Foley's Staff Left in Limbo (Layoffs In GopLand!) --WaPo

[Demeter]

GET YOUR FRESH, SWEET SCHADENFREUDE RIGHT HERE!



http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/16/AR2006101601105.html

Foley's Staff Left in Limbo
After Scandal, Workers in District and Florida Are at a Loss

By Elizabeth Williamson
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 17, 2006; A19



One minute you're a congressional aide with a corridor reputation as a rising star. Then, in the space of hours, you're locked out, at least temporarily, of the opportunities you worked long hours for little pay to earn.

That's what is happening to the 16 men and women working in Republican Mark Foley's offices in Washington and in Florida's 16th District.

On Sept. 29, Foley's staff, half of them in Washington, began what they thought would be a routine Friday morning. They took calls, greeted visitors, and in Florida, worked on Foley's reelection bid. All business as usual, until the afternoon, when salacious online messages their boss sent to underage pages appeared on TV. In the space of "oh, 20 minutes," says one staffer, all 16 were cast adrift.

"We have tried to be there for each other," said Jason Kello, Foley's spokesman. "Everyone's just now able to pop their heads up and see what the next steps are going to be."

It happens. A member of Congress dies, resigns, loses an election, and staffers must start anew. But over the past year or so, scandal and legal problems have chewed deeply into the beehive of Hill offices, leaving about 100 mostly Republican staffers at least temporarily unemployed.

[aquart]

1. "Little pay"?

Those are Congressional standards, right?

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

2. I Feel Soooooooo Sorry For Them

It might be tough finding new offices to SHILL for, especially if the repubs are voted out of office.

Yeah, like I feel bad for these ASSHOLES that worked for and supported this Degenerate.

[BOSSHOG]

3. Hopefully the economy will get kinda rocky for

republican staffers in the next month.

[MADem]

4. These assholes have their jobs until the new congress is sworn in

So don't feel sorry for them.

How many people here had MONTHS before their pink slip kicked in? Time where they could go to the office, polish that resume, send it out, call potential employers, take that long lunch to go interview for a new job??

Most people get two weeks if they're LUCKY. These people get MONTHS. Until the new rep is elected and seated, they have a paycheck. Start saving, assholes.

Screw them.

[Mist]

5. Why does a Congressman need a staff of 16? Just asking. nt