Is America Becoming a Banana Republic Watch - The Jim Bunning Version Posted by Michael Cohen

A few months ago I had dinner with Spencer Ackerman and together we noted that our great country is increasingly unable to govern itself properly and solve serious national problems -- and thus is fast on the road to becoming a banana republic. 

So in the spirit of that cynical conversation - and this recent article/rant from Newsweek - I've decided to start a semi-regular series here at DA, called Is America Becoming a Banana Republic Watch.

Now as I argued in Newsweek a good part of the problem with our dysfunctional political system is that the Republican party has become a party of nihilists (I also complained that Democrats were spineless and voters incoherent). This seemed to offend a few folks, here and here. But I'd be curious if those individuals could find another explanation for the curious behavior of one Jim Bunning. 

You see the Senator from Kentucky has been single-handedly holding up emergency legislation that would extend unemployment insurance, COBRA benefits and other critical benefits for 30 days to working Americans. 

As a result, according to the National Employment Law Project "nearly 1.2 million jobless workers will become ineligible for benefits by the end of March." Nice going Jim!

But there's more! Dozens of transportation projects were halted (here's a list); 2,000 employees at the US Department of Transportation were furloughed; and apparently up to 1.5 million Americans won't be able to watch local stations (ok so maybe that isn't all bad). Here's a further list of all the ways that small businesses are being hurt . . . oh and did I mention that doctors are getting screwed too. (H/T to Steve Benen for all the helpful links).

And why is Jim Bunning doing this - because this $10 billion package doesn't abide by pay-as-you-go spending rules, which are intended to rein in the growing budget deficit.

What's interesting about this is that Jim Bunning didn't seem to mind blowing up the deficit when he voted for Medicare Part D or voting for that $87 billion Iraq supplemental in 2004 or all the times he's votes to extend such benefits in the past.  So you see Jim Bunning only wants to close the barn door after the horses, cows and ducks have left, the barn has been burned to the ground and the farm is in foreclosure.

The very idea that one deeply hypocritical, possibly mentally unstable and mean-spirited Senator can single-handedly stop the United States Senate from functioning properly all the while causing hundreds of thousands Americans to suffer  . . . well it's clear and unambiguous sign that your country might be well on its way to becoming a banana republic.

Comments

[r4 ds gold]

Hi,
As far as I know the financial industry has not always enjoyed such favored treatment. But for the past 25 years or so, finance has boomed, becoming ever more powerful. From 1948 to 1982, average compensation in the financial sector ranged between 99 percent and 108 percent of the average for all domestic private industries. From 1983, it shot upward, reaching 181 percent in 2007.

[Tom Degan]

The problem with America can easily be boiled down to a single question:

Would you like a nice, cold glass of donkey piss to go with that juicy plate of elephant shit you've ordered? Bon appetit!

http://www.tomdegan.blogspot.com

Tom Degan
Goshen, NY

[Don Bacon]

Three forces have conspired to prevent President Obama from running the country effectively: congressional Republicans, congressional Democrats, and the American people.

Executive power is being curtailed by the Congress and the people? And that means that America is becoming a banana republic?

I guess Abe "Banana Republican" Lincoln was wrong, and that government of the people, by the people and for the people should perish from the earth. All power to The Decider!

[sesli sohbet]

Thnk You Editors..

[rolex watches]

Now as I argued in Newsweek a good part of the problem with our dysfunctional strapless ball gown wedding dressespolitical system is that the Republican party has become a party of nihilists (I also complained that Democrats were spineless and voters incoherent). This seemed to offend a few folks, here and here. But I'd be curious if those individuals could find another explanation for the curious Gucci Lg Bamboo Ring Walletbehavior of one Jim Bunning.

You see the SenatorLouis Vuitton Pochette Cancun from Kentucky has been single-handedly holding up emergency legislation that would extend unemployment insurance, COBRA benefits and other critical benefits for 30 days to working Americans.

As a result,rolex watch series according to the National Employment Law Project "nearly 1.2 million jobless workers will become ineligible for benefits by the end of March." Nice going Jim!

But there's more! Dozens of transportation projects were halted (here's a list); 2,000 employees at the US Department of Transportation were furloughed; and apparently up to 1.5 million Americans won't be able introduction of mont blancto watch local stations (ok so maybe that isn't all bad). Here's a further list of all the ways that small businesses are being hurt . . . oh and did I mention that doctors are getting screwed too. (H/T to Steve Benen for all the helpful links).

And why is Jim Bunningfake tiffany jewellery doing this - because this $10 billion package doesn't abide by pay-as-you-go spending rules, which are intended to rein in the growing budget deficit.