Why is congress on another break?

[spartan61]

They just came back to "work" on January 15 after their Christmas break. Do they really need another one? What is this one for? President's Day?????

[Dr. Strange]

1. Congressin' is hard work.

:shrug:

[HCE SuiGeneris]

3. Damnit!

I was sooo there for that answer... :mad:

[MadMaddie]

2. It's longer than a week...If the American people cannot get

a long break than Congress shouldn't either. This is the kind of thing that has to change they work for us therefore they should work like we have to.

[fenriswolf]

7. seriously if i have to work 60 + hours

they should.

[jwirr]

4. This is not a "Break", they shut congress down over the indictments

and as a way of keeping the FISA bill from passing. This is the first time the have stood up for something for God's sake.

[spartan61]

6. It was the repukes who walked out, not the Democrats.

Why can't the Democrats continue with business as usual? Imagine all the good things they can accomplish without the repukes to stop them? Of course I know Holy Joe and some others would try to stop them.

[Muttocracy]

12. no, poster above is right - it's at least in part a stand on FISA

the repukes outdoor press conference is not the same as shutting down the house (and shutting up the Rep. members) for a while

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/15/washington/15fisa.html

House Leaves Surveillance Law to Expire

By CARL HULSE
Published: February 15, 2008

WASHINGTON — The House broke for a week’s recess Thursday without renewing terrorist surveillance authority demanded by President Bush, leading him to warn of risky intelligence gaps while Democrats accused him of reckless fear mongering.

The refusal of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Democrat of California, to schedule a vote on a surveillance measure approved Tuesday by the Senate touched off an intense partisan conflict over the national security questions that have colored federal elections since 2002 and are likely to play a significant role again in November.

Trying to put pressure on Democrats, Mr. Bush offered to delay a trip to Africa to resolve the dispute and warned that failure to extend the expanded power under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which expires Saturday, could hamper efforts to track terrorists.

“Our intelligence professionals are working day and night to keep us safe,” Mr. Bush said, “and they’re waiting to see whether Congress will give them the tools they need to succeed or tie their hands by failing to act.”

But Ms. Pelosi and other House Democrats said Mr. Bush and Congressional Republicans were at fault because they had resisted temporarily extending the bill to allow disagreements to be worked out. Democrats would not be bullied into approving a measure they considered flawed, she said.

“The president knows full well that he has all the authority he needs to protect the American people,” said Ms. Pelosi, who then referred to President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s admonition about fearing only fear itself. “President Bush tells the American people that he has nothing to offer but fear, and I’m afraid that his fear-mongering of this bill is not constructive.”

The decision by the House Democratic leadership to let the law lapse is the greatest challenge to Mr. Bush on a major national security issue since the Democrats took control of Congress last year.

Last summer, Democrats allowed the surveillance law to be put in place for six months although many of them opposed it. They have also relented in fights over spending on the Iraq war under White House pressure. But with Mr. Bush rated low in public opinion polls as he enters the last months of his presidency, Democrats are showing more willingness to challenge him.

(more at the link)

[MasonJar]

5. They are going home to communicate with their constituents, which is a good thing.

They need to hear what we think outside the Beltway.

[Stinky The Clown]

8. Presidents' Day ... and to rest after they scared themselves shitless standing up to MonkeyBoy

Standing up to Repubics is unknown territory for this crowd.

[postulater]

9. Teacher's conventions

[williesgirl]

10. Haven't heard. Any plans to keep the Senate open to block recess appts?

[Muttocracy]

11. I think they keep having pro forma sessions

must be somebody from Virginia or Maryland coming in and doing that?

[KharmaTrain]

16. Yep...They're In Pro-Forma Session

Acutally there will be a House session on Tuesday morning. Some Congresscritter will walk in, call the house to order, crickets will chirp and House will be adjourned until Friday. In the mantime boooshie boy fumes as he can't spy on people's phone calls and emails.

[warren pease]

13. Because caving in every single day takes its toll on your spine and lower back muscles...

..and a little R&R is necessary a few times a year. I'm amazed that Pelosi can still walk for all that bending and scraping she does. Must be in great shape. Maybe it's the botox.

Or, if last Thursday wasn't an anomaly but ushers in a new combative strategy in the war against BushCo, then I'll stand corrected.

I hope it's the latter because their present "strategy" is so lame, so cowardly and so inexplicable that they stand a good chance of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory and blowing it all this November.

At least Pelosi wouldn't be speaker any more, although loss of the presidency, both chambers of Congress and the few remaining federal judiciary seats not already occupied by Federalist Society wingnut maniacs would be far too steep a price to pay, even to rid the house of her so-called leadership.


wp

[havocmom]

14. Part of their job is to spend time at home with constituents

You do want a Congressional Rep who checks up on what is going on, don't you?

[VP505]

15. Yes,

because we all know how much they care about what we think.:sarcasm:

[havocmom]

17. Hey, my GOP congress critter is taking different stands than he used to.

He hears us and sees the writing on the wall. I am glad he comes home now and then to face us. He actually voted for some things lately he used to be against.

If your's doesn't do the same, then work to fire the poser.

Or is it just easier to piss and moan?

Democracy is NOT a spectator sport. If your congressman doesn't care what you think, get together with a lot of other people and MAKE them care. Or replace them.

[NMMNG]

18. Wasting our tax dollars on useless resolutions is hard work

:shrug: