ICE STORM 2007: Where's our governor?

[bench warmer]

We're in the midst of a state of emergency, but has anyone heard a word from our governor? Missouri's governor was all over the national news YESTERDAY, but where was Brad Henry? Please tell me I've missed something. If not, this is beyond ridiculous.

[bandnerd]

Probably doing his job. The state of emergency has been issued, FEMA is supposed to come (oh good, thanks Mr. President) so Henry is probably out doing his job. Let the news reporters talk on the tv about what's going on.

[Karried]

Hawaii

[Karried]

Seriously, Hawaii.


Governor cuts trip short
Lt. Gov. Jari Askins, subbing for Gov. Brad Henry who left the state last week to attend the dedication of the USS Oklahoma Memorial in Hawaii, signed a state of emergency declaration for all 77 counties in Oklahoma.

Henry, who had planned to remain in Hawaii until later this week with his family, is cutting his vacation plans to return to Oklahoma to help deal with problems caused by the deadly ice storm.
The governor will return to Oklahoma today, said Paul Sund, the governor's spokesman.
The governor spoke by phone with Albert Ashwood, the state's emergency management director, the past three days to help prepare for the storm, Sund said. "He wants to be here on the ground,” Sund said of the governor. "Just doing it by phone is not enough at this point.”

[Midtowner]

What do you want the governor to do? Fix your power lines? OP: Do you even have a vague understanding of how state government works? Or are you a political operative taking a cheap shot at the Governor?

How could he have known this storm was going to be so severe? Would you have had him refuse to go to the dedication of the USS Oklahoma because it was going to be cold and rainy in his home state? Please explain.

[Millie]

I agree, Midtowner.

There's nothing wrong with the guy taking a vacation, and there's nothing wrong with taking a trip to do "official" business, as I'm sure that attending the dedication was.

This reminds me of the criticism of Steve Largent for being on a hunting trip on 9/11. There was no reason for him to know what was going to happen, and he didn't find out about it until the next day, but so many people tried to hold that against him anyway.

[bench warmer]

Seriously, Hawaii.


Governor cuts trip short
Lt. Gov. Jari Askins, subbing for Gov. Brad Henry who left the state last week to attend the dedication of the USS Oklahoma Memorial in Hawaii, signed a state of emergency declaration for all 77 counties in Oklahoma.

Henry, who had planned to remain in Hawaii until later this week with his family, is cutting his vacation plans to return to Oklahoma to help deal with problems caused by the deadly ice storm.
The governor will return to Oklahoma today, said Paul Sund, the governor's spokesman.
The governor spoke by phone with Albert Ashwood, the state's emergency management director, the past three days to help prepare for the storm, Sund said. "He wants to be here on the ground,” Sund said of the governor. "Just doing it by phone is not enough at this point.”

Thanks so much for this information. It absolutely explains why we haven't seen him. It's not like he's going to be able to repair any of the damage, but as the state's official leader, it sure is good to see him when we're all hurting.

This isn't the first time he's been the victim of "bad timing" when it comes to family vacations. Wasn't he MIA after Christmas in '05 when the wild fires were roaring out of control in Oklahoma? I think he had to leave OU's bowl game in California to address the troubles here at home.

[Midtowner]

Brad Henry is not away any more than any other governor would be.

If either Largent or Istook had been governor, they'd have been gone on both of those occasions as well.

[PennyQuilts]

Ice storm... Hawaii ... ice storm ... Hawaii ... ice storm... Hawaii.... hmm, decisions, decisions ...

[Oh GAWD the Smell!]

He's got bad timing like I have bad timing. Thanks to deployment schedules...I was in Asia during the OKC bombing.

I was in Colorado during the May '99 tornado.

I wasn't alive during the dust bowl.

[Blairman]

My guess would have been that he was still in bed.

He is NEVER on time for anything, not to turn this into a Shawnee Brad Bash, but his PR skills are terrible......

[BDP]

This crap has to stop. I can't believe he wasn't here when my power went out. What... was his teleportation system down? Oh yeah, he's a LIBERAL... they don't have teleportation devices. I mean, really, he shouldn't be jetting off to memorial dedications with such a handicap. I mean he knew he couldn't be everywhere at once and, yet, he chooses a war memorial and surfing with his hippie friends over chipping the trees in my front lawn. I mean, who does he think he is... the President?

Next time we need someone with our conservative family values, and access to worm holes, to lead us through these tough times.

[Misty]

This crap has to stop. I can't believe he wasn't here when my power went out. What... was his teleportation system down? Oh yeah, he's a LIBERAL... they don't have teleportation devices. I mean, really, he shouldn't be jetting off to memorial dedications with such a handicap. I mean he knew he couldn't be everywhere at once and, yet, he chooses a war memorial and surfing with his hippie friends over chipping the trees in my front lawn. I mean, who does he think he is... the President?

Next time we need someone with our conservative family values, and access to worm holes, to lead us through these tough times.

Ha! My power is still out so last night I was listening to A.M. talk radio and all the people calling in complaining about having trees. Someone actually said "the next time the liberals complain about us wanting to cut all the trees down I hope they remember this", so let's hope the liberals and hippies don't try to stop the upcoming clear cutting of Oklahoma City! By god one way or another we will not only be the unhealthiest people in America but the most environmentally unfriendly as well! Down with the trees! Bring on the coal plants! Buy more SUVs!

[jbrown84]

My guess would have been that he was still in bed.

He is NEVER on time for anything, not to turn this into a Shawnee Brad Bash, but his PR skills are terrible......

This is very true. He is always late. Has nothing to do with his party.

[Intrepid]

This is very true. He is always late. Has nothing to do with his party.

When I worked for the State Senate back in the 90s, Keating was always late arriving to everything too, as was Fallin.

I agree, it has nothing to do with party....but with trying to cram so many meetings/ribbon cutting ceremonies/behind closed doors bribes into a very limited schedule.

[hipsterdoofus]

My guess would have been that he was still in bed.

He is NEVER on time for anything, not to turn this into a Shawnee Brad Bash, but his PR skills are terrible......

I've heard that as well...always late.

They should have moved this Ice storm so it didn't happen on Pearl Harbor weekend.

[oklanole]

My guess would have been that he was still in bed.

He is NEVER on time for anything, not to turn this into a Shawnee Brad Bash, but his PR skills are terrible......

I wish my life was so perfect that the only thing people could complain about was my promptness. After reading the LC thread and this one, I am convinced that some of you are borderline psychos. (Not calling out anyone in particular, even the OP of the quote)

[Oh GAWD the Smell!]

I wish my life was so perfect that the only thing people could complain about was my promptness. After reading the LC thread and this one, I am convinced that some of you are borderline psychos. (Not calling out anyone in particular, even the OP of the quote)

My life is so perfect and the only thing people can complain about when it comes to me...Is how awesome I am.

[solitude]

I wish my life was so perfect that the only thing people could complain about was my promptness. After reading the LC thread and this one, I am convinced that some of you are borderline psychos. (Not calling out anyone in particular, even the OP of the quote)

My life is so perfect and the only thing people can complain about when it comes to me...Is how awesome I am.

Borderline? Most of us here are definitely psycho. I think it's the overhead electrical lines.

And GAWD is right, he's so perfect it's spooky. He claims it's the overhead electrical lines.

[Oh GAWD the Smell!]

I'm sorry, I can't hear you over the sound of my awesome.