Is Donald Trump going 'too far?' Answer could affect Oklahoma politics

Yahoo

23-04-2025

As an Oklahoman I enjoyed hearing the compliments from former President Bill Clinton and others about how well we handled the tragic bombing that occurred in our state's largest city 30 years ago.
They all said how much the nation would benefit by adopting the 'Oklahoma Standard,' a term coined to reference the city's response to the bombing by uniting in service, honor and kindness.
"I wish every American would get a copy of the Oklahoma Standard in the mail or on their cellphones tomorrow," Clinton said. "I bet you it would have a terrific impact. Don't give up. We need you now."
However, Clinton noted how politics today has become much more polarized over the past three decades and cautioned about how such divisiveness can lead to violence, as it did when Timothy McVeigh launched his deadly attack.
And when The Oklahoman asked its readers recently whether they thought the Oklahoma Standard was still alive and well, 75% replied "No. Sadly, I think division and hostility have overcome the Oklahoma Standard. I don't see it working." Some pointed to President Donald Trump as a major contributor to acrimonious division throughout the nation.
The growing polarization mentioned by Clinton had a pronounced effect on Oklahoma politics. In 1993, when Clinton was first elected, Democrats in the Sooner State held a 2-1 advantage over Republicans in voter registration. Today, Republicans hold a 2-1 edge, and many former Democrats will say, "I didn't leave the party, the party left me."
More: What is the 'Oklahoma Standard'? What to know about the saying and its tie to OKC bombing
Oklahoma became one of the reddest of red states over the past three decades in large part because voters thought the Democratic Party had gone too far to the left on issues like abortion, immigration, climate change, free trade and race and gender equity. Oklahoma hasn't elected a Democrat for governor since 2006 and hasn't voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since Lyndon Johnson in 1964.
Now the question is whether Oklahomans will agree with the many initiatives launched by Trump in the opening weeks of his second term, or object and say that he is going too far. The next presidential election won't be until 2028, but the answer could affect the 2026 election for governor, members of Congress and other statewide races.
How far is too far?
During World War II, an ambitious military offensive called "Market Garden" was launched to speed up the invasion of Nazi Germany and shorten the war in Europe.
The operation's success depended on capturing seven bridges across the Rhine so that Allied troops could rapidly advance. Some in the military command opposed moving ahead with the plan, and a combination of bad weather, communications failures and other issues ultimately prevented the capture of the seventh and final bridge.
The failure of the mission resulted in thousands of casualties and delayed for months the ultimate Allied victory over Germany. A highly regarded movie called "A Bridge Too Far" hit the screens in 1977, and the movie's title has been used ever since to describe dangerous overreaching.
It may be too soon to tell because many of the president's actions have been challenged in court and others seem to be subject to change, but has it been "a bridge too far" for Trump to:
Approve plans to "reduce waste and inefficiency in government" by firing thousands federal workers, dismantling agencies created by Congress and cancelling federal programs delivering benefits to many throughout the country?
Pardon those convicted of violent crimes in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol?
Challenge the constitutional provision guaranteeing the right of citizenship to anyone born in the United States?
Throw the stock market and international trade relations into turmoil with a chaotic series of tariff announcements, postponements, cancellations and re-instatements when most economists say higher tariffs will lead to inflation, harmful retaliation against American companies and possibly a recession?
Argue that he had the authority to deport an alleged criminal gang member to a prison in El Salvador without a court-ordered hearing?
More: Sen. Mullin "jokes" that violence is the answer to fake news. How out of touch is he?| Editorial
The 2026 election is more than a year away, but at this point no state issues other than how to improve public school performance seem to have captured much attention. A potential cut in the state income tax — still under consideration — seems likely to be so small that few will worry about it one way or the other.
So that means candidates for governor, for example, may well be evaluated by voters on the basis of how they come across on national issues. Cyndi Munson, the Democratic leader in the state House of Representatives, has announced her candidacy. Will voters turn away from her because they see her as supportive of national Democratic Party positions they dislike? Former House Speaker Charles McCall and Attorney General Drummond are early entrants into the Republican primary race. Will voters see either one of them as more supportive of President Trump, and — if so — will that be a positive or a negative?
With more than a month to go in the current legislative session, state issues could still arise. But it's likely that what's happening now on the national stage, where our three branches of government may be heading for an historic clash, will have a lot to do with Oklahoma's political future.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Is there any limit to Oklahoma's support of Donald Trump? | Opinion