Report: Bunning Threatens Revenge Against GOP, To Resign And Hand Seat To Dems

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The Louisville Courier-Journal reports that Senator Jim Bunning (R-KY) is now making a very interesting threat to his national party: If you keep trying to force me into retirement, I’ll just resign — and hand the seat to the Democrats.

Bunning reportedly said at a campaign fundraiser in Washington that the rumors being spread about his possible retirement, or of a potential Republican primary challenger, have been hindering his fundraising efforts. “I would get the last laugh,” Bunning said, according to three sources speaking to the paper. “Don’t forget Kentucky has a Democrat governor.”

Bunning has previously threatened to sue the NRSC if he gets a primary challenger. If he were to take this revenge on them through this particular method, that would immediately bring the Democrats to 59 seats. Add in an Al Franken victory in the Minnesota election dispute, and you now have 60 seats — the filibuster-proof majority.

One of the Courier-Journal’s sources was clearly worried: “It’s not because he’s old and senile — he’s always been like that. He’ll tell you what he thinks.”

Late Update: Upon further reflection, it occurs to me that Bunning is a brilliant strategist, if this is indeed true. It’s the political equivalent of nuclear brinksmanship, with the threat of mutually-assured destruction as a safety mechanism against widespread war and conflict.

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