God help us: Istook may run for Gov.

[soonerguru]

Ernie wants to do to the entire state what he's done to this district.

Regardless of party affiliation, one would think OKC residents would not be likely to vote for him in a two-way race against Henry.

Agreed?

I will never forgive him for working AGAINST our transportation goals as a city.

[mranderson]

That could be a God send. Istook will probably lose.

When a person who has been in Congress (either branch) runs for an office like Governor of his or her state and loses, they rarely continue a political career. So, this will probably cause him to retire which will be a benefit to the state.

So. Short story long. Hope he runs.

[PUGalicious]

I just hope Oklahoma is smart enough to NOT vote for him.

[mranderson]

I just hope Oklahoma is smart enough to NOT vote for him.

Trust me. As strong as Brad Henry is, they will be. My choice of Gary Richardson may run. Great candidate. Tom Hiatt is considering, and two republicans have already announced.

So, that makes Istook, Hiatt, Rchardson, and the other two vs. Henry.

[flyingcowz]

I'm conservative, and I wouldn't even vote for Istook.

If he were to get elected, this state would be doomed.

[jbrown84]

I don't like Henry, but there's no chance I'd vote for Istook. Idiot.

[BG918]

I'm not the biggest fan of Henry but he seems to be the best of the current candidates, especially if Istook runs. I think he needs to make his focus be on education and better-paying jobs for Oklahoma, does anyone know what his platform will be?

[mranderson]

I'm not the biggest fan of Henry but he seems to be the best of the current candidates, especially if Istook runs. I think he needs to make his focus be on education and better-paying jobs for Oklahoma, does anyone know what his platform will be?

Think about what he has done for Utah. Jobs, education, rapid transit, better freeways... All for Utah. THAT is his platform.

[BDP]

All for Utah. THAT is his platform.

If he runs, we should do a mock campaign for him where that is our slogan. Too funny.

It's hard to get a handle on the conservative candidates. You know Henry will run a campaign of nothing. But will the conservatives run on the old small government shtick or the new theocratic shtick.

[mranderson]

Here is what Gary Richardson was seeking in 2002.

Make all tollroads private, a state lottery, repeal of the state income tax, and I think he was in favor of county school districts instead of the 500+ we have now.

We got the lottery, however the rest are still hopes. This is why I want him to run.

The others? I have no idea what their platforms will be... Except I took.

[PUGalicious]

Why would we want all toll roads to be private?

[mranderson]

Why would we want all toll roads to be private?

I will clarify. Make all toll roads free of charge.

[PUGalicious]

I wondered. Thank you for clarifying.

I would support that platform.

[BDP]

I think he was in favor of county school districts instead of the 500+ we have now.

This is huge. We waste so much in administrative costs running all these districts that we can't get anything done. Isn't it true we have more districts than Florida or something like that?

repeal of the state income tax

How would he make up for it? Ad valorem, use tax? Budget cuts?

[mranderson]

This is huge. We waste so much in administrative costs running all these districts that we can't get anything done. Isn't it true we have more districts than Florida or something like that?



How would he make up for it? Ad valorem, use tax? Budget cuts?

Question one: Yes.

Question two: User tax such as tax on labor. FYI: did you know the state of Wyoming has NO income tax and the entire population of the state is less than Oklahoma City proper? Plus, their freeways and other infrastructure are much higher quality than Oklahoma's.

(For those who demand sourses. My parents lived there and still own property there. So, they should know)

[BDP]

User tax such as tax on labor

Tax on labor? Like a payroll tax?

[soonerguru]

The income tax has been made a bugaboo by the State Chamber and GOP for some time.

Pay attention to what's going on in Texas right now: people are about to riot over their property taxes. Texas, that bastion of progressive thought, seems to be the only model the idiots who run this state look to when drafting policy.

Texas is a "fee 'em and fine 'em" state, just like Oklahoma is becoming. We already have a horrifically eroding transportation infrastructure, and our teacher pay is abysmal. I don't see how removing revenue from the equation is going to help matters.

[mranderson]

Tax on labor? Like a payroll tax?

You get a haircut. It would be taxed. You get a car repair, everything is taxed. Labor. Not a tax on payroll. We have that now. In more ways than one.

[PUGalicious]

...Texas, that bastion of progressive thought...

Are you kidding me? By what definition?

[soonerguru]

Scribe,

I don't believe your sarcasm meter is tuned in.

[PUGalicious]

my mistake... sorry...

[Patrick]

Maybe Istook should run for governor of Utah instead. If Istook is elected governor of the state of Oklahoma, it will be a disaster. I'll be interested to see how Baptists vote. They're big Republicans but they're anti-Mormon.

[BDP]

You get a haircut. It would be taxed. You get a car repair, everything is taxed. Labor. Not a tax on payroll. We have that now. In more ways than one.

OK. Gotcha.

I am aware of the payroll tax. I thought you meant an increase. That's how federal GOPers have covered income tax cuts before (under Reagan) and so I was wonder if he was suggesting more of that here.

In the end, it doesn't matter. The waste is not in taxes, but in spending. Eliminating income tax in favor of use tax only realigns the tax burden, which would be much greater, percentage wise, for those who make less. Maybe that sounds philosophically or idealogically better, but it only creates its own set of problems, most likely by decreasing net income after use tax for low income families.

[RockStar]

I will clarify. Make all toll roads free of charge.

This will happen when pigs fly. The Turner Turnpike is such a cash cow, I see no way that road ever becomes free. Too much greed!

[metro]

Indeed, Istook is living in his grease backed hair dreamworld, I can't wait till the day he runs and then has to retire after the campaign. Mwah ah ah ah ah. I'm a republican and sad to say it when your talking about Istook