Commentary

What we should really be afraid of is those who support governmental control of our bodies. Don’t be fooled, because that’s what many of the falsely called “pro-life” members of our Legislature are after. It is their ideology that government can dictate to a person what they can and cannot do in matters of their […]

In May 2008, Sen. John Ford, R-Bartlesville, authored a bill that would have required anyone who voted in Oklahoma have proper identification. Ford’s bill did not even require a photo ID ” a utility bill or check stub would have been sufficient for someone to vote. The bill fell one vote short of passage and […]

The news business in Oklahoma is committing suicide. The journalistic bloodletting that is leaving a trail of dead and dying newspapers and anemic broadcast stations across the country continued last week in Oklahoma after the Tulsa World cut 26 staff members from its newsroom. Yes, in case you’ve been wondering, this is a trend. Last […]

Now is exactly the time for state government to invest more in higher education, but don’t count on a majority of Oklahoma leaders to see it this way. Faced with projections of declining state revenues, Oklahoma’s political leaders shouldn’t hesitate to tap the Rainy Day Fund to increase funding for higher education. This is unlikely […]

Everyone is doing it and it feels really good. We all love to peer into the crystal ball and attempt to predict what will happen politically in the upcoming year. Your not-so-humble commentator is no different, so let’s get started and have some fun while we’re at it. Prediction 1: Congresswoman Mary Fallin will announce […]

Michael Tomasky, American editor of London’s The Guardian newspaper’s U.S.-centered Web site, made a set of three suggestions to guide the Obama administration’s effort to broaden its support. The first suggestion was that Obama come to Oklahoma and make a speech.  That is a fine idea. Barack Obama took 34 percent of the vote in […]

Some Oklahoma legislators seem to have fantasies of the Wild West.  On Wednesday, Dec. 17, Rep. Eric Proctor, D-Tulsa, and Sen. Kenneth Corn, D-Poteau, announced they would be introducing legislation in the upcoming session that would repeal state taxes on the sale of guns and ammunition. We were told that people should not have to […]

I am a reasonable person. I wait patiently for the outcome of things I cannot control. I understand that major changes take time. That said, I have begun to see red at the sight of orange ” the orange rubber cones and barrels that mark yet more construction on roads and streets. I have Road […]

As we approach the end of a year, it is perfectly natural to look back on the year behind us. Some people make lists of the best or worst things, such as movies and songs. This year, I would like to look back on the most ridiculous occurrence in Oklahoma government. Gene Stipe, the former […]