Rudy! Rudy! Rudy!

Stay tuned, I am coming back. I have some free time now and will be updating the blog more often now. Sorry for the sabbatical....

Speculation Kills

Why are we paying $4.00 for gasoline?

Has speculation gone wild? Should something like Oil, that has become more of a utility than a commodity, remain on the market?

While congress tries to get a handle on the poor economy and the rising commodities, this should only take 30 years.....sheesh, we the American people are getting hosed at the gas station.

Maybe I am looking at it in too simple of terms when I think that this problem is easy to fix. We should be tapping every inch that we can to find new oil and lower the prices. While we refuse to drill off of our costs China and Cuba have decided to take full advantage of our stupidity by drilling no less than 50 miles off of our southern coasts. Do China and Cuba know something we don't?

Why haven't we built more nuclear plants? Why haven't we built any refineries since 1976? Why are we just now beginning to explore, in depth, the possibilities of alternative fuels. Sure we have looked for alternative fuels over the past couple of decades, but, I would think that if capitol hill didn't have power or some of these lawmakers were not drawing exorbitant salaries they might see what the high cost of oil is doing to the working families and to our economy.

Oil is no longer a commodity it is a necessity.

This link has some interesting things to say about why gas and oil is so high. Please read it.

Ruined by Consultants!

Have campaigns gone to far? Are good men staying out of office because they do not want to put their families through the scrutiny?

Being a publicly elected official opens your life up for everyone to scrutinize. Things you did long ago or friends you have now can bring you down. Who is responsible for this?

The answer is easy. Campaigning has become big business! Consultants that win get big bucks and with the money comes a win at all cost attitude. Winning is good right? Yes! Winning is great! But....... Winning at what cost?

What are we, the electorate, costing ourselves? Great men are no longer encouraged to go into public office. Every President from the beginning could be tied to something bad or someone who was deemed un-American.

Kennedy, Eisenhower, LBJ just to name a few that have been relatively recent all had indiscretions. Eisenhower talked of divorcing his wife while in office.

Reagan divorced his first wife and led the "liberal" Screen Actors Guild. Would he be elected today? Not if a consultant decided to tear into him. Do you think that Karl Rove would have hesitated if all things were equal?

The problem has become this country and our need for paparazzi style news. We are driving the information age by wanting to know everything we possibly can disregarding the fact that we do not need this knowledge nor is it important to the decision process of what makes a great leader.

Did JFK's affairs make him any less of a great president? Did IKE's? What about Reagan and his divorce?

These men were great and led our country through periods that Gen X'ers and Millenial's could not fathom. The cuban missile crisis, for one, was an event that put this country on the edge of WWIII and yet an affair or reliance on pain meds did not affect the ability of JFK to lead and do so at a level that arguably has not been seen since.

I am not recusing any of them for their indiscretions. I do not think that I am the person to judge a man for his sins, however. Affairs, Alcoholism, Drug use, Murder, Being a Traitor all of these have been perpetrated by Presidents.

The exception? They were elected when the press reported the news and not he news they made. The news that as an electorate we now covet.

This cycle will not end! The American way is involved, Capitalism! In order for the government to be governed by greatness we, the electorate, will have learn to accept that Great men are not always Great. Most importantly, government must be taken back by the people after all government derives its power from the governed and it is time. Lobbyist do not represent you or I they represent who pays them. Consultant do not represent the best interest of you or I, they are paid to get people elected.

Who protects us?

Sonics Owners Cry More, More, More...

After passing a sales tax initiative to ensure that Oklahoma City will have the facilities necessary to host an NBA team. The owners and our illustrious Governor said Oklahoma should do more. 

What more do we need to do?  Why should we be providing more to those with the most?  Why do they deserve tax breaks over the small business owner or the everyday tax payer.  

Are we selling our souls just so we can have a basketball team that after five or so years will no longer be economically viable.  I am pretty sure that after the novelty wears off we will be in the same boat as all the other failed franchises...no attendance.  

What will the lasting legacy be for NBA in OKC.  Corporate Welfare at its finest!

What are we going to pay for next?

The Great Conservative Losses of 2008

.....Twas the worst of times......

In 2008 conservatives will likely loose more than just the great William F. Buckley. The enthusiasm and fervor for which both Democrat Presidential candidates are garnering from voters is monumental.  Larger voter turnout and substantially larger bank rolls are mounting a very impressive hill for GOP Presidential candidate John McCain to climb if he is to be the President elect in November.  

Seems as though it would be a much easier hill to climb if McCain were a true conservative.  Which begs the question.  Is conservatism as we know it dead?  

We used to be a party of principles and of higher standards for not only ourselves but for all.  We used to be a party that believed in smaller government.  We used to be a party that believed in sovereignty.  We used to be a party that believed power should be returned to those governments that knew best of what its people needed, i.e. local and state governments.  We used to believe that government should be less involved in our everyday lives.

We used to be conservative.  For all the things that great conservatives, like Mr. Buckley, have fought so long and passionately for a new wave of "conservatives" is destroying years of hard work.  Government continues to grow at a rapid pace.  Government is more and more intrusive into our everyday lives.  Government has allowed our borders to continuously remain unsecured.  Government has fostered a climate of corruption and greed between the hallowed halls of OUR great capital.

All of the aforementioned things have come under the watch of a "conservative" congress and a "conservative" president.  The only true conservative thing I can think of that has come from 7 1/2 years of a "Conservative" President and 12 years of a "Conservative" Congress is tax cuts.  Please do not misunderstand me.  The Bush tax cuts have been a great economic stimulus but, it was one of many factors that has led to a 7 robust years of growth.  When Congress and the Presidency were both held by "Conservatives" why did we not see the progression of True Conservative principles.  It seems to me that 6 years should be plenty to start enacting the Conservative Agenda.  

I think Bush did great things and lead our country gloriously and valiantly during his first 4 years.  During his first 4 years President Bush was presented with a dead economy that only got worse on 9/11 and from our "bootstraps" Bush pulled us up dusted us off and started us down the road to recovery and vengeance against our attackers.  The problem is that somewhere along the way we lost site of our mission.  Bin Laden is still at large even though another ruthless man was found and subsequently put to death.  I do believe the world is a safer place without Sadam but I also believe that this caused us to loose sight of our true mission.

Which brings me back to the mission of conservatives.  We have lost sight of our mission.  Conservatism was once right and can be again but it will take twice as much work as it did before.  Conservatives must fight to bring an end to the trend of the ever expanding government.  Conservatives must limit the scope and size of government.   Conservatives must lead the crusade to secure our borders and strengthen our sovereignty.

In the end Conservatives must be Conservatives.  Something that William F. Buckley understood and fought for.  His passing has left a hole that as I see it no current conservative talking head can adequately fill.  

Another one bites the dust

Seems that there will be a new trend this year in the Oklahoma House of Representatives.  Retiring so that you can become a consultant.  

The problem I have with this is simple.  The people that are "retiring" are all the individuals that are wrapped up in ethics investigations.  This is just another clever way for crooked individuals to save face and try and keep the appearance of good citizens.  

In his press release he states that he wants to begin his private consulting career and that his business is doing so well that it demands more of his time.

I think what is going to demand more of his time, and his money, is his legal defense.  Maybe he should stay as an elected official long enough for the Republican Legal Fund to bail him out and pay for his defense.  

Full Press Release:

Monday, March 03, 2008  
Worthen Declines Re-election to Pursue Private Sector Career
OKLAHOMA CITY (March 3, 2008) -- Oklahoma City Rep. Trebor Worthen said
he has had enough time to accomplish his primary legislative goals and
announced today that he will not be seeking re-election. 
Rep. Worthen, now 28, was the youngest member of the House when elected
in 2004. He replaced his father, Robert Worthen, who served in the state
legislature for 18 years before being term-limited. Worthen: 
I first ran for office because I wanted to have an impact on policy
issues that affect the lives of every day Oklahomans. My primary goals
were lowering taxes, enacting pro-life legislation, passing sweeping
ethics reform, and keeping government spending in line. It has been an
honor for me to have accomplished those goals with my colleagues in the
legislature.
With his primary goals enacted into law, Worthen said it is time for him
to focus on building his career in the private sector: 
I never ran for office to be a career politician. I ran because I wanted
to help enact conservative policies at the Capitol. Now it's time for me
to focus on advancing my career in the private sector.
Worthen said that Majority Designs, the marketing and consulting company
he started last year, is demanding more of his time and will require his
full attention if it is to continue growing. The company specializes in
political advertising, and already has clients in four states and the
District of Columbia. 
Additionally, Worthen said he will be joining A.H. Strategies as a
Senior Associate. A.H. Strategies is a leading political consulting
company in Oklahoma, most known for its role in electing the Republican
House majority and helping the Senate Republican Caucus grow to 24
members. 
Despite his new role in the private sector, Worthen said he is not
ruling out another run for office in the future. Worthen has eight years
of eligible service in the Legislature under Oklahoma's term limits
provision. 

When will it end?  I do not understand how a so called conservative can consciously vote for anything that places an ever increasing burden on the taxpayer.  

It is a shame that our government's spending has gotten so out of control that it has become a punch-line in joke after joke.  I assure you that our founding fathers did not envision pork barrel spending and a government entirely consumed with itself.  

"The Founding Fathers understood that government is most accountable and effective where it is close to the people.  The Constitution authorizes the federal government to exercise only a few specific powers of national importance and reserves the rest to the states.  A city council or state government is much better suited to match spending priorities with local needs than a member of Congress or a federal bureaucrat. Local politicians have fewer constituents and are more accessible.  With the sphere of government restricted, voters can keep a closer eye on how tax dollars are spent." from www.CAGW.org.

The thing that scares me the most is I am hearing of specific examples of Oklahoma House Members doing the same thing.  Pork is a drug for politicians and to many of our politicians need to go to rehab.  

Tax Day Created!

On this day in 1913 the 16th amendment to the Constitution of the United States was authorized.  This amendment provides the power to Congress to levy an income tax without regard.

During a speech to Congress, on June 16, 1909, President Taft proposed an amendment to the Constitution that would allow Congress to allow federal income taxes on individuals and an excise tax "upon the privilege of doing business as an artificial entity and of freedom from a general partnership liability enjoyed by those who own the stock."

On March 10th of 1910 the Oklahoma Ratified its Constitution.

President Taft, Republican, I am sure had no idea that the path of future fraud, waste, out of control spending, pork barrel projects and many other abuses would begin with him.  

So it is with this knowledge that I take with me that even the best idea today may turn out to be the worst possible idea tomorrow.  

Open Letter to Corrupt Former Speakers

I received one of the famed letters from the former Speaker of the House, Lance Cargill, today and was appalled.  

First, let me simply say that your excuse for not paying taxes is a slap in the face to every one of your constituents that continues to pay their taxes and on time none the less.  

Second, when I voted for you I had no idea that your idea of a tax cut was to just not pay.  

Third, I do not appreciate your continued abuse of every constituent of house district 96's tax dollars.  I can not believe your imperious attitude with the continued abuse.  With over $123k dollars in a campaign account I would think that you would have the ability to pay for such a letter your self and not with my hard earned tax dollars.  

Fourth,  your pompousness towards the abuse continues.  Why should my tax dollars pay for your salary that you are not showing up to earn.  Where have you been Mr. Cargill?  Not at the capitol doing your job that your constituents elected you to do.  

Do not fret Mr. Cargill I do believe that in nine months all of this will be in your past because the constituents of District 96 will not be making the mistake of sending you back to the capitol.

Steve Forbes Visits Oklahoma

While in town to fundraise for US Senator James Inhofe, Steve Forbes stopped by the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs to address some of Oklahoma's brightest.  

Forbes focussed on how to stabilize the dollar and shared his thoughts on why we will are on the cusp of entering another period of economic growth in the United States.  He also spoke momentarily on the way innovations leads to legislation.

According to Forbes there are three things that the president, current or future, should do to stabilize the dollar.  One is to announce the intentions of stabilization which in turn would hedge the speculative investors.  Two something about treasury bonds that would take actual currency out of the market increasing value.  Three, well at this point I was starting to think about how this has got to be the smartest man I have ever sat in a room with and was staring at him with such awestruck that I am sure his security guard started to pay close attention to me.

Mr. Forbes has to be the most personable person of stature I have ever met.  He took time to go around the room and spend time with everyone there.  This has also got to be the first time I have ever been awestruck by any one person, other than my beautiful wife.  

It is people like him that should be elected to offices that help lead this country.  It is too often that the person with the least amount of intelligence but the largest bank account gets elected to serve in public office at all levels of government.  Smart people are an ever increasing commodity in politics.  It seems the days of statesmen are few and far between and the days of the politician are firmly afoot.  

At least the famed Mr. Smith got to go to Washington D.C..  Nowadays I am afraid to say that Mr. Smith would get swept under the rug and quickly attacked for being an insane idealist that does not understand what it means to "go along to get along."  

The picture above was taken at the OCPA event with US Senator Jim Inhofe and Steve Forbes.  Pictured with Mr. Forbes is Marilyn Davidson Marketing and Communications Manager for OCPA.

It was on this day. February 23rd 1945, over sixty years ago that "The Greatest Generation" planted a flag atop the highest point of Iwo Jima.

To my grandfathers and all of those that served I say thank you.  The debt owed to your generation for the sacrifices you made will never be able to be repaid.  

The "Greatest Generation" never asked why nor complained about what they had to do.  They just did it.  The did it with a commitment and vigor that has never, nor will probably ever, been seen.  The military men came back to a country that had been in the roots of a depression when they left only to find it turning the corner into prosperity when they arrived home. 

There are many things every generation can learn from these people.  Sacrifice for the greater good.  Hard work and diligence.  Commitment to God, Country and Family.   

I hope that one day my generation can be half of what they are and have been.

In a fight for our country...

Make no mistake people, we are still in a battle for our country against Al Qaeda and other outside forces. The west is hated and feared by all of those who do not understand nor appreciate a free society. The United States has always been about freedom. Freedom from oppression. Freedom of religion. Freedom of markets. Freedom!

Its what our fore fathers fought for time and time again. From the beaches of Normandy to the sands of the deserts in Iraq. There has always been special people in our country that are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect nothing more than an idea. That idea is freedom.

For anyone who still doubts that the United States and our allies are in a fight for our very existence, Director McConnell's testimony should put those doubts to rest.

"Al Qaeda is improving the last key aspect of its ability to attack the U.S.: the identification, training, and positioning of operatives for an attack in the Homeland. While increased security measures at home and abroad have caused al Qaeda to view the West, especially the U.S., as a harder target, we have seen an influx of new Western recruits into the tribal areas since mid-2006. We assess that al Qaeda's Homeland plotting is likely to continue to focus on prominent political, economic, and infrastructure targets designed to produce mass casualties, visually dramatic destruction, significant economic aftershocks, and/or fear among the population. "

"We judge use of a conventional explosive to be the most probable al Qaeda attack scenario because the group is proficient with conventional small arms and improvised explosive devices and is innovative in creating capabilities and overcoming security obstacles. That said, al Qaeda and other terrorist groups are attempting to acquire chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons and materials (CBRN). We assess al Qaeda will continue to try to acquire and employ these weapons and materials -- some chemical and radiological materials and crude weapons designs are easily accessible, in our judgment."

Copy of entire trascript

Ignorance and Arrogance....

The great part about Rinehart is that when you talk to him he really thinks he has done nothing wrong.  This man is a true imbecile that needs to just fade away before he winds up in jail.  May already be too late.  

On another note I know that there are possibly two candidates that will be running against him soon.....

With a trial date in September, how can he run with a "straight face" for relection in November?

Oklahoma Co. commissioner trial set for September

Posted: Feb 20, 2008 03:41 PM CST 

Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY - A September trial date has been set for Oklahoma County Commissioner Brent Rinehart and two other men charged with violating campaign finance laws.

Rinehart will be tried starting Sept. 22 with former campaign manager Tim Pope and campaign contributor Ray Pelfry.

The three are accused of conspiring to divert excessive contributions to Rinehart's 2004 campaign through Pope's political action committee.

The three deny any wrongdoing.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Huckabee really can talk to God, prayers answered!

It seems that when leadership positions are handed out so to are the mistresses.  I will never understand how these men that are under such PUBLIC scrutiny continuously seek comfort in the arms of strangers.  

The story goes that absolute power corrupts absolutely, but it is also the most powerful aphrodisiac known to man.  I understand that everyone falters and has weak moments but I am tired of being preached to about morality by men that have none.  

True leadership is done by example.  The conservatives, this election year, have rushed to compare themselves to Reagan.  Asking "What Would Reagan Do?"  Let me tell you what Reagan did.  He lead by example.  No Reagan was not perfect.  He had been married before to Sarah Jane Mayfield Fulks which was anything but perfect.  By all accounts that marriage was doomed from day one.

In March of 1952 two people, Nancy and Ronald,  were married at a semi secret ceremony just outside of Los Angeles.  For the next 52 years Reagan mad sure that Nancy knew he loved her and that she never had any doubts.  I do not claim to know the Reagans but after reading,  I love you, Ronnie, a book of compiled love letters to Nancy from Ronnie it is easy to see.

The most effective leaders do so by example.  Something that seems to be lost on Senator McCain.  It seems that an "October Surprise" has come a little early.  Is it early enough for Governor Huckabee to make a late charge?  That remains to be seen, but is certainly makes a mess of things.

The whole story on Sen. McCain's alleged exploitations with a female lobbyist thirty years his junior is being reported on in the NY Times.

Great News!

It seems that the state will have $114 million dollars less to spend this year on the state budget.



This is great news! Why? The largest attribution is to the lowering of income tax rates. Paying less to a government that has legislators who cant seem to pay their share is great.

This is a prime example of a government out of control and spending money like a drunken Kennedy. We have known for quite some time that the tax cuts of previous years would be coming and yet we did nothing to prepare for this.

Instead in his state of the state speech, Governor Henry asked for more increases. I am all for more and safer prisons. I am all for teachers getting paid. I am certainly for safer roads and bridges.

What I am not for is the ever increasing budget that we continue to get year after year. I understand that the budget must increase to keep up with inflation but last time I checked inflation was not at an alarming 7%. In fact according to inflationdata.com we currently are at 4.28%. Scary but not 7% scary.

I am sick of hearing stories about legislators running around the capitol finding places to insert their pork projects and looking for places to spend excess money. It is time for Oklahoma to come into the 21st century, I would be happy with the latter part of the 20th for that matter, and start holding state agencies accountable for budget woes and mismanagement.

One only needs to look at the vast amount of commissions and panels that our state has to realize the gross mismanagement of our state budget. I wont even get started on our education budget and its likeness towards Jared before the 2 year long subway sandwich bender....Bloated isn't a strong enough word. Oklahoma's educational budget makes Oprah look like Kate Moss after a week long snort fest at Pablo Escobars cocaine buffet.

We as voters should start holding our legislators responsible for their actions as well.

Novel Idea

Who would have thought.....

http://www.normantranscript.com/localnews/local_story_050002327

That books can make people smarter.

The Games Begin

Now that the Representatives have been chosen for the impeachment hearings of Jeff McMahan the games will begin.

It will be interesting to watch and see if the democrats devour their own in order get some good press out of a bad situation.

I would have thought that Governor Henry would have already asked him to step aside and appoint someone.  I have heard rumors that an appointment could actually be a Republican and no it is not the Republican with the infamous trailer.  I would be surprised if something like that happened.

Governor Sleeps Alot is taking an interesting approach with the whole wait and see attitude....

First Attempt

In an effort to become increasingly involved and vocal about Oklahoma politics I will be posting my musings here from time to time.  This is purely an experiment to derive the answer to the age old question if peoples opinions are actually heard and warnings heeded.

In future posts I will attempt to bring conservative news to the forefront of Oklahoma.  Not all news is good news.  In todays world of power and corruption it is vital that the people have a steady voice and a constant source of information that is incorruptible and trustworthy.  

All conservatives must be willing to embrace the true meaning of conservatism.  In a world that seems to be spiraling out of control due to an ever intrusive government true conservatives bring a halt to the moniker of "silent majority" and learn what it is to be an activist.

In an election year where the conservative choice for president is as close to conservatism as Ted Kennedy is to winning the AAA safe driver of the year award we must reexamine what conservatism is.

Absolutism has eroded the cornerstones of our Republic.  There should never be Government interference in state rights including but not limited to education.  Our rights are ever increasingly disappearing at an alarming rate.  It is time for the "Nanny State" to end.  Bring an end to the socialist undertakings of former and future leaders.

It is ridiculous for our elected leaders to continue to not meet a budget for the country.  The amount of foreign aid given out every year is staggering, imagine the debts we could pay off.  You want an economic stimulus package, give the public back the tax dollars that go to foreign countries.  This money has obviously done nothing to make our relationships with the world any stronger.  In fact one could easily say it has made the United States weaker.

Locally, It is imperative that the conservative creep continues.  We can not and will not be able to sustain a majority in the State House of Representatives nor gain a majority in the State Senate with the corruption and scandals that have plagued us in the immediate past.  Oklahomans have always had an anti government sentiment.  History has repeatedly proven this.  Take for instance the County Commissioner Scandal of 1981, This scandal was nothing more than a plan for commissioners to receive payment for the awards of contracts.  Oklahoma's constitution was very progressive for the time and shows how the same anti big government sentiment that we see alive today was also alive 100 years ago.

This election year we will have opportunities to elect conservatives from the smallest of office to the greatest office in the land.  Conservatives, true conservatives, must return to the ideals of true conservatism if we are to have a chance in November.

These are just my thoughts, who knows, I could be wrong.......probably not though.