Merry Christmas!

I would like to wish all of my readers a merry Christmas! I hope that you have a wonderful time as you gather with family and friends, and pray that you remember and rejoice in the true meaning of Christmas - the birth of Jesus Christ.

A fantastic rendition of 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen'
by the Annie Moses Band

Without further ado, the text from the Gospel of Luke's account of the very first Christmas:


And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. 


(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 


And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 


And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 


to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 


And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 


And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 


And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 


And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 


And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 


For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 


And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 


And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 


Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 


And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 


And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 


And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 


And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 


But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 


And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Luke 2:1-20

Poll shows Gingrich leading in Oklahoma (but take with a grain of salt)

SoonerPoll.com conducted a poll over the past month on the presidential primary here in Oklahoma. It has some interesting results, but I'll explain why it should be taken with a big grain of salt.

Newt Gingrich: 33.3%
Mitt Romney: 14.3%
Rick Perry: 9.3%
Herman Cain:  9.3% (dropped out during polling, but was kept in for consistency)
Ron Paul: 4.3%
Michele Bachmann: 3.5%
Rick Santorum: 1.5%
Jon Huntsman: 1.3%
Don't know/refused: 23.5%

SoonerPoll.com conducted the scientific poll Nov. 17-Dec. 16, 2011.  The survey was of 400 'Likely' Oklahoma voters who identified themselves as Republicans, with a margin of error is plus or minus 4.9 percentage points.

At the start of their polling, Herman Cain was still an active candidate. Upon his withdrawal, SoonerPoll had to keep his name in the poll, in order for consistency in the survey.

However, Cain's inclusion isn't the problem for me -- my hesitation is based on the length of the poll. Most surveys of this nature are done in a two to three day period, sometimes as long as a week. This one took a whole month, which seems excessive to me. With this particular election cycle, much transpires in a month's time (a prime example in this poll being Herman Cain's candidacy).

A primary poll is essentially a snapshot of the current mood of the electorate in regards to the candidates. When a poll is of this length, it loses focus, and the results become fuzzy and out of focus.

Gingrich may well have this type of a lead in Oklahoma, but I take this poll with a big grain of salt. Until another poll confirms the results, put an asterisk beside this one.

Dead: Kim Jong-Il

Kim Jong-Il

DEAD

The North Korean government is reporting that longtime dictator Kim Jong-Il died two days ago of a heart attack. His apparent successor is Kim Jong-un, his youngest son.

Read more here.

Eagle Forum Endorses George Faught

George Faught, candidate for Congress in the 2nd District, has picked up another major endorsement, this time from Eagle Forum PAC and Phyllis Schlafly.

Eagle Forum Endorses George Faught in
Oklahoma’s Second Congressional District

Washington, D.C. – Eagle Forum PAC, a conservative public policy organization founded by pro-family leader Phyllis Schlafly, is proud to endorse George Faught in the race to represent Oklahoma’s Second Congressional District.

“George is exactly the kind of leader we need in Washington,” said Schlafly.  “He is a tireless defender of life, marriage, fiscal responsibility and national security.”

“As a state legislator, George had a 100% pro-life record.” Schlafly noted.  “He also wrote and advocated for legislation to make English Oklahoma’s official language, a measure supported by 87% of Americans.”

“George also led the effort to decline federal money for Oklahoma to lay the groundwork for Obamacare,” Schlafly explained.  “Obamacare must be overturned!  If someone is willing to turn down money for his state as a state legislator, we know we can count on him to go the distance in Washington and vote for its complete repeal.”

“Now, more than ever, we need Members of Congress who don’t just vote well, but will roll up their sleeves and fight to protect life and marriage and to cut federal spending,” said Schlafly.  “We know George Faught will represent and fight for our values.  We look forward to working with him in Congress.”

Eagle Forum PAC supports candidates who are committed to a conservative philosophy of limited government, national sovereignty and traditional values.

Learn more about George and his campaign for Congress by visiting his website, and by following him on Twitter and Facebook.

Romney in 2002: "My views are progressive"

Hat tip to Kavon Nikrad of Race42012.com for first bringing this clip to my attention. Here, in a news story from his 2002 gubernatorial campaign, Mitt Romney states that "I think people recognize that I'm not a partisan Republican, that I'm someone who is moderate, and that my views are progressive".

Pearl Harbor: 70 Years

70 years later, a grateful nation remembers the sacrifices at 

Pearl Harbor, and during the rest of World War II. 

We salute our heroes - living and fallen.

Ron Paul wins OKGOP Straw Poll

Results for the Oklahoma Republican Party Presidential Straw Poll were announced this evening at the "Victory 2012" rally in Oklahoma City. Texas Congressman Ron Paul emerged as the victor of the online poll, which required a five dollar donation per vote, and was limited to one vote per individual.

The results:

1. Ron Paul - 46%
2. Herman Cain - 25%
3. Newt Gingrich - 17%
4. Mitt Romney - 6%
5. Rick Perry - 3%
6. Michele Bachmann - 2%
7. Rick Santorum - 1%
8. Gary Johnson - less than 1%

Poll was conducted online at www.OklahomaStrawPoll.com from November 21st to December 5th. For more details visit www.oklahomastrawpoll.com/faq or call (405) 528-3501.

Blogger to Coburn: run for president as "favorite son"

Tulsa blogger Michael Bates of BatesLine.com has penned a plea to Sen. Tom Coburn, urging him to file a presidential campaign here in Oklahoma as a "favorite son" candidate. Filing for president in Oklahoma started today, and closes on Wednesday at 5pm.

The best hope for across-the-board (fiscal, social, and defense) conservatives is for another candidate to emerge, but it's too late (believe it or not) for another candidate to enter and compete effectively in the primaries. Filing deadlines have already passed for New Hampshire, South Carolina, Florida, and Missouri. Oklahoma, Ohio, Louisiana, and Michigan close filing this week. By the time we know the result in New Hampshire, even more deadlines will have passed. Although Iowa has no filing deadline (the caucus straw poll is not binding), a win there would require creating a grassroots GOTV organization ex nihilo in less than a month.

But there is still a way for a "player to be named later" to become the Republican nominee. "Favorite son" candidates could file in each state, giving Republican voters a way to vote for "None of the Above" and to deny a majority of delegates to any of the currently active candidates, none of whom seem to have the right stuff to win the nomination, win the general election, and then steer the country decisively away from the fiscal Niagara Falls just around the next bend in the river.

I'm asking you, Sen. Coburn, to run in Oklahoma's primary as our favorite son.

Sure, any random Republican with the intention of serving as a placeholder for "None of the Above" could cut a check for $2,500 to put his name on the ballot. But Joe Random would have to raise huge amounts of money to publicize his reasons for running and to convince Oklahoma voters that he could be trusted with their votes.

You wouldn't have that problem, Sen. Coburn. The media, both local and national, would give a Coburn favorite son candidacy significant coverage. Oklahoma Republican voters already know and trust you (your TARP vote notwithstanding -- an error, but well-intentioned), and they know you are not driven by a lust for power. And if a win in Oklahoma turned into a national groundswell for a Coburn nomination, the vast majority of Oklahoma Republicans and fiscal conservatives nationwide would be very, very pleased.

If you should win the Oklahoma primary, as I expect you would, Oklahoma's 43 delegates would give you a seat at the table in deciding the outcome of a deadlocked national convention, helping to ensure that the Republican nominee is someone who understands the fiscal crisis that looms over our nation and who is prepared to act decisively to deal with it.

Read the post in its entirety at this link.

Cain suspending presidential campaign

OUT.


Cain: "I am suspending my presidential campaign."  Launching organization to push for his 9-9-9 plan, and other issues.