Quotes of the day
posted at 10:30 pm on February 17, 2011 by Allahpundit
“Today, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) asked the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) to investigate whether members of Congress who sleep in their offices are violating House rules. CREW also asked the OCE to determine whether these members are violating tax law by failing to report lodging as a taxable fringe benefit. Press reports indicate that at least 33 members – 26 Republicans and 7 Democrats – have turned their offices into dorm rooms.
“‘House office buildings are not dorms or frat houses,’ said CREW Executive Director Melanie Sloan. ‘If members didn’t want to find housing in Washington, they shouldn’t have run for Congress in the first place.’…
“‘Americans expect members of Congress to follow the tax laws just like everyone else. If legislators are going to treat their offices as dorm rooms, at the very least they should pay the appropriate taxes,’ said Ms. Sloan. ‘In any event, it brings discredit upon the House for members of Congress to sleep in House offices, making it more difficult for housekeeping, maintenance and construction crews to do their jobs. And really, who wants to run into a member of Congress in need of a shower wandering the halls in sweats or a robe?’”
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Pros at what? This the crap you want done by people who have the power to impose almost anything in your life? Pro twelve year olds at best.
Cindy Munford on February 18, 2011 at 1:44 AM
The Dems are pros and the Pubs are pretenders.
rickyricardo on February 18, 2011 at 1:36 AM
I don’t usually agree w/ricky but he is right on this one. I give the dems kudos for being nasty,vile,gutter fighting bastards who never give up. It also helps when you have the media to give you air cover.
arnold ziffel on February 18, 2011 at 1:52 AM
One of the big deals that caused Rick Santorum his senate seat was that he and his family spent more time in their home near D.C. than in the PA home and that his kids were “attending” a PA cyber school that the state paid a chunk of the tuition. And lets don’t forget Rohm Emanuel’s run in over residency. The only thing about Democrats is that they know they can be inconsistent and petty the MSM will let it slide.
Cindy Munford on February 18, 2011 at 1:53 AM
Democrat Math:
Don’t raise taxes, and it’s a Tax Cut.
Don’t rent an apartment, and it’s Income.
Increase a budget $30 Billion instead of $100 Billion, and it’s a $70 Billion Cut!!
NO WONDER a Democrat congress can’t produce a budget!! Democrats haven’t even mastered simple addition and subtraction! …and the Apples and Oranges thing completely mystifies them…
QUESTION: Are all Democrats math-impaired at birth, or do they have to learn to be stupid?
landlines on February 18, 2011 at 2:03 AM
The Dems are pros at the art of political rope-a-dope, focused messaging (gas prices) and distraction (or what consultants call the Macaca strategy).
Look for the next bogus Mark Foley sex scandal coming to a news headline near you.
rickyricardo on February 18, 2011 at 2:08 AM
All of the above.
Cindy Munford on February 18, 2011 at 2:08 AM
….and all this after 2 years of reaming this country with huge increases in spending and trillions of additional debt……now, like masters of the game they are, the Democrats immediately have the Republicans on the defensive for trying to make a dent in those levels of spending.
Like I said, the Dems are masters of the game.
rickyricardo on February 18, 2011 at 2:11 AM
You would think that the average person would be fearful of putting power into the hands of such petty and duplicitous people. Especially since they don’t hide the fact that they intend to control the public through dependency and enrich themselves in the name of leadership.
Cindy Munford on February 18, 2011 at 2:13 AM
Don’t buy health insurance, and it’s “economic activity”.
DaveS on February 18, 2011 at 2:15 AM
We never “got into it”. I thumped you. You couldn’t do anything but call names and run away. I never called you a name. You initiated the comment, and started it by your own “shrieking”; with the name calling, as you have done again, here and now.
In summarizing your brilliant and intellectual argument re: obama’s constitutional status to hold office, you employ the very convincing argument of: “loon”, “cultist” (that’s double duty for what you have consistently called Palin supporters, but as Palin gains steam and you want to stay buddy-buddy with some here who support her, I’ve noticed that you’ve had to back off calling Palin supporters cultists), “birther”, and now “stalker” and “shreiker”.
When I asked you to answer simple questions based on facts, or researched opinion, not name calling, you bolted as fast as you could.
You couldn’t answer anything about what you thought of obama’s constitutional eligibility vis a vis natural born citizenship.
You couldn’t provide one shred of proof for your shrill defense of the president you claim to “despise”, while you attack conservatives using leftist perjoratives, by providing any documentation that will verify who he is and where he was born; a single document that would satisfy a passport office or a little league team. None.
In fact, when asked to provide supporting evidence of your and obama’s positive assertion that he was born in Hawaii, you claimed that you couldn’t because that would be proving a negative. Uh, no. You haven’t got the least understanding there, either.
Then, you claimed the military oath required that the military “serve the people”. And you claimed you knew that because you “washed out” of boot camp when you were 18. Huh. Your special knowledge gained through “washing out” also happened to be wrong. The military oath requires the enlisted to “defend the Constitution”. Nowhere does it even mention “serving the people”.
Anywho, in my book, when you aren’t insulting people, you are talking about yourself. Incessantly. You manage to turn any topic into a sentence that begins with “I”, “My” and lots and lots of “me” and “mine” thrown in to your comments for good measure. You manage to reference yourself almost constantly, no matter what the subject. Some one called you narcissistic the other day, in response to seeing you insult someone else. Oh, and let’s not forget that everyone needs to be treated to the same story for the millionth time about you moving, because no one else has ever moved before.
I think your behavior, as evidenced in the strange, gratuitious, nastiness that you display, reflects major immaturity. And that is being kind about it. Something is not right with you. You act like a mean little girl or someone who doesn’t know that it’s not cool after a certain age to act like, of be proud of, being a b!tch.
Since I don’t go trolling for fights as you do because you’re such a lady, I have put you on my “ignore” setting. You seem to have trouble figuring that out. I don’t want to hear from you, but if you want me to continue thumping you, just keep going. I’ll be happy to oblige. I’ll even break my own rule and initiate insulting commentary whenever you say something “intelligent”. That could keep me busy, tho.
You see, I don’t let nasty negative people into my life. Why would I engage on a blog with a nasty, negative downer like you, who hides behind a “jokey” facade when not scratching at someones’ eyes? I’m only a few years older than you, but you really should grow up and zip it.
tigerlily on February 18, 2011 at 2:18 AM
rickyricardo on February 18, 2011 at 1:36 AM
Nice. A future Palinista and you don’t even realize it yet. Ha Ha!!
I agree with you. I wish the handful of Republicans that actually mention our energy policies would hammer Obama even more. We need the entire GOP standing together on this issue, although that will never happen.
Jindal and Palin could and I think eventually will put the smackdown on Obama and his idiotic green energy policies.
It will be a big winner for whoever is able to sway the public opinion that we need to drill now.
chief on February 18, 2011 at 2:18 AM
These people are getting out of hand.
http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/2011/02/group-targets-speaker-boehner-s-small-h-house
Cindy Munford on February 18, 2011 at 2:22 AM
You’re right. And they will continue because the Left plays offense, controls the narrative through complicit msm but also through superior PR, communications technology skills and isn’t afraid to do what’s wrong, even horribly wrong, while the GOP remains afraid to do what’s right, refuses to go on offense and has no unified PR message, communication skills or narrative set and executed.
Worst of all, the gop is set to fund the first 100 Billion of obamacare in the continuing budget resolution. What happened to their pre-election “pledge” to defund and repeal? It’s said that if this first funding of 100 Billion goes out, it will be almost impossible to stop the rest of it because what would the gop’s reason be for stopping what they started?
tigerlily on February 18, 2011 at 2:41 AM
Oh, great, now House members will have to count security as a fringe benefit.
theperfecteconomist on February 18, 2011 at 2:46 AM
Tigerlilly, Crr6 is calling you a liar several times in the Palin thread. You might want to go check that out and defend yourself.
karenhasfreedom on February 18, 2011 at 3:13 AM
G’ Morning.
OmahaConservative on February 18, 2011 at 4:05 AM
Morning OC.
Geochelone on February 18, 2011 at 4:10 AM
Hey ya, OC…
Gohawgs on February 18, 2011 at 4:15 AM
[Partly Cloudy]
35° F
Guess I’ll wear long johns
Got up to 69 yesterday.
OmahaConservative on February 18, 2011 at 4:15 AM
Quiet in here.
OmahaConservative on February 18, 2011 at 4:30 AM
Sorry, I was over at the “birther” thread playing catch up…LR is at 63, it got up in the 70′s again today…
Gohawgs on February 18, 2011 at 4:49 AM
This thread was hopping earlier, a “tax that Congressman” was driving comments and getting a lot of “get a clue” responses…
Gohawgs on February 18, 2011 at 4:50 AM
Slipped in the shower and hurt my knee, dangit!
OmahaConservative on February 18, 2011 at 5:04 AM
The routine can sometimes not be…
Gohawgs on February 18, 2011 at 5:07 AM
These “modern” liberals are no more than the dictators, kings, and elites who have largely controlled humanity over all of recorded history. Humans will trend this way unless something like . . . uh . . . the unique Constitution as constructed by our wise Founding Fathers intervenes. And they devised this revolutionary document with a firm grasp of that same history minus only the mere couple of hundred of years between then and now. Many things change but the basic nature of humanity has not. A wise list of rules and laws based on those rules are the only thing that stands between liberty, freedom, and the those who would oppress us once again, the “modern” liberals. “Tyranny” says it all.
Do an experiment. Get a globe or google earth and spin the globe. Put your finger down and tell me how many of those spots are places you would want to live. The odds have been and are always against you finding the sweet spots. Not to worry, the oceans and the poles don`t count in this game. Still I wish you luck.
Liberals would have such good places reduced by the exact size of these United States.
As it is, thank God we have a Federal system with checks and balances (now in the balance). If not for that . . . .
Sherman1864 on February 18, 2011 at 5:11 AM
This is a “scandal”? This is a problem? Seriously?
If this is all that MSNBC has to dig up on the Republicans (Congressmen working harder and longer for the same amount of money by not spending extra time in D.C. traffic), then they might as well throw in the towel.
This is probably the stupidest “scandal” of which I have ever heard.
The Socialist Democrats ran this country into the ground and now, when they should be quiet as a churchmouse hoping that nobody hauls them to jail on ethics charges or corruption, they are screeching about people sleeping in their offices. Wow.
Theophile on February 18, 2011 at 5:47 AM
Moonbat.
Moron’s like this should be an encouragement to us all to run for office.
JellyToast on February 18, 2011 at 6:32 AM
This should be a good news day…more riots in Bahrain and Benghazi, MB topdaddy rally in Cairo, Wisconsin House walkout, the G20 debating commodity price controls, and Iran set to send those two ships afterall through the Suez.
Limerick on February 18, 2011 at 7:43 AM
No need for tigerlily to defend herself on the Palin thread. All Judge Judy could throw at her besides the typical, vain Leftist mud are a couple of lame, laughable links to the NY Slimes and Politico.
viking01 on February 18, 2011 at 7:49 AM
great time for dear leader to dump news that no one will notice…
ugh
cmsinaz on February 18, 2011 at 8:00 AM
What are the working hours of congress. At what time do you clock out and say I cant be bothered because I am not at work. If the country is attacked do we have to wait until 8:00 AM to do anything. I think congress is like the military and other jobs like firemen, you are always on duty. I know that doesn’t include Boxer as she isn’t on duty even when she is in the Senate, because she is still out to lunch.
pwb on February 18, 2011 at 8:01 AM
This is a move to save the US$ as the reserve currency. The US$ is toast, only a matter of time before the house of cards comes down.
belad on February 18, 2011 at 8:03 AM
OT:another moment of civility by our friends on the left
cmsinaz on February 18, 2011 at 8:05 AM
“It’s not fair! It’s not fair!” wailed Barbara Boxer Ma’am. Tell you what, Babs. Why don’t you sleep in your office to make it “fair”? From your tousled and frumpy appearance, it looks as if you do anyway.
Judicial Watch and Rep. Darryl Issa are looking at bigger fish to fry in terms of unaccountability. Why not aim your beepers into what they are investigating and stop trying to divert the discussion?
onlineanalyst on February 18, 2011 at 8:09 AM
No, the only branch of government that is operational 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week is the Executive. Congress goes out of session all the time. That’s part of why guys like John Yoo and David Addington have argued, I think correctly, that the Executive has wide authority in matters of foreign affairs and times of war.
If the country is attacked, they call the president for what to do next. Nobody calls Paul Ryan.
Paul Ryan can use his office any way he likes, but if he’s using it as lodging – and he is – then that’s a taxable fringe benefit and he has to report it.
Proud Rino on February 18, 2011 at 8:10 AM
So that means that now if we are attacked Mr. Obama should call President Clinton ?
viking01 on February 18, 2011 at 8:28 AM
Except the guys sleeping in their offices. I imagine the security there is already pretty good.
Cindy Munford on February 18, 2011 at 8:34 AM
Barbara Boxer’s brain died 10 years ago. It is buried along with Nancy Pelosi’s brain in San Francisco at an undisclosed location reserved for those who have been consumed by the mental disease known as liberalism.
volsense on February 18, 2011 at 8:46 AM
Thank You… ever-so-much… California.
deptofredundancydept on February 18, 2011 at 8:49 AM
Paul Ryan can use his office any way he likes, but if he’s using it as lodging – and he is – then that’s a taxable fringe benefit and he has to report it.
Would you say the same about the office at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave?
What’s the true value of living in a mansion with servants and chefs and the equivalent of ladies in waiting?
Now compare that with the value of a cot in a congressional office.
And what does Boxer know about the private sector and the corporate world? She hasn’t had a real job in 40 years.
rokemronnie on February 18, 2011 at 8:49 AM
I’m pretty sure Pelosi’s brain was featured in Young Frankenstein….. Abby Normal.
viking01 on February 18, 2011 at 8:52 AM
I don’t know if he has to report that as imputed income or not. I’d suspect that he doesn’t because, as President, he effectively has to be available 24 hours, 7 days a week, and him living at the White House is pretty central to government being ready to respond at a moment’s notice. Or there may be an exception for the White House and Governor’s mansions.
But he might have to report his stay in the White House as imputed income. I don’t know. I do know that Paul Ryan should. I agree that it’s a stupid controversy, terrible optics for the liberals attacking him, but, again, technically I think they’re right.
Probably a lot!
I’d rather be in the White House! So would Paul Ryan. I think that’s what his attackers are so concerned about, actually. That’s why they’re doing stuff like this.
Probably very little.
Proud Rino on February 18, 2011 at 9:06 AM
PS what are ladies in waiting anyway? What are they waiting for? Get a move on, ladies.
Proud Rino on February 18, 2011 at 9:07 AM
Equal application of the “rules”
– Democrats sleep in their offices; they are the ‘common man’ looking out for their constituents by being ‘on call’ 24/7 and saving money…walking the walk.
– Republicans sleep in their offices; tax cheats.
– Democrats avoid paying taxes the KNOW they must pay; no big deal (Geitner), or accusers are racist (Rangle).
– Republican sleep in their offices; tax cheats that must be investigated and censured.
– Liberal ‘newscaster’ (O’Donnell) labels Republican sleeping in office tax cheat; praised, lauded, eventually nominated for Pulitzer Prize.
– Conservative ‘newscaster’ mentions unethical behaviors of Democrats (Rangle, Waters); labeled racist, demeaned, SNL parody painting ‘newscaster’ as myopic moron, all news media descends on newscaster’s home and spends 9 months searching (or creating) evidence of newscaster’s “hypocrisy” to ruin their career.
I love it, the libtards really are so dim and believe so strongly that most Americans are idiots that they think that we can’t see right through this…heh.
Geministorm on February 18, 2011 at 9:44 AM
The piece by Mr O’Donnell on MSBBC is a bigot and racist. He despises Republicans he gills them on high and grills his fellow liberals using the setting of simmer.
If the Freshman Representative truly took his position serious he should have done his home work and blown O’Donnell out of the water by showing how he moved into his office because maintaining two residents would cause him economic harm and if he relocated his family to D.C. he would no longer be representing his district.
Also, he should question why is this such an issue for him, and how may Demoncrates he has interviewed who take advantage of using their offices to get needed rest.
My final remark would be where does he sleep because he could not get home after doing an on site news article for MSNBC.
MSGTAS on February 18, 2011 at 9:54 AM
This, students, is an example of a poor choice of words by a veteran poster…
massrighty on February 18, 2011 at 11:18 AM
I have two questions regarding this.
The use of the office itself would seem to be a perk of holding an elected position but is it a taxable benefit?
If not, are there rules which limit how an elected official may use his office or limits on the times when he can be in his office?
If the answer to both is no, then as we all have surmised, this is just another witch hunt by the vapid and shallow Dems and their media sycophants.
No surprise there.
Jvette on February 18, 2011 at 11:25 AM
No, fringe benefits that are actually taxed are pretty small amounts and the general policy in the USA is NOT to tax imputed income, however, lodging provided by an employer is considered a taxable benefit.
No, he can use his office any way he likes, but if he uses it as lodging then he’s getting a fringe benefit that he needs to get taxed for.
It might be but it just so happens that this time they have a point.
Proud Rino on February 18, 2011 at 12:59 PM
Thanks, guys. The “evidence” that ccr6 presented as “proof” that obama attended Columbia would have been laughed out of any court. Not even worth refudiating. The one thing this troll wanted more than anything was an exchange with me, to be fed by me, ergo the over the top “liar” accusations. Motion denied, funny little wannabe lawyer troll. Motion denied.
tigerlily on February 18, 2011 at 1:33 PM
Of course, the “employer” doesn’t provide lodging which is the whole point, and why your argument is irredeemably stupid.
DaveS on February 18, 2011 at 1:49 PM
So the rooms they’re lodging in are ones they’ve purchased or rented? Then that’s different.
Proud Rino on February 18, 2011 at 1:52 PM
Remember, the laws don’t apply to liberals and will be mericilessly applied against conservatives.
I don’t want to live in a world where sleeping in your office is something to account for. That concept is unAmerican.
joeindc44 on February 18, 2011 at 5:56 PM
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