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

[jsgaetano]

Another rat fleeing the burning ship?

I need more popcorn. This is really fun to watch.

[dolfen]

I'm sure its becoming obvious that most Republicans are of the same ilk - they just don't get it. With Rush Limbaugh as their cheer leader and Carl Rove their policy maker its apparent that nothings changed within their ranks. Its the same old divisive rhetoric and failed policies that have gotten in this disastrous situation. Please don't let the King of Spin do his thing again - bend the publics mind with false and misleading words. We are currently in uncharted waters thanks to eight years of distorted and convoluted
policy decisions. How much more proof do we need to see that the situation speaks for itself? Did Obama create this? Obama inherited an abomination created by a narrow minded and short sighted egotistical group whose primary agenda was to garner as much wealth in the upper 2-5% of our population as possible. May Obama and his team have all the tools and wisdom to extract us from it and bring policies to the forefront that will never allow such a situation to evolve again. Never...

[ravenshroud]

Finally the Repubs ar drinking the kool-aid. Oh Yeah! (wall smashes)

[ravenshroud]

Is it legal to offer him money or sex to resign? I'm not gay, but I'd make the sacrifice for us all.

[Vermontah]

LOL! Attaway to take one for the team!

[makemusicnotwar]

In a previous response I suggested that Rush LImbaugh engage in a debate with any of a number of President Obama's cabinet members, if not Obama himself. Let him publicly shoot himself (ishness) in the foot and show his shallow knowledge and demagoguery. It would solve the problem of this big mouthed, swaggering egotist once and for all. I can just imagine him stammering for a rational argument while facing the real intellect of the people that represent the majority in this country.

[bobbybo]

Jim is just returning to his basball roots. He just threw a high hard one to the Repub leadership. The message is clear - step back or I will put the next one in your ear!

[ChapStick80]

STRIKE THREE----YOUR OUT!!!

[JimfromBaltimore49]

When I was a young Oriole fan, I got a foul ball in a game that Jim Bunning was pitching. It had a cut across it. Later I read that Bunning had been accused of cutting the baseball with his belt buckle. Cheater!!! He's still a jerk all these years later considering his remarks on Justice Ginsberg's illness, but if he resigns and a Democrat is appointed in his place, he's Walter Johnson!

[RepublicanMicky]

Senator Bunning,...please don't resign........just change parties!!!!!!!
The Democrats will help finance your re-election run!!!!!

[ravenshroud]

I have my $25 contribution ready for you Democrat Bunning.

[demigod]

Hopefully, Bunning won't be the only Republican who won't be re-elected. All of them opposed helping the country. By then we should know if things are getting better, in spite of them. They will all have proved themselves extraneous obstacles to progress. AGAIN.

[zest]

Wow! The hits just keep on coming; interesting times.

[Hatsone]

Please GOP, eat thyself!

[ravenshroud]

This is the best meal i've been to in years.

[NonLeftist]

Good! Another Rino out the door. Will the REAL freedom loving conservatives please stand up?

[dRwOOD]

is that part of the whole hip-hopping of the gop?? like the Slim Shady song??

[Wide Stance]

Lol. That's off the hook.

[UncommonSenz]

Hmmm... maybe you didn't see the results of the last election(s).

But sure, if you think the failed, thoroughly discredited policies of the Rush-wing of the party are the ticket to election victories then please... have at it.

What's funny (and so right wing nutball typical) is that you say "Good! Another Rino out the door." oblivious to the reality that it would take away the LAST bit of relevance the GOP has, which is the ability to filibuster in the Senate. Can't even think about that for a second before unleashing your call to mo-rons can you?

[cetchingham]

a stunning new poster boy for the "me" generation. the GOP cannot even hang together as a group, much less represent their respective states. still, you have to love that they are cannibalizing. or imploding. take your pick.

[inorbit]

It's amusing to watch the Republican Party self-destruct. It's kind of like a group suicide

[cobra7]

Maybe they can use those coffins that they have stored for their burials and this won't added to the budget at all....

http://disinter.wordpress.com/2008/09/25/500000-fema-coffins/

[Bitsko]

Bunning "reportedly said privately"? Lazy journalism or strategic leak by the Bunning camp?

Oh well, I hope this is true.

[Piatt]

The komodo lizards are eating thier young. Ya love to see it.

[HGMercury]

I love it, I love it, I love it, I love it, I love it, I love it, I love it, I love it!