Do they get "time off"

[AndyP]

To run their campaigns?? They all still have their jobs on the senete or house or whatever, but how do they get all this time to run for prez. Shouldn't they be at their jobs that we elected them to?

[brainshrub]

1. I'm inclined to agree.

To Kucinich's credit, he hasn't missed a single vote while he's been running for president. I know Kerry has missed a bunch... most notably the Medicare bill.

[Frances]

3. Great!

I think we should hold Kerry to the highest standard possible.

Meantime Bush is flying to Nascar and the Super Bowl and landing on aircraft carriers and having his advertising company make ads about medicare--all at taxpayer expense. Of course, the medicare prescription drug bill makes it illegal for the government to get pills at the lowest price so the drug companies win big time.

Oh yes, let's go after Kerry. He's the bad guy. Bush is just a regular ole good boy.

right. Sarcasm.

[Edwards4President]

7. Right -

Like the presidency, legislative positions are not 9-5, chained to the desk in Washington deals. The work follows them wherever they go.

Plus, it is wrong to expect anyone running for president to give up their day job. If that's the standard, not only would we limit the pool to the independently wealthy, but we would also leave constituents high and dry by forcing them to lose the benefit of seniority and experience should their representative wish to run for president.

[Edwards4President]

6. Actually, Kucinich has missed numerous votes . . .

He has missed fewer than the other candidates, but it is wrong to say that he has not missed a single vote. At first, he was extraordinarily conscientious about making all of his votes, but as the race heated up, that became impossible.

Not mad at him, mind you. But we need to be accurate.

[brainshrub]

8. Thanks for the info.

[WiseMen]

2. That is why Kerry wasn't on the Campaign Trail till almost too late

[unblock]

4. the pretzeldent doesn't get 'time off' either

in fact, usually, they all sneakily make like it's a part of their job, thus sending the tab to uncle sam.

but technically, the official job doesn't have a whole lot of requirements. mainly, not showing up for a vote is embarrassing. unless the vote is going to be very close, it doesn't really matter.

in fact a sly trick is to get call for a close vote at a key time, requiring a senator to cancel a campaign stop in order to return to washington....

[Edwards4President]

9. You noticed that, too?

That's exactly what happened with the Medicare vote (which Kerry missed), the DC voucher vote (which Kucinich missed) and several others. They also know that, even if the member doesn't cancel their campaign appearance to make the vote (which often happens, particularly when their vote wouldn't change the outcome), the other candidates who aren't in the House and Senate will turn on them for missing votes to attend the very events the non-legislators are participating in.

It's a win-win proposition for Republicans. It's a shame we're falling for it.

[Edwards4President]

5. Voting is only one part of the job

There are many other aspects to being in the Senate and House than simply voting and most of those things can be one wherever the member happens to be. A primary part of the job is constituent service which, although directed by the Member, is handled by staff, both in Washington and in the District. The senators and congressmen keep track of legislation (and return to DC to vote, when necessary), handle Committee responsibilities, interact with constituents and remain highly engaged in their duties, dealing with their staffs and other Members by phone and email when they aren't in the office.

[spooky3]

11. and, as you imply, their staffs remain hard at work researching bills

handling correspondence, etc., to support them, so the taxpayers are getting every minute of the staff time no matter where the Senator/Congressperson is.

[democratreformed]

10. This has bothered me as well

But, really, it's all beside the point now.

[arewethereyet]

12. they do if their constituants say they do

they are "the boss" in this case.

[mountainvue]

13. Bush

has taken more vacation time than any president in recent history. Wasn't he off on his longest vacation ever prior to 9/11? These guys are working to get rid of that guy. I'll forgive them for their absences.

[iamjoy]

14. Time Off

One thing I respect about Bob Dole is that he resigned from his Senate seat to run against President Clinton in 1996.

Of course, he didn't resign until June.

Of course, Massachusetts and North Carolina both have Republican governors, so it would be a wee bit foolish for Senator Kerry or Edwards to resign to devote time to the campaign, now wouldn't it?