GOP becoming a cartoon

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/03/10/cafferty.republicans/index.html?eref=ib_topstories

House Speaker Issued Unprecedented Demands for Military Aircraft and Wasted Taxpayer Resources with Last Minute Cancellations

Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, announced today that it has obtained documents from the Department of Defense (DOD) detailing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's multiple requests for military air travel. The documents, obtained by Judicial Watch through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), include internal DOD email correspondence detailing attempts by DOD staff to accommodate Pelosi's numerous requests for military escorts and military aircraft as well as the speaker's last minute cancellations and changes. The following are a few highlights from the documents, which are linked in full below:

* In response to a series of requests for military aircraft, one Defense Department official wrote, "Any chance of politely querying [Pelosi's team] if they really intend to do all of these or are they just picking every weekend?...[T]here's no need to block every weekend 'just in case'..." The email also notes that Pelosi's office had, "a history of canceling many of their past requests."
* One DOD official complained about the "hidden costs" associated with the speaker's last minute changes and cancellations. "We have...folks prepping the jets and crews driving in (not a short drive for some), cooking meals and preflighting the jets etc."
* The documents include a discussion of House Ethics rules and Defense Department policies as they apply to the speaker's requests for staff, spouses and extended family to accompany her on military aircraft. In May 2008, for example, Pelosi requested that her husband join her on a Congressional Delegation (CODEL) into Iraq. The DOD explained to Pelosi that the agency has a written policy prohibiting spouses from joining CODEL's into combat zones.
* Documents obtained from the U.S. Army include correspondence from Speaker Pelosi's office requesting an Army escort and three military planes to transport Pelosi and other members of Congress to Cleveland, Ohio, for the funeral services of the late Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones. Pelosi noted in her letter of August 22, 2008, that such a request, labeled "Operation Tribute" was an "exception to standard policy."
* The documents also detail correspondence from intermediaries for Speaker Pelosi issuing demands for certain aircraft and expressing outrage when requested military planes were not available. "It is my understanding there are no G5s available for the House during the Memorial Day recess. This is totally unacceptable...The speaker will want to know where the planes are..." wrote Kay King, Director of the House Office of Interparliamentary Affairs. In a separate email, when told a certain type of aircraft would not be available, King writes, "This is not good news, and we will have some very disappointed folks, as well as a very upset [s]peaker."
* During another email exchange DOD staff advised Kay King that one Pelosi military aircraft request could not be met because of "crew rest requirements" and offered to help secure commercial travel. Kay King responded: "We appreciate the efforts to help the codel [sic] fly commercially but you know the problem that creates with spouses. If we can find another way to assist with military assets, we would like to do that."

Speaker Pelosi came under fire in 2007 for requesting a 42-seat Air Force carrier to ferry the Speaker and her staff back and forth between San Francisco, CA and Washington, DC. Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert was allowed access to a 12-seat commuter jet for security reasons after the events of 9/11.

"Taken together, these documents show that Speaker Pelosi treats the Air Force like her personal airline," said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. "Not only does Speaker Pelosi issue unreasonable requests for military travel, but her office seems unconcerned about wasting taxpayer money with last minute cancellations and other demands."

"If the Republicans are ever to emerge from the long dark night they have created for themselves it will have to be without pandering to the right wing nuts that comprise Rush Limbaugh's radio audience. Didn't they learn anything in the last election?

All of which is to say the GOP is blowing it big time. They were handed a golden opportunity to redeem themselves with the election of Barack Obama -- a chance to line up and in unison condemn the evil their party put in the White House the previous eight years."

Like equating shoplifting to bank robbery.

"without pandering to the right wing nuts"

Interesting that only one party elects presidents, isn't it? Or do I have to put the dots closer together?

Sucking up to Rush Limbaugh will push any chance of a congressional majority or Republican president out at least 8 years, perhaps 12.

After the horrendous last eight years the people have moved to the center and to left/center...and the Reps have done what was most predictable...moved farther to the right.

Fish on...

Todd

Stlhead,
You remind me of the guy with the broken down fence protecting his broken down cars parked in the front yard half hidden by two foot of uncut grass pointing out what a dirt bag neighbor he has because he painted his house an ugly color. You should start thinking about what your own party is going to help this country out as they are in control and quit defelecting the failure of things to get done onto the party that really has no say at this point.
I agree the obstructionism is B.S. (I dont like it now anymore than when the Dems did it before) but we have two parties in this country because we need two points of view. Believe it or not, there are people out there (some even have educations)who dont think the govern is the answer to all our problems.
And quit pandering to the "left wing nuts" though I am sure they will chime in soon.

why would any self respecting republican listen to what some dip sh!t lib like you has to say?? if anything we will take what you say and do the exact opposite....

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Jack Cafferty.

(as well as a few members of the Obama Orthodoxy aka the Obamadorksies)

Dewbie, I guess you oughta do what you gotta do...I mean, look how great it's working so far...

Anyone who thinks Rush, or Hannity, or Savage, or O'Reilly could manage to run a McDonald's without completely fuckin it up using the same strategies they think will work for our country should really get their skulls checked for major damage.

Fish on...

Todd

P.S. You're one of the 18% that think the last 8 years was a success, huh?

todd.....you arent to bright are you.....that is a completely ridiculous statement to make.

Why would any citizen of the United States be even remotely satisfied with any politition of recent memory ?

Party ha, they're pretty much in this together...

Basicly a seamless transition from "W" cutting checks to uber-wealthy bankers, to "O" cutting checks to pretty much anybody with a private jet...

I don't have a party. I am an independant who detests the republican party. "quit defelecting" part of why I detest the GOP. Eight years of "blame Clinton". "we need two points of view" who say's? Reaganomics didn't work. Reaganomics on steroids was a disaster. "Sell crazy somewhere else"

"that is a completely ridiculous statement to make"

Coming from you dewbie that is just precious. I can see a tv show out of this "Oh Dewbie".

a true independent would detest both parties....hence then name independent... you my friend are a liberal, may as well embrace it.

Notice the GOP and it's nattering nabob minions want the past eight years swept under the rug? We shouldn't bring it up. Forget all about it. And never ever mention he who's name shall not be spoken....yes ladies and gentlemen....the once mighty king of the party....the guy you'd like to have a beer with...the great decider....

actually bush was a moderate......he did a lot of things that i didnt agree with because they leaned to far to the left.

fixed it for you - no thanks necessary

Lemme ask ya Dewb... in what is supposed to pass for your mind... do you believe that all liberals are Democrats and all Democrats are liberals?

Do you also believe that all Republicans are conservatives and all conservatives are Republicans?

Did you know that there are independent conservatives and independent liberals too?

Ever hear of the Libertarian Party? The Green Party? The American Socialist Worker's Party? The White Nationalist Party?

post trib or pre trib????

i never thought of that 4salt.....gee thanks.

ex post facto

You're welcome.

what does that have to do with law?

dig deeper, ad nauseam

Stlhead....."nattering nabob minions".... Did you coin that? I personally think there's room on both sides for that label.

A good dividing line between the "nattering nabob minions" and the thinkers is the line where you get your information from talking heads, and then just "ditto" it out into the world, and on the other side where you get your information from lots of sources and put a modicum of thought into it.

Doesn't matter what your political affilliation is, or your political leaning.

Fish on...

Todd

And to expand on Todd's comment, check international news from time to time - I do just to feel the pulse of the world and know how much they HATE US because of what has happened to the world economy, thanks in large part to the workings of BushCo.

Just "googled" it.....gr8 fun....pretty much has been used by all directed at all and goes back quite a long time.

I guess I should spend more time reading and less fishing......mmmmmm....not.

IBNCNU@GAYMFISHN...

Is there a secret handshake that goes with that?

Yeah but I've heard it's pretty creepy.

if there is some secret creepy hand shake.....then i want to be a part of it.

I think it's actually a "milkshake" when you're finished with the handshake, seeing as how he referenced gayfishin.

i just threw up in my mouth a little bit....

I catch BBC news whenever I can, and then follow it up with some British comedy. Anyone ever watch "Coupling" on BBC? I'm tellin' ya, it's shythouse funny.

Really,
Unemployment fell and GDP rose.. Sounds like pretty good economics to me. I'll give the Obama adminstration 2 years before I judge there economic policies success. Right now I'd be lying if I thought we were anything less than proper fuked, I'll wait to see though.

Classic.

President:


Vice President:


Mf

Jeeebuz...I see that pic of Savage, and the first thought in my brain is...

whatagoddammedmotherfuckinselflovingidioticasswipe

Fish on...

Todd

What kind of options did spellchecker offer for THAT one, Todd?

Hoo boy, is that a load or what?????

I'm curious about stkhead's statement about Reagonomics not working?????? Reagan inherited double digit inflation, interest rates in the 20% range, a demoralized country, and turned it all around. What didn't work?????

I am a conservative, but the only thing I detest is idiots, both right and left. I put Limbuagh and Beck (who is extremely irritating to just watch, much less listen to) in exactly the same boat as stkhead, kookentuk kid, erie, gohardley, toddy and other idiots, both left and right. I'd love to see all of them, left and right, floating around together in a small boat, on a big ocean. (I'd even throw in Ann Coulter for everyone to hit on.)

I admire liberals, and conservatives, who can articulate their positions with clarity, not a bunch of dismissive bullsh!t statements about being 'independent' or arrogantly dismissing any other point of view.

As a conservative, I drive small, fuel efficient cars. I try to raise as much of my own food as possible. I plant a lot of trees for future generations. I don't believe anyone needs a salary of more than $1 million. I don't discuss my sex life, and I don't want to hear about any one else's, either. I believe global warming/cooling is caused by natural cycles. As a human race, we need to live a lightly as possible on the land, but I believe that there is a tremendous amount of public energy being wasted on the debate over global warming. Make the debate about simply being kinder to the earth and I'll buy into it.

I believe Jimmy Carter was a good man, but surrounded himself with inept people, Ronald Reagan put the country back on track after the malaise of the Carter years. GHW Bush was no Reagan, and was bland as a president. Bill Clinton was actually a pretty good president, particularly from an economic perspective, despite personal moral failings. GW Bush suffered from the same failings as Carter. I believe he was a good man who meant well, but surrounded himself with people who had agendas that he failed to control.

Obama? Who knows? I wish him the best, but I look at his policies with an eye to history and FDR. FDR's policies did not pull the nation out of the depression, but they did re-align public policy in this country from his tenure to the present. Some of that realignment is good, some is bad. I look for the same from Obama. I think the stimulus/bailout packages are likely to fail, but he is likely to succeed in pushing the U.S. further toward a socialistic society. I would prefer to see the economics succeed and the socialism fail, but I don't think that's what will happen.

Grade wise, I give Carter a C, Reagan an A, GHW Bush a C, Clinton an A, GW Bush a C-, maybe even a D, due to two things, poor economic policies and Iraq.

I've said what I admire, now on to what I enjoy: Yanking the chains of idiots who can't articulate, in an intelligent way, their political/life beliefs.

There, I hope that pi$$es everyone off, both left and right.

Alan, this makes too much sense, what's the catch?

So I take it massive spending and massive debt are good conservative principals? Isn't that the very "big govt" conservatives claim to be a liberal principal? If you do your homework you will find that most reforms, often attributed to Reagan, were actually begun under Carter. Remember unemployment reaching almost 11% two years into his term? Raised Social security taxes and the instigator of borrowing from, and jeopordizing, the social security trust fund.
I actually voted for Reagan his first term. Then voted against him his second when I saw what he was all about. A mindless puppet in my opinion who screwed the middle class.

"As a conservative, I drive small, fuel efficient cars. I try to raise as much of my own food as possible. I plant a lot of trees for future generations. I don't believe anyone needs a salary of more than $1 million. I don't discuss my sex life, and I don't want to hear about any one else's, either. I believe global warming/cooling is caused by natural cycles. As a human race, we need to live a lightly as possible on the land, but I believe that there is a tremendous amount of public energy being wasted on the debate over global warming. Make the debate about simply being kinder to the earth and I'll buy into it."

So much in there that will earn you the liberal tag.

I love revisionist history, Its a great thing.

"I love revisionist history, Its a great thing."

Yup you've mastered it.

And you just blew your rule #1
"who can articulate their positions with clarity, "

Fixed for ya, since we all love revisionist history.......

I was talking about positive reforms. Anything negative under Reagan is attributed to Carter by tools like you. Although the economic stagnation was ten years long back to Nixon.

WTF,
I love revisionist history even more... You now know my #1 rule even though I never knew it. It must be great being a grade A liberal blowhard Jackass, kind of like being a weather man.. Except when you tell a weather man its raining outside when he's saying sun, you take him outside show him the rain and the arguments over.. Where as you take a A liberal blowhard Jackass and put him in the rain, its still sunshine to him and on the off chance he agrees with you its raining it will then turn into a 20 minute diatribe why its all a conservatives fault.

Does anyone think the "spending" arguement is beneficial to the present regime?

Spending to cure spending.....lovely.

We're NOT spending to cure spending though Slab... we're spending to try and keep unemployment out of the 25% range that it was in back in 1930...

We've ALREADY gone the "tax cuts for the rich" route... yet here we are?

Yes, Reagan cut taxes in the 80's and it helped the economy recover... but the top-end marginal rates were extremely high back then. They're at about 35% now. How much lower do you think they should be for multi-millionaires?

4Salt-

You are such a ninnie! "Everybody" knows that if you raise taxes for millionaires, they'll quit working to avoid paying taxes. What a maroon!

4Salt,
How high do you think it should be? And I love how these people talk about giving tax cuts to big oil, microsoft and the like when they talk about it. I will tell you for sure I am not big oil or bill gates. 250,000 is cut for husband and wife. Take no account of 12years of education for each me and my wife and 2,000,000 debt. 35% is plenty for the fed to take from us as we will be 50 before we get out of debt. Then they take payrole, SS, L&I, health insurance, capital gains, and all the other B.S.
You want to tax big oil because they got 300 bil in profit, go ahead. But dont tell me that I am some rish SOB and dont pay my share when half the country pays nothing and I give over a 1/3 of all I make now. That arguement is old and tired. We are not all "multi-millionaires" living on the beach in Cape Cod. Not only big oil and corp fat cats get hit by this tax hike and if you dont.....Good for you, but if you did you would sing a different tune and 35% is plenty for me to pay.

Doc-

you just made his point. You are paying through the nose and the "cape cods" are not.

But according to Hussein he is rich, hard work and good planning be damned, Luckily Doc will get to pay more than his share to take care of the nations fuk ups and degenerates.

thats very thoughtful of him

I'm for a flat tax zero deductions for anybody or anything. But that would also mean you can't deduct any of that $2 mil in debt either. It's yours and yours alone.

Same rate for all citizens?

Wow Docspud... you have got to be one of the most perceptive individuals I have ever encountered!

You done got my whole political / ideological philosophy all figgered out from just ONE sentence!

I made NO value judgements EITHER way. I merely pointed out that the top marginal rate was around 70% when Reagan took office. It is now at 35%. Seeing as how taxes are supposed to be the cost of the use of the commons... what percentage would you suggest that multi-millionaires pay?


Also... If YOU actually pay 35% in federal income tax... might I suggest getting a new accountant. I recommend mine... Seymore Dinero.

"Same rate for all citizens?"

Yes. But no deductions even for corps. time to move towards true capitalism where businesses and industries aren't artificially propped up on the backs of the taxpayer.

A man bellies up to a bar muttering,"asshole democrats". A guy next to him says, "Hey I take offense to that". The man says, "Why, are you a democrat". No the guy says "I'm an asshole".

You simple Americans. Your comedian Robin Williams sums up the difference between our governments quite nicely.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bOuGGMC8Hg&feature=related

Stlhead,
I think hell might of frozen over.....we agree 100% on something. These deductions given to corps and the like are BS. They are all there because some POS pol got a big donation to his/her campagn and in return that pol works to get a line added to this or that bill and wow, they have 1000% return on the camp contribution.
They need to be done away with and a flat tax should be the law of the land. Everyone equal across the board. No fee loaders or POS getting off easy because they have money to fund some POS pol. Of coarse that will never happen and I am walking the yellow brick road even thinking about it. To many people making to much money. I mean how would we fund campagns without the ability to screw the american people. The whole political system could fail........What a great day for america that would be.

ttt

I think you should look at how much president chump is spending on his travels every weekend to each of his castles. Get over it buddy. There's no question she's an idiot but the biggest idiot is in charge. He makes her look sane. He's pissed away more money than any other president in the same time frame by a huge margin. You can't have it both ways Adolf.

fake news...



http://dailycaller.com/2017/07/02/trumps-spend-5-million-less-than-obamas-on-white-house-salaries/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamandrzej...n/#566b59b57e6d

Salary spending doesn't include travel spending .

Having said that complaining about POTUS travel expenses is a simple red herring for partisan fools.

im pretty sure that if Trump could use his own planes, he would... the problem is the Secret Service wont allow that to happen, they need a beefed up plane with bulletproof glass and missile defense systems, radars, ect...

its not Trumps fault....

The Trump ballwashing is as bad as the Obama ballwashing was.

Get a fuckin grip.

More pure bullsh!t. Look at the source of that article you fools. Trump has spent more money traveling to his (different) resorts every weekend than any other president in history in the same time frame. He has totally dropped the ball when it comes to filling the jobs that should have been filled immediately after he got into office. That's why Obama spent more money. Because he did the job that "president chump" has completely failed to do. That article is a true fake news spin. Keep trying boys but you can't make up the truth. But you can be dumb enough to buy into what Rich G calls alternative news sources. Trump relies on gullible ignorants to prop him up so he owes you thanks.

Don't worry gooybob even after all that smack you talk, I'm still your president.

Truth ain't smack and not for long. The sh!t keeps getting deeper and he can't keep from falling into it. When this thing blows up or gets close to blowing up he'll pull a Trump and quit to avoid prosecution. He can't even keep the idiots he's hired OR he hires them and then if they won't scam and cheat like him he fires them. You're on a losing team dude. The really scary part about all of this is those of us that have a brain saw this coming and those who don't are still sticking up for the piece of sh!t even now. Even after seeing him make a mockery of this country and of course himself. He's a FAIL!