Cheney Fundraiser Scaled Back

While much of the media is painting the Cheney appearance at a fundraiser as a great success, I don't see it that way. Originally the fundraiser was to include a round table discussion with donors who not only gave the maximum personally, but bundled several thousand more in addition. By the visit of Cheney being cut short it is a signal that Cheney is not the draw he was just 3 years ago. Also it could spell trouble for the Inhofe campaign as a far a fundraising. The crowd for this event was remarkably less then the turnout for the 2004 event also held in Tulsa. Given that Oklahoma is one of the few places that Cheney can still effectively raise money, the recent showing may be a sign of the inability of the White House to aide congressional candidates in 2008.

On the protester side of things, it is actually pretty remarkable that protesters were there at all. The low level of publicity of the event seemed it was destined for uneventful day. However ten protesters were cited and one arrested. This doesn't normally happen with a quick Vice Presidential visit, especially in Oklahoma.

Boxer puts Inhofe in his place.

"Elections have consequences, so I make the rules." said Sen. Boxer while holding up her gavel to remind James Inhofe that he is now in the minority. This came about after Inhofe had tried to take control of the committee hearing on global warming, one of Inhofe's favorite subjects. In reality all he was really trying to due is undermine Gore's stance by binding Gore as a hypocrite. He asked exactly what Gore's documentary asked,"Are you ready to change the way you live?", Inhofe did this in reaction to findings that Gore's home used far more energy than the average American. What this really did to show was the weakness of the Oklahoma Congressional delegation; by aligning with primarily one party Oklahoma loses out big.