And, encouragingly, the Oklahoman isn't buying it. Yet. Istook's first attack is to say that Gov. Brad Henry wanted to increase the gasoline tax last year:

Henry, shown in many polls to have a popularity rating of about 70 percent, is denying claims made in pamphlets distributed by Istook that he supported last fall's proposal to increase the state's gasoline tax.

"It's just not true, I was not supportive of the gasoline tax," said Henry, who is trying to become the third governor to win back-to-back terms. "I was not involved in that campaign at all. I remained on the sidelines. It is just not factual. It stretches the facts to the bare minimum at best."

Istook last weekend distributed a football fan's guide that states Henry "worked to increase taxes on gasoline in Oklahoma."

Istook said Wednesday the reference was to last year's fuel tax proposal.

"He deliberately tried to starve out road funding, hoping the voters would vote for a tax increase because he wasn't willing to fund roads despite the extra revenue that the state had," Istook said. "Only now in an election year does he suddenly realize that roads are a proper priority."

Small problem #1 - Istook's last sentence is pretty clearly a lie:

However, Henry and legislative leaders developed in May 2005 a bipartisan agreement to eventually provide $170 million more a year toward improving Oklahoma's roads and bridges without raising taxes.

More than 87 percent of Oklahoma voters in September defeated a proposal to raise the 14-cent-per gallon diesel tax and 17-cent per-gallon gasoline tax to 22 cents each to improve the state's bridges and highways.

When told Wednesday the governor did not come out with a position on the gasoline tax, Istook said: "That's the point. Everybody knew he was in favor of it. He was trying to pretend that he wasn't."

So, according to Istook, you knew Gov. Henry was in favor of the gas tax because Gov. Henry did not come out in favor of the gas tax. Contrast this with Istook's own position:

Istook a year ago also did not express an opinion on the gasoline tax. Asked during a meeting with constituents in Warr Acres about the tax, Istook said, "Nobody could have picked a worse time" for the proposal to be on the ballot. Gasoline prices then were about $2.50 a gallon.

This is likely the apex of Istook's campaign, too.