“Aha” moments affect party politics

This year’s presidential campaigns are causing many people to have “aha” moments that defy partisan stereotypes.

Democratic candidate Joe Biden says he will repeal the tax cuts enacted under President Trump and add many new taxes. When analysts reviewed the combined state-federal tax rates that would result under Biden’s proposals, they found top rates would surge to 62 percent in New York, for example. That prompted Rapper 50 Cent to declare, “I don’t want to be 20 Cent.”

Rapper Lil’ Wayne in a recent tweet praised Trump for his work on criminal justice reform and inclusion of Wayne’s proposals that empower ownership in black communities.

Rapper Ice Cube reached out to both political parties to discuss his proposals to help black Americans. The Trump administration included some of Ice Cube’s ideas in the campaign’s agenda. Ice Cube lamented that all Democrats did was pay lip service with constant references to “minorities” and “people of color”. 

In Ice Cube’s video discussing the two parties’ response, he looked somber. That’s a common reaction for those confronted with reality. Nationwide, there’s often a glaring gap between what people have been told about the two political parties and reality.

Here’s a few examples.

CHANDLER (October 30th) – Attorney General Mike Hunter today announced a Lincoln County woman will serve 10 life sentences in prison after a jury found her guilty of multiple sex crimes involving four children with her boyfriend, who was convicted and sentenced last year.

According to court documents, Crystal Bales, 35, and Johnathan Moran, 43, involved all of their biological children in the sex acts. Three of the children tested positive for meth and one tested positive for marijuana. The children’s ages ranged from nine months to 10 years old. 

Two of the children belonged to Bales and Moran. Each had one child with another partner.

Attorney General Hunter said crimes against children will never be tolerated by his office.   

“The children in this case suffered unimaginable horrors at the hands of monsters,” Attorney General Hunter said. “These individuals have no business being a part of our society, and we want to ensure they, and those who do unspeakable acts to children stay behind bars for as long as possible. I want to thank Senior Deputy Attorney General Joy Thorp for her work and dedication on this case. She and Lincoln County Assistant District Attorney Greg Wilson worked tirelessly to guarantee Bales won’t be able to hurt another child for the rest of her life.”

Moran was charged with seven counts of sexual abuse involving children under 12. He accepted a plea deal and was sentenced to 40 years in prison.

The Lincoln County case number is: CF-2018-00010

The Oklahoma Republican and Democratic parties will be holding election night watch parties on Tuesday, November 3rd, to observe election returns and celebrate their successes (or mourn their losses, depending on the situation).

The Republican event is free, while the Democratic party is $5. I find it interesting that the GOP event is in the OKC metro, in the hotly-contested 5th Congressional District, while the Democrats will be holding theirs in Tulsa.

OKGOP Red Wave Election Night Watch Party

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, October 30, 2020 -The Oklahoma Republican Party announced today its general election watch party will be held Tuesday, November 3 in Edmond. All GOP candidates, campaign supporters and volunteers are invited to attend. Media are encouraged to arrive early for set up.

The event is free, but for security measures, attendees need to register here.

• What: Oklahoma Republican Party General Election Watch Party
• When: Tuesday, November 3
• Time: 6:30 p.m.
• Where: Edmond Conference Center at Hilton Garden Inn
• Location: 2833 Conference Drive, Edmond, OK
• Contact: David McLain, 918.557.0687, [email protected], www.okgop.com

Masks are required in all public areas of the hotel before entering the ballroom. Sanitizing stations will be provided.

Oklahoma Democratic Party Election Night Watch Party

Join us on election night for a socially-distanced election watch party!

On Tuesday, November 3rd at 6:30 PM, we are hosting a watch party at Driller's Stadium in Tulsa! We will watch the election results roll in together and celebrate our victories!

All attendees will be required to wear a mask and comply with CDC guidelines.

Tickets are available for just $5 a person! Register here. Interested in a private suite? You can reserve one by clicking here.

The Oklahoma State Election Board has been releasing data on the early voting turnout by day, with Saturday set to be the final day for early voting to take place. I took a look at the statistics, and put together these two maps to show what's currently going on.

This first map compares the voter registration leader in each county to the proportion of voters by party who have voted early thus far. A blue county means a higher percentage of Democrats have voted than are registered in that county, and vice-versa for red counties. 

Example A: as of January 2020, Adair County had 47.46% Democratic and 40.26% Republican. As of 5pm Friday, 46.38% of Adair County early voters were Republicans and 41.85% were Democrats. Adair County goes on the map as red due to a higher proportion of Republicans casting early votes than are registered.  

Example B: as of January 2020, Caddo County was 47.52% Democratic and 38.47% Republican. As of 5pm Friday, 53.16% of Adair County early voters were Democrats and 40.36% were Republicans. Adair County goes on the map as blue due to a higher proportion of Democrats casting early votes than are registered. 

Now for the map:

This next map looks at which counties have "flipped" so far in early voting.

Example A: as of January 2020, Johnson County was 51.13% Democratic and 35.95% Republican. As of 5pm Friday, 37.18% of Johnson County early voters were Democrats and 54.4% were Republicans. Atoka County is a registered Democrat-majority county with more Republicans voting early thus far than Democrats.

Example B: as of January 2020, Cleveland County was 47.9% Republican and 33.18% Democratic. As of 5pm Friday, 44.03% of Cleveland County early voters were Democrats and 41.79% were Republicans. Cleveland County is a registered Republican-plurality county with more Democrats voting early thus far than Republicans.

The map:

GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT NAMES SPECIAL COUNSEL FOR NATIVE AMERICAN AFFAIRS 

OKLAHOMA CITY (Oct. 30, 2020) -- Governor Kevin Stitt announced today the hiring of attorney Ryan Leonard to serve as Special Counsel for Native American Affairs. 

In this role, Leonard will assist the Governor and his administration on issues arising from the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision in McGirt v. Oklahoma, through which the Court ruled the Creek Nation reservation still exists within the State of Oklahoma.

The jurisdictional and other legal issues raised by the McGirt decision are unprecedented, and will require close cooperation with the Congressional delegation, other state officials and tribal leaders to resolve.

 

From the Oklahoma Republican Party today:

Oklahoma Patriots,

Did you see our Governor’s call to action this week? He needs us to show up at the polls to vote NO on SQ 805.