Asshat of the Week: Texas Follies, Part I

Former Congressman Tom Delay (R-TX) commented this weekend on CNN that millions of Americans are unemployed because they want to be.

When asked about Republican Congressman Jim Bunning's (R-KY) recent attempt at blocking an extension on unemployment benefits for millions of Americans, Delay commented that if the situation were different Bunning would have been applauded as a fiscal hero.

"You know," Delay said, "there is an argument to be made that these extensions, the unemployment benefits keeps people from going and finding jobs. In fact there are some studies that have been done that show people stay on unemployment compensation and they don't look for a job until two or three weeks before they know the benefits are going to run out."

CNN's State of the Union host Candy Crowley pushed for clarification:

"People are unemployed because they want to be?" Crowley asked.

"Well, it is the truth. and people in the real world know it. And they have friends and they know it," Delay said. "Sure, we ought to be helping people that are unemployed find a job, but we also have budget considerations that are incredibly important, especially now that Obama is spending monies that we don't have."

Mr. Delay, after being unemployed for nearly a year I can tell you I am ready and willing to work. I certainly don't have the luxury of working with all the lobbyist contacts you maintained while you ill-served our nation.

Seriously Mr. Delay, people are unemployed because our economy has tanked to levels not seen since the Great Depression of the 1930 and 40s. In case the former congressman has not noticed, business expenditures are down, hirings are down, unemployment numbers are high (though nowhere near as bad as when President Obama took office) sales are down and business failures are up. Recent figures state that 1 in 6 Americans are currently looking for work.

There really must be something in the Texas water supply that reduces their politicians to babbling idiots.

Hey Mr. Delay, I hear Faux News is looking for commentators to stand alongside Bill O' Reilly, Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin and Sean Hannity, maybe you should join them.