Ok, this is really pi55ing me off!

@laglen (19759)
United States
March 2, 2010 12:22pm CST
[i]Bunning block becomes lightning rod in Kentucky Posted: March 2nd, 2010 12:33 PM ET From CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney (CNN) – Sen. Jim Bunning's decision to block a bill extending unemployment benefits has become a political lightning rod among the four major candidates who are seeking to fill the outgoing Kentucky Republican's Senate seat. Jack Conway and Daniel Mongiardo, the two Democrats vying for their party's nomination to replace Bunning, have condemned Bunning's actions as they seek to resonate with the 120,000 Kentuckians who currently receive unemployment benefits. Conway, the state's attorney general, has called Bunning's block "outrageous" and posted a petition to register disapproval with the move on his Web site. Mongiardo - the current lieutenant governor - is going one step further, holding rallies Tuesday outside of Bunning's offices in Louisville and Lexington. Kim Geveden, Mongiardo's communications director, told CNN the campaign had invited Conway to attend the rallies, though Conway declined. Conway is currently in Washington, DC for official business, according to a spokeswoman. It's a different story on the Republican side, where the two candidates battling for the party's Senate nomination are heralding Bunning's move as a prudent act of conservatism. Rand Paul, a doctor and son of Texas Rep. Ron Paul called attacks on Bunning "unfair" and is holding his own rally in support of Bunning in front of the senator's Lexington office at 3 p.m. ET. Trey Grayson, Kentucky's secretary of state, who's battling Paul, has also applauded Bunning's move. The Senate adjourned last week without approving extensions of cash and health insurance benefits for the unemployed after Bunning blocked the measure by insisting that Congress first pay for the $10 billion package. The extension needed unanimous consent to pass because Democrats have labeled it an emergency spending measure. Bunning has said he simply doesn't want to add to the deficit while Democrats argue that, because it is an emergency measure, the bill should not be subject to new rules requiring that legislation not expand the deficit. As a result of the Senate's inaction, many jobless people were no longer able to apply for federal unemployment benefits or the COBRA health insurance subsidy as of Monday. [/i] OMG wake the crap up. He simply asked where the money will come from. What happened to Pay as you go? That is all he wants to know. By the way, this is just the deadline for the extension - NOT actual benefits. He is not denying people money and livelihoods. Here is a video of Bunning explaining this. Watch this then please tell me how he has become the evil one? By the way, since when do you need 100 Senators to pass something? If Reid wasnt using Bunning as a scapegoat, this could be done TODAY! For crying out loud, 99 Senators voted for it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9XtWoIXmU4
1 person likes this
4 responses
• United States
2 Mar 10
I agree with Rand Paul. All Bunning wants to know is how we are going to pay for it and pay as we go. Which is a smart move. It is called fiscal responsibility.
1 person likes this
@laglen (19759)
• United States
2 Mar 10
Amen and thats in English so I don't know how to dumb that down for 99 Senators.
1 person likes this
• United States
2 Mar 10
I would love to know where Mr. Bunning was when we spend tens of billions on two wars AND NEVER PAID FOR THEM? Where was he when Bush ran up the National Debt to record levels? He has been in office since 1999, and the national deficit has grown every year since he has been in office. If he was going to get on his soap box, don't you think he should have done it sooner? I personally think Mr. Bunning has a lot of explaining to do!
• United States
2 Mar 10
I agree they are ALL answerable for putting this country in this situtaion. But I am glad that some of them are starting to get it...the public is mad...we don't want anymore debt. Better late than never.Glad to see some of them are getting a wake up call. But it is definately later than I would have liked. I am not a fan of Bunning....but I do think he has a good point or is at least starting to realize that we can't keep spending without end and no way to pay for it.
2 people like this
• United States
2 Mar 10
Laglen, I saw on ABC News tonight Mr. Bunning couldn't even take a minute to explain to the American people what he is doing. This WILL effect benefits if this isn't passed. By the way, where was Mr. Bunning when George W. Bush was spending tens of billions on two wars, and never paying for them, and spending hundreds of billions on spending programs, and again NOT PAYING FOR THEM. It sounds like Mr. Bunning is playing politics with peoples lives, and that won't go over well ANYWHERE!!!!
1 person likes this
@laglen (19759)
• United States
4 Mar 10
If that is the case, why didnt Reid make it a closure vote? And they just now passed paygo, he is simply asking for explanation. He said this REPEATEDLY in the Senate. Do you think maybe that ABC news didnt ask or just cut it? He has made no secret of what he is doing.
@laglen (19759)
• United States
5 Mar 10
My "hero" Bunning may have voted against the bill, but it passed. He was adhering to it. And I did see the video, did you see the whole thing? He explained himself quite clearly at the beginning. Maybe is has fallen out of favor which makes sense since he was the ONLY Senator in the room willing to ask the question, how do we pay for this? I really don't think bringing up congress critters stepping down this year are a good defense for the Democrats. I am willing to bet ALOT of these people are sick of the crap going on in Washington. This to me, is a good sign.
• United States
5 Mar 10
Laglen, I am not sure why he didn't do that, you would have to ask him. I do find it interesting that you bring up Paygo, did you know your hero Bunning voted NO on that bill? So please explain to me how it is that someone that claims to be all for limiting our debt didn't vote for a bill that forced congress to pay for atleast some of it's spending? If you saw the video of the encounter you would see that Mr. Bunning wasn't interested in answering any questions. I do find it funny how the hero of the republican party today, is retiring because of the way the party treats him, and he has fallen out of favor with the leadership of the RNC. Many be this should be a sign to conservatives as to what is wrong with the GOP.
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@gewcew23 (8007)
• United States
2 Mar 10
Bunning should be praised instead of vilified like he is being attacked over his vote. Money does not grow on tree, now it can be printed on Benny's magic printing presses but for only so long. There is no such thing as a free lunch in this world, and everything must at some point be paid for.
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@laglen (19759)
• United States
2 Mar 10
Exactly. And he will most likely vote for it once they say where the money is coming from. Today he suggested TARP funds. He is even trying to solve the problem! Oy!
1 person likes this
@bobmnu (8157)
• United States
2 Mar 10
What is being lost in this is President Obama said that we are going to operate on a pay as you go (paygo). It is a senate rule that you have to show where the money to pay for a bill is coming from. Even Senator Reid supports paygo except when he can make political points from it.
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@laglen (19759)
• United States
2 Mar 10
exactly my point. Somebody tries to hold them to it, and look what happens.
@bobmnu (8157)
• United States
3 Mar 10
If you don't like the message shoot the messenger.
1 person likes this
@laglen (19759)
• United States
4 Mar 10
pay as YOU go not as I go