National Republican Congressional Committee Cheats -- Makes Fake Democrat Sites -- Accepts Donations

Just when you think Republicans cannot sink any lower in the House, along comes their campaign arm, the NRCC, and proves us wrong.  How dare these jerks pretend it is okay to make fake sites  when in many instances you are dealing with older people who don't understand the net, searches for a site, and ends up on one of the fake Democrat candidate sites and donates.  They see nothing wrong with it but then tried to say the National Democrats do the same thing which is typical Republican mantra except the National Democrats don't do it.

Leadership of the NRCC starts with the Current Chair Rep. Greg Walden of Oregon,  Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (GA-03), Deputy Chairman, and day-to-day operations of the NRCC are overseen by Executive Director Liesl Hickey.  Speaker of the House is part of the 11 Member Governing Committee of the House including seven elected House Members which I have been searching for the past 30 minutes to find the names.   As soon as I find them, I would do an add on to this post.

The last few paragraphs from the CNN article on the subject, simply blow my mind.

From CNN:

And to do that, the National Republican Congressional Campaign says it will expand its building of fake sites. 

Do Democrats do it, too? 

The NRCC press secretary told us the Republican strategy is cleverer, but that Democrats have done the same thing. 

One day after CNN’s interview Scarpinato directed CNN to a site mocking a Republican built by the Florida State Democratic Party, which the national Democrat Congressional Campaign Committee insists it had nothing to do with. 

In a statement to CNN, the DCCC wrote, “It is not the DCCC’s practice to make websites that could be confused with the opponents site.” 

Undeterred, the National Republican Congressional Committee thinks it has a winner and will create more fake websites as the 2014 midterm elections draw near.

The lies continuing out of the House Republicans are like The Neverending Story which was fantasy. In this case it is the House GOP continuing to report narrative versus facts but they don't stop there anymore as the House GOP now lies about the President, Attorney General, and Democrats as a whole.  House GOP has been telling more whoppers than usual lately.  These are some of the most despicable people that have ever been members in the House IMHO!  If I had my way all be a very few GOP in the House would bite the dust.  They don't deserve to be paid by the US Taxpayers for working such few days and in the days they work, they stick it to various groups but make sure their wealthy donors make out like bandits.  The amount of Bravo Sierra that comes out of the GOP could provide manure for acres and acres of fields.

One guy actually did think he was donating to a Democrat candidate -- NRCC returned the money but as Mediaite reported, remained defiant.  Why do we have a Federal Elections Committee if they are going to continue to let Republicans run wild with illegal campaign tactics and when caught, give them a slap on their wrist.  How about House Leadership including my Congressman Cole (R-OK) who used to be head of NRCC -- where are their voices against this type of activity or does the House GOP Leadership condone it.  Looks like this is about anything goes in an election to make sure they win -- win at any cost including turning the Constitution upside down makes these group of Republicans no difference.

From Mediaite  (Click Link to see Alex Sink site by GOP)

The National Republican Congressional Committee returned a campaign donation on Monday after a contributor cried foul over a website pretending to be the that of a Democratic candidate—a possible violation of campaign finance laws. 

The move is one the NRCC has tried before, and has reprised with at least three different congressional candidates. The GOP organization mimics the candidate’s official website, with the same color schemes and similar smiling photos of the candidates, buys similar domain names, and gets Google-sponsored links so that the sites appear near the top of searches. The only difference between http://www.alexforcongress.com/ and http://contribute.sinkforcongress2014.com/, for instance, is that one says “defeat” on it:
The ruse worked well enough to fool Ray Bellamy, who ended up contributing $250 to the RNCC rather than Sink’s campaign, as he’d meant to. “It looked legitimate and had a smiling face of Sink and all the trappings of a legitimate site,” he said, until the post-donation page displayed a slew of anti-Sink talking points. 

According to Paul S. Ryan with the Campaign Legal Center, the move is almost certainly illegal. “This doesn’t even strike me as a close call,” he told the National Journal, when similar websites were spotted in December. However, he noted that the FEC was slow to move on enforcement, and that these websites would likely be gone by the time the organization got around to them. 

The RNCC returned Bellamy’s donation, but was defiant about the websites. “Ms. Sink doesn’t want to be honest about her support of ObamaCare or her awful record as CFO, we are happy to inform voters,” an NRCC spokesperson told the Tampa Bay Times. In the meantime, it’s up to the contributors themselves to spot the trick.

The person donates and after the donation he finds out it is an anti-Alex Sink site?  Republicans think this is okay because many who donate wouldn't know to challenge these lowlife NRCC staffers who run these sites?  The words I would like to use to describe Republicans I won't use on a website but mark my word, I have been saying them while reading this bunch of crap out of the NRCC and in turn the GOP in the House as they are part and parcel of each other.  

Los Angeles Times has discovered 18 fake websites for Democrats so far and sounds like the NRCC is going to make even more.  IMHO this is what you get when you hold up Karl Rove and others as geniuses in campaigns when their genius comes from underhanded tactics.  Rove and his Crossroads was linked in a memo to Koch Bros donors last week.  No surprise to many of us have who have been saying Rove is tied to the Koch Bros -- as he was out in front in the Walker campaign for Governor in WI.  Rove, Koch Bros, and Roger Ailes were behind the establishment of the Tea Party which is now out of control or what so-called establishment Republicans want you to believe.  That is just rhetoric because the establishment Republicans in the House bow to the Tea Party all the time.  Why?  Is it because of Koch donations to their campaigns and getting people to work for them.

Anyone telling you that the Tea Party is going away is laughable because Club for Growth, Heritage Foundation, and the rest of the Koch tentacles are going no where -- grassroots base of the GOP today is the Tea Party for the most part.  They will just get rebrand if the name gets too hot for the GOP but the same lowlife, unethical people will be running things.  The RNC Chair Priebus came out of that underhanded Walker campaign and my guess the reason he is still chair as he is a puppet of the Koch Bros.

From the Los Angeles Times:

Republican Party wing creates 18 fake websites for Democrats

By Daniel Rothberg This post has been corrected. See note at bottom for details.February 7, 2014, 4:12 p.m. 

If you support Democratic Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick’s bid for reelection, stay away from annkirkpatrick.com. The site might greet visitors with a welcoming photo of the Arizona congresswoman and a screaming “Kirkpatrick for Congress” logo, but that design belies its true agenda. 

Funded and created by the Republican Party’s congressional campaign wing, the site’s true aim is in the fine print: to defeat Kirkpatrick, described as “a huge embarrassment to Arizona.” 

The National Republican Congressional Committee bought up hundreds of URLs ahead of the 2014 election cycle and has created nearly 20 websites appearing to support Democratic candidates in all but the small print, a spokesman for the campaign confirmed Thursday. 

The websites include donation forms that accept credit cards and encourage viewers to contribute up to $500, but instead of money going to the Democratic candidates, it goes to the NRCC. 

The NRCC rolled out the first such site in August, targeting Sean Eldridge, who is facing a tough race in New York’s 19th district. Since then, the organization has created mock campaign sites for 17 other candidates, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) and Alex Sink, a candidate for Florida’s 13th district. 

One Sink supporter was so confused while visiting the NRCC’s mock website that he mistakenly donated to the Republican committee instead of giving to the Sink campaign, the Tampa Bay Times reported. The NRCC said it would refund anyone who donated mistakenly. 

A spokesman for Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), one of the candidates targeted by the NRCC campaign, said it's important to draw a disctinction between satire and deception.
"I've certainly seen a lot of parody campaigns -- websites and Twitter accounts -- and I think that satire is a part of our culture," he said. "But just actually trying to make people think you are somebody you are not I think is underhanded." 

Since the websites surfaced, the NRCC’s Democratic counterpart has shot back, casting the websites as deceptive and a sign of weakness. 

“Republicans in Congress have gotten so desperate and afraid defending their special interest agenda," Josh Schwerin, a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesman, said in a statement, that they are now trying to "trick people into supporting them and trying to disown their own toxic, out-of-touch brand.” 

Excerpt:  Read More at the LA Times

My donations this year are all going through Act Blue, which is a PAC allowing individuals and groups to channel their progressive dollars to candidates and movements of their choosing.  What I like most about Act Blue is that all money goes to the candidates and then you can leave them a tip for expenses which we do on all the donations.  GOP will NEVER see a penny from this family again. Even our Oklahoma Democrat for Governor Joe Dorman has his donations linked through Act Blue. Would recommend every Democrat candidate turn to Act Blue and then advertise they are the only ones taking their non in-person donations.  With the underhanded unethical Republicans, you need to double down on security for your donations.

Hard Right Republicans Get Angry, Boycott Coke Over Diversity Ad While Giving Common Sense Americans a Laugh!

Outstanding ad second only to one of my favorite Coke ad, "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing" which I have started singing around my home again with my dog's tail wagging to the beat.  I am also partial to the Coke Polar Bears and actually have a cookie jar of one of the Coke Bears.


Anyone who knows me knows I am a Coke drinker.  Before it became cool to drink Coke with breakfast, I was drinking Coke with breakfast.  Have had problems with the orange juice served in restaurants breaking me out on my arms and don't particularly care for the taste.  Never drank coffee and just happen to like the taste of Coke.  Sit here at my computer and sip it during the day but have learned at night it is probably a good idea to drink water flavored with lemon.

One time in Boerne, TX, Pepsi was so sure their new concoction tasted like Coke, they did a taste test -- found out my son and I could tell the taste of Coke over Pepsi.  I am much more likely to go to a fast food or restaurant that serves Coke not Pepsi.  Still not a fan of Pepsi.

Watched the new commercial and thought how neat as almost all of us have ancestors from different parts of the world many who do not speak English when they arrived on our shores.  Boy was I wrong -- the hard right went over the edge of the cliff with their "English Only" nonsense.  Republicans today are getting to be an embarrassment with some of their agenda and this ranks right up there with some other strange attacks.


I am like stunned when I go on Twitter and discover the hard right Republicans want to boycott Coke for the ad because in their small minds patriotic songs should only be sung in English.  What?  English is not our official language and would bet some of the most rabid most likely have ancestors in their background who couldn't speak English when they came here.  I hope they are more articulate then some of the comments I saw -- would be embarrassed to post anything if I wrote that poorly.

My own family is diverse -- my Dad's family on his Dad's side came to the US from England to Virginia over 100 years before the Revolutionary War while on his Mom's side her parents came from southern France toward the end of the 1800's.  My Mom's side came from Ireland in the early 1800's while some others came from Germany in the mid 1800's.

My children's great grandparents on their Dad's side came the region around Naples, Italy, through Ellis Island, into New York City's Little Italy and eventually into Upstate New York for jobs.

My Grandmother on Dad's side used to get mad and speak in French -- didn't have a clue what she said but I knew not to say a word.  My Mother-in-Law on more than one occasion would let her rip in Italian -- once again didn't have a clue what she was saying but was louder then my Grandmother and actually more scarey when got mad.

They are all Americans just like many other families across this great Country.  I would rather live in a Country where people are trying to get into the Country not one where everyone wants out although I am willing to chip in to see some of the hard right go find an island somewhere that they can tell each other how to live and leave the rest of us alone.  Somewhere the hard right lost the part 'mind your own business' and want to tell the rest of us how to live as we are just to sit down and shut up.  Not working and they are going over the edge more by the day.

Got into a dust-up on YouTube with a member of the hard right who first blamed the commercial on President Obama and then said it was a 'comunis' comercal -- take it he meant communist but spelling and grammar were not his forte.  Seems to be a symptom of the hard right in many areas -- lack of spelling and bad grammar.  When I see it now, I just automatically assume if someone is posting with such bad spelling and grammar, they are conservatives.  Probably shouldn't judge but have seen it for years on sites as I shake my head at why would they post and not learn the rules of English.  Told the jerk that I had been waiting for over four years to tell the hard right to 'shove it' and this was perfect opportunity so 'shove it' and he came right back asking who I was telling to 'shove it' -- gave up -- you cannot deal with people like that.

These same people who have trouble with the English language when writing demand 'English' as the official language.  On Twitter they used the non-classy hashtag #fuckCoke and another one for #BoycottCoke.  See examples of these non classy conservatives at Deadspin who copied their Tweets.  Then there are the copied tweets at Crooks and Liars which all added together along with seeing them live show a hard right bent out of shape at Coke because of diversity.  Abject Stupidity IMHO!

Funniest tweet I have seen is David Plouffe asking if the RNC was going to ban Coke products from their Convention.

With bad weather coming into Norman this week, made sure that I was well stocked with Coke and when I bought the Coke the guy at the checkout thought it was hilarious at how much Coke they were selling.  First thing I thought after I saw the nutcase posts against Coke was go buy some more Coke!

Raise a toast with the Coke sitting here beside me to the great diversity that has always been a hallmark of this great Country!

Oklahoma Governor Fallin Stands with Cuts to Agencies and Tax Cuts for the Wealthy in her Budget

The Oklahoma Governor won't stop with wanting a tax cut for donors and the wealthy.  ALEC agenda all the way.  At the same time she wants cuts to her Administration Agencies and Medicaid while refusing to take Federal funding under ACA for Medicaid.  That stubbornness of the Governor and Attorney General on ACA is costing this state big and they act like they are helping Oklahomans. Their lack of caring for citizens of this state unless it is a disaster is beyond disgusting.  Seems they love all the national exposure during disasters but day to day operation of the state -- not so much. Governor Fallin continues to protect the oil and gas industry even when some of them are now saying the tax on horizontal drilling that was cut from 7% to 1% can now be increased.  It doesn't phase her at all.  Her budget along with her 'my way or no way' attitude has a lot of us stunned from the Mary Fallin we knew ten years ago.   This email from Oklahoma Policy Institute says it all: Dear Sharon:  On Monday, Governor Fallin presented her FY 2015 Executive Budget, which included 5 percent budget cuts to most state agencies, some targeted spending increases, and a proposed cut in the top income tax rate. In a new blog post, we provide an in-depth analysis of the Governor's budget.  Under Gov. Fallin's proposal, total FY 2015 appropriations would be $7.022 billion, which is $137 million, or 1.9 percent, less than the FY 2014 budget. Her recommended spending levels would require especially painful cuts to the Medicaid program and leave support for common education well below pre-downturn levels. The prospect of cuts to most areas of state government is especially worrisome because most agencies and schools have not fully climbed out of deep budget holes from the last recession.  We write: Agencies have already spent years cutting the fat and tightening their belts. Squeezing further is more likely to cut off their oxygen than to make them leaner and more efficient.  Oklahoma families and businesses will experience longer waiting lists for fewer services. Agencies tasked with ensuring our safety, education, and public health will depend on even more overworked and underpaid state employees, working out of poorly maintained facilities. In this situation, the only responsible path is to put more revenue  on the table. Ending the $250 million tax break for horizontal drilling would be the most important and sensible step to take. Other options could  include tapping the Rainy Day Fund, ending the double deduction of state income taxes, expanding collections of online sales tax, tightening the Quality Jobs program, and modernizing the gas tax to pay for increased transportation funding. The state could  also ease the health care funding shortfall by accepting federal funds to expand insurance coverage, which would free up state-only dollars.  And it should go without saying: more tax cuts are exactly the wrong priority.  Please click here to read and share the full post. Over time I have come to realize that Oklahoma Policy Institute is one of the best places in this State to get facts.  It is non-partisan so when they go after the Governor you can be sure she is on the wrong side of history.  Once again they are pointing out Oklahoma is ranking 50 of 50 states: Oklahoma ranked last out of all fifty states for long-term budget planning, according to a new report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. You can see the full report here and the Oklahoma fact sheet here. A CBPP survey identified the degree to which states use the most effective tools to chart their fiscal course accurately and make corrections when needed. Oklahoma’s score of 3.0 out of 10 on this survey gave it a ranking of 50th among the states.  How many more negative categories will Oklahoma be ranked near or at the bottom.  This is what you get when your state is ALEC owned and Republican dominated. How many years is it going to take Oklahoma to recover from a Hard Right Republican ALEC agenda? Time to start turning Oklahoma Blue -- Republicans had their chance and tanked the state in favor of social issues.  Time to return Oklahoma to common sense and away from the 'my way or no way' mindset.

Joe Dorman, Rush Springs, Officially Running for Oklahoma Governor

Today I feel like we hit a homerun in Oklahoma with Rep Joe Dorman running for Governor who when elected will represent all Oklahomans not just special interest and wealthy donors.  I want to see ALEC, AFP, and the Koch Bros try to tell him what to do -- pop some popcorn and watch him take them to the woodshed.  A wallflower Joe Dornan is not.  He is what I want in a politician running for office -- someone who will stand up for all Oklahomans who is not beholden to special interests.   
Governor Fallin's speech yesterday made me see red and still up on the ceiling the more I read the details.  If someone would have told me that Governor Fallin would ever deliver a speech like that years ago, I would have thought they were nuts, but I was dead wrong.  I was wrong to support her in 2010 thinking she was someone she was not.  Frankly she ranks right there with the elected officials I have been most disappointed/disgusted to ever have supported.  
Those days are over as I will never support the sell-outs of the Republican Party again of which Mary Fallin is their leader in Oklahoma.  She has told most Oklahomans we don't count as she curries favor with the wealthy donors.  She seems to think she is invincible and like so many Republicans rules and laws don't apply to her or the 'my way or no way' hard right Republicans.

He (Dorman) noted how the “perpetual cycle of political waste, fraud and abuse has reached its highest level in our state government.  From secret meetings and negotiations, to public construction contracts let outside the law under sweetheart deals, to violation of the Open Records Act, Mary Fallin’s administration has shown a pattern of disregard for the people and has squandered precious state resources. Whether it is trampling on the Constitution through politically-motivated lawsuits or halting much-needed corrections reforms, her actions have embarrassed our state.”  

Most of this group of Oklahoma Republican elected officials don't care about people unless you write a big check.  Republican forte is telling us how we have to live our lives through pushing social issues to the extent we are wasting precious tax dollars on frivolous suits filed by the Attorney General and the Fallin Administration.   Still cannot believe there was a newsbreak report Monday where it was reported that the Oklahoma Attorney General was speaking to the Supreme Court against ACA on the behalf of the millionaire Hobby Lobby's lawsuit.  A private company sues ACA and Oklahoma taxpayers are on the hook for the Oklahoma Attorney General Pruitt joining the lawsuit?  Welcome to GOP dominated State Government.  
The State School Superintendent Janet Barresi, my nomination for worst in the Country, and her good friend Governor Fallin  keep cutting public education and now we are getting the answer.  They want to give the children who need help an inferior education with charter and evangelical Christian schools. Some bills have already been submitted to give more tax dollars to non-public schools while continuing to cut public school financing.  Anyone with a brain knows our charter and evangelical Christian schools are taking some bright kids and giving them a poor education because they have so few rules to follow.  It is disgusting but it keeps donations coming into Republicans.  
Today was the kick-off for Joe Dornan for Governor and thought I would post some of his kick-off speech from Red Dirt Report.  Have to admit my favorite part is to debate in all 88 counties -- almost lost my Coke over that.  Dorman's announcement has shoved my rant for the Coke commercial and against Neanderthal GOP thinking until tomorrow.

Joe Dorman at media event in Oklahoma City to announce run for Governor

ANDREW W. GRIFFIN | FEBRUARY 4, 2014Category: Red Dirt Politics 

OKLAHOMA CITY – With an emphasis on placing “people over politics” and “service above all else,” State Rep. Joe Dorman (D-Rush Springs) made a formal announcement today that he was running for governor against incumbent Republican Mary Fallin. 

With snow and low clouds providing a backdrop as he stood in front of the large window on the 35th floor of the Chase Tower, in the Petroleum Club, Dorman struck a prairie-populist tone as he talked about his working-class background, raised by a hard-working parents in his Grady County hometown, while also making it clear that Gov. Mary Fallin has been an abject disaster on every level. 

Explaining that he had thought long and hard about his decision, meeting with folks from one corner of the state to the other, many of whom insisted that he run for governor, Dorman realized now was the time to run to be Oklahoma’s 28th governor. 

“I have heard from Oklahomans from all walks of life, from all points of view, from all levels of society, from all parts of the state. The overriding theme I’ve heard is that the state of Oklahoma is headed in the wrong direction under the policies of Mary Fallin. Put simply, the voters want and deserve a new direction,” Dorman said. 

Saying that he wants to be governor so he can represent “all Oklahomans,” Dorman’s fiery speech directly attacked Fallin’s “let them eat cake” approach to the needs of everyday Oklahomans. 

Dorman, 43, noted bow the “cracks in our State Capitol have never been in clearer focus than they are under Mary Fallin’s tenure, where she and the Republican legislative leadership have passed extreme mandates aimed at dividing us along our income brackets and social status.”

He noted the recent Worker’s Comp reform that “favors negligent companies over employees injured on the job, to tax cuts for the wealthiest Oklahomans paid for by slashing essential services and necessary state funding.” 

Added Dorman: “Mary Fallin has proven time and time again that the only people with a voice in her Oklahoma are those with the largest checkbooks.”

And while Fallin is already raking in the campaign contributions, Dorman vowed to “forsake the temptation of special interests and big donors whose campaign contributions are attached to a laundry list of demands that demonize parts of our society and place politics over people.” 

“If you ask Mary Fallin about the state of our state, she is quick to paint a vision of Oklahoma that simply doesn’t square with the reality faced by too many of our citizens,” Dorman said.  “The truth about our Oklahoma is not a pretty picture. In fact, it is a horror story that finds us at the bottom of the heap.” 

The goateed Democrat set about offering a stout list of areas where budget cuts are hurting the most vulnerable in our state, a “destroyed” education system, high poverty rates, low wages and “lower taxes that benefit only the wealthiest in our state.” 

And Dorman made sure to note that he will fight to have storm shelters in every school, while Fallin “shamefully” offers a proposal that would ultimately be the largest property-tax increase in state history. Said property-tax increase would ultimately “burden every property owner, farmer and rancher, senior citizen and business owner.” And with that, he said, companies like Devon Energy and others may start reassessing whether or not the cost of having a headquarters in Oklahoma is worth it. 

“Her tax increase proposal will result in a depressed state economy, a loss of jobs, companies choosing to locate in other states – and even worse, companies that are already here fleeing Oklahoma,” he said. 

And back to the issue of school storm shelters, Dorman said: “I will continue to work to make these life-saving shelters a reality. And I’ll do so without raising taxes, creating any new taxes or cutting any program spending.” 

And then there are those bad categories where Oklahoma ranks high: bad nursing-home care; high gang-related violence, high infant mortality, terrible place for women, crumbling infrastructure …. 

(snip)

Dorman then noted Fallin’s State of the State address on Monday and said the governor “once again showed her desire to govern in a divisive manner, create an environment of hatred and bigotry, and promote bad policies in the old political pay-to-play approach.”
Said Dorman: “Working together, our ancestors transformed prairies into communities and shaped a future from red dirt and pioneering spirit. It’s time we join together to make Oklahoma a greater place for all of our people, not just a chosen few.” 

- See more at: RedDirtReport.com

Thought it was going to be hard to start supporting Democrats but I was wrong -- probably should have switched years ago.  I listen to Joe Dorman talk or read what he says about his vision for Oklahoma and representing all Oklahomans -- find it is a message I wholeheartedly agree.  It is not the politics of pitting one group against another that Republicans are famous for today and one of the reasons I am leaving the Party for good. 

Joe Dorman is going to need all of our help on the ground, making calls, visiting with people, signing up new voters, getting voters out to vote, and taking to social media to promote his candidacy for OK Governor.  That said we cannot forget that Gov Fallin is heavily funded by the wealthy donors including the Koch Bros and their tentacles.  We can make up for a lot of that through hard work but hard work doesn't buy campaign commercials or provide candidate handouts -- only cold hard cash will do that. Whatever spare change you donate will be put to work wisely by this man and his campaign. Joe is not taking donations from special interests so he needs our donations even more. Please click on this link and lets keep the "Big Mo" moving forward.  

Joe Dorman has my full support and think it would be AWESOME to have someone who represents all of us not just the wealthy donors, ALEC, and the Koch Bros be our next Governor.  When you read bills that have been submitted in other states, they read just like some of Oklahoma's which means ALEC has been at work!  Let's send ALEC packing from the Oklahoma Governor's Office! Elect Joe Dorman as the 28th Governor of Oklahoma!

Governor Fallin Calls for Another Tax Cut When State is Already $572M below FY 2009 After Inflation

In November 2010, the Republicans in Oklahoma got what they wished for -- total dominance of state government.  Little did most Oklahomans including this one realize just how bad it was going to be but many of us do now.  When I read the review of Governor Fallin's State of the State from Oklahoma Policy, I went through the roof.

Oklahoma has $170M less dollars to spend this year if not more then that by some estimates and the Republican Governor wants to cut taxes and Medicaid after refusing to take funds from the Federal Government from Medicaid through the ACA.  If this is not an ALEC agenda, I have never seen one.  No wonder she got the 'prestigious' award from ALEC at their convention.

Oklahoma Policy Institute speaks for me and many other Oklahomans on the Fallin budget:

STATEMENT: Governor Fallin’s budget would make bad situation worse

by Gene Perry | February 3rd, 2014 | Posted in Budget |

Oklahoma already faces a difficult challenge this year to balance the budget without harming important services. Governor Fallin’s proposed budget takes a bad situation and makes it worse. 

As Governor Fallin calls for another tax cut, the budget is already $572 million below FY 2009 after inflation. Oklahoma has jumped from a budget shortfall in a national recession to an equally serious shortfall of our own creation.

Especially troubling is that at a time when Medicaid needs new funding just to continue existing services, the governor suggests cutting state funding for Medicaid while continuing to refuse federal funds. This would be devastating for Oklahoma’s most vulnerable children, seniors, and disabled Oklahomans, as well as a blow to rural hospitals and other health care providers throughout the state. 

The only way to avoid devastating cuts this session is to preserve existing revenues and reign in unnecessary and increasingly unaffordable tax breaks, starting with those for horizontal drilling.

When you read that Oklahoma is $572M below FY 09, you realize how much having the Republicans in control of all of State Government has cost the Oklahoma taxpayer and what do we have to show for it?  The Legislature spent $5.2 million to renovate their conference rooms and offices at the state Capitol while the building's exterior continues to crumble. (OK Policy) OK is #1 in states since 2008 in percent of cuts to public education students, #49 in teacher pay of #50, #7 in handouts from the Federal Government, and now we have a shortfall of over $172M.  That means that since 2009 when the GOP became fully in control of the legislature and then took over all of State Government in 2011, Oklahoma has been losing money each year while at the same time less is being spent on education and infrastructure.

That is no way to run Government but then you also shouldn't be passing bills that you know are unconstitutional to cost the taxpayer even more tax dollars.  Oklahoma has to rank up their as one of the most poorly run states but then Oklahoma has the distinction of being the #2 state nationwide for ALEC passed bills.  That is a dubious honor.  

The most highly touted bills in this legislature once again are social issues with #1 being abortion, then more gun rights, and then should pot be legalized in Oklahoma.  Get your popcorn ready for #3!

OK already ranks #7 in what Oklahoma takes from the Federal Government but they want to be seen as refusing Medicaid help under ACA like they are self sufficient.  Gov Fallin is the same Governor who doesn't seem to get it that Federal takes precedence over State Law like on the recent fiasco in Oklahoma with gays in the National Guard trying to get spousal benefits.  Fallin's answer -- cancel spousal benefits for all!

Oklahoma, by contrast, has stopped processing spousal benefits for everyone, apparently figuring it doesn't count as discrimination if you treat everyone equally badly in order to be allowed to treat some people badly. 

FALLIN: Oklahoma law is clear. The state of Oklahoma does not recognize same-sex marriages, nor does it confer marriage benefits to same-sex couples. The decision reached today allows the National Guard to obey Oklahoma law without violating federal rules or policies. It protects the integrity of our state constitution and sends a message to the federal government that they cannot simply ignore our laws or the will of the people. 

Actually, the federal government can and often does supersede state laws. That's not generally controversial except among secessionists. For instance, several states have laws on the books saying they don't have a minimum wage, or have one below the federal level of $7.25. Yet despite state law, the minimum wage in those states is $7.25 an hour. Or take interracial marriage. At the time the Supreme Court decided Loving v. Virginia, Oklahoma had a state law against interracial marriage; that law was effectively struck down by the Court's decision. Fallin's implication that it would somehow be unprecedented for Oklahoma to have to do something it doesn't want to do because of the federal government is twisted and moronic, and as Think Progress points out, the vast majority of funding for the Oklahoma Military Department comes from the federal government to begin with.

The hypocricy of Oklahoma Republican elected officials know no bounds when it comes to trashing the President and the Federal Government.  We have some people in this state who do not understand that Oklahoma is #7 in the line for handouts and refuse to believe the facts.  This comes from Oklahoma Policy as the Number of the day to back up the #7 for handouts:

43 cents 

February 3rd, 2014 

The portion of each dollar the state of Oklahoma spent in FY 2011 that came from federal funds, the 7th highest percentage in the nation. 

Source: Oklahoma State Treasurer

There is little hope that the anti-Obama contingent in Oklahoma will ever see the light about the GOP and the fact they are being fed lies/spin by today's Republicans.  Was told by one hard right conservative that being number 7 for Federal handouts has to be a lie pepetrated by liberals against OK -- asked them if they knew the OK State Treasurer was a Republican?  Got called a liar but what is new out of the hard right. Republicans are so mad at the judiciary for saying bills that are unconstitutional are unconstitutional that they want to eradicate Oklahoma's separation of powers.

For those not in Oklahoma, when The Journal Record writes an editorial like the one below that is picked up by AP and used as an editorial in The Norman Transcript, it is earth shattering.  You have a business journal of Dolan Media tearing into the Republican Speaker of the House which just doesn't happen.  I say Bravo to The Journal Record!

The Speaker of the House in Oklahoma is now running for the Senate seat being left vacant by Senator Coburn at the end of the year.  This editorial from The Journal Record which appeared in The Norman Transcript blew my mind:

February 1, 2014Taking giant steps backward 

Associated Press 

NORMAN — Among the thousands of bills introduced for the second session of Oklahoma’s 54th Legislature was an abominable bill filed by House Speaker T.W. Shannon, R-Lawton, that would eradicate Oklahoma’s separation of powers. 

House Bill 3380 would create a nine-member Board of Judicial Review who would handle performance evaluations of the state’s judiciary, from district court judges through Supreme Court justices. They would rate judges on everything from the clarity of their written opinions to the quality of their legal decision-making. The board would poll attorneys, litigants and others for their opinions on the judge’s handling of their case.
The members would also be required to take a “retain,” “do not retain,” or “no opinion” position when judges are on a retention ballot. Most voters would follow that recommendation, making the panelists the de facto electors. 

The governor, president pro tem of the Senate, and speaker of the House would each appoint three members to serve five-year terms. The only rule being the appointees could not be practicing lawyers or jurists. That means nine people with no legal training rating the quality of legal decisions throughout the state. 

House Bill 3380 would create a human resources department run by the Legislature to oversee the judiciary. Not only is it duplicitous of the smaller-government-is-better Shannon to create a new, unnecessary agency complete with support staff, it takes the philosophy of a constitutional democracy back more than 300 years. 

The notion of judicial independence goes back to 1701’s Act of Settlement in England, and French philosopher Montesquieu, who greatly influenced Alexander Hamilton and other Founding Fathers. An independent judiciary was critical to the Constitution’s framers. It remains critical to a free society. 

— The Journal Record

Let me get this straight -- the Republicans in State Government don't like rulings of judges so their answer is to make the judges do what they want them to do in order to keep their jobs to put it in simple language so everyone can understand how bad this is.

Time to get Oklahoma back on track where State Government is working for Oklahomans not ALEC, the Koch's and other wealthy donors.  Please consider voting for a Democrat for office because the experiement in Republicans running State Government has been an abject disaster for the Oklahoma taxpayer.

Super Bowl Sunday! Last Football Game of the Season!

On Twitter, ESPN, is having you retweet which team you think will win the Super Bowl -- the Seattle Seahawks or Denver Bronco's.  First tweet I saw to pick had Denver with Orange Crush -- too much orange for me so I didn't retweet.  The second time ESPN used more Navy with the Orange so I picked Denver.

Super Bowl is great to watch even if you are not a big football fan as the commercials sometimes have been better then the game.  Advertisers go all out with Super Bowl commercials.  Beer commercials are usually my favorite even though I don't drink beer.  My favorite Christmas commercial is the Clydesdales of Budweiser. and last year when the Clydesdale came running to find the trainer who had trained him was AWESOME.  Everyone who has watched Super Bowl remembers the three frogs saying Bud - Weis - Er.  

Coming back to Norman this afternoon listening to Sports Talk radio, the majority of the callers were picking the Broncos.  The central theme seemed to be that the Broncos had the better offense with Seattle having a better defense, BUT Seattle under Pete Carroll keeps the same defense for everything.  I said to myself how is that going to work with Peyton Manning who can change up a play at the drop of a hat?  Next thing you know the caller was saying the same thing.

As I was thinking about putting this post together I was wondering if I was picking Denver because Norman is a lot closer to Denver then Seattle, I really John Fox and his coaching staff and my two daughters live in Denver.   Like Seattle colors better but I really don't like the coach who ran out on USC as they were about to go on probation, Pete Carroll,  so as far as coaching goes, I give the edge to Denver.

On quarterbacks I give the edge to Denver because I think Peyton Manning is the best quarterback in the NFL today and has been in plenty of big games over the years.  At the same time I think Russell Wilson has done a better job then I expected this year but he has never been on a stage like this and not sure the offensive coaching staff of Seattle is as good as Denver's.   Having Manning on the field is like having a coach out there.

On defense, the Seahawks have been the best this year but can they handle the various looks and hurry up Denver offense?  Not sure anyone knows what is going to happen in that match-up -- everyone that talks seems to have a different take.

Hurry up offenses can cause problems for defenses as we saw when our Oklahoma Sooners beat Alabama Crimson Tide in the Sugar Bowl when all the powers at be at ESPN and other networks had Alabama blowing us out.  I picked the Sooners to win as I knew how mad our players were at being dissed.  Our team took it personally and played lights out at the Sugar Bowl and now we have the Sugar Bowl trophy added to the Switzer Center and Alabama replaced some coaches.

Is that what is going to happen with Denver?  Their defense has been maligned as not matching up with Seattle -- heard people say they cannot stop Seattle and just think I wouldn't bet on that and have to wonder if the Denver defense will rise to the occasion.

Decided to check out what the Las Vegas odds makers were saying and seems I am not only one who doesn't see a clear cut favorite as they are having trouble picking a clear favorite as well.  Does that mean this is going to be a blow out or a close game?   Linemakers had this to say:

The Linemakers on Sporting News reached out to sports book operators, pro bettors and journalists throughout Las Vegas for their Super Bowl 48 picks. Our own Vegas-based experts offered their predictions as well. 

A few themes that stand out – most of the guys currently running the books are on the underdog Seahawks; those who used to run the books – i.e, The Linemakers crew – are inclined to lay the short number with the Broncos. Also, the majority of our prognosticators, no matter which side their money is on, is predicting a close game, with one calling it “one of the more difficult Super Bowls to handicap in recent memory.” 

Onto the picks from the sports books .... 

Marc Nelson, Aliante sports book director – Seahawks 24-20. I think the Seattle D will prove to be too much for Denver. 

Tony Miller, Golden Nugget sports book director – Seahawks 20-17. Defense comes up big in this game, with Seattle's defensive front putting pressure on Manning throughout the game. Seattle grinds out a close win. 

Aaron Kessler, Golden Nugget sports book supervisor – Seahawks 23-13. I’m predicting the Seattle defense shows up, and once again, Peyton sees all the cards are on the table and folds, throwing three picks. Seattle’s offense bogs down for the most part, but a big day from Lynch (125 yards plus, one TD) and a pick-six (we’ll go out on a limb and call it for Byron Maxwell) prove to be enough, as Denver only holds the ball for three minutes in the fourth quarter. 

Jay Kornegay, LVH SuperBook VP – Broncos 23-20. Seattle is a physical/aggressive team. Manning will turn this into a chess match, make them think, and slow their D down. #Omaha! 

Ed Salmons, LVH SuperBook manager – Seahawks 27-10. Manning gets to face AFC defenses again next year.

Click Here to read more from the sports books 

As for me, I don't bet because I hate to lose money and don't want to jinx a team I favor by putting money on them.

My bottom line is I pick Denver to win 28-21!

Enjoy the Super Bowl this Sunday with all the food, drink responsibly, and root for your favorite team to win.   Good Luck to both teams and their fans and here's hoping the refs don't become part of the outcome!   Want to see a hard hitting football game and enjoy the last game of the season.

GOP so Fractured it Needs Four Replies to President's State of the Union?

This video link came in my email this morning from MSNBC with Ari Melber describing the Hispanic response to President Obama's State of the Union which was one of four. Get that four responses for one speech as the GOP could not get together to agree on one. Even the Hispanic reply which was supposed to be the same turned out to be different.

It was so great to see this report done with humor because all you can do is laugh at how screwed up the GOP has become. GOP Senate responses were Senators Mike Lee and Rand Paul -- nothing mainstream about them -- not even a little. The funniest was Rep Cathy McMorris Rogers claiming she supports equal pay for women when she has voted against it four times. Did she think we wouldn't notice a little detail like that? Then McMorris-Rogers and Senator Mike Lee vowed to continue fighting to repealing the federal healthcare law.   Where has the GOP found these people?


This video cracked me up because Melber's delivery was just perfect for the content and his understanding of Spanish made the difference IMHO.  It was a  home run by Melber on The Last Word.  Since receiving this link in my email, I have been sent it several more times from friends who speak Spanish who are laughing at how stupid the GOP was to do another outreach to their community but changing what was said.  It flopped big time if my email is any indication.  
The GOP was prepared for Obama to come after them in a bombastic way so they could show how mean he was.  That didn't happen so they have been making things up that were not said which has become the normal in the GOP today.  President Obama really got to Republicans with the tinge of humor in his speech and left them with using narrative not facts.  GOP threats to impeach him if he signs Executive Orders makes me laugh as he has used them less then any President.  GOP hypocricy knows no bounds today as facts don't matter to this group.  
Not one of the four responses made much sense as they were going in different directions kind of like the Republican Party today.   

Lee, a youthful 42-year-old freshman, appeared at the National Press Club,delivering a response sponsored by the Tea Party Express, a political action committee.His speech, which was broadcast live on the group’s Web site, underscored his ascent as a rising star of activists and followed in the footsteps of Rep. Michele Bachmann (Minn.) and Paul, who have delivered past tea party responses. 

Lee hit chiefly on economic issues and imparted his broadsides against the Obama administration with a tinge of exasperation, expressing disappointment with the president’s positions on federal spending, regulatory policy and taxes. Calling on Republicans to articulate a “conservative reform agenda,” he said that the GOP will struggle to win a mandate unless it makes better arguments. 

Sal Russo, a Tea Party Express adviser, said that Lee delivered the speech directly to a camera, with only a handful of aides as his audience. “It’s not a dinner or cocktail party,” he said. “We were looking for someone who is identified with the tea party to articulate our issues.” 

Lee rose to prominence last year during the 16-day government shutdown when he worked alongside Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.), urging Republican leaders to be more combative during deliberations. 

Paul, who is considering a presidential run, also issued a Web rebuttal Tuesday, putting out a 10-minute pre-recorded speech on his Web site, YouTube and Facebook. Paul’s response, given from his office, echoed Lee’s barbed tone and economic focus. 

A running theme for both conservative responses was the desire for a more robust Republican anti-poverty program, looking to combat Obama, who spent much of his speech addressing economic opportunity.

Leadership of the GOP told many of us to get lost if we supported Obama but Romney was so bad I never would have supported him at any level.  I refused to support him in Florida in 2008 and my dislike for him increased in 2011/2012.  Sad part is that he acts like he is running again.  He has this notion he is destined to be President and if they just package him better, he can win.  Not happening but with Christie going down, the field is pretty well cleared. 
Would put the chances of Romney running again at over 50/50 which is a little more then Rudy Guiliani gave Gov Christie today when he said there is a 50/50 chance Christie knew what was happening.  IMHO Rudy knows something.  If Christie is out of the race, who do Republicans have?  A very weak bench so do the Koch's go for Romney again?  
Or does the Party split like Hannity is predicting?  A split would ensure the Democrats win big in 2014 or is that what Hannity and some other hard right want so they can blame them for whatever they come up with as part of their narrative in 2016.  Common sense has left the GOP to be replaced by mean, angry white guys for the most part.  Still having a hard time figuring out why any woman would be out in front supporting the GOP today with the ongoing War on Women.  
Can remember on websites, 'conservatives' talking about it doesn't make a difference if they win elections as long as they stand on principle and women should not be allowed to vote.  This isn't new, but the hard right have now taken over the GOP and are calling the shots with the narratives they send out.  Don't be fooled about the Tea Party imploding as they have become a liability to the Koch Bros so they are getting dissed but it is pure propaganda as you saw in the responses to the State of the Union, two of those reponses from the Republicans were representing the Tea Party.  
Don't believe what you hear about the Tea Party as these people are going no where except to shift their venom under another name if even that.  They were the hard right before the Tea Party.   GOP hasn't changed much since 1994 when they took over the House with the Contract with America which contained no social issues but they knew the people getting elected were big social issue people so that would evolve over time and anti-abortion/anti gay marriage would be front and center.  
Is the hard right that mad at the GOP they will tank them for years to come and split like Hannity and others want?  I think would cut off their nose to spite their face and could care less as long as they stand on principle.  A lot of us have already left with the hard right takeover and not going back to work with such negative people who are in the GOP today.  I am a positive person and enjoy being around positive people which the Party of NO does not have.  
Hope you enjoy the video as much as I did -- love my new found home in politics around people with positive outlooks and humor.  Left the negativity of the GOP behind and feels great!  
There is one way out of this mess in DC and that is to vote out the GOP from power -- only answer.