Last week, some magazine called Oklahoma Today named Clay Bennett it's 2008 Oklahoman of the Year. Clay joined a prestigious group of former winners that includes Garth Brooks (1992), Hanson (1997), Toby Keith (2003), and best of all, the Makers of the Capitol Dome (2002). Yeah. I don't know about you, but Oklahoma Today might want to look at a new selection committee for this "honor". The people who made the capitol dome? Seriously? 2002 must have been a pretty damn depressing and slow year.
Anyway, all that really has nothing to do with Brent Rinehart being named the Lost Ogle "Idiot of the Year" for 2008. We just figured that if Oklahoma Today has the right to bestow upon someone an Oklahoman of the Year honor, then we certainly have the privilege to determine who our "Idiot of the Year" should be. And we can't think of any other Oklahoman who is more deserving of that honor than former County Commissioner and "Roads" scholar Brent Rinehart.
For those who forgot, Rinehart went bazerko over the summer and mailed a 16-page hand-drawn comic book to voters in his district. In Rinehart's little little mind, the graphic novel was supposed to be a story of his career as a county commissioner, but it instead characterized him as a crazy, wacko local politician who is also an aspiring comic book auteur. To make matters worse, we think he may have hired this guy to draw the book.
In addition to the comic book madness, Brent was also named "The Worst Local Politician" in our 'Worst of OKC' Competition. When you consider how many bad politicians we have, that is quite an accomplishment. He also occasionally sports a highway patrolman's mustache.
So there you have it, our "Idiot of the Year." Good choice? Bad choice? Moderately okay choice? Let us know in the comments.
*We may be doing a bunch of these awards through the end of the year. If you get a break between holiday shopping, drinking egg nog and watching Holiday porn, try to stop by and check it out.
