Monday, January 28, 2008

IT TOOK CHARACTER TO QUIT!
by Steve Fair
On Monday, Oklahoma Speaker of the House Lance Cargill stepped down from the Speaker’s chair. At the age of thirty-six, Cargill was the youngest speaker in the United States. Cargill had come under fire this month for failing to file his personal income tax returns and for being late paying his property tax. He is also under investigation by the State Ethics Commission on how some checks written in 2004 that were intended for the Oklahoma State Republican Party made their way into the Oklahoma County Republican Party account.

After The Sunday Oklahoman broke their story about Cargill being delinquent six years in a row in paying property tax on his Harrah law office. The former speaker didn’t make any excuses and in fact was contrite in his response. “I take full responsibility for this error,” he said on Friday. "Í apologize to the people of Oklahoma and to my colleagues.” In fact, Cargill called a number of his fellow Republican colleagues and extended to them a personal apology. In the end, that wasn’t enough and his poor judgment cost him his dream job.

State Representative David Dank- R-OKC said it best when he said that Cargill’s troubles were of his own making. “It is unfortunate that it had to come to this, but Speaker Cargill brought his troubles on himself,” Dank said. “The people of Oklahoma have a right to expect exemplary conduct from those they send to the state Capitol and he failed that basic test.” Cargill's conduct may not have been exemplary, but his resignation was. It spoke volumes about the differences between the Republicans and Democrats. Republicans don’t excuse misbehavior, even in their own ranks.

Dank, who is introducing sweeping ethics and campaign finance reform legislation this session, says, "Oklahomans should know that his resignation came after considerable pressure from members of his own party," he said. "We are determined to advance a true reform agenda during the upcoming session, including passage of the ethics and campaign finance reform bill I have introduced to address many of the same issues that led to Speaker Cargill’s resignation. I look forward to working with the new House leadership to make that bill a reality."

Oklahoma Republicans called for his resignation and Cargill had enough character to step aside. In his resignation letter, Cargill said, “I want nothing more than to have good ideas to move forward without the burden of being weighed down by personal stories about me.” “I have always said my leadership has been about good ideas and this move should allow those ideas to flourish as they should."

Cargill had to resign. The average person does not have the luxury of ignoring the rule of law. They can’t file their income returns late or pay their taxes chronically late and expect to get a pass. The average citizen has a right to expect their leaders to be following the rule of law.

Republicans hold their leaders to a higher standard. As Dank said, "the public should expect exemplary behavior from their leaders- no matter their party affiliation.”

What compounds the situation is when you have another Republican lawmaker who justifies his negligence and non-compliance of not filing their tax returns by saying, “He was too busy doing the people’s work.” Are you kidding me? Leading by example is doing the people’s work. Complying with the rules and laws that all of us have to submit to is the peoples work. Whining, justifying and blaming others for their negligence is not the people’s work. That type of response is childish, immature, and arrogant. Those who engage in it are unfit for public office. How a person responds when they are attacked for something they have done wrong reveals a lot about their character or lack of it.

For example, take State Auditor and Inspector Jeff McMahan. McMahan was indicted by a federal grand jury over a week ago. In spite of dozens of calls for his resignation (many within his own party), he has yet to comply. Cargill’s supposed crime involved private money and he did not misappropriate any taxpayer monies, but McMahan’s is alleged to have "turned his head" when he was supposed to be watching out for the people’s money in exchange for illegal campaign contributions.

Lance Cargill obviously made some poor judgments in his life, but stepping aside was not one of them. By voluntarily doing so, he proved the cause he was laboring for was greater than he was. That’s a rare quality in politicians and it shows more character than most politicians exhibit. Doing the right thing is never the wrong thing to do.

Monday, January 21, 2008

WALLBUILDER'S VOTER GUIDE
Wallbuilders has an excellent voter guide for those interested in where the major candidates stand on faith-based issues. You can access it at:

http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissuesArticles.asp?id=5386
WHEN WILL WE EVER LEARN?
By Steve Fair
In 1975, Democrat Oklahoma Governor David Hall was indicted three days after he left office and eventually was found guilty of federal racketeering and extortion. In 1984, Oklahoma had what has been described as the most wide spread political scandal in America. Sixty of the seventy-seven counties in our state had at least one of their county commissioners indicted in a kickback scheme that had been going on for decades, Most of the convictions involved companies supplying road repair equipment or materials. Over 220 convictions resulted from that scandal. The vast majority of those indicted were Democrats. In their book, Bad Times for Good Ol' Boys, Harry Holloway and Frank Meyers said the reason given by the commissioners for their illegal acts varied from-“ the job does not pay enough, to everybody knows about and expects the kickbacks, and they are really part of a commissioner's salary.”

In 1994, Democrat Governor David Walters reluctantly opted not to run for re-election after a grand jury recommended impeachment. Walters eventually pled guilty to a misdemeanor campaign finance violation. In 2003, former Democrat state legislators- Gene Stipe and Mike Mass- were indicted on charges they funneled thousands of dollars illegally to Democrats running for office. Former Democrat Insurance Commissioner Carroll Fisher resigned from office in 2004 and was convicted of embezzlement and perjury at a 2006 trial on corruption charges. He was sentenced to three years in prison. Once again political scandal hits Oklahoma. Once again political scandal hits Oklahoma.

On Friday January 18, 2008, the federal grand jury in Muskogee returned nine federal indictments against Democrat Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector Jeff McMahan and his wife Lori. The indictments allege that McMahan and his wife used a variety of schemes and straw donotions to funnel over $100,000 into his 2002 campaign. If the Auditor is found guilty on these charges, he and his wife could face millions of dollars in fines and years in jail.

The disturbing thing about this latest indictment is that it involves the office of the state’s watchdog. The office of SA&I is one that audits county government and state agencies. The SA&I require a person who has principles and integrity and will watch out for the taxpayers of the state.

In February of 2003, I wrote an article that appeared in The Duncan Banner entitled Is Big Daddy(Steve Phipps nickname) McMahan’s Sugar Daddy? You can read it on this blog. I re-posted it last Friday after the indictments came down. Back in February 2005, McMahan responded to that article with a vengeance, sending The Banner a full-page rebuttal attacking me. He denied all the allegations and claimed he did not know Steve Phipps. That claim was false- he did know Phipps. That fact, along with all of the allegations in the Big Daddy article printed three years ago were confirmed in the sixteen-page indictment returned on Friday.

Governor Brad Henry, Attorney General Drew Edmondson, State House Minority Leader Morgan, and other leading Democrats have urged McMahan to step down until this matter is off the table. Former Auditor and Inspector Clifton Scott is among those who supposedly counseled his former protégé McMahan to take a leave of absence and turn the operations of the office over to a top deputy.

The associate vice chancellor of finance and budget for the State Regents for Higher Education, Greg Sawyer, confirms he has been approached by a representative of Governor Brad Henry about being appointed auditor and inspector. The Governor’s office has denied that claim and said they have not approached anyone about the Auditor’s job.

I have a suggestion for filling the job- how about McMahan’s opponent in his last two elections? In the 2002 race, acording to the indictment, over $100,000 in straw donor contributions were funneled into the race yet, this person lost by less than 28,000 votes statewide. It clear the 2002 and 2006 races were stolen from this person. If illegal money would not have been used to buy more broadcast media, this person would have been elected.

This person has the qualifications. They are a CPA and a Certified Fraud Examiner. They understand the budget process. They will watch out for the taxpayers money. The person is Gary Jones. The challenge for Henry is that Gary currently serves as Chairman of the State Republican Party. That would require Henry, a Democrat, to cross the aisle and show bi-partisanship to appoint him. In reality, the State Auditor’s job shouldn’t be a partisan one. The SA&I should be someone that understands accounting and is honest. Party affiliation should not matter.

Based on the elections of ’02 and ’06, it’s clear that a large percentage of Oklahomans wanted Jones in the job. I would urge Governor Henry to do the right thing and appoint Jones until the November general election. The SA&I race should be placed on the November 2008 ballot. This would allow voters to choose a permanent replacement instead of allowing a political appointment to serve the remaining three years of McMahan’s term. Bottom line- it’s the right thing to do.

Friday, January 18, 2008

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH GARY JONES
By Steve Fair- From Washington DC

Do you feel vindicated by the indictment of Jeff McMahan?
I have known this information for three years, so his indictment wasn't a surprise. The surprise is how long it took.

Were there more or less indictments or accusations than you anticipated?
More- I knew they were involved in scheming with Steve Phipps, but the alleged taking of cash was something I did not anticipate.

Do you think McMahan will go to jail?
If the allegations are proven and he has broken the people's trust, yes he should go to jail.

Did you suspect his wife was as involved as the indictments allege?
No, she on numerous occasions accused me of making false accusations and lying about her husband's activities, but I never suspected she was involved to the extent the indictments allege.

In point #17, on page 5 of the Overt Acts section of the indictments, it is alleged the McMahan's solicited CASH donations to their campaign. Was this a surprise to you?
Yes, the fact they took straw donations was not a surprise, but when it alleges they were taking cash it was a shock.

What should McMahan do?
If he is innocent as he claims, he should at the very least take a leave of absence until this situation is resolved. I believe the Governor has asked him to do that and I have released a Press Release echoing that.

Will you be scheduling a press conference next week to discuss these indictments?
We'll see. The disappointing thing is that once again a state-wide elected official from the Democratic party has allegedly violated the citizens trust.


Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour spoke today- 1/18/08- to the Republican National Committee in Washington D.C. To a crowd of party faithful, Barbour half-jokingly said Republicans have one very powerful trick up their sleeves. "At some point, the Democrats must nominate someone." Barbour said the Democrats message of change is disingenuous. "Change is a constant." "The key is to have a President and a Congress that can manage change." "The Democrats have proven they are ineffective in doing this." Barbour says the Democrat's prayer for 2008 is "Get through 2008 by advocating change." Much like their message in 2006 of "Vote for us- we're not Republicans, it's a message that has no substance."
Today, three years after this article appeared in THE DUNCAN BANNER, State Auditor and Inspector Jeff McMahan has been indicted by a federal grand jury. After the article appeared, State Auditor Jeff McMahan wrote a full page response that appeared in a Sunday edition. In his rebuttal, he falsely claimed he didn't know Steve Phipps. He has since said that he did know him and took campaign contributions from him. Jeff said I was the mouthpiece for the State GOP. He was right about the MOUTHPIECE part, but not for the State GOP. By special request, here is the infamous BIG DADDY article. Enjoy!
Is Big Daddy McMahan’s Sugar Daddy?
by Steve Fair

In the 1970s, a popular television show was The Dukes of Hazard. In every episode, Bo and Luke Duke battled the local political boss- appropriately named Boss Hogg. It was not your classic case of good vs. evil, because sometimes the Duke boys bent the law a little to suit their taste, but fundamentally they were the good guys. Boss Hogg had his dirty work done by Roscoe the dim-witted sheriff and Cletus, the Deputy. Roscoe never worried about re-election so long as the Boss was happy. The Boss reigned sovereign in Hazard County! It was good entertainment because we knew that in every episode, the Dukes would win out over Boss Hogg. It wasn’t set in Oklahoma because in the Sooner state unfortunately, the good guys don’t always win.
For decades when one thought of sleazy, backroom politics in Oklahoma, Gene Stipe instantly came to mind. Stipe was at one time the longest serving elected official in America. Serving over 50 years in the Oklahoma state legislature, he was the poster boy for term limits. During his reign, Stipe abused his office as State Senator by using his power to build what can only be described as an empire in Southeast Oklahoma. Senator Stipe was so notorious that he earned the nickname “The Prince of Darkness”- a real-life Boss Hogg. It seems the Prince has left his mark on many associates and partners that will perpetuate the Good Ole Boy network for decades to come in Oklahoma. Stipe followers have watched their idol rule over the State in a way that only a mafia boss could appreciate.
The good Senator manipulated and abused the system so effectively that his personal wealth is estimated to be over 26 million dollars. Many Oklahomans were hopeful that the day of Good Ole Boy politics in Oklahoma had come to an end when Stipe was forced to resign in shame. He pled guilty of violating federal campaign laws by illegally funneling $50,000 into Walt Roberts failed Congressional campaign, but it appears he hasn’t learned his lesson yet. Now, one of Stipe’s minions, Steve Phipps along with the former Senator are being investigated for what appears to be a scam to open a dog food plant in McAlester. The plant, which was financed by state and city tax dollars, has not produced a single can or bag of dog food. It has not created the 25 jobs that were promised. However: the facility has been utilized to service Indian gaming machines.
Phipps owns a business that provides that service to the tribes and he evidently, is using the facility to work on one arm bandits, but not to make pet food. Who is Steve Phipps? His nickname is “Big Daddy.” It seems that the dog food factory isn’t the only connection Big Daddy has to the Prince. Phipps and Stipe are partners in abstract companies across Southeast Oklahoma. Anyone selling or refinancing property in Oklahoma are required to have titles brought up to date within a 90 day period. Abstract companies are the only place to get that done in the state. In many counties, Phipps and Stipe own the only abstract office in town. To add insult to injury, abstractors set their own rates. What an industry-to have customers that have to do business with you- on your terms- at your price?
One has to ask how such a system could be allowed to exist in Oklahoma? Who is responsible for watching the abstractors? That responsibility falls to the Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector. The author of the bill that gave the Auditor’s office that job? That’s right- Senator Gene Stipe. The Bellamy Brothers sang, What you need is a Sugar Daddy. It looks like Jeff McMahan has found one- maybe two. Now we learn that Big Daddy, The Prince and many of their employees and associates contributed to the 2002 campaign war chest of State Auditor Jeff McMahan. When asked about the contributions McMahan stated that he would take any “legal campaign contribution.” He went on to say that anyone contributing to him was doing so because they “believed in good government.” The average Oklahoma taxpayer’s idea of good government and Phipps’ and Stipe’s idea might be a much different. To accept campaign contributions from any and everyone shows a serious lack of judgment on McMahan’s part. Who says that contributing to campaigns doesn’t pay dividends? It has paid excellent dividends for Phipps and Stipe. McMahan has refused to audit the Private Economic Authority that gave the money to Phipps to build the phantom pet food plant. The land the authority gave to Phipps was purchased from Gene Stipe at more than 2 ½ times the assessed value. This whole multi-pronged transaction doesn’t pass the “smell” test.
And when Steve Phipps-aka- Big Daddy- feels the need to meet with someone at the State Capital to try to get laws passed, who does he call?. He calls his good buddy Jeff McMahan. Evidently, Steve Phipps has used the State Auditor’s office to meet with legislators and others on numerous occasions while trying to influence legislation. He may have gotten some wording inserted into a bill that gave him a competitive advantage to produce Indian Gaming machines. As private citizens and taxpayers, we may not be able to do much about Stipe and Phipps and their shady dealings. That will be left to the investigators and prosecutors, but McMahan is another matter. His ties to Stipe and Phipps are troubling. We need to change our image in Oklahoma. McMahan is up for re-election in 2006 and we need to McFIRE him.
CURRY TO DELAY ANNOUNCEMENT

General Jerry Curry, retired U.S. Army, has decided to cancel his January 23, 2008 Presidential Candidacy announcement in the Rotunda of the State Capital. General Curry’s wife, Charlene, has developed an Embolism in one of her legs. A suspected heart attack led to her being taken to a hospital. Very few details are available.

Gen. Curry will announce his candidacy at the January 24th Helen Cole banquet. For those of you who wish to attend the banquet, tickets are still available. Contact Jim Helm at
229-4807.
JONES FOR AUDITOR!
By Steve Fair
Gary Jones should be the Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector. In 2002, Jones lost the statewide race to Jeff McMahan by 28,000 votes- less than 2%. In a rematch in 2006, Jones lost another close race to McMahan. On Friday, MaMahan and his wife were indicted by the federal grand jury on nine counts. It's alleged that he used a straw donor scheme to funnel over $100,000 into his 2002 race. In a secondary state wide race, that's a huge amount of money- money that allowed McMahan to buy TV and radio spots featuring his catchy McMahan Can jingle. The production company that produced the jingle allegedly did it free without it being reported- a violation of ethics rules. The indictments also allege that Lori McMahan received $10,000 in cash at a Shawnee restaurant to buy spots for the western part of Oklahoma in McMahan's 2002 race.
THE LAST TWO ELECTIONS WERE STOLEN FROM JONES!
Oklahomans of both parties can agree on that simple concept. Oklahomans should urge Governor Brad Henry to ask McMahan to resign and appoint Jones to the office. The Governor should then call for a special election in November to fill the unexpired term of McMahan. The duties of this office require a person that will utilize accepted good accounting practices. It is not a partisan office in the truest sense. Gary Jones is more than qualified for this position- is a CPA and his appointment is the right thing to do.
The telephone number for the Governor's office is (405) 521-2342. The fax number is (405) 521-3353. To send a message to the Governor electronically, go to the Governor's web site- http://www.governor.state.ok.us/message.php and follow the instructions to submit a MESSAGE to the Governor.

Thursday, January 17, 2008

This photograph taken by Mathew Brady was previously the only known photo of Lincoln at Gettysburg. His face can be seen in the center of the photo. It was taken after he delivered his speech, regarded as one of the greatest in U.S. history.
NEW LINCOLN PHOTOGRAPHS FOUND


(Jan. 17) -- A curator at the Library of Congress found three glass negatives showing the crowd that attended Abraham Lincoln's second inauguration as president, on March 4, 1865. Until the discovery, only two other photos of the event had been known to exist, the library said.


KARL ROVE'S FOUR POINT PLAN TO BEAT THE Ds

Karl Rove, speaking at the RNC Winter meeting in Washington outlined four tenets for beating the Democrats in 2008:
  • Republican candidates have to first “create a sustaining narrative about themselves
  • Republican candidates should engage dialogue” on the “kitchen table issues,” like health care, education, jobs and the economy.
  • Republican candidates must show they are serious about campaigning “aggressively in places where Republicans don’t usually campaign- ie Black, Latino,Asian and Union voters
  • Republican candidates must prove to the electorate the surge is working.
Read more about the super consultant's speech at: http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/rove-outlines-plan-to-beat-top-08-dems-2008-01-17.html
PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY DEBATE
by Steve Fair
At the Winter meeting of the Republican National Committee in Washington today, the Standing Committee on Rules is considering five(5) proposals that would alter the way the Republican nominee for President is selected. The five proposals entitled- The Modified NASS Plan, The Texas Plan, The Dingell-Anuzis Modified Plan, The Delaware Plan and The Ohio Plan vary in their approach, but their objective is the same- to allow for more states participation in the selection process. Because several states moved up their primaries in order to at least have some say in the process, the RNC is debating wholesale changes to the entire process.
Several of the plans would rotate primaries by region or group states into 4-6 groups based on their allocated number of electoral votes. The rotation would change each presidential cycle, allowing each state or region to have more impact on the process. The recommendation of the Rules committee will be taken up at the upcoming Chairman's meeting in New Mexico. The rules change would have not impact on the 2008 convention in Minneapolis/St. Paul since the rules for that convention have already been approved by the Rules Committee.

Monday, January 14, 2008

AMERICA’S GODLY HERTIAGE
by Steve Fair
Is America a Christian nation? While that may seem to be an undisputed fact to evangelicals, it’s not a fact shared by all Americans. The Freedom from Religion Foundation flatly states America is not a Christian nation. They boldly say, “the U.S. Constitution is a secular document which begins, "We the people," and contains no mention of "God" or "Christianity." FRF claims the only references to religion are exclusionary, such as, "no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust" (Art. VI), and "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" (First Amendment). While they prop up their secularist view quite well by taking selected passages of the Constitution out of context, their not recogning the Christian roots of our country is to be intellectually dishonest.

Twelve of the thirteen original state constitutions contained explicit acknowledgments of God and Christianity. At least forty-two of the state constitutions contain some acknowledgment of God in their preambles. Every kid in school used to learn about the writings and early documents executed by those who built our great nation. To refresh your memory, you may recall that in 1620, the Pilgrims wrote the Mayflower Compact before they got off the Mayflower.

The Compact said "In the presence of God, Amen. We ... do by these presents solemnly and mutually in ye presence of God, and one another, covenant and combine ourselves into a civil body politic." The compact was the first governing document of the Plymouth Colony. Knowing that earlier settlements in the New World had failed due to a lack of government, the Mayflower Compact was written and adopted. It was in essence a social contract in which the settlers consented to follow the compact's rules and regulations for the sake of survival. The government that the compact formed, in return, would derive its power from the consent of the governed. Fourty one male members of the colony signed the document. The compact is often referred to as the foundation of the Constitution of the United States.

The evidence of our Christian heritage can also be found in the writing and speeches of our founding fathers. Massachusetts Governor Samuel Adams said, "The rights of the colonists as Christians may be best understood by reading and carefully studying the institutes of the great Law Giver which are to be found clearly written and promulgated in the New Testament."

George Washington said regarding the Constitution: "Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair; the event is in the hand of God."
Thomas Jefferson, who along with Franklin are often cited as being the less religious members of the founding fathers, has these words on his memorial: "God who gave us life, gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that the liberties are the gift of God?"

And it was Franklin at the Constitutional Convention who rose and said, "I have lived, Sir, a long time and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth: that God governs in the affairs of man. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can arise without His aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this." Franklin then moved the convention resort to prayer.

Virginia Governor Patrick Henry said, "It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists but by Christians, not on religions but on the gospel of Jesus Christ."

John Jay, first chief justice of the United States said, "Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty as well as the privilege and interest, of a Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers."
America’s roots are Christian. While our nation has certainly strayed from those roots, there is no denying that Christians founded America on Christian principles. The politically correct crowd has done great damage to our country’s reputation by attempting to revise our rich history.
~~~~~~~~~~~
On Saturday evening January 19th, Rick Green with Wallbuilders will return to Duncan for the fourth consecutive year. Rick is a former Texas state legislator whose constituents included the current President, George W. Bush. Rick is an excellent speaker whose high-energy style rivets an audience as he presents America’s forgotten history. The event will be held at the Stephens County Fairgrounds and tickets are free. The event will begin at 6pm. The public is invited. Even though the Stephens County Republican Party is sponsoring this event, we will not discuss politics- only our country’s Christian heritage. Every American Christian should see this presentation. It’s worth the drive to Duncan.

Friday, January 11, 2008

OKLAHOMA REPUBLICAN
PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY
SAMPLE BALLOT
FEBRUARY 5, 2008







Wednesday, January 9, 2008


2008 Republican Presidential Candidates
OKLAHOMA CONTACT INFORMATION

(In alphabetical order)
Jerry Ralph Curry for President Campaign
http://www.curryforamerica.com 703-468-1812
Bobby Cleveland, Oklahoma Contact
(405) 517-5990 bobcleveland@coxinet.net


Daniel Ayers Gilbert for President Campaign https://www.wethepeopleforpresident.com/ 864-242-2820

Rudy Giuliani for President Campaign
http://www.joinrudy2008.com/
K.C. Jones, Regional Political Director for OK (646) 915-5779
kcjones@joinrudy2008.com

Emily Cornell, Regional Political Coordinator (646) 943-7837 emilycornell@joinrudy2008.com
Terry Neese, National Chair Women for Rudy (347) 302-3251 terryneese@joinrudy2008.com

Renzi Stone (405) 608-0445 rstone@saxumcommunications.com
Sharon Caliendo (405) 579-9720 skcalien@aol.com
Kevin Walker kevinwalker@joinrudy2008.com
Jeff Peters (405) 204-1759 jeffpeters@joinrudy2008.com


Mike Huckabee for President Campaign
http://www.explorehuckabee.com/ (501) 324-2008
information@explorehuckabee.com

Duncan Hunter for President Campaign
http://www.gohunter.com/ 1-888-344-8708
Pat Briley OK State Coordinator
405/478-3150
pbriley@yahoo.com

Breanna Kingsbury, General Outreach breanna@gohunter08.com

Alan Keyes for President Campaign
http://www.alankeyes.com801-373-5788/
contact@alankeyes.com

John McCain for President Campaign
http://www.johnmccain.com/ (703) 418-2008
Ben Golnik, Regional Political Director for OK
bgolnik@mccain08hq.com


Ron Paul for President Campaign
http://www.ronpaul2008.com/ (703) 248-9115
Kirk Shelley
OK State Coordinator
kirk@ronpaul2008.com
405/470-3398
http://www.ronpaul2008.com/states/oklahoma/

Mitt Romney for President Campaign
http://www.mittromney.com/ (857) 288-6400
Thad Balkman OK State Coordinator 405/229-9822 tbalkman@mittromney.com

Fred Thompson for President Campaign
www.fred08.com 615/250-8180
Oklahoma Energy: Successful Past, Bright Future
By: Dana Murphy

In one hundred years Oklahoma has gone from being the new kid on the block to being a leader in energy. Most of us know the story of Oklahoma’s oil boom in the early 1900s. Back then Tulsa was the place for all things oil. Getty, Skelly, Kerr, McGee, Tom Slick, Helmerich and Payne…the list goes on and on of famous oil men turning black gold into jobs, revenue and a future for our state.

A century later the boom has moved from oil to natural gas and throughout Oklahoma. Chesapeake, Devon, Newfield, SandRidge and many others are the newest kids on the block, bringing jobs, taxes, royalty income and prosperity through new, unconventional reservoirs. Oil and natural gas again rank number one economically in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma continues to lead on the national energy front. Based on 2006 data, Oklahoma ranked third in natural gas production and fifth in oil production in the United States. Oklahoma State University, The University of Oklahoma and The University of Tulsa are among the elite universities educating tomorrow’s energy leaders. The Noble Foundation and other groups are at the forefront of developing today’s and tomorrow’s fuels. Consumers have benefited greatly, as Oklahoma’s energy prices consistently rank among the nation’s lowest.

While the fuel on the shelf is still natural gas and oil, keeping that fuel readily available involves more advanced technology and significantly greater expense. Oklahomans and Americans must encourage further domestic oil and gas development, and make more efficient use of these precious resources in our vehicles, homes and businesses.

In an era of declining oil and gas resources, alternative fuels are becoming more vital to our future. Currently, we’re developing wind power, solar energy, hydrogen power and bio fuels. Coal, once a staple of energy, is being reinvented through improving technology as a source of cleaner, increasingly efficient power.

Oklahomans have always been innovative, persevering and resourceful —a proud tradition which continues. With the potential to provide 10 percent of America’s electricity needs, Oklahoma already ranks sixth nationally for wind farm capacity. OG&E, AEP/PSO, the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority and a growing number of Oklahoma Electric Cooperatives are helping lead the way with wind power.

It’s up to Oklahoma to advance and maximize fossil fuel extraction, while simultaneously cultivating new energy sources. We have the talent, the will and the knowledge to make
Oklahoma a vital player on today’s and tomorrow’s world energy stage.
We must encourage our universities, energy companies and power providers to research, test and move to market, every form of viable, renewable energy possible.

Government has a significant role to play through working with the public and private sectors to initiate, facilitate and provide the right incentives for research and development. According to former Secretary of Energy Bob Sullivan, a significant, untapped Oklahoma resource also lies in utilizing the knowledge of senior managers and retirees of energy companies to help move us forward.

Challenge and excitement lie ahead for the energy industry and consumers alike. We’re watching the slow but steady addition of alternative fuels along with development of new unconventional reservoirs of oil and natural gas. Oklahoma, with its rich tradition of leadership in the energy industry, is poised to continue that greatness in the coming years.
The more we use power wisely and conserve, the more we lower our personal energy costs, protect our environment, maximize use of all energy forms and improve national security through reducing our dependence on foreign oil.

Working together, the people of Oklahoma and Oklahoma’s energy industry can lead our nation and the world to a future with exciting energy opportunities.

Dana Murphy is the former Vice Chairperson of the Oklahoma Republican Party. She is a candidate for Oklahoma Corporation Commission. She can be reached at dana@danamurphy.com.

It was one heck of a year
by George Porter
This column last week on the future of the American Navy referenced a new book by Jim Rasenberger, "America, 1908." In the prologue of the book he calls 1908 one hell of a year of change, and writes "for all that was wrong with America in 1908, the most impressive trait shared by its people was the hope that carried them forward. They fiercely believed, not always with good reason, that the future would be better than the present. It's striking, in fact, how much more hopeful Americans were then than we are today." Even though we live in a nation that is stronger, safer, richer, and healthier, a recent Pew poll found that barely one-third of us feel optimistic about the future. When asked if children growing up in the country today would be better off or worse off in days to come, two-thirds predicted they would be worse off. The win by Mike Huckabee and Barrack Obama in Iowa and the low approval ratings of both political parties, Congress and the President indicate 2008 may be an equally pivotal year in American history. Rasenberger's excellent book sites events before and after 1908, and constantly references links to America today. 1908 was the year Henry Ford introduced the Model T, Wilbur and Orville Wright continued to make aviation history, and baseball dominated sports - all are well covered in this book that includes leading newspaper headlines of the day. In 1908 over sixty five percent of eligible voters in the country cast ballots. In politics, 1908 was a year dominated by President Teddy Roosevelt and the sailing of the Great White Fleet. Roosevelt decided not to run for a third term, and William Jennings Bryan, Howard Taft and socialist Eugene Debs ran for president to follow Roosevelt. Oklahoma governor Charles Haskell was also the campaign treasurer for Bryan, and was implicated by the media of improperly accepting campaign contributions from Standard Oil. Sound familiar? There is one over-riding idea present in American politics today that was not prevalent in 1908 -- the concept of world governance and the role of global organizations such as the United Nations. A new book by Strobe Talbott, "The Great Experiment" expresses one point of view. The book is reviewed in the January 5th issue of The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) by Karen Elliott House, a senior fellow of Harvard's Belfer Center, a Pulitzer Prize winner and former publisher of the WSJ. Strobe Talbott is currently head of the Brookings Institution, a public policy think-tank, and previously served as deputy secretary of state under President Bill Clinton (1994-2001) and before that was a writer and editor for Time Magazine for 21 years. His book is an attempt to write the history of world civilizations from Noah's tribal descendants who settled North Africa and Mesopotamia to the modern nation-states that comprise the U.N. today. The book is not the work of a historian, but rather a sales pitch for one who advocates world governance and the supremacy of U.N. mandates. It is meant to encourage left-leaning activists in this year's elections. Excerpts - "within a hundred years nationhood as we know it will be obsolete; all states will recognize a single global authority." The greatest threats facing the world today, according to Talbott, are nuclear proliferation and global warming. Of these, he says, global warming is the more dire threat. "If we take the steps to fend off specific, imminent existential threats, we will be giving ourselves time and useful experience for lifting global governance to a higher level." Talbott urges re-validating the Clinton era treaty creating the International Criminal Court, which would allow foreigners to sit in judgment of American soldiers. Of the invasion of Iraq, he writes it is "the most ill-conceived, poorly executed, and disastrous exercise of American power in the history of the Republic." Ms. House concludes her review with the comment that it appears that if Talbott had to choose between a world with the U.S. and no U.N. or one with a U.N. and no U.S., he would choose the latter. Fortunately, plenty of Americans feel precisely the opposite. In checking web sites, I find that Strobe Talbott is an advisory member of Hillary Clinton's campaign team. New York mayor Michael Bloomberg and a group dissatisfied with the rancor in Washington met last week in Norman. Potential for a third party run for the presidency is substantial. Which way America votes this November will have a significant impact on world history. Historians may record that 2008, like 1908, was "one heck of a year." Let's hope over sixty five percent of eligible voters care enough to cast ballots. America's best years can be our future.
George Porter is a retired insurance company executive and a Duncan Banner columnist. He may be reached at geormrty@wmconnect.com
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Tuesday, January 8, 2008

GENERAL JERRY CURRY TO SEEK PRESIDENCY!
General Jerry Curry will officially announce his candidacy for President of the United States from Oklahoma City on January 23rd at the State Capital. Curry is a retired Major General who enlisted in the Army as a private. The General served as Military Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense in the Carter administration. He was Press Secretary to the Secretary of Defense in the Reagan administration. He was Administrator of the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration during the George Herbert Bush administration. The General was in Oklahoma the past couple of days and has made some very positive impressions. He will be appearing on the Oklahoma presidential primary ballot February 5th.
Curry will be the featured speaker at the Helen Cole Banquet on January 24th in Moore where he will not only speak and also sing God Bless America. Curry is the author of a book- From Private to General, and his wife has authored a book entitled The General's Lady. For more information on Curry's candidacy contact Bobby Cleveland at bobcleveland@coxinet.net or log onto his website at http://www.curryforamerica.com/
Bill Would Require Cigarettes to Be "Fire Safe"
Bill filed for Oklahoma 2008 legislative session that would mandate SAFE CIGs!
SMOKE 'EM IF YOU GOT 'EM
Steve Fair's comments at end of Press Release in RED
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: State Rep. Joe Dorman

Bill Would Require Cigarettes to Be "Fire Safe"

OKLAHOMA CITY-(January 8, 2008)- Fires started by cigarettes kill nearly 900 people every year in the United States, prompting dozens of states to either enact laws or file legislation that require cigarettes to be made from fire-safe materials that automatically extinguish if left
unattended. State Rep. Joe Dorman has filed a measure for the upcoming legislative session that would make Oklahoma the 31st state to require cigarettes sold within the state to be so-called "fire-safe cigarettes," which are also known as fire-standards-compliant cigarettes.

"Cigarettes are the leading cause of fire fatalities in the United States," said Dorman, D-Rush Springs. "And it is not just the smokers who are dying; it is the smoker's children and spouses who are killed in these fires as well. Cigarettes are not only unhealthy, but they are also highly dangerous to everyone who encounters them. "It only makes sense to hold tobacco companies to a higher standard, just as we do with automobile and toy manufacturers." Since June 2004, New York state has been requiring fire-safe cigarettes, which are made with a paper designed to stop burning after several moments if a smoker doesn't inhale on the cigarette; since then, 21 more states have enacted the same standard and eight states have legislation pending. The "fire-safe" cigarettes are mandated nationwide in Canada. According to The Coalition for Fire Safe Cigarettes, cigarettes are the leading cause of home fire fatalities in the United States, killing 700 to 900 people per year. In 2003, there were more than 25,000 structure fires caused by cigarettes, which killed 760 people and injured 1,520 others. Property losses from smoking-material fires total hundreds of millions of dollars each year. In addition, discarded cigarettes are responsible for more than half of all wildfires throughout the nation, said an official with the National Incident Information Center. In 2005, there were more than 66,000 wildfires in the U.S. that burnt more than 8.6 million acres of property, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. Dorman said the goal of the legislation is to protect not only smokers, but also innocent victims and all citizens who are forced to pay higher insurance premiums as a result of the sheer number of fires caused by cigarettes. An estimated one-quarter of the victims aren't smokers. Instead they are often children living in the same home who die in the blaze. Up to 34
percent are children of the smokers; 25 percent are neighbors or friends; 14 percent are spouses or partners; and 13 percent are parents. A study conducted by the National Fire Protection Association in the 1980s predicted that fire-safe cigarettes would eliminate three out of four cigarette fire deaths, meaning more than 15,000 lives could have been saved by now if cigarette manufacturers had begun producing only fire-safe cigarettes. A collateral effect of the legislation would be a reduction in the number of people exposed to second-hand smoke from cigarettes because the "fire-safe" cigarettes automatically extinguish themselves when left alone, said Dorman.
SMOKE 'EM IF YOU GOT 'EM!
This is the same legislator who last year pushed through major legislation declaring the WATERMELON as the state vegetable. One burning question is: If the paper is firesafe, then how does the smoker light the cigarette and then keep it lit? It's apparent tobacco companies are rolling out this new firesafe product nationally. This is an example of a legislator running in front of the marketplace to get a little publicity. Oh, but I forgot, he filed this.... For the Children.
With tort reform, worker comp reform, tax on food, income tax, illegal immigration and a host of other issues that need attention, why are bills like this filed? It's all about the press. It's no wonder Oklahomans remain 43rd in the country in per capita income and 23rd in tax burden when we have leadership that is unwilling to tackle the hard issues first. Smoke 'em if you got 'em!

Monday, January 7, 2008

THE CANDIDATES AND THEIR PROFILES
UPDATE

This is an update of a post from October. Several people had asked me to post a thumbnail profile of the present slate of Presidential candidates from both parties that includes their religious affiliation and their vocations. Eight of the the thirteen are lawyers. There are three Catholics, four Baptist, and two Methodists in the group.The Pew Forum has an excellent section that will provide a more detailed profile of the candidates, including an interesting section on their religious biography. You can reach it by clicking on the link belowhttp://pewforum.org/religion08/

HILLARY CLINTON
Political affiliation: Democrat
Age: 59
Vocation: Lawyer
Elected Service- US Senate- New York 2001-present
Religious affiliation: United Methodist

RUDY GIULIANI
Political affiliation: Republican
Age: 63
Vocation: Lawyer
Elected Service- Mayor NYC- 1994-2001
Religious affiliation: Catholic

MIKE HUCKABEE
Political affiliation: RepublicanAge: 52
Vocation: Minister
Elected Service- Lt. Governor/Governor Arkansas- 1993-2007
Religious affiliation: Southern Baptist

JOHN EDWARDS
Political affiliation: Democrat
Age: 54
Vocation: Lawyer
Elected Service- US Senate- North Carolina- 1998-2005
Religious affiliation: United Methodist

DUNCAN HUNTER
Political affiliation: Republican
Age: 59
Vocation: Lawyer
Elected Service- Congress- Calfornia- 1981-present
Religious affiliation: Southern Baptist

MIKE GRAVEL
Political affiliation: Democrat
Age: 77
Vocation: Real Estate Developer
Elected Service- US Senate- Alaska- 1969-1981
Religious affiliation: Unitarian Universalist

JOHN MCCAIN
Political affiliation: Republican
Age: 71
Vocation: Retired Navy
Elected Service- US Senate/House- Arizona- 1983-present
Religious affiliation: Baptist

DENNIS KUNCINICH
Political affiliation: Democrat
Age: 61
Vocation: Professor
Elected Service- Congress- Ohio- 1997-present
Religious affiliation: Catholic

RON PAUL
Political affiliation: Republican
Age: 72
Vocation: Physican
Elected Service- Congress- Texas- 1976-present(18 yrs)
Religious affiliation: Baptist

BARACK OBAMA
Political affiliation: Democrat
Age: 46
Vocation: Lawyer
Elected Service- US Senate- Illinois- 2005-present
Religious affiliation: United Church of Christ

MITT ROMNEY
Political affiliation: Republican
Age: 60
Vocation: Lawyer/Venture Capitalist
Elected Service- Governor- Massacuetts- 2003-2007
Religious affiliation: Later Day Saints(Mormon)

BILL RICHARDSON
Political affiliation: Democrat
Age: 59
Vocation: Lawyer
Elected Service- Governor- New Mexico- 2003-present
Religious affiliation: Catholic

FRED THOMPSON
Political affiliation: Republican
Age: 65
Vocation: Lawyer
Elected Service- US Senate- Tennessee- 1994-2003
Religious affiliation: Church of Christ
"THERE'S NO CRYING IN BASEBALL!"
Tom Hanks in A League of their own scene when Evelynthrows home and lets
the tying run get on second and they lose the game. When Hanks character
Jimmy begins to yell at her, she crys because she can't take the criticism.
.....BUT SOMETIMES THERE IS IN POLITICS!
Teary-Eyed Clinton Vows to Fight On
Reuters
Posted: 2008-01-07 14:41:28

PORTSMOUTH, New Hampshire (Jan. 7) - A teary-eyed Hillary Clinton pushed for support on Monday as polls showed her poised for a huge New Hampshire loss to Democratic rival Barack Obama, but the former front-runner vowed to carry on with her presidential quest even if she loses.Obama warned supporters against overconfidence as a flood of new polls gave him a double-digit lead over Clinton one day before the state casts the next votes in the race for the White House. Read more at: http://news.aol.com/story/_a/teary-eyed-clinton-vows-to-fight-on/20080107142809990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001
WHERE ARE THE “BUSY” PEOPLE?
by Steve Fair

Why do people get involved in party politics? There are several reasons. First, most get involved because of issues. Perhaps they are passionate concerning the abortion issue and believe life begins at conception. After careful study of both major party platforms, they discover the Republican Party is pro-life and the Democratic Party is pro-choice. They align themselves with their convictions and become involved with the Republicans. Some have gotten involved in politics after having an experience with governmental red tape on a fiscal issue. Because of that experience, they read the party platforms and find that Republicans believe in less government and Democrats more government. Because of their experience they are motivated to become active politically.

Another reason people get involved in party politics is purely the social aspect. Their close circles of friends are political activists. They enjoy the camaraderie and the social aspect of politics. A third reason people get involved in politics is because they are political animals. These are the political junkies. They are consumed with politics. They cannot carry on a normal conversation without politics being mentioned. No matter, their party affiliation, these political types are rarely effective. Because their lives are so one-dimensional, they fail to see anything else but politics. They believe they are an expert on every political issue and interject their opinion at every opportunity.

The fourth group that get involved in politics are the opportunists. These are the volunteers that decide to “invest” in a campaign or get involved with the party in hopes of getting a job after the election. Elected officials and parties need staff and usually the first place they look is in the ranks of loyal supporters. There is nothing inherently evil or wrong with that so long as both parties understand that upfront. That communication can avoid hurt feelings, anger, disappointment, and resentment when they are not hired. This group is almost always exclusively young people.


And then there is the group that is involved because they want to change government. Those in this group may be influenced secondarily by one of the factors listed above, but their primary motivation is they want to move government- one direction or the other. This group is dedicated to their cause. They don’t just work on election years. They don’t just show up a party meeting or a campaign rally once a quarter. This group is faithful. This group doesn’t quit when they lose an election. They view their political involvement as a journey, not a destination. They don’t retire from political involvement. They give money sacrificially to the cause. They don’t take a year off to rest. They don’t complain about other people’s lack of involvement, because they seldom notice other’s disinterest in their cause. They are too busy trying to accomplish the goal to worry about anyone else’s involvement. They are team players. They check their egos at the door. They focus on the future and not on past failures. They support candidates they don’t personally care for because they agree with them on the issues. They base their support of candidates on verifiable track records and not sound bites, clever slogans, or the candidate’s word. They are skeptical and require documentation. They are focused, dedicated and multi-dimensional. Their lives are busy. They are usually the leaders in their church, a civic club, have demanding jobs and are juggling responsibilities at home. Even though they are busy, they consider their political involvement an essential part of who they are. Don’t confuse this group with the political animals mentioned earlier. The people in this group find the political animals to be too philosophical. This group craves action. They are strategists. They are in it for the long haul. You can usually see members of this rare group at a multitude of functions in town. They are busy people. They are high-achievers- self motivated individuals with a desire to make a difference for their kids and grandkids. Since government is, "by the people, of the people, for the people," we are all part of government, but this group is the “by” group.


The great evangelist Dwight L. Moody during his first visit to Britain heard the words that set him hungering and thirsting after a deeper Christian experience and which marked a new era in his life. Mr. Henry Varley, the well-known evangelist, spoke the words to him as they sat together on a seat in a public park in Dublin. The words were these: "The world has yet to see what God will do with and for and through and in and by the man who is fully consecrated to Him." Those words inspired a shoe salesman to shake the world for God. Would to God, talented, busy, multi-dimensional people who don’t have time would get involved in their government.

KRISPY KREME PHOTO REMOVED!
When I announced my candidacy for Oklahoma Republican National Committeeman, several other blogs used the image on Fair & Biased in the announcement showing me in a Krispy Kreme cap in front of the nation's capital. While I don't take myself seriously, I want people to take my candidacy seriously and understand that while I HAVE FUN IN POLITICS- my primary motivation for being involved is to improve our government- to get principled people elected to office- to help build a grassroots organization within the Republican party.
That's way I changed the photo. I can assure you I ain't "putting on airs" (Aunt Eller from Oklahoma), but attempting to present myself in a more appropriate way for the office in which I am seeking. I love the Krispy Kreme photograph. It was taken for a "marketing calendar" we distribute each year in the food industry. That photograph has graced the walls of dozens of corporate food executives- at least for a month- and served to "lighten" things up in business. Adam Smith, our Stephens County District Committeeman and a computer genius, photo shopped in the Capital which added a little extra zip.
During the course of the next several months, I hope to meet many of you as I campaign for this important job. Call or email me anytime you have suggestions or comments.
22 Ways To Be A Good Democrat
THIS IS NOT SO HARD-- EVEN A CAVE MAN CAN DO IT....
1. You have to be against capital punishment, but support abortion on demand.
2. You have to believe that businesses create oppression and governments create prosperity.
3. You have to believe that guns in the hands of law-abiding Americans are more of a threat than U.S. Nuclear weapons technology in the hands of Chinese and North Korean communists.
4. You have to believe that there was no art before Federal funding.
5. You have to believe that global temperatures are less affected by cyclical documented changes in the earth's climate and more affected by soccer moms driving SUV's.
6. You have to believe that gender roles are artificial but being homosexual is natural.
7. You have to believe that the AIDS virus is spread by a lack of federal funding.
8. You have to believe that the same teacher who can't teach fourth graders how to read is somehow qualified to teach those same kids about sex.
9. You have to believe that hunters don't care about nature, but loony activists who have never been outside of San Francisco do.
10. You have to believe that self-esteem is more important than actually doing something to earn it.
11. You have to believe that Mel Gibson spent $25 million of his own money to make "The Passion of the Christ" for financial gain only.
12. You have to believe the NRA is bad because it supports certain parts of the Constitution, while the ACLU is good because it supports certain parts of the Constitution.
13. You have to believe that taxes are too low, but ATM fees are too high.
14. You have to believe that Margaret Sanger and Gloria Steinem are more important to American history than Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Edison, and A.G. Bell.
15. You have to believe that standardized tests are racist, but racial quotas and set-asides are not.
16. You have to believe that Hillary Clinton is normal and is a very nice person.
17. You have to believe that the only reason socialism hasn't worked anywhere it's been tried is because the right people haven't been in charge.
18. You have to believe conservatives telling the truth belong in jail, but a liar and a sex offender belonged in the White House.
19. You have to believe that homosexual parades displaying drag, transvestites, and bestiality should be constitutionally protected, and manger scenes at Christmas should be illegal.
20. You have to believe that illegal Democrat Party funding by the Chinese Government is somehow in the best interest to the United States .
21. You have to believe that this message is a part of a vast, right wing conspiracy.
22. You have to believe that it's okay to give Federal workers the day off on Christmas Day ..........but it's not okay to say "Merry Christmas."


DRUDGE IS REPORTING

HILLARY MAY QUIT!

Facing a double-digit defeat in New Hampshire, a sudden collapse in national polls and an expected fund-raising drought, Senator Hillary Clinton is preparing for a tough decision: Does she get out of the race? And when?! "She can't take multiple double-digit losses in New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada," laments one top campaign insider to the DRUDGE REPORT. "If she gets too badly embarrassed, it will really harm her. She doesn't want the Clinton brand to be damaged with back-to-back-to-back defeats."Meanwhile, Democrat hopeful John Edwards has confided to senior staff that he is staying in the race because Hillary "could soon be out." Read the whole story on the Drudge report @ http://drudgereport.com/flashhn.htm

Saturday, January 5, 2008

WYOMING PRIMARY WAS WHEN????

Sandwiched between Iowa and New Hampshire is Wyoming's caucus, but who knew? The candidates avoided it and the GOP Executive Director thinks that was a mistake- read the whole story at:
http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/Global/story.asp?S=7580630
ABC NEWS NEW HAMPSHIRE DEBATES
Evening 1/5/08
as scored by Steve Fair
REPUBLICANS
John McCain- 45
Overall good performance- immigration is his "soft spot" and he sparred with Romney on that issue.
Fred Thomspon-47
Folksy, funny, and quick on his feet. Performed like he did on a good episode of Law & Order
Ron Paul-27
Never deals with the question asked- always answers with his message- get out of Iraq and quit printing money.
Mitt Romney-35
Weak performance- showed his anger- was attacked by McCain and Huckabee- got more time than any of the other candidates, but was ineffective. Showed his anger during an exchange with McCain.
Mike Huckabee-54
Good performance, especially on contrast between he and Obama- none of the others were as effective on that answer. A little tentative, but overall stayed above the fray.
Rudy Guiliani-52
Typical Rudy- stayed on message- is not reactive- should avoid the tendency to "recap" the debate issue.
DEMOCRATS
John Edwards- 49
His southern tang will hurt him in New England, but overall performance was solid- his getting the lobbyists out of politics is great- too bad he doesn't feel the same way about trial lawyers. Stood up for Obama.
Barrack Obama- 48
Smooth, even under attack. Speaks in generalities, only negative moment was when he said Hillary was "likable enough."
Bill Richardson- 42
Avoided direct answers to the questions- repeated his accomplishments as governor four times. Appeared very tired.
Hillary Clinton- 52
Showed passion, but also appeared tired. She was the target of Obama and Edward but also attacked Obama when he said she was not for "change." Her comment that she had been a part of change for 30 plus years was quick on her feet.

Thursday, January 3, 2008

JONES ACCUSES MCMAHAN'S BROTHER OF STEALING HIS CAMPAIGN TRAILER!

State GOP Chair Gary Jones flat out says that State Auditor and Inspector Jeff McMahan's brother stole his campaign trailer in 2006. Read the entire story at http://tulsatoday.com/



IT'S HUCKABEE & OBAMA IN IOWA!
by Steve Fair


Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee has won the Iowa caucuses on the GOP side with 34% of the vote. Former Massachussetts Governor Mitt Romney captured 25% with Fred Thompson and John McCain at 14% each. Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani did not campaign in Iowa so he could focus on New Hampshire.

On the Democratic side, Senator Barrack Obama won with 37% of the vote, John Edward had 30% and Senator Hillary Clinton wound up a disappointing third with 29%. Bill Richardson at 2%. Senator Chris Dodd's poor showing forced him to drop out of the race. The Democrats had a record turnout and word is the "D"s were more fired up than the "R"s.

In a Focus group on Fox, Huckabee won because HE SEEMED LIKE A REAL GUY AND CONNECTS WITH PEOPLE! Obama won the youth vote and WOMEN. Hillary spun her third place finish by saying, "we are going to reclaim this country for our children." "I am so ready for the rest of this campaign and I AM SO READY TO LEAD!"

Huckabee's victory speech was delivered with ease, class and a gracious spirit. Speaking with the skill of a trained orator, Huckabee showed why he won. In typical Baptist preacher style, he had three points and a poem. Huckabee outlined three reasons why he won. (1) PEOPLE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE PURSE. Outspent by Romney 15 to 1, Huckabee did a great job of connecting with people. The Governor said, "We raised the most hopes and dreams of people and not who raised the most money." (2) AMERICANS WANT A CHANGE. The average American is displeased with Congress and the current leadership of government. (3) THIS ELECTION IS NOT ABOUT ME, BUT ABOUT WE. Huckabee said, "Elected officials should have a servant's spirit. And the "poem" was a quote from G.K. Chesterson who said, "A solider does not fight because he hates those in front of him, but because he loves those behind him.
Huckabee said "This is a new day in American politics." "It starts in Iowa and ends one year from now at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
At 10:10pm, Barrack Obama began his victory speech with the cadence of the late Dr. Martin Luther King. Speaking in sound bites and invoking civil rights illustrations , Obama worked his supporters into a zealous high. Frequently interrupted with applause, Barrack said, "we are one nation, one people and now change has come." "We must move past the bitterness, and pettiness and build coalitions for change that runs through red states and blue states." Obviously looking toward New Hampshire, Obama mentioned the state three times in his Iowa speech. "I will make health care affordable- ends tax breaks for companies that manufacture overseas- harness the knowledge of scientist and farmers to develop alternative fuels- - end the Iraq war and bring home the troops. Obama said, "you didn't do this for me, but you believed that people who love this country can change it. " Obama was the first African American to win a caucus election in America,