Posted on 04/03/2008 10:08:38 AM PDT by kingattax
A presidential nominee picks a running mate to win a state, send a message or, ideally, do both. John F. Kennedy went with Lyndon Johnson in 1960 because he wanted to win Texas. Ronald Reagan picked George H.W. Bush of Texas in 1980 to assure the moderate Republican Party establishment that he could and would work with them.
And now somebody should plant a bug in John McCain’s ear about the man who could help him nail down a few must-win states and, more importantly, send a much-needed message to voters. That man is Republican Sen. Tom Coburn, the cussed doctor-turned-lawmaker from Oklahoma and scourge of our free-spending U.S. Senate.
Coburn is an OB-GYN who ran for the House of Representatives in 1994 and became one of the most radical of the freshman Republicans of the 104th Congress. Many new Republican congressmen played at small government conservatism, but Coburn meant it and grew increasingly dismayed by his colleagues’ capitulations to Bill Clinton and big government. He regularly lacerated them for their cowardice and didn’t let it go at just rhetoric.
When it had become clear that Speaker Newt Gingrich would no longer fight for real reforms, Coburn backed a failed coup to install Majority Leader Dick Armey as speaker, marking him as one of the hardest hard-liners.
When the Oklahoman kept his promise to retire after three terms, many of our nation’s lawmakers breathed a sigh of relief and then gasped in utter horror when Coburn ran for a Senate seat in 2004. He won in an upset and became a greater problem than ever before.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
Yep, and he’s been in cahoots with McCain over talks on the economy. I think he’s McCain’s best pick (of the ones that McCain might pick!)
Almost any of the Okies would be good.
Judging by most of their elected representatives, Oklahoma is the sanest state in the US.
At first, I though he was talking about James Coburn...
Our focus should be getting as many conservative congressmen elected as possible.
I would be ecstatic if Coburn were the VP nominee!
I’ve heard him speak. He’s rational and intelligent. I believe that he could hold his own against the Dems VP nominee.
But then again, I also thought Jack Kemp would hold his own against Al Gore back in ‘96 and Kemop looked like a deer in the headlights in their only debate.
Geographically, I’m not sure it’s the best pick in the world. Oklahoma is gonna be a red state. But then again, Bush did pick Cheney - who was from Wyoming.
Our Man Flynt!
Wonder if they're related? It's not a common name.
Our focus should be getting as many conservative congressmen elected as possible.
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This is true and it must happen. But so must getting McCain in the White House. While he is not a conservative on many issues, as we well know, he will certainly be better than putting a power-mad, inept, socialist, Marxist in the Oval Office — that would be a disaster without any doubt. At there is a chance with McCain.
Senator Inhofe would be even better.
But I think Rob Portman is more likely. Like Lincoln, McCain would like to have God on his side, but he must have Ohio ( In the Lincoln quote it was Kentucky ).
since mcCain is totally enamored with his ‘maverick’ image, don’t be surprised if his pick is off the wall and makes absolutely no political sense.
Coburn is a good guy, but the last thing we need is another SENATOR in this race.
Enough with the Senators!
Agreed. Senators historically don’t do well in Presidential elections. We don’t need to overload the ticket with them.
I, for one, would be ECSTATIC!
Hell, I might even vote for that ticket :^D.
I think the people would be happy but the Senate would be scared to death. He’s a good man and I think an honest one. Now wouldn’t that be a change for the American people......the people would love it.
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