Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) still undecided about 2010.

[Joe Biden 2020]

www.politics1.com is reporting that Sen. Tom Coburn is still undecided if he will seek re-election in 2010.  Coburn was supposed to decide by February or March, but now hopes to decide by the middle of June.

He did say when he was campaigning in 2004 that he would serve no more than 2 terms.  So, I wouldn't be suprised if he runs, but wouldn't be suprised if he didn't run, either.  Given his track record in Oklahoma politics, he will probably keep his word if he runs in 2010 then he won't run in 2016.

Personally, I am hoping that he doesn't run and give Gov. Brad Henry a better chance at the seat should he decide to run since he is term-limited.  Henry would still be climbing uphill in the race given Oklahoma's recent voting record, but with his popularity as governor and his relative conservatism, he could at least make the seat competitive and reduce it to lean to likely Republican instead of safe Republican.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Coburn to retire?  SAAWWWWWEEEETTTTTT!!!!!!  Seriously, our country would be MUCH better off with him out of the United States Senate.

I couldn't agree more.  Though, he is the better of my two Senators.  Just marginally, though.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Sen. Coburn has said he will announce his decision on re-election in 2010 this Monday, June 1, 2009.

I honestly have no idea what he'll do given his character and his past.  He probably does not like being in a powerless minority, but he also has in the back of his mind that he is one of the few remaining conservative voices on the Republican side of the aisle.  I am under the impression he will run for one more term, but call it a Senate career in 2016.  I will throw in a disclaimer that he is also just as likely to retire after just one term, a pretty successful term in the eyes of many Oklahomans.  As we've already agreed, if he runs again, he's a shoo-in.  If he doesn't run, then Gov. Brad Henry has a better chance, but still the seat will remain lean to likely GOP.

[Joe Biden 2020]

I wouldn't be suprised if Tom Coburn runs virtually unopposed.

[Joe Biden 2020]

This is kind of weird, but I'm having second thoughts about voting for Tom Coburn's opponent.  For one, it would be a waste of a vote, but more than that, even as a Democrat, I want to do everything in my power to keep my own party under the 60 seat mark.  I do not want us to have a monopoly on Congress with hotels on Park Place and Boardwalk, too.

Even though I will remain a Democrat, and will probably vote for the Democratic Party everywhere else on the ballot, if I am still living in Oklahoma in another 17 months, I may have to vote for the incumbent even though I disagree with him on a whole range of issues.

[Joe Biden 2020]

even as a Democrat, I want to do everything in my power to keep my own party under the 60 seat mark.

Yeah I'd have to wonder why you'd be a member of a party if you want their agenda to be blocked at every turn.

I knew that was coming   The reason for my position is I don't like the entire agenda that the Democrats have.  I like to think of myself as an Independent-thinking Democrat.  I do not want the extremes in either party to have much control.  While I do not like a lot of Tom Coburn's politics, I am not much of a fan of dyed-in-the-wool liberals such as Harry Reid, Chuck Schumer, Barney Frank (though he's in the House), just to name a few.

Of course, it shouldn't be suprising since I have several Republican social views.

I'm still thinking about it, though.  I haven't made up my mind just yet.

[Joe Biden 2020]

even as a Democrat, I want to do everything in my power to keep my own party under the 60 seat mark.

Yeah I'd have to wonder why you'd be a member of a party if you want their agenda to be blocked at every turn.

I knew that was coming   The reason for my position is I don't like the entire agenda that the Democrats have.  I like to think of myself as an Independent-thinking Democrat.  I do not want the extremes in either party to have much control.  While I do not like a lot of Tom Coburn's politics, I am not much of a fan of dyed-in-the-wool liberals such as Harry Reid, Chuck Schumer, Barney Frank (though he's in the House), just to name a few.

Of course, it shouldn't be suprising since I have several Republican social views.

I'm still thinking about it, though.  I haven't made up my mind just yet.

First off, it's cool to see a fellow Okie on here.
Second, I see where you're going here. I don't think alot of people on here truly grasp Okie politics. Our state is pretty unique when it comes to the two big parties. I would even go as far to say that if you asked the average Okie to compare us based on important issues I would be considered the "far leftist" and you would be an average Democrat.
Yeah, I'm not so hot about Coburn either. Then again I'm not hot about a vast majority of the people who hold political office in our state (I have a Civil Libertarian stance on social issues). I usually cringe and vote in the Democrat because of the friggin ballot access laws in our state, but if there was the possibility that the Democrat could possibly give the Democratic Party a filibuster proof majority? I'd probably stay home.

Considering that I did vote for Andrew Rice, I guess that does make previous point moot. Crap.

I voted for Rice, too, so throw that out the window!!

BTW, it is very nice to see a fellow Okie here.  Where are you from?  I'm from the Midwest City/Choctaw/Harrah area (eastern suburb of OKC).