As a coda to DR's political obituary of Inhofe, let me add that I spent a few hours with challenger Andrew Rice last Thursday. My takeaway? Game on.
He's smart and charismatic, and he has a compelling story. He understands politics.
He's also picked a great opponent. In politics, people are more motivated by hate than love, and, well, there's not a lot of people whose name don't begin with Exxon or end in Mobil with Inhofe on their Valentine's list. Inhofe's 'definite re-elect' numbers are in the pits.
I spent some time around Jerry McNerney when he took on Pombo. Bless his heart, he had a lot of wonderful qualities, but Rice strikes me as a better public speaker and campaigner.
Here's my prediction: Rice will make it competitive. Then this race is going to get nationalized.
Comments
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Bingo Posted 12:05 am
23 Dec 2007
His positions ... on global warming, social security, medicaire, taxation, water, lobbying, ethics, national security, immigration, health care, and a dozen other issues that are spun for political gain by those who play to the extreme elements of our electorate ...are perfectly in line with the views of a vast majority of Oklahomans.
He will remain a Senator for this state as long as he is willing to serve because he is a down to earth man of integrity who is noone's "pawn".
One of my early memories of Jim stems from the time when politicians were posturing about how to aid the people of Haiti after disaster struck.
Jim supported bills for relief, while personally piloting his plane loaded with medical supplies through inclement weather to that troubled Island.
In my view, he and other thoughtful people fully recognize the scientific evidence of global climate change for exactly what it is ... a scientific question of cause and effect that must be answered, then resolved within the economic, cultural and human realities of our world.
If those who promote drastic measures to resolve an as yet unanswered question prevail, it may subject us all to the rule of unintended consequences far more disastrous than the conservative approach to this question offers.
Personally, I applaud the "green" movement if it is pursued at a pace that doesn't create massive economic and cultural dislocations, but I cannot accept the precipitous demands of theorists who would ignore other opinions to force chaotic changes based upon their own opinions.
Nuf-Sed
Everything that is not proven to be impossible ... is possible!
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