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 Time recently listed America’s 10 best senators, a list that includes Pennsylvania’s own Arlen Specter.
Specter’s been a senator since 1980 and a politician since the consolidation of Philadelphia (approx.), so he should be pretty knowledgeable about what it takes to be a good one. Plus, he pisses off both Democrats and Republicans, which is always a sign you’re doing something right, at least.
Also on the list is none other than Jim Bunning, a former pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies. While with the Fightin’ Phils, Bunning pitched a perfect game in 1964, won 19 games three times and, uh, was on the 1964 team that blew a 6 1/2 game lead in the National League with only 12 to play. His number is retired by the Phils and he’s in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
As a senator, though, he’s been less than stellar, says Time:
In addition to being hostile to staff members on the Hill and occasionally even other Senators, Bunning shows little interest in policy unless it involves baseball, according to congressional experts and colleagues. [...] Bunning exhibited bizarre behavior during his 2004 re-election campaign. He said his Democratic opponent, a child of Italian immigrants, looked like one of Saddam Hussein’s sons. He refused to go to Kentucky for the campaign’s only debate and took part instead from Washington. It was later revealed that he had read some of his answers in the debate from a teleprompter.
You see, this is why some athletes shouldn’t run for office after their playing careers are over. Although I can think of a good person to run against Bunning when he’s up for re-election: Darren Daulton. That‘d be quite the race.
America’s 10 Best Senators [Time via Wonkette]
A Brief History of Philadelphia [USHistory.org]
Feb. 17: Daultonian metaphysics, explained
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