Jim Bunning Once Pitched A Perfect Game – But To The Jobless He’s In The “Hall of Shame”
Jim Bunning is a Philadelphia sports legend, the owner of a perfect game on Father’s Day 1964. The hurler left baseball and eventually became a U.S. Senator from Kentucky. In the Senate, he has been known as a loose cannon, a big mouth without any clout to back it up.
Until now.
Bunning is the lone Senator blocking jobless benefits to over a million and a half Americans. They expire today, along with Cobra health benefits.. Bunning wants to know how the Democrats are going to pay for it. It is a reasonable question, but when millions of Americans are out of work, it’s a question usually answered by a budget appropriation. In this case, Bunning may be stopping such simple things as food on the table, and clothing for the kids, along with health care. His filibuster has even embarrassed members of his own party.
Congressional sources tell us that Congress will pass an extension on Tuesday with some Republican help. But Bunning, in the meantime, has caused needless anxiety to so many Americans.
Bunning has decided not to seek re-election. He’ll leave the Senate at the end of the year.
He will always be remembered as being perfect, in baseball. He will also be remembered by some unemployed Americans as the man who played with their lives at a very difficult time.
Comments(29)
Jim Bunning is no hero to me, especially when he uses these bush league tactics to make a point while people suffer needlessly at his hand.
Larry, you obviously either did not watch the debate on c-span or you are biased against the man. Bunning has been saying all along that this spending has to stop, but up until now, did not have the mechanics to enforce his position. Look at Evan Bayh who has similar issues with spending. It has to stop and Bunning made a public point. I live in another state and know my Republican Senator well. I spoke to him over the weekend and asked about Bunning’s position. Rest assured, Larry, most people are thanking him for calling the issue on the carpet. I agree Bunning is a loose cannon. Probably why Mitch McConnnel didn’t support him for re-election, but he always spoke his mind, was never politically correct, and acted best on committee. Rest assured, Larry, this week there will be a new bill introduced with funding to support it.
There are way to many social saftey nets and
extensions in place. We are coming out of the
deepest recession since Great Deprssion and
there is no where near the kind of human
suffering. People will not go back to work and
accept lower pay and lesser job quality as
long as our goverment keeps them on the dole.
Americans are fat and happy and not willing
to work hard, they cry for their increasinly
socialist government to care for them. They
need to turn off the TV,get out of bed and
get to work,any job at any price. They need
two or three jobs if that’s what is takes. Their
children should work to help the family and
drop out of useless college programs that
don’t teach something that gives them an
applicable skill. The 13th grade at community
college is a waste of time, those kids whould
have been in VOTEC, they could be working 24-7
fixing toyotas at dealerships. There are plenty
of decent jobs for hard working sober Americans.
There is no shortage of jobs or opportunities
just a shortage of willing Anericans. I challenge
Anyone to find an unemplyed first generation
immigrant, they all have one or more jobs.
Those jobs lead to better jobs, so stop whining
for more socialism that we cannot afford Larry!
I continue to be amazed at those who find it too expensive to help their neighbor but don’t worry about the cost of subsiding Haliburton or bailing out banks. I’m even more amazed at the folks they look up to as their leaders in this regard: a guy who doesn’t know how many houses he owns, and a governor who lets her husband run her state while she shoots wildlife from a helicopter. Champions of hard working Americans?
Well Jimmy, of the top 10 members of Congress with the highest net worths, 8 of them are Democrats, your working-man champions….
And it would have been 9 of 10, but your hero Teddy The Swimmer Kennedy passed away. How much did he leave in his will to the hard working Americans?
He got a lot of credit for being a “champion of hard working Americans” by spending *other people’s money*, not his own.
Cripes, I could make my self look like a hero spending the money of other people too.
Larry – As always you have hit a HOME RUN, or in this case – pitched a PERFECT GAME.
This example is representative of why I continue to write about the plight of the indigent and needful in our treasured land.
We must continue to use JOURNALISM as the vehicle to promote social change and improve conditions of those less fortunate than us.
I am going to work with you, as well as with my friend and mentor Brian Tierney to ensure that we achieve this.
Fondly
Always and forever.
Your friend
WILL
Lord Abott is an idiot. I have a bachelor’s and a master’s degree, two certifications in my field, years of experience, and I’ve been out of work for over a year. And I hate it!
I would gladly take something, even outside my field and with a pay cut, just to know I’m earning my own way, and with the assurance (as it were) of a paycheck. But explain that to employers who think I’m too old (no), too expensive (no), or too qualified (no).
And, while you’re at it, explain it to knuckleheads like Lord Abott.
John, perhaps you are too fat and an
armchair know it all, that really turns
off employers. Look into spending a few
bucks on a life coach, update your wardrobe
and hairstyle, and get more exercise.
Unemploymet will stay high for awhile and guys
like you will be among the last to find
something, but hang in there!
Too fat? No, anyone who knows me would not say that.
Armchair know it all [sic]? I’ve maintained a level of modesty in my jobs on which others have commented.
Get more exercise? Again, ask those who know me. I hiked 12 miles yesterday.
Haircut, wardrobe? You’ve never seen me. Where do you come off making comments like that?
I usually try to be polite in my comments on online boards, but your comments are so inane and offensive that it necessary to speak a little more bluntly than usually.
Lord Abott, please just keep your comments about unemployment to yourself. YOU SIMPLY DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.
I actually know quite a lot, you sir are
the one who attacked me, and perhaps
employers are not looking for nasty old
farts who call people “knuclheads” for
expressing an opinion about a topic. You
make a very good case for your own plight.
I do hope that you find work and can again
begin to support your family and rebuild
your self esteem.
Lord Abbott
We would love to have you join us for a town hall meeting.
Larry and I would love to have you attend one of the Beatles events at the Franklin Institute.
Remember, that the Franklin Institute is now longer just “The Franklin”
The name has been reverted to the Franklin Institute.
I own an auto body shop in Philadelhpia and business is great, the problem is I can’t get enough reliable hard working employees to do the work. I pay $12 per hour to start and once trained the pay goes to about $20 with healthcare. Still I find it impossible to get workers. My work is not rocket science, I will even train on the job, but still cant get good people. Abott you are exactly right, too many lazy people complaining and wanting soemthing easy for nothing from the government. The kids around my business have enough energy to sell drugs and beat hard working people to the ground for a gold chain. I just heard someone robbed a jewlry store on south street, cut the owner in the face and left a small child behind, that’s my employment pool- ain’t no government program or extension of benefits going to stop that and make such people want to paint cars for $20 bucks an hour. Abott is also right about who will work in my shop. I learned Spanish to hire them, they are legal and they know how to make a “63 Impala shine and dance off the ground. Open up the boarders and let those people come to my shop, I got jobs and money for them right here in West Philadelphia.
Again Larry has nailed another topic. I’m sure Bunning will be known years from now for voting against job benifits for the unemployed.
If Michael J Fox likes Canada so much why
doesn’t he stay up there for his Parkinson’s
Disease treatment? They have great healthcare
under their socialized medical system-right?
My plasma screen melted down due to the frentic pace at which Larry has been changing his blog topics. Sorry for the absence.
Larry nailed it? Larry is clueless. The baseball portion of Jim Bunning’s life is over and done. Distinguished career ending with an abysmal Phillies team (save 1964). HOF credentials. Class act.
That enabled him the name recognition and bankroll to pursue his second career, politics.
Jim Bunning is trying to make a stand on the budget. As the deficit grows daily and Lord Obama pursues ever increasing spending, someone somewhere has to make a stand. Everyone talks a good game. Bunning is making a courageous stand. You should applaud his actions, not berate him. Of course as a died in the wool liberal, Larry, you have never seen a spending bill that did not like or approve. Just keep spending the taxpayers money. Soon those with jobs will no longer have them. When unemployment reaches 50%, who is going to pay for unemployment?
Joe Barrone, are you any relation to Raymond and Robert Barrone? Everybody loves Raymond!
If ‘filibuster’ was spelled ‘philibuster’ would it then be okay by parochial Larry?
How is this Bunnings fault. Its not! It’s the people that told them they could have these job and benefit in the first place without the means to pay for it all. It’s the fault of the people who keep saying “It’s not fair.” and try to keep spending money that isn’t there. You don’t tell your someone you can buy them lunch knowing you cant afford it. You do the right thing and let them know that there is no way you can pay for it.
Amen Gregg! Larry likes to be the good guy calling for santa clause to make everthing right for the unemployed. There is a disincentive for people to cut their budgets, downsize their lives and take a lesser job if there is no end to their benefits. Entending benefits is a form of middle class welfare, and its got to stop!
It’s nice to hear from you oooj.
It’s nice to hear from you oooj. The Bunning protest is more than Larry dipicts. We can’t keep racking up debt on the nation’s credit card. I think that is what Bunningsaying.
My computer is infected with a virus, thus I can’t post without much trial and tribulation. I can no longer use my keyboard. The on screen keyboard is all that’s left. I will fight to the end to defend the rights of people like Bunning. He has made up his mind that this government cannot continue to spend money and not account for where the funds are coming from.
Larry, you can kiss my ass…….
Jim Bunning is doing his job!
Thank you Jim! Keep up the fight!
It is time for us to realize THE GOVERNMENT IS BROKE!!!!
Government services need to be reduced drastically so Social Security and Medicare can be provided.
Thank you Jesus, Andy! The 1.5 trillion
deficit is going to send us into a double
dip recesion if not contained. Yet Larry
wants to keep reving the gravy train. News
flash; no body is going hungry in this country,
you can eat like a king out of the dumster
at Acme or Pathmark, there’s soup kitchens
all over the place with delicious food, its
just liberal drivel to justify more spending
and to redistribute more wealth of those who
work and sacrife. You conserve when times are
tough, and stay frugile when times are good and
things work out just fine. Ask a WWII era vet
if times are hard right now and he will laugh
his ass off. I wish Larry’s father would come
back and slap some sense into his thick head.
I’d like to see his mother hit him on his toosh
with a wooden spoon, and tell him to stop writing
nonesense on his blog, and to write smart things
like the other boys because the ladies at the hair
dresser are laughing at her.
I think Larry is getting erotically aroused by the image of being slapped on the tush by his mom with a wooden spoon.
It sounds like he wants to extend it but the congress doesn’t want to raise taxes and simply add it to our debt. If congress believes it is needed please raise our taxes and pay for it like they do in Europe. It is that simply. Come on congress make tough decisions for which you were elected to do. Jim is a good man who cares and has my support. Pay as you go and don’t charge it to my children. Thank you.
Too bad we can get great congressmen like Jim Bunning in PA… We’re left with has-beens and wanna-bes.
See Larry, I told you everything would be OK. Everyone gets their money. Bunning backed down and the bill is now 90 billion of unfunded debt. I live 30 miles of Dingy Harry Reid. I can’t wait for election day. Make sure when inflation starts to rise, you don’t blame Bush.
I squeezed one off thinking about Nancy Pelosi today- is that so wrong?