A Patriot Says Farewell

 

I’ve mentioned in the past that Oklahoma’s Tom Coburn is far and away my favorite member of the United States Senate. Senator Coburn retired this year, giving up his seat a few years early partially because of a fight with cancer. Last week, he took to the Senate floor to give his farewell speech. It’s longer than most YouTube fodder, but well worth your time. You can start around the 7:00 mark for the real meat of the remarks (though you’ll miss Cory Booker playing schoolmarm early in the proceedings). This voice will be missed in the upper chamber:

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  1. user_1938 Inactive
    user_1938
    @AaronMiller

    “I believe we can stuff that genie back in the bottle.” It’s worth a shot.

    • #1
  2. EThompson Member
    EThompson
    @

    Tom Coburn was a Giant among his peers and he shall be greatly missed.

    Anecdotal, but this memory shall always remain with me. I heard him speak at AEI in 2010 and there wasn’t time for all the questions after he finished speaking. As I headed for the elevator outside the conference room, his overzealous aides refused to allow me on because “it was being held for the senator.” Coburn heard this, glared at his entourage and invited me to step in and ask my question while we were riding down to the main floor.

    He certainly made an impression upon me that day.

    • #2
  3. Troy Senik, Ed. Member
    Troy Senik, Ed.
    @TroySenik

    EThompson:Tom Coburn was a Giant among his peers and he shall be greatly missed.

    Anecdotal, but this memory shall always remain with me. I heard him speak at AEI in 2010 and there wasn’t time for all the questions after he finished speaking. As I headed for the elevator outside the conference room, his overzealous aides refused to allow me on because “it was being held for the senator.” Coburn heard this, glared at his entourage and invited me to step in and ask my question while we were riding down to the main floor.

    He certainly made an impression upon me that day.

    Yes, a real gentleman and utterly without pretense (I think it comes across in the video). A real rarity in the modern Senate.

    • #3
  4. I. raptus Member
    I. raptus
    @Iraptus

    Gotta be honest, I’m a little tired of seeing politicians get blubbery.

    • #4
  5. Troy Senik, Ed. Member
    Troy Senik, Ed.
    @TroySenik

    I. raptus:Gotta be honest, I’m a little tired of seeing politicians get blubbery.

    Yeah, I get that. But one who gets choked up over his oath of office? I’ll take that every time.

    • #5
  6. Butters Inactive
    Butters
    @CommodoreBTC

    Coburn plans to go around the country pushing for an Article V amendments convention.

    • #6
  7. Scott Reusser Member
    Scott Reusser
    @ScottR

    Re “blubbery”: blubbery is when you indulge. Coburn fought it back, like a man.

    100 like him and we’d be in great shape.

    • #7
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