By Jim Irvine

Last week, Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry (D) easily won his primary race and will be on the ballot this November looking to keep his job as Governor.

We have received several comments lately from both Republicans and Democrats about supporting candidates of the opposite party. “Is he/she really good?” is a common question. Yes. If the candidate was not good, we would not have endorsed them.

Political parties are important, and still serve a purpose, including the so called “third parties” such as the Libertarian or Green party. Both the Republican and Democratic parties put party above all else. It’s about having control of the legislature, and thus the political process.

For the voter, it should be about ideas and issues. It’s important for voters to understand that all parties have good candidates, and all parties have bad candidates. Society is better off if we all support the best candidate, no matter what party they belong to.

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From a recent Associated Press story:

OKLAHOMA CITY - Democratic Gov. Brad Henry, a favorite for re-election to a second term, has found a way to maintain high popularity in one of the most conservative states: He stakes out Republican-like positions, builds consensus and keeps a low profile. He also presided over the largest tax cut in Oklahoma history.

By Gerard Valentino

Everyone wants their political party and ideology to win acceptance with voters. Oddly enough, there is a point where total control by one party or ideology corrupts. The corruption is not the traditional kind, with bribes and backroom deals, but a more insidious and less tangible.

When a party enjoys unchallenged electoral success, the leaders start to believe in their own infallibility in dealing with party members and public policy. Such is the case with current lame duck Ohio governor Bob Taft and the Ohio GOP leadership in general.

After years of unparalleled success and utter domination of the weak and misguided Ohio Democrats, the Ohio GOP finally has a fight on their hands. Despite this, nobody embodies the blinding arrogance of unfettered power more than Bob Taft.

Not long after making it know that he expected the resignation of members of his administration who were found guilty of ethical lapses, Taft himself was forced to plead no-contest to several ethics-based misdemeanors. Despite claiming simple ignorance of the law, as several of his cabinet members claimed, Taft refused to follow his self-imposed rule and instead refused to resign.

During his term in office, more than one political deal was scuttled at the last minute because Taft simply changed his mind after all sides came to an agreement. Most notable were the negotiations surrounding Ohio’s concealed carry law. When years of debate finally led to a deal acceptable to all sides, Taft waited until the last minute and threw in one final demand - he wanted to allow the media access to the name, age and county of residence for all license holders.

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