Trump officially nominated, selects JD Vance as running mate

As the Republican National Convention kicked off and officially nominated him for president, former President Donald Trump announced today that he has selected U.S. Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH) as his vice presidential running mate:

OK congressional delegation comments on Biden/Harris inauguration

Earlier today, former Vice President Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. (D-DE) was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States, and former U.S. Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) was sworn in as the 49th Vice President of the United States. Most of Oklahoma's congressional delegation, all Republicans, issued some sort of comment on the inauguration of the new administration, which I have posted below.

U.S. Representatives Kevin Hern and Tom Cole attended the inauguration, as did U.S. Senators Jim Inhofe and James Lankford.

Music Monday: Hail, Columbia

In honor of new Vice President Mike Pence, this week's Music Monday is the standard musical greeting for the Vice President of the United States: four Ruffles and Flourishes, followed by the Vice Presidential Anthem, Hail, Columbia.

Enjoy!



Click to go below the page break to see all previous Music Monday posts. Do you have a song you'd like to submit for a future Music Monday? Email me at JamisonFaught@MuskogeePolitico.com.

Pence vs. Kaine: VP Debate Live at 8pm CT

The lone Vice Presidential debate between Republican Mike Pence and Democrat Tim Kaine will begin this evening at 8pm (CT). The debate is being held at Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia, and will be moderated by CBSN anchor Elaine Quijano.

Watch live from PBS here:

Cruz announces Carly Fiorina as his VP pick

Cruz Chooses Carly Fiorina as Vice Presidential Running Mate

Presidential candidate Ted Cruz today announced that former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina would be his Vice Presidential running mate. As a groundbreaking executive and the first woman to lead a Fortune 50 company, Fiorina brings a record of innovation and tremendous leadership to the Cruz campaign. An outsider to politics, Fiorina adds a fresh perspective to the difficult challenges America faces and has a solutions-oriented approach that is desperately needed in the federal government.

“In choosing the person I believe would honorably and faithfully serve in the office of the Vice President – the person who under our Constitution could ascend either temporarily or permanently to the presidency – there must be a higher criteria, and that criteria must be this: will that person keep the faith and trust of the American people?” Ted Cruz said. “For all the enormously impressive qualities I saw in others whom I considered for the office of the Vice Presidency of the United States, I found a clear choice:

“One who has never been afraid to stand up to the insider status quo. Who knows the principles of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution because this leader has lived them – a life dedicated to the dignity of work, of our right to pursue our wildest aspirations – and to help others do the same. And a leader who understands that power never has and never will come from the government – here in the United States it comes from the people.

“Who respects the people, who has worked alongside them, and who will serve them with an unbreakable purpose of protecting every one of their rights – and making sure that the America we hand to our kids and grandkids is better than the one before us today.

“For the 13 months of this race, there has been a proven, consistent, courageous fighter. A fighter who terrifies Hillary. And who will do the same to our enemies. And that’s why I am proud to announce Carly Fiorina as my Vice Presidential running mate.”

“Ted Cruz is a constitutional conservative who has made enemies in both parties standing up to the bipartisan corruption in Washington,” said Carly Fiorina. “He has fought to change the system. He kept his word to the people of Texas, and I know, if elected, he will keep his word and bring back American jobs, defend our nation, and protect our constitutional freedoms.

“Make no mistake: this is a fight now. Ted and I can't do this without your help. And this is about all of us. It's about whether we want our kids to be able to get a good paying job when they get out of school. It's about whether we want to turn our backs on religious liberty and our second amendment. It's about whether we want to live in a nation that secures its borders and calls Islamic terrorism by its name. It is about whether we believe America must lead again in the world.

“This is why we fight. Join us. And let's elect Ted Cruz the next President of the United States.”

Romney Picks Paul Ryan for VP

Mitt Romney announced this morning that he was tapping Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan as his vice presidential running mate. Ryan, aged 42, is the current Chairman of the House Budget Committee. He is extremely sharp and articulate, and comes from a swing state that will be crucial in the November elections.

Ryan happens to have close ties to Oklahoma - his wife Janna is from the Madill area, and is Congressman Dan Boren's cousin.

Joe Biden for President, 2016?

You're probably thinking You've got to be joking, but yes, the Vice President actually hinted at that this past week.

From Politico.com:

Vice President Joe Biden surprised a gathering of donors in Cincinnati last week when he floated the prospect of his succeeding President Barack Obama in the White House.

Biden, who started in the Senate young and would be just 70 in 2012, raised the possibility unprompted during a wide-ranging conversation at the May 19 dinner with major Democratic Party donors, a source in the room said.

Who knows - maybe he'll do it. I wouldn't count on it, though...

Palin Cleared in 'Troopergate'

Report Clears Palin in Troopergate probe

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - A report has cleared Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin of ethics violations in the firing of her public safety commissioner.

Released Monday, the report says there is no probable cause to believe Palin or any other state official violated the Alaska Executive Ethics Act in connection with the firing. The report was prepared by Timothy Petumenos, an independent counsel for the Alaska Personnel Board.

Details here.

Media Bias, Case No. 36,709

H/t to Race42008:

CBS News General Election

• Barack Obama/Joe Biden 54% (52%)
• John McCain/Sarah Palin 41% (41%)
• Undecided 4% (5%)

Survey of 747 likely voters was conducted October 28-31. Party ID breakdown: 40.8% (D); 27.6% (R); 31.6% (I). Results from the poll conducted October 25-29 are in parentheses.

This is the most insane party ID sample I have ever seen. The media is so in the tank for Obama, they're using ridiculous voter samples. There is no way that there is a 23% difference between Republican and Democrat voters, and absolutely no way that Independents outnumber Republicans. For CBS to try to pass this off as a poll is simply laughable.

The pollsters only thought they got a bad reputation after 2004... they ain't seen nothin' yet!

72 Hours Left

72 hours are left in this race; can John McCain and Sarah Palin stage a come-from-behind victory? Only time will tell...

Media Bias and Sarah Palin, Yet Again

Once again, another instance of the media's attempts to paint Sarah Palin as an ignorant hick. Here's from an interview she had with the Indianapolis Star.

I don't think that Americans are, um, I think Americans need to know with that issue even that there was an Alaska state trooper who had made death threats against my family and our personal security detail asked me and asked my husband if the threats, if the concerns continued, to go to the commissioner of the Department of Public Safety and express those concerns.
[...]
But I say that voters should be very, um, in fairness to voters they should have all the information that they need on both tickets. [link]

I'm sure this will continue, and Barack Obama won't have the same reporting done.

Media Bias, Case No. 16,424

Remember my previous post on the media quoting Sarah Palin with "um's"? They're at it again.

'According to published reports, Palin told a North Carolina fundraiser Thursday that the best of America was not in Washington, D.C., but in small towns like the one in Alaska where she served as mayor.

"Being here with all of you hardworking, very patriotic, um, very, um, pro-America areas of this great nation. This is where we find the kindness and the goodness and the courage of everyday Americans," the Republican vice presidential candidate said.' [link]

Hello! How come I've never seen the media quoting Obama or Biden with all their um's and uh's (other than the obvious fact that they're in the tank for Obiden, and trashing McPalin at every turn)?

We'll try to keep track of blatant bias like this. Feel free to let us know if you stumble across similar articles...

J-O-B-S: Three Letters?

According to Joe Biden, the word "jobs" has three letters. See for yourself:



The latest Biden gaffe...

Toby Keith Supporting McCain/PALIN; re-registers as Independent

"Longtime Democrat Toby Keith is registering to vote as an independent and says the left wing's verbal attacks against Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin could lead to a win for John McCain in November, the singer-songwriter said Thursday (Oct. 2) in an interview with CMT.com."

"Keith said he will probably vote for McCain because Palin is his running mate."

(h/t to Jenn at Green Country Values)

Toby Keith is a prime example of the average Oklahoma Democrat, as I mentioned in my last tracking poll post. The Democratic Party has left behind many of the old-style Democrats by becoming the liberal party they are today.

TvPoll Tracking Polls - Week Six

TvPoll/KWTV Oklahoma Presidential Tracking Poll (link)
(Poll details and crosstabs - PDF)

• McCain (R) - 63.0 (65.5)
  
• Obama (D) - 31.9 (29.1)
  
• Undecided - 5.1 (5.4)
  

Poll of 813 Likely Voters, October 10-12, with a MoE of 3.44%. Last poll's results in parentheses.

McCain leads by 31 points. The undecided column has hardly varied the past few weeks; the main action comes from 5-10% of the sample that swing back and forth.

TvPoll/KWTV Oklahoma U.S. Senate Tracking Poll (link)
(Poll details and crosstabs - PDF)

• Inhofe (R) - 53.1 (52.5)
  
• Rice (D) - 39.5 (39.7)
• Wallace (I) - 2.0 (2.2)
  
• Undecided - 5.4 (5.7)
  

Poll of 813 Likely Voters, October 10-12, with a MoE of 3.44%. Last poll's results in parentheses.

Senator Inhofe improved slightly since last week. The undecided percentage in this race is almost identical to the Presidential race.

TvPoll/KWTV Oklahoma Corp.Comm. (Short Term) Tracking Poll (link)
(Poll details and crosstabs - PDF)

• Murphy (R) - 40.0 (37.6)
  
• Roth (D) - 35.1 (33.1)
  
• Undecided -24.9 (29.1)
  

Poll of 813 Likely Voters, October 10-12, with a MoE of 3.44%. Last poll's results in parentheses.

The closer we get to the election, the more the populace hears about this race. Murphy retains her narrow lead to this point.

TvPoll/KWTV Oklahoma Corp. Comm. (Long Term) Tracking Poll (link)
(Poll details and crosstabs - PDF)

• Cloud (R) - 37.4 (36.9)
  
• Gray (D) - 30.2 (31.5)
  
• Undecided -32.4 (31.6)
  

Poll of 813 Likely Voters, October 10-12, with a MoE of 3.44%. Last poll's results in parentheses.

Incumbent Jeff Cloud holds his tenuous lead over relative-unknown Charles Gray.

Voter ID:

• Democrat - 53.5% (54.4%)
• Republican - 41.0% (40.3%)
• Independent -5.6% (5.2%)

The political landscape in Oklahoma is different than most areas of the nation. There are only a handful of states where you can find a sample like this that goes against their own party by such margins.

Media Bias, Case No. 15,279

"In fact," she [Sarah Palin] added, "Congress is pretty strict on, um, export bans of oil and gas especially." (link)

"... pretty strict on, um, export bans..."? The bias of the media shows through once again. When Barack Obama talks, do they include all the um's and uh's? No, no, no. They continue to try to portray Sarah Palin as some backwoods hick who doesn't know anything.

Imagine if Obama had said that sentence. It would have been something like this: "Uh, in fact, uh, uh, Congress is, uh, pretty, uh, strict on, um, export bans of, uh, oil and, um, gas, uh, especially." But would the media have transcribed that verbatim? No. They've had the chance to do that with him, yet they never do, because they're in love with the One We've Been Waiting For.

Biden Introduced as John McCain

At a Joe Biden campaign event in Tampa, Florida, the announcer introduces Barack Obama's running mate as "the next Vice President of the United States, John McCain."



Oops!

BREAKING: John McCain Suspends Campaign to focus on Economy

BREAKING: McCain to suspend campaign.

John McCain's Remarks on the Economic Crisis
New York, NY
Wednesday, September 24, 2008

America this week faces an historic crisis in our financial system. We must pass legislation to address this crisis. If we do not, credit will dry up, with devastating consequences for our economy. People will no longer be able to buy homes and their life savings will be at stake. Businesses will not have enough money to pay their employees. If we do not act, ever corner of our country will be impacted. We cannot allow this to happen.

Last Friday, I laid out my proposal and I have since discussed my priorities and concerns with the bill the Administration has put forward. Senator Obama has expressed his priorities and concerns. This morning, I met with a group of economic advisers to talk about the proposal on the table and the steps that we should take going forward. I have also spoken with members of Congress to hear their perspective.

It has become clear that no consensus has developed to support the Administration's proposal. I do not believe that the plan on the table will pass as it currently stands, and we are running out of time.

Tomorrow morning, I will suspend my campaign and return to Washington after speaking at the Clinton Global Initiative. I have spoken to Senator Obama and informed him of my decision and have asked him to join me.

I am calling on the President to convene a meeting with the leadership from both houses of Congress, including Senator Obama and myself. It is time for both parties to come together to solve this problem.

We must meet as Americans, not as Democrats or Republicans, and we must meet until this crisis is resolved. I am directing my campaign to work with the Obama campaign and the commission on presidential debates to delay Friday night's debate until we have taken action to address this crisis.

I am confident that before the markets open on Monday we can achieve consensus on legislation that will stabilize our financial markets, protect taxpayers and homeowners, and earn the confidence of the American people. All we must do to achieve this is temporarily set politics aside, and I am committed to doing so.

Following September 11th, our national leaders came together at a time of crisis. We must show that kind of patriotism now. Americans across our country lament the fact that partisan divisions in Washington have prevented us from addressing our national challenges. Now is our chance to come together to prove that Washington is once again capable of leading this country.

I think this is a brilliant, risky move on McCain's part. He puts Country First, even during a hot campaign. He's even taking campaign ads off the air, and canceling media interviews. This could make Obama look really bad if doesn't follow suit... (and it gives Sarah Palin even more time to prepare for debates, etc.)

Dems: Barack Obama = Jesus, Sarah Palin = Pontius Pilate

(H/T to Kavon Nikrad at Race42008.com)



The Obama campaign is getting desperate. The Democrats are in full blown panic mode now. I'm issuing a "McCain Landslide Watch" for the November election...

Also from Kavon at Race42008:



The talk hosts get put in their place by Mike Gravel, former Democrat Senator, and Democrat and Libertarian Presidential candidate. Boy, were they in a hurry to get him off the air! (Warning: one instance of bad language at 5:06)

McCain Jumps to Lead

USA Today/Gallup General Election Poll, conducted Sept. 5th-7th, 2008

Likely Voters:

• McCain/Palin 54%
• Obama/Biden 44%

Registered Voters:

• McCain/Palin 50%
• Obama/Biden 46%

The survey of 1,022 adults, including 959 registered voters, has a margin of error of +/— 3 points for both samples.

This is huge, folks. McCain/Palin has eliminated Obama/Biden's convention bump, and added some. To be over 50% at this point is amazing; Obama has only broken 50 in a few polls, and typically was 50%-51% among likelies.

A ten-point lead among likely voters is huge for McCain, the candidate who was dead-in-the-water scarcely a year ago. It's huge for any candidate.