Robert Gibbs: Volcanic ash causes president to cancel trip to Poland

By GottaLaff

Via a Tweet just now, re: the funeral of Poland's president:

@PressSec: POTUS just called acting Pres Komorowski to say that volcanic ash will prevent him from traveling to Poland - stmt coming shortly...

Ed Henry tweets:

POTUS called acting Polish President Komorowski to express his continued condolences, according to Gibbs

Obama postpones trip to Indonesia until health care reform resolved

By GottaLaff

Via email alert:

President's overseas travel plans are delayed until June as Congress considers final passage of health-care bill. White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Obama wanted to be in Washington for the conclusion of the health-care debate.

For more information, visit washingtonpost.com.

Max Baucus Gave Girlfriend Raise

By GottaLaff

Who does he think he is, John Ensign? Max, Max, Max, what are we gonna do with you?

Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT), "chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee, gave a nearly $14,000 pay raise to a female staffer in 2008, at the time he was becoming romantically involved with her, and later that year took her on a taxpayer-funded trip to Southeast Asia and the Middle East, though foreign policy was not her specialty," Politico reports.

Late last Friday, Baucus acknowledged his relationship with Melodee Hanes, whom he nominated for the job of U.S. attorney in Montana.

This post is dedicated to the readers who accuse us of one-sided Sexcapades reporting.

Original post on Staffing to the Max here.

"Frugal Conservative" Sanford Took Expensive Flights in Europe

By GottaLaff

Sing along, EVERYone! "Don't fly for me, Argentina-a-a!"

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford (R), "already facing scrutiny for expensive taxpayer-funded flights, relied on charter jet services costing more than $63,000 when traveling in Europe on two state business trips," an Associated Press investigation has found.

"Throughout his political career, Sanford has cast himself as a frugal conservative, known to demand that state employees use both sides of Post-It notes. His 2002 gubernatorial campaign included attacks against other state officials for what he called wasteful travel expenses."

Hyp. O. Crite.

Li. Ar.

All in the Family: Religious group paid for Ensign trips

By GottaLaff

Ensign = :

A secretive religious group paid for trips to Japan and the Middle East by U.S. Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., now under fire for an adulterous affair, records show.

The travel in 2003 and 2004 did not violate the Senate ethics rules then in force, the Las Vegas Sun reported. The Senate has since adopted new restrictions on travel paid for by outside groups.

Timing is everything.

The newspaper said Ensign's travel records show the trips cost $15,000, paid by the International Foundation, an arm of the Fellowship Foundation. That group is known informally as The Family and both Ensign and South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, another Republican caught in a sex scandal, have ties to it. [...]

"The Family acts today like the most powerful lobby in America that isn't registered as a lobby -- and is thus immune from the scrutiny attending the other powerful organizations," Sharlet wrote.

These are the Family values of the very devout Rushpublics who are so quick to condemn others.

Gov. Palin to Pay Alaska for 9 Trips Taken by Children

By GottaLaff

Remember all that money that Limelight Palin spent that didn't belong to her? It's payback time:

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will reimburse the state for costs associated with nine trips taken by her children.

Palin must reimburse the state within 120 days, according to a settlement agreement filed by a special investigator hired by the Alaska Personnel Board to investigate an ethics complaint filed against her.

Was that the murmer of an admission of breach of ethics that I just detected?

Pelosi and the Pope

By GottaLaff

Nancy's going on a big Italian trip that should give Republicans yet another opening to go all Republicany on us:

In a move likely to stoke more controversy about whether Catholic politicians who support abortion rights are in line with the church, Pope Benedict XVI has granted an audience to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

The Catholic News Agency confirmed Monday that Pelosi (D-Calif.) is to meet Wednesday with Pope Benedict XVI, who has said supporters of abortion rights should not receive Communion.

Pelosi, a staunch supporter of abortion rights, is on an official trip to Italy. The news agency said there have been contradictory reports about whether the Pope would receive her. The agency said the Vatican's press office confirmed today that the audience would take place Wednesday. The Vatican reportedly made clear that the Pope is meeting with her as a head of state, since she is third in line to the presidency.

I wonder how the Pope feels about this.

Obama's 1st Foreign Trip As President: Canada

By GottaLaff

One of my favorite memories from my childhood trips to B.C.
(via)

A treat for all of our Canadian readers:

US Presidents Typically Use Canada As First Int'l Trip

President-elect Barack Obama plans to take his first international trip to Canada.

Transition aides said Saturday that Obama picked the United States' northern neighbor as his first venture outside the country as president. Aides said they could not discuss the date for the trip or its agenda.

I've always maintained that P.E. Obama has excellent taste.