The adult son of friends of mine is working at a pretty high level in the Jack Conway campaign. We're Facebook friends and I noticed when he updated his status this evening with "Jim Bunning!".
Pay attention, now. It wasn't "Jim Bunning?", as in disbelief of how Rand Paul could cite the crazy old baseball has-been as his most inspirational figure in Kentucky politics. It was "Jim Bunning?" as in "Bingo, we win!"
Actually, I didn't get it at first. I knew the debate was tonight but hadn't made plans to follow it live even though Jack Conway has been my No. 1 out of state project for political contributions this cycle. I commented on the status update, saying "Complete Republitard, IMHO, but what is your point? Is there breaking Bunning news I should know about?" There was, of course.
Soon, I was able to update my comment with Jed Lewison's excellent summary on the front page tonight where he live blogged the final debate between our hero, Jack Conway and Rand Paul, the blight from the right in this election in Ky, and said
At the end of tonight's debate, Paul actually said the Kentucky politician he admires most is Jim Bunning. Why? Because Bunning was willing to take to the floor and block Senate action on an unspecified spending bill. Of... course, the bill that he failed to specify was one providing unemployment benefits to workers in Kentucky. So Rand Paul is basically saying the thing he admires most in Kentucky political history is when Jim Bunning stood up to deny unemployed Kentuckians any assistance during the recession. And with that heartless thought from Rand Paul, the debate concludes.
All I could say to that was Wow!
Jack Conway has been my No. 1 out-of-state project this election season. The fact that he might turn out to be a blue dog on cap and trade and on repeal of Bush tax cuts for the rich does nothing to dampen my enthusiasm for Conway, given that this is Kentucky we are talking about. I mean, fer crissakes, would you prefer Rand Paul? Please, as I have done time after time this election season, kick a few coins Jack Conway's direction. The alternative is disgusting.