Something no one else will tell you because it is the complete truth; no half-truths and no cover-up. It is the reason the government of the United States of America is the worst in the world of developed nations. Over the last 40 years, Washington politicians moved further to the right. Both Democrats and Republicans left the American people behind while they fought for elections and reelections.

Republicans moved so far to the right they became the “party of no:” No deliberation and no compromise which resulted in a completely dysfunctional government.

Democrats forgot their liberal past and even avoided using the term. They forgot about the “People’s President,” Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and how his policies favored the majority of America’s people, and why he won four elections.

Today Republican Senator from Oklahoma, Tom Coburn, passed at the age of 72. He was sworn into the House in 1995 and served three terms until he was elected to the Senate, serving from 2005 until 2015. He left government to join an ultra-conservative “think tank.” His legacy will be mixed.

He held many Republican principles, but was so far to the right in his conservative policies, he became known as “Dr. No” by Democrats for his unwavering support of extremist policies. It could be said that he was a member of the TEA Party before the TEA Party came into prominence in 2010.

Coburn was dedicated to the death penalty, and an advocate for repealing legal abortion. Both issues were strongly supported by the very red state of Oklahoma. Surprisingly, he broke ranks with most Republicans by suggesting that term limits be placed on Congress.

For the Constitution, he entered Congress in one of its darkest hours. The Republican Party, led by Newt Gingrich, was becoming a party of obstructionists. Failing to deliberate and compromise destroyed the very concept of a Democratic Republic.

For liberals such as myself, he will not be missed. However, as an Independent, I have some admiration for sticking to his personal principles, unlike the cowardly Republicans in the House and Senate today who do Trump’s bidding, right or wrong.

The Truth Lives Here

Op-ed by James Turnage

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Photo courtesy of Gage Skidmore

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