Don’t like the language? Then you aren’t capable of confronting reality.
What happens when you combine old age, senility and all-around assholery? You get Jim Bunning, the bigoted Repulican who has taken it upon himself to single-handedly starve everybody and their mother.
BUNNING IN HIS NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
Here’s a fancy video of Bunning’s objection:
To answer some questions in the video: McConnell’s already said he supports an extension of the benefits. Trey Grayson and Rand Paul, on the other hand, have publicly stated that they stand against an extension in support of Bunning.
Here’s a sampling of the news:
- Jim Bunning isn’t just crazy, he’s screwing millions of Americans and thousands of Kentuckians. [Huffington Post]
- Ray LaHood is not having this Jim Bunning mess. Nor should we. [DOT]
- The Herald-Leader isn’t having it. [H-L]
- Politico isn’t having it. [Politico]
- The New York Times isn’t having it. [Here & Here]
- Jim Bunning is responsible for 2,000+ federal furloughs today. [Enquirer]
- Trey Grayson and Rand Paul don’t care about Kentuckians. [DSCC via Joe Arnold]
- Get your hobo beans ready, unemployed and broke Kentuckians. Jim Bunning’s going to starve you to death. [Wonkette]
It’s not helping matters to hear that Bunning reportedly flew into Covington on Friday night on a private jet. So as to avoid the poor, broke and starving commoners, we assume.
16 responses so far ↓
1 spencer // Mar 1, 2010 at 6:05 pm
well… bunning along with mccon-man and the rest of the crew from the s.s.minnow prove once again that they are out of touch with everyone else who isnt a millionaire politician. I would rant until i use up all the space on this response zone but at this point what difference would it make?
Its games, its uncaring , disconnected, politics and Jim could not care less who he hurts or who goes without dinner this week.
He better just hope that life doesnt take a bad turn for him in some way. Humble Pie is bitter.
2 Ken Wilson // Mar 1, 2010 at 7:02 pm
There is no language obscene enough to describe Bunting and his ilk. It is tragic that the people these ‘policies’ keep poisoned, endangered, ignorant, hostile, and disconnected are the people who keep supporting them.
3 Steve Magruder (I, not D or R) // Mar 1, 2010 at 8:06 pm
Any politician who sides with Bunning on this will need to watch their political backs, as they will have earned the enmity of many politicos around this state who will now swear their allegiance to anyone who might oppose them.
4 Tony // Mar 1, 2010 at 8:47 pm
See what people don’t understand is that the more you yell and scream at Bunning the more he just digs in.
Now with that being said, what is so wrong with asking “How are we paying for this?” Besides it will be passed when they all come back later this week….
5 Dan B // Mar 1, 2010 at 9:41 pm
I’m a conservative Republican, but come on Jim. People are losing their homes.
6 jake // Mar 1, 2010 at 9:46 pm
Dan B: Right on.
It’s not like we’re giving folks a handout. They had to work for an extended period in order to qualify for benefits in the first place. Which means they’re taxpayers. They’ve paid for what’s theirs.
7 Mark H (Not Hebert) // Mar 2, 2010 at 12:37 am
I don’t have a problem with people receiving unemployment benefits, but at what point do you stop extending them? I have been told that my company’s payments into the unemployment system are reportedly going to go up quite a bit next year.
Many of the chronically unemployed for over 2 years are due to their reluctance to relocate to an area with a better job market. If you have been unemployed for over a year after losing your GM line job in Flint, MI, you are likely going to have to relocate where there are better job opportunities. People have historically been forced to relocate in this country time and time again.
I’m just being honest in pointing out that if the plant you worked at in your small town shut down resulting in your job loss, guess what folks, that plant isn’t going to reopen anytime soon, if ever.
I think everyone should get a helping hand, but there has to be some limit or it becomes a dependent hand. 79+ weeks is a hell of a long time.
This still doesn’t excuse Bunning’s behavior.
8 Jake Supporter // Mar 2, 2010 at 8:22 am
Disagree with you on this one Jake. The amount paid in by a working employee is a drop in the bucket as to what they have drawn out. I am for helping folks out but our system has become a way of life for folks because our system is broken. Our system was intended to help folks in a time of need and need doesn’t mean that they should expect this at our expense. I have paid into this system for over 20 years and have never drawn a benefit. Should I be able to have that money rolled into a retirement account because I am entitled to it? Crazy thought…figure out how to pay for something before you decide to do it. Bunning may be a little crazy but atleast he is trying to figure it out before we start paying. Would you run a business and buy things before you knew how to pay for them expecting your neighbor to bail you out if you come up short?
9 Jake Supporter // Mar 2, 2010 at 8:32 am
Ever wonder why the package was written to include jobless benefits tied to highway projects? Trying to slide one through because most of these highway projects are union jobs and politicians are scared of the unions and losing their support. If we tie benefits to this then we can slip them through without much arguement. People are hurting and the economy is a mess. Whatever happened to Americans helping Americans? Whatever happened to a neighbor helping a neighbor? We can raise millions for foreign countries but we can’t extend a helping hand to someone on our block or in our own church? Amazing but wonder why the politicans ignore their voters to extend their time in office.
10 jake // Mar 2, 2010 at 8:35 am
You can disagree, but fact of the matter is, you’re mistaken. The amount paid in by a working employee is not a drop in the bucket compared to what they draw out.
For most people receiving unemployment benefits (most, not all), they work, what, 30 or 40 years? If not 50? So they’re paying into the system for literally decades.
11 Jake Supporter // Mar 2, 2010 at 8:48 am
The average worker is drawing somewhere between 300-400 dollars a week. I doubt they ever paid that much in a month much less a week and you are assuming that people drawing unemployment have been paying 30-50 years. These folks are retired and are doubtfully drawing unemployement. Once you reach 65 you draw social security and not unemployment. What about the folks drawing social security who have never worked outside the home? They have never paid but enjoy the benefits? Strange proposition. I bet the average age drawing these benefits is between 20-35 and they haven’t paid that much. I work in a business that has access to all walks of life and the number of young males and females that draw benefits outweighs the elderly doing the same.
12 GtownReader // Mar 2, 2010 at 9:00 am
Last night I mixed a third of my can “hobo beans” into my package of “ramen noodles.” Does that make me a food-snob hobo?
And can I use the gas produced by such a meal to generate heat for my home, by-passing the LG&E monopoly that wants to freeze me out?
13 jake // Mar 2, 2010 at 9:09 am
The reality is that these folks do, indeed, pay into the system throughout their entire working life. Some have worked a couple years. Some 30 or 40. But you cannot deny that the majority of folks receiving unemployment benefits aren’t working class people who work their entire lives.
Do I have to draw this out with bullet points and pretty colors for you to comprehend?
If you’ve ever been to an unemployment office – or, hell, ever turned on a television newscast – you’d have an understanding that most folks receiving unemployment benefits aren’t lazy 20-somethings. And even if they were? It doesn’t change the fact that, yup, they work most of their lives and pay into the system.
14 Gordon Garrett // Mar 2, 2010 at 10:28 am
I’ve drawn unemployment on 3 different occasions, and every time I scrambled furiously to find another job. I worked at it every day. At that point, they only provided 6 months of unemployment. I stood in line sometimes for 4 hours, because at the time, unemployment was worse than it is now. That said, we are walking a fine line between adding to the welfare state and helping out folks who deserve assistance. Either way, Mr. Bunning is really out in left field, pardon my pun.
15 what? // Mar 2, 2010 at 11:25 am
According to several blogs, Bunning just read a letter from a Kentuckian advocating the “long overdue revolution”. On.the. Senate. floor.
Sedition?
16 Gordon Garrett // Mar 2, 2010 at 2:32 pm
Just heard Bunning said to an ABC reporter trying to corner him in an elevator, “This is the Senates elevator”. Well Jimmy, WE pay for it, so it’s ours too. On another note, the Curious Journal quoted an out of work construction person. He has been on unemployment since November of 2008. Dude, Costco is hiring right now, so are several other companies. Might not pay what you made iin construction, but more than unemployment. Folks that have been at Costco for a period of time make $15 per hour. That’s $24K per year.
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