OT: Democratic delegates living it up on taxpayer money

[conversationpc]

I saw/heard this on an ABC news story this morning about how delegates to the Democratic convention are throwing some pretty lavish parties using taxpayer money. Supposedly, the Democrats in Congress were supposed to have closed up the laws that allowed this kind of thing but apparently left some loopholes open that still allow it (wow, big surprise huh...so much for Democratic reform).

Anyway, the law states that you may not use taxpayer money if you are throwing a party honoring a member of Congress. However, you CAN use taxpayer money if the party is honoring TWO OR MORE members of Congress.

Another law is apparently that, again, taxpayer money may not be used if food is served that is eaten with a fork and/or spoon. How do they get around that one? They simply serve finger foods, sandwiches, etc.

They showed delegates trying to avoid the camera and not answering questions about the loopholes and wasting taxpayer money. I forget the name, but they also interviewed one of the higher up Democrats coming out of one of these parties and he was asked why he was participating. He said that he was there simply to make sure the rules were being followed. Yeah, rrrrrriiiiiiiggggggghhhhhhtttttttt!

Now before you liberals use that tired old argument that the Republicans will do it, too, you are absolutely right. That isn't acceptable, either, but this is pretty hypocritical of the Democrats who are claiming that they are cleaning up this kind of stuff, don't you think?

[X factor]

I agree! This is the kind of dispicable shit that turns alot of people off to the whole political machine.
Whoever is doing it, it's wrong. And at a time when alot of Americans are struggling just to keep their heads above water, it's insulting to boot.

[rsimpson]

This is a party that happens every 4 years. I don't have a problem with either party doing it.

[ebake02]

This is just like the check box on your tax form that allows you to make a donation to your party. All you're doing there is paying for the party favors at these conventions.

[conversationpc]

This is a party that happens every 4 years. I don't have a problem with either party doing it.

Unbelievable. I'm not talking about just the convention itself. I'm talking about them throwing parties at expensive restaurants, private catering, etc., all paid for through your tax dollars. If you don't have a problem with that, then please step up to the plate and voluntarily give the federal government more of your money.

[Barb]

This is a party that happens every 4 years. I don't have a problem with either party doing it.

Are you kidding me? Why don't these rich windbag politicians pay for it themselves or better yet, tap some of their billionaire celebrity friends to pick up the bill. I don't work my ass off to pay for their self indulgent parties. Do you?

[conversationpc]

This is a party that happens every 4 years. I don't have a problem with either party doing it.

Are you kidding me? Why don't these rich windbag politicians pay for it themselves or better yet, tap some of their billionaire celebrity friends to pick up the bill. I don't work my ass off to pay for their self indulgent parties. Do you?

Yeah, if it's so acceptable then I would question why many of the people in the piece I saw were trying to hide their faces from the camera.

[conversationpc]

Barb, did you hear Keith Olbermann's comments about Michelle Obama's speach? Almost sounded like he was about to have an orgasm over it.

[Barb]

Barb, did you hear Keith Olbermann's comments about Michelle Obama's speach? Almost sounded like he was about to have an orgasm over it.

He's a journalist, you know.

[Skylorde]

No suprise about the loophole. Consider that both parties voted to authorize 100 MILLION (50 each) taxpayer dollars for security at each of their conventions. Nice huh? There's only one thing they despise more than each other and that's the threat of a third party getting traction and threatening their monopoly on the American political system.

Barb, did you hear Keith Olbermann's comments about Michelle Obama's speach? Almost sounded like he was about to have an orgasm over it.

Olbermann is a fucking idiot. 'Nuff said.

[BobbyinTN]

Take a backseat republicans. You've had your time and you fucked America up. The largest debt in history. The most bogus war ever waged and raping the working man.

It's the democrats turn to run things and get us out of the mess you put us in. Just as Bill Clinton had to do when he took office.

President Obama has a nice ring to it.

As for the parties, why aren't you bitching about the salaries that are paid for with tax dollars?

What about the parties and celebrations your pitiful choice for a candidate will have, or maybe he'll just get his wife to pay for it, as he does everything else.

[conversationpc]

As for the parties, why aren't you bitching about the salaries that are paid for with tax dollars?

What about the parties and celebrations your pitiful choice for a candidate will have, or maybe he'll just get his wife to pay for it, as he does everything else.

I already said the Republicans will do it and it's just as wrong. Please try again. That was a pitiful diversionary attempt.

[BobbyinTN]

As for the parties, why aren't you bitching about the salaries that are paid for with tax dollars?

What about the parties and celebrations your pitiful choice for a candidate will have, or maybe he'll just get his wife to pay for it, as he does everything else.

I already said the Republicans will do it and it's just as wrong. Please try again. That was a pitiful diversionary attempt.

It wasn't a diversion, it was just my thoughts.

I know all politicians will say and do anything and everything to get elected, but to not admit that the republicans have fucked things up is to let pride guide you instead of the truth.

[conversationpc]

As for the parties, why aren't you bitching about the salaries that are paid for with tax dollars?

What about the parties and celebrations your pitiful choice for a candidate will have, or maybe he'll just get his wife to pay for it, as he does everything else.

I already said the Republicans will do it and it's just as wrong. Please try again. That was a pitiful diversionary attempt.

It wasn't a diversion, it was just my thoughts.

I know all politicians will say and do anything and everything to get elected, but to not admit that the republicans have fucked things up is to let pride guide you instead of the truth.

When have I never admitted that? I've stated numerous times on this board that very thing. In fact, the last paragraph of the initial post said...

Now before you liberals use that tired old argument that the Republicans will do it, too, you are absolutely right. That isn't acceptable, either, but this is pretty hypocritical of the Democrats who are claiming that they are cleaning up this kind of stuff, don't you think?

One of my main points in this thread is that the current Democratic-controlled Congress is trying to make us believe that they are cleaning up stuff like this when, in matter of fact, they are simply changing the ground rules so they can take advantage of them just as much as the Republican-controlled Congress before them.

[Tito]

and raping the working man.

You like that, don't you?

[7 Wishes]

In 2004, the Whig Party - its numbers greatly reduced over the years, I grant you - charged three Meat Lovers Pizzas to the American Taxpayers at their convention in Decatur, New York. This kind of outlandish spending goes under the radar, but it has to stop!

[tj]

Barb, did you hear Keith Olbermann's comments about Michelle Obama's speach? Almost sounded like he was about to have an orgasm over it.

Olbermann's a boob. Here is a link to a pretty interesting article about the "independence" of the whole MSNBC machine. http://media.newsbusters.org/stories/scarborough-mocks-shuster-msnbc-for-no-bias-claims.html

[RedWingFan]

and raping the working man.

You like that, don't you?

LMFAO!!!!

[Don]

and raping the working man.

You like that, don't you?

LMFAO!!!!

(Big voice on) STAY ON TOPIC (Big voice off)

THIS POST IS COURTESY OF MRDF

[Rhiannon]

(Big voice on) STAY ON TOPIC (Big voice off)

THIS POST IS COURTESY OF MRDF

<3 it!

[conversationpc]

Barb, did you hear Keith Olbermann's comments about Michelle Obama's speach? Almost sounded like he was about to have an orgasm over it.

Olbermann's a boob. Here is a link to a pretty interesting article about the "independence" of the whole MSNBC machine. http://media.newsbusters.org/stories/scarborough-mocks-shuster-msnbc-for-no-bias-claims.html

Olbermann is a tool and can't keep his foot out of his mouth.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Keith Olbermann has singlehandedly done the job of the mainstream media.
Keeping the average citizen at home apprised of high constitutional crimes - not the exclusive domain of liberals or conservatives.
Unlike Hannity or Limbaugh or Beck, I have never heard Olbermann once advocate partisan political prescriptions (i.e. more governmental regulation, tax rates etc.)
The rest of the media has been so bullyragged into not appearing "liberal" that they have forgotten the very nature of their profession - ensuring an informed electorate.
Like Scott McClellan said, maybe if their actually was a liberal media, we wouldn’t be stuck in Iraq.

[conversationpc]

Keith Olbermann has singlehandedly done the job of the mainstream media.
Keeping the average citizen at home apprised of high constitutional crimes - not the exclusive domain of liberals or conservatives.
Unlike Hannity or Limbaugh or Beck, I have never heard Olbermann once advocate partisan political prescriptions (i.e. more governmental regulation, tax rates etc.)
The rest of the media has been so bullyragged into not appearing "liberal" that they have forgotten the very nature of their profession - ensuring an informed electorate.
Like Scott McClellan said, maybe if their actually was a liberal media, we wouldn’t be stuck in Iraq.

Olbermann is as much a bootlicker as you claim any of these others are. Nice job avoiding the subject, though.

[Barb]

Keith Olbermann has singlehandedly done the job of the mainstream media.
Keeping the average citizen at home apprised of high constitutional crimes - not the exclusive domain of liberals or conservatives.
Unlike Hannity or Limbaugh or Beck, I have never heard Olbermann once advocate partisan political prescriptions (i.e. more governmental regulation, tax rates etc.)
The rest of the media has been so bullyragged into not appearing "liberal" that they have forgotten the very nature of their profession - ensuring an informed electorate.
Like Scott McClellan said, maybe if their actually was a liberal media, we wouldn’t be stuck in Iraq.

Olbermann is as much a bootlicker as you claim any of these others are. Nice job avoiding the subject, though.

A bootlicker who pretends he is a journalist and refuses to acknowledge he is a liberal. Hannity, Limbaugh and Beck at least come right and tell you who they are politically, and do not define themselves as journalists.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Olbermann is as much a bootlicker as you claim any of these others are.

Aside from the internet, Olbermann is the most reliable source for news.
While every cable channel was erroneously labeling Bill Clinton's out-of-context "fairy tale" remarks as racist (including MSNBC), only Olbermann played them in full.
This happens repeatedly.

Nice job avoiding the subject, though.

Not avoiding, have nothing to add.
I don't think any real lib or cons would condone that.

[7 Wishes]

A bootlicker who pretends he is a journalist and refuses to acknowledge he is a liberal. Hannity, Limbaugh and Beck at least come right and tell you who they are politically, and do not define themselves as journalists.

Some truth to that. He does provide the only liberal perspective, however, to oppose the aforementioned non-conservative talk show hosts.

[Barb]

A bootlicker who pretends he is a journalist and refuses to acknowledge he is a liberal. Hannity, Limbaugh and Beck at least come right and tell you who they are politically, and do not define themselves as journalists.

Some truth to that. He does provide the only liberal perspective, however, to oppose the aforementioned non-conservative talk show hosts.

Which is no problem. But he should inform viewers that he is presenting the liberal opinion instead of pretending to be an objective journalist. That is my only objection, really.

[RedWingFan]

Olbermann is as much a bootlicker as you claim any of these others are.

Aside from the internet, Olbermann is the most reliable source for news.
While every cable channel was erroneously labeling Bill Clinton's out-of-context "fairy tale" remarks as racist (including MSNBC), only Olbermann played them in full.
This happens repeatedly.

Nice job avoiding the subject, though.

Not avoiding, have nothing to add.
I don't think any real lib or cons would condone that.

Hey TNC while you were away you just happened to have missed the whole John Edwards thing.

[The_Noble_Cause]

A bootlicker who pretends he is a journalist and refuses to acknowledge he is a liberal. Hannity, Limbaugh and Beck at least come right and tell you who they are politically, and do not define themselves as journalists.

Hannity, Limbaugh, and Beck are admitted "entertainers only" and neither of the three went any futher than high school.
They also routinely push for a wide array of Republican tenets such as less government, lower taxes etc etc.
Aside from a seething on-air hatred for Bush, what progressive orthodoxy does Olbermann pitch?

[S2M]

But no one questions the LUDICROUS amount of money spent on campaigns.....Can you think of a better way of spending 200 million?