May 25, 2008

On The Cover

Meet Speaker Lite: Benge Swings, Misses

By Arnold Hamilton

State House Republicans are experimenting with a new leadership model: The revolving door speaker. Three legislative years, three different speakers. Will they go for four?

What’s Inside

Frosty’s Notebook: Bigotry

By Frosty Troy

Why all the media talk only about Rev. Jeremiah Wright? I’m a Roman Catholic and I’m just as upset by “Reverend” John Hagee’s attack on the Catholic church.

On Energy, Cole Sorely Needs New Material

By Lynn Green

Recently, U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, R-OK, released a column decrying the skyrocketing prices of methamphetamines, which he blamed on excessive left wing government regulations. He called for the government to remove regulations from the meth industry so that the commodity would become more available to average Americans. Well, that’s not exactly what he said. He was talking about oil, but his take on the problem of high energy costs and its solution made about as much sense as it would have if he were talking about meth.

A Republican Can’t Get House Brass To Listen: An Open Letter to Speaker Benge

By Wayne Rohde

I am the father of Nicholas Rohde, a 10-year-old autistic boy from Edmond. You might know him as the boy commonly referred by the legislation as Nick’s Law. As a registered Republican, I am ashamed of the actions of the Chairman and the coordinated effort of the House Leadership [April 9] to suppress public debate, input, and necessary comment on Nick’s Law.

Humphreys’ Return To Power Worrisome

By James Nimmo

Just as the mythic Dracula of Transylvania came back from the dead to spread horror among the peasants, so has the flesh-and-blood Kirk Humphreys come back from the politically dead to fling his homophobic horror in the halls of Oklahoma City’s public schools.

Fixing A Problem That Doesn’t Exist: Voter ID Devil In Details

By Jay Paul Gumm

I have written previously about “bumper sticker politics,” where extremely complex issues are made to fit on a bumper sticker. A measure I helped defeat recently is a perfect example of bumper sticker politics at its worst. The issue was euphemistically called “Voter ID.”

Hannity’s Insanity Traced To Falwell

By Don Wilkey

Surfing through the channels, my cable at times passes through Fox News. To me Fox News is like Grape Nuts – it ain’t grape and it ain’t nuts.

Dynasties Transform America Into Plutocracy

By Hiram K. Myers

The April 25 issue of the Observer, relying on a study conducted by the Boston College Social Research Institute, quoted that the value of wealth to be transferred by inheritance or gift over the next four and a half decades is estimated to be in excess of $40 trillion. Whether these transfers become a boon or a blight on our social, economic and political systems will depend on how our federal government taxes the transfers.

Public Forum

As Economy Sours, Tax Cuts Bloom Fully

By Edwin E. Vineyard

The failure of the Oklahoma Legislature to adequately fund government services has resulted in some bizarre happenings.

Last Chance To Escape Bush, Cheney Madness

By Sheila Samples

The fate of millions was sealed the moment Dick Cheney selected himself as The Destroyer whose charge to keep for the next eight years would be – as Capitol Hill Blue’s Doug Thompson so succinctly described George W. Bush – a “criminally insane, pill-popping dry drunk.”

State Lawmakers Play Cynical Shell Game

By Edwin E. Vineyard

“Hang the tax-cutters!” “Throw the rascals out!” Such should be the election year slogans of all knowledgeable voting citizens who care about the quality of state and local government services.

Observations

Well Done!

After four years of tireless work, Rep. Marian Cooksey, R-Edmond, finally has won passage of legislation to crack down on those who kidnap and sell human beings.

Coburn Again

The most decent thing George Bush has done as president – helping battle the huge AIDS pandemic ravaging Africa – is put on hold by the former doctor from Oklahoma, Sen. Tom Coburn.

At Last

One of our prayers has been for a foundation to answer the anti-Oklahoma, anti-public education Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, funded by a bevy of rich bigots. It’s here! The Oklahoma Policy Institute: Better Policy, Better Information was unveiled May 9 and is headed by none other than David Blatt, premier head of the Tulsa-based Community Action Project.

Low Standard

The Office of Labor-Management Standards [OLMS] has reached a new standard for provable lies from the Bush Administration.

About Bullies

A new study conducted by scientists at York University finds that students who bully tend to have difficulties with other relationships, such as those with friends and parents.

Bush’s Legacy

Few were surprised by the findings in a survey of professional historians. President George W. Bush’s presidency was viewed by 98% of the historians as a failure and a full 61% called him “the worst president ever.”