Norman Chamber Going Wrong Direction

Isn’t it hypocritical that most of the same folks who want to beautify and improve downtown are opposing this proposal which if passed would move the jail and all its razor wire and ugliness OUT of downtown? Why are people willing to raise taxes for an unnecessary parking garage and library yet they balk at a quarter cent sales tax to relieve the over-crowding at the county jail?
Bob
The below article is from another blog.




Norman Chamber of Commerce going in wrong direction
By Guest Editorialist - November 19, 2008 9:07 AM
Norman Chamber Going Wrong Direction

Guest editorial from Concerned Citizens of Norman ...

What is happening with our Norman Chamber of Commerce? It is clear that it is no longer an entity that advocates for small business. Instead the Norman Chamber has become another lobbyist for social service programs and more government. The Chamber has lost sight of its primary goal of promoting and helping the small business and now acts more like just another hog at the public trough seeking more tax payer subsidized goodies. A prime example is when the Chamber recently endorsed raising our sales tax for a $50 million dollar library that included an expensive downtown parking garage that virtually nobody wanted.

It is clear the taxpayers of Norman no longer trust the Chamber when they voted No; to the library bond. The committee promoting the library bond was filled with mostly of the same Chamber members who have steered the Chamber away from its historic role of advocating for local businesses. This committee even hired a local Democrat crony to run the failed campaign! In the past, most issues, such as the bond proposal, have been managed by people that volunteer their time. That is a good example of how out of touch the city and the Chamber are with the voters of Norman.

And now these same folks who supported the library bond are showing their skepticism of and hesitancy in supporting the construction of a new county sales tax to build and operate a new jail. The need for a new, larger county jail has been well chronicled in the local press. In the past election, both the Republican and the Democratic candidates went on record in favor of the proposal. And the County Commissioners have held numerous public meetings to discuss a plan of action. These events have culminated in the recently unveiled proposal to establish a new county sales tax that will provide a revenue stream to pay off the bonds to build and operate a new jail.

Any businessman or woman will tell you that their business suffers if there is a high crime rate and that communities who don’t invest in public safety are less desirable to live and to work in. Yet, instead of being on board with the county jail proposal, the Norman Chamber sent the County Commissioners a lengthy survey filled with loaded questions that they demanded answered to its “Jail working group” before they could make a decision. This is in stark contrast to the warm reception that Cleveland County’s two largest other chambers – the Moore Chamber and the South Oklahoma City Chamber gave for the proposal.

Another prime example of how out of touch the Norman Chamber is with the business community it should represent is the 2008 Candidate Survey it wrote and sent out to Norman area candidates. It is obvious that the survey questions were written by not by persons who make a payroll, navigate through government regulations and taxes and risk their own capital, but by career government bureaucrats and social engineers. What else can explain a question like, “Do you favor further cuts in Oklahoma’s income tax rates, even if it means less funding for services such as education, public safety, research, road and bridge repair, and environmental protection?” This is a classic tactic of the liberal Democrats – to completely ignore the historical facts that cutting taxes actually spurs economic growth and instead attempt to list a grocery list of services – like roads, research, etc. that would have to be cut if tax cuts were enacted. Apparently the Norman Chamber has not been paying attention to the Oklahoma Legislature lately where they have cut income taxes and yet state revenues continue to grow!

Of the 20 questions posed to all candidates, 7 deal specifically with increased funding for state programs. Four more questions suggest more state funding or regulations are needed. And two more questions ask candidates if more state mandates on private employers are needed! Certainly Chamber members should be interested in where a candidate stands on additional government mandates and taxes, but the questions are written in such a way as to discourage a less-government, free market response that has historically been what Chambers of Commerce have favored.

The vast majority of business owners in Norman still believe in a free market, less government interference approach. It is the Chamber administration that is out of touch. For example, the Norman Chamber’s Communications Director is a Democratic Party activist, serving on the Cleveland County Democratic Party’s executive board. And Oklahoma’s most outspoken liberal legislator – present or past - is a member of the Chamber’s board of directors! It is easy to see the Chamber’s liberal fingerprints all over the Chamber’s 2008 survey, its endorsements of the library bond, and its hesitancy to back the county sales tax to build a new jail.

The people that should be standing up against higher taxes are the Chamber. Yet the Chamber is the group leading the charge. I hope the Chamber will recognize what its main goal is and get back to working with small business and stop the welfare attitude.

Copyright 2008 West Marie Media

NY Times Has Problem With Facts

What The Times Forgot to Mention about California’s Marriage Amendment
By Don Feder
Tuesday November 18, 2008
An article in today’s New York Times reports that Attorney General Jerry Brown has asked the state’s Supreme Court to rule on the legality of a voter-approved constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman.
“The central argument in the recently filed lawsuits is that Proposition 8 is a significant enough revision to the State Constitution to require approval by the legislature,” the article stated. It also noted that the passage of Proposition 8 “has prompted protests across the country.”
Here’s what the paper that makes all the news fit its agenda forgot to mention:
• Same-sex marriage was never part of the California Constitution. It was forced on the state in May, by an edict of the same court now being asked to rule on the legality of Prop. 8.
• Despite massive opposition by the mainstream media (The New York Times included), the initiative passed by a vote of 52% to 48%.
• In 2000, 61% of California voters approved Prop 22, a statute limiting marriage to a man and a woman. The Court swept this aside with its mandate, necessitating the amendment.
• With the passage of ballot questions in California, Arizona and Florida this year, voters in 30 states have enacted constitutional bans on gay marriage, by an average vote of 68%.
• Those demonstrations by opponents of Proposition 8 the paper mentioned in passing are often aimed at the Mormon (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) and Catholic Churches and are frequently violent. In San Francisco last Friday, the police had to intervene to save a group of Christians who were set-upon by homosexual militants. In Palm Springs, an elderly woman holding a pro-Prop 8 sign was physically assaulted and had a cross ripped from her hands and trampled by the mob.
Today’s story is a continuation of The New York Times’ partisan coverage of the entire Prop. 8 campaign. In evaluating The Times’ coverage of any issue, what’s not reported is as important as what is.

Democrat Caught Stealing Signs

Campaign sign thefts denied by former Oklahoma state lawmaker
Comments BY MICHAEL MCNUTT
Published: November 21, 2008

A former Democratic state lawmaker denies allegations he took down campaign signs of the Republican candidate seeking to replace him.

"If you want to give me a polygraph, I will take a polygraph,” said Al Lindley, whose term as a state representative from House District 93 ended Tuesday.

Jay Means said he saw Lindley take down campaign signs favoring Rep. Mike Christian, R-Oklahoma City, in south Oklahoma City about 90 minutes before voters went to the polls on Election Day.

"I confronted him right then,” Means said.

"He didn’t have a response, and I told him that I would be turning it over to the police.”

The two aren’t on the best of terms, with Means, a Republican, unsuccessfully opposing Lindley four years ago for the House District 93 seat.

Christian, who won this month’s three-way House District 93 election, declined comment.

Lindley, who could not seek re-election because of 12-year legislative term limits, said he never tampered with any of his opponents’ signs during his campaigns. He said he and a friend drove around the morning of Election Day to put up signs for the district’s Democratic candidate, David Castillo.

"We were putting signs up, we never touched anybody’s signs,” Lindley said.

Means, who is an assistant principal at U.S. Grant High School, said he was driving by various polling places about 5:30 a.m. Nov. 4 before going to work so he could look out for possible Democratic Party shenanigans.

"We’ve had problems with the opposition party taking our signs,” he said.

He said he drove up and saw Lindley’s car, which had an HD 93 tag on it. Lindley was putting up signs for Castillo, and then picked up some Christian campaign signs near Harvey Avenue and SW 21, Means said.

An Oklahoma City police report states Means flagged down an officer shortly before 6 a.m. at SW 25 and Robinson Avenue and reported the theft of campaign signs.

The officer reported he patrolled the area, but didn’t find a car that matched the description.

Oklahoma City police Sgt. Paco Balderrama said stealing campaign signs is a misdemeanor. For the investigation to continue, Means will be asked to sign a complaint because a police officer didn’t see the alleged incident.

"It’s basically his word against the suspect’s,” Balderrama said.

"In politics, without any further proof — not that we don’t believe him — but how easy would it be for one person to make allegations against another?”

China To Attack Via Cyber Space

Tim Reid in Washington
Chinese military hackers have prepared a detailed plan to disable America’s aircraft battle carrier fleet with a devastating cyber attack, according to a Pentagon report obtained by The Times.
The blueprint for such an assault, drawn up by two hackers working for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), is part of an aggressive push by Beijing to achieve “electronic dominance” over each of its global rivals by 2050, particularly the US, Britain, Russia and South Korea.
China’s ambitions extend to crippling an enemy’s financial, military and communications capabilities early in a conflict, according to military documents and generals’ speeches that are being analysed by US intelligence officials. Describing what is in effect a new arms race, a Pentagon assessment states that China’s military regards offensive computer operations as “critical to seize the initiative” in the first stage of a war.
The plan to cripple the US aircraft carrier battle groups was authored by two PLA air force officials, Sun Yiming and Yang Liping. It also emerged this week that the Chinese military hacked into the US Defence Secretary’s computer system in June; have regularly penetrated computers in at least 10 Whitehall departments, including military files, and infiltrated German government systems this year.
Read more go to:
http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/the_web/article2409865.ece

Swanson Ship Comes In

Oklahoma State Senate

President Pro Tempore DESIGNATE

Senator Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City

State Capitol, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105

(405) 521-5636



November 21, 2008



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Paul Ziriax or Ashley Kehl

State Capitol: (405) 521-5636

ziriax@oksenate.gov



Coffee Names Randy Swanson to Senate GOP Communications Post



State Capitol, Oklahoma City – Oklahoma State Senate President Pro Tempore Designate Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, announced Friday that Randy Swanson of Yukon will join Coffee’s Senate leadership staff as Majority Leadership Communications Director.



Swanson brings more than 25 years of experience in public relations, politics and government service to the State Senate. He will direct media, press, and public outreach activities for Coffee and the Senate’s Republican leadership team. For the first time in the state’s history, Republicans have the majority in the Oklahoma State Senate.



“Randy has a wealth of experience in both the public and private sector, so we’re very excited about bringing his many talents to the State Senate,” stated Coffee. “Randy Swanson will do a great job helping Senate Republicans get out our message of fiscal responsibility, traditional values, creating jobs, and reforming state government,” he said.



“It’s an honor and a privilege to join the President Pro Tem’s leadership staff at this historic time,” said Swanson. “Senator Coffee is a remarkable and distinguished leader. I appreciate the confidence he has in me, and I look forward to helping the members of the Senate’s new majority tell our story in the upcoming legislative session.”



During the 2008 election cycle, Swanson served as executive director of the Oklahoma Republican Senatorial Committee. Senate Republicans picked up two seats on Election Day to win a 26 to 22 majority.



Swanson, 50, is a former chief of staff and press secretary to U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas and a former administrative aide and campaign manager to former Corporation Commissioner J.C. Watts. He also is a former regional political director for the Republican National Committee.



In addition to political and government experience, he has consulted various local, national, and international ministries and non-profit organizations on media and public relations. Swanson's volunteer activities include work as Public Relations Chairman for the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon and as a publicist for Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity.



Randy Swanson has been married to his wife Carol for 28 years. Carol Swanson is teacher in the Yukon Public Schools system. The Swansons have three sons: David, 20, is a cadet at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Joel, 16, and Luke, 13, are students in Yukon Public Schools.



The Swansons are active members of Bethany First Church of the Nazarene. Swanson is a graduate of Southern Nazarene University, where he earned a bachelor of arts in communications and business.



He starts his new job at the State Senate on December 1.

History Of The Gun

A Little Gun History Lesson*

In 1929, the Soviet Union established gun control. From 1929 to 1953,

about 20 million dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded
up and exterminated.

Germany established gun control in 1938 and from 1939 to 1945, a total
of 13 million

Jews and others who were unable to defend themselves were rounded up and exterminated

China established gun control in 1935. From 1948 to 1952, 20 million
political dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

Guatemala established gun control in 1964. From 1964 to 1981, 100,000
Mayan Indians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

Uganda established gun c ontrol in 1970. From 1971 to 1979, 300,000
Christians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

Cambodia established gun control in 1956. From 1975 to 1977, one million

educated' people, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

Defenseless people rounded up and exterminated in the 20th Century because
of gun control: 56 million.

Obama is going to try to take our guns here in the United States.

JC Watts Republican Of The Year Banquet

Thanksgiving Divorce

Thanksgiving Divorce


A man in Phoenix calls his son in New York the day before Thanksgiving
and says, "I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you that your
mother and I are divorcing; forty-five years of misery is enough.

"Pop, what are you talking about?" the son screams. We can't stand the
sight of each other any longer," the father says. "We're sick of each
other, and I'm sick of talking about this, so you call your sister in
Chicago and tell her."

Frantic, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone. "Like heck
they are getting divorced," she shouts, "I'll take care of this,"

She calls Phoenix immediately, and screams at her father, "You are NOT
getting divorced. Don't do a single thing until I get there. I'm calling
my brother back, and we'll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don't do
a thing, DO YOU HEAR ME?" and hangs up.

The old man hangs up his phone and turns to his wife. "Okay," he says,
"they're coming for Thanksgiving and paying their own way."

Attention Washington! "Norman, Okla Has The Solution to the Auto Bailout"

Congressman Cole, Congresswoman Fallin, Senator Inhofe, Senator Coburn, please take the time to review the proposal below. Mayor Lewis and Rod Cleveland have an idea that makes more sense that the bailout that the goverment is considering.

Auto makers bail out

I have got an idea for the auto maker bail out. Don't give the auto
makers cash from the US government but issue vouchers to local and
state governments (not federal) for new automobiles, trucks, and
equipment. The local entity then takes that voucher to the local
dealer and turns it in and pays a nominal processing fee or prep fee.
The dealer turns it into the auto maker and gets it's money from the
government that way. This gets inventory turned and continues the
making of automobiles and adds to the supply that can be sold in
Mexico.

If there are not enough local governments for 25 billion dollars then
institute a national auto lottery that you could win a voucher for a
price range of a make and a style. Charge a buck for a ticket and
have drawings everyday. The winner takes the voucher to the dealer and
pays a prep and process charge and gets a new car.

Rod Cleveland
Cleveland County Commissioner
Norman, OK

Oklahoma Bar Wants To Discriminate

Oklahoma Bar trying to help the Homosexual agenda. The public needs to know what the Bar is up to. If you have been a Boy Scout leader or belong to Promise Keepers and if the Bar has it's way you could not qualify to be a Judge. The Bar wants to discriminate and this is just flat wrong!!!
Bob



Oklahoma Bar Association to make recommendations that will affect Oklahoma Judicial Candidates

Who is behind this move?

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Bar Association Board of Governors will discuss in their Committee language that will determine if people who are members of groups that discriminate against people because of sexual preference will be eligible to become judges.

Since most major religious denominations oppose homosexual practices, these church membership is specifically exempted, but not religious auxiliary organizations such as Promise Keepers or Knights of Columbus.

It is not difficult to imagine that the judicial candidates would no longer be able to participate in Boy Scouts which does not allow admitted homosexuals to be adult leaders or military support organizations since the US Military still bars openly homosexuals from serving in the military.

The concern of many people in the state is that overly broad language that could keep someone from being a judge would cause many attorneys to withdrawal from civic organizations in order to have the potential of being a judge in the future. This would be bad for two reasons:

1) It would hurt Oklahoma by taking away great leaders from civic organizations

2) Further serve to isolate the judiciary from the general public

While the Bar Association could make the rules very specific by saying “judicial candidates cannot be members of known hate groups” or even better, just allowing people to know what groups the judicial candidates belong to, would give the voters the right to make decisions as to who should be on the bench, not obscure committees who could deny Oklahomans from having access to a greater pool of potential jurists.

The question remains – who is behind this proposed rule and what is the bigger agenda? National homosexual advocacy groups have been leading boycotts and other pressure tactics on the Boy Scouts of America to force the private organization to allow homosexuals to become adult leaders in despite the expressed wishes of parents and participants in scouts that the ban should continue.

Is this just the latest attempt for a vocal minority to inflict its will on the majority?

The wording of the proposed amendment:

RULE 3.6

Affiliation with Discriminatory Organizations (A) A judge shall not hold membership in any organization that practices

invidious discrimination on the basis of race, sex, gender, religion, national origin, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.



[2] An organization is generally said to discriminate invidiously if it arbitrarily excludes from membership on the basis

of race, sex, gender, religion, national origin, ethnicity, or sexual orientation persons who would otherwise be

eligible for admission. Whether an organization practices invidious discrimination is a complex question to

which judges should be attentive. The answer cannot be determined from a mere examination of an organization’s

current membership rolls, but rather, depends upon how the organization selects members, as well as other

relevant factors, such as whether the organization is dedicated to the preservation of religious, ethnic, or cultural values of legitimate common interest to its members, or whether it is an intimate, purely private organization whose membership limitations could not constitutionally be prohibited.

[3] When a judge learns that an organization to which the judge belongs engages in invidious discrimination, the

judge must resign immediately from the organization.

[4] A judge’s membership in a religious organization as a lawful exercise of the freedom of religion is not a violation of

this Rule.

[5] This Rule does not apply to national or state military service.

Supreme Court Rules Obama In Trouble

"Supreme court ruling on Obama's eligibility for presidency"


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Supreme Court Of The United States (SCOTUS) Justice David Souter has agreed that a review of the federal lawsuit filed by attorney Phil Berg against Barack Hussein Obama II, et al., which was subsequently dismissed for lack of standing is warranted. SCOTUS Docket No. 08-570 contains the details.

A review of that docket and the Rule 10 of the Supreme Court makes abundantly clear that Justice Souter's granting of a review on the Writ of Certiorari is not a right entitled to citizen Phil Berg, but rather is a matter of judcial discretion based upon a compelling reason. That compelling reason is the Constitutional requirement that "No person except a natural born citizen ... shall be eligible to the office of President..."

What this means is that on or before 1 DECEMBER 2008 Barack Hussein Obama II must respond to the writ of certiorari, and since the Berg v Obama case hinged primarily on the question of Obama's place of birth, it is almost inconceivable that Barack Obama will thumb his nose at the Justices of the Supreme Court and he is absolutely compelled to provide a vault copy his original birth certificate.

Another very salient fact to consider at this time is that, despite all of the pronouncements of the print and broadcast media, Barack Obama is not yet the President-elect of the United States. Barack Obama can only become the President-elect after the Electoral College convenes on 15 DECEMBER 2008 in their respective state capitals around the nation and casts their votes to elect the President and the Vice President. As you can see this election day occurs two weeks after the required response to the Supreme Court granted Writ of Certiorari.

The bottom line is this: the presidential election of 2008 remains an ongoing process, the outcome of which remains undetermined, and all talk about a potential Constitutional crisis in the United States are at least 36 days premature.

The inevitable constitutional crisis regarding President-elect Obama, of course, revolves around his inability (or unwillingness) to produce an authentic Hawaiian birth certificate with the raised certificate stamp that the Federal Elections Commission can independently verify.



Here are some of the unanswered issues hanging over the head of President-elect Barack Obama and the question of his American citizenship:



· The allegation that Obama was born in Kenya to parents unable to automatically grant him American citizenship;

· The allegation that Obama was made a citizen of Indonesia as a child and that he retained foreign citizenship into adulthood without recording an oath of allegiance to regain any theoretical American citizenship;

· The allegation that Obama's birth certificate was a forgery and that he may not be an eligible, natural-born citizen;

· The allegation that Obama was not born an American citizen; lost any hypothetical American citizenship he had as a child; that Obama may not now be an American citizen and even if he is, may hold dual citizenships with other countries. If any, much less all, of these allegations are true, the suit claims, Obama cannot constitutionally serve as president.



· The allegations that "Obama's grandmother on his father's side, half brother and half sister claim Obama was born in Kenya," the suit states." Reports reflect Obama's mother went to Kenya during her pregnancy; however, she was prevented from boarding a flight from Kenya to Hawaii at her late stage of pregnancy, which apparently was a normal restriction to avoid births during a flight. Stanley Ann Dunham (Obama) gave birth to Obama in Kenya, after which she flew to Hawaii and registered Obama's birth."

· The claim could not be verified by inquiries to Hawaiian hospitals, since state law bars the hospitals from releasing medical records to the public;

Even if Obama produced authenticated proof of his birth in Hawaii, however, the suit claims that the U.S. Nationality Act of 1940 provided that minors lose their American citizenship when their parents expatriate. Since Obama's mother married an Indonesian citizen and moved to Indonesia, the suit claims, she forfeited both her and Barack's American citizenship

No Bail Out Mitt Romney

Let Detroit Go Bankrupt


By MITT ROMNEY
Published: November 18, 2008
Boston
Times Topics: Auto Industry Bailout
Times Topics: Mitt Romney
IF General Motors, Ford and Chrysler get the bailout that their chief executives asked for yesterday, you can kiss the American automotive industry goodbye. It won’t go overnight, but its demise will be virtually guaranteed.
Without that bailout, Detroit will need to drastically restructure itself. With it, the automakers will stay the course — the suicidal course of declining market shares, insurmountable labor and retiree burdens, technology atrophy, product inferiority and never-ending job losses. Detroit needs a turnaround, not a check.
I love cars, American cars. I was born in Detroit, the son of an auto chief executive. In 1954, my dad, George Romney, was tapped to run American Motors when its president suddenly died. The company itself was on life support — banks were threatening to deal it a death blow. The stock collapsed. I watched Dad work to turn the company around — and years later at business school, they were still talking about it. From the lessons of that turnaround, and from my own experiences, I have several prescriptions for Detroit’s automakers.
First, their huge disadvantage in costs relative to foreign brands must be eliminated. That means new labor agreements to align pay and benefits to match those of workers at competitors like BMW, Honda, Nissan and Toyota. Furthermore, retiree benefits must be reduced so that the total burden per auto for domestic makers is not higher than that of foreign producers.
That extra burden is estimated to be more than $2,000 per car. Think what that means: Ford, for example, needs to cut $2,000 worth of features and quality out of its Taurus to compete with Toyota’s Avalon. Of course the Avalon feels like a better product — it has $2,000 more put into it. Considering this disadvantage, Detroit has done a remarkable job of designing and engineering its cars. But if this cost penalty persists, any bailout will only delay the inevitable.
Read entire article
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/19/opinion/19romney.html?ei=5070&emc=eta1

Chris Wilson Republican Future

TEN THOUGHTS ON THE 2008 ELECTIONS AND THE FUTURE OF THE GOP
Chris Wilson, President of Wilson Research Strategies
November 18, 2008

[Publisher's Note: As part of an ongoing effort to bring original, thoughtful commentary to you here at the FlashReport, I am pleased to present this column from Chris Wilson, the President of Wilson Research Strategies. This data is helpful in our ongoing dialogue about the future of the GOP - Flash]

If you are new to the FlashReport, please check out the main site and the acclaimed FlashReport Weblog on California politics.

NOTE: Wilson's column below is accompanied by this outstanding PowerPoint presentation (now in .pdf format) which I recommend you read. It contains a lot of interesting data.
Ten thoughts about the 2008 elections and the future of the GOP based on Wilson Research Strategies’ election night poll and post-election analysis.

1) This was a winnable race after the convention. Failure on the economy cost McCain and Republicans.

It is easy to forget because the Presidential race seemed to be over about a month before any votes were cast, but coming out of the conventions the McCain campaign had a real chance to win.

Coming out of the DNC Senator Obama had only an eight-point lead in Gallup’s nightly tracking, a relatively small convention “bounce”. After a very well handled RNC, McCain had moved to a six-point lead. While this was a “bounce” as well, it does indicate how close and winnable the race was at that point.
To read the entire articles go to http://www.flashreport.org/featured-columns-library0b.php?faID=2008111812283848

Allan Keyes Claims Obama Not A Citizen

By Rich Rogers rrogers@nbcaugusta.com and NBC Augusta Staff
Story Published: Nov 18, 2008 at 9:52 AM EST

Story Updated: Nov 18, 2008 at 8:16 PM EST

SACRAMENTO, Calif.- A former opponent of Barack Obama's has come back to haunt him over questions regarding Obama's citizenship.

According to a press release from the American Independent Party, former presidential candidate Alan Keyes and other members of the party have filed suit in California Superior Court in Sacramento to stop the state from giving its electoral votes to President-elect Barack Obama until documentary evidence is provided to prove Obama is indeed a natural born citizen of the United States.

Keyes also ran against Obama as a Republican for the U.S. Senate seat in Illinois in 2004. Obama won that election to serve his first and only term in the U.S. Senate.

The Obama campaign countered similar accusations early in 2008 by posting Obama's certification of live birth, and saying: "Barack Obama was born in the state of Hawaii in 1961, a native citizen of the United States of America."

Pistol Pete Maravich & Sooner Hoops

Throughout my life I have had the good fortune to witness many basketball legends. Growing up in South Oklahoma City I used to watch Abe Lemons's OCU Chiefs run and gun game back in the 60s. The highlight of every year was attending the All-College Basketball Tournament that used to be held at the State Fairgrounds and was later moved to the Myriad and then to the Ford Center. After getting married I would drag Barbara to the All College games.

I remember watching Pistol Pete Maravich play numerous times when he played for LSU. And I remember being awed by Pistol Pete's moves. I had never before seen a guy dribble the ball behind his back or pass the ball between his legs. He hit 61 points one night during the All College. I fell in love with basketball and even Barbara from that time on was ready to watch a basketball game any time.

In 1988 Pete was invited back to the All College Tournament to be honored. Before the game and the award ceremony I bought Pistol Pete's book. After he received his award at half time I climed over the ramp and got down on the floor and asked if he would sign the book. He was very polite and even took some time to talk about basketball with me. A week later he died at the age of 40 of a heart attack.

Watching Stephen Curry of Davidson University last night brought back all those great memories. Curry is quick just like the Pistol. He hit a career high 44 points last night with a hand in his face the complete game. Stephen Curry is the best shooter I have seen come around since Pistol Pete Maravich. What a fun game last night. The Griffen brothers and Willie Warren will no doubt take OU to the Big Dance this year. OU has a great coach and great team that is fun to cheer for.

Bob

How Obama Got Elected

JC Watts Republican Of The Year Banquet

JC Watts Republican Of The Year Banquet

New Bond Film

Here is your opportunity to take part. So lets hear from you.

Is that a Sean Connery cameo in the New Bond Film?
by Patrick B. McGuigan,

In the new film, "Quantum of Solace," there is a brief scene involving British secret agent 007 in the lobby of a cheap hotel in Haiti. It is a half hour or so into the story. Daniel Craig, as James Bond, has a brief exchange with the receptionist at the desk, before retrieving a brief case that belongs to someone else (a crucial moment in development of the plot).

Before and after this chat between the girl at the desk and Bond, the camera provides brief glimpses of a fellow sitting in an easy chair near the front desk, reading a newspaper. The second sighting seemed to last a bit longer than the first. I whispered to my wife, with me at the film's showing on a big screen here in Oklahoma City, "I think that is Sean Connery" -- who created the first cinematic interpretation of Ian Fleming's enduring character.

As has been the case after initial release of many films in the series, critics are having fun with the recurring debate about whose Bond is best. A strong case can be made for Craig, who has performed stunningly in both of his appearances as Bond. But Connery deserves praise for his magnificent combination of grit and grace as the original.

For me, the moment sketched above was a "Hitchcock"-like moment (Alfred Hitchcock repeatedly did uncredited cameos in his own films).

If a Connery cameo has been reported already somewhere in print on the Internet, I've missed it completely (that's certainly possible). I have thus far one other person who concurs with my Connery sighting, and two brief online references to the lobby scene, but I've not seen anything in the advance publicity to indicate the director/producers incorporated Connery into an uncredited moment in the film.

I'll be doing my own favorable review of the film shortly, perhaps after a second viewing. Meanwhile, I invite readers to share their assessments: Is that Sean Connery, or merely a remarkable look-alike? Email me your answer at: pmcguigan@cox.net.

About the Author: Patrick B. McGuigan is managing editor of The City Sentinel in Oklahoma City, and a lifelong fan of Ian Fleming's books and the James Bond film series.