GREENSBORO, NC -- Could Congressman Howard Coble be the last of his kind?
I'm talking about the statesman.
That would be the "state's man."
By definition it means a leader who thinks about others before himself.
Any brief surf through the channels will turn up more than enough furor and vitriol between democrats and republicans.
We all know where the stand on the divisive issues - so why do they attack each other?
It changes nothing.
Both sides cling to their corners. Negotiations stall and nothing gets done.
Social security, the debt ceiling, eliminating our debt, immigration reform - issues Congress can seriously find compromise on.
So why not?
Why no real solutions for issues we all agree must be dealt with?
We're running out of statesmen.
Or maybe we don't have any left.
Who can we find who will put their own personal political career on the line and cross the aisle. I mean really cross the aisle and offer to bend, budge or maybe even give in in order to find a solution.
It might not be the best solution. But I think we'd all like to owe less money to China.
Today, Howard Coble's being praised by democrats as a republican who was their friend!
Imagine that.
So what made him a statesman?
The man we all admire, even if we disagreed?
In his own words, Coble put it this way.
"It's not my seat, it's not a Howard Coble seat. It belongs to the people of the 6th District."
Amen congressman.
Your community and your country will miss you.