Here comes some fireworks!

A slew of Democrats claim that the new majority in the state Senate are playing partisan politics. Senator Kenneth Corn (D - Poteau) even suggests that “Senator Coffee (R - Oklahoma City) has raised the level of political partisanship to that of Washington”. Harsh words, especially considering that the opposite of Congress is Progress.

“Partisan” Senator Coffee argues that the Democrats preventing reforms from happening and are acting as obstructionists. Republican Senator David Myers (R - Ponca City) noted that “When the Republicans were in the minority our job was to call attention to what we thought were unfair practices. Now they are doing the same thing. As the minority, since you’re not in control the only alternative you have is to throw rocks. That’s the way it works. The majority party makes the decisions on who chairs the committee and who is on it. It’s nothing different than normal.” In other words, they started it — being partisan.

Proof that our Senate acts like first graders spreading blame.

Yet Corn has a point. Corn finds that “There’s no respect for people who have expertise.” Did the framers of the Constitution not design the Senate to be a meritocracy — based on expertise? Wait, that is idealism. This is politics. Sorry.

But the Democrats have a counter. Senator Richard Lerblance (D - Hartshorne) may find time to dust off the all mighty filibuster.

Democrats fled the chamber in the past when former Lieutenant Governor Mary Fallin claimed the chair of the Senate. The ability to ask for quorum and flee is still there, too.

And then there are issues… like prison reform, tort reform, and the unmentioned 2010 budget.

Yet they will play politics. Because the Republicans felt screwed by the Democrats, the reds will stick it to the blues. Nothing will get done.

HAPPY BDAY, Sam.

Lieutenant Governor Jari Askins is running for governor, rivaling Drew Edmondson in his bid to be governor in 2010.

Currently ranked third in the Goober-Ten Power Ten, Askins sent out a letter to potential supporters, highlighting her past and a vision for better education.

Looks like the Dems have a two-way race — and it is barely 2009. To think that people mocked okiepolitics’ early coverage of the 2010 race. No vision.

We are in for a fun election cycle.

The line of logic from FGO seems to be as follows:

1. In the Old Testament, Judiac law provides that homosexual sexuality is a sin (punishable by death).
2. God punished various sinful groups, like the Sodomites.
3. The Episcopal Church allows for homosexuals to be considered equals among clergy, churchgoers.
4. Therefore, according to God’s word (see 1 & 2), the Episcopals should be destroyed (see 3).

Let me suggest a potential line of logic…

Mark 12:30, 31: “30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[c]There is no commandment greater than these.”
Romans 3:23: “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Romans 6:23: “…the wages of sin is death…”

Should anyone who does not love a neighbor (say, an Episcopal or homosexual) as they would love themselves be put to death? Clearly not. John 3:16 solves this dilemma.

The concern should be with one’s relationship with God. Not with finding ways to reprogram a group of sinners. Face it. You are a sinner — just like me. You are a sinner — just like everyone reading this blog.

Whether it be jealousy, lust, lying, bending the truth, judging an entire denomination, doing things, leaving things undone — we all sin on a daily basis. Even Peter did, for Pete’s sake.

Instead of condemning a neighbor, the Episcopals greet homosexuals just as they do any group of sinners. Just as the second of Jesus’ commandments want us to.

FGO’s little zinger “Some who profess Christian worship talk the talk but fail to walk the walk” FGO provides a tragic irony. Staying behind an attitude of “holier than thou” condemnation of an entire Church is really pathetic — and not like Jesus’ hope for his people. Really, it is a pitiful example of what is wrong with the modern church. It misses the point.

John 3:17:
“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

Featuring an image of God destroying Sodom (implicitly suggesting that the Episcopal Church is like the city of sin and needing to feel God’s wrath) FGO led with the headline using the phrase Episcopal Church Denomination is Heretical, unbiblical (sic).

Let us go over some of the Episcopal beliefs…

Using the Bible during a service — at least three times

A standard Episcopal service includes three Scriptures, one from the Old Testament, one from the epistles and one from the Gospels.

Holy Sacraments

The Episcopal church is one that believes in several Sacraments — instances where the City of God and the City of Man contact. Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage, Reconciliation (of sin through Christ, Jesus), and Holy Eucharist make up a partial list of these Sacraments.

The Nicene Creed
For those of you who are not “heretics”, let me quote…

We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Talk about a group of sinners needing to draw God’s wrath. This continuous babbling among denominations is what turns those needing God’s word the most away from church.

I want to rant about the Speck and the Plank, but I fear falling in the same sinful trap as FGO.

If anything, FGO, who I assume wants to perform God’s will, is standing directly in the way of what Jesus would want. Love thy neighbor as thyself, no? Please, FGO, you might ought to try out a Heretical service down at the Episcopal Cathedral in Oklahoma City at 7th and Robinson (or whatever place of worship is nearest you). You’ll find a good group God-loving people worshiping our Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Fifth-string acting governor state inspector Steve Burrage has been in control of the executive for the first part of the week, as Governor Brad Henry (D - Shawnee), Lieutenant Governor Jari Askins (D - Durant), Senate pro-temp Glenn Coffee (R - Oklahoma City), and Speaker Chris Benge (R - Tulsa) were all watching Oklahoma Second University play the Oregon Quacks.

Congrats, there, former Acting Governor.

Almost a year before the assumed deadline for voting on a potential MAPs 3, the jOklahoman has already started the pro-tax movement.

A recent story about the success of MAPs for Kids Kirk’s Legacy buttresses the jOklahoman’s story about “MAPs momentum”… almost cheerleading a MAPs 3.

Granted, there is neither a plan for a MAPs 3 nor a proposal for a MAPs 3. Is MAPs 3 a good idea? Probably. In a time where the nation’s economy is in the toilet but ours is not — we may as well run up the score with capital investments… the same type of investments that brought us to major league status in the first place. (MAPs, not MAPs for Kirk’s Legacy.)

Realistically, the Oklahoma City metro area should work together. Mick Cornett should depart from the “Oklahoma City only” mentality and invite other local leaders, like Edmond Mayor Dan O’Neil and Norman Mayor Cindy Rosenthal to the same table and pound out a plan for central Oklahoma.

Will there be a MAPs 3? Of course. Cornett has his eyes on Goober-Ten or the 5th District seat. What better way to build momentum than by riding the wave of another MAPs? At bare minimum, Cornett would solidify his legacy as one of Oklahoma City’s most influential mayors.

After months of D+ emergency medicine grades caused by Tulsa and Oklahoma’s Second University’s greed, feeble attempts to help by state Rep Jim Wilson (D - Tahlequah), discussion of an $80,000,000 bailout, and a dead last ranking in healthcare, Oklahoma leaders are looking to a public trust for one of Tulsa’s major hospitals.

The problem? Many Tulsans quip that “there is no such thing as a public trust because we don’t trust these people.”

The current plan involves the state spending $28,000,000 to buy/”pay to transfer” the hospital to the public trust mentioned above. Then, OSU’s residency program may stay in Tulsa. OSU will pay $25,000,000 as well to improve the facilities.

To think, I thought that Mayor Cornett was a taxraise fees-and-spend lib. Look at Kathy Taylor– she is practically Hillary Clinton, socializing healthcare.

The okiepolitics Goober-10 Power 10 is a power poll based on the 2010 Oklahoma Gubernatorial Race.

Contributors to okiepolitics provide top ten ballots each month to the Goober-Ten poll.

January 1, 2009 Poll Results:

T10. Miller, Ken (R - Edmond) State Representative
The House A-prop chair could easily raise a bunch a cash if he has any interest in running.

T10. Morgan, Danny (D - Prague) State Representative
Very amiable and easy to like, Morgan may have some problems raising cash and getting his name out there but could be successful if Edmondson melts down and Askins decides to run for something else.

T10. Rice, Andrew (D - Oklahoma City) State Representative
Following a difficult loss to Jim Inhofe, Rice may be able to convert his new found name-recognition to run governor.

09. Terrill, Randy (R - Moore) State Representative
With more name id than the speaker, Terrill has never been one to placate the Republican establishment. A run against Fallin and others could shake the race up. Many of the party’s ultra conservative base would show if Terrill enters.

08. Taylor, Kathy (D - Tulsa) Mayor of Tulsa
Mayor of the state’s second largest city, rumoers suggest that Taylor is putting together a war chest of money and issues, signaling a larger run in her future.

07. Paddack, Susan (D - Ada) State Senator
One really can not ignore that campaign war chest. The state senator is getting ready to run for something.

06. Coffee, Glenn (R - Oklahoma City) State Senator
The majority state senate leader can take credit for first Republican majority.  While it is unlikely that Coffee  will run for the state’s top post since Coffee has never wanted to rock the boat in the Republican party, he could make things interesting.

05. Cole, Tom (R - Oklahoma City) United States Representative
Oklahoma’s powerbroker in the House recently lost clout by dropping out of reelection consideration for House Republican campaign chairman. Consolation prize: a seat on the prized Appropriations committee. Expect Cole to throw his hat in the ring if Fallin for some reason decides not to run.

T3. Askins, Jari (D - Duncan) Lieutenant Governor
Incredibly well liked in the business community, Askins should be interesting to watch how she dukes it out for campaign cash and other resources with Edmondson.

T3. Cornett, Mick (R - Oklahoma City) Mayor of Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City’s mayor can claim credit for the Thunder and for a recession proof city. Cornett may have some problems running statewide with rural voters and Tulsans. Cornett has a big enough ego believing he can take on Fallin in the primary.

02. Fallin, Mary (R - Oklahoma City) United States Representative
The former Lieutenant Governor turned congresswoman is the likely pick for the Republican nod.  Word in Republican circles is that she is already picking staff for the run.

01. Edmondson, Drew (D - Oklahoma City) State Attorney General (2)
The A-G has made his intentions clear of running for Governor.   He even has bumper stickers.  It will be interesting to see how many voters know who he is.  Expect Republican attacks on his prosecution of Paul Jacobs, his expressed reluctance of defending HB 1804 and one can’t forget the poultry farms.

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When faced with difficult decisions, the Oklahoma legislature will punt with a “standstill” budget.

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