That’s University of Central Oklahoma Rumor Central …
Chris Markwood, dean of the school of music, art and design at UCO, is leaving to become provost of a university in Wisconsin. Will the fabulous KW become the new UCO dean? Stay tuned.
Monthly Archives: January 2006
today's outrageous news
A little tidbit from the Washington Post about the Abramoff scandal before we get to the REAL outrage
(Speaker of the House Dennis) Hastert appears secure in the speakership, despite his own ties to Abramoff-related fundraising and other activities. Abramoff’s guilty pleas have renewed scrutiny of a letter the speaker sent to Interior Secretary Gale A. Norton in June 2003 urging her to block a casino opposed by Abramoff’s Indian tribe clients. The letter was sent just days after Abramoff’s tribal clients contributed more than $20,000 to Hastert’s political action committee at a fundraiser at Signatures, the swank restaurant the lobbyist owned at the time.
If the following story weren’t serious, it’d be hilarious. Instead it’s sad and makes me wonder how this jerk can remain on television and out of the mental hospital
Pat Robertson: Sharon’s stroke is God’s wrath
Televangelist suggests illness is divine punishment for ‘dividing God’s land’
Updated: 7:48 p.m. ET Jan. 5, 2006
NORFOLK, Va. – Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson suggested Thursday that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s stroke was divine punishment for “dividing God’s land.”“God considers this land to be his,” Robertson said on his TV program “The 700 Club.” “You read the Bible and he says ‘This is my land,’ and for any prime minister of Israel who decides he is going to carve it up and give it away, God says, ‘No, this is mine.”’
Sharon, who ordered Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza last year, suffered a severe stroke on Wednesday.
In Robertson’s broadcast from his Christian Broadcasting Network in Virginia Beach, the evangelist said he had personally prayed about a year ago with Sharon, whom he called “a very tender-hearted man and a good friend.” He said he was sad to see Sharon in this condition.
He also said, however, that in the Bible, the prophet Joel “makes it very clear that God has enmity against those who ‘divide my land.”’
Sharon “was dividing God’s land, and I would say woe unto any prime minister of Israel who takes a similar course to appease the EU (European Union), the United Nations, or the United States of America,” Robertson said.
Invokes 1995 Rabin slaying
In discussing what he said was God’s insistence that Israel not be divided, Robertson also referred to the 1995 assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who had sought to achieve peace by giving land to the Palestinians. “It was a terrible thing that happened, but nevertheless he was dead,” he said.
The Anti-Defamation League issued a statement urging Christian leaders to distance themselves from the remarks. Robertson made similar comments as the Gaza withdrawal occurred, it said.
“It is outrageous and shocking, but not surprising, that Pat Robertson once again has suggested that God will punish Israel’s leaders for any decision to give up land to the Palestinians,” said Abraham H. Foxman, national director of the group, which fights anti-Semitism. “His remarks are un-Christian and a perversion of religion. Unlike Robertson, we don’t see God as cruel and vengeful.”
Pro and con
The Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said a religious leader “should not be making callous political points while a man is struggling for his life.”
“Pat Robertson has a political agenda for the entire world, and he seems to think God is ready to take out any world leader who stands in the way of that agenda,” Lynn said in a statement.
Robertson spokeswoman Angell Watts said of critics who challenged his remarks, “What they’re basically saying is, ‘How dare Pat Robertson quote the Bible?”’
“This is what the word of God says,” Watts said. “This is nothing new to the Christian community.”
In August, Robertson suggested on “The 700 Club” that American agents should assassinate Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who has long been at odds with U.S. foreign policy. Robertson later apologized for his remarks, saying he “spoke in frustration.”
© 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed
Meanwhile, back in Oklahoma, the Abramoff scandal hits 5th Dist. U.S. Congressman Ernest Istook, who is reportedly getting ready to run against Brad Henry. I worked alongside Ernie Istook when he was covering city hall for KTOK radio and he was the dumbest guy in the press corps at that time. We used to rib him and make fun of him for not being able to understand the issues. Once, we passed out little frog clickers from T.G. & Y. (remember that store? an old time five and dime.) and clicked them every time he tried to record something for his radio report. Suffice it to say I think Istook is not the sharpest pencil in the drawer. Anyway, here’s a little something from an Oklahoma Democrat Party website I read, but mostly don’t subject others to reading.
DemoOkie Editorial:
You may recall that Istook was busted taking contributions directly from Jack Abramoff. He tried to defend it by saying Democrats took money from him too. What Iscrook fails to mention is that the Democrats did NOT take money from Abramoff but rather from tribes who are also a client of Abramoff, such as…… the CHEROKEE TRIBE of OKLAHOMA who gave over two thirds of the money. Hmmmm. The other money came from the CHOCTAWS.Wonder if he thinks we are all too stupid to realize that money donated went to the Carson Race and Carson was A MEMBER OF THE CHEROKEE TRIBE. Istook would rather say this is an Abramoff connection.
What Istook should do is offer his explanation how a “Self professed Indian Sovereignty hater” got money from Abramoff directly and from Abramoff’s clients.
Could it explain how “Anti-Gambling Advocate” Istook accidentally amended a bill which would have allowed Indian Casino’s in Oklahoma County. Istook said the amendment was a mistake and removed the amendment after it was revealed in the press. He claimed the same thing when he inserted a spying provision into the tax code. We say it needs an investigation.
OK, the vacation from blogging is over
took a little break from the blog over the holidays, but it’s the New Year and things are happening and I’m back. Sorta.
First up, the Jack Abramoff scandal. Among the first things I blogged about last fall was this scandal and I tried to give y’all a “heads up” that this story was going to be very big. while trying to make a deal with prosecutors for a lighter sentence, Abramoff bragged that he could “take down 60″ congressmen. I don’t think that’s going to happen, but I do think the GOP and especially good old Tom Delay could get tagged pretty good. I’m looking for about 6 congressmen and another dozen congressional aides, all but a couple of them Republicans, to face charges before next November’s election. Even Pres. Bush is crawfishing around and has announced he’ll give $15,000 in Abramoff money to charity just to distance himself. Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, will definitely be indicted for taking bribes and he was The Hammer’s enforcer. Also we already know Delay’s former chief of staff and deputy chief of staff are going to be indicted. How long before the former Majority Leader faces the music? Not long. Already pleading guilty has been the former chief procurement officer for the GAO, a guy named Safavian. Tens of millions of Indian tribal casino gambling money went into GOP coffers through Abramoff, who became The lobbyist on D.C.’s K Street. It even looks like Oklahoma’s Ernie Istook, rocket scientist that he is, is involved. Here’s part of today’s story about Abramoff’s guilty plea in Miami to criminal fraud in the purchase of a fleet of casino boats in the Washington Post. (BTW, did I mention that in the Miami case, three men have been indicted in the execution style murder of the owner of the casino boats who was blocking Abramoff’s purchase bid?)
By Jeffrey H. Birnbaum and Dan Balz
The biggest public corruption scandal in a generation took down one of the best-connected lobbyists in Washington yesterday. The question echoing around the capital was what other careers — and what other familiar ways of doing business — are endangered.
Jack Abramoff represented the most flamboyant and extreme example of a brand of influence trading that flourished after the Republican takeover of the House of Representatives 11 years ago. Now, some GOP strategists fear that the fallout from his case could affect the party’s efforts to keep control in the November midterm elections.
Abramoff was among the lobbyists most closely associated with the K Street Project, which was initiated by his friend Tom DeLay (R-Tex.), now the former House majority leader, once the GOP vaulted to power. It was an aggressive program designed to force corporations and trade associations to hire more GOP-connected lobbyists in what at times became an almost seamless relationship between Capitol Hill lawmakers and some firms that sought to influence them.
Now Abramoff has become a symbol of a system out of control. His agreement to plead guilty to three criminal counts and cooperate with prosecutors threatens to ensnare other lawmakers or their aides — Republicans and possibly some Democrats. At a minimum, yesterday’s developments put both sides of the lawmaker-lobbyist relationship on notice that some of the wilder customs of recent years — lubricated with money, entertainment and access — carry higher risks. In the post-Abramoff era, what once was accepted as business as usual may be seen as questionable or worse.
Meanwhile, it’s corrupt and incompetent politics as usual in the White House. Where there’s lobbying cash and corruption, there is patronage. We’ve seen first hand the problem of dealing out government jobs to political hacks in the Katrina debacle with Oklahoma’s own Mike Brown. You would think W would have learned his lesson, but no. Here’ today’s outrage:
(From Slate Magazine)
The (Washington) Post goes inside with President Bush bypassing the Senate and making a raft of recess appointments last night. Among the fine new hires: Julie Myers who will become head of the immigration bureau, despite complaints across the political spectrum that she’s unqualified. Another hire will head a preparedness office at the Department of Homeland Security after making a name for herself, as the Post puts it, “demanding that information about racial disparities in police treatment of blacks in traffic cases be deleted from a news release.” And a third will head the State Department’s office to coordinate emergency relief. She has no experience in emergency management or relief, but, don’t fret, she did serve as a state chair of Bush’s 2000 campaign.
Some upcoming events for your calendar
LOCAL AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL GROUP PROMOTES HUMAN RIGHTS:
If you are already a human rights activist, or interested in human rights, you won’t want to miss the Amnesty International Film Festival that will take place Saturday January 14 through Sunday January 15.
This festival features seven films that examine some of the most important issues in our world today. Challenging and inspiring, these real life stories are compelling and powerful, bringing us together with concerns we face as citizens of the world. The films cover topics as diverse as the plight of Tibetan exiles, international weapons dealing, slavery and the child sex trade, and femicide and torture.
The films will be shown at the Ronald J. Norick Downtown Library on the weekend before the Martin Luther King Parade.
Admission is free and light refreshments will be served.
For further information contact
Katy Berrecloth
Amnesty International Local group #238
405-608-0383
[email protected]
************************************************
The biggest, best art party of the year is Saturday, January 14!
Momentum: Art Doesn’t Stand Still 2006 annual exhibit will be held Saturday, January 14 from 8pm until midnight
Location: 111 North Harrison (5th & Oklahoma, Downtown OKC)
The Momentum Official After Party will be at Cafe Nova from
12-2am, located at 4308 North Western
**********************************************************
THE FLOW ART SHOW
Hosted By: Elizabeth Burum & Josh Heilaman
When: Friday Jan 06, 2006
at 7:30 PM
Where: The Velvet Monkey Too
7500 western
Oklahoma city, OK 73120
US
Description:
Elizabeth Burum & Josh Heilaman
***********************************************
IAO is also having a show Friday of two Austin Artists and on the 13th ( ? ) Untitled will have a show with my friend Elizabeth Brown from UCO in one of the side rooms, something I can’t wait to see personally.
***********************************************