Encouraging News from Oklahoma City

I'm happy to report that there are still some sane people in a state run by religious nuts.  A friend and I went to see, "Enron - The Smartest Guys in the Room" yesterday at the downtown museum in Oklahoma City and it was sold out.  Since this is the only venue for art films or documentaries in town, I've been there many times and have never seen all the seats taken before.  I'm taking this as a sign some people are starting to get the Big Picture.

And a couple of weeks ago, we had 200+ people show up at a demonstration at the state capitol for Cindy Sheehan.  Saw old friends from the previous anti-war movement & women's movement in the '70's.  Media coverage was horribly slanted, but people did come to support Cindy.

Keeping my fingers crossed.

•  We are out here.....

  You know, not every single person in Oklahoma is a wingnut.  Fahrenheit 9/11 did reasonably well here.  Is Brad Henry a religious nut???

  Although Oklahoma seems to be the reddest of the red, presidential election wise.  We don't have some of the crazier stories coming out of Oklahoma that you hear from other states.

  I haven't, for instance, heard of any school districts in Oklahoma trying to force "intelligent design" into their science curriculum. There was that little incident regarding the Tulsa Zoo, but then again, that ended up being defeated.

  We've got some wacko's, but I'd live here before I'd live in Florida or Texas ANY DAY.

  by lrhoke on Mon Aug 29, 2005 at 01:05:01 PM PDT

•  Let me just say...

  that "The Smartest Guys in the Room" is an amazing piece of work. I'm glad it's still playing in some places, and I would suggest everyone here go see it. Really clues you in on exactly how those people work... truly tragic.

  by alextmw on Mon Aug 29, 2005 at 02:05:53 PM PDT

•  What did the Daily Disappointment say?

  I'm sure they called the filmmakers "Communists" or "liberals" or some such thing.

  And is Lange still drawing cartoons for the rag?

  Andy
  Sarasota (ex-OKC resident)

  by AAbshier on Mon Aug 29, 2005 at 03:45:35 PM PDT

  •  Daily Disappointment

    I never read it, but I doubt they reviewed it - not only because of the subject matter, but because films at the museum only run for one weekend.  I think Lange is still "drawing" cartoons.  

    By the way, OKC Library Commission is under fire to withdraw gay-friendly children's books like "King & King" from the children's areas of the libraries.

    by fiestygrrl on Mon Aug 29, 2005 at 03:54:49 PM PDT

  •  writers.....

    to suggest that entertainment writers at the Oklahoman agree with the politics of the owners is extremely ignorant.

    I will agree with you about Lange though.  I grew up with the Tulsa Tribune's Dave Simpson (now at the World).

    by lrhoke on Mon Aug 29, 2005 at 04:14:44 PM PDT

    •  See below (n/t)

      by AAbshier on Mon Aug 29, 2005 at 05:57:41 PM PDT

  •  Check this out......

    http://www.newsok.com/article/1592960/

    'Enron' is smart retelling of corporate saga

    last graph....

    "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room" succeeds where many recent current-events documentaries fail by staying close to the facts and avoiding speculation. Most of Gibney's interview subjects are former employees, stock analysts or legal counsel, with context and overviews provided by McLean, Elkind and political analyst/author Kevin Phillips. It is a superb document of a low point in U.S. corporate history, and it is a cautionary tale about a company built almost entirely on hubris and bad character.

    -- George Lang

    I've worked with this writer at another paper and he's hardly some wingnut.

    Please don't criticize the Oklahoman until you have taken a current look at it.  You wanna criticize Lange, fair enough.  Same with the editorial page.  But to suggest that everything that is published in the Oklahoman reflects the politics of the owners is simply unfair and untrue.

    by lrhoke on Mon Aug 29, 2005 at 04:26:57 PM PDT

    •  Point taken!

      Last time I saw the paper was 2000, and it was still pretty much wingnut central.  I didn't think much of their hard news or their entertainment coverage then.

      If the paper has gotten better since then, (op-ed page aside), more power to them.  It's been a long time coming.

      Andy
      Sarasota

      by AAbshier on Mon Aug 29, 2005 at 05:57:14 PM PDT

•  One other thing -

  At least this state DID produce Ralph Ellison!  Although he didn't stick around long - why waste all that talent here?

  by fiestygrrl on Mon Aug 29, 2005 at 03:55:36 PM PDT