Why does the Senate get a month long recess when our troops in Iraq don't?

[Telly Savalas]

They're getting paid more, they have air conditioning, and they don't have to deal with IED's.

They should get off their lazy fucking asses and do their damn jobs.

[displacedtexan]

1. Constituents to see, parades to march in...

At least, the Rs won't have a very good time at home this year!

[Davis_X_Machina]

2. They could stand spending more time...

...not less, in their districts. Otherwise they tend to forget whom they're representing. Put another way, a recess is not a vacation.

[Telly Savalas]

10. I'd agree with you if the Senate could point to a long list of quality bills they've passed

in the last 6 months.

And how much of the time in their districts is spent with normal people as opposed to monied interests?

[displacedtexan]

20. You're absolutely correct. (I live in DC.)

I just wish they could stay and fight BushCo this year.

[BlooInBloo]

3. Because being a senator is different from being a soldier?

[Just-plain-Kathy]

4. Telly, I'm with you. ....n/t

[movonne]

5. I sure agree on that...they put the Iraq's down for taking a month off

and they do the same thing...there is so much to do in Washington, it is no time to take a vacation..

[ORDagnabbit]

6. and get better health care and better pensions and can lie with no accountability?

[robcon]

7. It's a recess, not a vacation.

Many will take a vacation. Most will spend time in their home districts and states, instead of Washington.

Part of their "damn jobs" does not revolve around Washington, DC.

[Telly Savalas]

14. So they'll be in their home district visiting normal people

so they can understand their concerns and represent them?

If this was what happened, I could buy it, but we all know that with rare exceptions time spent in the district is either down time or time spent schmoozing with potential big campaign donors.

The Senate has achieved almost nothing in the last 6 months, so they ought to stay in DC until they have something to show for it.

[robcon]

16. Some will, some won't, be working in their districts.

The OP, which snarkily assumed the recess was a vacation, was simply dead wrong, IMO.

[VP505]

8. Give them a

break they had that all nighter and the poor babies are exhausted, they need a month off to rest up before their next 10 days off for labor day.

[emulatorloo]

9. So my Republican Congress Persons can COME HEAR A PIECE OF MY MIND eom

[dorkulon]

11. This is a comment on the criticism of the Iraqi parliament's vacation, right?

If so, I've been thinking the same thing.

[bigtree]

17. of course that criticism involves Iraqi politicians leaving the heat of their country

while our soldiers are fighting and dying to hold their places in government.

It's the republicans who have set up the excuse that our soldiers need to stay in place to give the Iraqi government 'room' to get on with their politics. It's more than obscene for them to walk away from that task while our soldiers are stuck in full body gear and armor in the heat they're escaping.

[dorkulon]

22. Still don't see how it doesn't apply equally to Congress.

Is it because it's not as hot here?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

12. campaign financing takes priority.

[bigtree]

13. I don't think it's a vacation in the sense you're presenting it

they go back home to their constituent offices and organize their official affairs there. It's more that the official Congress is closed, rather than it represents time off for the legislators.

And, I don't believe their jobs are such that the majority deserve to be called lazy.

[Junkdrawer]

15. Actually, Reid has said he won't OFFICIALLY recess the Senate...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1440179&mesg_id=1440191

The House, however, is a different story....
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1433173

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

18. They Are Doing Their Jobs.

And if you don't think that their spending time in their own communities with their own constituents is part of their jobs, then I feel for you.

Being a Senator or Congressperson does not mean being on the Hill all the time.

I mean, you did know that didn't you?

[TwilightGardener]

21. Agreed. They have to go back to their home states and do their

thing there. I think the comparison to Iraq's Parliament is dumb--Iraq's government is a jeopardized fledgling that is propped up by our soldiers' blood. I'm pretty sure we, by contrast, can live without the House and Senate for three weeks.

[mondo joe]

19. You may not care if your reps come back to their district, but many of us do.

Thank you.

[Grandrose]

23. Absolutely fair question!

I support our Democrats in Congress, however; I feel ashame and sad that the troops and families are the only ones really making the big sacrifices!
It would have been only right to at least cut the August recess and show solidarity with them!
If their tour of duty has to be extended in hostile and hot environment, four weeks in comfortable air conditioning is nothing!
I have no family member in the military, but my heart hurts for them!:patriot: :kick: