I wish the whole country would not show up to work on August 3rd!!

[KansasVoter]

They let's see if Congress would go back to work.

Why is the MSM not riding their asses over this month off?

[Speck Tater]

1. Especially firemen, ambulance drivers, ER docs, ... nt

[4lbs]

2. Hmmm... I wonder how many people would die that day because essential personnel decided

not to show up for work?

Then, how many lawsuits would they and the hospitals face from their families?

[KansasVoter]

3. Too literal dubmass!

[4lbs]

5. You are the one that wants the entire country to not work for an entire day, and you are

calling me a "dubmass" ?

"entire country" would include essential medical and rescue personnel right?

Did you think of all that would entail?

There are about 5000 car accidents every day.

[donheld]

18. You are not a dubmass, but you are being a dumb ass on this.

[NoPasaran]

10. Rarely is it asked, how quickly can a thread reach critical dubmass?

[Sarah Ibarruri]

4. Congress should be taking 2 weeks vacation, like most of this country gets....

Why should they get special benefits anyway? (Regardless of what ahs they are holding up the health bill that is so desperately needed by everyone).

[4lbs]

6. Congress can't even show up to vote on every bill that hits the House or Senate floor.

Evidently, being paid six figures to simply take 15 minutes to push a YEA/NAY button several times a day (at most) is too much for them.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

9. Why are they allowed to not show up? nt

[4lbs]

11. I'm saying they choose not to show up sometimes.

There are House votes where not all 435 members vote.

Just like the bill that reaffirmed Hawaii and Barack Obama yesterday. 378 votes, out of 435 possible.

55 House reps chose to stay away, 35 of them Democrats! What was more important to those Democrats than voting to reaffirm the leader of their party's citizenship?

As far as I am concerned, EVERY House bill should have all 435 votes, and every Senate bill should have 100 votes.

The only possible exception I make is for serious medical issues, like what Senator Kennedy and Byrd are facing.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

16. I agree nt

[Seldona]

12. Agreed. That is complete bs.

They also avoid votes that might harm their careers in the future, abandoning much needed legislation in the process of covering their own asses.

They should have to be at work eight hours a day, five days a week. Vacations are fine, but stagger them so there are no more shut-downs. Votes can be made from other locations.

[4lbs]

13. I've thought that Congress should be allowed to take advantage of present technology and say, oh,

video record their vote if they can't make it to the floor to push the button(s).

Just power up a video camera and say, "I, Senator <so and so> from the State of <whatever>, hereby vote YEA/NAY on Senate Resolution <insert number here> on this day, <July 28, 2009 for example>."

Then hand that video off to an authorized intern to deliver to the floor.

With the prevalence of cell phone cameras, it's easy actually.

[Seldona]

19. Agreed.

I don't think the same problems exist as they would for electronic voting for elections. It could be done safely and securely.

[Beacool]

7. I get 4 weeks

:shrug:

I know, I know, no one likes a wise guy.....

:D

[Hippo_Tron]

8. Unless they are lazy or don't care, it isn't really a vacation

They are supposed to be using the time to have town halls and other meetings with their constituents. Part of representing people means you need to take time to listen to their concerns.

[DavidDvorkin]

14. I'll do my part!

But I'm unemployed, so it's easy for me.

[rucky]

15. Ha! All of the bought-off Congresscritters will be non-stop guests

on their shows.

[masuki bance]

17. I love threads where new words are born. "Dubmass!" is hilarious!. nt