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Friday, May 30, 2008 Aspen Institute's “Ghost Commissioner” Says He’s Running. Is It a Negotiating Ploy? As OKPNS predicted, the intrigue regarding the corporation commission races is exploding as Monday’s three-day filing period approaches.
The Aspen Institute's candidate, incumbent Jeff Cloud, is upping the ante today with an announcement that he is going to file for re-election for the full six-year seat. That has left Chesapeake's favorite, Jim Roth, scrambling for a deal.
It is common knowledge that Cloud is squatting on the seat in which Chesapeake wants to place Roth. The lethargic Cloud is being wooed by “interested parties” in the private sector so that Roth, who is perceived to be a much brighter and energetic commissioner, can move to the full six-year term.
Today’s announcement gives Cloud leverage to negotiate a better salary, but at least one corporation commission insider says all the scenarios floated by pundits and even OKPNS have got it all wrong for one reason: Cloud’s penchant for slothfulness. “This man has the worst work ethic imaginable. Cloud arrives late, leaves early, have long breakfasts at Classen Grill, and jogs with his dog in the early afternoon. He consistently embarrasses his assistants with his ability to disappear when work beckons and he’s not real quick on the uptake even on the rare occasions when he actually is in the office. The fact is, Cloud wants Denise Bode pay for ghost commissioner work, and nobody wants to pay for that.”
So Cloud may have decided that short hours with little accountability are more important than big bucks with responsibility. But issuing a press release on Friday is a telltale sign that something fishy is going on: it is standard political operating procedure to issue bad news on Friday, and put good news out early in the week. Or perhaps in keeping in character, Cloud was just running behind schedule for his release.
If Cloud is running for real, what becomes of Roth? We know the Roth folks didn’t anticipate Cloud staying in, and reports are they’re freaked out. But this we know: if Roth files against Cloud, it means Cloud has cut a deal, with Cloud dropping out AFTER filing is over. Cloud would remain in the race until after filing to keep Dana Murphy and/or Rob Johnson from following Roth to the six year seat. But if Roth files for the two-year seat, it means Cloud really is staying, unless someone new emerges to take him on.
Developing…………….Labels: Chesapeake Energy, Decision '08, jeff cloud Posted at 5/30/2008 08:28:00 PM | 
So Why Is Commissioner Jeff Cloud Smiling?"Aspen (Institute) is one vehicle whereby left-wing billionaires like George Soros work to influence politicians on Capitol Hill by bringing them to luxurious places, hotels and resorts, and listening to mostly liberal and left-wing speakers." - Accuracy in Media 4/7/08
OKPNS will continue to follow this story. Labels: Chesapeake Energy, jeff cloud Posted at 5/28/2008 01:42:00 PM |
Ghost Commissioner, Gay Commissioner: What You See Is NOT What You Get!
Judging by the information we at OKPNS are receiving, it's the two corporation commissioner races that will present the most drama this summer and fall, especially when considering the intrigue surrounding the two incumbents: Democrat Jim Roth and Republican Jeff Cloud.
While we know the U.S. Senate race between incumbent U.S Sen. Jim Inhofe and State Sen. Andrew Rice, D-Oklahoma City, will be entertaining, the musical chairs theater that is developing over at the commission promises multiple story lines.
Roth became the first openly Gay person to hold a state-wide elected office when he was appointed by Gov. Brad Henry in May of 2007, replacing Commissioner Denise Bode. Per the Oklahoma Constitution, Roth is running for the last two years of Bode's term.
Cloud was elected to a six-year term by the voters in 2002, and according to reports is running for another six years.
The only problem is, what you're hearing about these races is just not true.
Electing Roth is the number 1 priority for Chesapeake Energy. Chesapeake championed Roth's appointment in the first place, and their officials have made it clear that they want Roth in the six-year seat that Cloud now holds. Cloud, like Roth, supported Chesapeake's successful campaign that stopped construction a coal-fired power plant and is seen as such a good friend to Chesapeake and the petroleum companies that he has a standing job offer from an unnamed natural gas company. According to sources, the sticking point has been the salary: Cloud wants in the neighborhood of what Bode took to become CEO of the Clean Skies Foundation, but his potential suitor believes Cloud is nowhere near as valuable as former Commissioner Bode, a national energy policy expert who headed the Independent Petroleum Association of America prior to her ten-year run at the corporation commission. Further, Cloud has gained a reputation as being so uninspiring and lethargic that insiders tell OKPNS that Republican Commissioner Bob Anthony's pet name for Cloud is the "ghost commissioner."
It's a good bet that the puppeteers over at Chesapeake do not want two of their favorites running against each other, so based upon what Chesapeake officials are repeating, their expressed desire to have Roth in the six-year seat would indicate Cloud is in the way. Some are suggesting to OKPNS that Cloud knows he is leaving, but using time as leverage to increase the value of his compensation package. "Chesapeake would much rather have Roth than Cloud: he's sharper, harder working and has become an extraordinary ally for them, and besides, they have a much more energetic person than Cloud ready to put into the two-year term," one corporation commission insider tells OKPNS, "so while Cloud is a friend, Chesapeake has others they want on the commission that simply will work harder than Jeff."
So where does that leave the other announced candidates? Until Cloud divulges his intentions, or is forced by his potential employer to make finally make a move, the others are forced to wait. "It's not even out of the realm of possibility that Cloud and Roth will eventually reach an accommodation, and that Roth will file against Cloud, who would then drop out AFTER filing to thwart others," says another political observer familiar with Chesapeake's concerns.
So while Roth and Cloud are different in every conceivable way except their allegiance to Chesapeake, it appears that the two are very dependent on each other to get what they want. So even after filing is over next Wednesday, we may still have no clue how this drama is going to play out. OKPNS will keep following this developing story.Labels: Chesapeake Energy, jeff cloud, Jim Roth Posted at 5/27/2008 01:43:00 PM |
Quote of the Day: "Energy Crisis is Here, Warns Denise Bode" (2/8/2001) Clean Skies CEO Denise Bode was warning the nation before 9/11 and the Iraq War, that our dependence on foreign oil and bans on domestic drilling would eventually lead to "price hikes." This excerpt was taken from a 2001 piece in Energy Houston magazine.
If the U.S. does not open up federal lands to exploration and production and support the rebuilding of the nation's energy production, refining and delivery systems, we can expect more price hikes and curtailments for energy, warns Denise Bode, vice chair of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission and former president of the Independent Petroleum Association of America.
Writing in the new issue of Energy Houston magazine, Bode says, "America's energy infrastructure and resource base is being shut down, and that is in turn causing a crisis from the gas pump to the electric meter." America is approaching being 60 percent dependent on foreign energy, up from 42 percent 10 years ago. Read more...Labels: American Clear Skies Foundation, Chesapeake Energy, Denise Bode Posted at 5/27/2008 08:43:00 AM |
Environmentalist Wackos in OK; The Heck With the Planet, Someone Save the Humans!So how's that 'eco-friendly' feeling now? When corporation commission officials nuked a proposed coal generating plant last year, ostensibly because coal fired plants are just too "dirty", the environmentalists and their buddies at Chesapeake energy cheered. Now folks in northeast Oklahoma are finding out the real dirt is in their electricity bills because of the rapidly escalating cost of natural gas.
The phony coalition formed by Chesapeake to oppose the construction of cheaper and more economically-reliable coal plants in favor of plants fired by price-volatile natural gas beat back a proposal fronted by the incompetent team at Oklahoma City-based OG&E. OKPNS chronicled the hapless effort the utility made on behalf of coal, but the natural gas syndicate won primarily because they own two members of the commission: Jim Roth, the official Chesapeake errand butt boy, and light weight commissioner Jeff Cloud, who is rumored to have a standing job offer from a "natural gas" company. One can only guess who.
Ironically, both Roth and Cloud, if he files, face re-election this fall. Insiders say Cloud is being offered far, far below the salary former commissioner Denise Bode took to head up Chesapeake's anti-coal working group based in Washington.
From eco-imperialism.com (4/27/06):
Even in this “era of corporate social responsibility,” brazen violations of honesty, transparency and accountability standards occur regularly. Exhibit 1: the recent “Coal is filthy” ad campaign. Prominent advertisements in major US papers featured an ethnic spectrum of smudge-faced California models, whose misleading claims about emissions from coal-fired electrical generating plants were reinforced by a CleanSkyCoalition.com website. The campaign urged citizens to tell government officials, “No more filthy coal plants.” But the Coalition wasn’t another gaggle of environmental pressure groups, like those listed on the website. It was a cabal of natural gas companies, led by Chesapeake Energy of Oklahoma. Their goal wasn’t really helping Americans get “clean skies” and “live longer,” as their ads proclaimed. It was fattening corporate wallets.Cloud, unlike Bode, doesn't posses an impressive body of work and is rumored to be, shall we say, not that enthusiastic about hard work, which is important if the offer comes from Chesapeake, since screwing the public, like rust, never sleeps. Regardless, some Oklahomans can soon experience for themselves the results of the phony global warming scam that allows greedy power companies to exploit the public's fear so that long-term energy policies are based on emotions rather than reason. Ethanol anybody? So now some Oklahomans will see their electric rates take a major hike in a few days, and based upon some estimations, natural gas prices will double in the next couple of years. So any money you have left over from purchasing artificially-inflated food and automobile fuel will fly out of your pockets for your electric bill. Shunning coal for natural gas may sound great, until reality hits. Thanks to the climate change hysteria created by idiots like Algore, Chesapeake has committed daylight robbery, and gotten away with it. So it's grab your ankles time in Oklahoma: Dr. natural gas will now administer your treatment.
So here's the environmental scores for tonight: Chesapeake is going to make more obscene profits, Oklahomans will soon begin sending corporate welfare to Chesapeake's basketball team and in gratitude, Chesapeake will now return the favor by screwing those same people on their utility bills.
It's been a very busy year for the folks at 63rd and Western, but there's much more lying, stealing and even a few folks they haven't hosed out there yet. Now THAT's an inconvenient, and unfortunate, truth. Labels: Chesapeake Energy, Denise Bode, Jim Roth, OGE Posted at 5/17/2008 09:15:00 AM |
Domestic Partners: Aubrey McClendon & Jim Roth
Since the mainstream media has rolled over and played dead on this issue, it's great to see Mark Shannon and the blogosphere do their jobs for them.
From markshannon.com
Why
Thursday, May 08, 2008
 AUBREY MCCLENDON would be an Honorary Co-Chairman for a homosexual candidate for CORPORATION COMMISSIONER. Mighty convenient when you're in the OIL AND GAS BUSINESS, don't you think? No conflict in interest there, huh? No ethical questions? No appearance of wrong-doing, do ya think??!!!?!?! In a letter mailed to friends by Mr. Bennett and Mr. McClendon they state, "Moving Oklahoma forward by making it a better place to work and live is a mutual goal. Jim Roth also shares our vision of a pro-growth Oklahoma." They continue, "As the Incumbent, he is a leader that demonstrates the vision, integrity and experience necessary for the responsibility of this position." (Insiders tell me that AUBREY is upset with REPUBLICANS because they won't rescind 1804, making it easier for Chesapeake companies like TOTAL ENVIRONMENT to more easily hire cheap, illegal, labor. Apparently one of McClendon's minions has been calling in Republicans on various levels of government and reading them the riot act, TELLING THEM they should bend to his will. Apparently only Harry TURN Coates is willing to do his bidding, because 1804 still stands.) Read more... Related: EXCLUSIVE: Candid Emails Reveal Depths of 1804 Repeal Conspiracy; Ambush Planned for Rep. Terrill EXCLUSIVE (Pt 5): Candid Emails Reveal Depths of 1804 Repeal Conspiracy; The Poll They Didn't Want You to See Labels: Chesapeake Energy, HB 1804, Jim Roth Posted at 5/15/2008 11:23:00 AM |
OKPNS Memo to “Masterminds” Look...Made in the USA!
We understand the anti-HB 1804 political "masterminds" are upset at this week’s revelations on OKPNS regarding public support for HB 1804. They’ve misled the public since last January, but truth finds a way in America, and it sometimes even gets past the Oklahoma City capitol press corps and out to Oklahomans.
Perhaps you should assume that Sen. Coates has lost or misplaced other crucial documents in your quest to rip the public’s favorite law away from them. Now we’re not as smart as you, but here’s some fundamental advice that has been used for decades with some success:
First, assume Dirty Harry has screwed up all your plans, and that the pesky public will find out the truth someway, somehow. You’ve got to at least come up with a tale regarding the so-called ‘investigation’ at the Senate, and time is short.That great American, William Jefferson Clinton, had his staff release bad news with his spin, mostly after working hours on Friday evenings. It worked for the most part, and he didn’t even have the fawning and lazy capitol press corps you have there in Oklahoma City.
Second, take an inventory. If Dirty Harry lost all the items we’ve revealed, there’s probably more out there he has screwed up, if you know what we mean.
Third, there's a loose trail you need to tie up and soon: if there were any lies dealt in the so-called investigation of the 'hacked and stolen' e-mails and documents, you need to get those items covered up as soon as possible. Somebody, somewhere in the Oklahoma press may actually want to do a follow up story and ask for that information. It's a long shot, but it could happen!
Meanwhile, if anybody out there has more Dirty Harry information, you know where to send it to the tipline. okpns_editor@hotmail.comLabels: Chesapeake Energy, HB 1804, Sen. Harry "Turn" Coates Posted at 5/08/2008 02:03:00 PM |
EXCLUSIVE (Pt 5): Candid Emails Reveal Depths of 1804 Repeal Conspiracy; The Poll They Didn't Want You to See
Below are quotes from a Washington D.C. polling firm's "briefing memorandum" to Chesapeake Energy on the dim prospects of repealing or revising HB1804.
"Immigration is a top issue: Ranked third in an overall list of most important issues to voters"
"Messages with an emotional appeal are strong among women, Democrats, more liberal ideology and voters under the age of 55 years. Those who attend church regularly show a higher propensity to be impacted by emotional pieces of information about their fellow man"
"This indicates that with generic messaging about the impacts of this immigration legislation, voters easily become divided in their support and less certain about their positioning."
"While messages that create opposition to the legislation overall are limited, they each have a very common theme of conveying an emotional appeal."
Click here to read the entire memo.
According to its critics, House Bill 1804, the immigration reform bill, was the law passed in the 2007 legislative session that Oklahomans liked only because they didn’t know about the consequences. The law’s opponents, such as the chambers of commerce in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, the so-called ‘state’ chamber of commerce and their bosses in business and industry, would roll out a multi-million dollar campaign to ‘educate’ the ignorant ‘Okies’ and bring balance back to the galaxy.
Wrong.
Today, the Oklahoma Political News Service reveals why the cocky arrogance of blustering poseurs like Chesapeake’s Tom Price and Senator Harry Coates was all hot air from the very beginning.
By late January, the 1804 repeal crowd knew full well the extent of their impossible mission, but the smack talk kept flowing. Chatter about a multi-million dollar repeal effort filled the halls at 23rd and Lincoln. The pompous Price, who some naïve observers at one time believed to be a political expert, in actuality ran a comedic legislative campaign that blew up in his face when his equally arrogant senate partner, Coates, left his war plans in a capitol bathroom. Those plans, sent to OKPNS by an anonymous good citizen, revealed a blundering, fumbling and ill-conceived effort masterminded by the most inept gaggle of political ‘consultants’ assembled in recent memory.
Today the 1804 repeal effort is as dead as Julius Caesar because the people of Oklahoma made up their own minds about HB 1804.
Thanks to Senator Coates, we now know the full extent of public attitudes toward HB 1804. While it is still unclear as to why the aforementioned energy giant wants illegal aliens running amuck in Oklahoma, a January 28th memo to the firm reveals the bad news, which obviously Price and his fellow incompetents did not want exposed to the public.
Revealed here is the truth the now-discredited political poseurs so desperately tried to hide. After the polling company asked 11 different questions specifically designed to push down public support for HB 1804, public approval barely wavered, dropping only 4% from 89% to 85%, still within the poll’s margin of error. Doubtless, Price and Coates were stunned. For the elitist duo and their followers, the game was over.
Two items stand out among the poll’s results. First, when push-poll questions dealt with perceived problems for the business community, support for the law actually went up, once again proving the point that the state’s business leadership, perceived as weak and ineffective, really is weak and ineffective.
Second, with only one exception (increasing taxes to help provide funds to support the law), the only times the push polling questions seem to lower public support is when touchy-feely emotional arguments regarding children and religion are asked. Perhaps that explains some of the ‘drama queen’ behavior of the law’s opponents over the past few weeks.
So turn out the lights: the party’s over. For those students of politics who love to drill deep into statistics, here are the reasons why people power overwhelmed so-called political power in regards to HB 1804. Click here to view entire poll results
Related:
Labels: Chesapeake Energy, HB 1804, Sen. Harry "Turn" Coates Posted at 5/07/2008 08:15:00 AM |
EXCLUSIVE: Capitol Police Say Surveillance Video Reveals No Office Break In; Sen Coates "Mishandled Own Emails" 
Related:
Video: Sen Harry Coates - "It's my party, and I'll cry if I want to."
Hat tip: okiecampaigns
Labels: Chesapeake Energy, HB 1804, Sen. Harry "Turn" Coates Posted at 4/22/2008 08:20:00 PM |
EXCLUSIVE (Pt 4): Candid Emails Reveal Depths of 1804 Repeal Conspiracy; Oklahoma Bankers Association Study is a Farce McSpadden & Associates Lobbyist Jami Longacre with - an American citizen!
Labels: Chesapeake Energy, HB 1804, Rep. Randy Terrill Posted at 4/17/2008 11:37:00 AM |
Bode: Natural Gas Holds Promise As Motor Fuel"The natural gas industry needs to “elbow our way into the debate on energy.” - Denise Bode
Great move by Chesapeake to hire Bode! Who is better at throwing elbows than Denise Bode? We wonder if this "uniquely American Industry" will start employing more American workers in the future?
From the Times Record News: (Wichita Falls, TX)
Bode, former Oklahoma Corporation commissioner who is now CEO of the American Clean Skies Foundation, told about 1,100 oil and gas producers at a Texas Alliance of Energy Producers’ luncheon Wednesday that the natural gas industry needs to “elbow our way into the debate on energy.”
With Americans paying $3.30 a gallon or more for gasoline, “The public is listening like never before,” she said.
She called natural gas a “uniquely American” industry that’s still in its infancy.
Her organization, whose mission she said was to educate and communicate rather than lobby, is launching an extensive public awareness campaign comprised of national newspaper and television ads and a news Web site. Read more...
Related:
Dumb, Dumber and the Ad Agency
Dumb and Dumber Part 2
Dumb and Dumber Part 3Labels: Chesapeake Energy, Denise Bode Posted at 4/17/2008 10:36:00 AM |
EXCLUSIVE (Pt 3): Candid Emails Reveal Depths of 1804 Repeal Conspiracy; Regarding Dirty Harry’s Notes
"One client is adamant that they want the guest worker -visiting worker -program as an option to raise immediate revenue."
"We need to put our stuff in a bill with a friendly bill author."
"If you need me to write any materials for you to use on this issue, please let me know."
-Lobbyist Vickie Rankin
Click here to read entire emails.
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
 "Well, this is a lot of fun, sort of." - Lobbyist Otie Ann Fried
Click here to read entire emails
AN ANALYSIS
More insight for OKPNS readers today into the minds of the of the anti-1804 cabal, also known as "the gang who couldn’t shred straight."
Out latest offering from the tip line provides more insight into the precise strategy of the anti-1804 campaign, and demonstrates just how deceptive the effort has been. Taken as a whole, it is clear to see that the so-called 1804 education effort, advanced by the pompous and self-important Chesapeake employee Tom Price, was nothing more than a bluff aimed at HB 1804 author Randy Terrill. Instead, the documents show that delaying implementation of some aspects of HB 1804 is where the anti-1804 campaign had placed all their eggs, as demonstrated by our revelations about the March 30th Flashpoint program.
More examination reveals some of the leading players in the inept and deceptive repeal campaign, and hand-written notes level some petty and nasty comments about other players in the failing effort. Lobbyist Jamie Longacre, who represents Spirit Bank CEO Kell Kelly, a very public 1804 foe, is seen to emerge as a major architect of the delay tactics.
Further, the documents reveal the recent Oklahoma Banker’s Association study, presented as an independent gauge of the alleged harm to the Oklahoma economy, was rather a public relations stunt staged in coordination with the anti-1804 campaign.
The notations in the margins provide much comic relief. For instance, the state chamber of commerce is ripped by the writer, who types “if they had done their job last year we wouldn’t be in this fight. Enough said”. The author then appears to misspell the word ‘looser” in the margin next to chamber boss Dick Rush’s name. Several other hand-written notes regarding the chamber appear all across the strategy document.
The author holds others out for contempt in varying degrees in typed and hand-written notes, including lobbyists and some organizations such as the Oklahoma Farm Bureau. But the most interesting aspect of this particular document is the attention given to Senate Co Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee. At one point the document’s author writes, “go to Glenn….see what it takes,” apparently in reference to Coffee. Later, the writer notes that Coffee is against delaying full implementation of 1804, and begins to script a campaign plan.
Other interesting items in typewritten text: "The other question that comes to mind is whether I go to Glenn to see what his intentions are. If he plans to move forward with 'English Only' and will not commit to supporting the effective date delay and Task Force, then more drastic measure[s] may be considered. That will cause a real 'fire-storm' but if all else fails, I don't see too many other options."Next, an examination of the handwriting just below that paragraph: "Glenn does not want to delay implementation." Then, in the handwriting, the strategy and message are identified, which centers on using release of the banker's study as leverage for a delay and subsequently a phony ‘task force.’ For those not reeling from the hilarious and inept planning musings, comic relief is just around the corner when you examine the comments about the state chamber, Agriculture Commissioner Terry Peach (“he said he will get out front on this”); the governor (“He needs to take a stand on something of substance, this is the right issue”); the Indian Affairs Commission (“it amazes me that they keep quiet on this when they were treated so poorly by the "first immigrants"). Further, the writer pens some unflattering remarks from what appears to be Dirty Harry include Lieutenant Governor Jari Askins (“not want to rock the boat”), The writer also implicates more co-conspirators: including the Regents for Higher Education, (“Burns Hargis ... is in agreement with our effort”), and state treasurer Scott Meacham (“Amy Sparks who is the Chief of Staff offered her help last week”). Another e-mail exchange between Dirty Harry and lobbyist Jami Longacre clearly shows that Longacre is in charge of coordinating the messages. Today’s latest post also shows more coordination of strategy and messages with lobbyist Vicki Rankin and healthcare advisors, lobbyist Otie Ann Fried and a senate staff mole, Lewis LeNaire. One item we’ve uncovered discloses the existence of television commercials, which the anti-1804 group had scheduled to begin on April 2nd or 3rd. But perhaps most disgusting is Dirty Harry’s comment about his fellow Republican, Coffee. "We can 'play nice' for a short while but we will soon have to decide if we wish to continue this tactic or just 'go-for-broke' and turn the Senate upside down. If Coffee does not change his attitude about this, that's exactly what will have to be done. I don't know what else we can use for leverage if all else fails. He is going to look really silly if he continues to fight with Tom." Unfortunately for the gang that couldn’t shred straight, there is someone looking silly, and it isn’t Senator Coffee. Clearly, the inept and treacherous gang of incompetents that constitutes the anti-1804 repeal gang didn’t take the original Dirty Harry’s advice, “A man’s got to know his limitations.” Related: AP: Missing e-mails lead to Senate Probe Mike "Follow the Money" McCarville: Harry Coates: Senate Investigation Underway Into Disappearance Of File From His Office (3 Posts in one day! Glad you could make it Mike!) Mark Shannon: "Interesting to note, TOM PRICE was never identified as Sr. VP for Chesapeake at any time during the show, according to a report on the OKPNS....Seems to me to be just another attempt to try and demonize the millions of Oklahomans who support 1804 and are glad to see the ILLEGALS forced out of the state, and the businesses who hire illegals held accountable for supporting them while they are here." Read more... EXCLUSIVE: Candid Emails Reveal Depths of 1804 Repeal Conspiracy; Ambush Planned for Rep. Terrill EXCLUSIVE (Pt 2): Candid Emails Reveal Depths of 1804 Repeal Conspiracy; Is Sen. Coates Working for the People or Chesapeake Energy? Labels: 1804, Chesapeake Energy, HB 1804, Rep. Randy Terrill, Scott Meacham, Sen. Harry "Turn" Coates, V. Burns Hargis Posted at 4/10/2008 06:27:00 PM |
While Rome Burns, Sen. Coates Hides In His Office CALL SENATOR COATES AND ASK HIM WHO HE WORKS FOR
Coates To Address Leaked Emails, Hate Calls"Senator Harry Coates said tonight he will meet with members of the press to discuss the leaking of private communications and hate calls to his office and family members because of his opposition to the state's new immigration law." Read more...Labels: 1804, Chesapeake Energy, HB 1804, Sen. Harry "Turn" Coates Posted at 4/09/2008 07:32:00 PM |
EXCLUSIVE (Pt 2): Candid Emails Reveal Depths of 1804 Repeal Conspiracy; Is Sen. Coates Working for the People or Chesapeake Energy?Sen. Harry Coates (R) Sell Out
Indian Affairs Commission - "It amazes me they keep quiet on this when they were treated so poorly by the first immigrants!"
Regents for Higher Education - "Have discussed it with Burns Hargis and he is in agreement with our effort, don't know if he would go on record though."
Treasurer's Office -"Amy Sparks who is chief of staff offered to help."
State Chamber - "If they [Dick Rush or Mike Seney] had done their job last year, we would not be in this fight, enough said."
Secretary of State - I have heard she [Susan Savage] is support (sic) but that may be as far as it goes, may not take a public position.
Governor's Office -"[Brad Henry] needs to take a stand on something of substance, this is the right issue."
Click here to read entire email.
There’s little wonder why Oklahomans are turning to the OKPNS tipline to pull back the cloak of deceit surrounding the campaign to repeal Oklahoma’s immigration reform law: OKPNS has time and time again been the only organization with the guts to take on the powerful and corrupt. And time after time the Oklahoma media has ignored the evidence presented by OKPNS.
Now, OKPNS is revealing the blueprints of the campaign, the players, the research and those engaging in outright deception, and we’d like to help the Oklahoma media as well. If you’re in the Oklahoma media, we’ll post a special section for journalists so they can peruse the findings of our special report. With today’s revelations, the media can ignore the truth no more and we’re glad to help the weak and vacillating Oklahoma media grow up!
Related:
EXCLUSIVE: Candid Emails Reveal Depths of 1804 Repeal Conspiracy; Ambush Planned for Rep. Terrill Labels: 1804, Chesapeake Energy, HB 1804, Rep. Randy Terrill, Scott Meacham, Sen. Harry "Turn" Coates, V. Burns Hargis Posted at 4/09/2008 11:12:00 AM |
Anti-1804 Opponents Blink? (Updated)
Updated April 3, 2008: The Flashpoint video is now available. Watch Session One by clicking on the image below. Sessions two-four are also available here.
Friday, March 07, 2008
  Despite the bluster and overheated rhetoric coming from the rich anti-immigration reform opponents regarding a multi-million dollar education and repeal effort, rumors are flying that the campaign is dead before it can be launched.
Some reports indicate that Chesapeake officials, the titular leaders of the repeal effort, are dropping the effort, which was first exposed in Oklahoma Political News Service.
Viewers of KFOR’s Flashpoint were treated this weekend to the sight of HB 1804 author Randy Terrill’s appearance on that show with Sen. Harry Coates, an 1804 opponent. Flashpoint regular Mike Turpen, a consultant to Chesapeake, and new co-host Kirk Humphries, a chamber stalwart, were practically begging Terrill to delay implementation of 1804. KFOR even teased Terrill’s Sunday appearance on their Friday 10PM newscast. The irony of Terrill, a regular on News9’s top-rated Your Vote Counts, being used to boost Flashpoint’s ratings, was just too rich. So is the fact that so far, the episode has not being made available on KFOR's website, although the Flashpoint episodes are normally a regular feature there.
Insiders say that many legislators have grown weary of Chesapeake’s “arrogant and rude” attitude at the Capitol. They also tell OKPNS that Chesapeake’s lobbying team has made major tactical errors on legislation, and that anti-Chesapeake forces have gained control of legislation badly wanted by Chesapeake.
One insider describes the situation this way:
They overreached, they bullied and they threatened. Now their corporate welfare package is on life support.If the rumors are true, Terrill has achieved a major defeat of the out-manned anti-1804 crowd. Polls indicate that the Moore representative’s measure is extremely popular with rank-and-file voters, and some observers believe that a repeal effort had virtually no chance of succeeding regardless. OKPNS will stay on top of this developing story. Labels: Chesapeake Energy, HB 1804, Rep. Randy Terrill, Sen. Harry "Turn" Coates Posted at 4/03/2008 07:58:00 AM |
"A Better Way (to screw) Oklahoma" Head Declines Blogger Interview
Is "Better Way Oklahoma" going to conduct their campaign to repeal 1804 by press releases only?
 From TMRO:
Tom Price, Chesapeake Energy senior vice president of corporate development, said the group A Better Way Oklahoma is forming plans and refining strategies for a “potential public education initiative” regarding House Bill 1804.
Price declined a request for an interview but issued a statement regarding A Better Way Oklahoma. Read more... Labels: Chesapeake Energy, Decision '08 Posted at 3/07/2008 12:44:00 PM |
OK Media Wakes Up: Double Crossers In Cross Hairs?
Oklahoma City talk radio was on fire Thursday as Oklahoma City voters woke up to the realization that the double cross predicted by the Oklahoma Political News Service last month had come true.
Popular Oklahoma City radio talk show host Mark Shannon has an interesting take on the situation here. Dozens of callers were expressing their outrage at the revelations. Meanwhile, insiders say Chesapeake mouthpiece Tom Price screwed up in revealing the double cross so soon after the voters approved the Sonic owners' request for upgrades to the Ford Center.
"Price is an idiot. Why anybody would pull this stunt is beyond me." one source familiar with the situation says. "I'm sure his bosses are livid. Voters who just three days ago approved the measure would probably vote no now."
By days end, HB 1804 Randy Terrill, perhaps Oklahoma's most popular elected official, had aggressively nailed Price and other gutless business leaders for their back-door effort. Read Terrill's press release here.
 The OKPNS report correctly predicted that Price, state chamber chief Don Cain and others would be pushing for repeal of 1804. It will be interesting to watch the level of damage control: major Oklahoma City media ignored the linkage between the tax vote and the immigration repeal effort.
Now, some observers are saying that the local newspaper will provide most of the cover for Price's gaffe, but with media leaders such as Shannon shouting from the rooftops about the double cross, there may be little if anything the media enablers can do to stop the damage. Labels: Chesapeake Energy, HB 1804, Press Bias, Rep. Randy Terrill Posted at 3/07/2008 11:50:00 AM |
Dumb and Dumber Part 2
The state's "dumbest" utility, OG&E, is hopping mad that State Treasurer Scott Meacham, is appearing in newspaper ads critical of a proposed coal-fired power plant near Red Rock Oklahoma.
The Oklahoma Political News Service broke the story recently that the utility was using the same advertising agency as its opponent in the battle, Chesapeake, who appears to be spending far more than OG&E. Most political observers we spoke to were stunned the utility would make such a gaffe.
One Capitol insider summed it up by saying, "They're getting creamed as far as advocacy is concerned. Any firm with with any sensible political instinct would never, ever use the same firm as their opponent. What, there are no other ad agencies in America? OG&E's advocacy effort is non-existent and they are losing the ad war to a company who uses their ad agency. It's an incredibly stupid mistake."
Click here to read The Oklahoman's take on the controversy:
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Labels: Chesapeake Energy, OGE, Scott Meacham Posted at 9/06/2007 12:21:00 PM |
Queer Eye for the Regulator Guy
Labels: Bob Anthony, Brad Henry, Chesapeake Energy, Jim Roth Posted at 5/15/2007 09:07:00 PM |
Gas Company Sets Sights on Washington
 By Jim Snyder
Since opening for business in 1993, Chesapeake Energy has grown into a dominant player in the natural gas industry. Now the company is setting its sights on Washington.
In the process, it is making the traditional energy lobby, which tries hard to avoid infighting, nervous that the détente could be over.
Chesapeake’s push comes as Congress weighs global warming legislation, which could rearrange the country’s energy fuel mix.
The company is a charter member of the American Clean Skies Foundation, which will promote natural gas interests. The formation of a new coalition itself isn’t particularly newsworthy since several already exist. But Chesapeake’s CEO, Aubrey McClendon, who co-founded the company with $50,000, indicated in an interview with The Hill that the foundation would not be afraid to challenge Big Coal, despite that industry’s powerful backers on Capitol Hill.
“We will be an aggressive and forceful advocate of natural gas, and I should add, effective,” McClendon said.
The foundation will be run by Denise Bode, a member of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission with ties to Washington’s oil and gas lobby. Bode was once the president of the IPAA and is a former staffer to ex-Sen. David Boren (D-Okla.). Read more... Labels: American Clear Skies Foundation, Chesapeake Energy, Denise Bode Posted at 4/30/2007 02:21:00 PM |
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