Marshalled Thoughts

Happy New Year

2011-12-30T11:54:00.005-06:00

To everyone with whom I shared 2011 - in Oklahoma, New York, Connecticut, Montana and Florida - thanks for making it an amazing and memorable year.

I hope you have a safe New Year's Eve celebration and wish you all the best for a healthy, joyful and prosperous 2012.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-23T14:58:00.003-06:00

For unto us a child is born...
~ Isaiah 9:6

May the peace and joy of Christmas be with you in this season and throughout the New Year.

Regis Ends His Run

2011-11-18T14:47:00.003-06:00

I saw today that Regis Philbin is ending his run on daytime television. Smart to go out on top. He's had amazing success and has worked hard for years. What motivates him? I have always thought this story from an interview in Esquire magazine about six years ago is quite telling.

My dad died when he was sixty-seven. I regret terribly that he wasn't around to see the success of the national show, that I put him through torture without him seeing the rewards. It is an unfinished piece of business in my life.

Makes you wonder if that is part of what got him out of bed every morning?

Happy Birthday William Shatner!

2011-03-22T13:24:00.003-05:00

Whether you loved him as Captain Kirk, T.J. Hooker or Denny Crane, one thing is clear: The Shat has staying power.

Today my favorite Trek actor turns 80 and in celebration I've stolen these 80 Reasons Why William Shatner Is Awesome from TrekMovie.com.

TrekMovie.com’s 80 reasons why William Shatner is awesome

80. Travelled by war canoe as a teenager from Canada to the United States

79. Sold kidney stone for charity

78. Co-wrote "Believe," a book about hypothetic match between Houdini vs. Arthur Conan Doyle

77. Drives race cars and motorcycles – inspiring viral dance video

76. Inducted Jerry Lawler into the Wrestling Hall of Fame

75. Was Ranger Bob on the Canadian version of The Howdy Doody Show

74. Swam with dolphins and a 50 foot whale shark

73. Rerecorded Star Trek ‘final frontier’ narration for Shuttle Discovery final wake up call

71. Favorite color: leaves changing

70. Played beauty pageant host in a movie, then in real life a year later

69. Has building named after him at Montreal’s McGill University

68. Led Canada’s 2010 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremonies

67. Reported seeing UFO in Mojave desert in 1967
(but later denied it)

66. Has great recipe for cappuccino muffins

65. Is friends with Henry Rollins pair did a duet "I can’t get behind that"

64. Punked an entire town

63. Was immortalized in Lego

62. Talked to Koko, the signing gorilla

61. In "Fight Club" when Brad Pitt asks Edward Norton what celeb he would fight, he replies "Shatner"

60. Did live TV in 50s

59. Breeds horses

58. Speaks French

57. Nominated for Emmy for playing character named "The Big Giant Head"

56. Can sell anything from Law Offices, to Bran Cereal, to Computers

55. Appeared as himself in cult hit "Free Enterprise"

54.Was portrayed by John Belushi…and many since

53. Has his own fan club and a podcast dedicated to him called "Look At His Butt!"

52. In 1962 worked with George Lucas, cameraman for "The Psalms" – later sang "My Way" to Lucas at AFI

51. On The Hollywood Walk of Fame and in the Broadcast & Cable Hall of Fame

50. Narrated the book of Exodus for CD

49. Made movie about God in 1989, appeared as Satan on Comedy Central in 2005, and as Santa Claus in 2009

48. Poked some fun at fans with famous SNL skit – later showed transformation and embrace of fandom in ironically titled memoire "Get a Life!"

47. Plays paintball

46. Had his own customized limited edition Heinz ketchup bottle

45. Competed in the "World Poker Tour"

44. King of 70s celebrity guest game shows

43. Started his own social networking site

42. Was guest photographer for Playboy

41. First film role, "Brothers Karamazov" 1958…with more to come still

40.Willing to laugh at himself

39. Knows how to handle a woman

38. Is active in environmentalism

37. Studied with Tyrone Guthrie, and won the Tyrone Guthrie Award

36. Starred in movie made entirely in Esperanto, "Incubus"

35. Name can easily be converted to adjective (Shatnerific, Shatastic, etc)

34. Has a degree in business

33. Was fired by a theater as business manager, then hired that same day as an actor

32. The Negotiator

31. Is Canadian

30. Is Jewish

29. Has his own talk show

28. Kingdom of the Spiders

27. Appeared on both "Circus of the Stars" and "Battle of the Network Stars"

26. Never appeared on either "Love Boat" or "Fantasy Island"

25. Brought Kirk back from the dead in his own "Shatnervese" books

24. Tek War

23. Friends with Leonard Nimoy for 45 years

22. Michael Meyer’s mask from "Halloween" movies based on Shatner/Kirk mask

21. Took the term "Has Been" and turned it into a hit album

20. Set the standard for cops jumping on car hoods (+ boats, buses, planes, etc)

19. Inspired art show

18. Inspired a ballet

17. Inspired song "If William Shatner Can, I Can Too"

16. Has over half million followers on Twitter, stars in sitcom inspired by Twitter, turned reading tweets into beat poetry

15. Appeared in 3 Broadway plays

14. Two words: Kirk-fu (or is that one word?)

13. Worked with role model, Spencer Tracy.

12. Did two great Twilight Zone episodes including Nightmare at 20,000 feet – later parodied with Miss Piggy

11. Won two Emmys, two Saturns, a Golden Globe…and a Razzie

10. Was the first TV interracial kisser (with Nichelle Nichols)

9. Nickname at Montreal West Hills High School: ‘Toughie’

8. Is an award-winning equestrian

7. Killed a 9 foot tall kodiak bear with bow and arrow on ABC "The
American Sportsman" – which he later regretted

6. Denny Crane!

5. Rocket Man

4. Starred in groundbreaking civil rights movie, "The Intruder" in in
1962

3. Raises money for children’s charities through annual horse show

2. KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN

1. At 80 he is still active and entertaining the world

Happy Birthday Mr. Shatner!

Remembering John Lennon

2010-12-08T09:41:00.002-06:00

I vividly remember as young boy when John Lennon was murdered and taken from us far too soon. My mother had grown up a Beatles fan as a high school and college student in the '60's and passed her love for their passionate music on to me and my sister. I had played Beatles LP's on our record player and while I didn't yet understand all I would come to grasp about their unique nature, I did grasp the tremendous loss the news conveyed.

Lennon's art was so timeless it simply is difficult for me to believe it has been thirty years.

Tony Curtis 1925 - 2010

2010-09-30T14:28:00.003-05:00

Esquire magazine has reposted their great "What I've Learned" interview with Tony Curtis. At his passing, this is a great read and a reminder of what a larger-than-life character he was. Check it out, it's worth your time.

My favorite, or at least cleanest, quote is below.

When I left the Navy, I used the GI Bill to get into the Dramatic Workshop, which was located at the President Theatre on Forty-eighth Street. Walter Matthau and Harry Belafonte were students there, too. We were all just trying to make it. Later on, I went out to California, and good things started happening for me. When I came back to New York to do a promotion for City Across the River, they gave me a suite at the Sherry-Netherland and a huge black limo. I took it around to show my buddies in the Bronx and then went by the Dramatic Workshop. It was a terrible, rainy afternoon, and who do I see out in front? Walter Matthau. He's got a long, heavy coat on with a Racing Form sticking out of the pocket, and he's looking down at the gutter. Here I am in this nice, warm limo. And there he is, this grumpy guy surrounded by a cold, miserable world. The look on his face says, "What's ever going to happen for me? Nothin'!" So I tell the driver to pull alongside him and stop. Now Walter's watching the limo. I roll the window down, look at him, and say, "I f***** Yvonne De Carlo!" Then I roll the window back up in a hurry and tell the driver to get the hell out of there.

No, no, no, he wasn't mad! For years, Walter loved to tell that story at parties. He'd make it last twenty minutes.

We'll Miss You Bob - We Really Will

2010-09-01T09:11:00.005-05:00

Admit it - you've made fun of Bob Barry's OU football broadcast.

No, it isn't nice and no, we shouldn't make fun of him, but we've all done it. Nothing can be more frustrating than a crucial play during a critical game and you're stuck in the car, for reasons passing understanding, and have to listen to the radio broadcast.

But now comes the news that this will be Bob's last season. Soon we won't hear his spotters clearly trying to correct him as he gives us the wrong player names. We won't hear him mix up the downs and we won't ever hear Merv Johnson utter his immortal line "He really did Bob, he really did" after some commentary from Bob.

Just the same, we also won't hear his unbridled enthusiasm. His excitement when we gain a big first down, make a huge completion or Stoops runs one of his trick plays. We'll never hear him fumble over calling the yardage and players and finally just yell "TOUCHDOWN OKLAHOMA!".

TV broadcasts are supposed to be neutral but home school radio is partisan. It has always been and it should always be. It's for the fans and we want someone who is pulling for our guys. Bob may not have been at his best over the last few years, and he has frustrated me on more than one occasion, but he's fun. He's real and he's ours.

Now Bob, heads off into Sooner lore as another of the many legend's we'll pass along to future fans. Thanks Bob for all you've done and the pure love of sports you have shared with generation after generation. We appreciate it and no matter the jokes, we will miss you.

Happy 80th Sean Connery

2010-08-25T22:38:00.003-05:00

My favorite James Bond, Sir Sean Connery, turns 80 today. He has taught many a man how to be cool, look good and act like a gentleman. For my money, nothing better than Goldfinger or From Russia With Love.

Sadly he chose his birthday to announce his complete retirement from on-screen roles. He leaves many remarkable films for us to remember him by, but it is sad to know there will never be another movie in which to see him.

The Piper Of D-Day

2010-08-22T15:22:00.003-05:00

If you are a fan of the WWII movie "The Longest Day" then you probably remember the soldier who plays the bagpipes as the beaches are stormed on D-Day. The man who's actions were immortalized in that film has passed away.

Bill Millin, a Scotsman serving with the 1st Commando Brigade, acted at the urging of his commander to violate rules against the playing of bagpipes in battle. He bravely piped songs such as "Highland Laddie" to motivate his comrades.

When asked later in life about his actions, he simply said "When you're young you do things you wouldn't dream of doing when you're older."

I hope both his iconic bravery and modesty will be remembered by us all for generations to come.

Illegal Immigration

2010-08-13T13:55:00.004-05:00

The Grassroots Origin of Grassroots

2010-08-05T10:25:00.004-05:00

From Garrison Keillor:

It was on this day 98 years ago that the word "grassroots" made its debut as a political term. On this day in 1912, Senator Albert Jeremiah Beveridge of Indiana was on stage at the Progressive Party Convention when he proclaimed: "This party has come from the grass roots. It has grown from the soil of people's hard necessities."

In the almost hundred years since, "grassroots" has become a popular buzzword and an influential campaign strategy. The word refers specifically, according to the OED, to the "rank and file of the electorate or of a political party." With grassroots campaigns, you often see people standing on street corners holding clipboards, collecting signatures for petitions, or setting up information tables on college campuses and neighborhood farmers' markets, or posting fliers around town, or holding political meetings at people's houses, sometimes potluck-style.

There's now even a term for faking a grassroots movement: It's called "astroturfing," after that artificial grass found at sports stadiums. It's when powerful lobbyists masquerade as individual citizens, using the tactics of grassroots campaigns, but hiding their affiliation or real agenda. The term was coined by U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen, after he got a bunch of letters in the mail from concerned citizens urging him to promote the interests of the insurance industry.

Independence Day - Not "the fourth"

2010-07-02T09:16:00.004-05:00

This weekend is American Independence Day. As always, I'm a bit on my soapbox about people who reduce the importance of the holiday by referring to it as "the fourth" or just "July 4th". Many of these same people would be offended if we called Christmas "the 25th" or even their birthday by it's date.

We are a proud country, and even with the inevitable mistakes in our past, we have done great things as a people. We should celebrate the birth of our democracy and remember this as the beginning of our Independence and the beacon of freedom the United States became.

A Nation’s Strength

by Ralph Waldo Emerson (1904)

What makes a nation’s pillars high
And its foundations strong?
What makes it mighty to defy
The foes that round it throng?

It is not gold. Its kingdoms grand
Go down in battle shock;
Its shafts are laid on sinking sand,
Not on abiding rock.

Is it the sword? Ask the red dust
Of empires passed away;
The blood has turned their stones to rust,
Their glory to decay.

And is it pride? Ah, that bright crown
Has seemed to nations sweet;
But God has struck its luster down
In ashes at his feet.

Not gold but only men can make
A people great and strong;
Men who for truth and honor’s sake
Stand fast and suffer long.

Brave men who work while others sleep,
Who dare while others fly...
They build a nation’s pillars deep
And lift them to the sky.

D-Day June 6, 1944

2010-06-06T07:14:00.005-05:00

The photo of the cemetery in Normandy shows just some of those who gave their lives in order to pass freedom on to future generations. They were part of Operation OVERLORD, known to us today as D-Day, and began the end of the Nazi war machine.

In our busy lives, we should give a brief thanks for those who served in war so we might not have to do so.

Happy Geek Pride Day 2010

2010-05-25T17:46:00.004-05:00

Internationally today is the day in which we celebrate geeks, myself included. If you weren't aware, May 25th is the day on which Star Wars was first released in 1977. Not that today is only Star Wars themed mind you, but all things geek.

You can read more about the day over at the nerdage blog and learn about the history and how today is also sci-fi themed "Towel Day" for the Douglas Adams fans out there.

So, today thank a geek, dork or nerd who has used their purchasing power to keep great geek movies and TV shows coming over the years!

Risk is our business...

2010-05-06T21:17:00.001-05:00

To Risk

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out is to risk involvement,
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your ideas and
dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return,
To live is to risk dying,
To hope is to risk despair,
To try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken because
the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing, does nothing,
has nothing, is nothing.

– William Arthur Ward (1921-1994)

Happy Earth Day

2010-04-22T09:56:00.004-05:00

You can't see it from this angle, but the "mankind" t-shirt actually says "Inhofe for Senate" on the back.

Wilma Mankiller 1945 - 2010

2010-04-06T13:03:00.003-05:00

I really can't say much, other than she was perhaps the greatest and most inspirational Oklahoman I ever knew.

Date A Nerd

2010-03-27T08:42:00.003-05:00

Advice to Sandra Bullock: Date a Nerd

By Tony Panaccio

First of all, can anyone say they were that darn surprised?

Sandra Bullock, America’s sweetheart, Oscar© winner, Razzie winner and still the best darn bus driver that the movies has ever seen (anyone remember Speed?) marries a biker. Who makes Bikes. In a bike shop. Stars in a TV show with other bikers making bikes for rich bikers. Is named Jesse James, one of history’s most notorious outlaws. This guy was the poster child for bad boys. OF COURSE he was going to cheat on her. His cheating on her was better odds than Bill Clinton having a heart attack on intern orientation day.

And Sandra, come on. Did you REALLY think the biker bad boy with the outlaw name was going to stay home, read comic books, play video games and eat French Bread Pizzas for months at a time while you were filming movies? That’s like expecting Donald Trump to forego the combover and shave his head (which might not be a bad look for him, really… okay, not so much).

But don’t feel bad. You’re not alone. Smart, beautiful, successful women from all over the world love the bad boys, and invariably wind up getting screwed over by them. I’m sure there’s a Facebook group for them. I think they made T-shirts. But the truth is, you have GOT to break the cycle. It’s time for you, and frankly all the other successful women nursing shattered dignity and wounded pride at the hands of a rock star or reality TV star, to see the light and change your life for the better.

It’s time for you to date a nerd.

Nerds, by and large, are rich, stable, loving and would be so knocked out to date a smart, beautiful, successful hottie, that they’d be utterly and irrevocably devoted to you. They’d cook, clean and do laundry for you. They’re good with electronics and computers, so you’d never have to worry about your computer crashing. Chances are they’d hack you free Internet service, anyway.

They’d pledge their lives, bank accounts and comic book collections to you. And the fact is, many of them aren’t just rich, they’re famous. Renown and unrepentant comic book and video game geeks include Keanu Reeves (Remember him? Tall guy, had the sense not to be in Speed 2?), Will Smith, Samuel L. Jackson, Mark Hamill, Star Trek director J.J. Abrams, Jon Favreau, Saturday Night Live’s Bill Hader, Jerry Seinfeld and Nicolas Cage (who sold his comic book collection to satisfy Lisa Marie Presley when he was married to her!).

Now, you may have to put up with a pantry full of Twinkies and Doritos, comic books on the floor, and every so often in bed they might cry out “It’s Clobberin’ Time!” or “Flame on!” or “Excelsior!”

I figure it’s a small price to pay for a guy who isn’t going to cheat on you with the nearest tattooed circus freak the second you go off to win an Oscar.

(Tony Panaccio, Senior Campaign Strategist for EMSI Public Relations, is a 25-year veteran writer, marketer and producer in the entertainment industry, having worked with luminaries such as William Shatner, Stan Lee and Michael Uslan. He has been a journalist and a senior executive with several of the world’s largest PR firms.)

A Healthy Celebration

2010-03-13T15:45:00.002-06:00

For those of you celebrating St. Patrick's Day today, just a reminder to be good to yourself - drink Guinness and be healthy!

Risking Everything To Vote

2010-03-07T08:21:00.002-06:00

Imagine risking it all to vote.

I don't mean figuratively nor am I speaking metaphorically. In Iraq, at least 25 people have died this weekend just attempting to vote in their national election.

And they kept coming after the attacks.

The violence and acts of cowardly terrorism didn't halt men and women from leaving their homes and risking their lives in order to participate in Democracy. Some had to walk because of a ban on cars, yet still they came. Polling places were blown up, mortars fired and still they came to vote.

Sahib Jabr, a 34 year old taxi driver, said defiantly "We came to participate in this National Day
and we don't care about the explosions."

Kind of makes it sound silly when you hear people say they "didn't have the time to vote" doesn't it?

Happy Birthday Pete

2009-11-29T16:10:00.004-06:00

I want to wish my friend Pete Liesenfeld a Happy 34th Birthday. I'll share in his embarrassment with the photo above from back in 1992 when we were both in the Norman High School Band. All these years later he still puts up with me...

Happy Birthday Mom!

2009-11-25T14:11:00.005-06:00

I'm smart enough not to mention her age, but I do want to wish her a Happy Birthday today. The picture above is from her birthday party last year at Blu in Norman.

October 2nd

2009-10-02T15:43:00.013-05:00

The date October 2nd might not mean much to you, but it matters a great deal to me. You see, it's my birthday.

But you're asking yourself "Why does he have a picture of Gandhi with this post?" Simple - it's his birthday, too.

Lots of other famous people actually. Some well known in modern culture such as Sting (born Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner) or Kelly Ripa (who is older than me born in 1970 though she looks much better). Yet other celebrities like Groucho Marx (of the Brothers), Don McLean (American Pie) and Bud Abbott (and Costello) were also delivered on the 2nd.

If you're a Star Trek fan - and make no doubt I am - both Avery Brooks (Captain Sisko on Deep Space Nine) and Persis Khambatta (Ilia from The Motion Picture) share my birthday.

Significant to history both Cordell Hull (American Secretary of State and Nobel Peace Prize recipient) and Richard III (King of England and of Shakespeare fame) came into the world this day.

The more literate might be interested to know Graham Green (author of books including The Quiet American) and Wallace Stevens (American poet) also celebrated 10/2 as a birthday.

A few significant events occurred on the 275th day of the year, unless it was a leap year when it would have been the 276th day.

The Texas revolution began in 1835 which was notable because they lost their first battle. In 1789 George Washington sent a list of proposed amendments for the new American constitution to the states for ratification. These you will remember as the Bill of Rights.

For Charlie Brown fans this day is remembered for the first publication of Charles Shultz's Peanuts comic strip in 1950. Just a few years later we first were invited to travel into The Twilight Zone which premiered on this day in 1959.

One of my personal heroes, Thurgood Marshall, was sworn in as the first African American Supreme Court justice on an October Thursday in 1967. Another great American, President Woodrow Wilson, suffered a debilitating stroke on the second day of the month in 1924.

Perhaps this doesn't interest anyone or maybe you find it amusing I would ramble on with such. It does interest me and has shaped my world. Rather than simply looking at this day as a party, I've spent a good part of my life learning a little bit about people born on the same day or historical occurrences. Why else would I know Vasily Shukshin died on the very same day I was born? Or that he was on the Volga river filming the Russian epic They Fought For Their Motherland?

It is all a little bit of me and now you know some of it as well.

Shirley Phelps-Roper Is Not A Sooner

2009-09-19T10:30:00.002-05:00

Racism is dead? Hate doesn't exist?

Members of the Westboro Baptist Church brought both to Norman on Friday as they protested the beginning of a Jewish holiday. The University of Oklahoma's Hillel Foundation, and their Jewish membership, were celebrating one of the holiest of days in the Jewish calendar, Rosh Hashanah.

Yet the Topeka-based church members chose to come Oklahoma and protest with signs such as "God Hates Israel" and "Fag University". They sang their own rendition of "Hey Jude" retitled "Hey Jew".

Here's my point: The leader of the Westboro Baptists, a woman named Shirley Phelps-Roper, was reported to have worn a University of Oklahoma ball cap. The same cap and logo we all so proudly don for sporting events and to show our passion for our University.

What Ms. Phelps-Roper doesn't understand is at OU we don't hate. We aren't racists. We aren't homophobic. At OU we don't discriminate and we don't uphold intolerance. We respect all religions and we have no place for her and her band of protesters.

In short, Shirley Phelps-Roper isn't a Sooner.

I'm proud of the members of Hillel who didn't respond, and instead went on with their day. I'm just as proud of the University students and Norman citizens who counter-protested. I'm not often the kind of guy who thinks protesting does a lot of good, but this is one of those times. No reporter could simply say the Westboro Baptist hate group came to town, but had to also report the people of Norman and OU showed up to say they didn't agree.

I'm sad to say hate and and intolerance live on, but that isn't what we Sooners believe.

Saturdays Have Meaning Again

2009-09-05T15:35:00.005-05:00

College Football season has begun once again - Sooner Football in particular.

Good games, bad games and even games between two teams about which I don't care. At least it is my favorite sport. I just have to watch all I can between now and January.

I should also mention my favorite place to read about OU - SoonerGuys.com. Check it out, great site. Run by some pretty good guys too.

Edward Kennedy 1932 - 2009

2009-08-26T09:51:00.005-05:00

Senator Edward Kennedy was, without question, an institution himself.

Though the Senate existed before him, and will go on without him, it won't be the same. The voice and passion he lent to an issue will not easily be replaced. Nor will his extraordinary ability to work in the Senate to accomplish so much no matter which party was in the majority.

In 2001 I went to work on the Hill in Washington, DC and few events had a greater impact upon me than the first time I actually saw Senator Kennedy in person. It was just in passing, walking down a corridor, but it was seeing a legend in person.

The way many felt about being near Joe DiMaggio or Elvis Presley, this was how I felt. A man who was larger than life and whom I had grown up listening to, as had so many before me.

His legacy was one I loved and for which I had an undying respect. It was, more than anything else, a literal lifetime spent in the US Senate. Crafting the actual mechanics of our country and toiling in the trenches of democracy. He understood the difference he could make there and the lasting change he could offer.

He fought for fairness and equality. For working men and women and for those who had no voice in the great marble Capitol. His unyielding dedication was an inspiration to me as a young boy, as a naive staffer and is still today.

"I seen Red Dawn"

2009-08-17T12:06:00.003-05:00

I have good news for all you 80's action movie fans - Red Dawn is being remade! Yes, the Patrick Swayze cult-classic will be retold with a new cast and improved special effects.

For those of you who aren't fortunate enough to have seen this movie, it tells the tale of a band of rural teenagers who repel invading Soviet forces. Trust me, in 1984 my friends and I had planned how we would protect our neighborhood when the "commies" came!

I'm not sure how this will play with the youth twenty five years later, but you can bet I'll be there when it debuts.

(As for the title of the post, it refers to a classic line heard on the campaign trail when discussing the Second Amendment.)

Southern Fried Hypocrisy?

2009-07-29T16:13:00.004-05:00

I guess after a scandal, you want to get back in the game at some point, right? After the trouble passes it's time to go back to work and do your job.

For Louisiana Senator David Vitter, who it turns out had some fun with prostitutes, this means representing his constituents and voting in the US Senate. Of course he would take a position on issues relating to the country and his home state, that is only to be expected since he has chosen not to resign his seat.

Yet he chooses to enter the fray like this? He's going after Ohio Senator George Voinovich who yesterday claimed the GOP has been hijacked by the South. OK, even this isn't too bad.

Except Vitter chose to attack him on VALUES!

He actually said "I'm on the side of conservatives getting back to core conservative values." To what values, I wonder, is he referring?

Senator Voinovich, who Vitter referred to as "a moderate, really wishy-washy" is retiring after a distinguished career of public service. Not that I've always agreed with him, but at least he didn't bring public shame to his state. Vitter though seems determined to press on and even claimed "there are a lot of us from the South who hold those values".

I suppose if you're flawed enough to abandon your marriage vows with hookers, you have to truly embrace hypocrisy at a level I just don't understand.

Rush Thinks Doctors Do It For Money

2009-07-28T13:12:00.003-05:00

Today I heard Rush Limbaugh discussing health care reform on his radio show. In particular, he claimed if the system were reformed, physicians would earn less. This, in turn, would mean fewer talented people entering medical school.

Now, I like to believe most men and women who enter medicine as a profession do so because of a desire to help people. I don’t think they do it just to get rich.

I know it is a rigorous process getting through school and a residency, but there is some financial reward for the years of work and huge student loans necessary for many. I think we all want our doctors to be smart, so it should be tough.

Sure, there are a few jerks out there. However, most of the doctors I've encountered have been kind and caring men and women who care a great deal about their patients.

I guess Rush just doesn’t have as much faith in people.

Happy Independence Day

2009-07-04T16:30:00.002-05:00

My favorite holiday of the year. Not due to the weather, the lake, cookouts or fireworks. Just because it is nice to remember why I live in the greatest country in the world and be thankful for the revolutionaries who started it all.

A Classy New Senator

2009-07-02T09:27:00.002-05:00

Say what you will about Senator-elect Al Franken, and you can say a lot, but he handled his first "controversy" this week and it was fun to watch.

It seems Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe, in his gentle and charming way, referred to him as a "clown".

Signaling he could be a dignified addition to the Senate, Mr. Franken said "I don't know how Senator Inhofe regards clowns, but it might be an incredible compliment."

Class act indeed.

Stonewall - Forty Years Later

2009-06-28T15:18:00.004-05:00

Mostly missing from the news in the state of Oklahoma is the anniversary of the police raid on the Stonewall Inn on June 28, 1969. This isn't unlike the lack of coverage which occurred in 1969, but surely we've become a more enlightened society since then, right?

Not just yet.

Homosexual men and women, those whom Baltimore Sun columnist Tim Smith refers to as "people who go to work, pay taxes, take deep delight in family and friends, treat animals with affection, keep a neat yard, watch old movies" are still treated as second-class citizens by the laws of this country.

The attacks continue from the self-proclaimed moral right and the lunatic fringe. Elected officials such as Oklahoma Representative Sally Kern base entire careers on such bigotry. Fortunately for them, the leaders of their movement are living lives of chaste decency. You know, Senator John Ensign or Governor Mark Sanford.

Still, I have hope. I meet more and more young people who, like me, feel rights denied to anyone are rights denied to everyone. Just because I'm not gay doesn't mean this isn't my fight too. It is a battle of education and exposure of people to ideas. I believe a people who love individual freedom will naturally come around to the principles of equality.

Let's just hope it doesn't take another forty years.

Goodbye To The Little Red Schoolhouse

2009-06-23T09:40:00.005-05:00

If you haven't been to Washington, DC in the last few years, you might not have seen this "landmark". Even if you have been, it isn't usually on the regular tour. Yet people always ask when traveling between the Washington Monument and the Capitol why this red facade is in front of the Department of Education.

I know, it looks like something from a bad state fair.

This has been the front of the building for several years now, placed there when No Child Left Behind legislation was passed in the first term of President George W. Bush.

Now, we can have a rational and serious policy discussion on the merits of the law. I, for one, can find both good and bad in the changes made. However, no matter which side you fall on the controversial education law, this attempt at message control has to make you laugh.

When it first went up many people assumed it was temporary. Lots of message "props" are created for just this reason. I was living in DC then and each time I drove past it I just knew it was coming down soon.

How wrong I was.

As the years passed the structure became a joke. Teachers across the country began to ridicule the "Little Red Schoolhouse". It came to stand for everything the opponents of the education reform policy distrusted in government.

Now, it has seen it's last day. President Obama's administration officials have announced it is coming down. Perhaps it can be reused. Surely there is a state fair going on somewhere...

Happy Father's Day

2009-06-22T10:54:00.003-05:00

I'm a little late posting this, but still wanted to wish my Dad a Happy Father's Day. We had a pretty low-key celebration. We got him a dvd player - his request - as he is now on Netflix. Does it all himself. The man emails, reads more news than me and shops online - all at 76! Next up, facebook...

Happy 50th Ben Odom!

2009-06-13T15:00:00.001-05:00

I want to wish my good friend, Ben Odom, a happy 50th birthday! I met Ben seventeen years ago at Boys State where he was one of the instructors and I was but a young delegate. He may have wished it didn't happen, but I'm sure glad to have had him as a friend, counselor and mentor all these years.

Here's to many more Ben!

Taylor Made For Tulsa

2009-06-08T14:37:00.004-05:00

Last week, in a move that shocked most Tulsa residents, Mayor Kathy Taylor announced she wasn't running for re-election in T-town. I have to admit I was caught off guard as well. Especially as I had attended her campaign kickoff event just four months ago.

Not to offer too strong an opinion, but this is bad news for Tulsa. It could possibly be a return to the days of no momentum and bitter partisanship that gripped the town for almost two decades.

The entire state watched during this period as Oklahoma City moved forward in a progressive manner and did so with bi-partisan if not non-partisan support. In that same time frame Tulsa literally began to fall apart. Good ideas were shot down for entirely personal and partisan reasons and the whole community suffered.

Mayor Taylor said last week she was dropping out of the race for just this reason, to take politics off the table. I'm not certain if her lack of candidacy will help or not. There are some in Tulsa who just don't want to play nice in the sand box and it prevents progress from occurring.

At least the Mayor will have some bold accomplishments of which she can be proud. The city streets program and the remarkable BOK center are just a couple that come to mind.

It is a shame that Tulsans will lose this gifted public servant who honestly ran for all the right reasons. Maybe a loss for all Oklahomans too.

How Much Does Freedom Cost?

2009-06-06T15:36:00.002-05:00

Remember D-Day

June 6, 1944

Kim Henry To Lead Sarkeys Foundation

2009-06-04T11:19:00.003-05:00

Most of the Oklahoma political world has been wondering what Governor Brad Henry's next move would be after he leaves office. Speculation began almost as soon as he won re-election in November of 2006. Turns out, everyone was looking in the wrong direction!

It was announced yesterday First Lady Kim Henry will be taking over the Sarkeys Foundation as the new Executive Director. I've long been a big fan of Mrs. Henry and have said on more than one occasion she is my favorite part of the Henry administration!

Sarkeys is a great organization that fills a critical role in our community. Her addition is a great benefit to the both the foundation and our state. I certainly wish her the best of luck.

Happy Mother's Day

2009-05-10T09:55:00.003-05:00

This is me and my mom on the way to, wait for it, a political event! Way back in the 1980's. She looks great then and still does.

Love you mom.

April 19, 2009 - 14 Years Later

2009-04-19T09:19:00.001-05:00

Texas - It's Like A Whole Other Country

2009-04-18T09:29:00.005-05:00

So it seems Texas Governor Rick Perry thinks he's making a pretty serious threat about Texas leaving the United States. Well, I for one think it isn't a bad idea.

First of all, we're in a recession, and this could create jobs. Think of all the new 49 star flags that would have to be made and the new maps printed. This is an economic stimulus plan in action.

Also, all of those annoying Texans might take on a new image in our minds. They will be residents of a foreign country and somehow more alluring because of it. No longer just rednecks, we can say it's part of the culture of that country.

For those so concerned about illegal immigration, now we can pass this problem on to another country. Texas will have to handle the border security issues and quit looking to our federal government for help. I can think of more than a few "good 'ol boys" who would happily guard the Oklahoma side of the Red River to keep foreigners out - and by that I mean Texans.

Then there is the football angle. No longer does Mack Brown have to anoint himself as the Big 12 South Victor, now he can play for a national title in Texas. Imagine how happy Texans would be to know that the winner of the Texas-Texas Tech game would be the the national champion?

And of course, there's poor old Rick Perry. As the protege of former President George Bush, he's watched his political stock fall faster than GM. The once shining star of GOP politics now faces a primary challenge just to keep his current job. But wait! If Texas secedes he could be President and achieve his goal after all.

All and all, I'm for it. So long Texas - Happy Trails to you!

Protecting The Children

2009-04-15T20:48:00.007-05:00

April is national Child Abuse Prevention month. You wouldn't know it from all the news being generated about taxes, tea parties and grumbling about the government.

Yet some people took notice at the state Capitol and attempted to draw the attention of the elected officials there. They placed flags there to note the number of children who died as a result of abuse. In our state alone, 32 children died from this horrific crime last year.

One elected official, Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater, was there to take a stand and he called upon our legislators to keep funding programs that help prevent child abuse:

"They want to be tough on crime, but the harm has been done if we’re prosecuting someone. We cannot incarcerate this crime away.”
Of all the places to cut the budget, why would this be one? What crime is more insidious than the harm done to a defenseless child? Yet cuts in this area are under consideration by the legislature.

Experts who study the trends tell us that instances of child abuse increase when the economy falters, as it is now. This is a place government can do good and has a responsibility.

So while so many spent this week worrying about government that is too big or a tax burden that is too great, perhaps we should pay attention to a more significant issue. We should discuss it now before we read about the death of another child.

I ask of each chest-thumping politician who attended an anti-tax rally, or took the time to speak out against them, what did you do for those who can't protect themselves? For the defenseless children in our state who are being hurt? Did you do something to protect them, with the same fervor you showed for other issues? If so, then you've done your job and while there may be no press coverage, you've earned a special place in heaven.

If not, if you worked to leap in front of a camera or get ink without helping these children who will be hurt, how do you sleep at night?

Ward Meeting Next Week

2009-04-13T15:12:00.002-05:00

Norman City Council members Bob Thompson and Tom Kovach, who represent Wards One and Two respectively, are holding a joint Ward Meeting next week. They will be discussing Norman Regional Hospital, the Neighborhood Watch Program, the development of voluntary neighborhood associations, the proposed Stormwater Master Plan, and new ethics policies for municipal boards and commissions. The event details are:

Wards One and Two Meeting

Monday April 2oth

6:00pm

City of Norman Council Chambers

201 West Gray Street

I plan to attend and hope lots of other interested Norman residents do as well.

Happy Easter

2009-04-12T17:05:00.002-05:00

Turkey Season

2009-04-11T10:57:00.003-05:00

Don't worry though, the turkey are safe from me. My friend Ben Odom (pictured above) and I made a quick trip down to God's Country Thursday and Friday to hunt. The cold and wind must have kept them home though, because we didn't hear or see any, even in the usual places.

For those of you wondering, God's Country is Southwest Oklahoma and Kiowa County in particular. The area my family is from and some of the most beautiful landscape in our state.

Oklahoma City - True West

2009-04-08T13:40:00.007-05:00

Last weekend, thanks to my sister, I had the fortunate opportunity to see Sam Shepard's True West performed live in Oklahoma City. The local Actors Warehouse Studio staged the performance and the cast was outstanding.

If you haven't seen or read True West, and I hadn't, it is both painful drama and painful comedy. I don't say such disparagingly, rather that it makes you laugh in a dark way and touches on the rather remote parts of your emotions too.

Jon Haque and Barrett Davidson, in the two lead roles, were simply amazing. The play demands an exciting level of physical acting and they delivered without hesitation. I can say, having watched from the front row, I don't know how they could possibly have done another performance the next day. I was tired just having watched them.

It's also fair to state, and if your familiar with the play you'll understand this, I'm not having toast for some time.

I'm glad to have found a new venue to watch live performance at Actors Warehouse Studio. If you haven't been, make certain to follow their upcoming calendar to check out this gem in Oklahoma City.

General Motors Chief Steps Down

2009-03-30T15:03:00.005-05:00

In attempting to stay within my own guidelines for this blog, I want to consider the resignation of GM CEO Rick Wagoner. It is far too easy to just take one side or another on this subject: "He needed to go" or "It's none of the Government's business".

Of course, this has implications in my own world. Under his leadership the General Motors plant in Oklahoma City was closed and had a large impact felt by many in the state of Oklahoma. I personally had a number of friends and acquaintances who were affected by the loss of jobs or were forced to move.

That is a good place to begin I suppose, with Mr. Wagoner's many changes in the company structure. For almost 15 years he was at the helm of America's largest automotive corporation. During his tenure the value of GM stock has collapsed and it's share of the US auto market has fallen from 33% to just 18%. The company was restructured three times during this period, leading to the elimination of numerous manufacturing plants and the loss of thousands of jobs.

So one can see where it makes sense to go after Mr. Wagoner. He led a failing company and never turned around a slide that had gone on for decades. If the US taxpayer is going to invest in bailing out the automotive industry, certainly a wise move would be to have better executives at the helm, right?

Perhaps not. While I don't intend to defend Mr. Wagoner's years leading GM, what occurred might not be all his fault. While so many cable television pundits are making a great deal of noise about what all he did wrong, he wasn't the only executive to lead a car company that saw sales slip and it's position in the US market fall. His time running GM coincides with the increase in popularity of foreign, and less expensively produced, cars and trucks. It is, in fact, Toyota that replaced GM as the globe's best selling automotive company.

One journalist, Micheline Maynard, pointed out that Mr. Wagoner spent his entire career at GM, starting there right out of Harvard in 1977. Also noting that his background was in the finance side of the industry, never sales or any other revenue generating department.

So perhaps it is that Rick Wagoner was never a good choice to run GM? Or was it that such a behemoth was bound to fail as the industry changed and foreign competition increased? Should we look at the quality of products offered by the differing companies? Though a sensitive subject, how do American auto companies compete while providing union members benefits and livable wages? Will the introduction of more fuel efficient cars and trucks help save GM and others, or is it too late?

These are all issues that need to be considered if the American automotive industry is going to survive. Normally left to poorly attended panel discussions between economists, this now springs to the forefront as the government is forced to invest in the future of these companies. Just the same, it is important that we all react with initiatives based on sound economic study. Leaping to conclusions and taking actions that simply feel good may leave us wanting not that far down the road.

Mayor Kathy Taylor Friendraiser

2009-02-11T15:11:00.004-06:00

I ran up the turnpike last night to attend Mayor Kathy Taylor's campaign kickoff event. Wow! Was it worth the drive. Hundreds of people in attendance and all excited about the direction Tulsa is headed.

The Mayor gave a brief speech, but mostly took time to visit with everyone who wanted to chat with her during the evening. It was just another example of why she's been such a strong leader for that great city and why Tulsans would be wise to keep her on the job this November.

It was also fun to see so many friends and catch up on what is going on in Green Country and the 918.

If you haven't had a chance, check out the Taylor campaign site at taylorfortulsa.com and do all you can to help the campaign.

Thee and Thou

2009-02-09T15:05:00.004-06:00

Having a drink at the Lobby Bar in Oklahoma City the other night, our group was joined (having been evicted from his own table...) by a delightful fellow by the name of Jon Haque. He claimed to be an actor and after much lively conversation, invited us to attend a play in which he was currently performing entitled Thee and Thou.

I enjoy the theatre, though I truly don't attend often enough, and I do believe that even a bad play is often better than any sitcom. Fortunately, this was a great production. Several of the cast members were truly talented and brilliantly entertaining. This is not a review, and I am certainly not qualified, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Jon in particular had us laughing to the point of tears.

The play is a Shakespearean farce, set at the Globe Theatre in 1599. Interestingly enough it is written by an Oklahoman, Bret Jones, who has penned a hilarious work. Unfortunately, the show's run has ended at the Jewel Box Theatre, but if you ever have the opportunity to see a performance, leap at the chance.

The Legislature is back...

2009-02-02T12:03:00.002-06:00

Of course, this event makes the hearts of political junkies, capitol reporters and editorial writers flutter a bit. It is never boring when the Oklahoma Legislature is in session, and with the new Republican majorities in control, it should prove to be especially interesting.

There is much work to be done by these public servants. While the economy in our state remains stronger than that of many others, it is still failing. Finding ways to keep government working, without harming those who most depend on it, will be difficult. Students, the elderly and those who can't care for themselves must not be harmed at the expense of scoring political points - by either political party.

And, in the end, after four months of committee battles, floor fights and palace intrigue, the best that might be accomplished is having done no harm and heading back home. Worse than that is the likely scenario that next year, it will be even worse.

John Updike 1932-2009

2009-01-31T12:04:00.003-06:00

Requiem

It came to me the other day:

Were I to die, no one would say,

'Oh, what a shame! So young, so full

Of promise - depths unplumbable!

Instead, a shrug and tearless eyes

Will great my overdue demise;

The wide response will be, I know

'I thought he died a while ago.'

For life's a shabby subterfuge,

And death is real, and dark, and huge.

The shock of it will register

Nowhere but where it will occur.

- John Updike

From the forthcoming collection "Endpoint"

Happy Thanksgiving

2008-11-26T13:00:00.003-06:00

"I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.

And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union."

- Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation October 3, 1863

Thanksgiving Day has always been one of my favorite holidays of the year. My memories as a young boy of travelling to Southwest Oklahoma to see family at my grandmother's home are fond ones. As the next to youngest of the more than thirty immediate members of the family, I was always chosen to assist in the cooking of the meal. I'm not certain if that occurred because I was talented or because my usual sleeping location was on a roll away cot just outside of the kitchen. Yet even today I look forward to spending hours toiling in the kitchen.

This is certainly a historical Thanksgiving for us all. With men and women of the Armed Forces and Foreign Service in Iraq and Afghanistan and the economy in such poor shape, it would be easy for us to dwell on what is bad. Yet we are fortunate that so many are willing to sacrifice on our behalf and to live in such a time with so many opportunities to make a real difference.

In particular I know that I'm truly blessed. I'm thankful to live in a country and state where we can experience a distinct change in government that occurs peacefully. I'm especially thankful to have my close friend Marc Young back safely from Iraq. I'm thankful for my health and that I'm imbued with the will to keep building a brighter future for this state and the optimism to always see a new way. To my friends and family who put up with me, I'm deeply grateful to have you in my life and I know you all enrich each day for me.

May God bless you and provide for you as He has for me.

65-21

2008-11-23T12:03:00.003-06:00

What a game. I had cautiously said to friends and family that I thought we could maybe win this game - perhaps the biggest home game I've ever attended. After all, Mike Leach is one of the brightest coaches in college football and he had coached here before. He knew what to expect and how to prepare his team for what was coming.

Yet I was surprised, right from the beginning. The fans were more excited and more a part of this game than ever before. Lots of times fans will "make some noise" on a 3rd down, but after the opponents convert, many people sit down and quiet down. Not this time. The Memorial Stadium was as loud even after Tech would convert, or make a catch. I watched old men dance - dance - when House of Pain's "Jump Around" was played over the sound system. You could feel the enthusiasm flowing from the OU sidelines. The Pride and student section produced as much volume as the entire stadium on an average game.

The team didn't disappoint. Sam Bradford was as good as you could ever ask from any quarterback. The Defense looked as if they had read Tech's game plans - sacking Tech's Graham Harrell four times and twice in a row. After the game the team went to the middle of the field, then came to the sidelines to thank fans. Coach Stoops hung around and the crowd actually stopped leaving to applaud and cheer. In a move that shows what a class act Bob Stoops is, he actually tipped his visor to the fans, then bowed to them. He knew that he is loved, and that the fans has heard his call earlier in the week to help out.

It being an election year, I have been too busy to attend any other home games, so this was the only one I made it to - and what a game to see.* Years from now, those fans who were there will hold this game aloft as one of the greatest home games they ever watched, and recall how they were actually a part of the game, part of the defensive scheme that rattled a top-notch Texas Tech team and an outstanding quarterback from Lubbock. It was Sooner Magic in action and Sooner Legend in the making.

* Thanks to Jim and Pat Thompson who generously gave me the chance to go as a birthday present. Of course, I picked this game back in August as it was the only home game after the election, so it was especially nice as it became the biggest home game of the year.

Oklahoma City Councilman Mark Schwartz

2008-11-13T14:35:00.003-06:00

Former Oklahoma City Councilman Mark Schwartz has passed away. A true leader in Oklahoma City, and later an official at the U.S. Department of Energy, he will be missed.

I was fortunate in getting to know Mark a bit during my time in Washington, D.C. where he was a great help to a displaced Okie. He was also loyal supporter during a couple of tough campaigns and did so because he truly wanted Oklahoma to have a bright future.

Tire Gauge Politics

2008-08-06T10:09:00.002-05:00

Maybe you've missed the recent flap in the Presidential campaign over Senator Obama's recommending people properly inflate their tires to be safer and save fuel. If so, count yourself lucky.

Here it is in a nutshell: Senator Obama, as part of a week long push to promote his energy package (which is lacking by the way), mentioned that people should check the pressure in their tires to be safe and because it promotes fuel efficiency. Simple, right?

Wrong.

The McCain campaign, as if they had nothing else to talk about, have latched on to it as if it were Ford's slip up in '76. They have had surrogate speakers out attacking him (most notably Governor Tim Pawlenty, auditioning for the role of attack-dog Vice President), have issued statements and press releases constantly and even have tire gauges printed to hand out to donors and members of the press.

There are two problems with this strategy. First of all, Senator Obama is right, as anyone who took a driver safety course knows, or is a NASCAR fan. At the risk of sounding imperious, I will avoid making any jokes about Senator McCain here.

The bigger problem is what this type of thing does to the entire process. If you ever wonder why more people don't vote, or won't take you seriously as a candidate or even an elected official, it is this behavior. Senator McCain, the "maverick" of the U.S. Senate, was thought to be the kind of candidate who would avoid the political posturing. Who would talk about issues, whether it meant winning or loosing. I mean, his bus is the "Straight Talk Express" - is this what "straight talk" has become?

I'm not saying he won't win, because you can certainly win the race doing just this. My point is if in this election we have a chance to move the country forward, or stagnate, it seems this kind of campaigning certainly falls towards the latter. If you want people to listen again, and believe again you have to first give them something worth listening to and believing in. Tire gauge politics just won't cut it.

What If You Held An Election - And No One Cared?

2008-07-31T08:34:00.002-05:00

I'm still working on my own breakdown of Tuesday's Primary Election and will have it posted soon. Until then, consider that less than 18% of the registered voters actually came out and voted in that race according to news stories. What's worse, with only 352,000 people voting, it means less than 10% of the state's actual population voted.

There are lots of theories going around as to why. My own? Very few exciting races were on the ballot. People can say that local races drive turnout, and that is true to some extent, but it is the high-visibility campaigns that get people fired up. There were really none of those on the ballot, especially on the Democratic side, leaving lots of people less than interested.

Is that a good reason not to vote? Of course not. But it is where we stand with most Oklahomans too apathetic to show up. I guess some of them might be offended that I called them that, but my guess is they just won't care.

Tom Coburn: Dr. No or Senate Savior?

2008-07-29T08:36:00.004-05:00

Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn, M.D. is making the news in his usual way - by voting "no". This time, however, he is joined by forty of his senate colleagues in blocking the attempts of Senator Harry Ried to move his new "Omnibus" bill forward.

For those of you not following this daily drama over the last three and a half years, Senator Coburn has used a senate rule to put a "hold" on bills he doesn't like or agree with. This allows even one senator to keep practically any bill from moving forward, unless at least 60 of his or her fellow senators will vote to move it forward.

This comes as no surprise to me, or most Oklahomans, having become very familiar with then-Congressman Coburn's similar beliefs when he was in the U.S. House. Whatever you you say about him, and you can say a lot, the man is consistent in his actions to change how government works.

That is why I don't understand how Senator Reid, and the entire Democratic Caucus, seem to be so befuddled by Senator Coburn's actions. Even if you weren't familiar with his work in the House, they've had more than three years to see this. For more than a year and half in the majority! How, in all that time, do you not come up with a strategy?

Really, there are only two options:

Find a way to get 60 members to go against him.
Realize he isn't going to stop, and begin to draft bills in a manner that fit his criteria.

Since it is unlikely that even with a huge tidal wave of Democratic support this fall the Senate Democrats get to sixty seats, the first option is unlikely. Getting the Republican Caucus to break decisively on anything is as tough as getting a Sooner to cheer for Mack Brown, so Senator Reid will be stuck losing votes with a smaller than necessary majority.

That leaves option number two, changing the nature of how you do business. I admit, this is a tough pill to swallow. Yet with Congressional approval ratings in the single digits, it should soon become clear to someone that business as usual isn't going to work. If you believe the bills being blocked are actually quality legislation, and their passage is critical in nature, then it is time to find a new way to get them to the floor.

Working with other Republican Senators will be necessary in order to assure passage and even to bring them to a vote. This may not be the most effective method of work, but as elected officials sent to do a job, it is, as the saying goes, what you get paid the big bucks for.

Of course, this might not work. It requires bi-partisan cooperation in an election year, and that is pretty rare in D.C. - especially with an election coming up. But by doing the right thing, and putting individual Senators on the spot, is a fight worth fighting.

Time and history will judge if Senator Coburn is right or wrong, Senator Reid's job is to move the Senate forward and it is time that happens.

OKC NBA Team Name

2008-07-28T18:09:00.003-05:00

I have to admit, I'm not much of an NBA fan. I'm really not a big basketball fan at all. I frequently say that is because I can't play basketball, but I can't play baseball either and I'll watch it.

Just the same, I'm pretty excited about the new big league team in OKC. I'm not sure I'll make it to a game right away, but here is a quick way I'll become a fan.

The team name.

The news is out that the NBA has filed trademark right for six team names. Barons, Bison, Energy, Thunder, Marshalls and Wind.

That's right, tucked away in that list is MARSHALLS!

If the powers-that-be see fit to give the new team a proud name like that, then who am I but to become a fan? You can be sure I'll buy hats, shirts and all of the other team related stuff they can sell. Tickets? Of course, what kind of Marshall would I be if I didn't attend?

So, only time will tell, but I have to say I just won't get as excited about cheering for the OKC Wind.

Batmania

2008-07-18T09:44:00.002-05:00

One can hardly turn on the television, read a newspaper, check out a website or even drive down the road without seeing some form of advertising for the new movie The Dark Knight. I freely admit to having being a bit of a comic book geek when I was a kid, and though my tastes ran more towards Superman and Sgt. Rock, I was always a DC guy.

While I have yet to see the film [yes, I plan to] I am most impressed by the marketing. Beginning more than a year ago, the depth that has been achieved is simply amazing. Now of course it is mostly traditional forms, such as a Batman-themed pizza offer, but the viral and online presence is unparalleled.

Websites for a fictional District Attorney's race, fake newspapers and even a mock version of the Drudge Report were created for fans to follow in the months leading up to the actual release of the movie. No longer was the movie "news" contained to broadcasts of Entertainment Tonight or in issues of TV Guide, but now were at our very fingertips.

These activities have been more than just ads telling us when the movie opened. The screenwriters literally created a backstory to the characters themselves that we could follow. This isn't to say someone won't enjoy the movie without having read all of this, simply that it will enrich the experience.

I like to think of this in terms of visiting an art museum. You can look at all of the paintings and sculptures and revel in the beauty and skill, but if you know the history of the work, or more about the form used, it will deepen your appreciation and understanding.

This type of creativity and outside-of-the-box thinking is truly refreshing to see. With the ever increasing necessity of movies to have extremely successful opening weekends, I suppose we should expect this trend to continue. What will be most interesting to watch will be how much traditional forms of advertising are purchased and what new forms of attracting our attention will appear.

A President For Us All?

2008-07-15T10:18:00.005-05:00

As we continue through the 2008 Presidential campaign, a great many questions have arisen. Some are more policy oriented than others, but many relate to the background and character of our next leader.

More than just how Senators Obama and McCain have voted, we have to see who they are to determine what kind of Presidency they will have. What books do they read, what kind of family life have they had and even what do they do for fun all come into play.

One great example occurred during what passes for a wide-ranging interview Senator McCain did with the New York Times this weekend. There are many fascinating bits of information about McCain, and many are examples of his independent streak.

There was one that stood out to me, and is another stark example of the generational differences of this campaign. He said, in part:

“I am learning to get online myself, and I will have that down fairly soon, getting on myself. I don’t expect to be a great communicator, I don’t expect to set up my own blog, but I am becoming computer literate to the point where I can get the information that I need.”

and even:

“I don’t e-mail, I’ve never felt the particular need to e-mail,”

McCain also states that he has staff who read him blogs and pass on important information. Could he have said anything else to prove that he is out of touch? My own 75 year old father uses a computer to read the news and blogs. He regularly emails with my entire family and even old war buddies. That isn't the Vietnam War, but Korea. So, if he and others this age can do it, why can't McCain?

How does he hope to not only lead during this time, but relate to those whom he is leading? More importantly, how will he get his information?

I've worked around many campaigns and elected officials and the worst thing that can happen to them is to become insulated. The information they receive is filtered through the perspective of the person delivering it. The further you go up the chain of power, the worse it gets. It is often referred to as the "bubble".

Yet, the internet and new technology have given our leaders a way to break through. Due to time constraints it made sense that the President or a U.S. Senator didn't have time to trek down to the library or bookstore to search around for information. He or she only had time to read press clippings [prepared by staff] versus reading dozens of newspapers and magazines each day.

Now from their own blackberry or iphone these same leaders can break out of the bubble and know what is going on. Not only will they have a National Security briefing, but can read what embedded reporters are writing. Some are even using things like text messaging and device to device messaging to bypass staff and communicate privately. A revolution indeed!

But where will Senator McCain be in all this? Will he be able, or even willing to reach out and hear what is being said beyond the confines of his own White House? Or will he be like President Bush, who prefers staying in the dark and a has shown a dangerous reliance on staff?

Perhaps the most important question that arises is this: Why hasn't John McCain been curious enough to learn this sooner? As the internet revolution occurred around him, and he sat on powerful committees in the Senate, how has he not made the attempt before now?

I fear what this tells us, and it is why we have to look beyond voting records when choosing a leader, is that Senator McCain isn't a man who thinks outside of the box. He is content with staying in his own insular world and trusting others to do the thinking for him. I simply don't believe we can afford another four or eight years of anyone like that.

We're number 6! We're number 6!

2008-07-14T11:20:00.005-05:00

Money magazine has released their annual rankings of Best Cities in America, and Norman was chosen to be number 6, moving up from 40th place last year.

In the description of our community, the magazine said:

"People flock to Norman from around the world to study and teach, and then to
stay and raise a family. "

Well, if this was occurring before - just wait now that the word is getting out!

What is T. Boone Pickens Up To?

2008-07-13T09:56:00.004-05:00

Watching the Sunday shows today [Flashpoint, Meet The Press and This Week] I saw, for the first time, Boone Pickens commercial about his "PickensPlan". Very interesting presentation and driving people to this website.

I've read through the site, and I'm still making my way through the news articles about it, but I'm at a bit of a loss. In full disclosure, I've never been a big fan of Pickens. His hard-right politics has always turned my stomach a bit, but he seems to be going through a renaissance. His charitable work, especially at OSU, is a big change from where he once was.

So what is this new thing about? I'm not sure myself, the jury is still out. If you have any ideas or thoughts, comment here or email me at chebon.marshall@gmail.com

Phil Gramm Politicians

2008-07-12T09:50:00.005-05:00

For the last few days, and for the next few as well I would guess, much has been written about former Senator Phil Gramm's comments regarding the economy. For those of you who have been living under a rock, he said:

"We have sort of become a nation of whiners."

and:

"You've heard of mental depression; this is a mental recession."

If you have followed Gramm's career, this shouldn't come as a surprise to you, which is why I don't understand Senator McCain's people having him involved in their campaign. This is a man who, discussing cuts to Social Security, said "They are 80-year-olds. Most people don't have the luxury of living to be 80 years old, so it's hard for me to feel sorry for them." What a softy.

There was a time in our country when this is what it took to get elected. With sound-bite driven media, and the need to constantly feed the hard-liners in both parties "red meat", politicians responded with over-the-top statements and attacked those in the opposing parties with a zeal usually reserved for deer hunters on opening day.

While there are still plenty of partisans and politicians out there who fall into this category, younger voters are changing the process. With the ability to reach beyond the normal sound bite [now just 7.3 seconds on average] by reading blogs and news aggregators, Generation X and Millennials are less responsive to these techniques. While more active than their parents, they are less strident in their politics when it comes to partisan loyalty, and less likely to believe that no good ideas can come from the other side of the aisle.

Not since 1960 have we seen an election where generational differences were as clear as this one as Senators Obama and McCain represent opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to generational definitions. This is abundantly clear now in their choice of supporters and advisers. Those "unpaid" advisers who have spoken out in the Obama campaign have quickly become unpaid former advisers. In the McCain campaign they are merely moved off camera.

Time will tell which of these two brands of politics and governing America wants. I personally predict that not only will the November vote be divided along partisan lines, but generational lines too as with many of us who want to work for our country, and not just our Party, choose Senator Obama.

Unfortunately, we'll have to listen to several more months of Gramm-like politics I'm afraid...

An Icon Fades...

2008-07-11T09:47:00.007-05:00

The media likes to make a great deal of the turbulent politics of the 1960's and how those who came of age during that time will aways be defined by their experiencing those events. The simple truth is that no matter when you grew up, those times affect you and will, to a certain extent, define your own political philosophy.

For me, and many other Gen X'ers, that means we came about during the wacky politics of the 1970's and 1980's. This was a time when the dorm room activists of the previous decade were still attempting to live out their dreams and the personalities of the past were still revered and part of the process. The ideals of the Great Society and Civil Rights were still being debated in campaigns and in the halls of government.

Fast forward to this week. The Reverend Jesse Jackson, a man who worked for Martin Luther King, Jr. and was at one time a leader of the Democratic Party [his 1984 Democratic National Convention speech is legendary] has been reduced to the level of a side show act. His comments regarding Senator Barack Obama on Fox News [I won't repeat them here, after all kids read this] were perhaps the final act in his long and sad decline.

One could argue that this began with then-Governor Bill Clinton's handling him during the 1992 presidential campaign, but I believe something else. We are at a crossroads in America, both in our culture and our politics. The Jesse Jackson's of the world are out of place in today's America where a majority of people want to move past the campus battles of the 1960's and early 1970's. They no longer feel the discussion about race should be handled the same way any longer.

Now, this is not to take anything away from the work that Rev. Jackson, and countless other leaders of the Civil Rights movement performed selflessly for decades. Just the opposite is true. What they did worked. We have nominated an African American to be the nominee of the Democratic Party, something few believed would happen in their lifetime back in 1968. Many great things have been achieved, but with that means times have changed.

So it is a little sad to see Reverend Jackson now just a pundit, commenting on campaigns rather than being a part of one. His iconic status reduced to that of a side-show in this year's presidential campaign. Some journalists have even referred to this recent flap as Senator Obama's "Sister Souljah" moment - certainly a slap in the face to Jackson. Perhaps it is best to remember all that he has accomplished and his legacy will be that work, and his own son's service as a member of Congress for a new generation?

Connecting On Their iPod...

2008-07-09T11:09:00.007-05:00

This morning, if you happened to catch it, occurred a telling example of how the traditional media is at a loss to report on or explain the youth vote. Andrea Mitchell, of NBC news, who is a credible reporter and gifted individual was on with Joe Scarborough.

[His program, Morning Joe, is really the best political news broadcast in the morning. Far better than the recipe-giving, Britney Spears-reporting shows like GMA and TODAY.]

During the discussion with the ever strident Chris Mathews regarding the youth vote and this fall's presidential campaign, Mitchell uttered the following:

"...connecting on their iPods and every other which way they read the blogs."

Huh?

It was easy to miss for some I suppose, but it stood out to me. In a country where the last two elections have been remarkably close, and just a small increase in turnout could aid either candidate, McCain or Obama, this is a critical issue.

We've already seen hundreds of thousands of young voters turn out in the Democratic primaries, mostly for Senator Obama, but some for the other candidates as well. No one can be assured what the turnout will look like this fall. With the first african american candidate on the general election ballot, and one who is spending millions to register and draw voters under the age of 30 to vote, it is impossible to predict.

So I'm happy that MSNBC is discussing this phenomenon, but perhaps someone else should be talking about it? Maybe Andrea Mitchell even owns an iPod, but it seems apparent that she doesn't know how to work it. Maybe she meant iPhone? Either way, having a 61 year old discuss the youth vote makes a much sense as having Jay Leno give a physics lecture. She, and most of the other traditional media, have no idea what motivates these new voters.

They don't grasp how technology doesn't impact them, it is them. This new generation doesn't wait to be told what to think or how to vote by talking-head pundits, they read the news from various sources, and filter it themselves. Sometimes that means Drudge Report, sometimes it means the New York Times and yes, even The Daily Show.

These voters know that the news they are getting is skewed, that they have no "Uncle" Walter Cronkite whose newscast they can trust. They use news aggregators, blogs and direct source reporting to find out what they want to know, not wait on the six o'clock news. This makes the younger voters much less predictable, and harder to pigeon hole into a neat political category.

So, perhaps MSNBC and all of the media outlets should look at having someone who is actually a younger voter, or even someone who understands them, do the talking when it comes to this new issue. I'm free, if anyone is looking...

Congressman Clem McSpadden 1925 - 2008

2008-07-08T09:11:00.002-05:00

Many people don't know this, but I grew up attending rodeos. My father, at one time a team-roper, instilled a love for this sport in me at an early age. I even achieved momentary fame one year when I fell into the arena of the National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City. But those stories are for another day.

Today, its a time for mourning for those in the rodeo world, as well as many politicos, as former Congressman and world-renown rodeo announcer Clem McSpadden has passed away after battling cancer. He touched the lives of countless Americans in both worlds, and will be missed in the rodeo and political arenas. Never again will we hear his voice over the speakers at some dusty roping event or see him walk the halls of the Capitol.

My own personal stories about him are numerous, but my favorite actually is from a congressional campaign I was involved in working against Mr. McSpadden [I never could call him Clem] several years ago.

The candidate wasn't particularly well-versed in rodeo etiquette, nor was he really aware of McSpadden's power in that world. You see, if you never attended an event that Mr. McSpaddend was announcing, or felt the power of hearing him recite his Cowboy's Prayer, then you have missed out on something that is deeply American and especially Oklahoman. Generations of people in our state, particularly in rural parts, grew up listening to him, and revered him. Unfortunately, this candidate knew more of his political persona than this other side of Mr. McSpadden.

So, we went to our first rodeo [literally, not figuratively] where he was announcing. I had warned the candidate and the staff that this wasn't going to be a very good event for us, as once Mr. McSpadden did his thing, we were going to be likely out of favor with the crowd. Yet, on we pressed to the Pryor rodeo.

It was a great summer evening for the event, after some rain the skies had cleared and it was un-seasonably cool. The event began as so many others have for years and years in small town America, with the pledge, the singing of the National Anthem while a lone rider held a flag in the arena, and then, the prayer. This was when Clem McSpadden could truly shine. While he was fantastic announcing throughout any rodeo, emceeing a political event or even recording commercials, when reciting this particular passage, he captivated every individual in the arena. People stood, removed their hats, bowed their heads and even held hands as he led them in a simple, yet powerful prayer.

Then, after this deep display of religious emotion, as he held all of these people with their attention focused singly on his voice, he did what he always did. He introduced a friend. Not just any friend, but the candidate he was supporting, the candidate we were running against in that hotly-contested primary. I had seen it before, it had been my candidate many times, but not this year, this was the first time I had stood on the other side of this power.

"Folks I want to introduce you to a friend of mine" he would begin in his rich baritone with its recognizable drawl. "I've known him for a lotta years, and not many a better man have I ever met." High praise from a man who knew thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of people. "He's running for Congress this year, and I think he'd make a pretty good one" this endorsement many a candidate would have sold his family to receive, but the best part was yet to come. "Now, I won't tell you who to vote for, but I will tell ya' who I'm votin' for, my friend Bill Settle."

There it was. Simple. Gentle. Elegant. Never over-bearing, just a suggestion that this was a good man, and maybe you might consider him on election day. Right, and maybe you should call your mother on mother's day.

We didn't stay long after that. It seemed every person there, even the kids wanted to shake Settle's hand that night, so we headed on out. Later, we won the race, and Mr. McSpadden was as gracious as ever in offering to help us in the General Election. And I'll tell you this - never was I happier to be back on his side in a fight!

Clem McSpadden will be remembered for many things, by many people from all walks of life. But for me, it will always be for his decent and honest manor. We didn't always agree, but you could trust him, and you sure wanted him on your side in any arena in which you found yourself, political or otherwise.

Senator Jesse Helms 1921-2008

2008-07-05T12:46:00.004-05:00

Jesse Helms couldn't have planned it any better.

The consummate politician, a man who never stopped spinning and never stopped campaigning, I'm sure would've been thrilled to pass away on July 4th. And while many in the world of conservative punditry have attempted to link him to our great founding fathers Jefferson and Adams, who also died on Independence Day, I just don't believe he belongs anywhere near that category.

Historians will still have their say about Helms in the years to come, and his mild attempts at altering his record near the end of his career and life may have a limited affect. Yet he will forever be tarnished for his words, votes and actions that for so many years made him the enforcer of the hard right of the Republican Party.

His self-labeled bigotry, opposition to arts funding and even suggesting a U.S. President would be unsafe on an American military base will be remembered by those who watched him in the Senate for those many years. Generations to come will, however, remember his opposition to the Civil Rights Act and racially motivated campaigns that will always hang around his neck. Worse, unlike other conservatives who ultimately saw the wrong of their ways, Helms was unrepentant about his own racism and vitriol.

While I always have admiration for anyone who gives up their life to public service, especially those who do so with true conviction evident in their record, I find it hard to have much admiration for Jesse Helms. When, on a day that we pause to honor the founding of our great democracy, it is hard to have imagined Washington, Jefferson, Adams or Franklin acting out with as much hate as Helms so often did. Even though we know none of these men were perfect, they kept dignity about themselves and had respect for government. Helms injected hate, race and rancor into the process, and won races by being the "lesser of two evils".

In the end, as a country we are worse off for his service than better for it. A sad legacy for any man.

I'm Back!

2008-06-29T11:49:00.003-05:00

After a few weeks off, I've decided to return to blogging. This informal, yet informative method of communication is one that I have come to realize is important in our society. This is today's "over the fence" conversation.

Where once people gathered on front porches and in town squares to discuss the topics of current events or even the impact of global events in their own backyards, today we bypass such personal forms of interaction. Much has been written about this phenomenon, perhaps best by Robert Putnam his groundbreaking book Bowling Alone, yet I believe that perhaps a solution of sorts has been found.

Leave it up to the ingenuity of Generations X and Y to let technology bridge this gap. Blogs are the new "coffee shop" in our day and age. I'm not suggesting that sitting in front of a computer can ever replace human interaction, but it does allow for the free flow of ideas and opinions. Even those bloggers who post mostly items about their daily lives and goings-on find themselves commenting on society as a whole or the environment and yes, even presidential politics.

I know I follow some blogs for personal reasons (such as keeping up with Pete and Leslie's kids Emily and Benjamin) and others for political news such as Mike McCarville's "Report" or gossip on Tim and Calvin's "DemoOkie". Each of us has our own reason for what we read and why we keep up with it, but at least we are sharing our thoughts and communicating.

So I'm glad to once again join the ranks of "bloggers" and share some of my own thought and ideas. Please comment and share your opinions with me and other readers, that is how the conversation works. Or, if you want to make it more private, you can always email me at chebon.marshall@gmail.com.