What is Digg?134 Comments
- BassMastr, on 10/12/2007, -2/+71Great article on how D.C. Is broken. This really needs to be on the front page...
- atgunning, on 10/12/2007, -4/+43It's rare for a die-hard Democrat like myself to respect any Republican, but I now have the utmost respect for Sen. Coburn.
- UglieJosh, on 10/12/2007, -0/+35Agreed! Get this to the front page somehow.
- shosterman, on 10/12/2007, -0/+33Here's my favorite section of the article:
"And that’s how I ended up as a Republican. I’m not sure I’m as much of a Republican as I am independent-minded, but if I’ve got to pick between two parties, I’m a Republican.”
http://men.style.com/gq/features/full?id=content_5318&pageNum=6 (2nd paragraph)
When our nation can overcome the "labeling" of politics and discovery personal freedom and responsibility, we'll start to see more politicians like this. - BassMastr, on 10/12/2007, -1/+29...this should appeal to every American. To bad digg sometimes misses the really good/important articles.
- mateo60, on 10/12/2007, -4/+32I'm from his home state, and I didn't vote for him. In fact, I was mad when he got elected because of some of his social views. I'm happy to say that I couldn't have been more wrong about that guy. I'll be voting for him next election.
- LooterMcBeer, on 10/12/2007, -4/+29Your a Call center tech and you expect me to care what you think? there is no hope for you so your comments serve no purpose.
not to mention you find idiots that are that computer illiterate anywhere in the world - Lord_oftheTrons, on 10/12/2007, -5/+29Too bad getting this on the frontpage isn't going to change anything. This isn't like some customer service story where a bunch of upset people are going to make a difference. You already voted everyone in so it's too late. Whether there is a -D or a -R after your name makes no difference when it comes to wasting our tax dollars.
- evilesttoast, on 10/12/2007, -2/+25I'm just wondering why you would be angry against a guy for just hearing that he's a Republican.
- mateo60, on 10/12/2007, -1/+20@pleasejustdie
As an Oklahoman, I'd argue your point, but I'm unable to read. Plus I have butter that I need to go churn.
I find it hilarious that someone with the username "please just die" is in a call center doing tech support. I'm sure you're a pleasure to talk to. And I have no doubt that people named "pleasejustdie" are the types of people that give call centers their good and customer friendly name. - Mylonite, on 10/12/2007, -2/+21I'm not quite sure how to reconcile the scary frothy stuff he was putting out a couple years ago with his message today, but I'm supportive of anyone who hasn't been corrupted by the system shouting their knowledge from the rooftops.
FTA, regarding a $200mil bridge to an Alaskan island with 50 inhabitants: "That’s what Tom Coburn wants you to know. Not about the bridge; about the bigger thing. He wants you to know how it works in Washington, how the machine keeps itself running, and the favors get traded, and the deals get struck, and the bridges to nowhere are going up every day." - adamfalkofske, on 10/12/2007, -4/+22I read the entire article - the longest article on Digg I've ever made it all the way through. This man is a godsend.
- etnu, on 10/12/2007, -1/+17I'm impressed that he stood up and said that his social stances were less important than the economic issues facing the country. I don't agree with his social stances at all -- but the last couple of pages of that article presented a completely rational argument. If most Republicans were like this guy, the last 12 years would have been glorious.
- drstulsa, on 10/12/2007, -6/+19Please keep in mind this is the same guy who wanted, and i presume still wants, all doctors put in jail who perform abortion. He is certainly a political outsider, but that alone does not make him a respectable person.
- LooterMcBeer, on 10/12/2007, -5/+18Im from Oklahoma and its rare to find a person here that doesnt love that man. If all of washington was like him thigns would be alot different right now in this country
- mateo60, on 10/12/2007, -1/+14I'm with you on the social issues. I was ashamed when he got elected by my state. However, its such a rarity to have someone willing to stand up to the Senate against corruption that seems to be rampant today. Despite some of his extreme views, in all practicality, we're hardly in any danger of charging abortionists with the death penalty, however we ARE in danger of losing any control of a corrupt Washington system. For all practical purposes, he's the right person at the right time.
- AngryRepublican, on 10/12/2007, -1/+12I think that government needs more people like this on both sides. His social positions are horrible, but politically and fiscally his head is in the right place. He's a guy you could at lease respect, even if you don't agree with him.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+12The insane spending and government growth has to stop NOW! Social issue decisions should be left to individuals, not the government.
- Steviebe21, on 10/12/2007, -2/+13That's why you read the article.
- HeilBush, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11mylonite, I couldn't disagree more.
Senator Coburn doesn't apologize for his views at any point in the article, nor should he have to. He deserves respect because he treats his opposition with respect. My favorite quote from the article had to be:
"You can look at abortion, you can look at all the social issues you want, but none of those matter if we’re not good stewards of the nation. I’m not going to be critical of the people who are pro-abortion. They have a different set of values than me. I can see their position, and I won’t demean it. I counsel lots of women—and I love them to death—who have been through abortion. I’ve done two abortions myself, to save the lives of women. When you talk about abortion, emotion gets into it. But you can understand the position of the other side. When you look at what’s happening with the American dollar, it is not as nuanced. The dollar is sliding against all major currencies in the world, because people are losing faith in our ability to repay all these loans. We’re living on borrowed financial time. It doesn’t matter if you’re a Democrat or a Republican. Those are the facts.”
If he isn't going to demean you or me for our pro-abortion/pro-gay rights (I'm assuming in your case) views, I see no reason why we should treat him differently. His opinions don't need to be "whitewashed" as you put it, I'm completely fine with someone having a different opinion than me. I wish there were a hundred more senators just like him, so that such issues could be discussed fairly and freely, rather than made into career-advancing media spectacles.
The only thing that did bother me about the article was the aside that Senator Coburn has put anti-abortion measures into unrelated bills in the past. Why this is never brought up in the interview or explained in any way, I cannot fathom, but it certainly is disheartening. - rationalist, on 10/12/2007, -7/+16HeilBush and everyone else bamboozled by this starry-eyed bit of propaganda,
Coburn is a lying hypocrite and the GQ article is a complete puff piece.
- Coburn still favors overturning Roe and imposing the death penalty on doctors who perform abortions;
- He introduced a bill to end anonymous AIDS testing and forcing the name of anyone testing positive to be handed over to government authorities;
- He was one of only nine Republican Senators to vote against bipartisan amendments that would outlaw torture by our soldiers. One of only nine.
- He condemned NBC's airing of Schindler's List because it would "encourage irresponsible sexual behavior".
- He has testified that women are healthier with breast implants.
- He has ranted about "rampant lesbianism" in public school bathrooms.
- His Chief of Staff was one of the first organizers of Operation Rescue.
- He is a sick, sick, homophobic, misogynistic fundie *****. And I haven't even listed the half of it.
And a hypocritical liar.
He has also admitted, after it was uncovered by investigative reporters in 2004, that he forcibly sterilized a 20-year old woman against her will and then fraudulently billed Medicaid for it - and warned the woman and her mother to keep quiet about the case. - cisaza, on 10/12/2007, -4/+13I dugg the story, and agree it's frontpage material... still, I'm waiting for the day a frontpage story starts with "Senator XYZ is a Democrat - but don't hold that against him!" :)
- ohearn, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9Yeah, I may disagree on some of his social issues, but over all I think we need more people like this in office at every level of government as far as his views on fiscal responsibility.
- vblvbl, on 10/12/2007, -5/+12He has some good ideas about money and our government, but you're right - he's made some seriously ignorant statements in the past.
- dredwolff, on 10/12/2007, -3/+10This guy sounds like someone I would vote for president, assuming his main agenda was to clean up our government. but it sounds like I would disagree with him on some other issues.
- feellife, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8@ Lord_oftheTrons
It's still important that people realize this kind of thing. The "everyday people" being aware of this actually COULD change things. It's just not going to change things immediately. But people are not aware, because many could really care less about politics. It's important, but a lot of people don't even realize THAT. - PhillipL, on 10/12/2007, -4/+11More astronauts are from Oklahoma than any other state...so maybe we're not all stupid...oh yeah woody guthrie (possibly the most influential folk singer ever), the flaming lips, and Will Rogers.
- freff, on 10/12/2007, -3/+9In saying that he "went after" the Bridge to Nowhere, he means that he challenged it. Not that he approved of it.
- xedd, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6I'm a bit suspicious of this story.
It seems too simplistic. All problems in Washington is due to mutual back-scratching among politicians?
About this costly bridge: who actually gains the most, the fifty supposed inhabitants of the island, or the contractors who will get the money, (and you can bet there will be huge cost overruns, to boot...)? Do you think the contractors might have given campaign contributions to politicians in the past? They might not even be Alaskan contractors. They might not even have given contributions to Alaskan politicians. But they probably gave money to politicians somewhere, and therein lies the factor of backscratching between politicians.
See, the issue backscratching is only the surface--it is a vehicle, a method--for good old-fashioned CORRUPTION.
The real and deeper issue is simply corruption.
FTA "One section identified a $500 million cash bonus that Senator Trent Lott of Mississippi had slipped into the emergency budget for his supporters at Northrop Grumman, a giveaway that even the Pentagon had identified as “inappropriate” and wasteful."
A 500 million dollar CASH BONUS?
Shouldn't the fact that Lott did something as highly questionable as this be investigated?
Wow...
It is Corruption that has broken Washington. How they accomplish that corruption is another much smaller issue, because if we could somehow stop back-scratching, THEY WILL FIND ANOTHER WAY.
We probably need to somehow end the incentives for corruption. Make it easier to investigate and convict for it. - LesterKing, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6Pleasejustdie...
How appropriate that that's your name! I was just thinking that as I read your post... - Spektr4, on 10/12/2007, -9/+14This is also a guy who demonizes gays and calls for the death penalty for any doctor who performs an abortion. Don't count me as a fan. =/
- xtiger, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6Now THAT'S a REAL Republican. I'd vote for that type of character anyday.
- selrahc, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6Regarding his past views... A couple of quotes from page 10 of the article.
" Having entered the public spotlight for his social positions, far from the mainstream and widely condemned for his views on abortion and gay rights, he had long since adjusted to the outrage and indignation he aroused."
and it then goes on to quote him directly.
'“You can look at abortion, you can look at all the social issues you want,” he said, “but none of those matter if we’re not good stewards of the nation. I’m not going to be critical of the people who are pro-abortion. They have a different set of values than me. I can see their position, and I won’t demean it."
Read the article completely to get the rest of it. - ohearn, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7At least he is honest about his opinions instead of saying one thing to get elected and doing something else afterward. I don't happen to believe in abortion under 95% of circumstances and am straight, but I still disagree with his views on gay and abortion rights. Just because I don't chose something for my life doesn't mean I have the right to tell others they have to live by the same values I have if they are not hurting others in the process.
As far as his view on government spending and fiscal issues, I agree with him 100% even though some of the things he has shot down would have helped the immediate area or state that I live in. If something is good for a single state then it should be up to that state and not the entire nation to pay for it. - mateo60, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5There's more than a half a million people here in Oklahoma City. I know that's not super huge, but c'mon, we don't all own cows.
- nayajhen, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I agree with him and I'm no GOP apologist. More power to you Coburn of Oklahoma!
- growler1, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5We should give this guy a camera crew, and make a reality show about what a bunch of morons we have stinking up inside the beltway.
- freff, on 10/12/2007, -5/+9It's funny, because that was the first thing I thought about when I saw this story. I had to look it up though because I thought that my memory might have been playing tricks on me, but nope, he's the one.
"The gay community has infiltrated the very centers of power in every area across this country and they wield extreme power. That agenda is the greatest threat to our freedom we face today. Why do you think we see the rationalization for abortion and multiple sexual partners? That’s a gay agenda."
- http://houstonvoice.com/2004/11-26/news/localnews/aids.cfm
"I favor the death penalty for abortionists and other people who take life."
- http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/vote2004/2004-11-03-coburn-profile_x.htm
So, congrats on this guy for saying that he's not completely committed to partisan DC politics, but he's still got some work to do in my eyes. - UnnDunn, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4I don't care whether Coburn is Republican or Democrat; if he were my Senator, I'd vote to re-elect him every time. People like him are a breath of fresh air.
- billspaced, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4On social issues, I thought he and I were miles apart. But the last part of the article showed he's a man who can see the other side, and just doesn't agree RATHER than most politicians -- and PEOPLE -- who have an opinion and won't change it no matter what facts and evidence and situations confront them.
Many social issues are based on feelings rather than facts. And that's okay. But to not have an open mind about social issues is just downright stupid. Clearly, Coburn is not stupid.
Heck, he's said he's performed abortions twice, to save the mother. Many people, on both sides of this social issue, wouldn't see the gray. He sees it.
As for cutting the pork, it's about time somebody challenged these a-holes on spending our money on stupid crap. Surely, our president could veto bills, but he's only vetoed one bill in his 6+ years, and that was on a social issue! DC is a corrupt institution and I don't see it ever getting better until something terrible (9/11 100X -- but then only "maybe") takes place. - klotlikar, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5Awesome article and his work to clean up government is great but don't get fooled into thinking he is that different from the rest of the Republicans. He is stalwart right winger and believes the gays are the real big problem in our country, check out this quote:
"The gay community has infiltrated the very centers of power in every area across this country, and they wield extreme power... That agenda is the greatest threat to our freedom that we face today. Why do you think we see the rationalization for abortion and multiple sexual partners? That's a gay agenda." - nayajhen, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Cite your sources, MAN! They will kill you if you don't!
- KDX200rider, on 10/12/2007, -5/+8@HarryGldfarb
You may want to do a little more homework on this guy before deciding. - spinchange, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6He was obviously being hyperbolic, because it's not against the law to preform an abortion in this country.
Roe v Wade unfortunately is stare decisis (precedent) Never mind that the Roe court majority rested its opinion squarely on the Constitution's Due Process Clause in the 14th amendment (?) One of the better text-book examples examples of what some might call, "Judicial Activism."
Whatever...He's a Christian man who delivers babies for a living (for free, I might add)
So he's got some strong feelings about Abortion, that's not so "un-respectable" is it? - aelias, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I like that he's not playing ball to capitol hill standards. I also don't like that he sneaks anti-abortion legislation into stuff either. Whether it's wasting my tax dollars or taking away civil rights, it doesn't belong in that building.
Nice effort, tho. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+21 or 2 people can't change all of human nature. The system has to change. One good start will be short term limits.
- BoltSteve, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I don't think this is an article about electing Republicans in 2 years or about the next elections. It is showing us the fight of one man against government waste.
The 94 Republican takeover was a mirror to the 06 Democratic takeover. The country got tired of one party controlling the Congress for too long and not appearing to make any progress combined with scandals that made people pay attention. This story shows that it doesn't matter who is in charge if they are all scratching each others backs. - BassMastr, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Robert C. Bryd Express way -
Known as the Robert C. Byrd Expressway, the expressway passes for no more than fives miles within the state of West Virginia, bordering Weirton for its entire length.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_22
Robert C. Byrd National Technology Transfer
http://www.nttc.edu/about/newsdetail.asp?recnum=196
And not too be left out...
Robert C. Byrd Center for Rural Health at Marshall University
http://www.diabetesxchange.org/sitecore/content/Surveys/MRRCBIAF.aspx
And that's as far as I got until I saw the two articles below then was convinced it was true. What a *****...
Here's an article that mentions more...
http://media.www.miamistudent.net/media/storage/paper776/news/2007/01/23/OpedPage/Byrd-Droppings.Still.Favored.Over.Fiscal.Restraint-2667836.shtml?sourcedomain=www.miamistudent.net&MIIHost=media.collegepublisher.com
This one talks about why Coburn didn't support the ethics bill that everyone else voted for. Makes sense to me. No wonder everyone is Washington hates him.
http://washingtontimes.com/national/20070119-121554-9391r.htm - Nytemare, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3As on Oklahoman that voted for the man, I'm pretty happy.
At the time, I felt I was voting for the lesser of two evils, but since he's been in office, I've heard nothing but how he's takin' on pork barrel spending. Fighting for conservative values. If he runs for reelection, right now he's got my vote again.
Obama/Coburn '08? No way, but I could go Romney/Coburn - BassMastr, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2@Rationalist
You might be right. He might be one of the scuzziest people on the face of the Earth, to me this wasn't about how awesome he is. This piece, to me, was about how ***** up Washington is. But I guess you are allowed to take it however you want. -
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