Imagine This: Inhofe Runs Again

U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe’s prediction of a Republican sweep in the Senate races this year, as reported by the Associated Press, is far-fetched, at least for now.

The Cook Political Report, for example, is only predicting a 5 to 7 gain for the GOP. There’s also the distinct possibility that moderate Republican voters will not support GOP Tea Party candidates, such as Alaska’s Joe Miller, in November.

But Inhofe has never let facts intrude on his political rhetoric.

Still, the most striking part of the AP story wasn’t Inhofe’s election prediction. It was this: Inhofe says he will run again for the Senate as long as he’s still healthy. Do the math. Inhofe’s term goes through 2014. Then add six years if he’s reelected. That gives the 75-year-old Inhofe approximately 10 more years to embarrass the state on a national and world level with his claims about the “hoax” of global warming and his ultra-conservative social agenda.

Ironically, Inhofe made his comments during what was described as a “chamber of commerce speech.” How can Inhofe’s stances be helpful to the state beyond the energy sector? Shouldn’t the chamber work towards diversifying the state’s economy? Doesn’t Inhofe’s political posturing hurt that effort?