Not only did Senator Jim Bunning (R-KY) not have the backing of his own party, he also had to withstand the bleeding-heart song and dance by his colleagues on the other side of the aisle. Good for him. It’s about time a US Senator puts his foot down to say “enough is enough,” or, as Bunning put it “tough $!it.”
Politico: Senate Democrats spent Thursday night hammering away at Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) for single-handedly holding up action in the upper chamber – but he blurted out a message to one of them on the Senate floor: “Tough s—t.”
In an unusual display in the normally sleepy chamber, Bunning – without the support of GOP leadership – has blocked efforts to quickly approve a series of extensions to measures that would otherwise expire Sunday, including unemployment insurance and the Cobra program that allows people who lose their health benefits to continue getting coverage.
And that has led to a furious exchange on the floor, with Democrats attacking the senator, who has refused to relent on his objection, in unusually harsh terms.
In a colloquy with Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Sen. Jeff Merkley, a freshman Democrat from Oregon, was pleading for Bunning to drop his objection, when the Kentucky Republican got fed up.
“Tough s—t,” Bunning said as he was seated in the back row, overheard by the floor staff and others in attendance.
Why, you may be asking, was mean Jim Bunning getting in the way of helping the unemployed and downtrodden?
Erick Erickson explains:
Now, to be fair, Senator Bob Corker did come down to help Senator Bunning – basically saying he would stay on the floor to help defend Bunning’s right to object, and he deserves credit for that. But Bunning was the loan objector. And he did so because these “temporary” extensions have been rolling now month after month with no effort to pay for them. Moreover, Democrats are designating the extensions as “emergency” spending so that they can avoid complying with the very “PAYGO” requirements for which they love to path themselves on the back. Included, of course, is the unemployment insurance extension as well as an extension for COBRA coverage, but in addition, are extensions of the highway trust fund, satellite television and other expenditures.
Good for Senator Corker for helping out. It’s too bad Republican leadership was AWOL on this issue. They have to stop spending money they don’t have. If they’re going to spend it, they have to find a way to pay for it, and they aren’t doing that. Unfortunately, Bunning will just be painted as the mean guy who held up people’s benefits. I see him as a hero who’s trying to save our children from a lifetime of indentured servitude to the government, or China. Take your pick.
Find out what others are saying at memeorandum.
GOP Leadership AWOL?
They’d better get a clue:
BOTH Dems AND Repub incumbents will be “unelected” this upcoming and the next election.
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Interestingly enough, when at lunch today, I happened to overhear a conversation in which a young man said he decided to quit his job a couple years ago, and since then, he has collected unemployment because as he said, they just keep “rolling it over and over.” We are supporting Obama’s care-less attitude about jobs. He says he wants to create jobs, holds a Democrat-donor/corporate summit to decide how to create jobs, and actually refuses to do the one thing that will create jobs……lowering taxes. So we are left to pick up the pieces of his “jobless” reign. Undoubtedly our taxes will rise in order to pay unemployment benefits forever and a day “while Nero fiddles.”
Jim Bunning is retiring. He will not be back after this year.
Sorry, but I still bristle at the sound of those who want to “throw all the bums out.” I still feel it’s an attitude that proceeds from a lack of fact-gathering.
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Nobody quits and gets unemployment. Nice made up story tho.
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Untrue. In Pennsylvania unemployment benefits are paid to people who quit their jobs if it can be shown that they were expected to do something other than what they were hired to do. I have never heard of anyone being turned down under those circumstances.
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Bless Bunning. May we find more like him soon.
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Let the unemployed swine eat their own cockroach children for all I care. This is America. If you can’t survive it’s your own damn fault! Way to go Senator! Don’t stop now!
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Wow this story got 3 comments wow. I was not sure their was anyone more stupid or cold hearted that Sen. Bunning but you three have proved me wrong, dang I did not even think you all may be one of his 40 Grandchildren. First 90% of people on unemployment don’t want it and for those who abuse it well then thats wrong. I can only take it as you 3 have rich parents that still take care of your or left you all their money. I guess millions of people are not working because we all are lazy you sorry SOB you don’t know me and cant make that judgment. I will pray for you that god will have some mercy on your souls so much hate. I guess Bunning is not the only Jack@#$ you three are to.
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Wow Kip, you are incredibly wrong and uninformed. I live in a state with one of, if not the highest, unemployment statistics and I will tell you because I live amongst them, that they DO want it and they want more and protest for it! And a great many ARE LAZY expecting everyone else to pay for their stuff, no matter WHAT it is. The producers and taxpayers are damn tired of never ending unemployment benefits, WIC, and in this state, “Bridge Cards”. The sheer numbers of cultural expectations and fraud are overwhelming and shameful. Additionally, if you would do your homework, Senator Bunning isn’t blocking the freebee; he’s blocking the way it’s paid for! He wants it to be paid for out of “stimulus” not additional spending. It’s the Dems call and you and others are whining. The cruel heartedness and hate comes from those like you who want and expect from others and when fulfilled, bad mouth the hand that feeds you. I’d bet you live in Michigan, Kip. God helps those that help themselves; but not to another’s prosperity.
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Use your free time to study punctuation.
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