Thursday, June 29, 2006

Political Ads - Lt. Governor

Askins- Her ads are well, pretty good, not overly dramatic (Pruitt), or sentimental (he rises each day in thanksgiving... wow... Hiett). He ads are simple and effective, but she shows her self to much. I guess she just wants to show what she has in common with the average Oklahoma. Connecting herself with Henry, smart move in the Primary, we will see about the general election. If you look at the Survey USA Poll it shows Henry's numbers are steady. Her ads are on her website .

Pruitt's (Auto Center 41st & Sheridan) I don't know if this is a movie trailer or a used car ad. Oh, I guess I am wrong it is a political ad. Now there is nothing wrong with a dramatic ad. In fact they can be really charismatic like John Edwards, but not if the candidate is stumbling through the lines. Pruitt does a horrible job. I don't think the baseball owner line works; W was owner of the Texas Rangers and traded Sosa, and Bush has sub 50% approval ratings even in Oklahoma says Survey USA. Anyways see the ad on Pruitt's website , because the announcer is pretty good.

Labels: ,

Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Political Ads Statewide Offices

In the governors race only Sullivan has the money to fund ads early on. On his website he has two ads that you can watch. His first ad is one of those sappy ads with the inspirational music in the back. The best part of the whole ad is when the farmer and rancher type says, in stereotypical fashion, "That Bob is the only guy that makes a lick of sense!" The second ad is the one that has caused some controversy. The ad has actor Gailard Sartain known in Tulsa as Dr. Mazeppa Pompazoidi, when he stared along side of Gary Busey on Channel 6 and 8. Anyways the ad has Sartain wearing a Ernest Istook mask and criticizing Jim Istook for votes on pork barrel spending, such as tattoo removal in California and gorillas in Kentucky. The problem with this ad is that he doesn't really distinguish himself from Istook.



In the Lt. Governors race Todd Hiett had been on TV for a few weeks and his ads stress that he is a conservative, nothing is interesting about his ads though. I don't recall dairy farming being the way of the future, so I find it a little ironic that walking through a pasture is 'footsteps to the future.' None of the other candidates are running ads yet.

Labels:

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Oklahoma's Space Port

Here is the story from the Oklahoman:

FAA approves state spaceport

By Julie Bisbee
The Oklahoman

Oklahoma's spaceport now has federal approval to be a site for commercial space flights. Officials with the Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority received confirmation late Monday that their application to fly commercial flights to space had been approved by the Federal Aviation Administration, said Bill Khourie, executive director of the development authority.

"I think without question this will produce significant statewide economic development and make us a centerpiece for new research and technology,"” Khourie said.

Located at a former military base in Burns Flat, the spaceport's long runways are ideal for the takeoff of planes modified to go to space.

Rocketplane Kistler will be among the first companies to use the spaceport. The Oklahoma City-based company expects to begin commercial flights by 2008. The flights will be piloted by former astronaut John Herrington.

"This is a necessary step for us, said Bob Seto, vice president of engineering for Rocketplane Kistler. "“Without it we can't enter commercial operation. Oklahoma is where we want to launch and intend to do so.”"

Other states are working to develop their own spaceport. In New Mexico, the state Legislature has allocated $225 million for spaceport development. State legislatures in California and Florida are also looking for ways to fund spaceport development in their states.


Personally i find it rather funny. A space port in Burns Flat. I think the only space flight was a space shuttle from Edwards Air Force Base. Well it least we got our spaceport before Texas! I can't believe E.Z. Million and the Sooner Chamber of Commerce are not behind this.

Monday, June 12, 2006

US Congress: District 5

Coming this summer to TV.

Bode, Cornett, Fallin, Carvey, Morgan.





Which political life can Dr. Hunter keep alive?Here are some numbers from Survey USA 6/6/06...
Fallin 46%, Cornett 33%, Other 17%, Undecided 4%
Here are the numbers from the latest SoonerPoll.com poll taken of 400 5th Congressional district likely Republican voters...
Fallin (30.5%), Cornett (28.8%), Denise Bode (4.3%), Kevin Calvey (4%), Fred Morgan (2.5%), with 30% undecided.

hmm... makes you wonder even though Denise leads in cash on hand it seems she is not using it effectively. I just love the way the announcer says "Mary Fallin on her ads, it is almost as if he is mocking her; you can she the ads on her website here. Bode has some ads up as well and in one of her ads she points out that she has been married for 29 years a direct slap at the front runner Mary Fallin who is divorced you can she her ads here. Mick has a radio ad on his website is has caused a lot of turmoil. It looks from here that either Hunter will spear no lives or save Mary Fallin's political life.


Friday, June 09, 2006

DA Race Tulsa County

Swab v Harris

This race is very interesting mainly because much of the focus of the mayoral campaign in Tulsa focused on crime, unless you were looking at the campaign through Accountability Burns, who I still think was the best candidate, but that is another issue. Swab and Harris worked in the DA office at the same time so they know each others styles well. Swab and Harris while in the DA's office would often socialize, so something had to go very wrong with Harris for Swab to challenge the sitting DA. One key element in Swab's decision to run is that local, state, and federal law enforcement were upset with the way Harris runs the office. Many law enforcement officers sight high turnover of the Assistant District Attorneys.

Tim Harris as District Attorney leaves one lasting memory in a interview with a television station he was wearing a rain jacket instead of a suit jacket over a polo shirt on a sunny hot summer day. Guess Tim thought casual dress was for everyone, wonder if he tried this with a judge.

Here is a link to Swab for DA , right now Tim Harris does not have a website to my knowledge.

Labels: ,

Gubernatorial Finance$

Here is the score sheet from Quarter 1

Candidate/Cash on hand/Out of State Money^/ % Out of state*
Henry- $2,141,653.55 / $ 2,000 / 0.6%
Istook- $ 413,394.40 / $29,750 / 9.1%
Sullivan- $ 613,239.18 / $10,110 / 6.5%
Williamson $ 61,724.84 / $ 100 / 0.3%

My take: First Henry has 3.5 times what his nearest opponent has, and he doesn't have a strong primary opponent either. Another interesting note, Hiett has 1 million on hand that is just short of all GOP gubernatorial candidates combined, a stronger indication that Hiett could have beaten all of these rejects. In fact Hiett would milk their donors dry! Dairy farmers can do that you know. Second a large concentration of donors came from a place I had never heard of, Oklahoma JCity, OK. Now could some one please show me this place on a map please. Third, it appears that Williamson just can't afford the long distance phone bill to raise money out of state, but he did manage to raise money from Cowboy PAC, Yee Haw! Istook has been doing quite fine with voters on K Street in DC (for all those who don't know that is the place where lobbyist reside), in fact he got a contribution from Continental Airlines PAC, whose purpose is to "Support Goals", but Henry received money from OK Asphalt Pavers Association whose purpose is "To Encourge Quality Roadbuilding", I would have never thought that, I always thought they were about Healthcare Reform.

^ Money received from individuals outside of Oklahoma during Q1 2006
* Money received from individuals outside of Oklahoma during Q1 2006 divided by total money received from individuals during Q1 2006

Labels: ,

Thursday, June 08, 2006

Candidate Websites

Governor
-Brad Henry- Here is the complete unabridged version of the site: Henry for Governor. Yes that is all the official website says of a campaign with 2.1 million in the bank as of last filing period. That webmaster sure struck it rich!

-Ernest Istook- Flip-flop, he can't choose a color first all read then mostly blue. Best part of his web site is the picture of supporters. Do they really need all those signs or is it a major production right out of the 1930's.

-Bob Sullivan- He seems to be obsessed with himself. The size of BOB on his sign is odd. I guess he thinks it might help with his image as a average Joe. His image is huge it takes up 1/4 of the home page.

-James Williamson- His website reminds me of Peroutka's in 2004, the Constitution Party nominee for President. Also is it just me or does the icon on the address bar look like a nuclear fallout symbol? Signs of things to come?

Labels: ,

I will try to cover Oklahoma politics from a different more slanted angle. I will actually attempt to use humor.