No Bush Left Behind
The President's brother Neil is making hay from school reform

Across the country, some teachers complain that President George W. Bush's makeover of public education promotes "teaching to the test." The President's younger brother Neil takes a different tack: He's selling to the test. The No Child Left Behind Act compels schools to prove students' mastery of certain facts by means of standardized exams. Pressure to perform has energized the $1.9 billion-a-year instructional software industry.

Now, after five years of development and backing by investors like Saudi Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal and onetime junk-bond king Michael R. Milken, Neil Bush aims to roll his high-tech teacher's helpers into classrooms nationwide. He calls them "curriculum on wheels," or COWs. The $3,800 purple plug-and-play computer/projectors display lively videos and cartoons: the XYZ Affair of the late 1790s as operetta, the 1828 Tariff of Abominations as horror flick. The device plays songs that are supposed to aid the memorization of the 22 rivers of Texas or other facts that might crop up in state tests of "essential knowledge."

Bush's Ignite! Inc. has sold 1,700 COWs since 2005, mainly in Texas, where Bush lives and his brother was once governor. In August, Houston's school board authorized expenditures of up to $200,000 for COWs. The company expects 2006 revenue of $5 million. Says Bush about the impact of his name: "I'm not saying it hasn't opened any doors. It may have helped with some sales." (In September, the U.S. Education Dept.'s inspector general accused the agency of improperly favoring at least five publishers, including The McGraw-Hill Companies, which owns BusinessWeek. A company spokesman says: "Our reading programs have been successful in advancing student achievement for decades; that's why educators hold them in such high regard.")

The stars haven't always aligned for Bush, but at times financial support has. A foundation linked to the controversial Reverend Sun Myung Moon has donated $1 million for a COWs research project in Washington (D.C.)-area schools. In 2004 a Shanghai chip company agreed to give Bush stock then valued at $2 million for showing up at board meetings. (Bush says he received one-fifth of the shares.) In 1988 a Colorado savings and loan failed while he served on its board, making him a prominent symbol of the S&L scandal. Neil calls himself "the most politically damaged of the [Bush] brothers."

While hardly the first brother to embarrass a President -- remember Billy Carter's Billy Beer or Roger Clinton's cocaine? -- Neil could be the first to seek profit from a hallmark Presidential crusade. And also that of a governor: Jeb makes school standards a centerpiece in Florida, too.

Neil says he never talks shop with his brothers. He attributes his interest in education to his struggles with dyslexia. His son, Pierce, also had difficulties in school, he says. "Not one of our investors has ever asked for any kind of special access -- a visa, a trip to the Lincoln Bedroom, an autographed picture, or anything."

Cody Graves is a dedicated to cleaning up the Corporation Commission

We elected Cody to fix it before and now we need to send him back. It is time for responsibility and accountability from our public officials. Cody will make sure the workings of the Commission are transparent and work for the middle class families of Oklahoma.

His opponent, Bob Anthony, approved a six-figure payment in a utility rate case settlement that include payments to a former aide who worked as a consultant in the case after working on the matter while he was still employed by the commission, e-mails and commission documents reveal. Commission documents and e-mails in the case against Oklahoma Natural Gas Company also reveal that Anthony may have conducted improper, secret negotiations with the plaintiff in the case. Bob Anthony failed to disclose the improper communication with the plaintiff in this case, he knowingly voted to approve a settlement that included paying his one-time aide for work he performed as a state employee.

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Is Everyone Sick of Republicans?

It seems so! Yesterday, while having lunch with my mom, she started talking to me about one of my family members - one of the staunchest Republicans in my entire family. She said that even HE is so fed up with the failed leadership of the Republican Party that he told her he was voting a STRAIGHT DEMOCRATIC TICKET on November 7. I couldn't believe it!

If this is happening to their true-believers here in Oklahoma, then we are going to have a huge Democratic Victory on Election Day. I can't wait!

Only 14 Days Left - We Really Are In The Home Stretch



Thank you to everyone who attended our very successful event - Off To The Races - The Home Stretch - at Remington Park on Friday! We have two weeks to bring home victory for Democrats across our state, and on November 7, all of your hard work will be worth it.

THE WORST CONGRESS EVER

Read in the Rolling Stone about "how our national legislature has become a stable of thieves and perverts -- in five easy steps."

Matt Taibbi writes, "There is very little that sums up the record of the U.S. Congress in the Bush years better than a half-mad boy-addict put in charge of a federal commission on child exploitation. After all, if a hairy-necked, raincoat-clad freak like Rep. Mark Foley can get himself named co-chairman of the House Caucus on Missing and Exploited Children, one can only wonder: What the hell else is going on in the corridors of Capitol Hill these days?"

You can help change things on November 7 - VOTE DEMOCRATIC!

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MUST READ:
REPUBLICANS SPEND TO SAVE STRONGHOLDS FROM IDAHO TO MINNESOTA

Reports show that Republicans have been reallocating money to what are normally "safe" districts as the number of competitive Congressional races increase. This news reinforces that voters across the country are rejecting Republicans' failed leadership and want Democrats to provide new direction for America.

Read the entire article here.

Republican Corruption...
From Jack Abramoff to Karl Rove to the RNC

"I DON'T RECALL": MEHLMAN'S ABRAMOFF DEFENSE

On CNN, RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman gave evasive explanations on whether, while he served as Political Director in the Bush White House, he helped the clients of convicted former GOP superlobbyist Jack Abramoff by having a State Department employee fired. Three times during his interview, Mehlman said I dont recall." [CNN, 10/15/06] The fact is Mehlman met with Abramoff on at least six occasions, and he may have delivered for his clients at least three times.

“I Don’t Recall”: Mehlman’s Abramoff Defense
Outstanding Questions For Ken Mehlman

On CNN, Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman gave evasive explanations of whether, while he served as Political Director in the Bush White House, he helped the clients of convicted former GOP superlobbyist Jack Abramoff by having a State Department employee fired. Three times during his interview, Mehlman said “I don’t recall." [CNN, 10/15/06] Despite Mehlman’s statement yesterday on CNN that he “let the decision makers make the decisions” on issues important to Abramoff's clients while he was White House Political Director, hundreds of pages of recently released emails tell a different story. In fact, Mehlman worked so closely with Abramoff that other White House staff asked Abramoff to “contact Ken only” when he needed assistance.

The fact is Mehlman met with Abramoff on at least six occasions, and he may have delivered for his clients at least three times. Abramoff and his associates claimed that Mehlman got a State Department employee that Abramoff didn't like fired; Mehlman allegedly “took care” of getting $16 million released for one of Abramoff’s tribal clients; and there are questions about whether Mehlman got the White House to weigh in on behalf of Abramoff’s chosen candidates in an upcoming election in Guam.

Outstanding Questions For Ken Mehlman

1) What exactly did you do on behalf of Abramoff’s clients while you were one of President Bush’s top political strategists?
2) What meetings did you set up for Abramoff’s clients?
3) What, if anything, did you receive in return from Abramoff for your assistance?
4) Did you authorize or know about the leaking of top secret information relevant to Guam to Jack Abramoff?
5) Did you free up millions for a jail for Abramoff’s clients in return for RNC campaign cash?

Commonwealth Of The Northern Marianas Islands
Abramoff’s CNMI Lobbying Team Had “Extensive Access” to Bush Administration Officials. According to his lobbying firm’s billing records, Jack Abramoff and his Marianas Islands lobbying team had almost 200 contacts with Bush Administration officials. The records include meetings with Cheney policy advisers Ron Christie and Stephen Ruhlen, Attorney General Ashcroft at the Justice Department, White House intergovernmental affairs chief Ruben Barrales, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick, Deputy Interior Secretary Steven Griles and others. While records show that many of the meetings were handled by Abramoff’s lieutenants, Abramoff personally with Top Interior Department officials, “whose Office of Insular Affairs oversees the Mariana Islands and other U.S. territories.” [AP, 5/6/05]

Abramoff Had At Least Six Direct Contacts With Ken Mehlman.
“The lobbying of Mehlman…includes a dinner…at Signatures Restaurant, a discussion between Abramoff and Mehlman regarding political appointments at a White House reception, and a meeting with Tony Rudy regarding efforts to secure Federal funds for the Mississippi Band of the Choctaw Indians, an Abramoff client.” There is a possibility that Mehlman also attended a U2 concert in Abramoff’s suite at the MCI Center. [House Government Reform Committee, 9/29/06; Los Angeles Times, 10/15/06]

• Mehlman Delivers: Mehlman, Abramoff, and CNMI. Former State Department Official Allen Stayman, was a particular target of Abramoff’s because of his work advocating labor changes in the CNMI. Abramoff worked for months to get Stayman replaced. “State Department officials resisted the dismissal, and negotiations dragged on for months. In May 2001, one of Mehlman's deputies assured Abramoff's team that, ‘Obviously, this guy cannot stay’…That July 9, Ralston e-mailed Abramoff with news of a deal on Stayman: ‘He'll be out in four months.’” [Report by the House Government Reform Committee and Emails Released, 9/29/06; Los Angeles Times, 10/15/06]

Mehlman: I Don’t Recall. On CNN this weekend, Mehlman was asked about an article in the Los Angeles Times which asserted that he helped get a State Department official fired, at the request of convicted former Republican Lobbyist Jack Abramoff. The official, Allan Steyman, was working on issues relating to one of Jack Abramoff’s clients, the Northern Marianas Islands. On three different occasions, Abramoff said could not remember the affair: “… I also don't recall the specifics of this matter involving Mr. Stayman. But as a matter of course, and certainly the first term, I had, frequently, people come to see me with political issues they wanted talked about. … I don't recall that specific matter that he came to me for, but I had a way of dealing with all these matters, which is to let the policy-makers or the personnel deciders know exactly what people said. And they made the decisions. What's interesting about this, though, Wolf,
while I don't recall it specifically …” [CNN, Late Edition, 10/15/06, emphasis added]

The Mississippi Choctaws
Norquist and Abramoff Arranged For Pay-To-Play Meetings For Bush And The Choctaw.

"An arrangement involving two Indian tribes, the head of an anti-tax organization and a lobbyist now under criminal investigation - plus $50,000 - secured Indian leaders a private audience with President Bush. … At the behest of Abramoff, two Indian tribes - the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana and Mississippi Band of Choctaw - paid $25,000 each to Norquist’s group to underwrite a 2001 event that included a private meeting with Bush. Two other entities, which the group declined to identify, also helped underwrite the event.” [AP, 6/8/05]

• After $15,000 Contribution To The RNC, Mehlman Delivers.
Abramoff was working to free up $16.3 million for a jail that his Choctaw Indian clients were planning to build in Mississippi. After meeting with Mehlman about the Choctaw request for Federal funds, Rudy wrote Abramoff: “Mehlman said he would ‘take care of this.’ He was a rock star.” Shortly after that meeting, Rudy recommended a $15,000 contribution to the Republican National Committee. “Let's give the check to Ken Mehlman at the White House,” Rudy said. Two weeks after the RNC received their donation, a staff member for Representative Chip Pickering, a Mississippi Republican whose district includes the Choctaws, e-mailed Rudy to say that she had discussed the issue with Mehlman and that they had “promised to work with us on it.” DOJ eventually released the funding for the jail. [Report by the House Government Reform Committee, 9/29/06; Time, Sunday 10/23/05; Los Angeles Times, 10/15/06]

Guam

Abramoff Lobbied for Guam. Abramoff received about $400,000 for his work lobbying against a “judicial bill” in Guam and asked Tony Rudy, Rep. Tom DeLay's deputy chief of staff, to see if he could garner any assistance in helping the 1998 gubernatorial candidacy of former Gov. Joseph Ada and then Sen. Felix Camacho in an effort to land a larger lobbying contract. [Pacific Daily News, 4/3/06]

• Mehlman Delivers: Mehlman, Abramoff, and Guam. “On October 9, 2002, Abramoff e-mailed Mehlman to seek an endorsement from President Bush for Republican candidates running in Guam. Within two weeks, Susan Ralston emailed Abramoff with a message from Mehlman: “Ken asked me to let you know that he has the quote to be approved for your Guam candidates.” [Report by the House Government Reform Committee and Emails Released, 9/29/06; Los Angeles Times, 10/15/06]

DOJ Suspicious of Abramoff and Mehlman; Abramoff Was Provided with Top
Secret FBI Report on Homeland Security and Guam. The lobbying of Mehlman by Abramoff and his colleagues has also been examined by the Inspector General at the Department of Justice. According to the IG, an official in the White House Office of Political Affairs, Leonard Rodriguez, “kept Abramoff aware of information relevant to Guam…at the behest of Ken Mehlman, the White House political director, who ‘recommended or suggested that I reach out to make Jack aware’ of issues related to Guam.’” The Inspector General’s concerns were sparked by the fact that Abramoff was given access to a top-secret FBI report on security concerns in the Pacific, including the possibility of attacks on Guam and the Northern Marianas. It is currently unclear who leaked the document to Abramoff and whether it was provided to him at Mehlman’s direction. [Report by the House Government Reform Committee and Emails Released, 9/29/06; Salon 7/6/06]

FROM BAD TO WORSE: VIOLENCE IN IRAQ RAGES ON

USA Today reported, “The news from Iraq is going from bad to worse…Violence among rival religious sects is eclipsing the insurgency and pushing Iraq toward all-out civil war.” [USA Today, 10/19/06]

Top UN Humanitarian Official Says Violence In Iraq is “Totally Out of Control.” “The violence inside Iraq has ‘spiralled totally out of control,’ the United Nations' top humanitarian official said today as he appealed to the country's religious, ethnic and other community leaders to do much more to try to stop the killings and massive displacement of people. At least 315,000 people have fled their homes in the past seven or eight months, driven by military operations or sectarian violence that has escalated since a key Shiite shrine in Samarra was bombed in February, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Jan Egeland told a press
briefing in Geneva.” [States News Service, 10/11/06]

UN Secretary General Asserted That Iraq Could Slide Into Full-Fledged Civil War. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan asserted that Iraq is in danger of sliding into full-scale civil war. [St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Missouri), 9/28/06]

BIN LADEN BEEN MISSING
Check Out New DNC Ad

The Democratic National Committee released video recently showing the Bush Administration's willingness to use fear and smear tactics to gain political advantage in a tough election year. This ad makes the point that Osama bin Laden is still on the loose because of the record of failure of this administration to capture him. As you know, the Bush Administration closed a unit that for a decade had the mission of hunting Osama bin Laden and his top lieutenants.

Click here for the new DNC ad.

Two new polls are out tonight from Washington Post/ABC and the Cook Political Report.


* Dems Hold Largest Head-to-Head Margin in Two Decades. The ABC/WP survey gives Democrats a 54%-41% lead over Republicans, the highest level of Dem preference in this survey this close to Election Day since 1984. Dems also lead among independents (59%-31%) and men (54%-42). The Cook Political Report survey gives Dems a 57%-35% lead among most likely voters.



* By a 20-Point Margin, Dems are Much More Enthusiastic About Midterms. 69% of Dems call the 2006 midterms more important than other congressional elections in their lifetime, versus just 49% of Republicans. (ABC/WP)



* Dems' Early Voter Contact Effort Is Paying Off. As many registered voters say, they've been contacted on behalf of a Democratic candidate as often as on behalf of a Republican candidate (about two in 10 in both cases). And the Democratic calls seems better targeted: People who've been solicited on behalf of a Democratic candidate favor the Democrat in their district by a 45-point margin; people who've been contacted on behalf of a Republican prefer the Republican by a narrower 19 points. (ABC/WP)



* Dems Lead On Every Issue. The ABC/Post poll has Dems leading on every issue, including terror (+1), Iraq (+8), North Korea (+7), ethics (+13) and the economy (+9). Almost two-thirds of independents disapprove of Iraq, including a quarter of Republicans. Of the nearly 60% of registered voters who oppose the war in Iraq, more than three quarters say they favor Democrats for Congress. (ABC/WP)



* Bush's Numbers Sink Again. Bush approval ratings fell another five points this month to 37%, his second-lowest approval rating ever in the ABC/Post poll. Even worse: Nearly twice as many registered voters say they'll cast their ballot as a way to show opposition to the president (31 percent) as to support him (17 percent). (ABC/WP)



Full Cook Political Report/RT Strategies Results

Might Support Republicans on November 7?

First See What The Republican Failure of Leadership
Has Done To The Real Terrorists:

Taliban Resurgence In Afghanistan
Violence On The Rise Over The Past Year In Afghanistan. "Hewing closely to a strategy used by Iraqi insurgents, Taliban militants are increasingly targeting top government officials in Afghanistan, which has seen a spike in assassinations and attempted killings the last six weeks. ... Violence has spiked alarmingly in Afghanistan this year, and insurgents have adopted tactics used in Iraq , such as roadside bombings and suicide attacks." [AP, 10/19/06]

NATO Commander: US Didn't Follow Through In Afghanistan. "The U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan failed to follow through as it should have after ousting the Taliban government in 2001, setting the stage for this year's deadly resurgence, the NATO commander in the country said Tuesday. The mistake consisted of adopting 'a peacetime approach' too early, British Gen. David Richards told Pentagon reporters. He said the international community has six months to correct the problem before losing Afghan support, reiterating a warning he issued last week. 'The Taliban were defeated. And it looked all pretty hunky-dory,' Richard said of the environment at the end of 2001. 'We thought it was all done and didn't treat it as aggressively as, with the benefit of hindsight, we should have done.'" [AP, 10/17/06]

Our Troops Aren't Equipped
Pentagon Study Found That 80 Percent Of Marines Killed By Wounds To Upper
Body Could Have Been Saved If They Had the Right Kind of Armor. A Pentagon
study has found that as many as 80 percent of the marines who have been killed in Iraq from wounds to the upper body could have survived if they had had extra body armor. Such armor has been available since 2003, but until recently the Pentagon has largely declined to supply it to troops despite calls from the field for additional protection, according to military officials. [New York Times, 1/7/06]

Americans Still Aren’t Safe At Home
Under Bush Republican Leadership, the 9/11 Commission Recommendations
Have Not Been Properly Implemented. The 9/11 Commission gave the Bush
Administration 5 F’s and 12 D’s on the implementation of the Commission’s recommendations for homeland security. [Final Report on 9/11 Commission Recommendations, 12/05]

FIRST RESPONDERS: Emergency Preparedness Still Inadequate. The President’s
budget for 2007 proposed to cut $612 million from first responder grants and training programs. The budget cuts funding levels for programs designed to assist state and local law enforcement agencies by more than $1 billion compared to FY 2006, the Firefighters Grant Program was cut by 50 percent, and the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium, which trains first responders, was cut by 66 percent. In addition, the President’s 2007 budget requested no funding to enhance interoperable communications. [“The State of Homeland Security, 2006” prepared by the Democratic Staff of the Committee on Homeland Security; 2/06]

Feeling Safer Because Bush Invaded Iraq,
or Because He Ignored North Korea and Iran?
Understand What Is Really At Stake

Iraq Occupation Is Hindering The War On Terror
NIE Said Iraq Made Overall Terrorism Problem Worse. The National Intelligence Estimate “says that the Iraq war has made the overall terrorism problem worse.” [New York Times, 9/24/06]

North Korea Testing Nuclear Weapons
North Korea Now Has Nuclear Weapons. In October 2006, North Korea tested a nuclear weapon.A report by the National Security Advisory Group issued in July of 2005 states that “North Korea’s runaway nuclear program could be a direct path to nuclear terror…North Korea sells missiles and other dangerous technology worldwide, with no apparent limits or compunction…[the country’s] leaders and elite engage in smuggling, counterfeiting, and other illicit activities. These same people might traffic in nuclear materials the way A.Q. Khan trafficked in Pakistan’s nuclear technology.” [Washington Post, 10/19/06; Worst Weapons in Worst Hands, The National Security Advisory Group, July 2005]

Iran And Nuclear Weapons
Iran Pursuing Nuclear Arms Program. Iran hid its nuclear program for more than a
dozen years from the International Atomic Energy Agency, the nuclear monitoring arm of the United Nations, and now the United States and Europe contend that Iran is pursuing an arms program. In January of 2006, Iran restarted its effort to make atomic fuel after negotiations with Britain, France and Germany over the fate of its atomic program broke down. [New York Times, 4/28/06; New York Times, 8/7/06]

NIE: Iraq War Spread Jihad Ideology. An opening section of the report, “Indicators of the Spread of the Global Jihadist Movement,” cites the Iraq war as a reason for the diffusion of jihad ideology. The classified National Intelligence Estimate attributes a more direct role to the Iraq war in fueling radicalism than that presented either in recent White House documents or in a report released Wednesday by the House Intelligence Committee, according to several officials in Washington involved in preparing the assessment or who have read the final document. [New York Times, 9/24/06]

North Korea Testing Nuclear Weapons
North Korea Now Has Nuclear Weapons. In October 2006, North Korea tested a nuclear weapon. A report by the National Security Advisory Group issued in July of 2005 states that “North Korea’s runaway nuclear program could be a direct path to nuclear terror…North Korea sells missiles and other dangerous technology worldwide, with no apparent limits or compunction…[the country’s] leaders and elite engage in smuggling, counterfeiting, and other illicit activities. These same people might traffic in nuclear materials the way A.Q. Khan trafficked in Pakistan’s nuclear technology.” [Washington Post, 10/19/06; Worst Weapons in Worst Hands, The National Security Advisory Group, July 2005]

Experts Say Bush Administration Strategy Has Claimed Credit For Diplomatic
Process But Failed to Take Any Responsibility for a Lack of Results. A report by the National Security Advisory Group issued in July of 2005 states that “Since 9/11, in the face of North Korea’s runaway nuclear program, U.S. policymakers: did nothing as North Korea crossed redline after redline; claimed credit for diplomatic process (the Six-Party Talks) but have taken no responsibility for total lack of results; attempted to outsource the issue to China and then blame the failure on China; [and] tried to blame the Clinton administration, the administration that actually stopped plutonium production in North Korea.” The report continues by saying that during the Clinton Administration, North Korea had no plutonium, but during the Bush Administration, North Korea has at least four to six nuclear weapons worth of plutonium. [Worst Weapons in Worst Hands, The National Security Advisory Group, July 2005]

Iran And Nuclear Weapons
Iran Pursuing Nuclear Arms Program.Iran hid its nuclear program for more than a dozen years from the International Atomic Energy Agency, the nuclear monitoring arm of the United Nations, and now the United States and Europe contend that Iran is pursuing an arms program. In January of 2006, Iran restarted its effort to make atomic fuel after negotiations with Britain, France and Germany over the fate of its atomic program broke down. [New York Times, 4/28/06; New York Times, 8/7/06]

Experts Say Bush Administration Strategy Emboldened Iranian Nuclear Program. The Bush Administration refused to negotiate with Iran for years, when the country was willing to make real concessions on its nuclear program. Just after the U.S. takeover of Baghdad in 2003, Iran proposed a dialogue with the United States. According to former senior director of the National Security Council, Flynt Leverett, the offer was “a serious effort.” The Bush Administration’s refusal to enter into talks, according to Middle East expert Trita Parsi, “strengthened the hands of those in Iran who believe that the only way to compel the United States to talk is not by sending peace offers, but by being a nuisance.” [Washington Post, 6/18/06; American Prospect, June 2006]

Don't Think Your Vote Matters?
Look At The Real Stakes

Troops Dying In Iraq
Eleven US Troops Killed. "Eleven more U.S. troops were slain in combat, the military said yesterday, putting October on track to be the deadliest month for U.S. forces since the siege of Fallujah nearly two years ago. In addition, Iraqi civilians are dying at a rate of 43 a day." [AP, 9/19/06]

Despite Bush Administration's Past Rhetoric, Coalition Death Toll Has Now Topped 3,000. "Early in the Iraq conflict, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld dismissed insurgents as 'dead-enders.' In 2004, President Bush said the battle against these fighters was 'turning a corner.' In 2005, he described a 'turning point,' and Vice President Dick Cheney said the insurgency was in its 'last throes.' Now, those descriptions lie buried beneath thousands of bodies -- U.S. troops, Iraqi police, and everyday citizens tortured and killed simply because of their religious sect. The U.S. death toll is well above 2,700, and the coalition death toll just passed 3,000. Last month 776 U.S. troops were wounded -- the highest number in nearly two years. There is no sign the insurgency is waning, and no evidence to suggest it will any time soon." [www.cnn.com, 10/17/06]

THE REAL STAKES: RNC AD SHOWS DESPERATE GOP

Democrats across the nation have denounced the Republican National Committee's latest fear and smear attack ad, as a desperate ploy to once again try to scare voters and distract from Republican failures on everything from the economy to the war in Iraq, their inability to handle a natural disaster, to the war on terror.

Instead of offering voters any kind of positive vision for America, the RNC released a shameful ad invoking the image of despicable terrorists to scare the American people.

THESE ARE THE REAL STAKES:

Osama bin Laden On The Loose
Bush Let Bin Laden Escape At Tora Bora. "The Bush administration has concluded that Osama bin Laden was present during the battle for Tora Bora late last year and that failure to commit U.S. ground troops to hunt him was its gravest error in the war against al Qaeda, according to civilian and military officials with first-hand knowledge. ... Afteraction reviews, conducted privately inside and outside the military chain of command, describe the episode as a significant defeat for the United States." [Washington Post, 4/17/02]

Bush Pulled Out Special Operations Troops Hunting For Bin Laden To Prepare for Iraq War. In March 2002, “Bush decided to pull out most of the special operations troops and their CIA counterparts in the paramilitary division that were leading the hunt for bin Laden in Afghanistan to prepare for war in Iraq, said Flynt L. Leverett, then an expert on the Middle East at the National Security Council.” [Washington Post, 9/10/06]

Bush Administration Closed CIA Unit Focused On Capture of bin Laden. The Central Intelligence Agency closed a unit that for a decade had the mission of hunting Osama bin Laden and his top lieutenants. The unit, known as Alec Station, was disbanded in late 2005 and its analysts were reassigned. Michael Scheuer, a former senior CIA official who was the first head of the unit, said the move reflected a mistaken view within the agency that bin Laden was no longer the threat he once was. “This will clearly denigrate our operations against Al Qaeda,” he said. “These days at the agency, bin Laden and Al Qaeda appear to be treated merely as first among equals.” [New York Times, 7/4/06]

Cargill Says Self Motivation is Key to Improved Health

Lance Cargill, R-Harrah, says that the way to improve the overall health of Oklahomans is "self- motivation with regard to physical activity" in other words, "just jog y'all." Not surprising that he would ignore more traditional and proven strategies to address this issue like research, preventive care and expanded physical and nutrition education in public schools. He somehow confuses his own personal access to and use of walking trails in Harrah with availability of childhood immunizations and access to affordable health care. But that's his Republican way, "me, myself and I" and "I got mine you get yours" which is almost as bad as believing Mary Fallin's line that a lot of those 46 million uninsured Americans choose not to have health insurance.

For more on Cargill and his Democratic challenger Abe Warren check out "On the Ballot 2006" published by the Citizens Policy Center. While you're at it, read about Cargill's involvement in the Hiett Pay to Play scandal exposed by the Oklahoma Gazette earlier this year. And for really good reading, review his ethics reports. (You'll have to type in his name.) Why would someone whose opponent has spent less than $1,000 spend close to $300,000? What's really going on here?

Voting for Brad Henry?
Yes or No?

We know that Jari Askins is voting for Brad Henry on November 7th. On today's Flashpoint program Askins asked Todd Hiett if he was voting for Henry. He refused to answer, even though his latest campaign ad touts the Henry-Hiett Budget Plan. Truth is, Hiett's a Republican of the worst, most partisan kind and he was the reason we didn't get a budget approved in regular session. So, Mr. Hiett, answer Jari Askins' question: Are you voting for Brad Henry on November 7th? Yes or No?

Hiett's Heist

On Flashpoint this morning Jimmy Todd Hiett attempted, once again, to take credit for the effective, smart work of Democrats. He and the other GOP leaders apparently cannot help themselves from helping themselves to the good work done by others.

I warned about his penchant for political thievery last year. Read our press release from June 28, 2005:

For Immediate Release
June 28, 2005

Contact: Lisa Pryor, Chair
Oklahoma Democratic Party
405.427.3366


Oklahoma Democratic Party Calls for Speaker Hiett to Stop the Deception, Play Fair with Others

OKLAHOMA CITY – To hear Republicans tell it, just about the only positive things to come out of the 2005 legislative session were Republican ideas. Nothing could be further from the truth.

To be fair, Republicans did push various initiatives that became law, but they always have. And to be truthful, it was Democrats (who still control the majority in the Senate and hold the Governor’s mansion) that wrote and guided to passage most of the legislation that Democratic Governor Brad Henry signed into law. Democratic ideas and bi-partisan compromises were prevalent throughout the 2005 legislative session, but you wouldn’t know it if you listened to the Republican noise machine.

The reality is, Democrats were responsible for much of the best legislation to come out of the Legislature in 2005, while Republicans were busy trying to take the credit. For example:

Higher Education Bond Issue: Governor Henry and House and Senate Democrats proposed the $500M bond issue to improve facilities in Oklahoma colleges and universities from the earliest days of the 2005 legislative session, while Republicans had NO plan for improving higher education. Several weeks into the session, Speaker Hiett cut $25M from the Democratic plan, added a backup revenue source and called the finished product “his” plan.

Medicaid Funding: Democrats proposed a plan to fully fund Medicaid and leverage federal dollars to provide $300 M for healthcare for Oklahoma’s neediest citizens, including children. The plan was supported by the state’s major metropolitan newspapers, hospitals, doctors and various healthcare groups. Speaker Hiett and the Republicans had NO proposal and opposed the Democratic plan. However, after constant pressure from Democrats and the public in the waning days of the session, with two days left before Sine Die adjournment, the Speaker miraculously produced “his” plan to “create sweeping reforms of Oklahoma’s broken Medicaid system.” Interestingly, “the Speaker’s plan” produced the same results in Medicaid funding as the Democratic plan he had previously opposed.

Tax Relief: Pledging to bring tax relief to working Oklahomans, Governor Brad Henry and Democratic leaders in the Senate and House announced a comprehensive plan for tax cuts (HOPE plan) and funding the EDGE research endowment at the beginning of the 2005 session. Again, Speaker Hiett refused to get on board until he forced some of his ideas into the bills. Then, in an editorial commentary published on May 16, he boasted, “This year, the new Republican majority in the State House of Representatives has passed pro-growth, pro-family legislation at a clip not seen before in our state’s history.” Trouble is, the two key measures in the Legislature’s $150 M tax reduction package (SB 435 and HB 1547) were authored in the Senate by Democrat Jay Paul Gumm. And, the bills passed with overwhelming bi-partisan support. One other thing. The Speaker’s hyperbolic habit of exaggeration and carelessness with the facts again got the better of him when he praised the bi-partisan agreement achieved on tax cuts. Said the Speaker, “It’s only right to give relief to Oklahoma taxpayers in year of a billion dollar surplus in state coffers.” In reality, the surplus for the year was only about $463.8 M, so the Speaker was only off-base by about $536 M. Makes one wonder how many other times he’s played fast and loose with the truth.

Pro-Life Legislation: On May 12, 2005, the day the House passed HB 1686 by a vote of 95-3, Speaker Hiett and his Republican colleagues held a press conference to congratulate themselves for enacting “pro-life” legislation. No Democrats were invited to attend. A press release distributed through the House Media Division stated “numerous members of the House Republican caucus are listed as authors.” Speaker Hiett exclaimed, “This is one of the most significant accomplishments for the new Republican majority in the House.” Two days before, Republican Representative Lance Cargill had announced, “In the very first session that Republicans have control of one chamber of the Legislature, we will enact meaningful legislation to protect the unborn, pregnant women, and their families. If anything, Democrats should apologize for their membership in a political party that has boldly supported abortion policies that have hurt so many women, not to mention so many innocent, unborn children.” The trouble with these wildly misleading statements is that the “pro-life” legislation they referred to was actually authored not by Republicans, but by Democratic Senator Daisy Lawler and Democratic Representative Rebecca Hamilton. Said Rep. Hamilton, “There was a genuine bi-partisan effort to pass pro-life legislation in the Senate. Unfortunately, the Republican House leadership refused bi-partisan cooperation. They did not want to allow the bill to come to a vote because it had a Democratic author. They (House Republicans) refused to do so until pro-life Democrats held a press conference publicly exposing what they were doing. The bill was placed on the agenda for a vote a couple of hours after that.” In fact, prior to sending HB 1686 to the floor for a vote, Speaker Hiett tried to strong-arm Representative Hamilton into taking her name off the bill. Representative Hamilton would not give in to the pressure and stood firm in the face of the Speaker’s pressure. Then, after the bills passed, in an editorial column distributed through the House Media Division on May 31, the Speaker had the audacity to take the credit for the Democratic-authored bills: “As the new majority party in the House, Republicans have pushed through the first significant pro-life legislation in Oklahoma in over a quarter of a century…”

Sadly, these are just a few examples of Todd Hiett’s “me first” strategy. Throughout the session he obstructed Democratic legislative proposals until he could turn them into “his” plans and grab the credit. Democrats understand that governing involves the art of compromise, sharing the credit for success and taking responsibility for failure. It’s a lesson Speaker Hiett and his Republican glory-hogs would do well to learn. And it wouldn’t hurt them to learn to tell the truth.

Endorsements

Today's Oklahoman editorial page is worth reading. In addition to op-ed columns by the two party chairs you will find positive endorsements for four Democrats in statewide races: Attorney General Drew Edmondson, State Treasurer Scott Meacham, State Superintendent Sandy Garrett, and State Insurance Commissioner Kim Holland.

We think it telling that they have no preference in the Corporation Commissioner and State Auditor and Inspector races. Interesting because they refuse to endorse long time GOP commissioner Bob Anthony and former GOP party chair Gary Jones.

We of course believe that Democrat Cody Graves is the best choice for citizens on the Corporation Commission. Graves' intellect, extensive service as Corporation Commissioner and experience in areas regulated by the Commission will serve the ratepayers of Oklahoma well. Graves' reasonable, common sense approach surpasses the department store heir's record on the board.

State Auditor and Inspector Jeff McMahan has proven to be an advocate of good government who has continually performed audits to expose waste, fraud and abuse. The Tulsa World's recent endorsement was partly based on McMahan's work recognized by national groups for Accountability and Achievement in Government. McMahan deserves four more years and has earned the respect and trust of Oklahomans.

In the Labor Commissioner race Lloyd Fields should get the people's nod on November 7th. Brenda Reneau's adoption of a proven national safety in the workplace program shows little initiative or ability on her part and certainly her support of right to work for less has done nothing to improve pay, safety, labor relations, or economic development in this state. Oklahoma needs a Labor Commissioner who will be an advocate for Labor, not a shill for broken down GOP interests.

Today's Oklahoman Op Ed

For those of you who read the Oklahoman, catch today's op ed columns from the two state party chairs. I think you'll find the contrast is striking. While I wrote about what Democrats stand for and have delivered for Oklahomans, the Republican piece was based on deceit, distortion, division, and their old standby of smear and fear. GOP chair Tom Daxon repeated the same old tired rhetoric that Republicans always use disregarding the facts.

I wasn't surprised at what Daxon wrote, I've read their tall tales many times. GOP ideas don't work for America and they aren't working in Oklahoma. So they just recycle the same old buzzwords, story lines, and fear tactics (lies) they've been using for decades.

What a surprise, one of the Republicans' favorite tactics is to blame lawyers. And Daxon did it again today. I know that facts are confusing to many Republicans but note this: lawyers don't control the Oklahoma Democratic Party, Democrats do.

The name it, claim it, blame it game practiced by the GOP is not leadership.

Anyone who is paying attention can see that the progress made in Oklahoma over the last four years is due to the strong, sensible, and honest leadership of the Senate Democrats and Democratic Governor Brad Henry working with the House of Representatives. Even more could have been done for the good people of Oklahoma but for the Republican bullies in the House.

The GOP leadership is so narrowly focused on its thirst for power and far right ideology that it has failed to truly serve the citizens. They want to take credit for progress made in our state while conveniently forgetting that none of that progress would have occurred without the leadership of Democrats in the Senate and the authority of Governor Brad Henry.

I suppose the Republicans can't help themselves, it seems that there's nothing they won't lie about. Today's fiction by the GOP chair is further evidence that Republican politicians are out of touch with reality and out of the mainstream for Oklahoma.

Off To The Races: The Home Stretch!

What a great event last night at Remington Park! We had a great turnout -- elected officials, candidates and supporters.

We're down to the home stretch with just over two weeks before election day. Our candidates are putting the final touches on their get out the vote plans and we're working hard to help them. It all comes down to the 72-hour plan and that's where the Party comes in. We will be working to get our voters to the polls in anticipation of victory for all our Democrats.