Goodbye "Local Oklahoma"

Another Oklahoma firm gets swallowed up. Local Oklahoma Bank has been acquired by the Larado, Texas bank of IBC. The Local Oklahoma name is already off the banks in Oklahoma - replaced by "IBC Bank". In the usual corporate-speak the former Local Oklahoma website says it's changed to IBC but is still "local". So goes Oklahoma.

Tom Cole Stops the Contest

Okiedoke has the following to say about US Congressman Tom Cole's successful effort to keep is only opponent off the ballot:While I don’t blame Oklahoma’s 4th District U.S. Rep. Tom Cole for using state election law to challenge the candidacy of his opponent, the mere fact that an Oklahoman can’t run for office as an Independent while registered as Democrat or Republican is an example of restrictions that actually detract from a healthy democracy. But worse yet is why Democrats allow this important seat to go uncontested. Do they agree with Tom Cole that much, or are they just so weak as to not have a potential candidate even interested? The only person who dared challenge Cole was another Republican.

Cole, objected to Charlene K. Bradshaw running for his seat because she was a registered Republican that filed to run as an independent. This is a really bad move by history professor Cole. It would appear that he either doesn't welcome even a token contest at the polls or he doesn't believe people have the right to run as independents if they are registered with a party. Either way, it makes Cole look like he cares more about winning than democratic principles.

The travesty is that Oklahoma's Election Board agreed with Cole in the absence of any law that says a person can't run as an independent if he/she is registered with a party. The Board just made up the rule after the fact - at Cole's request!

Boofing

In talking with a mechanic today he told me he used to work at a Toyota dealership and quit because the dealership wanted him to go to a seminar on how to "boof" customers - how to inflate service bills, fool customers, and boost the amount customers spend. I'd never heard the term before but I've certainly experienced it.

Here's a great source of info on how to avoid a boof.

First Things First

Gov Henry wants to focus the state's economic development efforts on rural areas. He could start by training Oklahomans how not to give $35,000 worth of their jewelry to complete strangers. If we could just hold on to what we've got...

Southern Baptist Schism

The Baptists are polarizing along with the American electorate. Could this be in part due to the politicized nature of the American media (see: Media, Politics and Credibility at June 14 Diane Rehm Show)
? As cable news networks and radio talkshows take sides and move away from objective moderation towards the left and right it can't be surprising to see this reflected throughout society.

FBI deserves appreciation

The FBI rarely receives the praise it deserves for the good work of its agents. The FBI has apparently thwarted a plot to bomb a mall in Ohio today. While there may be problems within the agency, such as inadequate internal communications, the agents I know are dedicated and intelligent. They need better funding and support.

Tom Tommorow on Inhofe

Tom Tomorrow shows readers what the logical outcome would be if we all adopted Senator Inhofe's principles.