The Gadfly On The Wall

Easley's Ethics: This week's revelation that State Senator Mary Easley has moved (again) out of the Tulsa district she represents and is being paid mileage for trips from Grand Lake Towne to the Capitol begs several questions. The first is How can she do that? The second is Does this mean that if I'm a member of the Senate and move to, say, LaJolla, California, that I can claim mileage from LaJolla to the Capitol? It's the principle, of course. Attorney General Drew Edmondson says questions about Easley's residence and mileage reimbursement are not ones that would come to his office. He says those questions would go to the Election Board or the Ethics Commission. One would think they also would go to the leadership of the Senate but, like Easley, there's been no comment this week. Republican Senate Co-President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee raised the question of Easley's residence in last year's campaign but she was elected even though she then lived in Owasso, also outside the district. Coffee says she clearly is in violation of the law. A constitutional scholar says she's violating the Constitution, which requires senators to live within their districts while in office. The leaders of the Senate, the Election Board and the Ethics Commission (and Edmondson, the state's chief law enforcement officer) ignore the Easley circumstances at the risk of (further) imperiling the stature of the Legislature. The Senate, in particular, now appears unwilling or incapable of keeping its house in order. Perhaps a registered voter who actually lives in Senate District 18 will file a lawsuit challenging Easley's residency outside the district.

Demo Dark Horse: I make New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson the dark horse in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. Smart. Been-there-done-that on the national level. Right on most issues in the conservative South. Savvy. Hispanic. He'll appeal to conservative-to-moderate Independents and Republicans, but that will mean he won't appeal to moderate-to-liberal Democrats. If he can raise the money...if he can tailor his message...if John Edwards continues his goofy ways (have you heard about his two female obscenity-writing, Catholic-hating blogmasters?)...if Obama wilts under the media spotlight....

Randy Glasser: Thanks to those who have emailed or called to thank me for writing the story about the murder of former Mustang resident Randy Glasser in Midlothian, Texas a week ago. It was a senseless crime perpetrated by a cretin with a baseball bat. I ache for Randy's family, in particular his parents Rich and Pat and his brother, Rick, who, despite their grief, kindly noted my story in comments now posted below the story.

Party Posts: Ben Odom, vice chairman of the Oklahoma Democratic Party, is running for chairman and he apparently isn't bothered by the prospect that current chair Lisa Pryor may seek reelection. She says she'll make her intentions known next week. Tulsa County Republican Chairman Jerry Buchanan says he's running for chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party and he apparently isn't bothered by the prospect that current chairman Tom Daxon may seek reelection. Daxon indicates he'll run again. Former Chairman Gary Jones apparently still contemplates seeking the office again (and he says that's the only thing he's thinking about seeking).

Newt: He's not even a candidate (yet), but former U. S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich appears the favorite of those who voted in our online GOP presidential poll. He took 40 percent of the vote, leaving five others in his dust.

Vets For Victory: I'll be in the crowd on the south steps of the Capitol next Saturday morning when Vets For Victory holds its rally in support of our troops.

Woe Is He: Troubles mount for former State Rep. Mike Mass, Hartshorne Democrat under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and a federal grand jury. Revelations in the probe have prompted officials to reopen a bankruptcy filing by Mass and his wife, settled and closed a year ago when it was concluded they had no assets that could be attached to settle debts. Seems now there are questions about that conclusion.

Share |