Democrat Infighting this Session?

Will there be infighting among the Democrats this legislative session? Look at what Sen. Earl Garrison (D, Muskoge) said about Gov. Brad Henry in today's Muskogee Phoenix:

“Republicans have enough votes to pass any workers’ compensation or tort reform you want,” Garrison said. “We have a governor and if he grows a backbone, we will have some vetoes. Miracles happen everyday.”

This will be interesting to watch.

Minnesota Ballots: You Judge

Want to see some of the challenged ballots in the Coleman-Franken Minnesota Senate race? Go here, and decide for yourself who the votes were cast for.

First, some people just cannot follow instructions. Second, some campaigns will always make ridiculous claims on disputed ballots, no matter which party.

Breaking (sorta): Palin Gives Interview as Turkeys Get Slaughtered

It must be a slow news day...

You know, this is one of the most ridiculous things I've seen come from the mainstream media. (Mind you, these are the same folks that delight in gory, blood-soaked movies.)

Watch the video here at Race42012 (formerly Race42008).

Come on, blurring out a turkey sticking out of a cone? I've seen chickens processed the same way up close and personal; it's not that gory, folks. Besides, they taste a bit better when they're not still kicking...

First Steps to the New Soviet Union

Under the guise of dealing with the current financial crisis, the Russian Duma (equivalent to the U.S. House) has passed legislation that would extend the presidential term by two years, and legislative terms by an additional year.

Russian parliament approves longer presidential terms

"Russian lawmakers gave final approval Friday to a bill extending presidential terms, after a speech on the economy by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin revived speculation over his political ambitions.

The bill, which sailed through the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, would extend presidential terms from four to six years and would be the first change to Russia's post-Soviet constitution adopted in 1993."

"Putin took the political initiative and responsibility" by giving a speech at the party congress "that was meant to be given by Medvedev," the Vedomosti daily newspaper reported Friday, citing political analyst Dmitry Badovsky.

The extension of presidential terms has been seen by some analysts as paving the way for Putin's return to the presidency after he left in May having served the maximum two consecutive terms allowed by the constitution.

"The haste in which the Duma adopted this reform leads one to think that the authorities are speeding up to prepare a return to the Kremlin for Putin," said Yevgeny Volk from the Heritage Foundation, a conservative US think tank.

Vedomosti earlier this month cited two Kremlin sources saying that Medvedev would resign soon after the approval of the amendments and that Putin would then run in a presidential election next year.

The constitution has no provision against former presidents who have already served two terms from running again, as long as some time passes between the end of their second term and their new candidacy."

(rest of article)

And thus begin the first steps to the new and improved Soviet Union...

Is Conservatism Dead?

After last Tuesday's defeat, and the loss in the 2006 elections, many pundits are claiming that "conservatism" as we know it is dead. After all, let's look at some of the 'facts'.

• Barack Obama got over 50% of the popular vote; only two Democrats have broken 50% since FDR (Jimmy Carter in 1976, and Lydon Johnson in 1964).
• Obama won in red states that haven't gone blue in decades, and came close in states that shouldn't have been close.
• By the time the votes are all counted, the Republican Party will have lost about 55 House seats, and 12-15 Senate seats since 2005.
• Democrats have won many traditionally Republican seats (House, Senate and Governor) in the past few years, while the GOP struggles to hold on in "safe" Republican areas.
• The nomination of a moderate Republican (John McCain) for President.
  

So, in light of these points, is conservatism dead? I beg to differ. The conservative movement is still alive and well, but is in desperate need of a re-awakening.

The Republican Party has drifted far from it's campaign promises of 1994, and has become the big-spending party of today. The GOP has claimed to be the party of limited government, and lower spending, but has not followed through on its promises. As Sen. Tom Coburn (R, OK) said in the recent edition of WORLD Magazine, "People just don't like hypocrites, and they see the Republicans as hypocrites. That's the one thing that is not tolerated in this country. Until you get rid of that and the ethical lapses and have real leadership willing to give up position to stand on principles, you're not going to have people come flocking back to the Republican Party."

If Republicans wish to remain a powerful force in American politics, we must return to our conservative roots, and keep our word. When we say that we'll cut spending, do it. When we say that we'll eliminate earmarks, do it. When we say that we'll stand by our conservative principles, do it, and don't waver in the midst of attack.

This election was not an embracing of liberal ideology, but a rejection of conservative hypocrisy. Had the Republican party been true to its word in the past decade, things might have turned out differently. However, in our haste to seek approval from the media, moderates, and even some liberals, the GOP has lost its honesty and determination. The Republicans did not govern as a majority, for fear of upsetting the Democrats; on the other hand, the Democrats have had no compulsion to kowtow to conservatives. Our spine has grown soft. We may be the Elephant, but we are the Boneless Elephant.

But, these things can change. If conservatives can find their backbone in the coming months and years, and hold to their word, the American people will reward them.

These next few years present a great opportunity for conservatism to stage a major comeback. No, conservatism is not dead; the future is bright, if we stick by our guns.

Obama Won One of Nebraska's Electoral Votes

In a rather surprising outcome of the Presidential election, Barack Obama won one of Nebraska's electoral votes, the first time in history that Nebraska's electors have been split.

Two states, Nebraska and Maine, split electors by congressional district. Instead of the normal winner-takes-all method, two electors from each state go to the state-wide winner, and the rest of the electors go by congressional district.

The Election

Barack Obama is now the President-elect of the United States of America. Let us hope that the Republicans can wake up, ditch the ineffective leadership we have, and surge back into power in two years.

For example, here in the traditionally Democratic portion of Oklahoma, theGOP is viewed as the party of the rich, and the Democrats are for the ‘working man’. To illustrate this, look at where the Tulsa Republicans and Democrats held their watch parties.

The Tulsa County GOP held their watch party at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Just look at the spelling on that, and think about it for a bit. 'Crowne', with an 'e', not your typical 'Crown'. Sound a bit upper class? Meanwhile, the Democrats held theirs at the Transport Workers Union Hall. A whole lot more 'working man' than the Crowne Plaza. No wonder those stereotypes are held.

Anyway, on to the races in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma was John McCain's best state, and the only state where he won in all counties. Yes, Oklahoma is the reddest state in the union.

Jim Inhofe won easily. Dan Boren crushed his no-name opponent. By the way, Dan Boren will not be running for Governor in 2010. All of the rest of the Oklahoma federal delegation was re-elected.

Jeff Cloud smashed Charles Gray, and Dana Murphy squeezed by Jim Roth. Poor Dana... both the primary and general election were very close.

In the State House, the GOP gained four seats. The Democrats failed to defeat Reps. George Faught (R, Muskogee), Todd Thomsen (R, Ada), and Dennis Johnson (R, Duncan).

In the State Senate, the Republicans gained two seats, taking the upper house for the first time in state history. Kenny Sherrill came short in his upset bid to take Gene Stipe's old seat. The surprise of the night was how close Sen. Jim Reynolds (R, OKC) came to getting beat by David Boren (no relation to OU President David Boren). The Democrats poured a lot of money in the final weeks to try to pull off a totally unexpected upset.

I will be taking a week-long sabbatical to ponder the results and impacts of this election... so long!

Election Day

And it begins...

I will be waving signs for most of the day, and will not be able to update the blog more than likely. Keep an eye on those election returns! Remember, McCain 296, Obama 242 (and my other predictions)!

Muskogee Politico's Election Predictions

The Muskogee Politico's Election Predictions

President
John McCain stages a comeback very much like Harry Truman. McCain gets 296 in the Electoral College, Obama takes 242.

How some of the battleground states fall:

Colorado: Obama
Florida: McCain
Iowa: Obama
Indiana: McCain
Michigan: Obama
Minnesota: McCain
Missouri: McCain
North Carolina: McCain
New Hampshire: Obama
New Mexico: Obama
Nevada: McCain
Ohio: McCain
Pennsylvania: McCain
Virginia: McCain

Yes, I think McCain will pull Minnesota and Pennsylvania...

U.S. Senate and U.S. House
Jim Inhofe and Dan Boren win easily.

Corporation Commission
Jeff Cloud wins; Dana Murphy eeks out a victory (less than 1%).

State House
Republicans gain the Covey seat, lose either the Thomsen and the Dennis Johnson seat. Zero net change in the State House.

State Senate
The Republicans win the Newberry/Riley election, the Morgan seat (Stillwater), and in a stunner, Kenny Sherrill takes the Lerblance/Gene Stipe seat in McAlester. Net gain of 3 seats for the Republicans.

Muskogee Area
Rep. George Faught (R, Muskogee) gets 58% of the vote. Rep. McPeak (D, Warner) and Sheriff Charles Pearson are re-elected by easy margins. County Propositions 1 & 2 pass.

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.

TvPoll Tracking Polls - Week Eight

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

• McCain (R) - 63.2 (61.6)
  
• Obama (D) - 33.0 (34.8)
  
• Undecided - 3.8 (3.6)
  

Poll of 720 Likely Voters, October 31-November 2, with a MoE of 3.54%. Last poll's results in parentheses.

This will likely be John McCain's best state.

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

• Inhofe (R) - 55.3 (51.3)
  
• Rice (D) - 38.9 (41.0)
• Wallace (I) - 2.9 (3.3)
  
• Undecided - 3.0 (4.4)
  

Poll of 720 Likely Voters, October 31-November 2, with a MoE of 3.54%. Last poll's results in parentheses.

Andrew Rice's run looks like it will be a big failure, as expected. Jim Inhofe is going to have a safe return to the Senate.

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

• Murphy (R) - 35.3 (34.7)
  
• Roth (D) - 49.8 (46.7)
  
• Undecided -14.9 (18.6)
  

Poll of 720 Likely Voters, October 31-November 2, with a MoE of 3.54%. Last poll's results in parentheses.

Jim "Bought and Paid For" Roth is practically at 50%. Dana Murphy will need a huge push to win this race.

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

• Cloud (R) - 45.7 (45.9)
  
• Gray (D) - 33.2 (31.3)
  
• Undecided - 21.1 (22.7)
  

Poll of 720 Likely Voters, October 31-November 2, with a MoE of 3.54%. Last poll's results in parentheses.

Cloud is a safe bet for re-election.

Voter ID:

• Democrat - 54.3% (55.3%)
• Republican - 37.7% (37.7%)
• Independent - 8.0% (7.0%)

Election Predictions

The Muskogee Politico's election predictions...

COMING MONDAY!