Sen. Jim Bunning Threatens to Resign

The Jim Bunning story just keeps getting better.

First, the Kentucky Republican predicted the imminent death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Then, he threatened to sue his own political party after Senate Republican leaders suggested that maybe he not run for reelection in 2010, what with him being 77 years old and incredibly senile and all.

Well, now he's so mad that he has reportedly threatened to resign his seat immediately, effectively handing the Democrats a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate ...

As he battles his own party in an increasingly public feud over his political future, Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) has suggested he may resign his seat early, giving Kentucky's governor the chance to hand Democrats a filibuster-proof 60-seat majority in the Senate.

According to a well-placed source, Bunning told guests at a fundraiser this week in Washington that, thanks to top Washington Republicans questioning his ability to win a third term, he may instead simply quit his seat.

Were Bunning to leave early, Gov. Steve Beshear (D) would have the opportunity to name a replacement, and he would almost certainly pick a Democrat to fill the remaining months of Bunning's term. That would give Democrats 59 seats in the Senate, with Minnesota's contested election still to be decided as Democrat Al Franken holds a slim lead over former Sen. Norm Coleman (R).

There's really no wonder why one major newspaper has called Bunning "The GOP's Roland Burris."