Since I’d seen a lot of people talking online about Senator Coburn saying something about the USA being more free 30 years ago than now and couldn’t find the actual quote from the confirmation hearing so I could read it in his own words, I had to annoy myself by listening to him drone on and on in order to make my own transcript of it. If you also like to hear or read people’s own words, rather than have people tell you what someone said (in quotation marks, no less, even though it’s not a quote), here you go:

Have you ever contemplated the idea of what your freedom was like 30 years ago and what it is today?

I want to tell you, a lot of Americans have, and I certainly have. There’s a marked change in this country, from when I was twenty to now when I am 62. And one of the problems with confidence –and the reason I asked you the question– is a lot of Americans are losing confidence, because they are losing freedom. They’re losing liberty.
–Sen. Coburn, R-Oklahoma, Kagan confirmation hearing, Day Three – Part Four

I would imagine that Senator Coburn, a white man of some means, has noticed a “marked change” in this country since 1980. I would also imagine minorities and women have also noticed a “marked change” in freedom since 1980 as well. As a woman, let me tell you, Senator Coburn, I feel far more free now to do as I wish than I did in 1980.

In 1980, I was told I couldn’t take shop class, because I was a girl. In 1983, I was told I couldn’t be a Navy pilot, because woman are irrational (no shit, really that was the excuse given to me). So, yes, seeing as girls can now take shop class and women can be Navy pilots, seems to me freedom has increased for some people, though perhaps not for wealthy white men … if only because they do seem somewhat opposed to sharing their freedoms with others not so white or male (or straight).

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) also had an excellent response to Coburn.

Senator Knotts (R- S.C.) –the man who thinks it’s “coy and funny” to call the President and one of his own Republican Party members “ragheads”– has been flapping his sagging jowls again.

Reporter: Are you a racist?

Knotts: No. I’ve got… I help anybody. It don’t matter what color their skin is. Doesn’t matter what party they in, whether they a Democrat or Republican. I work both sides of the aisle.You can’t work both sides of the aisle if you a racist, and I’ve done that for 16 years.

I like how he started to say “I’ve got…” which is usually followed by “black friends.” Then he thought better of it and worded it in a slightly different way. Of course, while he’s busy insisting he isn’t a racist and will help anyone, no matter what, he also had this to say:

Knotts: …the press has given Nikki Haley a free ride ever since she has been runnin’, and you know it, ’cause WIS is exactly responsible for that.

Reporter: Where have we not held her accountable? What questions have we not asked her that you would like to have asked?

Knotts: Have you ever asked her if she believes in Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and that he died on the cross for her sins? Have you ever asked her that? Not just ‘Do you believe in God?’

So, I guess he isn’t so much a racist as just a general purpose bigot.

You can watch the interview I pulled this quotes from here at WMBF News.

You know, a couple of days after the health care bill had been signed into law Obama ran around all over the country saying, “Hey, you know, I’m looking around. The earth hadn’t opened up. There’s no Armageddon out there. The birds are still chirping.” I think the earth has opened up. God may have replied. This volcano in Iceland has grounded more airplanes — airspace has more affected — than even after 9/11 because of this plume, because of this ash cloud over Northern and Western Europe. At the Paris airport they’re telling people to head to the train station to catch trains out of France, and when people get to the train station they’re telling people, “There aren’t any seats until at least April 22nd,” basically a week from now. It’s got everybody in a shutdown. Earth has opened up. I don’t know whether it’s a rebirth or Armageddon. Hopefully it’s a rebirth, God speaking.
–Rush Limbaugh

Yes, Rush. You’re absolutely right. God doesn’t want poor people or anyone to be healthy. Doesn’t want anyone helping to take care of anyone else. Funny then that he sent Jesus down with his miracle healing powers and then allowed Jesus to heal poor people while simultaneously telling everyone to love each other and take care of each other, isn’t it?

It’s really odd how I, someone who would not describe themselves as Christian, seem to understand their god and Jesus better than they do. These people are less Christian than I am.

With a deadpan, Beck insists that he is not political: “I could give a flying crap about the political process.” Making money, on the other hand, is to be taken very seriously, and controversy is its own coinage. “We’re an entertainment company,” Beck says.

I love it when the talking heads are honest. I’ve always known Beck didn’t give a damn about politics or the political process. I just wish all his many followers would clue into that fact. He isn’t at all about politics. He’s all about the money, and he will say or do whatever is necessary to continue to make tens of millions of dollars a year off the drivel that comes out of his mouth.

Sarah Palin drew a straight line from Alaska to Alberta as she told a sold-out, largely adoring crowd in Calgary that the province gets her message of less government, lower taxes and development of natural resources.

The vocal opponent of health-care reform in the U.S. steered largely clear of the topic except to reveal a tidbit about her life growing up not far from Whitehorse.

“We used to hustle over the border for health care we received in Canada,” she said. “And I think now, isn’t that ironic?”

I don’t think “ironic” is the word Ms. Palin is looking for. I believe the word is “hypocritical” … as in Canada’s health care system is good enough for Sara, but heaven forbid any other American have access to anything like that. You know, what with those Canadian “death panels” and everything. Can’t have that here in the good old USA!