Did I just hear that the House Dems are having a retreat in Williamsburg, VA?

[Stinky The Clown]

But they're pissed at bankers for incentive blow-outs in Vegas?

How about the Dems hold their 'retreat' at some hotel ballroom in DC? Or maybe in that nice new theater in the new Capitol Visitor Center? Hell, pick the most lavish room in town and save the airfare for all of them .... and the lodging. And the non-event meals.

And the cost to fly AF1 down there for the president to address them?

Am I the only one who sees a little hypocrisy here?

[Mari333]

1. pfft. a lot of them are corporate whores too. nt

[SammyWinstonJack]

7. And proud of it!

:evilgrin:

[arcadian]

2. When? n/t

[tekisui]

4. Today.

[Lex]

44. NOT taxpayer money. NOT bailout money.

nt

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

3. Maybe they're carpooling there and sleeping under the stars.

Yeah, right.

[DrDan]

5. no - you are not the only one

and this will not be missed by the pigboy today - or inSanity - or o'lielly - or the general public

[onenote]

25. I doubt very much pigboy and company will make an issue of this

seeing as the repubs held their own retreat last weekend at the Homestead, an even tonier resort farther from DC than Williamsburg (210 miles vs. 114 miles).

[ogneopasno]

6. Airfare? For a hundred-mile trip? Are they seriously all flying?

[peace13]

8. That's what I say. Map Quest says 83 miles from the heart of DC.

If they fly their nuts! Oh wait....

[marshall]

28. Can't they ride on Air Force One with Obama?

It's a jumbo jet, for god's sake. It seems like they could all cram in (with their families and entourages) for what will probably be less than a half hour flight.

[Mist]

9. I still find it a far more modest destination than Vegas. And historical. nt

[classof56]

10. Well, the last time I went from DC to Wiliamsburg, JFK was Prez

But I seem to recall the bus trip only took a couple of hours. Maybe three, with the stops Greyhound used to make. Can't imagine where AF1 would land there--seems like WADC (Andrews, wherever they keep AF1) would be the closest anyhow.

I've been looking for a source for this report. Do you have a link?

Tired Old Cynic

[Stinky The Clown]

15. Link

MSNBC Nooz Story

I heard it on teevee.

The link is the one between my ears, my head, and my typing fingers.

[Botany]

11. air fare?

BTW a lot of Congresspersons live in VA too.

And if going back to our nation's roots helps them
get focused I am all for it.

[Captain Hilts]

12. They should go to the secure and undisclosed location on Kent Island, MD. nt

[bottomofthehill]

13. They Dont Fly and they are going to a golf resort off season

the Temp in williamsburg is 22 degrees , i dont think there is much golfing going on. Looks like a couple of days of meetings, sans distractions so they can put a logical plan on the table when they return

[Ganja Ninja]

14. Haven't they retreated enough already?

[greguganus]

46. LOL!! n/t

[LostinVA]

16. It's less than a 100 miles from DC AND it's the off season

Probably cheaper than DC.

[Stinky The Clown]

17. Not with meals, transportation, and lodging its not.

[LostinVA]

38. Williamsburg is way cheaper than DC in the off season

[marions ghost]

18. Tourism's off

I'm sure Williamsburg can use the business.

[LostinVA]

37. Thsi time of year it's really dead there, too

I lived about two hours away when I lived in VA, and this is THE time to go to the tourist sites.

[geek tragedy]

19. They've been staging plenty of retreats in Washington, so

why do they need another one?

[bottomofthehill]

20. Members pay for their own lodging

[ensho]

21. how long is this retreat? how many neo con spys will be there?

nt

[bullwinkle428]

22. They are NOT FLYING - they have a chartered Amtrak train

to take them all as a group...

"Since 2005, the caucus has chartered an Amtrak train to ferry members to the Kingsmill resort. It costs roughly $70,000 each year for the Amtrak charter. Democratic aides argue it’s necessary so that members can spend time together and not end up taking separate cars and arriving at staggered times. Traveling by train also helps ensure the safety of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who is second in the line of succession to the presidency and requires constant security detail. In this case, the source said, security helicopters fly above the train."

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/500k-spent-on-dem-caucus-retreats-2009-02-03.html

[classof56]

24. Thanks for the clarification. Appreciate it.

Taking issue with this retreat is not a hill I'd be willing to die on, what with all the major problems that need to be fixed...but probably that's just me...

[Stinky The Clown]

26. I pitty your inability to hold two thoughts up at the same time.

:eyes:

[classof56]

30. Not sure what the word "pitty" means--I suspect just a typo on your part.

However, there was NO reason for you to to take issue with what I said in such an insulting way. I will be 71 in a couple of days, but I do quite nicely holding two and even more thoughts "up" (whatever that means) at the same time. I've just learned, in my many years of living, to prioritize and that's what I'm doing. No need to take this any further, Stinky, because I am as of this moment adding you to my ignore list. Pity, actually--I've enjoyed some of your posts through the years.

Best wishes.

Tired Old Cynic

[Stinky The Clown]

27. It is still cheaper to use a large room in DC and have them get there on their own ...

.... just like they do to get to work.

W save every taxpayer dime of the transportation and every taxpayer dime of non-event meals and every taxpayer dime of lodging.

[marshall]

29. They're also taking their families

It's basically a paid vacation for the family, partners, and entourages. I guess they need to be in a peaceful out of the way location with their families in order to get their work done.

[bottomofthehill]

39. the taxpayers don't pay for the lodging

[bullwinkle428]

23. One thing about this that DOES piss me off - including Steve Ballmer

(Microsoft CEO) as a guest speaker, to discuss "stimulating the economy through technology and innovation"! :rofl:

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/500k-spent-on-dem-caucus-retreats-2009-02-03.html

Gee, Uncle Fester...what is your idea of technology and innovation? The Zune? Vista? Tell us, oh great one!

[jillan]

31. Obama and Biden are going too.

[onenote]

32. yes, the Democrats are holding their retreat in Williamsburg

They are not flying there -- its only 114 miles from DC.

And it follows by one week the repubs retreat, which was held at the Homestead Resort in Hot Springs,VA, if anyone cares.

[KharmaTrain]

33. It's Probably Cheaper In Williamsburg...

Just imagine the cost for a ballroom or conference room in downtown DC...I'll bet the Williamsburg rates are even cheaper than going to the Holiday Inn in Fairfax or Morninside (forget about Bethesda). Plus it may not be a bad thing for them to get away...that air inside the beltway can be toxic when inhaled for too long.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

34. Oy Vey.

[progressivebydesign]

35. Umm. Williamsburg is like a car ride away from D.C.

Virginia - do you realize it's right next to D.C.? right? Retreats are not illegal now, and it's not like they're going to Hawaii. The very nature of a "retreat" is to "retreat" somewhere, away from distractions so you can focus. I have no problem with Williamsburg. It's keeping the $$ in the Country, AND you wouldn't FLY AF-1 to Virginia, it's a car ride for the President.

[Stinky The Clown]

36. Actually, it was announced that this will be his first ........

... trip on AF1 ..... which is what caught my ear.

No, I have no problem with AF1 being used. It is about the security for him. And I'm fully okay with keeping him safe.

No one is going by car.

[bottomofthehill]

40. lots of people went by car....

[Stinky The Clown]

42. Yeah?

Who?

[bottomofthehill]

45. Many of the VIrginia, Maryland, North Carolina and even a Member from South Carolina

Many others flew in from their districts at their own expense.

[Jakes Progress]

41. Not having a retreat - They are in retreat.

Surrender before your lose your majority seems to be their motto.

[Lex]

43. NOT taxpayer money. NOT bailout money.

Big difference.

[Hannah Bell]

47. They are devising new ways to screw their base while talking out one side of their mouth.

"No, really, it'll be different this time, honey!"