And so it continues ...
and Sen. (RINO) McConnell, seeks to diminish the Tea Party,
while "enhancing his stature" amongst the Marxists in Government.
A Kentucky Ping.
...for those interested. :D![](http://i43.tinypic.com/jv17ok.jpg")
Posted on 01/17/2011 6:05:36 PM PST by Pan_Yan
Conservatives believe Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) used a weekend trip to woo star GOP freshmen away from the Tea Party.
McConnell took Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) on a high-powered weekend trip to Afghanistan and Pakistan that is being seen as a ploy by the leader to secure allies for forthcoming legislative battles.
The visit gave the freshmen firsthand access to world leaders and Gen. David Petraeus, the commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, as well as plenty of quality time with their party leader in the Senate.
The list of invitees immediately raised eyebrows because Rubio, Toomey, Johnson and Ayotte are seen as occupying the middle ground between the leadership and the Tea Party caucus, who are expected to battle over the direction of the Republican Conference in the 112th Congress.
“It's no secret he uses these trips to co-opt new senators,” said a Senate Republican aide. “I'm sure the new senators know what he's up to, but it’s not exactly an invitation you can turn down.”
...
Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Richard Burr (R-N.C.) also joined the codel, the jargon used to describe official congressional travel.
Two other conservative freshman senators with close ties to Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) — Rand Paul of Kentucky and Mike Lee of Utah — were not on the trip, some conservatives noted.
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
Why would such a trip lure them away? I see nothing wrong with new congress members taking a trip to Afghanistan. They should know what they’re approving (or disapproving) funding for. Doesn’t mean they’ll compromise their values. The premise of the article is stupid.
Cindie
How much did this worthless trip cost the tax payers? same game different name..
It must of been the speech. You know the one, “ you do as you are told or else, no re-election money, no special perks etc. You must follow what our overlords tell us”.
I wonder if they will be dumb enough to follow them?
I don't know whether it is Washington that does to them, or it's just a matter that corruptible people seek office, especially the Senate. Time after time we send people to Washington with high hopes and watch them turn into the very thing we oppose. I fear that sooner or later it will all end badly. The window to turn things around is closing fast and very few in Washington acknowledge it.
This is preposterous on its face! Give Rubio, Toomey and Johnson some credit. They are going to be so mesmerized by Mitch(?!) that they forget who voted them into office?! Come on folks. Do not fall for this nonsense.
Mitch McConnell and Boehner, have a lot of proving to do before I would trust either of them to go to the Deli and get me a ham sandwich.
As with all people elected to the Senate I reserve my judgement until after they have a record of votes to look at. We'll see soon enough if they are different. Maybe some are, maybe none of them are. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.
Thanks for pointing out some commen sense . You would think they went to Tahiti .
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell... took Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) on a high-powered weekend trip to Afghanistan and Pakistan that is being seen as a ploy by the leader to secure allies for forthcoming legislative battles... gave the freshmen firsthand access to world leaders and Gen. David Petraeus... Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Richard Burr (R-N.C.) also joined the codel... Two other conservative freshman senators with close ties to Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) -- Rand Paul of Kentucky and Mike Lee of Utah -- were not on the trip...
I helped put Toomey in office and if he does not do what we the people instruct then I will help get him removed from office. We are no longer going to tolerate voting these people in and having them turn their backs on us.
and Sen. (RINO) McConnell, seeks to diminish the Tea Party,
while "enhancing his stature" amongst the Marxists in Government.
A Kentucky Ping.
...for those interested. :D
I don’t know why these politicians need to go to a war zone for a lunch and then leave. What do they expect to learn in 4 hrs. at total waste.
Well, let’s not get our undies in a twist just yet. Especially in an article from The Hill (not to bash your thread, P_Y)
I’m going to give them the benefit of the doubt until they demonstrate they don’t deserve it.
Four Senators already represent an enormous block of power who can get access to anything and anyone they want if it is thought that they will listen, or that they need to be persuaded to support an issue or policy. Don't need McConnell who did nothing to get them elected in the first palce to do a thing for them.
Ah Lott’s co-opt op in action.
sort of like the Blob.
But, I wouldn’t turn down the trip either. so will wait to see what damage has been done to Rubio, et al.
More useful than his present job of agreeing not to kick the ragheads asses and surrendering to them when the moslem in chief says so.
Ditto for Johnson. I think he’s one of us, but we’re awake now. This government is going to change, by God.
Well my new congressman must not have gone on the trip, because I just saw him this evening in South Texas.
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