Sen Jim Bunning
 

I've been somewhat busy and preoccupied with other things not relating to politics ... so I'm a little behind as to what's going on with Sen Bunning and this bill he's been accused of blocking.

What little of it I know thus far is Sen Reid has [asked?] for unanimous consent for this bill. Is this correct? Or has Sen Bunning requested this?

First question is why? I understand it's great politics for the dems to be able to cast Bunning and Republicans in general as obstructionists ... but if Reid and the dems were serious about the plight of poor Americans, can't they simply pass with a majority vote? What is this unanimous consent requirement they've attached to it?

If the unanimous consent was Bunning's idea, why?

Either way, I'm more than a little upset that this retiring Senator has decided to make a statement now with this bill.

Where has he been the rest of his terms in office? Why not take a stand back when Republicans were spending like crazy? Why not demand the Republicans, during the W years, not add to the deficit and pay only what can be afforded?

It's easy for Senator Bunning to postulate a political statement or demand .... the guy is retiring! He doesn't have to worry about answering to voters come election time.

The problem is this .... regardless of if it's Reid or Bunning being stupid ... Bunning's single, sole, go it alone, all by himself objection is not just making him the enemy of the voters.

He's a Republican. Now these people who may go without money, who can't find a job - and believe me it's tough out there right now to find one - these people will remember, come election day, only one thing - Republican.

The Republicans will pay if someone doesn't grab Bunning and slap some common sense into him.

Where is the Republican leadership on this?

This is why I'm independent and not affiliated with the Republican party anymore. The Republican Senate/House leaders are idiots. Dolts. Boobs. Nincompoops. Brainless morons who should be lined up and shown the door.

I don't care if Bunning is right on the issue. There's a bigger picture than the statement he's trying to make. There's more at stake here, than what he's trying to point out.

Congrats, Bunning, you blithering jerk, you've made your stupid political statement. How brave and noble of you to finally do so now that you're retiring.

I hope the Republican leaders can pull their head of out the sand and contain the damage caused, otherwise, what was looking like sunny blue skies and a conservative takeover of Congress will turn to a gray, dismal and rainy day.

Now I'll shut up.... :lol

Re: Sen Jim Bunning
 

From FoxNews.com
:banghead :groan

Again, it's so nice of the Senator to stand now that he's retiring. And thank you Senator McConnell, you lame excuse for Republican leadership, for ignoring the situation and changing the subject to healthcare.

I love how FoxNews.com headlines the article....
It should rather read: "Gutless, nothing to lose idiot Senator risks Republican gains in fall election for pointless political statement."

Source

Re: Sen Jim Bunning
 

As I understand it, Bunning is blocking the bill because it does not pay for itself.

Democrats past "Pay-Go" some time back which requires that they come up with either new revinue or cut spending to pay for any spending measure that comes up.

For the last year, dems have simply ignored their own law and passed spending bills with no means to "pay for it".

Bunning is holding this bill up to bring light to the fact that the dems are just spending with no intent to pay for the spending.

Re: Sen Jim Bunning
 

Right, Ferd. :thumbsup

Re: Sen Jim Bunning
 

Yes, yes the pay-go bill was passed last year. But I remember the Republicans mocking and being against the bill because it doesn't take effect for at least another year or so.

And why now? Why this bill? Why not stand up earlier?

I don't agree with it.

You do not mess with people's income. Especially families dealing with loss of jobs and income during this bad economy.

I don't like gov't assistance and handouts, but right now we really don't have a choice in the matter. If Bunning is really serious about spending and the deficit he should find another way to protest it.

Republicans may end up losing his seat because of this. They may lose more than just his seat if other Republicans don't demand he stop this.

Re: Sen Jim Bunning
 

It's funny how everyone was up in arms over Scott Brown just voting, with the Democrats, for a stimulus package that gave more jobs to people in Massachusetts. They are calling him a turncoat. lol

Did you agree with Scott as well, David?

Re: Sen Jim Bunning
 

In Mr. Bunning's speech on the senate floor, he stated that he was FOR extending the funds to these people.

His only issue is the senate not paying for the spending.

Re: Sen Jim Bunning
 

This reminds me of our inaction with Iran...we knew they were getting nukes, we knew they were getting nukes, we knew we knew we knew and we shook our fists angrily and we thought "what will we do once they get nukes"...you idiots! You should have prevented them from getting nukes a LONG TIME AGO but by now it's pretty much too late.

I saw a policy article title on the CFR report that basically said "what should our policy be after Iran has the nuke"...in other words they decided a long time ago to allow Iran to get the nuke THEN do something.

Our domestic problems are no different. I understand the stuff about "how are we going to pay for it" but by now it's too little too late. You idiots! You should have been proactive a long time ago before we got into this mess

Re: Sen Jim Bunning
 

ok n David, Ive looked into it a bit more.

here is what happened.

Harry Reid wanted "unanamous concent" to pass a bill without debate.

That means all 100 senators agree to a bill and the bill is passed without the bill coming to the floor of the senate to even review what the bill is.

in this case it was a bill that has over whelming support by everybody (including Bunning).

however, Bunning wanted to point out that while the vote was to spend money, there was nothing in the bill about where that money would come from.

Bunning did not want to stop the bill from passing and will likely vote for it. His request was reasonable. provide a path to pay for it. bring it to the floor and vote on it.

Re: Sen Jim Bunning
 

All they have to do is to go to the FED and let them create the money out of thin air, then loan it to the gov't at interest.

Simple!

Re: Sen Jim Bunning
 

Gotta keep those checks flowing to those potential Dem voters come November. Nothing like buying votes from the unemployed by constantly tossing unemployment to them.

Re: Sen Jim Bunning
 

I haven't read much about the "jobs" bill he voted for. I read that the first bill agreed by both parties was loaded with pork; Reid scrapped that one and came up with his own that Republicans didn't like because it wasn't part of the agreement. But that smaller one ended up passing with some bi-partisan support.

I agree with his intent. I just don't think this was the time and place to take the stand. There are several I know in my church who have been out of work for months - and they've gone to job fairs, put in apps and everything but there's no one hiring. They've been relying on this assistance to pay bills and get food, etc. People are struggling and hurting for help right now. You can't mess with this stuff.

I read a bit more as well. Reid and the dems labeled it as an emergency spending measure which requires unanimous consent. You didn't hear that in the news though. All the news carried was that Bunning, one Republican Senator is causing people to lose unemployment benefits and stopping construction projects thereby putting people out of work.

The Republican leadership failed on this one. They needed to get in the news and on the record, call a presser, do something - anything to frame the discussion and tell why the bill was stalled, etc.

They didn't, and unless you take time to read past the news and look into the bill and why unanimous consent was required and why Bunning was against it - all you heard and saw was "Republican" and "Obstruction."

Again, you don't mess with people's income or job. Hopefully people will forget this between now and november.

Re: Sen Jim Bunning
 

"all you heard and saw was "Republican" and "Obstruction."

Did you honestly think the media would run another slant?

The problem as I see it no one is willing to put on the brakes. We are over spent. Where does it stop? We can't keep giving to every country that as a natural disaster. We can't keep giving money when we don't have it!

The bigger issue is why there are no jobs. Do you hear the media demanding answers on that?

Do you hear the democrats saying lets lower taxes so the business can stay in business?

No you hear lets use this to throw more mud on the republicans.

Bunning did vote for it, but he made his point and it was a valid point, like it or not.

Re: Sen Jim Bunning
 

POD:thumbsup

Re: Sen Jim Bunning
 

Again, I agree with his intent and point, but it was the wrong bill and wrong time to decide to make that point.

Why not make a political point before now? Why wait until retiring to possibly enrage the public and screw up Republican chances at a huge takeover of Congress.

No I don't expect the media to take the Republicans side on this, but that's why the republicans need to speak up.

The Republicans aren't muzzled. They're not being censored by the press. They had every opportunity and the ability to get on the news, call a presser and get the message out and they didn't.

Mcconnell failed. He should be removed from his "leadership" position. He displayed an incredible, infuriating lack of leadership with this.

Should Bunning's seat be lost to a democrat, you can blame no one other than Bunning and the so-called republican leadership, specifically Mcconnell, for allowing the WH, dems and networks to frame the situation as they have.

Re: Sen Jim Bunning
 

I think you are over reacting to this. I don't see this as an opportunity for the dems to take his seat based on his stance.

But let me ask, when is the right time and the right bill to make the point? It will always be, not this one, this one is too important.

Re: Sen Jim Bunning
 

I hope I am overreacting, however public discontent with Congress is not limited to Democrats. It will be interesting to see what happens there in November.

Did he demand an end to spending when W pushed through medicare rx benefits that added to the deficit. What about other bills that have been passed recently, why not make a stand then?

He could have back then, but didn't. Now that he's retiring and doesn't give a care, he's decided to make his statement, berate and flip off reporters.

:thumbsdown

Re: Sen Jim Bunning
 

Did some checking ...

Bunning voted for the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefits bill which, at first, was to cost over $400 billion.

Source

It then morphed into $1.2 TRILLION

Source

The current unemployment extension that Bunning was opposed to ... I've found different figures, but the number that comes up the most was $10 billion.

So let me get this straight ...

Sen Bunning voted YES for a bill that was supposed to add $400 billion to the deficit, but has instead added 1.2 trillion ...

And then he objects and holds up a bill that costs $10 billion because he suddenly has objections to the cost.

Hypocrite.

Re: Sen Jim Bunning
 

I think the big picture your missing here is that W didn't have a huge stimulus package with no way to pay for it AND a good portion of it has still not been used. Now why is that? Is he holding it or using it for some underhanded reason?

ALL of the government needs to be reign in on spending what we don't have. But it has to start somewhere that is my point.

Where do you want it to start? When do you want it to start? Or do you want it to continue on as usual?

Re: Sen Jim Bunning
 

W had No Child Left Behind, Med Part D, the Patriot Act and two wars that added to the deficit.

Also, W - not BHO - started the bailouts.

My point is that if Bunning was really serious about spending and adding to the deficit, he should've done so long ago....beginning with the bloated and stupid Med Part D RX bill.

Re: Sen Jim Bunning
 

I understand your point and agree. But my point is just as valid. Where and when do you start? Which program?

Re: Sen Jim Bunning
 

I completly agree with the above.

I think Bunning would be viewed as right on this had there been a coordinated effort to highlight what the dems were doing, then move forward with passing the bill.

the failure was in process not in action.