The Tulsa Forum by TulsaNow

First he sends our soldiers to war for phony reasons and then when it is time to fund the troops, he refuses to support the troops by voting against the money needed for armor and bullets. These rethugs are nothing more then terrorist supporters. How does one senator have the power to put the skids on a bill anyway? Doesn't that seem a little extreme? And doesn't it always seem to be a dumb Okie holding up a very important piece of legislation?


Coburn named as senator holding up vets bill
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/11/military_veteransbill_coburnhold_110309w/

By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Nov 3, 2009 17:23:29 EST

"Thirteen major military and veterans groups have joined forces to try to force one senator — Republican Tom Coburn of Oklahoma — to release a hold that he has placed on a major veterans benefits bill.

Coburn has been identified by Senate aides as the lawmaker preventing consideration of S 1963, the Veterans’ Caregiver and Omnibus Health Benefits Act of 2009, by using an informal but legal practice of putting a hold on a bill.

Coburn’s staff did not respond to questions, but Senate aides said the first-term senator has expressed concern about creating new and unfunded benefits and wants the opportunity to amend the measure.

One of Coburn’s suggestions is to divert money from unspent economic and job stimulus programs to cover costs of new benefits for veterans and their families, according to sources who have discussed the issue with Coburn’s staff.

So far, at least, Senate leaders don’t want to let Coburn offer any amendments because of the precedent that would set to delay other legislation. Actual funding for benefits traditionally is handled separately from the bills that authorize the benefits, Senate aides said.

Earlier this fall, Coburn placed holds on S 252, the Veterans Health Care Authorization Act of 2009, and S 728, the Veterans’ Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act of 2009, which led to the introduction of S 1963, which combines key provisions of the two earlier bills in an effort to get around Coburn’s opposition.

In a letter sent Monday night to the Senate majority leader, Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., the 13 military and veterans groups ask the Senate to get on with it.

“It is essential that Congress act on this comprehensive measure without further delay,” the letter reads. “Thousands of disabled veterans with serious medical conditions and the family members who care for them are counting on this additional support.”

The letter says passing the bill by Veterans Day would be a “fitting way” to honor veterans.

Those signing the letter include the nation’s major veterans groups — The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, AmVets, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Blinded Veterans Association, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Vietnam Veterans of America, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and Jewish War Veterans, plus the Military Officers Association of America, National Military Family Association and Wounded Warrior Project.

Steve Robertson, legislative director for The American Legion, said delaying the bill hurts families caring for severely wounded combat veterans who would benefit from the stipends, health care, counseling and respite care that would be provided to caregivers in the bill.

“For a lot of family caregivers, delay is costing them their jobs and their savings. It’s having a big impact,” he said.

Robertson said he has spoken to Coburn’s staff about the earlier holds on S 252 and S. 728, but the conversation was fairly one-sided, with Coburn’s aides trying to get Robertson to dissuade veterans from flooding the senator’s office with calls.

“They made it clear that Sen. Coburn sees this as using his rights as a senator to place a hold on a bill, and that he was not doing anything illegal or wrong,” Robertson said. “I agree with that, but that doesn’t mean it makes sense to hold up a bill that would do a lot of good things for veterans that has cleared a committee and is ready for a vote.”

Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., the Senate assistant majority leader, mentioned Coburn’s hold in a Tuesday floor speech without citing Coburn by name, saying that the bill was being held up by one senator over cost.

“How much is a veteran’s life worth?” Durbin asked, adding that he hopes the hold is lifted. "

I'm pretty sure I read he'd put over 40 holds on bills during his time there.

It's not a hate for the military, he's just gone overboard.

Tom Coburn burns bridges toward progress.

I wish he would tilt toward windmills.

Veterans and supporters ask Coburn to drop hold on bill

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=16&articleid=20091107_16_A1_WASHIN225160

meanwhile, the paper arrived late...but it did show up.

For a mega millionaire Christian, you 'd think Dr. No would show more concern for the poor and disadvantaged. As a mega millionaire doctor, you'd think he'd have compassion for our veterans and troops...

Coburn is being called out on the chamber floor to release his hold.  http://www.rollcall.com/news/40428-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS (http://www.rollcall.com/news/40428-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS)

In honor of veterans day, call Coburn and tell him what a great anarchist he is and how dern proud you are to have him as your Senator. Tell him how much he means to our military....


Brother, can you spare a dime out of your tens of millions personal fortune to aid our vets that you sent to a needless death or permanent injury? Or Dr. No, are you too busy negotiating hush money for fellow C Streeters?



Reid: Coburn isn't being logical
The Oklahoma lawmaker is blocking a bill set to help wounded veterans.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=16&articleid=20091111_16_A1_WSIGOm561257

Coburn regularly puts holds on bills he doesn't support. However, he has stated more than once that he is seeking to amend this bill and as quoted by FOTD, senate leaders are the ones blocking Coburn.

If he wants to offer an amendment, let him. Vote it down if you don't like it. That's how the system is SUPPOSED to work.

Like the class nerd, he wants it his way or no way.....

Generally I'd agree with you but Coburn has been abusing the system for years now.  He deserves some high profile heat for being such an obstructionist.  I'm a little surprised he hasn't been called out before this.  Actually, I take that back.  We're talking about the weak-kneed Democratic leadership here.

I just think they need to let him offer an amendment, which will likely get voted down, then he will have no argument. Give him 24 hours.

Oh, but all these vets are going to die in that 24 hours if they don't have a bill now!

Again with the hyperbole . . .  because a politician is playing politics doesn't mean he hates the troops.  Say what you will about the tactic he is implanting - it is either a great way to get his amendment on the floor or a childish way of impeding progress he doesn't like, but it has no contention n his support for the troops.

At least no more than when Democrats resisted bills in the Bush years that were joint resolutions proclaiming "we love our troops" and "drill for oil wherever you want".  What?  You hate our troops?  Well then why did you vote against the bill?

/stupid

Politics are okay when your side does it, evil when the other side does.

That works....think about it.


Hey Dr. No ( soon to be Dr. Schmoe )....If we cannot afford to care for veterans, we cannot afford to be at war. Duh!

More proof that repugs and "their democracy" are not worth protecting from any form of bad guy, foreign or domestic. This ridiculousness, this hypocrisy, this shamefulness may result in a one party rule for a long time out.



Republicans Noticeably Absent From Hearing On Veteran Homelessness
November 11, 2009 5:46 pm ET by Walid Zafar

http://mediamattersaction.org/blog/200911110006


Here's the list of those domestic terrorists in the subcommitte hearings who were too busy to give a damn about homeless vets:

Richard C. Shelby, Ranking Member (R-AL)
Mike Crapo (R-ID)
Bob Corker (R-TN)
Jim DeMint (R-SC)
David Vitter (R-LA)
Mike Johanns (R-NE)
Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX)
Judd Gregg (R-NH)

I really can't figure out why you keep posting.  You turn a deaf ear to any kind of contrary argument without regard to its validity or rational basis in fact.  You consistently demonstrate paranoia and hatefulness.  Are you posting just to get it out or do you actually think you might persuade somebody to agree with your viewpoints?

It's dumbfounding, really.  At this point, it's just like reading a transcript of a crazy street person's deranged ramblings.

Is there some other goal?

To be the anti-guido, I reckon.

Not that I support either of their approaches. Both are intemperate and have many moments of ill-conceived ideas and sheer idiocy.

I think he's just too stoned to start his own blog.

Well, initially it was to turn the discussion on TNF away from GOP suck ups who were blinded by their jingo.

Over time, it's been fun to slip in some real news. And this devil loves to play a shenanigan now and then.

Please back this up: " You consistently demonstrate paranoia and hatefulness". Is that your defense of Coburn's actions? To attack a third party. FOTD is no Veteran but he will put them before himself.

FOTD picks the good fights where something else is more important than fear. He needs not his own blog when sites are available with access to people who truly believe in Tom Coburns rhetoric.

Tom Coburn is afraid America will be broke in 40 years. He has NO confidence. He spreads his fear. He uses his position to make a point on budgeting based on nothing but a shrinking government mentality while our Vets suffer physically, mentally and socially.

Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA), the highest-ranking veteran elected to Congress, told MSNBC's Rachel Maddow he was extremely frustrated with Coburn's example of the disconnect between war funding and troop care:
"This is politics at its worst. It's what most irks me about Washington D.C. Somehow, they think strength is purely military force, not understanding it's our people. And they have forgotten that, particularly in this case."

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) told Politico that he had trouble understanding how "illogical" Coburn was being by holding up this bill after refusing to oppose other war spending:
"Where was he when we were spending a trillion dollars on the war in Iraq?" Reid asked. "That wasn't paid for. I didn't hear him stopping the bill from going forward at that time. I think he should become more logical and understand we have people who are suffering."

 Paul Rieckhoff, founder and director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, had this to say to MSNBC's Keith Olbermann about this lawmaker:
"He's isolated here. This isn't even the GOP. This is one senator standing in the way of the most comprehensive health reform and health benefits package for caregivers, the wives, husbands, grandmothers, parents, who are caring for the most severely wounded folks. They are really under tremendous pressure and tremendous stress, and they need stress counseling themselves. That's a part of this bill. And he's very isolated. Every veterans group has lined up against him on this and he's got to back down. We hope the American people will pressure him to do just that. "

Again, if we cannot afford to care for veterans, we cannot afford to be at war.

Coburn has been trained as a doctor and his dedication has been toward that end.  He is dedicated to that training but also to protecting the human rights.  Since WWll our military has changed from the field of battle to a war against the civilian population as we bomb the residents killing the women and children to discourage battles between armies.  We send troops into the enemy home lands in uniforms making them targets for an army in civilian clothing.   We liken the Romans are threaten within where in their end threw open the gates to save the city.  Colburn comes nearer representing the a population that need to be represented by those common sense persons, independent of the political life time politicians.


The purpose in the hold on the military bill can only be attributed to the fact we fight a war that many nations has dispensed their wealth and armies over the centuries.   Coburn seem to understand that as the world greatest debtor, that cannot be defeated militarily, being defeated by our greed, is allowing foreign interest to buy our resources, land and industries with the ever inflating dollar money exchanges.  We speak of the change needed in government operations but when a senator makes a stand for the citizens to take the time and read with understanding it is like the city charter change that the people voted to accept without reading it.        

No and no.  I'm not speaking to your Coburn complaints at all and I haven't the time to search out 'demonstrations' for you.

Let's look at it this way: the only poster unaware of your tendencies (as I assert) is you - and the only poster who would remain unswayed is (surprise) you.  Good luck on the crusade.

Okie dokie F Buckeye....you lazy malicious fool.

What a crock. Coburn inherited his fortune. Being a doctor does not place him in a position of blunting care for our soldiers and a shelter for our homeless Vets. Your rambling is sprinkled with the same old fear of debt bs.

You take off the afternoon and go palin around with your rouges in a bar ditch? It's so easy to tell.

I am well aware of the family business.  Some seem unaware of the struggle he had to continue his practice in Muskogee after becoming a senator trying to represent the common people.  He is truly looking out for all the people.   Those people in their thirties will need a million dollars in a retirement escrow savings account in order to sustain their present quality of life they now enjoy.

Another compelling argument rife with clever wordplay.

Is it 4:20 already?

There's no way I'm sifting through pages of your irrational miasmic ramblings, dubious interpretations and paranoid accusations to present you with the very best of the best.  Like I said, it's painfully clear to anybody who's read this forum for any length of time.  You've failed to provide any kind of substantive defense of countless assertions and respond very poorly to contrary questions.  I don't see how anything is left apart from general abuse.  As you say, shenanigans can be fun.

Jeebus, the C Street "hit" parade...

A "hit"?  Is that 4:20 jingo?

"Are these jackasses married to women?? Republican woman can’t be to bright."