21 June 2007

The Elite Servants of Incumbistan and their views

Now today we get some lovely reading from the staffers on Capitol Hill in the lovely Nation's Captitol from Capitolist, with thanks for Brian over at snapped shot for bringing this to my attention!. It is a cozy forum for folks to put their messages on, and it is a live interaction affair that brings back the days of the message rooms on early Bulletin Board Systems. Yes, the so-called 'CB Chat Rooms'!

Put a web form on it and this would fit *exactly* from the early 1980's. Same sordid chat, same language, and the usual of trying to find a decent place to eat. Now, as this offers the rare glimpse into the culture of the Congressional Staff just *before* they knew they were being observed, it serves as an interesting place to look at just how these folks really feel about a few things in their on-line gripe sessions. So as to not present the headache of the reverse-time message thread, and the usual interwoven conversations, I will do my best to apply my old skills on that and disentangle a few threads from this skein. Because we have the rarest of all opportunities: to see the servant class of the Political Elites at work.

First off are some of their feelings about the people they work for, the elected Representatives and Senators of the People. So as to get the true flavor of things, I will leave it unexpurgated and as close to its original form as can be done, just removing the timestamp link. I will also be leaving out the threads devoted to such things as finding a good place to eat, seersucker suits (although that topic is, apparently, unavoidable, but it does get rid of the entire set of sartorial splendor conversations), who is or is not putting out in the offices, and the pictures that have been posted on the thread. In these threads anything in italics is quoting from a previous message, so you have been warned :

God bless Dennis Kucinich. I'm glad someone has the balls to go down to the House floor and defend the much maligned and misunderstood President of Iran, whatever his name is. Good peeps defending the honor of other good peeps. That's what it's all about.

6/18/2007 - 4:42 pm


When is Pelosi going to start that 5-day work week she was promising? It's June now Nancy... I thought we were still in the first 100 hours?

6/19/2007 - 12:25 pm


Is there another Member (House or Senate) that you wouldn’t
mind working for? Someone that you really respect…based on how they work with
other Members, how they deal with the issues, …etc.

6/20/2007 - 10:49 am


Bernie Sanders. He seems pretty awesome. Crazy old dude with sound positions.

6/20/2007 - 10:52 am


Dick Lugar…he’s not partisan, seems to look at issues from
all angles, doesn’t waste time attacking other members, beyond intelligent.

6/20/2007 - 10:56 am


Tim Ryan. He knows how to deliver a floor speech.

6/20/2007 - 11:08 am


Tancredo - Hey, at least you only have to worry about issue. He'll deport all Mexicans and then you're done for the day.

6/20/2007 - 11:12 am


Coburn would be fun. You'd sit around all day thinking of ways to hold everyones shit up.

6/20/2007 - 11:19 am


Screw MOCs -- work for a Committee

6/20/2007 - 11:19 am


Maria Cantwell--hot and crazy as hell

6/20/2007 - 11:21 am


Sen. Stevens in Rules Committee hearing: "Bloggers are really nothing more than paid political advertisements"Best keep away from the topic of the internet, Teddy.

6/20/2007 - 11:24 am


Best keep away from the topic of the internet, Teddy. Yeah,
no kidding.

6/20/2007 - 11:32 am


Does anyone know why Marsha Blackburn refers to herself as "Congressman Marsha Blackburn?"
http://blackburn.house.gov/

6/20/2007 - 2:44 pm


the mystery deepens every time it is asked

6/20/2007 - 2:45 pm


Perhaps the "Congressman" answer is
here.

6/20/2007 - 2:58 pm


I have a theory that Michele Bachmann is Katherine Harris in disguise. They look alike. Both are bat-shit crazy and seriously gaffe-prone. Bachmann came to the House the year Harris left. I think it's pretty clear what's going on here.

6/20/2007 - 3:35 pm


Poll: By how many seats do you think Congressional ranks would be reduced if an intelligence test were required for membership? My boss is grievously mentally challenged, yet is re-elected time and again.

6/20/2007 - 3:58 pm


A member's test reulsts would correspond with the intelegence levels of voters in his district. In other words, red state districts would be screwed.

6/20/2007 - 4:08 pm


A member's test reulsts would correspond with the intelegence levels of
voters in his district. In other words, red state districts would be
screwed
. Yes we all know that the Democratic base is more intelligent. How else can one explain how they've figured out a way to freeload off of those in the country who actually work.

6/20/2007 - 4:23 pm


You will note that blue states contribute to the nation, while red states take money from the nation...

6/20/2007 - 4:24 pm


YOU will note that I said "Democratic base"

6/20/2007 - 4:30 pm


If Grassley tells me that corn producers get a nickel for every box of cornflakes one more time... well, I'll be peeved I guess. But seriously, I get the message. I also understand that Dorgan found it hard to date in his Model T. Byrd and Domenici get a pass for being senile... these guys have no excuse.

6/20/2007 - 5:04 pm


My boss is grievously mentally challenged, yet is re-elected time and again. Join the club.

6/20/2007 - 5:13 pm


Well, Domenici staff claimed they were hunting pants... but they were plaid and flannel, so no need to split hairs.

6/20/2007 - 5:29 pm


Instead of "The amendment co-authored by my friend" on the house floor I want someone, just once, to say something like "The amendment co-authored by that douche from *insert state*"

6/21/2007 - 10:20 am


Why is Reid giving Lautenberg a eulogy?

6/21/2007 - 12:21 pm


Byrd just voted for the 18,000th time. And Reid is launching into another eulogy.

6/21/2007 - 12:40 pm


When was the last time Byrd gave a floor speech that was actually on topic?

6/21/2007 - 1:11 pm


Byrd rambles in a creepy child molester fashion

6/21/2007 - 1:14 pm
My that does seem to be a rather pointed view on things! From what we can gather there are some few of the Congressional Staff that do think that a number of members are not up to snuff, mentally speaking, beyond just the partisanship that one normally gets in such an affair as this. Really, this does bring back memories of the old days of chat rooms!

The next up is you, the poor Electistanian who get to vote for the single party rulers of Incumbistan, and the viewpoints that the Emirate Staff have on you, the poor schlub citizen of the Nation of Electistan. Some points will cross out from multiple conversations, thus spoiling some of the surprises in them, but one really does need to see how the Elite Servant Class feels towards the citizens of the vassal State of Electistan:

your mom never read the constitution

6/15/2007 - 12:45 pm


A reader writes in: "Give me a break! Where are the pix of Maggie Thatcher, Phyliss Schlafly
and Jeane Kirkpatrick? And Pat Nixon! Grrrr! Call me a bleeding
heart, but I'd rather do Angelina Jolie or Geena Davis anyday than Laura
Bush or especially that anorexic whack job Ann Coulter."

6/19/2007 - 9:32 am


letters, letters, letters--lets raise stamp prices to 5 bucks a pop--that'll stop people from writing to their reps!

6/19/2007 - 9:50 am


lets raise stamp prices to 5 bucks a pop--that'll stop people from writing to their reps! Good idea. Now how do we deal with emails?

6/19/2007 - 10:01 am


lets raise stamp prices to 5 bucks a pop--that'll stop people from writing to their reps!Hear, Hear. Now if only we could stop people from voting, we might have something!

6/19/2007 - 10:08 am


Now if only we could stop people from voting, we might have something! Literacy tests worked well before...

6/19/2007 - 10:10 am


Now if only we could stop people from voting, we might have something! Umm, we don't have to figure that one out. Most people don't vote already.

6/19/2007 - 10:13 am

Now if only we could stop people from voting, we might have something! Literacy tests worked well before...I actually like that idea

6/19/2007 - 10:17 am


How is your office handling the immigration phone calls/comments from residents of states other than the one your member represents?

6/19/2007 - 1:53 pm


How is your office handling the immigration phone calls/comments from
residents of states other than the one your member represents?
With the 'delete' button

6/19/2007 - 1:57 pm


How is your office handling the immigration phone calls/comments from
residents of states other than the one your member represents?
We tell them, politely, to fuck off.

6/19/2007 - 2:00 pm


How is your office handling the immigration phone calls/comments from
residents of states other than the one your member represents?
I love suggesting that they also call those members from their state who were elected to represent them...that really pisses them off! Ha ha...

6/19/2007 - 2:01 pm


Every call is the exact same. 1. We don't need this new amnesty bill. 2. Enforce the laws that are already there. 3. Build the wall.

6/20/2007 - 9:56 am


So many call, so uninformed, and so racist (at least a lot of them).

6/20/2007 - 10:01 am


I’ve had a few calls from people saying, “Make them speak
American!” What?!? Hey fuckstick…what did you just say?

6/20/2007 - 10:20 am


What do people think about making English the official language? I put it right in line with the marriage amendment or the flag burning amendment....WE all know that they never have a chance of passing or won't have any real effect on anything. They only serve one real purpose...they rally the base...constiuents get active and motivated to contribute when these things come up. Why do they keep falling for it?

6/20/2007 - 10:42 am


...because Voters are stupid

6/20/2007 - 10:47 am


Is anyone else alarmed by the amount of email comming in on the CAFE standard??? There seems to be a large number of fucktards who actually want the standard kept where it is. What the cock is this shit. How quickly we forget 9/11, Afghanistan, and oh... IRAQ!
35 mpg by 2020!!!! TWENTY FUCKING TWENTY. Half of those jackasses sending emails won't even be alive. And really, how much oil is going to be left by then? Someone plow down Senator Bond with Hummer.

6/21/2007 - 9:27 am


my gues is that but 2020 self imposed standards would bring them up to somewhere near 50

6/21/2007 - 9:34 am


Senate staffers: Please tell your members to vote in favor
of the immigration bill….so these ignorant fuckers will stop calling us!!!!

6/21/2007 - 9:35 am


1.) The real problem is our foreign policy fucking shit up for farmers in central Mexico; Do the anti-immigrant folks really all think immigrants want to leave their hometowns? their whole family? all of their culture and their history and make a dangerous, expensive trip up here just for the dubious luxury of scrubbing your toilet and picking your vegetables? costing you money, my ass. The ugly little secret is that by and large Americans want things convenient and cheap and they don't want to work too hard for them. You don't want people to come to the US for jobs? fine. Put in place some decent trade agreements that don't fuck people over.2.) Why do all the fattest tourists pick the hottest month of the year to come to DC? Put the cheeseburger down! YES, you will have to walk everywhere. YES, you should have started training for this before you left Ohio, or Missouri, or whatever small midwestern town you came from. And lest I for get WALK LEFT, STAND RIGHT. wow, i feel better.

6/21/2007 - 10:03 am


Yes, the Metro in July. Honestly, is there some kind of charter that says that you must be 50 lbs overweight, dress in clothes that don't fit, and reek to high hell from all the sweat generated by walking five feet before you are allowed to tour this city. Also, don't flock like lemmings to the one escalator that is working, walk up the stairs, to the left at all times, and don't crowed around the doors, the rest of us would kike to get on as well.

6/21/2007 - 10:21 am


I’m so sick of these loons
calling about conspiracy theories….The New World Order, The North American
Union, etc…Get a life you paranoid fucks!

6/21/2007 - 10:45 am


anti-CAFErs and anti-immigration reform... examples of people who lack any vision past next week's Meet the Press.

6/21/2007 - 11:14 am
So there you have it, my fellow citizens of the Zero Party State of Electistan, how the Elite Servants view their vassals. Now, to be admitted, there are some problems with Electistanian education, but that is only after 27 years of a Dept. of Education and billions upon billions of Electistanian dollars sent into it for little value returned. And as I have worked in the District environs, during summer, I can and do say that it is hard to differentiate between the hot, smelly and overweight natives and those coming in from outside Incumbistan.

Needless to say, the poor Emirate Staff of the Congress can and does gripe about doing work that they, in actuality, applied for in the way of Elite Servant Position with the Emirate Staff. So, while they chose to do such duties, let us remember *that* as we take a look into this immigration issue a bit more deeply, as it appears to be affecting some few there, in Incumbistan:
Am I the only one who previously had an opinon on the immigration bill...and now just doesn't give damn?I used to care, but not now. Now I just want it to go way. Pass it...don't pass...just do something. At least they aren't mailing us as many bricks (to build the wall) as before.

6/19/2007 - 11:36 am


I wonder how much it cost to mail a brick from CA, AZ, NM, or TX

6/19/2007 - 11:40 am


Re: Immigration bill, your apathy is not surprising. It's difficult to maintain a high degree of excitement about legislation that is so patently absurd. Even the sponsors know it is a ridiculous canard. They are only pushing it because they are septuagenarians who will be long dead when twenty years from now - just like the 1986 bill - citizens wake up and realize that our country is in fact worse off because of their government's shortsighted immigration "reform."

6/19/2007 - 11:46 am


The whole immigration debate is ridiculous on
both sides. Constituents call and scream “Build the wall! Build the wall!”
Sure, we’ll get right on that folks. Let’s spend billions on building a wall
along the entire southern border. Then, when people still come over, under, or around
that wall….you can call and bitch us out for wasting all that money. Give me a
break…

6/19/2007 - 11:53 am


The thing with immigration is that it's completely lopsided. Those who are passionately opposed to comprehensive reform are part of a small minority. The majority of the public supports it, but doesn't really care. So there's no good way around this mess. But yes, let's move on.

6/19/2007 - 12:03 pm


The thing with immigration is that it's completely lopsided. Those who
are passionately opposed to comprehensive reform are part of a small
minority. The majority of the public supports it, but doesn't really
care. So there's no good way around this mess. But yes, let's move on
.I read somewhere that, "They have the
passion, but not the votes." Those who are against the immigration bill are
not being helped by the radical racist hiding among them. It's unfortunate that
some people are using this topic to spread hatred.

6/19/2007 - 12:07 pm


The thing with immigration is that it's completely lopsided. Those who
are passionately opposed to comprehensive reform are part of a small
minority. The majority of the public supports it, but doesn't really
care. So there's no good way around this mess. But yes, let's move on.I don't know, I think a LOT of people are starting to get annoyed by illegals and really want them out.


6/19/2007 - 12:09 pm


The immigration issue kills me. It's hard to fault immigrants who flee unfortunate circumstances to come here and work, especially when we make it so inviting and easy for them. On the other hand, there are also a lot of people illegally here from non-third world countries on expired visas who just "prefer" to live in the U.S. Well, I "prefer" not to pay my taxes, but failing to do so will certainly land me in jail. When's the last time someone proposed an amnesty for tax violators? Oh yeah, that's right it's in the Senate bill, but it only pertains to folks here illegally. The public may not all be gung ho about erecting miles of wall and deporting everyone, but they are not so stupid that the Senate bill even passes their smell test.

6/19/2007 - 12:21 pm


I'm in Maria Cantwells office....I've gotten so many calls about the immigration bill everyone wants it voted against...

6/19/2007 - 2:53 pm


No kidding. The pro:con ratio of calls is probably 1:19 here.

6/19/2007 - 2:56 pm


No kidding. The pro:con ratio of calls is probably 1:19 here.That's because the people who are "for" it are busy working and not calling Senate offices.

6/19/2007 - 3:06 pm


If I hear the words "amnesty bill" one more time, I'm going to have a fit.

6/20/2007 - 9:46 am


Every call is the exact same. 1. We don't need this new amnesty bill. 2. Enforce the laws that are already there. 3. Build the wall.

6/20/2007 - 9:56 am


So many call, so uninformed, and so racist (at least a lot of them).

6/20/2007 - 10:01 am


If Congress authorized the building of a fence along the entire southern border (which they never will...because it's an incredibly stupid idea)...they would call us complaining that we spend so much money on a wall that people still go over, under, and around.I don't think people have thought this wall concept through....

6/20/2007 - 10:10 am


really. i just don't understand it. these people come. most of them work hard, don't cause trouble, and just try to get by. let's cut them a break, make them legal, create a system that discourages more illegal immigrants from coming (e.g., employment varification), increase the number of high-skilled visas, and let's move on. it seems pretty simple.

6/20/2007 - 10:16 am


I’ve had a few calls from people saying, “Make them speak
American!” What?!? Hey fuckstick…what did you just say?

6/20/2007 - 10:20 am


What do people think about making English the official language? It's one of those issues, I think, that Democrats ought to be willing to negotiate on. It doesn't have an impact on many people's lives. It's a good symbolic gesture that doesn't really have much of a consequence. Same with prayer in the classrooms.

6/20/2007 - 10:28 am


What do people think about making English the official language? I put it right in line with the marriage amendment or the flag burning amendment....WE all know that they never have a chance of passing or won't have any real effect on anything. They only serve one real purpose...they rally the base...constiuents get active and motivated to contribute when these things come up. Why do they keep falling for it?

6/20/2007 - 10:42 am


...because Voters are stupid

6/20/2007 - 10:47 am


What do people think about making English the official language? Cualquier persona que gastado en cualquier momento fuera de los estados -- o los estados rojos para esa materia -- sepa el mundo es un lugar grande, pero americanos hablará siempre inglés.

6/20/2007 - 10:47 am


Senate staffers: Please tell your members to vote in favor
of the immigration bill….so these ignorant fuckers will stop calling us!!!!

6/21/2007 - 9:35 am


Senate staffers: Please tell your members to vote in favor
of the immigration bill….so these ignorant fuckers will stop calling us!!!!
Or, vote against and wait until something decent comes along.

6/21/2007 - 9:44 am


Or, vote against and wait until something decent comes along. Which will be another 5 years, by which point there will be 20-30 million illegal immigrants. Amnesty, at that point, will be the only choice. For the hardline, anti-immigrant crowd, it's either accept what's on the table right now, or be forced to accept something they really dislike a few years down the road.

6/21/2007 - 9:47 am


No it isn't, what we do is rolloing deportation. NOthing seeping or immediate, but hard enforcement against employers and actually deport the criminals, allow police to ask for status and deport anyone arrested, even without charged for another crime..

6/21/2007 - 9:49 am


1.) The real problem is our foreign policy fucking shit up for farmers in central Mexico; Do the anti-immigrant folks really all think immigrants want to leave their hometowns? their whole family? all of their culture and their history and make a dangerous, expensive trip up here just for the dubious luxury of scrubbing your toilet and picking your vegetables? costing you money, my ass. The ugly little secret is that by and large Americans want things convenient and cheap and they don't want to work too hard for them. You don't want people to come to the US for jobs? fine. Put in place some decent trade agreements that don't fuck people over.2.) Why do all the fattest tourists pick the hottest month of the year to come to DC? Put the cheeseburger down! YES, you will have to walk everywhere. YES, you should have started training for this before you left Ohio, or Missouri, or whatever small midwestern town you came from. And lest I for get WALK LEFT, STAND RIGHT. wow, i feel better.

6/21/2007 - 10:03 am


I’m so sick of these loons
calling about conspiracy theories….The New World Order, The North American
Union, etc…Get a life you paranoid fucks!

6/21/2007 - 10:45 am


anti-CAFErs and anti-immigration reform... examples of people who lack any vision past next week's Meet the Press.

6/21/2007 - 11:14 am
In the fine quotation about sausage making, do realize that these are the ones stuffing the ground meat into the casing. It is these individuals who get to write out sections of the bills that become law, that also field questions and flack for their Emirs, and it is these fine Elite Servants that look upon the common Electistanian as no better than a foreigner. Yes, when the Emirs say that money shall not be put up so that the laws are enforced, and that businesses should not be penalized harshly or shut down for enticing them to Electistan, then the Elite Servants begin to view the Electistanians as no better than the foreigners we are, for all that they have also come from the vassal State of Electistan to work for the Emirs of Incumbistan.

Yes, one would almost begin to suspect that to continue on with their Elite Servant status, that they help make laws and regulations as complex as possible so that only those with 'inside knowledge' can figure out how the actual Laws of the Land work. What better way to sinecure positions close to the Emirs than to make them dependent upon those that draft the laws and then have positions as lawyers to work with the laws. Something made extremely complex so that mere Electistanians without advanced training can no longer decypher outside of training for the Elite Servant positions. It is this set of Emirate Staff that helps to do that distancing and they view normal Electistanians as: ignorant, stupid, overweight, ill-dressed, uncouth, smelly, unwilling to do dirty jobs, intemperate, short-sighted, lunatic and ill-informed. With a few racists thrown in for good measure. While those breaking the laws of their Nation, the laws of our Nation and international law via Treaty are seen as fine and upstanding individuals who just happen to get stuck being scofflaws to do the work that Electistanians can't do... and which writes laws so as to encourage an entire set of businesses to so advertise jobs that Electistanians CANNOT FIND THEM:
And our goal is clearly not to find a qualified and interested U.S. worker. And you know in a sense that sounds funny, but it's what we're trying to do here. We are complying with the law fully, but ah, our objective is to get this person a green card, and get through the labor certification process. So certainly we are not going to try to find a place [at which to advertise the job] where the applicants are the most numerous. We're going to try to find a place where we can comply with the law, and hoping, and likely, not to find qualified and interested worker applicants.
Yes, such very find Elite Servants to help with making laws on that sort of thing, which then allows businesses to *not* find Electistanians who are willing to do such jobs and which then encourages foreigners to come and take those jobs. Yes, lovely are the Elite Staff to have ensured that businesses get such placement as they do not have to advertise widely to claim that Electistanians are unable to work at such jobs. Such a very efficient Elite Staff to ensure that the business friends of the Emirs can find good and solid reasons to *ignore* the people of Electistan and get cheap labor to undercut Electistanian wages in that doing.

We are quite lucky that this Elite Staff have chosen the work they have, as they are obviously unfit to defend the Nation as they can barely take having to do their PRESENT JOBS and interfacing with the Electistanian public. They do not like having to actually pass along the feelings of Electistanians and would, rather, that Electistanians: 'shut up', pay $5 to post a letter to a Emir's Office (far be it from mere Electistanians to actually contact an Emir!), and that a literacy test should be put upon Electistanians for VOTING but no test put upon FOREIGNERS wishing to break the law and come here and get a lovely Emirate Amnesty in that doing. No, we can see that foreigners actually have better standing amongst the Elite Servants than mere Electistanians.

It is a very good and wise thing that they are not out facing mere bullets, bombs and intemperate climate, but, instead, in cushy offices able to complain about having to listen to the mere complaints of Electistanians. Instead of the sounds of war in a distant land. Very wise of them, indeed, to look to be Elite Servants of the Emirs of Incumbistan.

But that is their ingrained sense of Elite Servant understanding as represented by this following exchange on their message board:
How many staffers have NOT yet read the constitution completely?

6/15/2007 - 12:18 pm


I, for one, haven't read it.

6/15/2007 - 12:21 pm


Wait, we have a constitution?

6/15/2007 - 12:21 pm


How the hell did you graduate HS or college w/ out reading the constitution!

6/15/2007 - 12:22 pm


I think so.

6/15/2007 - 12:24 pm


my High School never required it. We read some of it but never all of it, nor did we have to read the Declaration

6/15/2007 - 12:34 pm


sweet conversation

6/15/2007 - 12:34 pm


never read it, and i graduated from an ivy league school. just shows you what sort of education you get at those places.

6/15/2007 - 12:37 pm


if my intern asks me one more question, i think i'll strangle him.

6/15/2007 - 12:37 pm


How can there be people in the capitol who have yet to read it!?

6/15/2007 - 12:38 pm


your intern probably never read the constitution either...

6/15/2007 - 12:42 pm


your mom never read the constitution

6/15/2007 - 12:45 pm


Actually it was an intern who brought it up

6/15/2007 - 12:49 pm
Yes, my dear Electistanians, these High and Elite Servant Class to the Emirs of Incumbistan, who help to make the Laws of the Land are not well acquainted with the basis of those Laws, that being the Constitution. We can also see that the Great and Grand 'Ivy League Schools' are no better than Elite stamps upon the necessary documents to get into Elite Servant positions and that they convey no especial knowledge about the Constitution by being schooled at them. Indeed there is an entire Elite class that sees no reason to actually understand the Constitution and, instead, prefers to make up Laws and enforce government upon people as they are so much more learned that they are BEYOND the need to learn laws.

Or, perhaps, that is something the Incumbistanians are doing... so that there will soon be another area fit only for foreigners: drafting the Laws of the Land. And then the Electistanians will be as foreigners in our own land. Worse in actuality, as the foreigners will have more rights, privileges and means to advance than mere Electistanians.

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