Day: March 1, 2010

The Case Of Senator Jim Bunning: Need To Censure His Disgraceful Behavior!

Senator Jim Bunning, Republican of Kentucky, is well known in the Senate for his bizarre behavior and ugly temper. He is regarded as one of the absolute worst senators in that chamber today.

Using the power of “senatorial courtesy”, he has blocked passage of an extension of unemployment compensation, public works projects, and Medicare payments to doctors, claiming that he simply has the right to hold up action because he feels like it! Complaining that the extension legislation was not paid for, he did not see the contradiction of his own vote for budget busting legislation during his twelve years in the Senate, including massive tax cuts for the rich, and war spending without limits.

Bunning became belligerent toward reporters today, using foul four letter language, as he has done on the floor of the Senate, and also showing the middle finger to a reporter! He is an excellent example of the total lack of decency and cooperativeness that used to exist in the Senate, even when there were philosophical difference between the parties.

The Senate has become a disgrace and a divisive body that belies its long, distinguished history.

It is time for a motion of censure to be introduced against Senator Bunning to make it clear that such outrageous, arrogant behavior is not supported by the history, and the decent members of the Senate of both political parties! Bunning needs to be called to account. The fact of his Baseball Hall of Fame career is being overshadowed by his erratic, looney, disgraceful behavior!

Republicans And “Reconciliation”: The Truth!

Republicans are acting like hypocrites on the issue of using the “reconciliation” method to pass health care legislation. They claim that it is, as Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander states, a “kamikaze mission”.

This is irresponsible rhetoric, and based on lies! Alexander has voted for “reconciliation” five times in his years in the Senate. He has had a reputation of being a moderate, but based on this ridiculous statement, and his comments at the Health Care Summit last week, he has moved over to the far right!

The Republicans have used this 51 vote majority in the Senate sixteen times, compared to six times by Democrats.

One must remember that Republicans controlled Congress for twelve years, and it was certainly alright for them to overcome filibusters for massive tax cuts that bankrupted our national budget!

But now, for health care, they act like Puritans who have never utilized or believed in the tactic, and that is pure bull!

Senator Alexander and the whole Republican caucus in the Senate should be ashamed of themselves for being negative and obstructionist! The party is a shell of the old, traditional Republican party that once stood for some real principle, instead of willingness to exploit an issue for political gain and show no concern for the millions of Americans who have no, or inadequate health care!