The Best Argument Against 3rd Parties, That I Have Seen!

I received this in an email today, and it is the best argument against 3rd parties, and what to do about the RINOs in the GOP!

Third Parties Don’t Work In America
Mark Metzger
There seems to be a lot of talk in the media about Tea Party protesters forming a third party, and that it would beat the Republican Party in a recent generic poll. Of course, the in-the-bag mainstream media want conservatives to believe that. Why? Because if a Tea Party splits the vote, the Democrats win in a year when they should get slaughtered at the ballot box!

Third parties do not work in the United States - never have, never will. The reason is simple - because the system is designed for two parties with opposing viewpoints, such that a fair centrist consensus is reached. Do you know how many active “Third Parties” there are in the USA today? Over one hundred between local, state and national parties. Here are just a few that had candidates in recent elections, and just to prove my point, all of their candidates in national elections lost: America First Party, America’s Independent Party, Boston Tea Party, Independence Party of America, Moderate Party, Modern Whig Party, Marijuana Party, Objectivist Party, Party for Socialism and Liberation, Reform Party of the United States of America, Socialist Equality Party, Socialist Party USA, Socialist Workers Party, Unity Party of America, and the Worker’s World Party. Don’t forget The Communist Party, The Conservative Party, The Green Party, and The Libertarian Party - the parties one hears about most often.

Each of these parties, plus dozens more not listed, were formed to elicit a particular point of view. They are unsuccessful because ultimately they do not represent the mainstream ideal. While a Tea Party is certainly more mainstream than most of the aforementioned, it would most likely split the Republican vote and cause the very people that need to be voted out (the liberal Democrats) to win and continue their assault on our liberty. Third parties only work in a parliamentary system, where two or more parties can join together to form a majority. We see this effectively used in Israel and the United Kingdom, for example. But we will never see it here!

Instead, the Tea Partiers need to use their clout to “conservatize” the Republican Party, starting with the Republican primaries for the 2010 elections. This was done effectively by Ronald Reagan for the 1980 election, and led ultimately to two decades of prosperity, whose successes the liberal socialist Democrats are trying desperately to destroy. Conservatizing the party can be accomplished by having Tea Party leaders examine the voting records of all Republican candidates in each local, state, national congressional and senate race. Once key candidates are identified as aligned with the basic Tea Party principals, Tea Party supporters should vote as a block and get these deserving candidates their respective nominations. Next, have each new Republican nominee sign onto a list of core conservative principles that they pledge to support throughout their political careers. If they get distracted from this pledge, they will know they won’t be around long enough to do any damage. For a conservative platform for these candidates, see my previous blogs, Republican Party Platform Parts I, II, and III.

The Third Party always starts well, but ends badly. Let’s use our heads, and not our hearts alone, to turn the Republican Party into a principled, conservative engine to take back our liberties and leave the liberals asking themselves - “What Happened?”



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Series of Geopolitical Articles

As part of my new position with Jerry Robinson Ministries, I will be starting a weekly series of articles about various hotspots around the world. These articles will include links, pictures, and analysis of the impact that these areas have on the current, and future, geopolitical climate. These articles will come out on Friday mornings, starting one week from tomorrow. The first article will,most likely, be a recurring topic- China. I am looking forward to the challenges of writing a weekly column, and I hope everyone enjoys it.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Testing IPhone Blogger App

This is just a quick post to test out the BlogPress App on my IPhone. So far, it looks like a good way to blog on the run. Now I can try to start blogging again! Lucky you!




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Fat Cat Dinner with JC Watts and the Oklahoma GOP

Image via Wikipedia

A conversation I had with Oklahoma GOP Chairman Gary Jones about the “FAT CAT” dinner with JC Watts for the “Get Out the Vote 2010” kickoff. Here are the details of the dinner. Prior to my first comment, the prices were Diamond $5000, Gold $2500, Silver - $1000. Dinner & Reception $125 or $250 per couple. After my first comment, they added a $50 for dinner only listing, as well. Same old Party politics Status Quo!

My First Comment:
These high priced dinners, as usual, are geared to
exclude, the grassroots, and cater to the wealthy & powerful, who continue
to usurp the power and control of the Party from "We the People!" As usual, I
will NOT be attending this, or any other events like it!

I then received this message from Gary Jones, not in the comment
thread, but via direct email:
Gary
Jones September 27 at 8:26am
We do have opportunities for grassroots
activist to attend events. The cost is based on actual cost per meal. In fact
the only money we might make is from those who pay the higher price. In addition
we try to reward volunteering as well.

Jai
Blevins September 27 at 10:10am
The Actual cost per meal?!?!? Are
you kidding me!? I was a catering manager at an upscale restaurant for years.
The only meals that have a cost of $125 per plate are designed specifically to
eliminate the average Joe from attending the event. Gary, I don't buy your
answer. Events like these are the reason most people don't trust the Party
leadership, and believe that both Parties only listen to Big $$ donors.The only
time you guys listen to the Grassroots, is A) you're not in power, and you're
trying to win back some votes, or B) We get so loud that you fear us!Well, it's
time to fear us, because we are gunning for a complete takeover of the party
infrastructure. The Status Quo is no longer acceptable!


Gary
Jones September 27 at 10:33am
$125!The cost is $50. $30 meal cost
plus 28% taxes and gratuity plus misc. cost to put on the event As far as
fearing you. I have no fear of you at all. I would be more than happy to have an
open an honest debate on the isuues anytime. I have been a grassroots activist
for decades before you ever came on the scene.

Is anyone else sick of the way the Parties treat the average Joe who does not, or can not contribute large sums of money to whichever candidate they tell us to vote for?

Well, the answer is simple.

No, not a third party.......

A COMPLETE TAKEOVER OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY! The GOP leadership is weak, and waffling closer and closer to the left. The line between the upper leadership in the GOP and the DNC is becoming blurred! But, we CAN do something about it! Call your County GOP HQ, and find out where YOUR precinct meeting is held, and who the precinct chair is. If there isn’t one, start holding the precinct meeting in your home, and invite ALL of your Grassroots Costitutionalist friends. Vote in one of you as Precinct Chair. That person automatically becomes a Delegate to the County Party Convention. Once we have control over the Precincts, we can take the County Chair. Once we have the majority of county Chairs we can take the State Chair. And, with control of the States, we can take over the National Convention! All we need to do is be willing to sacrifice a little bit of time, and we can take back our Party, and our Country!

DO YOU HAVE THE COURAGE OF YOUR CONVICTIONS?!?!?!?!

Related articles by Zemanta

• GOP Gets Big Bump of Donors in August (abcnews.go.com)

Ritze, Brown, Trebilcock to hold Broken Arrow Town Hall Health Care Forum

OKLAHOMA CITY (September 21, 2009) – State Sen. Bill Brown and state Reps. Mike Ritze, D.O., and John Trebilcock plan on holding a town hall meeting on health care at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29 at Arrow Heights Baptist Church, 3201 S. Elm Place in Broken Arrow.

“Senator Brown, Representative Trebilcock and I will be presenting a discussion of the health care issues at stake under the ObamaCare plan,” Ritze, R-Broken Arrow, said. “As a physician, I am aware of many of the problems in our health care system, but at the same time believe the federal approach being sought will only exacerbate current problems and will create an undeniable tax burden for future generations.”

Ritze said that he will be looking not only to critique the proposed federal plan, but also offer some alternative solutions.

“There are laws that get in the way of competition between health care providers and it is also important to address the portability of health care from job to job,” Ritze said. “I believe there are zero-cost solutions to many of our health care problems, and I will be presenting those as well.”

Brown, R-Broken Arrow, is the chairman of the Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee. He said that not only is the federal plan folly, but that it will be hard to reverse.

“The plan will take billions of dollars out of Medicare and raise taxes considerably,” Brown said. “We won’t be able to get that money back. Not only that, but as many of my constituents know, once the government gets involved in a particular industry, it’s hard to get them back out.”

Trebilcock, R-Broken Arrow, is the chairman of the House Public Health Committee. He said he looked forward to the town hall meeting.

“It’s important to talk with constituents about important issues,” Trebilcock said. “Health care is a very worthy topic and I look forward to offering my own perspective on the problems with the ObamaCare plan.”

The Republic of Texas

Image by The Littlejohn Collection via Flickr

I received this in an email, and I thought y'all would enjoy it! Maybe we can petition our Governor to join the Republic of Texas!

THE COUNTRY of TEXAS In case things get a little tough during the next few months we Texans have a plan... Maybe you don't know it, but Texas is the only state with a legal right to secede from the Union . (Reference the Texas-American Annexation Treaty of 1848.) We Texans love all y'all Americans, but we'll probably have to take action since Barack Obama won the election and is now the President of the U.S.A. We'll miss ya'll though. Here is what can happen: 1. Barack Hussein Obama, after becoming the President of the United States , begins to try and create a socialist country, then Texas announces that it is going to secede from the Union. 2. George W. Bush becomes the President of the Republic of Texas . You might not think that he talks too pretty, but we haven't had another terrorist attack and the economy was fine until the effects of the Democrats lowering the qualifications for home loans came to roost. So what does Texas have to do to survive as a Republic? 1. NASA is just south of Houston , Texas . We will control the space industry. 2. We refine over 85% of the gasoline in the United States . 3. Defense Industry--we have over 65% of it. The term "Don't mess with Texas ," will take on a whole new meaning. 4 Oil - we can supply all the oil that the Republic of Texas will need for the next 300 years. What will the other states do? Gee, we don't know. Why not ask Obama? 5. Natural Gas - again, we have all we need and it's too bad about those Northern States. John K erry and Al Gore will just have to figure out a way to keep them warm... 6. Computer Industry - we lead the nation in producing computer chips and communications equipment - small companies like Texas Instruments, Dell Computer, EDS, Raytheon,=2 0National Semiconductor, Motorola, Intel, AMD, Atmel, Applied Materials, Ball Misconduct, Dallas Semiconductor, Nortel, Alcatel, etc. The list goes on and on. 7. Medical Care - We have the research centers for cancer research, the best burn centers and the top trauma units in the world, as well as other large health centers. The Houston Medical Center alone employs over 65,000 people. 8. We have enough colleges to keep educating and making smarter citizens: University of Texas , Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Texas Christian, Rice, SMU, University of Dallas , University of Houston , Baylor, UNT ( University of North Texas ), Texas Women's University, etc. Ivy grows better in the South anyway. 9. We have an intelligent and energetic work force and it isn't restricted by a bunch of unions. Here in Texas , we are a Right to Work State and, therefore, it's every man and woman for themselves. We just go out and get the job done. And if we don't like the way one company operates, we get a job somewhere else. 10. We have essential control of the paper, plastics, and insurance industries, etc. 11. In case of a foreign invasion, we have the Texas National Guard, the Texas Air National Guard, and several military bases. We don't have an Army, but since everybody down here has at least six rifles and a pile of ammo, we can raise an Army in 24 hours if we need one. If the situation really gets bad, we can always call the Department of Public Safety and ask them to send over the Texas Rangers. 12. We are totally self-sufficient in beef, poultry, hogs, and several types of grain, fruit and vegetables, and let's not forget seafood from the Gulf. Also, everybody down here knows how to cook 'em so that they taste good. We don't need any food. 13. Three of the ten largest cities in the United States , and twenty-three of the 100 largest cities in the United States are located in Texas . And Texas also has more land than California, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii , Massachusetts, Maryland, Rhode Island, and Vermont combined. 14. Trade: Three of the ten largest ports in the United States are located in Texas. 15. We also manufacture cars down here, but we don't need to. You see, nothing rusts in Texas so our vehicles stay beautiful and run well for decades. This just names a few of the items that will keep the Republic of Texas in good shape. There isn't a thing out there that we need and don't have. Now to the rest of you folks in the United States under President Obama: Since you won' t have the refineries to get gas for your cars, only President Obama will be able to drive around in his big 9 mpg SUV. The rest of the United States will have to walk or ride bikes. You won't have any TV as the Space Center in Houston will cut off satellite communications. You won' t have any natural gas to heat your homes, but since Mr. Obama has predicted global warming, you won't need the gas as long as you survive the 2000 years it will take to get enough heat out of Global Warming. In other words, the rest of ya'll in the USA are screwed! Signed, The People of Texas

Related articles by Zemanta

• Let Texas Out of the Union (failover.blogspot.com)
• Beck gives credulous interview to Texas secessionist, who says Tea Parties are a great place to recruit (crooksandliars.com)
• Gov. Perry Backs Resolution Affirming Texas' Sovereignty Under 10th Amendment (borella.net)
• Perry Won't Say No To Secession (mydd.com)

Hey, BA! Vote Yourself a Tax Cut on August 11th!

On August 11th, Broken Arrow will be voting on a Bond Issue. Before I get into the details, let me pass on some words from Major Ken Yazel, Tulsa County Tax Assessor.

Here is what my call to anyone would be regarding this surprise ballot
issue:

Hello this is your Tulsa County Assessor
Ken Yazel. Calling to alert you to a very serious matter.

The County I serve is the highest taxed county in the state of Oklahoma. The city of Broken Arrow is the highest taxed City!

While most of us were vacationing this summer, the local leaders have put forth a ballot issue to raise our taxes even higher.

Higher taxes should not be a part of any plan for our future!

Please join in voting NO on Tuesday August 11th. You must voice your opinion at the ballot box to stop these high taxes.

Hope you agree.

Very Respectfully,
Major Ken

Ok, with that said, here is what is at issue on August 18th:

• $8 million to convert the existing military armory at Kenosha Street and Lynn Lane Road into a public safety complex to serve as headquarters for the police and fire departments and an emergency operations center. (What's wrong with our current HQ? Is the City of Broken Arrow trying to pull a Kathy Taylor, and just move because they want to?)

• calls for an $8 million expenditure to add a second story and equip a long-discussed conference center that will sit next to a privately funded hotel in the StoneWood Hills development. (Why should we spend PUBLIC MONEY, on a PRIVATE BUSINESS? Instead, give the business an incentive to move here through tax incentives!)

• seeks voter approval to use $140,000 OK’d in 1993 to provide loans for business owners wishing to renovate facades of businesses along Main Street between College and Memphis streets. Wooden said some loans were made, but none have been requested in recent years, leading the city to propose a broader economic develop use for the funds within the entire downtown area. (If the money is no longer needed, give it back to the citizens of Broken Arrow!)

• involves a shifting of five street improvement projects approved in 2004

They include:

• Olive from Kenosha to Houston - two lane with turn lanes only; full curb
and guttering; open drainage.

• Olive from Houston to Washington - two lane with turn lanes only; full curb
and guttering; open drainage.

• New Orleans from Ninth St. to 23rd St. - three lane the entire length; curb
and guttering on arterial intersections only; open drainage.

• Washington from Main to Ninth St. - three lane to east end of Arrowhead
Parking lot; full curb and guttering; open drainage.

• Ninth St. from Albany to Omaha - four lane, except five lanes at arterials
and Juneau; curb and guttering on arterial and Juneau intersections only; open
drainage.

(Let's complete the projects we voted on last time, instead of moving them because the City can't get landowners to sell their frontage at an absurdly low rate!)

Polls open at 7 a.m. Monday. See this week’s Broken Arrow Ledger for a complete list of polling places and copies of the ballots that will be used.

VOTE NO ON ALL 4 ISSUES!!!

Something's Fishy!

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

This my email to Flag@WhiteHouse.gov, reporting myself!

Something is fishy, alright! That something, is the haste with which the Obama Administration, and the Democrat-led House and Senate, are pushing through legislation. You guys are in such a hurry to push your agenda, that you don't even stop to read the Bills!

Now, you want people to report other people for
opposing your agenda?!?!?!?

The opposition is growing, and will continue to grow, as long as you continue to ignore the questions of the American People. Answer the questions at the Townhalls, and you won't get shouted down. Be transparent, like you claimed in your campaign. The Tea Parties, and the Town Hall protests, are a by product of this Administration's policies and actions.

JUST STOP!

Demonstrate to the people that you really are listening, and trying to find the best solution, and not just dictating to us the way we will live.
The US Constitution is a document dedicated to Limited Government and personal Freedom and Responsibility. A Nanny state is "not sustainable", to use one of your favorite catch phrases.

Thank you for your time.

Please add me to your list of "Enemies" who oppose the President's Policies!

Related articles by Zemanta

• MoveOn sounds the nutroots mob alarm (michellemalkin.com)
• Nazi-invoking Democrats complain: Rush is calling us Nazis! (michellemalkin.com)
• Healthcare reform protests (paulskemp.livejournal.com)

American Liberty Alliance - Oklahoma

I have recently been appointed as the American Liberty Alliance - Oklahoma coordinator, and I want to take a moment to let you all know what the American Liberty Alliance is, and what our role within the Conservative, Free-Market movement is.

About the American Liberty Alliance

Who are we?

The American Liberty Alliance is first and foremost an organization that is focused on promoting other people. It doesn’t exist to be in the spotlight, but rather to help create the spotlight and put other people in it. So for the local activists, ALA provides a national network of other activists as well as the infrastructure to bring national attention to your local issue, not the other way around. The ALA has grown out of other successful grassroots movements. ALA’s founders were an integral part of the #DontGo movement in August 2008 that forced Congress to address bans on offshore drilling. In the Spring of 2009, many of ALA’s founders were leaders in the Tax Day Tea Parties across the country. Having founders from these movements, and others, the American Liberty Alliance’s roots are most definitely grassroots.

Beliefs

The American Liberty Alliance believes there are strong and effective activist groups across the country fighting for limited government and free market principles. That said, we also feel that the free-market movement is lacking in mass collaboration. We believe we can help glue the various pieces of the movement together to create a unified effort.

With regards to our political beliefs… we’re not a political organization; Rather, we’re a free-market minded web infrastructure that is organized by individuals who believe in personal liberties and limited government regulation.

The Mission

Our mission is simple. The American Liberty Alliance strives to provide a place of collaboration for Free Market movements The People The American Liberty Alliance has thousands of volunteers across all 50 states of the union and we’re growing our membership by leaps and bounds. Many who help lead our efforts have worked hard for the movement over the years and deserve much credit. We’ll try to provide this credit through our various web projects and constant flows of content.

Objective

The American Liberty Alliance is a place of collaboration for free market movements The American Liberty Alliance was started to fill a void among liberty minded organizations. Somewhere between large national organizations and local activists, there was a gap. Groups seemed too focused on folding activists into their own efforts and not supporting the causes and efforts of the activists themselves. American Liberty Alliance began with that focus in mind – making the local activist a priority and building opportunities and interaction around them. The type of online infrastructure and community we’re building is going to be very important over the next four years. ALA offers something that no one else does, and that’s the willingness to put personalities aside, listen to our members, and focus on the issues important to them. We’re going to engage on a very local level. We’re also going to build the infrastructure so that we can respond very quickly to emerging issues and situations.

Our objective is to provide a place of collaboration for Free Market movements.

We are looking for County and City coordinators for the American Liberty Alliance- Oklahoma, so if you are interested, please join the facebook group http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=117305178828 and sign up through the website http://oklahoma.americanlibertyalliance.com/ if you feel that you can fill that role. Also, Please list Jai Blevins as the person who referred you, so that I can go to the national conference in September. I can't afford to go, so I have to win the contest! Thanks, Jai Blevins American Liberty Alliance- Oklahoma jaiblevins@gmail.com

Why Congress Doesn't Want Healthcare Reform for Themselves!

Everywhere you turn you can find a liberal Senator or Congressman or Woman, refusing to answer questions about, or flat out saying "NO" to the idea of receiving the same Healthcare that they are trying to ram down our throats!

So, I have to ask "WHY?"

What kind of Healthcare do members of Congress and the Senate receive?


As soon as members of Congress are sworn in, they may participate in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP). The program offers an assortment of health plans from which to choose, including fee-for-service, point-of-service, and health maintenance organizations (HMOs). In addition, Congress members can also insure their spouses and their dependents.

Not only does Congress get to choose from a wide range of plans, but there’s no waiting period. Unlike many Americans who must struggle against precondition clauses or are even denied coverage because of those preconditions, Senators and Representatives are covered no matter what - effective immediately.

And here’s the best part. The government pays up to 75 percent of the premium. That government, of course, is funded by taxpayers, the same taxpayers who often cannot afford health care themselves.Read more: http://public-healthcare-issues.suite101.com/article.cfm/health_care_for_the_us_congress#ixzz0MsLoNEQP

So, they get GREAT HEALTHCARE!! And then they want to give us this CRAP, that is in the Healthcare Deform Bill! They keep saying it's better than what we have, but that only applies to the 15% or so, who don't coverage, already.

The Healthcare they receive doesn't come with a mandatory "end of life" counseling every 5 years after the age of 65. It also doesn't have provisions making it illegal to "opt-out". They are allowed to pay the doctor out of their own pocket if the want to.

Again, if this plan they are trying to cram down our throats is so good, why don't they have to give up their current coverage, and join the "proletariat" in taking the coverage that is being offered? In fact, they even voted against a plan to simply let the American people opt in to the plan that they have!

When asked questions, this is how they respond!




Our Government is out of control, and we are reaching the breaking point! i beleive that our Founding Father's had a few things to say about out of control Government!

DO YOU HAVE THE COURAGE OF YOUR CONVICTIONS?!?!?!

Oklahoma Sovereignty Battle Looming?

Image via Wikipedia

There are rumors flying that the state budget may end up with a shortfall this year, and if so, will have to dip into the "Rainy Day" Fund. In order to do so, the Governor will have to call for an emergency session of our state legislature. If that emargency session is called, that is every Patriot in Oklahoma's Opportunity! Last Session, the House and Senate both passed the Oklahoma Sovereignty Resolution, restating emphatically our 10th Amendendment Rights. Governor Brad Henry VETOED that resloution, but we had enough votes to get the resolution on the ballot for November. However, support for the resolution has been growing, and if we were to call for a reissuing of the resolution, it is believed that there are now enough votes to fully override Gov. Henry's veto.

What this means, is that even if the Federal Government passes the Cap & Trade (BIGGEST TAX INCREASE IN THE HISTORY OF THE PLANET!!) and the Universal Healthcare DEFORM bill, the State Legislature of Oklahoma will have emphatically stated our intent to ignore, as unconstitutional, those laws, and refuse to enforce them inside our borders. If Oklahoma leads the way, other states will follow, and also refuse to enforce these unconstitutional, and statist, laws.

Pay attention Patriots! A HUGE OPPORTUNITY is looming in front of us! When the session is called, we need to be ready, and start bombarding our State Legislature with calls, faxes and emails, calling for another vote on the 1oth Amendment Resolution that was sponsored by Randy Brogdon, and Charles Key!

I will be posting more on this, as news develops! Be Ready! Be Vigilant! Freedom requires actions!

DO YOU HAVE THE COURAGE OF YOUR CONVICTIONS!?!?

Related articles by Zemanta

• House Bypasses Governor's Veto to Claim Oklahoma's Sovereignty (riseuprochester.org)
• Political controversy surrounds Oklahoma's official rock song (news.bbc.co.uk)

The Grassroots vs. the GrassTops

Image via Wikipedia

Former Tulsa City Councilman, and Local Talk Radio Show Host, Chris Medlock, has decided to run for Mayor of Tulsa, again. After a hard fought, and remarkably close campaign against incumbent, and MidTown "old Family Money" guy, Bill LaFortune, in the last Mayor's race, Chris Medlock parlayed his success into a morning Talk show on KFAQ 1170, and became an almost "instant hit" with the "Q" Nation. Chris' populist, yet ultra-conservative, viewpoint, struck a chord with many Tulsans. Now, armed with a better understanding of what it takes to win a Mayor's race, and much wider name recognition, Medlock is back for another go 'round.

When Mayor Kathy Taylor announced that she was not seeking a second term, it through the race WIDE OPEN, and names started popping up all over the place. Democrat State Senator Tom Adelson, former City Councilor Dewey Bartlett, Jr. and 28 yr old entrepreneur Clay Clark were the initial 3 entrants. On July 4th, at the OKforTea Party, with Clay Clark emceeing, Chris Medlock unofficially announced that he was in. Later that week he made the announcement official with a Press Conference at the Tulsa Press Club. Within days, Clay Clark dropped his campaign and endorsed Medlock, saying

"After talking with our supporters and directly to Chris, it has become apparent that Chris and I agree on nearly all the major issues facing Tulsa. I believe that running against Chris would split the truly conservative vote, which would lead to the Mayor Taylor supporting candidate (Mr. Bartlett) being elected, and that would be like voting for Kathy Taylor Part 2."

Clark had been vocal in his stances against Kathy Taylor's running of Tulsa. When Bartlett came out and endorsed her, without knowing any of the Republican candidates for mayor, and then jumped into the race as soon as she was out, Clark issued a statement calling for Bartlett to "change parties, and run as a Democrat".

Now, after the filing period of July 13th-15th has passed, we have a total of 19 candidates. 11 Republicans, 5 Democrats, and 3 Independents. On the Republican side we have, Anna Falling, David O’Connor, Paul Roales, Michael Tomes, Norris Streetman, Kevin Boggs, John Todd, Nathaniel Booth and Michael Rush. On the Democratic side, we have Robert Gwin Jr., Paul Tay, A. Burns and Prophet Kelly Lamar Clark. And our 3 Independents are Mark Perkins, Cleon Burrell and Lawrence Kirkpatrick.

But, we REALLY still only have 3 candidates, Chris Medlock, the Conservative Republican from South Tulsa, Dewey Bartlett, Jr., the Mid Town RINO (Republican In Name Only) who endorsed the Ultra-Liberal Kathy Taylor, and State Senator Tom Adelson, a typical "tax & spend" Democrat, and another of the Mid Town old money "good ol' boys club" members, like LaFortune, Taylor, and Bartlett. Not that Party affiliation really matters in Tulsa. Like Chris Medlock said in his Interview with the UrbanTulsa Weekly,

"There are two parties in this town, but they're not Republican and Democrat," he said. "You really do have sort of the grassroots and the grasstops in this town."

Well, as far as I am concerned, Chris Medlock is the choice of the GrassRoots! No more being ruled by the "grasstops" Mid Town minority! If you live in Tulsa, VOTE CHRIS MEDLOCK! If you live in the surrounding areas, this still affects you, tell all of your friends & family that live in Tulsa to VOTE FOR MEDLOCK.

SOCIALIZED HEALTH CARE IS NOT THE ANSWER

I received this from Senator Jim Inhofe's Office Today.

SOCIALIZED HEALTH CARE IS NOT THE ANSWER

The mortality rate in Canada is 25% higher for breast cancer, 18% higher for prostate cancer, and 13% higher for colorectal cancer than the U.S.

Studies show that only 5% of Americans wait more than 4 months for surgery, compared with 23% of Australians, 26% of New Zealanders, 27% of Canadians, and 36% of the British.

Nearly 1.8 million British citizens are waiting for hospital or outpatient treatments at any given time.

The Fraser Institute reports that the average wait time to see a specialist in Canada was 17 weeks in 2008.

“I have long been dedicated to ensuring that Oklahomans and all Americans receive the best possible health care with the most choices. Health care decisions are personal and should be made by you and your doctor, not Washington bureaucrats running a government program - denying you the medical care you need.”

- U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe

What Do We Do About Health Care?

As the national debt rises and health care costs continue to increase, Senator Inhofe is working with other Senators to enact legislation like the “Patients’ Choice Act” (S.1099). This bill provides a better alternative to government run health care by:

• Using choice and competition rather than rationing and

restrictions to contain costs and ensure that affordable

health care is available for all Americans without

interference from the Federal Government.

• Promotes healthier lifestyles and disease prevention

through incentives for States.

• Improves Health Savings Accounts making them more

accessible and easy to use.

• Provides tax credits of $2,300 per individual or $5,700

per family for health plans.

How Would the Currently Proposed Government Run Health Care Legislation Work?

The Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) mandate is to provide Congress with objective, nonpartisan analyses of the economic and budgetary implications of proposed legislation. CBO estimates the subsidies in the Kennedy/Dodd Bill would cost $1.3 trillion over 10 years.

This estimate does not include the cost of provisions yet to be included such as the cost of a government run “public plan.”

Most significantly, CBO estimates that 15 million people would lose employer sponsored health insurance under the Kennedy-Dodd Bill meaning that under this plan millions of Americans will NOT get to keep their doctors or their health plans, 30 million Americans will remain uninsured, and the plan spends at least $1.3 trillion to cover 16 million which means the bureaucracy created in this bill costs taxpayers $62,500 per uninsured person.

What Kind of Care Would Government Run Health Care Provide?

In Alberta, Canada, Bill Murray waited in pain for more than a year to see a specialist for his arthritic hip. The specialist recommended a state-of-the-art procedure, but government bureaucrats determined that Mr. Murray, who was 57, was "too old". In the end, he was also denied the opportunity to pay for the procedure himself in Alberta. “‘Too Old' for Hip Surgery,” Wall Street Journal, Feb. 9, 2009.

Shona Holmes’ family doctor in Canada discovered a tumor in her brain. She knew it would take months for her to get an appointment with a specialist in Canada. “’I knew in my gut that I had to see someone and could not wait five to six months,” she says. She called Mayo Clinic and got an appointment the same day.” http://www.mayoclinic.org/patientstories/story-339.html.

Bruce Hardy, a patient living outside London, suffers from kidney and lung cancer, for which his physician prescribed the new drug Sutent. “If the Hardys lived in the United States or just about any European country other than Britain, Mr. Hardy would most likely get the drug.” However, in Britain, Sutent’s $54,000 price means “Mr. Hardy’s life is not worth prolonging.” “British Balance Benefit vs. Cost of Latest Drugs,” New York Times, Dec. 2, 2008.

Ian Dobbin, a patient in Yorkshire, England was informed by the British National Health Service that because the NHS would not pay for his life-saving cancer treatment, he needed to pay £25,000 (over $40,000) to obtain the treatment and survive. He said of NHS’ decision, “I've been paying my national insurance all my life and when it comes to the point that I need it to keep me alive, they are not prepared to help.” “£25,000...or die,” The Press (United Kingdom), May 2007.

What Else is Senator Inhofe Doing to Ensure Oklahomans Have Better Health Care?

Senator Inhofe is working with a bipartisan group of 8 Senators on the “Critical Access Flexibility Act” (S.1171) which protects rural hospitals and in many cases keeps rural hospitals in Oklahoma open by allowing the State to once again determine local need and designate hospitals as Critical Access Hospitals.

Senator Inhofe is leading a bipartisan effort with Senator Bingaman (D-NM) requesting needed reform for Disproportionate Share Hospitals (DSH) in the current health care debate in Congress. Inhofe’s and Bingaman’s work would have the effect of increasing funding for states like Oklahoma which currently receive low Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) formula based reimbursements when other states receive well more than their needs. DSH hospitals provide critical health care services. Many times, these services are provided to the poor and uninsured.

Additionally, Senator Inhofe is continuing to work with a bipartisan group of 10 Senators on the “Craig Thomas Rural Hospital and Provider Equity Act” (S.1157). This is legislation named after the late Senator Craig from Wyoming, and the bill specifically ensures that rural areas receive better health care services and improved medical technology uniquely suited for rural health care delivery.

Tulsa Tea Party Mission Statement

Image by randylane via Flickr

The Tulsa Tea Party, is in the process of incorporating as a non-profit organization. As such, we have written a Mission Statement, outlining who we are, and what we stand for. Comments are welcome.

Mission

We are a non-partisan, non-profit, issues based organization united by our shared core values to preserve the Constitutional Rights of WE THE PEOPLE of the United States of America, by limiting government; constraining government spending and taxation; and advancing a free market economy.

Our Core Values --What We Stand For:

• Limited Government – As our Founding Fathers recognized, restraint of government is necessary to protect the liberties of the people.


• 
  Fiscal Responsibility – Government at all levels must learn to live within its means. To saddle future generations with the crushing burden of our excess spending is unconscionable.
  


• States Rights – The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respective, or to the People.


• 
  National Sovereignty – We must maintain a strong national defense, effective security for our borders, and sole control over our land and our laws.
  


• Personal Responsibility – Liberty is unsustainable without responsibility. Each citizen must take responsibility for the consequences of his or her own actions while respecting the rights and dignity of others.
  


• The Rule of Law – Consistent, independent and uniform application of the law is critical to a free and prosperous society.

Code of Conduct -- What We Won’t Stand For:

• 
  Personal Attacks – We’re debating positions and policies, not demonizing people or groups.


• 
  Unfounded Rumors – The easily verifiable facts are bad enough. Don’t weaken our position by stretching the truth.
  

Objective and Goals:

Objective:

• Educate, motivate, equip and mobilize the citizens for informed participation in public debate and the electoral process
  

Goals:

• Conduct public events to allow citizens to gather and speak out on our Core Values


• Educate the public on our Core Values
  


• Provide a forum on our Core Values for conversations between citizens and candidates/officials
  

ObamaCare....What does it really cost?

Image by brionv via Flickr

Last Thursday, I went to a Healthcare Symposium, put on by the Tulsa 9-12 Project.

The list of speakers included, Dr. Eric Cottrill, of the Tulsa County Medical Association, the Oklahoma State Medical Association, and the Oklahoma Alliance of Physicians for Tort Reform, www.okphysiciansalliance.com

Dr. Cottrill spoke on the need for reform of our current Healthcare system, and he emphasized the need for the reform to be local and state based, not federal. With strong Tort reform, the cost of healthcare drops dramatically. In order to be effective, Tort reform MUST have caps on the awards for "pain and suffering". These caps, however, do not have an impact on real monetary losses, from job loss, to actual medical costs. Also, another step to loweencyring Healthcare costs, is limiting "frivolous" lawsuits. Right now, in Oklahoma, it costs the plaintiff nothing, to file a lawsuit against a doctor, or medical facility, as lawyers take these cases on a contingency basis. If a "loser pays" law were to be passed, then only those cases with actual merit would be brought. The fewer malpractice suits are filed, the lower the cost of malpractice insurance. The lower the cost of malpractice insurance, the lower the cost of doctor's visits. Simple Economics.

He also spoke about the ramifications of the Obama Administration's proposed Healthcare Reform Bill. If we want to see an example of Government run Healthcare, we need only look at the VA hospitals. Restricted, and inferior, treatments, and drugs. All day for a Doctor's visit. As he put it, there are two ways that you can pay for healthcare, money or time. I don't know about you, but I would rather pay my own expenses, "out of pocket" than to be treated in a facility that just treats me as a number, and has no regard for my time, while giving inferior care, based on regulations and cost analysis. Noone goes to a doctor and says "Hey, Doc, I want you to cut every corner you can, make sure that my Healthcare costs as little as possible, no matter what!" No, we all want the VERY BEST CARE POSSIBLE!

The second speaker of the evening was Glenn Mulready of Health Insurance Underwriters Association. Glen spoke on the Myths and Facts of the uninsured Americans Debate.
The Obama Administration says that there are 46-50 million uninsured Americans. Well, let's take a look at those numbers. Of those 46-50 million, 14 million are already eligible for existing Government health programs. That leaves 32-36 million. 45% of the remaining are only without insurance for less than 4 months, as they change employers. That leaves about 18-20 million. 66% of those are the 18-34 crowd, who tend to choose not to purchase insurance, because they are still "invincible". That leaves just 8-13 million who are truly uninsured. Of those, an estimated 10 million are not even US citizensm according to the US Census Bureau. So, who is truly uninsured? Why do we NEED Government run Healthcare? Just to take care of the illegal immigrants, and indigents who refuse to take care of themselves? Why not do like Dr. Cottrill said, and Reform our current system, instead of scrapping it for one that we can't even afford, and that is inferior to the quality of care that is already available?

How can a bankrupt Government afford Universal Healthcare?!

The final speaker of the evening, was State Representative Dr. Mike Ritze, of Broken Arrow. Dr. Ritze spoke about the problems of our system, and offered solutions. As he stated, our current Healthcare system is widely acknowledged as being broken. Costs are increasing, ER wait times grow longer and longer, and illegal immigrants are flocking to America. The number of doctors who accept Medicare and Medicaid is shrinking, due to poor reimbursement, and massive amounts of red tape. Americans are calling for change.

There is a common misconception that we currently have a Free Market system, when it comes to Healthcare. The Federal Government already regulates and controls our Healthcare system. About half of all healthcare costs are paid by the US Government, and access is controlled by over 100,000 pages of regulations!! We need to get them OUT of the Healthcare business, not give them MORE control!! We are already seeing shortages of doctors in the US, due to the over regulation. Foreign doctors are recruited to the US to fill the void, oft times without having to go thru the same level of schooling, or credentials checks that American doctors go through! A large percentage of the malpractice suits filed in the US are foreign doctors who didn't have the necessary training to perform the tasks they were performing!

European experiments in socialized medicine are failing under the weight of delays in necessary medical procedures, a lack of healthcare professionals, and skyrocketing costs. In many countries with socialized medicine, there are talks of limiting, or eliminating, healthcare for smokers, the obese, and many others that the government deems not worthy of being treated. Allowing the Government to make life and death decisions, is dangerous, and absolutely contrary to the freedoms that our nation was founded on.

The real solution to our healthcare crisis is to get Government OUT of the healthcare business! Let free enterprise solve the problems, especially at the state and local levels. Encourage more doctors to run for office, instead of these career politicians, so that we have knowledgeable representatives at the local, state and federal levels. And do your own research and lobby your state and federal legislators to reduce the restrictive regulations, and pass Tort reforms

Over all, the evening was very informative, and educational. I understand better, the arguments against nationalized Healthcare, and the damage it will do to, not only our quality of healthcare services, but also to our Freedoms as Americans.

Please, stand up and fight against the continued attacks on our Constitutional freedoms, and the American way of life. Contact your legislators, let them know how you feel about these bills, and let them know that if they vote for it, we WILL retire them in the next elections. We ARE going to take back our country, and we will put back everything that they have taken from us!

Related articles by Zemanta

• Obama's Top Five Health Care Lies (dequalss.com)
• Here Comes Health Care Rationing (dequalss.com)
• Blue Dogs Cause Health Care Delay; Fundraisers Continue (huffingtonpost.com)
• Senate committee passes health care takeover, 13-10 (michellemalkin.com)
• Government Gone Mad (Guest Voice) (themoderatevoice.com)

Is the Tea Party Losing Steam, or Just Changing Tracks?

Image by randylane via Flickr

An Article in the Washington Independent, has suggested, somewhat gleefully, that the Tea Parties are starting to lose momentum, and therefore, relevance. The article points toward dwindling attendance, and MSM coverage, as proof that the movement is on it's way out.

I, however, disagree. Yes, attendance has been down, but the speed with which we are able to organize, and set up protests, is increasing, and the direct impact on local politics, is becoming noticeable. Grassroots candidates, who normally would get very little, if any, media attention, are garnering larger polling numbers, earlier. Those who have tied themselves to the Tea Parties, have become the most talked about candidates on local Talk Radio, and local blogs, and small town newspapers. Yes, the MSM, is still trying to ignore them, but it becomes increasingly difficult to do so.

For instance, Oklahoma State Senator Randy Brogdon, who is running a Grassroots campaign for Governor, still isn't getting a lot of MSM attention, but he was the ONLY Gubernatorial candidate represented at the Tulsa County GOP open meeting last week. His main competitor, Mary Fallin, did not have ONE T-shirt, bumper sticker, or sign in sight. Nearly one-third of those in attendance were wearing a Brogdon for Governor T-shirt, and MANY more were wearing Brogdon Stickers on their shirts. The fact is, in the second largest county in Oklahoma, the GOP party leadership candidate, had ZERO support, and the Grassroots, Tea Party associated candidate, had a huge following. These are the kinds of differences the Tea Parties are making.

“I think of the Tea Party Movement as a play in three acts,” said Michael Patrick Leahy, a Nashville activist who has clashed with other Tea Party organizers, but who is speaking at the Dallas event. “Act one was to protest the socialist statism that we don’t believe in. The second act is happening on Saturday when we celebrate the Constitution that we do believe in. The third act will be taking actions to restore limited government.”

No, it's not as glamorous, as having 20,000 people, and Sean Hannity, at the rallies, but it's MUCH more effective. The Tea Parties are being used to ignite the Grassroots, in a wildfire effort to "throw the bums out!", and replace them with strong Constitutional Conservatives, who stand for the values this country was founded on!

Tea Partiers, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!

"Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness......A gift, a responsibility, and an opportunity"

Related articles by Zemanta:

• WATCH Mark Levin: Obama's Policies Are "Bernie Madoff Times A Thousand"

Related articles by Zemanta

• DeMint: Obama and Democrats Are Pushing Socialism (usnews.com)
• Truth 2 Power Project: Garafalo Invited to Pal Around with Racists Tea Baggers (truthproject.quebecblogue.com)
• Mark Levin compares Obama to Bernie Madoff: 'He is taking a wrecking ball to this society' (crooksandliars.com)

Sarah Palin Running for President?

Image by auburnxc via Flickr

The news came out today that Sarah Palin will NOT seek reelection, and is possibly stepping down, as the Governor of Alaska. This, of course, begs the question, is she running for President in 2012? Not being Governor of Alaska, frees up her time, which allows her to get out and make speeches, and be a rallying point for the Conservative movement. (I can see the Tea Parties lining up now to get her to come speak!) This also allows her to start raising campaign funds, and increasing her, already significant, name recognition. As of right now, she is the only Republican candidate that I see as a potential threat to the Obama campaign. In order to be successful, she needs to sharpen her message, and continue to build her image as a mother, and one of the "regular" people. She needs to make appearances at Tea Party Rallies, and speak out, clearly and succinctly, against things like Cap & Trade, and Universal Healthcare. We need Sarah to be a leader, and to inspire the Conservative Grassroots.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Krauthammer on Palin (outsidethebeltway.com)
• Jindal, Palin, Perry & The Stimulus (dailykos.com)

Dallas Tea Party Invites Janeane Garofalo

The Dallas Tea has issued a 2nd open invitation to Janeane Garofalo, to attend the July 4th Tea Party at Southfork Ranch. The video addresses Garofalo's statements that all Tea Party participants are racist, white trash, redneck, "teabaggers".

The Bronze Rat

Image by gynti_46 via Flickr

A Tourist walked into a Chinese curio shop in San Francisco. While looking around at the exotic merchandise, he noticed a very lifelike, life-sized, bronze statue of a rat. It had no price tag, but was so incredibly striking the tourist decided he must have it. He took it to the old shop owner and asked, "How much for the bronze rat?"
"Ahhh, you have chosen wisely! It is $12 for the rat, $100 for the story," said the wise old Chinaman. The tourist quickly pulled out twelve dollars. "I'll just take the rat, you can keep the story."
As he walked down the street carrying his bronze rat, the tourist noticed that a few real rats had crawled out of the alleys and sewers and had begun following him down the street. This was a bit disconcerting so he began walking faster.
A couple blocks later he looked behind him and saw to his horror the herd of rats behind him had grown to hundreds, and they began squealing.
Sweating now, the tourist began to trot toward the Bay. Again, after a couple blocks, he looked around only to discover that the rats now numbered in the MILLIONS, and were squealing and coming toward him faster and faster.
Terrified, he ran to the edge of the Bay and threw the bronze rat as far as he could into the Bay.
Amazingly, the millions of rats all jumped into the Bay after the bronze rat, and were all drowned.
The man walked back to the curio shop in Chinatown.
"Ahhh," said the owner, "You have come back for story?"
"No sir," said the man, "I came back to see if you have a bronze Democrat."

Related articles by Zemanta

• Specter's loyalty (washingtonmonthly.com)
• Obama to Hold Emergency Press Conference (minx.cc)
• Obama's Preventive Detention Policy Compared To "Minority Report" (huffingtonpost.com)

A Message From Randy Brogdon

I have begun working with Oklahoma State Senator Randy Brogdon , on his campaign to become Governor. Randy is a strong Constitutional Conservative, who, as he likes to say, is a "danger to the status quo!

Randy has spent his two terms in the OK State Senate, battling against the increase of the scope of Government, and it's infringements on our liberty. As Randy says, he puts every bill that he has to vote on, through a 4 question test.

1. Is it Constitutional? If not, then it gets a "NO".
2. Do we need it? Again, if not, the vote is "NO".
3. Can we afford it? No money for the project, vote "NO"'
4. Does it increase Government power, or the Liberties of the People? If it increases Government, the vote is, again, "NO".

Randy has worked tirelessly to protect and restore the freedoms and liberties that are granted by the Constitution, including sponsoring the Oklahoma Sovereignty Resolution, restating our 10th Amendment Rights.

This commitment to our Freedom, and the Cause of Liberty, is why I am supporting Randy for Governor of the State of Oklahoma, and he needs our help!

He sent this letter out to his email list today, and I want to pass it on to every Freedom Lover that I can.

Dear Friends,

I want to thank all of you who have invested in my campaign for governor. We are in a last minute push to meet our goal of raising $100,000 by tomorrow June 30 before this quarter’s filing deadline. Please consider investing in my campaign and make a contribution by going to my website www.randybrogdon.com . Multiplication of your efforts will move us closer to reaching our goal. Please invest any amount you can.

25 people x $25.00 = $625

50 x 50 = $2500

100 x $100 = $10,000

250 x $250 = 62,500

50 x $500 = 25,000

Randy Brogdon

ANYTHING you can do to help, whether monetary, or volunteering your time, is greatly needed, and will go a LONG way toward safe-guarding the freedoms that we all love so dearly!

Don't do nothing, because you can only do a little!

Related articles by Zemanta

• House Bypasses Governor's Veto to Claim Oklahoma's Sovereignty (riseuprochester.org)
• Petition for Congress, and Obama to cease and decist (thepetitionsite.com)
• State Sovereignty (chasingthewind.net)
• Sovereignty and sanity: Saying no to porkulus (michellemalkin.com)
• Gov. Perry Backs Resolution Affirming Texas' Sovereignty Under 10th Amendment (borella.net)