THE DUKE IS COMING TO DUNCAN!

The Stephens County Republican Party will hold their 5th annual FISH FRY fundraiser on Saturday May 16, 2009. It will be held at the Stephens County Fairgrounds beginning at 6pm. Tickets are just $15 each and are available by calling 405.990.7449 or by emailing okgop@aol.com.

Dr. Gene Howard, a nationally known John Wayne impersonator will entertain. http://www.genehoward.com/ Dr. Howard has appeared on the same program with General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, Ambassador Dr. Allan Keyes, and John Wayne’s widow Pillar Wayne. In 1993 Dr. Howard appeared in a command performance at the National Rifle Association meeting in Nashville. Two of his poems and picture was given a full page spread in both their national magazines “The American Rifleman”, and “The Hunter”. Dr. Howard has appeared on many local TV and Radio programs across the USA, and is fast becoming one of America’s most sought after Patriotic speakers.

A silent and entertaining live auction will also be conducted featuring such items as Redhawks tickets and autographed footballs. A number of elected officials from throughout the state are expected. For more information, call Steve Fair at 580.252.6284.

Weekly opinion/editorial
FOLLOW THE CONSTITUTION!
by Steve Fair

The tenth amendment to the U.S. Constitution states: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

James Madison, "the father of the U.S. Constitution," said concerning the powers delegated to the federal branch of government: "The powers delegated to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the state governments are numerous and indefinite. The former will be exercised principally on external objects, [such] as war, peace, negotiation, and foreign commerce. The powers reserved to the several states will extend to all the objects which, in the ordinary course of affairs, concern the lives, liberties, and properties of the people."

Interpretations of the tenth amendment are divided into two camps. The first camp interprets and believes the Constitution does not grant the United States federal government any power that it does not expressly mention. The opposing view is that the Constitution grants Congress the authority to do more or less anything that is not explicitly prohibited by the first eight amendments. As all aspects of government have grown- but particularly the federal branch- this amendment has gained some attention across the nation. It has resulted in several states passing what is known as “tenth amendment” legislation.

Oklahoma State Representative Charles Key, R-OKC authored HJR 1003 which declared in part, “THAT this serve as Notice and Demand to the federal government, as our agent, to cease and desist, effective immediately, mandates that are beyond the scope of these constitutionally delegated powers. THAT all compulsory federal legislation which directs states to comply under threat of civil or criminal penalties or sanctions or requires states to pass legislation or lose federal funding be prohibited or repealed.” The resolution was sponsored in the State Senate by Senator Randy Brogdon, R, Owasso.

“We, the people in the states, created the federal government,” Key said. “They act like they created us and we’re under their authority, and that’s really not the case.” “It’s to help try to get us back to following the Constitution and try to preserve our constitutional form of government,” Key said. “The federal government continues to violate it more and more. It’s gotten so bad that they pretty much do whatever they want and get away with just about anything they want to get away with.”

On February 18th, the Oklahoma State House passed HJR 1003 by a vote of 83-15 and sent the resolution to the Senate where it passed on April 14th 29-18. All Republicans voted for it and most Democrats against it.

On April 24th, Gov. Henry vetoed the resolution saying, “In short, HJR 1003 could be detrimental to Oklahoma and does not serve the state or its citizens in any positive manner.” Henry went on to say, “Furthermore, HJR 1003 also alleges, without offering any evidence or explanation, that past and current U.S. leaders may have violated the Constitution and committed crimes against the states and the country.” The Governor also said it was a WASTE OF TIME to pass 10th amendment legislation. This coming from a guy who is chronically late for appointments, has avoided pushing any meaningful reform-tort or workers comp- during his term and who just last week honored a rock band that dishonored the "people's house." Henry was surely joking- no one in their right mind would call standing up for the nation's founding document a waste of time. This lame duck Governor will undoubtedly run for another office after he is termed out- Oklahoma voters better REMEMBER when it comes to Blackjack Henry- the Governor who gave us casino gambling and a state rock song that he is a situational ethics kind of guy! To quote Flaming Lips Wayne Coyne, "He's so cool!"

Had Governor Henry signed the resolution, it would have been distributed to President Obama, members of Congress and other federal offices as an official statement from the state of Oklahoma.

In response to the Governor’s veto, Key has reintroduced the resolution as House Concurrent Resolution 1028. If the concurrent resolution passes both the House and Senate, it will not require signature from the governor. It passed the State House on Monday the 4th and now moves to the Senate.

Texas Governor Rick Perry supports tenth amendment legislation. When the Texas legislature passed House Concurrent Resolution 50 which is virtually identical to Key’s bill, Perry said, “I believe that our federal government has become oppressive in its size, its intrusion into the lives of our citizens, and its interference with the affairs of our state,' he continued. 'That is why I am here today to express my unwavering support for efforts all across our country to reaffirm states' rights affirmed by the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. ”

How can Governors of two states with citizens that have similar values see things so differently? Of course, one is a Republican and the other a Democrat, but the founders were non-partisan on the issue of the power of the federal government.

Thomas Jefferson, the founder of the Democrat Party said; "Congress has not unlimited powers to provide for the general welfare, but only those specifically enumerated." It is abundantly clear the founding fathers- even the Democrats- believed in limited government. If limited government was their goal, then why is it wrong to remind our current federal leaders to follow the Constitution and not exceed their Constitutional authority? The foundation of our Republic and its democratic system of government is rooted in the principles of the U.S. Constitution and it’s time our leaders in Washington started following it.

A recent poll commissioned by The Tulsa World has Henry with a higher approval rating than either of our US Senators Inhofe and Coburn. That's because no one is paying attention to what Blackjack is doing. He has vetoed a popular Voter ID bill and a bill that would have made English the official language of Oklahoma, yet two thirds of Oklahomans think he is doing a good job. So long as so many Oklahoman citizens fail to pay attention, we will have Blackjack vetoing good legislation and failing to deal with hard issues.

Weekly Opinion/Editorial

WE NEED MORE HICKS!

By Steve Fair

The Flaming Lips is an Oklahoma rock band formed in 1983 in Norman, Oklahoma. The band is known for their psychedelic arrangements, weird song tiles and elaborate live shows. One of their albums is entitled, “Psychiatric Explorations of the Fetus with Needles.” To call them “mainstream” would be a quantam leap. The Flaming Lips won an online vote organized by the Official Oklahoma Rock Song Advisory Panel with the song "Do You Realize?"

But the planned legislative resolution honoring that song was defeated when conservative Republicans expressed outrage at a t-shirt bass player Michael Ivins worn to the Capitol when it was announced their song had won. The t-shirt had the symbol of the former communist Soviet Union- the sickle and hammer on it. If he had worn this same t-shirt to school as a kid, he would have been sent home.

Representative Corey Holland, R-Marlow took offense at that. Holland said "I felt that the consequences of that were that I would not be able to support that as our state song," State Rep. Mike Reynolds (R) opposed the resolution because he recalled the band using profanity several years ago after the legislature named an alley after the group. In fact, the front man for the band used the “F” word repeatedly during his acceptance speech in downtown OKC.

The whole rock song controversy got started when State Representative Joe Dorman, D-Rush Springs and State Senator Mike Schultz, R, Altus, authored Joint Resolution #1047 last legislative session establishing the voting criterion for selection of the “official” state rock tune. After polling fortune 500 companies as to why they were not considering the Sooner state, it was determined one of the primary reasons was because Oklahoma did not have an “official” rock song. I’m sure glad we got that impediment to recruiting commerce and industry cleared up. Dorman is the author of such meaningful legislation like THE WATERMELON IS OKLAHOMA'S OFFICIAL VEGETABLE and forcing cigarette companies to market smokeless cigs, so his involvement is not unexpected. Since only two other states in the country have “official” rock songs, it's obvious this was not a pressing matter for the legislature to take up.

The other finalists for Oklahoma “rock” song included “Heartbreak Hotel,” co-written by

Oklahoma school teacher Mae Boren Axton and recorded by Elvis Presley; “Let’s Have a Party,” recorded by Oklahoman Wanda Jackson; “Walk, Don’t Run,” recorded by the Ventures, which included Oklahoman Nokie Edwards; “After Midnight,” written and recorded by Oklahoman J.J. Cale and re-released by Eric Clapton; “Never Been to Spain,” by Oklahoman Hoyt Axton and made famous by Three Dog Night; “Home Sweet Oklahoma,” written and recorded by Oklahoman Leon Russell; “Oklahoma,” by the Call, which included Oklahomans Michael Been and Scott Musick; “Move Along,” by Oklahoma band the All-American Rejects; and “Endless Oklahoma Sky,” by John Moreland and the Black Gold Band, also from Oklahoma. The unexpected winner was the tune by the Flaming Lips, but the vote was taken online, so it was far from being scientific.

After the State House voted down the resolution, Governor Brad "Blackjack" Henry stepped in to resolve the situation. He plans to sign an executive order sanctifying the song as the state's official rock anthem. “The music of the Flaming Lips has earned Grammys, glowing critical acclaim and fans all over the world," Henry said in a statement. "A truly iconic rock n' roll band, they are proud ambassadors of their home state."

It’s one thing for The Flaming Lips to enhance their wholesome image onstage at a rock concert, by promoting communism and dropping the “F” bomb, but quite another in the “peoples” house. To require those who are honored by the state legislature to show some respect and class is not be too much to ask- even of a psychedelic rock band.

Amazingly, the once conservative icon, The Oklahoman took a shot at what they called “the conservative house” in an April 27th editorial. “This is par for the course in the conservative House, which seems intent on taking aim at diversity of thought, science, politics, and about anything that doesn’t conform to its narrow view of what Oklahoma ought to be,” The Oklahoman stated in the editorial, entitled House of Cards. They concluded the conservative legislators that opposed the resolution were “backward hicks.” What has happened to The Oklahoman? The paper has become more and more "progressive" and very critical of conservative principles. By the way, Webster defines a “hick” as someone who is “provincial or unsophisticated.” It can also refer to someone from a “rural” area.

It is unsophisticated to imply there is NO unacceptable behavior in the “people’s” house! To justify misbehavior by defending it in print or signing an executive order is selling out to political correctness- the very thing that is destroying our country. Thankfully, we still have some “hicks” with some moral values and convictions representing us in the legislature.

Tempest in a teapot? Sure, but the actions of the Governor and The Oklahoman reveal deep divides and disconnects between the average Oklahoman and the more "sophisticated" in our state.

Now it seems the front man for The Flaming Lips, Wayne Coyne, said those that voted against the resolution were "small minded religious wackos." Obviously, there is no standard for misbehavior by this group. Mark Shannon wrote a very insightful commentary on this issue. You can access it at: http://markshannon.com/

QUOTES FROM DAVE RAMSEY'S TOWN HALL FOR HOPE!

Broadcast live on Fox Business to over 6,000 locations on Thursday April 23rd

On irresponsibility by banks and other businesses- "When the tide goes out, you can tell who has been skinny dipping."

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"Fear is the antithesis of hope."

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"Bush bailed out stupidity- Obama has stimulated stupidity."

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"Business is rewarded when they provide good service with Certificates of Appreciation(Ramsey held up currency)."

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"The word NO has become politically incorrect."

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"60% of the home foreclosures in in only five(5) states." "Thirty five counties accounted for 50% of the foreclosures."

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"52% of single moms live below the poverty line."

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"A good place to go when you're broke is to work."

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WANT HOPE? THREE THINGS TO DO

(1) GET UP, TAKE ACTION- GET MOVING!

(2) DON'T PARTICIPATE IN LOSER TALK!

(3) LEARN TO GIVE AGAIN!

Who’s the easiest senator to work with across the aisle? Who’s the toughest? The Hill asked all 99 seated senators about their colleagues’ bipartisanship, and the following names — arranged by frequency, from top to bottom — were cited the most.

MOST BIPARTISAN
DEMOCRATS
1. Edward Kennedy (Mass.)
2. Tom Carper (Del.)
3. Chris Dodd (Conn.)
4. (tied) Evan Bayh (Ind.)
4. (tied) Tom Harkin (Iowa)

REPUBLICANS
1. Susan Collins (Maine)
2. Olympia Snowe (Maine)
3. Orrin Hatch (Utah)
4. (tied) Richard Lugar (Ind.)
4. (tied) John McCain (Ariz.)

LEAST BIPARTISAN
DEMOCRATS
1. Patrick Leahy (Vt.)
2. Charles Schumer (N.Y.)
3. Chris Dodd (Conn.)
4. Dick Durbin (Ill.)
5. John Kerry (Mass.)

REPUBLICANS
1. Jim Bunning (Ky.)
2. David Vitter (La.)
3. Tom Coburn (Okla.)
4. Jim DeMint (S.C.)
5. Lamar Alexander (Tenn.)

To read the whole story go to: http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/ranking-senate-partisans-2009-04-20.html

Why Republicans are devouring one book

By Andie Coller & Patrick O'Connor

There aren’t any sex scenes or vampires, and it won’t help you lose weight. But House Republicans are tearing through the pages of Amity Shlaes’ “The Forgotten Man” like soccer moms before book club night. Shlaes’ 2007 take on the Great Depression questions the success of the New Deal and takes issue with the value of government intervention in a major economic crisis — red meat for a party hungry for empirical evidence that the Democrats’ spending plans won’t end the current recession.

“There aren’t many books that take a negative look at the New Deal,” explained Republican policy aide Mike Ference, whose boss, House Minority Whip Eric Cantor of Virginia, invited Shlaes to join a group of 20 or so other House Republicans for lunch earlier this year in his Capitol suite. “Republicans are gobbling it up — and so are other lawmakers — because it tells you what they did, what worked and what didn’t.” To read the entire story, go to http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0409/21477.html

Weekly Opinion/Editorial
RIGHT WINGERS ARE NOT A THREAT!
By Steve Fair

Two weeks ago, the Department of Homeland Security sent a nine-page document to police warning law enforcement officials about a rise in "rightwing extremist activity." They said the economic recession, the election of America's first black president and the return of a few disgruntled war veterans could increase the number of white-power militias. A footnote attached to the report by the Homeland Security Office of Intelligence and Analysis defines "rightwing extremism in the United States" as including not just racist or hate groups, but also groups that reject federal authority in favor of state or local authority.

"It may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single-issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration," the warning says. If you want to read the entire report, it’s available in PDF form on the Internet at http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:NoVMKyGOQdcJ:www.fas.org/irp/eprint/rightwing.pdf+pdf+of+the+right+wing+extremist+report&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us. In a nutshell, Homeland Security is targeting and profiling conservative Christians and patriotic Americans as a potential threat to national security.

Because the report begin to draw the ire of hardworking, patriotic Americans across the country, The White House immediately distanced itself from the report. White House spokesman Nick Shapiro said, "The President is focused not on politics but rather taking the steps necessary to protect all Americans from the threat of violence and terrorism regardless of its origins. He also believes those who serve represent the best of this country, and he will continue to ensure that our veterans receive the respect and benefits they have earned." In essence, Shapiro said the President apologized to the military, but not to “all” the groups in the report.

The report says the federal government "will be working with its state and local partners over the next several months" to gather information on "rightwing extremist activity in the United States." What does that mean?

Will local law enforcement be forcing conservative Christian churches to hand over their membership and attendance rolls? Will those that attend local NRA banquets be scrutinized more than those who attend a lecture by Bill Ayers or Jeremiah Wright? Will the actions of those who support closing the southern borders of the U.S. be monitored? Will someone with an NRA bumper sticker or a pro-life license plate be put on a “watch list?” There may come a day when right wing radical extremists will have to register with local law enforcement like sex offenders if the Obama administration has their way. There should be further explanation on how local law enforcement will be “helping” the feds.

Conservative thinking people, as a whole, are no more a threat to America’s homeland security, than most liberals. But liberals fear those that disagree with them, particularly those who believe the second amendment of the Constitution(the right to bear arms).

The real threat to America is liberal ideology. Liberals or “progressives” as they like to be called, fail to see the threat that illegal immigration presents to America. Liberals wrongly believe that disarming the American public will lower the crime rate, but that is simply not true. According to Dr. Jeremy Blanks, “the Brady Law has done nothing to lower crime or violence. Again, this is a continuation of mounting evidence that gun control schemes have no relation to crime or violence prevention.” Liberals are against killing-unless it’s in the womb. This report puts those who are passionate about life being protected in the womb on a potential “watch list.”

The real threat that “right wingers” present to the Obama administration is at the ballot box. Thus far, the President has not brought the country together, but further divided it. Obama has negotiated with foreign governments who are our swore enemies. He has mortgaged our grandchildren’s future with big spending and government bailout policies. He has moved America toward a state of collectivism and hurt the free market system. In 2010, “right wing radicals” aka conservatives, will be a threat to Obama’s “kingdom.” They will turn out in record numbers to seize control of Congress. It happened in 1994, after two years of Bill Clinton’s failed policies and it will happen again.

That is what the report is all about- the 2010 elections. The Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano is using political intimidation to beat back what is seen as a “political” threat to her boss. This report was inappropriate, unnecessary and reeks of partisan politics. Secretary Napolitano should apologize to conservative Americans who were smeared in the report. You can go to the Department of Homeland Security website at http://www.dhs.gov/xutil/contactus.shtm to express your opinion directly to the Secretary.