BACKING BUNNING: WILL MOST REPUBLICANS FEEL IT'S CONSERVATIVELY INCORRECT NOT TO?

Steve Benen links this response to Jim Bunning's obstruction from the Senate Democrats' Web site. It quotes Republican senators who've expressed support for Bunning (Jon Kyl, John Cornyn, Jeff Sessions, Bob Corker) and notes the large number of Republicans who refuse to talk about Bunning one way or the other.

I've been lurking over at Free Republic, and the titles of a few threads tell me what's going on:

Finally, Senator Jim DeMint Defends Jim Bunning on the Senate Floor

Republicans Look for Way Past Bunning's Blockade (RINOs folding like cheap suits)

Boehner backs Bunning's efforts (Whoa!)

There's no ambiguity here -- the Freepers want the Republicans to join with Bunning and give no quarter.

In Wingnuttia, I think, crossing Bunning could increasingly be like criticizing Rush Limbaugh -- something you do at your peril. I think, if this goes on long enough (and I hope it doesn't -- I'm rooting for the all-night session Roll Call thinks might end the impasse), many Republicans will feel they either have to get behind Bunning or find some way to sidestep the issue, just to avoid the wrath of the crazy base. Tea party and talk radio pressure is only going to build if this drags on. If there's an all-nighter, I suspect Bunning might actually have some backup.