We really have a remarkable political system where one senator can tell an entire nation of unemployed people tough shit on getting any checks and then complain about his personal filibuster causing him to miss a basketball game.
Of course, Jim Bunning is retiring, so he doesn’t care about the fact that the Senate recessed for the week without addressing any of this:
The extension of jobless benefits was included in a bill that the House passed earlier Thursday by a voice vote. The bill would also extend federal subsidies to help pay health premiums for people who have lost health insurance along with their jobs.
In addition, the bill would extend current Medicare payment rates for doctors through March 31, sparing them from a 21 percent cut. The cut is scheduled to take effect on Monday.
The bill also extends programs providing flood insurance, small business loans and the copyright license used by satellite television providers – – all through March 28.
Mind you, this bill is so uncontroversial that is passed the House on a voice vote.
There’s ward for a man like this. It starts with A and ends with a synonym for a cylindrical empty space, which in Bunning’s case must be a mile wide and infinitely deep.
And what if no one can watch basketball?
What is worse is that he will be living on the public dime until the day he dies.
Unemployment insurance only runs for a set amount of time, unless you get a job before it runs out. I hope this gets highly publicized in Kentucky.
and as dumb as a box of rocks. Obama is very sane and very intelligent. Unfortunately, in 2010 America Bunning’s actions will look like leadership and moral commitment to much of the voting public. Obama just looks like a sane, intelligent fella who does nothing about anything.
it won’t look like leadership and moral commitment to many people; more like get off my lawn meanness.
but I think you’re wrong. And I KNOW that what Obama’s doing is not leadership in any sense.
It will be interesting to see how this plays in Kentucky. As you point out, Bunning is not concerned about reelection. But what I didn’t realize is that it was the GOP itself that pressured him to retire, because they saw him as extremely vulnerable. Let’s see how the GOP primary candidates, Rand Paul (named after Ayn Rand, I hear) and Trey Grayson, and the Democratic candidate, Lt. Governor Dan Mongiardo, respond to this. Here’s Mongiardo on jobs:
http://www.ontheissues.org/Domestic/Dan_Mongiardo_Jobs.htm
Thom Hartman recently interviewed Ron Paul and asked where the name of his son “Rand” came from. He said that’s not actually his son’s name. It’s either Randall or Randolph (don’t remember which.) Ron Paul has always called him Randy, but his son prefers the one-syllable “Rand.”
Hey RandyH, I’m guessing you also are naming yourself after Ayn Rand (not).
I had heard somewhere that Rand Paul was named after Ayn Rand. I’m truly happy to know that he is not named after that psychopath.
How it plays in Kentucky? It’ll get slightly less coverage than the gold medal round of curling…
I asked too soon. Here’s how it’s playing in Kentucky.
http://www.whas11.com/news/politics/Scorn-applause-from-KY-for-Bunning-85573637.html
I’ve actually gotten to the point I’m happy about headlines like this. The more visibly dysfunctional the Senate becomes, the more likely we get filibuster reform.
I feel the same way on a “meta” level. At the same time, one can’t divorce oneself from the terrible effect this move will have on people in need if it isn’t dealt with (not saying you are – just saying as a general addendum).
Absolutely. Obviously these measures need to pass somehow, and soon.
Remarkable, perhaps, but also inevitable when people allow a House of Lords to have real power. Just one more reason to abolish the Senate or limit it to debating how many angels can dance on the head of a pin.
Also inevitable when people are so fucking stupid that they think being good at hitting a ball with a stick qualifies them to make laws about things that actually matter.
He’s in the Hall of Fame for making it hard to hit a ball with a stick.
Oh well then.
Color me a little ultra sensitive about this but he’s also holding up COBRA and with Health Insurance what it is these days if one has a pre existing condition and is even a day late on a premium you can be dropped like a hot potato, so how many people do you suppose will be facing no insurance because of his arrogance?