The Edge of Reason

"So did you say you wanted a black or gold jersey?"

"I think black. Sometimes the gold looks too yellow."

"Ok, so I'll mail it in a few days. What are you doing for Christmas?"

"I think we're going to go to London sightseeing..."

Pretty boring, huh? That was basically the extent of my last overseas conversation. Do you think Dubyah thinks I'm a terrorist?

Today, "House lawmakers opened the way for oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and approved $29 billion for hurricane relief during an all-night session Monday bringing their legislative year to a close."

It was a bit hard for a lot of lawmakers to vote against this measure. Attaching it to a major defense spending bill that included the hurricane relief amendment was pure political genius. Is it any wonder the GOP took over government a few years ago?

Vote against it, and during your next campaign your opponents can say you voted against the war -- it will be done, just watch. Vote against it and your opponents can say you voted against hurricane relief.

Again, the Dems were asleep at the wheel and America and future generations lose.

Let me first say, I'm likely going to vote for Patricia Presley for the 5th Congressional seat. Why? Because I want a woman to win. A woman has not served in Congress from Oklahoma since Alice M. Robertson of Muskogee, a Republican, was elected in 1920. She was the country's second congresswoman and the first to preside over a session of the U.S. House.

I personally like Mary Fallin, she a nice lady. But she doesn't have enough substance and enough of a backbone to stand up to the men in her own party in this state, and she'll never be a powerhouse in Washington. Denise Bode -- well, she's just not an option for any office -- mean, vindictive, self-serving. So Patty it is.

But I have to wonder what the heck possessed her to do this? I certainly hope she's not been charmed by the Democrats (who indeed charmed her enough to get her to switch parties recently) into thinking that this is going to be a cake walk.

It's going to get ugly. Presley has run mostly unopposed, particularly in 2004, despite the "bail-bond scandal" in her department. Just because she skated there, surely she knows that's going to be a campaign issue -- a big issue -- in the upcoming race. She'll win the primary and nomination for the Democrats. But the GOP is gonna be gunning for her because (gasp here) she dared to change parties.

If Bode gets the GOP nomination, I'm not sure Presley has what it takes to fight against her. Bode fights like an alley cat. Just ask Drew Edmondson, who won, but limped away with more than just a few scratches on him after his last go round with Bode.

And then there's the money. Presley's gonna need a lot of it. So here's hoping the Democrats dig deep, otherwise she won't have a chance.

Crap. Some smart ass in Washington seems to think the FCC should extend to satellite radio. I beg to differ. If we don't censor cable television because people PAY for it, the same should apply to satellite radio.

Censorship continues in the land of the free -- make that semi-free.

State Rep. Randy Terrill, a Republican, who's been working on finding a new job ever since he was elected to this one, says he was offended by the use of discarded lottery tickets to decorate one of the small Christmas trees that line the hallways of the Capitol every year.

School children decorate the trees, each class choosing a different design. The "Oklahoma EDUCATION Lottery" had been studied in the class, so the teacher hit on the idea of the lotto tree -- a gift of education.

Terrill, who opposed the lottery, demanded the tree be removed and then likened the decorations to using beer cans or pornography.

That's a new low for state lawmakers. Cissy at North of the Red River> has a great idea, let's send him a gift: Send all your used lottery tickets to Terrill at his office:

2300 N. Lincoln Blvd.
Room 337
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
or call him and tell him what you think: (405) 557-7346