Coburn on Exec. Privilege: Dems Repeating GOP Mistakes

[babylonsister]

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/003562.php

Coburn on Exec. Privilege: Dems Repeating GOP Mistakes
By Spencer Ackerman - June 28, 2007, 3:51 PM

While Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) hasn't "expressed a specific opinion yet on this latest development," according to spokesman John Hart, the White House-Senate Judiciary Committee showdown over the U.S. Attorney firings puts him in mind of GOP blunders with the Clinton administration. It would be better for the Democratic majority to focus on government waste than "witch hunts," in Coburn's view. Says Hart:

"Recall that Dr. Coburn is perhaps the only Senator who called for Gonzales' resignation to his face so he can't be dismissed as an administration apologist. He would rather see the Majority engage in waste hunts rather than witch hunts. If Congress spent a fraction of the time it spends on political oversight on real, objective oversight of agencies we could save the taxpayers billions of dollars every year. Also, if the Majority wants to set the standard for openness and transparency they should follow Senator Obama's lead and disclose their special interest pork-barrel requests.

He continued:

"Democrats shouldn't make the mistake Republicans made during the Clinton years when our party obsessed about the White House while spending exploded, waste went unchecked and conflicts of interest developed that eventually landed members in jail. The Democrats' feigned outrage about this subpoena is more of the same short-term approach to 'oversight' that has far more to do with fundraising than improving government."

As it stands so far, no Democratic member of the House or Senate judiciary committee has yet sold his or her house at way above market value to a defense contractor, or has been indicted for laundering money in an election scheme, but it's food for thought nonetheless.

[ShortnFiery]

1. Thanks for telling the truth - even if it was JUST about sex. You did us proud "big dog."

:thumbsdown:

[TwilightGardener]

2. He conveniently was not present for the Gonzo "no confidence" vote--chickenshit.

[ShortnFiery]

4. Well, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, et. al. seemingly agrees with Colburn. n/t

[TwilightGardener]

6. Yes, sadly.

[AndyA]

8. Coburn has been in the hospital - Mayo Clinic I believe.

I can't remember what was wrong, but it required surgery. Not sure, but this could be the reason for his not being there.

At any rate, he's worthless.

And I'd like to know what happened to doing something because IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO? To hell with what's politically expedient, what is the best use of time, etc., what about doing it because it is the right thing to do. Our country was founded on that premise. Why is it no longer applicable today?

[TwilightGardener]

9. Oh, damn, all right. Still, fuck him--just as a general policy.

[riqster]

3. Naaaah, he just wants the investigations to stop before they reach him.

[Robbien]

5. Duh, Mr. Coburn

This "witch hunt" is all about "spending exploded, waste went unchecked and conflicts of interest developed" except this time it is all about the GOP and the executive branch doing the dirty deeds.

[sandnsea]

7. Taking advise from Coburn?

Ignore whether our justice system has been politically corrupted? It's all feigned outrage?

Or are you posting this as a joke.

[EST]

10. Getting a wee bit antsy, eh, Coburn?

Are those hounds, baying in the distance? Does one of those posters have a picture on it that looked a lot like you?

[sinkingfeeling]

11. Well, well, Sen. Coburn. I happen to disagree with you on several points.

"Democrats shouldn't make the mistake Republicans made during the Clinton years when our party obsessed about the White House while spending exploded, waste went unchecked and conflicts of interest developed that eventually landed members in jail. The Democrats' feigned outrage about this subpoena is more of the same short-term approach to 'oversight' that has far more to do with fundraising than improving government."

I agree that the GOP was obsessed by Bill Clinton. I disagree that 'spending exploded' or that' waste went unchecked' when we compare Clinton's 8 years in office against those of Mr. George W. Bush. Bush has increased our national debt by $3 trillion in the last 6 years alone! Waste? How about the total waste of $500 billion plus on Bush's Folly in Iraq and the waste of hundreds of thousands of lives and creating the world's biggest refuge problem?

As to 'conflicts of interest' that eventually landed members in jail.... I do believe that most of those had an R beside their name.

Wonder what the good doctor would have said in 1974 when Nixon got his subpoena?