FWIW, some good news from Oklahoma: (I guess)

http://newsok.com/oklahoma-candidates-struggle-to-raise-funds/article/3400883?custom_click=headlines_widget">Oklahoma candidates struggle to raise funds

Not that I think this means the Left is coming back in Oklahoma; I think we'll still end up with a majority-GOP win in the next elections, but it's nice to hear that the Right is having problems raising money in the 'reddest state in the Union.'

Like Sally Kern got tossed into a combine.

Fewer candidates in the primary probably means that moderate Republicans will lose. Some of them might vote for the Democrat in the general election, but they are less likely to do so if there wasn't a contentious primary to make them mad at the Republican candidate.

a lot more candidates announce in the next few months. There are a lot of people who think this is their time to grab the brass ring.

I always find myself marveling at the voters of Oklahoma. WHAT ON EARTH IS WITH THEM?????? WHY do they think people who behave and believe the way that certified IMBECILE "there's no such thing as global warming" inhofe does, or that sanctimonious "can't question me! I'M a doctor!" coburn does????? I mean, is there something in the water? Was it breathing in the dust from the Dustbowl era or something that maybe caused genetic mutation that they inherited from their parents and grandparents? I simply CANNOT figure it out. I'm sorry. I genuinely don't mean to be insulting here. I'm just groping for answers to try to understand these folks and why they think and vote the way they do. I truly and sincerely feel completely flummoxed.

And I apologize, genuinely, to all DUers (ESPECIALLY DUers from Oklahoma) for these feelings I still do have. I should be A LOT more generous and forgiving and more willing to overlook this stuff and be patient and understanding and all those other good behaviors. From what I see of them and THEIR behavior, though, I just don't think I can do that anymore, at least not easily. I wish to God I didn't feel this way, but every time I try to find and celebrate the humanity in some of these, they act out in hideous ways. And by their votes and their chosen representatives are they known (at least to me). I think the majority of voters in Oklahoma are rather out-to-lunch because of whom they choose to represent them and be their surrogates and mouthpieces on Capitol Hill. It just leaves me shaking my head.

Then again, I don't understand why ANYONE of sound mind would feel motivated to vote republi-CON, or feel ANY kinship whatsoever with the those who so staunchly supported bush/cheney, or these days are resolutely marching to the beat of rush limbaugh, that-guy-whose-name-rhymes-with-Vanity, glenn beck, joe wilson, or senators inhofe and coburn. I just would not want my name attached to that.

And as a Californian, let me point out that I feel shamed by the likes of dianne feinstein, darrell "crybaby" issa, randy "duke" cunningham, duncan hunter, richard nixon, ronald reagan, and any of those other "paragons" and I'm embarrassed that they issued from my state and purport (or purported) to "represent" me. dianne, for one, is an ABSOLUTE RED-WHITE-&-BLUE DISGRACE!!!!!

I've lived here my entire life, and I've never seen it like this. My opinion (and a closely held one) is that a lot of it has to do with the upswing in megachurches and "independent" little churches. It seems that they always have a political bent these days, whether they admit it or not.

Also, we had a lot of people move into the state in the last 15-20 years. The political climate seemed to change a lot during that time.

Again, these are just my opinions, I have nothing to back them up. Whatever the reason, this state, which used to be such a Democratic stronghold, has definitely moved to the right, and I'm not sure what it will take for it to swing back to the left the least little bit.