Last weekend, 60 Minutes offered up a fascinating profile of outgoing Senator Tom Coburn (R‑Oklahoma). Coburn has prostate cancer, and is leaving Washington for his home state before his term is up.
My trouble with the segment? It didn’t mention Coburn’s views on term limits, or make any point about him leaving early, other than, well, cancer. But it is worth mentioning that many, many politicians die in office. Coburn retains enough of his views to exit the political stage at an appropriate time.
He’s not clinging on to power as if he were Gollum at the Crack of Doom.
Thankfully, not all of Coburn’s projects will languish. Sen. Rand Paul (R‑Kentucky) is planning to re-introduce a piece of legislation that Coburn had developed, a plan to halt the federal practice of sending “military-grade equipment to local police departments.”
It’s a typically Coburn-esque notion.
Though Occupier folks may have some trouble understanding where Coburn is coming from, or in what direction he wishes the country to go, Coburn’s Tea Party constituencies get the idea. And, if they had misunderstandings, Rand Paul made the limited-government perspective clear in August with his Time op-ed arguing against the militarization of America’s police forces.
The revived bill will still allow (too much) federal taxpayer money go to local departments. But it will (fortunately) stop the distribution of “vehicles and weapons used by the U.S. armed forces” to police.
No better tribute to Tom Coburn could be found than Rand Paul’s taking up his banner on this important issue.
This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.
2 replies on “Rand Paul Raises Banner”
Didn’t Senator Coburn leave the House of Representatives as part of a campaign pledge? He served six years and then left the House.
I can’t be sure but it’s my guess that he had pledged to serve no more than two Senate terms and would have left in 2016, anyway. The man will be missed, by many of us who never had the opportunity to vote for him.
We know our beloved fraternal republic is on life support when a Doctor Coburn leaves the room and makes us feel as if the last, key, critical-care physician just quit! God bless & keep him — and everyone he loves!
And you, too, Mr Jacob — and all of your nearest and dearest, too! Keep up the Good Fight!
Merry Christmas and a Great 2015!
Sincerely — B A:.