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.”
I can hardly wait!!!!!
Video: "Brown Says He's Ready to Work" (Scott and Gail leave their home this morning)
Video: Scott Brown presser, 2/4/10
It's stunning to see "R-Massachusetts" under his pic! A Republican Senator from Massachusetts???
Oh I do hope so.
Perhaps after losing their jobs these staffers now understand the feelings of many voters in the bay state. It is those feelings that drove voters to the polls in record numbers. They elected Scott Brown.
Kirk has NO right to stay in the seat once Brown was elected. HA...if they hadn’t hurried up and changed the senate rules after Kennedy died...this may have never happened...
IT’S A REPUBLICAN OFFICE NOW!
If it can happen THERE... it WILL happen EVERYWHERE.
Amen.
It really, really is!!!
That Angel in the Whirlwind ...
thank God.
That just sounds so pathetic. He's making a good-bye speech, and it takes his entire staff an entire day to write it for him?
I bet it didn't take Brown a day to prepare for his press conference, and he seemed to be able to say what he meant without a teleprompter.
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
Democrat staffers upset.
Well, boo ****ing hoo.
If I might channel Senator Brown (R-MA), and paraphrase Reader of Words on Glass, to Squatter Kirk and his minions:
“I won...I’ll trump you on that.”
Dio? Where you the same Diogenesis that won the caption of the week at FSM? -g-
“”Mirror, mirror on the wall, how can I make the nation fall?”
~Inquiring Minds want to know
Har!
“Don’t let the door hit you in the ass.”
Oh please let it hit them in the ass,head or anywhere that will make the libs scream in anguish.
Washington is booming. No way are these staffers (cockroaches) going to end up in the dreaded private sector
What’s the point about the crystal candy dish sitting empty? That nobody took it as a memento, or just politico gone all mushy and poignant?
Thanks for starting my day off with a hearty laugh!
Paul Kirk, a lifelong Kennedy hack is now a historical footnote......Paul Markham without the swim trunks.
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