Perry Wins Oklahoma State Fair Straw Poll

The Oklahoma County Republican Party conducted a straw poll at the Oklahoma State Fair in Oklahoma City. Rick Perry won the GOP primary portion of the poll, in which nearly two thousand ballots were cast over a ten-day period.

Whom do you expect to vote for in the Republican Presidential Primary?

Oklahoma County GOP straw poll; 1,947 votes, Sept. 15th-25th

Rick Perry - 39%
Ron Paul - 19%
Mitt Romney - 14%
Herman Cain - 11%
Michele Bachmann - 7%
Newt Gingrich - 5%
Jon Huntsman - 2%
Rick Santorum - 2%

You can the rest of the results (six questions in all) here.

Netanyahu's UN Speech

In case you missed it, here is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech to the United Nations General Assembly from yesterday:

Cain wins Florida's 'Presidency 5' Straw Poll

Herman Cain scored an unexpected, and rather stunning, victory in today's Presidency 5 straw poll in Florida. Mitt Romney and Rick Perry had been expected to be the top contenders in the Florida GOP event, but Cain took the straw poll by storm.

1. Herman Cain - 996 (37.1%)
2. Rick Perry - 409 (15.4%)
3. Mitt Romney - 372 (14%)
4. Rick Santorum - 289 (10.9%)
5. Ron Paul - 276 (10.4%)
6. Newt Gingrich - 224 (8.4%)
7. Jon Huntsman - 60 (2.3%)
8. Michelle Bachmann - 40 (1.5%)

After an initial (and massive) surge, Rick Perry has had a difficult few weeks. This is a painful end to the week, as it continues the story-line of Perry's campaign troubles.

Also surprising about this poll was that Ron Paul (well known for targeting straw polls) came in fifth, and Michelle Bachmann came in a very distant dead last. Bachmann and Romney did both skip the event, but in a gathering of party faithful in a contentious primary, one would expect their numbers to have been higher (particularly Bachmann's).

This is very good news for Herman Cain, and will give some much-needed wind in his campaign's sails. Presidency 5 organizers like to tout the fact that the winners in their three previous straw polls (1979, 1987 and 1995) went on to become the Republican nominee every time.

Editorial: What would Arab state #23/Muslim state #58 be like?

Global leaders are so busy speaking of how essential it is for a “State of Palestine” to be founded that none of them seems to have noticed that it already exists in practice in the Palestinian Authority. Since the Palestinian Authority was established in 1994, the contours of the “State of Palestine” that they wish have taken form in front of our eyes.

So what will this famous “State of Palestine” be like?

It will be a racist state ethnically cleansed of Jews, as the PLO representatives proclaimed the last week.

It will be a state led by Holocaust enablers like Hamas or by a Holocaust-denier like Mahmoud Abbas, who in a book downgraded the number of Jewish victims and denied that the gas chambers were used to murder Jews.

In any case, it will be a state committed to the destruction of the nearby Jews’ homeland.

A state that will banish freedom of conscience for artists, journalists and writers. A state that will drive away Christians from the land, while proclaiming Jesus “the first fedayeen”.

A state that will stone to death Arab homosexuals and prostitutes, who are now finding a shelter in Israel. A state that will torture Arab inmates in prisons and that will throw political dissidents from the roofs of public buildings.

A state where the Iranian clergy will preach the Khomeinist ideology. A state that will accept checks and support from the genocidal Muslim Brotherhood in the name of “the caliphate or death”, as the Islamists who assassinated Egypt’s Anwar Sadat in 1981 decorated their holding cages.

A state where the sharia – the Islamic code – will be the only rule of law. A state that will be put to death human beings simply because guilty of apostasy (conversion to Christianity). A state where the women will be obliged to wear headscarves. A state where “honor killings” will terrorize the female population.

A state that will commemorate terrorists, human bombs and baby killers in public squares, streets and monuments.

A state that will not hold democratic elections, but that will be a combination of corruption, dictatorship, Islamic theology and “binladenism”.

A state where terror militias will cut fingers of the smokers.

A state where public libraries will become the largest global archive of antisemithic books.

A state that will ban drinking in public buildings. A state where liquor stores will be blown up by terror groups.

A state where men will be banned from women’s hair salons.

A state where security forces will arrest people for expressing opinions unpopular with the regime, as well as punishing media organizations and journalists for their coverage of such statements.

A state where the ratio of militiamen/men- under-arms to civilians will be higher than in any other country. A state where worshipers in mosques will be gunned down by terrorists.

A state that will encourage a new category of Arab refugees, those who would gladly escape oppressive and murderous Palestinian control.

A state where ambulances will be stopped on the way to hospitals and wounded will be shot in cold blood. A state that would be a heavily armed union of rejectionists all dedicated to destroying the shards of Western values.

A state where young couples will not walk hand in hand in the Al Manar Square of Ramallah and where plainclothes officers will halt them in the streets, demanding to see marriage licenses.

A state that will declare war on Judaism, depicting Jewish history in the Middle East as no more than an insignificant, brief sojourn by arrogant colonizers.

Who would live in such a state? So why the world is dribbling at the mouth about the creation of a “State of Palestine”?

Is it because Arab state number 23 and Muslim state number 58 will be the perfect tool for the evaporization of the lone Jewish state in the world?

6 miles is the distance between the Israeli city of Afula and the “State of Palestine”. 9 miles to the city of Netanya. 11 miles to reach the skycrapers of Tel Aviv. 4 miles to bomb the Ben Gurion International Airport. Just a mile to the city of Kfar Saba.

Building the small Palestinian caliphate on Israel’s shoulders is the first step of throwing the Jews in the sea.

Italian journalist Giulio Meotti authored this editorial, which appears at IsraelNationalNews.com. 

Israel's Ayalon on the peace process

With the Palestinian Authority's looming efforts to seek recognition by the United Nations, Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon's office has released an excellent video entitled 'The Truth of the Peace Process'.




Ayalon had a previous video on The Truth about the West Bank, which you can view here.

Carter wants Romney as GOP nominee

"I hope he [Romney] wins. I'm not taking a position, but I would be very pleased to see him win the Republican nomination."

More here.

American Majority 'Training Bomb' tomorrow in Bixby

American Majority is holding a Training Bomb tomorrow at locations across the country, designed to educate and train conservative political activists.

Not only will it be the biggest one-day training of conservative activists ever, but American Majority is going to be introducing new lectures, new manuals, and new projects.

Honoring Constitution Day

On September 17th, we will celebrate the 224th anniversary of the signing of our Constitution. It is one of the greatest political documents in history.

But in 2011, the principles of limited government and individual freedom are in question. Understanding there is a problem is not enough. Coming up with ideas to solve the problems is not enough. Protesting is not enough. For us to turn this country around, the citizens must be equipped with the tools to bring about real change, and then spurred into action. We know we need to reduce the impact of government on our lives in order to make America stronger, and there’s no better day than Constitution Day to bring thousands of Americans together to learn how they can ensure we continue to live in a free society.

Get trained. Make a difference.

To that end, American Majority, one of the premier political training institutions in this country, is proud to announce that on September 17th, Constitution Day, it will be conducing the first ever Training Bomb. Tea Party members and liberty minded activists will come together in more than thirteen cities for the largest single-day grassroots training initiative in American history. For the first time, simultaneous sessions across America will be held to educate and mobilize fiscally conservative activists and future leaders.

This is not a rally. This is not a summit.

This is a massive effort to equip concerned citizens with the tools necessary to bring about change. Both an activist and candidate curriculum will be offered at each location to help the conservative cause organize for victory next year.

With the 2012 election season just around the corner, American Majority Oklahoma is inviting patriots to get a jump on the competition in preparation for one of the most important elections in recent memory. 

On Saturday, September 17th, American Majority Oklahoma will be in the Tulsa metro to present “Kickoff to Election 2012”.

The “Kickoff to Election 2012” will take place from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM and will be held at the Lord of Life Lutheran Church located at 12802 S Memorial Drive in Bixby.

The cost is $25 per person, and lunch and all training materials will be provided.  Seating is limited and pre-registration is strongly encouraged.

This training, which is a part of American Majority’s Constitution Day Training Bomb, is designed for potential candidates, activists, volunteers, and any concerned citizen who wants to make a difference in the 2012 elections.

THIS BRAND NEW, NEVER BEFORE SEEN PRESENTATION will focus on simple and applicable keys to victory that conservatives can use to prevail in politics and transform our nation.

For more information or to register, please visit www.trainingbomb.com. You can also go here for more information.

American Majority is a fantastic organization, and I can't recommend them and their events enough. This coming election cycle will be crucial to America's future, and it is vital that conservative activists have the training necessary to be effective.

If you can attend, I encourage you to do so.

We Still Remember

I was only 11 years old at the time, but will never forget how that calm Tuesday morning was shattered. In moments, America was changed forever.

Never forget.

Never again.

Muskogee Tea Party Co-Hosting Presidential Debate

Muskogee Tea Party Co-Hosting CNN/Tea Party Express Presidential Debate

CNN and the Tea Party Express, along with the Muskogee Tea Party and more than 100 other tea party groups from every state across the country, will team up this Monday (September 12) to host the first Tea Party presidential debate, to be held in Tampa, Florida. Eight Republican presidential candidates will be present for the debate. Questions for the candidates have been given by Tea Party members all over the nation, and will also be taken from select remote-viewing parties being held by co-sponsoring Tea Party groups.

This will be a historic evening, and the Muskogee Tea Party is proud to be a co-sponsor of the debate. The debate will air live on CNN starting at 7:00pm Central Standard Time. It will also be live-streamed on CNN.com/TeaPartyDebate.

Candidates participating will be Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (MN), businessman Herman Cain (GA), former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (GA), former Gov. Jon Huntsman (UT), Congressman Ron Paul (TX), Gov. Rick Perry (TX), former Gov. Mitt Romney (MA) and former Sen. Rick Santorum (PA).

The Muskogee Tea Party will be hosting a special debate watch party, on Monday evening starting at 6:30pm at Buffalo Wild Wings in Muskogee (1130 W. Shawnee). The public is encouraged to attend, have some great food, watch the debate, and interact with fellow Tea Party conservatives.

The Muskogee Tea Party's organizer, Jamison Faught, and member Steven Proctor will be representing the group in the live audience in Tampa, Florida.

For more information, please email MuskogeeTeaParty@gmail.com, or call (918) 869-6000. You can also visit the Muskogee Tea Party's website at MuskogeeTeaParty.com, like them on Facebook, and follow them on Twitter.

CNN/Tea Party Express hosting Tea Party Debate Monday

(CNN press release, 9/8/11)

CNN, Tea Party Express to Host
First-Ever Tea Party Debate, Sept. 12 

CNN and the Tea Party Express, along with more than 100 local tea party groups from every state across the country, will team up Monday, September 12 to present a first-of-its-kind debate from the site of the 2012 Republican National Convention: Tampa, Florida. Eight Republican presidential contenders will face questions from moderator and lead political anchor Wolf Blitzer during the two-hour event, which will air live on CNN from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. from the Florida State Fairgrounds. The debate will focus on a wide-range of topics, including the role, size and scope of government, with a specific emphasis on issue number one to tea party members and all Americans: the economy.

In addition to questions from Blitzer, audience members inside the debate hall, made up in part by members from tea party groups in 31 states and the District of Columbia, will be invited to ask questions directly to the candidates. Questions will also be taken live from tea party members at debate watch parties in Phoenix, Ariz.; Cincinnati, Ohio; and Portsmouth, Virginia. Online, CNN will solicit questions via comments on CNNPolitics.com, the CNN Politics Facebook page, and by using the #CNNTeaParty hashtag on Twitter.

The following Republican candidates will participate in the debate: Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, businessman Herman Cain, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, Texas Rep. Ron Paul, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum.

The debate will be broadcast live on CNN, CNN International, CNN.com, and CNN Radio. The debate will be available via live stream in the CNN Apps for iPhone, iPad and Android.

CNNPolitics.com will provide a series of stories for all things related to the CNN-Tea Party Republican Debate: the evolution of the tea party movement, its influence on the Republican Party, what’s at stake for the GOP hopefuls participating in the debate and more. On debate day, Monday, Sept. 12, CNNPolitics.com will dedicate its site to coverage of the debate, featuring profiles of the candidates and a behind-the-scenes look at event preparations.

On the day of the debate, the CNN Political Ticker will host a live, up-to-the-minute blog, including real-time comments from CNN’s political team. The page will also incorporate a social media live stream, integrating the conversation happening across CNN.com, Twitter and Facebook directly onto the Political Ticker.

Additionally, a new page for debate coverage, CNN.com/TeaPartyDebate, will be live on Friday, Sept. 9 and will feature a live video stream of the debate, plus related video.


[Blogger's note: the Muskogee Tea Party is one of the co-sponsors of the debate - the only group from Oklahoma that is a co-sponsor. As the organizer of the Muskogee Tea Party, I will be in Tampa in the audience at the debate.]

Just another day on the job...

I was on a carpet cleaning job this morning, when this horse 

decided to check out the Clean Pro work van.

Perry and Romney on Social Security, plus your take

At last night's presidential debate, Rick Perry and Mitt Romney had a heated exchange over Social Security and the direction needed for the program.

Perry called Social Security "a Ponzi scheme" and "a monstrous lie". Romney said that the GOP nominee "has to be someone who isn't committed to abolishing Social Security, but is committed to saving Social Security", and that he would never say Social Security was a failure. Listen to this clip:




Now, for your reaction, use the poll below and comment on the post.

Wildfires and Drought

The wildfires in Texas and here in Oklahoma are complicated by the exceptionally severe drought both states are undergoing. The following graphic and text are from the U.S. Drought Monitor website:

(click for larger image)

Southern Plains: Conditions continue to remain bleak in Oklahoma and Texas with very little help being seen on the horizon after the near miss of Tropical Storm Lee. The only change of note in Oklahoma, as noted above, was in the filling in of D2 completely within the northeastern corner as it meshes with the expansion of D2 in southeastern Kansas and southwestern Missouri given the oppressive heat, high winds and lack of any significant rains the past few weeks. 

Texas also sees very little change this week with only a small area of the Texas Panhandle moving from D2 to D3. The big story has been the fires in Texas though, which were fanned by the backside winds of TS Lee. Year-to-date, 18,719 fires have burned over 3.5 million acres resulting in 2,897 structure losses according to the Texas Forest Service. The 3.5 million total Texas acres burned represents over 50% of the national total acres burned. In addition, 96% of Texas’s pasture and rangelands are rated as “Poor” or “Very Poor” while Oklahoma shows 90% in this category.

Relief from the Heat!

After enduring record high temperatures for months, Oklahoma looks to be getting a break from the heat over this next week.

Labor Day in particular is looking really nice...