The fuck? Reschedule a Congressional vote around a football game?!

[Dung Beetle]

Link.

Pretend I ranted here, with all kinds of bad words and hilarious imagery. In reality I’m just kind of slobbering and making indignant noises. I read the article fully expecting to find out she’d said yes.

“But it’s The Big Game!” Cliff Stearns has giant balls.

[friedo]

At $205,153.00 per year, you'd think the guy could afford a TiVo.

[Q.E.D.]

I don't get the outrage here, and I can't stand football, personally. What's the harm in requesting? It's not like he's asking to cancel the votes, or even postpone them. He's asking for them to be moved earlier, so all that sooper-important lawmaking gets done sooner. And that's bad....why?

[neuroman]

Finally, a congressman who has his priorities straight.

[Sarahfeena]

Originally Posted by Q.E.D.

I don't get the outrage here, and I can't stand football, personally. What's the harm in requesting? It's not like he's asking to cancel the votes, or even postpone them. He's asking for them to be moved earlier, so all that sooper-important lawmaking gets done sooner. And that's bad....why?

I agree. Hopefully, she WILL say yes, because if a bunch of them spend money to travel to the game, it will help the economy!

[eleanorigby]

Apparently football is more important to some than to others. Maybe the congressman will grow up someday, but it looks doubtful.

[Dung Beetle]

Originally Posted by Q.E.D.

I don't get the outrage here, and I can't stand football, personally. What's the harm in requesting? It's not like he's asking to cancel the votes, or even postpone them. He's asking for them to be moved earlier, so all that sooper-important lawmaking gets done sooner. And that's bad....why?

What if he wanted everyone to reschedule so he could catch American Idol? That would make an equal amount of sense to me.

[Santo Rugger]

It's not a football game, it's the football game. The real travesty is that the vote was scheduled on the day of the game in the first place.

I'm only mostly joking.

Originally Posted by Dung Beetle

What if he wanted everyone to reschedule so he could catch American Idol? That would make an equal amount of sense to me.

Come on, that makes much less sense. AI was prerecorded, anyway, so it wouldn't matter if you recorded it to watch later. Plus, it won't be on the front page of the papers in the morning.

[satoridt]

Good political move, all those crazy gator fans in gainsville are going to love this guy!

[Q.E.D.]

Originally Posted by Dung Beetle

What if he wanted everyone to reschedule so he could catch American Idol? That would make an equal amount of sense to me.

Seems silly to me, too. By the same token, so does football. But, again, what's the harm in simply making the request? Presumably, if the request is denied, he'll attend the scheduled voting. Now, if he doesn't you'll certainly have a valid complaint.

[Liberal]

They got a raise, why not ask for time off?

[Jack Batty]

Originally Posted by Q.E.D.

But, again, what's the harm in simply making the request?

No real harm, but it does make him look more like a frat-boy than a congressman.

[Q.E.D.]

Originally Posted by Jack Batty

No real harm, but it does make him look more like a frat-boy than a congressman.

Yeah, haven't seen a Congressman acting like a frat-boy before.

[Dung Beetle]

Originally Posted by Q.E.D.

Seems silly to me, too. By the same token, so does football. But, again, what's the harm in simply making the request? Presumably, if the request is denied, he'll attend the scheduled voting. Now, if he doesn't you'll certainly have a valid complaint.

Why must you be so reasonable? Froth with me!

Originally Posted by satoridt

Good political move, all those crazy gator fans in gainsville are going to love this guy!

I live in Gainesville; hence my lowered tolerance for sports obsession. (Nah, I hated it before I moved here, too.)

[redtail23]

All I can say is, I'm so glad it wasn't one of ours for a change. With Istook and Coburn both in Senate, I cringe a lot.

[Q.E.D.]

Originally Posted by Dung Beetle

Why must you be so reasonable? Froth with me!

Oh, sorry.

Raaaaaaawrrr! Smash!!!

That better?

[tdn]

As my father said to me last week, "You're in the South now, boy!"

[Dung Beetle]

Originally Posted by Q.E.D.

That better?

Ugh, reminds me of football.

[Rhythmdvl]

What's a political thread without politics?

From the linked article:

"We ask that you move these votes to either Wednesday and/or Thursday morning to allow Members to attend this historic game."

Oddly - or maybe not - none of the other members Stearns referred to as "we" signed the letter, which was obtained by The Associated Press.

and

Pelosi's office said she would not agree to the request. Among the votes to be considered Thursday afternoon is certification of the Electoral College vote that gives Barack Obama the presidency.

Which, while procedural in nature, has a modicum of coordination and promotion.

Possibly unsuprisingly .... Stearns is a Republican^*.


Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeevvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvviiiiiiiiiiiiillllllllllllllllllllllll!!!!!!!





^{*And since he's a Republican, this is the only motivation that can be accepted.}

[Shakes]

Look it's not habitual. It's a one time thing. Everybody deserves a free pass at least once in a while.

[jayjay]

And, on the other hand, it's not like he can be fired or anything. If the game is more important than his legislative duties, just skip work! Geez...

[Captain Amazing]

Originally Posted by redtail23

With Istook and Coburn both in Senate, I cringe a lot.

Istook's not and never was in the Senate. He chose not to run for reelection to the House in 2006 in order to run for Governor, and he lost embarassingly. Your senators are Coburn and Inhofe.

[jayjay]

Originally Posted by Captain Amazing

Istook's not and never was in the Senate. He chose not to run for reelection to the House in 2006 in order to run for Governor, and he lost embarassingly. Your senators are Coburn and Inhofe.

That is NOT an improvement!

[Really Not All That Bright]

Originally Posted by Jack Batty

No real harm, but it does make him look more like a frat-boy than a congressman.

Most Congressmen were frat boys. 86% last time I checked.

[jali]

Originally Posted by friedo

At $205,153.00 per year, you'd think the guy could afford a TiVo.

Going to THE GAME and watching it on TV - two different things.

[redtail23]

Originally Posted by Captain Amazing

Istook's not and never was in the Senate. He chose not to run for reelection to the House in 2006 in order to run for Governor, and he lost embarassingly. Your senators are Coburn and Inhofe.

Doh! I know that, I swear, really I do. I meant Inhofe.

Been hearing Istook's name a lot lately locally, what with the audit and fines and all. Just got confused for a moment.

Besides, there's not much difference between the two, really, now is there?

[jtgain]

I agree that it is arrogance, and it is part of the reason why the GOP lost control of Congress.

How many of you have your entire company shutting down so you can watch/attend the game?

[Really Not All That Bright]

Originally Posted by jtgain

I agree that it is arrogance, and it is part of the reason why the GOP lost control of Congress.

How many of you have your entire company shutting down so you can watch/attend the game?

Not me, and our senior partners are nearly all Gator fans.

[DfrntBreign]

Originally Posted by redtail23

All I can say is, I'm so glad it wasn't one of ours for a change. With Istook and Coburn both in Senate, I cringe a lot.

I feel you, brother (sister?). I was afraid to even read the link at first.

And I knew who you meant.

[kaylasdad99]

Football-indifferent here.

Originally Posted by Santo Rugger

It's not a football game, it's the football game.

No, THE football game is the Rose Bowl, which, from time immemorial is played to celebrate the fact that the Rose Parade is over. The Winner of the Rose Bowl is the best football team. That was my understanding of matters when I was five, and I haven't learned anything about football in the ensuing forty-seven years to cause me to change that assessment.

All other so-called "Bowl" games are copycats, and don't have any real significance (beyond any that may derive from celebrating the end of the Cotton Parade, the Orange Parade, the Fiesta Parade, the Super Parade, the Sugar Parade, and I'm sure you get my drift).

In case it doesn't show, I'm not a big fan of parades, either.

How come there isn't a Disneyland Main Street Electrical Bowl, to celebrate the end of that parade?

And Congressman Stearns, get the hell back to work.