Pombo Doesn’t Know What He Did Last Summer
Pombo Doesn’t Know What He Did Last Summer
Last week the Tracy Press in California reported that in summer 2003, Rep. Richard Pombo rented an RV and took his family for “two weeks on vacation” — funded by $6436.38 of taxpayer money. House rules dictate “official travel may not be for personal…purposes.”
In recent days, Pombo has attempted to defend his 10-day, 5000-mile family vacation by saying that “there was no personal travel on this trip.” He stressed that at all his stops — from Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks to Mount Rushmore — he met with park officials on congressional business.
But many of the park officials Pombo claimed to have met, dispute the lawmaker’s claims:
The chief park naturalist at Sequoia and Kings Canyon, William Tweed, searched his records Friday and couldn’t find a sign of officials meeting with Pombo.
“I’m coming up with a blank,” Tweed said in an interview. “I do not personally remember him being here, (and that) is generally something we do recall. We pay attention, because congressmen are significant people for us.”
Joshua Tree National Park spokesman Joe Zarki, whose park was also on Pombo’s visitation list, likewise said Friday that “no one here at this point can say we met with Mr. Pombo.”
It’s probably a good thing: Pombo has proposed selling off 15 national parks if the Senate refused to allow drilling in the Alaska wildlife refuge.
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Rep. Pombo would be wise to resign from office, because his story is baloney, and he used taxpayers money for his pleasure trip with his family!
February 13th, 2006 at 12:36 pmLock him up. Slimeball. These F*CKERS need to get back to the basics of a hard-earned dollar. It’s that simple. You bet those F*CKING kids are going to wind up just like him.
February 13th, 2006 at 12:37 pmBREAKING: PLAME WAS WORKING ON IRAN AS SHE WAS OUTED BY BUSHCO
http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Outed_CIA_officer_was_working_on_0213.html
If this were to actually get in the news…..
February 13th, 2006 at 12:37 pmAs yet more GOP “values” on display.
February 13th, 2006 at 12:41 pmI guess if you hire people who hate government
that works for the people, to run the government,
they just use the opportunity to reward themselves
and their friends. This has the added benefit
of destroying the people’s trust in effective
government and perpetuates the cycle.
Anyone else thinking of just quiting their day job and getting into republican politics? I mean these guys have themselves setup! Free everything…meals, travel, golf, hotels, come on! That is a kick ass job. All you got to be good at is lieing and ass kissing…how hard can it be?
February 13th, 2006 at 12:42 pmRight-on #5,
February 13th, 2006 at 12:45 pmIt doesn’t seem to be too “intellectually taxing”
either, so to speak.
Pombo and the other, to coin the cliche of the month, marginalized scum should be forced to accompany Cheney on his “Hunting” trips. However, one Texas Republican Lawer was not a bad start.
February 13th, 2006 at 12:46 pmMaybe we could get a pettition going to get Darth to use 00 buck shot or slugs instead of that wimpy birdshot….
February 13th, 2006 at 12:49 pmThey were on a business related trip. He was tutoring his kids on how to become a Republican politician then abuse that power and authority and shaft the public. All the while some time off. See kids…Dad does it so it’s all right. Ahh…the next generation of leeches…ain’t they cute.
It was a work-study trip.
February 13th, 2006 at 12:49 pmHey, it’s a shame to say this! Mr. Pombo’s wife and sons are all lobbyists, so was a bussiness trip…
February 13th, 2006 at 12:50 pmSomeone needs to tell the Ron Jeremy Stunt-Double that going to parks with your kids is not official buisness….
February 13th, 2006 at 12:51 pmHa!
I love the photo with the kids in white shirts and red kerchiefs — that’s the uniform of the Young Pioneers — the USSRs communist youth organization!
February 13th, 2006 at 12:57 pm#12 And the one of the bull runners in Pamplona, Spain!
February 13th, 2006 at 1:00 pmRepublican Family Values
Hooray for me and mine. F you and yours.
February 13th, 2006 at 1:01 pmSomething tells me that Pombo wasn’t exactly bunking his family at Red Roof while on the taxpayer dime…
Puh-leeeeeeze — does he honestly expect anyone to believe this? The IRS gets (or at least used to get) this sort of “working vacation” crap all the time…people who set up a couple of one-hour business meetings over the course of a 10-day vacation and think this entitles them to write the whole thing off as a “business expense”.
February 13th, 2006 at 1:08 pmMr Pombo is a Prominent Republican who served his country using the cheapest form of transportation possible saving costs on food and lodging by having his wife and children cook and clean for him in his faithful service to the Fatherland.
The Courageous Mr Pombo faced down incredible dangers of National Parks for his Country and seeing a need to ‘improve nature’ Mr Pombo said “By selling off mother nature to big business and Oil we can Defeat Wildlife at home while Mr Bush Creates Terrorists abroad”
“Your Doing a Heckuva Job Pombie” –George
February 13th, 2006 at 1:18 pmThis nut job Pombo is the enviromental distroyer, hand picked by drunk lord bush. Their plan is to cut, drill and kill all our parks, roadless and prestene areas. What they can will be sold off to big business or wealthy friends….I have been screaming about this guy since lord bush put him in charge. Damn I sure would like to see some realy good new’s today, like arrests and indictments of all the white house, house and senate rep’s would be a good start…..Blessings
February 13th, 2006 at 1:23 pmThem is some family values to be proud of! I hope he didn’t get no blow jobs during that “official” trip!
http://patrickjfitzgerald.blogspot.com
I am beginning to see a pattern developing here – GOP/Bush Fundraiser indicted on 53 counts today in Ohio.
February 13th, 2006 at 1:25 pmThe list of crooked repugnpublicans goes on and on .Will some body chasse those money changers out of Dc . We annot effort those outstanding citizens any longer.
February 13th, 2006 at 1:40 pm“Mendacity”,
…the new Republiscum pandemic…
…will they find a vaccine in time for the ‘06 elections?
February 13th, 2006 at 1:48 pmHey everyone…..
Here is a real scary issue.
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:H.J.RES.24.IH:
The 22nd Amendment is on the floor to be removed. This is where the president can only serve 2 terms.
Sorry for being off topic. Hey Judd, can your team do some research into this?
February 13th, 2006 at 1:52 pm#21–I read somewhere that Sensenbrenner does this every year. Obviously, it never passes. I wouldn’t sweat it.
February 13th, 2006 at 1:54 pm[...] He took is family on vacation. With thousands of your dollars. Of course, he claims he was on official business, meeting with park officials at all his stops (Yosemite, Joshua Tree, King’s County etc)… those officials, as ThinkProgress notes, don’t remember him: Joshua Tree National Park spokesman Joe Zarki, whose park was also on Pombo’s visitation list, likewise said Friday that “no one here at this point can say we met with Mr. Pombo.†[...]
February 13th, 2006 at 2:00 pm#21
February 13th, 2006 at 2:00 pmI remember last year the same thing was introduced. Sends a chill down the spine though. OOhhhhh….4 more years with him as president.
This is absolutely, positively, beyond any doubt the very best government money can buy!!!
February 13th, 2006 at 2:03 pmI read somewhere that Sensenbrenner does this every year. Obviously, it never passes. I wouldn’t sweat it. — Punchy
*****************
If I were you, I wouldn’t be quite so sanguine. Let’s remember that James Sensenbrenner is Mr. Patriot Act and Mr. Real ID — and as it happens, he was the *only* Republican sponsoring the
February 13th, 2006 at 2:05 pma must read:
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/02/13.html#a7140
National Security: The Attack on the Constitution by Jim Marcinkowski
wait till you get to the soviet union part…chilling…
February 13th, 2006 at 2:06 pm#25 Too bad they aren’t using real money but IOU’s to the chinese.
February 13th, 2006 at 2:06 pmDid his office write it off as an expense? I’m sure his office will get a nice little visit from the Treasury Dept. very soon. If it’s not personal, then it’s business, for his District, well can we get the reciepts please?
February 13th, 2006 at 2:24 pmNow how much body armor could this money have bought for our troops.I recon 8 to 10 sets.Or mabye a donation to hurricane vics?Can’t you vacation on your corperate cronys dime.Or out of your non profit,money luandering fund like a good repug?
February 13th, 2006 at 3:28 pm#21 that was last year and reading it , the action takes 7 years from the date, 2012, unless my math is wrong if it WAS passed .Am i reading the right link?
February 13th, 2006 at 3:44 pm#31 Actually the wording is “within 7 years”
“three-fourths of the several States within seven years after the date of its submission for ratification:”
Completely plausible if it is pushed through.
February 13th, 2006 at 3:52 pmAs much as I hate Pombo – and that’s a lot – it’s not cool to post a picture of his family here, especially his kids. Even if it’s taken from his website, you leave kids out of hostile environments like this one.
February 13th, 2006 at 4:00 pmRB, thanks for that clarification, BUT, this The President who pushed thru 15 some odd recesss appointments while he sits with the graces of his own party in the majority. One would have to question the intent of these actions based on common sense. I don’t see how a President, who doesn’t trust his own party to assume some of his own baggage, would necessarily be afforded the gift that only a loving party could give.Does he even have 75% of the GOP? Now that you mentioned it , it will be a good reminder when the Democrats ask for Constitutional amendments, the , what’s good for the Goose is good for the gander argument can be used.
February 13th, 2006 at 4:07 pmfly-man, I don’t know. But given the fact that this congress is putty in the presidents hand, I don’t doubt anything with this crime family.
February 13th, 2006 at 4:13 pmPombo deserved a vacation – his family real estate company in Tracy has been so busy with it’s new listings . . . and besides he’s writting it off as business expense searching for soon to be availalble “property listings” – it’s not like he took a lobbyist along or when hunting . . .
February 13th, 2006 at 4:50 pmThis guy is scary! He is an anti-environment extremist! He is the House Resources chairman (the one that deals with the environment). He is trying to push through Congress a bill to essentially gut the Endangered Species Act. Also, he has proposed a bill to sell off 15 of our national parks, sell off other public land, and require that the National Park Service sell commercial advertising and naming rights to visitors’ centers and trails. How would you like to see a Walmart billboard next to the Yosemite Visitor Center? Or to have park trails have names like “Target Falls Trail” or “Safeway Rim Trail”? This guy is a danger to America! He better get voted out in the upcoming elections!
February 13th, 2006 at 4:58 pmGiven the size of the deficit,it’s only a matter of time before we start realizing cash on government property. The Treasury Dept. makes an annual assessment of Total Taxable Resources,the latest done for 2005 is as of 2003 data which estimates TTR at almost $12 trillion. If we can figure out how to leverage those assets through a program of selling off ports,roads,bridges and,of course,all the valuable parkland,we could be out of debt in no time at all.
February 13th, 2006 at 5:17 pmHey TJM, We are already selling off our ports.
http://www.rense.com/general69/busshe.htm
February 13th, 2006 at 5:21 pm“The $6.8 billion sale is expected to be approved Monday. DP World said it won approval from a secretive U.S. government panel that considers security risks of foreign companies buying or investing in American industry.”
February 13th, 2006 at 5:22 pmYou’re going to need some confirmation on that,sounds pretty unbelievable,especially the “secretive government panel” part. Which government panel in this administration isn’t secretive?
February 13th, 2006 at 5:35 pmOK, here’s another source stating the same thing.
http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/06/front2453780.0986111113.html
February 13th, 2006 at 5:37 pm“These public lands are icons of our natural and cultural history,” Pope said. “They belong to us all, and it is not up to congressmen Pombo or Tancredo to offer them to the highest bidder.”
But it’s OK if the socialists in the Supreme Court allow government to confiscate private property to increase revenue? This “They belong to us all” bullshit doesn’t fly most of the time because “us” really means them.
February 13th, 2006 at 6:19 pmI sure hope that Jerry McNerney can take over Pombo’s seat in Congress starting next year! We need a good grassroots-powered, environmentalist instead of this corrupt politician.
February 13th, 2006 at 6:58 pm#43
February 13th, 2006 at 7:02 pmSocialists like … David Souter?
Hey everyone…..
Here is a real scary issue.
http://thomas.loc.gov/ cgi-bin/ query/ z?c109:H.J.RES.24.IH:
The 22nd Amendment is on the floor to be removed. This is where the president can only serve 2 terms.
Sorry for being off topic. Hey Judd, can your team do some research into this?
Comment by RemoveBush #21
RemoveBush,
You’re absolutely right, this is some macabre sh*t…
…seems treasonous Bushite worshipping republiscum inbred Representatives Hoyer, Sensenbrenner, Berman, Pallone and Sabo have introduced this bill for ratification…
…luckily it takes a two-third majority of states to repeal a constitutional amendment…
But if nothing else, EVERY loyal American patriot who hates what these right wing Bushite traitors are attempting to do should take it upon him/herself to google theU.s.House of Representatives and call each and every one of these basta*ds and give them an earful tomorrow morning!
Bushite traitors HATE AMERICA!
Time to get busy with these treasonous mofos, for real…
February 13th, 2006 at 7:43 pmSpeaking of GOP corruption, the Buckeye State brings us the latest chapter of the Banana Republicans. Ohio Republican fundraiser extraordinaire Tom Noe, a Bush pioneer and close supporter of Governor Robert Taft, has been indicted on 53 new counts of stealing over $1 million from a dubious state investment in rare coins.
For the full story, see:
February 13th, 2006 at 9:04 pm“Just Say Noe to Thugs.”
#43But it’s OK if the socialists in the Supreme Court allow government to confiscate private property to increase revenue? This “They belong to us all†bullshit doesn’t fly most of the time because “us†really means them.
Comment by I-RIGHT-I —
I-WRONG-I,
I suggest you look up on Google or some other search engine “Geroge W. Bush and the Arlington land deal” if you want to accuse the so-called socialists on the Supreme Court of allowing private land to be confiscated. This refers to private land confiscated to build a new baseball stadium in a deal that very much helped your idol King George to become a millionaire in his own right. Just one quote about this below:
“the private owners of this very valuable land didn’t want to sell. Bush and his partners gave them only a lowball offer, and when it was rejected they arranged for a new government agency (the Arlington Sports Facility Development Authority, or ASFDA) to condemn it for them.
The agency foreclosed the land and paid the owners a very low price, later judged by a jury to be only 1/6th of its actual value. The agency also floated bonds, guaranteed and repaid by taxpayers, to finance the purchase. This amounted to a $135 million subsidy for Bush and partners, compared with the $80 million they paid for the franchise. Since they sold the entire franchise for $250 million, it’s easy to see whose money Bush and friends pocketed.
The next time Junior talks about tax cuts, remember this: Arlington had to impose a new 1/2 cent sales tax just to pay for the subsidy Bush and his partners received.
To add insult to injury, Bush and his partners continue to stiff the taxpayers for $7.5 million they owe under the terms of the agreement. It held that the team would pay all expenses over $135 million. The original owners of just 13 of the acres sued the City of Arlington, saying that the ASFDA had not paid a fair price for the land. The jury awarded them $7.5 million, but even though the project exceeded the $135 million limit, the partners have refused to pay.”
Are you going to call George Jr. a “socialist,” too?
February 13th, 2006 at 11:46 pmQuickies:
1. The right wing conservative economic agenda can be described as “private sector communism” or “corporate communism.” We’d all be wise to repeat these phrases thousands of times over until they sink into the public conscience and become associated with conservatives.
2. The GOP agenda is basically they can do as they please, I’ve got mine, screw everyone else. There is no principled values behind it. They use govt as a tool to enrich the corrupt and themselves. Simple as that.
3. Republican family values???? Don’t you have to have a conscience first?
February 14th, 2006 at 12:22 amGiven Pombo’s stated desire to steal our public lands, so they can be “privatized” by greedy pigs who will never be satisfied, perhaps it is not such a stretch for him to claim it was all business. But most businesses don’t pay for the whole “fam-damnily” to go along for the ride. Buck up, thief!!
February 14th, 2006 at 7:47 amIRI, without referring to anything else, what do you think about Pombo? Was he telling the truth? Now remember, just answer the question on its own.
February 14th, 2006 at 12:20 pmWhy don’t we just sell off Dumbo and his family to repay the taxpayers for his trip. Only problem is I don’t think there would be any takers. We might get 39 cents on ebay.
February 14th, 2006 at 7:54 pm[...] Amanda of Think Progress writes that Representative Richard Pombo (R-California) is facing tough questions at home about the taxpayer money used to finance a 5,000 mile RV trip in the summer of 2003. However, Pombo claims the stops were for congressional business, yet the park officers think otherwise. The chief park naturalist at Sequoia and Kings Canyon, William Tweed, searched his records Friday and couldn’t find a sign of officials meeting with Pombo. [...]
November 28th, 2006 at 7:47 pm