Saturday, October 22, 2005
Good for Oklahomans
A report from the Research Institute for Economic Development recently lauded several Oklahoma lawmakers for their votes and called them "good for business." Among the issues -- workers' compensation reform, lawsuit reform and matching funds for health care in rural areas.
Since business is dependent on consumers, I still haven't quite figured out why business doesn't believe that what's good for consumers is ultimately good for them.
Sen. Cal Hobson, who got a failing score of 43 said, "Thank Goodness. I was concerend with the 700,000 uninsured Oklahomans or building a cancer treatment center. Those are pro-business issues. I doubt any of those got plus points or even made their list."
Rep. Opio Toure, D-Oklahoma City, also consistently votes his conscious and what's best for his constituency. Bottom of the list.
So, why does no one compile a list of those lawmakers who are just plain good for Oklahomans?
No need, to answer that was a rhetorical question. I know why.
Since business is dependent on consumers, I still haven't quite figured out why business doesn't believe that what's good for consumers is ultimately good for them.
Sen. Cal Hobson, who got a failing score of 43 said, "Thank Goodness. I was concerend with the 700,000 uninsured Oklahomans or building a cancer treatment center. Those are pro-business issues. I doubt any of those got plus points or even made their list."
Rep. Opio Toure, D-Oklahoma City, also consistently votes his conscious and what's best for his constituency. Bottom of the list.
So, why does no one compile a list of those lawmakers who are just plain good for Oklahomans?
No need, to answer that was a rhetorical question. I know why.
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Moonlighting
Get ready. It's starting already. The mud-slinging tactics of the Oklahoma Republican and Oklahoma Democratic parties are gearing up.
Democrat Chairman Lisa Pryor says Istook can't possibly do his job in Washington while running for governor. Oklahomans will suffer. She declined to say why they didn't suffer when Brad Carson was running for Senate while neglecting his duties in Congress.
Republican Chairman Gary Jones says Gov. Brad Henry takes too much time off and is always late for meetings. Hmmm, Gary I think you can find a lot more to criticize the governor about than just being late. How about tobacco taxes? Of course, Gary and the Repubs didn't want to talk about Keating's travels to other states and beyond when he was in office. Nor Fallin's continuous use of the state plane just to jount over to Ada, etc.
Wouldn't it be nice to have a campaign season with NO lies, NO accusations and NO smoke being blown up our rear ends? A campaign where candidates talked about why they were qualified for the job?
Think about it. You go to a job interview, the first thing you do is tell the boss why you are the best choice for the job. You don't spend time telling him/her why the other candidates are wrong for the job.
I think I'll vote for the guy -- or gal -- who has the integrity to run a campaign like it should be run.
Democrat Chairman Lisa Pryor says Istook can't possibly do his job in Washington while running for governor. Oklahomans will suffer. She declined to say why they didn't suffer when Brad Carson was running for Senate while neglecting his duties in Congress.
Republican Chairman Gary Jones says Gov. Brad Henry takes too much time off and is always late for meetings. Hmmm, Gary I think you can find a lot more to criticize the governor about than just being late. How about tobacco taxes? Of course, Gary and the Repubs didn't want to talk about Keating's travels to other states and beyond when he was in office. Nor Fallin's continuous use of the state plane just to jount over to Ada, etc.
Wouldn't it be nice to have a campaign season with NO lies, NO accusations and NO smoke being blown up our rear ends? A campaign where candidates talked about why they were qualified for the job?
Think about it. You go to a job interview, the first thing you do is tell the boss why you are the best choice for the job. You don't spend time telling him/her why the other candidates are wrong for the job.
I think I'll vote for the guy -- or gal -- who has the integrity to run a campaign like it should be run.
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
DUBYAH
It must be a sign of the apocalypse, but President Bush is actually making some sense when he talks (on domestic affairs) these days.
In his interview this morning with the Today Show, Bush discussed what went wrong with the response to Katrina. He didn't shrug off blame, but he also pointed out that it's the job of local and state officials to have emergency plans in place. Additionally, he pointed out that it's up to officials in Louisiana and New Orleans to decide when and how they should rebuild -- not the federal government's.
This whole hurricane episode brings to light a very real problem with American voters. We like to point to Washington and blame them for everything. But the real truth is that local and state officials and lawmakers' actions have a greater impact on our lives than anything that happens in Washington on a daily basis.
Yet, American voters are much more willing to not cast a vote in their local and state elections -- just look at the turnout for the last election in Oklahoma. And voters are much more apt to let their local guys and gals get by with a whole lot more than they would their congressman or president.
It's time to start looking in our own backyards for someone to shoulder resonsibility. It starts with us.
In his interview this morning with the Today Show, Bush discussed what went wrong with the response to Katrina. He didn't shrug off blame, but he also pointed out that it's the job of local and state officials to have emergency plans in place. Additionally, he pointed out that it's up to officials in Louisiana and New Orleans to decide when and how they should rebuild -- not the federal government's.
This whole hurricane episode brings to light a very real problem with American voters. We like to point to Washington and blame them for everything. But the real truth is that local and state officials and lawmakers' actions have a greater impact on our lives than anything that happens in Washington on a daily basis.
Yet, American voters are much more willing to not cast a vote in their local and state elections -- just look at the turnout for the last election in Oklahoma. And voters are much more apt to let their local guys and gals get by with a whole lot more than they would their congressman or president.
It's time to start looking in our own backyards for someone to shoulder resonsibility. It starts with us.
Sunday, October 09, 2005
Catching up
So, I haven't blogged in a while: Here's the catch-up
FEMA: What a bunch of whiny babies. Take some of the blame, Brown and admit that you were not qualified for the job. So you WERE the assistant city manager in Edmond -- a small city. Not a big city, not a state. How do you figure that qualifies you to run the emergency management agency for the ENTIRE country? You were in over your head.
BUSH: Too little too late. Trying to sound like Harry Truman "The buck stops here," Bush should have admitted that he also failed way before he did.
Naigen: Have some decency and resign. You failed to take appropriate evacuation measures. I mean, what the hell were you thinking sending people to the superdome when there was NO water or food. Geez, even Brown might have done a better job.
Blanco: If she doesn't get rid of that "deer in the headlights" look, Louisianans should impeach her. She failed too.
Roberts: Not a bad choice. A conservative, but some how I have this idealistic belief that once on the court those there (with the exemption of Thomas) might actually do the right thing for the country.
Miers: Again, not qualified. A judgeship elsewhere maybe. The Supreme Court with no experience. Give me a break.
Texas vs. Oklahoma: Go Longhorns! And for God's sakes Oklahoma, insist on "home" advantage sometimes. As much as I love Texas, I love Oklahoma too and you folks are just being taken advantage of -- not just on the football field with home turf advantage, but taxes and spending. The businesses in Oklahoma City and Norman would love a piece of that pie. And that my friends, is the only time I'll ever agree with E.Z. Million.
FEMA: What a bunch of whiny babies. Take some of the blame, Brown and admit that you were not qualified for the job. So you WERE the assistant city manager in Edmond -- a small city. Not a big city, not a state. How do you figure that qualifies you to run the emergency management agency for the ENTIRE country? You were in over your head.
BUSH: Too little too late. Trying to sound like Harry Truman "The buck stops here," Bush should have admitted that he also failed way before he did.
Naigen: Have some decency and resign. You failed to take appropriate evacuation measures. I mean, what the hell were you thinking sending people to the superdome when there was NO water or food. Geez, even Brown might have done a better job.
Blanco: If she doesn't get rid of that "deer in the headlights" look, Louisianans should impeach her. She failed too.
Roberts: Not a bad choice. A conservative, but some how I have this idealistic belief that once on the court those there (with the exemption of Thomas) might actually do the right thing for the country.
Miers: Again, not qualified. A judgeship elsewhere maybe. The Supreme Court with no experience. Give me a break.
Texas vs. Oklahoma: Go Longhorns! And for God's sakes Oklahoma, insist on "home" advantage sometimes. As much as I love Texas, I love Oklahoma too and you folks are just being taken advantage of -- not just on the football field with home turf advantage, but taxes and spending. The businesses in Oklahoma City and Norman would love a piece of that pie. And that my friends, is the only time I'll ever agree with E.Z. Million.
