Commentary

What if the Oklahoma City area becomes even more politically and culturally conservative in the next few years? According to a story in the Tulsa World, population trends show Oklahoma’s fastest-growing political districts are now either controlled by Republicans or trending towards the GOP. These districts include Oklahoma City’s suburban areas. If the trends hold, […]

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. That’s the motto for Norman officials and residents who want a new and bigger public library. Last May, a $49.5 million bond issue for a new facility was defeated in municipal elections by a mere 280 votes. Just five months later, library supporters have unveiled a […]

As America and the world struggle with an economy sliding toward recession, the threat of an awakening Russian bear and an expanding list of economic competitors, it’s important for Oklahoma to have a strong bench of leaders to represent our interests. In years past, Oklahoma had people of enormous stature on Wall Street such as […]

Oklahoma City, and many other regional communities recently opened our doors to victims of hurricanes Gustav and Ike. We are all proud of the continued, reliable, gracious generosity of our citizens, professionals and churches. These civic “servants” leave home and career responsibilities over and over again to serve those less fortunate who have endured vicious […]

More than anything else, governing is about setting priorities. Oklahoma Republicans got it right in the past few years when we started pushing the state government to “Fund Education First.” We recognize that the long-term health of our state ” socially, economically, culturally ” is dependent on a well-educated citizenry. Further, we recognize that in […]

I never thought I would agree with Tom Coburn or Jim Inhofe on anything, but this is a bailout, not a rescue. It should come as no surprise that the same crowd that rushed us to war over nonexistent weapons of mass destruction would now be saying, “Trust us, $700 billion is all we need […]

Mason was, and is, very much like every other 12-year-old. He thinks Tony Hawk invented the Internet, that PlayStation is a portal to another dimension and that his parents were created by God for the express purpose of dreaming up chores that keep him from that precious PlayStation. When the autism bill came to a […]

Now the Senate is likely to put the bill on its calendar again this month, but its future remains uncertain. And even if it can pass the Senate, the Bush administration might veto it over national security concerns. The shield law would cover anyone who “regularly gathers, prepares, collects, photographs, records, writes, edits, reports or […]

The Oklahoma conservative bastion and corporate media can attempt to rationalize it, but state government continues to inadequately fund public education. This has caused incalculable harm through the decades. It limits economic development because the state lacks a substantial educated workforce. It has led to high rates of cyclical poverty and hungry families. When people […]

Sarah Palin scares me. Not because she shoots guns or talks tough to good ol’ boys or wants more money for her state. Palin scares me because she could become president of the United States and not only is she unqualified, unprepared and uninformed, she makes it clear that while she’s free to make choices […]