Boomers or Busts?

This was a tough one as I have a great deal of respect for the former representatives from Oklahoma. Steve Largent, J.C. Watts, Frank Lucas and, in the Senate, James Inhofe. Devout believers in the Contract with America who were determined to bring us fiscal responsibility and fight the growth of government. Alas, Largent and Watts have left the House, leaving Rep. Lucas and Sen. Inhofe without their morale and fiscal compass. Unlike the infamous tax & spend liberals of the 60's, 70's and 80's, Lucas and Inhofe developed into the tax-cutting-spend-anyway Republicans of the 21st century. Lucas appears to have the greatest challenge as he has demonstrated that he is a party voter. Throughout his career you can watch his pattern of approving spending during the Bush years and suddenly in 2009 he is against anything that is not military.

The rest of the House Republican delegation has demonstrated the same propensity for toeing the party line, rarely going against party leadership with votes for stimulus, TARP and stimulus 2 while appeasing the Republican base with votes against most tax issues that would reduce the deficit. The lone Democrat in the delegation is Rep. Dan Boren who, based on his voting pattern, acts like his seat in the House held the winning lottery ticket. If it allowed money to be spent, then Representative Dan voted for it.

There is one lawmaker from Oklahoma who is difficult to include in the desire to "dump them all." That is junior Senator Thomas Coburn, the first term senator who has been very consistent on his voting during his short career. He has made his budgetary priorities known and, unlike his senior senator, has the demonstrated the ability to vote his priorities. The gigantic concern is, if he were allowed to remain in his post, would he develop into the leader our new Senate? Or would he follow the lead of Senator Inhofe and forget why the wonderful people of Oklahoma sent him there? The future of America is far too important to to make this decision yet. I will reserve the exit ticket for Sen. Coburn until all contingents have been discussed.

Now that I have shown that I am not looking for the label, the party or the rhetoric. I am looking for the patriots who will lead us to a balanced budget, common sense and the American decisiveness that will pull us out of the free-fall we are in. Our current leaders just don't get it. We are TRILLIONS of dollars in debt and they are spending like money is poison and they must get rid of it. Every day I read, watch and listen to the news and I am aghast at the behavior and ravings of Congress. Are any of them listening to what they are saying? Could they possibly believe that we can spend our way out of our morass? If we try and fail (like it will) how will future generations even have a hope to have the life we have had. It is heart-wrenching to witness what may be the end of America as our forefathers intended it to be. The actions of Congress is what will doom fine leaders like Sen. Coburn. We will throw good people out with the bums because we will have no trust or faith left.