Hurricane Scrambles GOP Convention Plan

ST. PAUL — The Republican National Convention has suspended all but the most necessary activities to constitute a convention Monday and then will adjourn until further notice, John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, announced Sunday.

World: With Palin, GOP Convention Buzzes

By Jim Myers/Washington Bureau, Tulsa World, In St. Paul ~ Oklahoma Republicans continued to arrive Saturday for their national convention still energized over John McCain’s historic selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate.

“Republicans I am listening to are just absolutely ecstatic,’’ said Jerry Buchanan, a former Tulsa County Republican chairman.

“They are excited because the Republicans are doing something a little different this time.’’

Buchanan predicted that the Palin pick would unite the party as the grass roots learn more about the Alaska governor and join the enthusiastic response.

Other Oklahomans agreed.

Don Burdick of Tulsa, the 1st District’s vice chairman, said he and his wife saw that firsthand when they crossed the Mississippi River to visit the local Republican headquarters in Hudson, Wis.

“They were excited about the pick,’’ Burdick said.

“We got to the point that there were about 20 of us having a celebration.’’

State Rep. Pam Peterson of Tulsa believes the excitement of the McCain-Palin ticket is already building.“I was just thrilled,’’ Peterson said. "She is going to help energize our base, which we desperately need at this time.’’

Bobby Cleveland of Slaughterville said he believed that the GOP ticket will send the right kind of message: “It shows that our party is not just a bunch of elitists.”

Grace Hickman of Bartlesville said Palin complements McCain well.

David Holt, an alternate delegate from Oklahoma City, said it was difficult now to talk about the convention without talking about Palin.

He said McCain’s announcement Friday kicked up the excitement.

“She will be a fresh face for many,’’ he said, adding that Palin’s appearance at the convention will be the first time a number of Oklahoma delegates will see her in person.

Burdick said he hoped that the makeup of both parties’ tickets will encourage even more people to get involved and compare the candidates’ policies.

Frazier Henke, the vice chairman of the Tulsa County Republican Party, said the convention would offer an opportunity to contrast the differences between McCain, an Arizona senator, and the Democratic presidential nominee, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama.

“It’s clear that Sen. Obama’s plans for the future of this country are sketchy and ambiguous at best,” Henke said. “This is our chance for Sen. McCain to take the stage and outline his plans for prosperity and success for our nation.”

Oklahomans will have an unusually high-profile role at the convention.

Each night of the four day convention will have a speech by an Oklahoman, starting with U.S. Rep. Tom Cole on Monday. U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn will give an address Tuesday, followed by Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett on Wednesday and U.S. Rep. Mary Fallin on Thursday.

“That will be a highlight for us,’’ Holt said of the appearances. Oklahoma has 41 delegates and 38 alternates to the convention.

State Republican Chairman Gary Jones said, “We look forward to representing the Sooner State and exploring the Twin Cities with some great Oklahoma Republicans.’’

Politico: Palin Choice Ignites Sportsmen

Excerpted From A Jonathan Martin Article On Politico ~ Sportsmen are also overjoyed at the addition of one of their own, and can’t get enough of video and pictures showing (Alaska Governor Sarah) Palin firing a weapon.

“She's one of us,” wrote Michael Bane, a prominent Colorado-based gun enthusiast who has a show on the Outdoor Channel, on his blog. “FINALLY, we can get 100 percent behind the Republican ticket ... change we can believe in!

“You know I've had my problems with McCain, but he has reached out a hand to us both at the NRA Annual Meeting [earlier this year] and with the amazing selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate,” Bane added.

And then there is the contrast: “While [Barack Obama] wants to ban AR-15s, Palin shoots AR-15s, and apparently pretty well. Every shooter, every hunter, every gun owner, every competitor needs to understand that it is time to, in the words of Bruce Willis, ‘cowboy the 'f...' up.'"

Chris Cox, the top political aide at the NRA, suggested that his job just got a whole lot easier, not just with a pro-gun Republican vice presidential nominee but a Democratic number two — Delaware Sen. Joe Biden — who is anathema to the Second Amendment community.

“We’ll be able to have some fun contrasting not just McCain and Obama, but Biden and Palin,” said Cox, whose organization is giving "I'm a Bitter Gun Owner and I Vote!" signs and T-shirts to its members. “She’s great on our issues and [Biden’s] been terrible for 35 years.”

Her image as a pistol-packin’ mama could prove especially key in the hunter-filled Rust Belt, said Paul Erhardt, a longtime political strategist who specializes on gun issues.

“Palin could play strong in the sporting states like Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania, depending on how they use her,” he said. “Most pundits will underestimate her appeal in these key areas because they don't know her and they are unfamiliar with the sporting scene. But among sportsmen, authenticity counts and Palin's got that and then some.”

First Post-Sarah Palin Poll: John McCain's Choice Stunts Obama Bounce, Ignites Republican Base

UTICA, New York - Republican John McCain's surprise announcement Friday of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate - some 16 hours after Democrat Barack Obama's historic speech accepting his party’s presidential nomination - has possibly stunted any Obama convention bump, the latest Zogby Interactive flash poll of the race shows.

The latest nationwide survey, begun Friday afternoon after the McCain announcement of Palin as running mate and completed mid-afternoon (Saturday), shows McCain/Palin at 47%, compared to 45% support for Obama/Biden.

In other words, the race is a dead heat.

The interactive online Zogby survey shows that both Obama and McCain have solidified the support among their own parties - Obama won 86% support of Democrats and McCain 89% of Republicans in a two-way head-to-head poll question not including the running mates.

When Biden and Palin are added to the mix, Obama's Democratic support remains at 86%, while McCain's increases to 92%.

After the McCain "Veep" announcement on Friday, Palin was almost immediately hailed as a strong conservative, and those voters have rallied to the GOP ticket, the survey shows. Republicans gather in St. Paul, Minnesota this week to officially nominate McCain and Palin as their presidential ticket.

Does the selection of Sarah Palin help or hurt John McCain's chances of winning the presidential election in November? Overall, 52% said the selection of Palin as the GOP vice presidential nominee helps the Republican ticket, compared to 29% who said it hurt. Another 10% said it made no difference, while 10% were unsure. Among independent voters, 52% said it helps, while 26% said it would hurt. Among women, 48% said it would help, while 29% said it would hurt the GOP ticket. Among Republicans, the choice was a big hit - as 87% said it would help, and just 3% said it would hurt.

Pollster John Zogby: "Palin is not to be underestimated. Her real strength is that she is authentic, a real mom, an outdoors person, a small town mayor (hey, she has dealt with a small town city council - that alone could be preparation for staring down Vladimir Putin, right?). She is also a reformer."

"A very important demographic in this election is going to be the politically independent woman, 15% of whom in our latest survey are undecided.

"In the final analysis, this election will be about Obama vs. McCain. Obama has staked out ground as the new JFK - a new generation, literally and figuratively, a new face of America to the world, a man who can cross lines and work with both sides. But McCain is the modern day Harry Truman - with lots of DC experience, he knows what is wrong and dysfunctional with Washington and how to fix it, and he has chosen a running mate who is about as far away from Washington as he could find.

"This contest is likely to be very close until the weekend before the election - then the dam may break and support may flood one way or the other."

The interactive survey shows that 22% of those voters who supported Democrat Hillary Clinton in their primary elections or caucus earlier this year are now supporting John McCain.

Among those who said they shop regularly at Wal-Mart - a demographic group that Zogby has found to be both "value" and "values" voters - Obama is getting walloped by McCain. Winning 62% support from weekly Wal-Mart shoppers, McCain wins these voters at a rate similar to what President Bush won in 2004. Obama wins 24% support from these voters.

Rasmussen: No Bump For Obama-Biden

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Sunday, the day before the Republican National Convention is scheduled to begin, shows Barack Obama ahead of John McCain by three percentage points both with and without leaners.

That's exactly the same edge Obama enjoyed a week ago on the eve of the Democratic National Convention.

Evangelical Leaders: McCain's Home Run

By Eric Gorski/AP Religion Writer ~ Sarah Palin already has energized conservative religious leaders who had fretted that John McCain would pick an abortion rights supporter as his running mate.

The Alaska governor was raised in a Pentecostal church and has called herself "as pro-life as any candidate can be."

To Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religion Liberties Commission, Palin is "straight out of veep central casting."

Land said he had urged the McCain camp to consider the political unknown.

Gary Bauer, one of McCain's most enthusiastic evangelical supporters, said the Arizona senator had hit a "grand slam home run" and that adding Palin to the GOP ticket is "guaranteed to energize values voters."

The 44-year-old mother of five, who led her high school chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, was baptized as a teenager at the Wasilla Assembly of God Church, where she and her family were very active, according to her then-pastor, Paul Riley.

She now sometimes worships at the Juneau Christian Center, which is also part of the Pentecostal Assemblies of God, said Brad Kesler, business administrator of the denomination's Alaska District. But her home church is The Church on the Rock, an independent congregation, Riley said.

"The church was kind of a foundation for her," said Riley, who said he gave the invocation at Palin's inauguration and had her address students at the church last month.

Maria Comella, a spokeswoman for the McCain-Palin campaign, said Palin attends different churches and does not consider herself Pentecostal.

As a politician, Palin has sided with the majority evangelical view in opposing gay marriage and expressing a desire to see creationism discussed alongside evolution in schools.

During a 2006 debate, she said she was a proponent of teaching both evolution and creationism in schools. She later clarified her stance in an interview with the Anchorage Daily News, saying that she doesn't think creationism needed to be part of the curriculum and that she would not push the state Board of Education to add such alternatives to the state's required curriculum.

Not only does Palin oppose abortion as a matter of policy, but she chose to give birth to her youngest child, a son, after a prenatal exam indicated Down syndrome. Studies show that about nine in 10 pregnant women who are given a Down syndrome diagnosis have chosen to have an abortion.

"That will resonate in a big way," said Quin Monson, a Brigham Young University professor who studies religion and politics.

Focus on the Family founder James Dobson, who initially said he could not vote for McCain but has since opened the door to an endorsement, called Palin "an outstanding choice that should be extremely reassuring to the conservative base" of the GOP. Dobson added that the ticket "gives us confidence he will keep his pledges to voters regarding the kinds of justices he would nominate to the Supreme Court."

"It's an absolutely brilliant choice," said Mathew Staver, dean of Liberty University School of Law. "This will absolutely energize McCain's campaign and energize conservatives."

Staver called Palin a "a woman of faith who has a strong position on life, a consistent opinion on judges. ... She's the complete package."

A Pew poll last week showed McCain leading Democrat Barack Obama 68 percent to 24 percent among white evangelical Protestants. But there was little enthusiasm: Only 28 percent of white evangelicals call themselves "strong" supporters of McCain, far short of President Bush's numbers four years ago.

Many evangelical leaders said McCain helped himself with a solid performance at Pastor Rick Warren's Saddleback Church, where McCain proclaimed, "I will be a pro-life president."

Mark Silk, who specializes in religion and politics at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., cautioned that while evangelical leaders are praising the Palin pick, it might not necessarily trickle down.

"The question is how this will be received by a lot of rank-and-file evangelicals who are just Americans struggling along, going to their megachurches, and care about values," Silk said.

Some question whether old-guard traditional leaders, like Dobson, hold as much influence as in the past. The evangelical establishment never warmed to former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's candidacy, but grass-roots evangelicals contributed to his big win in the Iowa primaries.

Evangelical leaders got worried when McCain floated the possibility of a vice presidential candidate who supports abortion rights, including Sen. Joe Lieberman or former Homeland Security chief Tom Ridge.

By choosing Palin, "McCain is saying to social and religious conservatives, 'I'm taking your views incredibly seriously,'" said Michael Cromartie, director of the evangelical studies program at the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington.

'Fire and nice' Palin Energizes GOP

John McCain's selection of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate has, by most accounts from across the country, energized and enthused a Republican base that until now has been, at best, lukewarm in its support of McCain.

For the first time in McCain's campaign, local GOP officials say, there is excitement about the GOP ticket and they predict a rousing salute to Palin and McCain at the GOP convention in St. Paul next week.

The managing editor of the Christian News Service told a national radio audience Friday night that Palin has excited conservative religious activists and, "McCain badly needed that."

The National Rifle Association's top lobbyist, Chris Cox, said on Friday that Palin's support of the 2nd Amendment, her lifetime as a hunter, and her other conservative bonafides, helps McCain draw a sharp contrast between the McCain-Palin ticket and the Obama-Biden ticket.

Image:Governor Palin on the firing line with Alaskan Army troops in Kuwait.

Did John McCain Read This Column About Alaska's 'Fire and nice' Governor On June 4th?

Real Clear Politics columnist Jack Kelly gets the nod today for being far out front in the selection of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as John McCain's running mate. On June 4th, Kelly wrote this column, headlined McCAIN SHOULD PICK SARAH PALIN FOR VP:

Who? When?

Republicans including, I imagine, Sen. McCain himself are asking these questions about his selection of a vice presidential candidate.

'There is one potential running mate who has virtually no downside.'

Ideally, a presidential candidate wants a running mate who will help him or her win the election, and (maybe) to govern afterwards. But most will settle for a veep who isn't a drag on the ticket, as Dan Quayle was for the first President Bush.

Traditionally, a presidential nominee has chosen a running mate to balance the ticket geographically, or to appease a faction of the party. The most successful example of this was when John F. Kennedy picked Lyndon Johnson, though neither liked the other, and LBJ joined the ticket only because he thought Kennedy would lose.

Bill Clinton broke with this tradition when he chose another young (purported) moderate from a neighboring southern state. By picking Al Gore, he hoped to reinforce his campaign theme of generational change.

Which way will Sen. McCain go? The potential running mates most often discussed have downsides nearly as great as their upsides. Gov. Tim Pawlenty helps only in Minnesota, and not enough, according to current polls, to make a difference there. Sen. McCain's friend Sen. Joe Lieberman would bring in some moderate Democrats, but could further antagonize conservatives already suspicious of Sen. McCain. Gov. Romney would have little appeal to working class whites unhappy with Sen. Obama, and evangelicals fret about that Mormon thing. A Huckabee nomination would irritate economic and foreign policy conservatives as much as it would please evangelicals.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal is a rising star. But he's only 36, and he's been governor for less than a year.

There is one potential running mate who has virtually no down side. Those conservatives who've heard of her were delighted to learn that McCain advance man Arthur Culvahouse was in Alaska recently, because they surmised he could only be there to discuss the vice presidential nomination with Gov. Sarah Palin.

At 44, Sarah Louise Heath Palin is both the youngest and the first female governor in Alaska's relatively brief history as a state. She's also the most popular governor in America, with an approval rating that has bounced around 90 percent.

This is due partly to her personal qualities. When she was leading her underdog Wasilla high school basketball team to the state championship in 1982, her teammates called her "Sarah Barracuda" because of her fierce competitiveness.

Two years later, when she won the "Miss Wasilla" beauty pageant, she was also voted "Miss Congeniality" by the other contestants.

Sarah Barracuda. Miss Congeniality. Fire and nice. A happily married mother of five who is still drop dead gorgeous. And smart to boot.

But it's mostly because she's been a crackerjack governor, a strong fiscal conservative and a ferocious fighter of corruption, especially in her own party.

Ms. Palin touches other conservative bases, some of which Sen. McCain has been accused of rounding. Track, her eldest son, enlisted in the Army last Sept. 11. She's a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association who hunts, fishes and runs marathons. A regular churchgoer, she's staunchly pro-life.

Kimberley Strassel of the Wall Street Journal said Sen. McCain should run against a corrupt, do-nothing Congress, a la Harry Truman. If he should choose to do so, Gov. Palin would make an excellent partner.

"The landscape is littered with the bodies of those who have crossed Sarah," pollster Dave Dittman told the Weekly Standard's Fred Barnes.

Sen. Barack Obama's support has plunged recently among white women. Many Hillary Clinton supporters accuse him -- I think unfairly -- of being sexist. Having Sarah Palin on the ticket could help Sen. McCain appeal to these disgruntled Democrats.

Running mates usually aren't named until the convention. But if Sen. McCain should name Gov. Palin earlier, it would give America more time to get to know this extraordinary woman. And because she's at least a dozen feature stories waiting to be written, she could help him dominate the news between now and the conventions.

Another reason for selecting Sarah Palin early would be to force Barack Obama to make a mistake. He'd have to rule out choosing someone like Virginia Sen. Jim Webb as his running mate, for fear of exacerbating charges of sexism. And if he chose a woman other than Hillary, the impression Democrats are wimpy would be intensified.

Alaskans Blown Away By Palin Choice

The Anchorage Daily News has a special section devoted to the background of Governor Sarah Palin, chosen Friday as John McCain's vice presidential running mate.

Access the special section at http://www.adn.com/palin/.

Among the more interesting tidbits is reporter Kyle Hopkins' recreation of how McCain came to select Palin, and the super-secret movements that allowed McCain to surprise almost everyone with his selection. Included: The Palin family and others being checked into a hotel under the name "Upton."

Writes Hopkins: John McCain first met Governor Sarah Palin at the National Governors Association meeting in Washington in February of 2008 and came away extraordinarily impressed. John McCain followed her career and admired her tenacity and her many accomplishments. She was scheduled for a high profile speaking role at our convention and included in the VP selection process because of his admiration for her strong reform credentials.

Last Sunday, Governor Palin and John McCain had a conversation over the phone. Governor Palin was at the Alaska State Fair, and John McCain was at his home at Phoenix.

Previously, Rick Davis, John McCain’s campaign manager, had also been in regular contact with the Governor as part of the on-going selection process.

This past week, Governor Palin arrived with Kris Perry in Flagstaff, Arizona, on Wednesday evening. Upon arrival, Governor Palin and her longtime aide Kris Perry met with Steve Schmidt and Mark Salter of the McCain campaign at Mr. Bob Delgado’s home in Flagstaff. Mr. Delgado is the CEO of the Hensley corporation, which is Mrs. Cindy McCain’s family business. On Thursday morning, Governor Palin and staff were joined by Mrs. Cindy McCain and later joined by John McCain at the McCain family home in Sedona, Arizona.

At approximately 11:00 a.m. Thursday August 28, 2008, John McCain formally invited Governor Sarah Palin to join the Republican ticket as the vice presidential nominee on the deck of the McCain family home.

Later that morning, John McCain departed for Phoenix and Governor Palin departed with staff to Flagstaff, Arizona.

Governor Palin, Kris Perry, Steve Schmidt and Mark Salter proceeded to the Manchester Inn and Conference Center in Middletown, Ohio. They were checked into the hotel as the Upton Family.

While there, Governor Palin’s children, who had been told they were going to Ohio to celebrate their parents’ wedding anniversary, were told for the first time that their mother would be a nominee for Vice President of the United States of America.

McCain 'Gets It' With Sarah Palin

Oklahoma Republican stalwarts and others are rejoicing in the wake of John McCain's selection of maverick Alaska Governor Sarah Palin (pronounced Pay-lin) as his running mate.

Read the story at Tulsa Today, www.tulsatoday.com.

Oklahoman: Judges' Vegas Trips Examined

The Oklahoman reports in its Sunday edition that, "Some workers' compensation judges have accepted free trips from lawyers to a luxury Las Vegas casino resort" and that, "A group, Lawyers for Working Oklahomans, paid for the trips, possibly in violation of state law."

The story, by reporters Nolan Clay and Randy Ellis, details trips taken by judges and legislators.

The story appears in the newspaper's early Sunday edition, now on newsstands, and will be posted later on www.newsok.com.

Gallup: Obama-Biden Up By 8%

Barack Obama and Joe Biden's post-convention poll bounce appears to be about eight percent, the latest Gallup Tracking Daily poll shows. It was taken before John McCain's surprise announcement on Friday that he's selected Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate.

The new poll shows Obama-Biden at 49 percent, McCain at 41 percent. A previous tracking poll showed the tickets essentially tied at about 42 percent.

Edmondson: Cargill Won't Be Prosecuted

Attorney General Drew Edmondson's office has found there's nothing to warrant a criminal prosectuion of former Republican House Speaker Lance Cargill.

Cargill was cited by the Ethics Commission in a critical report issued today.

Edmondson spokesman Charlie Price said, "We did not find sufficient evidence to warrant a criminal prosecution."

In a statement, Cargill said, "I certainly worked to promote the election of Republicans, but I never intended to violate any rules of the Ethics Commission, and I acted in good faith in regard to the events at issue.''

Cargill's statement continued: "Although I disagree with the reprimand, I respect the role of the Commission. It is appropriate that they have investigated so that this matter can now be concluded.''

Now, The Campaign Begins

Ethics Commission Rips Lance Cargill

From The Tulsa World's Capitol Bureau ~ The Oklahoma Ethics Commission on Friday issued a public reprimand to former Republican House Speaker Lance Cargill, the Republican State House Committee and the Oklahoma County Republican Committee for multiple violations of ethics rules.

"Simply put, this is a case of the redirection of campaign contributions intended for one party committee, to another, contrary to the intent of the donors," according to the reprimand.

"It resulted in the contributors being made to support candidates against their conscience and in violation of several provisions of the Ethics Rules, which are designed to safeguard campaigns in Oklahoma."

According to the Oklahoma Ethics Commission, campaign checks given by some Republican House members intended for the state party to support the state party's agenda and roster of candidates were re-routed to the Oklahoma County Republican committee and used for an entirely different slate of candidates and purposes, contrary to the intent of the donors.

The Commission noted a deliberate intent to circumvent the law.

Cargill in January stepped down as speaker after failing to timely file state and personal income taxes. He was also delinquent for six years in filing property taxes owed on his law office in Harrah, his hometown.

Cargill, who chose not to file for re-election, could not immediately be reached for comment.

Tom Prince, an attorney for the Oklahoma County Republican Committee, said he had no comment on the action.

Todd A. McKinnis, an attorney listed for the Republican State House Committee, could not immediately be reached for comment.

The Gadfly Eats His Words

John McCain: Having dissed John McCain for months in print, and on radio and television for his previously-inept campaign, his awkward speaking style, his jarring mannerisms, his now-famous temper and his sometimes-off-the-wall remarks, I am eating most of those words today. In one fell swoop, with his surprise (stunning) selection of an unknown female from a small state as his vice presidential nominee, McCain has demonstrated his greatest strength: He is unafraid of big challenges and unafraid of taking the road less traveled. In addition, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin brings strength to the McCain plate in her rock-rib conservative values, strength of family, support of the Constitution, toughness in the face of adversity, willingness to tackle politicians in both parties and, not at all the least, her ability to speak on her feet. McCain, as usual, looked like a duck out of water introducing her today but she, cool, composed and articulate, looked every bit like a leader the country can embrace. McCain needed that, badly. He got it right: She is exactly what he needs. Final word: McCain's campaign strategy in the past six or eight weeks has been flawless. The play about his veep pick on the very day Obama accepted the nomination and the way the announcement today has diminished considerably any television "glow" Obama and Biden hoped for out of Denver, is masterful politics.

Bad Strategy: The Obama-Biden campaign was quick to diss Governor Palin today. They criticized her small-town roots, her lack of foreign affairs experience, her lack of extended political experience. All mistakes and bad strategy. What they have done is help prop up Palin's bonafides to Republicans who doubted McCain. What they have done is call attention to Palin when the outcome of this election well could rise and fall on the strength of the female vote.

McCain Leader Worthen Praises VEEP Pick

Rep. Trebor Worthen, Oklahoma co-chairman of the John McCain campaign, today praised McCain's selection of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate.

"I commend John McCain on his excellent choice of Governor Sarah Palin to be his running mate," Worthen said. "Governor Palin is a terrific chief executive who has a strong record of delivering the kind of reforms in Alaska that we desperately need in Washinton. She has challenged corruption, fought special interests, and worked with both parties to accomplish great things for her state. Governor Palin is ideally suited to be the next Vice President of the United States."

Cole, Fallin, Inhofe Laud Palin's Selection

Congressman Tom Cole and Congresswoman Mary Fallin today applauded John McCain's selection of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate.

Said Fallin: “This is just a spectacular selection. Sarah Palin is an excellent choice, and she really draws a contrast with the Obama-Biden ticket, which is all Washington, all liberal, all the time. By selecting Gov. Palin as his running mate, John McCain has signaled that it will not be business as usual in Washington. She is a successful, reform minded, state governor who understands that government closest to the people is often best. Of course I am thrilled that John McCain chose a rising female star from our party to be his running mate. This is particularly meaningful this week, the 88th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote.

"She is also a solid pro-life conservative who will relate very well with voters in Oklahoma and many other states. I applaud this choice and I look forward to doing all I can to help the McCain-Palin ticket win in November.

“I had a chance to meet with Gov. Palin on energy issues during my recent trip to Alaska, and I was tremendously impressed with her dedication to assuring our energy future. Most of all, she has an astonishing life story – athlete, reform Governor who challenged a corrupt system and passed a landmark ethics reform bill. A mother, wife and leader. I simply cannot imagine a better pick.”

Said Cole: "Choosing Governor Palin as the Republican vice presidential running mate is a truly historic decision," Congressman Cole said. "This was a smart and savvy choice that proves John McCain is willing and able to think outside the box. Sarah Palin is a maverick reformer - just like Senator McCain - and I am proud and excited to support her addition to the Republican presidential ticket.

"Her list of credentials is impressive. She will bring her strong record of support for America's families, her expertise on energy issues and her refreshing style of leadership to the White House. As Mayor she shook things up in Wasilla, as Governor she shook things up in Alaska, and together with John McCain, she stands ready to shake things up in Washington DC."

Said Inhofe: "Governor Palin brings tremendous enthusiasm and a remarkable drive to the Republican ticket. I'm looking forward to seeing her and my friend, Senator John McCain, campaign across the country together. In Alaska, Governor Palin has been a dedicated reformer, bringing more openness to government and fighting to stop corruption. I feel strongly a McCain-Palin ticket will do the same for Washington.

"Importantly, Governor Palin, as a Governor from an energy producing state, has been a leading advocate for a domestic energy supply that is stable, affordable, and diverse. At a time when energy prices are soaring and liberal leadership in Washington has failed to do anything to bring down the price of gas at the pump, we need a President and Vice President that will focus on utilizing all sources of energy, from drilling offshore to developing alternative energy. A McCain-Palin ticket will do just that.

"As an Alaskan, she shares many of the same conservative values we cherish here in Oklahoma. She's a fiscal conservative, an avid outdoors enthusiast, is a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association, and is a strong pro-life leader. When Oklahomans go to the polls in November, I'm confident they will proudly cast their ballot for Senator McCain and Governor Palin."

Sarah Palin: GOP 'Maverick' And Reformer

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is considered a rising star in the Republican Party. She is the state’s first female governor, the mother of five — and at 44 is its youngest chief executive.

The choice of Palin was kept under such tight wraps that even Palin’s mother said Friday morning that she had not yet heard from her daughter that she had been selected for the No. 2 spot on the GOP ticket.

“I’m sure she’s trying. We haven’t been off the phone for a second,” Palin’s mother, Sally Heath, said.

The McCain camp issued a statement calling Palin a reformer who can work across the party aisle.“Governor Palin has challenged the influence of the big oil companies while fighting for the development of new energy resources. She leads a state that matters to every one of us,” the statement said.

“In Alaska, Governor Palin challenged a corrupt system and passed a landmark ethics reform bill. She has actually used her veto and cut budgetary spending. She put a stop to the ‘bridge to nowhere’ that would have cost taxpayers $400 million dollars.”

A McCain campaign aide described her as a perfect complement to the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.

“A maverick with a record of reform picks a maverick with a record of reform. With this pick John McCain is putting Washington on notice. There’s a shake-up coming,” the aide said.

Graphic courtesy Fox News.

Palin Is Right On Second Amendment Issues

Second Amendment supporters are out quickly today in support of John McCain's selection of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate.

Palin, who grew up hunting moose with her father, is a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association and outspoken defender of the Second Amendment.

Palin Charges Into National Spotlight

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, mother of five, charged into the national spotlight today as John McCain's surprise pick as his vice presidential running mate.

Sources: McCain Picks Alaska's Sarah Palin

John McCain has picked little-known Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to be his vice presidential running mate, sources said today.

Palin, 44, is a self-styled hockey mom and political reformer who has been governor of her state less than two years.

Palin's selection was a stunning surprise that caught the media, pundits and McCain supporters off guard.

On The Road To November...

Wayne Greene: Henry Good Governor, Bad Speaker

From Wayne Green's Blog In The Tulsa World ~ Gov. Henry didn't get to give his "Madam, chairwoman, the great state of Oklahoma…" speech at the Democratic Convention Wednesday night. Good.

As it turned out, the Democrats' script had the nomination handed to Barack Obama by acclamation before Oklahoma got into the mix.

That saved thousands of Democrats from hearing Henry's joke about the time his daughter embarrassed his wife. If anyone feels like they missed out of something, they can call me or anyone who's ever heard the governor speak. I think I can tell it in less than the governor's usual 15 minutes.

Let's face it, Henry is a good governor and a bad speaker. His cadences are all goofy, and he's just too slow paced.

When I've seen him speak in a question-and-answer format he's always been well-informed and bright. But don't give the man a script. You'll regret it.

Mark Shannon: 'Fond' Clinton Memories

From www.markshannon.com ~ Howard Wolfson: "The American people remember the Clinton years fondly."

You mean the impeachment? The lies? The grand jury appearances? The bombing of the WTC, our embassies, our ships (USS COLE,) "Black Hawk" down?

Or was it Waco, Whitewater, the indicted members of his cabinet?

No wait, it was Paula Jones, Genifer Flowers, and Monica Lewinsky.

Yep, those are FOND memories Howie.

[Mark Shannon is the afternoon drive host at KTOK in Oklahoma City.]

Schumer To Rice: Oklahoma A 'Desert'

From The Houston Chronicle ~ When Sen. Chuck Schumer, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee chairman, during a Denver meet-and-greet, introduced the 10th candidate, Andrew Rice of Oklahoma, he called the Sooner State a "desert" for Democrats.

Comparing Rice and Oklahoma to the party's nominee in Texas, Schumer said, "The only advantage (Rice) has over Rick Noriega is the state is not as expensive."

Clinton: 'Obama Is The Man For This Job'

MSNBC 'About to blow up,' Sources Say

From Politico In Denver ~ Amid a spate of awkward on-air conflicts among MSNBC anchors at this week’s Democratic convention, some staff members say there are sharp internal disputes at the cable network over whether its opinion and personality-driven political coverage has crossed the line.

“The situation at our channel is about to blow up,” a high-ranking MSNBC journalist told Politico on Wednesday.

Two other MSNBC sources said some of the testy on-air exchanges between Keith Olbermann — whose quick-witted and often caustic commentary has fueled ratings growth — and other network personalities were a public glimpse of much more intense behind-the-scenes turmoil.

As replays of the conflicts became YouTube hits, MSNBC President Phil Griffin gave his first public defense in a Politico interview. “MSNBC does not have an ideology,” Griffin said. “We hire smart people who are passionate about their love of politics and love of news.”

Terrill Testifies On Immigration Reform Law

Rep. Randy Terrill, author of Oklahoma’s omnibus immigration reform law, will testify on the law’s positive impact at a legislative hearing in Utah this evening.

Utah lawmakers have used Terrill’s law as a model for their own immigration reform efforts.

“Oklahoma has blazed a trail on immigration reform that other states are now following due to our success at addressing this issue at a time when Congress refuses to act,” said Terrill, R-Moore. “I am excited by this opportunity and look forward to helping the people of Utah reduce the tremendous burden that illegal aliens place on society.”

Experts Discuss Disintegrating Family Life

From The State House Media Office ~ The ripple effects of family fragmentation are costing Oklahoma taxpayers millions of dollars each year and the problem may only get larger, officials warned state lawmakers this week.

Members of the House Human Services committee heard from a wide range of experts and agency leaders during a legislative study requested by state Rep. Mark McCullough, who said the state needs to change the way it deals with family issues.

“When it comes to the problem of family disintegration, we are like a deer in the headlights,” said McCullough, R-Sapulpa. “Everyone is affected by the issue, but we’re afraid to address it because we know none of us is perfect. Unfortunately, that allows the problem to grow and the price tag keeps expanding. It’s time we put more effort into enacting policies that support marriages and help families both survive and thrive.”

McCullough noted lawmakers were “very fortunate” to hear from several national experts and state agency heads as part of the study.

Dr. Jeff Frey, chairman of the Marriage Co-Mission, noted that the national divorce rate has hovered around the 50 percent mark for about 20 years and that the marriage rate has plunged 48 percent since 1970. In 1960, he noted that just 5 percent of all births were to unwed mothers but that figure grew to 36 percent by 2000 – a 700 percent increase.

Today, 33 percent of American children live away from their fathers and 40 percent of those kids never see their fathers in a typical year.

Those trends have a huge impact on both society and government. Frey and other officials noted that children from broken homes are seven times more likely to live in poverty, three times as likely to be expelled from school and achieve lower grades, and 12 times more likely to be incarcerated.

Children from broken homes also tend to have poorer emotional and physical health, which is further complicated by the fact that many uninsured children are from single-parent homes.

Research indicates that the resulting taxpayer cost of divorce (largely through public assistance programs) now stands at $112 billion per year nationally and $430 million annually in Oklahoma – and those are conservative estimates.

Frey noted the “script of marriage” has been lost in large segments of the culture and the issue is now one of “know-how.” Frey has identified seven key factors that influence the health of marriage in America: corporate, media, church, community mobilization, education, youth, law and/or government.

Mike Jestes, director of the Oklahoma Family Policy Council, noted the state of Oklahoma would be better off spending money “on the front end” to preserve marriages than on the back end to “clean up” the problems created by family fragmentation.

For example, he noted state spending on the criminal justice system has grown 510 percent since 1982 and that a large share of that problem is likely tied to family fragmentation.

Jestes noted that the faith community could play an augmented role in the prevention of family fragmentation. In Oklahoma, he noted 74 percent of all weddings occur in a church and that many couples call the church first when they have problems.

Echoing the assessment of other experts, John Stanley, director of the Marriage and Family Foundation, said for every $1 spent on keeping families together, government spends $1000 on “clean up” from the fallout of broken families.

Stanley said publicity efforts could play a role, such as a 13-state media campaign planned in the coming months that will promote positive messages for troubled marriages. That campaign will include the Oklahoma market, he said.

Beyond the social benefits, relational-wellness initiatives could also have positive impact in the workplace and Oklahoma economy. Dr. Greg Smalley, the director of the Center for Relational Enrichment, noted that the communication skills required to maintain a strong marriage also transfer to the workplace, such as the ability to understand others and work cooperatively.

Smalley has worked with many large corporations across the country to implement state-of-the-art “Emotional Intelligence” programs that teach business leaders how to constructively manage emotions in the workplace.

Officials noted the state of Oklahoma has been a leader in pro-marriage initiatives and is already experiencing some success. For example, Kendy Cox, an official with Public Strategies, noted the Oklahoma Marriage Initiative has served 152,845 individuals to date. The OMI has also provided relationship training for 15,000 students in grades 9-12.

State law allows couples who complete an OMI class to obtain a marriage license for only $5. That incentive apparently is working since there has been a slow but steady increase in the issuance of those discounted licenses since 2007.

McCullough noted there was “strong agreement” among the marriage and family experts who spoke at the legislative study that “we now have very effective tools for relationship management and crisis intervention.” He said the challenge for policymakers is to increase access to those tools.

He also noted the “unanimous consent” among agency heads – a group including the leaders of the Department of Human Service, Department of Corrections, Office of Juvenile Affairs, and the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services – that a better model for addressing family problems would require “moving upstream” and intervening before the problem reached a crisis.

“While government cannot fix everything, it can do a lot more than we’re doing today to help preserve families,” McCullough said.

Echoing Glenn Stanton with Focus on the Family, McCullough noted that “for too long government’s role in marriage has been limited to issuing marriage licenses and divorce decrees. I believe this study demonstrates that government has a much larger stake in the health of our families than many people realized. We have learned that there are policies and incentives that will have a positive impact on marriages. And, given the price tag taxpayers pay because of family fragmentation, we literally cannot afford to continue ignoring this issue.”

Henry, Others Praise Clinton Speech

By Jim Myers/Washington Bureau, Tulsa World, In Denver ~ Oklahoma Democrats praised Hillary Rodham Clinton's speech to the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday night, predicting that it not only will unite the party but will make the case for a Barack Obama victory in November.

Clinton summoned the millions of voters who supported her in the primaries to send Obama to the White House, declaring her one-time rival is "my candidate and he must be our president." "We don't have a moment to lose or a vote to spare," said the former first lady.

"I thought Hillary's speech was very powerful," Gov. Brad Henry said. "I felt like she did exactly what she had to do to unite the party. I think she hit the nail on the head."

Read the entire article at http://www.tulsaworld.com/.

Analysis: Democrats Off To A Rough Start

By Bob Cusack/The Hill ~ The 2008 Democratic convention has gotten off to a rough start amid party infighting, second-guessing and outside distractions.

The lingering tension between Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and the Clintons has hung in the air throughout the early part of the Denver gathering. But that hasn’t been the only thing getting in the way of the Democrats’ message and quest for unity.

Some Democratic operatives, such as James Carville and Paul Begala, have said the convention speakers have been going soft on Republicans, warning that unless that changes, Obama will not enjoy a significant post-convention bounce in the polls.

Read the entire analysis at http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/analysis-dem-convention-off-to-rocky-start-2008-08-27.html.

Maughan Defeats Johnston 71-29%

Brian Maughan defeated J. D. Johnston 71-29 percent in today's Republican runoff primary for Oklahoma County commissioner.

Russell Defeats Loveless, 67-33%

Steve Russell defeated Kyle Loveless 66.89 to 33.11 percent in today's Republican runoff primary for State Senate District 45.

Russell Takes Early Lead Over Loveless

Steve Russell has an early lead over Kyle Loveless in their race for the Republican nomination for the State Senate in Oklahoma City's District 45.

With 8 of 30 precincts reporting, Russell had 68.7 percent to about 31.3 percent for Loveless.

Stunner: Obama Gets No 'Biden Bump' In Poll

PRINCETON, NJ-- It's official: Barack Obama has received no bounce in voter support out of his selection of Senator Joe Biden to be his vice presidential running mate.

Gallup Poll Daily tracking from August 23-25, the first three-day period falling entirely after Obama's Saturday morning vice presidential announcement, shows 46% of national registered voters backing John McCain and 44% supporting Obama, not appreciably different from the previous week's standing for both candidates.

This is the first time since Obama clinched the nomination in early June, though, that McCain has held any kind of advantage over Obama in Gallup Poll Daily tracking.

Oklahoma Speakers Top GOP Convention List

With the release of a complete schedule of speakers today, the Republican National Convention's planning committee thrust Oklahoma into the spotlight, tied with Minnesota for the most speakers.

Added to the convention speaker's list today was Congressman Tom Cole, who will speak on opening night.

Speaking on Tuesday, the second night, will be Senator Tom Coburn. Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett will speak on Wednesday night and Congresswoman Mary Fallin will speak shortly before John McCain officially accepts the GOP nomination for president on Thursday night.

Moderate Turnout Expected In Local Races

Voter turnout is expected to be moderate today in two contested local races, one for the State Senate, the other for Oklahoma County commissioner.

In the Senate District 45 runoff, Republicans Kyle Loveless and Steve Russell seek election as the winner takes the seat, no Democrat or Independent having filed.

In the District 2 commissioner runoff, J. D. Johnston and Brian Maughan seek the GOP nomination and the winner faces Democrat Jim Dickinson in the fall.

Interest in the SD45 race, spurred in part by direct mail and personal contact by the candidates, should produce a decent turnout, observers say. Most give Russell the edge as voting started today.

Last-minute finance reports show Russell added $1,900 and Loveless added $500. Russell has raised $146,670, while Loveless has raised $101,726, including more than $38,000 of his own money.

Johnston has relied on paid media to fuel his campaign, while Maughan has conducted a "ground game" campaign that propelled him into the runoff with Johnston, former Bethany mayor. Maughan is said to be the front-runner.

Fallin To Precede McCain At Convention

Congresswoman Mary Fallin announced today she has been asked to speak to the Republican National Convention on its final night, shortly before presidential nominee John McCain makes his acceptance speech.

“It’s a real honor to be part of the final session’s program,” Fallin said. “Early in the planning process, the convention organizers asked me to be part of the run-up to Senator McCain’s acceptance speech. They asked us to keep that secret until the final convention program was determined. I look forward to representing Oklahoma at the podium on this historic night.”

Other Thursday night speakers on the schedule released by the convention include Governors Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota and Charlie Crist of Florida, Senators Sam Brownback of Kansas, Mel Martinez of Florida and McCain.

“The theme for the final night is peace and the need to defend America,” she said. “They have asked me to address issues related to terrorism, with some discussion of how Oklahoma responded so well to the bombing in 1995. It’s an opportunity to tell our story to the nation and to remind viewers that the Oklahoma standard we displayed 13 years ago is really an American standard of helping others and standing together in difficult times.”

Fallin said she will speak briefly about an hour before McCain’s acceptance address, which will conclude the convention on its final night.

Fallin Role At GOP Convention Expected

There's word today that Oklahoma City Congresswoman Mary Fallin may have a high-profile presence at the Republican National Convention.

A source says Fallin has been asked to participate; an announcement may come soon.

Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett and Senator Tom Coburn are expected to speak to convention delegates during the proceedings.

Trustee Claims Terrill Owes $11,301

The trustee in Rep. Randy Terrill's 2005 bankruptcy case said today the lawmaker needs to turn over $11,301 in assets he failed to report when the case was first filed.

The bankruptcy case was reopened after information surfaced that Terrill didn't disclose during his bankruptcy proceeding that his campaign owed him money. Terrill said the money was not a loan, or an asset, but reimbursement for expenses he incurred. He said at the time of the bankruptcy, he had no assurance his campaign would be able to cover the expenses.

In addition to asking the federal bankruptcy court to force Terrill to pay the sum, attorney John D. Mashburn requested that Terrill be made to produce copies of campaign contributions and expenditures reports from his 2004 campaign.

Mashburn, the bankruptcy trustee, also asked for Terrill's tax returns for 2004 and 2005.

Terrill's attorney, Jeffrey E. West, said they will have a response to Mashburn's claim.

Dem Governor: Obama Coverage 'Embarrassing'

From Politico ~ Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell was supposed to give “closing remarks” during this afternoon’s Shorenstein Center-sponsored panel discussion with all three Sunday show moderators — NBC’s Tom Brokaw, ABC’s George Stephanopoulous and CBS’s Bob Schieffer — but instead, he opened up a can of worms about bias in 2008 election coverage

"Ladies and gentleman, the coverage of Barack Obama was embarrassing," said Rendell, in the ballroom at Denver's Brown Palace Hotel. "It was embarrassing."

Rendell, an ardent Hillary Rodham Clinton supporter during the primaries, now backs Obama in the general election.

Brokaw and Rendell began debating campaign coverage, including the on-air comments by Lee Cowan, and when MSNBC came up, Rendell went after the cable network.

“MSNBC was the official network of the Obama campaign," Rendell said, who called their coverage "absolutely embarrassing."

Chris Matthews, Rendell said, "loses his impartiality when he talks about the Clintons.”

At that point, PBS's Judy Woodruff, who was moderating the moderators event, said: "Why don’t we let Governor Rendell sit down."

That was met with applause from the crowd of big-time media figures, which included Arianna Huffington, Gwen Ifill, Al Hunt, and Chuck Todd.

Woodruff allowed Brokaw to respond, and in defending the network, he said that Matthews and Keith Olbermann are "not the only voices" on MSNBC.

Bush Plans Oklahoma Fundraising Trip

President Bush plans to travel to Oklahoma City to raise money for the Republican National Committee, it was announced today.

Bill Price, the GOP gubernatorial nominee in 1990 and a co-chairman of John McCain's presidential campaign effort in Oklahoma, says some of the money raised will go to the Republican Party's presidential nominee in key battleground states.

Price says Bush's visit is set for September 12th and will be held at a private residence in eastern Oklahoma City. It is a closed event.

Price says invitations are to be sent out this week. Tickets are $1,000. Those attending can have their picture taken with the president for $5,000. Those who raise or give $25,000 or more will meet briefly with the president.

Paralyzed Veterans Event Raises $13,000

A Saturday fundraiser to benefit the Mid-America Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America raised almost $13,000, more than double the goal, organizer Ron Black said today.

The event was held in the Del City VFW Hall and featured numerous auction items.

Among those attending were elected officials, including Lt. Governor Jari Askins, Congresswoman Mary Fallin, Oklahoma County Sheriff John Whetsel, District Attorney David Prater, Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett and several legislators.

Black, the host of the radio and television shows Wild Oklahoma, served as master of ceremonies. He said the goal was to raise at least $6,000 to help the local chapter. Among donors acknowledged during the event were Senator Jim Inhofe and State Rep. David Dank of Oklahoma City.

Said Black: "The event was a phenomenal success, raising $13,000 for the MAPVA. A special thanks to all the elected officials who attended, our sponsors and Mike McCarville for helping get the event kicked off. We are already planning for an event in Tulsa to help a Tulsa veterans group and are planning for our MAPVA event for next year."

Oklahoma Democrats Ready For History

By Jim Myers/Washington Bureau, Tulsa World, In Denver ~ Oklahoma Democrats arrived Saturday for their party's national convention, which is unusually rich in symbolism and ready to make its mark in history.

"It is going to be exciting to be here and see it in person,'' Gov. Brad Henry said of the convention, which officially begins Monday. One of the convention's so-called superdelegates, Henry stressed the historical significance of Barack Obama becoming the first black candidate to accept a major party's presidential nomination.

Obama will deliver his acceptance speech on Thursday, the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I have a dream'' speech.

Beyond that historical coincidence, Henry also praised Obama's ability to bring a fresh approach to the presidency, citing the momentum the standard bearer is building across the country.

"I think he can make a real difference in Washington,'' the governor said.

Frieda Wilcox, a delegate from Owasso, remains committed to Sen. Hillary Clinton but concedes she is looking forward to the nominations of Obama and Joe Biden, who was tapped for the second spot on the ticket. "I am excited about this convention, maybe more so than previous times,'' said Wilcox, who attended her first convention years ago.

Clinton will speak to the convention on Tuesday, the 88th anniversary of the passage of 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which gave women the right to vote.

In addition to honoring the legacy of King, Henry also thinks it is fitting to recognize the contributions women have made to the nation. He conceded uncertainty still exists over how the Clinton and Obama camps will come together during the week. "I am not exactly sure how that is going to play out,'' Henry said.

Clearly Clinton's delegates, who remain committed to her, are disappointed that she ran such a strong race but still came in second. "I think there is a lot of controversy there between the two camps,'' Wilcox said. "I am still a Hillary person, and that is not good.''

Wilcox said Obama must make a convincing case to the delegates for unity and expects that to happen. "We need to hear it,'' she said.

Betty McElderry of Purcell, a member of the party's national committee, also said she will remain a committed Clinton delegate until formally released. "I am a superdelegate for Hillary Clinton,'' McElderry said. "I will remain a superdelegate for Hillary Clinton until she releases her delegates.''

Regardless of what happens this week here, Oklahoma supporters of both Obama and Clinton predicted the party would end its convention united.

Henry said he has no concerns about a lack of unity for the party. "I think Democrats are as unified as we have been, maybe in my lifetime,'' he said.

McElderry echoed the governor on the unity issue. "The wonderful thing about a convention, of course, is it fires up the party loyalists,'' she said.

Jacque Tomsovic of Tulsa, another Clinton delegate who does not hide her feelings about what might have been, expressed hope for party unity. "I will go away disappointed, but I will vote Democrat in November,'' Tomsovic said.

Photo of Senator Judy Eason McIntyre and Rep. Jabar Shumate of Tulsa preparing to leave for Denver courtesy the Tulsa World.

Obama Credentials Controversy Continues

From KUSA-TV, Denver ~ Some viewers contacted 9NEWS Saturday, questioning the design of the credentials to see Sen. Barack Obama accept the Democratic Party's presidential nomination at INVESCO Field at Mile High.

The viewers say with the stars and blue field in the lower left corner, it looks like an upside down American flag. Published flag etiquette states the stars should always be displayed in the upper left corner. An upside down flag represents an international symbol of extreme distress.

Matt Chandler with the Obama campaign says the flag is not upside down. He says it is a stylized flag designed to blend the stars on Senator Obama's shirt with the flag blowing in the wind.

Natalie Wyeth with the Democratic National Convention Committee sent 9NEWS the following statement: "The DNCC community credentials incorporate patriotic design elements. They do not depict an actual American flag. The DNCC has full and complete respect for the flag and all rules of display."

GOP Group's Director Faults Biden Pick

Barack Obama doesn’t have the experience necessary to lead the country and his pick of a vice presidential running mate who is a "consumate D. C. insider" proves he recognizes that, a Republican leader said today.

Senator Joe Biden of Delaware, who was named Obama's running mate early Saturday, has been a critic of Obama’s foreign policy, said Matt Pinnell, director of Oklahoma Victory 2008.

"It is painfully clear Obama is trying to compensate for his lack of experience by selecting Biden," Pinnell said.

Biden, who twice failed in his bid to become president, is serving his sixth term in the U.S. Senate.

Said Pinnell: "For a candidate preaching 'change,' this pick makes no sense at all. Senator Biden is the consummate D.C. insider. How can anyone take seriously Senator Obama’s campaign rhetoric?"

Obama Picks Joe Biden

Barack Obama has named Delaware Senator Joe Biden as his running mate.

John McCain’s presidential campaign, playing an aggressive version of the expectations game, circulated a campaign memo predicting Obama will get a 5-point bump by naming his VP choice, and nearly 15-point bump in the opinion polls as a result of next week’s Democratic Convention.

DA Says Property Owner Shooting Justified

No charges will be filed against a Midwest City man who shot and killed an apparent burglar after the burglar tried to hit him with a vehicle. Oklahoma County prosecutors say 44-year-old Steven Palenko was defending himself when he shot 34-year-old Mikah Smith on July 17. Investigators say Palenko shot Smith with a shotgun after interrupting an apparent burglary attempt. He shot at Smith's car when it veered toward him as Smith was trying to drive away.

Ethics Commission Seeks More Employees

By Mick Hinton/Capitol Bureau, Tulsa World ~ The Ethics Commission, a small state agency that monitors political contributions during elections, asked the Legislature on Friday to nearly double its staff.

The commission's governing board approved a request for five more employees to be added to the current staff of seven.

The request comes on the heels of the staff getting a 30 percent pay increase, a move that riled several lawmakers when most other state employees are going without raises.

The commission is asking for an additional attorney, another auditor and investigator, an administrative assistant, training specialist and legal secretary.

Commissioners recently granted executive director Marilyn Hughes the pay increase. She now is paid $110,000 a year. Hughes, who has authority to grant pay increases to her employees, gave them the same raises.

Last session, the Legislature granted $150,000 in new funding for the agency, but failed to allocate more personnel.Hughes said this left the agency with little choice on how to spend the allocation. They are purchasing new computers for the employees.

However, Rep. Gus Blackwell, R-Goodwell, said the agency should have put that money into operations rather than raises, then possibly tapped that money next year, if the Legislature approves more personnel.

Some lawmakers said the agency's raises will make it more difficult for the Legislature to look favorably on giving more money to the ethics commission.

Prosecutors Drop Fisher Tax Evasion Case

By Nolan Clay/The Oklahoman, In Tulsa ~ Prosecutors today dropped a tax case against former Insurance Commissioner Carroll Fisher. He next faces a bribery trial in Oklahoma City in October.

In the tax case, Fisher, 68, was charged with filing a false state tax return that understated his 1999 income. He had been accused of underpaying his state taxes.

The decision came after Associate District Judge Dana Kuehn limited evidence against Fisher. Prosecutors had been appealing her ruling.

"It does not make sense to expend time and state resources appealing this case," said Attorney General Drew Edmondson, whose assistants are prosecuting Fisher. "I have instructed the multicounty grand jury unit to prepare for trial on the bribery case, the most significant of the remaining charges.”

Fisher is now in prison on a campaign-corruption conviction.

Loveless, Russell Take To TV Airwaves; Loveless Files Last-Minute Campaign Finance Report

Kyle Loveless and Steve Russell have taken to the airwaves in their quest to win the Republican nomination in Oklahoma City's Senate District 45, the two of them spending an estimated $30,000 this week on television buys.

UPDATE: "I just got off the the phone with Marilyn (Hughes), and a last minute contribution (report) will be filed today within the 24 hour window," Loveless said at mid-afternoon. "Ms. Hughes is going to talk to the staff about the conflicting and opposite instructions that were given to me." One report shows Loveless gave his campaign $23,000 yesterday, another shows an additional $15,000, for a total of $38.000.

Loveless confirms he's spent about $20,000 on his buy, made earlier this week. Russell's campaign says thus far, he's spent about $10,000 on his buy.

Russell has out-raised Loveless about 2-to-1. The latest finance reports show Russell has raised more than $120,000. His report shows he's raised $40,935 since July 15th and had $25,110 on hand as of August 11th.

Russell has filed four late-contribution reports showing he's raised an additional $9,500 since his August 11th report.

Loveless reported he's raised $63,148, about $14,000 of that since July 15th. About half of that sum is in in-kind donations. He showed a cash-on-hand balance of $2,363. Asked about the source of the money for the tv buy, he wrote in an email response to the question, "In kind contributions are treated as expenditures, have talked with the ethics commission before the election and they have confirmed, as long as it is disclosed in the next report that is due as an expenditure, which it will be. In the primary I paid for personally $5,000 worth of cable TV and you can see that as an in kind contribution, but it is counted as an expenditure. I am in 100 percent compliance with the ethics requirements."

A Loveless supporter said, "He confirmed with the Ethics Commission that in-kind contributions and expenses must go on the next quarterly report. Because he did not loan the money to the campaign, but instead spent his own money, it doesn't have to go on the pre-primary report as a late receipt. He is not going to make any effort to recover that money from the campaign, so it isn't a loan."

The winner of Tuesday's primary wins the election since no Democrat or Independent filed. The seat is now held by the term-limited Republican Kathleen Wilcoxson

Coburn Cites AWOL Federal Workers Report

Senator Tom Coburn released a report today detailing the rapid growth in the annual number of hours federal employees are found to be absent without leave (AWOL) from their jobs.

Since 2001, 18 federal departments and agencies reported that employees have been AWOL for at least 19.6 million hours when they should have otherwise been working.

The investigation found that annual AWOL hours have increased gradually since 2001, climbing from approximately 2.5 million hours per year to 3.5 million hours in 2007. The disturbing findings of this report are an example of inefficiencies in the federal government that would not be tolerated in private companies.

“Everyone knows that rule number one for any job is showing up. No private company would put up with its employees refusing to show up for work, let alone watch the problem grow year after year. These findings are an insult to the American taxpayer and should be of great concern to the agencies included and members of Congress,” Coburn said.

Beginning in December 2006, Coburn launched an investigation into the extent to which federal employees fail to show up for work and are thus charged by their agencies with AWOL. Nineteen agencies – including all federal departments and several independent agencies – were asked to provide data for all AWOL hours recorded between 2001-2007.

“It is inexcusable that federal agencies would sit by and let this problem get worse, while some agencies are completely unaware that there even is a problem. Before agencies come hat-in-hand to Congress asking for money to hire more employees, they should fully use the ones they already have by getting the AWOL problem under control. AWOL employees put a hidden tax on the American taxpayer by making the federal government more inefficient with the resources it has been given,” Coburn said.

Only the State Department failed to provide any data for this study, citing as a reason that it does not measure AWOL time.

Terrill Services Include Capitol, Lawton Church

Al Terrill, former state senator and Capitol lobbyist who died Wednesday of cancer, will be honored Monday when family members will join others in honoring his memory outside the Senate chamber from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Terrill's funeral is set for 1 p.m. Tuesday at First Baptist Church in Lawton.

Terrill, 71, served in the state Senate from 1964 to 1986. In recent years, he worked as a Capitol lobbyist.

Lawton Ritter Gray Funeral Home is handling funeral arrangements.

Coffee Echoes Henry's Obama Invitation

From Oklahoma Senate Republicans ~ Echoing Governor Henry’s invitation for Presidential candidate Barack Obama to campaign in Oklahoma, Senate Co-President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee offered to roll out the red carpet for the Democrat standard-bearer.

"Speaking on behalf of all Oklahoma Republicans, and in the spirit of true bi-partisanship, I want to join Governor Henry in inviting Barack Obama to Oklahoma. We’ll break out all of the Oklahoma hospitality we can if Obama would campaign alongside Nancy Riley, Robert Murphy, Keith Erwin and Richard Lerblance," said Coffee.

"Senate Republicans would welcome him with open arms," he continued. "Better yet, let’s take a statewide bus tour."

With public polls showing Obama running a distant second to John McCain in the state, Republicans are eager for a visit by Obama.

Coffee suggested a swing starting in Lawton with Democrat Senate candidate Keith Erwin; north to Stillwater with Senate candidate/judge applicant Robert Murphy; then to Tulsa to go door-to-door with Nancy Riley; and a wrap-up rally in McAlester with Senator Richard Lerblance.

"We’ll even pay for their meal at Pete’s Place or The Isle of Capri in Krebs, if Obama likes great Italian food," Coffee added.

"If that schedule is too taxing, a rally on the south steps of the Capitol, with a photo-op of Obama standing, arms aloft with Riley, Murphy, Erwin and Lerblance – and any other willing Democrat – would be sufficient," he continued.

"If Obama doesn’t have the time or inclination to visit his good friends in Oklahoma, I urge my Democrat friends in the Senate to make public their support for the top of their ticket.

"Why wouldn’t Nancy Riley, Robert Murphy, Richard Lerblance or Keith Erwin declare their allegiance?" Coffee asked. "They’re mysteriously silent on this issue.

"If the Democrats need any help in planning the logistics for the Obama visit, have them call me. I’ll be glad to put the full force of our campaigns behind this effort," he offered. "They know my number."

World: OU Star Jenna Plumlee Drops Out

The Tulsa World reports today that suspended University of Oklahoma women's basketball player Jenna Plumlee did not enroll for the fall semester at OU.

OU spokesman Jared Thompson confirmed that Plumlee is not enrolled.

Plumlee was suspended July 18 by coach Sherri Coale four days after she was accused of shoplifting nearly $35 in cosmetics at a Norman Wal-Mart.

Coale said in a statement that the suspension was indefinite and that Plumlee would not participate in team activities during the 2008-09 season.

Coburn To Speak At GOP Convention

Senator Tom Coburn has been invited to address the Republican National Convention on Tuesday night, September 2nd, his office said today.

Coburn was invited to speak early in the process but wasn’t listed on the initial schedule because he was working to resolve scheduling conflicts surrounding a family wedding. Although the program has not been finalized, his remarks will likely focus on earmarks, wasteful spending and the need for real reform in Washington, his office spokesman said.

Upside-down Flag Plagues Obama Camp

DENVER ~ The "credentials" issued by the Democratic National Convention for fans of Barack Obama to attend his nomination-acceptance speech next week at Denver's football stadium are raising questions because they apparently have the U.S. flag flying upside down – an international signal of distress.

KUSA-TV in Denver reported its viewers have raised the issue, and online, a participant in a Gateway Pundit forum said, "That's an upside-down flag. It may not be intentional, but there it is."

The television station said viewers see the blue field and stars in the lower left corner, even though published flag etiquette states the stars should be displayed – always – in the upper left corner.

Poll: Obama New Hampshire Lead Gone

More bad poll news for Barack Obama today: The presidential race in New Hampshire is now a toss-up.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the state finds that Barack Obama's once-double-digit lead over John McCain is down to a statistically insignificant one-point lead, 43% to 42%.

This comes on the heels of a new national poll that shows McCain, for the first time, has overtaken Obama's previous lead.

Individual state polls show that in seven battleground states that Obama once led 5 to 2, McCain now leads 5 to 2, including the key states of Missouri and Virginia. Moreover, the Electoral College computation managed by Real Clear Politics shows Obama has dropped to an estimated 264 votes, his lowest point yet, while McCain has surged. McCain for the first time pulled ahead, though tenuously, in the Electoral College count, 274 to 264, according to the average of state polling that includes narrow leads in swing states. The shift occurred after Indiana — the home of Democratic vice presidential prospect Senator Evan Bayh — switched to McCain's electoral total.

Cornett To Speak At GOP Convention

Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett will be one of the speakers at the Republican National Convention, it has been announced.

Cornett was invited to speak to the general session of the convention, which begins September 1st in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Senate GOP Committee Chides Murphy

From Oklahoma Senate Republicans ~ After raising almost $52,000 – 70% from trial attorneys – in the first quarter of his campaign for State Senate – former Judge and aspiring future judge Robert Murphy (pictured) of Stillwater has seen his fundraising reduced to trickles following his decision to apply for the judgeship he abandoned to run for the Senate.

“It’s pretty clear Judge Murphy’s Hamlet impersonation – To Be or Not To Be – has very quickly worn thin on the voters and those who finance political campaigns in this state,” said Randy Swanson, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Republican Senatorial Committee.

Murphy’s latest fundraising report on file with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission indicates he raised $18,215 during the reporting period which ended August 11. 2008. Deducting the $650 he returned to a contributor who serves on the Judicial Nominating Commission, Murphy’s total raised now stands at $69,965.00.

Whereas Murphy had raised almost 70% of his funding from trial attorneys in the previous report, he reports only $3000 – which is still 18% of the contributions from individuals – from attorneys in the current report.

Jim Halligan, former president of Oklahoma State University and the Republican nominee in Senate District 21, raised two times Murphy’s amount -- over $37,000 this reporting period, and has now raised over $254,000 for his campaign.

Former Senator Al Terrill Dead

Senate leaders today notified members that former Senator Al Terrill passed away.

Terrill, 71, died in a Lawton hospital this morning after a long illness. He served in the Senate for 22 years and at one time, sought higher office.

Terrill, a Democrat, was often seen at the Capitol, where he worked as a lobbyist.

Henry Names J. D. Strong To Cabinet Post

From The Governor's Office ~ Governor Henry today named longtime public servant J.D. Strong to his executive cabinet, appointing him to the position of Secretary of the Environment.

He will replace outgoing cabinet officer Miles Tolbert, who recently announced his resignation to take a position in the private sector.

Strong has worked in the Office of the Secretary of the Environment for the past 12 years, most recently serving as Tolbert’s chief of staff.

“J.D. Strong has a proven track record of protecting the state’s environment and preserving Oklahomans’ most precious resources,” said Henry. “I have no doubt that he will hit the ground running and keep the focus on our state’s environmental priorities. I greatly appreciate his willingness to serve the people of Oklahoma in this important position.”

Strong earned a bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Ecology from Oklahoma State University in 1993 and began his public service career that year as an environmental scientist for the Oklahoma Water Resources Board. He was named special assistant to the Secretary of Environment in 1996 and later promoted to chief of staff in 2003.

As Miles Tolbert’s chief of staff, Strong was responsible for helping implement the governor’s environmental agenda, including the state and federal relocations of families in the Tar Creek Superfund site.

As a cabinet officer, Strong will also be responsible for overseeing a number of state environmental agencies including the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, the Department of Environmental Quality and the Department of Wildlife Conservation, among others.

“This is a great honor and I appreciate Gov. Henry’s confidence in me,” said Strong. “I look forward to serving the public in this new role.”

Strong resides in Oklahoma City with his wife, Kalli, and daughter, Edyn.

Insiders See Russell Runoff Victory

Some political insiders say today they believe retired Army Lt. Colonel Steve Russell is the likely winner of Tuesday's Republican primary in Senate District 45, but they don't discount the "ground game" that his opponent, political consultant Kyle Loveless, has waged for months.

Russell topped Loveless and former Oklahoma City Councilman Jerry Foshee in the primary; Russell got 40 percent to 27 percent for Loveless. Foshee has since endorsed Russell, as have two other candidates in the GOP primary, Melinda Daughterty and Marty Gormley.

A veteran GOP consultant not involved in the race says Russell's primary margin, plus the endorsements of three of his opponents, indicates he should emerge the winner: "He ran up by thirteen in the primary and anytime we see a candidate in a multi-field with that kind of edge, it almost always turns out that candidate wins a runoff. Loveless has a really huge mountain to climb to win."

A local GOP official says Loveless has "knocked a lot of doors and walked a lot of miles, but he just hasn't seemed to generate much traction...." She added that Russell "presents a fresh face that a lot of people like," and, "of course, we still have almost a week to go, so I guess anything can happen."

One veteran observer said, "Russell is definitely favored. How close it is depends on the turnout."

Some believe a low turnout, which is likely, will favor Loveless. But several others say they believe Russell's lead is substantial and the turnout probably won't make much of a difference in the outcome.

New finance reports show Russell has raised more than $120,000, nearly twice as much as Loveless. His latest Ethics Commission report shows he's raised $40,935 since July 15th and had $25,110 on hand as of August 11th.

Loveless, former chairman of the Cleveland County Republican Party associated for years with former Congressman Ernest Istook, reported he's raised $63,148, about $14,000 of that since July 15th. About half of that sum is in in-kind donations.

The district includes portions of Canadian, Cleveland and Oklahoma counties and the winner will succeed GOP Senator Kathleen Wilcoxson, who is term-limited. No Democrats or independents filed for the seat.

Henry, Boren Urge Obama Visit

Governor Brad Henry says he and University of Oklahoma President David Boren have been talking to Barack Obama's campaign about bringing the Democratic presidential nominee to Oklahoma.

Such a visit seems unlikely, given Obama's dismal showing in state polls and the fact Oklahoma has but seven electoral votes.

Oklahoma has not given a Democratic presidential contender the nod since 1964 when President Lydon Johnson of Texas was the party's nominee.

Leftwich Hail GPS Tracking Bill Signing

State Sen. Debbe Leftwich said today that a new law to help curtail attacks on women marks a significant change in how Oklahoma deals with domestic violence.

Leftwich was present when Governor Henry conducted a ceremonial bill signing of SB 2163.

Leftwich said the statute will take advantage of Global Positioning System Technology (GPS) to better protect domestic abuse victims.

“According to the Oklahoma Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board, our state is tenth in the nation for women murdered by men. Most of those women were in the process of trying to leave their abusers when they were killed, and many had obtained Orders of Protection,” said Leftwich, D-Oklahoma City. “Too often, that piece of paper does nothing to deter abusers from attacking again.”

In 20 percent of domestic homicides reviewed, Orders of Protection had been utilized. In 67 percent of the cases where a protective order was active at the time of the homicide, the defendant had violated the order prior to the homicide. “We need to be able to create a zone of safety for these women. With GPS tracking, we can do that,” Leftwich said. The devices, which will be court-issued, will automatically notify both the victim and law enforcement officials if the perpetrator violates the geographic boundaries set by the court.

“Basically, this helps create an electronic zone of safety and a way to prevent another attack should the abuser violate those boundaries,” Leftwich said. “By using GPS, we are taking a proactive approach toward domestic abuse, and hopefully we’ll be able to save lives.”

Present for the signing were Rep. Paul Roan, Vickie Rankin, Sunshine Gross with the Domestic Violence Coalition, Rep. Anastasia Pittman, Marcia Smith with the Domestic Violence Coalition, Leftwich, Rep. Charlie Joyner, and Jan Peery with the YWCA.

Surprise Poll Result: McCain Tops Obama

John McCain has overtaken Barack Obama in the presidential race, according to a Reuters/Zogby poll released Wednesday morning. McCain leads Obama 46 to 41 percent among likely voters, which the poll found is outside the margin of error. Reuters/Zogby had Obama ahead by 7-points as recently as mid July. McCain's resurgence comes at the doorstep of the Democratic Convention, and follows other polling that collectively indicates the presidential race has become a dead heat.

Former Bush Aide Denounces Obama Book

From Politico ~ BOMBSHELL – BLOGSWARM -- TALK RADIO ALERT: Peter Wehner, a former White House aide who remains in President Bush’s extended brain trust, uses a post on Commentary Magazine’s blog to denounce what he called “The Obama Smears” in Jerome Corsi’s best seller The Obama Nation: “Corsi’s approach to politics is both destructive and self-destructive. If Senator Obama loses, he should lose on the merits: his record in public life and his political philosophy. And while it’s legitimate to take into account Obama’s past associations with people like the Reverend Jeremiah Wright–especially for someone like Obama, about whom relatively little is known–it is wrong and reckless to throw out unsubstantiated charges and smears against Senator Obama.

“Conservatism has been an intellectual home to people like Burke and Buckley. The GOP is the party that gave us Lincoln and Reagan. It seems to me that its leaders ought to make it clear that they find what Dr. Corsi is doing to be both wrong and repellent. To have their movement and their party associated with such a figure would be a terrible thing and it will only help the cause of those who hold both the GOP and the conservative movement in contempt.”

McAlester Blog Wars Erupt Again

From The Tulsa World ~ Two men who post on a Web forum that is accused of libeling the Pittsburg County district attorney have filed their own complaint with the U.S. Attorney's Office against a blog that they believe is guilty of cyber stalking.

The anonymous operator of www.realmcalester.blogspot.com describes it as a satiric blog that makes fun of the McAlester Watercooler, www.mccooler.net, which has been highly critical of former state Sen. Gene Stipe and, recently, District Attorney Jim Bob Miller, who filed a libel complaint with the McAlester police last week.

The blog uses imagery and obviously superimposed photographs of Harold King, the operator of the Watercooler, and Chris Clark, who posts on the Watercooler under the name "Mr. Busby."

Read the entire story at http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectID=12&articleID=20080819_12_A7_hTheyh220091.

Texas Governor Rick Perry Supports School District's Firearms Concealed Carry Decision

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Texas Gov. Rick Perry indicated Monday he supports a tiny school district's decision to allow teachers and staff to pack guns for protection when classes start later this month.

Trustees at the Harrold Independent School District, in the Panhandle adjoining the Oklahoma border, approved a policy change last year to allow employees to carry concealed firearms to deter and protect against school shootings.

"There's a lot of incidents where that would have saved a number of lives," Perry said.

Washington Post: Huge Obama Advantage

By Deborah Howell/Washington Post Ombudsman ~ Democrat Barack Obama has had about a 3 to 1 advantage over Republican John McCain in Post Page 1 stories since Obama became his party's presumptive nominee June 4.

Obama has generated a lot of news by being the first African American nominee, and he is less well known than McCain -- and therefore there's more to report on. But the disparity is so wide that it doesn't look good.

Read the entire story at www.washingpost.com.

McCain Manager Protests NBC Coverage

From Politico ~ John McCain (R-Ariz.) campaign manager Rick Davis asked Sunday for a meeting with Steve Capus, the president of NBC News, to protest what the campaign called signs that the network is "abandoning non-partisan coverage of the presidential race."

UPDATE: It is now being reported that McCain was in his limo while Obama responded to questions and thus, McCain or a member of his staff could easily have listened on the car radio to the questions and Obama's answer. Developing....

Davis made the request Sunday in a letter that is part of an aggressive effort by McCain to counter news coverage he considers critical.

In this case, the campaign is objecting to a statement by NBC's Andrea Mitchell on "Meet the Press" questioning whether McCain might have gotten a heads-up on some of the questions that were asked of Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), who was the first candidate to be interviewed Saturday night by Pastor Rick Warren at a presidential forum on faith.

Read the entire story at http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0808/12594.html.

Event To Honor Paralyzed Veterans

The Del City VFW hall is located just north of Interstate 40 on the east side of Sunnylane Road on VFW Drive (Southeast 9th Street). If you exit Interstate 40 at Sunnylane from the west, take a left (north) and take the street to the right just before you get to the DorJay Apartments on your right.

Rifle Association Honors Jason Murphey

The Oklahoma Rifle Association has named Rep. Jason Murphey, R-Guthrie, as its 2008 "Legislator of the Year."

ORA President Don Scott presented the award to Murphey at the ORA's annual convention banquet Saturday night in Oklahoma City. Murphey was cited for his continued support of the 2nd Amendment and the right to keep and bear arms.

IRS Says Rinehart Violates Judge's Order

Oklahoma County Commissioner Brent Rinehart has not turned over all of the corporate records for his heating and air business, Unta Bent Inc., to federal investigators, an attorney for the Internal Revenue Service says in a court filing that seeks sanctions against him.

Rinehart claims he has turned over all records in his possession. A federal judge now will decide whether Rinehart has violated his July 31 order to produce all corporate records requested by the IRS, which had asked U.S. District Judge Joe Heaton to fine Rinehart or send him to jail for not turning over records as he was directed in an earlier court order.

Heaton denied a motion to find Rinehart in contempt after a hearing last month, but he ordered the embattled commissioner to surrender all 2003 records for is company or explain why they are not available.

Rinehart had said some records were taken by investigators from other agencies. He is awaiting trial on campaign finance charges in Oklahoma County District Court and also had been investigated by the FBI.

Rifle Association Honors Godfrey

Ed Godfrey, outdoors editor of The Oklahoman, has been named recipient of the Oklahoma Rifle Association's 2008 Mike McCarville Media Award.

The award is given annually to a member of the media who demonstrates support for the 2nd Amendment and the right to keep and bear arms. The award is being presented tonight at the ORA's annual convention awards banquet in Oklahoma City.

Previous recipients include 3-time honoree and NRA News commentator Mike McCarville; Patrick McGuigan, former editorial page editor of The Oklahoman; Cam Edwards, former KTOK morning show host and now host of the NRA's Cam & Company Internet and Sirius Satellite Radio show; and Ron Black, Oklahoma City radio and television outdoor show host.

Chesapeake Employees Donate To Roth's Campaign

By Jerry Bohnen/NewsRadio 1000 KTOK ~ It is clear that oil and gas people in Oklahoma like their Corporation Commissioners...just look at Commissioner Jim Roth's campaign fund where a third of it came from the oil patch. And for the record, there is nothing illegal about it.

As of mid-July, Roth, a Democrat, listed $589,000 in his campaign fund, the most of any of the candidates for corporation commission.

Nearly $198,000 or 33% of his total campaign fund came from people in the oil and gas sector whether they were oil company owners, employees of oil and gas operations or others.

The number of oil and gas contributors totaled approximately 215 out of the 1,075 who gave to his campaign, or only 20% of Roth's total donors. In effect, 20 percent of his contributors gave a third of his total campaign fund.

A breakdown of the contributions showed that 87 of those 215 donors were employees or executives of Oklahoma City based Chesapeake Energy Corporation. They represented 40% of Roth's total number of oil and gas donors and included Chesapeake Energy chairman Aubrey McClendon who donated the maximum of $5,000.

Only one donation came from an employee of Devon Energy, the country's largest independent oil and gas operation based in Oklahoma City.

Records at the State Ethics Commission also showed that there were 39 contributors who gave the maximum of $5,000 each to Roth's election campaign. Among them were billionaire oilman T-Boone Pickens, Barry Switzer, Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor and Clay Bennett, the owner of Oklahoma City's NBA team.

McAlester DA Jim Miller's Action Stirs Firestorm

By Tony Thornton/The Oklahoman, From McAlester ~ District Attorney Jim Miller was so outraged by what people wrote about him on a local message board that he filed a police complaint.

The ensuing investigation and subpoena targeting 35 anonymous posters have caused a firestorm stretching far beyond McAlester's city limits.

A journalism professor and First Amendment advocate calls Miller's actions "the kind of thing you'd expect in a police state."

Miller counters that free speech has restrictions. The allegations written about him on a site called the McAlester Watercooler (mccooler.net) are so offensive that he is the victim of a crime, Miller claims.

"I'm alleging that a person or persons have slandered me by accusing me of various things, but mostly that I'm a drug dealer, that I have killed an entire family in a car wreck while high on drugs and that I take bribes and pay bribes,” Miller said Thursday.

"I defy anybody, anywhere, to say that is protected by the First Amendment,” Miller said.

Miller said he provided police with comment threads on the site about him from 10 dates since October 2007.

That prompted two McAlester police detectives to show up at McCooler administrator Harold King's door Tuesday. They delivered a subpoena requiring King to produce identifying information about 35 people who posted under pseudonyms on the site.

King filed a formal objection Thursday, saying he won't comply because the subpoena doesn't indicate on whose authority it was issued.

A legal expert told The Oklahoman that only a judge or a prosecutor can authorize such a subpoena. Miller said he didn't authorize it; he simply filed a police complaint "like any other citizen.”

Whether Miller formally authorized the subpoena or not, it "smacks of intimidation,” said Joey Senat, past president of Freedom of Information Oklahoma and an associate professor of journalism at Oklahoma State University.

"It's anti-democratic. In other words, our government officials should expect to be criticized. ... To threaten someone with any sort of crime for doing that is nothing short of unacceptable,” Senat said.

He said if Miller thinks he has been libeled on the Web site, he should file a civil lawsuit.

Oklahoma is among 16 states with criminal libel laws still on the books, according to the Student Press Law Center. Most recently, Utah abolished its law in 2007.

Oklahoma's libel law was last changed by legislators in 1895, according to a textbook by Senat, "Mass Communication Law in Oklahoma.” The law prohibits false written speech that exposes someone to hatred, contempt or ridicule.

Former state Sen. Gene Stipe, a frequent target of King's Web site, filed a criminal libel complaint against King in 2005. Miller's predecessor declined to file charges.

At that time, an official with the state agency that represents district attorneys said he'd never heard of a criminal libel report being filed with police, much less filed as a charge by a prosecutor.

Texas School District Authorizes Firearms

By Mark Agee/Fort Worth Star-Telegram ~ When classes start Aug. 25 in the tiny Harrold school district, there will be one distinct difference from years prior: Some of the teachers may have guns.

To deter and protect against school shootings, trustees have altered district policy to allow employees to carry concealed weapons if they have a state permit and permission from the administration.

The 110-student district lies 150 miles northwest of Fort Worth on the eastern end of Wilbarger County, near the Oklahoma border.

More than a dozen state legislatures have considered making it legal to carry guns on college campuses, but experts and officials contacted by the Star-Telegram say the move is unheard of in elementary or secondary schools.

Superintendent David Thweatt said a main concern was that the small community is a 30-minute drive from the sheriff’s office, leaving students and teachers without protection.

The district’s lone campus sits 500 feet from heavily trafficked U.S. 287, which could make it a target, Thweatt said.

Other security measures are in place, including one-way access to enter the school, state-of-the-art surveillance cameras and electric locks on doors. But after the Virginia Tech massacre and the Amish school shooting in Pennsylvania, Thweatt felt he had to take further action, he said.

"When the federal government started making schools gun-free zones, that’s when all of these shootings started," Thweatt said. "Why would you put it out there that a group of people can’t defend themselves? That’s like saying 'sic ’em’ to a dog."

Texas law outlaws firearms on school campuses "unless pursuant to the written regulations or written authorization of the institution."

Thweatt did not say how many of the 50 or so teachers and staff members will be armed this fall because he doesn’t want students or potential attackers to know. Wilbarger County Sheriff Larry Lee was out of the office Thursday and did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

Barbara Williams, a spokeswoman for the Texas Association of School Boards, said her organization is not aware of another district doing something similar. Ken Trump, a Cleveland-based school security expert who advises districts nationwide, including in Texas, said Harrold is the first district he knows of to take such a step.

Trump said he would have advised against allowing teachers to arm themselves, if only because of liability concerns. In the long run, it could have been cheaper and safer to hire security or off-duty police, he said. Texas school districts also have the option of forming their own police force, he noted.

"What are the rules for use of force?" Trump said. "Or how about weapons-retention training? Because they could go in to break up a fight in the cafeteria and lose their gun."

Thweatt said the district did not rush into the decision. Officials researched the policy and weighed other options for about a year before trustees voted on the policy in October. "The naysayers think [a shooting] won’t happen here," he said. "If something were to happen here, I’d much rather be calling a parent to tell them that their child is OK because we were able to protect them."

Teachers and staffers in the Harrold school district can carry firearms beginning this fall if they: Have a Texas license to carry a concealed handgun; are authorized to carry by the district; receive training in crisis management and hostile situations; and use ammunition that is designed to minimize the risk of ricochet in school halls.

Expert: McAlester DA's Action 'Outrageous'

By Tony Thornton/The Oklahoman ~ An Internet message board administrator today filed a formal objection to a subpoena ordering him to surrender information about people who posted on his site.

Meanwhile, McAlester police confirmed the subpoena is part of a criminal libel investigation for comments critical of District Attorney Jim Miller (pictured).

It remained unclear today who authorized the investigation, which apparently targets a Web site called the McAlester Watercooler (http://www.mccooler.net) and its administrator, Harold King.

King said two police detectives delivered the subpoena to him Tuesday. The subpoena orders King to supply by Saturday the names, addresses and other identifiers for 35 people who posted under pseudonyms.

King's objection states that he won't comply because the subpoena doesn't state who authorized it. Therefore, he wrote, "I consider the subpoena to be invalid."

The objection automatically forestalls the requirement on King to deliver the documents.

Miller told the Tulsa World he considered some comments on the Watercooler to be libelous.

Oklahoma is among 16 states with criminal libel laws still on the books, according to the Student Press Law Center. Most recently, Utah abolished its law in 2007.

An openness-in-government expert today said the subpoena "smacks of intimidation."

"It's outrageous for a district attorney to investigate criminal libel for criticism made against him. ... If he believes he has been libeled, he should sue civilly," said Joey Senate, past president of Freedom of Information Oklahoma and an assistant professor of journalism at Oklahoma State University.

KTOK: Oil, Gas Donors Boost Corporation Commission Campaigns of Cloud, Murphy

By Jerry Bohnen/NewsRadio 1000 KTOK ~ Republican Corporation Commission candidate Dana Murphy knows she has a mountain to climb when it comes to raising the kind of money collected by the man she wants to unseat, Democrat Jim Roth.

She had only $35,000 on hand after winning the primary.

A review of her campaign records as of mid-July showed that nearly a third of her contributors were from the oil and gas industry that would fall under her regulation if she were to win the seat now held by Roth. And those same oil and gas contributions made up about two-thirds of the money raised by Murphy.

Of the 313 donors to her campaign, 104 were from the oil and gas industry and they contributed more than $66,000 out of the total campaign contributions of $93,000.

Murphy's campaign is no different than any of the candidates for the corporation commission.

Their campaign reports reflect much the same--a growing movement by those in energy industry to flow money into the campaigns. Many energy companies see it as hedging their bets on which candidate will be successful.

Meanwhile, a review of campaign contributions to date of Republican Corporation Commissioner Jeff Cloud's re-election bid shows more than half of his contributors are in the oil and gas industry.

Of the 237 individual contributions listed for the July report, 150 came from oil and gas people. They gave $202,000 to Cloud who listed a total of $260,000 in campaign contributions.

A check of the contributions also showed that 32 of the contributors worked for OG&E and its gas supply subsidiary Enogex. There were 14 contributors who listed as being employed by ONEOK and its subsidiary ONG. Chesapeake Energy had five employees who contributed to Cloud's campaign.

Of the 28 contributors who were listed as giving the $5,000 maximum allowed under law, only four were not from oil and gas people.

As for Murphy, her campaign reports showed she loaned herself $10,000 for the race and received nearly $5,000 of in-kind contributions. Most in-kind contributions came from Murphy because she paid for gas, receptions and food, advertising, office furniture and postage.

Edmondson Hints Of Governor's Race

By Mick Hinton/Capitol Bureau, Tulsa World ~ Attorney General Drew Edmondson confirmed Wednesday that he is getting closer to deciding to run for governor in 2010.

"I am leaning more and more in that direction," said Edmondson, who has raised nearly $300,000 for a 2010 re-election bid.

If Edmondson decides to run for governor, money from his attorney general campaign could be transferred to a governor's race.

Wednesday's comment was the strongest indicator the attorney general has made that he might run for governor.

Edmondson said that because he now holds public office, a firm decision doesn't have to be made as soon.

He said others mentioned as possible candidates also fall into that category. Those others include two other Democrats, Lt. Gov. Jari Askins and state Treasurer Scott Meacham. U.S. Rep. Mary Fallin, a former Oklahoma lieutenant governor, has been mentioned as a possible GOP candidate.

Davis Gun Collection Controversy Rages

By Rhett Morgan/Tulsa World ~ A commissioner for the J.M. Davis gun museum says the Claremore facility is in top condition.

Allegations of gun and artifact neglect at a state-operated historical museum "will be shown to be without merit," the chairman of the J.M. Davis Memorial Commission said Wednesday.

William Higgins, appointed by Gov. Brad Henry to the commission in August 2005, said in an e-mail to the Tulsa World that the J.M. Davis Arms and Historical Museum is in the "best condition it has ever been" and invited the public to view the collection.

The remarks by Higgins, who also spoke to the newspaper by telephone, were in response to a lawsuit filed Tuesday by the J.M. Davis Foundation.

The legal owners of the collection, the foundation wants the firearms and collectibles returned, saying the state of Oklahoma has breached a lease requiring the collection's preservation.

An arm of the state, the commission oversees the Claremore museum.

Foundation representatives said Tuesday that if it prevails, it likely would sell the guns to benefit the city of Claremore.

A great nephew of Davis', who transferred his collection to the foundation in 1965, Higgins said he was disappointed by the litigation. "The Foundation was formed by Mr. Davis 'to establish, maintain and preserve an extensive gun collection and other historical artifacts for public use and view,' " Higgins, a Claremore attorney, wrote in an e-mail. "The entire collection was amassed by Mr. Davis during his lifetime and has always been located in the city of Claremore.

"I believe it was Mr. Davis' intent and desire that the collection would always remain intact and on public display in Claremore, Oklahoma. Obviously, the Foundation has another idea."

The petition cites neglect such as melted gun butts, rusted guns and swords, and moth-eaten military uniforms.

A July 2005 burglary at the museum sparked an audit by the state Auditor and Inspector's Office. Released the next year, that audit found that the museum was missing 125 firearms of the 13,354 guns that were actually counted.

Since the audit, the museum has made several upgrades, including adding a full-time curator, Jason Schubert, two years ago, Higgins said. He said museum officials also have made security improvements, written a comprehensive collection management policy and purchased a software program to assist in tracking the artifacts.

At a news conference Tuesday, foundation representatives displayed several photographs, including one showing firearms, swords and other artifacts stuffed in barrels.

"They probably picked the most inflammatory picture that they could to put in their press release," Higgins said by telephone. "In any museum, from what Jason tells me, you are going to have things that are basically junk. Jason characterizes anything in a museum as an artifact. But because it is an artifact doesn't mean that it has display value."

A prepared statement released Tuesday by state Rep. Tad Jones, R-Claremore, stated that lawmakers this year had provided $385,000 for the museum's operation, and that the facility's budget has increased $85,000 over the last five years. During the 2007 legislative session, Jones and state Sen. Sean Burrage, D-Claremore, secured a one-time, $150,000 appropriation for museum infrastructure needs, according to the statement.

"With gun enthusiasts everywhere, the Foundation has done a poor job of raising money to assist the museum," Jones wrote.

In his e-mail, Higgins wondered why the foundation had only "recently complained" about the collection's condition and museum operation. "The Commission feels that had there been real issues regarding conditions or operation, the Foundation would have brought those to someone's attention long before now," Higgins wrote.

Gunman Kills Arkansas Democratic Chairman

From The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/LITTLE ROCK ~ A gunman killed Democratic Party Chairman Bill Gwatney, shooting him three times at the State Democratic Party Headquarters in Little Rock on Wednesday.

The gunman then fled the scene in a pickup leading police on a chase down Interstate 530 that ended in gunfire.

Gwatney was transported to the hospital, where he died, police said.

During a news conference at the Little Rock Police Department, Lt. Terry Hastings said that Gwatney, 48, had died at 3:39 p.m. at the UAMS.

The Little Rock police said about 2:30 p.m. that the suspect, identified only as a white man around 50, was dead after being shot by Arkansas State Police officers near Sheridan, around 40 miles south of the capital city.

Gwatney, a popular car dealer, was a former member of the Arkansas Legislature.

School Security Act Gets National Attention

From The Senate Communications Division ~ Legislation to make Oklahoma’s schools and campuses safer is gaining national attention.

State Sen. Todd Lamb (pictured) was a featured speaker at the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO) conference this month in Phoenix, Arizona. NASRO is a not-for-profit organization for school based law enforcement officers, school administrators and school security/safety professionals working as partners to protect students, school faculty and staff and the schools they attend. Lamb said he was amazed by the response from NASRO delegates to his presentation on his Oklahoma School Security Act.

“What we tried to do was develop a multifaceted approach to not only increase campus safety and improve emergency response, but we also wanted to avert behaviors such as bullying,” said Lamb, R-Edmond. “Now school administrators and security officers from around the country are interested in our legislation.”

Under SB 1941, schools will be required to practice lockdowns twice each year. The bill additionally places school administrators on regional Homeland Security Advisory boards, guaranteeing their voices are heard on important security related concerns.

The measure also incorporates language regarding electronic communications under the state’s bullying statues. Under previous state law, electronic communications could not be considered bullying.

“We know there is a direct correlation between young people who are bullied and the possibility that those experiences can lead to tragedies like the deadly shootings at Columbine,” Lamb said. “That makes it extremely critical that we have the tools in place to stop bullying before it’s too late.”

Kevin Quinn is the spokesperson for NASRO, and said members were impressed with Lamb’s comprehensive safety plan, especially considering his background in law enforcement as a former agent for the Secret Service.

“That really made it hit home. This is someone who actually knows what he’s talking about,” Quinn said. “He’s been in law enforcement, and in his position in the Senate, he’s trying to get things passed that he knows will help law enforcement officers and schools around the country.”

Lamb said since returning from the conference, he’s been responding to requests for more information about his legislation.

“I really was not expecting the tremendous level of interest I’ve seen from school administrators and security officers from other states,” Lamb said. “Oklahomans can take pride in the fact that our legislature has passed a measure that could become a national model for promoting greater school safety.”

Push Poll Pushes Andrew Rice

Democrat U. S. Senate candidate Andrew Rice apparently has a push poll in the field.

Several individuals report today they received calls from a "Precision Opinion" firm in Las Vegas, Nevada asking questions about the Senate race.

Among questions were those seeking an opinion of Rice and Inhofe, including what the person being polled had heard about Inhofe and Rice and from where (TV, radio, friends, newspaper), and whom they’d vote for. (This question was asked twice, once at the beginning of the poll and again at the end).

The operator read a paragraph about Rice, how Inhofe has gotten a million dollars from big oil, how America needs a new energy policy, and how we need change in Washington. The operator then asked if that made them more likely to vote for Rice.

That was followed by a statement about Rice; someone who is new to politics, has pledged not to take money from oil and gas companies, someone who will reach across the aisle and change the way Washington works.

The operator then asked again if that made the person more likely to vote for Rice.

Subpoena Served On Forum Operator As McAlester DA Seeks Identities Of Anonymous Posters

By Tony Thornton/The Oklahoman ~ An online message board operator said Tuesday he won't comply with a subpoena ordering him to supply identities of people who issued critical posts about McAlester officials.

Harold King said two McAlester police detectives delivered the subpoena to him Tuesday. The subpoena orders him to provide details by Saturday on 35 bloggers posting under pseudonyms on King's site, http://www.mccooler.net/.

He said he researched posts under those pseudonyms and found one common denominator: All had written critically about Pittsburg County District Attorney Jim Miller (pictured).

Miller said by telephone: "I can't comment on any investigation, and whether one's going on or not.”

The subpoena doesn't say who issued it. A legal expert contacted by The Oklahoman said only two authorities — a prosecutor and a judge — can issue a subpoena in a criminal matter.

His subpoena is the most recent of King's troubles traced to his Web site. The site focuses on McAlester politics — particularly matters related to former state Sen. Gene Stipe.

In December 2005, King filed a police report claiming Stipe assaulted him. Stipe and his brother Francis filed a stalking complaint, accusing King of harassing them. Gene Stipe also obtained a protective order against King and accused him of libel.

Last weekend, King filed a police report accusing Francis Stipe's son, Wayne, of punching him in the face at a local grocery store.

Miller wouldn't say whether he plans to file assault charges.

An advocate of open government said he's concerned the subpoena could have "a chilling effect.”

"It just smacks of trying to chill criticism,” said Joey Senat, past president of FOI Oklahoma Inc. and associate professor of journalism at Oklahoma State University. "We have a right to speak anonymously, especially about political matters,” Senat said.

Tax Collections 7.1 Percent Over Estimate

From The Treasurer's Office ~ The new fiscal year for state government is starting with positive news as General Revenue Fund collections for July, the first month of the Fiscal Year 2009, reflected growth in the Oklahoma economy, State Treasurer Scott Meacham announced today.

Preliminary reports show General Revenue Fund collections totaled $457.1 million for July.

That amount is $45.9 million or 11.2 percent above the prior year; and $30.4 million or 7.1 percent above the estimate.

In spite of the national economic picture, Meacham said revenue collections show the state's economy remains buoyant.

"Revenue collection reports show Oklahoma's economy remains healthy, driven by record strength in our energy sector," said Meacham, who also serves as Cabinet Secretary of Revenue and Finance. "Gross production receipts are very strong. Income taxes - both personal and corporate -show growth, as do sales tax collections."

Income taxes yielded $158.6 million to the FY-09 General Revenue Fund, which was $2.6 million or 1.7 percent above the prior year and $14.2 million or 9.9 percent above the estimate.

Individual returns produced $154.8 million, which was $1.7 million or 1.1 percent above the prior year and $13.6 million or 9.6 percent above the estimate.

Corporate returns produced $3.8 million, which was $0.8million or 28.3 percent above the prior year and $0.6 million or 19.5 percent above the estimate.

Sales tax produced $141.6 million for general revenue, up $10 million or 7.6 percent from the prior year and $2.1 million or 1.5 percent above the estimate.

Gross production tax accounted for $90 million for general revenue, which was $33.4 million or 59.1 percent above the prior year and $31 million or 52.6 percent above the estimate.

Motor vehicle taxes, based on motor vehicle sales and licenses, produced $19.6 million, which was $0.2 million or 1.3 percent above the prior year but $1.3 million or 6.4 percent below the estimate.

Investments by the treasurer's office produced $12.4 million, a reduction of only $0.7 million from the previous July despite a cut in the Fed Funds Target Rate from 5.25 percent in July of last year to 2.0 percent last month.

Other revenue, which includes investment earnings along with taxes on insurance, inheritance, alcoholic beverages and others, produced $47.3 million. This was $0.3 million or 0.7 percent below the prior year and $15.6 million or 24.8 percent below the estimate.

Tolbert Resigns As Environment Secretary

Miles Tolbert has resigned as Oklahoma's secretary of the environment to join an Oklahoma City law firm, it was disclosed today.

Tolbert was appointed by Governor Brad Henry. It is reported he will join the Crowe & Dunlevy law firm.

Murphy Challenged On Second Donation

Democrat Senate candidate Bob Murphy (pictured) of Stillwater is being challenged today by Republicans to acknowledge the receipt of a $5,000 contribution from the controversial Working Oklahomans Alliance, a political action committee operated by trial lawyers and funded, in large part, by "donations" from workers' comp claim recipients, many of them unemployed.

The challenge follows yesterday's challenge from GOP Senator Clark Jolley over a $650 donation to Murphy from a member of the Judicial Nominating Commission, Jim Loftis. Following Jolley's challenge, Murphy returned the donation and Loftis said he would recuse himself from any action in selecting a district judge in Payne County. Murphy held the post and resigned it to make the Senate race; then, a day before the application deadline to fill the post, he filed to fill his own vacancy. He said he'd prefer to serve in the Senate, but if not, wants to remain a judge.

The Working Oklahomans Alliance reports donating $5,000 to Murphy, yet Murphy has insisted he “can’t locate” the contribution. “The judge says because he can’t locate the check, it’s a ‘moot point,’” said Randy Swanson, executive director of the Oklahoma Republcan Senatorial Committee.

“It’s not moot. In fact, it’s time for the judge to come clean about the contribution, then do the right thing and turn the money over to charity,” said Swanson. “To return the cash to the Working Oklahomans Alliance would do no good for the aggrieved worker’s comp claimants.

“We suggest that Murphy feed a few hungry Oklahomans by donating this cache of cash to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma City, an organization that serves hungry Oklahomans throughout the state, including feeding centers in Senate District 21,” Swanson suggested.

“This is only just, as Oklahomans from across the state unknowingly and unwillingly contributed to Murphy’s campaign,” he added.

“The clock is running,” Swanson said. “The contribution was made on July 3 – forty days ago. We’re waiting to see how long it takes Judge Murphy to track down that elusive check and do the right thing. We’ll be watching." A count-up clock is marking time on www.oksenategop.com. The clock will stop when Murphy donates the contribution to the Regional Food Bank or an appropriate charity.

Keating Seeks Help For McCain Campaign

Former Governor Frank Keating is out with an appeal to Oklahomans asking that they contribute to John McCain's presidential campaign.

Keating, who now heads the American Council of Life Insurers in Washington, writes in an email message, "The differences between John McCain and Senator Barack Obama are clear and the voters in the great state of Oklahoma will have a clear choice to make on Election Day. Simply put, John McCain is prepared to lead our country as the next president and Senator Obama is not ready to lead.

"But John McCain won't win in November without Oklahoma and that's why I write to you today. Will you support the McCain campaign by making a contribution right away of $25 or more? August is the last month the campaign can accept primary contribution dollars, so it is critical for you to give right away."

Dr. No's Reaction To Senate Panel: 'So what?'

By Martin Kady II/Politico ~ The Senate Ethics Committee has told Republican Sen. Tom Coburn that he’ll be engaged in a “serious violation of Senate rules” if he continues delivering babies back home in Oklahoma.

Coburn’s response: So what?

“On my own time, I’m taking care of women who have a need, and I’m going to continue to deliver babies,” Coburn, an obstetrician, told Politico. “I’m not going to stop.”

Coburn would not say specifically whether he has actually delivered a baby since the June 22 deadline set by the Ethics Committee, but he made it clear that he could deliver one any day now — and thereby force the Ethics Committee to put up or shut up.

Coburn — an irascible Republican known as Dr. No — has been fighting with the Ethics Committee for years over whether he can continue to practice medicine.

As a member of the House, Coburn delivered approximately 400 babies under an arrangement with the House ethics committee that allowed him to provide medical services as long as the fees he collected allowed him to only break even on his costs. When Coburn was elected to the Senate — and was told that his existing arrangement violated Senate rules on outside income — he stopped collecting money altogether, delivering babies for free so that he could keep up his medical skills and return to private practice after leaving elected office.

All of Coburn’s work is pro bono, and he pays malpractice premiums and administrative fees out of his own pocket.

But in recent correspondence, the Senate Ethics Committee told Coburn that because his local facility — the Muskogee Regional Medical Center — is now owned by a for-profit entity, it’s a conflict of interest for him to provide services there for free.

Coburn says that’s nonsense. “The hospital gets nothing from my services,” he said. “I don’t bill anything.”

The Ethics Committee does its work in secret, and its members are not allowed to comment on ongoing proceedings. Thus, neither the chairwoman, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), nor the ranking member, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), would discuss the Coburn situation.

But according to a series of letters obtained by Politico, the panel has repeatedly told Coburn that delivering babies — even pro bono — at a for-profit medical facility violates ethics rules. The panel gave Coburn the same advice when Republicans controlled the Senate, and both Boxer and Cornyn have signed letters telling him to stop delivering babies.

Coburn, known for tying up the Senate in procedural knots, thinks he has the upper hand. If the Ethics Committee actually gets to the point where it calls for a public reprimand, Coburn can appeal to the full Senate for a vote, and he’s betting that he’d win a vote if 100 senators were asked whether he should be allowed to deliver babies for free — especially since most of his patients are “at risk,” meaning they could be drug users, uninsured or poor patients, or women with high-risk pregnancies.

Coburn also insists that, with all the high-profile ethics scandals facing Congress — leading off with Alaska Republican Sen. Ted Stevens’ federal criminal trial this fall — the Senate would look petty by going after someone who is donating his money and medical services to help pregnant women.

Senate aides would not comment on the record, but ethics experts on and off Capitol Hill say the Senate Ethics Committee needs to be consistent in applying its conflict of interest rules, even if Coburn presents a sympathetic case. Aides also point out that many senators have given up their professional lives when they were elected. Sen. John Ensign gave up his Nevada veterinary practice, Sen. Johnny Isakson of Georgia stopped selling real estate and former Sen. Bill Frist of Tennessee stopped performing heart and lung transplant work. All three are Republicans.

The committee’s case against Coburn is based on Senate rules that prohibit senators from being involved in professional affiliations that would create a conflict of interest. Stanley Brand, a congressional ethics expert who has represented several legally troubled members of Congress, including Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho), says the Ethics Committee is wasting its time.“If he wants to deliver babies, and there’s no direct pecuniary conflict, why make this into a cause célèbre?” Brand said. “It’s so absurd to be squeezing this guy. It’s another example of leadership run amok.”

Murphy Returns Questioned Donation

By Barbara Hoberock/Capitol Bureau, Tulsa World ~ Senate hopeful Bob Murphy Jr. of Stillwater on Monday returned a $650 donation after learning that it came from a member of the panel that helps select judges.

[And after Republican Senator Clark Jolley made the donation public.]

Murphy, a Democrat, applied for the Payne County associate district judgeship that he had resigned in June to run for the Senate District 21 seat. That post is being vacated by Senate Pro Tem Mike Morgan, D-Stillwater, because of term limits. Murphy applied July 31. The deadline was Aug. 1.

On July 14, Murphy's campaign received a $650 donation from Norman attorney Jim Loftis, who serves on the Judicial Nominating Commission. The panel reviews applications for judicial posts and forwards three nominees to the governor, who makes an appointment. Loftis said he learned after making the donation that Murphy applied for the judicial position.

The commission has 13 members, but one post is vacant, Loftis said. Loftis said he will not take part in the process of filling a the judicial position because of the donation.

"I don't think this put me in a bad position," he said. "It is probably the wisest decision to allow the 11 other members to conclude the interview process and make a recommendation to the governor."

Murphy faces former Oklahoma State University President James Halligan, a Republican, on the Nov. 4 Senate ballot.

Murphy said that upon learning of the donation, he ordered his campaign to refund it. "I have not spoken to Mr. Loftis regarding this situation and wish to extend my apology to him," he said. "The donation was made and accepted prior to my decision to apply for the judicial position."

Is This Hard To Understand?

From The New York Post ~ The great majority of those shot by the police are black or Hispanic - for the simple reason that street-level crime is overwhelmingly committed by black or Hispanic perps.

From The Oklahoman ~ Six of the seven officers involved in July's shootings are white, and the seventh is an American Indian, Balderrama said. Of the people at whom police shot, only one, the man involved in an incident July 5, is white.

Francis Stipe's Son, McAlester Watercooler Operator Harold King Involved In 'Altercation'

The crusading operator of the McAlester Watercooler web site and the son of the late Francis Stipe were involved in an "altercation" in McAlester on Saturday, it's reported today.

The incident is being investigated by McAlester police.

McAlester Police Capt. Don Hass said the incident involving Wayne Stipe and Harold King took place outside a local grocery store. An incident report on the case said it is being investigated as an assault and battery.

Police said Stipe and King, who operates the McAlester Watercooler that has been critical of the late Francis Stipe and his brother, Gene Stipe, both went to a McAlester hospital after the incident. Hass said King had a bloody lip and Stipe had a hand injury.

No arrests had been made in the case as of Monday morning.

Hass said a copy of the report would be turned over to the office of District Attorney Jim Bob Miller.

"It happened outside the store and there are different stories as to what happened," Hass said.

In a post on the site, King said Stipe accosted him outside the store after a brief, non-confrontational encounter inside the store. King writes that Stipe followed him out, "mumbled something" and then hit him in the face, after which Stipe got into his car and drove off.

Jolley Criticizes Judicial Nominating Commission Member's Donation To Bob Murphy

Stillwater Democrat Bob Murphy's decision to seek elective state office and appointive judicial office at the same time has created a conflict of interest for one of his donors, Republican Clark Jolley (pictured) claims today.

Jolley says that Norman attorney Jim Loftis, a member of the Judicial Nominating Commission, has contributed $650 to Murphy’s campaign for the State Senate.

UPDATE: Jim Loftis said this afternoon he will recuse himself from any vote on the Stillwater judicial vacancy.

Jolley called on Loftis to avoid "the clear conflict of interest" caused by Murphy's dual office-seeking by recusing himself from the Judicial Nominating Commission’s candidate nomination process for the vacant Associate District Judge position in Payne County.

Campaign records show that Loftis, one of six attorney members on the Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC), contributed $650 to Democrat Bob Murphy’s State Senate campaign on July 14, Jolley said.

Murphy resigned his position as Associate District Judge in June to run for the State Senate, but is now trying to re-attain his old judgeship after filing paperwork with the Judicial Nominating Commission on August 1. As a result, Murphy is seeking both offices simultaneously.

“Mr. Loftis is a contributor to Bob Murphy’s Senate campaign, while also sitting in a position to act on Bob Murphy’s candidacy for the vacant Payne County judgeship. Unfortunately, Mr. Murphy's decision has created a clear conflict of interest for Mr. Loftis,” said Jolley, R-Edmond, an attorney.

Jolley said conflicts of interest are not new to Murphy, as he was removed as presiding judge in the trial of convicted Oklahoma City Bombing co-conspirator Terry Nichols for allowing a conflict of interest to arise between himself and an Oklahoma City trial firm.

”Although Mr. Loftis has done nothing wrong, the right and honorable result of Mr. Murphy's dual office-seeking is for Mr. Loftis to immediately recuse himself from the Judicial Nominating Commission’s nomination process for the Payne County Associate District Judge position,” Jolley stated. “And, given that former and possibly future Judge Murphy has raised nearly 70 percent of his campaign funds from trial lawyers who may one day be trying cases before him again, it’s clear these and other potential donors could feel pressure from Murphy as the campaign progresses.”

Jolley noted that no other of Murphy’s funds appear to have come from members of the Judicial Nominating Commission.

Benge: Enough Prison Studies

From www.tulsaworld.com ~ With an annual budget approaching half a billion dollars and a population of more than 25,000 inmates, some lawmakers want to take a closer look at the state's prison system.

But all six of the interim studies lawmakers requested to examine the issue were denied by House Speaker Chris Benge.

Such studies, held between sessions of the Legislature, generally involve expert presentations and help lawmakers craft legislation.

Some studies approved this year include the possibility of banning cell phones while driving and another on preserving nuclear families.

Benge, R-Tulsa, defended his decision, saying an extensive audit released last year on the state's prison system gave lawmakers plenty of ideas for coping with the growing prison population and its aging infrastructure.

"We felt like the audit gave us a good blueprint to follow and didn't feel like any additional studies were warranted this year," Benge said. "I think it covered just about every part of the system, and additional studies just seems like a duplication of efforts at this point."

Read the entire article at http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080811_11_OKLA257757.

NY Post: Cop Bashers Menace Minorities

By Heather Mac Donald/New York Post ~ The New York Civil Liberties Union last week again proved that it doesn't care about the lives of black (or Hispanic) New Yorkers, by launching another tedious lawsuit against the NYPD.

The lawsuit seeks an official tally of the race of civilians shot by the police since 1998 - but everyone already knows what those numbers would show. And all but the most pig-headed know why.

The great majority of those shot by the police are black or Hispanic - for the simple reason that street-level crime is overwhelmingly committed by black or Hispanic perps.

More important - though not to the NYCLU - is the fact that the overwhelming majority of the victims are also black or Hispanic. That means that stopping crime is first and foremost a lifeline for the city's minority community.

Read all of this provocactive column at http://www.nypost.com.

Rasmussen: Media Bias Big Problem

Voters overwhelmingly believe that politicians will "break the rules to help people who give them a lot of money," but most say there's a bigger problem in politics today: media bias.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 55% believe media bias is more of a problem than big campaign contributions.

Fina Says There Was No Conflict

From NewsRadio 1000 KTOK ~ Piedmont Mayor Mike Fina says he was not representing his town when he attended a Corporation Commission law judge's hearing last week on OG&E's transmission line project. And he says there is no conflict of interest by Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth.

"No, not at all. In fact, the attorney that was there representing Piedmont, we've not retained him as council," said Fina, who is also Roth's administrative aide. "One of our council members was there representing Piedmont for informational purposes."

Fina says he attended the hearing as part of his job.

"As an aide to the commissioner, I attend most every pre-hearing and hearings so I can brief him if he can't be there. And it just so happened that day, he could be there."

Fina pointed out that he has no vote on the matter and in fact supports the entire OG&E transmission line project. He just happens to oppose its location near Piedmont.

"Anybody that knows Commissioner Roth knows that he has the highest of integrity of any elected official and would never let that influence, or let my employment by him influence how he would decide on a case."

Roth was in the courtroom for part of the hearing held by an Administrative Law judge. The commission cannot decide on the location of the proposed transmission line and will vote only on OG&E's request to raise rates to finance the project. The lines would bring wind-generated electricity from wind farms near Woodward, to central Oklahoma.

Oklahoman: DHS Gets It Wrong Again

There's another, new relevation that the Oklahoma Department of Human Services sometimes appears to be an inept, unfair agency that can't get it right and ruins lives in the process.

The newest example comes in The Oklahoman's Sunday edition, in which reporter Randy Ellis details the troubling case of Tulsa athlete Micheal Thomas, 21, who was mistakenly declared to be the father of the child of a Lawton drug user he says he's never met and as a result, was badgered by DHS until he dropped out of school, forfeited a football scholarship, found his paychecks garnished and his state and federal tax returns seized.

Read all of this troubling story at http://www.newsok.com/article/3281266/.

Terrill Objects To Bankruptcy Case Action

By M. Scott Carter/The Norman Transcript ~ One day after he said and his wife "didn't object at all" to a federal bankruptcy judge's order reopening his Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing, an attorney for state Rep. Randy Terrill filed a motion in federal court Friday asking the court not to reopen the case.

Terrill's filing was the latest in his federal bankruptcy case which began in October 2005 and was discharged in March 2006.

Earlier this summer, Edmond attorney John D. Mashburn filed a motion to reopen the case after published reports alleged irregularities between Terrill's bankruptcy petition and his state campaign filings.

On Thursday, Western Oklahoma District Bankruptcy Court Judge T.M. Weaver granted Mashburn's request, reopening the case and ordering the appointment of a trustee."It is therefore ordered ... that the trustee's motion is sustained, this case is hereby reopened, and the court orders the appointment of a trustee herein," Weaver wrote, noting that "no objections or responses" had been sent to the court.

"Said motion was filed July 18 ... notice was duly given to all parties appearing on the mailing matrix," the judge wrote. "The time for response to said motion expired on Aug. 5, and no objections or responses have been served or filed."

Friday, Terrill filed a request asking the court to deny Mashburn's motion."Wherefore, debtor respectfully requests that your honorable court deny the motion to reopen the bankruptcy filed by the trustee and if needed set this matter for a hearing and order such other and further relief as is just a proper," Oklahoma City attorney Jeffrey West, wrote.

West, listed as the attorney for both Terrill and his wife, Angela, filed the motion in Oklahoma City's federal bankruptcy court at 12:37 p.m. Friday, a little more than 24 hours after federal judge T.M. Weaver issued his order.

In his motion, West said the allegation that Terrill had received a "loan repayment" from his campaign was not, in fact, a loan."...That payment was for a re-imbursement for expenditures that the debtor incurred during his normal course of business in operating his campaign," West wrote. "...These are not "loans" in the traditional sense of the word and are monies the debtor put into his campaign for operation and payment of expenditures. At no time was money ever exchanged or received by the debtors in regard to these 'loans.'"

Rice Kicks Off Tulsa Telephone Bank

From www.tulsaworld.com ~ A Tulsa-based phone bank for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Andrew Rice goes into operation Tuesday night with Rice himself making some of the calls. Rice is trying to make energy policy an issue in his uphill battle against GOP incumbent Jim Inhofe.

Fund Established To Help Hero's Family

A fund to help the family of Okfuskee County hero L. T. Piggie II has been established at Citizen's State Bank of Okemah, 323 West Broadway, Okemah, OK 74859.

Piggie, pictured here in an older photo with two of his three children, drowned in a pond after rescuing his 4-year-old daughter who was in the back of his pickup truck that rolled into the pond. Piggie rescued the girl and passed her to his 14-year-old son, who swam 75 yards to help save his sister, before he disappeared under the water.

Piggie, 51, apparently became snagged by the sinking pickup truck.

LA Times On Edwards: Old Media Dethroned

By Tim Rutten/Los Angeles Times ~ When John Edwards admitted Friday that he lied about his affair with filmmaker Rielle Hunter, a former employee of his campaign, he may have ended his public life but he certainly ratified an end to the era in which traditional media set the agenda for national political journalism.

From the start, the Edwards scandal has belonged entirely to the alternative and new media.

The tabloid National Enquirer has done all the significant reporting on it -- reporting that turns out to be largely correct -- and bloggers and online commentators have refused to let the story sputter into oblivion.

Slate's Mickey Kaus has been foremost among the latter, alternately analyzing and speculating on the Enquirer's reporting and ridiculing the mainstream media for a fastidiousness that has seemed, from the start, wholly absurd.

Like other commentators, he repeatedly alleged that a double standard that favored Democrats applied to the story.

Like the Enquirer's reporting, the special-treatment charge is largely true, as anyone who recalls the media frenzy over conservative commentator and former Cabinet secretary William Bennett's high-stakes gambling would agree.

Edwards, 55, now admits that he had an affair with Hunter, now 44, in 2006, but denies that he is the father of the child she had in February. Andrew Young, another former Edwards aide, has said he is the baby's father.

In a statement released Friday, Edwards said he was willing to take a paternity test; doubtless we'll hear more on that issue. So far, so sordid.

But what's really significant here is the cone of silence the nation's major newspapers -- including The Times -- and the cable and broadcast networks dropped over this story when it first appeared in the tabloid during the presidential primary campaign.

Next, the Enquirer reported that the unmarried Hunter was pregnant. Still no mainstream media interest. Indeed, never in recent journalistic history have so many tough reporters so closely resembled sheep as those members of the campaign press corps who meekly accepted Edwards' categorical dismissal of the Enquirer's allegations.

Late last month, Edwards came to Los Angeles, and Enquirer reporters trailed him to the Beverly Hilton hotel, where he met Hunter and her daughter in their room. The Enquirer went with the story, and when no major newspaper or broadcast outlet even reported the existence of the tabloid story, bloggers and online commentators redoubled their demands that the mainstream media explain their silence.

The tabloid followed with a story alleging payments of hush money to Hunter and, this week, with a photo of Edwards holding an infant in what appears to be a room at the Beverly Hilton.

As pressure mounted on major newspapers to take some aspect of the unfolding scandal into account, editors and ombudsmen issued statements saying it would be unfair to publish anything until the Enquirer's stories had been "confirmed."

Well, there's confirming and then there's confirming. One sort occurs when an editor mutters, "Find somebody and have them make a few calls." Then there's the sort that comes when that editor summons an investigative reporter with a heart like ice and a mind like Torquemada's and says, "Follow this wherever it goes and peel this guy like an onion."

Suffice to say that the follow-up of the Enquirer's story fell into the former category in too many newsrooms, including that of The Times.

Some of this reticence may have reflected a regard for the feelings of Edwards' wife, Elizabeth, who has incurable cancer. There was, however, every reason to set that deference aside.

First, it was less than unlikely that Elizabeth Edwards was unaware of the allegations. (She says now she knew of the affair in 2006.) Second, Edwards' name has surfaced as a possible running mate for Barack Obama and as a possible attorney general or Supreme Court nominee -- posts in which character and candor matter. Finally, throughout his political career, Edwards has made his marriage a centerpiece of his campaigns.

It's interesting that what finally forced Edwards into telling the truth was a mainstream media organization. ABC News began investigating the Edwards affair in October, but really began to push after the Beverly Hilton allegations. When ABC confronted Edwards with its story (which confirmed "95% to 96%" of the tabloid's reporting, according to the network), he admitted his deception. With that admission, the illusion that traditional print and broadcast news organizations can establish the limits of acceptable political journalism joined the passenger pigeon on the roster of extinct Americana.

Voight's Conservative Declaration Sends Hollywood Liberal Bloggers Into 'Blacklisting' Hyperdrive

From Politico ~ Jon Voight intended to turn heads with the “very strong points” in his Washington Times op-ed last week. But he probably didn’t expect so many of them to reside in Hollywood.

In a sign of the growing interest in politics this election year, bloggers who normally focus on the entertainment industry are expanding their presence in one of the Internet’s other spheres of influence.

Voight’s piece slammed Democratic candidate Barack Obama, praised GOP contender John McCain and even repudiated his own Vietnam War protests as the naive flailings of a deluded youth.

It was a stunning bit of self-revelatory memoir from the now-conservative “Coming Home” star.

The political blogsosphere, of course, went ballistic. Then Jeffrey Wells, who runs the movie and pop culture site Hollywood-Elsewhere.com, took Voight to task for his right turn and wrote that, if he were a studio executive, he might think twice before hiring Voight for any future film work. “[Voight is] obviously entitled to say and write whatever he wants,” wrote Wells. “But it's only natural that industry-based Obama supporters will henceforth regard him askance. Honestly? If I were a producer and I had to make a casting decision about hiring Voight or some older actor who hadn't pissed me off with an idiotic Washington Times op-ed piece, I might very well say to myself, ‘Voight? Let him eat cake.'"

Voight seemed particularly taken aback by Wells’ blog postings, which many have interpreted as a call for blacklisting the actor.

“It’s out of line to insinuate that we should blacklist people for speaking their minds,” Voight told Politico. “It’s a strange thing when people in this country can’t express their opinions without being attacked.”

He added that Hollywood liberals frequently discuss topical issues, and “it’s an important time for people on the conservative side to speak out.”

McCain Continues Missouri Poll Lead

John McCain leads Barack Obama by seven percentage points in the race for Missouri’s Electoral College votes.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in Missouri shows McCain attracting 48% of the vote while Obama earns 41%. This is the third time in the last four months that McCain’s support has been at 47% or 48%. The one exception came in early June—McCain’s support dipped as Obama was wrapping up the Democratic Presidential nomination.

Obama has been in the 41% to 43% range for four straight months.

Some experts, including Oklahoma's Keith Gaddie, believe Missouri and Virginia are the keys in the presidential race. Analyzing the Electoral College math in a post on the Democrats of Oklahoma Community Forum, http://www.demookie.com/, Gaddie reviews all the "solid" and "leaning" states for McCain and Obama and concludes, "That leaves Missouri (11) and Virginia (13). Bush won both handily, now they are tossups. McCain needs them both, Obama needs just one. At the end of the day, those two states are the whole ballgame."

Doomed: Edwards Says He Lied, Had Affair

By RHONDA SCHWARTZ and BRIAN ROSS/ABC News ~ John Edwards repeatedly lied during his Presidential campaign about an extramarital affair with a novice filmmaker, the former Senator admitted to ABC News today.

In an interview for broadcast tonight on Nightline, Edwards told ABC News correspondent Bob Woodruff he did have an affair with 44-year old Rielle Hunter, but said that he did not love her.

[Democratic Party insiders were quoted as saying the admission dooms any chance Edwards had of being selected as Barack Obama's running mate, and likely dooms any chance Edwards had of being named to an Obama cabinet if he's elected president.]

Edwards also denied he was the father of Hunter's baby girl, Frances Quinn, although the one-time Democratic Presidential candidate said he has not taken a paternity test.

Edwards said he knew he was not the father based on timing of the baby's birth on February 27, 2008. He said his affair ended too soon for him to have been the father.

Watch more tonight on "World News" at 6:30 p.m. ET and the full interview tonight on "Nightline" at 11:35 p.m. ET.

Jones: MoveOn.org Attacks Boost Fallin

State Republican Party Chairman Gary Jones today said radio commercials from the far left MoveOn.org, funded by ultra-liberal George Soros, attacking Fifth District Congresswoman Mary Fallin will only boost her campaign for re-election.

“Thanks, Move On,” Jones said. “All you are doing is reminding Oklahoma voters that Mary Fallin has been a key leader in the House for alleviating our energy crisis. These silly ads will backfire on the left and the George Soros-Hollywood crowd that financed them.

Jones said the commercials, which accuse Fallin of supporting “big oil” by calling for more drilling, ignore her sponsorship of the American Energy Act, which would also strengthen conservation efforts and fund aggressive research and development of alternative energy sources- an approach called “all of the above.”

“Move On called General David Petraeus, the leader of the American military forces in Iraq, 'General Betray Us' because he wanted to win the war and disagreed with their calls for immediate surrender,” Jones said. “They are a voice for the far left, and they are so far out of touch with the beliefs of Oklahomans that their ads will simply make most people mad at them.”

Jones said five Move On representatives delivered a petition to Fallin’s Oklahoma City district office this week.

“They came in cars,” he said. “They really should have been there thanking Mary Fallin for working to relieve high gas prices. Their time would be better spent asking House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to stop blocking a vote on the American Energy Act to allow our country to move on all fronts to increase domestic energy supplies from all sources.”

Bankruptcy Court Reopens Terrill Case

A federal judge has reopened Rep. Randy Terrill's 2005 bankruptcy filing after reports alleged that the Republican legislator failed to disclose an asset in the form of a campaign loan the trustee claims should have been declared as an asset and shared with debtors.

Federal Bankruptcy Judge T.M. Weaver reopened the case Thursday in response to a petition from bankruptcy trustee John D. Mashburn.

Mashburn asked that the case be reopened because Terrill, the head of the House Revenue and Taxation Committee, failed to list as an asset money his campaign owed him.

Mashburn said he expected Weaver to reopen the case. He also expects Weaver to re-appoint him as trustee to oversee the case.

Mashburn said the judge's order allows creditors to try to recover additional funds from Terrill's estate.

Oklahoma Ethics Commission reports show Terrill was reimbursed between $9,800 and about $11,000 for campaign expenses.

Questions also have been raised as to whether Terrill failed to report income he received as an adjunct professor at Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College in Moore. However, Terrill said any money he earned from the college was a small amount, and his attorneys have assured him it did not need to be reported as an asset at the time.

Terrill contends that reopening the case is a "smear tactic." He said the bankruptcy was tied to college loans incurred by his wife.

"The purpose of this reopening, as far as I'm concerned, is to try and recover assets, or what appears to be assets, of the estate," Mashburn said.

Terrill and his wife filed their Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition Oct. 14, 2005, less than a year after he was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

In July, Terrill downplayed the request to reopen the case, attributing it to his political opponents.

"Neither my wife, nor I have any problem with the court taking a second look," Terrill said. "We don't object at all to the court taking a second look to make sure everything was done properly."

However, Terrill, who is up for re-election, said his political foes in the Hispanic community are using the bankruptcy against him because he sponsored the new immigration law.

"I would reiterate that this is a dirty, nasty, sleazy political tactic which causes people not to run for elective office," he said.

Friday Fun: Write Your Own Caption

The Gadfly On The Wall

Murphy's Move: Democrat Bob Murphy may be a smart guy, but reapplying for the job he just resigned in the middle of his campaign for the Oklahoma Senate is about the dumbest perceptual thing he could have done. Gives the impression he's throwing in the towel before the votes are counted in his race with Republican Jim Halligan.

Endorsers: One of the first lessons I learned in campaigns 40+ years ago was to make certain anyone endorsing your candidate is registered to vote. Democrat Senate candidate Andrew Rice's folks apparently overlooked that when they trotted out "Republican" Monty Collings of Noble in Rice's new television spot because Cleveland County registration records did not reflect a registration for him earlier this week. Insiders say that when that was reported here, Collings registered.

Working Oklahomans Alliance: The silence of top Democrats about The Oklahoman's revelations of workers' comp clients "donating" to the trial lawyers PAC is not surprising, given that Democrats have been the prime recipients of the PAC's donations. This, and the pouring of cash into campaigns (as some did for Rep. Randy Terrill's primary opponent) by business owners who give the max and then their PACs, to which they donated the max, also give the max cries out for ethics law reform. Siphoning money from the settlements of unemployed and disabled workers (and there are lots of examples of that with the Working Oklahomans Alliance) is worse, my opinion, than the wealthy manipulating the system to effectively donate double the maximum allowed, but both are unseemly.

Inept Justice? This week, we learn that former Insurance Commissioner Carroll Fisher's trial is being delayed again, and that Oklahoma County Commissioner Brent Rinehart's trial is being delayed again. We're to be forgiven if our confidence in the legal system is shaky.

Summer Olympics: Forty-eight years ago this month, I was in Rome, Italy, for the Summer Olympics and the feats of track stars Wilma Rudolph and Rafer Johnson. Memorable experience.

Obama Today: If the presidential election occurred today, my opinion, we'd be faced with President Barack Obama. Thankfully, the election is yet months away and, as we've seen in the past, those summer blooms Democrats seem to enjoy fade in the fall. John McCain's done little to inspire the masses, but Obama's inability to dominate McCain in the polls shows the race isn't over yet. Obama does have a substantial Electoral College lead at this time, but in the battleground states, local polls show he and McCain are just one to four percentage points apart. That means anything can happen.

Smart Move: Following our report about Barack Obama's Oklahoma supporters putting voter registration forms in high schools, several Republicans emailed to ask if that's legal. Yep. Perfectly legal, so long as there's no Obama campaign material attached. And a smart move, even if it is a bit like rolling the dice. It is their theory that 83 percent (polls say) of those under 35 will vote for Obama if they are registered and get to the polls. Ergo, if they register 100, 83 of them will vote for Obama. They hope. ~ Mike McCarville

KTOK: Conflict Of Interest? It's A Close Call

By Jerry Bohnen/NewsRadio 1000 KTOK ~ What some observers suggested was a possible conflict of interest for State Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth (left) today might not be one, but it's awfully close.

While Administrative Law Judge MariBeth Snapp held a hearing today on OG&E's proposed power lines to carry wind-generated electricity from northwest Oklahoma to Oklahoma City, Roth sat in the courtroom listening to the arguments and explanations.

Roth was there as a casual observer. Among the 60 gathered for the hearing were Piedmont city officials who object to the location of the power lines.

The mayor of Piedmont is Mike Fina, who happens also to be Roth's administrative aide.

Before Judge Snapp allowed Piedmont protesters and others to challenge OG&E's power line plans, she made it clear that the Corporation Commission had no authority regarding the location of the power lines. The only decison the Commission could decide was whether OG&E could get a rate hike to pay for the massive power line project. So Fina and other Piedmont city officials didn't get to make their arguments to the judge.

Some suggested that it might be a conflict of interest. However, Commissioner Roth will not be voting on any decision about the location of the power lines--only whether he thinks the giant utility should get a rate hike.

Still, it raised a question in the minds of some observers--a commissioner listening to testimony while his administrative aide is among those protesters in the audience?

With such a close link to the issue, they wonder if Roth might consider recusing himself from the question when it comes before the full commission.

Stillwater Clerk Loses, Gets Old Job Back

By Jacob Longan/Stillwater NewsPress ~ Glenna Craig says her time away from her job will make her better at it.

She worked in the Payne County Election Board for 20 years, including the last eight as secretary, until resigning June 1 to run for county clerk.

She lost to incumbent Linda Hatfield by a vote of 1,728-1,351 in the Democratic primary on July 29. Because no Republican entered the race, that primary served as the general election.

As of Wednesday, Craig is back in her old position at the election board. She was appointed by the Oklahoma State Election Board at Tuesday’s meeting.

“The position had not been filled,” Craig said. “With my experience and years of service, they were anxious to have me back in this position. I was more than happy to return. I’ve always said this job and my precinct officials are dear to my heart.”

Craig had not before run for public office. She said she now has a better understanding of the candidates’ points of view having been through the fire of a campaign. She added that doesn’t change the law or what her office can do, but it will make her better at her job.

“I ran an ethical, positive campaign,” Craig said. “I’d encourage those who run to continue to be respectful to each other during the process. I think that’s important.”

Her appointment means she will be in the job until April 30, which would have been her original end date before she resigned.The position will then be open for appointment by the state senator for district 21.

Former Oklahoma State University President James Halligan, a Republican, and former Payne County Associate District Judge Bob Murphy, a Democrat, are vying for the seat. State Senate Co-President Pro Tempore, Stillwater Democrat Mike Morgan — who re-appointed Craig several times — cannot seek re-election due to term limits.

[Murphy, who resigned as a judge to make the Senate race, has since reapplied for appointment to that post. Thus, the circumstances cited in this story are not lost on Republicans, who claim Murphy now knows he will lose the Senate race and wants his old job back. Murphy says that's not true but simply wants to serve.]

Asked for comment Tuesday, both Halligan and Murphy said they are focused on their election and have not thought about potential appointments.

Craig expressed confidence both will “see the necessity of keeping leadership experience in the election board.”

“I will gladly serve either one,” she added. “This is a non-partisan job. I’ve been very ethical and I think that will show in the work we have done.”

She said she was grateful for the opportunity to return to her old job and she has a “public-servant heart.”

Gaddie: Missouri, Virginia 'The Whole Ballgame'

Keith Gaddie, poltitical historian, pollster, author, pundit and University of Oklahoma political science professor, believes today that just two states are "the whole ballgame" in the 2008 presidential race.

Gaddie, analyzing the Electoral College math in a post on the Democrats of Oklahoma Community Forum, www.demookie.com, reviews all the "solid" and "leaning" states for John McCain and Barack Obama and concludes, "That leaves Missouri (11) and Virginia (13). Bush won both handily, now they are tossups. McCain needs them both, Obama needs just one. At the end of the day, those two states are the whole ballgame."

Real Clear Politics: Obama Leads McCain

Real Clear Politics has this breakdown of the present Electoral College math:

Barack Obama 238

141 Solid 97 Leaning

John McCain 163

91 Solid 72 Leaning

Toss Up 137

137 Toss Up

Inhofe: Send Me Your Gas Receipts

Senator Jim Inhofe is out with an email today asking recipients to send him copies of their gasoline receipts so he can share them with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

Inhofe's email: I don't need to tell you that gas prices are high, but there is someone I do need to tell...Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid...and I need your help to do it.

Please mail me your gas receipts and a short note about what your family has had to sacrifice because of out-of-control prices at the pump. I'll bundle together all the receipts and stories I receive and send them to Senator Reid. Together, we will send a message to Washington and show Harry Reid that high gas prices are hurting Oklahomans.Please mail your gas receipts by August 21 to:

Jim Inhofe PO Box 13300 Oklahoma City, OK 73113

Harry Reid won't even allow debate on a single solution I've proposed with my colleagues. And now Congress is on a five week recess! I don't think he understands just how serious this is, but together we can show him.

In recent weeks, I have worked with other Congressional Republicans to bring down gas prices by expanding exploration of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), opening ANWR, developing America's oil shales, and expanding refining capacity.

Last month, I introduced the American Affordable Fuels Act of 2008 that includes these measures as well as the Drive America on Natural Gas Act, which would promote the use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) vehicles.

And just last week, I teamed up with Representative Dan Boren to introduce the Marginal Well Production Preservation and Enhancement Act, which ensures the nation's policies recognize and reflect the economic importance of marginal well production.

But none of these ideas are even being considered because the Democrat Senate leadership is standing in the way. Let's send them a message by sending in our gas receipts.

Arnett's Investigative Reports Confirmed

Investigative reports by David Arnett of Tulsa Today have been confirmed by federal authorities, and what began as a story on Arnett's local news site is now an international news story. Arnett's curiosity about a Florida-based Internet advertising company, and the detail he's been reporting for three weeks, has been confirmed by the United States Secret Service and the firm's bank accounts have been frozen by the U. S. Attorney in Washington, D. C.

Arnett, who began his career as a print reporter in 1985, has published Tulsa Today since 1996. He has won two national awards as a First Amendment Publisher.

His stories about the Florida firm were the first public indication all was not right with the high-flying company, and Arnett persisted despite threats of lawsuits.

The first confirmation of Arnett's reports came in a local Flordia newspaper:

By Byron Spires, Havana (Florida) Herald Editor ~ Early Tuesday morning Quincy, Florida was abuzz with U.S. Secret Service agents. They were in town to serve search warrants at 11 South Calhoun Street and at the home of Andy and Faye Bowdoin, 8 Gilcrease Road, Lake Talquin, south of Quincy. Andy Bowdoin is listed as the president, secretary and treasurer of the local internet ad company, ASD Cash Generator (Ad Surf Daily, Inc.).

According to Tulsa Today in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a web-based news service and the first news source to question ASD’s operations, a large meeting of ASD associates was planned for Tulsa on August 23.

Editor David Arnett said he had received a number of complaints about the organization and decided to investigate the company.

For details, read http://www.tulsatoday.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1670&Itemid=2.

Jones: Was Murphy Promised Judge's Seat?

Oklahoma Republican Party Chairman Gary Jones (right) said today that Governor Brad Henry, Senate Democrat leaders, and former judge Robert Murphy should provide the public a full accounting about whether former Murphy was promised a judicial appointment if he loses the race for the open Senate District 21 seat.

A few weeks ago Murphy resigned his elected position as Associate District Judge to seek the Senate District 21 seat, but now Murphy has filed paperwork with the Judicial Nominating Commission to be reinstated to his former position.

"Murphy’s attempt to get his judgeship back while in the middle of a State Senate campaign is a very fishy development. It doesn’t pass the smell test," stated Jones. "The people have a right to know whether Bob Murphy was promised his judgeship back after losing the State Senate race. The governor, Senate Democrat leaders, and Mr. Murphy owe the people a complete disclosure and a full accounting of what commitments were made to convince Murphy to run for the State Senate," he said.

If Murphy is selected as a finalist from among the applicants for the judgeship by the Judicial Nominating Commission, Henry could then appoint Murphy to fill the vacant judgeship that Murphy resigned in June, Jones said.

With Murphy now seeking a judgeship in addition to running for a Senate seat, Jones also urged Murphy to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest by returning contributions made to his Senate campaign by trial lawyers.

"In his prior statements to the press, Bob Murphy has said, ‘we need a state senator who isn't beholden to any special money interests.’ But since that time Murphy has done the opposite, getting almost 70% of all of his funds from the trial lawyer lobby," said Jones. "I'm sure there are members of the trial bar who would be concerned about refusing to donate money to Murphy’s Senate campaign given the very real possibility that he will be presiding over their cases again after the election."

Murphy, Jones said, is "no stranger to conflicts of interest. While serving as Associate District Judge, Murphy was removed by the Oklahoma Supreme Court as the presiding judge in the criminal trial of convicted Oklahoma City bombing conspirator Terry Nichols for allowing a conflict of interest to develop between himself and a law firm.

"You would think that once you were disqualified publicly by the Oklahoma Supreme Court for an apparent conflict of interest, you would do your best to never allow for any allegations of that to be made in the future," said Jones. "Accepting trial lawyer money in such huge amounts when you very well could be presiding again over their court cases doesn't cut it."

Politico: Obama Poll Stall A 'Sobering Reminder'

By David Paul Kuhn/Politico ~ In the two months since Barack Obama captured the Democratic nomination, he has hit a ceiling in public opinion polling, proving unable to make significant gains with any segment of the national electorate.

While Obama still leads in most matchups with John McCain, the Illinois senator’s apparent stall in the polls is a sobering reminder to Democrats intoxicated with his campaign’s promises to expand the electoral map beyond the boundaries that have constrained other recent party nominees.

That gap between expectations and reality comes as Democrats enjoy the most favorable political winds since at least 1976.

At least eight in ten Americans believe the nation is on the wrong track. The Republican president is historically unpopular. From stunning Democratic gains in party registration to the high levels of economic anxiety, Obama should have a healthy lead by almost every measure.

Yet, in poll after poll, Obama conspicuously fails to cross the 50-percent threshold. ABC News Polling Director Gary Langer asked, “If everything is so good for Barack Obama, why isn’t everything so good for Barack Obama?”

NY Times: Oklahoma One Of Just Three States Where GOP Voter Registration Is Up

The New York Times reports that a study of voter registration in the 50 states shows that Oklahoma is one of only three states in the last three years where Republican registration continues to increase.

Republican registration numbers rose and Democratic registration numbers fell in only three states: Kentucky, Louisiana and Oklahoma, but The Times notes the GOP increase was less than a percentage point in Kentucky and Oklahoma.

Louisiana was the only state to register a gain of more than one percentage point for Republicans as Democratic numbers declined.

SPR Notes McCain Oklahoma Lead Over Obama

By Hastings Wyman/Southern Political Report ~ The McCain-Obama race may be close nationwide, but in the Sooner State it’s about as lop-sided as you can get.

The latest Oklahoma Poll, taken July 19-23 for the Tulsa World, showed John McCain with a 56% to 24% lead over Barack Obama, an extraordinarily high 32-point lead.

Of course, Oklahoma is a Red State.

In 2004, Bush beat Kerry 66% to 34%, also a 32-point gap, which McCain could widen if the 20% undecideds break his way.

Parents Council Condemns Prime-time TV

From www.markshannon.com ~ Marriage gets little respect on network TV shows that instead revel in the pleasures of extramarital and even kinky sex, according to a study released Tuesday.

The study by the Parents Television Council includes a strongly worded condemnation of prime-time TV, contending it "seems to be actively seeking to undermine marriage by consistently painting it in a negative light."

Even more troubling, according to the watchdog group, is what it characterized as TV's recent obsession with what it termed "outre" or bizarre behavior, including partner swapping and pedophilia.

As for references to pornography, sex toys and "kinky" behavior, those are now common on TV, the report said. Visual references to practices such as voyeurism and sadomasochistic sex outnumbered married-sex references by a ratio approaching 3 to 1.

The effect on young viewers is dire, the Parents Television Council contends. Behavior that once was seen as "fringe, immoral or socially destructive have been given the imprimatur of acceptability by the television industry" and children are absorbing or even imitating it, the report contends.

Parents don't necessarily have the tools to identify programs they may want to block via the V-chip, according to the study: It says designations such as "S," signaling sexual content, were applied inconsistently and inaccurately.

McCain Draws A Friendly Crowd

Sturgis, South Dakota ~ John McCain has proven that Barack Obama isn't the only presidential candidate who can draw a crowd. McCain is pictured speaking to bikers attending an annual motorcycle event here. An estimated 50,000 were on hand.

Murphy Tries To Explain Judge Application

By Jacob Longan/Stillwater NewsPress ~ After resigning the position in early June, Robert Murphy has applied for the vacant Payne County associate district judge position.

Murphy is the Democratic Party’s nominee for State Senate District 21 after winning a July 29 primary.

He took 63.48 percent of the vote, defeating Carney police and fire chief Greg Wilson, 2,270-1,306, to win the nomination.

Murphy had to leave the bench in his quest for the Senate seat being vacated by Co-President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan, D-Stillwater, because the Code of Judicial Conduct requires judges to resign if they file to run for a partisan office.

In a June interview, Murphy said the timetable would not make it feasible for him to re-apply for the job because applications had to be submitted within 30 days of the job being posted.

“It would be asinine,” Murphy said at the time. “If I wanted to do that, why wouldn’t I just stay there? That seat doesn’t expire until the end of 2010.”

But Tuesday, he said the timetable changed because the deadline for applications came Aug. 1, about a month later than he expected. That, he said, makes it unlikely the position will be filled until after the election Nov. 4.

“The reason I (applied) was every day since I resigned people have come up to me, my wife and a lot of other people and said, ‘Judge, we wish you were still on the bench,’” Murphy said.

“People may think I look like I’m hedging my bets or keeping my options open, but these are both public service positions. I don’t see it as a bad thing to be a legislator or a judge. If I can’t be a legislator, I’d like to be a judge.”

Murphy said he does not believe his application will have any affect on the election and he would serve four years in the Senate if he wins.

“I’ll withdraw my application (if I win),” he said.

His opponent, former Oklahoma State University President James Halligan, a Republican, said he had heard rumors Murphy was applying for his former job.

“I’m sure that Bob Murphy will do whatever he feels is appropriate,” Halligan said.

The Oklahoma Republican Senatorial Committee sent out a release about Murphy’s application, stating it “raises serious questions about whether Democrats believe Murphy can be competitive in the race...”

Murphy, asserting he is more confident he will win the election everyday, said the release shows the GOP is “in total panic mode.”

“They’ve hit the panic button and they’ve come out with all kinds of nutty stuff,” he said.

He also said the release’s assertion he simply wanted to hang out with trial lawyers is “indicative of their total lack of knowledge of what government is. That’s why it’s so scary they are about to get in control of it. That’s why I got off the bench. I couldn’t sit there and watch them destroy the state.”

GOP, Dems Battle Over Donations

Republicans and Democrats battled today over contributions from the secretive Working Oklahomans Alliance, whose donations from injured workers and donations to political candidates were revealed in The Oklahoman on Sunday.

Oklahoma Victory 2008, a GOP group, was first out today with a challenge to Andrew Rice, Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, challenging him to "return thousands of dollars in tainted campaign contributions" he received from the trial lawyers alliance.

Next up today was Rep. Al Lindley, D-Oklahoma City, who said the "recent inquiry regarding contributions to the Lawyers for Working Oklahomans Political Action Committee has resulted in a barrage of harsh remarks and demands from Rep. Trebor Worthen, R-Oklahoma City. The article in question alleges that their investigation uncovered a secretive organization of lawyers who route portions of the workers' compensation award money of clients who are unaware of their donation. This organization...adheres to disclosure rules ensuring complete transparency. They receive voluntary contribtions marked by signature consent from donators.

The Oklahoman revealed that the Working Oklahomans Alliance PAC has raised nearly $1 million over the past decade from injured workers, many of whom said they were not aware they had made a contribution to the PAC. The Oklahoman also said many of the donations made to the PAC, which is controlled by workers’ compensation attorneys, may be illegal.

Matt Pinnell, speaking for the GOP group, said Rice’s U.S. Senate campaign has accepted $4,600 from Richard Bell, a leading fund-raiser for Working Oklahomans Alliance PAC, as well as $1,000 from PAC board member Joseph C. Biscone II. During his 2006 state Senate campaign, Rice took $5,000 from the PAC, $2,000 from Bell and $350 from Biscone.

Said Lindley: "Representative Worthen, who is completing his final term in office as he as is not seeking re-election, also works as a paid political consultant on behalf of Republican campaigns. Per the Tulsa World, Representative Worthen said 'I demand that members and candidates who receive donations from this unethical PAC return this tainted money.'

“It is not surprising that Representative Worthen would latch onto an outlandish investigation that without merit made allegations of illegality, and that he would demand the return of campaign funds of Democratic candidates.

“One of his primary concerns as a paid political consultant is to ensure Republican seats in the Legislature, and these unsubstantiated claims against the LWO is merely a political convenience towards that end. I am surprised at Representative Worthen’s newfound concern of injured workers, however, as during his tenure in office he has systematically voted in favor of insurance companies and against the interests of injured employees.

Coffee: Murphy Files To Get Judgeship Back

Only a few weeks after resigning his position as an associate district judge to run for the State Senate, Democrat Robert Murphy of Stillwater has already filed an application with the Oklahoma Judicial Nominating Commission to get his old job back, Senate Republican leader Glenn Coffee said today.

Coffee said the move shows that Murphy is not committed to serving the people of District 21 in the Oklahoma Senate, instead showing Murphy's preference for the company of trial lawyers who have funded 70% of his campaign contributions.

Coffee said it also is an embarrassment for the Senate Democrat leaders who recruited Murphy at the last minute to run for the State Senate, and raises serious questions about whether Democrats believe Murphy can be competitive in the race against Republican Jim Halligan, the former president of Oklahoma State University.

"Bob Murphy needs to make up his mind. Does he want to be a judge, or does he want to serve in the State Senate? The people of Senate District 21 have a right to know," said Coffee. "Bob Murphy is clearly more comfortable working with the trial lawyers who are funding 70 percent of his campaign than he is with serving the citizens of Senate District 21.

"With Bob Murphy in such a hurry to get back to a judge's bench, it really shows his lack of commitment to winning the Senate District 21 seat. It is also a sign that Democrats don't really believe they can compete with Republican Jim Halligan for the open Senate District 21 seat.

"The Democrats are spinning to the media and the public that they can hold the Senate District 21 seat, but Bob Murphy's application to get his old job back paints a very different picture of their true feelings about this race," said Coffee.

Senate District 21, which includes portions of Payne, Logan, and Lincoln counties, is being vacated by term-limited Democrat Senator Mike Morgan of Stillwater.

With the Senate tied at 24 Democrats and 24 Republicans, Senate District 21 is a key battleground in 2008 for control of the State Senate.

Former Opponents Endorse Steve Russell

Three of Steve Russell's opponents in the Republican primary in Senate District 45 endorsed him today.

Jerry Foshee, Melinda Daugherty and Marty Gormley all offered endorsements of Russell, whose runoff opponent is Kyle Loveless.

Jerry Foshee, a South Oklahoma City attorney and former Oklahoma City councilman, said, “Before this campaign began, I had immense respect for Steve Russell’s service to our country. After the race, I respect him even more. He was a man of his word, ran a positive campaign and refrained from lawyer bashing. He has the highest integrity and unquestioned character. I gladly offer my endorsement of his candidacy.”

Is Rice TV Endorser Registered To Vote?

Questions are being asked today about a new commercial by U.S. Senate candidate Andrew Rice in which a man who says he's a registered Republican endorses Rice.

The questions arise because the man identified in the commercial, Monty Collings, cannot be found as a registered voter in Cleveland County where he lives. A search of voter registration records shows two registered voters in the Collings household in Noble, Tracy and Steffanie. A statewide search finds no Monty Collings as a registered voter. It is possible Collings is registered under a different first name in another city but he could not be contacted for an explanation.

Monty Collings is identified in a new Rice commercial that began airing on Monday that highlights a state legislative battle over insurance coverage. Rice backed a bill last session that would have required insurance companies to pay routine health care costs of patients who take part in clinical trials.

It was called Steffanie's Law, named for 18-year-old Steffanie Collings of Noble, a brain cancer patient who died this year. The commercial features Steffanie Collings' father, Monty, saying that he is a Republican, and he supports Rice. "We need him in Washington," Monty Collings says in the ad, which can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JI-Q3EFvYVk&eurl=http://www.andrewforoklahoma.com/free_details.asp?id=103

SHOW ALL VOTERS LIVING AT 317 CREST DALE ST 2 voters statewide +-----------+-----------+----------+-------+---------+---------------+----------+----------+-----------+ VoterID First Last Party Addr # Street Name City regdate County +-----------+-----------+----------+-------+---------+---------------+----------+----------+-----------+ 140016381 Tracy Collings REP 317 CREST DALE ST NOBLE Cleveland 140271254 Steffanie Collings REP 317 CREST DALE ST NOBLE 20070404 Cleveland +-----------+-----------+----------+-------+---------+---------------+----------+----------+-----------+

Obama Backers Push High School Registration

Oklahoma supporters of Barack Obama are pushing to place voter registration forms in high schools because, "polling shows 83% of those voters under 35 will vote" for him.

Susan McCann, Obama's top Oklahoma campaign official, revealed the statewide effort in a post on the Democrats of Oklahoma Community Forum, http://www.demookie.com/.

Following a string of posts discussing the latest Oklahoma Poll showing Obama badly trailing John McCain in Oklahoma, McCann writes, "We don't have to accept our fate....join me and other Obama supporters in the following effort and other Voter Registration opportunities....AND in educating and enlightening the Voters.

"I sent the following email out yesterday to all Obama Supporters: Many of you are asking to help so here's what you can do: PLACE VOTER REGISTRATION FORMS IN YOUR HIGHSCHOOL (Alma Mater) polling shows 83% of those voters under 35 will vote for Barack Obama: Oklahoma's Public Schools will be opening soon, most school buildings are open now with teachers and staff members preparing for the school year. Registration activities are set to start this week and next.......

"WE need to place Voter Registration forms in the Administrative office of every highschool in Oklahoma with the hope of pushing the Senior Class to register for the General Election (cut off date to register is October 10th). ANY individual who turns 18 by November 4th can register NOW (before they turn 18) to vote.

"I have Voter Registration forms at Headquarters (n.w. corner N.W. 39th and Classen) 4001 N. Classen and I will be there Tuesday from Noon-1:30pm and 4:30pm - 6:00pm to give you the forms.

"PLEASE HELP WITH THIS INITIATIVE FOR OBAMA. All it would take is for you to pick up forms from Me and then take them to the school you graduated from. Let me also say for those of you out of town. You can get Registration forms from Your County Election Board and some Tag Agencies.

"PLEASE VOLUNTEER by emailing ME your intention to take forms to YOUR HighSchool so that I may create a list of those schools that are covered.

"Thanks So Much, Susan McCann.

"P.S. I'm a John Marshall Bear...so that School is covered!!!!!!! 24 hours later our volunteers have offered to cover these schools: Douglass High School OKC; Lindsay High School, Lindsay OK; Pauls Valley High School, Pauls Valley OK; Putnam City High School, OKC; Putnam City North High School, OKC; Bishop McGuinness High School, OKC; Capitol Hill High School, OKC; Northwest Classen High School, OKC; John Marshall High School, OKC; Edmond Santa Fe High School, Edmond; Edmond Memorial High School, Edmond; Edmond North High School, Edmond; Classen School of Advanced Studies, OKC; Muskogee High School, Muskogee, OK; Norman High School, Norman, OK; Norman North High School, Norman, OK; Stillwater High School, Stillwater, OK;Perkins-Tryon High School, Perkins, OK; Glencoe High School, Glencoe, OK; Guthrie High School, Guthrie, OK; Millwood High School, OKC; Northeast High School, OKC; Stigler High School, Stigler, OK; Keota High School, Keota, OK; Kinta High School, Kinta, OK; Westmoore High School, Moore, OK; Moore High School, Moore OK; Star Spencer High School, Star Spencer, OK.

"WOW!!! Obama Supporters want to help..DO YOU HAVE A SCHOOL NOT ON THIS LIST THAT YOU CAN COVER? If so Contact me Susan McCann..."

Worthen, Lamb Demand 'Unethical' Working Oklahomans Alliance Donations Be Returned

Republican House and Senate leaders today criticized the "dishonest and underhanded fundraising tactics of the Working Oklahomans Alliance political action committee" and called on the dozens of Democratic members, candidates and PACs who received money from the group to return all contributions immediately.

The Oklahoman reported Sunday that many of the 2,200 individual contributors since 2006 to the Working Oklahomans Alliance were unaware they were donating to political campaigns.

The money was often deducted from workers' compensation claim checks intended to pay for medical expenses and necessities while a worker is unable to work.

"I am appalled by the actions of the Working Oklahomans Alliance PAC and the deceptive tactics they have used to swindle working Oklahoma families out of their hard-earned dollars," said Rep. Trebor Worthen, a member of the House Republican leadership team and political director for the House Republican campaign activities.

"I demand that those PACs, members and candidates who received donations from this unethical PAC return this tainted money; money that was taken off the backs, and sometimes the broken backs, of hardworking, injured Oklahomans."

With ever-growing health insurance costs and higher food and fuel prices, many of the workers quoted in the story said they could have used the money unknowingly taken from them for political campaigns to buy groceries for their families or a tank of gas for their cars.

"The deceitful tactics used by these workers' compensation attorneys to gather these donations are reminiscent of old Louisiana-style corruption. We don't need this kind of politics in Oklahoma, so we're hopeful that the Democrat candidates and PACs who took this dirty money will agree with us and return these contributions," said Senator Todd Lamb, R-Oklahoma City/Edmond. "The attorneys involved in this secretive scheme have proven they will stop at nothing to funnel money to candidates who will block workers' compensation reform, lawsuit reform, and other pro-jobs reforms that would benefit Oklahoma workers," Lamb said.

The Working Oklahomans Alliance gave to a dozen Democratic House and Senate members and candidates in 2008, and has given to many others previously. The PAC also gave thousands in contributions to both the House and Senate Democratic fundraising committees.

"Like the recent federal investigation of former Senator Gene Stipe, this deceitful behavior could go beyond mere state ethics violations. This could be the tip of the iceberg," said Worthen, R-Oklahoma City.

Worthen and Lamb called on the following members and candidates who received the tainted contributions to return them immediately to the workers who desperately need those funds, some of whom are unemployed as a result of their injury. They also urged House and Senate Democratic leadership to return the PAC funds they have received and to not accept further contributions from this group until they change their deceptive and misleading tactics on innocent and often injured workers.

Recent Working Oklahoman's Alliance contributions: Senators Nancy Riley, $5,000; Richard Lerblance, $5,000; Senate candidate Robert Murphy, $5,000; Rep. Eric Proctor, $750; Sen. Tom Adelson, $5,000; Democrats of the Oklahoma State Senate, $10,000; Oklahoma House PAC, $5,000; Sen. Charlie Laster, $2,500; Rep. Mike Shelton, $1,500; Rep. Anastasia Pitman, $1,000; Rep. Jerry Elli, $1,250; Rep. Jabar Shumate, $1,500; Sen. Judy Eason McIntyre, $5,000; WIN PAC, $5,000; Rep. Scott Inman, $2,000; Organized Democratic Youth, $5,000.

Other House and Senate members who have received contributions in past election cycles from the PAC include Reps. Wallace Collins, Al Lindley, Richard Morrissette, Ken Luttrell, Ryan McMullen, Jeannie McDaniel, Randy Terrill, and Sens. Daisy Lawler, Randy Bass, Tom Ivester, Andrew Rice, Sean Burrage, and John Sparks.

Political People & Events

Rob Johnson: The state representative from Kingfisher who narrowly lost the Republican nomination for the Corporation Commission to Dana Murphy today endorsed her campaign and pledged to help work for her election against incumbent Democrat Jim Roth.

DNC Blog: The Democrats of Oklahoma Community Forum, http://www.demookie.com/, has been selected as an official blog from the Democratic National Convention in Denver. Representing the forum there will be Tim Reese and Calvin Rees.

Republican Optimism: Some Oklahoma Republicans are optimistic today about this fall's elections, citing liberal Barack Obama at the top of the ticket, with liberal Andrew Rice as the U. S. Senate nominee and openly gay Jim Roth seeking election as Corporation Commissioner. "We've got to be careful not to get carried away," said a GOP county chairman in southwestern Oklahoma, "but, man, this is shaping up well for us." Said a longtime Tulsa County GOP leader: "We both remember McGovern in '72 and how he killed (Democrat) Ed Edmondson against Dewey (Bartlett). I see the same thing happening this time around, and Obama probably won't do as well as McGovern did. Rice probably wouldn't run too well even without the Obama drag. Way I see it is, conservative Democrats just don't have much of a place to go on the top races except to our nominees. That, or stay home."

Bullet-Proof: Republican Rep. Randy Terrill, having survived an all-out assault in the primary over his sponsorship of the state's new immigration law, is now viewed by many as politically bullet-proof. Said a GOP consultant: "His enemies shot their wad in the primary and he killed 'em. He's got bigger bullets than they do. So what's next: Terrill for governor?"

Poll: It's A McCain-Obama Dead Heat

Intensified attacks by Republican John McCain on the character of his Democratic opponent have coincided with Barack Obama losing a 9 percentage point advantage in a national poll, which showed the candidates running dead even over the weekend.

In the course of the McCain offensive, Obama’s lead in a Gallup Poll tracking survey slid from nine percentage points on July 26, when he returned from overseas, to nothing by Saturday, when the poll showed the candidates tied at 44 percent.

Jones Calls For Alliance Investigation

Republican Party Chairman Gary Jones said today an official investigation is needed into the secretive Working Oklahomans Alliance, whose donations to Democrats were revealed on Sunday by The Oklahoman.

Jones' remarks came today during an interview with Reid Mullins on KTOK. Jones said he's called for an investigation into such activities for more than a year.

The Oklahoman reported, "A secretive organization has raised close to $1 million throughout the last decade for political purposes, mostly from injured workers who sometimes don't even know they've donated."

The paper reported that some injured workers listed as political donors to the Working Oklahomans Alliance "were represented by Norman attorney Richard Bell, a key figure in a campaign corruption scandal in the 1990s involving then-Gov. David Walters."

Jones for years called for investigations into the funding of Jeff McMahan's campaigns as auditor and inspector. McMahan, who twice defeated Jones for the post, and his wife now face prison terms on federal felony counts.

Inhofe 52%, Rice 30% In New Poll

By Randy Krehbiel/Tulsa World ~ Incumbent U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe continues to hold a substantial lead over Democratic challenger Andrew Rice, according to the latest Oklahoma Poll.

Fifty-two percent of the 750 likely voters surveyed said they intend to vote for Inhofe, who is seeking his third full term. Rice polled at 30 percent, with 18 percent undecided. The result was actually an improvement for Rice. In December, the last time the survey included an Inhofe-Rice matchup, the gap was 60-19.

"You are seeing some movement, but it seems unlikely to be enough to change the outcome," said poll consultant Al Soltow.

Oddly, Inhofe's share of the vote went down over the past seven months, while his approval rating went up 7 percentage points, from 54 percent to 61 percent. Almost half of the Democrats surveyed gave Inhofe a positive performance rating.

Rice led 46-35 among Democrats, but Inhofe won Republicans by a margin of more than 8-to-1 and also had a slight edge among independents. Inhofe led 3-to-1 among evangelical Christians but was no better than even with nonevangelicals. Support for Inhofe increased with household income.

GOP Likely To Retain House Control

By Mick Hinton/Capitol Bureau, Tulsa World ~ Politicians concede that come November, Republicans are likely to retain control of the 101-member state House of Representatives.

But both sides claim that they will make significant gains, bringing their numbers closer.

Currently, there are 57 Republicans and 44 Democrats in the lower chamber.

Race For State Senate Control Starts

By Barbara Hoberock/Capitol Bureau, Tulsa World ~ With the conclusion of last week's party primaries, the race for control of the Oklahoma Senate kicked into a higher gear.

The Legislature's upper chamber is currently tied for the first time in state history with 24 Republicans and 24 Democrats.

Senate Republican leader Glenn Coffee of Oklahoma City is eyeing at least two seats his party could pick up: those held by Democrats Mike Morgan of Stillwater and Nancy Riley of Sand Springs.

Senate Democratic leader Charlie Laster of Shawnee is confident Democrats will retain both the Riley and Morgan seats and possibly make inroads with two seats in western Oklahoma.

"And so, any way you cut the math, if we win two and they win two, we are still tied," Laster said. "Whoever wins three out of four will be in the majority."

Senate District 21: Morgan can't seek re-election due to term limits. Former Payne County Associate District Judge Bob Murphy Jr. of Stillwater moved on to the general election by defeating Democrat rival Gregory M. Wilson of Carney with 63 percent of the vote in Tuesday's primary. Murphy faces former Oklahoma State University President James Halligan of Stillwater on the Nov. 4 ballot.

"Murphy was heavily funded yet didn't have the strongest of showings," Coffee said. "That shows real opportunity."

The district is pretty evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats with nearly 6,000 independents.

"Bob Murphy is a great candidate," Laster said.

Halligan's fundraising is approaching nearly a quarter of a million dollars, while Murphy has raised about $53,250.

Senate District 37: Republican Dan Newberry moved on to challenge Riley in November after defeating Jan Megee in the Republican primary. Riley was originally elected as a Republican, but she switched parties in 2006. The district has 17,215 Democrats, 24,953 Republicans and 5,333 independents, according to state Election Board figures.

To retain the seat, Riley would have to pick up Republicans who voted for Megee, Coffee said. But Laster believes voters in Senate District 37 will vote for the candidate, not the party, adding that Riley, a former school teacher, has represented her constituents very well.

Riley has raised about $211,364 to Newberry's $124,659.

Senate District 27: Term limits mean Sen. Owen Laughlin, R-Woodward, can't seek re-election to the district, which has 14,292 Democrats, 21,803 Republicans and 3,985 independents. Republican Bryce Marlatt earned nearly 76 percent in the primary against Kevin Evans. Both are from Woodward. Marlatt faces Democrat Bowdy E. Peach of Mooreland in November. Peach is the son of state Agriculture Secretary Terry Peach. His most recent filing with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission indicates he has raised less than $15,000 to Marlatt's nearly $60,000.

Despite that, Coffee said Senate Republicans aren't taking anything for granted and will ensure Marlatt is well-funded.

Laster said the Peach family is well-known in the area.

Senate District 31: Sen. Don Barrington, R-Lawton, faces Democrat Keith Erwin in the district, which has 22,895 Democrats, 9,789 Republicans and 3,872 independents. Barrington has raised nearly twice as much as Erwin.

Impact of presidential politics: The degree of influence that the presidential election will have in the fight for control of the Senate depends on who is asked. Coffee believes the race between Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama bodes well for the GOP, saying Oklahomans vote for Republicans as president. Coffee said there is nothing at the top of the ticket to help Democrats.

"I think we have learned from looking at this stuff over the years is that in highly visible legislative races, people will make the decision based on the candidate and not the parties," Laster said. "When the top of the ticket seems to help is when the legislative race is not all that visible."

Is The Worm (CNN) Beginning To Turn?

By Jonathan Mann/CNN ~ You can't keep a good man down.

While the media regard John McCain, above, as trailing his Democrat rival Barack Obama, pollsters have them tied.

That might be the simplest way to sum up John McCain's campaign for the US presidency right now. He's not winning, but he's running stronger than anyone knows how to explain.

McCain is a fascinating figure with a compelling personal and political story.

He was a feisty young pilot shot-down in Vietnam, where he was imprisoned for nearly six years. As a 71-year-old Senator, he is still an outspoken figure, willing to wage a lonely battle without, or even against, his own party.

Right now, McCain is in an uphill fight for the presidency and ought to be doing badly, hurt by an unpopular Republican incumbent, two wars and a terrible economy.

By contrast, Barack Obama is a charismatic candidate who is setting records for fundraising and voter turnout, buoyed by enormous media attention.

But McCain, according to a new USA Today/Gallup poll, is ahead among likely voters, 49 to 45 per cent.

Other polls still give the lead to Obama but even they routinely give him only a few percentage points and none puts him above 50 per cent.

That's even more remarkable after that tumultuous week of travel, during which Obama was virtually endorsed by the prime minister of Iraq, greeted by a crowd of 200,000 people in Germany, and given breathless coverage by the American media all the way.

The pollsters are looking at the race very differently from the way the press is, and they see something close to a tie.

CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser says the Democrats are "dumbfounded that this election is closer than it should be, at least according to the national polls."

So what's happening?

Obviously, people like McCain personally in a way that has nothing to do with his party, his support for President Bush or the wars the president has been leading.

But also, think of the US election as a referendum on Obama that Obama isn't winning. He's doing well, but many Americans still won't vote for him and McCain is the beneficiary.

A lot of Americans simply like John McCain and aren't ready to back Obama.

Is that enough to get a man elected president? It might be.