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by Frank James
Joe Shoemaker, press secretary to Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), the Senate Majority Whip, must've gotten a lot of questions today about the cots. So he provided a helpful, playful press release in Q & A format. I pass it along for your edification.
While the United States Senate deals with some big issues -- war, natural disasters, impeachments (and before the intrepid correspondents from the Washington Times ask, I am not suggesting anything, I am making a historical reference. Really.) -- no issue truly compares to this cot thing, now does it?!
So as a public service, I present:
COTS II: RETURN OF THE BEDI
Q: So did anyone use the cots?
A: Yes. Quite a few folks did . . . in fact, between the cots that were set up in the LBJ Room and the comfy couches in the Marble Room (right off the Senate floor) at least 5-6 Democratic senators slept within steps of the Senate floor. Also, Senator Reid and Senator McConnell slept on cots that were set up by the Sergeant-at-Arms in their Capitol offices. And Senator Durbin slept on the couch in his Capitol office. In addition, a number of senators slept in the Capitol in their hideaway offices. Most senators went back to their offices and crashed on various articles of furniture there.
Q: This is huge news! Who slept on the cots?
A: Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and two other Democratic senators who have asked not to be named slept on the cots in the LBJ room. And don't forget . . . Senator Reid and Senator McConnell slept on cots that were set up by the Sergeant-at-Arms in their Capitol offices.
Q: Who is refusing to divulge their identities? And why are they being like this!?
A: Although I begged and pleaded that you had a right to know, they seem all hung up on this "dignity" and "pivacy" stuff.
Q: This is great stuff Joe! Any more dish related to the cots?
A: Great follow up question. And it just so happens I have a funny story. While the cots are controlled by the Sergeant-at-Arms, once they were set up in the LBJ room, they were technically under the control of the Majority Leader (he controls access to the LBJ Room). So when Sen. McConnell requested that a cot be set up in his office (as is the tradition with both the Minority and Majority Leaders) he had to either send for another cot from the storage facility in Cheverly or ask Sen. Reid for one of his cots. He asked Sen. Reid. And with love in our hearts and a smile on our faces, we sent him the pick of the litter.
Noting the Minority Leader's mood on the floor this morning however, I believe he may have gotten up on the wrong side of that cot . . . but that's just a personal observation.
Q: This cot story has captivated the imagination of my editors and my producers -- can I get more footage today?
A: It is with a heavy heart that I report to you that the cots have left the building. Turns out, they use that LBJ room for more than just sleeping (though having been to a few policy lunches back in the day, I am not willing to stand by the complete accuracy of that statement.)
Q: So how much sleep did you get, Joe?
A: As much as some on the other side have derided the last 24 hours as "cheap theatrics" I have discovered some very profound truths: 1) sleep is overrated; 2) three shots of expresso followed by a Red Bull chaser could literally wake the dead; and 3) when they say the Capitol press corp is the hardest working group of reporters in DC, they are right (although I have pictures of Carl Hulse in pink footy pajamas that I will be selling on e-Bay.)
Comments
Frank James:
Following the gist of this interview, the most obvious question you didn't ask was,
"Who is in bed with whom"?
For the party line responders, remember "ALL" Politicians from the past are fair game.
Taking a shot at one will definitely get a response about another.
Posted by: PG | July 18, 2007 5:20 PM
I'm sure our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, who would love to have one night's sleep on cots in air-conditioned office buildings, will sympathize with Durbin's press secretary.
Posted by: Bruce | July 18, 2007 5:26 PM
I think the Republicans in the Senate should be forced to sleep on cots and work 24/7 in 103 temps so they can get a little taste of what their forcing our troops in Iraq to do,
Posted by: John E | July 18, 2007 5:57 PM
I'm sure our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, who would love to have one night's sleep on cots in air-conditioned office buildings, will sympathize with Durbin's press secretary.
Posted by: Bruce | July 18, 2007 5:26 PM
Hey, we'll be able to set up cots for them in the Iraqi parliament building for all of August. There won't be anyone else using the building.
Posted by: Tony | July 18, 2007 6:07 PM
Doug, so what do you think of Dickie Durbin's press secretary being so funny about the all-nighter, which was about how much longer our troops will be in Iraq?
Posted by: John D | July 18, 2007 7:01 PM
What a hardship for the Democrats. Ever visit one of their offices? They're just slightly more luxurious than a 5-star hotel, complete with stocked bar. The cots were only a taxpayer-financed
charade. What did we do to deserve these
jokers?
Posted by: Addison | July 18, 2007 10:14 PM
Doug, so what do you think of Dickie Durbin's press secretary being so funny about the all-nighter, which was about how much longer our troops will be in Iraq
Posted by John D July 18, 2007 7:01 PM
BiFF,
I'd say that the press secretary is laughing at the sad sack Republican's and their cheerleaders like you who are being made out as fools on a national stage for continuing to support Prez Chimpys already failed Iraq policy.
"Stay The Course", Little Johnny Drummerboy.
Posted by: John E | July 18, 2007 10:23 PM
Dick(turban)Durbin...as he calls our young military hero's the same as...
"Nazis,Pol pot,Soviet Gulags...
Our soldiers have put their life on the line for this [scum][bag][moron] to have free speech.
HELLO ILLINOIS..VOTE HIM OUT!
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | July 19, 2007 1:42 AM
More astounding insight from Mr. One Flew Out of the Cuckoo's Nest John E:
BiFF,
I'd say that the press secretary is laughing at the sad sack Republican's and their cheerleaders like you who are being made out as fools on a national stage for continuing to support Prez Chimpys already failed Iraq policy.
"Stay The Course", Little Johnny Drummerboy.
Posted by: John E | July 18, 2007 10:23 PM
John E., there is a mental health facility in Elgin. I strongly urge you to check in.
Posted by: John D | July 19, 2007 8:41 AM
The Senate debates and votes. Key senators will listen to Gen Petraeus via Pentagon teleconference today. And the White House has announced it will step up its lobbying on behalf of the surge on Capitol Hill.
Isn't this all bass-ackwards?
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport | July 19, 2007 9:27 AM
Dickie Durbin's office can't get enough publicity it's 24/7 pretty much.
A guy named Mike Moseley of Sherman, IL wrote a letter to the editor in the State J-R today saying Durbin is attempting to place part of the amnesty bill in the upcoming defense bill HR 1585 Durbin's amendment is titled the Dream Act. Moseley says that Durbin has chosen to deceive the American people by placing this amendment in a defense bill to hide the legislation from voters.
Durbin suggests the legislation is needed because it invites illegals to join the military but, there is no mandate.
Amazingly Durbin's Dream Act removes all temporary status , giving lawful permanent status and the illegal is granted a green card making him or she legal.
The Dream Act makes it easy for just about any illegal, even one who doesn't qualify for amnesty to evade the law. Once the illegal files any application the federal government is prohibited from deporting him. More importantly, federal officers are prohibited from using information from the illegal to deport him. This comes with the threat of a $10,000 fine.
Moseley goes on to say you should call your congressman and Senators to take action to stop Durbin's bill from becoming law. Moseley said this won't be over until Durbin's out of office and replaced with congress people who advocate building a wall.
I am not surprised at Durbin's Dream Act but for all Americans this is a bad dream indeed. Jerry White, Springfield, IL
Posted by: Jerry White | July 19, 2007 10:26 AM
I'd say that the press secretary is laughing at the sad sack Republican's and their cheerleaders like you who are being made out as fools on a national stage for continuing to support Prez Chimpys already failed Iraq policy.
"Stay The Course", Little Johnny Drummerboy.
Posted by: John E | July 18, 2007 10:23 PM
Al-Qeda and the Looney Left both are starting to realize the worm is turning over there, and so they must work EXTRA hard at regaining their momentum. The cheerleading and the investment in our defeat over in Iraq by the far left is embarrassing and disgraceful. This only underscores the lengths these pathetically foolish nay-sayers will go to, to ensure our defeat, solely for partisan purposes. They never quite got over Al Gores' and John Kerrys' defeats. Their behavior is that of schoolchildren, Al-Qedas' behavior is understandable, they would like to eliminate us.
Posted by: Don B | July 19, 2007 10:33 AM
John D.,
Don B. "looney left" is cutting in on your action.
Don't you have a copyright or trademark on that?
P.S. Don B.,
Google "English grammar possessive rule," you'll be glad you did.
Posted by: Doug Zook | July 19, 2007 10:42 AM
Al-Qeda and the Looney Left both are starting to realize the worm is turning over there, and so they must work EXTRA hard at regaining their momentum. The cheerleading and the investment in our defeat over in Iraq by the far left is embarrassing and disgraceful. This only underscores the lengths these pathetically foolish nay-sayers will go to, to ensure our defeat, solely for partisan purposes. They never quite got over Al Gores' and John Kerrys' defeats. Their behavior is that of schoolchildren, Al-Qedas' behavior is understandable, they would like to eliminate us.
Posted by: Don B | July 19, 2007 10:33 AM
What a Paulo-esque posting. FUBAR Bushco has left us in just as much peril as we were on 9-10-01 because he is an idiot. Oops, is that too PC for you?
Posted by: chimpymcflightsuit'snavigator | July 19, 2007 10:52 AM
This only underscores the lengths these pathetically foolish nay-sayers will go to, to ensure our defeat, solely for partisan purposes.
Posted by: Don B | July 19, 2007 10:33 AM
Nay-sayers? How about nay-doers! You've had five years and things are worse not better. You guys bungled at every turn, you are incompetent. Now like children, you ask...please mommy, just a little more time. You have done more harm to America than Al-Queada could ever have done.
Posted by: bill r. | July 19, 2007 10:54 AM
Bruce posted:
"I'm sure our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, who would love to have one night's sleep on cots in air-conditioned office buildings, will sympathize with Durbin's press secretary.
Posted by: Bruce | July 18, 2007 5:26 PM "
Bruce, please tell us which political party the president belonged to when he sent troops into Iraq back in 2003.
Posted by: BC | July 19, 2007 11:36 AM
Doug, Don B can use Loony Left anytime he wants. You see, it is certifiable fact that most of those on the Left are Loony. Loony Left is like Kleenex, there may be a vatiety of brands, but no matter the brand, everyone calls it Kleenex. Loony Left is what it is.
Posted by: John D | July 19, 2007 12:09 PM