Hey! We had a lot of fun driving through Oklahoma. Okay, so we were surprised that we had fun. But we did, just the same. Of our entire drive across country we have fond memories of Oklahoma.

Yeah, I saw that article too. Today, the self-deprecation Lackmeyer seems to remember may have been replaced by irrational optimism based on the transformation of old warehouse districts into new boozin' and carousin' districts surrounded by casinos. Just how much of that can a state hemorrhaging manufacturing jobs like a roadside amputee sustain?

Lackmeyer got it right on one point: the conscientious few who fought to see the right thing done with Bricktown's old Walnut Street Bridge won against all odds. What he didn't report is that those few upright people were not officially invited to the bridge reopening ceremony last Friday, let alone recognized and publicly thanked for running against the grain of the "quick buckers" to preserve the structure. Instead, at least one of city council people who stubbornly obstructed the whole deal as long as possible was up on that particular podium, reportedly taking bows.

Notable among those who bitterly opposed keeping the bridge were the editorial writers of Lackmeyer's employer, The OKLAHOMAN. They published at least two nasty, childish pieces criticizing the group that left OKC government no choice but to do the right thing. The preservationists, for once, put city leaders in a corner by taking the issue to the appropriate authority, the Corporation Commission, whose administrative court ruled that public safety would be adversely affected by trading long overpassed railways with a new at-grade rail crossing. ("Tough call," huh?) Of course, it's always a tossup with OKC leaders, "Public safety and the public good -- or quick bucks; which will it be?"

Three guesses which side usually comes out second best in those little contests (and the first two guesses don't count...)

My grandmother, born in 1888 in Indian Territory, used to say, "Poor folks have poor ways." Bigshots who are so "little" inside their own heads as to deny credit where credit is due in cases like these are "poorer" than most folks. But, fear not -- it can get worse.

I'd say that, in the wake of tonight's primary results, the rest of us may well be gettin' ready to see just how poor our state can become.

If any of us care at all about Oklahoma, we'd better wake up and quit following these small minds and poor, shriveled spirits around.

TOM ELMORE

Tom, ya nailed this one good buddy. :)

Keep the faith.

Even Mr. WTPoTX Guy has a soft spot in his heart for OK and it's residents. Heck, yall got poker. And Choctaw Bingo.*

* James McMurty song...