This blew me away. A pundit on MSNBC said yesterday that a Republican catastrophe is shaping up for 2008. He used two or three examples of how bad it could be. One was Jim Inhofe going down to defeat here in Oklahoma if the Democrats can find a quality candidate. He said that the political climate has changed, even in states like Oklahoma, and that because of Inhofe's controversial statements, his age and a nation ready to help bankroll his defeat, that the DNC is actively looking to recruit a candidate to run and win.

Is this possible? Will Henry reconsider and run? Who else? I never dreamed we would seriously be talking about Jim Inhofe actually being vulnerable, but this guy, and I don't know his name, seemed to think things could be that bad for the GOP in '08.

Thoughts anyone?

Either Henry or Drew Edmondson would have a legitimate shot IMHO.

Edmondson has the benefit of his family name. Henry is just popular across the board. I know that if either run, however, Aubrey McClendon has reportedly personally told Henry, rather yelled it to him after bursting into his office, that he would see to it that Henry would never hold office in Oklahoma again (this was immediately after Henry's veto at the behest of the AG's office of the pork-laden tort reform bill earlier this year).

Of course, I couldn't see McClendon supporting anyone other than Inhofe considering Inhofe's strong (at times almost overzealous) support of the O&G industry.

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I certainly hope Inhofe goes down. He is a total embarassment to the state. And I have not been afraid to tell him in letters and e-mails.

CCOKC:
I couldn't agree with you more. This guy has gotten everything wrong since he declared that middle easterns were behind the Murrah building bombing. He should start practicing his greeting salutation for Wal-Mart. That is what he is qualified for.

No, he'll be well taken care of. I guarantee you he'll be a major player lobbying for O&G. He'll probably get to work alongside our former Corporation Commissioner.

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Inhofe reminds me of another aging senior senator who keeps acting like he is going off the deep end. Conrad Burns of Montana went into the 2006 election somewhat vulnerable, but was expected to win in the end. He had a strong Democratic challenger in Jon Tester who was able to brush off the "liberal" label and vicious attacks and prevail by 6000 votes. If there is a strong Democratic challenger, Inhofe will certainly have a "macaca" moment and the seat could easily be in play. We shall see.

I met Senator Inhofe in the his office in DC back in April. I was incredibly dissapointed. I must say the man is just a hair above senile.