JAMES INHOFE-- THE ODD MAN OUT WHEN IT COMES TO IRAQ?

PhotoTune gets it right again

Tom Coburn and James Inhofe have been like the Bobsey Twins of Oklahoma politics. Both always clock in among the dozen most reactionary members of the U.S. Senate and each has been a faithful rubberstamp for the Bush agenda at home and abroad. (Inhofe: 100% on Iraq; Coburn: one minor procedural disagreement with Bush since being elected.)

Well, it looks like that's changing-- and right at the moment when Inhofe's career is in dire peril precisely because of his rubber stamp posture towards the unpopular Bush Regime and it's agenda. As grassroots Democrat Andrew Rice, running against Inhode for the U.S. Senate, hammers away at Inhofe's unconscionable support for a failed and endless war strategy in Iraq, Coburn seems to have abandoned him and left him in the lurch, looking like even more of an odd duck than usual.

During a town hall meeting in Muskogee, Oklahoma this past weekend, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) admitted that it was “a mistake” for the United States to invade Iraq in 2003. “I will tell you personally that I think it was probably a mistake going to Iraq," Coburn told the crowd.

Yeah, probably. Are you wondering if he's communicated that to Inhofe, generally considered a dunderhead and an embarrassment to many Oklahomans? Apparently he didn't bother but Inhofe has been contacted by the media. His response:

“No, no, he couldn’t have said that... I cannot believe he said that.”

I guess it wasn't in the script and Inhofe is short-circuiting. To Inhofe it's a moment of terror. For most Americans it just makes some sense. Inhofe's opponent-- Andrew Rice, not Tom Coburn-- will be over at Firedoglake tomorrow at 1pm (Central Time) for a two hour live blog session. I hope you can make it. It's mostly about his field of expertise: health care, but he's more than a little passionate about National Security and Iraq so I'm sure this will come up. If you want to make a contribution to replacing Inhofe with Andrew, you can do it right here and you don't even have to wait 'til tomorrow.