Cheers for Dr. ‘No’ (Senator Tom Coburn!)

National Review Online ^ | August 01, 2008 | By the Editors

[neverdem]

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August 01, 2008, 4:00 a.m.

Cheers for Dr. ‘No’

By the Editors

Some people, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says, “you cannot negotiate with.” Terrorists? No: Tom Coburn, the conservative Republican from Oklahoma.

Coburn has driven Reid to such a state of consternation by blocking action on 35 bills creating 36 new government programs, and costing $10 billion over five years. Lowlights include $1.5 billion to subsidize the DC Metro, $12 million to fund a botanical greenhouse in Maryland, and $17 million to enact a prohibition on the import or export of monkeys and apes.

Some of the new programs have worthy goals to which Coburn is not opposed. He insists, however, that Congress should fund these new programs by eliminating wasteful and duplicative ones, not by adding new spending to the budget. To this end, Coburn identified for Reid $45 billion in possible savings. Selling off unneeded federally owned buildings could save taxpayers $18 billion. Eliminating tax credits for ethanol could save another $7 billion.

Instead of working with Coburn, Reid put all the bills into one package in an attempt to steamroll over him. He forced a vote on Monday on what senators had taken to calling the “Tomnibus” bill. Reid got an assist from the media, which portrayed Coburn as an old crank pinching pennies from mothers and children. But Republicans stood with Coburn and Reid failed.

Reid was furious. “We will not be able to take these up at a later time, and we’ll have to wait until a new Congress,” he whined. “And in the meantime, there will be much suffering and mental distress.” Yes, and nowhere so much as in the Senate majority leader’s office, as long as Tom Coburn’s around.

We sympathize with Reid: From his perspective, a senator who actually looks out for taxpayers must look like a dangerous right-wing fanatic.

[neverdem]

God bless Oklahoma and its best family practice/obstetrician in Congress!

[NOBAMA in 08]

Dinghy Harry Reid bites the dirt again! Reid, the pile of cow manure that declared The War in Iraq Lost on The Senate Floor is a dispicable Traitor! GOD BLESS SENATOR COLBURN!

[goldstategop]

So much for the Democrats' pledge to end earmarks. The first thing America needs to do is eliminate wasteful spending. With Ted Stevens' indictment, the future of pork is dimming in the Republican Party. Tom Coburn has shown you can stand up against more Big Government. Kudos to his colleagues for siding with him!

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[Rays_Dad]

Yup he’s my senator.

[jazusamo]

Bump for Tom Coburn.

I love it every time the pathetic whiner Reid whines.

[SMCC1]

And he’s a good Doctor. There was an article on here the other day about how the Democrats were going after him for delivering babies for free.

[Bowhunter]

D’oh...I have serious senator envy. Mine are Obama and Durbin. Man, I miss Peter Fitzgerald.

[NOBAMA in 08]

The only Senator that makes Dinghy Harry Reid look good relatively speaking in comparison, is Senator(in absentia)
Osama Obama Bin Ladin HUSSEIN:-P

[des]

OK has elected an outstanding delegation over the past decade and a half. I admire Senator Inhofe as well.

[o-n-money]

And he’s a good Doctor. There was an article on here the other day about how the Democrats were going after him for delivering babies for free.
_______________________________________________

Some don’t want anyone delivering babies at all.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

I’ll join you drowning your sorrows. I’ve got Boxer and Feinstein in the Senate and, in a nearby district, Pelosi.

[El Gato]

Look what the Republicans, at least some of them, have found!

Big Brass Ones!

Of course the media story is "Women and Minorities hurt most by Evil Republican skinflints".

[upchuck]

Those belong to One Hung Low, right?

This is really nasty of me, but I genuinely enjoy hearing/watching Dingy have one of his childish temper tantrums.

Buck it up Harry. Maybe retirement is looking better?

[neverdem]

LOL!

[kittymyrib]

If all GOP Senators had the courage of Sen. Coburn this would be a different country because they would still be in the majority.

[Salvation]

**God bless Oklahoma and its best family practice/obstetrician in Congress! **

Ditto that!

[StoneWall Brigade]

Dr. No is the name given to Congressman Ron Paul.

[mnehring]

ohh rah to a real Dr. No, not just to Dr. Games RINO from TX14 who likes to act like he is a Dr. No.

[mnehring]

Paul should not be Dr. No, he should be Dr. Wink, as he winks at his pork contributors as he backdoors pork into the budget like any other establishment politician, while making supporters thinking he is all about the ‘no’.

[Vigilanteman]

I've got a feeling Old Harry is serving his last term and is too dumb to figure it out. He's up for reelection in 2010, I think, and the voters will either retire him as they did Tom Daschle or he'll take the money and run.

He was actually a fairly moderate senator before he became majority leader. His voting record was not all that different from Arlen Specter. That's why I don't think he can even believe half the s*** he's peddling.