Bunning falls asleep during health care bill mark-up.

[ProSense]

Bunning falls asleep during health care bill mark-up.

Yesterday during the Senate Finance Committee’s mark-up of chairman Max Baucus’ (D-MT) health care bill, Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) chastised the whole operation. “I do not support a government takeover of the health-care system,” Bunning complained, saying the bill “confiscates more money from the taxpayers” and “tramples on American freedom and liberties.” Soon after, Bunning decided to take a little nap:

During opening remarks at the Senate Finance Committee session, the Kentucky Republican appeared fast asleep for several minutes, with his head cocked to the side and his eyes closed, before a staffer roused him. Bunning’s head was propped in his hand and his mouth was slightly open while he slept, several witnesses told HOH.

The staffer nudged his shoulder to wake him once it became clear that members of the audience had noticed the snoozing Senator (it was apparently the giggling from the crowd that tipped the staffer off).

The Washignton Post’s Dana Milbank writes that “Bunning’s nap was a fitting comment on how he and his Republican colleagues had received” Baucus’ efforts to craft a bipartisan bill.

[TwilightGardener]

1. Isn't he eleventy-hundred years old? Nap time for grampa.

[Captain Hilts]

2. He's probably more useful to our cause that way. nt

[zulchzulu]

3. Bunning has Alzeimer's Disease and is probably on meds

I feel bad for the guy considering I was a Phillies fan... he's retiring... I think...

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Oh, well. He knows how he's voting in the end.

[tridim]

5. It must be exhausting being the party of NO all the time.

[Trillo]

6. Serious Question: What freedom: "tramples on American freedom and liberties"?

The freedom to financially skin, and keep skinning, the poor? The freedom to "do what we're told"? The freedom to choose between cleverly-rigged choices?

[Jennicut]

7. Why did no one stick his hand in warm water?

[TwilightGardener]

8. Heh heh, heh heh...

Good question.

[Cha]

9. And, they don't want bunning to run next year..

He's the perfect gop epitome of eyes closed tight, dreaming of power lost.

[TheKentuckian]

10. Ahh...the fella that makes McConnell look smart, reasonable, and liberal (nt)