The world's tiniest violin playing, "My heart pumps piss for them".
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.”
“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?”
Here is the point we the little people need to understand, these Kennedy/Kirk staffers are the special elite and they should not be treated harshly.
(treated harshly is defined as dealing with real life issues the same as we the little people have to deal with, like suddenly being unemployed, or not being allowed to lounge about in the halls of power sucking the teat of Uncle Sam while subverting the Constitution...)
The world's tiniest violin playing, "My heart pumps piss for them".
How many hundreds of thousands of Americans lost their jobs in the past month and how many million in the past year?
Get in line staffers, you have now joined millions of your fellow Americans on the Hope and Change high speed railway.
Just askin.
Yes, and a 90 foot clear and pink alcohol flame shot out of the eternal flame pot singeing tourist's eyebrows and hats. This caused a temporary warming spot on NOAA radar and Google Earth and an alert to AlGore.
Gee do you suppose the Republican leadership has been reading what theinterwebs have had to say about this? Perhaps Brown thought he should be given the same treatment the dems get being swon in.I mean most of them had to wait what 24 hours or less?*sarcasm*This is not early by my calculations. Hopefully we foiled some of their plans for the next 7 days!
Paging the waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah ambulance where are you?
According to Brown, that's NOT true, as related in his presser here... and here.
I would be more than happy to help the whining, sniveling, immature liberal pussies out of Senator Brown’s offices with a swift boot to the ass.
I don’t think I have read anything as contemptibly sissified as this account of this group of whiners.
Our Angel in the Whirlwind is apparently
still directing this storm .. ;) and
praise God.
LOL ..
We keep praying for the time ahead,
the time when denied Dems are MOST
dangerous and out of control.
God bless and save America.
ROTFLMFAO! I sure do hope so! Gawd, that would be a tonic! Those things are too damn funny!
I can see the script now...
They will continue to be paid and receive full benefits for AT LEAST three months, some longer.
AMEN to that, Charlemagne! ;-D
Thanks for the ping!
LOL!
Oh my .... ;)
Right! Slugs at the trough ..
LOL! - They thought the Senator’s office belonged to them and not the people of Massachusetts.
Good riddance.
Welcome Scott!
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