Senator Jim Bunning Holds Breath

Senator Jim Bunning (R-KY) is throwing yet another tantrum in the US Senate. In the last few days he has literally told his colleagues in the Senate “Tough Shit” on his blocking of extensions for unemployment and COBRA payments, chucked the bird at the media when they asked to speak to him about it, and kicked people off of an elevator claiming it was for Senators only. (See the previous post here) His latest stunt is to hold his breath even when the Senate President, Harry Reid, agreed to his demands. The man is acting like a two year old throwing a tantrum to get his way and not even remotely close to what should be the behavior of a United States Senate member.

Again, I can’t make this stuff up…

Bunning is still insisting that the 30-day extension be paid for from stimulus funds before he allows a quick vote on the House-passed measure. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has offered to hold a vote on a Bunning amendment to offset the bill, but Bunning refused on the basis that his proposal would likely fail. – Roll Call 3/02/2010

Can I hear a chorus from everyone of “WTF”? He got what he wants but he still isn’t going to let the vote take place to extend benefits for thirty days? Once more from the chorus, “WTF”.

Even his fellow Republican Senate members can not manage to talk any sense into Jim Bunning. Senators Collins and McConnell have both given it their best shot and good old Jimmy Bunning is still holding his breath simply because he can.

I find myself shaking my head in utter disbelief thinking that this one Senator has the ultimate power to hold up unemployment insurance benefit extensions for over one million people just because he wants to be an ass. Forget about COBRA and all the federal projects and layoffs that started Monday of this week thanks to Bunning holding his breath. Even forget about the Medicaid payments to doctors because Bunning is holding his breath. That of course leads me to wondering why the hell the Senate President hasn’t grown a pair and found a way to go around the idiot Jim Bunning? Republicans in times past have never had a problem with ramming bills through so what is up with Harry Reid? If Harry Reid doesn’t know how to put Senator Bunning out to pasture or ram the legislation through then what the hell is he doing in the Senate President chair? Especially, at a time when many Republicans actually agree that Senator Jim Bunning is being an ASS with his filibuster tactics! Or could this actually be more of the same old politics in Washington where everyone is pointing the finger at the other political party to win bonus points in some mythical popularity contest?

Right now, Jim Bunning is a blessing in disguise to the Democrats and the evil troll brother that Republicans don’t want to admit to being related too. Either way, we the people still get the worst of both parties no matter who wins the idiot of the week contest.

Papamoka

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