Credit: Brad Gregg On Jan. 30, The Hill reported that Coburn had to get unanimous consent from the Senate to bring in some oversized charts. While it is customary for U.S. senators to use charts during presentations on the Senate floor, Senate rules prohibit sizes in excess of 36 inches by 48 inches. Any larger […]
Tom Coburn
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Cars and guns
U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Muskogee, told a Tulsa radio station that he is working with some Senate Democrats on legislation that would require background checks for people buying a gun — the idea being to keep weapons out of the hands of convicted criminals and the mentally ill. That news, of course, has excited the easily […]
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A tale of two Toms
Tom Coburn credit: Mark Hancock If you picked Republican Sen. Tom Coburn, move to the head of the class. The plainspoken, sometimes grim physician, nicknamed “Dr. No” by his Senate colleagues for his penchant for holding up seemingly innocuous items, is the answer to all of the above. It’s among the reasons he is routinely […]
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Clear and ‘present’ changer
That’s the impression you’d have after Coburn told The Oklahoman it was “stupid” for Senate Republicans to block a vote to confirm federal Magistrate Robert Bacharach to the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. But then Coburn and Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Tulsa, both of whom have strongly endorsed Bacharach, stepped aside and left the judicial […]
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Hyperbolic overdrive
Gov. Mary Fallin said, “Today’s decision highlights the importance of electing leaders who will work to repeal the federal health care law and replace it with meaningful reform focused on commonsense, market-based changes.” So what exactly is a “market-based” change? It’s as though Mary strung a bunch of big words together without any intention of […]
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Harumph, harumph, harumph
Gov. Mary Fallin called it “a bad day for Americans,” noting that Oklahomans had approved a constitutional amendment to block implementation of the bill. “Today’s decision highlights the importance of electing leaders who will work to repeal the federal health care law and replace it with meaningful reform focused on commonsense, market-based changes,” she said. […]
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Full court press
In announcing his selection, Obama called Robert Bacharach, a U.S. magistrate judge in the Western District of Oklahoma, an “outstanding candidate” who will “serve the American people with integrity and distinction.” The 52-year-old Bacharach unanimously received a “well qualified” rating from the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary, that panel’s highest ranking. […]
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Protect the Internet
On Jan. 18, many sites on the Internet either shut down or allowed limited access in an attempt to illustrate the potential oppression that could come from the proposed Internet regulations referred to as SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) and PIPA (Protect Intellectual Property Act). One of the most notable sites to shut down was […]
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In the straw
In a state Republican Party straw poll released last week, Texas Congressman Ron Paul took a plurality of votes, with businessman Herman Cain placing second. The results were announced Dec. 5, the same day that Cain, who by then had already suspended his presidential campaign, appeared at a Republican rally and fundraiser in Oklahoma City. […]
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In the straw
In a state Republican Party straw poll released last week, Texas Congressman Ron Paul took a plurality of votes, with businessman Herman Cain placing second. The results were announced Dec. 5, the same day that Cain, who by then had already suspended his presidential campaign, appeared at a Republican rally and fundraiser in Oklahoma City. […]