News9 chopper blows stranded calf off of icy pond

From News9.com: WATONGA, Oklahoma -- SkyNews9 and pilot Mason Dunn came to the rescue once again for a stranded animal; this time for a calf stuck on the ice. A rancher near Watonga called News 9 for help after his calf became stuck in the middle of an iced-over pond. Howard and Joan Hursh said they remembered seeing Mason rescue an animal years ago that was stranded on the ice, but couldn't believe...

Pinnell, Dunn Endorse Reince Priebus for RNC Chair

Wisconsin GOP Chairman and RNC Chair candidate Reince Priebus picked up two of Oklahoma's three Republican National Committee votes, as State GOP Chairman Matt Pinnell and National Committeeman James Dunn endorsed Priebus. State Chairman Matt Pinnell: "We have a number of qualified candidates for RNC Chair - but at the...

Coburn: 'Apocalyptic pain' if debt is not brought under control

My friend Larry Jackson of Political Realities posted this video of U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Muskogee) on Fox News Sunday, discussing the danger that our national debt poses to America's fiscal future. I recommend watching the interview. Watch the latest video at <a href="http://video.foxnews.com">video.foxnews.com</a> Side note: I think Dr. Coburn's new beard is growing on me...

Merry Christmas!

First, a bit of Christmas music. I heard this piece on Classical 88.7FM KWTU, my favorite non-talk radio station. The song is by Benjamin Britten, and is titled Men of Goodwill (variations on the old carol God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen). Next, in the poll we conducted on which greeting my readers preferred for this time of year, Merry Christmas was the overwhelming winner at 90%. Happy Holidays...

New Faces on State House Committees

There are a lot of fresh faces on the 26 different Committees and Appropriations Subcommittees in the State House this year, and that's not just because 21 of the 101 state representatives are newly-elected freshmen. An analysis shows that retention of committee memberships from the last legislative session to this upcoming...

Terrill Comments on Bribery Charges

Embattled State Rep. Randy Terrill (R-Moore) made his first public comments regarding bribery charges filed against him by Oklahoma County DA David Prater. The following press release was issued today.  Terrill Comments on Bribery Charges Democrat District Attorney David Prater has charged me with offering a “bribe”...

Coburn Endorses Greg Treat in SD47

Dr. Coburn endorses Greg Treat for State SenateSays Treat is “committed to limited government, passionate about pro-life issues, and dedicated to making Oklahoma a better place to work…” (OKLAHOMA CITY, OK) – U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-OK) today announced his endorsement of Greg Treat to be Oklahoma’s next State...

UK Islamic ad campaign: "The Evils of Christmas"

A Muslim group in the United Kingdom has distributed thousands of the above posters in time for Christmas. The kicker is the last paragraph...

Steele Announces House Committee Assignments

Speaker-elect Announces House Committee Assignments  OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma House Speaker Kris Steele today announced committee assignments for the 2011 and 2012 legislative sessions. "Although Oklahoma faces significant challenges this year, I am confident the members of the House are more than up to the task," said Steele, R-Shawnee. "I appreciate each member’s willingness to serve and,...

RNC Chair Race Update

As the election for Republican National Committee chair gets closer, the picture as to who will be chairman for the 2012 election cycle is beginning to form. Currently, there are six candidates in the running: current RNC Chairman Michael Steele, former Michigan GOP Chairman Saul Anuzis, former RNC Co-Chair Ann Wagner, Party chairman Reince Priebus, former Bush administration official Maria Cino...

Coburn Releases "Wastebook 2010" Report

 Dr. Coburn Releases New Oversight Report:“Wastebook 2010: A Guide to Some of the Most Wasteful Government Spending of 2010” (WASHINGTON, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-OK) today released a new oversight report, “Wastebook 2010” that highlights some of the most egregious examples of government waste in 2010. “As...

Feds force Payne County Bank to remove Bible verse, crosses, Merry Christmas buttons

From KOCO News: PERKINS, Okla. -- A small-town bank in Oklahoma said the Federal Reserve won’t let it keep religious signs and symbols on display. Federal Reserve examiners come every four years to make sure banks are complying with a long list of regulations. The examiners came to Perkins last week. And the team from Kansas City deemed a Bible verse of the day, crosses on the teller’s counter...

Poll: Which Late-December Greeting?

Given the now-perennial controversy over which greeting to use around this time of year, I have posted a poll for my readers. Do you prefer "Seasons Greetings", "Happy Holidays", or "Merry Christmas"?  Vote on the right sideb...

Inhofe Earmarks $44.7M in End-of-Year Omnibus

As the Democrats try to pass an end-of-year Omnibus spending bill, Senators are larding up the bloated, $1.1 trillion dollar measure with earmarks. Sen. Tom Coburn's office has done a great job of exposing the vast amount of earmarks in the bill (over 6,700 earmarks) - with a database viewable here. As usual, there is a great...

And It Begins: First Presidential Primary Debates Announced

Get ready - the 2012 Presidential election is almost upon us! Yes, the first Republican primary debates have already been announced. Nancy Reagan made public last month plans for the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation to hold a debate in the spring of 2011, co-hosted by Politico and NBC News. Today, CNN and the New Hampshire...

BREAKING: Federal Judge Rules ObamaCare Unconstitutional

Breaking: Federal judge in Virginia declares that ObamaCare is unconstitutional. Eastern Virginia U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson is the first judge to rule against the legislation. This particular lawsuit was filed by Virginia's Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, and challenged the individual mandate found in the bill. It...

OKC Mall 'Flash' Mob Sings 'Hallelujah'

In a more local continuation of this Christmas season's nationwide phenomenon/fad, a large (somewhat organized) "flash mob" sang G.F. Handel's Hallelujah at Oklahoma City's Quail Springs Mall this afternoon. Hallelujah (often, and erroneously, called Hallelujah Chorus) happens to be my favorite song of all time, and although it technically wasn't originally a Christmas song, having been placed by...

Lucas Lands Agriculture Chairmanship

U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK) has been confirmed as the next chairman of the House Agriculture Committee. The 3rd District congressman, a lifelong farmer/rancher, will be the first ever Oklahoman to chair the committ...

Sen. Coburn speaks on Senate floor about debt crisis

U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Muskogee) gave the following speech on the floor of the Senate yesterday. Part One: Part Two: Script: Mr. President, I hope the American people are watching Washington right now. We are at a defining moment in our country. There is not anybody in this body who does not recognize that our country is on an unsustainable course. They know it. It is well known. The world...

OKGOP Launches "Operation RedZone"

 OKGOP Launches Voter Registration Program- Operation RedZone (OKLAHOMA CITY) Oklahoma may be the 'reddest state in the nation' but voter registration figures still lean heavily towards Democrats - something the Oklahoma Republican Party hopes to change with today's launch of Operation RedZone. "The OKGOP has a committee...

Never Forget

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Senate Earmark Ban: GOP Hall of Shame

This is old news now, since it happened while I was on vacation, but it deserves a post all the same. On Tuesday, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) brought a ban on earmarks to the floor of the United States Senate; the proposal failed 39-56, with 8 Republicans voting against it (with the majority of Democrats) and 7 Democrats voting...