Jim Bunning Threatens To Resign From Senate To Hurt GOP

[JoshLowry]

The Louisville Courier-Journal has another bombshell (http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090227/NEWS01/90227025) about Sen. Jim Bunning, the embattled Republican who is increasingly going rogue in an effort to hold onto his seat.
In recent weeks, Senate Republican leaders have walked right up to the edge of declaring open war (http://www.politicalbase.com/profile/Mark%20Nickolas/blog/&blogId=6406) on Bunning. Minority Leader (and fellow Kentucky senator) Mitch McConnell and others reportedly believe Bunning is likely to lose his reelection race in 2010, and so are trying to nudge him into retirement by sending signals that the party establishment will not back him.
Bunning has responded aggressively, threatening to sue (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/24/jim-bunning-threatens-to_n_169690.html) the Senate Republicans' campaign arm if it doesn't fully back his reelection.
And now the latest: Bunning "reportedly said privately that if he is hindered in raising money for his re-election campaign he is ready with a response that would be politically devastating for Senate Republicans: his resignation."


So do we help Bunnings out and hope that he will throw Rand a bone? Any way we can take advantage of this situation?

It looks like the GOP doesn't like him. That's usually a sign that we should be supporting him. :)

[angelatc]

If McConnell is against him, it certainly bears some consideration.

I think this is political opportunity gold. Does RP have any activists left there? I'm sure Bunning would love to have people painting signs and making videos to support him.

[slacker921]

Bunning supports the War on Terror (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?t=181626).. I'm shocked that the GOP would do anything to him.

Maybe they want to replace him with their own before someone like Rand has a chance? The worst thing that could happen to the GOP is for a few more Republican Congressmen and a few Republican Senators to get in there and oppose their sacred cow (the WoT).

[JoshLowry]

Didn't know that, thanks. It sure is a strange situation.

[Sandra]

Yep. Also vocalize displeasure at the party boyz that we will not be backing them for re-election. I mean on every blog or online news outlets that will allow comments. I know it's a pain to register, but other bloggers and news outlets read public commentary sections for content ideas. Let's ditch Mitch!

[ihsv]

Bunning opposed the '08 bailout package

[slacker921]

Bunning opposed the '08 bailout package

Funny.. Elizabeth Dole (R Senate from NC) and Robin Hayes (R Congress from NC) did too.. they're both out of office. Burr (the other R senator from NC) voted for TARP and he's still in office and getting support from the NC GOP for reelection.

Bums, the lot of them.

[Matt Collins]

I don't think anyone knows what the real story is. Only Bunning knows what's going through his head. And that could change 5 times between now and then.

[Bradley in DC]

Take your blinders off people: this has nothing to do with policy and everything to do with politics.

Bunning isn't a spring chicken anymore, and rumors have circulated for a few years that he's not up to the job anymore (I'll leave it at that). Because of that (not any policy stance), the Republicans fear they'll lose the seat if he is the nominee.

The Republicans would rather have Rand get elected (and vote for a Republican leader) than have Bunning lose the seat.

Keep your heads and win friends and allies.

[ihsvsgirl]

Bunning is a typical politician, just going to do what is expedient for his career. We're better off getting behind Rand now, instead of trying to save a has been.

[ihsv]

Bunning is a typical politician, just going to do what is expedient for his career. We're better off getting behind Rand now, instead of trying to save a has been.

Welcome to the forum, sweety! :D

[torchbearer]

where is the third pig?
There is always 3 lil' pigs.

[ihsv]

where is the third pig?
There is always 3 lil' pigs.

We have four, with a fifth little pig on the way :D

[torchbearer]

We have four, with a fifth little pig on the way :D

The saga continues!
A new hope!

[MRoCkEd]

Let's use reverse psychology to get him to resign.

"You won't do it! No Balls! You'll stay in the senate and be our little bitch!"

[ihsvsgirl]

Welcome to the forum, sweety! :D

I got sick of being a RP widow. Just don't ever disagree with me if you want to eat.

Seriously, I would like to see Rand beat Bunning in the primary. McConnell is the one we really want to get rid of, but the local groups need some experience pulling off a Senate race before we can tackle that weasel. If Rand loses, Bunning isn't as bad as most of the rest of the Republican Senate. If we end up with McConnell again, though...this forum really needs a puking emoticon.

[ihsv]

I got sick of being a RP widow. Just don't ever disagree with me if you want to eat.

Seriously, I would like to see Rand beat Bunning in the primary. McConnell is the one we really want to get rid of, but the local groups need some experience pulling off a Senate race before we can tackle that weasel. If Rand loses, Bunning isn't as bad as most of the rest of the Republican Senate. If we end up with McConnell again, though...this forum really needs a puking emoticon.

:D

[Indy4Chng]

Bunning is probably the best senator there is and you want to be rid of him? Are you kidding!! We need to support Bunning with every resource. Rand can run against the other Kentucky senator or run for congress. This is insane. He was one of the few republican senators that opposed Bush's insane fiscal policies. Who cares that he supports the war on terror, he is an 80+ on the liberty front and you want him out, so we can have a 10 (socialist democrat), you have to be kidding!!!!

[angelatc]

Bunning is a typical politician, just going to do what is expedient for his career. We're better off getting behind Rand now, instead of trying to save a has been.

Welcome, and LOL the avatar!

[Indy4Chng]

This is who you want to be rid of:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7ULDnJBA1w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paG-PawqWHM

There are more but you get the point. We need to add sane senators to the mix not eliminate them.

[JoshLowry]

Bunning is probably the best senator there is and you want to be rid of him? Are you kidding!! We need to support Bunning with every resource. Rand can run against the other Kentucky senator or run for congress. This is insane. He was one of the few republican senators that opposed Bush's insane fiscal policies. Who cares that he supports the war on terror, he is an 80+ on the liberty front and you want him out, so we can have a 10 (socialist democrat), you have to be kidding!!!!

No, we want Rand in if possible.


So do we help Bunnings out and hope that he will throw Rand a bone? Any way we can take advantage of this situation?

It looks like the GOP doesn't like him. That's usually a sign that we should be supporting him. :)

[Matt Collins]

Bradly - as usual you seem to always have the inside scoop on things ;-)

[Bradley in DC]

Bradly - as usual you seem to always have the inside scoop on things ;-)

I'm originally from Cincinnati, just across the river from Bunning's home (though obviously in a different state). Some of the kids of friends of my parents work/worked for Bunning. Older members of the forum would remember his baseball days and how he helped turn KY from D to R. Bunning has been one of the best senators KY has had in a long time.

Bunning is well liked and respected with much residual good feeling. Demonizing him will alienated the same base that Rand would need to court. If one wants to argue that Rand would be more energetic, etc, fine, but no one should post anything in this forum personally attacking Bunning and then be surprised when it is used successfully against Rand. Could we try to be smart about this?

[itshappening]

McConnnell and Cornyn are trying to get him to retire but he is stubborn.

Rand will not run against him out of respect, he has to decide whether to go for it or not. if he doesn't raise any money they do risk losing the seat.

[Matt Collins]

Here is a local newscast about Rand possibly running for Senate:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3ETubI-b5s

[Roxi]

I got sick of being a RP widow. Just don't ever disagree with me if you want to eat.

Seriously, I would like to see Rand beat Bunning in the primary. McConnell is the one we really want to get rid of, but the local groups need some experience pulling off a Senate race before we can tackle that weasel. If Rand loses, Bunning isn't as bad as most of the rest of the Republican Senate. If we end up with McConnell again, though...this forum really needs a puking emoticon.

LOL too funny welcome to the forums :)

[Aratus]

evidently taking bunning on in his prime especially if one is between the ages of 30 and 35 has one as
being as successful as the vast majority of robert byrd's once hopeful democratic and republican opponents?
i sense another great divide in politics where we see the game-rules shifting. the last time around, we had tv era
media imaging replacing ward heelers and inner city political machines. right now we have the internet as a funding
mechanism coming into its own!!! we are a ragtag unit of irregulars rather than identical cadres marching in lockstep...
EVEN SO! THE SENATE RACE IN KENTUCKY OPENs UP POSSIBILITIES! I FEEL WE ALL SHOULD COOL OUR SNARKY REMARKs!

[Aratus]

I think way way back to my earlier postings here, that were made before Jim Bunning bows out of the 2010 senate race!

We now are conceptualizing Rand Paul's future POTUS run, as we all hope for some RANDSLIDES to happen real soon now!