for Base
As reported in the Christian Science Monitor, Warner Robins, Georgia is in competition with Oklahoma City to keep their Air Force Bases - and the Georgia town has a war chest and a dedicated organized effort to go to battle. Is Oklahoma ready to fight to keep Tinker Air Force Base?
As reported in the Christian Science Monitor, Warner Robins, Georgia is in competition with Oklahoma City to keep their Air Force Bases - and the Georgia town has a war chest and a dedicated organized effort to go to battle. Is Oklahoma ready to fight to keep Tinker Air Force Base?
The Oklahoma Connection to Space Wedding
You probably heard about the first wedding in space this past week when orbiting Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko exchanged marriage vows with grounded Ekaterina Dmitriev. What you might not know of is the Oklahoma connection to the story. The bride's father is a professor of Russian at Oklahoma State University.
Dmitriev was born in Russia and moved to the Houston area when she was 3-1/2 years old. She received her US citizenship in 1995. Her mother works at NASA. Dmitriev first met Malenchenko five years ago at a social gathering in Houston, and the two started dating in 2002. She will reportedly be returning to Russia to live with him when he returns.
You probably heard about the first wedding in space this past week when orbiting Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko exchanged marriage vows with grounded Ekaterina Dmitriev. What you might not know of is the Oklahoma connection to the story. The bride's father is a professor of Russian at Oklahoma State University.
Dmitriev was born in Russia and moved to the Houston area when she was 3-1/2 years old. She received her US citizenship in 1995. Her mother works at NASA. Dmitriev first met Malenchenko five years ago at a social gathering in Houston, and the two started dating in 2002. She will reportedly be returning to Russia to live with him when he returns.
Thursday, August 14, 2003
Will CITGO leave Tulsa?
Venezuela-owned CITGO has announced it may uproot its North American HQ from Tulsa and move it to Houston. This could be yet another blow to Tulsa and the state if it happens. CITGO has been a very positive corporate citizen in Tulsa and employs a thousand people in the state.
Until recently, CITGO was run by a Venezuelan that loved Tulsa and intended to stay. Unfortunately, he was replaced some months ago by a loyalist to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez who immediately ordered a study of whether CITGO should move to Houston.
At the same time that CITGO's pro-Tulsa president was replaced, Governor Brad Henry's Administration let the only Latin American specialist at the Department of Commerce go - a lady that had worked hard to establish a close relationship with CITGO and to assure they were happy in Oklahoma. With the state's primary link to the company's Venezuelan leadership gone - there was no one left that understood the company's inner culture. As the Miami Herald reports today, Houston moved quickly to stepup efforts to entice the new leadership to move to Houston. The leadership of the State of Oklahoma and Tulsa were apparently clueless about what was going on. This despite the common knowledge that the Houston Partnership (their Chamber of Commerce) continues to aggressively recruit Tulsa's remaining energy companies.
On the news tonight Governor Brad Henry was asked what he thought about yet another big company moving its HQ out of Oklahoma. Looking like a deer caught in headlights, the Governor murmured something about how CITGO really loved Oklahoma and that he'd be talking to CITGO. Belatedly, the Governor is now trying to meet with CITGO executives but CITGO seems in no hurry. Insiders at CITGO say they are frustrated the Governor had not moved earlier to court the new CITGO leadership. They also lament that Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce Kathryn Taylor had relied on her ties to the equally clueless American side of CITGO's middle-management - naively thinking they called the shots at CITGO. And they don't. The Venezuelans do.
Oklahoma might lose CITGO (I hope not!) but we'd stand a better chance if our leaders were savvy.
Venezuela-owned CITGO has announced it may uproot its North American HQ from Tulsa and move it to Houston. This could be yet another blow to Tulsa and the state if it happens. CITGO has been a very positive corporate citizen in Tulsa and employs a thousand people in the state.
Until recently, CITGO was run by a Venezuelan that loved Tulsa and intended to stay. Unfortunately, he was replaced some months ago by a loyalist to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez who immediately ordered a study of whether CITGO should move to Houston.
At the same time that CITGO's pro-Tulsa president was replaced, Governor Brad Henry's Administration let the only Latin American specialist at the Department of Commerce go - a lady that had worked hard to establish a close relationship with CITGO and to assure they were happy in Oklahoma. With the state's primary link to the company's Venezuelan leadership gone - there was no one left that understood the company's inner culture. As the Miami Herald reports today, Houston moved quickly to stepup efforts to entice the new leadership to move to Houston. The leadership of the State of Oklahoma and Tulsa were apparently clueless about what was going on. This despite the common knowledge that the Houston Partnership (their Chamber of Commerce) continues to aggressively recruit Tulsa's remaining energy companies.
On the news tonight Governor Brad Henry was asked what he thought about yet another big company moving its HQ out of Oklahoma. Looking like a deer caught in headlights, the Governor murmured something about how CITGO really loved Oklahoma and that he'd be talking to CITGO. Belatedly, the Governor is now trying to meet with CITGO executives but CITGO seems in no hurry. Insiders at CITGO say they are frustrated the Governor had not moved earlier to court the new CITGO leadership. They also lament that Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce Kathryn Taylor had relied on her ties to the equally clueless American side of CITGO's middle-management - naively thinking they called the shots at CITGO. And they don't. The Venezuelans do.
Oklahoma might lose CITGO (I hope not!) but we'd stand a better chance if our leaders were savvy.
Wednesday, August 13, 2003
Peeping Uncle Sam
As Cam Edwards alerts us:
"The US Postal Service may soon be tracking your mail. Yep, sounds like something out of "1984", but it's the proposal in a government report."
Read his comments and the link. This is an issue I think liberals and conservatives can surely agree on? Some in government are turning security into an overriding obsession - overriding liberty and our way of life. It's exactly what the terrorists wanted. We've got to put a stop to this.
As Cam Edwards alerts us:
"The US Postal Service may soon be tracking your mail. Yep, sounds like something out of "1984", but it's the proposal in a government report."
Read his comments and the link. This is an issue I think liberals and conservatives can surely agree on? Some in government are turning security into an overriding obsession - overriding liberty and our way of life. It's exactly what the terrorists wanted. We've got to put a stop to this.
Friday, August 08, 2003
What's Up with J.C.?
If you want to keep up with former Oklahoma Congressman J.C. Watt's activities just check at his website for the J.C. Watts companies. According to his webpage he's pretty busy with: "providing comprehensive public opinion research, image and brand marketing, issue advocacy and coalition building, diversity consulting, U.S. and international business development and crisis communication management." Pretty busy guy I guess.
In March he was appointed to the Board of Directors of Dillards. What is "diversity consulting" anyway?
If you want to keep up with former Oklahoma Congressman J.C. Watt's activities just check at his website for the J.C. Watts companies. According to his webpage he's pretty busy with: "providing comprehensive public opinion research, image and brand marketing, issue advocacy and coalition building, diversity consulting, U.S. and international business development and crisis communication management." Pretty busy guy I guess.
In March he was appointed to the Board of Directors of Dillards. What is "diversity consulting" anyway?
Bootyliciousness
it was not. I was helping a reverend load some things into his SUV today when he bent over to pick up a box. To my horror I caught sight of his big butt crack glaring me in the face. I averted my eyes but not before the vision was seared into my brain. Try as I might I can't get the image of 6 inches of hairy fat ass out of my mind. My family went out to eat tonight but I just couldn't eat.
I've been seeing too much of this sort of cleavage lately. I wouldn't mind so much if it was attractive female posteriors - but it's not. It's invariably on some ugly-ass boy or man. Around the mall and in fast food eateries I've seen a parade of inadequately covered posteriors - of teenage boys walking around with their oversized jeans hanging around their thighs with boxer shorts displayed for all to see. I don't mean the boxer waistband - I mean the whole undergarment. Usually old, dirty, boxers. Sometimes the booty is exposed as well. What is this?
Is it possible to have your butt flapping in the wind and not know it? To find out I tried this at home. No, it is not possible to be oblivious to this condition unless you have no feeling at all in your butt. My conclusion is therefore that these people must know and must be doing this to us with full knowledge. This leads me to ponder what they are trying to signal.
Do ugly-ass males think that dirty boxers and flabby cheeks are attractive to others? Is it the equivalent of a lightning bug's glowing bum? Is this the new risque' haute couture? Or are the butt people showing their disdain for me and this signal is a kind of passive flip-off? Or are these just ignorant troglodytes too stupid to pull up their pants?
I just hope I can sleep tonight.
it was not. I was helping a reverend load some things into his SUV today when he bent over to pick up a box. To my horror I caught sight of his big butt crack glaring me in the face. I averted my eyes but not before the vision was seared into my brain. Try as I might I can't get the image of 6 inches of hairy fat ass out of my mind. My family went out to eat tonight but I just couldn't eat.
I've been seeing too much of this sort of cleavage lately. I wouldn't mind so much if it was attractive female posteriors - but it's not. It's invariably on some ugly-ass boy or man. Around the mall and in fast food eateries I've seen a parade of inadequately covered posteriors - of teenage boys walking around with their oversized jeans hanging around their thighs with boxer shorts displayed for all to see. I don't mean the boxer waistband - I mean the whole undergarment. Usually old, dirty, boxers. Sometimes the booty is exposed as well. What is this?
Is it possible to have your butt flapping in the wind and not know it? To find out I tried this at home. No, it is not possible to be oblivious to this condition unless you have no feeling at all in your butt. My conclusion is therefore that these people must know and must be doing this to us with full knowledge. This leads me to ponder what they are trying to signal.
Do ugly-ass males think that dirty boxers and flabby cheeks are attractive to others? Is it the equivalent of a lightning bug's glowing bum? Is this the new risque' haute couture? Or are the butt people showing their disdain for me and this signal is a kind of passive flip-off? Or are these just ignorant troglodytes too stupid to pull up their pants?
I just hope I can sleep tonight.
Monday, August 04, 2003
Will Bush Give in Again?
As Salon reports, Bush is thinking of cutting a little bit off the billions the US sends Israel every year. Why? Because Israel's Sharon refuses to stop building the giant fence meant to wall off the Palistinians from Israelis. The wall has been widely critized as a new Berlin Wall of the Middle East. It has also been criticized because its construction is more permanently cutting Palestinians off from land that has been taken from them by illegal expansionist Jewish settlements that the US has been calling for a stop to for years.
As intensely pro-Israel a president as we've ever had, President Bush has called on Sharon on a number of occassions to stop his aggressive tactics towards the Palistinians. Sharon and Israel have repeatedly thumbed their noses at the requests of their best friend. Each time Bush has been embarrassed by Sharon's brush-off Bush has quickly caved in and dropped his demands. Meanwhile, we have continued to pour billions in our tax money into Israel.
It's high time the US cut our subsidy of Israel while they ignore our requests. Let's not be surprised however if Bush caves in on this matter as well.
As Salon reports, Bush is thinking of cutting a little bit off the billions the US sends Israel every year. Why? Because Israel's Sharon refuses to stop building the giant fence meant to wall off the Palistinians from Israelis. The wall has been widely critized as a new Berlin Wall of the Middle East. It has also been criticized because its construction is more permanently cutting Palestinians off from land that has been taken from them by illegal expansionist Jewish settlements that the US has been calling for a stop to for years.
As intensely pro-Israel a president as we've ever had, President Bush has called on Sharon on a number of occassions to stop his aggressive tactics towards the Palistinians. Sharon and Israel have repeatedly thumbed their noses at the requests of their best friend. Each time Bush has been embarrassed by Sharon's brush-off Bush has quickly caved in and dropped his demands. Meanwhile, we have continued to pour billions in our tax money into Israel.
It's high time the US cut our subsidy of Israel while they ignore our requests. Let's not be surprised however if Bush caves in on this matter as well.