Lens Lice.
Congress has just gotten back to “work,†and Jon Corzine, our senator and wannabe governor, is traveling with a bi-partisan congressional delegation** to the four countries in Southeast Asia hardest hit by the tsunami. It is being billed as a “fact-finding†mission.
Excuse me while I meander off to the bathroom to hurl.
I cannot help but wonder what sort of “facts†these people expect to “find†that could not have been found just as well by reading the news and taking advantage of the additional information resources available to senators and members of congress.
According to Frank Pallone, a New Jersey congressman, the trip will provide him with an opportunity “to see how best to install an early warning system in the region to prevent another disaster.†I had no idea that Frank Pallone was “Mr. Underwater Tectonic Plate Guy of the World,†who will be able to sort out this whole tsunami warning system thingy while eating a catered boxed lunch on the beach.
Senator Corzine said that the trip will be an opportunity for the members of the delegation “to express our compassion.†I wonder if he seriously believes that people who have lost everything and who have nothing to eat or drink would prefer to see a helicopter full of federal legislators brimming over with compassion rather than a helicopter full of food, water and medicine.
I expect that the presence of these politicos will only serve to interrupt the work of people who are presently on the ground actually providing aid to the victims of this catastrophe, while these congressional “fact finders†pose in their new Banana Republic outfits for pictures that they hope will find their way to the newspapers, but which will certainly be featured in their constituent newsletters.
They should stay home where they can be just as useless, but at least they won’t be in anyone’s way.
** Accompanying Senator Corzine will be republican Senator Sam Brownbeck of Kansas, New Jersey Congressmen Christopher Smith (republican) and Frank Pallone (democrat), and republican Congressman Jim Leach of Iowa.
Maybe he should go to Darfur instead to “assess” the situation and see if his $680 million aid package is being spent appropriately for the 1.2 million homeless people. He could put on his powder blue helmet and express his compassion to the dead of West Africa. Oh shit, that’s right, CNN isn’t giving it 24/7 coverage. Never mind.
You would think the guy would have more confidence in the U.N. to handle these things on their own.
At least he’s spending his personal money for the trip. I’m just thankful he’ll be out of the country so that he can’t do any more damage here. You think Hillary would like to go with him?
Comment by Dan — January 6, 2005 @ 10:56 pm
Ding, ding, ding! Good answer, good answer!
I’ve often wondered what politicians thought they were accomplishing with these kinds of stunts, myself – other than raising rubbernecking to new and disgusting heights.
Comment by DMerriman — January 6, 2005 @ 11:58 pm
The whole international “summit” was more of the same crapola. How much farookin’ dough did they spend flying goddam U.N. translators in to talk into Colin Powell’s headphones? Some guy from Bangladesh is talking, and they need some guy in a suit to let Colin know in real time that he’s saying “Holy sh*t, this is bad”???? That money could have fed some people.
Whaddya know, politicians are dirtbags.
Comment by Jack Bog — January 7, 2005 @ 1:58 am
The point that I don’t get is how in New Jersey do our 2 useless U.S. Senators get a pass on the Federal government cutting Homeland Security dollars to N.J. by 35%? Senile Frank Lautenberg and John ” How many millions does it cost to be a U.S.Senator? ” Corzine clearly have fumbled the ball when the time came for our tax dollars to be returned to the Garden State.
Corzine has publicly admitted his boredom with the Senate and now is figuring out how many of his millions he has to spend to be the next Governor. Frank Lautenberg, another millionaire with nothing in common with the people of the State, is in the left lane with his blinker on. And Acting Governor Codey is wondering how we got screwed in Washigton.
Our millionaire Senators: one a humorless Woodstock horsehead, and the other a senile buffoon with a bad combover, neither one who could tell you the price of a gallon of gas.
Comment by cousin gary — January 7, 2005 @ 8:07 am
Jim, in defense of Mr. Pallone, he is likely one of the more knowledgeable people on the panet in terms of “ocean” issues. He is largely responsible for the significantly cleaner waters both offshore and inshore in NJ. He likely has some expertise in all sorts of coastal weather. I disagree with him on more than not, but in terms of our water, he has done NJ quite well.
Comment by Joseph — January 7, 2005 @ 10:48 am
“Our millionaire Senators: one a humorless Woodstock horsehead, and the other a senile buffoon with a bad combover, neither one who could tell you the price of a gallon of gas.”
Cousin Gary rocks.
Comment by Jim - Parkway Rest Stop — January 7, 2005 @ 11:56 am
For the early warning installation team, Scuba Steve and Aquaman get my vote. Oh yeah, Flipper too.
Comment by RedNeck — January 7, 2005 @ 1:15 pm