God help us: Istook may run for Gov.

[Patrick]

This will happen when pigs fly.

The Turner Turnpike is such a cash cow........

[John]

Istook could only be an improvement over ol' whatshisname.

Just sayin'.

[Patrick]

At least Henry knows what state he's serving. Istook can't make up hi smind whether he's serving Oklahoma or Utah.

[PUGalicious]

Istook could only be an improvement over ol' whatshisname.

Hardly.

[PUGalicious]

At least Henry knows what state he's serving. Istook can't make up hi smind whether he's serving Oklahoma or Utah.

Agreed.

Henry is not necessarily the most charismatic governor we've had, but he's hardly the worse governor we've had. Istook might make a run for the latter.

[jt450]

It's really tiresome to hear this garbage from people who have no idea what they're talking about. That old urban myth was long ago refuted, but some of you pay no attention and continue repeating this trash talk anyway. And in addition, Istook has done TONS to help transportation in Oklahoma.

At least Henry knows what state he's serving. Istook can't make up hi smind whether he's serving Oklahoma or Utah.

[Patrick]

At the same time he's turned down money numerous times that was offered to our state from the feds (mainly through Don Nichols) and then turned right around and given it to Utah. You're simply in denial of the truth.

[Patrick]

This is from a reputable media source:

"Two cents of the federal tax that all Oklahoma drivers pay on every gallon of gasoline goes directly to the Federal Transit Trust Fund. It buys transit SOMEWHERE - which means that thanks to political leadership like Congressman Ernest Istook, the OKC Council, and ODOT, Oklahoma taxpayers are subsidizing our competition in cities like Salt Lake City and Dalls. Every year we send $28 to $30 million to this fund, we rarely get back more than $5 or 6 million. Congressman Istook managed to get a $13 million allocation for a proposed light rail startup system in Oklahoma City eliminated so the money could be used to build Salt Lake City's new (and very popular) light rail system. Congressman Istook claimed the funds would go to pay off the national debt, which is a lie, as the funds aren't used for debt retirement, they are only used, by law, for mass transit projects."

[soonerguru]

I've seen it all now. Someone coming on here saying that Istook's repeated bumbling, anti-Oklahoma actions are "myth."

There's nothing mythical about the fact that Istook turned down money that was already approved by the transportation subcommittee for our downtown rail system. Then, he went on to lecture us about what a waste of money it was. Keep in mind, the taxpayers of this city voted up MAPS thinking that that would be a piece of the pie.

Then, the bloviating buffoon forced us into the I-40 realignment, the biggest debacle in the history of a city know for bad urban planning. If we even get the money to finish the job (a debatable project considering Istook is involved), we will take ten years of progress improving our downtown environment and flush it down the toilet.

Motorists traveling along I-40 will no longer be able to see the fruits of our hard-earned success, as I-40 will hide all views of our downtown behind walls. Wonderful. Then, considering that we've finally infilled our broken inner city all the way to I-40, now, we will be several blocks south, adding another 20 years conservatively until we infill that far. Great.

Then, we're going to destroy the remaining EXISTING inner-city rail infrastructure that could have been used down the road for a light rail system.

He is a stupid, moralizing buffoon. He would be a terrible governor. Hopefully, Oklahomans will figure out we don't want this blowhard to do the state what he has done to Oklahoma City.

Imagine where we would be today if we had ANYONE besides that goof in Congress? Anyone would be an improvement.

Istook is a total joke and he is completely hated in the OKC business community by all but the most Kool-Aid-drinking partisan Republicans.

[Patrick]

Oh, but he's pro-life...that's all that really seems to matter to some Oklahomans.

[jbrown84]

Well to some people life and death is more important than transportation.

Don't get me wrong, I don't like him either.

[PUGalicious]

The problem is that abortion is not the only issue that we face. When people get so tunnel-visioned about a single issue, they lose perspective and vote in people that support that one position but are absolutely the worst choice for every other issue which have a greater impact on our daily lives and the future of our state and country.

[soonerguru]

Don't forget the gays. That's another single issue people seem to be voting on. If I hear another corrupt, sanctimonious politician utter the phrase "moral values" to get elected again I think I'm going to barf.

[mranderson]

Granted, being against abortion, trying to stop the moral decay of our nation, and other issues are important, however, having safe streets and freeways, and other issues are more imortant to the state.

We are in the middle of a Renaissance. We have just aquired the state's first big four major league franchise, are building new hotels, starting to bring more jobs (although most do not pay didley), and more. We need to show these people who make those location decisions that Oklahoma and Oklahoma City in particular can have high class streets and freeways. Plus we MUST plan for the future of light rail and rapid transit.

I took will not do this. If he runs, great. He will lose and we will get someone better in Washington.

[jt450]

Patrick, I will choose to believe that you are merely misguided rather than ignorant.

At the same time he's turned down money numerous times that was offered to our state from the feds (mainly through Don Nichols) and then turned right around and given it to Utah. You're simply in denial of the truth.

[Winterhawk]

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.

It would be a lesser of two evils issue for me, but Henry would get my vote over Istook.

[mranderson]

It would be a lesser of two evils issue for me, but Henry would get my vote over Istook.

I hope I took runs against Gary Richardson in the primary runoff. I will back Richardson.

Just by running, it all but gurantees a better Congress person for Oklahoma City. Plus, if I took looses (a high probability), he will have, in all liklihood, ended his political career.

Two good reasons to run.

[Patrick]

Patrick, I will choose to believe that you are merely misguided rather than ignorant.

Feel free to look up his record for yourself.