Courtesy of Conium

W.A.D. Are you listening?
From Green Country Values blog:

 “Arkansas and Missouri officials agreed Monday to meet annually to study ways to protect watersheds and aquifers that cross state lines, a pact both states said would help keep water fights out of the courtroom.

“It is not only important to set and enforce standards for your own waterways, but to also work with neighboring states so that the industries in your own state don’t go there, wreak havoc, and embarrass your state in the national news.” Read more…

If the press would get off their lazy behinds and do a minimal amount of reporting, they would see real law breaking, not the psuedo science being pushed to enrich W.A.D.s’ trial lawyer buddies.

Chickens, Pollution at Core of States’ Dispute
by Greg Allen

NPR Morning Edition, June 7, 2005 · Water monitors recently found in Arkansas creeks have state officials angry over what they call the clandestine monitoring of their chicken industry. The monitors were traced back to Oklahoma’s attorney general, who is threatening to sue the Arkansas chicken industry.

While the discovery of the water monitors was an embarrassment, Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmonson and other officials are refusing to back off their contention that Arkansas must do more to police chicken suppliers within its borders. (Audio)

A Thanksgiving Story

By Sen. Jay Paul Gumm

Thanksgiving is a time my thoughts turn to my late mother, Harlene Taylor Gumm. It was the most special of the holidays for her because she had a prayer answered over Thanksgiving Weekend 1963.

Just like Deena and me, my parents were told they could never have children. That changed Thanksgiving Weekend 1963, and this true story gave Deena and me hope during our struggle to become parents. Read more…

Moving Ahead with Property Tax Reform

By Rep. Jason Murphey

I am happy to report some fantastic news about one of the most needed reforms. Last week the window of time opened when Representatives can file new legislation to be heard during the upcoming session. Those who wish to make a point and provide their legislation with one of the initial House bill numbers are using this as an opportunity to make a strong statement by quickly placing their bills on file.

One of the first bills to be filed was House Joint Resolution 1001. HJR 1001 will be a proposal by Oklahoma City State Representative David Dank. Dank has been one of the leading proponents of one of the most important issues to my constituents. The issue is that of property tax reform. Each year I receive a number of constituent calls protesting the punitive and unfair nature of the ever-increasing property tax assessments that seem to always go up by about 5% with each new issuance. Read more…

It’s sad to now see the OK alternative press pickup the alleged Barack Obama birth certificate controversy. First reported during the election on prominent, national right wing blogs, others soon followed suit promoting this bogus controversy.

We’re the last people looking to defend Barack Obama, but we’re amazed at the shocking display of a lack of basic high school government civics. As long as Mr. Obama’s mother was an American citizen, and there’s never been any question of that, then it doesn’t make any difference where he was born. If you are making the allegation that his white mother is not his natural mother then say it. It is very evident that Mr. Obama is of mixed heritage, so the theory that the senior Obama moved back to Kenya to conceive junior Barack is not plausible to us. The election is over. Move on!

There has to be some super Machiavellian reasoning behind this, right? Coates??? A guy who - during this past election - did robo calls FOR Democrats from THEIR party headquarters!

From Batesline:

“Why are the Oklahoma Senate Republicans putting their caucus’s lone HB 1804 opponent, an outspoken opponent of enforcing immigration laws, in charge of the Business and Labor Committee?…” Read more…

Related:

Cheap Labor Pimp Harry “Turn” Coates Sells Out Fellow Republican

Like Jake and Elwood, it appears another successful act may be getting back together, and there’s a distinctly Oklahoma angle to the story. Today’s Washington Post reveals that the old “Harry and Louise” team is gearing up for another health care reform ballet, and the name of an Oklahoman that played a key role in the first battle is surfacing once again.

President-Elect Obama noted in today’s press conference that “sound policy” on items such as health care will be necessary to fix the nation’s ailing economy. No doubt there will be much debate on precisely just what “sound policy” is, and the Goddard-Claussen team will no doubt be involved in defining that term.

So what is the Oklahoma angle? It was 1993 that an unknown Oklahoma company was drafted by the Goddard-Claussen team to run advocacy operations. It was News9’s political analyst Scott Mitchell that worked alongside Ben Goddard and Rick Claussen to design the advocacy and grassroots programs that defeated the Clinton health initiative and subsequent attempts at the state level throughout the 1990’s. Mitchell later added trial consulting to his firm’s menu, becoming an expert in pre-trial publicity and advising some of the nation’s top lawyers on the public aspects of legal cases, becoming the first public affairs/media consultant in America to teach Continuing Legal Education (CLE) on strategies in the “Court of Public Opinion.” With Mitchell on the National Board of Directors of DC-based Community Health Charities, the nation’s top patient charity organization, rumors are flying the life-long Oklahoman will be heavily-recruited to join the new Goddard-Claussen team in DC.

Regardless, as President–Elect Obama re-assembles many of the same people that advanced a government takeover in the early 1990’s, it sounds as if yet another retro-band is getting back together, and unlike the recent Republican effort, this band knows how to win.

Developing…..

Flashback Video: Harry and Louise on Hillary Clinton’s health plan (1994)

We are very pleased to announce a new feature to the Oklahoma Political News Service. We have added a social networking component to our popular site.

Similar to MySpace and Facebook, this companion site will allow members to set up their own profiles with their own pictures, videos, blog posts, you name it. The site is open to Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Greens, Socialists, Communists, Anarchists, whomever. This takes ordinary chat rooms to another level! And what makes this site unique is that it will mostly be all Oklahomans!

If you have a little creativity, you can use the power of OKPNS and its vast readership of insiders and activists to promote yourself, your business, your cause, whatever! (as long as it’s legal or offensive) You can also set up subgroups, start forum discussion, invite and network with other political junkees. Check it out!

Click here to get started. Its Free!

We’re often accused here at the Oklahoma Political News Service of crossing some arbitrary line of  blogger etiquette. Admittedly, were tough at time in our criticism of Oklahoma politicians and the lazy media, but we try to keep our attacks critiques as non personal and offensive as possible. Case in point, we bring you two examples of Oklahoma bloggers ” crossing the line.”

 Sinister: “Here’s a picture of my partner and me on Halloween, dressed as “Son of Man.”

Our first example is our self described Jewish homosexual friend “Sinister.” Mr. Sinister is in obvious need of attention, why else would he purposely try and provoke Christians with his blasphemous posts and incessant diatribes on his blog defaming their religion? Mr. Sinister often cites that the reason for his disdain for Christianity is due to the fact that the religion condemns his lifestyle. Mr. Sinister, who professes to be a very proud Jew, conveniently doesn’t mention that his religion, Judaism, condemns his immoral lifestyle as well. And while we’re going there, so do the Muslims and most religions of the world. Mr Sinister, you should be an equal opportunity offender like we are!

Our second example is blogger Stan Geiger. Mr. Geiger, we’re very surprised by this post about Insurance Commissioner Kin Holland titled, “Kim, You Ignorant Slut.” This post was inspired by Holland saying last week that people without health insurance could have their driving privileges restricted - a statement she quickly recanted. It was a stupid idea and Holland realized it, but calling her an ignorant slut???

We’re calling for a little civility here in the OK blogosphere. How about it?

You can tell that the news cycle has really slowed down since the elections. In between an occasional cabinet or staff position announcement, not much is happening. To remedy that situation - and sell a few extra newspapers and keep readers- The Tulsa World and some bloggers have resorted to racism, specifically, in the so called re-emergence of the Ku Klux Klan. In light of their past cynical coverage of African Americans in their publications, their empathic articles reminds us of the racist who tells African Americans that “some of my best friends are black!”

We send our condolonces to the family of the young Tulsa woman who was recently slain in Louisiana - purportedly by the Klan, but be honest, if we had not just elected our first African American president, we sincerely doubt the death of this woman - or stories about the Klan’s reemergence - would still be in the news.

Tulsa World:

 ”A former Ku Klux Klan leader who has since renounced the organization says the hate group is “making a comeback in Oklahoma,” pointing to the recruitment — and eventual killing — of a Tulsa woman by a Louisiana segment of the group.

Louisiana authorities have said Cynthia Charlotte Lynch, 43, was recruited to join the group but was killed when she decided to leave an initiation ritual that took place last Sunday.

Johnny Lee Clary, 49, used to be active in the KKK — rising to the rank of imperial wizard — but he quit in 1989 and now preaches against such hate groups.

He said he’s seen signs of the group’s comeback in Oklahoma “for some time now, and my message to my fellow Oklahomans is: Don’t buy their messages of hate.” Read more… 

Related:

Hat tip: johnnyleeclary

Video: Ex-KKK Leader Warns of Huge KKK Comeback

From Examiner.com:

While W.A.D. Edmondson blatantly abuses his power persecuting citizen activists and poultry farmers (with a willing media turning a blind eye) - the people of Oklahoma City don’t have to be reminded that there is only one daily newspaper, and it is quickly sliding into increasing irrelevance.

A story in today’s New York Times reminds us why the new media matters and the old media is dying. Read more…

Related:

Harris Interactive: Four Out of Five Adults Now Use the Internet

Tyler Harber, Vice-President and the Director of the Political and Public Affairs Division at Wilson Research Strategies, was recently on Fox & Friends discussing the Obama transition; the meeting between McCain and Obama; and Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State.

“Obama is doing what every great President aspires to do, reunite the country after a tough campaign. Nearly every President-elect in modern times has done the same.”

“Don’t expect Obama to put together a “Team of Rivals.” Remember that this is the same guy that dimissed members of the media from his campaign if their publication failed to endorse him. Obviously, he doesn’t suffer opposition well.”

“Hillary would be a horrible choice for Secretary of State. Sure - she’s likely qualified to do the job and do it well; however, the last thing you want is to add someone to your cabinet that is spending four or eight years running for your job.”

“I think she would accept. She can’t get any higher in Senate leadership currently, so the only way to get more exposure is to take a job like this. It would be great for her, but bad for Obama - and possibly the country.”

Related:

Flashpoint blog: Chris Wilson’s “Ten Thoughts on the 2008 Elections & the Future of the GOP

Hat tip: WilsonResearchStrat