The Vast Right Wing Conspiracy: Bunning Throws Reid the High Hard One
by Jeffrey JenaI grew up in Kentucky where every boy who ever played baseball knew the name of Jim Bunning. He is the Hall of Fame pitcher who threw a perfect game for the Philadelphia Phillies and knew how to play hardball long before the tingly-legged Chris Matthews co-opted the name for his decidedly softball show.
If you are anywhere near being a fiscal conservative you have to absolutely love what Senator Jim Bunning did this week. This week Senator Bunning showed Senator Harry Reid, and a few Senate Republicans how to throw one high and tight. His one man play at fiscal responsibility has the Washington “in” crowd crying foul and showing their hypocrisy.
In case you missed it here is a brief rundown. A few weeks ago the Congress passed a bill known as “Pay-Go,” a fluffy piece of nonsense posturing. On its surface Pay-Go seems to be fiscally responsibly, if you want to spend some money you need to show where it is going to come from. Senator Bunning knew the bill was hogwash because any spending could avoid being subject to Pay Go if it was “an emergency.” He didn’t vote for the bill for that reason. He also saw another flaw in the bill, a single Senator could hold up the whole Senate if they wanted to.
This week when Senator Reid tried to push through an extension to unemployment benefits Senator Bunning played a little chin music for the Majority leader and put the breaks on the additional 10 billion in spending. Senator Bunning invoked his right to stop the bill and call for the application of the Pay Go rule. When members of the media hounded Senator Bunning for a comment he showed them the door, of the elevator he was taking. Nice added touch!
What followed was supreme political theater and posing by the left. Senator Reid could have simply called for closure on the bill and gathered eighty votes, which were there for passage and the poor unemployed whom he, a parade of progressives senators and fellow traveler Bernie Saunders of Vermont cried crocodile tears for would have had their additional handout from Uncle Sugar. Oh my, oh my thousands would soon be starving and homeless due to this heartless conservative! Cue the beating of breasts and gnashing of teeth and much wailing! None of that could have been further than the truth but as conservative talk show host Larry Elder says, “Facts are like kryptonite to toe tag liberals.”
Senator Bunning gave up his stand after a few days and I think that’s too bad. After watching the parade of phonies decry Senator Bunning’s actions I was wondering what the average American who doesn’t live with an hour of LA, D.C. or New York thought of this tough guy making a stand. It’s my feeling that if a national poll were held on who they supported in this standoff, Senator Bunning or Reid, Senator Bunning would have another win on his record.
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151 Comments
Why should anyone have to CALL for Pay Go to apply to anything? It should automatically apply to EVERYTHING. …As well as the constitutional basis for every bill!
Great article Mr. Jena
I called his office Monday about 15 times to thank him for his efforts on behalf of the non-freeloading American people and to beg him to hang tough but the phone was busy all day long so I had to resort to an email.
There were several things about all this which saddened me… that not ONE of the other R senators stood with him, that he threw in the towel, that NO ONE has asked Reid to explain just exactly how the remaining 300-odd billion of the stimulus is to be spent if it cannot be spent for things like this and that the radicals think it's OK to call in a bomb threat on someone's office if the radical left doesn't like his position (which is seriously sick).
The only thing I was dissapointed in was the fellow GOP'rs did not stand up and do the same, and that he eventually stood down.
The current crop of GOP reps really are a bunch of sissy boy country club types, completely disgusted that he was not backed by the majority in his party.
Go Jim Bunning! Go Jim Bunning!
And Jim Bunning sliiiiiides into home plate……………SAFE!
.
I agree. Every spending bill should show exactly where the money is coming from and in real terms and not some fuzzy politician math.
We all know what the yearly interest payment on our debt loans are and we know where they will be in 40 years. How can anyone rightfully vote for more spending in light of the debt load we are assuming?
Either Obama doesn't know, he knows and doesn't care since he has been diagnosed with a terminal disease or he is trying to increase the debt load.
We know where is wants to go. We have to stop him.
Glad to hear someone finally sticking up for Mr. Bunning. Even if it is only a paltry 10,000,000,000$ that he was fighting over, just chump change. Hell the mint can probably pump that out in under a week.
Bunning actually knows the truth about this sham of a bill and the way that it was presented. If only more Senators would follow his lead on these issues we'd be better off. As Republicans also admonished him for his convictions it only proved that most of them threw their lot with the Progressives. There was a reason Bunning voted against the Pay Go bill and a reason for the ChickenShit Republicans that did vote for it. Now that it is law Bunning is making sure that they utilize the law. This type of spending is ridiculous on it's face. Progressive commies in the house and senate would only use it as ammo as to say, "See how compassionate we are to the unemployed?" When in fact, they are the ones invoking the Cloward & Piven strategy to bring this country down.
To all the Liberals out there in agreement with Reid…….climb back under your rock and let the real Patriots bring this country back to prominence. Power to Bunning!!!!
He smoked out a few RINOs as well.
Thanks, Jim.
I heard that Reid and Bunning reached a compromise of the spending that led to Bunning being able to inject an amendment that Boxer later killed through a procedural trick.
I applaud Jim Bunning for this opening salvo in what is going to be a very long war. The American People will need all of the strong, principled leaders it can find to work for a long time to defeat the "progressive" enemies of America that have assumed the reins of power in Washington.
If you knew him so well, you'd know that he threw his perfect game for the Phillies. June 21, 1964, against the Mets.
Unfortunately every other Senator loves "Unanimous consent" its all so warm and fuzzy and bi-partisan it gives them a tingle to add $10 billion to the debt without even having a vote.
It also forced a recorded vote. When 18 GOP Senators got out from uder their desks and voted NAY… even though they had been content to let it pass unanimously.
We need to stand up on every spending continuation from here on out. It will sure slow down any ridiculous legislative efforts of the opposition, and cut the deficit as well. The less the democrats do, the better.
Ah, and here he is, right on cue.
It's all about the Joooooooooooooooooooooooooos………………
I hope that the folks running for office in November get it. I'd hate to see this formerly wonderful Nation turn into another Haiti or Somalia…It will if we leave the Ba$$tards that are currently sucking the blood from us in there. There is no way that this Country will stand if the Progressives have their way….
good point Suzy…..what was the point of the stimulus if not to create those oh so needed jobs? methinks Bunning is a keeper.
i may be off on this but, welcome back…..haven't seen You in awhile.
Our whole government has been on an "emergency basis" since FDR signed the emergency powers act of 1933.So really this is very old news….
Asselhoff!
das right
its baaaaak
dhassholes wife says he blames da jews for his erectile dhasfunction
You're a bot, aren't you? NO ONE is a one-note wonder to the degree you are. Admins, send him the funny "enter these characters" picture again.
We need more people to stand up just like Mr Bunning and call these jerks in congress out for their insane spending while the US is nearly one hundred eight TRILLION in the red!
The spending is not sustainable and unless it is stopped everyone with their hands out to take from the treasury and our grandchildren's future will wake up to a tyranny they never saw coming!
It WILL be the end of freedom in the world until the next great war to restore it.
Yeah, that bomb threat was low, but what do you expect from the peace-loving, tolerance-chanting, caring-for-the-poor-above-everything-else liberals? Whenever they don't get their way, you know there is a tantrum coming. And since their golden boy is given to fits of tantrums whenever he is not agreed with, what do we really expect? Sh*t flows down hill after all.
I am glad Bunning made some noise about the fact that the Feds are spending money without knowing where it comes from. I know that Reid, Pelosi and Obama think that money grows on trees (or in Michele’s White House garden perhaps), but there are too many of us that know otherwise.
For the record, Bunning did not pitch the perfect game for the Reds, but for the Phillies–Father’s Day 1964 in fact. The final out is still one of the most popular Phillies highlights during game broadcasts. Bunning was one of my favorite players growing up–he pitched the first game I ever attended in the old Connie Mack Stadium. During that game, Bunning along with Manager Frank Lucchesi (if Frank’s managerial skills translated into politics, he’d be Harry Reid) got tossed for an argument in which tossed his glove into the air. Nice to know ol’ Jim still has some fight left.
I think I have got Hassholehoff figured out. I think he is an israeli plant who has been ordered to drum up hate against them so that people rise to their defense. It is an insidious strategy And we all know how cunning and tricky THOSE people are.
Bunning should have “beaned him” instead of just dusting Ried off!
Shows what you know, Mr. Jena. Bunning threw his perfect game for the Phillies, not the Cincinnati Reds. In fact, he never played for the Reds. Apparently you didn't know much then, and obviously you don't know much now.
Jim Bunning is a hero in my book. Too bad he is not going to stay. TO all the rest of his 'collegues' YOU ALL SUCK if you are not 100% behind his PRINCIPLED stance.
Alinsky sez: Make them live up to their own rules. Bunning is trying to make these Dems stand by their own recent bill—-PAYGO. The republicans should be united behind this because it is the un-checked spending that is killing us the fastest.
Hey WB I also grew up in northern Michigan (Mancelona). I saw this taking place on the news and I for one think we could use more elected officals just like Mr. Bunning!!!!
Common Sense fails America again….
If you don’t have the money you cannot pay for it …
I see it was passed – antoher 15 BILLION we do not have but CHINA does !!!!!
Were are so Fu.. ah I maean, screwed big time !!!!
Most of Congress needs to be hanged for treason !!!!
Then is certainly is way past time to change it!
I think I finally figured you out Dhasselhoff! You are in real life an Israeli plant sent here to drum up sympathy for the Israelis using that insidious reverse psychology that those tricky Jews are so famous for.
The Jig is up and we are now on to you!
honestly, I think theres another name for when you pick a fight knowing you're going to give it up in a few days…..pandering. He's scoring political points thats about it. As far as his need for fiscal responsibility, bunnings "answer" was to take as of yet spent stimulus money and reappropriate it. This is hardly more responsible as it just leaves an I.O.U. where money was already intended.
All the money that has yet to be spent is "intended" to go into the coffers of Obama's political allies. Stimulus money that is 'held' back cannot be considered stimulus but rather a 'slush fund'.
Nice country northern Michigan, i grew up on Mackinac Island. but lived two winters in Petosky. The only politician worth mentioning in Michigan that I am aware of right now is Thad McCotter.
Exactly – almost the entire GOP stood there and said "hey, stop this, it might lose us votes" rather than a political stand. A big shame on both the houses.
The republicans showed who they really are .If they cannot put a stop on the agenda with someone else taking the lead then they never will. What happened to the newest senator,did he cave in as well.
The reason they cannot see what Obama's real agenda is because they have been living high on the hog for too long. Plitics is NOT a career.
Its an awesome place to grow up. I may retire there someday…but right now I'm trying to make a living (I reside in N.C. now). And with all the progressives in Michigan the debt of the state (as I'm sure you know) is spiraling out of control. Michigan is on its way to being as bad as California people are leaving by the bus load right now.
Go Blue!!!!!!!!
See, now show me anything substantial to the point that the remaining stimulus money is intended for obamas political allies. I mean other than the fact that you're conservative and Obama is evil.
Truth be told I think the vast majority of the stimulus money was a bad idea and putting a band aide on a bullet wound. But the fact that Bunning is "taking a stand" on fiscal responsibility does not mean he gets a free pass on his logic. Very little if any of the stimulus funds were spent without a clear way of seeing how the government would recoup the money. Bunning may be against this sort of behavior but its also not like hes going to cut the government a check in the near future and see that money gets returned.
While I was recently laid off, I believe Bunning caved. He should have ridden the issue to its conclusion.
Pumping money into infrastructure (union work) and pumping money into extending unemployment are guaranteed to NOT promote jobs. If the 'held back' money is destined to be 'more of the same', it is wasted already. If not spent, put it towards the deficit. UNIONS and WELFARE do not create jobs!
No, I just figure small-government, low-tax-types who call themselves patriots wouldn't be such suckers for a welfare for foreigners (that have attacked us and spy on us) program. That is some brainwashing – but what do you expect when you have AIPAC types like Wolf Blitzer as "newsmen."
agree thinker, Bunning handed them the biggest PR stunt of the year on a silver platter & those
jerks weren't smart enough to recognize it, damned bunch a losers. As far as Nancy boys all over
DC on R & D side, I just hope some of these returning battle hardened veterans will turn up running
for office in a few years, if it's not too late by then. I realize they have served/ given a lot already, but
these old gray hairs lack the testosterone to fight even verbal wars. Have they all been neutered?
names, I want their names, where do I get their names?
Hey you're not going to get an argument from me about unions and welfare. I detest unions and while I don't think welfare should be ended it obviously has to be HEAVILY repaired. But his point wasn't about welfare it was about spending accountability, so lets not confuse one stand for another. The point is, borrowing money from what we already have appropriated is also fiscally iresponsible. It amounts to using one credit card to pay off another. When the answer is clearly to stop using credit cards.
Bunning backed off because the pressure was too much from both sides. The left made him look like a heartless fool and Republicans want to win elections. People suffer for real while he misses a basketball game, that was the message, and it worked. Its just the game of politics this was. Same as this article.
I'll make this simple. STOP THE SPENDING!!
If it can't be stopped, slow it down.
thats because the right is as corrupt as the left. Will you please infect this into the idiots on this site? Its is WE against the government. All consevatives want is their own brand of corruption to control us. Its disgusting!
They're ALL rinos.
Jim Bunning did not need to 'score' political points, he's retiring. If we had term limits how many
other 'termed out' Senators would have stood with him? I'm beginning to think they're all on pre-
scription drugs, that free healthcare we provide, is too good not to abuse. Pray for GRIDLOCK!!!
Good luck. Bush was only slightly better than Obama on spending. There are no real Republicans anymore.
Orange Jooooooooos? Tomato Jooooooos? Kickapoo Joy Joooooos? or "Can't we all Jooooooos get along?"
I just figured something out. The run-away spending in congress is the same problem that is plaguing Toyota. The answer to both of the problems is the same. RECALL them ALL!
SAme as your post.
Don't worry. The Dems are probably going to use the remaining stimu-LESS funds to buy the 2010 elections. See, it's all accounted for. /S
Bunning is not 'retiring.' He was forced out by the Kentucky Republicans. I would vote for him if he ran again, but nobody asked me.
You wish.
$10 billion is loose change in the sofas of Congress – but – I'm proud of Sen. Bunning for standing his ground. 'Bout time somebody in the Senate found a spine.
I was born and raised in Kentucky and I have always paid attention to the fascinating politics, down and dirty, that has always played out there. Bunning was nothing but McConnell's tool, ever. When he wore out his usefulness, McConnell kicked him to the curb. I'm not saying it was any great loss but it did cause Jim to throw a gigantic tantrum that did damage to McConnell and friends. Last touch. The poor sap knew that much.
Bunning deserves a medal. He is absolutely right not wanting to play along with the deceit and gross corruption that permeates congress. Extending unemployment benefits instead of addressing liberal policies that are destroying the economy is criminal. The rino's that sat quietly and didn't defend this statesman are the quislings that need to be replaced. We need Conservative fighters not meek politicians.
Don't forget the paid-back TARP funds with interest that were supposed to pay down the deficit. Instead, Obama is using that as his slush fund also. He's partying hearty at the WH with a blank check and the US taxpayer will be stuck with the bill long after he's gone. Unfortunately, the US will go the way of the bankrupt Soviet Union by that time as it will be impossible to pay down this debt, but Obie and Co. will move on to greener pastures to reap destruction elsewhere.
Notice how Marxists love the capitalist system when it comes to lining their own pockets?
Bunning was ripe for picking—the stooge of the Repub party for his courageous stand against the extension of benefits for the unemployed. A senator whose not seeking reelection and has to answer to no one. Wow, what a drop of testosterone did that take? Typically of the transparency of the low life in Congress. Oh wait— he did a flip-flop. Next stop-lobbyist. My, what a guy!
I really admire Bunning at one level … and at another level, think there's a time for everything, and you have to pick your battles. All in all, this was a black eye & distraction for Republicans at a time when we need to focus. No need to hand ammo to the enemy. We need to home in on big, strategic, and winnable battles: like healthcare.
you honestly think that someone who is no longer in office doesn't enjoy scoring political points? How do you think retired polticians get book deals or score lucrative lobbying contracts?
Yeah, no hypocrisy here, move along just politics as usual. Spineless damn RINOS. Only a few BILLION more to the debt. What does it matter.
piss off bitch!!!………..Bunning does not seem to me to be that type of guy, time will tell.
flap, you are kidding……….tell us more,……..whom do they have in mind to fill his seat?
Uhh……how the hell are we supposed to know or care about anything blitzer thinks or stands for?
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Hanzo
He did.He said that he would allow passage if the bill was paid for with existing bailouts.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Hanzo
Bunning backed off because he got what he wanted all along, dunce.From the begining he said he'd accept the bill if it was paid for with existing bailout funds.
Why doesn't a leftwing nazi cockroach such as yourself squeal about the Billions we give Egypt annually?
I've been here… just lurking!
Love the term "toe tag liberals". http://tinyurl.com/yzhfqe3
Senator Bunning is a hero in my book. I wonder where the rest of the republican party members were, while he was being pilloried in the media and the opposing party. The democratic party was the party that overwhelmingly passed PAY-GO, with no republican votes. The democrats passed PAY-GO to make them look "fiscally responsible" with no intention of abiding by their own bill. A democratic Louisville, Ky. congressman actually had the nerve to demonstrate in front of the Federal Building against Bunning. All Bunning was trying to do was make the liberals live up to their own legislation and find funding for the unemployment benefits through means already paid for, like the stimulus package. The liberals squealed like stuck pigs to think that precious money (our money, BTW) would be spent for unemployment benefits. WONDER WHY! DO THEY PLAN TO USE IT TO BUY VOTES? Corrupt gov't. Pelosi's swamp has become an overflowing septic tank!
I have demint's office on speed -dial and spoke to them Monday about asking him to demand practically hourly accounting of that $$$. I believe it will go into jobs in districts currently held by shakey dems (think Boxer) or directly into shakey dems campaign coffers.
Same with "jobs bill" for 15 billion… should have come out of "leftover stimulus", which, BTW, if the stimulus was such a roaring success, just why did we need a jobs bill?
Yes, and Harry Reid made a deal to get Bunning to back off, which the liberals reneged on! Can't trust a lib.
Oh Gillan… I"m dazzled by your astute reference to Cloward and Piven. spot on!
this whole mess makes me wish for either a Harry Potter wand so I could wave it and make everything go away or that obimbo would seriously piss of one of the boys that live somewhere in Idaho.
StoryKeeper, you are so right! I'm so fed up with this socialist mess. It makes me sick. We need more Jim Bunnings.
Aaron, The stimulus money hasn't alread been appropriated. It is being saved for Obama's slush fund. It is sitting there for when more votes need to be bought. Unions and people with their hands out will be the death of this country. As long as people are content to be dependent, the dems will gladly let them, because that means another vote when election time rolls around.
Wolf,… who??????/
Give me a break. He was pitching for the Phillies. By the way, the first major league game that I saw was on May 28, 1960, Tiger Stadium (Briggs?) and Bunning was the starting pitcher against the Indians.
The only thing to suffer here is candy's dignity.Oh……never mind. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Hanzo
Kentucky Secretary of State, Trey Grayson. Ron Paul's son Rand is giving him a run for his money, though.
Speaking of Toyota, I wonder how much this is being trumped up to profit the UAW! I wonder if the people coming forward have been bought and paid for by the O administration to make GOVERNMENT MOTORS look better. COME to think of it, GOVERNMENT MOTORS had it's own recall this week, but you do not hear the hype with that one that's been made of Toyota, do you?
Take the unemployment extension cost out of the stimulus unspent money………
41 senators could have united and made this statement loud and clear,…. and put…
the Democrat senators on the spot,…. sometimes I think,….
anon is right….God did we miss a golden opportunity-
Exxxxaaacccttlllyy, brother Ralph. ;^) ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Hanzo
I'd vote for Bunning again if I had the chance! He's about the only backbone in the senate on our side. We need Paul about as much as we need two heads. Daddy's boy!
reasons to vote against each and every congressman and senator in office, het these bastards our of office,
stop their pensions and benifits. turn off the air condition units
I live in Kentucky and would vote for Bunning again if I had the chance. He has shown more backbone than all of the rest of the republicans and has been entirely right on this spending mess. The democrats voted for their PAY-GO to make them look fiscally responsible, and had no intention of abiding by their own bill.
I think Bunning was done dirty by the media, McConnell and Cornyn (head of the NRCC). Bunning has always been a reliable, conservative vote and this is the thanks he gets.
I AGREE!
I pitched in High School. The high hard one is a sucker pitch. Jim should have stayed there a couple of weeks.
HE INTENDED TO SEEK RE-ELECTION, BUT HIS OWN PARTY DID HIM PRETTY DIRTY. HE'D GET MY VOTE AGAIN.
AMEN! ONE GOOD BACKBONE STOOD ALONE, A RINO WAS SENT OUT TO ABASE HIM, AND THE REST COWERED WHEN THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN STANDING TALL WITH HIM.
A great interview from Larry Kudlow of CNBC with Scott Brown.
http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=nzUqVzlmHzk
"piss off bitcfh" really? Thats all you have? I provide a logical argument that polticians still have a use for polticial points after their time in office and thats all you can do? "piss off bitch". If I wanted to get involved with discussions that don't actually involve discourse I'd write Ratigan.
[...] in this standoff, Senator Bunning or Reid, Senator Bunning would have another win on his record. Email this to a friend | Print | Share on Facebook | Tweet this | // Posted by Editor at 7:16 PM Tagged with: [...]
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_l...
Kudos to Bunning for sticking it to Reid.
Harry has been senile since his stroke.
Nevada citizens demand a full medical evaluation of the sniveling "War is lost" Harry Reid!
We give far more to Israel and the only reason we give Egypt money is *because* we give money to Israel – so it is more that Israel ends up costing us. ref: Camp David Accords. Israel was gonna get destroyed so we had to bribe Egypt not to.
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