What about Jim?

[airdvr 210]

Talks under way on jobless benefit deal, senator says
http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/03/02/jobless.benefits.bill/index.html?hpt=T1

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Bunning, who is retiring at the end of this year, has said he doesn't oppose extending the programs; he just doesn't want to add to the deficit. 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.

Bunning in turn called Senate Democrats "hypocritical" for recently passing rules requiring that new legislation not expand the deficit, only to turn around and push both the emergency unemployment extension and a $15 billion jobs bill that, according to Bunning, is not fully paid for.

Please don't dent the planet.

Destinations by Roxanne

[VTmotoMike08 0]

What about him?

He wants to pay for it before passing it. To me, that is called responsibility. Dems want to pass it, and then maybe eventually, if its convenient, perhaps find a way to pay for it. IMO, that is being irresponsible. Neither side has a monopoly on fiscal responsibility.

I acknowledge that both views have some merit, but personally I would rather find a way to pay for it first.

[marks2065 0]

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Talks under way on jobless benefit deal, senator says
http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/03/02/jobless.benefits.bill/index.html?hpt=T1

Quote

Bunning, who is retiring at the end of this year, has said he doesn't oppose extending the programs; he just doesn't want to add to the deficit. 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.

Bunning in turn called Senate Democrats "hypocritical" for recently passing rules requiring that new legislation not expand the deficit, only to turn around and push both the emergency unemployment extension and a $15 billion jobs bill that, according to Bunning, is not fully paid for.

it is about someone wants to pay for a program, and remember this for a progran to extend benifits to many that are sitting on their asses waiting for the benifit to run out before getting a job.

[Andy9o8 2]

I realize you were summarizing; but since you only cherry-picked two non-consecutive paragraphs out of the article, here - in the interest of balance - is another portion of the same article:

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Maine GOP Sen. Susan Collins quickly moved to separate herself from Bunning and side with the Democratic leader, noting that the issue is "so important to senators on both sides of the aisle."

She later said Bunning's views "do not represent the majority of the Republican caucus."

"Ideally, we would offset this" spending bill, she said. "But I would support it either way because the programs are emergency programs. It's a very short-term [one month] extension."

One GOP senator who declined to be identified said Republicans are "furious" with Bunning. "This plays right into the Democratic narrative that we're obstructionist," the senator said. "We look insensitive."

"To say Bunning is not beloved is an understatement," the senator added.

[airdvr 210]

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I realize you were summarizing; but since you only cherry-picked two non-consecutive paragraphs out of the article, here - in the interest of balance - is another portion of the same article:

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Maine GOP Sen. Susan Collins quickly moved to separate herself from Bunning and side with the Democratic leader, noting that the issue is "so important to senators on both sides of the aisle."

She later said Bunning's views "do not represent the majority of the Republican caucus."

"Ideally, we would offset this" spending bill, she said. "But I would support it either way because the programs are emergency programs. It's a very short-term [one month] extension."

One GOP senator who declined to be identified said Republicans are "furious" with Bunning. "This plays right into the Democratic narrative that we're obstructionist," the senator said. "We look insensitive."

"To say Bunning is not beloved is an understatement," the senator added.

They speak with forked tongues. Behind closed doors they probably asked Bunting to fall on his sword over this. He's expendable.

Can't say whom I agree with right now. There's good points on both sides. I would imagine one way to get the unemployment numbers down would to be to quit extending the benefit.

Please don't dent the planet.

Destinations by Roxanne

[Andy9o8 2]

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They speak with forked tongues. Behind closed doors they probably asked Bunting to fall on his sword over this. He's expendable.

It's Bunning that speaks with a forked tongue. He had no problem with the deficit cause by all that Iraq war spending and tax cuts he voted for. But when it comes to ordinary Americans, now he's oh-so concerned about the deficit.

Kentucky's unemployment rate is 10.7%, its highest since 1983. It's also a big shooting & hunting state. I wonder what kind of reception Bunning will get when he gets back home.

[marks2065 0]

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They speak with forked tongues. Behind closed doors they probably asked Bunting to fall on his sword over this. He's expendable.

It's Bunning that speaks with a forked tongue. He had no problem with the deficit cause by all that Iraq war spending and tax cuts he voted for. But when it comes to ordinary Americans, now he's oh-so concerned about the deficit.

Kentucky's unemployment rate is 10.7%, its highest since 1983. It's also a big shooting & hunting state. I wonder what kind of reception Bunning will get when he gets back home.

the poles in his state say they support him

[Andy9o8 2]

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They speak with forked tongues. Behind closed doors they probably asked Bunting to fall on his sword over this. He's expendable.

It's Bunning that speaks with a forked tongue. He had no problem with the deficit cause by all that Iraq war spending and tax cuts he voted for. But when it comes to ordinary Americans, now he's oh-so concerned about the deficit.

Kentucky's unemployment rate is 10.7%, its highest since 1983. It's also a big shooting & hunting state. I wonder what kind of reception Bunning will get when he gets back home.

the poles in his state say they support him

Thus the term, "dumb Polacks".

[airdvr 210]

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They speak with forked tongues. Behind closed doors they probably asked Bunting to fall on his sword over this. He's expendable.

It's Bunning that speaks with a forked tongue. He had no problem with the deficit cause by all that Iraq war spending and tax cuts he voted for. But when it comes to ordinary Americans, now he's oh-so concerned about the deficit.

Kentucky's unemployment rate is 10.7%, its highest since 1983. It's also a big shooting & hunting state. I wonder what kind of reception Bunning will get when he gets back home.

Exactly my point. This is political suicide. Why would he do it?

Please don't dent the planet.

Destinations by Roxanne

[Andy9o8 2]

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This is political suicide. Why would he do it?

Bunning isn't running for reelection. He's a zillionaire ex-pro athlete and Senator. At this point in his career, he's got nothing to lose, so he's letting his True Asshole show. Why is he doing it? Because he's an asshole, representing not the ordinary Kentuckians who voted him into office, but his fellow assholes who funded his campaigns.

[marks2065 0]

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This is political suicide. Why would he do it?

Bunning isn't running for reelection. He's a zillionaire ex-pro athlete and Senator. At this point in his career, he's got nothing to lose, so he's letting his True Asshole show. Why is he doing it? Because he's an asshole, representing not the ordinary Kentuckians who voted him into office, but his fellow assholes who funded his campaigns.

why? because he wants to know how it is going to be paid for? maybe if all of the dirtbags in office had this attitude we would not have a national debt.

[Andy9o8 2]

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why? because he wants to know how it is going to be paid for?

I simply don't believe that his intentions are as noble as that. If this isn't about ideology, then at the very least it's a last blaze of personal aggrandizement by someone who was a hero in the sports world, but a largely anonymous shlub in the Senate, who hopes to close out his career as something more than an asterisk in history.

[Andy9o8 2]

This article seems to support my conclusion that Bunning's main reason for doing this (his stated reason notwithstanding) is that he's an odd, self-absorbed asshole.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/03/02/jim.bunning.profile/index.html

[jgoose71 0]

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This article seems to support my conclusion that Bunning's main reason for doing this (his stated reason notwithstanding) is that he's an odd, self-absorbed asshole.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/03/02/jim.bunning.profile/index.html

No, i think he is just trying to stick it in the parties eye on his way out the door. From your own article:

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"To win a general election, a candidate has to be able to raise millions of dollars to get the message out to voters," Bunning said then. "Over the past year, some of the leaders of the Republican Party in the Senate have done everything in their power to dry up my fundraising."

Last year, Bunning called McConnell a "control freak"

Throughout his career, Bunning has earned a reputation as a reliable, aggressive supporter for his state's key industries: tobacco and horse racing.

It sounds more like his state supports him but his party doesn't. Since representing his constituents doesn't fall in line with the party(tobacco and gambling bad), they want to replace him with someone who will tow the party line. All that friction was bound to come out somewhere.

politics as usual.

"There is an art, it says, or, rather, a knack to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss."
Life, the Universe, and Everything

[rehmwa 2]

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Why is he doing it? Because he's an asshole, representing not the ordinary Kentuckians who voted him into office, but his fellow assholes who funded his campaigns.

Sure, just like those that want to extend benefits are actually secretly on a vast mission to ensure your children and grandchildren starve to death due to 100% taxes based on out of control spending.

hyperbole is so much fun - it's more fun to attack the messengers than to look at both sides of issues

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[Andy9o8 2]

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Why is he doing it? Because he's an asshole, representing not the ordinary Kentuckians who voted him into office, but his fellow assholes who funded his campaigns.

Sure, just like those that want to extend benefits are actually secretly on a vast mission to ensure your children and grandchildren starve to death due to 100% taxes based on out of control spending.

hyperbole is so much fun - it's more fun to attack the messengers than to look at both sides of issues

Hm.
No, looking into his personal and professional history, and his dealings with all sorts of people, I think Bunning is basically just an asshole. And this is just his last "fuck you".

Goodbye, Jim. And fuck you, too.

[rehmwa 2]

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looking into his personal and professional history, and his dealings with all sorts of people, I think Bunning is basically just an asshole.

ok - but you still have to admit that hyperbole is fun

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[Andy9o8 2]

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looking into his personal and professional history, and his dealings with all sorts of people, I think Bunning is basically just an asshole.

ok - but you still have to admit that hyperbole is fun

You know, that's the sort of thing Hitler would have said.

[redlegphi 0]

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I realize you were summarizing; but since you only cherry-picked two non-consecutive paragraphs out of the article, here - in the interest of balance - is another portion of the same article:

Quote

Maine GOP Sen. Susan Collins quickly moved to separate herself from Bunning and side with the Democratic leader, noting that the issue is "so important to senators on both sides of the aisle."

She later said Bunning's views "do not represent the majority of the Republican caucus."

"Ideally, we would offset this" spending bill, she said. "But I would support it either way because the programs are emergency programs. It's a very short-term [one month] extension."

One GOP senator who declined to be identified said Republicans are "furious" with Bunning. "This plays right into the Democratic narrative that we're obstructionist," the senator said. "We look insensitive."

"To say Bunning is not beloved is an understatement," the senator added.

They speak with forked tongues. Behind closed doors they probably asked Bunting to fall on his sword over this. He's expendable.

Can't say whom I agree with right now. There's good points on both sides. I would imagine one way to get the unemployment numbers down would to be to quit extending the benefit.

Yes, because there are just so many jobs to be had out there right now. Does it really make sense to you that people aren't trying that hard to find jobs because their lives are so comfortable living off of unemployment? Poverty isn't comfortable. Life isn't exactly pleasant when you're left wondering every month if you'll have enough money to pay the rent and all the bills or if you'll have to start making decisions on what to forego. Doesn't that really sound like an ideal lifestyle. I'm fairly certain the vast majority of people would much prefer the emotional/mental stability that comes with the financial security of a regular, decently paying job.

[Amazon 7]

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Yes, because there are just so many jobs to be had out there right now. Does it really make sense to you that people aren't trying that hard to find jobs because their lives are so comfortable living off of unemployment? Poverty isn't comfortable. Life isn't exactly pleasant when you're left wondering every month if you'll have enough money to pay the rent and all the bills or if you'll have to start making decisions on what to forego. Doesn't that really sound like an ideal lifestyle. I'm fairly certain the vast majority of people would much prefer the emotional/mental stability that comes with the financial security of a regular, decently paying job.

Shhh how dare you point out facts outside of their nice safe little stereotypes of everyone but them wanting a handout... something for nothing

Last I checked.. when people are working their companies and they are paying out of their pockets to fund unemployment.

[airdvr 210]

I hesitated to say that for the very reasons you state. You make the assumption that I have never been poor, or have always known where next month's rent was coming from or how I'd put food on the table. You'd be mistaken. And it wasn't 20 years ago...more like 3 1/2 years.

The reason I point towards cutting off the benefit is simple. Things are different now. If you're riding the unemployment wagon waiting for things to return to how they used to be you're living in fantasyland.

Please don't dent the planet.

Destinations by Roxanne

[Andy9o8 2]

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The reason I point towards cutting off the benefit is simple. Things are different now. If you're riding the unemployment wagon waiting for things to return to how they used to be you're living in fantasyland.

That may be so; but your previous post assumes that people on UC, after previously having had steady jobs, aren't actively looking for work. On what do you base that presumption? Mind you, UC only pays a fraction of original wage.

[chutem 0]

Many only use unemployment benns to get buy while looking for a job. My problem is the ones that limit their job search to only the jobs they want while on unemployment. Why should I work full time for only a little more than my unemployment check seems to be a common sentiment these days. I'm sure many are not like this, but I know unemployed people with this attitude and I'm sure they are not alone.

I wonder how many people started applying at fast food places a few weeks ago when they knew they only had a few weeks left of unemployment checks unless the gov extended? How many said "those jobs are beneath me" and waited for the gov to extend?

"No use applying for a job that won't pay my bills" they say. Unless things turn around you may have to reduce your bills. Maybe the jobs that were not good enough will look better with no other check coming in.

It's a sticky situation and I don't have an answer. I do know that unemployment benns can not be extended for ever, there has to be a deadline somewhere. At what point does it simply become welfare?

James

[hwt 0]

The democrats passed paygo a few weeks ago so they could say that they are being fiscally responsible but this is the second bill that they have exempted from paygo since it was passed and they waited until the last minute to try and slip this one through.when Bunning spoke up to make the point about paygo and fiscal responsibility the democrats pounced on it.
they could have passed it quickly but choose to hold it up for a few days to make this guy look bad in front of the people who do not realize the games the politicians play.