State Dept. bought $180,000 in liquor before shutdown

I hope to see some outrage here from the left. Especially after they were up in arms over the amount of money the McCain campaign paid to get clothing, accessories and the like for Gov. Palin when she came onto the campaign.

This is outright government corruption. We were told the end was near if the government shut down, and they go and do this crap. Who is going to be held accountable here? No one of course, no one while Obama is president.

 

$180,000? You're complaining about $180,000? You realize that's mere pennies in the Fed's budget, right?

 

Yes, I am complaining about it. Its my money. Pennies add up.

 

it's 180,000 on LIQUOR! They didn't need that. Where is "Everyone needs to share in the sacrifice"? Oh that's right, that doesn't apply to the supreme rulers, just us serfs.

 

Silly.. don't you think the left and right are outraged?

 

I have never worked for a company that let us expense alcohol. Maybe some sales guys can get away with that (*)(*)(*)(*)...

 

Well, why don't you go to one of the embassies an ask for a sip of wine since that's probably your contribution to this tab, if that.

 

So embassies, that are expected to hold parties for senior heads of state and other notaries in foreign nations, events were alcohol is an expected part of the event, bought alcohol to support the events that they hold.

Where is the outrage?

 

No, I don't.

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because they spent 4x the levels they are used to, and they stocked up before the shutdown.

When does it end ?

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Why don't you go and party it up with Obama?

 

I have as long as it was reasonable.. a bottle of wine and a couple of cocktails was never an issue.

 

Were they outside of their budgets?

 

It's a shame that our country is so hyper partisan that we can't agree on this.

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure you could find R spending which is the exact same.

Sadly I'm sure the R's would act like nothing is wrong, kinda like the D's are doing in this thread.

 

Wisdom?

$180,000 in last minute spending on booze and wine tells me Oct 1st was creeping up on them along with the sequester. Very sloppy at best and lacks respect while Benghazi is still very fresh in my mind...but hey, priorities for wine tasting in Japan brings so much to the table.

 

It's not as common today in the U.S. but back in the 50's through the mid '80's most companies allowed sales staff and management expense alcohol. In many cases they also allowed expensing of country club memberships and greens fees.
Back in the late 70' early 80's my ex was the editor of our local town newspaper, a membership in the country club came with the job.

This was the era of the three-martini lunch.

 

Bennowhere... You forgot to mention Obamacare too though.

 

State department has what to do with AHA? More wisdom?

 

You will NEVER get a partisan Lefty to admit that their supreme rulers are ever wrong. NEVER EVER! They idolize these people.

 

When does it end?

 

It truly is a new time, as a 31 year old I didn't get to see it before. But all the older guys talk about how sales and business used to be and it sounds like a huge party!

 

Were they outside their budget?

 

Not sure. Is that much money put aside into a budget for liquor? Are they given a budget and allowed to spend it on whatever it is they please?

Again, for a 3rd time...when does it end?

 

They are given a budget and the discretion to spend that budget as they feel necessary. So long as they didn't go over budget, I don't see why it matters. The State Department does use the alcohol for diplomatic gatherings, so I don't see how its an issue. Its not like alcohol goes bad quickly.

As for when does it end, it ends when their budgets are reduced. Or more accurately, when their budgets are reduced, they have less to spend on alcohol rather than it ending.

 

This is hilarious.

Apparently you are not familiar with the function of an embassy. Nor of the protocols involved in diplomatic circles.

Do you have a clue what "gratuity liquor" is used for? Stuff like holidy gifts and thank yous? How much entertaining does an average embassy do?

I suppose you'd be feel better if they all simply served "colt 45" and bud lite in quart jugs? Or maybe nothing more than "lumberjack specials" - water and toothpick?


You are definitely going to get an ulcer if you work yourself up to moral outrage of such ridiculous things.

 

That's the problem! When large amounts of money wasted becomes "mere pennies" to liberals, then it's high time to shrink Government back down to where it belongs.

 

This. The State Department and its embassies have been holding parties for diplomats for more than a hundred years and have always bought alcohol for them. The use of alcohol by the State Department as bribes for foreign officials is a long-held practice as well. A bottle of Johnny Walker Blue has been more effective than an offshore carrier more than once.