Neil Abercrombie v Steve the Steel Worker - What IS Wrong With America?

[shugah]

Pelosi is set to square off against Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii), the power-lifting chairman of the House gym committee.

Abercrombie is touting his efforts to secure funding in the legislative branch spending bill to begin an estimated $8 million renovation of the House gym. The project is personally important to Abercrombie, who sets a yearly goal to bench-press 200 pounds more than his age, now 69.

Pelosi and other Democratic leaders are not eager for a multimillion-dollar renovation of the congressional members-only gym to be one of the first accomplishments of the Democratic majority. They worry that freshman Democrats could be attacked on the campaign trail next year for approving a fancy new gym for themselves after winning office.
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/pelosi-arm-wrestles-over-cash-for-the-house-gym-2007-08-08.html

From the "debate" last evening:

Steve, a retired steel worker who was forced to retire due to a disability and who lost his pension and health care coverage for his family asks "What's wrong with America?"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaBvGEklBvg

is it really so difficult to figure this out? jc on a th! <scream!!!> 8 million f**king dollars! and no health coverage for Steve's wife and family.

really, why is this so hard for our elected representatives to figure out?

i know a whole lot more Steve's than elected reps. i admire Steve - he is still hoping for an answer.

[countmyvote4real]

1. Aloha, HI.

Don't let your probem be our problem.

[shugah]

2. cool! and don't let yours be ours! ;-)

:toast:

i'm sure there is no one like Steve over there in hawaii.

[countmyvote4real]

10. self delete

[shugah]

3. n/t double post

unexpected double post

[countmyvote4real]

4. No problem here.

My NYC rep is cool so far. HRC is another problem altogether. I cannot support her in our primary and will have to hold my nose or stay out in the general.

Do you have a candidate to run against your gym freak in a primary?

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. Actually this gym freak is one of the most progressive

members of the House...

I learned this since he represented me while I lived in Hawaii thanks to uncle sam

[countmyvote4real]

6. So is the House gym as bleak as Walter Reade?

What's up with this?

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. The man told you

he likes to bench press

:-)

granted, they should get other priorities first, and I am sure they can get that gym renovated for far less

But Neil is one of the good guys... and his staff are quite experienced and they actually listen, a welcome change from my local rep... even if she is a D

[shugah]

8. okay... ... BUT

8 million for gym equipment when millions have no health care? i love the one of my dem senator, but i don't think he has a clue about how the rest of us live...

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. As i said, they could probably do it for a lot less

But you are barkign at the wrong tree

Now insofar as most of these folks not being in contact with how the rest of us live... you can say that twenty times over.

And a hundred times, perhaps even a thousand times

But eight million... though a tad steep for a gym, is nothing compared with what we are spending in Iraq.... this is the Right Wing finding a talking point to go after dems, (who I will not defend in their ultmate actions, like FISA), just for the sake of attacking on distractions

And yes, the gym is a distraction, since that is a faciltiy that needs to be maintained, like any other facility