# 112th Congress already wasting time and money **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 7, 2011, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/112th-congress-already-wasting-time-and-money/566745 "2011-01-07T13:49:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/112th-congress-already-wasting-time-and-money/566745/1 "2011-01-07T13:49:30Z")
The 112th Congress opened its session by the reading of the US Constitution (redacted version). Sounds nice and patriotic, to remind them of their grand purpose for being in Washington, DC. But they managed to make a mockery of it, much to the delight of Jon Stewart. As Stewart pointed out, each rep got to read an average of 17 words. And before reading, each was introduced with an average of 30 words. :rolleyes: Add to that, the time for everyone to walk up and back to the podium, and you have a multi-hour snorefest. (It was made interesting when a heckler interrupted whoever was reading the requirements for the presidency by shouting, “Except Obama! Except Obama! Help, Jesus!” :dubious: ) As a teacher, when I have the class read aloud, I can conduct it so _everyone who wants to read_ can read at least a paragraph, I have them read from their seats, and I don’t intro each student. A group of 7[sup]th[/sup] graders I taught could’ve gotten through the reading in 1/3 the time. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![GiantRat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@GiantRat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GiantRat)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/112th-congress-already-wasting-time-and-money/566745/2 "2011-01-07T14:17:17Z")
My first thought was, “I wonder how many of these guys have actually ever read the Constitution?” Granted, a large proportion of them are lawyers… but you can get through ConLaw without reading the source document pretty easily. Should we have to pay these folks to get a primer in what it means to be an elected representative? ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/112th-congress-already-wasting-time-and-money/566745/3 "2011-01-07T15:36:39Z")
Eh, Congress wastes plenty of time on symbolic gestures, I don’t really see the harm in one more. Its not like they’re sitting on some awesome legislation that would lower the unemployment rate to 4% that they could pass if only they weren’t wasting time on this. Editing out all the slavery bits was pretty silly though. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/112th-congress-already-wasting-time-and-money/566745/4 "2011-01-07T16:11:36Z")
I’m really looking forward to the gutting of regulatory agencies, depletion of Medicare and the robbery of Social Security in order to pay for whatever programs the Pubs want to fund. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/112th-congress-already-wasting-time-and-money/566745/5 "2011-01-07T16:18:20Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I’m really looking forward to the gutting of regulatory agencies, depletion of Medicare and the robbery of Social Security in order to pay for whatever programs the Pubs want to fund. “Whatever programs”? More wars, **chef**! Operation Get Behind The Darkies! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/112th-congress-already-wasting-time-and-money/566745/6 "2011-01-07T16:45:35Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > “Whatever programs”? More wars, **chef**! Operation Get Behind The Darkies! I note with interest and disgust this morning that the Pubs exempted the health care repeal from this offset in the new House rules. Coincidentally, the CBO has determined that repealing health care will increase the deficit by $250,000,000,000. Boehner’s comment: They’re entitled to their opinion. Really? What’s your degree in, moron? ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/112th-congress-already-wasting-time-and-money/566745/7 "2011-01-07T16:52:28Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > “Whatever programs”? More wars, **chef**! Operation Get Behind The Darkies! “Havent you heard of the Emancipation Proclamation?” " I don’t listen to Hip-Hop." My favorite line for that move. Sorry for the hijack. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/112th-congress-already-wasting-time-and-money/566745/8 "2011-01-07T16:59:52Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I note with interest and disgust this morning that the Pubs exempted the health care repeal from this offset in the new House rules. Coincidentally, the CBO has determined that repealing health care will increase the deficit by $250,000,000,000. Boehner’s comment: They’re entitled to their opinion. Really? What’s your degree in, moron? He has a PhD in Tearology. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/112th-congress-already-wasting-time-and-money/566745/9 "2011-01-07T17:02:57Z")
> [@AWB](#): > > (It was made interesting when a heckler interrupted whoever was reading the requirements for the presidency by shouting, “Except Obama! Except Obama! Help, Jesus!” :dubious: ) I saw this on the news this morning, but they didn’t say if it was just a heckler from the peanut gallery or one of our elected officials. ---
**Author:** ![Leon497](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Leon497](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leon497)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/112th-congress-already-wasting-time-and-money/566745/10 "2011-01-07T17:04:31Z")
Yes, they want to spend our money helping the scum in Afghanistan that will only grow up to kill us and treat that money like it is defending the USA, I hope people will wake up and see that is where to save budget money, get out of Afghanistan! I know we went in looking for Ben Laudin, but everyone agrees now he is no longer there, why did we stay? Why do we want to build enemies an infrastructure for free? The place has no value to anyone civilized and nothing to offer us, save the budget money there for pete sake! ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/112th-congress-already-wasting-time-and-money/566745/11 "2011-01-07T17:10:28Z")
What about this whole thing they’re calling their bid to repeal health care: “Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law” Why stop there? I think it needs to be called the “Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law brought to us by that Anti-American Muslim Kenyan Negro President and his Pork-Barrel Bleeding-Heart Money Spending Democratic Party who want to set up Death Panels to kill your parents and eat your babies”? ---
**Author:** ![Ichbin\_Dubist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@Ichbin\_Dubist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichbin_Dubist)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/112th-congress-already-wasting-time-and-money/566745/12 "2011-01-07T17:14:45Z")
> [@Leon497](#): > > I know we went in looking for Ben Laudin, but everyone agrees now he is no longer there, why did we stay? Ben Laudin’s in Charlottesville, they couldn’t have been looking very hard if he’s on [LinkedIn.](http://www.linkedin.com/pub/benjamin-laudin/11/ba9/997) ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/112th-congress-already-wasting-time-and-money/566745/13 "2011-01-07T17:30:13Z")
He’s on Lincoln? Damn terrorists defiling our 15th President! ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/112th-congress-already-wasting-time-and-money/566745/14 "2011-01-07T17:35:56Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > What about this whole thing they’re calling their bid to repeal health care: “Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law” > > Why stop there? I think it needs to be called the “Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law brought to us by that Anti-American Muslim Kenyan Negro President and his Pork-Barrel Bleeding-Heart Money Spending Democratic Party who want to set up Death Panels to kill your parents and eat your babies”? The new House rules limit short titles for bills to 140 characters to allow Sarah Palin to tweet about them more effectively. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/112th-congress-already-wasting-time-and-money/566745/15 "2011-01-07T17:50:46Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > He has a PhD in Tearology. Oh for cryin’ out loud! ---
**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/112th-congress-already-wasting-time-and-money/566745/16 "2011-01-07T18:06:33Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I note with interest and disgust this morning that the Pubs exempted the health care repeal from this offset in the new House rules. Coincidentally, the CBO has determined that repealing health care will increase the deficit by $250,000,000,000. Boehner’s comment: They’re entitled to their opinion. Really? What’s your degree in, moron? That was his nice way of saying “government cost accounting is complete horseshit, but I’m one of the people feeding the horse so I don’t want to say anything too mean.” And if you believe health care repeal (not that it could possibly happen this congress) will actually result in a net cost of $250B to the government, we should talk turkey about some great investment prospects of which I’ve recently become aware. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/112th-congress-already-wasting-time-and-money/566745/17 "2011-01-07T18:18:27Z")
Why don’t _you_ tell us how much it will cost? ---
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/112th-congress-already-wasting-time-and-money/566745/18 "2011-01-07T20:05:45Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > I saw [footage of the heckling] on the news this morning, but they didn’t say if it was just a heckler from the peanut gallery or one of our elected officials. Jon Stewart didn’t expound on who did the heckling. He just gave a little Spock-eyebrow, and asked, “‘Help Jesus’?” 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/112th-congress-already-wasting-time-and-money/566745/19 "2011-01-07T20:09:12Z")
> [@AWB](#): > > Jon Stewart didn’t expound on who did the heckling. He just gave a little Spock-eyebrow, and asked, “‘Help Jesus’?” 😛 News articles say it was “a protester”. In all likelyhood a Birther, and from the language used, a nice Christian woman. ---
**Author:** ![akennett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee59a6/32.png) [@akennett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/akennett)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/112th-congress-already-wasting-time-and-money/566745/20 "2011-01-07T20:09:55Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > He has a PhD in Tearology. But don’t forget he got his undergrad degree in Ommpa Loompa-American Studies. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/112th-congress-already-wasting-time-and-money/566745.md?page=2)