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-   -   Dems Junkets on the taxpayer dime? (http://cellar.org/showthread.php?t=19587)

Redux 02-23-2009 12:30 AM

And it all started at Beseen....married not dead...lol

I ran into Rainy on a beseen clone message board a while ago.

Aliantha 02-23-2009 12:33 AM

I heard about that place. Went there a couple of times, but it was dead quiet. No one about at all.

Rain got banned from here didn't she? Or was it just dov, and she left?

Redux 02-23-2009 12:38 AM

I've revealed enough of our sordid past message board escapades.

Aliantha 02-23-2009 12:41 AM

lol...there's nothing sordid about it, but pretty soon the chat police will be here to break up the convo anyway. ;)

Undertoad 02-23-2009 12:41 AM

Quote:

I'm happy to let the the Cellar dwellers scroll this thread and decide for themselves.
This is a fair way out of any thread and I have gone this way many times myself.

My own final answer: the whole thing exposes Pelosi for what she is, but doesn't reflect on other Democrats or the Party in general. It's not particularly scandalous, all things considered, but it tells you that Pelosi figures that she is an elite, entitled to this sort of thing. If she cared, she wouldn't do it. Contrast Biden, who proudly pointed to his use of Amtrak for commuting as a Senator.

Ds should not grant her an automatic pass on this one, but not spend too much time on it either.

classicman 02-23-2009 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undertoad (Post 537818)
Pelosi figures that she is an elite, entitled to this sort of thing. If she cared, she wouldn't do it. Contrast Biden, who proudly pointed to his use of Amtrak for commuting as a Senator.

Ds should not grant her an automatic pass on this one, but not spend too much time on it either.

Thats a pretty good summation of how I feel about it as well. However, I did not like Pelosi to begin with and this is just a little more fuel on the fire.

BTW - It was nice that her husband could join her.

sugarpop 02-23-2009 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMercenary (Post 537548)
You're kidding right? I would be disappointed if he didn't.

Yea? So you couldn't bitch about it maybe and point out how wasteful he's being.

sugarpop 02-23-2009 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMercenary (Post 537773)
Clearly you don't understand that the Speaker of the House does not set national policy with individual nations, even if it is the home of her ancestors and she goes on a junket on the taxpayers dime to be wined and dined as she drains the payroll of the government.

Don't worry, I don't actually expect you to fully comprehend this fact.

But I do expect you to try to continue to make excuses for the Demoncratic duplicity and Pelosi's failures.

If she has to go somewhere on business, which clearly she did, what is wrong with her having some leisure time while there? You are just trying to stir shit up. Admit it Merc. :p

sugarpop 02-23-2009 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMercenary (Post 537786)
The Speaker of the House does not set National Policy with Italy, even if they give her framed copies of her grand parents birth certificates. Really. She doesn't.

So what? Even the First Lady goes on goodwill tours at taxpayers expense to other countries. It doesn't matter whether or not SHE sets policy, it matters whether she can contribute by visiting foreign countries. Members of Congress go to foreign countries all the time at taxpayer expense. And when they do, they all fly on some government plane, not on commercial planes.

This is a new administration. We need as many people as possible reaching out and assuring the world community that our policies have changed with regard to foreign policy. I think it is very important that we do that. Of course, I don't expect you to support that in any way.

sugarpop 02-23-2009 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMercenary (Post 537802)
Sort of like me and Sugarpop. She is the bomb. I love her.

Back atcha babe. *smooch*

TGRR 02-23-2009 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMercenary (Post 537773)
Clearly you don't understand that the Speaker of the House does not set national policy with individual nations, even if it is the home of her ancestors and she goes on a junket on the taxpayers dime to be wined and dined as she drains the payroll of the government.

Don't worry, I don't actually expect you to fully comprehend this fact.

But I do expect you to try to continue to make excuses for the Demoncratic duplicity and Pelosi's failures.


At least two posts were made demonstrating that Pelosi DOES, in fact, have both reason and constitutional standing to set/influence policy with individual nations.

You simply blew the posts off with a crappy ad hominem attack.

I thought you knew your shit. Guess I was wrong.

TheMercenary 02-23-2009 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TGRR (Post 538138)
At least two posts were made demonstrating that Pelosi DOES, in fact, have both reason and constitutional standing to set/influence policy with individual nations.

You simply blew the posts off with a crappy ad hominem attack.

I thought you knew your shit. Guess I was wrong.

Look dude, I saw them, I just don't give them as much weight. The job of the Congress is to oversee, not to make the policy. She has no business going to any country and working national policy IMHO. Oh, and as I stated earlier, if she did go why a trip to Italy? In the military they call it throwing you a bone. Only she gave herself the bone.

TGRR 02-23-2009 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMercenary (Post 538149)
Look dude, I saw them, I just don't give them as much weight.

Naw. It was just the constitution, after all. Can't compare to Hannity or Beck.

sugarpop 02-24-2009 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMercenary (Post 538149)
Look dude, I saw them, I just don't give them as much weight. The job of the Congress is to oversee, not to make the policy. She has no business going to any country and working national policy IMHO. Oh, and as I stated earlier, if she did go why a trip to Italy? In the military they call it throwing you a bone. Only she gave herself the bone.

She's the freaking SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE. Of course she has business going to other countries. Good grief. Going to visit another country as a member of the US government does not mean you get to make policy. Do Ambassadors make policy? No, they don't. But it is their job to represent the United States government, just as it is for any member of Congress who goes overseas.

...the ANSA English Media Service reported (accessed from the Nexis database): "Since arriving in Italy on Saturday, Pelosi has visited the American air base at Aviano in northeast Italy and the American military cemetery in Florence and is due at the NATO Joint Forces Command in Naples Wednesday." Further, a February 19 press release issued by Pelosi's office stated: "Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Congressional delegation today were briefed by U.S. Admiral Mark Fitzgerald, Commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa, and Commander of Allied Joint Force Command Naples. Admiral Fitzgerald and his NATO staff provided information on NATO activities in the Balkans, the ongoing training of Iraqi Security Forces, and operations against pirates off the coast of Somalia." The release further stated: "On Saturday, Speaker Pelosi and the Congressional delegation visited Aviano Air Base where the Speaker pinned the Bronze Star Medal on Technical Sergeant Phoebus Lazaridis for extraordinary service in Afghanistan. The delegation paid their respects to the more than 4,400 American World War II soldiers buried at the Florence American Cemetery on the outskirts of Florence on Sunday."

Nonetheless, in his report -- all or part of which aired on six occasions on CNN's The Situation Room, Lou Dobbs Tonight, American Morning, and CNN Newsroom -- Griffin did not mention that the delegation reportedly met with U.S. soldiers and military commanders in Italy, or that Pelosi reportedly gave a major speech on security and global warming there. Indeed, in discussing his report, Griffin and CNN anchors repeatedly suggested that the trip was a frivolous waste of taxpayer dollars...
http://mediamatters.org/items/200902230022

Not to mention that she also went to Afghanistan. yea, she wasn't working at all...

TheMercenary 02-24-2009 09:26 PM

oh please, big fucking deal.

She does not set public policy on our relations with Italy. Have you not read a single frigging thing in this thread?

sugarpop 02-24-2009 10:04 PM

I have read the whole thread. Your point is... ?

DanaC 02-25-2009 05:11 PM

Someone throw Merc a lifesaver, he's drowning in here...

Griff 02-25-2009 07:39 PM

1 Attachment(s)
Here, catch!

DanaC 02-25-2009 08:11 PM

lol

that's dark.

Aliantha 02-25-2009 08:13 PM

You know, I'm starting to get the feeling that Griff doesn't like Merc even a little bit. lol

TGRR 02-25-2009 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aliantha (Post 538882)
You know, I'm starting to get the feeling that Griff doesn't like Merc even a little bit. lol

I like Merc. But he IS hopelessly partisan.

DanaC 02-25-2009 08:20 PM

I like Merc. I hate his politics and I don't often like his 'debating' style, but I think he seems a nice bloke beneath all that bullshit.

Griff 02-25-2009 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aliantha (Post 538882)
You know, I'm starting to get the feeling that Griff doesn't like Merc even a little bit. lol

I try to be a decent person, but I've been giving myself a pass on this one.

Aliantha 02-25-2009 08:46 PM

Well, there are some people around here that I can't stand either, but I just try to avoid them mostly.

Griff 02-26-2009 03:15 PM

I tried ignoring him after he abused Ibram, but then he started following tw around mocking him, apparently mistaking ignoring for aquiesence. There are dwellars who are afraid of him because it is hard to tell if or when he'll cross the line from cyber-bully to the meat world. I know you guys don't see him that way but I'd suggest that some of his language carries different connotations in American English.

Aliantha 02-26-2009 03:21 PM

Everyone has their bad side I guess. I just don't think Merc is likely to bother anyone in the meat world (whatever that is...I'm assuming real life?)

Yeah, I can see why he annoys the crap out of some people, and gets people to arc up. He's rude the way he speaks at times and could do with exerting a little more self control...remembering that even if these people here are just words on a screen to him, they're real live people to others.

There are a lot of good things about Merc too. I think he likes to keep that hidden from the vast majority for whatever reason. I will always back him because of that.

I hope you can understand what I'm trying to say, and I hope I'm not out of line in saying it.

Griff 02-26-2009 03:24 PM

I understand, we can agree to disagree.

Aliantha 02-26-2009 03:26 PM

Sure we can. Sounds like the best solution to me. ;)

TGRR 02-26-2009 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Griff (Post 539102)
I understand, we can agree to disagree.

No, we can't.

TGRR,
Contrarian.

DanaC 02-26-2009 08:02 PM

Chelmsford 123:


Aulus Paulinus - 'Greetings, I didn't catch the name?'

Mungo - 'They call me Mungo the Contradictory.'

Aulus Paulinus - 'Do they?'

Mungo - 'No.'

TGRR 02-26-2009 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanaC (Post 539193)
Chelmsford 123:


Aulus Paulinus - 'Greetings, I didn't catch the name?'

Mungo - 'They call me Mungo the Contradictory.'

Aulus Paulinus - 'Do they?'

Mungo - 'No.'


http://www.principiadiscordia.com/fo...lt/mittens.gif

classicman 02-26-2009 09:57 PM

:notworthy

TheMercenary 02-27-2009 04:26 AM

:D :thumb:

TheMercenary 02-27-2009 04:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Griff (Post 538868)
Here, catch!

Back at ya fucktard:


http://theinspirationroom.com/daily/...el-javelin.jpg

sugarpop 02-28-2009 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanaC (Post 538890)
I like Merc. I hate his politics and I don't often like his 'debating' style, but I think he seems a nice bloke beneath all that bullshit.

He's adorable and quite likable. My ex used to get extremely pissed off and upset about Merc's postings on another board. I kept telling him he would really like him if he met him. Now, he really likes him and respects him, a lot.

Shawnee123 02-28-2009 11:44 PM

BS

sugarpop 03-01-2009 12:12 AM

No, seriously.

TheMercenary 03-10-2009 06:57 PM

Quote:

Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine:

Promises Promises

A promise Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made back in 2007 was apparently easier said than done. Pelosi vowed the House would lead by example, becoming the first legislative body in the world to zero out its carbon footprint on the planet by the end of last year. But House leaders quietly shelved the idea late last month when it was discovered that the goal to become carbon neutral could not be guaranteed.

The House has already spent $89,000 to buy carbon offsets. But because those offsets are not regulated in the U.S., it is difficult to prove their environmental benefit. Jeff Ventura, communications director for the House office of the chief administrative officer, said, "It is a lot more than complicated and ambitious than people think it is."

Something else that appears complicated are Speaker Pelosi's multiple requests for military air travel. Transparency advocate Judicial Watch obtained internal documents by the Defense Department detailing attempts by its staff to accommodate Speaker Pelosi's numerous requests for military escorts and military aircraft, along with frequent last minute cancellations and changes costing taxpayers money. Other documents detail demands from Pelosi's people for certain aircraft.

House Office of Interparliamentary Affairs Director Kay King writes: "It is my understanding there are no G5s available for the House during the Memorial Day recess. This is totally unacceptable…The speaker will want to know where the planes are."

King reacts in a separate e-mail to similar word that a certain type of aircraft would not be available: "This is not good news, and we will have some very disappointed folks, as well as a very upset speaker."

Pelosi's office says use of military planes are for security reasons and that she is very appreciative of the DOD's efforts to accommodate congressional requests.
FoxNews


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