First, we’re back! And what better time to get back into the mix than a day that features two of our favorite Oklahoma politicians:  Sen. Harry Coates and Rep. Randy Terrill.

When OKPNS uncovered the truth about Coates and the pro-illegal immigration gang, the daily paper in Oklahoma City looked the other way. Now the paper has bitten the Seminole Senator. Right now the focus is on the alleged affair Coates had with the lobbyist, but insiders tell us at least one of the reporters for the paper may have had an enormous conflict of interest. We’ll be checking into that. Further, we’re told the paper had this story months ago, which leads us to wonder why the story came out AFTER a public body had awarded a contract on the new juvenile facility.

It’s fascinating that the liberal paper would turn on their former associate. Back when OKPNS was unmasking the lies and deception of the pro-illegal immigration crowd, Coates claimed we had gotten the documents as a result of being “hacked.” A sensational capitol press conference was held and an “investigation” was supposedly initiated. Not one single follow up inquiry was made by Coates’ friends in the press corps even though they knew then as now that there was no “hacking.”

Today Sen. Coates was probably reminded of the story of the frog and the scorpion. You may remember it: a scorpion approaches a frog to ask for a ride across a river. The frog is incredulous: “you’ll sting me to death,” the frog says. The scorpion counters that they would both drown, and the frog agrees. Mid-way across the river the scorpion viciously begins stinging the frog, and just before they go under the frog asks why the scorpion would do something so deadly to both. Replies the scorpion,”I kill things. I’m a scorpion.”

How’s that stinger feel now, Harry?

It also looks like the editors and writers over at the Tulsa World and The Oklahoman are getting their news from the blogs as well. At least The Oklahoman credits blogs they lift stories from.

Okie Pundit:

We learn that the Tulsa World picked up our story on Dan Sullivan and Cliff Aldridge receiving questionable donations from an insurance company that will benefit from legislation Sullivan is carrying this year. Unfortunately, they didn’t credit us. Read more…

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Saying he offers a “different set of eyes” at the Oklahoma State Capitol, veteran journalist Patrick McGuigan spoke with Oklahoma Watchdog this past week while this online newspaper and McGuigan both happened to be working on stories in the Nation’s Capital.

Recently, McGuigan debuted a new website, www.CapitolBeatOK.com, devoted to covering legislative affairs and more at the State Capitol. Not one to rest on his laurels after three decades of reporting experience, he intends to help fill a gap in an era when cutbacks and layoffs are common in newsrooms.

What will Capitol Beat OK contribute to the political reporting atmosphere in the Sooner State? Quite a bit, according to McGuigan.

“I wanted to cover state government again because I’ve been watching the decline in the number of people who are covering these important issues,” McGuigan said, just minutes after filing a story from a desk here in Washington.

“There was a growing gap,” he added, noting downsizing across the board in journalism. Read more…

We told you last week about the smear job that was percolating between a powerful legislator and a lazy, willing reporter at the state’s main newspaper. well the smear job has come to light. We know the newspaper and reporter and now we know the candidate being maligned. The one piece missing in the puzzle is the identity of the powerful legislator?

Developing….

A reliable source tells OKPNS a super filthy political lie designed to torpedo a candidate for statewide office is being brewed up by a leading politician at the state legislature.

The source wouldn’t reveal the political affiliations of the conspirator or of the intended victim, but indicates the plotters have no designs on the office their target is seeking.

The source goes on to say the smear is a well-orchestrated effort, has been underway since mid-December. Our source says the conspirators may be recruiting allies in the media. “You’ll know it when you see it. It’s simply a matter of a bad person trying to destroy a good person. You’ll simply marvel at the integrity of the person they’re trying to smear, but you’ll understand in an instant what’s going when it’s revealed just who is behind the smear,” our source tells us.

Developing…..

After performances like today, it is easy to understand why rank and file Republicans continue to be disgusted by conniving RINO’s, and little wonder why thinking conservatives continue to abandon our party and head to the Tea Party movement.

Oklahoma is the reddest of Red States, but continuing to turn a blind eye to venal and corrupt leaders is an unwise way to build for the future. After last session’s revelations, Coffee has no political future as an elected official: even the indolent press corps knows that. We know Coffee is always worried about another attempt to send him packing. He has to keep his core gang of “consultants” in place to keep their money machine humming, and his future employment prospects as well.

So perhaps Oklahoma voters should turn their attention to the Republican senators who are helping him hold on to power. Perhaps the press corps would attempt to get every Republican senator to go on the record about their own support or opposition to Coffee. Perhaps monkeys will nest in the Capitol rotunda. Asking the press corps to do their job? It’s not going to happen. What IS possible is for the voters to ask their own senators if they support Coffee. If they do, it’s time to replace them in the next primary with Republicans who won’t tolerate corruption.

Related:

Examiner.com: No crystal ball, but close

Examiner.com:

Oklahoma Senate Republicans get the ball rolling today in the run-up to the legislative session. They’ll be talking about their agenda: it’s believed job creation, energy stabilization and government reform will headline the GOP effort.

But here’s what everybody really wants to know: will Glenn Coffee come unhinged this session? Read more…

You know for years we’ve enjoyed tweaking the capitol press corps, which is simply the worst group of reporters in the free world. But we’re here to help our sleepy friends break a big story BEFORE the next legislative session.

Sen. ‘Smokin’ Glenn Coffee is slated to be the guest speaker today at the Capitol Republican Christmas Party at Toby Keith’s bar in Bricktown at 5:30. We want you to feel relevant once again. You know, like back in 1988. So we’ve gotten you the details about the Sen. Coffee meltdown. Now all you have to do is ask Sen. Coffee some questions. Here’s your chance to get back at us for scooping you on all the great stories over the past few years!

Here’s what to ask the arson-minded senator:

Have you paid your taxes this year?

If not, where did you get this year’s loan to pay your back taxes?

What part of the ‘house’ are you going to burn down, and how many casualties do you expect?

How much do you enjoy embarrassing Republicans, and how do you plan to do so in 2010?

Don’t you wish OKPNS was as lazy as the rest of us?

No need to thank us: just keep on doin’ what you’re doin.’ We appreciate it!

Examiner.com:

Here’s an AP story on the latest developments surrounding the controversial Magna Corporation bankruptcy fire sale, which basically tells us nothing.

Despite the financial furor and allegations of fraud that have erupted nationally, and whispers of unusual developments surrounding the bankruptcy auction of the Oklahoma City Magna property, Oklahoma press stays silent. Read more…

Seriously, it just makes you wonder why the Oklahoma media market continues to play to the stereotype as the worst in the nation.

Last week, we were the first in Oklahoma to tell about this story about hi-jinks in the Magna bankruptcy, and Oklahoma press outlets, and even blogs, remained quiet as a church mouse. Today this bombshell is rocking the racing industry and not one single mention by any media outlet. We kid you not.

Boo! Okay, Oklahoma press, didn’t mean to scare you, but the discussion about fraud is focused on Magna, NOT Remington Park, so you CAN investigate without worrying about your ad revenues from the Chickasaw tribe.

Meanwhile, whispers remain that something smelly happened in the bidding process with the sale of Magna properties in Oklahoma and Texas, but we’re betting not one phone call has been made to the creditor group who is suing Magna alleging fraud in the bankruptcy proceedings.

So for any journalist or reporter with enough drive to make a call, we’ll help you out…Read more