U.S. Rep. Allen West says a planned sale of Abrams tanks to Egypt could play into the hands of radicals and further destabilize the region.  Sunshine State News reports that in a letter Monday to Armed Services Committee Chairman Buck McKeon, West wrote:

“It has come to my attention that the Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress on July 1, 2011 of a possible foreign military sale to the government of Egypt for 125 M1A1 Abrams tank kits for coproduction and associated weapons, equipment, parts, training and logistical support.

“One of the greatest threats to Egyptian stability, as well as to regional stability, is the growing prospect of a new Egyptian government under the leadership of the Muslim Brotherhood. If given control of the country, the Muslim Brotherhood would nominate its own candidates and turn Egypt into a radical Islamic state.

“America must continue to stand with the Egyptian people and encourage them to build their own democracy with new political parties and freedoms. However, we must exercise caution with regard to military sales and support to the Egyptian government until a government is formed absent of the radical elements of the Muslim Brotherhood that will maintain active peace with Israel,” stated West.

“As a member of the Armed Services Committee, I strongly oppose any military sales of any kind to the government of Egypt as long as the Muslim Brotherhood remains active in the political process. Doing so would seriously jeopardize the safety and security of the state of Israel. The last thing I want to see is Egyptian M1A1 tanks rolling through the Sinai toward Jerusalem.”

Click here to read original posting.

Both Oklahoma Legislative Caucuses have discussed editorial analysis published on Tulsa Today, but they misread the current dispute between Republicans in Tulsa County.  There is not just one split between fiscal and social Conservatives.  There are a myriad of factions with one common cause and this writer engaged in that debate on the future of the Republic.

The Tulsa County Republican Party may elect a Vice Chairman at a special meeting Saturday, July 16, 2011 at 9:30 AM at the Hardesty Library located at 8316 East 93rd Street, Tulsa, OK 74133.

The position is open as a result of the resignation of Molly McKay shortly after her election at the recent Tulsa County Republican Convention.  Her departure was unfortunate as she represented hope for some County unity.  The current Chairman is J.B. Alexander, who served as Vice Chairman during the last term under Sally Bell as Chairman.

Continue reading →

Analysis:  Officials at Pennsylvania’s North Penn School District have given their teachers union an ultimatum: agree to a wage freeze or prepare for layoffs of support staff and cuts to teaching positions.
 
San Diego school officials recently announced it will cancel hundreds of teacher layoffs if its union will accept a few unpaid furlough days for all teachers, and postpone a promised salary increase.
 
In some school districts, teachers are beginning to get the message: union concessions will save teaching positions that students depend on.

At New Britain schools in Connecticut, for instance, the local teachers union recently voted to accept concessions in the form of furlough days and a salary freeze to save 15 teaching positions.
 
The direct correlation between concessions from school employee unions and teacher layoffs is becoming increasingly evident as more school officials eye expensive labor costs to balance their budgets.  The public, including members of the teachers unions, are beginning to see the bigger picture, and are no longer accepting the union notion that higher taxes are the answer.
 
Sarah Mathy, a sixth year teacher in San Diego, illustrated the problem well in a letter to her union’s leadership.
 
“In March I was asking you to negotiate with (the district) so that many of the layoffs could be avoided. I called for things such as extra furlough days and opening the health benefits package negotiation,” Mathy wrote. “But so far, all I have received are layoff notices #1 and #2 from (the district), and emails from (the union) calling me to more action and more rallies.
 
“This is not what I want,” she wrote.
 
It’s not what students, parents or taxpayers want either. For decades the nation’s largest teachers unions – the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers – have shrugged as countless educators are dismissed each year. The unions have seemed more interested in preserving expensive perks for older educators who are not threatened by layoff than the positions of younger teachers.
 
The union’s seniority system has forced districts across the country to lay off dynamic young teachers en masse, with no regard for teaching ability or student success.
 
That practice is slowly fading away with recent legislation enacted in Idaho, Indiana and other states that does away with the “last in, first out” union layoff policy in favor of a more performance-based system.
 
Until more states adopt similar measures, district officials must continue to put the discussion in the proper context, one that clearly exposes the link between concessions and layoffs. As recent media reports have shown, the simple equation will undoubtedly increase public pressure on union leaders to put the interests of students ahead of their own.
 
“Stubborn union leaders have forced districts across the country to lay off bright young teachers in exchange for preserving union perks that have nothing to do with educating students. We suspect that district officials who properly illustrate that point will receive strong support from local residents,” said Kyle Olson, founder and CEO of EAG.
 
“The teachers unions, meanwhile, should accept the fact that labor concessions are now essential in most school districts to prevent layoffs. Union leaders would be wise to acknowledge that reality and help districts survive the current financial crisis in order to avoid the growing public resentment that is fueling collective bargaining reforms across the country,” he said.
 

Opinion: So you get it.  America is in trouble.  What can you do?  As Gandhi suggested, “be the change you wish to see in the world” and, more specifically, I suggest you use the First Amendment with pride and humor.

When someone asks, “Will that be all?”  My favorite answer has become; “This, that and a free country of good character!”

Usually, the response is a smile, but sometimes a conversation breaks out.  Regardless, the daily routine is enhanced with a thought or two about what kind of people we have become.  Maybe a bystander will think about the bigger picture.  Maybe the clerk will talk with their spouse later about this "odd" patriot that said something during their shift.  The point is to impact popular culture on an individual basis in your community.

Consider it a Chinese Water Torture for freedom and individual responsibility – drip, drip, drip; a word or two one-on-one to stand for good character and freedom.  It could renew our country. 

I understand this approach may not be for everyone.  Not all are comfortable potentially irritating strangers, but I have never seen a reason for life to be less than entertaining.  Truth be told, I have amused myself and others in pubic over the years by suggesting I would "also" like; a non-psychotic relationship, a large sail boat, less pot holes in the street or whatever the issue of the day.

Examples of other one line additions to your shopping list could include:
      A President with a clue
     
An honest Congress
     
Media with historic and economic understanding
     
Lower taxes and less government spending
     
A Weiner-free Congress and a Sheen-free media
     
George Washington for President
     
A smaller government out of my business

You get the point and in conversation I find most agree.  You may be pleasantly pleased with such encounters and more hopeful, overall, for the nation.

Sometimes you find resistance, but Marxists, Socialists and other types of ignorance can be found anywhere.  Should some in anger answer, “It IS a free country” a simple shrug of the shoulders with an “I’m just saying” reply works well to disengage.  You can’t fix stupid, but ignorance has a cure when facts arrive.

If time and opportunity presents itself, detailed responses from your own study of history and current events can be helpful such as:
     It’s not freedom when you are taxed into poverty
     It’s not freedom when a minnow stops regional farming in California
     It’s not freedom when a lizard stops oil exploration in Texas
     It’s not representative government when the representatives don’t read the bills
     It’s not a fee country if elected officials don’t abide by the Constitution or established law

I admit the common tendency to avoid confrontation is not a dominate character trait of mine.   Maybe that is why my year as a radio talk show host worked so well.  The basis of those conversations and writing here are public policy positions developed over decades of reporting and years of reading with due consideration.  My current list of the best history and public policy works are included in the story, Radio Review (click here for a review of the show and list of source material).

Of course, when general conversation provides opportunity, don’t forget sarcasm:

“How’s it going?”

“Surprising – I never thought I’d live in a Marxist nation.”

So ladies and gentlemen, engage your wit and have some fun.  After all, the First Amendment is specific in protecting free speech and the courts have ruled that the most protected of all speech is that on public policy and criticism of the government.  It could be great fun and you could make new friends while agitating the ignorant.  

That’s a good day for America in my book and if enough people start talking, we can make a difference – one patriot at a time and have some fun with it all.

Editorial:  It is with regret that Oklahomans bid farewell to U.S. Rep. Dan Boren (D-OK 2 Dist.) who announced Tuesday that he would not run again.  For all that Conservatives may have disagreed with his votes, those who followed his career believe him an honorable and truthful man.  I have suggested on radio and online that he was the best hope for a re-born Democrat Party – a potential new alignment for them that could, as a dramatic change, honor and follow the Constitution of the United States.

On the other hand; Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY 9 Dist.) shows the current state of the national Democrat Party as he aggressively, condescendingly, passionately and with specificity lied in public media interviews about his sexting and then said he would not resign his government position.  Doesn’t it remind you Charlie Rangel and Bill Clinton?  

Dan Boren and Anthony Weiner are both recently married.  Boren honors his wife and family at a high level by resigning from Congress to spend more time with his young children.  Weiner sows dishonors beyond the pale with a party dog routine that gives bachelors a bad name.  It does beg the question of why Weiner would marry if he is so committed to soliciting additional women.  Did Weiner marry for money or power or both?  Did Weiner vow to “honor” his wife before any God above his own ego?

Now please understand that I don’t care what Weiner does in his personal life and he is not that big a Weiner to most Americans.  He could be madly in love with greased chickens for all I care, but his actions lay bare a propensity for power over truth and honor.  Thus, it doesn’t matter what he says now because the public knows that if his mouth is moving then that sorry-son-of-a-sea-sick-sea-serpent is lying.  There is no common ground for communication with pathological liars.  

In an official unsigned editorial of the Tulsa World titled, “Weiner another victim of hubris” published today, the daily rag again shows truth is also not their primary focus.  As they list Weiner’s many now public sins and note “his denials simply did not ring true” even before he admitted them as bold face lies; they do not call for his resignation.

So according to the Tulsa World, lying to the public deliberately with certitude and passion and insult for all who might question the veracity of such statements is fine for public officials.  As I have wondered many times in the past, what idiot writes the unsigned editorials for the Tulsa World and will they ever find a way to honor truth over power in their own house? 

Apparently, not this day.

It is the position of Tulsa Today that Rep. Weiner or any other political figure that proves to be a public liar should resign public position.  Republicans, Independents, Libertarians, or Democrats it matters not – on your honor, tell the truth to the public you serve or get the hell out of public leadership.  America has suffered too many whores-to-their-own-ambition and all you Jacks should get off the governmental gravy train and take the media whores with you.

Editorial Question:  Should a public official once proven a public liar resign their elected position?  Tulsa Today has made this our poll question for a time.  Your vote is welcome without any requirement to register on this site.  You are also welcome to join the debate free of charge and comment on this editorial – dissenting opinions are welcome.