Coburn holding Muskogee town hall this evening

U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, M.D., has been holding a series of town hall meetings in Oklahoma this week, and will be in Muskogee for an event this evening. Dr. Coburn will take questions and address important issues for Oklahoma and the nation at each meeting.

“I encourage everyone to attend and participate in these town halls. These settings give me an important opportunity to hear directly from the Oklahomans I am representing, and they provide a chance for Oklahomans to hear my views on current legislation in Congress,” said Dr. Coburn.

The Muskogee Town Hall will begin at 5:00pm, and will be held at the Muskogee Civic Center, Room D (425 Boston/5th and Okmulgee). Note: from past experience, it would be wise to show up early in order to get a seat.

Muskogee Tea Party - Today

The Muskogee Tea Party is holding their third Tax Day Tea Party today at noon, in front of the Muskogee Civic Center.

Speakers will include:

• Stuart Jolly - Americans for Prosperity
• Seth Brown - American Majority
• Matthew Vermillion - OKforTEA and Tea Party Patriots
• State Rep. George Faught

There will also be an open mic period, for attendees who want to say a few words. Speakers will cover a wide variety of topics, from legislative updates to Tea Party-led health-care initiatives, and training events — you won’t want to miss it if you can make it!

For more information, visit MuskogeeTeaParty.com or call (918) 869-6000.

Live Tweets from Coburn's Muskogee Town Hall

I'll be attending Senator Tom Coburn's town hall here in Muskogee (at the Civic Center), and will be tweeting from the event. Follow below.






** Well, at least I'm trying to get it to where you can watch here in this post. Otherwise, follow on my Twitter account.

Record Crowd At Muskogee Tea Party Today

Here's a press release from the Muskogee Tea Party:

Muskogee Tea Party Attracts Record Crowd

MUSKOGEE - Over 350 concerned citizens from a wide area of eastern Oklahoma attended a Tax Day Tea Party this afternoon at the Muskogee Civic Center Plaza. The event was hosted by the Muskogee Tea Party Patriots; this was the fifth such event held in Muskogee in the past year.

"More people came today than any other Tea Party we've held here in Muskogee," said Jamison Faught, organizer of the group. "It's exciting to see how the American people are getting engaged in the political process, and demanding accountability from our elected officials."

Speakers at the event encouraged attendees to get involved in politics; ranging from registering to vote, talking to neighbors about issues, contacting legislators and even running for elected office.

Midway through the event, time was given for those with cell phones to call the Oklahoma and Washington D.C. offices of Senators Tom Coburn and Jim Inhofe, and Congressman Dan Boren, as well as the White House. They voiced support for the repeal of the Obama Health Care bill that was signed into law this past month. Many in the crowd spent several minutes on hold, due to the sudden flood of phone calls.

In addition, signatures were collected on a petition that expresses "support for the repeal and replacement" of the Obama Health Care bill, and "encourage[s] our Federal Representatives to author and/or co-sponsor legislation and any other efforts to repeal this Healthcare reform." The petition will be presented to Senators Coburn and Inhofe, and Congressman Boren.

The Muskogee Tea Party is a non-partisan grassroots group of everyday Americans, who are concerned about the direction the country is moving, and who disapprove of out-of-control government spending, excessive taxation, and lack of adherence to the Constitution. They are dedicated to enacting change at the ballot box, and through peaceful protests.

Combined attendance at the five Muskogee Tea Parties numbers close to 1500, with participants coming from all over eastern Oklahoma, and surrounding states. Plans are underway for another Tea Party to be held in early July, around Independence Day.

"Citizens are realizing that they can actually make a difference in the course of our nation, and they're taking ownership once again," Faught said. "'We the People' are making our voices heard... loud and clear."

For more information, or to receive email updates, visit www.TeaPartyMuskogee.com, or call (918) 869-6000.

Muskogee Tea Party - December 16th

In commemoration of the 236th anniversary of the original Boston Tea Party, the public is invited to participate in the upcoming Muskogee-area Tea Party to be held at the Muskogee Civic Center (Room C - second floor; 4th & Okmulgee) on Wednesday, December 16th, from noon to 1:30pm.

This is an opportunity for citizens to express their concerns about the direction Congress and the White House are taking our country.

The goal of the Tea Party movement is to encourage citizens to get involved and let their voices be heard. This is a non-partisan event and open to all Americans who want to protect their freedoms and futures.

The format will be a bit different than previous Muskogee Tea Parties. We'll be doing this "popcorn" style - anyone who wants to speak will have a certain amount of time (probably about 2 minutes) to speak, and then the next person in line will get the microphone. Since there is not going to be a set program to follow as in previous events, feel free to just drop in for a while if you don't have time to stay for the entire Tea Party.

For more information, go to www.teapartymuskogee.com or contact organizer Jamison Faught, 869-6000.

A Tale of Two Tea Parties

December 16th will be the 236th anniversary of the ‘Boston Tea Party’ – that famous assembly of American patriots who threw hundreds of tons of British tea into the waters of Boston Harbor to protest unjust taxation and oppressive government. The same fiery spirit that led those Americans to refuse to bow to British pressure prompted them to begin the struggle for independence just two short years later. After over two and a quarter centuries, we still benefit from the foundation laid by our Founder’s sacrifices.

When the Sons of Liberty stepped foot on those three ships loaded with tea, they knew they would be angering a colossal government. Rather than passively submit to tyranny, they stood up and made their voices heard.

In response to their experiences with monarchial government, those patriots who were our nation’s Founders set up a Constitutional Republic, limited in size and scope, to preserve the liberties we all hold dear. Since that time, however, we have begun to drift from the moorings of our founding documents, and have allowed the federal government to grow into a monster the Founders would never have recognized.

Today, we constantly hear of some new scheme the politicians in Washington are cooking up. From amnesty for illegal immigrants, pork projects, government-run health care and disastrous “cap-and-trade” proposals that will destroy our economy and way-of-life, Congress and the White House continues to ignore the will of We The People.

For decades, the American people have watched as career politicians and those who do not possess our nation’s best interests at heart have used the government to benefit themselves, at the expense of the citizens.

No longer.

With the onset of the Tea Party movement in February of this year, the American people have awakened to see the destruction that has been, and is being, wrought on our country. We are standing up and saying ‘enough is enough!’ We will not stand idly by as yet-unborn generations are loaded with crushing debt and the Constitution is trampled on.

Millions have gathered across the nation in the past ten months to make their voices heard. Here in Muskogee, over 850 concerned citizens have come out for three separate ‘Tea Parties’ since April 15th. Democrats, Republicans and Independents alike have voiced both their opposition to harmful government policies, and their favor for ideas such as the FairTax, balanced budgets, fiscal responsibility and congressional term limits.

On December 16th, more Muskogee-area patriots will be gathering for another Tea Party, from noon to 1:30pm at the Muskogee Civic Center (Room C). Now is the time for American citizens to stand up and speak out. Whether your issue is federal or local, unless you join in the fight nothing will change. Remember – you truly can make a difference.

The political status quo must be changed, if we want to pass on an America as great as the one we received from our Founding Fathers.

Get involved. Connect with like-minded citizens from all over this part of the state. Come to the Muskogee Civic Center from noon to 1:30pm on Wednesday, December 16th. Come and make your voice heard!

Jamison Faught is the organizer of the Muskogee-area Tea Party movement. He is local conservative political activist and blogger. You can read his blog at www.muskogeepolitico.blogspot.com

Muskogee Tea Party - Rain or Shine!

The Muskogee Tea Party will go on, rain or shine! The location is covered, so everyone should be out of the rain, if or when it comes.

September 12th TEA PARTY

Are you worried about our nation’s future, with escalating budget deficits and increasingly oppressive national debt?

Come join fellow patriots for a TEA PARTY!!

When: Saturday, September 12th from Noon to 1:00pm.
Where: Muskogee’s Civic Center Plaza (4th & Okmulgee)

Special emphasis on “Health Care Reform”

Learn how government-run healthcare will affect you and your family!

Speakers on health care: Dr. Jay Gregory, Dr. Tim Robison and Ronald Reagan (see below)
Comparing the US and Canadian health systems: Bert Heibert
American Majority speaker: Trait Thompson

Hear RONALD REAGAN speak on socialized medicine. (Radio address)

Discover what we can do to take our country back!

This is a NON-partisan event open to all patriotic Americans who want to protect their freedoms and futures. Let your voice be heard!

For more information go to: www.teapartymuskogee.com
or contact Jamison Faught at (918) 869-6000.

Sept. 12th Muskogee Tea Party

September 12th TEA PARTY

Are you worried about our nation’s future, with escalating budget deficits and increasingly oppressive national debt?

Come join fellow patriots for a TEA PARTY!!

When: Saturday, September 12th from Noon to 1:00pm.
Where: Muskogee’s Civic Center Plaza (4th & Okmulgee)

Special emphasis on “Health Care Reform”

Learn how government-run healthcare will affect you and your family!

Hear RONALD REAGAN speak on socialized medicine. (Radio address)

Discover what we can do to take our country back!

This is a NON-partisan event open to all patriotic Americans who want to protect their freedoms and futures. Let your voice be heard!

For more information go to: www.teapartymuskogee.com
or contact Jamison Faught at (918) 869-6000.

Follow-up on July 13th City Council Meeting - Part 1

The July 13th Muskogee City Council meeting was a council meeting to remember. Two very hot topics were on the agenda: charter changes (see previous post), and whether to fly the POW/MIA flag at the Civic Center (I was unaware this was to be discussed, actually).

All of the council meetings I have been to were sparsely attended, and fairly non-controversial. Boy, was this one different! This was this most controversial, most attended, most contentious city council meeting seen in years, perhaps decades.

I knew something was up when both KOTV and KJRH had television crews in the parking lot at City Hall. The crowd of American Legion, military veterans, and motorcycle club members going through the doors also gave a hint of what to expect.

There were over 120 people packed into the Council chambers - literally standing room only, and almost not enough room for people to stand. It was evident that most of the crowd was there for the POW/MIA item, so Mayor Hammons moved for that item to be taken up first, instead of last (its original order in the agenda).

When the Civic Center was remodeled recently, due to lack of funds no flagpole was put up. This created quite a bit of outrage, and on July 2nd they installed a flagpole. In years past, the POW/MIA flew at times at the Civic Center, however, no provision was made for any flag to be flown save the American and Oklahoman flags.

Mayor Hammons' proposal was to fly the POW/MIA flag on the six congressionally mandated days for said flag to be flown on federal property. Councilman Shawn Raper then said that this needed to be brought in the form of an actual ordinance, and since this would be setting a precedent, he wondered how the council would decide which flags could be flown, and which flags could not be flown. Hammons clarified by stating that only flags flown by Congressional order would be flown.

This started a discussion over where to put the flags, and how many flagpoles to be used. During the whole meeting, many councilmen complained of being called unpatriotic for not flying the POW/MIA flag. The crowd was very interactive (which is never the case), to the point of a severe lack of decorum. During the public input times, councilors would get into heated back-and-forths, even though it is the council's stated policy that they cannot respond to the public during a meeting.

There were boos and hisses, applause and cheering all throughout the entire meeting. It was certainly the most raucous council meeting in recent history.

Many people addressed the council, including several out-of-towners, the daughter of a Vietnam MIA, and a self-proclaimed Vietnam POW. The latter appears to have started an entirely different controversy, since national POW groups do not recognize him on their official lists as a Vietnam POW, as he claimed he was. He claimed several medals as well, which if he did not receive, could land him in jail for up to two years as a federal crime of stolen valor. The Muskogee Phoenix has a short article on the issue here (though not all that was printed in the newspaper, for some reason).

Finally, councilman James Gulley suggested placing two flagpoles beside the centennial arch at the Civic Center, and flying the POW/MIA flag on one of those poles. The other flagpole could be utilized for any other flag recognized by Congress (the other five possible flags being the service ensigns).

The council then directed the city attorney to draft a proposal to fit the suggestion, in order to bring it back to the council for a vote on July 27th. The reasoning was that if they ordered the city manager to fly the flag now, they could not deny any other request (and requests were allegedly already coming in) until they had legal language setting the restrictions.

This ended the POW/MIA item on the agenda. After a short recess, the council continued business. About 35 people stayed for the rest of the meeting, still a very significant increase in attendance from usual council meetings.

Click here for part two of the meeting.

Muskogee City Council Meeting - July 13th

If you've got several hours to kill, this is the most interesting, most attended, and most contentious city council meeting I have ever been to.

Two topics (charter changes, and whether to fly the POW/MIA flag at the Civic Center) took up nearly three hours.

I will be posting in more detail about the meeting, but here is the video.