Tom Coburn
When we last left the Gang of Six...
I never expected much from the Gang of Six talks in the Senate anyway. But Roll Call just reported that Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) has announced that he's leaving the gang because he doesn't see the point in talking any further.
Coburn seems to have left the door open just a bit by indicating that he could return at some point if he thinks it makes sense. That sounds like what you say when you want to break up with someone but don't want to hurt their feelings too much.
Coburn was considered the most important Republican member of the gang because of his willingness to consider eliminating tax expenditures as a member of the Bowles-Simpson Commission and his leaving almost certainly is going to be hailed as a victory in the days ahead by the no-tax-changes-to-reduce-the-deficit-no-matter-what crowd.
Is this the end of the gang? Is Coburn gone for good or will he return at the last minute to save
Sometimes you just have to scream at the top of your lungs. Given that it's currently very early in the morning and my beautiful and talented wife (The BTW) is still asleep, I'm going to post it here instead.
Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) likes everyone to think he's the ultimate fiscal conservative. He routinely rails against earmarks, puts holds on bills that will spend money, and castigates his colleagues for doing things that spend federal dollars needlessly.
That's why I found this article in Roll Call so infuriating:
