Tell me I heard right on AAR:

[SammyBlue]

HML Boehner thinks that paid trips from lobbyists shouldn't be banned because they help the Congressmen get a better understanding of the outside world????

WTF?

He had to better understand Europe, Arizona and Boca Raton???

I hope the candidate I'm a writer/researcher for gets elected in Arizona District 8. I want a better understanding of Hawaii, Fiji and Greece.

MAybe I can lobby my candidate for a better understanding at my parent's condo in Cancun while I give him a great understanding of deep sea fishing while he understand how my boat works!

Jesus! WTF!!!

[Peanutcat]

1. Now that

Sounds like a good idea! Maybe I should run for office, too!

[Avalux]

2. I've heard this one too:

If lobbyists don't pay for the trips, then taxpayers will have to foot the bill. Wouldn't you rather have the lobbyists pay?

[bullimiami]

3. because graft greases the corrupt wheels of congress.

congress should not be allowed to accept gifts of any kind during their civil service.

they are already getting paid a fine salary and benefits, the rest is bribery.

[Cleita]

9. I thought there was a law about not accepting gifts.

When did that change?

[cascadiance]

4. I do think there's a place for travelling overseas...

I as a kid who grew up living as an overseas "brat" feel that that experience is so valuable to helping guide people making decisions on our foreign policy, etc. However, I don't feel that all of these "gifts" which are sending people to overseas casinos or golf trips, etc. are focused on the right things in terms of them begin valuable experiences. There has to be a better way than what we currently have in place. Congress critters are coming to expect "perks" like this as if they are their vacation "entitlements", which is wrong. If we can come up with alternative methodologies that are more practical financially, as well as not being sources of bribery, etc. I think we should put those forward in response to "Boner's boner!"...

[Ilsa]

5. How about Sierra Leone? Iran? Syria? Chechnya?

Shouldn't they be taking trips there also?

[Roland99]

6. heh heh

[marmar]

7. Bonehead is more appropriate...

Have you read this guy's pedigree? :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: It's ugly.

www.hrc.org/Template.cfm?Section=Home&CONTENTID=30883&TEMPLATE=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm

[Inland]

8. And what better way to examine local conditions than the golf courses?

Here's my solution. To get free trips to anyplace nice, they have to have ten self paid trips of at least six working days and document six hours per day in meetings in offices, seminars, or town meetings. After that, they can let lobbyists buy them all the golf trips they want.

[orwell]

10. The Outside World...

...more like the inside of a Las Vegas strip bar or a brothel in Bangkok.

Nothing like a little "fact finding junket" to tune up the old "Conservative values."