NYT: Spoils of Prime Office Space Go to Democrats

[kskiska]

Forget those pesky leadership fights. The folks who run Congress are now getting down to what really matters on Capitol Hill: dividing up the office space.

In something of a break with recent tradition, the incoming Democratic speaker, Nancy Pelosi of California, is planning to expropriate the second-floor suite of offices now occupied by the current speaker, J. Dennis Hastert — a handful of rooms providing a spectacular view of the Mall.

That space has been in Republican hands for 50 years or so, even when Democrats were in charge. In fact, the main offices are so strongly associated with Republicans that they were officially designated the Robert H. Michel Rooms by the House in 1995 in honor of the popular former Republican leader.

While there might be some private grumbling by Republicans about the Democratic land grab, even Mr. Michel sees nothing wrong with Ms. Pelosi wanting to move into his namesake space.

“The speaker is the speaker,” Mr. Michel said in an interview. “They reign supreme over on the House side, and they can pretty much do anything they want to.”

more…
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/22/us/politics/22cong.html?ref=washington

[NMDemDist2]

1. wrong link but good article n/t

[kskiska]

2. Link fixed - thank you.

[Hawkeye-X]

3. Hope the Dems fumigate and run bug-checks on the new offices)

(i.e. electronic listening & survelliance devices)

[0rganism]

4. I'm sure they will, but I betcha these are less bugged than the old offices were

no shortage of microphones in there, I'd wager.

[lapfog_1]

5. They need to check all the computer keyboards and make sure nothing is missing.

[Judi Lynn]

6. It's good to see Democrats speaking up for themselves, FINALLY.

After that obnoxious slam by _{pResident Bush} concerning Speaker Pelosi prematurely picking out her curtains, I found the following from the original article riveting:

That space has been in Republican hands for 50 years or so, even when Democrats were in charge.

So even though the Republicans were not officially the party in charge, they STILL hogged their US-taxpayer-funded larger, more convenient offices for FIFTY YEARS. How thoughtful. How mannerly. How civilized.



Although it's far too late, they should learn a little humility, and gain a view of the larger picture, the way all evolving human beings do.

[Toots]

7. So it begins, now our side feels it is owed gifts and extravagance.

This is exactly how corruption originates. Next comes the Lobbiest with their bundles of cash..

[jamesinca]

8. I think it is a very symbolic move.

The Dems had their share of corruption even when they were not in the larger office spaces. She is letting the repubs know they lost and she is letting the Dems know that they won. Hopefully they will remember why they won and what the spoils of victory are ( big offices). I like it!

[trogdor]

9. Milt...er...Denny! Howzitgoin'?

Listen, we have to make some room for some new people, and a bunch of boxes and stuff, so I'm going to need to move you to Storage Room B. Oh, and, uh, while you're down there, maybe you could do something about the insect problem we've been having down there. Could you grab a couple of cans of bug spray and spray it around? Thanks, that would be great.