Senator Jim Bunning: American Hero

I'd like to take this time to commend Senator Jim Bunning, an American Hero.

In this time of partisan strife, he has set fake morality arguments, theocracy, and corruption aside. His filibuster of a bill that would, among other things, extend unemployment benefits by adding to the federal deficit, is a pure example of the opposition party using the filibuster for its intended party: As a last-ditch means to prevent the majority party from doing something which may be of questionable reasoning, and force negotiations to come up with a more sensible solution.

Jim Bunning may be facing a tough re-election challenge, but that doesn't stop him from taking a potentially unpopular position with members of his own party (at least those in party leadership -- I wouldn't be surprised if the more fiscally-conservative members of his base weren't actually totally behind him, especially those who have jobs or are retired...).

If more members of his party would use their opposition status to lob correctly-reasoned attacks on efforts to violate the pay-go ethic that should rule during times of large budgetary deficits, and spend less of their time and effort making nonsensical arguments that only prove the depth of their corruption and beholdenness to moneyed interests (health insurance companies, the AMA, the military-industrial complex, the oil companies, etc.), this country would be in a LOT better place right now.

I again commend Senator Bunning for his patriotism and correct use of the filibuster as a parliamentary procedure. We should all tip our hats to his brave act of budgetary-hawk courage exhibitionism.

cheers,
~Garlynn