Jim Bunning Threatens To Resign From Senate To Hurt GOP

The Louisville Courier-Journal has another bombshell 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 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 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."

The Kentucky Republican suggested that possible scenario at a campaign fundraiser for him on Capitol Hill earlier this week, according to three sources who asked not to be identified because of the politically sensitive nature of Bunning's remarks.

The implication, they said, was that Bunning would allow Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear, a Democrat, to appoint his replacement -- a move that could give Democrats the 60 votes they need to block Republican filibusters in the Senate.

"I would get the last laugh. Don't forget Kentucky has a Democrat governor," one of the sources quoted Bunning as saying.

"The only logical extension of that comment is, '(Make me mad) ... enough and I'll resign, and then you've got 60 Democrats,' " said another source who was present at the event.

Read the full story here.

A Democratic Senate aide told the Huffington Post's Ryan Grim: "Bunning has always been a loose cannon. It's just surprising that Mitch McConnell decided to light a match so close to him. With only 41 Republicans left, you'd think they'd be a little more careful not to actively alienate members of the caucus."

Comments

[OMG1]

12:38 PM on 03/08/2009

I saw Nico on one of the talk shows.... he's yummy. Is their a Nico Pitney fan club?

[Coloradem]

06:39 PM on 03/03/2009

I have Republican family members in Kentucky and three of them have been approached by the NRSC to see if they would be willing to run against Bunning in a primary. The NRSC pledged to raise money for them if they would.

Bunning should show McConnell he means business and resign!

[Ray Brown]

05:36 PM on 03/03/2009

If the senator change to a D from an R, would make the R's view this arm twisting differently

[OutWest08]

04:50 PM on 03/03/2009

Please do, please do... don't hesitate, just do it and recommend a dem for your position.

[Quotidien]

04:07 PM on 03/03/2009

Thanks Senator Bunning for pitching a perfect game for the Phillies vs. the New York Mets on June 21, 1964.

Mets Suck .... Go Phillies !!!

[Vermontah]

03:39 PM on 03/03/2009

The circular firing squad is set up.

Ready, Aim, FIRE!

Hahahahahahahaaaaaaaa republicans lol hahahaha

[Dan Conner]

03:26 PM on 03/03/2009

Hey, Jim, go-go-go-go-go-go-go.....

[hillvoter]

02:34 PM on 03/03/2009

He certainly sounds like a Democrat, whining about money and support. Even today, with citizens looking for leadership, Democrats can't resist their narcissistic tendencies. Service is supposed to be more about the people that you serve and less about you.

[dilgrim]

05:13 PM on 03/03/2009

Tell me, hillvoter, are you a conservative siding with Limbaugh or a Republican siding with the GOP leadership?

[JNagarya]

05:23 PM on 03/03/2009

He's an extremist hiding behind the labels "conservative" and "Republican" and, of course, siding with the Republican leadership that is Limbaugh.

Teddy Roosevelt was a conservative -- and a progressive. Today's far-right lunatic fringers who claim to be conservatives are trying to falsely appear more moderate than they are. They are America-haters to the core.

They also took over the Republican party as their cover and vehicle to power behind the election of Reagan.

[JNagarya]

05:20 PM on 03/03/2009

And intellegent commentary doesn't narcissistically limit itself to name-calling and personal attacks.

And the latter is all you Republicans have to offer.

[Joeyjackal]

01:46 PM on 03/03/2009

I sent an e-mail to Senator Bunning a month ago or so. I suggested he ought to seriously consider changing party affiliation. All Republican senators whose centrist perspectives and openness toward bipartisanship should similarly be encouraged. Any senators who do so would be lionized as the actuality of the super-majority to avoid filibusters by the media. I point out they would probably enjoy the opportunity to be the interview guest on a score of talk shows. Additionally it would act as an encouragement for contributions from progressives and their gratitude of showing up in 2010 for their re-election campaigns.

[Bushwhacked]

03:22 PM on 03/03/2009

nicely said.

[Thevail]

01:32 PM on 03/03/2009

Do repubs have ANYTHING aside from hate and negativity?
I mean, they HATE the president,
they HATE Pelosi,
they HATE the stimulus package,
they HATE the new budget,
they HATE the Iraq plan,
they HATE the GI Bill,
they HATE healthcare reform,
and apparently they also HATE each other.
Oh and somehow..they now HATE George W Bush which is just schizophrenic.

Do they have ANY better ideas that haven't actually been PROVEN WRONG by reality..ie..tax cuts create jobs..um no, otherwise we'd be awash in jobs right?

[JNagarya]

05:25 PM on 03/03/2009

Hate isn't an idea. So they've all along not had any ideas -- except to name-call and scream about how patriotic they are. They never offer anything other than that.

[cobra7]

06:44 PM on 03/03/2009

This is really amazing that they hate Bush when you look back at their cheerleading tactics when he was in office. They gave him free reins without uttering a sound and this is why we are in this mess. The Republithugs are so scared that this might be the last time they'll have power for at least 20 years because as long as we keep reminding people what they did in our name, it will be at least that long before that ever happens....nuff said

[395spoons]

10:18 AM on 03/03/2009

Hey Senator, if you really want to hurt your fellow Republicans, just vote with the Democrats rather than giving your resignation!

[guruglenn]

08:01 PM on 03/02/2009

The root cause of anyone resistant to change is fear and fear is at the root of this economic mess we are in. No matter what he may have accomplished in his life he needs to learn to go with the flow and mosey along.

Glenn Smith Author of Lotus Petal, A Parable to Help You to Overcome The Fear of Death
http://lotuspetalbook.com

[deeppeace]

07:08 PM on 03/02/2009

He could just hang onto his seat and vote with the Dems. Or change parties and run in 2010 as a Dem. You're right... pass the popcorn!

[everychildsnana]

06:58 PM on 03/02/2009

Jim Bunning and I were young once, and he was my dreamboat Phillies pitcher. We're not young anymore, except in my memories. He threatens to resign from the Senate. Dear Jim, don't threaten; just do it. It's time;the season's over.

[tobyjack]

06:41 PM on 03/02/2009

I long for the future when there will be only 14 repubs in the senate. Maybe then we can get the country back on track!!!