Left, Right or Straight Ahead

We begin this blogging journey with politics in mind. The hope is to provide commentary, insights and a bit of humor as we look at politics in here in Rogers County, Oklahoma, across the state of Oklahoma and around the nation.
It is political season, or so it seems.

Local-Loco
Claremore City councilors cannot decide if it really, really wants a new hotel. At its most recent  Monday  night session, the elected officials were divided on whether or not to give additional incentives to lure the developer of a Hampton Inn to come to town.
Councilors who have put the brakes on the incentives don't want to look like they are giving away the store. Those on the other side are tired of other sister communities, i.e. Catoosa and Owasso, from getting new business.
It's time for Claremore councilors to decided if they want new businesses or not. At this point in the city's history, giving away more incentives might be just what is needed to send a message to developers that Claremore wants new business.
This isn't being conservative, but in the long run Claremore will be able to catch up in the economic development race. Remember, it's sales taxes that make the world go around.

Too Early Risers

Last week Markwayne Mullin tossed his hat into the Congressional District 2 race. Only weeks before Dakota Woods made his political debut. Muskogee's George Faught is running for the seat.
On Monday, former state representative Wayne Pettigrew began a three-day journey across District 2.
 The 2nd Congressional District spans 26 counties from the foothills of the Ozark Mountains in northeast Oklahoma to the Red River border with Texas. It has been a stronghold for Democrats
Registered Dems have outnumbered Republicans 65 percent to 26 percent. Nearly 27 percent of the state's Democrats reside in the current district, which will change only slightly under the new district map approved by the Legislature earlier this year.
Not a single Democrat has had the nerve to jump in the race being vacated by Rep. Dan Boren (D-Okla.) who announced earlier this year he will not seek re-election in 2012.
The election is 14 months away, so those in the race now are looking to raise campaign war chests.
With the unpopularity of President Obama, most Republicans believe they can regain District 2 and have a clean sweep of red for Oklahoma's national legislative office holders.

Ponzi Rick

The crowded field of presidential hopefuls for Republicans have allowed newcomer Texas Gov. Rick Perry steal all the oxygen in the room.
In his first debate, Perry called the Social Security program a "ponzi scheme" for which he received serious pressure in Monday night's Republican/Tea Party Debate.
Michelle Bachmann and Mitt Romney both bruised up Perry.
When asked about how he would reform Social Security, Perry said with lots of conversation.
Romney said that's what we are doing here at the debate.
Still no specifics on how Perry will change Social Security, if elected president.

Selling It

Obama is out selling ice to Eskimos this week. He revealed his $464 Billion jobs plan, which he says is totally paid for, but no one is really buying it.
It is just a makeover of another stimulus, which average Americans cannot afford, so they won't be buying it either.
When Congress takes up debate on the bill, it will be interesting to see if any piece of Obama's American Jobs Act will be approved.
For now, we'd say No Sale.