Where is the outrage over the House's plan to delay returning from

[proud2BlibKansan]

Christmas vacation until Jan 31?

Hastert says they are giving DeLay time to deal with his legal problems.

I heard a lady on the radio today. Sorry I didn't catch her name. She is a Dem running for Congress. She said that she thinks every Dem in Congress should show up in DC ready to work next week even if the Republicans are not there. She talked about the powerful message that would send to the nation.

So where is our outrage? Shouldn't we all be writing our Dem reps encouraging them to go back to work before Jan 31?

Why have I seen no threads here on DU about this? Or have I just missed them?

[aquart]

1. As long as they're not sitting, they're not destroying.

We look on it as a plus. How's about a three-month Easter recess?

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. Nope, we don't pay them to sit on their

asses and take extended vacations.

We pay them to run the country. How can they do this if they are not in DC?

What if there is an emergency? What if another Terri Schiavo needs to be saved?

[aquart]

22. Long vacations for the Congress.

Trust me, this IS a national security issue.

The less they do, the better off we are.

Let them stay out until the Patriot Act sunsets.

[proud2BlibKansan]

25. Then I say we give them a pay cut

[FreedomAngel82]

38. Yes

Why should they get tax paying money to sit on their asses? I like the idea of all the democrats returning to work in DC and moving forward their agendas. Let them do the people's work. When do they usually return?

[proud2BlibKansan]

40. I am not sure but I think

the week after New Years.

[porphyrian]

41. They're the ones that vote on their salaries.

They consistently give themselves raises.

[aquart]

64. Would we were all so fortunate.

[Raydawg1234]

55. So we should let Bush do whatever he wants for a month?

By the time the congress gets back, the attack on Iran would have already started.

[proud2BlibKansan]

57. Remember how they were called back to save Terri Schiavo?

I wonder what pressing problem could call them back in January?

[hang a left]

91. Not mention hundreds of recess appointments..

[leftstreet]

2. First I've heard of this. (Thanks a lot Corporate Media Whore$)

Hey, why don't I get a whole month's vacation during the holidays?

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. Oh yeah Hastert decided this a couple weeks ago

They are delaying returning from their Christmas break so DeLay can have time to take care of his legal problems (and I guess ride back into Congress on a white horse or something).

So it's a delay for DeLay.

Randi Rhodes has been talking about it. I heard Ed Schultz mention it. But nothing from anyone else. I don't even think Keith Olberman has talked about it.

[leftstreet]

10. I'll email KO right now. n/t

[orleans]

58. I just emailed him

regarding that

and also why msnbc isn't reporting results of their online poll about impeachment, and that 86% say YES!

[proud2BlibKansan]

61. hee hee I did too

Let's hope he gets LOTS of emails on this topic.

[mwb970]

80. They rarely mention the online polls.

I know they are skewed toward smart people (the ones on the Internets), and therefore against Bush, but it would still be interesting for them to report the results.

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. Good idea!

[FreedomAngel82]

39. I remember hearing about it

But I don't remember hearing anything final. I think at the time it was being talked about. Ugh. So can my dad call up his boss and say he's not coming into work after his vacation now cause he has to take care of some things? Too bad people couldn't call, Email, fax in to get back to work.

[SharonRB]

45. There was some talk about this on DU

a couple of weeks ago when Hastert decided to do it.

I think it would be a great idea for the Dems to show up. Very powerful message.

[EFerrari]

4. What?! The House will not convene so DELAY can fix

his legal problems?

:wtf:

This would be a golden op for us. If you put up an action thread, pm me so I can kick and help.

Geezus, even under indictment, this sinkscum is STILL running the house. Unbelievable.

[proud2BlibKansan]

9. I am surprised folks don't know this

I heard it on the news a couple weeks ago.

I will look for more info. Good idea, sfexpat.

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. I Googled it- 73,000 hits! Here are a few:

Hastert Shuts Down Congress For DeLay’s Trial

Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert is putting the nation’s business on hold to give Tom DeLay time to complete his criminal trial:

House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert and his top lieutenants are seeking to avoid a divisive intra-party leadership fight…Hastert has scheduled the first House session of 2006 for Jan. 31 — after a holiday break of more than a month, and two weeks after senators are due to return to Washington. The late start gives DeLay, a Texas Republican, a greater amount of time with which to dispose of the charges, as new leadership elections could not occur until the House is back in session.

Hastert makes it clear that, in his view, giving DeLay one last shot to hold on to his leadership post is more important than doing work for the American people.

More at the Daily DeLay.

Filed under: Congress

Posted by Judd December 7, 2005 10:46 am

http://thinkprogress.org/2005/12/07/hastert-shuts-down-congress/

In addition, Hastert has scheduled the first House session of 2006 for Jan. 31 — after a holiday break of more than a month, and two weeks after senators are due to return to Washington. The late start gives DeLay, a Texas Republican, a greater amount of time with which to dispose of the charges, as new leadership elections could not occur until the House is back in session.

Generally, the House reconvenes fairly soon after the new year. But this time around, Hastert is willing to put the nation’s business on hold for weeks, just to accommodate DeLay—and that’s assuming he is found innocent, or that his trial will even begin before January 31. Talk about a Congressional perk—Tom DeLay is so important that the schedule of the entire 435-member House of Representatives revolves around him. The other 434 representatives get personalized stationary and free flag lapel pins. Or something.

At least they all get a nice long vacation, which just peachy in this era of war, budget deficits, immigration reform, Gulf Coast reconstruction and the like. Hell, why not make it February 31? Or March? As long as DeLay’s interests are put first, everything else will fall into place nicely.

http://www.1115.org/2005/12/09/a-delay-for-delay/

That's right - over three months after Katrina, and without aid still arriving (lawmakers are "scrambling" to get aid before the end of the session), the Republicans are delaying the return of Congress to January 31 in order to give Tom DeLay, the indicted majority leader, time to wrap up his corruption trial. While people in the south wait for promised aid, the GOP is playing politics of the dirtiest sort - the kind that really hurts people:

UPN21: By accident or design, the schedule fashioned by House GOP leaders for early 2006 works to his advantage. After wrapping up its work for the year, the House will not return to session until Jan. 31. That is unusually late in the month, and two weeks after the Senate intends to be in session to debate the Supreme Court nomination of Samuel Alito. It also give DeLay additional time for a trial.

http://flickertail.blogspot.com/2005/12/gop-corruption-hastert-to-delay-return.html

Hastert DELAYS Congress (w/Poll!)
by ksh01
Wed Dec 07, 2005 at 09:54:18 AM PDT

Let's see: New Orleans is in ruins, Iraq is in disarray, Republicans being indicted and investigated, Mother Earth is exacting revenge for our horrible environmental policy.....sounds like we need our representatives hard at work to fix the various messes we find ourselves in.

Right?

Nope. The Boston Globe is reporting that House Speaker Dennis Hastert will delay convening the 2006 session of the House of Representatives until January 31 in order to give Tom Delay more time to fight the charges against him and return to leadership.

Extended vacation on the flip....
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/12/7/115418/388

http://www.google.com/search?q=hastert+congress+delay+jan+31&start=0&start=0&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official

[EFerrari]

18. Thanks so much for pointing this out. I guess I've been in

pie baking lala land because I haven't heard a word about this. Argh!

And, betcha Hastert is counting on lalas like me to get away with this.

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. I PMed you - TWICE!

Save me a piece of pie.

[FreedomAngel82]

42. Isn't it disgusting?

[Citrene]

6. No offense intended proud2Blib, but could you remove the

"Where were you" on the bumper sticker/t-shirt at CafePress? It just seems rather confrontational and not very peaceful or welcoming a message.

[proud2BlibKansan]

8. It's not my design.

I don't think it's up to me to tamper with it. Sorry. No offense intended.

[Citrene]

7. No offense intended proud2Blib, but could you remove the

"Where were you" on the bumper sticker/t-shirt at CafePress? It just seems rather confrontational and not very peaceful or welcoming a message.

[proud2BlibKansan]

15. You know you didn't have to be THERE in Crawford with Cindy

to stand with her. You don't have to be with her now to stand with her.

The first night I was there was the night of the candlelight vigils. There were vigils all over the world that night protesting against the war in Iraq. There were hundreds of thousands of people standing with Cindy that night, but not many of them were in Crawford.

[robbedvoter]

43. As a matter of fact, there were protests way BEFORE Cindy - since 2002

in this country and all over the world - and I was there - so, that's MY beef with your little chest pounding logo. She didn't actually start the anti-war movement, you know, much as I am glad she pitched in.

[proud2BlibKansan]

49. Well I marched against the Vietnam War

The anti war movement is not a 21st century deal.

Like I said in another post, standing with Cindy does not mean you have to actually be physically next to her. There are many many ways to show your support of her and the anti-war movement.

[robbedvoter]

70. Movement against Iraq war was solid at the time when Cindy was packing

her son's stuff to go fight in Iraq. Considering that she joined only after the fact people were dying hit her PERSONALLY, it's a little bad taste to put "where were you" next to her name - because I can't help but wondering where was SHE in 2002?
So, it's a bad logo - I don't want these kind of thoughts either.

[proud2BlibKansan]

72. So she has no credibility because she joined the movement

only after her son died? So you think that maybe folks have to be lifetime members to seem legitimate?

What about the people who don't have family members who have died? Are they more legitimate, or less?

Where are these rules coming from??? :crazy:

[robbedvoter]

77. Not what I said. She has lots of credibility - and my respect too, but

the "where were you" is inapropriate as the worls of anti-war didn't start with her.

[proud2BlibKansan]

78. We'll just have to agree to disagree

I think this question "Where were you?" is being directed at the nation, not at anyone in particular. Where are the citizens of this country while 2000 of our soldiers die in a needless war?

[robbedvoter]

87. A more appropriate logo would be: "I stand with Cindy - how about you?"

The way it stands it sounds like a reprimand rather than a invitation to join in - which it should be.

[proud2BlibKansan]

88. You are right

But like I said, it's not my logo.

And don't tell anyone, but I don't know how to change it anyway. I am strictly a cut and paste whiz.

[Tigress DEM]

12. Imagine the work that could get done w/o the rethugs messing things up?

Good idea.

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. The House can't do ANY work if they aren't in session

[bush_is_wacko]

29. I know they can't but ... I'm freaking speechless n/t

[LittleClarkie]

13. Oh yeah, that was on the Ed Schultz show

The guest host is named Tony, who is also running for something I think, and his guest as well.

I heard that too.

[proud2BlibKansan]

17. Do you remember who that lady was?

I liked her. I think she said she was from Ohio?

[LittleClarkie]

23. I just posted over at the Ed Schultz board asking

We'll see if I get an answer tomorrow.

[proud2BlibKansan]

24. Let me know

I would LOVE to give her a campaign donation.

[LittleClarkie]

75. Somebody over there says it's Tammy Duckworth from Illinois

http://www.duckworthforcongress.com/happenings.html

Here's her website. She's an Iraqi vet as well.

[proud2BlibKansan]

76. Thank you

I am emailing her and sending her a contribution. She really impressed me.

[librechik]

36. Tony had Gov. Jennifer Grantholm on yesterday n/t

he's apparently running for congress from Michigan!

[SharonRB]

47. That's Granholm -- there's no "t" in it.

[SharonRB]

46. He's making a run for Congress here in Michigan

Tony Trupiano is his name.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

20. It's been years since they've actually done their job anyway.

Every day they are in session is another opportunity for them to fuck the country. Let 'em all take a slowboat to Iraq, and stay out of our business.

[proud2BlibKansan]

21. NOT the point

We need to capitalize on this. It is a beautiful opportunity to show the country what partisan fuckheads they are.

[bush_is_wacko]

26. Who elected DeLay the new King of America. I thought Bush held that

position. What the hell does DeLay have to do with RUNNING the freaking country?

I hadn't heard this. If this isn't a message regarding just who is in charge of our country I don't know what is. The United States Congress is going to collapse over the legal problems of ONE Rethuglican?!?!?

Dem's SHOULD show up in full force and if they don't I will be even more outraged.

OMG! I just don't even know how to respond in an even halfway coherent way to this. This is infuriating! :grr: :nuke: :cry:

Are you SURE you heard this? I never would have thought this a possibility before the Rethuglican takeover.

[proud2BlibKansan]

27. I am 100% positive it is accurate

I posted links above. And like I said, both Randi Rhodes and Ed Schultz have talked about it.

[bush_is_wacko]

35. I saw... I am now officially renaming myself Alice in Wonderland

When is this nightmare going to end? I don't even know what to say....

[catmandu57]

28. I was composing a ltte about this

very thing this morning. The last thing I knew these scumbags worked for us, most people are lucky to get two weeks off during the year, and as a boss I'm calling bullshit on this.
Not enough people know what's going on, or why, let's spread the message.
There isn't even a guarantee that the bugman may be able to slip the noose by then, and if he does manage to squeak by there is another trapdoor waiting for him.
This slimey bastard is finished one way or another this year.

[proud2BlibKansan]

31. Good for you!

We need to start pounding this next week, when everyone is back from vacations. (Well, everyone except Congress, that is.)

[SillyGoose]

30. Cafferty's question today is "should Congress get a pay raise?"

Pretty appropriate question in view of what this thread is about. Here's the link if you want to share your thoughts with him about this.

http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/situation.room/

I also emailed KO and CNN about Hastert's outrageous antics. I agree with someone up-thread who said the Dems should show up for work and expose this partisan BS.

:grr:

[proud2BlibKansan]

32. My reply:

Absolutely not! They are taking a delay - for DeLay!! They have extended their Christmas break to accomodate Tom DeLay's legal problems. The house will not return until Jan 31. Why pay them for NOT working??

They work for US, not for Tom DeLay. Let him give them a salary increase. I prefer that they actually work instead of play partisan games to support a soon to be felon.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

33. Here's The Original Thread From Early December

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=5537278

[DanCa]

34. wow it's the first time that I am hearring of this.

Your right it should be all over the msm with Keith O leadding the way.

[proud2BlibKansan]

37. Let's pound it

[earth mom]

44. This is TOTALLY bizarre! Makes ya wonder what the BFEE & the rethugs

have up their sleeves now! :nuke:

[Lars39]

85. Am I the only one that remembers the "emergency government"?

Whoever can make it back into the chambers(?)in the event of a catastrophic event is declared part of the new government and anybody who didn't make it in is no longer part of the new government.
This is why I don't want them to ever walk out. I think they need to show up whether the Repugs are there or not.

[progressoid]

48. This is a PR great idea. Unfortunately, there are a fair amount of

Democrats that won't do it for what ever reason.

But if we could get a hundred or so to sit on the house steps, maybe even Fux news would cover that.

[eppur_se_muova]

50. Shouldn't this be UNPAID leave?

Maybe there's a Dem with enough balls to introduce a bill to this effect.

[rox63]

51. Write to your congresscritters

both dems and rethugs, and express your outrage over this. And encourage the dems to show up anyway, to highlight what the rethugs aren't doing.

[proud2BlibKansan]

56. Done

[bettyellen]

52. all the Dems should all follow Harry Reid's example during this break....

when one door closes another one opens....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x5708911

[fooj]

53. I agree. Every Dem should show up ready to work FOR THE PEOPLE!

WTF is this bullshit? Wait for Delay to clear up his legal problems? BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Looks like that may take some time! They could wait until hell freezes over.

Peace.

[proud2BlibKansan]

54. A delay for DeLay

Ain't it crap?

I wrote my congress critter. And I called and left a voicemail.

New Orleans and the Gulf are still waiting for FEMA. Soldiers continue to die nearly every day in Iraq. Our president continues to spy on us. And yet, Hastert thinks they can afford an extended vacation.

It is probably the most despicable thing Congress has done in years, IMO.

Where is Dennis Murtha? John Conyers? Why are they not shouting from the rooftops about this delay for DeLay?

[annabanana]

59. Is this all assuming that he's going to be ACQUITTED?

If they're holding the top spot open for his return, then they must assume that he's going to glide right out of there with no stain on his suit...

[proud2BlibKansan]

60. They must be

Can you believe it?

They are arrogant beyond belief.

[Chiyo-chichi]

62. Is the Senate going to reconvene before the House does?

[proud2BlibKansan]

63. Last I heard, yes they are.

[ArmchairMeme]

65. House Delay

What is the date the Patriot Act expires? I thought it was reinstated for 25 days from before Christmas. What is the situation with this small item?

[proud2BlibKansan]

67. Sometime in Feb or March I think

[jbnow]

93. Expires 2/3

They said it would give them a month to debate it after they returned and that was time enough, not the 6 months the Senate wanted.

So now they will leave a few days and it will be back to saying Dems are blocking safety of country by bot being bullied into their time line.

[More Than A Feeling]

66. Good point. I should call my congressman on that one

Doing that may make them look stupid, but noone will care unless we point out how stupid it is and show that someone cares.

[proud2BlibKansan]

73. Yes, CALL!

Let him know how dumb this is.

[More Than A Feeling]

81. The guy on the phone tried to deny that it was to help

Tom Delay. :rofl:

[proud2BlibKansan]

83. I heard Hastert interviewed and he admittted this!

Let me see if I can find a quote for you.

[0007]

68. Keep humping and pumping Bill, we'll see them soon.

This is an outrage.

[ThomWV]

69. I Would Think The House NEEDS Long Recesses

After all, if they are to represent the folks back home shouldn't they have a good bit of time to get back home to see what on hell is on the minds of those left behind?

I think of those asswipes had to spend a couple of months out of each year in their districts it might in fact be a good thing.

If I could hunt down that asswipe that supposedly represents me I'd sure like to let him know how I feel about him and the job he is not doing.

[proud2BlibKansan]

74. But think about the REASON for this time off

It's not to give them a chance to meet with constituents. I could go along with that.

It's a DELAY FOR DELAY!! That is so completely outrageously partisan I am just shocked that our Dem reps are going along with it and not protesting. We must convince them this is wrong.

[Cleita]

71. Doesn't anyone in Washington work anymore?

:shrug:

[proud2BlibKansan]

79. Friday kick

[Bill McBlueState]

82. How does the Patriot Act fit into this?

Last I heard, the Patriot Act sunsets at the end of January. If nobody's there to extend it, I'll take that as a win.

[gkhouston]

92. Not quite. The extension was until Feb. 3, I believe

so this "we aren't coming back until the end of January" bullshit artificially (and intentionally, IMHO) shortens the window for any back-and-forth between the House and Senate with respect to proposed new Patriot Act. Sensenbrenner is rabidly intent on getting an up-or-down vote and not, not, NOT changing any of the recommendations that came out of his committee. He might have gotten that a year ago or perhaps even six months ago, but the warrantless spying story is going to make that an uphill battle, methinks.

[SoCalDem]

84. Delay FOR Delay.. I wish dems would come back on time

and just hold townhall style meetings with plenty of press.. they could discuss the REAL issues of the day, and at least show the public that THEY were there, ready to work, but the republicans "locked them out"..

[rene moon]

86. well, many Congressman will be working in their district during this time

I know mine will.

[EFerrari]

89. New Year's kick: No Delay for Delay!

:kick:

[EFerrari]

90. Kick

[EFerrari]

94. kickeroo

:kick:

[WHAT]

95. My question?...

does this allow for more executive orders?

If so, what? Are all of congress (representatives!?) enablers?