The Oklahoman blames Democrats for state’s “continued dysfunction.”

As we like to remind people, there's a lot of blame to divvy for the Oklahoma budget crisis.

One group that gets a pass, for the most part, is the current class of Democrats serving in the legislature. Although on a semi-rebound, this weak and powerless group holds less than 25% of Oklahoma's legislative seats, and rarely gets a chance to be involved in the political process, much less shape, craft or influence legislation.

Plus, most of them weren't around when Brad Henry and a Democratic controlled Senate worked with a GOP controlled House to lower the state income tax for high income earners. That's something most Democrats don't want you to remember when you send your kids out the door for a four-day school week.

Knowing those facts, The Oklahoman Editorial Board is naturally blaming Democrats for the continued dysfunction in Oklahoma government. They did so in a scathing, ludicrous editorial that reads like it was written back in the 1970s or 1980s when Democrats actually carried some weight. It drips with hypocrisy and double-standards, ignores truth and reality, and a glosses-over the state GOP's major role in the perpetual Oklahoma Budget Crisis®.

Basically, it's your typical idiotic editorial published in our state's largest newspaper.

Check it out:

It's official. The people who literally have no influence at the Capitol are "squarely" to blame for the dysfunction. Don't worry about the Republican ideologues who have driven the state into a roadside ditch. Blame the person taking a nap in the back seat.

No what else "receives strong public backing?" Legalizing medical marijuana and raising the gross production tax to reasonable, regional levels! For some reason, the editorial doesn't mention those popular items. Outside of not fitting a strict, conservative, anti-Democrat narrative, I wonder why?

Also, don't Republicans hold supermajorities in both the House and Senate? They don't need Democratic help to pass the tax with strong public backing. They can do it own their own. Shouldn't they then share a large part of the blame?

Wow. Look at that Tony Hawk 900 editorial spin bullshit! I guess the new talking point for the State GOP is to confuse people and make it appear that 75% of votes from both parties are legally required for the cigarette tax to pass, when that's simply not the case. It just requires a basic supermajority. If all Republicans voted for the tax, they wouldn't need Democratic help at all. I just wanted to clear that up.

Ha! If that's the case, then you asshats better toss us the keys. For over 40 years, the entire goal of the Republican Party and Oklahoman Editorial Board has been to sabotage the engine of government and make it as dysfunctional possible. I have my issues with the modern Democratic party, but suggesting they're the ones doing this is a lie and takes hypocrisy to a new low. It would be like one boxer criticizing another boxer for hitting too hard.

Great observation! That's not a generic trademark of any politician or anything. Only Democrats say one thing, but do the opposite. Oklahoma Republicans, on the other hand, are honorable and direct, and honest with constituents. I guess that's why they initially tried to pass the cigarette tax as a fee! It's a shame the courts ruled that attempt at honest government to be unconstitutional.

That being said, let's call a shitty editorial and a shitty editorial here and admit the Democrats are playing obstructionist politics. Good for them. The cigarette tax is a cheap band-aid fix placed on gunshot wound problem – kudos for doing what's right and holding out for an actual solution. As The Oklahoman mentioned, this is one of the "rare circumstances" that Dems have power, so they might as well use it to get some other issues addressed before it's gone.

Yep, the people who want to hold out for a difficult and comprehensive solution to the state budget crisis – and not continue to kick the can down the road and normalize a cash-strapped dysfunctional government that can't even provide essential and life saving services to its impoverished citizens – are the ones who are morally repugnant. How can you not agree with that?

Do you like that? The Oklahoman called out Democrats for believing that "pain and suffering of others is a small price to pay to make marginal gains in legislative power," but for some reason, they didn't write a word about anti-tax Republicans who voted against the cigarette tax in that group. On that note, I'd like to congratulate the Oklahoman Editorial Board for the consistency in looking the other way, and the general commitment to partisan spin politics, double standards and hypocrisy.

Anyway, I want to be clear on one thing – I think it's possible to make a valid, compelling and fair argument against Oklahoma Democrat's for taking the long, obstructionist view, and sacrifice the passing of a cigarette tax in order to come up with a longer term solution to the state budget crisis. Placing politics over people is a dangerous game, and something both parties play all too well.

Unfortunately, The Oklahoman Editorial Board is where valid, compelling and fair arguments go to die. It's always a joy to watch this partisan rag continue its slow, well-deserved decline.