Unfortunately, both the Republicans and Democrats have senators who are a big embarrassment to the party faithful. I am referring to Senator Jim Bunning of Kentucky and Senator Roland Burris of Illinois.
Senator Bunning, a Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher, has been considered strange in his behavior since before his re-election by a very small margin in 2004. Now he is threatening to sue the Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee if they do not support his re-election with campaign funds. It is obvious that Republican leaders in the Senate would like him to go away, as it will be very difficult to retain that seat due to Bunning’s penchant for saying inapppropriate things, including recently asserting that Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg will be dead from pancreatic cancer in less than a year, and then having to issue an apology for his insensitive statement. He also has made other statements that raise eyebrows.
Senator Burris looks more crooked in his dealings with former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich as the days go by, and it is obvious that he is refusing to resign, despite the entreaties of fellow Illinois Senator Dick Durbin in a private meeting. His appointment and behavior in the last month is very much a burden on his party, and fellow Senators privately wish he would just go away.
It is sad that the Senate has its reputation sullied by such embarrassing individuals, this particularly after the chamber finally got rid of Senator Larry Craig of Idaho who remained in the Senate a full year and more after being arrested in a men’s room in Minneapolis for inappropriate conduct involving an undercover police officer. One would wish that the American people could have confidence that all Senators are truly the best available to fill those important positions in our government, but tragically that is NOT the case! 🙁
It says enough when John Cornyn thinks you are burdensome to the party. Maybe he got hit in the head with a rosin bag a few years back. As for Burris, we should have all known he was crazy to accept the appointment from Blagojevich to begin with. There shouldn’t be any place for people of his kind in the United States Senate; and I am stunned that he remains defiant. He is only hurting his constituents and his party.