Lottery by County Option?
As mentioned earlier, the state senator that has introduced Governor Henry's state lottery vote bill is also the senator that is trying to overturn the 2002 vote to ban cockfighting by introducing legislation to turn the vote results into a county-option. Like a spoiled brat, this senator, Frank Shurden, has tried at every turn to change the rules of the game each time he loses. Given this M.O. by Shurden, the Legislature should consider Shurden's lottery bill only as a county-option. If the lottery loses when and if it comes up for a vote of the people this year we should assume that Shurden will disregard the will of the citizens and try in 2004 to pass legislation to institute a lottery in counties that voted in favor of the lottery.
Many rural counties can be expected to vote against a lottery so if Shurden again tried to use the county-option idea and he succeeded, the urban areas would likely be the only counties with a lottery and, one would anticipate, the only counties whose schools would benefit from lottery income. It would make as much sense as Shurden's current attempt to rewrite the rules to allow cockfighting in the counties that voted against the cockfighting ban.
Ironically, many of those who oppose a lottery were either against banning cockfighting or have subsequently been silent in defending the right of the state to ban the cruel activity. These people may find themselves fighting Shurden next year when he tries to use his county-option ploy to overturn the results of an anti-lottery outcome of the special election.
Wednesday, February 05, 2003
Snow-Goofballs & Lotteries
Snow is falling in Oklahoma again but the weatherman says it won't accumulate much. I expect therefore, that I will not be able to find my car in the morning.
Senator Frank Goofball has filed Governor Henry's lottery bill. Goofball also filed bills to overturn the people's vote to ban cockfighting. The Baptists are rallying their forces to defeat the lottery that Henry hopes will fund the education shortfall. I can't make a call on this one yet but I think a lottery has a chance of passing. Still, Baptists outnumber teachers in Oklahoma - but neither of these groups are exactly flush with money. The lottery will not solve our problems - economic development will - but the Gov is cutting the budget for economic development. Bad move.
I've lived in states with lotteries. The worst part about a lottery is the barrage of lottery advertising citizens must suffer through day in and day out - 365 days a year. The media has got to love all the advertising money a lottery will bring them. The media will endorse a lottery therefore.
Snow is falling in Oklahoma again but the weatherman says it won't accumulate much. I expect therefore, that I will not be able to find my car in the morning.
Senator Frank Goofball has filed Governor Henry's lottery bill. Goofball also filed bills to overturn the people's vote to ban cockfighting. The Baptists are rallying their forces to defeat the lottery that Henry hopes will fund the education shortfall. I can't make a call on this one yet but I think a lottery has a chance of passing. Still, Baptists outnumber teachers in Oklahoma - but neither of these groups are exactly flush with money. The lottery will not solve our problems - economic development will - but the Gov is cutting the budget for economic development. Bad move.
I've lived in states with lotteries. The worst part about a lottery is the barrage of lottery advertising citizens must suffer through day in and day out - 365 days a year. The media has got to love all the advertising money a lottery will bring them. The media will endorse a lottery therefore.
Monday, February 03, 2003
Two Thumbs Up
To be fair, after being critical of President Bush a couple of days ago, I've got to say that I was glad to see him call for the continuation of the US space program. I was also pleased to see that he wants to end that part of "affirmative action" that discriminates against majorities. Those are two things he has done lately that I applaud.
To be fair, after being critical of President Bush a couple of days ago, I've got to say that I was glad to see him call for the continuation of the US space program. I was also pleased to see that he wants to end that part of "affirmative action" that discriminates against majorities. Those are two things he has done lately that I applaud.
The Wuss Factor
Already, we have the media and a few others questioning whether the space program is worth the risk to human life. As an academic exercise such questions can be asked but if anyone is actually serious in questioning whether manned space exploration is worth the risks I question their vision if not their sanity. Where would we be if the early ocean explorers had whimped out the first couple of times men were lost at sea?
No one will argue against taking reasonable precautions but I wonder if we have become a nation of short-sighted first-class wusses. From our overreaction to terrorism to our hyper-sensitivity to voluntary risk taking - we have become frightened rabbits, frozen by fear, by the slightest risk. We need to shake off timidity and do the hard things that make us human, that make us Americans.
Already, we have the media and a few others questioning whether the space program is worth the risk to human life. As an academic exercise such questions can be asked but if anyone is actually serious in questioning whether manned space exploration is worth the risks I question their vision if not their sanity. Where would we be if the early ocean explorers had whimped out the first couple of times men were lost at sea?
No one will argue against taking reasonable precautions but I wonder if we have become a nation of short-sighted first-class wusses. From our overreaction to terrorism to our hyper-sensitivity to voluntary risk taking - we have become frightened rabbits, frozen by fear, by the slightest risk. We need to shake off timidity and do the hard things that make us human, that make us Americans.
Sunday, February 02, 2003
My Republican National Committee Membership Card
came in the mail this week! It was unsolicited, but Marc Racicot, Chairman of the RNC warns me in the letter that accompanied my blue and gold card that my "decision whether or not to accept your Membership Card will directly affect the future of our country." As I toss the card into my waste bin I can only hope that Mr. Racicot is correct. He went on in his letter to tell me that if I accept the card I will "be showing people in your (my) area you support President George W. Bush and his principled, positive agenda for America." Well, I sure wouldn't want anyone around here getting that idea.
I'm sure our President loves our country and means well but as the months go by I find myself disagreeing with him on more of his principles and actions. I think he has squandered the goodwill of our allies by taking the anti-terrorism war off target by trying to use it as an opportunity to wipe out Saddam, something he had decided to do long before Sept 11th. Nothing pains me more than to be in agreement with the French - but Bush has made that viscerally unpleasant position unavoidable for me. While the French are in opposition to a preemptive attack on Iraq for all the wrong reasons (mainly just to be irritating), their conclusion is correct.
While I believe that business is the second best thing (after democracy) that ever happened to America, I think his tax cuts are so obviously overloaded toward the rich its shameful. His tax cuts will put us so far in debt again that Bill Clinton will have to be brought back to clear the accounts again. Isn't it odd how Reagan and Bush II put us in debt and Clinton put us in the black? Not what you'd expect.
And his Texas-isms just make my skin crawl like a juiced-up sidewinder. His simple, bumbling, cowboy cliches are embarrassing. I long for the articulate wisdom of Kennedy, Clinton, and even Reagan and Ford. You don't have to talk like the "common man" to be plain spoken. I don't want the one extraordinary person we pick to be our President, from among our 230-million citizens, to have the mind and tongue of the common man. But that's what we did.
came in the mail this week! It was unsolicited, but Marc Racicot, Chairman of the RNC warns me in the letter that accompanied my blue and gold card that my "decision whether or not to accept your Membership Card will directly affect the future of our country." As I toss the card into my waste bin I can only hope that Mr. Racicot is correct. He went on in his letter to tell me that if I accept the card I will "be showing people in your (my) area you support President George W. Bush and his principled, positive agenda for America." Well, I sure wouldn't want anyone around here getting that idea.
I'm sure our President loves our country and means well but as the months go by I find myself disagreeing with him on more of his principles and actions. I think he has squandered the goodwill of our allies by taking the anti-terrorism war off target by trying to use it as an opportunity to wipe out Saddam, something he had decided to do long before Sept 11th. Nothing pains me more than to be in agreement with the French - but Bush has made that viscerally unpleasant position unavoidable for me. While the French are in opposition to a preemptive attack on Iraq for all the wrong reasons (mainly just to be irritating), their conclusion is correct.
While I believe that business is the second best thing (after democracy) that ever happened to America, I think his tax cuts are so obviously overloaded toward the rich its shameful. His tax cuts will put us so far in debt again that Bill Clinton will have to be brought back to clear the accounts again. Isn't it odd how Reagan and Bush II put us in debt and Clinton put us in the black? Not what you'd expect.
And his Texas-isms just make my skin crawl like a juiced-up sidewinder. His simple, bumbling, cowboy cliches are embarrassing. I long for the articulate wisdom of Kennedy, Clinton, and even Reagan and Ford. You don't have to talk like the "common man" to be plain spoken. I don't want the one extraordinary person we pick to be our President, from among our 230-million citizens, to have the mind and tongue of the common man. But that's what we did.
Sunday, January 26, 2003
Expense claims of Oklahoma lawmakers
Justin Juozapavicius, a writer for the Tulsa World, has researched the travel and per diem claims by Legislators and found that quite a few have regularly filed claims for reimbursement for days they were on record as not being at the Capitol. According to the frontpage story in the World today, 66 state senators and representatives collected on days they were not present. The World estimates this cost the taxpayers $22,000. Now we all know that newspapers are not, by any means, always correct or even mostly correct, but Juozapavicius' investigation raises questions that need to be pursued to a conclusion.
Can't you just imagine the outcry from Legislators if an investigation had found that state workers were filing claims for non-existent travel or getting paid for work when they were not at work? The politicians would (correctly) be demanding the state workers be fired and punished, whichever came first. What do you want to bet that this little expose about some of their members' behavior gets buried right away? I'd say chances are very good the Legislature does nothing at all to police its own.
The World story points out that Oklahoma Legislators are paid very well by national standards - $38,400 a year. In neighboring Arkansas their lawmakers make $12,769 a year. I'm not going to be critical on this point however. Many lawmakers actually work year-round and pretty darn hard. They'd have to pay me more than $38,000 a year to have to go to receptions, neighborhood meetings, and the myriad other political events they have to endure. But for $38,000 a year we ought to be getting top-flight representatives - and that's not always the case. Some should be paying us.
Justin Juozapavicius, a writer for the Tulsa World, has researched the travel and per diem claims by Legislators and found that quite a few have regularly filed claims for reimbursement for days they were on record as not being at the Capitol. According to the frontpage story in the World today, 66 state senators and representatives collected on days they were not present. The World estimates this cost the taxpayers $22,000. Now we all know that newspapers are not, by any means, always correct or even mostly correct, but Juozapavicius' investigation raises questions that need to be pursued to a conclusion.
Can't you just imagine the outcry from Legislators if an investigation had found that state workers were filing claims for non-existent travel or getting paid for work when they were not at work? The politicians would (correctly) be demanding the state workers be fired and punished, whichever came first. What do you want to bet that this little expose about some of their members' behavior gets buried right away? I'd say chances are very good the Legislature does nothing at all to police its own.
The World story points out that Oklahoma Legislators are paid very well by national standards - $38,400 a year. In neighboring Arkansas their lawmakers make $12,769 a year. I'm not going to be critical on this point however. Many lawmakers actually work year-round and pretty darn hard. They'd have to pay me more than $38,000 a year to have to go to receptions, neighborhood meetings, and the myriad other political events they have to endure. But for $38,000 a year we ought to be getting top-flight representatives - and that's not always the case. Some should be paying us.
Thursday, January 23, 2003
Look for the Dalai Lama next to Wicca
I dropped in at Waldenbooks at the mall tonight to browse. How do they stay in business? Their magazine selection is decidedly down-market on the subject side. The selection covers the breadth and depth of human knowledge - from Maxim to Oxygen.
Next I wander into the self-help section and then beyond - to religion. This bookstore puts all of the books on Islam and Buddhism in their "New Age" section along with books on witchcraft and channeling. All of their Christian books were in the "Religion" section. I guess the folks at Waldenbooks think that Islam and Buddhism don't quite qualify as religion? Astrologists are no doubt pleased that they have their own dedicated "Astrology" section at Waldenbooks.
I dropped in at Waldenbooks at the mall tonight to browse. How do they stay in business? Their magazine selection is decidedly down-market on the subject side. The selection covers the breadth and depth of human knowledge - from Maxim to Oxygen.
Next I wander into the self-help section and then beyond - to religion. This bookstore puts all of the books on Islam and Buddhism in their "New Age" section along with books on witchcraft and channeling. All of their Christian books were in the "Religion" section. I guess the folks at Waldenbooks think that Islam and Buddhism don't quite qualify as religion? Astrologists are no doubt pleased that they have their own dedicated "Astrology" section at Waldenbooks.
Wednesday, January 22, 2003
Sunday, January 19, 2003
The Silent Minority
The anti-war protesters have generated a flurry of media attention in the U.S. and worldwide. In the U.S. much of the public and private debate has been over the patriotism, or lack thereof, of the American protesters. Yesterday, CNN had a poll asking viewers if they thought the anti-war protesters were unpatriotic. It's a debate allright, but a near-no-brainer (NNB). First, let's celebrate the fact that in America we can protest publicly and to do so is very American. Are the protesters unpatriotic because they oppose the Administration's policy on going to war. Not a bit.
Are some of the protesters complete idiots? You bet. The ones that are against all war, and globalization, and corporations, and business in general, and just about everything American are so off the wall and predictable that they can't be taken seriously. They aren't excercising their minds. But neither are the nuts that are for war, and for EVERYTHING the US Administration says, and against protesters and protesting. Come on people, THINK!!
I try to have an open mind on this Iraq war thing. I am still in the questioning mode. I still don't really see why invading Iraq is worth it and I wonder whether it is the right thing to do. On the one hand I ask if maybe Bush knows something we don't but he can't tell us. Or, could those who say we want the oil be right? How can any of us really know what's going on? Those of us who remember Vietnam know how our Government lied to us time and again. We know we can't just trust any government or anyone.
There's a lot of us, Americans who don't see the need to attack Iraq, but we aren't so cocksure that we are ready to hit the streets.
The anti-war protesters have generated a flurry of media attention in the U.S. and worldwide. In the U.S. much of the public and private debate has been over the patriotism, or lack thereof, of the American protesters. Yesterday, CNN had a poll asking viewers if they thought the anti-war protesters were unpatriotic. It's a debate allright, but a near-no-brainer (NNB). First, let's celebrate the fact that in America we can protest publicly and to do so is very American. Are the protesters unpatriotic because they oppose the Administration's policy on going to war. Not a bit.
Are some of the protesters complete idiots? You bet. The ones that are against all war, and globalization, and corporations, and business in general, and just about everything American are so off the wall and predictable that they can't be taken seriously. They aren't excercising their minds. But neither are the nuts that are for war, and for EVERYTHING the US Administration says, and against protesters and protesting. Come on people, THINK!!
I try to have an open mind on this Iraq war thing. I am still in the questioning mode. I still don't really see why invading Iraq is worth it and I wonder whether it is the right thing to do. On the one hand I ask if maybe Bush knows something we don't but he can't tell us. Or, could those who say we want the oil be right? How can any of us really know what's going on? Those of us who remember Vietnam know how our Government lied to us time and again. We know we can't just trust any government or anyone.
There's a lot of us, Americans who don't see the need to attack Iraq, but we aren't so cocksure that we are ready to hit the streets.
Meme Central
Why can't you get that tune out of your head? Why do religious and political orientations tend to run in families? Expose yourself to the Meta Meme!!
Why can't you get that tune out of your head? Why do religious and political orientations tend to run in families? Expose yourself to the Meta Meme!!
Friday, January 17, 2003
Where is Frosty Troy's Head At?
Many are asking what has happened to Frosty Troy, publisher of the Oklahoma Observor, to lead him to support Senator Shurden's attempt to gut the anti-cockfighting legislation the people recently passed by initiative petition. Has he gone off the deep end or is this famously anti-Daily Oklahoma writer mad because the D.O. has weighed in on the anti-cockfighting side? Has Frosty become an anti-intellectual Ludite? A supporter of anti-democratic, backroom power politics? Frosty! Tell us it ain't so!!
Frosty is too smart a fellow to siddle up to Frank Shurden. Too smart to not know that the people have spoken through the initiative petition and election process. Too smart to not know what damage cockfighting does both to the people who participate in it and to Oklahoma's image. Well, maybe not.
Many are asking what has happened to Frosty Troy, publisher of the Oklahoma Observor, to lead him to support Senator Shurden's attempt to gut the anti-cockfighting legislation the people recently passed by initiative petition. Has he gone off the deep end or is this famously anti-Daily Oklahoma writer mad because the D.O. has weighed in on the anti-cockfighting side? Has Frosty become an anti-intellectual Ludite? A supporter of anti-democratic, backroom power politics? Frosty! Tell us it ain't so!!
Frosty is too smart a fellow to siddle up to Frank Shurden. Too smart to not know that the people have spoken through the initiative petition and election process. Too smart to not know what damage cockfighting does both to the people who participate in it and to Oklahoma's image. Well, maybe not.
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.
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.
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.