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Re-elect Oklahoma Platform Caucus, taxpayers' champions

The Platform Caucus was right. The Platform Caucus, that small group of Oklahoma state representatives and state senators who support the conservative, grassroots-crafted, limited-government platform of the Oklahoma Republican Party, was right to insist that there is and always was enough money coming into the state treasury to fund a...

Posted by Michael Bates on June 20, 2018 8:43 AM

Runoff 2012: Flashback: The Faught-Mullin debate

In case you missed it, here is the video from last month of the only televised debate between State Rep. George Faught of Muskogee and Markwayne Mullin of Coweta, the two candidates in the runoff for the Republican nomination for the Second Congressional District of Oklahoma. The winner of this...

Posted by Michael Bates on August 28, 2012 1:30 AM

BatesLine ballot card: 2012 Oklahoma runoff

For your convenience, here is a list of the candidates I've endorsed, will be voting for, or otherwise recommend in the August 28, 2012, Oklahoma Republican runoff. Early voting is already underway; as this is a Federal election, early voting ("in-person absentee") began Friday and will be available at the...

Posted by Michael Bates on August 27, 2012 2:07 AM

Oklahoma 2nd District debate and update

It's been a very busy, very productive week for me. It just hasn't been productive at all here on BatesLine. One urgent project at work turned into three, plus some urgent tasks at home. The family stayed plenty busy with Vacation Bible School at church (with the theme of Babylon...

Posted by Michael Bates on July 21, 2012 2:50 AM

Ted Cruz overtakes David Dewhurst: Underdog pulls ahead

I was encouraged to come across a new poll showing conservative former state Solicitor General Ted Cruz pulling ahead of establishment moderate Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst in the race to be the Republican nominee for Texas's open U. S. Senate seat. Dewhurst finished first in the May 29 primary, but...

Posted by Michael Bates on July 13, 2012 11:26 PM

Oklahoma primary eve political notebook

People keep sending me stuff. Here's a sampler, with a few thoughts of my own: Pat McGuigan of CapitolBeatOK has a story about State Rep. George Faught's late surge in the 2nd Congressional District. The story notes the Faught campaign's strong cash position going into the home stretch and his...

Posted by Michael Bates on June 25, 2012 12:00 AM

Mullin campaign "tried to get me fired," reporter claims; Mullin, Pettigrew, Wood not registered in district last year

The Republican nomination for Oklahoma's 2nd Congressional District is getting national attention. Kerry Picket of the Washington Times writes that Markwayne Mullin is "under the gun" regarding the 2009 BATFE and BAPD seizure of firearms at his place of business in Broken Arrow (in the 1st CD), weapons owned by...

Posted by Michael Bates on June 20, 2012 10:45 PM

Personhood: Those few who stood for the sanctity of human life

Last week, on April 26, when State Rep. Mike Reynolds tried in vain to appeal the ruling of the speaker pro tempore, so that the Personhood bill (SB 1433) would be heard, only 15 other state representatives were willing to stand with him. This in spite of the fact that...

Posted by Michael Bates on May 4, 2012 2:50 AM