Nevada Grinch?
The CNN political blog reports that Senators argue over Christmas
…
“It is impossible to do all of the things that the majority leader laid out without doing – frankly, without disrespecting the institution and without disrespecting one of the two holiest of holidays for Christians and the families of all of the Senate, not just the senators themselves but all of the staff,” [Arizona Senator Jon] Kyl said Tuesday.
Reid took to the Senate floor to respond, calling comments by Kyl and Republican South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint – who threatened to delay Senate votes – “sanctimonious lectures.”
“Yet some of my Republican colleagues have the nerve to whine about having to stay in action to do the work that the American people pay us to do,” Reid said. “We could work, as most Americans do, during the holidays. Perhaps Senators Kyl and DeMint have been in Washington too long.”
One of the first things the Republicans plan to do in the House is to return to their three-day work week and 40-week work year. Apparently they think that $170k+ per annum doesn’t rate a 40-hour work week. They are scheduling 120 days in session for the year, a third less time than the school teachers they are always complaining about having it so easy.
Perhaps if Kyl weren’t so quick to slap holds on every bill in sight, he might not have to work through Christmas.
6 comments
and to add insult to injury, nobody on the sidelines started singing ‘Peace On Earth’
When I was in the military and law enforcement I worked 80% of Christmases. The only time I got off was when I was attending a school, and the school closed.
I hate to break it to these guys, but the “Pilgrim Fathers” hit you with a significant fine if you were caught celebrating Christmas. They knew a pagan solstice celebration when they saw it.
I saw The Daily Show last night. Jon interviewed Mike Huckabee, and I have to say it was more interesting than I expected. Huckabee is obviously not very impressed with the GOP’s in Congress over the Zadroga bill (though, as expected from a Repug, he did try, albeit weakly, to put some blame on the Dem’s, whilst Jon (correctly IMHO) blamed them both). 🙂 Jon also had four of the 9/11 1st responders, who are all dying, to give their views. It was a more somber show (and the last of the year) than I am used to from Jon, and rightly so. If anyone hasn’t seen it, it’s worth a watch!
TDS – December 16, 2010 – Mike Huckabee
This one, with ex-PM Gordon Brown, was alo more interesting than I expected! I think (amazingly!) he is correct (fr the most part) about the only fix for the financial crisis is a global solution (which of course the US isn’t remotely interested in). *shrug*
TDS – December 13, 2010 – Gordon Brown
And just to prove our Gov is now run by moronic penny-pincher’s, they decided, in the spirit of Christmas, and to show support for the troops, that our troops overseas can have two beers Christmas day, and it will cost each soldier $5/can!! This is even though VB stated that they are (as always on Xmas day) donating the beer free for the official duty troops, and it was all pelleted and waiting to be shipped, and Quantas had offered to fly the beer for free also!! This, while current and ex serving politicians rorting the lifetime travel allowance they get!
Soldiers paying for Xmas beer ‘bloody atrocious’
Here’s the latest (I can’t link because of the 3 link limit, so I’ll just copy it here):
VB comes to rescue after Diggers forced to pay $5 for Xmas beer
VICTORIA Bitter has offered to send a shipment of beer to Afghanistan to save Australian soldiers from having to shell out $5 a can on Christmas Day.
The move comes after Defence confirmed this morning it was “sticking with” a decision to charge the soldiers for the beer, prompting a public outcry.
While it’s yet to be finalised, it looks like public pressure will help get the beer onto the plane, and over to the 1550 troops serving in Afghanistan in time for Christmas.
Victoria Bitter national marketing manager Paul Donaldson told 3AW this morning the company was working with the Department of Defence to find a solution so that they wouldn’t have to pay for their beer.
He said the company had a shipment ready to go in its Abbotsford warehouse and hoped to liaise with the RSL and Defence Force to arrange for the beer drop.
Mr Donaldson says he is keen to get the beer to the troops, and will do “whatever it takes” to make it happen.
“We’ve got 10 pellets (800 cartons) waiting in our warehouse. We’ll arrange shipping, anything to get that beer over”.
One soldier calculated Defence was due to make a killing by charging the soldiers for beer.
“That works out to be $120 a carton of beer,” the soldier said.
The soldier said no one had been given an reason as to why Diggers in Afghanistan were having to shell out so much for two beers – the maximum allowed per Digger.
But Defence says it already did a lot for its soldiers.
It pointed out it provided accommodation, food and welfare services to its deployed troops “at no cost”.
Defence spokesman Alex Carter said on the “very limited and approved occasions” when personnel could drink alcohol – which was usually the equivalent of two cans of beer – payment was required.
“On occasion, this may be funded using unit social funds, ie, not public money,” he said.
“On other occasions individuals wishing to consume alcohol must purchase the drinks.”
Defence was asked on Saturday if Darwin-based soldiers in Afghanistan were being charged $5 a beer.
Yesterday it would say only that the cost and types of drinks available varied across the different countries in which the Australian Defence Force was operating.
Peter Mansell, the Darwin RSL president, said that he personally thought charging for two beers would be “bloody wrong”.
But he also said there was no beer when he was serving about 40 years ago.
“We were in the middle of the jungle doing what we had to do,” he said.
Comments:
# Angry Ant Posted at 12:57 PM Today
And the pigs in Canberra will scoff , pigout and fart their way around a series of free christmas parties without a thought of our brave soldiers.They will only emerge for a free photo shoot if one is killed or injured. You pack of inconsiderate $%^se holes
# The Oracle of Dover Posted at 12:56 PM Today
Our ‘honourable’ politicians are about to receive a minimum wage increase each of $30,000.00 pa, yet our fighting men and women o/s are to be charged for their xmas drinks. This government has just wasted millions and millions of dollars on their ‘pie in the sky’ schemes….just let these soldiers have their two cans free as a gift from a grateful Australian nation.
I am sure the GOP’s in the USA would loooove to charge the serving US troops, but even they haven’t gone that far (yet!) 😉
Insane. And the retarded Gov’s wonder why recruitment is low, retention is bad, only a moron would join the army now!
Absolutely bloody disgusted!! I said that the Welsh twit Gillard would be worse than Rudd!! And it didn’t take her long, not that I expected it to!
One of the first things the Republicans plan to do in the House is to return to their three-day work week and 40-week work year. Apparently they think that $170k+ per annum doesn’t rate a 40-hour work week. They are scheduling 120 days in session for the year, a third less time than the school teachers they are always complaining about having it so easy.
well, given that the democrats all seem to want to pass republican legislation and the republicans want to pass… i dunno what… i’d happily pay them all double to just stay home and stfu for the next two years.
Seems the US Chamber of Commerce (I am sure fronting for insurance and various other international masters) lobbied the Gang Of Perverts to kill the ‘James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010’.
From TP:
‘U.S.’ Chamber Of Commerce Lobbied To Help GOP Kill Bill To Provide Health Care To 9/11 First Responders
Kryten, governments all expect the military and first responders to die for their country and be the background for photo ops, not people who need to be paid, and whose health care requires spending money.
I have to say that $5 is a damn stiff price for a beer, unless it’s a liter. Good on the brewery and Quantas for stepping up to fill the demand. A couple of beers isn’t too much to expect for Christmas duty, as they certainly aren’t pulling any extra pay for it.
I remember after my first aircraft “incident” the Chaplain showed up with the necessities of life – a case of beer and a carton of cigarettes. Obviously a veteran.
The Chamber of Commerce opposes spending money on anyone but their members, so no surprise there.
Everyone would be better off if they took you up on that idea, Hipparchia.