News from the Plains: All this RED can make you BLUE
Welcome to Camp Crackpot!
by Barry Friedman
Brogdon indicated Tuesday that he is most interested in public speaking and setting up "liberty boot camps."
Clearly, only someone who wears a tri-cornered tinfoil hat that's tied down with a stainless steel boat winch would actually advocate something called a "liberty boot camp," so who is
this Brogdon, you ask?
Maybe Oklahoma's next governor.
Former Republican state Sen. Randy Brogdon is returning to full-time bedevilment of the GOP establishment. Brogdon doesn't put it that way. He's really more interested in attacking Democrats and President Barack Obama. But that could well be the effect of Brogdon's separation this week from the Oklahoma Insurance Department.
The only reason most Oklahoma legislators come to work in the morning is to attack President Obama, so why is any of this news now? Why does this matter? Because while saying his resignation was to form a political consulting business (apparently we're short), Brogdon may, in fact, have something else on his
mind--or at least the sellers of the boat winch do.
Ronda Vuillemont-Smith, President of the Tulsa 9/12 Project said, “Until there is an official announcement, anyone, including Randy Brogdon running for governor, is pure speculation. It wouldn’t be surprising if a candidate to primary Governor Fallin rises up, as many conservatives are disappointed with her governing decisions to grow government, pass the largest budget in state history three years in a row and make minimal cuts to state income tax.
Yes, as astonishing as this may be, there are people in Oklahoma who believe that Governor Mary Fallin, the same Mary Fallin who did
this and
this and thinks
this is a tax-and-spend liberal who is veering too far left.
And who better than Brogdon to row us back to the mothership aboard the USS John Bircher?
He, after all, is the guy who received almost 100,000 votes when he challenged Fallin in 2010.
He, after all, is the guy who said this about the president and the Affordable Care Act.
"Are we going to have to purchase fried chicken tomorrow for dinner?" Brogdon asked, referring to the federal mandate.
He, after all, is the guy who said this about
militias.
Brogdon was among conservative members of the state Legislature and tea party leaders who previously said creating a new volunteer militia could help defend against what they believe are improper federal infringements on state sovereignty.
He, after all, is the guy who said this about the Founding Fathers and everyone's favorite
Amendment.
"They were not referring to a turkey shoot or a quail hunt. They really weren’t even talking about us having the ability to protect ourselves against each other. The Second Amendment deals directly with the right of an individual to keep and bear arms to protect themselves from an overreaching federal government.”
He, after all, is the guy who said this about government
spending.
"It's downright hypocritical to vote against a bill while sliding in pork for your special interests," said Brogdon.
Okay, so he's also the guy who sunk his teeth into the statewide nipple and didn't let
go until milk was pouring down his chin, but let's not quibble.
In an Oct. 17 email, the Oklahoma Public Employee Retirement System told Brogdon it estimated that his three years at the department boosted his total state retirement income from $1,024 to $1,642.75 per month.
Government teet, line one, it's Randy Brogdon
Brogdon said his state pension was not a consideration in taking the Insurance Department job.
"I'm not relying on that at all," he said. "I'm relying on working and saving for retirement."
Oh, we thought you
needed the money. What a relief!
Brogdon is a special kind of leader and this is a special kind of hypocrisy, a special kind of piety. And he pities the poor souls who don't think the way he does.
"Obviously, my Christian life has a dramatic impact on my worldview," he continued. "I believe my Christian views have a lot to do with every aspect of my life--it's where I get my strength and my values and my belief. I don't see how some people make it, just being human, without that."
Thanks for the concern, you condescending putz, but we're good.
Brushing aside his intentions about another run against Fallin, Brogdon did say his life would "revolve around politics," adding that people at these "liberty" camps would receive "an education on the founding principles" and "getting the federal government back in bounds."
Yeah ... and many Germans thought Deutschland Ueber Alles was just a real catchy tune.
To put it another way: first rule of liberty: no camps.