# Why a (lame)duck (Congress)?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-lame-duck-congress/379862>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [November 10, 2006, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-lame-duck-congress/379862 "2006-11-10T14:04:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\
**Post date:** [November 13, 2006, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-lame-duck-congress/379862/21 "2006-11-13T18:00:00Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> Theoretically, we could further shorten the interval between Election Day and the new Congress. I dare say that three weeks would be long enough for all but the longest recounts to be settled and for the parties to elect their leadership.

Maybe they use the time for background (security) checks, and training on what their duties are, what the procedures are, etc, for both the new electee’s and the new staff they may wish to bring aboard. Setting up expense acounts, health care applications get processed.

The new electee’s should also use the time to go around and shake hands and get to know the folks that they are going to be wheeling & dealing with.

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**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\
**Post date:** [November 13, 2006, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-lame-duck-congress/379862/22 "2006-11-13T18:22:55Z")

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And the incoming Democrats have a lot of planning to do. See the story Beneath the headline

**The Daily Muck**

at

[http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/001982.php](http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/001982.php)

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**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\
**Post date:** [November 13, 2006, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-lame-duck-congress/379862/23 "2006-11-13T18:31:21Z")

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Not to be outdone, the Pubbies have _their_ agenda

[http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2006/11/09/still\_work\_ahead\_for\_lame\_duck\_congress/?rss\_id=Boston.com+%2F+News+%2F+Nation](http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2006/11/09/still_work_ahead_for_lame_duck_congress/?rss_id=Boston.com+%2F+News+%2F+Nation)

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