Dr. No has struck again.

Yesterday the Senate was unable to pass a legislative package of 35 programs worth $10 billion that had been held up by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Ok.). The package — known as the “Tomnibus” bill — included $1.5 billion for Metro that Coburn deemed wasteful because his constituents are too poor to come to Washington (no, seriously). But Democrats couldn’t convince enough Republicans to join them to push the measure through, gaining the votes of only Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.), Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) and Sen. John Warner (R-Va.).

There’s plenty to be said about how easy the press has generally been on Coburn, but we’re too non-partisan, objective, even-handed and interested in both sides to be the ones to say it. So, Ryan Avent, have at it.