Coburn: My Man

A while back, Peter posted an article that centered on Tom Coburn, Republican senator from Oklahoma and overall Eeyore figure in government. Coburn showed up in the senate and has since pissed off a lot of people because when he sees a problem he just opens his mouth and says "You are screwed up." This leads to a lot of responses like "Do you know who you're talking to?" to which he replies "Yes, and you're screwed up." (I'm putting words into his mouth, for the sake of getting across his point.) The best part is that I love this guy for it. A socially conservative economically libertarian straight shooter who is actually intelligent. What more could I get? His main target is budget earmarks, which he thinks are ridiculous. For more, here's an article you can read.

Reading this set of blurbs, I came across this little bit

Sen. Coburn is drafting amendments to kill earmarks to the Transportation appropriations bill, with the funds transferred to repairing rotting structures. That asks senators whether, in the wake of the I-35 bridge collapse in Minnesota, they insist on keeping pork for their districts.

Exactly as it should be. Who needs a fracking bridge to nowhere in Alaska when the money could be used to, say, fix the Tappan Zee?

On one hand, we need a president like this guy. On the other hand, the senate needs some kind of common sense. Unfortunately, the fact that he probably won't last in office by being so sensible isn't in either of my hands. Or maybe the Okies are smarter than I thought.