And that goes for the sniveling reporterette, Erika Lovley, too ... LOL. Awwww .. can't you feel their pain? What a GREAT day for liberty and FREEDOM! Thank God, the Massachusetts voters, and our Angel in the Whirlwind. Be the difference, Scott!
Posted on 02/04/2010 7:14:42 PM PST by STARWISE
As Sen. Scott Brown sweeps into his new office, it’s the end of the line for several of Sen. Paul Kirk’s staffers who are being ushered out of jobs a week earlier than expected.
Kirk staffers weren’t talking today, but friends and colleagues of the group say some of the staffers were upset by the accelerated swearing in date. One Democratic colleague said the “carpet was pulled out” from preparations for a day that already promised to be emotional.
Kirk’s office had worked for weeks to turn over the beloved Russell 317 office suite to Brown by Feb. 11, welcoming the Republican’s new staff. A friend of Kennedy’s said Kirk’s staffers had been sadly counting down the days to Feb. 11 — when Brown suddenly said he wanted to be sworn in today.
The announcement appeared to surprise even Brown’s daughter Ayla, a Boston College basketball player, who has a major game against Duke University today.
“On one hand, Kennedy staff is used to packing up and moving. But this was over a week early — it’s a tough adjustment,” said one Democratic Senate aide who is close to Kirk's office. “The staff tried to be incredibly helpful with the transition. They thought they were doing this all right, ... but then Brown receives a call from the Republican leadership and everything changes. … Maybe this is a foreshadow of things to come.”
“So much for change,” sniffed another Democratic Senate staffer. “The question is, why did he suddenly decide in less than 24 hours to come racing down here?”
This afternoon, the nameplate outside Russell 317 still bore Kirk’s name, but the space inside the doors looked oddly sparse. The project for the day was to prepare Kirk for his final floor speech, but the desks were already largely bare, except for a computer and a small bouquet of pink roses. A crystal candy dish sat empty.
Staffers wandered in and out, talking quietly in the front office. One sat in a chair and put his head in his hands. Meanwhile, a sea of noisy camera crews was setting up down the hall, awaiting Kirk’s successor.
Kennedy’s and Kirk's staffers were prized on the Hill for years for their fierce dedication and loyalty, and staffers were not talking today.
The office had largely stopped answering the phone — the press voice mail box was already full by 10 a.m. An announcement on the main line told callers the office was closed.
Paul Kirk’s office had worked for weeks to turn over the beloved Russell 317 office suite to Brown by February 11. Photo: AP
As of tonight, staffers will lose their e-mail addresses. The earlier swearing-in date means one less week of pay for staffers who haven’t secured alternative jobs. However, staffers will remain for an additional 30 days on the government payroll, according to a spokesman for the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration.
“I felt bad for them then. They just lost Kennedy, the guy they loved and adored,” said a Democratic strategist close to Kennedy and Kirk.
But some Hill staffers thought the emotional heaving was overrated.
“Any Capitol Hill staffer who has gone through a campaign cycle knows that this all goes with the territory — it doesn’t make it any easier or [less] inconvenient — but the reality is a new senator is taking office and it’s not like Sen. Kirk’s staff didn’t know this was coming. Once you’re out of a job, one week really doesn’t make a difference or change that reality,” said one Republican aide.
“[Regarding] expectations of working for Coakley, I mean, the election was Jan. 19 — two-plus weeks ago. That’s ample time to recover from any shock and disappointment,” said one Senate Democratic aide. “Regarding the sudden and unexpected passing of a colleague ... that’s definitely a legitimate reason which could have slowed down boxing, record-filing, moving.”
On the Senate floor this afternoon, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) praised the staffers.
“Because of them, countless others like myself have been enlisted in Kennedy and Kirk causes with a great deal of pride,” Durbin said.
During his farewell speech on the Senate floor today, Kirk asked that the names of his staff be inserted into the Congressional Record and thanked them for guiding him through the transition of the office during the past year’s heartache.
“They strove to match [Kennedy’s] unmatchable work ethic,” Kirk said. “They are outstanding public servants who have my outstanding appreciation.”
And that goes for the sniveling reporterette, Erika Lovley, too ... LOL. Awwww .. can't you feel their pain? What a GREAT day for liberty and FREEDOM! Thank God, the Massachusetts voters, and our Angel in the Whirlwind. Be the difference, Scott!
They’ve held that seat for 47 years.
Don’t let the door hit you in the ass.
Whaaaaaa!!!!!
In my opinion, he's off to a good start.
Kirk staffers SHOULD be upset. Whenever they go on an away team mission with Spock and McCoy, guess who never comes back?
These assclowns should have been out on the street, pink slips in hand, on January 20th. They got two extra weeks on the government teat. Pound sand!
Let's make it so.
Or to paraphrase from the aftermath of the 2000 election: “Get out of Brown’s office!”
Maybe because of recent news stories about Harry Reid rushing through some votes on appointees and some legislation?
Ahhhhh. That almost brings a tear to my eyes. Almost. Could be the laughter.
~~PING!
Usurper Dr. Hyde and Mr. Kirk: "Why so serious."
They didn’t leave the staff time to remove all the “B’s” from the keyboards!
Talk about DRAMA QUEENS! Hoping to see MANY more such stories in November . . .
Teeeheeeeheeee ... aww, sniff ...
Maybe the question they should be asking is why ObaMao and Dirty Harry tried to crowd rubber stamping of so many of his ultraleft appointments into that last week.
I'll forgive Brown for being a RINO on occasion if he can keep these type of people eternally p*ssed off!
Cya Kirk, may the door hit your arse so hard you need no jet flight to Mass. to get back.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find only things evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelogus
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