Buckle up: The bromance between Kevin Stitt and Ryan Walters is over.And, boy, do these guys know how to cause a scene.This pair has seemingly been bosom buddies since the governor plucked the former McAlester history teacher out of political obscurity in 2020 by naming him to his cabinet as Oklahoma’s secretary of education with a promise that Walters had the experience to move the “needle in educational outcomes.”From the outside, they appeared to be in lock step for years as Stitt, at least tacitly, supported Walters’ stances on policy and propaganda as he spent taxpayer dollars to build his conservative cred.But last week – seemingly out of nowhere – Stitt apparently decided he’s finally had enough of Walters’ shenanigans making a mockery of our public school system.The fallout from Stitt’s sudden, shocking and glorious display of leadership was spectacular to behold.First, Stitt threw Walters under the metaphorical (school) bus and backed over him a couple of times to get his attention. He called out Oklahoma students’ continued dismal national testing outcomes and months of unflattering – though unspecified – headlines. That’s a clear sign, Stitt said, that “our education infrastructure has fallen prey to needless political drama.”In the same breath, Stitt canned three of his own appointees on the State Board of Education, which votes on Walters’ proposals in its duty to keep the superintendent from getting out of line.After years of implied consent to Walters’ plans, it looks like what put Stitt over was compassion – plus a healthy fear of violating federal law. Walters’ immigration witch hunt against undocumented children and their parents was a step too far.“Let’s go after the bad guys,” Stitt said. “Let’s go after people that are committing crimes, and let’s not terrorize and make our kids not show up at school.”Walters – not one to stay quiet – made it clear from his unenviable spot under the bus that he believes Stitt is a terrible driver.And in his clapback came the name Republicans love or fear: Donald Trump.The superintendent accused Stitt of “joining the swampy political establishment that President Trump is fighting against.” He said the governor “fired” the three board members for “political purposes,” and that the move “undermines Oklahoma kids and parents and an America First agenda.”He quickly created some ridiculous “Trump Advisory Committee” composed of two of the now-fired board members — Kendra Wesson and Katie Quebedeaux. Their booby ...
