Coburn Enters Okla. GOP Senate Race

[NewJerseyDem]

This is certainly not good news. Coburns is a very strong candidate who comes from the same area as Carson so this could take away Carson's base if Coburn wins the republican primary.

http://www.rollcall.com/issues/1_1/breakingnews/4549-1.html

Former Rep. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) announced Monday that he will enter the race to succeed retiring Sen. Don Nickles (R), setting up a late summer primary showdown for Republicans in the Sooner State.

“My decision to run for the Senate has been a very difficult one as I struggled with what I thought I should do and what I wanted to do,” Coburn wrote in a statement posted on www.DraftCoburnForSenate.com, a Web site that was started by a Coburn supporter. “I have resolved to follow my convictions and seek to become Oklahoma’s next U.S. Senator.”

Among the six reasons Coburn lists for entering the race is what he describes as the current “deficit of moral courage” and “lack of effective leadership to control spending” in Congress.

“I believe we have lost sight of the moorings of the Constitution in that it was founded upon the principles of a creator and that we have inalienable rights given by that creator,” Coburn wrote. “We need leaders who are unashamed of their faith and understand its importance in the maintenance of a free society.”

[OKNancy]

1. I was just going to come over here and post this

This will be tough if he wins the Republican primary.
Carson seemed to have it in the bag with Kirk Humphreys as the only Republican running. The Republicans got scared of losing.

Maybe the Republicans can have a nasty primary !!! THat would be nice.

[bobbieinok]

2. from what I remember, he's a member of the religious right

and a doctor

Was he a 'good' congressman??

[SoonerShankle]

9. are you kidding?

No one in the Oklahoma delegation has been worth a pinch of dog crap since the late Mike Synar was defeated by the gun and smoke lobbies. Carson may be a dem, but he only votes like one half the time. Hopefully he can pull it out against Coburn. It's a shame that Coburn currently occupies the seat formerly held by such a politically courageous man like Synar. Coburn may have name recognition in the NorthEastern sections of OK, but having a dem for guv can't hurt either. Hopefully Brad Henry will show more couth than Keating in his campaigning for his party though. I trust he will. He's done a good job so far. Carson needs to shore up support in a strengthening party.

[ButterflyBlood]

3. better send some money to Humphreys

Humphreys appears to be an idiot who could be easily beat.

[mgarretson]

5. You mean Kirk the Jerk?

Very few people like the guy... Especially in Oklahoma City over the Bass Pro fiasco... He gave them an ungodly tax incentive to get them to build a store. I wouldn't count on him when it comes to fiscal conservatives.

I posted this link already on another thread but if you haven't looked already, check out www.kirkisajerk.com

Best,
Mike

[mgarretson]

4. Coburn

The Republican field just keeps getting larger and larger... it's like they can't stick with a candidate... Like they got worried about Humphreys and so Coporation Commissioner Bob Anthony decided to run and now Coburn's running.

I just can't tell if it is indeed a feeling of weakness or if they're just continually improving their candidates.

What was the consensus on Coburn? About all I remember is him retiring...

-Mike

[jmaier]

6. I believe he's considered a man of integrity

though a religious conservative. The various politic pundit sites seem to think that he will be stronger than Humphreys. On the other hand, Brad Carson did win Coburn's district after Coburn retired. Who the hell knows!

[yelladawg]

7. Carson will lose to Coburn

Coburn, A real Oklahoman native from Muskogee, the heart of "Little Dixie", will carry everything west of Tulsa and most of CD 2. CD 1 will follow John Sullivan's R-Tulsa support of Brad.

Carson has made the yellow dog's of Oklahoma very upset. They openly supported Mike Mass in last year's Democratic primary of CD 2. The going statement in CD-2 is that they will not support Carson. They won't vote for Coburn, but they won't vote for Carson as well.

Carson has aligned himself with Bush. In a recent speech to the Tulsa Chamber of Commerce, Brad Carson said, "There is no greater supporter of President Bush in Congress today than me."

[mndemocrat_29]

8. Carson would definitely be more vulnerable to Coburn

But not because Democrats are going to abandon him. I seriously doubt that Democrats would throw away their first real shot at a Senate seat since 1990. However, Coburn will tap into the Independent-voter base that Carson has been able to use, and he is a much better politician than Humphreys. However, what Humphreys most has going for him is that both Imhofe and Nickles support him, thus the establishment is backing him.

[SoonerShankle]

10. true, true

Check out Carson's shameful voting record on the environment (though not as shameful as the rest of the delegations', but it is shameful for a democrat nonetheless). The League of Conservation Voters just put out their annual scorecard. Carson voted with environmentalists only 45% of the time. Most Dems scored like 90% or so. Conservative Carson may be the best hope of getting a dem in the senate since David Walters lost out to that great big embarrassment named Inhofe. We can only pray for a dem win -- and GOTV!!!

[yelladawg]

11. Carson votes with repugs 78% of the time

Brad Carson brags how he votes with the repugs the majority of the time. I don't trust him. He is the biggest DINO in Congress today.

[OKNancy]

12. ADA says 35%

The latest ADA rankings show Carson with a 65%
---
To compare, no other Representative from Oklahoma gets higher than 5%

Carson is no Feingold, but he's a hell of a lot better than any Republican in the State.

http://www.adaction.org/HouseVR2002.htm

[Wabbajack]

13. 42

The American conservative Union gives him 42%. There are Dems who do worse. In the (new) Senate though only Ben Nelson (NE) would be worse.

[yelladawg]

14. Carson's quote at a fundraiser with repugs

Nancy, don't you just love his quote, "There is no greater supporter of President Bush in Congress today than me."

[OKNancy]

15. I don't like it

but the only place I've ever read that was here. Do you have a source?

[yelladawg]

16. I too don't like DINO's

I'm looking up where I read that. In the mean time look at what I found:

Tulsa World 02/11/2003

"In an address to the Tulsa Metro Chamber, Brad Carson rebuffed war critics..."

"There is nothing to be ashamed of. It is wise to protect our oil supplies"

"The United Nations inspection process has been flawed"

Nancy there is more to this article, but I know you will wish to read it for yourself.

Brad Carson is not a Democrat. He will turn on the party.

[mgarretson]

17. what else can we do?

Hey Yelladawg,
I not very fond of Congressman Carson... Him and I don't see eye to eye very much on the issues... That being said, what other option do we have? Let Kirk the Jerk or Tom Coburn win the race unchallenged? I don't like Carson much but I like his Republican challengers even less, so I'm going to do my part to get Carson elected.

Nancy and the rest of us Okies need a Democrat in the Senate, no matter how much we have to hold our noses in the process of making it happen.

That's my take... what do the rest of ya'll think.

-Mike

[Doomsayer13]

18. Beggers can't be choosers

it's as simple as that. Sure, Carson is as blue as a blue dog Dem gets, but he's the best we can do in Oklahoma, one of the more conservative states in the union. He's best positioned and has the best chance of winning... he's no liberal, but I don't think a liberal has EVER been elected from Oklahoma.

[yelladawg]

19. His name was Mike Synar

Mike Synar was in Congress from CD-2 for 12 years. He was one of the most liberal Democrats EVER.

Brad Carson promised many times to produce a voting record like Mike Synar when he first ran for Congress in 2000. Many yellowdogs remember how Brad Carson lied to them about "I'm just like Mike Synar".

Brad Carson lied to Democrats in CD-2 and he is lying again in his run for the US Senate.

[OKNancy]

20. And Fred Harris

Are you old enough to remember Senator Harris. Of course I could go way back when our Congressmen were practically Socialists.

And of course Gore Vidal's grandfather....Thomas P. Gore.

( Makes me sad just thinking of Mike )

[Doomsayer13]

25. Senator Harris

Had an ADA rating of 65. I believe Carson's is around there, maybe a little less. Thomas P. Gore was senator during the Great Depression, but even then I don't believe he was too liberal. He was against giving an advance to WWI soldiers, becuase, as Gore Vidal said, "He didn't believe in giving hand-outs to anyone".

Synar was a liberal, that's for sure, but I don't think there's ever been a liberal senator from Oklahoma. Even Boren was around 45 on the ADA scale.

[NewJerseyDem]

21. Well, then Tom Coburn was elected

And he is one of the most right wing members of congress in a long time. He still thinks that the federal government really only has the power to do what is specifically listed in the Constitution.

Synar lost the democratic primary in 1994. I don't know if that was just because he was too liberal but it shows that liberals don't do very well in Oklahoma politics, even what appears to be the most liberal area in the state, which Synar represented largely.

[SoonerShankle]

23. The most liberal area of the state?

Even though many Democrats hail from the Tulsa area, I hardly think it is the liberal stronghold of the state. When I moved to Tulsa from Norman in 1991, I was shocked at the intense religiosity and conservatism that pervaded social discourse. Think Oral Roberts University. Think Carlton Pearson. Think buckle of the evangelical Bible belt.

I remember being preached to in grocery store isles by clerks telling me to "Give it to God." Now, I'm not an unreligious person. But I do not link my religion to my politics like many in that region do. These folks bought the Christian Coalition's doctrine and Gingriches revolution hook, line, and sinker.

I had to move to a more liberal place, a place that allows me to worship God in my own way, not in the grocery store check out line -- CA.

[NewJerseyDem]

24. It was the best district for Gore in 2000

The old second district gave Gore 46.6% while the current one gave him a slightly higher number.

So, in comparison to the rest of the state the area is more liberal, but perhaps that is more based on economic issues. Also, I think that much of the district consists of towns like Muskogee and McAlester which may be more liberal, but I don't really know. Also, I don't really know how much of the area in the current 2nd district is part of the old 3rd district.

But, it did give Gore his highest numbers.

[SoonerShankle]

22. Synar was a politically courageous soul....

Synar took on the gun and tobacco lobbies to better the lives of Oklahomans. I remember my bitter disappointment when he lost, only to be further saddened upon his death year later. He was young, smart, handsome. He never married, and he dedicated his whole life to public service. He was also featured in "Profiles in Courage for Our Time" for taking a stand on principles rather than politics.

It's a shame that Carson invokes his name when he is nowhere near the congressman that Synar was. But I have to say, Carson will be better than Coburn (who succeeded Synar). And Coburn has to defeat a quality candidate like Bob Anthony too.

[yelladawg]

26. What has Carson done the past three years?

Oklahoma is the only state in America with a declining life expectancy over the past three years. What has Carson done to correct this?

[yelladawg]

27. Let's have some more fun

All you Carson supporters out there:

Please look up Carson's supporters at FEC.gov, it will tell you who gave money to Carson as a Congressman and in his Senate race. Look at those who maxed out with Carson and look to see who else they gave to.

Want some hints? Of most of the people who maxed out, they also gave to Nichols (R), Inhofe (R), Keating (R), Reneau (R)...don't take my word for it. it's all at fec.gov

Oh, most of the heavy jitters had NEVER given to a Democrat before. Who owns Brad Carson? He will turn on Democrats, just like he did in CD-2 in Oklahoma.

[yelladawg]

28. Where was Brad Carson on this ?

Brad Carson is more concerned with Oil Company PAC's than the roads in his own "hometown"

In today's Tulsa World
...Snip...
The bridge on Oklahoma 88 over Dog Creek near Claremore was in such bad shape that state Transportation Director Gary Ridley ordered an engineer to check it every day. A weight limit of 15 tons already had been imposed and then a few weeks ago the weight limit was dropped to five tons.

This bridge is one of the state's worst....the conditions grow worse by the day.

...Snip...
For various reasons, Oklahoma has fallen far behind while many other states, including Kansas and Arkansas, have made great strides in improving their highway systems.

Oklahoma is fourth in the nation in terms of deteriorating interstate system bridges.

In the northeastern Oklahoma transportation district that includes Tulsa, there are 144 structurally deficient and 129 functionally obsolete bridges.

...Snip...


So where is Brad? He's out there getting Oil Companies to donate to his Senate race while his hometown voters can't drive South on HW 88.