DOGE Shuts Down an Agency Which Seemingly Existed Only to Fill the Pockets of Its Barely-Working "Employees" -- They "Lived Like Kings"

Luke Rosiak
@lukerosiak
One of the 7 federal agencies shuttered by DOGE on Friday is the most DOGE-able agency of all time. FMCS (before the pandemic!) had a 9-story K Street tower for 60 employees. Its halls were lined with oil paintings of those employees, and other art purchased from the boss's wife

Luke Rosiak:

One of the seven small federal agencies that President Donald Trump ordered downsized or eliminated on Friday was rife with corruption, with its employees hiring friends and relatives, commissioning paintings of themselves, and using government credit cards to indulge in constant luxuries.
The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) occupied a nine-story office tower on D.C.'s K Street for only 60 employees, many of whom actually worked from home, prior to the pandemic. Its managers had luxury suites with full bathrooms; one manager would often be "in the shower" when she was needed, while another used her bathroom as a cigarette lounge. FMCS recorded its director as being on a years-long business trip to D.C. so he could have all of his meals and living expenses covered by taxpayers, simply for showing up to the office.
FMCS is a 230-employee agency that exists to serve as a voluntary mediator between unions and businesses. As an "independent agency," its director nominally reports to the president, but the agency is so small that in effect, there is no oversight at all -- and it showed, becoming a real-life caricature of all the excesses that the Department of Government Efficiency has alleged take place in government.
This reporter spent a year investigating the agency a decade ago, and I found egregious and self-serving violations of hiring, pay, contracting, and purchase card rules. One thing I could not discover is why the agency actually existed, other than to provide luxurious lifestyles for its employees. Endless junkets to resort destinations, which employees openly used to facilitate personal vacations, were justified as building awareness of the agency in the hopes that someone would actually want to use its voluntary services.
FMCS seemed, quite clearly, to exist for the benefit of those on its payroll, and not much else. One employee told me: "Let me give you the honest truth: A lot of FMCS employees don't do a hell of a lot, including myself. Personally, the reason that I've stayed is that I just don't feel like working that hard, plus the location on K Street is great, plus we all have these oversized offices with windows, plus management doesn't seem to care if we stay out at lunch a long time. Can you blame me?"

"Recreation and reception fund."
Top FMCS official George Cohen used a "recreation and reception fund" to order champagne and $200 coasters for his office, and to purchase artwork painted by his wife. The tiny agency commissioned paintings of its top employees -- as one employee told me, "like they were reigning kings or something...I've never seen anything like it before." It spent $2,402 retouching the portrait of someone who briefly held the top job in an acting capacity.
FMCS employees "unblocked" their government credit cards to turn off typical abuse protections, then used them to apparently fund personal expenses and simply bill anything they'd like to the government. One employee leased a BMW; another (IT director James Donnen) billed the government for his wife's cell phone, cable TV at both his home and his vacation home, and even his subscription to USA Today.
Employee Dan W. Funkhouser used his FMCS card to rent a storage unit near his home in rural Virginia, two hours from the office he supposedly worked at, which was used to store personal possessions such as a photo album of his dog, Buster. Funkhouser also spent $18,000 at a jewelry store near his house, and "destroyed all purchase card records upon leaving the agency," an audit said.
When Charles Burton retired from FMCS, he incorporated an LLC to which another FMCS employee paid $85,000 using his purchase card, listing it as a "Call Center Service," even though the company had neither a website nor a working phone.

When an accountant, Carol Booth, blew the whistle on financial abuses to the General Services Administration, which manages purchase cards and contracting, Cohen forced her to send an email (which he wrote under her name) rescinding her statement.
Like something out of "The Office," the employees spent an inordinate amount of time and money congratulating one another for being employed there and engaging in "work" that really amounted to pampering themselves.
One purchase was for $30,000 on trinkets marking employees' anniversaries. The agency's office was absurdly oversized, but it refused to move. It hired a consultant for a "Hallway Improvement Project" to decorate. It had an in-house gym for employees, and purchased a $1,000 TV for the gym, a $3,867 ice-maker, and a $560 stereo.
The expenses that were actually business-related were hardly better. It paid, for example, $895 "for Suzanne Nichter's enrollment in the English Essentials: A Grammar Refresher course" and $735 "for Lakisha Steward to attend Listening and Memory Skills Development Course."
All expenses paid lifestyle
FMCS used federal jobs as a spigot of cash for friends and relatives. Allison Beck, a former union lawyer who became a top FMCS official, employed her sister-in-law as a "special assistant," and an inspector general found evidence that she tried to create a high-level job for a friend.
FMCS employees allegedly steered contracts to friends, allowing them to write the "statement of work" that would be used to choose the contract winner -- resulting in, of course, their own selection. Such "trainers" were paid $1,500 per day per person to train FMCS's staff, plus $163 an hour for travel. When a low-level employee eventually said the extra travel pay ran afoul of federal rules, a contractor made clear he viewed it as an entitlement, huffing: "Work we have successfully performed for the agency for more than a decade -- at great personal sacrifice, I should add -- will be taken away unless we comply in an unquestioning manner with your edict."
Scot Beckenbaugh, a top agency official, was paid $174,000 a year, but that wasn't enough: He had his "duty station" listed as Iowa so that he could have all of his living expenses and food paid for in D.C., where he lived and worked, as if he was on a six-year-long business trip. When an employee raised the issue to an agency lawyer, the lawyer told him he "should not raise these issues ... it would open a can of worms."
FMCS hired a former mail carrier who lived in Pennsylvania, Lu-Ann Glaser, for a high-level, D.C.-based job, and agreed to pay for her to stay in a hotel for half of every month -- even though it would have been easy to find someone better qualified who didn't need to be put up in a hotel to simply do her job.
Paul Voight, a human resources official, was listed as living in D.C. even though he actually lived in Wisconsin, in order to fraudulently obtain higher cost-of-living pay. Voight's boss was Artur Pearlstein, who left the agency to become a law professor, and was then re-hired after his academic career imploded in a plagiarism scandal. His first move in his new job was terminating an independent investigation into FMCS staff abusing taxpayer funds for personal gain.
Cohen, for his part, steered work to his previous employer, despite signing ethics forms saying he would not.
Many of the agency's top employees lived outside of the typical Washington, D.C., commuting area, and only stopped in the area occasionally, in an era before telework was routine. Its CFO, Fran Leonard, would come to the office twice a week but leave by 2:00 p.m.
The agency had, inexplicably, an office in Honolulu.
It funded constant travel of its employees to exotic locales, on the pretext that it was drumming up business for the federal agency -- an admission that there was little demand for the agency's existence.
In one month, Beck traveled to Italy and Switzerland, where she conducted a business meeting -- over video chat. Then she went to Tunisia and an island off the coast of Georgia. She flew first class and forced the agency to reimburse her for mileage when she drove to her vacation home in Maine.
The agency had three full-time media relations staffers, none of whom would speak to me, almost certainly one of the only reporters to ever call.
Cash grants for insiders
The agency's existence is predicated on the idea that it is an impartial mediator, biased neither towards labor nor management. But its staff largely comes from a union background, and it gave out grants to promote union membership. But it was too incompetent to do much ideological damage; its employees' comfort always came before helping unions.
Anyone could request cash grants from the agency, with the only requirement that they mention some nexus with unions, however tortured. It doled out a seemingly random assortment of giveaways to private businesses, perhaps because they were the only ones who knew the grants existed.
It gave $63,000 to a hospital that went bankrupt; $51,000 to a childcare company to help it pay government licensing fees; and $57,000 to a company to "strengthen of culture of continuous improvement to drive us to world class excellence!"
What surprised me most about my FMCS investigation was what happened afterward: nothing. An inspector general made a referral to the FBI, but there were no prosecutions. Instead, President Barack Obama nominated a chief subject of the investigation to the top job.
A decade later, Trump has done what even the agency's own employees said should happen: shut it down.

Read the whole thing.

Posted by: Ace at 12:06 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS)

========

Is it...too late to apply for a job?

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, back to the finish with Corman at March 20, 2025 12:06 PM (GBKbO)

2 Good afternoon Ace and everyone

Posted by: Skip at March 20, 2025 12:07 PM (fwDg9)

3 It won't be the only one like that.

Posted by: Formerly Virginian at March 20, 2025 12:07 PM (N1tpc)

4 Thank you Donald Trump. That's my President.

Posted by: fd at March 20, 2025 12:08 PM (vFG9F)

5 Ace’s investigation…🤣

Gray box is “incomplete”

Posted by: The Mewtwix at March 20, 2025 12:08 PM (l5yVc)

6 I suspect most government jobs are no work positions, well maybe put in a dozen hours a week.

Posted by: Skip at March 20, 2025 12:08 PM (fwDg9)

7 there are likely many of these

sickening

Posted by: Black Orchid at March 20, 2025 12:08 PM (Pv3Rg)

8 I just followed this link from CFP this AM.
I'm sure it's not the only fiefdom in town either.
What I'd really like to know is the familial or other relationships of these employees to other politicians. Cush jobs like these don't grow on trees, you probably need someone with pull to get you in.

Posted by: OneEyedJack at March 20, 2025 12:08 PM (FCbAQ)

9 DOGE = Destroying Offensive Govt. Establishment

Posted by: kallisto at March 20, 2025 12:09 PM (RQmPm)

10 If it had anything to do with federal civil service unions it was untouchable, unauditable and completely off limits from any scrutiny for the 35 years I was associated with DOD. I am pretty sure it has gotten worse since I retired.

Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at March 20, 2025 12:09 PM (e5NfL)

11 Man...I am in the wrong business.

Posted by: garrett at March 20, 2025 12:09 PM (yHAEf)

12 All fun and games until it is nt Fuck them

Posted by: Doug at March 20, 2025 12:09 PM (Hy+R4)

13 "Read the whole thing."

--------------

YOU'RE NOT MY SUPERVISOR!!!

Posted by: bearski at March 20, 2025 12:11 PM (Bhsk7)

14 A decade later, Trump has done what even the agency's own employees said should happen: shut it down.

Not so fast

Posted by: Hawaiian Judge at March 20, 2025 12:11 PM (VE6XX)

15 >>> FMCS employees allegedly steered contracts to friends, allowing them to write the "statement of work" that would be used to choose the contract winner -- resulting in, of course, their own selection.

That's just how things work in DC. Duh.

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at March 20, 2025 12:11 PM (uCjyK)

16 I'm supposed to be happy they found this corruption but it just enrages me.

Posted by: Seems Legit at March 20, 2025 12:11 PM (PMtkd)

17 We don't need DOGE, because there is already an array of inspector generals and other watchdogs constantly ferreting out governmental abuse!

Posted by: Democrats! at March 20, 2025 12:11 PM (u6/wt)

18
Griftin'
On a sunny afternoon...

Posted by: Axeman at March 20, 2025 12:11 PM (krQz2)

19 Kilauea eruption LIVE!

https://www.youtube.com/live/ZfU_QWjQ60o

Posted by: Ciampino - Nature - beautiful & deadly at March 20, 2025 12:11 PM (KjLnc)

20 *looks at this years tax bill*

Hell yes I'm angry. That one department pissed away what I am supposed to pay this year in less than a second.

Posted by: fd at March 20, 2025 12:12 PM (vFG9F)

21 >>"Hallway Improvement Project"

How much did they pay you to put Shelving in that Hallway, Ace?

Posted by: garrett at March 20, 2025 12:12 PM (yHAEf)

22 When Charles Burton retired from FMCS, he incorporated an LLC to which another FMCS employee paid $85,000 using his purchase card, listing it as a "Call Center Service," even though the company had neither a website nor a working phone.

That felony credit card fraud. That's arrestable.

Posted by: rickb223 at March 20, 2025 12:12 PM (LVaER)

23 17 We don't need DOGE, because there is already an array of inspector generals and other watchdogs constantly ferreting out governmental abuse!
Posted by: Democrats! at March 20, 2025 12:11 PM (u6/wt)

And they're gonna get right on it...

Posted by: It's me donna at March 20, 2025 12:12 PM (VE6XX)

24 23 17 We don't need DOGE, because there is already an array of inspector generals and other watchdogs constantly ferreting out governmental abuse!
Posted by: Democrats! at March 20, 2025 12:11 PM (u6/wt)

And they're gonna get right on it...
Posted by: It's me donna at March 20, 2025 12:12 PM (VE6XX)

========

"We found the paper clip undercounter."
-IG

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, back to the finish with Corman at March 20, 2025 12:12 PM (GBKbO)

25 11 Man...I am in the wrong business.
Posted by: garrett at March 20, 2025 12:09 PM (yHAEf)

Seriously.

Can we horde-source our own federal government fiefdom by any chance?

I'd be glad to have a no show job where I get my own shower in an office and get to travel the world first class and expense it so that the stupid rubes in flyover country have to pay for my lifestyle.

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at March 20, 2025 12:12 PM (uCjyK)

26 I knew this kind of fraud was going on, but it doesn't make me any less angry to read it.

Posted by: Formerly Virginian at March 20, 2025 12:12 PM (N1tpc)

27 Turn that agency back on!!

Posted by: Judge kahmaniwannalaya at March 20, 2025 12:12 PM (pasjP)

28 But how much of the regime's money will it "cost" to shut it down?

Posted by: SloPitch Whiffer at March 20, 2025 12:13 PM (wzAuc)

29 Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
---
Even the name sounds like a con job.

Posted by: Axeman at March 20, 2025 12:13 PM (krQz2)

30 Tar and feather, then run out of town on a rail, to prison.

Let this this be the hill the Dems die on defending.

Posted by: Chuck Martel at March 20, 2025 12:13 PM (zAWN6)

31 *looks at this years tax bill*

Hell yes I'm angry. That one department pissed away what I am supposed to pay this year in less than a second.
Posted by: fd

That's why I want that $5k check from Trump. The government doesn't need my money and if that's refund check puts some government employee out of work? Tough shit.

Posted by: rickb223 at March 20, 2025 12:14 PM (LVaER)

32 If or when the staff gets called to a congressional hearing, after being sworn in, I'll bet each Dem would start their questioning with "thank you for your service."

Posted by: 2009Refugee at March 20, 2025 12:14 PM (u5fr9)

33 I hope being jobless financially destroys their lives....

Posted by: Stateless...62% - mental state clawing up from 10% at March 20, 2025 12:14 PM (jvJvP)

34 Well covered in the MR…

Posted by: tubal at March 20, 2025 12:14 PM (PCK5/)

35 I don't know the right of it (what amount to start paying taxes) but I know that I shouldn't have to pay a cent of federal income taxes based on this bullshit theft.

Posted by: Seems Legit at March 20, 2025 12:14 PM (PMtkd)

36 Man, I thought the Soprano crew had it made, sitting around a construction site and guzzling Snapple until the paychecks were passed out.

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at March 20, 2025 12:14 PM (gm9Sb)

37 But how much of the regime's money will it "cost" to shut it down?
Posted by: SloPitch Whiffer

Gallon of gas is $2.59.

Posted by: rickb223 at March 20, 2025 12:14 PM (LVaER)

38 We don't need DOGE, because there is already an array of inspector generals and other watchdogs constantly ferreting out governmental abuse!
Posted by: Democrats! at March 20, 2025 12:11 PM (u6/wt)

The Ham and Eggers of DC. Straight shootin' stand up guys!

Posted by: Sean Hannity at March 20, 2025 12:14 PM (FCbAQ)

39 These people need to be wearing stripes and busting rocks.

Posted by: ScaryMary at March 20, 2025 12:14 PM (bcc6F)

40 No wonder they shit themselves over an email asking them for 5 things they did at work.

Posted by: steevy at March 20, 2025 12:15 PM (KQk9m)

41 33 I hope being jobless financially destroys their lives....

my guess is they're all wives, ex-wives, mistresses, and gay lovers of union bigwigs and mafiosi (BIRM)

Posted by: Black Orchid at March 20, 2025 12:15 PM (Pv3Rg)

42 That felony credit card fraud. That's arrestable.
Posted by: rickb223 at March 20, 2025 12:12 PM (LVaER)

lol. I'm sure they'll get right on that.

16 I'm supposed to be happy they found this corruption but it just enrages me.
Posted by: Seems Legit at March 20, 2025 12:11 PM (PMtkd)

This is but the tip of the iceberg. If I had to guess (and I'm excluding mailmen and forest rangers and many of the 'blue collar' government workers here who do actually do some work, even if it is done inefficiently), this is how every department in DC operates.

None of these people do anything.

And maybe it's not to this level with portraits on the walls and shit, but more or less the same.

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at March 20, 2025 12:15 PM (uCjyK)

43 He had his "duty station" listed as Iowa so that he could have all of his living expenses and food paid for in D.C., where he lived and worked, as if he was on a six-year-long business trip.

I recall that one of the special prosecutors going after Republicans years ago listed his "duty station" as his hometown of Oklahoma City, so the Federal government would transport him to and from his actual job in Washington every week without charging him.

Posted by: The ARC of History! at March 20, 2025 12:15 PM (u6/wt)

44 Which Obama or Biden appointed judge will order this agency to remain open and fully funded?

Posted by: Dave's not here, man at March 20, 2025 12:15 PM (raPis)

45 Hang them. Hang them all.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at March 20, 2025 12:15 PM (i24o9)

46 Holy...fuck....

Posted by: Farquad at March 20, 2025 12:16 PM (CFMhl)

47 22 When Charles Burton retired from FMCS, he incorporated an LLC to which another FMCS employee paid $85,000 using his purchase card, listing it as a "Call Center Service," even though the company had neither a website nor a working phone.

That felony credit card fraud. That's arrestable.
Posted by: rickb223 at March 20, 2025 12:12 PM (LVaER)

How many more of these small agencies full of nepots and self serving side deals are there?

No wonder all of the people who have federal funding are getting group colonoscopies.

Posted by: Cuthbert the Witless at March 20, 2025 12:16 PM (pasjP)

48 36 Man, I thought the Soprano crew had it made, sitting around a construction site and guzzling Snapple until the paychecks were passed out.

at least in my family (the not-good side) the mafia guys all ended up getting philly and local govt jobs when our gang was taken over by NY and put out of "work."

Posted by: Black Orchid at March 20, 2025 12:16 PM (Pv3Rg)

49 44 Which Obama or Biden appointed judge will order this agency to remain open and fully funded?
Posted by: Dave's not here, man at March 20, 2025 12:15 PM (raPis)

========

The better question is what piece of stupid pop culture will be referenced in the order?

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, back to the finish with Corman at March 20, 2025 12:16 PM (GBKbO)

50 I believe that a traffic judge from Terre Haute has already demanded that they not only reinstate the employees, but increase their budget.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at March 20, 2025 12:17 PM (lTGtQ)

51 FMCS is just the tip of the iceberg. There are probably at least 100 of these kinds of "agencies" buried deep in the bowels of the federal government, which exist for the sole purpose of enriching its "employees" and -- I'm sure -- Democrap donors.

The very idea of an agency intended to provide "neutral" mediation services is pointless and pure waste. All mediators are neutral, at least in theory. Mediators don't decide disputes. They only facilitate settlements between the parties. They have no power to decide or cases or compel any party to do anything.

Plus, there are like 50 private mediation services in the country, staffed by retired judges and lawyers. Parties wanting to mediation choose their own mediator.

Posted by: Elric Blade at March 20, 2025 12:17 PM (iFTx/)

52 40 No wonder they shit themselves over an email asking them for 5 things they did at work.
Posted by: steevy at March 20, 2025 12:15 PM (KQk9m)

Seriously. "Errr... fuck, what DID I do this week? I guess not much now that I think about it. Although I did spend quite a bit of time angry ranting about the orange man on blue sky. Probably shouldn't list that though... Hmmm."

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at March 20, 2025 12:17 PM (uCjyK)

53 These people need to be wearing stripes and busting rocks.

Posted by: ScaryMary at March 20, 2025 12:14 PM

As much as I agree with you that isn't going to solve the problem. The problem exists way above the level of these petty grifters. Until Trump and DOGE address the rot from the top nothing is going to change.

They can keep closing places like this but unless they cut the head off of the snake they will pop back up like weeds once Trump and DOGE are gone.

Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at March 20, 2025 12:17 PM (e5NfL)

54 45 Hang them. Hang them all.
____

Then hang their portraits on them for easy identification. They've been retouched and all, would be a shame to waste them.

Posted by: Chuck Martel at March 20, 2025 12:17 PM (zAWN6)

55 >>How many more of these small agencies full of nepots and self serving side deals are there?

Every Agency. Every Level of Government.

There is no doubt in any way that this is straight up 'Business as Usual'.

Posted by: garrett at March 20, 2025 12:17 PM (yHAEf)

56 FIRST!!!!!

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at March 20, 2025 12:18 PM (Zz0t1)

57 How many more of these small agencies full of nepots and self serving side deals are there?

No wonder all of the people who have federal funding are getting group colonoscopies.

Posted by: Cuthbert the Witless

No wonder they are squealing like stuck hogs.

Posted by: rickb223 at March 20, 2025 12:18 PM (LVaER)

58 I missed the part about hookers and blow.

Posted by: Rev Wishbone at March 20, 2025 12:18 PM (fY84s)

59 "FMCS (before the pandemic!) had a 9-story K Street tower for 60 employees."

And I bet there was not a single Republican among them.

Posted by: Chairman LMAO at March 20, 2025 12:18 PM (LPS7w)

60 Just for reference, the government credit cards have monthly transactions in the hundreds of billions of dollars.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at March 20, 2025 12:18 PM (lTGtQ)

61 This is why they're rioting. The grift is getting deeply, deeply discounted.

Yay!

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at March 20, 2025 12:19 PM (Zz0t1)

62 I think we need to focus on what's important: Trump took away my dream job.

Posted by: Associate Park Ranger For Telling Visitors That Old Faithful is About to Spew at March 20, 2025 12:19 PM (wzAuc)

63 and his vacation home, and even his subscription to USA Today.

The agency should be shut down just on the basis of its managers reading that low rent rag.

Posted by: kallisto at March 20, 2025 12:19 PM (noMZN)

64 I'd have lived in my luxurious office and banked the nonexistent house payment.

Posted by: huerfano at March 20, 2025 12:19 PM (n2swS)

65 What kind of person can have a 'job' like this?

You would know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that you serve no purpose and provide no benefit.

It seriously baffles me that there are people out there that think the path to happiness is being a parasite on the public.

Posted by: ghbucky at March 20, 2025 12:19 PM (/xDbx)

66 Need to start building prisons in DC. Those empty fed buildings should do nicely.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at March 20, 2025 12:19 PM (mlg/3)

67 Disgorgement is a word isn't it?

Posted by: DaveA at March 20, 2025 12:19 PM (FhXTo)

68 Gallon of gas is $2.59.
Posted by: rickb223 at March 20, 2025 12:14 PM (LVaER)

Mine went from $2.45 to $2.89 overnight a couple days ago. No idea why.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at March 20, 2025 12:19 PM (ExV1e)

69 I want arrests and convictions. All ill gotten gains clawed back.

Posted by: Reforger at March 20, 2025 12:20 PM (xcIvR)

70 Holy shit, that's infuriating. Not only are they living high on the sweat of our brows, but the sheer fucking entitlement.

Bondi going to prosecute or no, wouldn't be sporting old chap?

Posted by: Dworkin Barimen at March 20, 2025 12:20 PM (nXY03)

71 Every Agency. Every Level of Government.

There is no doubt in any way that this is straight up 'Business as Usual'.
Posted by: garrett at March 20, 2025 12:17 PM (yHAEf)

Agreed. And we all know their defense is going to be (with a straight face, of course) "this is just how things work. Everyone in DC does it. We're hard working civil servants. We have masters degrees! Of course we deserve to have vacation houses in Maine and travel the world first class!"

And, on the one hand, they're probably right. This is how all of their neighbors who work for the federal government live. This is how that whole city operates.

On the other hand, I wouldn't be against some people going to prison for 10 years to try to prove a point.

On the other other hand, we all know that will never happen.

So I guess we just have to lie here and take it.

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at March 20, 2025 12:20 PM (uCjyK)

72 So are they picking straws to see which district court judge orders Trump to reinstate the agency?

Posted by: Ordinary American at March 20, 2025 12:20 PM (vsTPo)

73 48 When things got dicey in Youngstown in the 80s with everybody blowing up things, a lot of people decided to go civil service. I had some sidewalk replaced with no tax increase with a couple bottles of Black Velvet presented to a classmate.

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at March 20, 2025 12:20 PM (gm9Sb)

74 Must be nice.

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at March 20, 2025 12:20 PM (QvVyQ)

75 I'm sure a restraining order against it being shut down is already written....

Posted by: steevy at March 20, 2025 12:21 PM (KQk9m)

76 We have to protect our phoney baloney jobs here, gentlemen!

Posted by: Governor William J. Le Petomane at March 20, 2025 12:21 PM (wtvvX)

77 He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.

Posted by: Chuck Martel at March 20, 2025 12:21 PM (zAWN6)

78 my guess is they're all wives, ex-wives, mistresses, and gay lovers of union bigwigs and mafiosi (BIRM)
Posted by: Black Orchid at March 20, 2025 12:15 PM (Pv3Rg)

I'd have guessed that they were all wives, ex-wives, mistresses, and gay lovers of DC judges.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at March 20, 2025 12:21 PM (ExV1e)

79 67 Disgorgement is a word isn't it?
Posted by: DaveA at March 20, 2025 12:19 PM (FhXTo)

Well, I'd certainly say these servants have been pretty faithless.

That's assuming, of course, they work for the taxpayer.

Unfortunately, I think courts would say they worked for the federal government and they were doing exactly what they were hired to do -- nothing.

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at March 20, 2025 12:21 PM (uCjyK)

80 The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service... the pinnacle of federal government waste, fraud and abuse.

Well done FMCS, well done...

Posted by: Martini Farmer at March 20, 2025 12:21 PM (Q4IgG)

81 53 These people need to be wearing stripes and busting rocks.

Posted by: ScaryMary at March 20, 2025 12:14 PM

As much as I agree with you that isn't going to solve the problem. The problem exists way above the level of these petty grifters. Until Trump and DOGE address the rot from the top nothing is going to change.

They can keep closing places like this but unless they cut the head off of the snake they will pop back up like weeds once Trump and DOGE are gone.

Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at March 20, 2025 12:17 PM (e5NfL)

Many bureaucracies are created incrementally(and never destroyed), so at least when taken down it'll take a while for them to grow back.

Posted by: Red Turban Someguy at March 20, 2025 12:21 PM (okun6)

82 Which Obama or Biden appointed judge will order this agency to remain open and fully funded?

The one that has a relative employed by this agency, or the one that has a relative getting a "consulting" contract from this agency.

Posted by: The ARC of History! at March 20, 2025 12:22 PM (u6/wt)

83
That felony credit card fraud. That's arrestable.
Posted by: rickb223 at March 20, 2025 12:12 PM (LVaER)

"You're not my boss!!!"

- - - The DOJ

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at March 20, 2025 12:22 PM (Zz0t1)

84 I'd have lived in my luxurious office and banked the nonexistent house payment.
Posted by: huerfano at March 20, 2025 12:19 PM (n2swS)

Pshaw! That kind of sacrifice is only for freshmen congressmen who want to wait for just the right home in just the right neighborhood to come available.

Posted by: Sean Hannity at March 20, 2025 12:22 PM (FCbAQ)

85 strengthen of culture of continuous improvement to drive us to world class excellence!

==

this is what we do here every day ! for free!

Posted by: runner at March 20, 2025 12:22 PM (g47mK)

86 68 Gallon of gas is $2.59.
Posted by: rickb223 at March 20, 2025 12:14 PM (LVaER)

Mine went from $2.45 to $2.89 overnight a couple days ago. No idea why.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at March 20, 2025 12:19 PM (ExV1e)

$2.79 to $3.19 overnight here. But not all of them.

Posted by: Governor William J. Le Petomane at March 20, 2025 12:23 PM (wtvvX)

87 "Personally, the reason that I've stayed is that I just don't feel like working that hard, plus the location on K Street is great, plus we all have these oversized offices with windows, plus management doesn't seem to care if we stay out at lunch a long time. Can you blame me?"

Yes, you lazy, dishonest fuckwad. You belong in jail, repaying your debt to society at 40 cents an hour.

Posted by: huerfano at March 20, 2025 12:23 PM (n2swS)

88 I really could care less if this only represents pennies on the dollar of government waste.

We were bankrolling the Democrat party and its activists.

So enraging. I’m just so thankful Musk became involved politically because I don’t think any of this would have happened otherwise

Posted by: Maroon at March 20, 2025 12:23 PM (n9Dwb)

89 Agreed. And we all know their defense is going to be (with a straight face, of course) "this is just how things work. Everyone in DC does it. We're hard working civil servants. We have masters degrees! Of course we deserve to have vacation houses in Maine and travel the world first class!"

And, on the one hand, they're probably right. This is how all of their neighbors who work for the federal government live. This is how that whole city operates.

On the other hand, I wouldn't be against some people going to prison for 10 years to try to prove a point.

On the other other hand, we all know that will never happen.

So I guess we just have to lie here and take it.

Posted by: Harry Paratestes

These are the elites that Rasmussen interviewed last year, and we discussed here.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at March 20, 2025 12:23 PM (lTGtQ)

90 None of these people do anything.

The argument is, frequently, that they process claims. But they never refuse any. It could all be done automagically with not much more corruption but enormously more efficiency.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at March 20, 2025 12:23 PM (ExV1e)

91 I was looking up the NGOs that the founders of Indivisible first started out, and I found that Senator Pocahantas's favorite off-site grift, the Consumer Protection Bureau, granted money to the NGOs! What the heck? Why are they giving out grants? And of course they escape congressional oversight.

It's just endless money laundering.

Posted by: PJ at March 20, 2025 12:23 PM (RRCAT)

92 I hope being jobless financially destroys their lives....

my guess is they're all wives, ex-wives, mistresses, and gay lovers of union bigwigs and mafiosi (BIRM)
Posted by: Black Orchid at March 20, 2025 12:15 PM (Pv3Rg)

And Democrap donors. This agency didn't do anything because it wasn't supposed to do anything. Was intended solely to funnel money to Democrap constituents.

Posted by: Elric Blade at March 20, 2025 12:24 PM (iFTx/)

93 My question is, why is this information public and stories are being written about the fraud and abuse of taxpayer money and NOT about how all these people have been arrested for fraud and abuse and THAT'S how the media got wind of the story?

It NEVER seems to go that way......and RARELY is anyone ever arrested for it.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at March 20, 2025 12:24 PM (Zz0t1)

94 Many bureaucracies are created incrementally(and never destroyed), so at least when taken down it'll take a while for them to grow back.
Posted by: Red Turban Someguy at March 20, 2025 12:21 PM (okun6)

Doing what DOGE is doing is akin to hitting weeds with a weed whacker, right to the ground.
But I think the intimation is that some Roundup is needed.

Posted by: OneEyedJack at March 20, 2025 12:24 PM (FCbAQ)

95 So I assume all of these labor mediators are like mediators in the private sector? Retired lawyers, judges, and the like who specialized in labor law during their careers?

Right? RIGHT?

Or are they a bunch of know nothings who no one would ever hire for a complex mediation?

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at March 20, 2025 12:24 PM (uCjyK)

96 Oh you know there was sex going on.

Posted by: eleven at March 20, 2025 12:24 PM (0HaGk)

97

WHen you hear Stretch Pelosi going on about people paying their fair share, or any Dem, think about this.

It makes her words seem more like part of a criminal scam.

That's exactly what it is.

Posted by: Dr.Rev. Senator Your Highness E Buzz Miller, Esq PhD MA MS at March 20, 2025 12:24 PM (et1vG)

98 I missed the part about hookers and blow.
Posted by: Rev Wishbone at March 20, 2025 12:18 PM (fY84s)

NO SPOILERS!!! Final episode hasn't aired yet

Posted by: ghost of hallelujah at March 20, 2025 12:24 PM (sJHOI)

99 "So, what would you say you do here??"

Posted by: Tex Lovera at March 20, 2025 12:24 PM (wtvvX)

100 I think public seppuku of the entire department, plus the IG who was supposed to be keeping an eye on them, would be appropriate here.

Posted by: Chuck Martel at March 20, 2025 12:25 PM (zAWN6)

101 So are they picking straws to see which district court judge orders Trump to reinstate the agency?
Posted by: Ordinary American at March 20, 2025 12:20 PM

Well they did have an office in Hawaii (natch) So I am sure Judge Mana Loa is all over it!

Posted by: Minnfidel at March 20, 2025 12:25 PM (ewjUl)

102 My work is adjacent to NOAA and they do work although it seems like they have like 5 times the IT folks that we do for the same functions (but I don't know what all they do). But human nature being what it is, probably every fed employee compares there job to the cushiest make work federal job in DC and feels like gosh they are overworked and underpaid.

Posted by: PaleRider at March 20, 2025 12:25 PM (bP/i4)

103 Oh you know there was sex going on.
Posted by: eleven at March 20, 2025 12:24 PM (0HaGk)

A ton of fapping at the very least.

Posted by: ghost of hallelujah at March 20, 2025 12:25 PM (sJHOI)

104 And we wonder why these people stay in office until they are 90.

SC Justices too.

Posted by: ... at March 20, 2025 12:25 PM (T7bgo)

105 > Holy shit, that's infuriating. Not only are they living high on the sweat of our brows, but the sheer fucking entitlement.

Bondi going to prosecute or no, wouldn't be sporting old chap?
--------
I can probably count on one hand the number of times anyone in government has been prosecuted for waste, fraud and/or abuse of funds.

The number of times the feds have gone to lengths to recover funds from something like this, from all the employees involved... zero.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at March 20, 2025 12:25 PM (Q4IgG)

106 >Just for reference, the government credit cards have monthly transactions in the hundreds of billions of dollars.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at March 20, 2025 12:18 PM (lTGtQ)

I hear tell of "magic money computers" in Treasury that just pay out whatever is asked, with no kind of checks on legitimacy, etc at all. We and our descendants have been robbed blind. The greatest heist in history.

Posted by: Dworkin Barimen at March 20, 2025 12:25 PM (nXY03)

107 Is this for real? This is for worse than my worst possible assumptions about the fed govt.

No doubt Dems will be crying about dedicated public servants "working" the now being unemployed.

Posted by: Ripley at March 20, 2025 12:25 PM (GUOwU)

108 94 Many bureaucracies are created incrementally(and never destroyed), so at least when taken down it'll take a while for them to grow back.
Posted by: Red Turban Someguy at March 20, 2025 12:21 PM (okun6)

Doing what DOGE is doing is akin to hitting weeds with a weed whacker, right to the ground.
But I think the intimation is that some Roundup is needed.

Posted by: OneEyedJack at March 20, 2025 12:24 PM (FCbAQ)

Gasoline and a match.

Posted by: Tex Lovera at March 20, 2025 12:26 PM (wtvvX)

109 ace, if you're around you should see this from an earlier thread:

Harrison H. Smith ✞@HarrisonHSmith
"Friends of Democracy"
Leaked Docs show exactly how Riots are organized, orchestrated, and funded by Leftist NGOs

https://is.gd/p1DOfA

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Soldier of the Persistence at March 20, 2025 10:44 AM (L/fGl)

Posted by: Boron Cobbie - You were convinced to trade your youth and legacy for toil disguised as Girl Power at March 20, 2025 12:26 PM (qSMcm)

110
Doing what DOGE is doing is akin to hitting weeds with a weed whacker, right to the ground.
But I think the intimation is that some Roundup is needed.

Posted by: OneEyedJack

=====

Destroying the root system may be much more important than arrests and trials.

Posted by: 2009Refugee at March 20, 2025 12:26 PM (u5fr9)

111 I had an idea, can a judge prevent another judge from issuing an insane edict ? For example, a lunatic judge blocks deportations, another judge issues and edict overriding leftist hack's edit (based on something brought before them) - telling the administration to deport ?

Posted by: runner at March 20, 2025 12:26 PM (g47mK)

112 Have they done any mediating?

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at March 20, 2025 12:26 PM (63Dwl)

113 If only the fiscally conservative-minded, common sense Republicans had been aware of this, I'm almost certain they would have stripped funding from the budget!

Posted by: retardo at March 20, 2025 12:26 PM (bFutY)

114 I wanted to be reasonable...back to heads on pikes.

Posted by: Francis at March 20, 2025 12:27 PM (bbuBP)

115 Can we get a looky-look at the Stimulu$$ receipts, please?

Posted by: ghost of hallelujah at March 20, 2025 12:27 PM (sJHOI)

116 I want a list of these "great personal sacrifices" these people have made. Why do they all talk like Chairman Mao?

Posted by: ... at March 20, 2025 12:27 PM (T7bgo)

117 I'm sure glad we got that CR passed so that this is still funded!

Posted by: ghbucky at March 20, 2025 12:27 PM (/xDbx)

118 He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.
Posted by: Chuck Martel at March 20, 2025 12:21 PM (zAWN6)

As has been noted countless times, the Founders would've been shooting long ago.

Posted by: OneEyedJack at March 20, 2025 12:27 PM (FCbAQ)

119 There appears to be enough shenanigans with expenses that they could prosecute?

At least, if they could do so outside of the corrupt DC courts…

Posted by: Lizzy at March 20, 2025 12:28 PM (Hkcdp)

120 I can probably count on one hand the number of times anyone in government has been prosecuted for waste, fraud and/or abuse of funds.

The number of times the feds have gone to lengths to recover funds from something like this, from all the employees involved... zero.
----------
I was a Federal Bank examiner for nearly a decade. We were continuously cautioned to NOT even accept a $15 meal at a Western Sizzler or Golden Corral from any employee or officer of any bank we had jurisdiction over. That was the 1990s.

Seems like I missed out on a real gravy train!

Posted by: Crusader at March 20, 2025 12:28 PM (TN0g+)

121 Doing what DOGE is doing is akin to hitting weeds with a weed whacker, right to the ground.
But I think the intimation is that some Roundup is needed.

Posted by: OneEyedJack at March 20, 2025 12:24 PM (FCbAQ)

Gasoline and a match.
Posted by: Tex Lovera at Marc

Pfffftttt....

Posted by: Kudzu and crown vetch at March 20, 2025 12:28 PM (dwnKP)

122 I hear tell of "magic money computers" in Treasury that just pay out whatever is asked, with no kind of checks on legitimacy, etc at all. We and our descendants have been robbed blind. The greatest heist in history.

it is. damn.

I, like Ripley above, didn't begin to imagine how bad this is.

wow. I've worked in the private sector since I was 16 years old and paid taxes. fuck.

Posted by: Black Orchid at March 20, 2025 12:29 PM (Pv3Rg)

123 People need to go to jail over this.

Posted by: Bicentennialguy at March 20, 2025 12:29 PM (+K1xO)

124 Or at minimum, cut their pensions and other post-employment benefits.

Posted by: Lizzy at March 20, 2025 12:29 PM (Hkcdp)

125 Gallon of gas is $2.59.
Posted by: rickb223 at March 20, 2025
*
Mine went from $2.45 to $2.89 overnight a couple days ago. No idea why.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at March 20, 2025

***
I see anywhere from $2.39 for Exxon 87 E10 at one station, to $2.69 for the same fuel at another. $2.71 for Shell. There's a convenience store on the other side of the river that sells E0, however, at $2.99, and I get beter mileage on it. Whenever I'm near there I gas up.

Egg prices, though, are not falling. I saw something labeled at $4.49 at the store yesterday, but that might have been for a half dozen. Teelve eggs still cost close to $6.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at March 20, 2025 12:29 PM (J2vNu)

126 Have they done any mediating?
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at March 20, 2025 12:26 PM (63Dwl)

You just have to expand your definition of some key terms

Posted by: ghost of hallelujah at March 20, 2025 12:29 PM (sJHOI)

127 113 If only the fiscally conservative-minded, common sense Republicans had been aware of this, I'm almost certain they would have stripped funding from the budget!
Posted by: retardo at March 20, 2025 12:26 PM (bFutY)

lol. Paul Ryan, the BUDGET HAWK and wonk, went through the entire federal budget, and unfortunately the only place to cut was social security. No other waste, fraud, corruption, or unnecessary expenditures anywhere else.

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at March 20, 2025 12:29 PM (uCjyK)

128 Have they done any mediating?

Posted by: Bertram Cabot,

Almost one.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at March 20, 2025 12:29 PM (lTGtQ)

129 >>I was a Federal Bank examiner for nearly a decade.

Did you ever get to meet George Bailey?

Posted by: JackStraw at March 20, 2025 12:30 PM (LkLld)

130 Bondi going to prosecute or no, wouldn't be sporting old chap?
--------

Bondo: She's Got Electrolytes

Posted by: ... at March 20, 2025 12:30 PM (T7bgo)

131 "I want arrests and convictions. All ill gotten gains clawed back."

Right. The billions/trillions that have been stolen has given "generational wealth" to so many of these connected "mobsters". And this was going on the whole time "they" tried to imprison Trump for ? anything they could make up.

Posted by: illiniwek at March 20, 2025 12:30 PM (Cus5s)

132 I'm sure glad we got that CR passed so that this is still funded!

Posted by: ghbucky at March 20, 2025 12:27 PM (/xDbx)

No thanks to that SOB Massie.

We've gotta get rid of that guy!

Posted by: retardo at March 20, 2025 12:30 PM (bFutY)

133 Teelve eggs still cost close to $6.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at March 20, 2025 12:29 PM (J2vNu)

I paid $15 (!!!) for a dozen organic eggs yesterday.

I thought egg prices were supposed to be going back down. The fuck?

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at March 20, 2025 12:30 PM (uCjyK)

134 I see anywhere from $2.39 for Exxon 87 E10 at one station, to $2.69 for the same fuel at another. $2.71 for Shell. There's a convenience store on the other side of the river that sells E0, however, at $2.99, and I get beter mileage on it. Whenever I'm near there I gas up.

Get rid of E and the price goes back down to $1.77.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at March 20, 2025 12:30 PM (Zz0t1)

135 "Seems like I missed out on a real gravy train!"

Yeah, me too! A nice thirty-year vacation followed by a comfortable retirement - that's what I could have had!

Posted by: CTHillary, dead but dreaming at March 20, 2025 12:31 PM (VXSVh)

136 He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.
Posted by: Chuck Martel at March 20, 2025 12:21 PM (zAWN6)

*types*

*deletes*

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at March 20, 2025 12:31 PM (i24o9)

137 Something like a fifth of our economy is outright fraud, or borrowed money being handed out to illegals to count as GDP.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at March 20, 2025 12:31 PM (lTGtQ)

138 I'd have lived in my luxurious office and banked the nonexistent house payment.
Posted by: huerfano at March 20, 2025 12:19 PM (n2swS)

In years past, I've seen a lot of FIRE (financial independence, retire early) videos starring two former federal employees who managed to retire in their early 40s... somehow.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at March 20, 2025 12:31 PM (ExV1e)

139 "Read the whole thing."
you printed the whole thing.

Posted by: cmeat at March 20, 2025 12:31 PM (6+aIJ)

140 Overruled!

Posted by: Random Hawaiian judge at March 20, 2025 12:31 PM (bHGBC)

141 Have they done any mediating?
_____

Every day, multiple times a day. Wait, did you say meditating?

Posted by: Chuck Martel at March 20, 2025 12:31 PM (zAWN6)

142 In years past, I've seen a lot of FIRE (financial independence, retire early) videos starring two former federal employees who managed to retire in their early 40s... somehow.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at March 20, 2025 12:31 PM (ExV1e)

Oh, here's how. points vaguely at how the fed gov operations

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at March 20, 2025 12:32 PM (uCjyK)

143 I hate this - the field office mediators are not like this. I have used them in all of my negotiations (you have to notify them and they can be really helpful). I have also used them to hire arbitrators. The field crew does a great job, but these guys are ridiculous and it awful they have made it seem like the entire organization is a mess. By the way, the other org for arbitration is AAA and they are 3 times to cost of an FMCS arbitrator.

Posted by: Piper at March 20, 2025 12:32 PM (2N3ca)

144 Waiting for trials, long jail sentences, and executions.

Waiting.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at March 20, 2025 12:32 PM (0ODjL)

145 These people make the criminally corrupt DC teachers union, where people went to jail for the outrageous graft, look like petty thieves.

Posted by: Lizzy at March 20, 2025 12:32 PM (Hkcdp)

146 as far as weeds/garden metaphors go, the real key to permanently removing weeds is not roundup, not burning (they propagate even worse that way sometimes!), but in fact planting what you want there and keeping it strong and healthy.

that's the answer. get rid of these scum and help the people actually work and be productive in things that are wanted. do God's work! fill in the empty spaces where weeds can grow with productive things!

... or, move to Mars I guess

Posted by: Black Orchid at March 20, 2025 12:32 PM (Pv3Rg)

147 “Read the whole thing.”

——

You mean there’s more???

Posted by: BurtTC at March 20, 2025 12:33 PM (rmhUO)

148 Madame Secretary is in the shower, or she would face these allegations head on!

Posted by: Head and Shoulders Above the Fray at March 20, 2025 12:33 PM (G5+As)

149 Brings to mind the AllenG philosophy

Burn it down
Scatter the stones
Salt the ground

If I recall it correctly

Posted by: extybeebeachbum at March 20, 2025 12:33 PM (vYE1l)

150 No thanks to that SOB Massie.

We've gotta get rid of that guy!
Posted by: retardo at March 20, 2025 12:30 PM (bFutY)

He's my rep. I can assure you, he is not going anywhere.

Posted by: ghbucky at March 20, 2025 12:33 PM (/xDbx)

151 In years past, I've seen a lot of FIRE (financial independence, retire early) videos starring two former federal employees who managed to retire in their early 40s... somehow.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic

I saw a gripe the other day from a fed employee who just lost their job, and their side gig only pays $100-120K per year.

If your side gig is paying considerably more than the median income in this country, your government job isn't a job, it is money for nothing.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at March 20, 2025 12:33 PM (lTGtQ)

152 when you realize none of this fraud/waste/abuse could exist without the ability to print money, the solution is obvious...

Posted by: Bitcoin Fixes Everything at March 20, 2025 12:33 PM (V6W16)

153 They need to be named and shamed immediately.
FBI raids on their homes.

Just look at what the left is doing to people who’ve simply purchased a Tesla, ffs.

Posted by: Lizzy at March 20, 2025 12:33 PM (Hkcdp)

154 This served a legitimate governmental interest and is just another sign that the DOGE and its unelected king, Elon Musk are illegitimate and unconstitutional assaults on our democracy.

Posted by: The Democrats at March 20, 2025 12:33 PM (7PRou)

155 Can sardines oxley be applied to these clowns using agency money so cavilierly? I'm sure it was written to exempt gov employees and agency directors.

Posted by: Cuthbert the Witless at March 20, 2025 12:34 PM (pasjP)

156 I just got out of the shower.

Has a judge blocked this yet?

Posted by: Stateless...62% - mental state clawing up from 10% at March 20, 2025 12:34 PM (jvJvP)

157 Wonder how many in this agency are fat and unfit, even though they had a private gym and no real work to do?

Posted by: Vic Tanny's Ghost at March 20, 2025 12:34 PM (G5+As)

158 Madame Secretary is in the shower, or she would face these allegations head on!
Posted by: Head and Shoulders Above the Fray at March 20, 2025

***
Does she look anything like Tea Leoni?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at March 20, 2025 12:34 PM (J2vNu)

159 I'm reminded of Mark Knopfler's song "Imelda":

https://youtu.be/pVQpRjjkdNE

Particularly the 2nd half of the chorus:
"All the poor people saying
That they got to quit paying for you"

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at March 20, 2025 12:34 PM (O7YUW)

160 I was a Federal Bank examiner for nearly a decade. We were continuously cautioned to NOT even accept a $15 meal at a Western Sizzler or Golden Corral from any employee or officer of any bank we had jurisdiction over. That was the 1990s.

Seems like I missed out on a real gravy train!
Posted by: Crusader

--

Well met! I'm a survivor of the OCC, LA duty station during the real estate bubble. Fun times.

Posted by: WitchDoktor at March 20, 2025 12:34 PM (Z+A8w)

161 Afternoon ace
DOGE isn't showing empathy, they're cruel , inhumane , without compassion and ickey, says every governmentalist everywhere
Eff U says every taxpayer

Posted by: Smell the Glove at March 20, 2025 12:34 PM (bVN1m)

162 At first I didn’t believe Trump and Musk were Nazis…but this article finally opened my eyes to their true nature. How could I have been so blind…

(Deeply sobs in my trembling hands)

Posted by: Cray Cray at March 20, 2025 12:34 PM (ogMW0)

163 You can't do that!

Posted by: Random judge at March 20, 2025 12:35 PM (GD2xa)

164 Madame Secretary is in the shower, or she would face these allegations head on!
Posted by: Head and Shoulders Above the Fray at March 20, 2025

***
Does she look anything like Tea Leoni?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at March 20, 2025 12:34 PM (J2vNu)
-

Most probably like tea leaves.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at March 20, 2025 12:36 PM (0ODjL)

165 Bondi going to prosecute or no, wouldn't be sporting old chap?
Posted by: Dworkin Barimen at March 20, 2025 12:20 PM (nXY03)

The lady who took over, possibly, the most corrupt agency in the federal government? The one who has to replace ALL the US Attorneys? The one who has to figure out who's left that can still be trusted?

That Pam Bondi? Sure, let's have her drop everything and run around like a chicken with her head cut off chasing the latest thing that's come to the attention of the impatient and bring it to trial with zero evidence. I assume having judges dismiss the changes with prejudice would make everyone happy?

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at March 20, 2025 12:36 PM (ExV1e)

166 Dafuq.

Seriously.

Dafuq.

Posted by: Brother Tim (102mm/W59), Keeper of the Tim Continuum at March 20, 2025 12:36 PM (OUMaO)

167 Wait until Bondi's PowerPoint comes out. And if that doesn't shake things up then it's a Publisher.

After that, she is going to get all Teams on their ass.

And if none of that does it, if our enemies aren't rattled to their very core? Then... and only then... she is going to go Full Adobe.

Posted by: ... at March 20, 2025 12:36 PM (T7bgo)

168 This seems like a reasonable example of individuals--particularly leadership--being required to pay restitution. This is just as wicked as tax fraud.

Posted by: -DC at March 20, 2025 12:36 PM (i3jTa)

169 Waste, fraud and abuse are nothing more than racist Republican code words. We must fight to save our grift and taxpayer money laundering operations, er, democratic institutions.

Posted by: The Democrats at March 20, 2025 12:36 PM (7PRou)

170 At least someone got a refrigerator off of my scheme….

Posted by: Stacy Abrams at March 20, 2025 12:37 PM (+K1xO)

171 Posted by: ghbucky at March 20, 2025 12:33 PM (/xDbx)
Perhaps you missed the invisible /sarc tag?

Posted by: Angzarr the Cromulent at March 20, 2025 12:37 PM (7aURE)

172 I want a list of these "great personal sacrifices" these people have made. Why do they all talk like Chairman Mao?

Posted by: ... at March 20, 2025 12:27 PM (T7bgo)

------------

1. Woke up at noon.
2. Submitted timecard for 80 hours of work last week.
3. Went to gay bathhouse and strip club.
4. Cleaned out All-You-Can-Eat-Buffet.
5. Snorted coke off of kitteh's belly.
6. Took it up the ass from former Monkeypox Czar boytoy.
7. Feel asleep.

[BTW, got a chuckle out of your ping this morning and will be responding in no less than six days; ICYMI (as it was willowed), I linked your GIF of Easter Island Flaming Skull John Brennan in one of the threads yesterday. Good times, good times ...]

Posted by: ShainS -- The Dissolution of The Autopen Empire at March 20, 2025 12:37 PM (1YwYn)

173 as far as weeds/garden metaphors go, the real key to permanently removing weeds is not roundup, not burning (they propagate even worse that way sometimes!), but in fact planting what you want there and keeping it strong and healthy.

Salt it. Nothing will grow.

Posted by: rickb223 at March 20, 2025 12:37 PM (LVaER)

174 I was a Federal Bank examiner for nearly a decade. We were continuously cautioned to NOT even accept a $15 meal at a Western Sizzler or Golden Corral from any employee or officer of any bank we had jurisdiction over. That was the 1990s.

-

I'm betting it's similar to promoting the idea that some low-level nobodies are where the trillions of Medicare and Medicaid dollars went.

Promote anger and contempt and get all the misdirection pointed away from the real problem.

Posted by: Boron Cobbie - You were convinced to trade your youth and legacy for toil disguised as Girl Power at March 20, 2025 12:37 PM (qSMcm)

175 Sorry Piper. Even for the actual doing something field offices the companies dealing with unions can find their own mediators and I care less if they have to pay more because people's taxes are not subsidizing most of the cost. In fact it was never right that taxes are paying for that cost of doing business.

Posted by: PaleRider at March 20, 2025 12:37 PM (bP/i4)

176 Wait, there's more !

Posted by: Hatari somewhere on Ventura Highway at March 20, 2025 12:37 PM (NtVYv)

177 And now, Trump wants to expand auto production in the US, giving us Strength Through Joy! Subscribe now!

Latest Trump is a Nazi shit

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at March 20, 2025 12:37 PM (gm9Sb)

178 The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service is run exactly like my unemployed lefty friends say private companies are run.

But...they'll defend these guys because of unions or something

Posted by: 18-1 at March 20, 2025 12:37 PM (t0Rmr)

179 when you realize none of this fraud/waste/abuse could exist without the ability to print money, the solution is obvious...
Posted by: Bitcoin Fixes Everything
-------------
Why not little pouches of gold?

Posted by: Crusader at March 20, 2025 12:37 PM (TN0g+)

180 No thanks to that SOB Massie.

We've gotta get rid of that guy!
Posted by: retardo at March 20, 2025 12:30 PM (bFutY)

I know, right? How DARE a politician support the positions he declared when he was campaigning. He should walk them back whenever politically convenient. This is, after all, the GOPe's superpower.

Posted by: Kindltot at March 20, 2025 12:37 PM (D7oie)

181 And if none of that does it, if our enemies aren't rattled to their very core? Then... and only then... she is going to go Full Adobe.

lol

BUT GIVE HER TIME!!!

like ... all the time she spends bloviating on Fox?

Posted by: Black Orchid at March 20, 2025 12:37 PM (Pv3Rg)

182 He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.
Posted by: Chuck Martel at March 20, 2025 12:21 PM (zAWN6)

Oooh, baby! I ain't had my substance eaten out in a long damn time. -- Stacey Abrams

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at March 20, 2025 12:37 PM (ExV1e)

183 ***
Does she look anything like Tea Leoni?
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius,

Claire McCaskill's body double.

Posted by: Lost My Apetite at March 20, 2025 12:38 PM (G5+As)

184 DOGE isn't showing empathy, they're cruel , inhumane , without compassion and ickey, says every governmentalist everywhere

Posted by: Smell the Glove at March 20, 2025 12:34 PM (bVN1m)
-

Obligatory movie clip:

https://youtu.be/BFCb4j0E2p4

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at March 20, 2025 12:38 PM (0ODjL)

185 I was in the pool!!

Posted by: George at March 20, 2025 12:38 PM (RZVTN)

186 I was a Federal Bank examiner for nearly a decade. We were continuously cautioned to NOT even accept a $15 meal at a Western Sizzler or Golden Corral from any employee or officer of any bank we had jurisdiction over. That was the 1990s.

To paraphrase a famous comedian, see there is a big group, but you aren't in that big group.

So burger and fries for you on the government dime? Fired. Dinner at the most expensive restaurant in town for team building? of course that's an eligible expense.

Posted by: 18-1 at March 20, 2025 12:39 PM (t0Rmr)

187 Sign me up for the KdF program!

Posted by: Franz Liebkind at March 20, 2025 12:40 PM (G5+As)

188 Salt it. Nothing will grow.
Posted by: rickb223 at March 20, 2025

***
They say we did that to Carthage. Have you been addled by Bacchus? That was prime real estate and growing land, sir! We marked off a square foot or two, had the flamen dialis declare it to be Carthage, then salted *that.* The rest we took over. Profit, sir, pure profit!

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at March 20, 2025 12:40 PM (J2vNu)

189 I looked up FMCS on Wikipedia (I know). It lists notable events and actions. It's last one is Trump shutting it down. Heh

Posted by: Smell the Glove at March 20, 2025 12:40 PM (bVN1m)

190
Claire McCaskill's body double.
Posted by: Lost My Apetite at March 20, 2025 12:38 PM (G5+As)

She's got a twelvehead and dyes her hair.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at March 20, 2025 12:40 PM (Zz0t1)

191 DOGE isn't showing empathy, they're cruel , inhumane , without compassion and ickey, says every governmentalist everywhere

How is lowering inflation, avoiding a default, and maybe one lowering taxes anything but empathy?

Posted by: 18-1 at March 20, 2025 12:40 PM (t0Rmr)

192 "Read the whole thing."
you printed the whole thing.
Posted by: cmeat at March 20, 2025 12:31 PM (6+aIJ)

What he means is click on the damn thing and then come back so there's an electronic trail of traffic and the authors won't get pissed he goes a little beyond fair use excerpts.

Posted by: OneEyedJack at March 20, 2025 12:40 PM (FCbAQ)

193 PDT has promised many celebrations during the 250th anniversary. I hope DOGE is included, marching down PA Avenue with green visors and Victor adding machines tucked under the arm.

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at March 20, 2025 12:40 PM (gm9Sb)

194 These guys make the tic-tocking female do-nothing tech employees look like pikers.

Posted by: Cray Cray at March 20, 2025 12:41 PM (ogMW0)

195
It's a write off, Jerry.
They just write it off.

Posted by: Kramer at March 20, 2025 12:41 PM (RZVTN)

196 Live like Queens and Kings on taxpayer's backs.

Repent like peasants who learn to code or demand! their money as they wait for unemployment's 1/3 payments.

No doubt whine weeping, filming themselves on X, crying and snotting through nose rings that President Trump is Hitler. Either/or.

Hope in the midst of their gluttony they put away a few hundred thousand dollars for a rainy day in off shore accounts.

Unreal. But I believe every word.

Posted by: ChristyBlinkyTheGreat at March 20, 2025 12:41 PM (6PCLE)

197 Madame Secretary is in the shower, or she would face these allegations head on!
Posted by: Head and Shoulders Above the Fray at March 20, 2025 12:33 PM

Gee, your agency smells terrific!

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at March 20, 2025 12:41 PM (Wnv9h)

198 >Posted by: I used to have a different nic at March 20, 2025 12:36 PM (ExV1e)

Well excuse the fuck outta me for trying to critique from the right. We should trust the plan like good little boys, just like Durham.

Also, nice straw man you slayed. 10/10.

Bondi simps, I swear...

Posted by: Dworkin Barimen at March 20, 2025 12:41 PM (nXY03)

199 Just gotta google 'FMCS' and select the 'news' filter to see what Alphabet wants users to prioritize via its algos.

Posted by: geewhiz at March 20, 2025 12:42 PM (65K9+)

200 Egg prices, though, are not falling.

My egg prices dropped ~50% a week or so ago.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at March 20, 2025 12:42 PM (ExV1e)

201 I will say when I was in OCC two of my banks were in Vegas and one in Laughlin. Because they were in the western district we had crazy high per diem bc of San Francisco. This is back when Vegas had the $5 buffets and cheap hotel rooms.

In practical terms this meant that when I'd spend two weeks at each of those banks doing S&S/Compliance exams I was hitting the craps table with government money. And losing it too, but hey.

Posted by: WitchDoktor at March 20, 2025 12:42 PM (Z+A8w)

202 These guys make the tic-tocking female do-nothing tech employees look like pikers.

Yeah but it was probably money from Uncle Sugar, or more accurately the threat of cutting the payouts, that made big Tech hire their tiktokers that actually don't do any work.

I worked at one tech company and around 2013 or so you could only get promoted if you were a woman, a minority, or gay. And yes, of course, they had government contracts...

Posted by: 18-1 at March 20, 2025 12:42 PM (t0Rmr)

203
Gee, your agency smells terrific!
Posted by: RedMindBlueState at March 20, 2025 12:41 PM (Wnv9h)

Better than the tourists!

Posted by: Zombie Harry Reid at March 20, 2025 12:43 PM (Zz0t1)

204 My egg prices dropped ~50% a week or so ago.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at March 20, 2025 12:42 PM (ExV1e)

The national average has dropped over $2.

Posted by: Zombie Harry Reid at March 20, 2025 12:43 PM (Zz0t1)

205 At my very first post-college job, at a Bell company, they hammered into employees that “Perception = Reality,” meaning: if you give the impression to customers that you are doing something bad, whatever, it doesn’t matter if it’s true or not, you’ve already damaged the company. We were told to act in such a way that we would not even give the impression of shady business dealings, unfair policies, etc.. The advice was solid.

Posted by: Lizzy at March 20, 2025 12:43 PM (Hkcdp)

206 DAMNIT!!!!!

Having a rough day.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at March 20, 2025 12:43 PM (Zz0t1)

207 I got a few groceries yesterday. Egg prices were still very high. But Colorado, home of AFWL preening themselves for "all eggs on the shelves must be cage free!, let the peasants eat tofu"

Posted by: PaleRider at March 20, 2025 12:44 PM (bP/i4)

208 The FMCS emblem looks like it's from the Simpsons.

Posted by: Oglebay at March 20, 2025 12:44 PM (MMp6W)

209 Conservatives expect results. So far Bondi's have been meager.

She can turn it around, but we, and hopefully she, should look at the anger being directed at her as incentive to do the right things.

Trust me if she starts arresting Epstein clients all will be forgiven. But if she continues to do not a lot well, then maybe this isn't the job for her

Posted by: 18-1 at March 20, 2025 12:44 PM (t0Rmr)

210 I was negotiating a labor contract once and we declared an impasse.

So the feds sent one of them mediators.

He enjoyed his 2 week vacation in SF and did his best to extend negotiations as long as possible.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at March 20, 2025 12:45 PM (RIvkX)

211 The FMCS emblem looks like it's from the Simpsons.
Posted by: Oglebay at March 20, 2025 12:44 PM (MMp6W)

"The name is Mr. Plow."

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at March 20, 2025 12:45 PM (Zz0t1)

212 I will say when I was in OCC two of my banks were in Vegas and one in Laughlin. Because they were in the western district we had crazy high per diem bc of San Francisco. This is back when Vegas had the $5 buffets and cheap hotel rooms.

In practical terms this meant that when I'd spend two weeks at each of those banks doing S&S/Compliance exams I was hitting the craps table with government money. And losing it too, but hey.
----------
We were getting something like $35 a day for meals (midwestern US) and breakfast and lunch could be had at McDonalds for like $6 total, so I'd have a $27 steak dinner (and this was in the 1990s when $27 would buy a good steak dinner so long as the locals steered you to the right restaurant).

Posted by: Crusader at March 20, 2025 12:45 PM (TN0g+)

213 Got a candidate for my replacement coming in about noon. I should try to look professional. Removing the Bozo the Clown hairpiece and nose would be a plus, don't ya think?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at March 20, 2025 12:45 PM (J2vNu)

214
Rosniak found all this several years ago.

Posted by: Blonde Morticia's phone at March 20, 2025 12:45 PM (lCaJd)

215 I never really put it all together, even though I know it’s true, but it really does seem the most left-wing people I know in my life have a very big financial connection to government graft

Posted by: Maroon at March 20, 2025 12:46 PM (n9Dwb)

216 Having a rough day.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at March 20, 2025 12:43 PM (Zz0t1)

Let me be the FIRST! to give you e-hugs.

Posted by: pookysgirl, listening to baby giggles at March 20, 2025 12:46 PM (Wt5PA)

217 Republicans are the party of billionaires!!!!!

Posted by: leftists at March 20, 2025 12:46 PM (Vqx30)

218 GatewayPundit also had a story about Musk finding federal computers just designed to print money.

Canada is just as bad. There's just less to steal.

Posted by: Stateless...62% - mental state clawing up from 10% at March 20, 2025 12:46 PM (jvJvP)

219 You pussies cry about Bondi in EVERY SINGLE THREAD lol
Stfu and change your diapers jfc
It's mostly female posters too which is funny to me for some reason.

Posted by: Cmonman at March 20, 2025 12:46 PM (30dgN)

220 "The name is Mr. Plow."
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at March 20, 2025 12:45 PM (Zz0t1)

++++

They probably have a corporate anthem recorded by Linda Ronstadt.

Posted by: Oglebay at March 20, 2025 12:47 PM (MMp6W)

221 Posted by: ShainS -- The Dissolution of The Autopen Empire at March 20, 2025 12:37 PM (1YwYn)

Missed it. I had honestly forgot that one until you posted it some months back. By the way for when you see this, Happy Independence Day, I hope you're enjoying the barbecue.

Posted by: ... at March 20, 2025 12:47 PM (T7bgo)

222
Let me be the FIRST! to give you e-hugs.
Posted by: pookysgirl, listening to baby giggles at March 20, 2025 12:46 PM (Wt5PA)

Awwww....

*blushes*

That's very sweet. Thank you.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at March 20, 2025 12:47 PM (Zz0t1)

223 when you realize none of this fraud/waste/abuse could exist without the ability to print money, the solution is obvious...
Posted by: Bitcoin Fixes Everything at March 20, 2025 12:33 PM (V6W16)

Sure is. We need to get OUR hands on those money printers.
GOPe-

Posted by: OneEyedJack at March 20, 2025 12:47 PM (FCbAQ)

224 They probably have a corporate anthem recorded by Linda Ronstadt.
====

Actually, we use WAP

Posted by: FMCS at March 20, 2025 12:47 PM (+K1xO)

225 I got a few groceries yesterday. Egg prices were still very high. But Colorado, home of AFWL preening themselves for "all eggs on the shelves must be cage free!, let the peasants eat tofu"

I heard in Colorado that everything is very high.

Posted by: retardo at March 20, 2025 12:48 PM (bFutY)

226 A judge who was planning to retire to a posh position in the FMCS will soon issue a TRO stopping the shutdown. The TRO will inexplicably reference the Simpsons "Marge vs. The Monorail' episode.

Posted by: Candidus at March 20, 2025 12:48 PM (+wPkw)

227 Something something phoney baloney jobs...

Posted by: Harrumph at March 20, 2025 12:48 PM (RZVTN)

228 206 DAMNIT!!!!!

Having a rough day.
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at March 20, 2025 12:43 PM (Zz0t1

Hope it gets better.

My friend's little girl brought me fudge drops candy. So there is still good in this world.

Posted by: Stateless...62% - mental state clawing up from 10% at March 20, 2025 12:48 PM (jvJvP)

229 I mean at least the Dancing Nurses were changing bedpans and doing blood draws..

Posted by: ... at March 20, 2025 12:48 PM (T7bgo)

230 There's a lot of names attached to a lot of fraud in this article. The credit card transactions alone are either income or theft. Prosecute the shit out of these grifters so they have huge tax liabilities or years in the clink. Or both.

Posted by: DanMan at March 20, 2025 12:48 PM (8uzBS)

231 Ron Paul for Fed Chairman.

Posted by: Oglebay at March 20, 2025 12:49 PM (MMp6W)

232 Well excuse the fuck outta me for trying to critique from the right.

It gets a little tiring to hear it a couple dozen times every damn day. Why hasn't Bondi solved absolutely everything in the past two weeks? Why isn't everyone in jail? Why didn't I get a bunny for Christmas?

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at March 20, 2025 12:49 PM (ExV1e)

233 LOL at the FMCS website:

IMPORTANT NOTICE:
We are reviewing recent Executive Orders for immediate implementation. The requirements outlined in these orders may affect some services or information currently provided on this website.

https://www.fmcs.gov

Posted by: m at March 20, 2025 12:49 PM (CQE5S)

234 Gallon of gas is $2.59.

==

in a year gas will be $.85! like grandpa said !

Posted by: runner at March 20, 2025 12:49 PM (g47mK)

235 I never really put it all together, even though I know it’s true, but it really does seem the most left-wing people I know in my life have a very big financial connection to government graft

Posted by: Maroon at March 20, 2025 12:46 PM (n9Dwb)

I have a friend who is a teacher, and he was noting that the people in his sphere are having a really tough time of ORANGEMANBAD, that they need their government mandated spring vacation to cope (spring break), which made me grimace and bite my tongue.

Leeches.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at March 20, 2025 12:49 PM (i24o9)

236 1. Woke up at noon.
2. Submitted timecard for 80 hours of work last week.
3. Went to gay bathhouse and strip club.
4. Cleaned out All-You-Can-Eat-Buffet.
5. Snorted coke off of kitteh's belly.
6. Took it up the ass from former Monkeypox Czar boytoy.
7. Feel asleep.

Posted by: ShainS -- The Dissolution of The Autopen Empire at March 20, 2025 12:37 PM (1YwYn)
---
That's SEVEN things you did last week!

You're gonna make the rest of the government employees look bad, you overachiever...

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at March 20, 2025 12:50 PM (7fElN)

237 Well excuse the fuck outta me for trying to critique from the right.

It gets a little tiring to hear it a couple dozen times every damn day. Why hasn't Bondi solved absolutely everything in the past two weeks? Why isn't everyone in jail? Why didn't I get a bunny for Christmas?
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at March 20, 2025 12:49 PM (ExV1e)
_________

I didn't get the dragon I wanted either ....

Posted by: Elric Blade at March 20, 2025 12:50 PM (iFTx/)

238 Prayer for peace in the house of Sponge

Posted by: San Franpsycho at March 20, 2025 12:50 PM (RIvkX)

239 But, but, but Elon is gonna steal your Social Security!

Posted by: Butch at March 20, 2025 12:50 PM (98xTj)

240 Just saw that Sandra Bernhard is performing at the Bearsville Theater about 15 miles from me. Have to miss that one

Posted by: Smell the Glove at March 20, 2025 12:50 PM (bVN1m)

241 225 I got a few groceries yesterday. Egg prices were still very high. But Colorado, home of AFWL preening themselves for "all eggs on the shelves must be cage free!, let the peasants eat tofu"

I heard in Colorado that everything is very high.
Posted by: retardo at March 20, 2025 12:48 PM (

Yeaaaah maaan. Hiiiigh.

Posted by: Towlie at March 20, 2025 12:50 PM (pasjP)

242
Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.

When "Just calm down." doesn't work.

Posted by: Auspex at March 20, 2025 12:50 PM (j4U/Z)

243 NewsMax:

The Social Security Administration's plan to require in-person identity checks for millions of new and existing recipients while simultaneously closing government offices has sparked a furor among lawmakers, advocacy groups and program recipients who are worried that the government is placing unnecessary barriers in front of an already vulnerable population.

The new requirements will impact anyone who needs to verify their bank information with the agency, as well as families with children who receive Social Security benefits and cannot verify a child's information on the SSA website. They are intended to combat fraud and waste within the system, which President Donald Trump and officials in his administration have claimed are widespread.

Posted by: SMOD at March 20, 2025 12:51 PM (GITLP)

244
My friend's little girl brought me fudge drops candy. So there is still good in this world.
Posted by: Stateless...62% - mental state clawing up from 10% at March 20, 2025 12:48 PM (jvJvP)

It's been a bit of a rough week. I messed up my back and was laid out for a couple days. It's better, but I'm just tired, I guess.......

Might actually play golf this afternoon. Not sure how that will go.....it's been a minute.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at March 20, 2025 12:51 PM (Zz0t1)

245 We were getting something like $35 a day for meals (midwestern US) and breakfast and lunch could be had at McDonalds for like $6 total, so I'd have a $27 steak dinner (and this was in the 1990s when $27 would buy a good steak dinner so long as the locals steered you to the right restaurant).
Posted by: Crusader

--

Awesome. The good old days.

Two funny stories. First was at Laughlin. The hotel was owned by the guy who founded the town and was a principal at the bank. An hour after I checked into my room an escort knocked on my door and said that Mr Laughlin sent her to see if there was anything I needed.

Second was an exam of the Bank of China in LA. All loans were backed by the Chinese govt. Fastest asset review I've ever done. The bank prez wanted to give us a gift as is their culture, and we had to ask him how much the gifts cost, which was an insult to him. Much hilarity ensued.

Good times.

Posted by: WitchDoktor at March 20, 2025 12:51 PM (Z+A8w)

246 *Removing the Bozo the Clown hairpiece and nose would be a plus, don't ya think?*

Ok, but leave on the shoes.

Posted by: Your coworkers at March 20, 2025 12:51 PM (RZVTN)

247 *preens*

Egg prices have been stable for me, going on four years now.

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at March 20, 2025 12:51 PM (Vqx30)

248 lol I honestly don't care about Pam herself. I didn't expect much at all.

the office of AG of our DOJ is kind of important but I guess you can't have it all or whatever

Posted by: Black Orchid at March 20, 2025 12:51 PM (Pv3Rg)

249 There's a lot of names attached to a lot of fraud in this article. The credit card transactions alone are either income or theft. Prosecute the shit out of these grifters so they have huge tax liabilities or years in the clink. Or both.
Posted by: DanMan

Don't give them a free pass, but instead of 15 years, offer 7.5 if they'll flip on higher ups. If not, you do the full nut.

Posted by: rickb223 at March 20, 2025 12:51 PM (LVaER)

250 How many more of these small agencies full of nepots and self serving side deals are there?

It's everywhere, not just in government agencies. However, it's easier to do in government because they don't have to produce anything or provide a service in order to make money. They just steal it from the taxpayer.

Posted by: Meritocracy's a joke, but a bigger joke in govt at March 20, 2025 12:51 PM (SIX3A)

251 Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.

When "Just calm down." doesn't work.
====

Or when you’re not allowed to just say “You’re fired.”

Posted by: Bicentennialguy at March 20, 2025 12:52 PM (+K1xO)

252 Wow, this agency is the quintessential example of govt theft, waste and abuse.

Get a job there and you could sit around all day making comments on Ace of Spades. Wait...

Posted by: Ahhhh, so... at March 20, 2025 12:52 PM (ab5KQ)

253 243 The new requirements will impact anyone who needs to verify their bank information with the agency, as well as families with children who receive Social Security benefits and cannot verify a child's information on the SSA website. They are intended to combat fraud and waste within the system, which President Donald Trump and officials in his administration have claimed are widespread.
Posted by: SMOD at March 20, 2025 12:51 PM (GITLP)

========

"Make a system that's really easy to fraud. Also, make sure there's no fraud. The first priority is much more important than the second."

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, back to the finish with Corman at March 20, 2025 12:52 PM (GBKbO)

254 Kilauea eruption LIVE!

The Hawaiian judge is being buried in magma? Sounds good to me.

Posted by: Ian S. at March 20, 2025 12:52 PM (2ocoG)

255 First Lady is having an online "Pampered Chef" party.

Anyone interested?

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at March 20, 2025 12:52 PM (Zz0t1)

256 Might actually play golf this afternoon. Not sure how that will go.....it's been a minute.
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at March 20, 2025 12:51 PM (Zz0t1)

Have fun if you do. Be careful.

Time to go do a bunch of stuff myself.

Everyone have a good one.

Posted by: Stateless...62% - mental state clawing up from 10% at March 20, 2025 12:52 PM (jvJvP)

257 But if she continues to do not a lot well, then maybe this isn't the job for her

Do we have any US Attorneys yet?
Do we have a functional FBI?
Do we have any prosecutable evidence or just a name on a list?
Do we have anyone to spare from dealing with every single district judge playacting as Caesar?

None of us knows. None of us knows anything about this but we continue to bitch that it's going too slow.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at March 20, 2025 12:52 PM (ExV1e)

258 > FMCS is a 230-employee agency that exists to serve as a voluntary mediator between unions and businesses.
-------
How many times was it's services to "mediate" used?

Bet that cost basis is lit.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at March 20, 2025 12:53 PM (Q4IgG)

259 Posted by: 18-1 at March 20, 2025 12:44 PM (t0Rmr)

We know what Bondi is. Look up what she did with Zimmerman, maybe the most culturally consequential case of the 2000's. And it wasn't 4D chess, she was all in, I just don't know why (but I have my suspicions).

I was willing to have an open mind about it, people can change, but in two months I've definitely seen enough.

As to why she came recommended, or Trump bought it, I don't know. But it explains why they didn't accept Gaetz but accepted her.

Trump is 0-3 but I suspect he came damn close to getting it right with Gaetz.

Posted by: ... at March 20, 2025 12:53 PM (T7bgo)

260 The Social Security Administration's plan to require in-person identity checks for millions of new and existing recipients while simultaneously closing government offices has sparked a furor among lawmakers, advocacy groups and program recipients who are worried that the government is placing unnecessary barriers in front of an already vulnerable population.

the SS office here hasn't been open since COVID

somehow everyone got paid their SS

If any of these jerks bothered to actually work - remote or in office - I would care but they have not and do not so close the damn offices

Posted by: Black Orchid at March 20, 2025 12:53 PM (Pv3Rg)

261 The Government creates nothing, but order... no products, no resources, does no real work.

It does sometimes pay for things to get done by others... but... really... it is in the job of control.

When estimates are 45% of GDP is spending from Local, State, and Fed, Gov.... and all it does is 'control'...

How do you have a Free Society? and how can you spend that much, controlling a Society that is general orderly and peaceful?

Posted by: Romeo13 at March 20, 2025 12:53 PM (QAkQ3)

262 The Social Security Administration's plan to require in-person identity checks for millions of new and existing recipients while simultaneously closing government offices has sparked a furor among lawmakers, advocacy groups and program recipients who are worried that the government is placing unnecessary barriers in front of an already vulnerable population.
===

Too GD bad.

Posted by: Bicentennialguy at March 20, 2025 12:54 PM (+K1xO)

263 209 Conservatives expect results. So far Bondi's have been meager.
Posted by: 18-1
========
For the most part, you have to convene grand juries in the federal system to investigate and issue indictments led by district DAs of which not all are appointed and confirmed yet. In addition, law enforcement has to actually investigate to feed the grand jury with witnesses identified plus other evidence.

Process usually takes months even in a priority case and much longer if not.

It is more important for DOGE to identify and shutdown these agencies right now while budget bills and recission bills can be used to end them permanently. They can also promptly identify witnesses, evidence, etc for investigators to pore over and then have DA's submit to grand juries, preferably in places that are not DC.

So, we shall see, but Harmeet Dhillon just got confirmed as asst. atty general and future cloture is easier for those very important asst and deputy positions where whole packages can be voted upon rather than individuals with less debate time for the package.

Posted by: whig at March 20, 2025 12:54 PM (ctrM5)

264 Johnny Rotten on an endless loop.

Posted by: mr tmz at March 20, 2025 12:54 PM (rJ48h)

265 Might actually play golf this afternoon. Not sure how that will go.....it's been a minute.
Posted by: Sponge

700 yard drives going out. 35 yard drives coming back in. Yeah, the wind is a bitch.

Posted by: rickb223 at March 20, 2025 12:54 PM (LVaER)

266 At times like this I think what would John Stewart and Steven cammenbert say about this.

Help us sage clowns of the airwaves. Make us laugh.

Posted by: Cuthbert the Witless at March 20, 2025 12:54 PM (pasjP)

267 It's everywhere, not just in government agencies. However, it's easier to do in government because they don't have to produce anything or provide a service in order to make money. They just steal it from the taxpayer.
Posted by: Meritocracy's a joke, but a bigger joke in govt at March 20, 2025 12:51 PM (SIX3A)
---
They don't even have to steal it. They just use the Magic Money Makers in the Treasury department to create it out of thin air.

Sure, it causes rampant inflation, but that's a small price to pay for my five European vacations a year, right?

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at March 20, 2025 12:54 PM (7fElN)

268 255 First Lady is having an online "Pampered Chef" party.

Anyone interested?
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at March 20, 2025 12:52 PM (Zz0t1)

Pricey but good stuff

Posted by: It's me donna at March 20, 2025 12:54 PM (VE6XX)

269 The cost of govermment has gone up 4X over the last 25 years, but most of the services it provides have gone down or plain stopped.

Why?

Part is all the money going to illegals and "immigrants" but much of it is this. Government agencies and NGOs that just exist to launder money and pay off their employees

Posted by: 18-1 at March 20, 2025 12:54 PM (t0Rmr)

270 The VFW is having screaming fits about veterans getting laid off from their govt jobs, I can't dredge up a single solitary tear for any govt employee. The oft cited "hard working" govt employee is like the honest, upstanding rank and file at the FBI. You're more likely to find a chupacabra sitting in a bigfoots lap than either of those fantastical creatures.

Posted by: Fra Fillipo at March 20, 2025 12:55 PM (Nge8H)

271 Have fun if you do. Be careful.

Time to go do a bunch of stuff myself.

Everyone have a good one.
Posted by: Stateless...62% - mental state clawing up from 10% at March 20, 2025 12:52 PM (jvJvP)

There will be beverage consumption.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at March 20, 2025 12:55 PM (Zz0t1)

272 A lot of these agencies are in trouble because they tried to make themselves sound necessary with fanciful titles.

If your agency was named The Department of Doing Hard Shit, which handled doing roofing and plumbing at federal buildings, Elon probably wouldn't have snooped around as much

Posted by: retardo at March 20, 2025 12:55 PM (bFutY)

273 The real question for me is how many of these phony-baloney jobs were cover for something questionable or even illegal?

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at March 20, 2025 12:55 PM (Vqx30)

274 Without Little Trayvon there wouldn't be a BLM.

Floyd may have spread the conflagration but Baby Trayvon lit the flame.

A complete fucking disaster that set our country back *50 years*. And Bondo was one of the opposite numbers.

Posted by: ... at March 20, 2025 12:55 PM (T7bgo)

275 It gets a little tiring to hear it a couple dozen times every damn day. Why hasn't Bondi solved absolutely everything in the past two weeks? Why isn't everyone in jail? Why didn't I get a bunny for Christmas?
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at March 20, 2025 12:49 PM (ExV1e)

Well, she is in a key position and she does only have very limited time.

And excuse some of us for being cynical about the CONSERVATIVE SAVIOR OF THE DAY, since every previous one has petered out.

Remember Rex Tillerson? Or Paul Ryan? Or Dan Crenshaw? Or Marco Rubio? Or any one else the conservative media has told us was FOR SERIOUS GUYS GOING TO FIX EVERYTHING.

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at March 20, 2025 12:55 PM (uCjyK)

276 >>So, we shall see, but Harmeet Dhillon just got confirmed as asst. atty general

I think Harmeet is going in as the head of the Civil Rights Division.

Posted by: garrett at March 20, 2025 12:55 PM (yHAEf)

277 So basically, we're all suckers for not getting in on this, huh?

Posted by: Andy_in_Colorado at March 20, 2025 12:55 PM (cAAjW)

278 DOGE discovering this stuff is why the retards on the left are keying Teslas.

Posted by: Chuck Martel at March 20, 2025 12:55 PM (zAWN6)

279
So, we shall see, but Harmeet Dhillon just got confirmed as asst. atty general and future cloture is easier for those very important asst and deputy positions where whole packages can be voted upon rather than individuals with less debate time for the package.
Posted by: whig at March 20, 2025 12:54 PM (ctrM5)

Did she ?

Posted by: It's me donna at March 20, 2025 12:56 PM (VE6XX)

280 I don't suppose any of these " workers " will blame their Circumstances on kamela losing the election ?? It is really her fault they are suffering!

Posted by: Chillin the mist at March 20, 2025 12:56 PM (Ofe5D)

281 But what does Tay Tay think?

Posted by: Your neighborhood Karen at March 20, 2025 12:56 PM (RZVTN)

282
Pricey but good stuff
Posted by: It's me donna at March 20, 2025 12:54 PM (VE6XX)

She's not an avid seller, just occasionally hosts to get the free stuff.

I can publish my email addy for anyone interested and I'll send the link.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at March 20, 2025 12:56 PM (Zz0t1)

283 Heh...the attorney who hired her sister-in-law. Allison Beck's Linkedin page:

Allison Beck is a prominent labor lawyer, mediator, and labor-management relations consultant with deep experience in both traditional and new economy models of work. Most recently, she served in the Obama Administration as Director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS). During a period of extraordinary workplace transition, she created a culture of innovation and excellence at the Agency and launched new initiatives to help companies and workers successfully manage change.

Posted by: Orson at March 20, 2025 12:56 PM (dIske)

284 Missed it. I had honestly forgot that one until you posted it some months back. By the way for when you see this, Happy Independence Day, I hope you're enjoying the barbecue.

Posted by: ... at March 20, 2025 12:47 PM (T7bgo)

------------

I've traveled back in time from America's 249th Birthday!

Let's play some inspirational music (don't know why, but these nihilistic lyrics always haunted me) ...

* cues muted "The Wizard of Oz" along with Pink Floyd's "Dark Side Of The Rainbow" *

"So you run and you run to catch up with the sun but it's sinking
Racing around to come up behind you again
The sun is the same in a relative way but you're older
Shorter of breath and one day closer to death"

Posted by: ShainS -- The Dissolution of The Autopen Empire at March 20, 2025 12:56 PM (1YwYn)

285 281 But what does Tay Tay think?
Posted by: Your neighborhood Karen at March 20, 2025 12:56 PM (RZVTN)

======

Let's wait to see what her publicist puts out with her signature on it.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, back to the finish with Corman at March 20, 2025 12:56 PM (GBKbO)

286 Process usually takes months even in a priority case and much longer if not.

And if she is doing this all behind the scenes and there are some big prosecutions that make the news in a few months fine...I'll sing her praises.

But there have been way too many nominally rightwing AGs that deliver nothing over their terms.

Posted by: 18-1 at March 20, 2025 12:56 PM (t0Rmr)

287 GIVE MY TAXES BACK

https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=JgNKK1--_90

Posted by: DRI at March 20, 2025 12:57 PM (yHAEf)

288 242
Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.

When "Just calm down." doesn't work.

Posted by: Auspex at March 20, 2025 12:50 PM (j4U/Z)

They originally had a 'Calm your Tits' department, but that went out with DEI.

Posted by: Romeo13 at March 20, 2025 12:57 PM (QAkQ3)

289
Let's wait to see what her publicist puts out with her signature on it.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, back to the finish with Corman at March 20, 2025 12:56 PM (GBKbO)

My balls.

Posted by: Travis Kelce at March 20, 2025 12:57 PM (Zz0t1)

290 Whig, you are a treasure trove of information. Thanks for sharing with the rest of us.

Posted by: Emmie at March 20, 2025 12:58 PM (Sf2cq)

291 >>> 287 GIVE MY TAXES BACK

https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=JgNKK1--_90
Posted by: DRI at March 20, 2025 12:57 PM (yHAEf)

I believe the proper phrasing is

I WANT MY FUCKING MONEY BACK

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at March 20, 2025 12:58 PM (Vqx30)

292 DOGE discovering this stuff is why the retards on the left are keying Teslas.

And those retards need their noses stuck in this. This government agency is literally doing the "girlboss at Twitter" video from about a month before Musk walked in.

Maybe his actual mission is to eliminate high-paid no-work girlbosses everywhere.

Posted by: Ian S. at March 20, 2025 12:58 PM (2ocoG)

293 Prayer for peace in the house of Sponge
Posted by: San Franpsycho at March 20, 2025 12:50 PM

Peace in the House of Sponge would be a great album name.

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at March 20, 2025 12:58 PM (Wnv9h)

294 "those who cannot properly verify their identity over the agency's "my Social Security" online service will be required to visit an agency field office in person to complete the verification process"

So we either continue to tolerate billions of stolen taxpayer money or we have the technophobes come into the SSA office to learn how login.gov works.

Posted by: Oglebay at March 20, 2025 12:58 PM (MMp6W)

295 Prayer for peace in the house of Sponge
Posted by: San Franpsycho at March 20, 2025 12:50 PM

I thank you very much. We thank you.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at March 20, 2025 12:59 PM (Zz0t1)

296 >>> 288
==
They originally had a 'Calm your Tits' department, but that went out with DEI.
Posted by: Romeo13 at March 20, 2025 12:57 PM (QAkQ3)

I thought tits were never calm, boobs can be calm, but not tits.

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at March 20, 2025 12:59 PM (Vqx30)

297 Social Security wants to verify people exist and the Dems are bitching about it because offices are being shut down. Easy solution: create an app like Face Time where you can speak directly to the SSA agent. Verification and ID should be easy

Posted by: Smell the Glove at March 20, 2025 12:59 PM (bVN1m)

298
Peace in the House of Sponge would be a great album name.
Posted by: RedMindBlueState at March 20, 2025 12:58 PM (Wnv9h)

Agreed.

My band was going to be named Pie Hole and the first single would've been "Shut Yer F*ckin Pie Hole."

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at March 20, 2025 12:59 PM (Zz0t1)

299 I didn't get the dragon I wanted either ....
Posted by: Elric Blade at March 20, 2025 12:50 PM (iFTx/)

I didn't get a scimitar. Maybe for my birthday...... Hmmmm

Posted by: Madame Mayhem (uppity wench) at March 20, 2025 12:59 PM (4XwPj)

300 300

Posted by: m at March 20, 2025 01:00 PM (CQE5S)

301 Yet most every Judge on the Democrats/ Marxists side are all fir the spending rage, wonder why they are?

Posted by: Skip at March 20, 2025 01:00 PM (fwDg9)

302 I was willing to have an open mind about it, people can change, but in two months I've definitely seen enough.

As to why she came recommended, or Trump bought it, I don't know. But it explains why they didn't accept Gaetz but accepted her.

Trump is 0-3 but I suspect he came damn close to getting it right with Gaetz.
Posted by: ...
--------
A bit early to be concerned as Bondi has been in office about six weeks and they just confirmed the first assistant. Bondi's bomb with the Epstein files caused Trump to casually drop a 48 hour hard limit on getting the JFK files out and that required Bondi to marshal everyone they could to go over all the files one last time.

I think Trump is aware that Bondi may be out of her depths here but often the AG is simply a figurehead while the office is ran by the deputies and assistants. Sessions, for example, basically became a useless figurehead while Rotten Rod Rosenstein ran the department. Janet Reno got neutered by Webb Hubbell in the same way back in the day. And so on.

Bondi risks that happening to her by her underlings with Trump's approval, running the place. But, they have to get confirmed by the Senate first. Dhillon was.

Posted by: whig at March 20, 2025 01:00 PM (ctrM5)

303 speaking of X/Twitter there is a post on insty about how they're doing awesome financially!

interesting given the massive cuts to do-nothings

that works, apparently

Posted by: Black Orchid at March 20, 2025 01:00 PM (Pv3Rg)

304 292 "DOGE discovering this stuff is why the retards on the left are keying Teslas."

And those retards need their noses stuck in this. This government agency is literally doing the "girlboss at Twitter" video from about a month before Musk walked in.

Maybe his actual mission is to eliminate high-paid no-work girlbosses everywhere.

Posted by: Ian S. at March 20, 2025 12:58 PM (2ocoG)

So what I'm hearing is that Musk was the real Hitler all along.

Posted by: Red Turban Someguy at March 20, 2025 01:01 PM (okun6)

305 Not that I have any musical ability or any reason to form a band, mind you.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at March 20, 2025 01:01 PM (Zz0t1)

306 The levels of blatant theft and pilfering boggles.

Posted by: DaisyB at March 20, 2025 01:01 PM (AbL8c)

307 I believe the proper phrasing is

I WANT MY FUCKING MONEY BACK
Posted by: Helena Handbasket

It's your fucking money and you want it now!
Call JG Wentworth!

Posted by: rickb223 at March 20, 2025 01:01 PM (LVaER)

308 297 Social Security wants to verify people exist and the Dems are bitching about it because offices are being shut down. Easy solution: create an app like Face Time where you can speak directly to the SSA agent. Verification and ID should be easy
Posted by: Smell the Glove
========
Disagree. Online verification has a number of security problems when confirming id unless you want to go with having SSA using your biometrics for that.

Posted by: whig at March 20, 2025 01:02 PM (ctrM5)

309 Well, she is in a key position and she does only have very limited time.

And if she manages to reduce the corruption in the DOJ by, say, 50% without sending a single person to prison it'll be an effort well spent. Even Garland didn't start being a major tyrant immediately and he had the agency on his side. Some things are fast. Some aren't.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at March 20, 2025 01:02 PM (ExV1e)

310 There will be beverage consumption.
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at March 20, 2025 12:55 PM

*places finger on side of nose*

Hydration. Very important.

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at March 20, 2025 01:02 PM (Wnv9h)

311 NOOD

Posted by: Fake Nood Guy at March 20, 2025 01:02 PM (bFutY)

312 > I believe the proper phrasing is

I WANT MY FUCKING MONEY BACK
Posted by: Helena Handbasket
--------
This

As a taxpayer for the last 40-some-odd years... emphasis on "payer" I truly want every last goddamn cent I've paid to the feds back. With interest.

Because not a fucking dime was properly spent.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at March 20, 2025 01:02 PM (Q4IgG)

313 I WANT MY FUCKING MONEY BACK

=====

Four weeks. Twenty papers. That's two dollars. Plus tip.

Posted by: 2009Refugee at March 20, 2025 01:02 PM (u5fr9)

314 Easy solution: create an app like Face Time where you can speak directly to the SSA agent.

Give the agents one of the cheap base-model iPads and install Zoom and MS Teams. That should cover everyone with any kind of video call capability. Anyone without any capability can show up in person.

Posted by: Ian S. at March 20, 2025 01:02 PM (2ocoG)

315 >>So, we shall see, but Harmeet Dhillon just got confirmed as asst. atty general and future cloture is easier for those very important asst and deputy positions where whole packages can be voted upon rather than individuals with less debate time for the package.

Seems kind of silly to judge what Bondi is doing with the DOJ by comparing it to other agencies that have produced results largely by Musk and his team running computer programs. The major problems at the DOJ were personnel and direction not waste.

She seems to be heading the agency more toward actual law enforcement instead of political witch hunts and seems to have the respect of both Trump and Patel. And as you noted there is a time aspect to building cases that does not exist in a lot of other agencies.

Maybe giving her more than 30 days before making a judgement would be a good idea. And no, Matt Gaetz would not have done a better job and he was never a serious nominee.

Posted by: JackStraw at March 20, 2025 01:02 PM (LkLld)

316 Pricey but good stuff
Posted by: It's me donna at March 20, 2025 12:54 PM (VE6XX)

She's not an avid seller, just occasionally hosts to get the free stuff.

I can publish my email addy for anyone interested and I'll send the link.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at March 20, 2025 12:56 PM (Zz0t1)

Wife might normally be interested, but she has a rehearsal after work, in addition to our normal kid-taxi routine.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at March 20, 2025 01:02 PM (i24o9)

317 If our bureaucracy were symbolized by a single man, he would be the fattest fellow in the room, sitting in a plush chair, his swollen, gouty leg propped up on a footstool, his existence teetering on the cusp of apoplexy.

Posted by: Paco at March 20, 2025 01:02 PM (mADJX)

318 I want that job.

Posted by: not admitting nuthin at March 20, 2025 01:03 PM (0Gnoc)

319 The Social Security Administration's plan to require in-person identity checks for millions of new and existing recipients while simultaneously closing government offices has sparked a furor among lawmakers, advocacy groups and program recipients who are worried that the government is placing unnecessary barriers in front of an already vulnerable population.

-

Here's lots of money, but the only thing we need you to do is come in one time and say hi to Sh'Neequa up front so she can put your name in the computer as "yes, this person exists"

Sorry for the inconvenience.

Posted by: Boron Cobbie - You were convinced to trade your youth and legacy for toil disguised as Girl Power at March 20, 2025 01:03 PM (qSMcm)

320 So what I'm hearing is that Musk was the real Hitler all along.
Posted by: Red Turban Someguy at March 20, 2025 01:01 PM

And he would have gotten away with it if not for those meddling Dems!

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at March 20, 2025 01:03 PM (Wnv9h)

321 If our bureaucracy were symbolized by a single man, he would be the fattest fellow in the room, sitting in a plush chair, his swollen, gouty leg propped up on a footstool, his existence teetering on the cusp of apoplexy.
Posted by: Paco

__

CBD, you got the ottoman image ready?

Posted by: Boron Cobbie - You were convinced to trade your youth and legacy for toil disguised as Girl Power at March 20, 2025 01:03 PM (qSMcm)

322 Gallon of gas is $2.59.
Posted by: rickb223 at March 20, 2025 12:14 PM (LVaER)

Mine went from $2.45 to $2.89 overnight a couple days ago. No idea why.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at March 20, 2025 12:19 PM (ExV1e)

$2.79 to $3.19 overnight here. But not all of them.
Posted by: Governor William J. Le Petomane at March 20, 2025 12:23 PM (wtvvX)

2.85 to 2.77 this week.

Posted by: thatcrazyjerseyguy at March 20, 2025 01:03 PM (dgRL6)

323 If your egg bills are through the roof, youz guys need to try My Eggs from Cinco Dairy.

Posted by: Steve Shirripa at March 20, 2025 01:03 PM (7Q0e+)

324
Wife might normally be interested, but she has a rehearsal after work, in addition to our normal kid-taxi routine.
Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at March 20, 2025 01:02 PM (i24o9)

It starts today and goes through the 26th. It's not a meeting or anything, just a website you can order through and she gets credit.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at March 20, 2025 01:03 PM (Zz0t1)

325 A bit early to be concerned as Bondi has been in office about six weeks and they just confirmed the first assistant. Bondi's bomb with the Epstein files

caused Trump to casually drop a 48 hour hard limit on getting the JFK files out and

that required Bondi to marshal everyone they could to go over all the files one last time.

It's 61 years old. There are no national secrets.
Drop the damn thing.

Posted by: rickb223 at March 20, 2025 01:04 PM (LVaER)

326 "So you run and you run to catch up with the sun but it's sinking
Racing around to come up behind you again
The sun is the same in a relative way but you're older
Shorter of breath and one day closer to death"

Yeah those get me, but what hits me harder is "and then one day you find ten years have got behind you, no one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun." I've felt that way about my life for a LONG time.

Posted by: Getting left behind sucks at March 20, 2025 01:04 PM (SIX3A)

327 "What surprised me most about my FMCS investigation was what happened afterward: nothing. An inspector general made a referral to the FBI, but there were no prosecutions. Instead, President Barack Obama nominated a chief subject of the investigation to the top job."

That's why they worshipped the guy. They knew no amount of corruption would be questioned.

Posted by: eleven at March 20, 2025 01:04 PM (0HaGk)

328 cleanup on aisle #311

Posted by: Fake Nood Guy at March 20, 2025 01:02 PM (bFutY)

Posted by: m at March 20, 2025 01:04 PM (CQE5S)

329 Not that I have any musical ability or any reason to form a band, mind you.

----------
Don't let that hold you back!

Posted by: Rappers Everywhere at March 20, 2025 01:04 PM (TN0g+)

330 Posted by: whig at March 20, 2025 01:00 PM (ctrM5)

I love the way your hair retards flame.

Let's just say I'm in "show me" mode with her and what she's shown so far... not good.

A lot of people say it's not good. A lot of people. Even people who don't like me very much agree it's not good. It's true.

Posted by: ... at March 20, 2025 01:05 PM (T7bgo)

331
*places finger on side of nose*

Hydration. Very important.
Posted by: RedMindBlueState at March 20, 2025 01:02 PM (Wnv9h)

I've played sober golf. Not as fun.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at March 20, 2025 01:05 PM (Zz0t1)

332 329 Not that I have any musical ability or any reason to form a band, mind you.

----------
Don't let that hold you back!
Posted by: Rappers Everywhere at March 20, 2025 01:04 PM (TN0g+)

+++++

You're a drummer!

Posted by: Oglebay at March 20, 2025 01:05 PM (MMp6W)

333 Give the agents one of the cheap base-model iPads and install Zoom and MS Teams. That should cover everyone with any kind of video call capability. Anyone without any capability can show up in person.
---------
Google Meet works fine.

Posted by: Crusader at March 20, 2025 01:05 PM (TN0g+)

334 I suspect most government jobs are no work positions, well maybe put in a dozen hours a week.
Posted by: Skip
-------

A friend witnessed a FEMA-financed debris cleanup here this week. FEMA always has 'Inspectors' on site, as well as 'Foremen' to direct the work of the independent contractors. From his report, both sat in their cars and slept.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at March 20, 2025 01:05 PM (XeU6L)

335 >>> Gallon of gas is $2.59.

=====

Gas was down to $3.04 this weekend. Then shot back up $3.24 in a single day.

Posted by: Turn 2 at March 20, 2025 01:05 PM (6TlG5)

336 Four weeks. Twenty papers. That's two dollars. Plus tip.

Posted by: 2009Refugee at March 20, 2025 01:02 PM

See... the problem here is that... my little brother, this morning, got his arm caught in the microwave, and uh... my grandmother dropped acid and she freaked out, and hijacked a school bus full of... penguins, so it's kind of a family crisis... so come back later? Great.

Posted by: Lane Myer at March 20, 2025 01:06 PM (Wnv9h)

337 Gallon of gas is $2.59.
Posted by: rickb223 at March 20, 2025 12:14 PM (LVaER)

Mine went from $2.45 to $2.89 overnight a couple days ago. No idea why.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at March 20, 2025 12:19 PM (ExV1e)

$2.79 to $3.19 overnight here. But not all of them.

Posted by: Governor William J. Le Petomane at March 20, 2025 12:23 PM (wtvvX)
==
Probably summertime mixes getting ready to come out.

Posted by: Black JEM at March 20, 2025 01:06 PM (GZYu7)

338 Anyway, if anyone is interested, email me (link in nic) and I'll shoot you the link.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at March 20, 2025 01:06 PM (Zz0t1)

339 Social Security wants to verify people exist and the Dems are bitching about it because offices are being shut down. Easy solution: create an app like Face Time where you can speak directly to the SSA agent. Verification and ID should be easy
Posted by: Smell the Glove
========
Disagree. Online verification has a number of security problems when confirming id unless you want to go with having SSA using your biometrics for that.

Posted by: whig at March 20, 2025 01:02 PM (ctrM5)

You can get a loan these days, without ever having to go to an office. Independent contractors do the required document verification, notarization, etc.

It could be ripe for fraud, but not any more than current procedures I would imagine.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at March 20, 2025 01:06 PM (i24o9)

340 Allison Beck is a prominent labor lawyer, mediator, and labor-management relations consultant with deep experience in both traditional and new economy models of work. Most recently, she served in the Obama Administration as Director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS). During a period of extraordinary workplace transition, she created a culture of innovation and excellence at the Agency and launched new initiatives to help companies and workers successfully manage change.
Posted by: Orson at March 20, 2025 12:56 PM (dIske)

The kind of self-congratulating gibberish you can only learn in kollige. But it's authentic gibberish.

Posted by: OneEyedJack at March 20, 2025 01:06 PM (FCbAQ)

341 SHOTS FIRED!

SHOTS FIRED!

https://tinyurl.com/zr3m85ew

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at March 20, 2025 01:06 PM (0ODjL)

342
Just head a clip of Sen. Kennedy, paraphrasing: You know, Chuck (Schumer) is smart man. He doesn't make the same mistake twice.....he makes it five or six times.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (w6EFb) at March 20, 2025 01:07 PM (w6EFb)

343 So we either continue to tolerate billions of stolen taxpayer money or we have the technophobes come into the SSA office to learn how login.gov works.
Posted by: Oglebay
=========
There are about 390 million active SSA numbers in the system with only a max of about 330 million or so here. Of that 330 million, you have illegals that cannot legally have nor use a SSA number plus some children that may or may not have SSA numbers. That puts 60 million plus at least 15-20 million more non-existent persons in the database.

To avoid the whole grandma got her check killed, the easiest way is to actually round up the 'technophobes' as you call it in person to SSA offices. The ridiculous COVID shutdown of personal visits also means these offices were basically useless for the purposes they and their personnel were used for. So use them for their purpose or you will have to spend megabucks more in a boon doogle to get them to use online services when they do not know how to operate a computer nor how to do basic cybersecurity to protect their login.gov account.

Posted by: whig at March 20, 2025 01:07 PM (ctrM5)

344 I’m only surprised a district judge hasn’t already issued a nationwide injunction reinstating everyone connected.

Posted by: John at March 20, 2025 01:07 PM (mXdvd)

345 This whole thing is blatant fraud yet you know President Trump is going to get sued for closing this agency.

And, of course, the judge involved with make up something which makes no sense even to the relatively uninformed.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at March 20, 2025 01:07 PM (tT6L1)

346 If our bureaucracy were symbolized by a single man, he would be the fattest fellow in the room, sitting in a plush chair, his swollen, gouty leg propped up on a footstool, his existence teetering on the cusp of apoplexy.
Posted by: Paco
-----

There's probably a Dickens character that fits.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at March 20, 2025 01:08 PM (XeU6L)

347 Roaches scatter when you pull back the rug and expose them.

They shoot to kill when you take their money.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at March 20, 2025 01:08 PM (Zz0t1)

348 SHOTS FIRED!

SHOTS FIRED!

https://tinyurl.com/zr3m85ew
Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at March 20, 2025 01:06 PM

That's gonna leave a mark!

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at March 20, 2025 01:08 PM (Wnv9h)

349 A lot of people say it's not good. A lot of people. Even people who don't like me very much agree it's not good. It's true.

Posted by: ... at March 20, 2025 01:05 PM (T7bgo)

I agree with you.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at March 20, 2025 01:08 PM (i24o9)

350 Man, did I fuck up by working for the Marines. I coulda been a Mediator and Conciliator.

Posted by: Pudinhead at March 20, 2025 01:08 PM (Hpgos)

351 Question regarding security problems with two-factor online verification - should we change to having someone call us directly instead of having a code texted to our phones?

Posted by: Oglebay at March 20, 2025 01:09 PM (MMp6W)

352
And there's polling out that confirms AWFLs are a thing. College educated white woman are, as a group, left-wing lunatics. The divide between them and everybody else is amazing.

As someone put it, this explains The View, and why they still are on the air.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (w6EFb) at March 20, 2025 01:09 PM (w6EFb)

353 This WAS the new normal.
bulldoze the building or they will bring it back faster when they steal the next election

Posted by: not admitting nuthin at March 20, 2025 01:09 PM (0Gnoc)

354 There's something about the Baldwins...

Follow-up to the clip from earlier this week:

https://tinyurl.com/4rycfv43

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at March 20, 2025 01:09 PM (0ODjL)

355 It would be great if Bondi or the AG's office just rounded up suspected criminals and put them up against the wall, wouldn't it?

But that is not how things work. It takes months (at least) to build cases and present them properly. There are endless hoops to jump through. Miss a hoop? Your shit gets thrown out. Even in the bogus cases against Trump it took years for some charges to be brought.

AG is not like Doge where computers identify fraud and waste and the President's proxy has unfettered power to just shut it down. Bondi can't just point at someone and screech, like Donald Sutherland at the end of Body Snatchers, and that person gets dragged away in chains to the execution chamber.

Posted by: Elric Blade at March 20, 2025 01:09 PM (iFTx/)

356 Is it official yet that we can't make fun of other countries anymore...due to self awareness?

Posted by: Francis at March 20, 2025 01:09 PM (bbuBP)

357 SHOTS FIRED!

SHOTS FIRED!

https://tinyurl.com/zr3m85ew
Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey
-------

lol

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at March 20, 2025 01:09 PM (XeU6L)

358 solution: create an app like Face Time where you can speak directly to the SSA agent. Verification and ID should be easy

************

unless the scammer is using deepfake AI

Posted by: Abusive Prius Owners at March 20, 2025 01:09 PM (HYKHz)

359 There's probably a Dickens character that fits.
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at March 20, 2025 01:08 PM

Hogarth print.

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at March 20, 2025 01:10 PM (Wnv9h)

360 Sorry Piper. Even for the actual doing something field offices the companies dealing with unions can find their own mediators and I care less if they have to pay more because people's taxes are not subsidizing most of the cost. In fact it was never right that taxes are paying for that cost of doing business.

Posted by: PaleRider at March 20, 2025 12:37 PM (bP/i4)
==
These sleeze bags in DC didn't go out and do mediation. They only had to organize the service and make sure the parties were complying with requirements as outlined by their contracts and the NLRB. They contracted most of the mediators, who actually went out and did work.

Worked with a number of these guys in the field, straight shooters who knew their business. Home office, obviously was a piece of shit.

Posted by: Black JEM at March 20, 2025 01:10 PM (GZYu7)

361 A lot of people say it's not good. A lot of people. Even people who don't like me very much agree it's not good. It's true.

I can't say that I can think of a single time when the "justice" system worked quickly where they weren't incompetent, corrupt, or both.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at March 20, 2025 01:10 PM (ExV1e)

362 How to get this story past the MSM out to the crossover voters for Trump, who may need some sign that he is not the crazy Fascist they heard about. Something to reassure them.

Posted by: JM in Illinois at March 20, 2025 01:10 PM (Q1aAI)

363 Allison Beck is a prominent labor lawyer, mediator, and labor-management relations consultant with deep experience in both traditional and new economy models of work. Most recently, she served in the Obama Administration as Director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS). During a period of extraordinary workplace transition, she created a culture of innovation and excellence at the Agency and launched new initiatives to help companies and workers successfully manage change.
Posted by: Orson at March 20, 2025 12:56 PM (dIske)

The kind of self-congratulating gibberish you can only learn in kollige. But it's authentic gibberish.
Posted by: OneEyedJack

--

I'm very surprised she didn't leverage any core competencies to optimize synergy among the stakeholders.

Posted by: WitchDoktor at March 20, 2025 01:10 PM (PzXaK)

364 354 There's something about the Baldwins...
---------------------
Their eyes are too close together. Ferret like.

Posted by: Pudinhead at March 20, 2025 01:11 PM (Hpgos)

365 Its fucking disgusting that not a single person has been arrested over this INSANITY.

Posted by: DudeAbiding at March 20, 2025 01:11 PM (setIA)

366 I agree with you.
Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at March 20, 2025 01:08 PM (i24o9)

LOL. We independently disagree on so little as to be almost inconsequential in nature.

Posted by: ... at March 20, 2025 01:12 PM (T7bgo)

367 You can get a loan these days, without ever having to go to an office. Independent contractors do the required document verification, notarization, etc.

It could be ripe for fraud, but not any more than current procedures I would imagine.
Posted by: Comrade Flounder

Time is of essence here. The mortgage industry was set up online over at least a decade or more.

We don't have a decade to sort out whether Grandma is still living or is a swarthy invader from Arabia using her SSN. But, what we do have is a dispersed system of SSA offices and SSA people in them RIGHT NOW, to start to separate the approximately 60-75 million fake live SSN numbers versus those actually living.

Sort of a Census of the living regarding SSN which is most easily done with in person visits. SSA used to actually do such things.

Posted by: whig at March 20, 2025 01:12 PM (ctrM5)

368 Roaches scatter when you pull back the rug and expose them.

They shoot to kill when you take their money.
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer
-----

Stuck pigs generally squeal a lot.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at March 20, 2025 01:12 PM (XeU6L)

369 Its fucking disgusting that not a single person has been arrested over this INSANITY.
Posted by: DudeAbiding at March 20, 2025 01:11 PM (setIA)

yeah, pretty much this.

Those that have been stealing the money should be sued to give it back.

Those coordinating the grift should be arrested for fraud.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at March 20, 2025 01:12 PM (Zz0t1)

370 The Trump administration is fighting over a dozen court cases on a number of fronts. Who do you think is representing the administration in court?

Posted by: JackStraw at March 20, 2025 01:12 PM (LkLld)

371 370 The Trump administration is fighting over a dozen court cases on a number of fronts. Who do you think is representing the administration in court?
Posted by: JackStraw at March 20, 2025 01:12 PM (LkLld)

He should get Mark Levin..

Posted by: It's me donna at March 20, 2025 01:13 PM (VE6XX)

372 and Obama thought of this?

Posted by: Deplorable Minion at March 20, 2025 01:13 PM (QSrLX)

373 Who do you think is representing the administration in court?
Posted by: JackStraw at March 20, 2025 01:12 PM (LkLld)

Well, it ain't the Kraken.......

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at March 20, 2025 01:13 PM (Zz0t1)

374 The agency had, inexplicably, an office in Honolulu.
......

Idiots. Shoulda chose Maui.

Posted by: wth at March 20, 2025 01:14 PM (v0R5T)

375 How much USAID money have the Native American Tribes sucked up?

Posted by: davidt at March 20, 2025 01:14 PM (i0F8b)

376 I wonder if the employees get to keep their portraits after their jobs are eliminated.

Posted by: Bicentennialguy at March 20, 2025 01:14 PM (+K1xO)

377 Any small, slow and stupid investigative journalist who turns his back on a crowd of overpaid government bureaucrats is looking for a stomping.

Posted by: Oglebay at March 20, 2025 01:14 PM (MMp6W)

378 AG is not like Doge where computers identify fraud and waste and the President's proxy has unfettered power to just shut it down. Bondi can't just point at someone and screech, like Donald Sutherland at the end of Body Snatchers, and that person gets dragged away in chains to the execution chamber.

Posted by: Elric Blade

====

That is a fair point.

My concern isn't so much about putting the guilty on trial, it's whether or not the structure that enabled all of this is, first, being torn down, and second, rebuilt in a more transparent way.

My simple brain sez there should have been some sort of plan for doing that, ready to start on Day 1. Maybe that's naive thinking.

Posted by: 2009Refugee at March 20, 2025 01:14 PM (u5fr9)

379
I'm very surprised she didn't leverage any core competencies to optimize synergy among the stakeholders.
Posted by: WitchDoktor

'...key core competencies...'

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at March 20, 2025 01:14 PM (XeU6L)

380 Stuck pigs generally squeal a lot.
---------------------
Boy, do they squeal.

Posted by: Pudinhead at March 20, 2025 01:15 PM (Hpgos)

381 >>He should get Mark Levin..

He's already got the DOJ.

Posted by: JackStraw at March 20, 2025 01:15 PM (LkLld)

382 376 I wonder if the employees get to keep their portraits after their jobs are eliminated.
Posted by: Bicentennialguy at March 20, 2025 01:14 PM (+K1xO)

It would only be fair.

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at March 20, 2025 01:15 PM (uCjyK)

383 I agree with you.
Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at March 20, 2025 01:08 PM (i24o9)

LOL. We independently disagree on so little as to be almost inconsequential in nature.

Posted by: ... at March 20, 2025 01:12 PM (T7bgo)

I was playing at alluding to people don't like you. A little too obtuse, sure.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at March 20, 2025 01:15 PM (i24o9)

384 I can't say that I can think of a single time when the "justice" system worked quickly where they weren't incompetent, corrupt, or both.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at March 20, 2025 01:10 PM (ExV1e)

Garland and Co vacuumed up a lot of January 6th people pretty quickly and imprisoned them.

Meanwhile *we* have political terror raging on our streets.

JackStraw may not like to hear this but the longer it goes on, the weaker Trump will look.

Posted by: ... at March 20, 2025 01:15 PM (T7bgo)

385 there is never just one cockroach

Posted by: torabora at March 20, 2025 01:16 PM (0Gnoc)

386 I believe the proper phrasing is

I WANT MY FUCKING MONEY BACK
Posted by: Helena Handbasket at March 20, 2025 12:58 PM (Vqx30)

https://youtu.be/xAlCbE-yCTw?si=Ukz3pf71RGsqMl9b

Posted by: browndog wants his money at March 20, 2025 01:16 PM (TTAGa)

387 Well, it ain't the Kraken.......
Posted by: Sponge
=============
Powell's guilty plea in the GA electors case has pretty much ruled her out of any action. I think the same for Rudy, etc.

Posted by: whig at March 20, 2025 01:16 PM (ctrM5)

388 But yeah, I am wait and see on Bondi, and I am willing to entertain the notion that she is a turd in the punch bowl.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at March 20, 2025 01:17 PM (i24o9)

389 I'm very surprised she didn't leverage any core competencies to optimize synergy among the stakeholders.
Posted by: WitchDoktor at March 20, 2025 01:10 PM (PzXaK)

But will they maximize throughput with real-time dashboard analytics using a robust, stable, best-in-class platform?

Posted by: Think outside the box, spend a night in the box at March 20, 2025 01:17 PM (SIX3A)

390 Would anyone really be surprised if they found human remains in Alec Baldwin's yard?

Posted by: eleven at March 20, 2025 01:17 PM (0HaGk)

391 And Trump's strength is his strength.

The idea being make him and his party look weak, and then present a "strong" Democrat or Democrats to the nation as the solution.

This is the game as it stands and it could not be any more obvious if it was written in neon. Remember - Fight Fight Fight is what got us here. Not roll, beg, tummy rub.

Posted by: ... at March 20, 2025 01:18 PM (T7bgo)

392 Those that have been stealing the money should be sued to give it back.
-------------------
Bringing them in for questioning would likely reveal a lot more than we already know.

Posted by: Crusader at March 20, 2025 01:18 PM (TN0g+)

393 I was playing at alluding to people don't like you. A little too obtuse, sure.
Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at March 20, 2025 01:15 PM (i24o9)

Hence my LOL. Do keep up!

Posted by: ... at March 20, 2025 01:18 PM (T7bgo)

394 When things got dicey in Youngstown in the 80s with everybody blowing up things, a lot of people decided to go civil service. I had some sidewalk replaced with no tax increase with a couple bottles of Black Velvet presented to a classmate.
Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at March 20, 2025 12:20 PM (gm9Sb)

Oh man, I woulda done it for a bottle of Old Panther!

https://threestooges.net/business/view/71

Posted by: haffhowershower at March 20, 2025 01:19 PM (NMT5x)

395 There's probably a Dickens character that fits.
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at March 20, 2025 01:08 PM

Hogarth print.
Posted by: RedMindBlueState at March 20, 2025 01:10 PM (Wnv9h)
---------
Or Gillray or Rowlandson.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea, Radioactive Knight, Concertina Czar at March 20, 2025 01:19 PM (6K6Eu)

396 There's no corruption!

*shows corruption*

It's only a few people!

*shows corruption on agency level*

You want to kill grandma, you racist!

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at March 20, 2025 01:19 PM (/x6eu)

397 Work we have successfully performed for the agency for more than a decade -- at great personal sacrifice, I should add -- will be taken away unless we comply in an unquestioning manner with your edict.

That sounds exactly like one of Squealer's quotes in Animal Farm

Posted by: George O. at March 20, 2025 01:19 PM (D0HYP)

398 Sort of a Census of the living regarding SSN which is most easily done with in person visits. SSA used to actually do such things.
Posted by: whig at March 20, 2025 01:12 PM (ctrM5)

that is not a bad idea, step one is to send out a "contact us" letter, and step two in personal visits. The Census is still sending people out to do whatever it is they do between census times, so there probably is a good organizational structure there if it was wanted to transfer the duties.

Posted by: Kindltot at March 20, 2025 01:20 PM (D7oie)

399 The equivalent of FMCS exists in city government in a small town near me, population 15,000 so yes, it's at every level of government.

Posted by: These fish sticks are hard as tits at March 20, 2025 01:20 PM (f547z)

400 I believe the proper phrasing is

I WANT MY FUCKING MONEY BACK
Posted by: Helena Handbasket at March 20, 2025 12:58 PM (Vqx30)

https://youtu.be/xAlCbE-yCTw?si=Ukz3pf71RGsqMl9b

Posted by: browndog wants his money at March 20, 2025 01:16 PM (TTAGa)
I thought it was "Bitch better have my money!"

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at March 20, 2025 01:20 PM (i24o9)

401 I have no doubt that there are dozens of these "agencies" around. And they probably aren't even that hard to find.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at March 20, 2025 01:20 PM (2VST1)

402 This is how it is done -

In a former life I worked for Uncle Sam.

First day on the job one of the guys showed me a bunch of job openings, ll for the same little agency. Various pay grades, but all hd to have B.S. degrees and often more the highe rthe pay grade...

Then he showed me the SES jobs who will run this new agency... This is the payback sinecure for political bundlers and family members.

Every asshole Congressmn has a pet project(s) used as a vehicle to payback those who keep them in office and living the high life.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at March 20, 2025 01:21 PM (/lPRQ)

403 391 And Trump's strength is his strength.

The idea being make him and his party look weak, and then present a "strong" Democrat or Democrats to the nation as the solution.
Posted by: ... at March 20

Walz kicking ass? They don't have someone who could win a tickle fight.

Posted by: Auspex at March 20, 2025 01:21 PM (j4U/Z)

404 The government is more corrupt that I even imagined.

Posted by: javems at March 20, 2025 01:21 PM (8I4hW)

405 Hence my LOL. Do keep up!

Posted by: ... at March 20, 2025 01:18 PM (T7bgo)

I blame the drugs.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at March 20, 2025 01:22 PM (i24o9)

406 Garland and Co vacuumed up a lot of January 6th people pretty quickly and imprisoned them.

Meanwhile *we* have political terror raging on our streets.

JackStraw may not like to hear this but the longer it goes on, the weaker Trump will look.
Posted by: ...
======
Took several months even for them other than people arrested at the scene. Apparatchiks at the DOJ were still scouring for Jan 6 arrestees to punish even after Trump won.

In any massive undertaking, it takes time and when you are fighting a bunch of ideologues already entrenched in an agency, you have to rapidly sort out who will sabotage you in court by poor representation and who will lead you to victory even though personally they don't care the government's position. Ideologue versus professional and right now, I would imagine, that Bondi and perhaps Harmeet and the permanent DOJ staff, Bove something or other who was the existing temporary AG before Bondi, are engaged in supervising the vital cases defending the presidency versus a bunch of lawfare types and Obama judges.

Posted by: whig at March 20, 2025 01:22 PM (ctrM5)

407 Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at March 20, 2025 01:20 PM (i24o9)

Not some. Not half.

Posted by: ... at March 20, 2025 01:22 PM (T7bgo)

408 Seems like the thing that needs to stay is DOGE. There is plenty of good work for them to do. Let's keep DOGE and dump the rest of the so called oversight assholes and get some laws on the books about ripping off taxpayers money. Ten years in a sh*t jail for starters. Of course they need to be tried in West Virginia or someplace other than D.C. Can't trust D.C.

Posted by: Case at March 20, 2025 01:22 PM (OrSPY)

409 >>JackStraw may not like to hear this but the longer it goes on, the weaker Trump will look.

I don't care about hearing it. I disagree.

Garland's team was corrupt. He had a corrupt FBI willing to arrest grandmas and grandpas for trespassing and other idiotic charges to hold kangaroo court hearings led by the same corrupt judges now trying to stop DOGE and Trump's deportations. They exact same judges to be precise.

And no, Garland did not work at light speed even if it seemed that way. Arrests were still being made as late as last Fall.

Trump thinks Bondi is doing a great job even if you don't want to hear it. Patel agrees. Just because they aren't getting a lot of media coverage doesn't mean they aren't doing anything. Maybe she sucks and maybe she actually is doing a good job but deciding on that now with zero evidence seems dumb. She's only been on the job for about 30 days and doesn't even have her whole team yet.

Posted by: JackStraw at March 20, 2025 01:22 PM (LkLld)

410 Would anyone really be surprised if they found human remains in Alec Baldwin's yard?
Posted by: eleven
......

He would blame it on Hilaria.

Posted by: wth at March 20, 2025 01:22 PM (v0R5T)

411 410 Would anyone really be surprised if they found human remains in Alec Baldwin's yard?
Posted by: eleven
......

He would blame it on Hilaria.
Posted by: wth at March 20, 2025 01:22 PM (v0R5T)

Well, it would be her yard, too!

Posted by: m at March 20, 2025 01:23 PM (CQE5S)

412 I blame the drugs.
Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at March 20, 2025 01:22 PM (i24o9)

Eh I can understand you thinking you're going to out-obtuse someone, but moi???

Posted by: ... at March 20, 2025 01:23 PM (T7bgo)

413 You want to kill grandma, you racist!

Yeah its ridiculous but... they are facing the loss of their ability to buy power and enrich themselves. This is how they win elections, this is how they push their ideology, this is how they transform culture.

Now, they can't argue honestly -- when have Democrats ever -- so they bring up the old standards and scream them louder. They lie, they mislead, they obfuscate, they hide the truth. What else can they do?

I mean, other than create an army of lunatics attacking Teslas on the streets and attacking car lots.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at March 20, 2025 01:23 PM (2VST1)

414 Similar to 143, I have used the FMCS professionally for almost 30 years. The mediators out in the field are generally very professional, and very helpful. This has nothing to do with the fraud and waste as reported, but this agency does provide a useful and cost-effective service for private employers. What a shame they have been soiled by the frauds cheats and grifters.

Posted by: Idontknowwhat at March 20, 2025 01:24 PM (O5cvL)

415 Why is the pathetic Tim Walz so weirdly obsessed with talking tough?

Posted by: Northernlurker , Maple Syrup MAGA at March 20, 2025 01:24 PM (kTd/k)

416 JackStraw may not like to hear this but the longer it goes on, the weaker Trump will look.
Posted by: ... at March 20, 2025 01:15 PM (T7bgo)

counting on fingers, um, January, February, March . . . Wha'? Hey, its been exactly two months since January 20th!

The only reason Biden was as far along is because he hired all of Barky's staffers.

Posted by: Kindltot at March 20, 2025 01:24 PM (D7oie)

417
Well, it would be her yard, too!
Posted by: m at March 20, 2025 01:23 PM (CQE5S)

He would believe he couldn't be tried for murder twice, forgetting that it is only that one murder he'd been found not guilty.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at March 20, 2025 01:24 PM (Zz0t1)

418 So you're saying she hasn't released her kraken yet?

Posted by: Sidney Powell at March 20, 2025 01:24 PM (RZVTN)

419 Eh I can understand you thinking you're going to out-obtuse someone, but moi???

Posted by: ... at March 20, 2025 01:23 PM (T7bgo)

Fair, but drugs and lack of sleep are a factor.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at March 20, 2025 01:25 PM (i24o9)

420 NOODlum.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at March 20, 2025 01:25 PM (Zz0t1)

421 The government is more corrupt that I even imagined.
Posted by: javems
......

It's too outrageous to believe, so they thought they could get away with it.

Posted by: wth at March 20, 2025 01:25 PM (v0R5T)

422 415 Why is the pathetic Tim Walz so weirdly obsessed with talking tough?
Posted by: Northernlurker

It's his time of the month.

Posted by: Give him a break at March 20, 2025 01:26 PM (RZVTN)

423 Why is the pathetic Tim Walz so weirdly obsessed with talking tough?
Posted by: Northernlurker , Maple Syrup MAGA
......

Compensating for his Vienna Sausage.

Posted by: wth at March 20, 2025 01:26 PM (v0R5T)

424 420 NOODlum.
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at March 20, 2025 01:25 PM (Zz0t1)

More DOGE.

Posted by: m at March 20, 2025 01:27 PM (CQE5S)

425 >>>Would anyone really be surprised if they found human remains in Alec Baldwin's yard?

Posted by: eleven

>I'm not sure I could take that bet.

What I am sure of is there are cults and satanic sects that you know fuckface Baldwin is plugged into and would barter for any sacrifices Alec could offer up.

Posted by: Rev Wishbone at March 20, 2025 01:28 PM (fY84s)

426 I am going to hold by my estimation that 75% of all federal government spending is waste, fraud, abuse, and outright theft. Prove me wrong.

Posted by: Bonecrusher at March 20, 2025 01:28 PM (JNTt1)

427 I get that Bondi has to build a case, etc. it’s just amazing how swiftly Biden and Obama could keep doing the pre-dawn raid stuff on Tea Party people, Bundt ranch, J6, Trump and his team, abortion protesters and so on.

I know this is ia little irrational and emotional, but when can we see swift justice? Seriously, these corrupt bureaucrats being able to protest and ease right into new jobs is maddening. There can be no reconciliation without addressing guilt first.

Posted by: Lizzy at March 20, 2025 01:28 PM (Hkcdp)

428 Right now, imho, we have two vital tasks to accomplish fast--one is to secure the border and for whatever the kvetching about not immediately deporting 30-40 million illegals, public safety demands first no more illegals, and prioritizing getting the thugs and foreign agitators/spies outta the country immediately.

Next, we have to massively reduce spending in a very short time frame through recission legislation now that you have a CR in place. Plus, ensure calm on financial markets by passing the FY 2026 budget and extending/making permanent tax cuts that Trump is asking for.

So while these looters anger me as much as they do everyone decent, vengeance on their sorry asses can wait a bit and the same for the illegals. On those illegals, it helps to remove any public sympathy for them by their massive use of id fraud and government bennies illegally so that they can be deported on that expedited basis. Also takes time to line up immigration judges that deport over keeping criminals in the country under fake claims of asylum from various imagined harms.

Government is a very complex machine and it has been thoroughly penetrated by termites undermining the whole structure.

Posted by: whig at March 20, 2025 01:29 PM (ctrM5)

429 Posted by: Kindltot at March 20, 2025 01:24 PM (D7oie)

Forget anything you know about timelines or anything else normal. Remember the AG position broke Trump 1.0. It is the master key position.

So I contend that Trump's DOJ should not be giving the street terrorists the warm fuzzies that they can get away with what they are doing.

In other words, this is either a test, or they are doing it because they believe they have support where it counts. Either way requires a genuinely strong response to give us confidence. Let's see how long we're waiting.

Posted by: ... at March 20, 2025 01:29 PM (T7bgo)

430 And no, Garland did not work at light speed even if it seemed that way. Arrests were still being made as late as last Fall.

Yeah they were still finding people and arresting them four years later, it takes a while to do this stuff. Stan Lee at the end of his life was being abused and taken advantage of by his handlers, one guy who was working for Stan told the cops about it, told the IRS that they were not reporting income properly etc. It took the IRS 3 years to take action.

Its slow, unfortunately.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at March 20, 2025 01:29 PM (2VST1)

431 I want to vandalize Teslas to show my support for these vital Federal agencies!!
-- Leftists/Communists

Posted by: Tonypete at March 20, 2025 01:29 PM (cYBz/)

432 Yeah, I would like arrests and imprisonment for all the theft and fraud, but to tell you the truth just ending this shit immediately feels pretty good.

The easiest stuff is also the first and important stuff, easy to cut off dead people's SS payments vs. tracking each individual bank account for hundreds of thousands of these fraudsters and then prosecuting them.

Posted by: Ahhhh, so... at March 20, 2025 01:31 PM (ab5KQ)

433 It is a bit frightening that President Trump is our last hope if we want to restore America as it was hoped to be.

Posted by: Tonypete at March 20, 2025 01:31 PM (cYBz/)

434 Garland was a Constitution destroyer

Posted by: Skip at March 20, 2025 01:32 PM (fwDg9)

435 The easiest stuff is also the first and important stuff, easy to cut off dead people's SS payments vs. tracking each individual bank account for hundreds of thousands of these fraudsters and then prosecuting them.
Posted by: Ahhhh, so...

One would think all Americans would want to move in this direction.

Annnnnnd, we'd be wrong.

Posted by: Tonypete at March 20, 2025 01:32 PM (cYBz/)

436 427 I get that Bondi has to build a case, etc. it’s just amazing how swiftly Biden and Obama could keep doing the pre-dawn raid stuff on Tea Party people, Bundt ranch, J6, Trump and his team, abortion protesters and so on.

I know this is ia little irrational and emotional, but when can we see swift justice? Seriously, these corrupt bureaucrats being able to protest and ease right into new jobs is maddening. There can be no reconciliation without addressing guilt first.
Posted by: Lizzy

Some of those Jan 6 protesters were caught on video tape and arrested at the scene. Easy enough for DC Superior courts to address that and they did. It took time for the DOJ and FBI to get their act together and from memory, it took about three months or so when all those agencies agreed on scouring the planet to start charges and many of those initial wave of Jan 6 naifs pled guilty thinking they would get short non custodial sentences. Whole system slowed down a lot when Jan 6 defendants stopped pleading and DOJ decided to keep them illegally without trial far beyond the speedy trial statute of 60 days.

Posted by: whig at March 20, 2025 01:33 PM (ctrM5)

437 424 420 NOODlum.
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at March 20, 2025 01:25 PM (Zz0t1)

More DOGE.
Posted by: m at March 20, 2025 01:27 PM (CQE5S)

Posted by: m at March 20, 2025 01:33 PM (CQE5S)

438 "Why does Trump hate unions?" - Joe Scarborough

"My dad is appalled as to how Trump hates unions." - Mika

"Why does Trump want to outlaw unions?" - the typical Morning Joe lineup of useless idiots.

Posted by: RGallegos at March 20, 2025 01:37 PM (NAlbk)

439 The easiest stuff is also the first and important stuff, easy to cut off dead people's SS payments vs. tracking each individual bank account for hundreds of thousands of these fraudsters and then prosecuting them.
Posted by: Ahhhh, so...
========
To do that first, you have to establish that grandma doesn't exist or is not alive but existed in the past. The SSA is part of that process. Criminal cases take time to develop and simply going off from forensics alone is not possible for criminal cases, civil cases or administrative cases (cutting off benefits etc), perhaps. But remember SSA people are perfectly capable of malicious compliance by sabotaging Grandma's check to protect some illegal. In person helps make that less likely as if the SSA staff are caught personally doing that in live cases, they are going to get fired over it.

Basically you have to incentivize a bureaucracy to do the right thing when they want to do the wrong on. That takes making them responsible personally with skin in the game via firing and charges if they choose "Resist!"

Posted by: whig at March 20, 2025 01:37 PM (ctrM5)

440 438 "Why does Trump hate unions?" - Joe Scarborough

"My dad is appalled as to how Trump hates unions." - Mika

"Why does Trump want to outlaw unions?" - the typical Morning Joe lineup of useless idiots.
Posted by: RGallegos a

Joe Scarborough's intern could have used a union to protect her from workplace violence. Just sayin.

Posted by: whig at March 20, 2025 01:38 PM (ctrM5)

441 And still no arrests....................

Posted by: godhelpus at March 20, 2025 03:00 PM (Bwi2i)

442 Here is my invoice for 1 1/2 million. that will cover the cost of the plank I put up on the roof, and the dumpster on the side walk, for all of these government parasites.
If the inspector general office were not "friends" with these parasites this would not have lasted as long as it did.

Posted by: Viti at March 20, 2025 03:16 PM (S0cUw)

443 Destroying the root system may be much more important than arrests and trials.

Posted by: 2009Refugee at March 20, 2025 12:26 PM (u5fr9)

We have decades going forward to crush the insects once we break the machines of judges and media trying to stop us.

Posted by: Oldcat at March 20, 2025 03:36 PM (n7h9X)

444 I am going to hold by my estimation that 75% of all federal government spending is waste, fraud, abuse, and outright theft. Prove me wrong.
Posted by: Bonecrusher at March 20, 2025 01:28 PM (JNTt1)

I can. Its worse.

Posted by: Oldcat at March 20, 2025 03:38 PM (n7h9X)

445 Joe Scarborough is not a murderer. Manslaughter at the worst unless I'm mistaken, which I could be.

Posted by: Jerry Carroll at March 20, 2025 03:39 PM (5uZK2)

446 Why is the pathetic Tim Walz so weirdly obsessed with talking tough?
Posted by: Northernlurker

It's his time of the month.
Posted by: Give him a break at March 20, 2025 01:26 PM (RZVTN)

He's the male equivalent of the 'boss babe' -- an idiot putting on the skin suit of the tough man, without any real context of how men really work and think.

Walz is the same way, male version. Spitting tobaccy, channelling the movie Patton from 1970.

Posted by: Oldcat at March 20, 2025 03:40 PM (n7h9X)

447 It won't surprise me if DOGE finds a large, well-paid agency whose only job was to burn large amounts of taxpayer money, or run it through shredders to get rid of it.

Posted by: Jen at March 20, 2025 04:31 PM (Tknxe)

448 “Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service”

Sounds like the kind of obscure name they give to a super secret spy agency or special operations unit.

Posted by: Paul Sturrock at March 20, 2025 10:53 PM (e3bM4)

449 What incredible aristocratic indulgence. Easy enough to bill every employee for credit card abuse, but it needs investigated and some criminal charges applied.

Posted by: BKMart at March 21, 2025 08:55 AM (BiHF5)

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