Mike Thompson seeking several lobbyist positions

Sep 01 2010

This cold case is getting warmer.  For the past couple months, it has been an unsolved mystery as to why Mike Thompson’s campaign for Congress imploded with a whimper.  He was expected to be “the one” to beat when he first entered the race.  He had the cash, the support of community power players, and the rising star status many politicians seek.

Then, inexplicably, the man disappeared from the campaign trail only to re-emerge in the last month before the election.  Unsurprisingly, no one is talking about Congressman Mike Thompson.

One theory we heard during the campaign was that Thompson wasn’t really thrilled when the primary field got as crowded as it did, which led him to seek another job as a “back-up.”  Thus, the lethargic campaign.   From one credible source within the business community, we know Thompson was inquiring about a potential lobbying job even as he ran for Congress.

Now that theory is gaining steam.  We’ve learned that Thompson is seeking lobbyist positions with several different organizations, including the Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association, several transportation organizations, including T.R.U.S.T., and at least one other group seeking a lobbyist.

It appears Thompson has cast a wide net in search for employment.  But that net only falls among groups looking for a professional lobbyist.  Of course, there’s not wrong with Thompson wanting to be a lobbyist or the groups seeking a lobbyist, but it does reinforce the widely-held notion that politician use their office in order to attain a high-paying lobbying job.

We’ll see which group chooses Thompson or which group Thompson chooses to lobby for.  It looks like he may have many options.

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News, Links, Etc.

Aug 29 2010

We’ll be back blogging full-time after Labor Day.  And get ready because we have some good stuff for you, including our warning to one statewide candidate who needs to revamp their campaign or risk a big upset.  Can you guess who it is?

Until we resume our normal load, here’s something good stuff for you:

Doing the math for State Question 744.

Andy Spiropoulos shows how SQ 744 will destroy Oklahoma’s budget and require the state to raise taxes on basically everyone and cut several necessary services.

Do Class Sizes Matter?

Related to SQ 744 is the argument that smaller class sizes are better for education.  In fact,  there is little measurable benefit to decreasing class sizes.

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Public Pensions. This is a warning for what’s to come in Oklahoma.  If you think the financial bust was big, the pension bust will make it look like a stroll through Disneyland.

The Medicare Reform Illusion.  Of course the Democrats lied to us when they spoke about Medicare reform. And of course the latest report showing Medicare’s fiscal outlook improved is a dream.  Bush’s HHS secretary dismantles the reform illusion here.

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Flashback: OP Predicts Lankford Wins

Aug 24 2010

March 31, 2010:

Calvey leads 5th District race, but who is 2nd?

That leaves us with James Lankford, the charismatic youth minister. Of the three main challengers to Calvey’s first place standing, Okie Pundit believes that Lankford is the one to watch. His main assets are his non-government/political background and his army of excited and involved volunteers.

Lankford will be able to separate himself from Calvey, Jett, and Thompson by running as a political outsider, where he can credibly claim no connection to the poisonous political atmosphere. He also doesn’t have the vulnerability of making, or having made, controversial votes.

If the race were held today, Okie Pundit predicts a surprising second place finish for Lankford. Watch him as the election approaches. If he can raise just enough money to compete with Thompson on air (we’re talking quality, not quantity of ads), Lankford is the one to watch.

June 11, 2010:

OP Prediction: James Lankford will be next Oklahoma Congressman

A few months back, we surprised a lot of people by predicting that James Lankford, a virtually unknown Republican candidate running for Congress in OK-5, would make a run-off with Kevin Calvey if the election were held at that time. Our prediction came on the basis of a close examination of important factors guiding the race: candidate enthusiasm, volunteer enthusiasm, status in the public eye, etc.

Calvey was one of the first GOP candidates to enter the race and he hasn’t stopped campaigning since. He’s attended and spoken at numerous events across the district and has buttressed these efforts by running compelling television ads on Fox News that highlight his pro-life views and military service.

We have been following this race closely from the beginning, so we get reports in nearly every day about the state of the campaign. Based on those reports, we are now confident in predicting that James Lankford will win the Republican primary, most likely in a run-off.

August 24, 2010:

The Oklahoman: Lankford Wins GOP’s 5th District Nomination

Political newcomer James Lankford completed his sweep on Tuesday of legislative veterans, easily dispatching former state lawmaker Kevin Calvey in the Republican runoff for the congressional district that includes Oklahoma City.

Read more: 


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Obama’s “stimulus” cost more than Iraq war

Aug 23 2010

One sign the Democrats know they’re in major trouble this November is that they are reverting to two year-old talking points and blaming George W. Bush for the country’s ills. This fact shows they are aware their record of governing is an abysmal failure.  If they were confident in their record, they would have more original and timely responses to their critics, not to mention a desire to talk about their accomplishments.  Instead, they have neither.  In fact, they have nothing show for their four years in control of Congress, except a deeply unpopular health care bill and a national economy in shambles.

One of the criticisms we’ve heard return in recent weeks concerns the cost of the Iraq war. Democrats cite the cost of the war as proof that they are more trustworthy with the nation’s pocketbook. Of course, this talking point conveniently ignores the fact that they, by and large, voted in favor of the Iraq war, and when they were in control of Congress, passed every single war funding bill that came before them. Furthermore, now that they have full control of the government, they’ve even expanded the war in Afghanistan–the one of the two wars that virtually no one believes can be won through “nation-building.” These are inescapable facts.

Now, a CBO analysis has been completed that shows Mr. Obama’s “stimulus” bill cost our nation more than the entire Iraq war, and we probably got a whole lot less for it.

Obama’s stimulus, passed in his first month in office, will cost more than the entire Iraq War — more than $100 billion (15%) more.

* Just the first two years of Obama’s stimulus cost more than the entire cost of the Iraq War under President Bush, or six years of that war.

* Iraq War spending accounted for just 3.2% of all federal spending while it lasted.

* Iraq War spending was not even one quarter of what we spent on Medicare in the same time frame.

* Iraq War spending was not even 15% of the total deficit spending in that time frame. The cumulative deficit, 2003-2010, would have been four-point-something trillion dollars with or without the Iraq War.

* The Iraq War accounts for less than 8% of the federal debt held by the public at the end of 2010 ($9.031 trillion).

* During Bush’s Iraq years, 2003-2008, the federal government spent more on education that it did on the Iraq War. (State and local governments spent about ten times more.)

Just some handy facts to recall during coming weeks as Obama and his congressional Democratic buddies get more desperate to put the blame for their spending policies on Bush and the war in Iraq. For more from Hoven, go here.

Read more at the Washington Examiner.

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Best Web Ad of the Season: Extreme

Aug 19 2010

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Are Republicans serious about cutting government?

Aug 18 2010

Nick Gillespie doesn’t think so.

You remember the late 20th-centry GOP, right? They were the rag-tag band of crazy dreamers who managed to take over Congress in 1994 and, with the help of a pliant but deft Democratic president, give us kinda-sorta balanced budgets within a few years. Then, when they got full control of the federal government, blew the doors off any semblance of spending, foreign policy, and regulatory constraint (yes, it’s all true).

And, arguably worst of all, they took what even Democrats in the mid-’00s conceded was looking like a “permanent Republican majority” into a series of slam-dunk wins for the party of Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama and all the goddamn stupidity that that implies.

The best strategy in electoral politics is to let the other party drive the country into a ditch every once in a while. That way, you can take back the House or the Senate or 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue without actually doing any serious work. And by fiddling while Rome burns and playing to useless side issues rather than putting forth a serious counter agenda.

With that in mind, here’s three reasons why the Reps aren’t serious about advancing any sort of real reform when they get in office. Keep in mind it’s mere months before midterms when they just might take over one house of the gummint.

Click here to read the three compelling reasons why conservatives should worry that Republicans will simply revert back to their days of being Democrat-lite.

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Oklahoma ACT scores fail to improve

Aug 18 2010

Or do they?

Oklahoma students’ average ACT score for 2010 was 20.7–the same as last year.  The national average is 21.

According to a report, Oklahoma’s ACT score remained stable due to an increase in science scores accompanied by a decrease in reading and English scores.  Mathematics scores were flat. 

But is the fact that scores haven’t improved bad news?  Not necessarily. 

This year 1,289 additional students took the ACT, an increase of nearly 5%.  When you consider this, the score trend doesn’t seem so disappointing.   Adding more students into the pool of test takers tends to lower the score average because you’re now likely getting a lot of students who are just thinking of attending college for the first time in their life.  Those students generally don’t perform as well as students who have been preparing for college since their freshman year.

The other bright spot is that Oklahoma’s African-Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans all scored higher than their national counterparts.  This includes a 30% increase in Hispanics’ scores.

To remain economically competitive, Oklahomans must send more high school students to college or higher education of some sort.  Oklahoma has an astonishingly low number of college graduates in the state.  Only 20% of our people have at least a Bachelor’s degree, compared to the national average of 24%. 

We’re getting a new Superintendent this year.  Let’s choose wisely and pick one who will focus on improving students achievement and our college-ready and workforce-ready status.

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Those voices don’t speak for us

Aug 18 2010

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Beginning of “Death Panels”? FDA to withdraw breast cancer drug?

Aug 17 2010

Citing “effectiveness,” an FDA advisory panel has voted to rescind its endorsement of Avastin, an expensive drug used to treat breast and colon cancer.  If the endorsement is ultimately withdrawn, it is likely most health insurance plans would drop coverage for the drug.   Opponents of the decision believe the real reason the panel voted to rescind endorsement is cost.  The drug costs $8,000 a month.

A decision to rescind endorsement of the drug would reignite the highly charged debate over US health care reform and how much the state should spend on new and expensive treatments.

Avastin, the world’s best selling cancer drug, is primarily used to treat colon cancer and was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2008 for use on women with breast cancer that has spread.

It costs $8,000 (£5,000) a month and is given to about 17,500 women in the US a year. The drug was initially approved after a study found that, by preventing blood flow to tumours, it extended the amount of time until the disease worsened by more than five months. However, two new studies have shown that the drug may not even extend life by an extra month.

The FDA advisory panel has now voted 12-1 to drop the endorsement for breast cancer treatment. The panel unusually cited “effectiveness” grounds for the decision. But it has been claimed that “cost effectiveness” was the real reason ahead of reforms in which the government will extend health insurance to the poorest.

If the approval of the drug is revoked then US insurers would be likely to stop paying for Avastin.

The Avastin recommendation led to revived allegations that President Barack Obama’s overhaul of the US health care system would mean many would be denied treatments currently available.

During the debate, those opposed to the reforms cited Britain’s National Institute for Clinical Excellence, which decides whether new treatments should be made available on the NHS on the basis of cost effectiveness, as an example of the sort of drug rationing that amounted to a “death panel”.

The FDA’s primary job related to drugs is to ensure prescriptions are safe and effective.  If evidence shows a drug is not effective, the FDA will either deny its application for market or it will rescind its approval.  Some believe this keeps many drugs that could help sick patients out of their reach.

But is it a “death panel”?  We doubt it.  If the studies cited in the story are true, and Avastin is proven ineffective, then it can’t be a death panel because the drug isn’t saving or prolonging lives in the first place.  That’s a big if. The FDA has been wrong before.

But this brings up a larger issue liberals and supporters of government-run health care never want to discuss: rationing.  With government paying an increasing share of the nation’s health bill, there will undeniably be extensive rationing of health services as the cost of treatment outpace the growth in the budget for services.   If health care inflation keeps anywhere near its current pace, then the controversy we will see in the future with additional government drug and treatment rationing will make the Avastin controversy will seem like a walk in the park.

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Most ridiculous debate of the month: Obama’s vacation time

Aug 16 2010

President Obama is going on another vacation.  Oh my!  Some Republicans are up in arms over the amount of vacation time Obama has been taking recently.  Given that we have two wars ongoing, an economy in perpetual crisis, and an environmental disaster that hasn’t been resolved, the criticism is resonating with some voters.

It’s fair game, too.  Democrats idiotically criticized President Bush for taking several vacations to his ranch in Texas throughout his eight years in office.  Now that the shoe is on the other foot, they’re shocked–SHOCKED– that anyone possess the audacity to criticize the president’s vacationing ways.

Though it is fair game because Democrats indulged in this bit of stupidity, that doesn’t make the criticism not stupid when Republicans do it.  The criticism doesn’t even make sense.  Why would Republicans want Obama back in Washington doing, as we see it, more damage to the country?  Let the man take a vacation 364 days out of the year.  The country would be much better off for it.

Washington needs to do less, not more.  Obama taking vacations only helps.

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Despite multiple lessons in failure, Democrats never learn

Aug 16 2010

You’ve heard the old cliche that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.  Well, by that definition, Democrats are not only insane, they are rejoicing in their vacation from reality.  Despite failure after failure in their economic program, Congressional Democrats and their backers returned to Washington last week to pass another bailout, this time calling it the “teacher’s bailout.”

Now comes a report about how this bailout may be nice in the short term, but very painful in the long term.

However, state budget expert and President of StateBudgetSolutions.org, Bob Williams, warned that while this bill provides temporary relief, the ultimate impact will very painful for taxpayers.  According to Williams, “states may only use the funds to pay salaries of employees and the bill prohibits the spending from being used to add to ‘rainy day funds’ or to reduce state debt.  The bill also forbids states from reducing education expenditures below FY 2009 level.  Thus, states would be barred from reducing spending to address their current budget shortfalls.”

Reiterating points he made earlier in an interview with CapitolBeatOK and other online news services, Williams also warned states that “these federal bailouts not only allow state governments to skirt fiscal responsibility with fungible federal money, but they forbid them from cutting spending or reducing debt.”

Liberals and Democrats never could think past their nose.  Insane, indeed.

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Oklahoman Endorses Lankford

Aug 16 2010

After a series of hit pieces on Kevin Calvey, it should surprise no one that The Oklahoman is endorsing James Lankford for Congress.

He’s a solid conservative but not a reactionary. He doesn’t substitute ideology for intelligence. He understands that most issues have nuances and that taking a firm position has consequences.

Last year, Calvey took a position on MAPS 3, joining an anti-progress chorus that failed to defeat the initiative. Calvey was on the wrong side of the issue and it was ill-advised for a congressional candidate to take any stand on MAPS 3.

Lankford believes local political issues should be left to local leaders and citizens, while a member of Congress concerns himself with national and international affairs. He appears well-versed on the major issues of our day and could become an excellent, hardworking congressman.

This race isn’t over yet.  Calvey has substantial funding left and can draw on more Club for Growth money if necessary.   But if he wants to overcome Lankford’s grassroots-driven momentum and positive message, he’s going to have to come up with something more than a variation on the message he ran on in the primary.

We’ll have more to say later on how The Oklahoman and hacks like Mike McCarville tried to insert a nefarious story line into the campaign about Calvey’s brother and his alleged Russian connections.

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There goes $18 million of your tax dollars

Aug 10 2010

Remember when state legislators thought it would be a GREAT idea to turn Oklahoma into the Outer Space Travel Mecca of the World?  They thought it was such a great idea, they gave $18 million of your money to Rocketplane, Inc., a private corporation that failed worse than Ernest Istook’s gubernatorial campaign.

And, now, guess what.  They’re filing for bankruptcy and shutting down.  Without doing a single thing worth mentioning in polite company.  Just imagine how nice it would be to have that $18 million back to fill a budget gap.  So, next time legislators get bright idea like this–that is to say, a patently ridiculous idea–just remember Rocketplane.

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Greg Gutfeld proposes gay bar for gay Muslims next to Ground Zero mosque

Aug 10 2010

Welcome to Martyr-itaville.

Fox News’s Red Eye host Greg Gutfeld announced yesterday that he is raising funds from investors to open a gay bar for gay Muslims.  If that wasn’t controversial enough, considering Islam’s strong anti-homosexual stance, then the location of the proposed Muslim gay bar will certainly send some people into apoplectic seizures.  Gutfeld wants to open then the bar next door to the proposed Cordoba House, a new mosque across the street from Ground Zero.

“I’m announcing tonight, that I am planning to build and open the first gay bar that caters not only to the west, but also Islamic gay men. To best express my sincere desire for dialogue, the bar will be situated next to the mosque Park51, in an available commercial space.

“This is not a joke. I’ve already spoken to a number of investors, who have pledged their support in this bipartisan bid for understanding and tolerance.

“As you know, the Muslim faith doesn’t look kindly upon homosexuality, which is why I’m building this bar. It is an effort to break down barriers and reduce deadly homophobia in the Islamic world.”

The proposed mosque has been the center of controversy for the past several weeks, as people protested its location as an affront to 9/11 victims.   The Muslims proposing the mosque sought to quell the controversy by claiming the mosque will be a pinnacle of moderate Islam and tolerance.

What could be more tolerant, Gutfeld thought, than providing a safe, fun location for gay Muslims to congregate after their religious service?  The bar would even have a floor that serves non-alcoholic drinks since Muslims are forbidden from drinking alcohol.

No word yet on how gay Muslims feel about this; or even how straight Muslims feel about this.  But we’re certain it’ll inflame the most radical among Islam.

Fatwa calling for Greg Gutfeld’s death in 5, 4, 3, 2….

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“Welcome to the Recovery”

Aug 06 2010

The above quote was uttered by Obama’s Treasury Secretary Timothy “Can’t Pay My Taxes” Geithner on August 2, 2010.  Four days ago.

Today’s news brings us this gloom from the Labor Department: “131,000 jobs lost in July; unemployment at 9.5%.”

Let’s quickly review:

1) During the Bush administration when the average unemployment was below 5%, Democrats lambasted the president for a “jobless recovery.” 

2) The Democrats take control of Congress in 2006, running on a platform of “draining the swap,” eliminating the “culture of corruption,” and tackling the rising national debt with “pay-go.”  They pass a minimum wage hike, saying it will actually increase employment.  They say all of this with a straight face.

3) Obama is elected president in 2008.  He and the Democrats pass a trillion dollar ”economic stimulus plan” in the wake of a financial crisis and pay for it with borrowed money, thereby increasing our national debt rapidly.  They promise us it is necessary in order to keep unemployment below 8%. 

4)  National debt skyrockets under Obama and Democrat Congress as predicted.

5) Charlie Rangel and Maxine Walters join countless other Democrats in being charged with serious ethics and legal violations. Drain the swamp. Culture of corruption.

6) 14 million people are unemployed, 131,000 jobs were lost in the last month alone.  The unemployment rate is 9.5%.  It hasn’t been under 8% since January of 2009, when it was 7.7%.  Obama on track to become first president since Herbert Hoover to lose net jobs during a term in office.

Welcome to the recovery, folks!

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Judge strikes down gay marriage ban

Aug 04 2010

A federal judge has struck down California’s gay marriage ban known as Proposition 8, a constitutional measure approved by voters in 2008.  The judge said the ban violated the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment. This ruling will have no effect on the ban until the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals makes a decision.

One of the lawyers representing gay couples was Theodore Olsen, the well-respected conservative lawyer and former George W. Bush Solicitor General.  He also was the victor in the Bush v. Gore 2000 case.  Olsen is considered one of the foremost intellectual giants of conservative judicial thought.

It should be noted that once the ruling came down, the world did not end, but political fundraisers of all striped probably felt as if Christmas came early.  Expect plenty of mail soliciting money for candidates or groups who have a lot to say on this issue.

We will have more to say on this ruling later.

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Brogdon endorses Fallin, unites most of GOP

Aug 04 2010

Randy Brogdon “unequivocally” endorsed Congresswoman Mary Fallin today at a press conference that took place after the two had a private meeting today.

Brogdon urged his supporters to get behind Fallin, saying Oklahoma cannot risk having Jari Askins turn back the progress conservatives have made in the state.

“After 15 months of campaigning, I think the time has come for Mary and I to focus on what will benefit the state of Oklahoma,” he said. “My endorsement today is about the future of this state. In November, we have a choice to either elect a conservative or a liberal in the governor’s office.

Brogdon’s endorsement should help unite Republicans as they faced the largely self-funded Askins, who received the endorsement of her primary opponent, Drew Edmondson, the night of the primary.

During the course of the campaign, we had several Brogdon supporters message us on Twitter and tell us they would vote for Askins over Fallin if the congresswoman won the primary.  For those far to the right, the Brogdon endorsement will make little difference–they will either support a liberal Democrat or just stay home.  Last time we saw conservatives stay home on election day, we got an extraordinarily incompetent president named Barack Obama.  (Great going, guys!)

For those teetering on the edge, unsure whether to support Fallin in light of her vote in favor of TARP, Brogdon’s endorsement could convince them to get out in favor of Fallin.  Brogdon did point out, after all, that Fallin stood up against ObamaCare, the Democrats’ wasteful stimulus program, and the administration’s anti-gun rights initiatives.

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Kirk Humphreys proposes downtown charter school

Aug 04 2010

Former Oklahoma City Mayor Kirk Humphreys went before the Oklahoma City School Board on Monday and proposed a new charter school for downtown Oklahoma City.  The new school would be constructed with MAPS for Kids money and accept a variety of students, ranging from those residing downtown to those who are from disadvantaged backgrounds.

“I think it’s a real opportunity for Oklahoma City Public Schools to cooperate with a motivated group that has the wallet and the influence,” Humphreys said. “I think it’s unprecedented, and to do that in a cooperative way, where we’re in it together, this can be a real success for our school district.”

Humphreys’ group formed OKC Quality Schools, Inc., a nonprofit organization, to begin the process of applying for a charter.

Humphreys said he expected the charter school to eventually move into facilities to be constructed by the district with money from MAPS for Kids, through which voters approved an $8.8 million elementary school to be built downtown.

Judging by the comments in the NewsOK.com and comments made elsewhere, liberals are up in arms over the proposal.  They say the charter school would simply be used for corporate executives and wealthy students and that Humphreys stands to benefit financially from a new charter school.  In addition to ignoring the proposal’s aim to bring in disadvantaged, poorer students to the charter school, opponents present no evidence for their conspiracy theories regarding Humphreys.

But given the state of the anti-school choice side’s continually weakening position,  reliance on conspiracy theories shouldn’t be surprising.  Congrats to Mayor Humphreys and his partners in moving this proposition forward.

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71% of Missouri voters reject ObamaCare

Aug 04 2010

In a stunning rebuke to President Obama and the Democrats’ health care plan, Missouri voters approved Proposition C, a measure opposing ObamaCare’s individual mandate, by a staggering 71% to 29%.  Politically, Missouri is a bellweather state, so the Obama administration and his allies will worry at the sign the vote sends.

Oklahoma has a similar measure on the November ballot.

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Picture of the Day: Obama’s Deficits

Aug 03 2010

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