Moratorium on Hate Radio Pays Off
Two months ago I went cold turkey when I stopped listening to extremist radio programs like Limbaugh, Savage, Hannity et al. I cut out both the far right and the far left (pretty much limited to Air America). The results? I feel great. I find that I am much more relaxed and less irritable. I feel like the red and blue toxins that were in my mind/body have dissipated. A day without hearing Rush's voice is a day in Heaven.
Sure, I don't know what story they are trying to blow up out of proportion to try and get listeners all upset about but ... I find I can get along without that quite nicely. I just stick to the legitimate media (the ones that employ fact checkers) and I feel both informed and healthy.
Try it.
Sunday, December 19, 2004
Oklahoma Man Dies After Getting Swept Out To Sea
HONOLULU -- Authorities say a 33-year-old visitor from Oklahoma died after he was swept to sea at South Point on the Big Island.
HONOLULU -- Authorities say a 33-year-old visitor from Oklahoma died after he was swept to sea at South Point on the Big Island.
Saturday, December 18, 2004
Renting a Car in Miami
OkiePundit just returned from a biz trip to Miami, Florida. Nice weather but too much inefficiency. My adventures at the rental car place epitomize Miami for me. To begin with the taxi driver didn't listen to me (English wasn't his first language) and took me to the wrong branch of Alamo. Once inside Alamo it was pure chaos. The lobby looked like a third-world airport just hours before the rebel troops were set to entire the capital city. The lines were long and unmoving. Angry customers were fuming. Cranky bored children were wailing.
It took an hour to get waited on by a dismissive clerk that never acknowledged my existence. When I tried to find my car it was not in the designated slot so I had to re-endur the refugee scene but none of the clerks would help me. They kept shunting me off to someone else and ignoring me as other angry customers vied for their attention. Finally I started yelling at the only managerial-looking person behind the counter and got his attention for a millisecond. He yelled something in Spanish to someone else and they promptly resumed ignoring me.
After a lot more screaming and abominable customer non-service I got a car and left - having wasted an entire afternoon just trying to get a car in Miami.
Now I understand more about the hanging chads.
OkiePundit just returned from a biz trip to Miami, Florida. Nice weather but too much inefficiency. My adventures at the rental car place epitomize Miami for me. To begin with the taxi driver didn't listen to me (English wasn't his first language) and took me to the wrong branch of Alamo. Once inside Alamo it was pure chaos. The lobby looked like a third-world airport just hours before the rebel troops were set to entire the capital city. The lines were long and unmoving. Angry customers were fuming. Cranky bored children were wailing.
It took an hour to get waited on by a dismissive clerk that never acknowledged my existence. When I tried to find my car it was not in the designated slot so I had to re-endur the refugee scene but none of the clerks would help me. They kept shunting me off to someone else and ignoring me as other angry customers vied for their attention. Finally I started yelling at the only managerial-looking person behind the counter and got his attention for a millisecond. He yelled something in Spanish to someone else and they promptly resumed ignoring me.
After a lot more screaming and abominable customer non-service I got a car and left - having wasted an entire afternoon just trying to get a car in Miami.
Now I understand more about the hanging chads.
No Remorse
About 10 years ago the case of the rape and murder of Sri Sedjati Sugeng, an OSU student from Indonesia, was news. She was found dead in the bathtub of her off-campus apartment in Stillwater. Her family back in Indonesia was devastated of course. Can you imagine learning that your child has been brutally murdered on the other side of the Earth and there's not a thing you can do about it?
Lloyd Edward Mollett was found guilty of the murder and rape and was sentenced to death. The punishment was overturned by a Colorado judge because the District Judge Donald Worthington had foolishly refused to answer a question from the jury. I wonder what the victim's family thought about the American judicial system when they learned that the death penalty conviction had been overturned?
This week Mollett was resentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The Tulsa World reports that Mollett has shown no remorse. I've seem the state pen at McAlester (on a tour) and the thought of spending the rest of a life locked in those tiny cells would possibly be worse than death. Just the thought that one's life has been wasted would be bad enough. As awful (and deserved) as that outcome is, the victim is a young lady from a far off land that came to America to pursue a dream. No one other than Mollett, no one else in the world, is responsible for snuffing out her possibilities and the hope of her family. Mollett needs to apologize to her family.
On a hopeful note, I'm reading a book by Noah Levine, "Dharma Punx", his story of his descent into drug addiction and crime and his turnaround to become a Buddhist teacher and writer. From not caring about his victims (which included his family) to a life of profound compassion. How does one get from one point to another? Read the book.
About 10 years ago the case of the rape and murder of Sri Sedjati Sugeng, an OSU student from Indonesia, was news. She was found dead in the bathtub of her off-campus apartment in Stillwater. Her family back in Indonesia was devastated of course. Can you imagine learning that your child has been brutally murdered on the other side of the Earth and there's not a thing you can do about it?
Lloyd Edward Mollett was found guilty of the murder and rape and was sentenced to death. The punishment was overturned by a Colorado judge because the District Judge Donald Worthington had foolishly refused to answer a question from the jury. I wonder what the victim's family thought about the American judicial system when they learned that the death penalty conviction had been overturned?
This week Mollett was resentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The Tulsa World reports that Mollett has shown no remorse. I've seem the state pen at McAlester (on a tour) and the thought of spending the rest of a life locked in those tiny cells would possibly be worse than death. Just the thought that one's life has been wasted would be bad enough. As awful (and deserved) as that outcome is, the victim is a young lady from a far off land that came to America to pursue a dream. No one other than Mollett, no one else in the world, is responsible for snuffing out her possibilities and the hope of her family. Mollett needs to apologize to her family.
On a hopeful note, I'm reading a book by Noah Levine, "Dharma Punx", his story of his descent into drug addiction and crime and his turnaround to become a Buddhist teacher and writer. From not caring about his victims (which included his family) to a life of profound compassion. How does one get from one point to another? Read the book.
Thursday, December 16, 2004
Libraries and Hanging On
I almost didn't get back from OKC in time to vote in Tuesdays library bond issue in Tulsa - but I did. I voted for it of course. I wanted a much better library. Unfortunately, the negative nabobs, the anti-tax at all costs folks, outvoted the forward-looking citizens that remembered to vote. The result finds me again contemplating giving up on Oklahoma and moving somewhere more progressive. I know this is heresy - but I'm not the only one wondering if it's worth hanging on. Life is short.
I love Oklahoma so this is hard to admit.
I almost didn't get back from OKC in time to vote in Tuesdays library bond issue in Tulsa - but I did. I voted for it of course. I wanted a much better library. Unfortunately, the negative nabobs, the anti-tax at all costs folks, outvoted the forward-looking citizens that remembered to vote. The result finds me again contemplating giving up on Oklahoma and moving somewhere more progressive. I know this is heresy - but I'm not the only one wondering if it's worth hanging on. Life is short.
I love Oklahoma so this is hard to admit.
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
Indian vs White Racial Tension
A story in the Native Times reveals that racial tensions may exist at a high school in Fairfax, Oklahoma. A former student of the school that has since moved to New Mexico is quoted as saying:
There was a definite undertone of racism there,” Stock said. “I would get into arguments with other students because they would always be saying things like ‘Indians need to stop complaining all the time’. Rebel flags are common on the trucks there.”Stock said that Scully was “not helpful” when it came to complaints about racial remarks. One thing Stock is sure about: New Mexico is much more tolerant when compared to Oklahoma.“If you are Indian here, people are interested in that. Maybe that is because there are so many reservations here. It seems like in Oklahoma people are really close-minded. They don’t try to hide the fact that they don’t like Indians.”
I'm a bit surprised by the situation described by Stock but if it is an accurate assessment then Fairfax needs to find out what's behind it. Having grown up in an area of Oklahoma with a very large Indian (or Native American if you prefer) population I never witnessed any racial tension between the whites and Indians (there were no blacks). I had many 100% Indian friends but I never thought of them as "Indian friends" - just as friends. Maybe the reason was that there was so much mixed blood - nearly every family (including my own) had intermarried. It's pretty hard to hate a piece of yourself.
There were the usual child-on-child cruelties but anti-Indian talk was just something I never heard. People got along very well. Is Fairfax an isolated incident or a disturbing trend?
A story in the Native Times reveals that racial tensions may exist at a high school in Fairfax, Oklahoma. A former student of the school that has since moved to New Mexico is quoted as saying:
There was a definite undertone of racism there,” Stock said. “I would get into arguments with other students because they would always be saying things like ‘Indians need to stop complaining all the time’. Rebel flags are common on the trucks there.”Stock said that Scully was “not helpful” when it came to complaints about racial remarks. One thing Stock is sure about: New Mexico is much more tolerant when compared to Oklahoma.“If you are Indian here, people are interested in that. Maybe that is because there are so many reservations here. It seems like in Oklahoma people are really close-minded. They don’t try to hide the fact that they don’t like Indians.”
I'm a bit surprised by the situation described by Stock but if it is an accurate assessment then Fairfax needs to find out what's behind it. Having grown up in an area of Oklahoma with a very large Indian (or Native American if you prefer) population I never witnessed any racial tension between the whites and Indians (there were no blacks). I had many 100% Indian friends but I never thought of them as "Indian friends" - just as friends. Maybe the reason was that there was so much mixed blood - nearly every family (including my own) had intermarried. It's pretty hard to hate a piece of yourself.
There were the usual child-on-child cruelties but anti-Indian talk was just something I never heard. People got along very well. Is Fairfax an isolated incident or a disturbing trend?
Sunday, November 28, 2004
Good Message Derails
The sermon at my evangelical megachurch today regarded the worth of people. The pastor made the point, in a number of ways, that everyone is equal in the eyes of God. No matter your color, gender, physical condition, age - we are all equally valuable. He dwelled at length on abortion - his position being that humans in a womb are as worthy as a human out of the womb. I agree with him on that 100%. Where he lost me was when he made the ludicrous statement that evolutionism is the cause of the devaluation of human life and thus the legalization of abortion.
"If the world was created by accident as the evolutionists claim, then we are just a mass of flesh with no worth," he went on. "Stalin used evolution theory to justify the elimination of millions of people." Ok, now he is in outer space. It's hard to see how he gets from point A to point B and then on to point C. I'm no expert on Stalin but even if he did embrace social darwinism to justify his pogroms that in no way disproves the validity of the theory of evolution. If humans misuse a scientific reality to justify a looney and self-serving action that misappropriation of the reality does not make it less real. Nor does it make the theory evil. Ironically, both the pastor and Stalin may be guilty of knowingly twisting science to suit their needs.
Many religious fundamentalist leaders are telling their believers that evolution is false because their holy books, written thousands of years ago, don't jive with what we've learned since. Now at least one is telling them evolutionists are responsible for abortion and the devaluing of human life. This is truly ironic when you think about all the wars and horrors that have been loosed on the world by people who believe they are doing God's work. I'll take my chances with the scientists thank you.
The sermon at my evangelical megachurch today regarded the worth of people. The pastor made the point, in a number of ways, that everyone is equal in the eyes of God. No matter your color, gender, physical condition, age - we are all equally valuable. He dwelled at length on abortion - his position being that humans in a womb are as worthy as a human out of the womb. I agree with him on that 100%. Where he lost me was when he made the ludicrous statement that evolutionism is the cause of the devaluation of human life and thus the legalization of abortion.
"If the world was created by accident as the evolutionists claim, then we are just a mass of flesh with no worth," he went on. "Stalin used evolution theory to justify the elimination of millions of people." Ok, now he is in outer space. It's hard to see how he gets from point A to point B and then on to point C. I'm no expert on Stalin but even if he did embrace social darwinism to justify his pogroms that in no way disproves the validity of the theory of evolution. If humans misuse a scientific reality to justify a looney and self-serving action that misappropriation of the reality does not make it less real. Nor does it make the theory evil. Ironically, both the pastor and Stalin may be guilty of knowingly twisting science to suit their needs.
Many religious fundamentalist leaders are telling their believers that evolution is false because their holy books, written thousands of years ago, don't jive with what we've learned since. Now at least one is telling them evolutionists are responsible for abortion and the devaluing of human life. This is truly ironic when you think about all the wars and horrors that have been loosed on the world by people who believe they are doing God's work. I'll take my chances with the scientists thank you.
Don't Need No Stinkin' Helmet
KOTV reports that...
Oklahoma is one of 23 states with no helmet law for riders age 18 and older. Officials say only about one-third of Oklahoma motorcyclists wear a helmet. Neurological surgeon Stan Pelofsky says he can't conceive why there isn't a helmet law. Pelofsky says they're proven to save lives and reduce the cost of health care.
KOTV reports that...
Oklahoma is one of 23 states with no helmet law for riders age 18 and older. Officials say only about one-third of Oklahoma motorcyclists wear a helmet. Neurological surgeon Stan Pelofsky says he can't conceive why there isn't a helmet law. Pelofsky says they're proven to save lives and reduce the cost of health care.
Friday, November 26, 2004
Oklahoma Gun Law Alarms Corporations
The Kansas City Star reports that:
A new (Oklahoma) state law allowing employees to keep guns in their locked cars on company property has alarmed some of Oklahoma's biggest corporations and pitted them against gun enthusiasts. The law was passed by the Legislature this year and was scheduled to go into effect Nov. 1. A federal judge blocked its enforcement while he considers a challenge filed by companies fearful that guns at work could lead to bloodshed.
The Kansas City Star reports that:
A new (Oklahoma) state law allowing employees to keep guns in their locked cars on company property has alarmed some of Oklahoma's biggest corporations and pitted them against gun enthusiasts. The law was passed by the Legislature this year and was scheduled to go into effect Nov. 1. A federal judge blocked its enforcement while he considers a challenge filed by companies fearful that guns at work could lead to bloodshed.
Monday, November 22, 2004
Turkey Mountain Swamp
It was a misty day around the Arkansas River today - my favorite environment for walking across the pedestrian bridge at 31st Street in Tulsa. The best view in Tulsa is looking north from the balcony in the middle of this old railroad bridge. Looking north over the wide Arkansas one sees downtown Tulsa's skyscrapers peeking up above the cottonwood trees that line the river. The entire image is reflected in the tranquil waters just above the spillway here. When the trees turn colors at this time of year is the best time to enjoy this view.
On the other side of the bridge - looking south, one can watch seagulls, pelicans and cranes standing on rocks or hovering over the spillway in search of fish. It's a glorious sight on any day but when the water is running high and a mist softens the edges - even the electric plant on the river bank can't ruin the mood. Looking south past the I-44 bridge one can see the bulk of Turkey Mountain looming over the Arkansas near 71st Street.
Near Turkey Mountain is a shale formation that bears untold numbers of carbonized plant fossils squeezed between the layers of these 300+ million year old Pennsylvanian Era rocks. In these shales are the mineralized remains of giant ferns and tree-sized rushes that once flourished where Tulsa is now. As I watch the birds catching fish in the foreground my eyes occasionally drift up and off into the distance to Turkey Mountain and thoughts of the tropical swamp that bubbled here all those millions of years ago.
The sight helps put talk of petty politics, football games, and injustice in some sort of perspective.
It was a misty day around the Arkansas River today - my favorite environment for walking across the pedestrian bridge at 31st Street in Tulsa. The best view in Tulsa is looking north from the balcony in the middle of this old railroad bridge. Looking north over the wide Arkansas one sees downtown Tulsa's skyscrapers peeking up above the cottonwood trees that line the river. The entire image is reflected in the tranquil waters just above the spillway here. When the trees turn colors at this time of year is the best time to enjoy this view.
On the other side of the bridge - looking south, one can watch seagulls, pelicans and cranes standing on rocks or hovering over the spillway in search of fish. It's a glorious sight on any day but when the water is running high and a mist softens the edges - even the electric plant on the river bank can't ruin the mood. Looking south past the I-44 bridge one can see the bulk of Turkey Mountain looming over the Arkansas near 71st Street.
Near Turkey Mountain is a shale formation that bears untold numbers of carbonized plant fossils squeezed between the layers of these 300+ million year old Pennsylvanian Era rocks. In these shales are the mineralized remains of giant ferns and tree-sized rushes that once flourished where Tulsa is now. As I watch the birds catching fish in the foreground my eyes occasionally drift up and off into the distance to Turkey Mountain and thoughts of the tropical swamp that bubbled here all those millions of years ago.
The sight helps put talk of petty politics, football games, and injustice in some sort of perspective.
Sunday, November 21, 2004
Evolution Tales
Today our Pastor focused on the need to be thankful for everything God has done for us - a timely message. Still, he managed to throw in an attack on the theory of evolution and the "natural world's" attempts to promote evolution through every media. He said it was a lie "that we are descended from monkeys". This is coming from an "educated" man no less - one who either doesn't know that Darwin never said we were descended from monkeys or knowingly uses this common misstatement about the theory to arouse the ire of the homo nimcompoopus among his flock.
I collected fossils like many a young boy and frankly would have developed the theory of evolution if Darwin hadn't of beaten me to it. It's so darn obvious to anyone that has collected fossils. Two recent books on this subject are worth reading: The Map That changed the World: William Smith and the Birth of Modern Geology by Simon Winchester or Richard Dawkins' The Ancestor's Tale : A Pilgrimage to the Dawn of Evolution. If you don't have the time then look at last month's National Geographic magazine's "Was Darwin Wrong?" This silly argument over evolution vs creationism was settled over a hundred years ago but an astounding near-majority of modern Americans still believe the creation story of the Bible precludes the theory of evolution. Among the many things I'm thankful for is that the Church has given up on the flat Earth doctrine.
Today our Pastor focused on the need to be thankful for everything God has done for us - a timely message. Still, he managed to throw in an attack on the theory of evolution and the "natural world's" attempts to promote evolution through every media. He said it was a lie "that we are descended from monkeys". This is coming from an "educated" man no less - one who either doesn't know that Darwin never said we were descended from monkeys or knowingly uses this common misstatement about the theory to arouse the ire of the homo nimcompoopus among his flock.
I collected fossils like many a young boy and frankly would have developed the theory of evolution if Darwin hadn't of beaten me to it. It's so darn obvious to anyone that has collected fossils. Two recent books on this subject are worth reading: The Map That changed the World: William Smith and the Birth of Modern Geology by Simon Winchester or Richard Dawkins' The Ancestor's Tale : A Pilgrimage to the Dawn of Evolution. If you don't have the time then look at last month's National Geographic magazine's "Was Darwin Wrong?" This silly argument over evolution vs creationism was settled over a hundred years ago but an astounding near-majority of modern Americans still believe the creation story of the Bible precludes the theory of evolution. Among the many things I'm thankful for is that the Church has given up on the flat Earth doctrine.
Tuesday, November 16, 2004
Oklahoma Creek Indians Tossing Status Honors around Europe
As detailed in the Belfast Telegraph a group of Creek Indians from Oklahoma has conferred "warrior status" on Londonderry's Sinn Fein (IRA-associated) Mayor, Gearoid O'hEara.
A team of 20 Americans, hailing from Tennessee, Oklahoma and Georgia, honoured the Mayor and the city with a blessing during their visit yesterday. The Mayor said he was honoured at being conferred with warrior status by Creek Indian peace chief Negel Big Pond.
This should tick off a number of Oklahoma mayors who have yet to achieve warrior status.
As detailed in the Belfast Telegraph a group of Creek Indians from Oklahoma has conferred "warrior status" on Londonderry's Sinn Fein (IRA-associated) Mayor, Gearoid O'hEara.
A team of 20 Americans, hailing from Tennessee, Oklahoma and Georgia, honoured the Mayor and the city with a blessing during their visit yesterday. The Mayor said he was honoured at being conferred with warrior status by Creek Indian peace chief Negel Big Pond.
This should tick off a number of Oklahoma mayors who have yet to achieve warrior status.
Red States Love Blue Culture
Frank Rich has some interesting observations on how the red states are chasing after blue culture and Rupert Murdoch and Fox are reaping the profits thereof. Frank also throws in a mention of the recently uncovered rampant lesbianism in Oklahoma.
Frank could also have illustrated his observation by pointing to Oklahoma's simultaneous election of Tom Coburn and the passage of a pro-lottery (gambling) law.
Frank Rich has some interesting observations on how the red states are chasing after blue culture and Rupert Murdoch and Fox are reaping the profits thereof. Frank also throws in a mention of the recently uncovered rampant lesbianism in Oklahoma.
Frank could also have illustrated his observation by pointing to Oklahoma's simultaneous election of Tom Coburn and the passage of a pro-lottery (gambling) law.
We've Got a Friend
Sometimes we Okies feel "put upon" by the rest of our countrymen and women but it seems we do have a friend - the computer.
Sometimes we Okies feel "put upon" by the rest of our countrymen and women but it seems we do have a friend - the computer.
Monday, November 15, 2004
The Dirty Goings On in Europe
In our church this Sunday Pastor drew our attention to a recent sinister event in a far off land that was overlooked in large part because of the presidential election in our own land. The Europeans signed a European Union Constitution in - can you believe it? - Rome! His tone conveyed an unmistakable "well you know what this means?"
Before my synapses could fire he continued,"the prophecies are coming true", he orated, "but before the enemy takes Europe there will be a great harvest." At this point, being the novice evangelical that I am, I'm trying to understand the significance of this news.
He goes on - "a man from Poland tried to get God into the European Constitution but he was rejected. A man from Italy tried to get marriage as a union of a man and a woman written into the Constitution and he was thrown out! Europe is going the wrong way but thank God for a country like America that's going the other way."
In doing a little catch-up research after the sermon I found what Evangelicals-in-the-know already know that: Europe is the heart of the Antichrist beast-system of governmental, economic and religious control prophesied to engulf the world. It seems that many among the Evangelicals believe the Bible prophesies that Europe will alse experience a peace process that will initiate the tribulation, which will culminate at Armageddon. This, no doubt, is good news - as Armageddon leads directly to the Rapture - without passing Go. Unfortunately, we have to go through a few difficult times to get to the good times.
Least the Europeans among you get snooty about your sophistication let's see how you Europeans feel about hosting the anti-Christ and hastening the Armageddon cum Rapture? Apparently, Europeans not only know they are hosting the antiChrist, Dr. Ian Paisley knows exactly who it is. Well, at least America does not have a monopoly on religious paranoia.
In our church this Sunday Pastor drew our attention to a recent sinister event in a far off land that was overlooked in large part because of the presidential election in our own land. The Europeans signed a European Union Constitution in - can you believe it? - Rome! His tone conveyed an unmistakable "well you know what this means?"
Before my synapses could fire he continued,"the prophecies are coming true", he orated, "but before the enemy takes Europe there will be a great harvest." At this point, being the novice evangelical that I am, I'm trying to understand the significance of this news.
He goes on - "a man from Poland tried to get God into the European Constitution but he was rejected. A man from Italy tried to get marriage as a union of a man and a woman written into the Constitution and he was thrown out! Europe is going the wrong way but thank God for a country like America that's going the other way."
In doing a little catch-up research after the sermon I found what Evangelicals-in-the-know already know that: Europe is the heart of the Antichrist beast-system of governmental, economic and religious control prophesied to engulf the world. It seems that many among the Evangelicals believe the Bible prophesies that Europe will alse experience a peace process that will initiate the tribulation, which will culminate at Armageddon. This, no doubt, is good news - as Armageddon leads directly to the Rapture - without passing Go. Unfortunately, we have to go through a few difficult times to get to the good times.
Least the Europeans among you get snooty about your sophistication let's see how you Europeans feel about hosting the anti-Christ and hastening the Armageddon cum Rapture? Apparently, Europeans not only know they are hosting the antiChrist, Dr. Ian Paisley knows exactly who it is. Well, at least America does not have a monopoly on religious paranoia.
Saturday, November 13, 2004
Thursday, November 11, 2004
Bob Jones Reaches Out in Compassion
If you need convincing about the nature of compassion take a look at Bob Jone's letter of congratulations to President Bush. He couldn't help but throw in a couple of requests as well:
Put your agenda on the front burner and let it boil. You owe the liberals nothing. They despise you because they despise your Christ.
Now let us prey (sic)
(note: since Bob's letter starting getting so much attention he took it down off of the University's website. You can still read about the letter here.)
If you need convincing about the nature of compassion take a look at Bob Jone's letter of congratulations to President Bush. He couldn't help but throw in a couple of requests as well:
Put your agenda on the front burner and let it boil. You owe the liberals nothing. They despise you because they despise your Christ.
Now let us prey (sic)
(note: since Bob's letter starting getting so much attention he took it down off of the University's website. You can still read about the letter here.)
Wednesday, November 10, 2004
McDaniel Wins Recount in HD 78
As reported at Batesline Democrat Jeannie McDaniel prevailed in the recount in State House District 78 in East Tulsa. The recount found that she beat Schaffer by 24 votes instead of the initial 34-vote margin.This was a race between a longtime city activist (McDaniel) vs a relatively unknown young businessman (Schaffer). A relative in the district supplied me with all of the mailers from both candidates and it's interesting to see what happened in this race. McDaniel never went negative on Schaffer - her mailers stuck to pragmatic issues such as education and budgets. Schaffer's mailers also were about his qualifications - until the last two weeks of the campaign when he turned negative. Schaffer tried the same social issue tactic that worked for so many Repubs - focusing on gay marriage, abortion, etc.
One of the worst mailers from Schaffer (below) reprinted portions of a Tulsa World article that reported that McDaniel said the anti-gay marriage ammendment wasn't necessary because Oklahoma law already made gay marriage illegal. Schaffer, regretably, took this straight-forward and factual statement and tried to spin it to make McDaniel seem to be supporting gay marriage. Well, let's call it what it was, it was a blatent attempt to mislead the voters. Schaffer also pulled out the tiresome label of "liberal" and tried to stick it on the pragmatic McDaniel. And, sadly, the last minute misrepresentation against his opponent almost worked. I'm glad it didn't. It's good to see a candidate that stays positive and focused on pragmatic issues win.
As reported at Batesline Democrat Jeannie McDaniel prevailed in the recount in State House District 78 in East Tulsa. The recount found that she beat Schaffer by 24 votes instead of the initial 34-vote margin.This was a race between a longtime city activist (McDaniel) vs a relatively unknown young businessman (Schaffer). A relative in the district supplied me with all of the mailers from both candidates and it's interesting to see what happened in this race. McDaniel never went negative on Schaffer - her mailers stuck to pragmatic issues such as education and budgets. Schaffer's mailers also were about his qualifications - until the last two weeks of the campaign when he turned negative. Schaffer tried the same social issue tactic that worked for so many Repubs - focusing on gay marriage, abortion, etc.
One of the worst mailers from Schaffer (below) reprinted portions of a Tulsa World article that reported that McDaniel said the anti-gay marriage ammendment wasn't necessary because Oklahoma law already made gay marriage illegal. Schaffer, regretably, took this straight-forward and factual statement and tried to spin it to make McDaniel seem to be supporting gay marriage. Well, let's call it what it was, it was a blatent attempt to mislead the voters. Schaffer also pulled out the tiresome label of "liberal" and tried to stick it on the pragmatic McDaniel. And, sadly, the last minute misrepresentation against his opponent almost worked. I'm glad it didn't. It's good to see a candidate that stays positive and focused on pragmatic issues win.
It's Just Beginning
Oklahomans are used to receiving unwanted attention to our shortcomings. Everytime there's a big tornado in Oklahoma the national media swoops down and picks out the only toothless hillbilly in the city and asks him to describe the tornado. "Shoot-far! it sounded like a freight train a-comin' through mah trailer home!", the toothless man will say.
Whether it is towns voting to ban dancing, rural judges refusing to enforce cockfight bans, or cow-patty throwin' contests, we always seem to get egg on our collective faces when the national media comes to visit.
Well now the media can stay at home because we are bringing the entertainment to them. Tom Coburn is coming to Washington DC. Sure, he's been there before when he was the 1st District Congressman a few years ago - but no one pays much attention to Congresspeople. Now Coburn is to be our junior Senator in DC and people listen to Senators. Oh **#%.
Coburn isn't even in Washington yet but we are already getting the benefit of his notoriety. Everyone from Pat Buchanan to Jon Stewart have commented on the fun and games the nation can expect from a Senator Coburn. Last night, Jon Stewart's Daily Show had a bit on Coburn's comment about "rampant lesbianism in Southeast Oklahoma". Just think Oklahoma, what we can look forward to now!!
Maybe Tom Coburn will surprise us and shake up the old political system in DC in a good way. Pat Buchanan says the Republican leadership is scared of what Coburn could do to them. I know the feeling.
Oklahomans are used to receiving unwanted attention to our shortcomings. Everytime there's a big tornado in Oklahoma the national media swoops down and picks out the only toothless hillbilly in the city and asks him to describe the tornado. "Shoot-far! it sounded like a freight train a-comin' through mah trailer home!", the toothless man will say.
Whether it is towns voting to ban dancing, rural judges refusing to enforce cockfight bans, or cow-patty throwin' contests, we always seem to get egg on our collective faces when the national media comes to visit.
Well now the media can stay at home because we are bringing the entertainment to them. Tom Coburn is coming to Washington DC. Sure, he's been there before when he was the 1st District Congressman a few years ago - but no one pays much attention to Congresspeople. Now Coburn is to be our junior Senator in DC and people listen to Senators. Oh **#%.
Coburn isn't even in Washington yet but we are already getting the benefit of his notoriety. Everyone from Pat Buchanan to Jon Stewart have commented on the fun and games the nation can expect from a Senator Coburn. Last night, Jon Stewart's Daily Show had a bit on Coburn's comment about "rampant lesbianism in Southeast Oklahoma". Just think Oklahoma, what we can look forward to now!!
Maybe Tom Coburn will surprise us and shake up the old political system in DC in a good way. Pat Buchanan says the Republican leadership is scared of what Coburn could do to them. I know the feeling.
Monday, November 08, 2004
Why (some) Evangelicals Scare Me
It's been a busy week of travel for OkiePundit so I apologize for the delay in explaining why, in my last post, I said evangelicals were a danger to a liberal democracy and perhaps the world. I should have said "most evangelicals" because I know quite a few who don't believe it is right to impose their religious beliefs on others. No, the evangelicals are not bad people - just the opposite. Most I know are very good people who do a lot of good for others. But when they start telling others how to live their lives I have a problem with that.
The danger I referred to regarded their objective (as I've heard them state over and over in church) to apply their interpretation of Biblical laws to the State and to infuse our foreign policy with Biblical intent. To be specific, I'm talking the whole agenda - the re-making of the United States as a "Christian nation" by putting school-sponsored Christian prayer into schools to facilitating Armageddon in the Middle East to hasten the second coming of Christ as prophesied in the Bible. I would say this is dangerous whether the proponents were Christian, Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist, or Wiccans. When we start believing we have an unquestioned hold on the truth and believing that we need to force everyone else to conform to our beliefs we are in the danger zone.
A few weeks ago I was listening to a church cell group leader talk about the inevitability of an Arab - Israel war that would bring Israel to its knees and Jesus back for the Rapture. He was telling us that the role the US was playing in the Middle East was (and this was President Bush's plan according to the cell leader) designed to prepare the way for Armageddon and the second coming. This is not the first time I've heard this kind of talk in evangelical circles. Many of these people are voting based on a perception that Rapture-facilitation is the unstated goal of President Bush. No, I don't think the President shares this belief - at least I hope not. But I'm beginning to believe that it might be possible for the evangelicals to eventually elect someone that might share such thinking and be anxious to act on it. It scares me.
No, I'm not anti-Christian or anti-religious at all. I grew up in Oklahoma at a time when I was subjected to forced recitation of Christian prayer over the school intercom and mandatory fundamentalist-run Bible lessons in my public school classroom. That's not what I want to happen to my children. Or to the children of believers in other faiths or to non-believers. Our ancestors came here to escape religious persecution - let's keep that in mind.
It's been a busy week of travel for OkiePundit so I apologize for the delay in explaining why, in my last post, I said evangelicals were a danger to a liberal democracy and perhaps the world. I should have said "most evangelicals" because I know quite a few who don't believe it is right to impose their religious beliefs on others. No, the evangelicals are not bad people - just the opposite. Most I know are very good people who do a lot of good for others. But when they start telling others how to live their lives I have a problem with that.
The danger I referred to regarded their objective (as I've heard them state over and over in church) to apply their interpretation of Biblical laws to the State and to infuse our foreign policy with Biblical intent. To be specific, I'm talking the whole agenda - the re-making of the United States as a "Christian nation" by putting school-sponsored Christian prayer into schools to facilitating Armageddon in the Middle East to hasten the second coming of Christ as prophesied in the Bible. I would say this is dangerous whether the proponents were Christian, Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist, or Wiccans. When we start believing we have an unquestioned hold on the truth and believing that we need to force everyone else to conform to our beliefs we are in the danger zone.
A few weeks ago I was listening to a church cell group leader talk about the inevitability of an Arab - Israel war that would bring Israel to its knees and Jesus back for the Rapture. He was telling us that the role the US was playing in the Middle East was (and this was President Bush's plan according to the cell leader) designed to prepare the way for Armageddon and the second coming. This is not the first time I've heard this kind of talk in evangelical circles. Many of these people are voting based on a perception that Rapture-facilitation is the unstated goal of President Bush. No, I don't think the President shares this belief - at least I hope not. But I'm beginning to believe that it might be possible for the evangelicals to eventually elect someone that might share such thinking and be anxious to act on it. It scares me.
No, I'm not anti-Christian or anti-religious at all. I grew up in Oklahoma at a time when I was subjected to forced recitation of Christian prayer over the school intercom and mandatory fundamentalist-run Bible lessons in my public school classroom. That's not what I want to happen to my children. Or to the children of believers in other faiths or to non-believers. Our ancestors came here to escape religious persecution - let's keep that in mind.