The Race for the Governor’s Mansion

First of all, I’ll cover the Democrats. Man, what a shock that Jerri Askins won! Going into Election Day, her opponent, current State Attorney General Drew Edmondson, had a 10 point lead, according to some polls. But, on election night, Askins pulled an upset. This is good and bad. It’s good because just in case (and I don’t think this will happen) the Dems win this post in November, Askins isn’t quite as liberal as Edmondson (he seems very at home with the Moveon.org crowd). So, if we had to endure another Democrat for governor, we could do worse. That being said, she’s still a dang dirty Democrat and I’m hoping she does not win the general election! It’s bad because she is more moderate, so she might be tougher to beat. Oklahoma is a fairly conservative state (remember, we’re the only state where Obama didn’t carry any districts). However, when it comes to local elections, many seem to love their moderate Dems. Edmondson would have been portrayed as a far left liberal (which he is) and it would have hurt him with voters. But Askins is more to the center, so she might pull in some of the folks in the rural areas who are economically more Democrat, but socially more Republican.

Now on to the Republicans. It’s no shock, for those of us who followed this race that Mary Fallin won against primary challenger Randy Brogdon. I like Brogdon and what he stands for. I think his views are very much in line with the Tea Party movement that I am a part of. Fallin is more of an “establishment Republican,” and yes, she voted for the first so-called “bail out.” I disagreed with her on that vote. But, Brogdon made a few major slip ups. First of all, he ran a fairly negative campaign. He frequently pointed out the mistakes Ms. Fallin has made as a U.S. Representative. However, you can’t win an election by only being negative. Plus, in his negative tone, he was very clear about all of the things he is against (high taxes, increased government regulation, bail outs, etc.) but never clearly articulated what he is for! He told us what he wanted to do at times (like eliminate the state income tax) but never explained how he was going to accomplish such things. Voters want to see a clear plan laid out. Brogdon tapped into the anger many of us are feeling right now, but never rose above that to provide a positive alternative.

I think Mary Fallin will be the next governor of Oklahoma. There is such a backlash right now against Obama and all of the Democrats that Ms. Fallin would have to do something unforgivable to not pull off a victory (or hire Steve Largent or Earnest Istook as campaign managers, which I don’t recommend).

5^th Congressional Race

This race had an upset, as well. James Lankford, a political newcomer, actually won the largest percentage of the vote (I think there were five guys in this race) and will face Kevin Calvey in a run-off. James won for several reasons, in my opinion. First of all, he used to manage the popular Southern Baptist camp Falls Creek. He’s very well known and well liked among the Southern Baptists of the state, and in Oklahoma, that’s one big voting bloc (it seems as if we have a SBC church on just about every other corner). Secondly, he’s never run for office before. His two closest opponents in the race had both been members of the state congress. This is definitely an anti-incumbent election cycle for many, and the fact that Lankford is a fresh face in the arena worked to his advantage.

I think Lankford will probably pull off a victory, and I look for him to end up serving Oklahoma’s 5^th congressional district. I think he’ll do alright, too. He probably won’t be much different from Mary Fallin who has held the seat for the last few years, or Earnest Istook, who held the seat before her. He may be a newcomer to politics, but policy wise, not much will change.

4^th Congressional Race

This is the race I was most interested in, as the 4^th is my district. I voted for RJ Harris, as I wanted him to defeat Tom Cole. Quite frankly, Cole is a bipolar conservative. He’s rock solid one day, voting the right way, and then flakey the next day, voting for bail outs and all sorts of bad legislation. I think Oklahoma needs consistent conservatism, and Cole just doesn’t offer that. I think several things hurt RJ Harris, though. First of all, he did go negative, and for some reasons politicians can’t seem to understand that negative usually doesn’t work! Secondly, Cole has a fairly long history in that seat, and is very well known. He’s popular with the mainstream Republicans in the area. Harris is more of a libertarian, which is alright by me! But, Oklahoma has a pretty cozy relationship with its establishment Republicans, and “Ron Paulish” candidates just don’t fare well (I hope this changes). I knew that Harris really didn’t have a shot, but I sure wanted him to win. If Cole doesn’t get any better, and no one else steps up, I might seriously consider challenging him in 2012. Just a thought in the back of my mind…

Well, in a nutshell, there are my feelings on the primary. Now we move on to the general election, as I pray conservatives trounce all over liberals this election cycle. My big hope is that Republicans will actually offer a clear, conservative alternative to the socialistic Democrats. It’s time to step up to the plate, and not to play softball, either.

Democrats and all "Establishment" candidates have been doing pretty badly in the polls and at the voting booths recently. Fine by me! In fact, I say let's keep this up. There are some guys and gals from both parties who need to leave Washington and go home! Well, in an attempt to stem the tide, the Dems have come up with a horrible piece of legislation. H.R. 5175 has received some attention recently as that worthless group the National Rifle Association cut a deal to not oppose it if they, and other large lobbying groups like them, are exempt.

 What H.R. 5175 does is require small, grassroots organizations and lobbying groups to give a list of donors to the federal government! Where are the so-called liberal "privacy hawks" on this one? Is the ACLU doing anything to fight this? The deal cut with the NRA exempts groups with over a million members and that have been around for over 10 years. But other groups, like the whole host of them that have popped up recently from within the Tea Party movement and like minded individuals, would not be exempt. The government would then know exactly what causes you support and who you're giving your money too. This is a disgrace and an outrage. Please contact your senators and representatives and tell them you strongly oppose H.R. 5175! The big man pushing for this in the Senate is Chuck Schumer (big shock) and the guy in the House is Chris Van Hollen of Maryland. Below is the copy of a letter I wrote to Chuckie. I'll send a similar one to whoever this Van Hollen fellow is.

PS...if you want to call the office of Chuck Schumer in Washington, it is 202-224-6542. Van Hollen's Washington office line is  (202) 225-5341.

 Mr. Schumer,

Thankfully, you're not my Senator. Thankfully, I don't even live in your state. Unfortunately, though, your decisions do affect me and people all over this country, so I feel compelled to write you. You've been at the helm of some pretty bad legislation. I mean, let's call a spade a spade: you're not exactly batting a thousand when it comes to standing up for liberty. In fact, it's not a big leap in logic to call you a traitor as you constantly go against the Constitution; the very document you swore to uphold and protect! But H.R. 5175, or the "Disclose Act" is a disgrace! You need to stop assaulting our basic freedoms and liberties. This is nothing more than an attempt for you to aid Democrats in getting reelected. You're diabolical, but not ignorant. You can read the handwriting on the wall that your party is in for a massive defeat this November, and you're trying to do anything you can to stop it.

 I don't know who originally said this, but it's worth repeating: "Life is tough. It's even tougher when you're stupid." Maybe Democrats could hold on to office if they stopped making stupid decisions. If members of your party want to be reelected then don't hide behind bad legislation and actually listen to the voice of the American people. If you're party is really doing what citizens want, then why do they have to push through bills like H.R. 5175? Why can't they just be elected or reelected by standing on the issues?

 Again, H.R. 5175 is a disgrace, and quite frankly, you're Senate career has been a disgrace. I hope the people in your state have the good sense to send you home next time they have the chance. If you're choices only impacted them, I wouldn't care one bit. But they affect all of us, so try at least a little of have some respect for the Constitution.

Sincerely,

Ryan Fowler

Well known Oklahoma City radio personality Mark Shannon passed away early Saturday morning. While I didn't know Mark very well personally, I feel as if I've lost an old friend. I listened to him on a regular basis,  enjoying his conservative talk show on KTOK. Beyond that I remember hearing him as a kid on the classic rock station my dad listened to. So, in one way or another, through the radio, Mark was a part of my life for about twenty years, off and on!

I met him a handful of times and always enjoyed the brief times I was able to talk with him. One story I want to share tells what kind of guy Mark was and how people viewed him. He was honest. What you saw and heard was who he really was. I remember at one Tea Party event, it was cold and rainy, and we had all gathered on the steps of the Oklahoma Capitol one Sunday afternoon. Mark spoke, like he did at many of the Tea Parties, and as he left the stage my father-in-law and I shook his hand and visited with him for a moment. At the end of the conversation, my father-in-law handed him some money and asked that he pass it on to the rally organizers to help defray the cost. Mark said he wasn't really affiliated with them, beyond being the keynote speaker, but promised he'd get the money to them. And that was that. There was no question of did he, we just knew he would, because he was honest, and just that type of guy.

Through the Tea Parties, and his daily radio show, Mark stood up for the little guy, and was in many ways the leader of a movement here in Central Oklahoma. For that I thank him, and know he will be missed! God bless Mark Shannon.

As bad as things are in this country right now, I have to admit there are some bright spots. The Tea Parties held all over the country last week, showed that many Americans will not just sit by and let a runaway government trample on them and the Constitution. While we need to do more (a lot more!), the Parties are a start, and they serve the useful purpose of keeping important issues at the forefront. As everyone knows, the mainstream media tries to set the agenda and talking points to dictate what issues are news worthy. That’s why we need to “shout” louder than the machine, to ensure our voices are heard! So, to all of those who helped organize, showed up, and participated in anyway, I say thank you!

Beyond the Tea Parties there are actually a few candidates I like. In my district a fellow by the name of R.J. Harris is running in the Republican primary, trying to unseat incumbent Tom Cole. While I don’t know Congressman Cole personally, and I’m sure he’s a very nice man, I hope Harris wins! Cole voted for the bail-out, and has consistently shown himself to be just another neo-con. We’ve had enough of that brand. Let’s get someone in there who actually believes and lives by the principles of true conservatism. I met Mr. Harris briefly at an Oklahoma City Tea Party and was impressed with where he stands on the issues. I’ve researched his positions on a variety of important topics. He has my vote.

Then there’s the bright spot that is the state of Kentucky. Two words: Rand Paul. He is carrying on the message of Constitutional government, and seems to be a real conservative! His opponent in the primary, Trey Grayson, used to be a Democrat, and seems to be carrying the neo-con torch (which means he’s essentially still a Democrat). I know anyone can change, and I’m not going to hold his former party allegiance against him. But, if you need any more proof to his neo-con credentials, just look at his list of endorsements. Among them are  Giuliani and Cheney. Most alarming, however, is the fact that the Kentucky state Republican machine, and the national party, are lining up behind him and against Paul. The fact that Grayson is essentially a handpicked candidate should be a tip off that he’ll be a good soldier and toe the party line. The only problem is most people don’t want someone who will act like a Republican. They want someone who will act like a conservative. I love the fact that even though the GOP is lining up against Rand Paul, he’s still miles ahead of Grayson in the polls! I hope this continues, and Mr. Paul is able to join his father in Washington. And, I know I’m getting ahead of myself, but here’s hoping Rand also follows in his old man’s footsteps and one day makes a run for the White House. But, let’s just get him to the Senate first.

There is now a group hell bent on crashing local Tea Parties across the country. Really? This is what these people have chosen to do with their lives? This makes me laugh for several reasons. First of all, it shows that the majority of liberals cannot debate the issues! They lose too often, so many of them don’t even try. They simply resort to trying to discredit and silence those who disagree. And this is supposed to be the group all in favor of free speech.

Then there’s the whole issue of this thing backfiring on them (which it will). Many in the group are trying to show up posing as tea partiers, holding racist or misspelled signs. However, since the crashers have been bragging about their plans, and making it well known, when it happens everyone will know it’s staged! The racist and ignorant signs won’t be attributed to the real protesters! Let’s just say, for argument’s sake, that some white supremacist did show up to a Tea Part with an offensive sign. Thanks to the crashers, he’d just be mistaken for an angry liberal out trying to discredit a grassroots movement. I can’t stop laughing about this. So, in a way, I should be thanking the crashers. Not only are they illustrating the point of the inability of liberals when it comes to discussing the true issues, but they are providing some great comedy along the way. Bravo.

I wish O’Brien all the best and hope he can find a spot where he will be fully appreciated. I also hope Jay Leno will come out with his own show, on some network. Maybe NBC isn’t the best place for either of them (man, that would teach the network a lesson!). But, wherever he goes, we need Jay.

Leno is an old fashioned comedian, like Bob Hope (I know I’m not the first to make that comparison, but I’ll use it because it is accurate); he sort of appeals to everyone. His comedy is not mean spirited, and not particularly offensive. He makes fun of the Right, but he also makes fun of the Left. He’s a truly bipartisan entertainer, and that’s the way it should be. He doesn’t push an agenda, except laughter. Sure, not all of his jokes work, but even Hope had misfires. But who else is there to be “America’s Comedian?” Dave Letterman is talented (although he seems to be slipping, in my opinion), but the Late Show has become essentially “DNC TV.” His whole monologues seem to be spent (still) making fun of G.W. and  Cheney. Hey Dave, they’re not in office. Get over it. Obama is a comedy gold mine, but he completely ignores him, except when he’s gushing over him. Plus, with Letterman’s recent moral shortcomings exposed…well, no one’s perfect…but I won’t elaborate. Let’s just say I don’t see him appealing to everyone the way Leno seems to.

Jon Stewart is the same way-extremely partisan! Jimmy Kimmel can be funny, but again, not really appealing to the mainstream. Craig Ferguson, in my opinion, is very sharp witted and often hilarious, and I only hope he replaces Letterman when Dave finally retires. But, again, he doesn’t have the “everyman” quality Leno does.

So, that’s why I hope Jay Leno sticks around. We need someone who can just make us laugh, and not take sides. Maybe Leno’s what Obama lied about being; someone who’s above politics and party bickering. Some critics claim Leno is “too safe” and not “edgy” enough. But, as is the case so many times, critics can be grossly out of touch with normal, mainstream America. We don’t always want someone controversial. We don’t want someone who’s constantly in the spotlight for the wrong reasons. A comedian like Jay, who seems to have integrity and morals, even being married to the same lady for twenty plus years (there’s a rare one in Hollywood), is what many of us want! Safe is just fine, as far as I’m concerned. So, here’s hoping Jay has many more monologues to come.

I am praying for whose lives were forever changed yesterday at Fort Hood. I feel truly heartbroken over what has happened. Even though I know none of those people, I can’t help but to think of how many families’ upcoming Thanksgivings and Christmases will be so drastically different from the ones they had planned.

And while my heart grieves it is also angry. You see, I’m praying for the terrorist who carried this cowardly act out. In fact, I’m praying the hardest for this Nadil Malik Hasan. However, not in the way you might think. I’m praying the exact same prayer King David prayed in Psalm 109. I know that’s not in line with the pansy, feel good “Christianity” some have tried to reduce the faith to, but at least I’m honest.

So my message to fellow Christians is grieve for the lost, the survivors, and the family members forever affected. And it’s okay to get angry and mad at the evil one who perpetrated this event! You’re not any less spiritual for feeling indignation. The difference, however, is when we get angry we don’t open fire on innocent people or strap explosives to ourselves.

Politically correct? No. True? You bet.

That changed, however, when I read Term Limits by Vince Flynn. I’m not sure why I picked up the book to begin with, but I was in the mood for a good story and seemed like it would fit the bill. It did! To this day it remains one of my favorite novels of all time (as well as does Flynn’s The Third Option). I quickly got my hands on everything Vince had written up to that point, and read through them. After finishing his series I began reading other authors, and now fiction is primarily what I prefer. And it’s all thanks to the wonderful writing of Mr. Flynn.

So, I was very excited when Extreme Measures was released in the Fall of 2008. I wanted to write a review upon finishing it, but decided to wait. The novel began a story that wasn’t completed until this year’s Pursuit of Honor. So much so that I didn’t feel as if it would be fair to review Measures by itself. So, what follows is my review of both books, which tell one story.

Extreme Measures is good, but not Flynn’s best. The action unfolds at a slower pace than we’re used to, but it is understandable when you realize he’s developing a larger story and setting things up for Pursuit of Honor. Rapp brings a new character to the forefront, Mike Nash. Nash is tough, but also a family man. I like the family aspect of Nash, as it makes him bit more human than Mitch Rapp. But make no mistake, Rapp is in the book, and as always, he kicks some tail end! Not as much as in some previous novels, but he manages to take care of business. Which leads me to a complaint: there’s just not as much action in these two novels as we’ve seen in Rapp’s past outings. They seem to focus more on the political side of the War on Terror, which isn’t all bad. Just like in real life, liberals and bleeding hearts are concerned about the “rights” of the terrorists, and there is a ton of backstabbing, ego feeding, and outright treason being committed by politicians and their aids. This is a very interesting (and true to life) element of both books, however it is at the expense of some action. In other words, the biggest fight Rapp and Nash wage is on Capitol Hill, not in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, or Afghanistan.  That being said, tension is still present, the books are never boring, and there is still some great action scenes.

One highlight of the books is Chapter 50 of Pursuit of Honor. Without giving too much away, let me just say Mitch Rapp makes a speech before a senate committee that I believe many of us conservatives wish we could make! There’s little secret, after reading these books, that Vince Flynn probably leans to the right in his politics. And that’s okay by me! It’s about time the Right had a literary figure on our side.

Both of these novels are good, but I enjoyed Pursuit of Honor the best. Don’t get me wrong, though, Extreme Measures is not bad by any means. But, be warned, both novels need to be read. In my opinion, they don’t work as standalone stories.

So, while not the best in the series, Extreme Measures and Pursuit of Honor should not disappoint Vince Flynn fans, or those who are just looking for a good, exciting read.

I have to admit I like college football far better than I do the NFL. And there’s a whole host of reasons why, but I won’t go into that on this blog. However, I do watch the NFL a bit every week. Or should I say I watched the NFL. But as of now I don’t any more. I’m done with them.

I’ve followed Rush Limbaugh’s bid to buy the Saint Louis Rams with a healthy dose of disgust. Not directed towards Limbaugh, but directed towards the bigots that have opposed him at every turn. How dare them! How dare someone try and stop someone else from conducting a business transaction simply because of their personal beliefs. So are we to believe that conservatives can’t be involved in the sports industry. Which, by the way, I have news for all the reporters and others that think they know major league sports: the majority of your fans lean to the right! How many bleeding hearts do you know that actually watch a football game? There are some, as I remember seeing video of even John Lennon showing up in the Monday Night Football booth. And there are always politicians like John Kerry who try to talk football, but I think they do it say “Hey, I’m an average, everyday guy. I watch football.” Anyway, I digress. The point is Limbaugh was shut out because of his personal beliefs.

And how about NFL Commissioner Goodell having the nerve (!) to say Limbaugh’s “divisive” comments would not be tolerated? Did this guy even think before he spoke or did he just say the first ignorant thing that popped in his head? Mr. Goodell you are the one who is divisive! You are the one saying, through your actions, conservatives have no part in the National Football League. Again, you need to do some marketing research and actually look at who your fan base is! You better be careful and look at your bottom line before you go running your mouth off, offending over half of the folks that pay you and your players’ overblown salaries!

All I know is the NFL now has one less fan. And I’m guessing there are others who feel like I do. I agree with the sentiments Rush offered on his program yesterday. This is about conservatives being told they have no place in mainstream society. Well, those who feel this way are wrong. We are mainstream society. And we need to not let this country be hijacked by misguided liberals any longer.

While the government of the United States may turn its back on you, the majority of America’s citizens are behind you. I know that doesn’t mean much, when we don’t set the policy directly; however I hope and pray the balance of power will shift in the next few years, and the voting public will oust the ones they unfortunately elected.

Since Barack seems to be intent on apologizing to every nation for the way he perceives America has acted, I’m going to take a page out of his book. I’m offering this apology for the way my “country” has acted today! It’s not one of our finest moments, and I hope we don’t have any more like it. However, at every turn Barack has proven he’s, quite frankly, a moron, so I won’t hold my breath.

In the mean time, my prayers will be with the Nation of Israel for your safety and peace.

So, allow me to make some observations about someone I’ve never even met: Vladimir Putin. I’ve never, thankfully, met him in person, but I know a lot about his nature. I can read him like a book. The bottom line is Putin is an evil S.O.B. who is completely void of any moral character what so ever. I also predict he’s a sadist (I’d bet everything I own on that). He’s worthless, godless, and the only time he’ll contribute positively to the human race is the day he kills over. Anyone with any amount of discernment should be able to see this. What I just wrote shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone!

So why, then, is Obama and his buddies in power bowing down to ol’ Vladimir? Today, Barack stated that he’s throwing away George Bush’s missile defense system that would have protected the Czech Republic and Poland from Russia in case of attack. And make no mistake about it, Russia will attack. I don’t know when it will be, but as the nation slips more and more back into the empty ideology of communism, they won’t tolerate neighbors that are free.  Plus, add to the mix that Putin is as power hungry as he is evil, and a future invasion by the reemerging USSR seems inevitable.

Obama claims a new mobile defense system will work even better and be more efficient. First of all how the heck do you have a mobile missile defense system? It doesn’t even make sense. Secondly, everyone knows that this is about. Putin raised hell and whined and cried for months about how any permanent defense system would be a threat to Russia and blah, blah, blah. He beat his chest and tried to seem threatening, playing the role of the bully that he is. Today’s announcement by the President is a way of saying, “You win, Vladimir,” without actually saying it. It’s giving in to the demands of the Russian leader, while still trying to sound tough and committed to our allies.

Recently my son started school, and is learning new things on the playground. My son is taller than most of the other kids, and so far he hasn’t been picked on. However, he’s seen some bullies and I’ve talked to him about it. I’ve told him we always stand up to bullies. If they run over you once, they will think it’s a free pass to keep on doing it. In time I’ll teach my son not to start fights, but not to let bullies push him around either. The U.S. needs to have the same policy. In fact, rather than giving into the bullies of the world, we need to make an example of them. I’m not talking about attacking Russia, but I am saying we need to stand up for our interests and the interests of our allies. And screw any nation that doesn’t like it. That’s their problem. If Putin doesn’t like what we’re doing, I say flip him the proverbial bird and move on.

Another thing, before I wrap up. I’ll teach my son to stick up for not only himself, but also the little guy that might need some help. The Czech Republic and Poland need someone to help them. I’m not saying anything bad about them and it’s not a slam to their countries. I’m just saying they’re next to a big, giant bully with a lot more strength. Having someone come beside them would go a long way!

This move by the Obama Administration is a huge mistake! It will come back to bite us. Putin is a rattlesnake. He’s cunning, shrewd, and calculated and waiting to strike.  Obama is naive and unprepared to deal with world leaders. Or maybe Obama just doesn’t care about our allies or actually likes Putin. Who knows? All I know is this is a foreign policy blunder and it will backfire. I just hope when it does it’s not too late for Poland and the Czechs.

The Governorship is up for grabs in my home state of Oklahoma. Thankfully, Democrat Brad Henry cannot run for a third term. So, politicians with dreams and aspirations of living in that historical mansion off of NE 23^rd Street are filing their papers. So far, two Democrats are in the race. First, we have the current Lieutenant Governor Jari Askins. I’ll never vote for a Democrat, and can’t in the primary anyway, so I really don’t have a dog in this hunt. However, I’ve spoken with several state congressmen who have told me Jari is a very nice lady who really means well. She doesn’t appear to be a far left liberal (a professor I had once told me that most Oklahoma Democrats are more in line with New York Republicans). Ms. Askins seems to be a tough political foe, so the second candidate, current Attorney General Drew Edmondson, will have a hard fight. I’m glad. I don’t care for Edmondson. I don’t know the man personally, but the same two who told me about Askins have told me he is a far left liberal. He has done several things (that I won’t go into on this post) that have ticked me off. So, here’s hoping Jari Askins beats the political snot out of him in the primary.

On the Republican side we have (so far) Congresswoman Mary Fallen and state Senator Randy Brogman. I really don’t know much about either of these two, so I will withhold judgment at this time. I don’t know if I’d like either one of them in the State’s highest office. However, I think there’s slim chance Fallen won’t win the primary. It’s almost a slam dunk.

I also predict that Congresswoman Fallen will take the overall job, as well. She’s been around Oklahoma politics for a long time and seems to be well liked. I believe Jari Askins will be her opponent in the General Election, but will ultimately lose. There is enough “Obama backlash” in Oklahoma that will make it hard for any Democrat to take the governorship.

The Congressional races are what I’m really interested in, however. Governors have an important job, but let’s be honest, they are very limited. Now, don’t get me wrong, it shouldn’t be that way. I’m a “states rights” kind of guy, but the truth of the matter is policy is set on the Federal level.

The Fifth Congressional District race should be very, very interesting to watch! Ms. Fallen currently holds the seat, but is resigning to pursue that most coveted state position. One candidate on the Republican side who is trying to fill her vacancy is Kevin Calvey. He ran against her in the primary back in 2006 I believe (my memory fails me right now…with the House elections rolling around every two years they all sort of run together). Now that Fallen is leaving, he’s giving it another try. Most of what I know about him I like, and he seems like he’d make a fine Congressman. He has experience as he is a former state legislator.

Another possibility who recently announced his candidacy is James Lankford. James served for years in a position with the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, working in the Student Ministries department. Anyone who can work with teen-agers for years shows they are a strong individual who can endure numerous hardships! Teen-agers seem a bit trying to me, even more so than Congress! I don’t know James personally, although I have met him on a few brief occasions. He seemed like a nice, capable guy. I know several people involved in Southern Baptist ministry who speak very highly of Mr. Lankford. But, as of now, I’m not sure where he stands on the issues. I believe he just announced his candidacy, and I can’t find an official campaign site other than a Facebook profile. There may be other candidates trying for the seat, but I think Calvey and Lankford will be the ones to beat in the primary. So, what’s my prediction? Calvey has experience, and is a very polished speaker. He’s making the rounds to all the right places (Tea Parties, etc), and I’ve heard him on local talk radio. Having run for this seat before, he also has some name recognition. On the other hand, James Lankford will have a very strong following with the Southern Baptist crowd. That is a big group in the State of Oklahoma! He will likely appeal to faith based voters of other denominations as well. So, he has name recognition going for him, too. I’m not ready to give my prediction on this one yet, but it will be a tight race to watch.

I don’t live in the Fifth District, however, so my real interest is the Fourth. Tom Cole is the Republican congressman who currently holds the seat. I believe he’s running for reelection. However, in a rare case, he’s being challenged in the primary by R.J. Harris. Harris isn’t a career politician, which Mr. Cole seems to be. I applaud Mr. Harris because he has the guts to stand up against a fairly popular sitting congressman! R.J. seems to be upset over the same things that have made me upset: Congressman Cole’s support for some of the “bail-out” packages, Obama’s GIVE Act, and several other horrible pieces of legislation. For one who claims to be a conservative, Tom Cole just doesn’t make the grade. This is nothing personal. I’m sure he’s a very nice man who means well. However, being a nice guy isn’t what we need. We need someone who will stand up for the Constitution! R.J. Harris, I believe, would! So, he’ll be getting my vote in the primary.

Enough people are waking up and crying for real change, which might give Harris the boost he needs. It’s a tough job to go against a sitting elected official, and Harris doesn’t seem to be getting the recognition in the media he deserves.  It’s refreshing that there is finally a real alternative being offered for those who truly want change!

I’m sure it will be an interesting political season in the days ahead. I’m not really sure how to describe my political beliefs. Certainly conservative. I’m probably best described as a “paleo-conservative who borderlines on libertarianism,” if that makes any sense. I’m just glad that in my district there is finally someone with my beliefs to actually vote for!

Before we dig deeper into just how wrong this organization is, let me expound on a couple of theories I have. First of all, its possible Color of Change has some help here. Some of the liberals in power want to silence Glenn because he seems to be leading a movement. I know Rush is the most listened to in talk radio, but Glenn is sort of the figurehead of opposition right now to Obama, the Congress, and government in general. He started the 9/12 Project, has been highly supportive of the Tea Party movement, and has written the dead on best seller Common Sense. It wouldn’t surprise me if some in Washington would work through a proxy organization to try and censor Mr. Beck.

Secondly, this is probably an attempt for Color of Change to get recognized. Be honest, before this controversy with Glenn, have you ever heard of this organization? They’re a small fish in a really big pond. They’re minor players trying to get into the big leagues. This is pretty standard for some of these small time groups to generate controversy in order to make headlines. And, I have to admit, it seems to be working for them (although a year from now no one will remember them unless they find a way to keep their momentum going).

Here’s what the group’s Executive Director James Rucker told Newsmax:

“"It's preposterous and absurd. It's insulting to black Americans, and it corrupts honest debate. Anyone who uses such a platform to spew such vitriol, whether Glenn Beck or anyone else, has no place on the air, and we at Color Of Change would use every resource available to us to remove corporate sponsorship from their platform."

I don’t even know where to begin. First of all, how is it insulting to black Americans to call Obama a racist? If you make such a claim, you better be able to back it up! So far, Mr. Rucker has not. I’ll say David Duke is a racist. He’s a former Klan leader, he repeatedly makes ignorant, racist statements, and he’s an overall moron. He’s also white. So, by saying he’s a racist am I offending white Americans?  Do I get offended when other’s say David Duke is a racist? Absolutely not. So, how is it insulting to black Americans to claim a guy who happens to be black is a racist? Let’s look at another example. When George W. Bush was called a racist (as he was called repeatedly) did all white people say, “That’s so offensive?” No. I didn’t care. People can think what they want to think and say what they want to say. It doesn’t have any impact on my life whatsoever.  

The funniest part of Mr. Rucker’s statement is the line “it corrupts honest debate.” James, I have news for you, if you’re touting censorship and trying to silence someone, you have no room to talk about “honest debate!” Your credibility is gone. You are the one trying to corrupt the debate and dialogue by trying to shut down someone just because they have an opposing view! How ridiculous can you get?  I disagree with Color of Change, but I would never dream of trying to silence them.

These groups, like Color of Change, show just how weak they are when the pull stunts like this. Rather than try and answer Glenn Beck and show how Obama is not a racist, they just try to silence him. This tells me they know they have no ammunition for an honest debate. My world view is so grounded in truth and so solid that what people say has no bearing on my beliefs. I won’t try to silence anyone. I may discuss and debate, but never silence. Why? Because I don’t feel threatened in any way. I have the truth on my side, and truth has nothing to fear. Color of Change is showing they are intimidated by the opposition. So they won’t engage anyone, they’ll just try to bully and censor.

I’m going to have to wrap up this post because my head is about to explode, or I’m going to take up drinking. Either way, it’s won’t be good. But let me ask one more question. Why is it only African American’s can throw the accusation of racism around? Why is it not offensive when quasi “reverends” like Al Sharpton (who I’ve literally never heard even mention Jesus, but that’s for a different post) and Jesse Jackson call everyone and their grandmother a racist, but if a white guy calls a black guy racist it’s offensive and insulting? Racism isn’t limited to one group of people. It’s a condition that is seen among whites, blacks, Hispanics, Asians, and Native Americans. Bottom line: it’s wrong regardless of your color of skin. And if someone shows racist tendencies, it’s okay to call them out for it. Glenn Beck has the right to say what he said. Color of Change has the right to protest him. And I have the right to tell Color of Change just how wrong they are.