Republicans Look for a Reliever in Kentucky

[iandhr]

Source: NY TIMES

WASHINGTON — One of the entrenched narratives in American politics is the case of the guy who refuses to quit, even though a lot of people on his own team want him gone.

While the Democrats are preoccupied with Senator Roland W. Burris and his ties to a tainted Illinois governor, the Republicans are trying to rid themselves of Senator Jim Bunning of Kentucky, the former baseball star who clearly has little use for some colleagues and party leaders, and who keeps exhibiting what one senator calls “behavior issues.”

Key Republicans are gently (or not gently enough) trying to dissuade Mr. Bunning from seeking re-election in 2010 out of concern that his paltry fund-raising, declining approval ratings and irascible conduct have made him something between vulnerable and unelectable.

But in recent weeks, Mr. Bunning has shown no sign of stepping aside and delivered a string of incendiary pronouncements that have fed an impression that he is, to go with a baseball metaphor, a bit of a screwball.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/06/us/06bunning.html?_r=1&ref=politics

---

To keep with the baseball metaphor.

BALL FOUR

[Doctor_J]

1. More like

Yeeeeee're outta here!

[Captain Hilts]

2. Great headline. He was clearly bonkers in his last campaign. Saying weird stuff. nt

[acmavm]

3. Yeah, but don't all republicans act like that?

[Captain Hilts]

4. He set a new standard. Right up there with the guy from Missouri that worried...

about young girls becoming lesbians in school bathrooms.

Really, Kentuckians noticed he was gettin' goofy.

[alfredo]

5. Bean ball Bunning is an asshole. He was known for throwing the ball at

batters. He didn't care that a ball traveling 80+mph could seriously injure or kill the batter. He just didn't care. Of course his rivals and teammates hated him.

[get the red out]

6. But he is so PRO-LIFE!

Senile, low-I.Q. asshole. I hope he runs though. I look forward to voting against him.

[alfredo]

8. There will be a well funded primary challenger.

[tuckessee]

12. So what? All good pitchers did that back then.

That was the way the game was played.

Just ask anyone who faced Bob Gibson, one the toughest hombres to ever step on the mound.

[neverforget]

7. I initially read that as Repulicans look for a RETRIEVER in Kentucky

:shrug:

[Doctor_J]

11. Air Bud - Golden Deceiver

[rsdsharp]

9. I'm trying to figure out when he "dealt" with Stan Musial.

Musial was a career National leaguer who retired after the 1963 season. Bunning spent the early years of his career with the Tigers in the American League, and didn't join the Mets in the National League until 1964, by which time Stan the Man was a full time restaurateur.

I think he is delusional. Or maybe just racist. He certainly faced Willie Mays and Willie Mccovey and Henry Aaron and Roberto Clemente and Frank Robinson and Ernie Banks. Why mention a guy he never pitched against, except possibly in spring training?

[Strelnikov_]

10. Jim "Kenny Powers" Bunning: "I'm Fucking Out of the Republican Party" n/t