Reddest of the red

In the last Presidential election, the state of Oklahoma proved it was the reddest of the red states by having each and every county vote for Republican candidate John McCain. This occurred despite the fact Senator McCain never campaigned in the state and Barrack Obama won both the popular vote by over 8 1/2 million votes, and 28 states to McCain's 22. Here in Oklahoma, McCain received 66% of of the votes cast - obviously, an overwhelming majority.

Our state legislature is controlled by Republicans; our two U.S. Senators are Republicans; and, finally, our 5 congressional representatives are comprised of 4 Republicans and 1 "Blue Dog" Democrat. I have provided these statistics as a measure of my claim that my state is the current leader among RED STATES.

This, of course, makes it somewhat difficult for a Liberal(Shhhh, I need to be careful when I utter that dreaded word aloud around here)such as myself to speak my opinion about things when out and about, else I get shouted down by Tea-partiers, or Town-hall attendees. It doesn't matter that none of the aforementioned opponents have perused(Uh, that means read) a newspaper, a weekly magazine, or watched anything other than their fellow screamers on Fox News such as Glenn Beck or Bill O'Reilly - or their prophet, that darling of talk show radio, Rush Limbaugh. After all, these sage purveyors of opinion will tell them what they need to know. Why bother to read or question what they say?

Anywho, a couple of items in our daily newspaper over the last couple of days prompted me to write. Yesterday,an article appeared about our Senior Senator, Republican Jim Inhofe,and his comments at a Town Hall meeting he orchestrated in a small community. The headline was reminiscent of any one of several that may have appeared since Barrack Obama appeared on the national horizon a year and a half ago:
Inhofe blasts Obama

Gee, what a surprise. Some quotes from this article:

*"Right-thinking Americans can only hope the country will survive the next 16 months of the Obama administration until Republicans can regain control of Congress."
* “I never dreamed I would see an administration try to disavow all the things that have made this country different from all others,”
* “Every institution that has made this country the greatest nation in the world is under attack,”

What a guy, huh? Inhofe, by the way, is the Senator known for his stance on global warming, by stating, on more than one occasion: "Global warming is the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on mankind."

Then today, our state legislation took hold of the front page. Well, not quite. After all, it is the beginning of football season, and we Oklahomans DO have our priorities set right, so the front page was shared with a story about this weekend's college football games. The story I'm referring to though is headlined, as follows:
PLANNED OBAMA SPEECH BLASTED THE SUBHEAD reads, GOP lawmakers say he aims to indoctrinate schoolchildren.

Let's go ahead and smack down a speech that he is planning to make to kids about working hard, setting goals, taking responsibility for learning, and getting good grades. One of our Republican state legislators goes on to say, "This is something that you'd expect to see in North Korea or in Saddam Hussein's Iraq". He further said constituents in his district are very concerned, noting that parents believe Obama is overstepping his bounds by talking directly to students instead of voters. Hmmm - I wonder if they felt that way when the Patron Saint of the Republican party, Ronald Reagan, who could do no wrong (Forget about Iran/Contra) addressed schoolchildren - or perhaps the esteemed George W. Bush, who might have confused the little ones when he spoke to them?

Yet another Republican legislator said the speech appears to cross the line into political advocacy and "it appears to be more about indoctrination of students than education." This particular legislator is the same person who once made headlines for saying gay people were more of a threat to the United States than terrorists." A real winner.

It is wonderful that two of our State Senators appear to have a pipeline into the administration of President Obama. Particularly since they are from a rather small state and are members of the opposing party. Obviously they must have this insight because how else would they know exactly what he is going to say to schoolchildren next week? Perhaps it is their close association with God that allows them this insight.

Like many people, though unfortunately, not in this state, I am tired of simply criticizing a PROPOSED but unread bill, or a Yet-to-be-made speech. I am fed-up with accusations that are unfounded. I am sick of constant fear-mongering which seem to be perpetuated by TV and Radio Commentators, and furthered by some Republican congresspersons. I can't stand being sent e-mails that don't have a shred of truth in them, yet when I send FACTUAL, DOCUMENTED, PROOF disputing their e-mail, in reply, they respond by saying "well, that's made up by the liberal media".

There is no more "liberal media" that I can see.

They have all been scared off.

And here I sit. In this RED, RED State, with MY face turning Red, as I attempt to navigate through all the lies of the Right-wingers.

Old Fart Mike

"What do our opponents mean when they apply to us the label "Liberal?" If by "Liberal" they mean, as they want people to believe, someone who is soft in his policies abroad, who is against local government, and who is unconcerned with the taxpayer's dollar, then ... we are not that kind of "Liberal." But if by a "Liberal" they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people -- their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, and their civil liberties -- someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, if that is what they mean by a "Liberal," then I'm proud to say I'm a "Liberal."
- John F. Kennedy [September 14, 1960]