1115.org

The United States Senate has long been called the world’s greatest deliberative body. For generations, the reputation of the upper chamber of the Congress was built on the serious men who served there. Unlike the House of Representatives, candidates had to appeal to disparate collections of constituents in each state. But the increased polarization and nationalization of all races has made it easier for truly insane people to get elected statewide. The resulting extremist candidates in turn owe allegiance as much or more to their party and out-of-state donors than those who voted them into office.

Republican Tom Coburn beat a very credible Democratic candidate, Brad Carson, for the open Senate seat in Oklahoma last year. Coburn benefitted from the overwhelmingly Republican population of Oklahoma, help from the RNC, and the President’s strong showing on election day. He is a sitting U.S. Senator despite a completely embarrassing record that includes comments suggesting that there is “rampant lesbianism” in some Oklahoma schools and that silicone breast implants “make you healthier”. He has used “scare tactics” during sex-ed classes for Capitol Hill staffers and violated Senate ethics rules by continuing to practice medicine after he took office.

In his own personal quest for the cuckoo crown, Coburn faces a loaded field of Senators like Rick “Man-on-Dog” Santorum, John “Box Turtle” Cornyn, and others. Even Bill Frist, who until fairly recently showed few signs of extremism, has provided some stiff competition. Frist’s video diagnosis of Terri Schiavo should have ended the contest, but he gave up the charade after Schiavo’s autopsy contradicted him.

But the good doctor Coburn just couldn’t give up the ghost:

“I have on my desk a complete medical file of Terri Schiavo, and I would challenge the accuracy of many of the statements by people involved in that case in terms of her medical condition, and I would also challenge some of the autopsy findings based on what I have on my desk in Washington,” Coburn said.

Of course:

Coburn is an obstetrician and gynecologist and is not trained as a pathologist or medical examiner.

It’s never safe to declare a winner in a race to the bottom, but it’s clear who the losers are: the citizens of Oklahoma and the rest of the country.