Yesterday’s devastating tornado (our condolences to the victim’s families) outbreak began just before the Bricktown Rotary program, scheduled for 5:30.  Obviously the wailing tornado sirens put an end to the much anticipated discussion about how legislative leaders should be chosen in the future.

Despite the cancellation, we discovered one important item: State Sen. Brian Bingman of Sapulpa, the member hand-picked by outgoing senate leader Glenn Coffee to be his successor, had earlier declined to attend, citing a scheduling conflict.

As we’ve reported before, Bingman shares Coffee’s penchant for high-profile screw-ups.  Bingman and Coffee’s bumbling miscalculation on Day 1 of the legislative session stopped Bingman’s Pro Tempore opportunity in its tracks.  Most insiders say without backroom dealing and arm-twisting, the hapless Bingman would have no chance to be senate leader.  Privately, the man some are calling “Bungleman” has few leadership qualities, including losing bills in his own committee and even earlier this session on the floor of the Senate.

Thus we weren’t surprised to learn that Bingman had ducked out of a public discussion about why transparency should replace cronyism.  Unfortunately, the system that produced a colossal disappointment like Glenn Coffee is grinding away to produce yet another embarrassment for state Republicans.  We’re sorry the meeting was cancelled, but Sen. Bingman’s duck and cover routine speaks volumes about why those who believe in the party of Ronald Reagan need to do everything possible to stop it from continuing to be more like the party of Ronald McDonald.

Related:

This is a Great Idea!

Oklahoma City’s Bricktown Rotary Club is attempting to shed some light into the legislative process, especially the part that deals with picking legislative leadership.

We received this press release about their meeting tonight to discuss whether or not legislative leadership should continue to be selected behind closed doors.  You will recall that the current senate leader, Glen Coffee, has stumbled through his term, bouncing from one controversy to the next.  In February, Coffee failed to get his handpicked choice for his successor, State Sen. Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa, elected as the next senate boss, in part due to Bingman’s own contrivance.  One wonders if the process were more visible if the quality of leader might just be kicked up a notch or two.

All the major candidates to succeed Coffee have been invited.  It will be interesting to see who comes to face the music.  The Bricktown Rotary Club meets tonight at 5:30 at the Bricktown Brewery in downtown Oklahoma City.  The public and press (fat chance) are invited.

Developing………

Filing for the Oklahoma 2010 elections is just a few weeks away. With the entire House of Representatives, half the State Senate, judicial contests, state questions, most statewide elective offices and many federal seats up for grabs, there will be thousands of opportunities to meet the candidates over the next few months.

Why not help OKPNS help the voters to meet the candidates up close and personal!

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