Bunning fails to show up for debate

[brooklynite]

By Patrick Crowley
Enquirer staff writer


LEXINGTON - It was easy to call the winner in Tuesday night's U.S. Senate debate.

Democrat Dr. Daniel Mongiardo appeared alone on the 30-minute program produced by KET public television and shown across the state.

Northern Kentucky Republican Jim Bunning, the first-term incumbent, skipped the debate. He's made only one joint appearance with Mongiardo, a state senator from Hazard in eastern Kentucky.

http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/10/20/loc_kydebate20.html

[Reverend_Smitty]

1. Thats because Bunning has gone nuttier than squirrel shit!

n/t

[flowomo]

2. wow! this is a seat I never dreamed we'd get....

this is sweeeeeeet

[nixonwasbetterthanW]

3. But seriously ... where is he?

Bunning doesn't appear at the debate. Fine. But not even an explanation from his campaign?

The story doesn't even hazard a guess as to his whereabouts. Has he been seen in the last few days?

Bunning campaign website is promoting a five-day bus tour that starts next week ... wondering whether he needs a week of preparation and will be laying low in advance.

[sherilocks]

12. Will Bunning be on the bus?

Bunning has Alzheimers. What are they going to do? Tape his mouth shut and tie him to a seat on the bus? It's a tragedy for his family and disgrace that the GOP continues this charade.

[Ishoutandscream]

16. Has he really been diagnosed with Alzeimers?

Wow, this is huge!

[sherilocks]

18. Reliable and confidential sources in KY tell

me that Bunnings has alzheimers. The sources are apolitical and not the type to spread false rumors. Judging from Bunnings behavior, which has been described to me in detail, and the fact that the GOP is planning to replace Bunnings "when he wins the election," due to poor health, and that I have yet to hear his statement, as promissed, that he will not to quit if he is elected, I assume my sources are correct.

[DrFunkenstein]

4. More Importantly, Is There Really a Hazard County?

Who is Boss Hog endorsing?

[HootieMcBoob]

8. There is totally a Hazard County

A friend of mine teaches at Hazard County Community College! :)

[DinahMoeHum]

10. Yes, there really is a county AND a town in Kentucky named Hazard.

It's in coal-mining country, not too far from another county named Harlan. Harlan County was known as "Bloody Harlan" back in the 1930's because of the literal life-and-death struggle of coal miners to form unions against the big coal companies. Woody Guthrie and others wrote songs about that time.

Hazard County had similar struggles back in the late 1950's-early 1960's. Singers like Phil Ochs and Tom Paxton wrote songs about that time as well.

And remember this: Dr. Dan Mongiardo is a coal-miner's son!


:kick:

[DrFunkenstein]

17. Wasn't There A Documentary "Harlan County USA"?

I thought it was from the 70's though.

[WI_DEM]

5. Good, this will only help Dr. Dan

[hatrack]

6. Man, this is even more of a flaming implosion than I'd hoped for!

And responding to an earlier post, just what is Bunning hoping to accomplish with his bus tour?

[nixonwasbetterthanW]

11. bus tour is through small towns

Maybe they hope to prop him up in front of tiny gatherings, ban the media, then take still shots or heavily edited videos to push the image of a senator in charge. This is surreal.

Bluegrass denizens: Has anyone seen him in public in the last several days?

[MallRat]

7. Holy Shit! They aired it anyway?!?!

A statewide 30-minute commercial FOR FREE. Unbelievable.

If Bunning is willing to cede that kind of publicity to his opponent, he must really be in a bad, bad way right now. Hopefully, the people of Kentucky will see this the same way.

-MR

[Thrill]

9. It will say alot about the people of that

state if he is re-elected

[beaver tamer]

13. Instead of being called the bluegrass state,

it will be the smoking grass state if he's re-elected!

[crispini]

14. Holy guacamole batman!

Sad, I feel sad for Bunning.

But, hey, another seat in the Senate for D's. Go us!

[fob]

15. Debate Transcript

Moderator: Mr Bunning what is your position on reimporting drugs from Canada since president bush* has banned that. Wouldn't that be beneficial for Kentuckians?

Bunning: (Silence - 2 mins)

Mod: Dr Dan you have 90 seconds.

Dr Dan: Mongiardo said the bill, which Bunning enthusiastically supported, prevents the importation of cheaper drugs from Canada and prohibits the federal government from negotiating prescription prices with drug companies.

"We have 45 million Americans today that don't have health insurance, 680,000 Kentuckians without health insurance, we have 120,000 children in Kentucky that don't have health insurance," he said. "We need a United States senator that will prioritize to help the people of Kentucky."

Mod: Mr Bunning 30 second follow up

Bunning: (Silence - 30 secs)

(Note the 2 paragraphs in italics are from the story, all else is dramatization and may not have happened)