Readers Respond to “Report: Members of Congress on Power Trips”
EmailThe blotter item, "Report: Members of Congress on Power Trips," provoked the ire of many of our readers. Some chose to see the report in terms of Republican versus Democrat and criticized ABC News as part of a "liberal media."
"So, you were only able to locate one Democrat?? LOL, the drive-by-lib media arrives again!" wrote r cunningham.
"I guess I’ve got to stop turning to ABC for complete and accurate news. I was just reading an article about a dozen Democrats that are in trouble for things like this. I don’t see their names here. The news is bias in favor of Democrats…and this coming from a person that votes mostly Democrat," posted Gordo.
Other expressed concern about the meaning behind politicians taking such extravagant trips. As one commenter put it, "The ‘Culture of Corruption’ applies to Washington."
"I am disgusted with the politicians in Washington that act like ‘royalty.’ They do nothing but feather their own nest after being elected. It is time that they are all turned out, Democrats and Republicans alike. We need our voices heard," commented R.A. Farley.
"Yes, it’s that mean old LIBERAL MEDIA that’s to blame here. Don’t bother trying to find a real solution or, heaven forbid, take a look at the facts before pointing fingers. Yup, let’s just blame the mythical LIBERAL MEDIA. Because of them we have high gas prices, global warming, the disasterous war in Iraq, the inept Department of Homeland Security and FEMA. If we could just get rid of that pesky LIBERAL MEDIA (and maybe a few of those wedding loving gays) life would be perfect. Whenever possible, we should follow Bush and the Republicans blindly and NEVER ask questions. You know, because that would be "unpatriotic." Who cares about all this "questionable" travel? How else are Bush’s boys gonna spread the Gospel around the globe? In God (and Fox News) We Trust, right???" wrote Ron H.
And some kept their humor in light of it all.
“I hereby announce that I’m a candidate for the House of Representatives or the Senate for that matter. I want some of those free trips (oops I mean business meetings….wink, wink!),” posted Paul Cash.
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This is primarily a problem for REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE – look at the facts, not ABC’s reporting!
Of the top 10 most expensive trips – one to Colorado, the rest out of the US – 3 were by House Democrats and 7 were by House Republicans or staff of House Republicans. That is between 2000 and mid-2005 and the trips all cost at or above $28,000 including a spouse or child. To some Americans $28,000 is a lot of money!
Of those taking more than 200 privately funded trips during this period ALL WERE REPUBLICANS.
Also of those who took more than $350,000 in privately funded trips, 8 were Republicans and 2 were Democrats.
See:
http://www.publicintegrity.org/powertrips/report.aspx?aid=248
Posted by: Chris Baker | June 7, 2006, 12:22 am 12:22 am
the most high class prostitutes reside currently in D.C. if you want to be snowed by the various guises they use to rake in that kind of change that’s your problem since criminals are in fact criminals. left right middle makes no difference.
i can garauntee yew ‘ol bush is gonna fork over several pounds of pardons on the way out the door. then they won’t be criminals any more!!!!!!
Posted by: jim | June 7, 2006, 12:59 am 12:59 am
The previous poster may be right about Bush issuing pardons. Clinton pardoned a lot of criminals at the end of his term, so there is precedent.
Posted by: john | June 9, 2006, 1:46 pm 1:46 pm
I am the son of a politician and grew up seeing the whole “syndrome” from very close up. Regardless of party and personal morality it takes but a short while for them to start seeing things in an “us or them” perspective. They the politicians are the entitled “us” and the “them” are all the rest of us poor taxpaying fools.
Posted by: Clem | June 9, 2006, 4:39 pm 4:39 pm
Thus it has always been. No one should think we can reform away this perverse quality of human nature, although term limits might work. It would be interesting to crunch the data not just on party lines but also by length of incumbuncy.
Posted by: Joe | June 13, 2006, 10:33 pm 10:33 pm