The Gadfly On The Wall
GOP Chairman's Race: Former GOP State Chairman Gary Jones is now in, following Tulsa County GOP Chairman Jerry Buchanan as an official candidate, and Chairman Tom Daxon says he'll seek reelection. The in-party jockeying is intense. Buchanan, some say, is a fresh face; Jones, some say, is a proven quantity; Daxon, some say, will have a tough time winning reelection. Having seen a few such races in the past, I observe the incumbent has an advantage, but anything can happen.
Give 'Em Hell, Jim: Senator Jim Inhofe, whose high horse is always parked nearby, is on it this week and giving FEMA all kinds of hell. He says it should be removed from the Department of Homeland Security, get its act together and once again become a fast-moving emergency disaster relief agency instead of everybody's whipping boy. No disagreement here. FEMA has gone from a go-to agency to a not-here agency.
Speaking Of Inhofe: The senator has enlisted a star-studded helper for his March fundraiser, retired Army General Tommy Franks. Rumors have flown for months that Franks will move to his Kiowa County ranch from Florida to live and, possibly, seek office. If Franks plans a race, it's a smart move to become acquainted with Inhofe's heavy-hitter donors and begin building a party base, both accomplished by this event.
Governor-Lieutenant Governor Team: Seems the press is on to create a team on future ballots. I am reminded of the ill-fated reelection campaign of my late boss, Dewey Bartlett, in 1970 when we teamed up with then-Rep. Ralph Thompson in a team effort. Democrat David Hall upset us by 2/3rds of a vote per precinct and the popular George Nigh won the No. 2 seat. That pretty well killed "team" talk for, what, 37 years now?
Cal Hobson: The former Senate president pro tem has been hired ($65,000 per year) at OU. Our institutions of higher learning seem popular places with former politicians.
Snows Of New Hampshire: Caught a cable news video the other night of snow piled there about eight feet high. Reminded me of winters past, when I ventured into Concord in a presidential campaign. (Have you ever flown in a 1950's de Havilland Otter (later model shown here) with wicker seats and landed in a snowstorm? And I'm asked why I quit flying!)
Moving On: Melissa Gandall, for seven years a primary news anchor (and assistant news director) at KTOK-AM 1000 in Oklahoma City, is leaving the station to join the audio books division of Tate Publishing Company.
Family Ties: Like so many other families, the McCarville clan has lost numerous sons in our nation's conflicts, from the Civil War (we fought on both sides) to World War I to World War II. The latter claimed cousin Tech Sergeant Louis J. "Barney' McCarville, engineer and top turret gunner on "Spare Parts," a B-24 Liberator flying out of a base in England. On July 18, 1944, over Caen, France, his aircraft took an anti-aircraft burst in the bombay door area and crashed into the English Channel several hundred yards off shore. Barney died in the crash, forever 20. Barney, shown with the "Spare Parts" crew, is third from left in the front row.
Give 'Em Hell, Jim: Senator Jim Inhofe, whose high horse is always parked nearby, is on it this week and giving FEMA all kinds of hell. He says it should be removed from the Department of Homeland Security, get its act together and once again become a fast-moving emergency disaster relief agency instead of everybody's whipping boy. No disagreement here. FEMA has gone from a go-to agency to a not-here agency.
Speaking Of Inhofe: The senator has enlisted a star-studded helper for his March fundraiser, retired Army General Tommy Franks. Rumors have flown for months that Franks will move to his Kiowa County ranch from Florida to live and, possibly, seek office. If Franks plans a race, it's a smart move to become acquainted with Inhofe's heavy-hitter donors and begin building a party base, both accomplished by this event.
Governor-Lieutenant Governor Team: Seems the press is on to create a team on future ballots. I am reminded of the ill-fated reelection campaign of my late boss, Dewey Bartlett, in 1970 when we teamed up with then-Rep. Ralph Thompson in a team effort. Democrat David Hall upset us by 2/3rds of a vote per precinct and the popular George Nigh won the No. 2 seat. That pretty well killed "team" talk for, what, 37 years now?
Cal Hobson: The former Senate president pro tem has been hired ($65,000 per year) at OU. Our institutions of higher learning seem popular places with former politicians.
Snows Of New Hampshire: Caught a cable news video the other night of snow piled there about eight feet high. Reminded me of winters past, when I ventured into Concord in a presidential campaign. (Have you ever flown in a 1950's de Havilland Otter (later model shown here) with wicker seats and landed in a snowstorm? And I'm asked why I quit flying!)Moving On: Melissa Gandall, for seven years a primary news anchor (and assistant news director) at KTOK-AM 1000 in Oklahoma City, is leaving the station to join the audio books division of Tate Publishing Company.
Family Ties: Like so many other families, the McCarville clan has lost numerous sons in our nation's conflicts, from the Civil War (we fought on both sides) to World War I to World War II. The latter claimed cousin Tech Sergeant Louis J. "Barney' McCarville, engineer and top turret gunner on "Spare Parts," a B-24 Liberator flying out of a base in England. On July 18, 1944, over Caen, France, his aircraft took an anti-aircraft burst in the bombay door area and crashed into the English Channel several hundred yards off shore. Barney died in the crash, forever 20. Barney, shown with the "Spare Parts" crew, is third from left in the front row.
Labels: Gadfly's Columns
posted by Mike McCarville @ 3:44 AM
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