Lammon's Legislation: Real Ethics Reform

Representative Lucky Lammons (D-Tulsa) proposed law H.B. 1436 would be a breath of fresh air. The the law would allow a more open and clear government. If leaders are serious about government accountability it should start with legislators first. House Bill 1436 would restrict donations during the legislative session. This would eliminate the sketchy contributions of lobbist trying to get their bills passed during the session. It would send a message to all Oklahomans that the legislature is committed to fair and open government.

Crazy Picks for 2008

-Joe Lieberman wins the nomination... the republican nomination that is.
-Hillary Clinton becomes the 44th male president of the United States.
-Tom Coburn is the Vice President nominee for the republicans but is left off the ticket due to a hold he placed on himself.
-Frank Keating talks himself up for more positions but then it is reveled that he received 2.5 million from Dryfus.
-SNL repeats the 'Real World' spoof with Kansas Senator Sam Brownback instead of Bob Dole; "Nobody messes with Bob Dole's Chair".
-Chesapeake and Devon pull an 'Enron'.
-Joe Biden comes out of the closet, reveals that he is a Dapper Dan man!
-Bill Richardson makes more appearances on Univision than all English news media outlets combined.

The Primary Schedule

January 14, 2008 - Iowa
January 19, 2008 - Nevada
January 22, 2008 - New Hampshire
January 29, 2008 - South Carolina
February 5, 2008 - Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma,Utah
February 12, 2008 - District of Columbia, Tennessee, Virginia
February 19, 2008 - Wisconsin
February 26, 2008 - Hawaii, Idaho

Clearly the schedule will lean toward a more conservative nominee out of both parties. Of the early voting states 14 are red states and 6 are blue states. These are not states where Clinton or Obama are a natural fit. The schedule seem to favor Edwards in the democratic primary. The reason I feel Senator Brownback has a chance to take off is the conservative slant of these early states; although this is McCain's race to lose at this point.

Good News for Oklahoma, while we won't be the only state, there are nine others on the same week, we are nearby many of the other states so stops won't be out of the question. The group of states is not far off that of the group in 2004 when Kerry and Edwards visited, and Clark set up his base of operations in Oklahoma.

Presidental Primaries taking shape.

The over hyped announcement by Barack Obama brought the attention of many to the 2008 primaries. Now here is a list of who is in and who is a contender.

Official Candidates BOLD=Contender
GOP
US Senator Sam Brownback (R-Kansas)
Former Governor Jim Gilmore (R-Virginia)
Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani (R-New York)
Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-California)
US Senator John McCain (R-Arizona)
Congressman Ron Paul (R-Texas)
Former Governor Mitt Romney (R-Massachusetts)
Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-Colorado)
Former Governor Tommy Thompson (R-Wisconsin)

Democrats

US Senator Joe Biden (D-Delaware)
US Senator Chris Dodd (D-Connecitcut)
Former US Senator John Edwards (D-North Carolina)
Former Alaska US Senator Mike Gravel (D-Virginia)
Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio)
US Senator Barack Obama (D-Illinois)
Governor Bill Richardson (D-New Mexico)
Governor Tom Vilsack (D-Iowa)

Unofficial Candidates

GOP
Former US House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Georgia)
Former Governor Mike Huckabee (R-Arkansas)

Democrats
US Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-New York)