Senator Tom Coburn from OK can be an ally of the Democratic Party....

[kentuck]

As crasy as he may seem, he is the front man for the attack on Bush's huge deficits. And he will have 5 or 6 Republican senators that follow him on his tirades against the huge deficits. This is the Achilles heel of the new Bush Admininstration. We are so far in debt we cannot afford a donut. The Democrats should join the "crazy" Senator from Oklahoma in his crusade against big deficits. Politics can make strange bedfellows but this would be the right position for our Party to take. Because if they do not take advantage of this possible coalition, they will have no influence or power at all.

(edited to dispel the warm and fuzzy nature) :)

[theblasmo]

1. Err... yeah, but

Hitler also campaigned against big deficits. The man's evil and an embarrassment to everyone who lives here in Oklahoma. As for the "crazy" in quotes, take em' off. He IS crazy, no doubt about it.

[Zenlitened]

2. I'd recast that a bit, and say he's USEFUL to us.

It's okay to be a bit cold-blooded about this sort of thing. Make use of opponents whose interests may intersect our now and then, but no need to get all warm and fuzzy over them.

:)

[kmla]

3. Just remember....

....the enemy of your enemy is not necessarily your friend.

As for Coburn having a sane and reasoned stance on deficits?

"Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn every now and then."

[Skidmore]

4. That's one dog whose fleas I don't care to catch.

[Protagoras]

5. His wild extremism may energize

some of our side to wake the hell up and fight back for a change. I'm not too optimistic, on the other hand, about the republicans suffering much from talking one game while playing another. Repugs have preached against deficites forever, and never had a moment's pause violating it at the same time...if they didn't care for the last 20 years, I doubt much they'll care now. They have bigger VALUE issues to fry now anyway right? And Coburn is one of their leading prophets in the new Theocracy.

[Telly Savalas]

6. What's his proposed solution?

If he believes that slashing the EPA, social programs, and education are the means to eliminating the defecit, then he can go fuck himself.

If, on the other hand, he believes in ditching the "Star Wars" missile defence plan, cutting obvious pork spending, imposing a more progressive tax system, and putting an end to the budget drain in Iraq, then we should by all means work with the guy.

Somehow, I'm guessing he leans toward the former rather than the latter approach, though.

[spotbird]

9. He'll advocate cutting social spending no doubt about it.

On the other hand those programs will be long gone anyway if the criminal spending continues, that elimination is the point of spending irresponsibly for the Republicans.

It is a deal with the devil, but if Coburn can help to prevent the bankruptcy of the country he's my guy. This way we can potentially rebuild the safety net down the road, if the neocons get their way there will be no hope for saving Social Security.

[autorank]

7. Maybe Dr. Coburn, MD, can do an "operation" on the budget.

[spotbird]

8. He is certifiably insane

the Republican establishment didn't even want him. Coburn did say that Americans have more to fear from their government than terrorists when he to vote against the Patriot Act in the House.

The concern is that there are enough problem Democrats to offset a Coburn. There is also a possibility that Coburn will be seduced by power once he starts in the Senate.

It is ironic that Coburn will vote on a couple things better than Carson would have, it is the package that hurts us. We aren't going to like him on abortion or court appointments.

[Southpaw Bookworm]

10. Profile from yesterday's WP

Note that it does not mention his little habit of sterilizing poor, dark-skinned women without their consent.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58361-2004Dec11.html

[melv]

11. or

his comments about the whole of Southeastern Oklahoma:
"Lesbianism is rampant in the schools of Southeastern Ok - girls cannot even go to the bathroom alone"

or

about Indians - (which, if you live in this state, chances are you are part Indian)

"The Cherokee are not real Indians"


nope, I don't think I'll be cozying up to him. He's all for fiscal responsibility, but the social programs got cut first when he was in the House (during which, by the way, he promised to only run 1 term and then step down).