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.