State Democrats are turning up the heat on the state's two Republican senators for their continued silence on Louisiana Sen. David Vitter and his admitted use of prostitutes provided by the infamous DC Madam.
A headline on a recent state Democratic Party news release called on Sens. Tom Coburn and Jim Inhofe to "denounce hypocrisy." The release also called on the senators to end their "blind allegiance to Republican colleagues…for the good of the nation."
The Democrats point out that Sen. Coburn is "well-known as one of the most zealous and vocal social conservatives in the U.S. Senate." Yet Coburn has continued to defend Sen. Vitter.
As for Sen. Inhofe, the Democrats note dryly that he "has continued his silence on what proves to be another Republican scandal."
Whatever happened to those old-fashioned virtues that Sooner State Republicans are always so quick to embrace? Isn't adultery one of the Ten Commandments and don't they apply to everyone, even holier-than-thou Republican legislators?
Apparently not—not if you are a Republican senator from Oklahoma.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Monday, July 23, 2007
On the Road: We'll Be Back
We're on the road this week, so our postings will be a bit haphazard. Meanwhile, there is plenty to read and blog about in Tulsa and elsewhere. Check out some of our favorite blogs, listed below.
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Vitter Hypocrisy Update: More Calls to Resign
For those of you keeping score at home, the calls for Louisiana Sen. David Vitter to resign keep coming.
Sen. Vitter, you will recall, has admitted partaking in the illegal sexual services of the DC Madam. Unfortunately for Vitter, he is also on record pointedly calling on former President Bill Clinton to resign for his White House dalliance with Monica Lewinsky.
Now Vitter's double standard appears to be catching up to him. Some conservative religious leaders have questioned Vitter's moral standing and conservative talker Sean Hannity has called for the senator to resign.
We don't always agree with our friends on the conservative side of the aisle. But in this case, we think they have point. In Louisiana Sen. Vitter has cast himself as a pro-family politician with traditional family values.
We can't see how that squares with paying prostitutes for sex.
Sen. Vitter, you will recall, has admitted partaking in the illegal sexual services of the DC Madam. Unfortunately for Vitter, he is also on record pointedly calling on former President Bill Clinton to resign for his White House dalliance with Monica Lewinsky.
Now Vitter's double standard appears to be catching up to him. Some conservative religious leaders have questioned Vitter's moral standing and conservative talker Sean Hannity has called for the senator to resign.
We don't always agree with our friends on the conservative side of the aisle. But in this case, we think they have point. In Louisiana Sen. Vitter has cast himself as a pro-family politician with traditional family values.
We can't see how that squares with paying prostitutes for sex.
Atheist Author Hitchens Creates a Buzz
The AltTulsa team tries its best to monitor the Zeitgeist. That's what led us to writer Christopher Hitchens, whose new book, God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything, has reached the bestseller lists and, not surprisingly, sparked considerable controversy.
Hitchens, along with authors Sam Harris and Richard Dawkins, are part of a recent trend in anti-religious books, according to a Stanley Fish op-ed piece published last month in the New York Times. As Fish reminded us, Harris published The End of Faith couple of years ago and Dawkins published The God Delusion in 2006.
We also read a recent AP article on Hitchens and his book that noted the success of his "all-out assault on religious faith." Hitchens told the AP reporter, "There are a lot of people, in this country in particular, who are fed up with endless lectures by bogus clerics and endless bullying."
We haven't read Hitchens or these other authors, but we are curious about this trend, if that's what it is. Fish suggests that some of the anti-religious sentiment is a backlash against religious fundamentalism. As the AP put it, "Bad behavior in the name of religion is behind some of the most dangerous global conflicts, the atheists say."
The AP piece quotes religious leaders answering the atheist challenge. The Rev. Douglas Wilson at New Saint Andrews College in Idaho told the AP that he sees these books as a sign of secular panic. Perhaps so.
We can't endorse Hitchens or his fellow nonbelievers. As we noted, we haven't read these books. But we were surprised to see the Hitchens book selling well and attracting actual nonbelieving fans.
Hitchens, along with authors Sam Harris and Richard Dawkins, are part of a recent trend in anti-religious books, according to a Stanley Fish op-ed piece published last month in the New York Times. As Fish reminded us, Harris published The End of Faith couple of years ago and Dawkins published The God Delusion in 2006.
We also read a recent AP article on Hitchens and his book that noted the success of his "all-out assault on religious faith." Hitchens told the AP reporter, "There are a lot of people, in this country in particular, who are fed up with endless lectures by bogus clerics and endless bullying."
We haven't read Hitchens or these other authors, but we are curious about this trend, if that's what it is. Fish suggests that some of the anti-religious sentiment is a backlash against religious fundamentalism. As the AP put it, "Bad behavior in the name of religion is behind some of the most dangerous global conflicts, the atheists say."
The AP piece quotes religious leaders answering the atheist challenge. The Rev. Douglas Wilson at New Saint Andrews College in Idaho told the AP that he sees these books as a sign of secular panic. Perhaps so.
We can't endorse Hitchens or his fellow nonbelievers. As we noted, we haven't read these books. But we were surprised to see the Hitchens book selling well and attracting actual nonbelieving fans.
Oklahomans Turn On the Tap for Democrats
Campaign figures released this week show that Oklahomans are putting their cash behind Democratic presidential candidates.
A Tulsa World story Friday reported that Democratic candidates are leading their Republican counterparts by a margin of better than 2-to-1.
The three top Democratic candidates, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John Edwards, have all raised more than $265,000 in the Sooner state.
By contrast, the GOP's leading fundraiser in Oklahoma, Rudy Giuliani, has raised 165,000.
The World also discovered that one Tulsa ZIP code, 74114, is the state's largest political contributor, with more than $171,000 contributed in the first six months of this year. The second highest ZIP code, 73116 in Oklahoma City, was far back with total almost $65,000.
It's early in the political season, we know, but the figures so far seem to show that Oklahoma Democrats are a lot happier with their candidates than the Republicans are.
A Tulsa World story Friday reported that Democratic candidates are leading their Republican counterparts by a margin of better than 2-to-1.
The three top Democratic candidates, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John Edwards, have all raised more than $265,000 in the Sooner state.
By contrast, the GOP's leading fundraiser in Oklahoma, Rudy Giuliani, has raised 165,000.
The World also discovered that one Tulsa ZIP code, 74114, is the state's largest political contributor, with more than $171,000 contributed in the first six months of this year. The second highest ZIP code, 73116 in Oklahoma City, was far back with total almost $65,000.
It's early in the political season, we know, but the figures so far seem to show that Oklahoma Democrats are a lot happier with their candidates than the Republicans are.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Tulsa's Wallis Writes New Road Book
Speaking of road books (see previous post), Tulsa's own Michael Wallis has published his own new book in the field, this one following the mostly forgotten transcontinental highway known as the Lincoln Highway.
Wallis achieved considerable success with an earlier book on Route 66, a fabled highway known as the "Mother Road." His Lincoln Highway book follows the "Father Road," a highway that runs from New York's Times Square to the Golden Gate Bridge.
Judy Randle, book editor of the Tulsa World, talked with Wallis about his new book at some length in last Sunday's issue. That prompted us to check out an autographed copy of The Lincoln Highway the other day at Steve's Books on Harvard.
For fans of America's old two-lane highways, this looks like a winner.
Wallis achieved considerable success with an earlier book on Route 66, a fabled highway known as the "Mother Road." His Lincoln Highway book follows the "Father Road," a highway that runs from New York's Times Square to the Golden Gate Bridge.
Judy Randle, book editor of the Tulsa World, talked with Wallis about his new book at some length in last Sunday's issue. That prompted us to check out an autographed copy of The Lincoln Highway the other day at Steve's Books on Harvard.
For fans of America's old two-lane highways, this looks like a winner.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
50 Years of Kerouac's 'On the Road'
We were reminded the other day that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the publication of Jack Kerouac's famous Bohemian novel, On the Road.
Kerouac, as some readers will recall, is usually identified with the "Beat Generation" of the 1950s, a loosely organized group of poets, writers, and artists who thumbed their noses at middle class America in the post-WWII era.
Legend has it that Kerouac wrote the novel in three weeks, locking himself in a hotel room and typing (yes, on an actual typewriter) non-stop on a long roll of paper. The "roll," as it came to be known, does exist but the truth is that Kerouac had written sections of the book earlier and also revised the manuscript after the roll was typed.
Whatever the truth of its composition, On the Road has inspired wanderlust in several generations of road warriors seeking the wide open spaces of the American highway.
We recall some long summer evenings a few years ago when we worked our way through Kerouac's pages and across the country with Jack.
Fifty years after it was published, it might be time to check out Kerouac's classic road novel.
P.S.—We understand that Kerouac's "roll" was purchased a few years ago by Jim Irsay, owner of the Indianapolis Colts, for $2.4 million. It's currently on a national tour of major libraries and will be displayed at UT Austin in 2008.
Kerouac, as some readers will recall, is usually identified with the "Beat Generation" of the 1950s, a loosely organized group of poets, writers, and artists who thumbed their noses at middle class America in the post-WWII era.
Legend has it that Kerouac wrote the novel in three weeks, locking himself in a hotel room and typing (yes, on an actual typewriter) non-stop on a long roll of paper. The "roll," as it came to be known, does exist but the truth is that Kerouac had written sections of the book earlier and also revised the manuscript after the roll was typed.
Whatever the truth of its composition, On the Road has inspired wanderlust in several generations of road warriors seeking the wide open spaces of the American highway.
We recall some long summer evenings a few years ago when we worked our way through Kerouac's pages and across the country with Jack.
Fifty years after it was published, it might be time to check out Kerouac's classic road novel.
P.S.—We understand that Kerouac's "roll" was purchased a few years ago by Jim Irsay, owner of the Indianapolis Colts, for $2.4 million. It's currently on a national tour of major libraries and will be displayed at UT Austin in 2008.
Cheney's Approval Sinks to a Record Low
Gallup is out today with new figures on the sinking approval ratings for Vice President Dick Cheney.
Overall, Cheney's approval rating stands at 30 percent, a record low for a vice president since Gallup started in 1945. Among important independent voters, Cheney's approval rating was a dismal 26 percent.
Among Republicans, Cheney's approval was a relatively healthy 57 percent, although Gallup reported that figure had declined as well.
None of this is especially shocking. As even casual political observers must know, the vice president has made himself the point man on a number of controversial issues, many of which have "gone south," to put it gently.
Smart Republicans, especially those up for re-election next year, might want to keep their distance from the VP. Are you listening, Sen. Inhofe?
Overall, Cheney's approval rating stands at 30 percent, a record low for a vice president since Gallup started in 1945. Among important independent voters, Cheney's approval rating was a dismal 26 percent.
Among Republicans, Cheney's approval was a relatively healthy 57 percent, although Gallup reported that figure had declined as well.
None of this is especially shocking. As even casual political observers must know, the vice president has made himself the point man on a number of controversial issues, many of which have "gone south," to put it gently.
Smart Republicans, especially those up for re-election next year, might want to keep their distance from the VP. Are you listening, Sen. Inhofe?
Monday, July 16, 2007
Sen. Vitter's Republican Hypocrisy
AltTulsa has never believed the moral superiority of the Republican Right. Seems to us that these folks have just as many flaws and failings as the rest of us.
Perhaps more. Witness the case of Louisiana Sen. David Vitter, named last week the so-called DC Madam scandal. Sen. Vitter ended his self-imposed seclusion today, admitting his guilt and declaring that God and his wife have forgiven him.
We don't know about God. But we do know a former U.S. Representative from Louisiana who has spoken about the moral problem of illicit sexual relations.
That political leader was perfectly clear about the fate of President Bill Clinton when he was involved in a sex scandal in 1998.
You guessed it: That official was none other than one Rep. David Vitter. Want to take your own advice, Sen. Vitter?
Perhaps more. Witness the case of Louisiana Sen. David Vitter, named last week the so-called DC Madam scandal. Sen. Vitter ended his self-imposed seclusion today, admitting his guilt and declaring that God and his wife have forgiven him.
We don't know about God. But we do know a former U.S. Representative from Louisiana who has spoken about the moral problem of illicit sexual relations.
That political leader was perfectly clear about the fate of President Bill Clinton when he was involved in a sex scandal in 1998.
President Clinton should be impeached and removed from office because he is morally unfit to govern.
You guessed it: That official was none other than one Rep. David Vitter. Want to take your own advice, Sen. Vitter?
Analyzing the McCain Campaign Collapse
Monday reading: The New York Times has a solid analysis today on the mistakes of Sen. John McCain's collapsing presidential campaign.
Reporter Adam Nagourney notes that McCain and his advisers thought that with Vice President Cheney out of the race, the senator would be seen as the logical heir apparent to George W. Bush.
Obviously, that hasn't happened. But as Nagourney points out, this is a departure from the usual GOP style.
"We have always been royalists," one Republican strategist noted, a reference to the generally orderly way that Republican presidential candidates have been selected in recent years.
Royalists? Really? It that what the Republicans really stand for? If so, it's yet another reason to avoid the GOP in future elections.
Reporter Adam Nagourney notes that McCain and his advisers thought that with Vice President Cheney out of the race, the senator would be seen as the logical heir apparent to George W. Bush.
Obviously, that hasn't happened. But as Nagourney points out, this is a departure from the usual GOP style.
"We have always been royalists," one Republican strategist noted, a reference to the generally orderly way that Republican presidential candidates have been selected in recent years.
Royalists? Really? It that what the Republicans really stand for? If so, it's yet another reason to avoid the GOP in future elections.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
GOP Dissenters Take On Bush Policies
Republican legislators are getting an earful from heartland voters on the Iraq war. A scan of the blogosphere this week shows that even in Kansas and Iowa, more voters are expressing their unhappiness over the Bush Administration's handling of the war.
Two high profile Republican senators weighed in against the President this week as well. Senators Warner of Virginia and Lugar of Indiana, both respected foreign policy leaders, have announced their own plan to curb the Bush war plans. Their proposal calls on the President to seek a new war authorization by Oct. 16. The proposal also calls for reducing American forces by the end of the year.
Here's the blunt way the Washington Post described the new proposal:
Two high profile Republican senators weighed in against the President this week as well. Senators Warner of Virginia and Lugar of Indiana, both respected foreign policy leaders, have announced their own plan to curb the Bush war plans. Their proposal calls on the President to seek a new war authorization by Oct. 16. The proposal also calls for reducing American forces by the end of the year.
Here's the blunt way the Washington Post described the new proposal:
2 GOP Senators Join Revolt Vs. War Policy
New Adventures in White House Stenography
President George W. Bush issued an interim report this week on the progress of the Iraqi government in meeting certain critical benchmarks.
The report, at best, showed a mixed result. Most accounts credited the Iraqis with meeting eight only of its 18 goals.
At worst—and there are major issues on this side of the ledger—the report reveals the continuing failure of the Iraqi legislators to set aside their sectarian differences and make the difficult decisions needed to support a broad-based and enduring Iraqi democracy.
But leave to a Tulsa blog to roll over and play dead on the latest Bush Administration policy failure. Instead of commenting one way or the other on this important topic, Tulsa Today this week merely printed the White House report without comment.
Apparently, the good folks over at Tulsa Today have never met a White House news release they didn't like. It's not the first time they served as lapdogs for the administration.
But for the rest of us—those of us who can actually manage an original thought every week or two—smiling and playing stenographer to the White House serves no useful purpose.
Here's our question: Why bother to publish a blog at all if you're only going to parrot the White House line on life-or-death matters as important as the Iraq war?
The report, at best, showed a mixed result. Most accounts credited the Iraqis with meeting eight only of its 18 goals.
At worst—and there are major issues on this side of the ledger—the report reveals the continuing failure of the Iraqi legislators to set aside their sectarian differences and make the difficult decisions needed to support a broad-based and enduring Iraqi democracy.
But leave to a Tulsa blog to roll over and play dead on the latest Bush Administration policy failure. Instead of commenting one way or the other on this important topic, Tulsa Today this week merely printed the White House report without comment.
Apparently, the good folks over at Tulsa Today have never met a White House news release they didn't like. It's not the first time they served as lapdogs for the administration.
But for the rest of us—those of us who can actually manage an original thought every week or two—smiling and playing stenographer to the White House serves no useful purpose.
Here's our question: Why bother to publish a blog at all if you're only going to parrot the White House line on life-or-death matters as important as the Iraq war?
BA Republican's Tulsa Kiss Leads to Trouble
We don't know State Rep. John Trebilcock, the legislator who represents House District 98 in Broken Arrow. But we did take notice last March when he was arrested on a DUI charge after being pulled over in downtown Tulsa for driving without headlights. At the time, the Tulsa World reports, Rep. Trebilcock refused to take a break-analyzer test.
Today we learn that Rep. Treblicock entered a no-contest plea to the charge and has agreed to work 10 days for the city of Tulsa and attend an alcohol education program. He will also pay court costs of $750.
The city prosecutor told the World that as a first-time offender, Trebilcock was offered a standard deal, just like "John Q. Citizen." His attorney said the DUI charge was not supported by the evidence.
Fair enough. Rep. Treblicock should be treated such like anyone else.
But we'd like to give the BA legislator credit for the excuse he offered the arresting officer in March. According to the police report, Treblicock told the officer that "he had just kissed a girl that had been drinking and that is why he smelled like he had been drinking."
Today we learn that Rep. Treblicock entered a no-contest plea to the charge and has agreed to work 10 days for the city of Tulsa and attend an alcohol education program. He will also pay court costs of $750.
The city prosecutor told the World that as a first-time offender, Trebilcock was offered a standard deal, just like "John Q. Citizen." His attorney said the DUI charge was not supported by the evidence.
Fair enough. Rep. Treblicock should be treated such like anyone else.
But we'd like to give the BA legislator credit for the excuse he offered the arresting officer in March. According to the police report, Treblicock told the officer that "he had just kissed a girl that had been drinking and that is why he smelled like he had been drinking."
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Biden's Quip on Bush Progress Report
Our nomination for Quote of the Day, courtesy of Delaware Sen. Joe Biden. Biden was commenting on President Bush's progress report on Iraq, released this morning:
This progress report is like the guy who’s falling from a 100-story building and says half-way down that ‘everything’s fine.'
Summer Reading: Find a Copy of "Walden"
Two literary birthdays of note today: Henry David Thoreau and Pablo Neruda.
Thoreau, of course, is the author of an American classic, Walden, his effort to confront life simply and directly. Walden, Thoreau's greatest work, was published in 1854, and has inspired generations of American readers. To this day, the site of Thoreau's cabin at Walden Pond is a literary shrine in Massachusetts.
Neruda, the Chilean poet, is famous for his love poems. A receipt of the Nobel Prize for Literature, Neruda is much beloved in Latin America for his lyrical, romantic verses. We have to read Neruda in translation, but even then he's a joy.
On these long (and wet) summer days, we suggest a return to Walden or checking out a Neruda volume and settling down in a soft chair.
Thoreau, of course, is the author of an American classic, Walden, his effort to confront life simply and directly. Walden, Thoreau's greatest work, was published in 1854, and has inspired generations of American readers. To this day, the site of Thoreau's cabin at Walden Pond is a literary shrine in Massachusetts.
Neruda, the Chilean poet, is famous for his love poems. A receipt of the Nobel Prize for Literature, Neruda is much beloved in Latin America for his lyrical, romantic verses. We have to read Neruda in translation, but even then he's a joy.
On these long (and wet) summer days, we suggest a return to Walden or checking out a Neruda volume and settling down in a soft chair.
Bushworld Redux: Where Ideology Trumps Science (and Even the Special Olympics)
In the political fantasyland known as Bushworld, wishing can make it so. If you just believe hard enough, you can make the facts fit your preconceived notions.
Unfortunately, the real world doesn't work that way.
Testifying this week in Washington, Dr. Richard Carmona, former Bush Administration surgeon general, made clear that his scientific judgment was expected to fit the administration's ideological positions.
To his credit, Dr. Carmona resisted this role, pointing out that the nation's top doctor is supposed to "release scientific documents that will help our public officials and the citizens understand the complex world we live in…."
Here is a part of Dr. Carmona's pointed critique of the Bush position, as quoted by the AP:
In perhaps the silliest aspect of this bonehead idea, Dr. Carmona was told at one point not to speak at a Special Olympics event because it would benefit a prominent political family of the other party— the Kennedy family.
Politicizing medical judgment is inexcusable. But politicizing the Special Olympics? That's really low.
Unfortunately, the real world doesn't work that way.
Testifying this week in Washington, Dr. Richard Carmona, former Bush Administration surgeon general, made clear that his scientific judgment was expected to fit the administration's ideological positions.
To his credit, Dr. Carmona resisted this role, pointing out that the nation's top doctor is supposed to "release scientific documents that will help our public officials and the citizens understand the complex world we live in…."
Here is a part of Dr. Carmona's pointed critique of the Bush position, as quoted by the AP:
The reality is that the nation's doctor has been marginalized and relegated to a position with no independent budget, and with supervisors who are political appointees with partisan agendas.
In perhaps the silliest aspect of this bonehead idea, Dr. Carmona was told at one point not to speak at a Special Olympics event because it would benefit a prominent political family of the other party— the Kennedy family.
Politicizing medical judgment is inexcusable. But politicizing the Special Olympics? That's really low.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)