Posted on 07/26/2005 12:13:52 PM PDT by ConservativeMan55
The New Sheriff in Town
By: Josh Johnson
Wastewatcher, July 2005
Picture Washington D.C. as the setting for an old western film. A familiar hero that has been out of town for a time rides back in on his horse with the intention of running out all the, no-good varmints; that have taken over. This man is well known by all the no-goods in the town, so they set out to take him down before he can interfere. As our hero walks into the local saloon, we flash forward to the present day and find a junior senator entering the Senate chamber: Dr. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.).
After serving in the House of Representatives from 1995 to 2001, Dr. Coburn returned to Oklahoma to practice medicine. He was elected to the Senate in November 2004 to eliminate, as he calls it, the ;the inside-the-Beltway entitlement society. Many of his colleagues knew of Dr. Coburn's reputation for sticking to his principles and rocking the boat. For example, in 1999, he tried to add 130 amendments to an agriculture appropriations bill because of its excessive cost.
Traditionally, junior senators are expected to keep their mouths shut and follow orders from party leadership. But Sen. Coburn refused to adhere to that custom and immediately began to criticize the Senate for its waste and spending. As happened with our hero at the beginning of this story, senators accustomed to taxpayer-financed spending binges did not take to Sen. Coburn's approach. Soon after his arrival, the Senate Ethics Committee attempted to cite him with ethics violations for being a member of the Senate and continuing to return home to deliver babies. Sen. Coburn pointed out that he spends 60 to 70 hours a week on his Senate duties. He also noted that other senators spend as much time at home as he does, except with the sole aim of campaign fundraising.
Using his role as the chairman of the Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information and International Security as his six-shooter, Senator Coburn has set out to round up and terminate any and all unnecessary federal spending. On June 23, Dr. Coburn introduced the ;Stop the Raid on Social Security; bill (S. 1302) that would dedicate the Social Security surplus to voluntary, personal retirement accounts. His bill would keep Congress from wasting Social Security taxes on pork projects and general expenses. His subcommittee has held hearings on improper payments by federal agencies, as well as on the Bush Administration's proposed Sunset and Results Commissions to review and eliminate wasteful programs.
Dr. Tom Coburn has entered the Senate with his guns blazing. He also has promised to be a citizen legislator and serve no more than two terms. With Dr. Coburn acting as the new fiscal sheriff in Washington, taxpayers have in important ally in the fight against big government and wasteful spending.
LOL I meant like town hall meetings!
But seriously..I do know people that know him. The least I can do is ask them.
Sounds like a good candidate - and, for not being ready, well I remember how everyone thought Bush didn't have near enough experience, couldn't speak well, etc and he's come along in 5 years. This guys got another 3 + years to go and he's getting his feet wet working with the scumbags (oops, I mean democrats) in the senate.
Go Medicine Man!!!
BTTT!!!!!!!
Has Hillary been briefed?
bttt
I would be proud to have him as my President.
Bump to the Constitution and its (few) true supporters.
bttt
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