Lawton Politics

 

AARP Thanks Congress for Keeping Medicare Fair, Overriding White House Veto
Bipartisan Bill Improves Low-Income Help and Boosts Quality through National E-Prescribing, Helps Ensure Access to Doctors

SUMMARY: The U.S. House of Representatives and Senate voted overwhelmingly to override a White House veto and pass important Medicare legislation last week. The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act will improve Medicare’s low-income programs, boost health care quality with a system of national e-prescribing, and help ensure the access of patients to their doctors.

 

VOTED YES TO PASS MEDICARE BILL
Boren, DanX
Fallin, MaryX
Lucas, FrankX
Sullivan, JohnX

 

VOTED NO ON MEDICARE BILL

Coburn, Tom X
Cole, Tom X

Inhofe, Jim X

** How a legislator votes on issues is only one factor in evaluating his or her legislative performance, which should also include such things as constituency services and committee work.

“This vote is a victory for the 44 million Americans who depend on Medicare, and we applaud Congressmen Boren, Lucas and Sullivan and Congresswoman Fallin for their continued support,” said AARP State President Bob Bristow. “This bipartisan legislation will help more Americans afford their health care bills while bringing doctors offices and pharmacies into the 21st century with e-prescribing.”

Bristow added: “We are disappointed that Senators Coburn and Inhofe and Congressman Cole voted against this important legislation. This bill would begin to bring down health care costs for millions of Americans, while reducing dangerous drug interactions with electronic prescriptions.”

AARP has been advocating for several months to ensure that lawmakers keep Medicare fair for the people who depend on it when Congress addresses physician payment cuts. AARP has also been advocating for this bill’s improvements to Medicare, particularly the low-income programs and electronic prescribing.

Since launching the “Keep Medicare Fair” initiative in April, AARP’s grassroots volunteers and activists have sent more than 1.2 million messages to Congress and the White House. As part of this effort, an AARP survey released May 19 found that of adults 50-plus, 81 percent oppose additional increases to Medicare premiums and 66 percent are less likely to vote for a Member of Congress who supports those increases.

AARP notified the 110th Congress that it was tracking roll call votes on key legislation important to its 39 million members and reporting the outcomes of these votes back to its members.

“We believe people make the right choices when they understand the issues and positions taken by their elected officials. AARP intends to ensure that its members get that information,” Bristow concluded.

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 33 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's 39 million members and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia , Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands .

Inhofe Should Return Money He Received From Indicted Senator

OKLAHOMA CITY (July 29, 2008) Oklahoma's U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe should return $12,000 in campaign contributions that he has received from indicted fellow U.S. Senator Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, Oklahoma Democratic Party Chairman Dr. Ivan Holmes said today.

Sen. Stevens was charged today with seven counts of making false statements, according to a 28-page federal grand jury indictment, regarding payments of more than $250,000 in goods and services he allegedly received from an oil company. The items include home improvements, autos and household items.

"This is a classic example of why Americans have lost faith in Washington," Holmes said. "Senator Stevens has been very generous to his good friend Jim Inhofe, whom we know is also close to big oil companies. Now we know that the money may be tainted and I believe our Senator needs to come clean," Holmes said.

The Northern Lights Political Action Committee was formed by Stevens to raise money and help his fellow Republican colleagues stay elected. The Stevens PAC contributed the maximum of $10,000 to Inhofe's 2008 re-election committee, according to Federal Election Commission reports. He contributed another $2000 to Inhofe for his 2002 campaign. (2/11/02 - $2000; 6/22/05-$1000; 6/14/07-$4000; 4/15/08-$5000)

"Even though Senator Stevens' legal problems have been known for more than a year, Senator Inhofe still agreed to take his contributions," Holmes said. "If he wants Oklahomans to believe he is not part of the problem in Washington, Inhofe should return the contributions he received from his indicted friend," Holmes added.

According to the indictments Stevens knowingly and intentionally sought to conceal and cover up his receipt of things of value by filing financial disclosure forms that contained false statements and omissions concerning Stevens' receipt of these things of value.

"Oklahomans are tired of the cozy relationship between Senators and lobbyists in Washington and the Stevens case is "the last straw," Holmes said.

OPEN DOOR POLICY

31 Aug 2008 -- Comanche County Veterans Council (CCVC) Fund Raiser -- 12-6 pm. VFW Post 5263. $5.00 Adult donation. Games and prizes. Come on out and support the CCVC.

Betty Simmons asked me to announce that she has a good collection of Obama T-shirts and buttons for sale. These are priced way below what you will pay online and you can pick them up for less than the shipping.

 

 

Betty Simmons
4745 SE 47th St
Lawton, OK 73501
(580)353-8072

 

 

I have just finished my first week in Central America for the two-week trip I am on with the American Council of Young Political Leaders. This organization is set up to snd younger political officials to different countries to learn about the aspects of the nations, the politics that govern them and the societies they live in. The first week was spent in Nicaragua and the second will be in El Salvador. Both of these nations experienced wars in recent years and both are trying to move past that era.

 

Rep. Joe Dorman, Valerie Szybala, Marshand Crisler, Christy Havanetz Lassila, Eduardo Montealegre, Marianne Nichols, Adam Probolsky and Josh Dennis

 

Nicaragua is a nation that suffers from great amounts of poverty. Over 60 percent of the nation lives on average o

f $2 per day. We also saw that only have of the country has access to electricity and much of the nation does not have clean water.

The Sandinistas, the soldiers from the revolution, took back control of the nation in the last national election after the liberal party did not bring about advancements for the country. During their time in office, not much has changed either. Corruption is charged on all sides and the ruling party, officially called the FSLN, has strong ties to Hugo Chavez, the leader of Venezuela, a country tied heavily to other nations heavily opposed to the United States.

Our delegation, a bipartisan group from across the United States, had the chance to meet with several leaders that will hopefully bring Democratic principles to the people and give them opportunities through growth in agriculture, the textile industry and the other areas of the economy. The most striking leader we met was Eduardo Montealegre, an investment banker that spent time in New York. He ran for President of Nicaragua in the last election, but lost due to three parties splitting the vote, which placed Daniel Ortega back in power. The FSLN charged him with stealing over $600 million dollars, which has no evidence was shown to be prove this accusation. I believe it was simply used by the controlling government to defeat a man who could end their power. Montealegre is currently running for Mayor of Managua, the capitol city.

The time here has made me appreciate our system of government even more. While our races may get nasty at points, it does not compare to this environment and come to the point where candidates have to fear for their lives from the other parties. I hope the region will stabilize after the next election and we have greater opportunities to export our goods to help our own people with sales and improve the conditions of these people. It certainly makes me appreciate the work our founding fathers did to establish our nation as a strong Democracy.

It is an honor to represent your views at the State Capitol. If you wish to contact me and discuss one of these or another issue, I can be reached at my office in Oklahoma City toll-free at 1-800-522-8502, or directly at 1-405-557-7305. My e-mail address is joedorman@okhouse.gov at work. My mailing address is PO Box 559, Rush Springs, OK 73082 and my website is www.joedorman.com on the Internet. Thank you for taking time to read this column and I look forward to seeing you soon.

 

 

Just a quick reminder of our big day tomorrow. We had a great article in the newspaper today and it was in a good location, 3rd page.

 

Bring your friends, lawn chair, folding chair and come out tomorrow to support our party. I will be at the park around 3 PM to get things set up so if you want to help you can.

 

If you have any questions please call 353-8072 or my cell 351-4386.

 

Oh, the State Office is calling all Comanche County Democrats and Independents, 35 years old and younger and extending an invitation to them to come out and support us on tomorrow.

 

The music will be provided by a young soldier. Hooray for our troops fighting to keep us free.

Don't forget our rally in the park on Saturday, 4 PM to 6 PM, Elmer Thomas Park (west side, near the National Guard Armor).

 

Free Hamburgers, Hot dogs, drinks.

 

Don't forget our rally in the park on Saturday, 4 PM to 6 PM, Elmer Thomas Park (west side, near the National Guard Armor).

 

Voter Registration Table. Candidates' literature.

Candidates for local and state offices will address the crowd. Rep. McCarter, Marlow, will speak on behalf of the Obama Campaign.

 

Share this with everyone in your e-mail file.

 

Retirement party for Chief Electronic Technician Gary Hayes at Point Loma Naval Base in San Diego, CA. Chief Hayes is immediately to the left of Rep. Joe Dorman, posing with other officers from the USS Topeka

 

I hope everyone had a great Fourth of July! I ended up attending two parades and also a cookout with some friends in Chickasha. It was great weather and fun times for celebrating the birth of our country! I also had the chance to attend Gary Hayes' local retirement party. Gary asked me to be a speaker at his retirement ceremony at Point Loma Naval Base two weeks ago and that was one of the greatest honors I've had during my service as a Representative.

Congratulations go out to Ryan and Erin Pardee on their wedding last weekend. Ryan is an old friend of mine from college and he met the perfect girl for him. I wish them both the best of luck!

I had two chances to visit with groups this week. I was the inaugural guest on a podcast at www.lawtontowncrier.com, which is a local website in Comanche County used to update citizens on current events. I also had the chance to speak at the Elgin Chamber of Commerce meeting on Tuesday and give an update on legislation that passed this session. I am also working with the Rush Springs Lions Club to serve watermelon to the Southern Legislative Conference, a group of legislators and staff from the southern states that will be visiting Oklahoma City this week. We expect to serve 1,200 folks at the Bricktown Ballpark on Sunday. This is all in preparation for the Watermelon Festival in Rush Springs coming up on Saturday, August 9th.

It will be a busy upcoming two weeks for me as I will be leading a delegation for the American Council of Young Political Leaders to to Central America for a political exchange dialogue. Seven officials representing Republicans, Democrats and Independents from the United States will be meeting with political leaders from those two nations to learn more about the countries and also try to establish better relations with their political leaders and the United States. This is an effort promoted by the federal State Department. Pam, my assistant, will be taking my calls while I'm away, so if there is an emergency, please contact my office and she will take care of the initial work until I return on the 25th. I should have email contact during the trip, so if there is anything I can do to assist you with any issues, please email me at the below address.
It is an honor to represent your views at the State Capitol.

 

If you wish to contact me and discuss one of these or another issue, I can be reached at my office in Oklahoma City toll-free at 1-800-522-8502, or directly at 1-405-557-7305. My e-mail address is joedorman@okhouse.gov at work. My mailing address is PO Box 559, Rush Springs, OK 73082 and my website is www.joedorman.com on the Internet. Thank you for taking time to read this column and I look forward to seeing you soon.

Mary Francis to Democrats

Hi folks,
The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law has a campaign called National Campaign for Fair Elections.
This campaign is by the coalition which organizes the Election Protection program that I've worked with since 2004.
Below is my letter forwarded to major media outlets by the National Campaign for Fair Elections.
I hope you will send your own. Feel free to copy anything in my letter or write your own. Just a short note will be effective. Without proper attention this November election could easily turn into another highly suspect crisis.
Ask them to investigate poll worker training and voting-place anomolies today.

BTW ...
The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, which was formed
in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy.
Mary Francis

... And check out my new quote following the signature at the end! ;^)
********************************************************
- Show quoted text -
From Mary Francis <mfrancis1@earthlink.net>
850-C Cardinal Cr. Condos
Norman, OK 73072
To Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, CNN, Denver Post, Fox News, Houston Chronicle, Los Angeles Times, MSNBC, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post

NOTE: Each recipient will only see his/her own email address.
Subject Poll workers report strange and illegal events
Last month, I went through the poll worker training process. Voting problems are NOT glitches-they are fundamental violations of our democracy. Part of the many problems this year have been inadequate and improper training of poll workers. Poll workers themselves have reported many curious situations.

Will your reporters investigate what states are doing to adequately train poll workers and correct the multitude of problems encountered in the primaries?

Do the volunteers who staff our polling places know what to do when voting machines break down, as over 10% have done in past elections? Or their state law about voters showing photo ID or voting Provisional? Can they explain how to properly use their state's ballot, or what to do when asked for a paper ballot? Or what is required for a provisional ballot to be counted? In 2008, in primaries across the country, poll workers have frequently done the wrong thing.

These problems in the primaries are the harbingers of what could happen with expected record turnout in November! All of these problems could have been avoided if states had well-organized programs for training poll workers.

I urge you to investigate and report on the training and problems encountered by poll workers in advance of the November elections before it is too late for states to correct the many strange and illegal events of the 2008 primaries.

Sincerely,
Mary Francis
405 474-0695

-----Forwarded Message-----
From: "Jonah Goldman, National Campaign for Fair Elections"
Sent: Jul 8, 2008 11:54 AM
To: Mary Francis
Subject: Re: MEDIA ALERT: Untrained poll workers

Hi Mary:
The national media is really falling down on the job. How? Well they are not covering a MAJOR election story about a MAJOR Election Day problem: ensuring every eligible voter will have the right to cast a fair and meaningful ballot this November.

Stories about problems at the polls aren't as glitzy as the latest political attack, but they're absolutely critical. When the media catches wind of a hot story it usually attracts more than just viewer attention -- it encourages decision-makers to take action! That's why I need your help today.

Please take a minute to contact the top media outlets in the country about the potential for disaster in November if our poll workers aren't properly trained.

I can tell you from years of experience with Election Protection that well-trained poll workers will be the difference between democracy and disaster if we see the expected record turnout in November.

Don't believe me? Ask the Pennsylvania voter who reported that the voting machines at her polling place were set for Republicans only. "But I'm a Democrat," she said. To which the poll worker replied: "Not today."

Don't let the media do what they usually do -- ignore a lingering problem until it explodes into a crisis. Ask them to investigate poll worker training today.

Jonah
---

Dear Mary:
Reporters and editors: Wake up
There's another story out there besides he said-she said and who's up and who's down.
When the polls open... who will be running them?
Assignment: Go check it out.
I spend a lot of time on the phone with reporters and media outlets, trying to convince them to cover issues important to fair elections.

But what makes them respond more than anything is comments and complaints from you - their readers, listeners and viewers.

Ask them to investigate obstacles to voter participation, specifically the problem of untrained poll workers.

The volunteers who staff our polling places are honorable citizens performing an important civic duty - but they need proper training. Do they know what to do when voting machines break down? Or state law about voters showing photo ID? Can they explain how to properly use their state's ballot? In 2008, in states across the country, the answer has been "no."

It's a very real problem. This primary season, that confusion caused outright misconduct:

In California, a poll worker went up and down a line of voters demanding to see photo identification, in clear violation of state law.
A New York poll worker openly ridiculed a man for asking for a Republican ballot.
Students were refused ballots by a poll worker who claimed, without cause, that they no longer lived at the listed address.
Voters are disenfranchised when poll workers don't know the law. Tell the media to ask tough questions about the training of poll workers.

Believe me, I read and watch a lot of news. And you just don't see these incidents reported very often. And you know what's even rarer? In-depth investigations about what states are doing to ensure that the people we have entrusted to be gatekeepers of our democracy know what to do!

They've heard from me, now they need to hear from you. Thanks for helping me out.

Stacie Miller

Communications Director,
Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
Legal Leader of the Election Protection Coalition

Support the National Campaign for Fair Elections - Donate today!

This email was sent to:
mfrancis1@earthlink.net

To unsubscribe, go to:
http://www.nationalcampaignforfairelections.org/unsubscribe

Mary Francis
cell: 405 474-0695

IN MEMORIAM
"So keep fightin' for freedom and justice, beloveds, but don't you forget to have fun doin' it. Lord, let your laughter ring forth. Be outrageous, ridicule the fraidy-cats, rejoice in all the oddities that freedom can produce. And when you get through kickin' ass and celebratin' the sheer joy of a good fight, be sure to tell those who come after how much fun it was." - Molly Ivins, 1944-2007

"Now is the time to speak truth to religious charlatans." -Mary Francis

"If airplane code were written to the same standards of reliability as voting
machines, every day about 10 planes flying out of Baltimore/Washington
International would experience a software failure during flight."
- Justin Moore, Duke University Software Analyst

"If you like your freedoms, ... thank a protester."
-Brian Terrell, farmer and director of the Catholic Peace Ministry

We are getting ready to release our Rock The Vote Flyer this weekend. Checkout the attached sample and let me know what you think. I will mail out flyers and put them in key areas through out the community such as community centers, local churches, community service organizations, etc. Thanks for all your support. I promise to help the next Chair because all of you have been support of my term.

So far we have the following sponsors.
Mr and Ms. Jim Floyd $50
Mr and Ms. David Simmons $100
Ms. Lora Smith $25
Mr. & Ms. Johnny Millender Case of Hotdogs that is equivalent to $25

 

Hopefully we will get a few more in by Friday. We will have Obama buttons and T-Shirts for sale so if we get a good crowd we will make a few dollars for our treasure. Again if you have contact with any local or state party candidates extend an invitation to them and let me know the response

 

 

Event

Rice Family Caravan - Lawton, OK

 

Date7/8/2008

 

TimeRice Family Caravan - 7:30am - 11am

 

Details7:30am - Breakfast at Cracker Barrel
8:30am - Courthouse Tour
9:30am - Neighborhood Canvass

 

For more information, please contact marianna@andrewforoklahoma.com

 

 

 

 

METRO FEDERATION OF DEMOCRATIC WOMEN
GEORGIA BROWN DEMOCRATIC WOMEN

PRESENTS


2008 CANDIDATE FORUM
July 10, 2008
Langston University/Oklahoma City
4205 North Lincoln
6:00 -8:30 PM

Congressional Candidates
State Representatives Races 95, 96, 99 and 97


Free to the Public
Refreshment will be served
Written question can be submitted prior to forum


Contact: Christine Byrd, President
Metro Federation of Democratic Women
405.427.7967 or 405.427.3366

OR

Eunice Russell
Georgia Brown Federation of Democratic Women
405.427.0967

 

 

Jim,

I hope you read this and put it up on the website. Whether you agree or not, it is something we should all think about. Don't let the article's title turn you away -- a thoughtful American would ask these questions. Especially read the last part.

 

Mary Francis
******************************************************************

 

Why I’m Not Patriotic
By Matthew Rothschild
(In memory of George Carlin.)

 

04/07/08 "The Progressive" -- It’s July 4th again, a day of near-compulsory flag-waving and nation-worshipping. Count me out.
Spare me the puerile parades.
Don’t play that martial music, white boy.
And don’t befoul nature’s sky with your F-16s.
You see, I don’t believe in patriotism.
It’s not that I’m anti-American, but I am anti-patriotic.
Love of country isn’t natural. It’s not something you’re born with. It’s an inculcated kind of love, something that is foisted upon you in the home, in the school, on TV, at church, during the football game.
Yet most people accept it without inspection.
Why?
For when you stop to think about it, patriotism (especially in its malignant morph, nationalism) has done more to stack the corpses millions high in the last 300 years than any other factor, including the prodigious slayer, religion.
The victims of colonialism, from the Congo to the Philippines, fell at nationalism’s bayonet point.
World War I filled the graves with the most foolish nationalism. And Hitler and Mussolini and Imperial Japan brought nationalism to new nadirs. The flags next to the tombstones are but signed confessions-notes left by the killer after the fact.
The millions of victims of Stalin and Mao and Pol Pot have on their death certificates a dual diagnosis: yes communism, but also that other ism, nationalism.
The whole world almost got destroyed because of nationalism during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
The bloody battles in Serbia and Bosnia and Croatia in the 1990s fed off the injured pride of competing patriotisms and all their nourished grievances.
In the last five years in Iraq, tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians have died because the United States, the patriarch of patriotism, saw fit to impose itself, without just cause, on another country. But the excuse was patriotism, wrapped in Bush’s brand of messianic militarism: that we, the great Americans, have a duty to deliver “God’s gift of freedom” to every corner of the world.
And the Congress swallowed it, and much of the American public swallowed it, because they’ve been fed a steady diet of this swill.
What is patriotism but “the narcissism of petty differences”? That’s Freud’s term, describing the disorder that compels one group to feel superior to another.
Then there’s a little multiplication problem: Can every country be the greatest country in the world?
This belief system magically transforms an accident of birth into some kind of blue ribbon.
“It’s a great country,” said the old Quaker essayist Milton Mayer. “They’re all great countries.”
At times, the appeal to patriotism may be necessary, as when harnessing the group to protect against a larger threat (Hitler) or to overthrow an oppressor (as in the anti-colonial struggles in the Third World).
But it is always a dangerous toxin to play with, and it ought to be shelved with cross and bones on the label except in these most extreme circumstances.
In an article called “Patriot Games” in the current issue of Time magazine (July 7), Peter Beinart, late of The New Republic, inspects his navel for seven pages and then throws the lint all around.
“Conservatives are right,” he says. “To some degree, patriotism must mean loving your country for the same reason you love your family: simply because it is yours.”
And then he criticizes, incoherently, the conservative love-it-or-leave-it types.
The moral folly of his argument he himself exposes: “If liberals love America purely because it embodies ideals like liberty, justice, and equality, why shouldn’t they love Canada-which from a liberal perspective often goes further toward realizing those principles-even more? And what do liberals do,” he asks, “when those universal ideals collide with America’s self-interest? Giving away the federal budget to Africa would probably increase the net sum of justice and equality on the planet, after all. But it would harm Americans and thus be unpatriotic.”
This is a straw man if I ever I saw one, but if the United States gave a lot more of its budget to eradicating poverty and disease in Africa and other parts of the developing world, it might actually make us all safer.
At bottom, note how readily Beinart disposes of “liberty, justice, and equality.”
He has stripped patriotism to its vacuous essence: Love your country because it’s yours.
If we stopped that arm from reflexively saluting and concerned ourselves more with “universal ideals” than with parochial ones, we’d be a lot better off.
We wouldn’t be in Iraq, we wouldn’t have besmirched ourselves at Guantanamo, we wouldn’t be acting like some Argentinean junta that wages illegal wars and tortures people and disappears them into secret dungeons.
Love of country is a form of idolatry.
Listen, if you would, to the wisdom of Milton Mayer, writing back in 1962 a rebuke to JFK for his much-celebrated line: “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”
Mayer would have none of it. “When Mr. Kennedy spoke those words at his inaugural, I knew that I was at odds with a society which did not immediately rebel against them,” he wrote. “They are the words of totalitarianism pure; no Jefferson could have spoken them, and no Khrushchev could have spoken them better. Could a man say what Mr. Kennedy said and also say that the difference between us and them is that they believe that man exists for the State and we believe that the State exists for man? He couldn’t, but he did. And in doing so, he read me out of society.”
When Americans retort that this is still the greatest country in the world, I have to ask why.
Are we the greatest country because we have 10,000 nuclear weapons?
No, that just makes us enormously powerful, with the capacity to destroy the Earth itself.
Are we the greatest country because we have soldiers stationed in more than 120 countries?
No, that just makes us an empire, like the empires of old, only more so.
Are we the greatest country because we are one-twentieth of the world’s population but we consume one-quarter of its resources?
No, that just must makes us a greedy and wasteful nation.
Are we the greatest country because the top 1 percent of Americans hoards 34 percent of the nation’s wealth, more than everyone in the bottom 90 percent combined?
No, that just makes us a vastly unequal nation.
Are we the greatest country because corporations are treated as real, live human beings with rights?
No, that just enshrines a plutocracy in this country.
Are we the greatest country because we take the best care of our people’s basic needs?
No, actually we don’t. We’re far down the list on health care and infant mortality and parental leave and sick leave and quality of life.
So what exactly are we talking about here?
To the extent that we’re a great (not the greatest, mind you: that’s a fool’s game) country, we’re less of a great country today.
Because those things that truly made us great-the system of checks and balances, the enshrinement of our individual rights and liberties-have all been systematically assaulted by Bush and Cheney.
From the Patriot Act to the Military Commissions Act to the new FISA Act, and all the signing statements in between, we are less great today.
From Abu Ghraib and Bagram Air Force Base and Guantanamo, we are less great today.
From National Security Presidential Directive 51 (giving the Executive responsibility for ensuring constitutional government in an emergency) to National Security Presidential Directive 59 (expanding the collection of our biometric data), we are less great today.
From the Joint Terrorism Task Forces to InfraGard and the Terrorist Liaison Officers, we are less great today.
Admit it. We don’t have a lot to brag about today.
It is time, it is long past time, to get over the American superiority complex.
It is time, it is long past time, to put patriotism back on the shelf-out of the reach of children and madmen.
Matthew Rothschild is the editor of The Progressive magazine.

 

© 2008 The Progressive

http://www.o-manlandcomics.blogspot.com/

Congratulations to Rush Springs on discovery of the new wonder drug made from watermelon rinds. Oklahoma City and Tulsa should take lessons from the smaller towns on economic developement ( Just be in the right business when you are discovered). I predict a record increase in population in that area of Oklahoma in the 2010 Census.

Dear Democrats,

Time to call the Senators once more. The vote is July 8. Please urge
all your friends to take an hour from celebrating our Nation's birth,
to help save our Constitutional rights. NO retroactive immunity! And
NO warrantless wiretapping! (list of Senators ph # attached.)
Leave a voice message on their phone at night or on the weekend.

 

 

 

Talking Points

 

 

 

 

 

The Senate will be voting soon on legislation regarding the Bush Administration’s illegal wiretapping program. It’s important that the bill not contain any immunity for the telecom companies that helped the President break the law.

• 
  Let a judge sort it out. If what the telecom companies did was legal, why shouldn’t we let the cases go to court? If it was illegal, that’s all the more reason not to grant immunity.
• 
  This is about fundamental rights. The Fourth Amendment of the Constitution explicitly states that the government needs a warrant to conduct a search — that includes wiretapping. Congress should err on the side of our Constitution and not bow to political pressure by signing off on telecom immunity. Americans deserve nothing less.
• 
  When people break the law, they should be held accountable. When companies break the law, they should be too. Passing a bill that lets companies off the hook for spying on their customers isn’t fair and it doesn’t uphold the rule of law.
• 
  The Bush Administration is trying to cover up its own illegal behavior. The President shouldn’t be able to hide the full extent of an illegal program by shutting down lawsuits. And Congress certainly shouldn’t help him to do it.
• 
  This affects countless Americans. Telecoms need to testify in a court of law about exactly what happened and why. If telecom immunity passes, we may never know how big the scandal really was.

 

 

 

These are Our Friends
15 who are opposed to retroactive immunity.

 

Biden (D-DE)
Boxer (D-CA)
Brown (D-OH)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Dodd (D-CT)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feingold (D-WI)
Harkin (D-IA)
Kerry (D-MA)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Leahy (D-VT)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schumer (D-NY)
Wyden (D-OR)

 

Not Voting - 5
Byrd (D-WV)
Clinton (D-NY)
Kennedy (D-MA)
McCain (R-AZ)
Obama (D-IL)
Please call at least the SWING VOTES on the attached list tonight and through the weekend.
And especially call the 5 who did not vote!!!

 

Thanks,
Mary Francis
405 474-0695

This past weekend, the State of Oklahoma lost a very good friend. Terry Hyman, the state representative from House District 49, passed away from injuries related to a tractor accident on his farm. Terry served as a member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives for the past four years. He was born on December 7, 1951 and had a Bachelor's degree in Agriculture and a Master's degree in Political Science and Public Administration, both from Oklahoma State University. Terry served as the Tourism and Recreation Chair in the House the past two years. Prior to his service in the House of Representatives, Terry was a county commissioner in Love County.

To me though, Terry was much more than the representative from Leon, OK. He was a good friend and a mentor to me in my college years. Terry worked at OSU in the administration for 13 years as the coach of the OSU Rodeo Team and the coordinator of freshman services. He also was the advisor for the OSU Young Democrats. It was during this time that I first met Terry Hyman and he helped inspire me to work in student government and be an active part of the campus life and Democratic campaigns. He and his co-advisor, Vincent Burke, had a way of getting the student government officers to take on the administration in various ways and they knew what buttons to push to get me to go down the right path in those fights.

Terry was the kind of public servant that to could sit down with anyone and visit over a cup of coffee. He was also the kind of fellow that could spin a tale that would keep everyone entertained. His wisdom went far beyond what he would let on to those who didn't know him and he had a way of getting you to end up on his side of the issue by gently directing you there with his country logic and common sense. When Terry Hyman spoke in debate on the House floor, you knew it would be entertaining, it would be factual and it would make a difference.

One of Terry's passions was to make sure that students had the opportunity for a quality education and he fought to make sure that college was affordable. Terry and I filed an interim study together this summer to analyze student fees and why they have been increasing. I will make sure that study continues and that we do what we can to keep college affordable for all our Oklahoma students. As with everything that Terry supported over the years, I know it's the right thing to do. He wouldn't have taken on the fight unless he was convinced it was the right thing to do.

Those that didn't know Terry Hyman will miss his stand on the issues as he was the kind of legislator we need at the Capitol fighting the good fight. Those that did know him will miss his sense of humor, his decency and his passion to do what was right. Most of of all, we will just miss him a great deal.

It is an honor to represent your views at the State Capitol. If you wish to contact me and discuss one of these or another issue, I can be reached at my office in Oklahoma City toll-free at 1-800-522-8502, or directly at 1-405-557-7305. My e-mail address is joedorman@okhouse.gov at work. My mailing address is PO Box 559, Rush Springs, OK 73082 and my website is www.joedorman.com on the Internet. Thank you for taking time to read this column and I look forward to seeing you soon.

July 1, 2008

 

State Central Committee Votes Unanimously After Tragic Loss of Rep. Terry Hyman

 

The state Democratic Party's Central Committee voted unanimously today to place Samson R. Buck's name on the ballot for House District 49. In the wake of the overwhelming loss of Rep. Terry Hyman the State Democratic Central Committee was required to provide a replacement candidate within 5 days of the tragedy.

 

In an emergency meeting of the state central committee today Samson Buck's name was presented after an extensive search. The vote was unanimous and a letter was delivered to the State Election Board presenting Mr. Buck's name for candidacy this afternoon.

 

Mr. Buck is an attorney practicing in Ardmore, and currently resides on his farm on the Carter/Love county line. The farm has been in his family for four generations.