Lawmakers Attend Picnic at White House

[kskiska]

WASHINGTON -- President Bush, frustrated that some of his legislative initiatives are stalled in Congress, was all smiles Wednesday evening as he hosted a congressional picnic where jugglers and a merry-go-round turned the South Lawn into a carnival.

"I want to thank you for your hard work. I want to thank for your devotion to your constituents and to our country," said Bush, who is trying to get Congress to embrace his ideas for changing Social Security, pass an energy bill and back other items on his legislative agenda. "I look forward to continuing to work with you as we serve the American people."

(snip)

Bush arrived at the picnic in shirt sleeves and no tie. Vice President Dick Cheney came wearing a navy blazer, which he quickly shed as he disappeared into the crowd, followed by a man wheeling a unicycle. Lawmakers and their families feasted on ribs, hot dogs, roasted chicken, baked beans, potato salad, pie, watermelon, candied apples, cotton candy and lemonade.

Spotted in the crowd: House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill.; Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn; Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.; Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld; Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez; White House chief of staff Andrew Card; Bush's chief political adviser, Karl Rove; Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan.; Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Calif.; Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala.; Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss.; and Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas.

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http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-bush-congressional-picnic,0,5307828.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

[democracyindanger]

1. So if you didn't think it was a circus before...

[napi21]

2. What was Pelosi doing there?

I'm sure the list given wasn't everyone that was there, but other than a free lunch, WHY?

Ot sure doesn't sound like this was a bi-partisan event to me!

[Algomas]

7. She also spoke at the recent AIPAC dinner...WTF???

[chalky]

3. Bread and circuses.

Just like the fall of the Roman empire.

[Carolab]

4. Free beer and pretzels for all. Meanwhile, outside the gates...

citizens go hungry and homeless...

Pigs at the trough is right. God, the way they flaunt the waste of our money in front of us is disgusting.

I'm DONE paying taxes to these assholes. LET THEM TRY to come and lock me up. I'll put every asset I have in someone else's name. I'm SICK of these people.

[cyclezealot]

5. I get sick of Democrats kissing Bush's azz.

I would refuse an invitation..Bush only calls Democrats obstructionist...there is nothing to compromise with Bush. just call bushie the enemy and act like the opposition. anything else is colluding with the devil...
jerks like Liebermann make me want to puke..being kissed by bush. I would have puked up on his jacket like his old man did to the Japanese.

[Not_Giving_Up]

6. Ahhhh

My tax dollars hard at work.

[Algomas]

8. No, no, no, you have it all wrong...

It wasn't a picnic, it was a job fair. Recruiters from some of the most reputable traveling carnivals were scouting for talent in DC. Rumor has it that Bush has a lock on the ticket taker slot, Cheney is being groomed to manage the Games of Chance, Condi will be the hostess in the House of Horror and Rumsfeld will handle security.

[AlinPA]

9. What the hell was Nancy Pelosi doing at the repuke party? The day

before Bush spews his disdain for Democrats. She is one of our leaders?

[DrZeeLit]

10. Why are we celebrating when we're in a war and soldiers are dying? Why

are we spending money like this, on this crap, when we're in the red and millions do not have health insurance, regular meals, or a roof over their heads? Why are we supporting this kind of crapola when millions have died in the genocide of Africa?

I soooo do not get this kind of bullshit government action.

Carnival? We don't need no carnival. We have plenty of clowns at the White House every single day.