| Dr. Coburn Goes to Washington |
 Dr. Coburn Goes to Washington
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Jul. 28th, 2008 @ 08:50 pm 
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I think I have a new hero, a United States Senator who believes in requiring politicians to justify their spending of your tax dollars, who kept his term limit pledge when he went to Congress, who intends to do the same in the Senate, doesn't ask for or get earmarks, is beholden to no one and votes his conscience, Senator Doctor Tom Coburn of Oklahoma.
The man has tied the Senate in knots by following their rules. He's put holds on every questionable bill he can get his hands on. See David Keene's background piece in The Hill.
At the time Keene wrote, he fully expected that the good old boys of both parties would squash Coburn like a bug when the "Coburn Omnibus Bill" (designed to logroll enough pet projects to guarantee 60 votes) came to the floor. Lo and behold, the Republicans stuck together and only 52 Senators voted "Aye".
The outrage of the venerable Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D- Dementia) contains language that looks like it's straight out of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. (All that's missing is the dam on Willet Creek, and I'll bet that's buried in there somewhere):
“Not a single one of the 35 bills in this package are partisan or controversial,” Mr. Reid said, declaring that anyone voting “no” would have to explain to his or her constituents. “These bills have been passed by the House of Representatives and their respective Senate committees with overwhelming support from Democrats and Republicans.” [This from David Stout's story in The New York Times.]
Ah, it's enough to warm a contrarian's heart. Assuming we want warm hearts.
Buy my novel The Evil Has Landed and don't forget The Judge Report (THE BOOK) is now available, too!
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