Paygo is a joke

He is playing politics with the lives of over one million people whose unemployment he is blocking. I believe he is the epitome of whats wrong with our political system. The republicans aren't very happy with him either, this isn't a partisan issue.

Lone Republican Senator blocking a million-plus Americans from receiving unemployment benefits - Yahoo! News

I see both sides of this. It sounds like both parties want to work this out and propose to have this resolved within a couple of weeks, which is great news. The Senator made the point loud and clear.........how can we continue paying when we don't have the means and this is now a law that the President signed a couple of weeks ago?

It took courage to stand up. I don't see him as blocking an unemployment benefit, but trying to work through the gift of an extension......much needed extension, but it is an extension, regardless.

Lynnie you should watch the video of them holding a late night session trying to resolve this and Senator Bunning complaining that he is missing his ball game on tv. It puts him in perspective.

YouTube- "Tough s**t!" Senator Bunning To People Losing Unemployment Benefits

Yes. I listened to the news today about this. Maybe crass, but he's not the only Boob in DC.

A senator demanding congress pay it's bills rather than borrowing from China, the horror of it all! How dare he demand such a thing! Congress should be given the right to borrow until they're blue in the face, it's the American way!

A senator demanding congress pay it's bills rather than borrowing from China, the horror of it all! How dare he demand such a thing! Congress should be given the right to borrow until they're blue in the face, it's the American way!

Maybe more senators would stand on principle if they weren't running for re-election.

Don't take it personally DTI if the tables were turned Margarita and 30Ashopper would be waiving the American Flag and preaching patriotism til the cows came home.

Don't take it personally DTI if the tables were turned Margarita and 30Ashopper would be waiving the American Flag and preaching patriotism til the cows came home.

I understand they are only looking at the aspect of not spending money we don't have. I was looking at the concept of families just getting by in hard times without jobs and not getting their unemployment check on time or at all because some douche wanted to play politics with their lives. There are times when political grandstanding is appropriate and effective. There are others where politics and partisanship should be put aside in recognition of the greater good.

I understand they are only looking at the aspect of not spending money we don't have. I was looking at the concept of families just getting by in hard times without jobs and not getting their unemployment check on time or at all because some douche wanted to play politics with their lives. There are times when political grandstanding is appropriate and effective. There are others where politics and partisanship should be put aside in recognition of the greater good.

The point of this thread was to highlight that Paygo is a joke - not to debate whether or not unemployment benefits should have been extended. "Bunning wasn’t objecting to extending benefits by $10 billion, he was objecting to how Democrats were willing to violate their own pay-go principles by refusing to offset the outlay right away."

I maintain that adhering to Paygo is for the greater good.

The entire episode is an example of how Congress just doesn't work. You cannot tell me that this was not a scripted piece of political theater that shows how dysfunctional the Republican party is - they picked this guy to filibuster because he's not running for re-election. If the GOP leadership really wanted to press PayGo, they could have stood up the first day and led this fight. They could have been in front of the cameras, outlining the five different ways they proposed paying for this instead of going deeper into debt. They could have won this fight, frankly, with a little organization and actual leadership.

Instead, there was Boehner, saying he didn't back Bunning but "sympathized" with him, while Bunning was flayed in his hometown newspaper. The GOP leadership got to look like they were on the side of the people needing the benefits while the old guy fell on the grenade.

It was ridiculous, the entire thing.

Taking one for the team - sometimes it works. I think the reps who are 'for extending the unemployment benefits' clearly know we have to stop borrowing. So, with the recent law, it makes sense to slow down and think about what is being spent when we don't have the money. Hopefully, we all run our households in the same fashion. More steps in this direction will allow us to pull out of this recession much more quickly than throwing bad money after bad. This action does not mean people are without compassion, but are methodical in the approach. If he's not being running for re-election, he is the perfect filibuster candidate.

News this morning: Greece has curtailed their budget this year by a very painful $6.5B. (Think of the size and population of Greece vs. USA!) They know continuing to borrow will devastate the European Nations. Incidentally, the Euro rallied with this news. I applaud Greece for such a drastic measure!

The entire episode is an example of how Congress just doesn't work. You cannot tell me that this was not a scripted piece of political theater that shows how dysfunctional the Republican party is - they picked this guy to filibuster because he's not running for re-election. If the GOP leadership really wanted to press PayGo, they could have stood up the first day and led this fight. They could have been in front of the cameras, outlining the five different ways they proposed paying for this instead of going deeper into debt. They could have won this fight, frankly, with a little organization and actual leadership.

Instead, there was Boehner, saying he didn't back Bunning but "sympathized" with him, while Bunning was flayed in his hometown newspaper. The GOP leadership got to look like they were on the side of the people needing the benefits while the old guy fell on the grenade.

It was ridiculous, the entire thing.

I agree with you about the lack of republican leadership on this issue but this "political theatre" also shows the "political tricks" played by the democrats. Their only motive to pass pay-go was to appear fiscally conservative. Words not backed up by actions seems to be prevalent on both sides.

The entire episode is an example of how Congress just doesn't work. You cannot tell me that this was not a scripted piece of political theater that shows how dysfunctional the Republican party is - they picked this guy to filibuster because he's not running for re-election. If the GOP leadership really wanted to press PayGo, they could have stood up the first day and led this fight. They could have been in front of the cameras, outlining the five different ways they proposed paying for this instead of going deeper into debt. They could have won this fight, frankly, with a little organization and actual leadership.

Instead, there was Boehner, saying he didn't back Bunning but "sympathized" with him, while Bunning was flayed in his hometown newspaper. The GOP leadership got to look like they were on the side of the people needing the benefits while the old guy fell on the grenade.

It was ridiculous, the entire thing.

This has been going on forever- Bunning has been an embarrassment to the state of KY for too long. The KY GOP made sure he wouldn't run again by backing Trey Grayson in the next election- they get it that Bunning is way past his prime and usefullness, and has actually become bad baggage. Sadly, it appears that something is medically wrong with him by his words and actions of the last few years (and many have been discussing it behind the scenes for awhile). He has been taking up a seat that somebody lucid (Dem or Rep) could have been working in for the betterment of KY and the country as a whole- instead, we got too many years of mean, bitter, crazy, and complete ineptness in his job.

Ha- I always shake my head at Florida politics- then I remember that I am from Kentucky.

This has been going on forever- Bunning has been an embarrassment to the state of KY for too long. The KY GOP made sure he wouldn't run again by backing Trey Grayson in the next election- they get it that Bunning is way past his prime and usefullness, and has actually become bad baggage. Sadly, it appears that something is medically wrong with him by his words and actions of the last few years (and many have been discussing it behind the scenes for awhile). He has been taking up a seat that somebody lucid (Dem or Rep) could have been working in for the betterment of KY and the country as a whole- instead, we got too many years of mean, bitter, crazy, and complete ineptness in his job.

Ha- I always shake my head at Florida politics- then I remember that I am from Kentucky.

I guess job ineptness is in the eye of the beholder. I'm also from Kentucky and I'm not embarrassed by Bunning in the least. The KY GOP may be backing Trey Grayson but I'm backing Rand Paul.

I guess job ineptness is in the eye of the beholder. I'm also from Kentucky and I'm not embarrassed by Bunning in the least. The KY GOP may be backing Trey Grayson but I'm backing Rand Paul.

I am not surprised in the least that you think Bunning has been an asset. Just as you are probably not surprised that I think he is a fool.

I had to Google Rand Paul- and I see that Sarah Palin is supporting him- he seems too classy to attach to that- he even has her on his web page. Is that his way of pulling in Teabaggers?

I am so disgusted with Washington these days. I have to wonder if any of them will still have jobs after the next round of elections.

So we aren't paying unemployment benefits because we don't have the money for them ................... did we stop spending money on wars in Afghanistan and Iraq too? :roll:

I think this Senator is being a butt, but he has a valid point - $10 Billion is a drop in the bucket in the federal budget. Why can't we shuffle some stuff around and trim a little pork to find this money?

So we aren't paying unemployment benefits because we don't have the money for them ................... did we stop spending money on wars in Afghanistan and Iraq too? :roll:

I think this Senator is being a butt, but he has a valid point - $10 Billion is a drop in the bucket in the federal budget. Why can't we shuffle some stuff around and trim a little pork to find this money?

Bunning's point was to show the hypocrisy of the dems Pay-go law. I think he made his point.

Well, that's great politricks ...................... now how about a solution instead of just scoring points? :roll:

Whether he showed those Dems or not, there are still Americans who are hurting and need a solution, not just politricks.

So not borrowing the $10 billion dollars and making sure that families have health care and food is a good thing?

I'm glad we are finally able to see the actual price on peoples heads through Republican eyes.

I also understand that Margarita's definition of "Greater Good" means letting people die or starve so she isn't inconvenienced with a possible tax increase. That's some compassion for you.

SWGB, I think it's more of 'where can we cut another program to provide this 30 day $10B benefit to people hard hit by this recession?' This appears to be the inception of our nation becoming fiscally responsible.
They can work together (which is my desire) or they can choose to continue to bashing, name-calling and stone-walling one another. The quicker they agree to trim another program (even if temporarily), the quicker these people (recipients) will be secure for another 30 days.

But that's not what we're getting - what we are hearing is that "he showed those Democrats", not "let's find a different and better solution."

But that's not what we're getting - what we are hearing is that "he showed those Democrats", not "let's find a different and better solution."

Look deeper. Change the channel. The other side to this is in the news. Dems need to cross the aisle as much as reps. This is a great time to start.

So not borrowing the $10 billion dollars and making sure that families have health care and food is a good thing?

I'm glad we are finally able to see the actual price on peoples heads through Republican eyes.

I also understand that Margarita's definition of "Greater Good" means letting people die or starve so she isn't inconvenienced with a possible tax increase. That's some compassion for you.

Really - that is what you have concluded from my discussion on this thread??

This thread is not about a possible tax increase that would keep people from starving. It is about about making sure that our politicians live up to the Paygo law that they just passed. If they want unemployment benefits to continue (and I have no problem with that) and they don't have the money, then cut it from some other wasteful program or pork. :angry:

Where should we cut it from?

Serious question - the crux of the current fiscal cluster is that we all agree it SHOULD be cut, but then can never agree on WHERE.

What are good places that have some leeway in their budget that we can get this money from?