Hello, readers. Over the next few weeks you will see some changes at Okie Pundit. The most important change you will notice will be a change in authors. As you now know, Thad can no longer run this site due to time constraints and professional obligations. He has been generous [...]
What began as a hobby and an outlet for my own views and news scoops is now coming to an end for this Okie Pundit. A victim of the Obama Recession, I decided to use some of my newly found “extra time” and join the blogosphere hoping to add to [...]
Two things most voters hate are robo-calls and interfering with private or family time. One of the first things candidates learn at campaign schools is to leave voters alone on holidays, (in Norman and Stillwater) during football games, and if going door to door – after dark.
Most [...]
The race for Oklahoma Attorney General picked up today with two Oklahoma City metro area attorneys announcing their candidacies. On the Democratic side, Jim Priest, 54, an attorney and Partner in the law firm Whitten, Burrage, Priest, Fulmer, Anderson & Eiseand of Oklahoma City, announced he will be running.
Priest,who is [...]
From Roll Call
Excerpts from, “GOP Defections Mount in N.Y. Special”, By Emily Cadei
The floodgates have officially opened on the Republican leaders who are trying to hold together Member support, or at least minimize outright opposition, for the party’s nominee, Dede Scozzafava, in next week’s special House election in upstate [...]
okiepundit.com applauds US Representative Tom Cole for endorsing conservative Doug Hoffman today.
Due to the vagaries of local politics two Republicans are on the ballot in the special election in NY-23. Doug Hoffman, the conservative, clearly represents the main stream values and positions of the Republican Party. [...]
With nine months to go before the 2010 primary, the State Senate campaign of conservative Republican David Holt reported today to the Oklahoma Ethics Commission that it had raised $103,433.33 for the campaign, with over $90,000 in “cash on hand.” The donations came from 292 donors. The [...]
Anti-BCS forces have a new warrior on their side – the newly formed Playoff PAC. This political action committee has an aggressive game plan to challenge the BCS’s supremacy, a plan that involves a sophisticated lobby effort in Washington DC and an all out blitz on TV [...]
Todd Russ Wins HD 55 Special Election
House Republicans moved one step closer to a veto-proof super majority with the election of Cordell Republican Todd Russ in Tuesday’s Special Election for House District 55. Russ received 56% of the vote beating Democrat Larry Peck 3,029 to 2,388. With this pick up [...]
Matt Jackson a lifelong Scout and native of Oklahoma City, announced his candidacy today to become the next State Senator from the 30th District of Oklahoma, the seat being vacated by term-limited Senate President Pro-Tempore Glenn Coffee. Jackson, a Republican with a background in law enforcement [...]
Tim Pawlenty, Republican Governor of Minnesota, is challenging Mitt Romnney for the GOP’s front runner status as the 2012 race for the White House begins to rev up. As part of his strategy to make inroads with Republicans and insert himself as a real contender for the [...]
President Barack Obama on Wednesday nominated Sanford Coats to be the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma. Coats must still be confirmed by the U.S. Senate, but that confirmation is expected to be a mere formality as both Oklahoma U.S. Senators have publicly praised Coats [...]
Documents secured by Oklahoma City Republican Representative Mike Reynolds reveal ACORN tactics to help defeat Republican legislators.
Representative Reynolds investigated documents from an abandoned local ACORN office because of reports of impropriety at other organization chapters. The documents, which were found in an abandoned local office of ACORN [...]
Today, Congressman John Sullivan issued the following statement announcing his cosponsorship of H.R. 3571, the Defund ACORN Act. This legislation, introduced by House Republican Leader John Boehner, would terminate all federal funding to the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) and its affiliates.
“Like many Americans, [...]
Earlier today I came across a press release by long shot Congressional candidate R.J. Harris. Harris is challenging Congressman Tom Cole, who represents Oklahoma’s Fourth Congressional District, in next year’s Republican primary.
The press release said:
September 10, 2009 - Internal polling from the RJ Harris 2010 campaign shows Rep. Tom [...]
Oklahoma is one step closer to finally winning the lawsuit challenging the Choose Life license plate. Judge Claire V. Eagan entered a final judgment in favor of the Defendants (State of Oklahoma) Friday, September 11th in the “Choose Life” license plate case in the U.S. District Court [...]
Okiepundit.com invites you to read the excerpts of Ken Connor’s latest article about tort reform and its role in the current health care debate. Connor is an attorney and co-author of “Sinful Silence: When Christians Neglect Their Civic Duty” He is also Chairman of the Center for a [...]
The State Senate campaign of Republican David Holt announced the scheduling of its official kickoff fundraiser – to be held Tuesday, September 22 at 6 p.m. at the home of Oklahoma City Councilman Patrick Ryan. Holt is seeking to replace the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, [...]
“Over the last 90 days it has become obvious to me that the current economic climate has hindered my ability to raise the needed financial resources to effectively fund a statewide race for Lt. Governor. Therefore, I am removing my name from consideration for the Republican nomination [...]
The race for Lt. Governor heated up a lot today when Senate Majority Floor Leader Todd Lamb formally announced his candidacy this morning in Oklahoma City. Lamb, who is 37 years old, pledged to be an “aggressive advocate for Oklahoma and help the state compete economically by being a [...]
This afternoon, State Superintendent Sandy Garrett, a Democrat, announced she won’t seek re-election next year - making it an open race for the first time since 1990.
The Muskogee native has served five consecutive terms in office. Even before her official announcement, several names of candidates have been circulating on both [...]
Oklahomans for Responsible Government, a non-profit taxpayer advocacy organization, released its “Blueprint for Transparency: A Review of Oklahoma School District Websites”. The 11 page report available at OFRG’s website, is an in depth survey of all public school districts in Oklahoma.
OFRG says this report offers, ”a measuring stick by [...]
Several Conservative leaders in both State and County Government are taking action to stop questionable spending practices at the Capitol. At issue is $16 million appropriated in SB 153 this past session for capital improvements to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and the Jim Thorpe Association.
As the Oklahoma [...]
Rep. Ken Miller, chairman of the House budget committee, has pulled out of the race for House Speaker and endorsed Rep. Kris Steele of Shawnee for the post. Miller’s decision to abandon his bid for Speaker came in an email to fellow Republican House members. He said he [...]
Unless you are a new car dealer or an advertiser, the “Cash for Clunkers” program that is the brainchild of the liberal Democratic majority in Washington DC is a billion dollar plus boondoggle. Oklahoma’s Congressional delegation has been rightfully vocal in its opposition to this costly socialistic experiment . . [...]
The race to be the next House Speaker is heating up as AP reporter Tim Talley wrote about it earlier this week, and now fellow blogger Chris Arps writes about the race between Kris Steele and Ken Miller.
From the [...]
Former Fourth District Congressmsan J.C. Watts Jr. will discuss the economic recession and the fight over health care on Meet the Press with host David Gregory tomorrow, August 2, 2009. Meet the Press airs on NBC at 8 am Central.
Ryan Leonard, attorney, former state prosecutor and former legislative assistant to U.S. Senator Don Nickles filed an ethics report today showing his campaign for the Republican nomination for Attorney General has raised $154,735.98 including more than $122,000.00 in the second quarter.
Leonard’s contributors read like a who’s who [...]
With Back to School sales begining soon and preparations for the new school year underway, okiepundit.com shares Part 2 of the rules from Charles J. Sykes, author of the book Dumbing Down Our Kids: Why American Children Feel Good About Themselves But Can’t Read, Write, Or Add.
Rule No. 8: Your school may [...]
Okiepundit.com has received several reports about local Fair Tax representatives using “informational” meetings to bash Republican incumbents Tom Cole and Mary Fallin. The Oklahoma Fair Tax organization is the local chapter of a nation-wide advocacy group whose disclaimer states they are “not associated with nor endorse [...]
With Back to School sales begining soon and preparations for the new school year underway, okiepundit.com shares these rules from Charles J. Sykes, author of the book Dumbing Down Our Kids: Why American Children Feel Good About Themselves But Can’t Read, Write, Or Add. Stay tunned for Part 2
Rule [...]
Charlie Polston, a Tulsa inventor and businessman has created a blog urging Oklahomans to draft Scott Pruitt to run for Attorney General. The blog, [www.pruitt4okag.blogspot.com], states that Polston has known Pruitt, a former State Senator from Broken Arrow, for over a decade and and that Pruitt “is a true [...]
Former State Representative Rob Johnson announced today that he is running for the open State Senate District 22 seat that encompasses portions of Canadian, Kingfisher, Logan and Oklahoma Counties.
“We need more conservative leaders in the Senate who will oppose wasteful spending, support lower taxes, and defend [...]
Exactly one year before the 2010 primary, the State Senate campaign of Republican David Holt reported yesterday to the Oklahoma Ethics Commission that it had raised $55,665 for the campaign, with just under $50,000 in “cash on hand.” The donations came from 167 donors. The total does not include donations [...]
Nearly two dozen illegal aliens in state prison were turned over to federal authorities for deportation today, continuing a process that could ultimately save taxpayers close to $7 million.
“For too long, Oklahoma’s working families have paid the price for the federal government’s failure to control our nation’s [...]
All members of Oklahoma’s Congressional delegation but Representative Dan Boren have signed a pledge to read the health care reform bill being pushed by the Obama Administration. The pledge, promoted by ”Let Freedom Ring“, seeks to hold all Members of Congress accountable for reading any health care reform legislation up [...]
Last night President Barack Obama became the first President to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at an All-Star game since President Gerald Ford in 1976. But for the millions of fans tuning in on television, all they saw was President Obama’s wind up and release. None of the dozen [...]
You can sure tell its July and that local news outlets are really scrambling for news stories. Why else would 32 year old Chad Istook’s arrest make the headlines of all the local TV stations and newspapers? And not just any headline, but headlines like, “Ernest Istook’s [...]
Rasmussen Reports that Mitt Romney is the early leader among Republican Voters. From the Rasmussen Report published Wednesday, July 08, 2009:
Those who say economic and fiscal issues are their biggest concerns make up the majority of Republican voters, and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney runs best [...]
Today, our 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush, visits Woodward Oklahoma. In honor of President Bush’s visit to our state on this Independence Day, okiepundit salutes our past Commander in Chief and on behalf of fellow conservatives, thanks Bush for a job well done. [...]
Commentary by Brion McClanahan, author of the Politically Incorrect Guide to the Founding Fathers. 
While Americans are busy enjoying ice cream, hot dogs, cold drinks, and fireworks on July 4, I’m sure very few consider the following questions: What would the Founding Fathers say about the modern [...]
Over two hundred pastors, lawmakers and business leaders joined Representative Sally Kern today at the State Capitol to offer the citizens of Oklahoma a Proclamation For Morality.
The Proclamation, available for citizens to sign, will be presented later to Governor Brad Henry, Oklahoma’s Congressional delegation, President Obama and U.S. House and [...]
The Pittsburg Tribune Review reports that Pennsylvania Senior District Judge Richard H. Zoller, who held another ACORN worker for trial Monday on election law violations urged prosecutors to go after ACORN, the organization that employed him.
“Somebody has to go after ACORN,” Judge Zoller said about the [...]
Jay Evensen, editorial page editor of the Deseret News weighs in with his perspective on Mitt Romney’s surging political stock.
An excerpt:
Mitt Romney made a sudden splash over the weekend, appearing on “Meet the Press” and getting coverage on Politico.com, in the L.A. Times and elsewhere.
The [...]
Tulsa State Senator Tom Adelson posted on his Facebook page today that he will be announcing his candidacy for Mayor of Tulsa later this week. Adelson, a licensed attorney and Governor Henry’s first Secretary of Health, has served in the Senate since 2004 and quickly earned a [...]
As a candidate, Barack Obama frequently told voters that he would usher in a new era of bipartisanship. Well, President Obama is keeping his promise, only it’s a bipartisanship defined by opposition to the president’s environmental agenda - specifically the 1,200 plus page, “Cap and Trade” bill [...]
House Speaker Chris Benge announced the approval today of 120 interim studies that will be conducted over the summer and fall prior to the next legislative session.
The studies cover a breadth of issues, including government modernization, health care, public safety, education and economic development.
“This year we have a good set [...]
Apparently, few people have noticed, but over the last six months, BNN has been transferring admin authority to local bloggers in the state, local and topical blogospheres we cover. After adding three more last night, 30 sections of BNN are now edited by a local blogger, keeping the sites constantly [...]
Would you pay someone to wander around the Internet asking people who had written disagreeable things about you to take them down? Even if you wouldn’t, if you’re writing tough stuff about the news going on around you, the world of paid personal PR may be about to land in [...]
Big Business badies beat at their own game. It is easy to get the impression that big businesses are a threat to online freedom and the blogosphere after fiascos like the Associated Press Cease and Desist letter to The Drudge Retort. But often a little publicity [...]
Update: Some disagreement from the right side of the Virginia blogosphere.
Ugh, I can’t even believe I am writing this. Sometimes it is hard to tell if this is 2003 or 2008. An editorial in The Roanoke Times* begins with the headline “Bloggers on the take,” and ends [...]
Jack Lail of KnoxNews.com fame asked me last night to write him an email explaining the thinking that went into creating BlogNetNews.com/elections. He posted his take last night.
Here’s the whole email:
This is another way to get at one of the original frustrations that led me to build [...]
Making it easier for readers to find the blog posts they’re interested in, is BNN’s number one job. With that in mind, for the last few months, Tyler Abbott, the technical brains behind BNN, has been hard at work on something that we started unveiling last week and is finally [...]
One of my favorite Pennsylvania bloggers has a post on his theories about gaming the BNN rankings and other BNN controversies. Course, he’s wrong and the rules are about to change anyway, so …
[...]Here’s shoutout to that great Oklahoma Christian, Randy Terrill:
On his way to Jerusalem, Jesus went along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men with leprosy came toward him. They stood at a distance and shouted, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us! Jesus [...]
“Media events” are just theater, staged to give the appearance of a viable fourth estate.
Shown the Door at the White House
[…] About half way through the question, Mrs. Bush realized this was not a friendly softball being lobbed from the peanut gallery, but a real question with an agenda [...]
Matthew Yglesius looks at Romney, and sees a pathetic, clueless bedwetter:
The idea that we should be laying awake at night afraid that a group of at most several thousand people who control almost no territory or valuable military equipment might establish a universal caliphate or “collapse freedom loving nations [...]
These are my links for December 13th through October 13th:
My birthday wish: the continued humbling of MS.
OpenOffice.org community celebrates its 7th anniversary
104 million downloads of the open source productivity suiteToday, the open source project OpenOffice.org celebrates its 7th birthday. Founded by Sun Microsystems on October 13th, 2000, continues to experience tremendous growth. The project recently counted 104 [...]
I switched from Yahoo to Gmail for my primary email address a few months ago, and just wish I’d done it sooner. Gmail is vastly superior in many respects, not the least being the absence of display advertising all over the web-accessed email client, which is what finally make me [...]
BREAKING: SCOTUS Declares Bush the Nobel Peace Prize Winner
And from the comments:
Does this mean Inhofe will back down on his (23+ / 0-)
threat to have the Senate cafeteria rename Swedish meatballs “Freedom Droppings”?
by yojimbo on Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 11:42:49 AM CDT
(I’ll be glad when Inhofe isn’t [...]
This editorial in the Washington Blade, a gay newspaper out of D.C., reflects my feelings about the trans controversy waging right now over the ready to be passed ENDA legislation.
I support transgendered people, and want to see them covered, but right now, politics being what they are this is [...]
Gov. Henry is going to sign the Health Care Authority’s rule to provide pre-natal care to all women in Oklahoma, regardless of citizenship status.
An Oklahoma Health Care Authority proposal to allow all pregnant women to receive prenatal care sets a “dangerous precedent” and subsidizes illegal activity, said state Rep. Randy [...]
