Three presidents gather for Bush portrait unveiling

Three presidents gather for Bush portrait unveiling 

Posted by CNN's Tom Cohen Washington (CNN) - 

There were smiles, laughter and tears - but little politics - when former Presidents George W. Bush and his father, George H. W. Bush, joined current President Barack Obama at the White House for the unveiling Thursday of the younger Bush's official portrait. An emotional ceremony in the East Room saw the new White House residents thanking their predecessors for their service to the nation and for helping them out during the move more than three years ago. 

FULL STORY

NOTE:  This is not about politics today but about the grace and dignity of the current President when President and Mrs. Obama welcomed the Bush Family and others to the White House for the unveiling of the official portraits of President George W and Laura Bush.  This is what makes many of us proud of America that the current President reaches out to his predecessor for the unveiling.  At times like this, it is great to see politics set aside just as President and Mrs. Bush did when they welcomed the Obama's to the White House after he was elected so they could visit their new home.  

This makes me proud to be an American and see President's from two separate parties come together for an event like this and put politics aside.

Cruz/Dewhurst in Runoff for TX Senate Nomination

Should be an interesting June and July in Texas leading up to the run-off elections.  Quite a few House seats for new districts are also headed for run-off elections.  Looks like that group that Eric Cantor gave to that were out to defeat incumbents, many of them in Texas didn't do so well at least on the Republican side as incumbents received over 70% of the vote in most cases and none are in run-offs -- were not even close to being in a run-off.  The new seats in the House will have runoffs as so many people ran for those seats -- counted ten candidates in several of them.  All in all, it was a good night for House incumbent conservatives in TX and not a good night for the establishment types or the Paul people.  Common sense reigns in Texas.

Romney didn't reach the 70% mark for votes in Texas and that was with Rick Perry NOT on the ballot.  Cannot believe Romney is the only man left standing and he cannot get over 70% in Texas but he has already declared Texas is going for him and no need to campaign there.  Maybe he is not campaigning there as his numbers would go down.  For those that don't know, Romney spent election night in Las Vegas with Donald Trump.  Sitting here shaking head but also chuckling.  What are the far right who abhor gambling going to say about that?

My prediction is that Ted Cruz will continue to gain on Dewhurst and that the group of people supporting the Dallas Mayor most likely will not go out and vote in big numbers at the end of July.  I cannot believe that 3% of Texans even voted for the former ESPN analyst Craig James who helped get Mike Leach fired as the football coach of Texas Tech.  Bet he didn't do well in Lubbock.  Would like the James votes would go to Cruz.  In the end,  I would bet that Cruz continues to gain and takes the Special Election.

IMHO, I don't think Governor Perry's endorsement will mean much mostly because voters know Dewhurst is the Lt Governor so it would be normal for Perry to endorse Dewhurst.  Not endorsing him would not be smart especially since he has 2 1/2 years left as Governor.

From now until July 31st, expect the Texas airwaves to be filled with negative ads filled with innuendoes and lies.  IOTW Typical Texas election.  

Cruz Narrowed Gap with Dewhurst in Final Days
Enthusiasm is on Cruz's side.
8:51 AM, May 30, 2012 • By MICHAEL WARREN 

In yesterday’s U.S. Senate Republican primary in Texas, lieutenant governor David Dewhurst won 45 percent of the vote to Ted Cruz’s 34 percent and Tom Leppert’s 13 percent. Dewhurst fell just a few points shy of the 50 percent, resulting in a runoff with Cruz. Yet Dewhurt's 11 percentage point victory would suggest he has the advantage of winning that runoff for the GOP nomination on July 31. 

But the numbers might be telling a different story. Slightly fewer than half of those who voted in the primary voted early, some over two weeks before the election. Of those early voters, Dewhurst did much better than he did with voters overall, beating Cruz by 18 points (48 percent to 30 percent), or roughly 120,000 votes. But on election day, Cruz closed that gap considerably. Dewhurst won about 41 percent of the vote to Cruz’s 38 percent—a margin of 4 points and only 24,000 votes. 

That narrower gap on election day, after voters had more of a chance to get to know the candidates, suggests that the momentum had shifted toward Cruz. With an influx of funds to keep TV and radio ads on the air and an aggressive push to get out the vote in July, Cruz could have a shot at overcoming Dewhurst and winning the nomination.

There are other factors to be sure. Former Dallas mayor Tom Leppert, who pulled 13 percent in the race, did not tell reporters if he would endorse Dewhurst or Cruz. But as the most liberal of the GOP candidates, Leppert might see his supporters turn to the more moderate Dewhurst than the more conservative Cruz—or they might just not vote at all in the runoff. Dewhurst’s big swath of early voters may be just as energized to vote in July as they were to vote in May. Cruz could stumble, Dewhurst could reach deeper into his pockets to pay for more ads, or Texas Republicans could decide to side with their governor, Rick Perry, and go with his endorsed candidate, Dewhurst. 

But as one PPP poll showed in the final days before the election, 49 percent of those supporting Cruz said they were “very excited” about voting for him; only 27 percent of Dewhurst supporters said the same thing. In a runoff election, intensity of support could mean everything. 

Source:  Weekly Standard

Sen Jim Inhofe (R-OK) Trying to Find Support for Highway Funding from Tea Party Lawmakers

My recommendation is that every Tea Party lawmaker drive I-40 from the AR line to OKC and then tell all of us how important it is to keep the Keystone Pipeline Funding in the Transportation bill when it is an add-on.  When are lawmakers going to stop this nonsense of putting extras on funding bills.  Anyone with a brain knows this is a non-starter in the Senate.  We are 49th in road and bridge repair in OK -- frankly I almost have quit driving I-40 and going under overpasses for fear that concrete will drop off the bridge which has happened in the past.  Finally they are fixing I-35 in the Norman area so a chunk of concrete cannot fall down again.

Do these people not understand the longer you allow infrastructure to deteriorate the more it is going to cost.  Maybe it is time to have toll roads who self fund the fixes like we have seen with our Oklahoma turnpikes and then the driver's can blame Congress for the toll roads.

The Senate wants to fund near the same level they have been funding the transportation bill which seems like a good idea.  The one thing that is a federal obligation with the federal highway system is road and bridges and yet some Tea Party Members of the House don't believe it should be funded at near current levels?  They are also pushing for Keystone which is an add on to the budget.  Without it, they plan on voting against the transportation bill in many cases.  Has anyone ever heard of doing the right thing for the America people as poor roads and bridges are a safety hazard which could cost lives.

Senator Inhofe is a huge supporter of the Keystone Pipeline and believes it will eventually be approved so why is it necessary in this environment for the House to attach it to the transportation bill?  I am tired of the games being played on both sides.  Members of Congress are sent to represent all the people not just their big donors or special interest groups. Then you read this out of the House:

But many conservatives do have a problem with it and have opposed using general fund money. House Republicans authored a highway bill that would have cut spending on roads and bridges by 34 percent — meaning a loss of $800 million to Oklahoma over six years. Gary Ridley, Oklahoma's transportation director, said a cut of that magnitude would jeopardize critical highway projects in the state — and lives.

One of the items the federal government is responsible for (roads and bridges) they want to cut by 34% but these same House members wants to waste my tax dollars on their pet causes.  Republicans in the House have also become like their counterparts when President Bush was in office -- investigation happy.  There are way too many investigations going on that never end wasting our tax dollars.  There is so much can be cut from the Federal Budget and the House wants to concentrate cutting on roads and bridges?  Very foolish and makes me wonder where some of them got their idea of what it means to represent a whole district and a state because they seem to only want to please the special interest groups that elected them.

Why would want them reelected if they are not independent of lobbyists, special interests groups, and their big donors?  Both sides act like little kids that if they don't get their way, they are going to take the ball and go home.  Democrats were horrible during the Bush years, and now I am seeing the same thing out of Republicans.  They need to grow up and put America first.

Oklahoma Sen. Jim Inhofe trying to persuade Tea Party lawmakers to support highway funding   

Conservative Republican Jim Inhofe is a lead negotiator on a highway bill that has some funding problems and a provision that would approve the Keystone XL pipeline 

By Chris Casteel | Published: May 27, 2012

WASHINGTON — With another deadline fast approaching, Republican Sen. Jim Inhofe is working to persuade members of his party that they should support a highway bill that keeps road and bridge funding close to current levels. 

“With this attitude out there, where so many members of the Senate and the House have this fear of the Tea Party people, they're scared to death to vote for anything that has a bunch of zeros in it,” Inhofe said in an interview.

Inhofe, of Tulsa, spent part of last week calling freshman House members — “all Tea Party,” he said — and trying to convince them that it would be the “conservative position” to support legislation that would stabilize transportation funding for two or three years.

If Congress can't come together on a long-term policy, he said, the uncertainty will continue to cause serious problems for critical projects. Moreover, he said, the bill now under consideration would change some provisions of federal highway policy — such as spending road and bridge money on roadside attractions — that have long rankled conservatives.
At the end of the week, Inhofe felt like he was getting through to them. 

“I don't want to say that each one of them is going to support it, because we don't even know what (the bill) is going to look like yet, but they're all anxious to have a bill and to pass it,” he said. 

Rep. James Lankford, R-Oklahoma City, is among the freshman lawmakers trying to negotiate a highway bill that could pass the House and Senate. And he's the type of conservative that Inhofe is trying to win over. 

“Transportation has a unique federal role,'' Lankford said, “but with billions of dollars of government waste, we must find a way to pay for the essential areas of government by making cuts to non-essential programs.” 

Windfall for Oklahoma

Inhofe is the top Republican on the Senate committee that has jurisdiction over the highway bill. He was chairman of that panel when the last long-term highway bill passed in 2005 — legislation that included thousands of earmarks and a huge funding windfall for Oklahoma.
That bill expired in 2009, and Congress has procrastinated since, granting only temporary extensions that have frustrated state highway officials. The latest extension ends on June 30. House and Senate negotiators are hoping to beat that deadline with a bill, rather than another short-term fix. 

Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-CA, the lead Senate negotiator, told reporters last week that lawmakers were “making good progress.” 

“I would say great progress,” she said, adding that 80 percent of the bill was non-controversial.
Inhofe said Boxer was “overly enthusiastic and overly optimistic, and I tell her that to her face and to other people because I want people to know the truth about this — it's not all that easy.” 

One of the main sticking points is how to pay for the bill; one of the others is the Keystone XL pipeline. 

Funding and Keystone

The Highway Trust Fund, which holds the proceeds from the federal gas tax, is the primary source of money for U.S. road and bridge construction. But money flowing into the fund has been declining while construction costs have been rising, and Congress has had to dip into the funds that pay for domestic programs and defense to make up the difference. 

Inhofe has no problem with that. He is a fiscal conservative, he often says, except when it comes to defense and infrastructure. 

(snip)

Excerpt:  Read more: http://newsok.com/oklahoma-sen.-jim-inhofe-trying-to-persuade-tea-party-lawmakers-to-support-highway-funding/article/3678926#ixzz1wIJCOZzn

Thank You Veterans and Your Families!

Memorial Day, an American holiday observed on the last Monday of May, honors men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades. Unofficially, at least, it marks the beginning of summer.



This morning as I looked at the pictures of Memorial Day from around the Country I am reminded of my own family.  Members of my Dad's Family fought in the Revolutionary War from Viriginia, in the Civil War from Ohio and Virginia, in WWI and WWII.  My grandfather who was gassed in WWI died when my Dad was five.  Grandpa to me was my Dad's Grandfather who played a huge role in my Dad's life stepping in for his Dad.  I can still remember sitting in the back seat of our car on his lap with an ice cream cone and going to sleep on his lap and hearing him laugh as there was ice cream every where.  
My husband joined the Marines at 17 turning 18 years old on a ship full of Marines headed to combat in Korea.  He was a Marine Corps forward air controller right on the front lines.  I wasn't even in grade school when he was serving but Uncle Dean served in Korea as well and married my aunt when he returned from Korea.  I can remember helping decorate their car as little kid.  My Dad and my Uncle Dave had a great time putting all sorts of things on their car while my cousin Scott and I got to do clean up for the most part.  We thought we were a big part of the decorating when looking back, we were the clean-up crew.
Several friends from high school died in Vietnam whose names are on the Wall.  With starting to work at Headquarters Air Force Logistics Command, Wright-Patterson AFB in the late 60's, I knew a lot of people who left to serve in Vietnam and then returned to Wright-Patt including two of my bosses.  Our office received the casualty reports every day that went to the Command Section along with what the Air Force was doing.  The mission of our Command was to keep the planes flying so our Commander made trips into SEA (Southeast Asia) to our depot facilities to make sure deadlines were being met and to stress the importance of their jobs.    Our pilots lives depended on them getting the planes fixed and back in the air.
We adopted a young Lieutenant when he worked for my husband at ASC at Wright-Patt while awaiting pilot training after graduating from the AF Academy.  He was on TV the night the raids were launched in the first Gulf War.  We were watching TV and there he was climbing into an F-4.  That brought the war close to home for our family.  He wasn't the only one we knew personally flying or being involved in the war after our years around the military.  We were transferred to Kelly AFB, TX, after the launch of the Gulf War and on the way saw convoys of troops and vehicles headed to the nearest AFB to be loaded on transports and taken overseas to the staging areas used for the attacks on Iraq who had invaded Kuwait.  
My husband always told our three children not to go in the military but our oldest daughter didn't listen and joined the Navy.  She was a graduate of Great Lakes and in school in Pensacola when 9/11 happened.  Knew she was far away from the terrorists attacks but not being able to get in touch with her was a horrible feeling.  She ended up several years later being deployed to Sicily to the Navy's repair facility for their aircraft flying in and out of Iraq.  We were so happy to hear her voice when she returned to the states and was home for Christmas that year.  Her husband who was also in the Navy flew many flights into and out of theater from Sicily as part of the crew in the back that were monitoring what was going on in Iraq.
When my son-in-law retired and my daughter was discharged from the Navy and they were on the road  headed for Florida, I breathed a huge sigh of relief.   I am so proud of my daughter for serving our Country but as a Mom I am just happy she decided against making it a career.  Now they are parents of my two beautiful granddaughters which I thank God for every day.
Please thank the men and women of our military who are serving and who have served over the years along with their families.  God be with those have lost their lives in the defense of our Country and give peace to their family and friends so they know how grateful this Country is for their sacrifice.
God Bless America and those who serve and have served this Great Nation!

Alan Simpson Slams Fellow Republicans For Unwillingness To Compromise

Remember over the years I always loved when Alan Simpson would give a talk either on the floor of the Senate or at an event.  He has a way with words that has always made me laugh and this article is no different today.  If you want to see the interview, please click here.

Simpson doesn't mince words and it is so refreshing to have a former Senator and one-time politician be so straight forward.  This comment ranks right up with some of the ones I have loved over the years:

"If you want to be a purist, go somewhere on a mountaintop and praise the east or something. But if you want to be in politics, you learn to compromise. And you learn to compromise on the issue without compromising yourself. Show me a guy who won’t compromise and I’ll show you a guy with rock for brains."

That is one of the biggest problems we have today is that way too many people elected to Congress think 'compromise' is a dirty word when in fact, it has been used for years to get the job done for all the American people just not a few.  There is no common sense left in most of Congress.  You have to work across the aisle to get things done but this group of 'my way or no way' on both sides are are forgetting that they work for the American people not some Super PAC or big donors or a group that vows to defeat them if they don't vote like they want (Chamber of Commerce comes to mind).  We need more Senators like Tom Coburn, Jim Inhofe, John McCain, Joe Liberman, and others who put the Country first.

I am so sick and tired of hearing about tax cuts when the very people opening their mouths are the ones who are not for limited government and in fact are continuing to grow government.  The cuts they tout are mostly smoke and mirrors until 2017 when then take place.  Alan Simpson has them pegged and I am extremely happy to join him as a RINO (Republican in Name Only) because this Republican Party is one I don't recognize or I wouldn't have been a member all these years.  There is no common sense only pandering to special interest groups and donors.

When is someone going to tell Norquist to take it and shove it?  Tax cuts are not the end all be all especially when they favor people like Romney and other fat cats who pay less than 15% due to a special part of the Bush Tax Cuts.  Why shouldn't the wealthy pay their fair share -- 15% is not their fair share.  It is not like they are spending their money to hire people as small business' are doing most of the hiring.  They sit there with their off shore accounts where they pay zero tax to the United States and that is okay to some people but not this one.  What we are seeing out of wealthy donors and Super PACS should make every one hang their head in shame to support any candidate where the wealthy are trying to buy the Presidency with their attack ads over and over again.  They bring nothing positive to the table.

Republicans had plentyof negative to say about George Soros and Obama and they were right in 2008.  Only problem is that these Republican Super PACs are much worse and you barely hear a peep since it is Republican which is about as hypocritical as you can get.

When you elect a member of Congress, they are supposed to represent ALL of their Constituents not just special interest groups and donors.  Both sides of guilty of not wanting to compromise and the American people suffer in the process.  Not all good or bad ideas are on one side.  This demonetization of the other side needs to stop by both sides.  They are people with families just like the rest of us but have a different philosophical idea about what is best.  That doesn't mean you cannot talk.

Social issues do not belong in the national discussion.  I have said for years on abortion that I don't want my tax dollars going to fund abortion which should very simple to handle -- don't appropriate money that goes to fund abortions.  There are plenty of foundations I am sure would be there to help.  Let Emily's List handle funding since they are so far left.

Very wise words by Alan Simpson and hope that they are taking to heart by the people running.  Answer to your constituents and a word of caution to them as well -- stop this 'my way or no way' or you are going to defeat them mentality -- be willing to listen instead of automatically telling them if you don't vote my way, you will be defeated.  There are approximately 600,000 other members of your district who want them to vote their way and you cannot always please every constituent.  The problem is that this group is more interested in pleasing the National Chamber, Wall Street, and K Street then they are the American people.  When you talk about a candidate being bought and paid for by special interest, look no further than Mitt Romney and Barack Obama.  Sad commentary on the Presidential election this time.  Two candidates in the hip pockets of special interest groups and big donors.

This Memorial Day when we honor our veterans, many who gave their all for this Country, each and every politician needs to look in their heart and ask if what they are doing is best for America or for their special interest friends and big donors.  Time to return common sense and putting America first to the halls of Congress and the White House.  We owe that to the men and women who sacrificed it all for America in Defense of our Country!

Alan Simpson Slams Fellow Republicans For Unwillingness To Compromise

Posted: 05/27/2012 9:29 pm

Former Sen. Alan Simpson (R-Wyo.) lashed out at members of his party on Sunday, slamming them for their unwillingness to compromise on proposed tax increases. 

In his characteristically colorful style, Simpson told CNN's Fareed Zakaria that Republicans' rigid opposition to new tax revenues has hampered productivity and diminished the chances of reaching an agreement with Democrats on debt reduction. 

"You can’t cut spending your way out of this hole," Simpson, who was appointed as co-chair of President Obama's Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform in 2010, said. "You can’t grow your way out of this hole, and you can’t tax your way out of this hole. So put that in your pipe and smoke it, we tell these people. This is madness." 

Simpson continued: "If you want to be a purist, go somewhere on a mountaintop and praise the east or something. But if you want to be in politics, you learn to compromise. And you learn to compromise on the issue without compromising yourself. Show me a guy who won’t compromise and I’ll show you a guy with rock for brains." 

The former senator, along with debt commission co-chair Erskine Bowles, developed a plan in 2010 for bringing down the top tax rate and lowering the deficit by repealing a number of tax cuts and credits. The initial plan, commonly known as Simpson-Bowles, was mostly ignored by lawmakers. A bipartisan budget modeled after their report was rejected by the House earlier this year. 

During the interview Sunday, he expressed frustration with his party's focus on social issues, as well as the ability of outspoken figures like Americans for Tax Reform head Grover Norquist to drive the conversation.

"I guess I'm known as a RINO now, which means a Republican in name only, because, I guess, of social views, perhaps, or common sense would be another one, which seems to escape members of our party," Simpson said. "For heaven’s sake, you have Grover Norquist wandering the earth in his white robes saying that if you raise taxes one penny, he’ll defeat you. He can’t murder you. He can’t burn your house. The only thing he can do to you, as an elected official, is defeat you for reelection. And if that means more to you than your country when we need patriots to come out in a situation when we’re in extremity, you shouldn’t even be in Congress." 

Source:  Huffington Post 

Oklahoman Editorials on the OK Legislature -- Not Flattering but True!

When this site was started it was with the understanding that we would call it like we saw it.  At the time the Democrats were selling out to special interests but now we can truthfully say that it looks like it is not only Democrats but Republicans as well.  Unfortunately it has been happening in the halls of Congress and  now it is appearing in our legislatures around the Country.  Special interests are taking precedence over the taxpayers with budgets being negotiated behind the scenes.  Because I live in Oklahoma, I have been covering the final days of the Oklahoma Legislature and have taken away from this process that it is not the way to do business.  We, the taxpayers, deserve better than this.  We have a right to see the budget before it is voted on and signed by the Governor because the members of the legislature are using our tax dollars.

The Oklahoman newspaper decided to do two editorials yesterday that describe the lack of common sense out of our Oklahoma legislators.  These people get paid almost $40,000 a year for four months in session along with State Medical Insurance like they are a full time State employee.  We hear how they meet in committee and work so hard during the other eight months.  If this session is an example of the best they can do in eight months before session, the citizens of Oklahoma deserve a rebate of their salaries because they are grossly overpaid.  I already thought we have too many Representatives and Senators for such a small state who are paid too much money in comparison to what teachers are paid for 9-10 months of work.  Now I know it is a fact.

Maybe if they spent less time on social issues and more time on passing a budget earlier in the session so taxpayers know exactly what is in the budget, our state would be better run.  How about requiring legislators to write their own bills instead of using lobbyists?  Why do they submit 1200 bills a session?  How many bills can you pass on abortion -- forgot that is the #1 issue not infrastructure from some of the Representatives.  How many bills has this group of legislators passed since coming to the legislature as the majority party that have been declared whole or partly unconstitutional or told if you pass that bill it will be overturned by the Courts?  Is this the best that Oklahoma can do with our elected representatives because it is not good enough IMHO!

Now understand why they cannot do a two year budget because they wait until the last few days to pass a one-year budget so no one has a chance to see what is in the budget until it is passed.  Did they fund education first?  NO!  Same as it has been since they passed funding education first in 2002 -- only one time have they honored that pledge and as usual it did not get funded first this year so public schools will continue to tread water.  These are the people we send to Oklahoma City to be our voices?  Looks like we need new voices as this bunch of Representatives are not doing their job.  We also need less Representatives because it is obvious that having 101 for this small state leads to inability to get the job done for the citizens of Oklahoma.

If the Capitol fell down would this group of Representatives tell everyone that it was more important to give a small tax cut to 51% of the people where only the rich see real cuts then fix the Capitol?  These people who are elected should be hanging their heads in shame instead of claiming a job well done -- they didn't do their job to fix infrastructure and haven't for sometime.  They have been cutting education funding, not giving pay raises to state employees (they finally get one this year), and allowing our roads and bridges to deteriorate and now you can add the deteriorating Capitol Building to that list.

Since the days when Todd Hiatt was Speaker, it has gone downhill.  With more Republican elected to the the House every two years it seems more social issues take center stage while education and infrastructure continue to take a back seat but look we have 'open carry' come this November.  That's more important then funding necessary items it seems.

Oklahoma House members kick the can on Capitol bond issue
The Oklahoman Editorial | Published: May 25, 2012  

It apparently will fall to Oklahoma voters to fix the state Capitol. The men and women who occupy the building have no stomach for it. 

The House of Representatives voted 77-15 Wednesday against a $200 million bond issue to pay for repairs at the Capitol, which has been in bad shape for years. Rep. Earl Sears, R-Bartlesville, said members want the building repaired but, “I think it is a clear message that we need to find another alternative in funding.” Like what? Democrats called for a pay-as-you-go approach. That's nonsense.

Our guess is Oklahomans would approve using a bond issue to repair the Capitol because they get it. They understand that when their home needs significant repairs or remodeling, they can get a loan to pay for the work instead of trying to pay for it out of pocket immediately. In deciding whether to make the loan, the bank assesses the applicant's current debt and his ability to pay back the amount being requested. If everything checks out, the loan is granted.
Bond underwriters have done the same with Oklahoma and found that we can absolutely afford to borrow the amount needed to repair the Capitol, and then some. Bond issues are routinely used by states, including Oklahoma, for such infrastructure needs. And low interest rates make borrowing now all the more sensible. 

But that argument goes nowhere with lawmakers because they're worried about being labeled as deficit spenders like members of Congress. House Republicans had been most vocal in opposition, but as Wednesday's vote showed they have plenty of company from Democrats. These folks must pay cash for their homes and automobiles and for every major home repair.
The Capitol will get repaired someday, at a price much higher than today. Wonder if those who voted against this bond issue will take credit for that when the time comes?

Read more: http://newsok.com/oklahoma-house-members-kick-the-can-on-capitol-bond-issue/article/3678262#ixzz1w0fCX3s7

Then my nominee for the most stupid defeat of a bill was the one dealing with a child support fee being collected from deadbeat parents by the state. I had to read the editorial twice to make sure I was comprehending what I was reading.  How could this bill have not have passed with a unanimous vote?  It makes no sense to me why anyone but a deadbeat parent would be against the bill.  Why should the parent/child who is owed back child support have to pay a fee to the state.  Since the state has the means to collect from tax refunds and go after deadbeat parents, why not collect the fee from the deadbeat parent so the taxpayer isn't picking up the tab?  The bill made sense so what am I missing here?

Oklahoma lawmakers spike sensible child-support bill
The Oklahoman Editorial | Published: May 25, 2012 

Occasionally, legislative votes are real head-scratchers. Opposition to a child support measure certainly falls into that category. 

House Joint Resolution 1113, by state Rep. Jason Nelson, R-Oklahoma City, would have approved Department of Human Services rules allowing the agency to recoup part of the cost of collecting delinquent child support payments by assessing a fee on those who fail to make payments. The fee was a whopping $25 for the delinquent parent to cover processing costs involved in collection efforts. The rules would have allowed the agency to also collect back child support payments from a parent's income tax refund.

Basically, deadbeat dads (or moms) would have been forced to pay a fee and lose tax refund money when they fail to do financially right by their children. That seems like common sense to us. Yet the measure failed 47-46, needing 51 votes to pass. 

Currently, Nelson noted, taxpayers are covering the cost of fees required for collection efforts; the proposed rules would have placed that burden back on those creating the expense in the first place. Critics called it a backdoor effort to fund DHS through fee increases and said it was unfair to add to the burden of those who struggle to pay child support. 

We don't see how the fee is so egregious. Some may honestly struggle to make payments, but too often delinquent child support is just a form of child neglect. 

State Rep. Mike Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City, actually suggested the fee should be assessed on the child or the custodial parent, since they and not the deadbeat parent get the benefit of collecting the delinquent child support payment. We wish that were a joke. 

Unfortunately, dozens of lawmakers sided with the deadbeats and against the children needing financial support. We wish that were a joke, too.

Read more: http://newsok.com/oklahoma-lawmakers-spike-sensible-child-support-bill/article/3678260#ixzz1w0gtQXXI

Where is the Common Sense in the Oklahoma Legislature?  If this Legislature is an example of having a lot of social conservatives, then I would recommend we go back to electing economic conservatives who understand not fixing infrastructure today will cost more tomorrow and that our students are the leaders of future and deserve a great education not some of the mediocre ones they get in some Oklahoma schools.  My kids went to Norman schools after we moved here from Texas receiving a first rate education that should be available to every student in the state.

Obama Courts the Military/Veteran Vote

Most of my adult life was spent around the military, first as a civil service employee of the Air Force, and then as a spouse of a former Marine and civil service engineer for Air Force Materiel Command which took our family from coast to coast in various assignments.  When he retired, he became a Government contractor so you could say we know a lot of military and civil service with all the moves.   When I talk to military, civil service, and Government contractors, I am amazed that they are saying what I have been saying about Romney.  They don't like him or respect him.  

When Mitt Romney decided to demonstrate in favor of the draft, he had no intention of going in the military because of the strings his family pulled with the Mormon Church to send him on a mission to that 'dangerous' country of France for his 3-year mission.  They made sure he would never be drafted with a three-year mission.  None of his sons served in the military but he compared their missions and working on his campaign to the same as serving in the military.  He apologized later when it became an issue but it is still the fact he said it and probably what he believes.  Don't know a person who would equate public service to the military.  It is not even close.

Michelle Obama has taken a lot of hits from Republicans including from me but I have to say that I admire the work she has done with the military and their families.  You hear little about it but she has shown since she became First Lady how much she cares not just during the campaign season but all the time with her visits and outreach to the families of active military and veterans.  Have heard it discussed by different women whose husband's serve or have served about how much they admire what she has done and is not looking for publicity.  I thought her idea of a White House garden was a good one and she is right about obesity of children.  

She has grown in the position of First Lady -- I was wrong about Michelle Obama and the type of First Lady she would become.  We (including myself) should have given her a chance to find her way as it had to be overwhelming.  She has turned into someone I don't agree with philosophically on issues but she has brought her style and put her own imprint on the position of First Lady.  A lot of military families will attest she has been good for their cause and that is good enough for me.

Most people I know with military ties around the Country don't like Mitt Romney or Barack Obama and are looking at 3rd Party candidates Former Republican NM Governor Gary Johnson who has the Libertarian nomination, and toward the Reform Party who has not held their Convention but one of the strongest candidates is former Republican LA Governor Buddy Roemer who cleaned out the corrupt Democrat Governor of LA when he won his election after serving in the House.  Strike you odd that two former Republican Governors are looking at 3rd parties because of the way they were treated by the establishment Republicans starting with the RNC Chair.  

It says a lot about the Republican nominee when you have members of the military and veterans giving President Obama a bigger percentage of the vote in polling.  The reason the military and veterans went to Senator McCain is that he was one of them having been a POW during the Vietnam War.   Time will tell if Military and our Veterans will vote for Obama in larger numbers then Romney but don't be shocked if that happens.  

Obama Courts Veteran Vote Posted by: CNN White House Correspondent Dan Lothian May 25th, 2012 WASHINGTON (CNN) - President Obama rarely misses an opportunity to talk about the help his administration is offering to military veterans and their families. “We will care and serve our veterans the way they've served us,” Mr. Obama said at a recent campaign event out west. His message may be grounded in policy but in this election season it’s also about the politics. His re-election campaign is actively courting veterans who have traditionally supported Republicans. "It's door-to-door, person-to-person, grocery store-to-grocery store. Letting people know the president's record on his policies to veterans," said Beau Biden, an Iraq veteran and the vice president’s son, who is part of the campaign’s grassroots effort “Veterans and Military Families for Obama.” In 2008, President Obama lost the veteran vote to Senator John McCain 55% to 45%. But the demographics are shifting and Democrats sense an opportunity. In a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll Mr. Obama leads Romney among that group 44% to 37%. (snip) The killing of Osama Bin Laden has also won over some former critics. That’s part of the sales pitch Democrats are making, that President Obama has been tough on terrorists and that he ended one war and is winding down another. They’re also getting help from First Lady Michelle Obama, who has long promoted help for veterans and their families. While White House aides insist her work is not political, she did join the president in a web video promoting the new campaign. Excerpt:  Read More at CNN

Krugman: Egos and Immorality

After reading this op-ed by Paul Krugman, the fuzzy picture is clearing up.  I cannot believe the way people from Wall Street to K Street along with inside the beltway types have turning into pretzels to support Romney.  We are getting smoke and mirrors out of those folks not real facts.  No wonder they don't want anyone to go after Romney on Bain Capital or the deck of cards could come crumbling down.  Romney has lied about jobs he created and is a vulture capitalist not a venture capitalist.  If you want jobs sent overseas and businesses raided for money and then shut down, then call Mitt Romney.

Actually, before I get to that, let me take a moment to debunk a fairy tale that we’ve been hearing a lot from Wall Street and its reliable defenders — a tale in which the incredible damage runaway finance inflicted on the U.S. economy gets flushed down the memory hole, and financiers instead become the heroes who saved America.  

Once upon a time, this fairy tale tells us, America was a land of lazy managers and slacker workers. Productivity languished, and American industry was fading away in the face of foreign competition. 

Then square-jawed, tough-minded buyout kings like Mitt Romney and the fictional Gordon Gekko came to the rescue, imposing financial and work discipline. Sure, some people didn’t like it, and, sure, they made a lot of money for themselves along the way. But the result was a great economic revival, whose benefits trickled down to everyone. 

You can see why Wall Street likes this story. But none of it — except the bit about the Gekkos and the Romneys making lots of money — is true. 

The cracks are starting to show in the Romney ship as more and more people begin to take a hard look at his story which turns out is more about being the son of the privileged then becoming successful from hard work.  He dodged the draft with the help of the Mormon Church to go to France and avoid the military while he was a vocal supporter of the draft.  That should tell you all you need to know about the character of Mitt Romney or should I say lack of character.  He touts him and his family as this perfect family but not him or one of his kids has served in the military or wanted for anything in their life.  He went to a private school for the privileged which is probably why he doesn't care about classroom size for those who cannot afford a private school.  More on his education agenda next week.  Suffice it to say I don't agree with much of his education platform as he short changes public schools.

When Obama dared to criticize Wall Street for their practices, many of them threw him under the bus including Mayor Booker of Newark, New Jersey, who some conservatives touted.  Will they read Krugman's article and admit the reason the Mayor got mad at Obama going after Bain?  He is a puppet for Wall Street it seems.  Today it is bad form for so-called conservatives to tell the truth when it comes to Obama or especially Romney.  They have turned Romney into something he is not as his handlers try to  make him look conservative and a successful businessman.  Guess being a MA liberal and a vulture capitalist  doesn't fir their narrative even though it is closer to the truth.  What is sacrificing a little truth when you are trying to buy the Presidency?

Personally I would like to see some of these arrogant Wall Street white guys have to face the music for what they have done to the people of  this Country with their selfishness and greed that has led to our tanked economy.  Some people will never recover while the fat cats of Wall Street get their million dollar bonuses when they should be in the unemployment line.  The fact that Romney has off shore accounts and pays only 15% income taxes make him the poster boy for Wall Street because they don't want to pay their fair share as they want to be like Romney.  They are attempting to buy this election and it is going to be up to the American people to get the truth out about Mitt Romney because you cannot expect the conservative media to tell the truth who are in bed with him.

Finally Krugman is saying what a lot of people I know have been saying about Wall Street.  Guess they expect us to have amnesia about their culpability in the financial crises while many of them got richer while the rest of us were shafted.  This article is very good and explains how out of touch the wealthy from Wall Street have become with ordinary Americans who are not millionaires or billionaires.  We have elite now from both parties I wouldn't give you two cents for right now.

Op-Ed Columnist 

Egos and Immorality

By PAUL KRUGMAN
Published: May 24, 2012 

In the wake of a devastating financial crisis, President Obama has enacted some modest and obviously needed regulation; he has proposed closing a few outrageous tax loopholes; and he has suggested that Mitt Romney’s history of buying and selling companies, often firing workers and gutting their pensions along the way, doesn’t make him the right man to run America’s economy.   

Wall Street has responded — predictably, I suppose — by whining and throwing temper tantrums. And it has, in a way, been funny to see how childish and thin-skinned the Masters of the Universe turn out to be. Remember when Stephen Schwarzman of the Blackstone Group compared a proposal to limit his tax breaks to Hitler’s invasion of Poland? Remember when Jamie Dimon of JPMorgan Chase characterized any discussion of income inequality as an attack on the very notion of success?

But here’s the thing: If Wall Streeters are spoiled brats, they are spoiled brats with immense power and wealth at their disposal. And what they’re trying to do with that power and wealth right now is buy themselves not just policies that serve their interests, but immunity from criticism.   

(snip)

For the alleged productivity surge never actually happened. In fact, overall business productivity in America grew faster in the postwar generation, an era in which banks were tightly regulated and private equity barely existed, than it has since our political system decided that greed was good.  

What about international competition? We now think of America as a nation doomed to perpetual trade deficits, but it was not always thus. From the 1950s through the 1970s, we generally had more or less balanced trade, exporting about as much as we imported. The big trade deficits only started in the Reagan years, that is, during the era of runaway finance.

And what about that trickle-down? It never took place. There have been significant productivity gains these past three decades, although not on the scale that Wall Street’s self-serving legend would have you believe. However, only a small part of those gains got passed on to American workers. 

So, no, financial wheeling and dealing did not do wonders for the American economy, and there are real questions about why, exactly, the wheeler-dealers have made so much money while generating such dubious results. 

Those are, however, questions that the wheeler-dealers don’t want asked — and not, I think, just because they want to defend their tax breaks and other privileges. It’s also an ego thing. 

Vast wealth isn’t enough; they want deference, too, and they’re doing their best to buy it. It has been amazing to read about erstwhile Democrats on Wall Street going all in for Mitt Romney, not because they believe that he has good policy ideas, but because they’re taking President Obama’s very mild criticism of financial excesses as a personal insult.

And it has been especially sad to see some Democratic politicians with ties to Wall Street, like Newark’s mayor, Cory Booker, dutifully rise to the defense of their friends’ surprisingly fragile egos. 

As I said at the beginning, in a way Wall Street’s self-centered, self-absorbed behavior has been kind of funny. But while this behavior may be funny, it is also deeply immoral. 

Think about where we are right now, in the fifth year of a slump brought on by irresponsible bankers. The bankers themselves have been bailed out, but the rest of the nation continues to suffer terribly, with long-term unemployment still at levels not seen since the Great Depression, with a whole cohort of young Americans graduating into an abysmal job market. 

And in the midst of this national nightmare, all too many members of the economic elite seem mainly concerned with the way the president apparently hurt their feelings. That isn’t funny. It’s shameful. 

 Read More from Paul Krugman at the New York Times  

If this articles doesn't make your blood boil at the elites on Wall Street, then you are swallowing what the Wall Street and K Street elites want you to swallow about Romney.  When the Country is in the fifth year of a slump brought on by the irresponsible bankers, how can it all be Obama's fault?  If Romney is elected we will have a President whose aim is to take care of his Wall Street buddies not Main Street IMHO!

 

Plan to fix crumbling Oklahoma Capitol Fails; Income Tax Cut More Important

UPDATE #2 from The Oklahoman:

Budget bill wins Oklahoma House approval

Five Republican members switched their votes and another GOP member who had been absent for the first vote voted for an Oklahoma budget bill during the second vote. The budget bill, which won Senate approval on Tuesday, now heads to the governor.

That didn't take long after the first vote for the budget failed.

******
UPDATE from The Oklahoman:

Oklahoma House votes down budget bill | NewsOK.com (two hours ago)

House Republican leaders are pondering their next move after a proposed budget bill was voted down. Lawmakers must approve a budget for the upcoming fiscal year before their 5 p.m. Friday deadline to complete business. Failure to get a budget approved by Friday evening would mean lawmakers would have to come back in a special session

Are the taxpayers going to be on the hook if they have to go into special sessions?  Absolutely!  They submit 1200 bills a year but cannot pass a budget.  Maybe if they quit hearing some of the stupid bills that are submitted and instead not hear one bill until a budget is passed, the legislature would get something done.  This year it was all about cutting taxes instead of working on a budget.  Absolutely disgusting!  There should be no pay for extra days when they couldn't pass a budget.  In fact they should have to pay back their daily salary for each day a budget is not passed.  Fund Education first has become a joke in this state.  Oklahoma taxpayers are not getting their money's worth with this legislature who don't always follow its own rules.  

********

Will someone please explain to me why Oklahoma in a bi-partisan fashion put a dome on the capitol in 2002 when the Capitol it seems was in bad shape in other areas?  When the dome was put on, why didn't the Capitol go through a massive renovation at that time?  The people of Oklahoma would have understood that we need to take care of a 100-year old building and for those that didn't, tough.  History is important and this Capitol Building is part of the great history of Oklahoma.  We are a young state only joining the Union in 1907.

The dedication was great on November 16, 2002, and the dome is beautiful with the Guadian sculpted by State Senator Enoch Kelly now sitting on top of the dome which is perfect for the State of Oklahoma.  It is beautiful inside as well and worth a trip to see the paintings and other items that adorn the interior of the Capitol.

It makes me sad to know that we have elected some short sighted people who have forgotten what is important to a lot of citizens of Oklahoma like me who value history including historical buildings like our Capitol.  When you drive up Lincoln Avenue and you see the oil well and then look at the Capitol Building with the Guardian standing guard and you feel great you have the opportunity to live in Oklahoma.  I wasn't born here but this state is wonderful in so many ways.  

We have a vibrant Bricktown with projects paid for by sales tax dollars which include the Bricktown Canal, a new Library, renovated Fine Arts facility, Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, renovated smaller arena for trade shows and the Chesapeake Arena home of the NBA Thunder to name a few projects of MAPS.  Oklahoma City is a forward looking city and great place to visit with all the restaurants and shops along the Bricktown Canal.  

You can take a cruise down the river to see all the bronze statutes that were commissioned as part of our Centennial in 2007.  The history of Oklahoma is shown along the Canal in the bronze statues depicting various scenes from our early history.

From Residence Inn Photos, OKC

Every time I take a cruise down the River, I am reminded how city leaders had the foresight to convert old warehouses into this fantastic area to visit.  My two oldest children were downtown for the opening of the Bricktown Canal on the 4th of July with a lot of others and lack of water as the crowd was much bigger then expected.  Fourth of July is a big production for Bricktown with the awesome fireworks at night to celebrate the birthday of our Country.

The Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark home of our Triple AAA farm Team, Redhawks, affiliated with the Houston Astros has bronze statutes of Mickey Mantle, Warren Spahn, and Johnny Bench, all born in Oklahoma, sitting outside the stadium.   Being a Cincinnati Reds fan, I love this statue of Johnny Bench:

Right outside Bricktown sits the Boat House District (blue building to the right in this picture) where Oklahoma City was able to land the training for the Olympic Team:

The skyline of Oklahoma City is changing with the new Devon Tower.  It is beautiful at night as the sun goes down to look at downtown.

Next week you are going to be hearing the sound of softball at the National Softball Complex as the College Softball World Series with the winners of the Super Regionals going on this weekend descending on Oklahoma City.  University of Oklahoma is hosting Arizona at the OU Marita Hynes Field.  Win 2 out of 3 and they are off to OKC!  Right now the Big 12 Baseball Championship is going on at the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.  Next week The Thunder will be back in town playing the San Antonio Spurs for the right to represent the West in the NBA Finals.

With all the great places to see around Oklahoma City including the Capitol, why are our members of the Oklahoma House more interested in giving us a very small income tax reduction while allowing infrastructure to deteriorate more?  Makes zero sense.  Will someone at the Capitol please get some common sense and realize that a small cut in the income tax rate is not the end all be all when we have major projects to be fixed.

Still haven't figure out what issuing a bond to fix the Capitol has to do with the lowering of the income tax rate -- must be missing something.  The bottom line is that you don't lower income tax when you have schools and infrastructure that need fixed now not in a few years.  The word that is coming to mind is irresponsibility.

Our State is a great place to live with a lower tax rate then a lot of states so time to stop the nonsense about a lower tax rate until we fix everything.  Then we, the citizens of Oklahoma, will talk!

Plan to fix crumbling Capitol fails
Fallin has option to call special session 

OKLAHOMA CITY - 24 May 2012

A push to help save the crumbling state Capitol has failed. Lawmakers say they don't want to fund it. 

View the video of the crumbling capitol building at KOCO

Another solution could in the works, but it would be difficult. Lawmakers are supposed to wrap up bills for the session on Friday. So, Wednesday's defeat may have been the last chance until next year. 

Lawmakers in the house voted against a bond proposal to make improvements. They say they understand the problems with the nearly 100-year-old building. Pieces of mortar and limestone have been falling to the ground. However, lawmakers say they don't want to issue bonds while trying to cut the state income tax. 

They could hold a special session to come up with other options, but that would be a decision the governor would have to make.

Read more:  KOCO, OKC

US Trade Representative Shares Info with Hollywood but not Senate Staffer?

The word transparency should no longer be part of the dictionary when it comes to politicians of both parties but this one in particular makes zero sense. The US Trade Representative (USTR) shares information with Hollywood, Halliburton, and others but when it comes time for Senatory Wyden's (D-OR) aide to see the information, he is not allowed to see anything about the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement being negotiated:

The majority of Congress is being kept in the dark as to the substance of the TPP negotiations, while representatives of U.S. corporations – like Halliburton, Chevron, PHRMA, Comcast, and the Motion Picture Association of America – are being consulted and made privy to details of the agreement.

Must admit there is some humor in all of this as the Democrats demonized Halliburton and blamed Vice Cheney for everything Halliburton ever did.  If they lost a box of paper clips, Cheney would have been blamed.  Now Halliburton is one of the privileged few who can see what the USTR is negotiating for the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement.  Give a few campaign contributions and amazing how it opens up doors inside the beltway.

How ironic this is happening to a Democrat Senator.  If it was Senator Coburn's aide, the Democrats would be saying there is no need to know what is happening.  It is rather humorous that it is happening to a staffer of a Democrat.  Now Wyden is submitting a new bill to handle the problem.  A new bill shouldn't be required since his committee has oversight but it seems someone found a loophole in the original bill.  DC is great for loopholes.  Senator Wyden says the 'intention' of the law was for Congress to see what was happening but seems it was not worded well.

Maybe if there were more straight forward bills out of the Congress, we wouldn't have this problem.   There should be nothing in a bill that is open to two different interpretations or meanings.  Plain and simple gets the job done which is something a lot of members of Congress cannot get through their heads.  This is beyond ridiculous but what we have come to expect out of DC today.  When was the last transparent White House?    It seems to get worse not better.   Is this what all the big money in politics is doing?  Creating a special class of donors when they snap their fingers, the President and members of Congress ask "how high?"

Wyden To Obama: Hollywood Shouldn't Know More About TPP Than Congress
by Mike Masnick 

Wed, May 23rd 2012, 2:31pm 

from the transparency? dept 

Senator Wyden has been at the forefront of raising concerns about the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement (as with many other issues we follow), specifically over the total lack of transparency from the USTR on the issue. While USTR Ron Kirk has pretended that "listening" to a few people is transparency, it's not. Actually sharing what you're doing is transparency. 

Now, it's one thing for the USTR to refuse to share with the public what it's supposedly negotiating on their behalf -- but what if it is refusing to share with the very people in charge of overseeing its actions? As you hopefully know it's Congress, not the Executive branch, that has the authority to regulate foreign commerce. While the USTR is often granted the power to handle negotiations, it is only to be done with oversight from Congress. 

So, you would think that the staff director on the Senate Finance Committee's Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs and Global Competitiveness, would be able to "oversee" what the USTR is doing by getting a copy of the USTR's positions. That staffer, who works for Senator Wyden, got all the proper security clearances... and the USTR basically gave him the finger. According to Wyden: 

As the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee’s Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness, my office is responsible for conducting oversight over the USTR and trade negotiations. To do that, I asked that my staff obtain the proper security credentials to view the information that USTR keeps confidential and secret. This is material that fully describes what the USTR is seeking in the TPP talks on behalf of the American people and on behalf of Congress. More than two months after receiving the proper security credentials, my staff is still barred from viewing the details of the proposals that USTR is advancing.

But you know who's not having any trouble seeing the details? The MPAA, Comcast, PHRMA and others. Again, from Senator Wyden:   

The majority of Congress is being kept in the dark as to the substance of the TPP negotiations, while representatives of U.S. corporations – like Halliburton, Chevron, PHRMA, Comcast, and the Motion Picture Association of America – are being consulted and made privy to details of the agreement.

Wyden is introducing some new legislation in response to this, called the Congressional Oversight Over Trade Negotiations Act, which is actually just a clarification of legislation passed in 2002 that created the Congressional Oversight Group in an attempt to increase coordination between Congress and USTR on such matters. Again, Senator Wyden:

Congress passed legislation in 2002 to form the Congressional Oversight Group, or COG, to foster more USTR consultation with Congress. I was a senator in 2002. I voted for that law and I can tell you the intention of that law was to ensure that USTR consulted with more Members of Congress not less.  

In trying to get to the bottom of why my staff is being denied information, it seems that some in the Executive Branch may be interpreting the law that established the COG to mean that only the few Members of Congress who belong to the COG can be given access to trade negotiation information, while every other Member of Congress, and their staff, must be denied such access. So, this is not just a question of whether or not cleared staff should have access to information about the TPP talks, this is a question of whether or not the administration believes that most Members of Congress can or should have a say in trade negotiations.

Again, having voted for that law, I strongly disagree with such an interpretation and find it offensive that some would suggest that a law meant to foster more consultation with Congress is intended to limit it. But given that the TPP negotiations are currently underway and I – and the vast majority of my colleagues and their staff – continue to be denied a full understanding of what the USTR is seeking in the agreement, we do not have time to waste on a protracted legal battle over this issue. Therefore, I am introducing legislation to clarify the intent of the COG statute.

The legislation, I propose, is straightforward. It gives all Members of Congress and staff with appropriate clearance access to the substance of trade negotiations. Finally, Members of Congress who are responsible for conducting oversight over the enforcement of trade agreements will be provided information by the Executive Branch indicating whether our trading partners are living up to their trade obligations. Put simply, this legislation would ensure that the representatives elected by the American people are afforded the same level of influence over our nation’s policies as the paid representatives of PHRMA, Halliburton and the Motion Picture Association.  

In trying to get to the bottom of why my staff is being denied information, it seems that some in the Executive Branch may be interpreting the law that established the COG to mean that only the few Members of Congress who belong to the COG can be given access to trade negotiation information, while every other Member of Congress, and their staff, must be denied such access. So, this is not just a question of whether or not cleared staff should have access to information about the TPP talks, this is a question of whether or not the administration believes that most Members of Congress can or should have a say in trade negotiations.

Again, having voted for that law, I strongly disagree with such an interpretation and find it offensive that some would suggest that a law meant to foster more consultation with Congress is intended to limit it. But given that the TPP negotiations are currently underway and I – and the vast majority of my colleagues and their staff – continue to be denied a full understanding of what the USTR is seeking in the agreement, we do not have time to waste on a protracted legal battle over this issue. Therefore, I am introducing legislation to clarify the intent of the COG statute.

The legislation, I propose, is straightforward. It gives all Members of Congress and staff with appropriate clearance access to the substance of trade negotiations. Finally, Members of Congress who are responsible for conducting oversight over the enforcement of trade agreements will be provided information by the Executive Branch indicating whether our trading partners are living up to their trade obligations. Put simply, this legislation would ensure that the representatives elected by the American people are afforded the same level of influence over our nation’s policies as the paid representatives of PHRMA, Halliburton and the Motion Picture Association.  

Again, having voted for that law, I strongly disagree with such an interpretation and find it offensive that some would suggest that a law meant to foster more consultation with Congress is intended to limit it. But given that the TPP negotiations are currently underway and I – and the vast majority of my colleagues and their staff – continue to be denied a full understanding of what the USTR is seeking in the agreement, we do not have time to waste on a protracted legal battle over this issue. Therefore, I am introducing legislation to clarify the intent of the COG statute.  

The legislation, I propose, is straightforward. It gives all Members of Congress and staff with appropriate clearance access to the substance of trade negotiations. Finally, Members of Congress who are responsible for conducting oversight over the enforcement of trade agreements will be provided information by the Executive Branch indicating whether our trading partners are living up to their trade obligations. Put simply, this legislation would ensure that the representatives elected by the American people are afforded the same level of influence over our nation’s policies as the paid representatives of PHRMA, Halliburton and the Motion Picture Association.  

The legislation, I propose, is straightforward. It gives all Members of Congress and staff with appropriate clearance access to the substance of trade negotiations. Finally, Members of Congress who are responsible for conducting oversight over the enforcement of trade agreements will be provided information by the Executive Branch indicating whether our trading partners are living up to their trade obligations. Put simply, this legislation would ensure that the representatives elected by the American people are afforded the same level of influence over our nation’s policies as the paid representatives of PHRMA, Halliburton and the Motion Picture Association.  

How ridiculous is it that a Senator in charge of oversight of the USTR has to introduce special legislation just to find out what's being negotiated by the USTR, supposedly on the public's behalf? The ridiculous levels of secrecy from the USTR are shameful. It's sad that it hasn't received more attention. 

Source:  Tech Dirt

Are GOP State Conventions Breaking Rules for Romney Against Ron Paul?k

Having been through two Republican State Conventions in 2008 and 2009 that were horrible with the shouting and the disagreements, this doesn't shock me at all.  It has been waiting to happen but it went too far this time on the part of the establishment the way it looks in order to get Romney the delegates.

Here in my own precinct in 2008 I gave up my precinct chair as I was working in campaigns and frankly nothing ever happens in my precinct.  The person who replaced me at the precinct meeting I was fine with -- really nice person and didn't realize he was a Paul supporter UNTIL after the names were turned in and discovered he didn't live in the precinct so he was ineligible.  The County Chair got mad at me for daring to question him when he appointed someone instead of us calling another precinct meeting to vote.  But then he was the County chair after I served as the Vice Chair of the County who put a Democrat on his ticket who hadn't registered as a Republican and another person who was not a resident of our County which we found out later and they were removed so his time as County Chair started off bad and ended bad.  Seemed like a nice guy but inept.

Been debating whether to post this article but frankly as am seeing the same thing happen around other states, the person is right that the Romney/establishment people want to disenfranchise the Paul people but looks like it is also Santorum and Gingrich by giving all the delegates to Romney even though he didn't win them all in my state.  Doesn't seem to make some people any difference.  Rules are mad to be broken it looks like.

If I didn't know better and read the article, I would have thought he was talking about a Democrat Convention but he wasn't.  This is what having Romney for the nominee is making it worse in states like mine where Republican leaders have to turn into pretzels to support him or they are more moderate then they portrayed themselves.  I find this whole fiasco sickening and am asking myself once why I am a Republican when the Governor of my State refers to Ron Paul people as "Obama lovers" which I was shocked to learn. Frankly most of us supporters for other candidates thought Ron Paul was way too cozy with Mitt Romney.  Personally think this is uncalled for out of a Governor when these are legitimate delegates which is more than can be said for some of the Romney people.  A Governor represents all the people not just Republicans and the same can be said for Democrat Governors.   Today politics seems to trump all!

Ron Paul people didn't physically attack other delegates like the Romney people either at this Convention.  Something is wrong with this Republican Party that started when the RNC Chair Priebus took over and is getting worse.  The RNC is beholding to big donors who are out to buy this election for Mitt Romney.

It is beyond disgusting and last night I actually went to see what the Reform Party platform was not even knowing if I could vote for them in OK because I live in one of the most restrictive states to get on the ballot -- Oklahoma.  I have also looked at the Libertarian Platform.  I like the former Republican Governor of New Mexico Gary Johnson who is running on the Libertarian ticket.  I also like Buddy Roemer, former Republican Governor of Louisiana who looks to be in the lead for the Reform Party nomination.  Does it strike you odd that two former Republican Governors are running in third parties after they were candidates for the GOP nomination but in Roemer's case he was kept out of all debates and Johnson they only let in two until Perry got in the race.

Why didn't the RNC want Perry, Roemer, and Johnson all either a current or former Republican Governor from the southern part of the Country on stage with their MA hero Romney?  You can also throw in John Huntsman, former Governor of Utah, into the mix who was ignored by the media which we assume now was at the direction of Karl Rove.

Will someone tell me why any conservative should remain a Republican because the leadership of Republicans in the Senate and House show they are not for limited government which is what most of us believe.  Former Majority Leader of the Senate Trent Lott went so far as to state recently that they have to change the minds of new members who believe in limited government.  Knew I didn't like Lott but it sure explains why he didn't like the former Oklahoma Senator Don Nickles.

Why are Republicans this time so quick to break the rules for Romney?  Have they morphed into Democrats?

Oklahoma GOP continues national trend of disenfranchising Paul supporters Published: 5:31 PM 05/17/2012

The shenanigans I witnessed at the Oklahoma State Republican Convention a few days ago ranged from petty, to absurd, to unjust, to downright violent, irreparably damaging the legitimacy of the Oklahoma Republican Party leadership and, by extension, the Republican presidential nominating process those leaders so brazenly abused. 

Over the past several days, social and news media erupted with clips of Ron Paul supporters being physically assaulted by Mitt Romney followers and of Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin being drowned out by chants of “Ron Paul!” after pejoratively referring to Paul and his supporters in attendance as “Obama lovers.” As is often the case in today’s media, however, the most sensational controversies that erupted in Norman, OK, on May 12 were also the least consequential. Tensions run high, passions run deep. Heated exchanges and a raucous atmosphere are inevitable. Such behavior, while not altogether acceptable, is at least understandable. 

The real story that should come out of the convention is the state party’s abdication of its most basic responsibilities toward the convened delegates and toward dissenting voices within the Republican Party.
A sampling of the more egregious violations of party and convention rules: 

● Delegates checking into the convention were not asked to show ID to collect their badges. Aside from the obvious potential for manipulation in such a loose credentialing process, it struck many of us as odd that a party hell-bent on pushing voter ID laws couldn’t be bothered to ID voters at its own convention. 

● The delegates were seated around 11:00 a.m., but the convention was delayed while “problems” with the credentials were handled. The credentialing committee eventually did present its report around 1:30 p.m. (roughly three hours late). At this time, there were approximately 1,200 delegates, according to the report. After the reading of the credentials report, State Vice-Chair Pam Pollard admitted that the count was inaccurate and that there were some 22 delegates that needed to be added due to some confusion at the county level. When the new counts were announced, more than 200 delegates had been added. Points of order were made regarding this. They were dismissed. No motion was ever made to properly amend the credentials report and no vote was ever taken accepting the final report. As a result, those delegates should have never been seated. The party leaders opted to move on without a proper vote on or acceptance of the credentials. Ultimately, the permanent roll of the convention was not certified until roughly 6:00 p.m. 

● The election of 25 delegates and 25 alternates to the Republican National Convention (the primary purpose of the convention) was conducted by voice vote and standing vote, in clear violation of party rules. State Party Rule 18.D explicitly states, “Election of the Delegates-at-Large and Alternates-at- Large shall be by roll call vote.” That plainly did not happen, and points of order demanding the rules be followed were simply ignored. This rule is as plain as it gets, and the party has yet to offer any explanation. As a result, and in order to prevent the entire delegation from being discredited by the RNC, those of us who continued the convention outside held a proper roll call vote (by written ballot) on the delegate slates at approximately 7:00 p.m. 

● Massive improprieties that occurred at the Congressional District 1 (Tulsa area) convention were brought to the floor at about 4:45 p.m. (ironically, the biggest impropriety in the CD1 convention was the refusal of its chair to take a roll call vote as required by the rules). Before a proper vote could be taken, hotel personnel (on orders from the GOP, a hotel employee told us) began moving mobile partitions into the room, literally blocking roughly a third of the delegates (including the very delegates whose district was at issue) from the view of Oklahoma GOP Chair Matt Pinnell, Convention Chair Marc Nuttle, and the rest of the room. Incredibly, Nuttle held a vote on how to resolve the District 1 issue while many delegates from District 1 were behind a wall and out of Nuttle’s view. Matt Pinnell spoke in favor of tabling the issue, and, unsurprisingly, Pinnell got his way on that vote. Appeals and calls for a division of the house (i.e., a formal vote) were not heard, in violation of the rules. 

● With the walls still shutting out a third of the convention, Pinnell entertained a motion to adjourn the convention. The motion clearly failed the voice vote. Undeterred by the wall preventing a third of the convention from being seen, Nuttle then ordered a standing vote on the motion, from which he promptly declared the motion passed, absconded from the stage, and turned out the lights as he fled the room (As you can see here, the panels move into place on the left side, and the motion to adjourn obviously fails both the voice vote and the standing count before the lights go out). Having never properly adjourned the convention, both Nuttle and Pinnell abdicated, leaving the delegates to continue with business in the parking lot. 

That is by no means an exhaustive list of improprieties on the part of the Oklahoma Republican Party. The entire process was riddled with a pernicious mixture of corruption and incompetence. There were hundreds more votes cast and counted than there were delegates in the hall, and Pinnell repeatedly disregarded the most explicit rules, and the delegates were forced into the parking lot in order for any official business to be done properly. 

Excerpt:  Read more:  The Daily Caller