Government employee morale at an all-time high!
Posted By: Happy Camper on 2009-01-23
In Reply to:
I work at the Department of Education headquarters in DC. Today completed our 2-day introduction to Arne Duncan. Yesterday he had lunch in our cafeteria (Edibles, ha ha), with his wife and children. His wife wore jeans and a sweater and Arne looked like an average Joe in khaki dress pants, white shirt and tie. They stood in all of the lines and talked to anyone who approached them. They probably stayed 90 minutes. It was definitely the highest cafeteria attendance ever.
Yesterday afternoon he visited every floor of our building and introduced himself to everyone. We all came out into the hall and he shook everyone's hand with a "Hi, I'm Arne."
By the end of the day yesterday, everyone was aglow, since this was already more attention than we'd received from Spellings or Paige. Today, however, was the all-staff meeting, and I can say that the morale in the building increased ten-fold by the end of it.
Our auditorium was beyond packed, with people standing in the aisles. I myself snagged a seat on the floor next to the stage kindergarten-style. Arne stood in front of a blue screen that read "Call me Arne!" in bright yellow letters. He insisted that we call him Arne, rather than Mr. Secretary or anything like that, saying his name was Arne before he got this job and it would be 8 years from now.
I know this isn't anything earth shattering, but the change in the atmosphere at the Department over the last week has been really astounding. In the past, we all knew that the Secretary had an agenda that she was going to follow, and that we were only there to affirm that her way was best. We really feel that Arne wants to know the truth, whether it fits with his agenda or not.
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Fox ratings are at an all time high because...(sm)
as we all know, it's hard to look away from a train wreck. 
I think the Simpsons had a big run on ratings like this at one point. That show was also fiction.
Fox ratings are at an all time high because
people are hungry for the truth. You want to believe it is fiction, but the numbers speak for themselves. This is their 9th year and building. Even CNN is 3rd now and fighting back. What do you expect from Immelt and Zucker on MSNBC? Ms. Maddow is really showing her ignorance to say she does not know the purpose of the Tax Day Tea Parties. This is grass-roots America speaking up. I gotta admit, its not nearly as juicy as soap opera using an unwed teen pregnancy to keep the subject off the REAL soap opera that was happening at G20 and tour. That is what was hilarious!
I think it's high time and a good thing
that RINOs finally declare their true party and leave room in the Republican party for true Republicans. And Specter has, in an uncharacteristic moment of honesty (or senility,) illustrated the fact that every politician considers his first duty to be getting re-elected. I hope that Specter gets soundly unpantsed in the next primary - as a Democrat. That would truly put the icing on the cake.
And about Specter, isn't it about time for this guy to retire? He is a great example of the 'senator for life' syndrome.
The Republican party put forth a very poor presidential candidate in 2008. Maybe they learned from that experience and will return to more a conservative party line. So if a few RINOs jump ship here and there, I think that's excellent.
Record gas prices/Exxon profits at all time high. sm
You are the one who tried to make this windfall tax profit thing an issue. Over the past few days, your posts accusing Obama of being a Marxist/socialist black liberationist theologian have been effectively challenged by alternative viewpoints of "windfall tax," "rebate," and "black liberation theology." The right-wingers and media are constantly pushing for "immediate/emergency" relief from the high price of gas. We debate the pros and cons of McCain's tax holiday/offshore drilling versus Obama's tax rebate funded by an "emergency" excise tax and his other longer-term initiatives, particularly in view of the fact that in a time when we are paying record-shattering prices for gas, Exxon is posting record-shattering profits.
There is nothing evil about recognizing that there is something wrong with this picture and that the oil companies should bear some responsibility in the consequences we all pay for their greed. Rebate coupons, schemes and incentives are as American as apple pie. We are forced to stuff their pockets with these obscene profits in the absence of price regulation. It is not too much to ask that they come out from behind their curtain of corruption once in a blue moon and show some appreciation to the consumers whose hard-earned money "trickles up" to the wealthiest among us. BTW, the CEOs did exactly what to earn this "windfall?"
Maybe you are not feeling the same pinch the rest of us are dealing with. When some of our fellow citizens are making decisions between paying for their obscenely priced medications versus their obscenely priced food versus their obscenely priced housing versus their obscenely priced gas with their stagnant wages, or worse still, their unemployment checks because their jobs are the latest ones to bite the dust and be shipped overseas and the $60 that it takes to fill their tanks to make a thorough job search is prolonging their misery and that of their families, it is reasonable that we might consider all the possible alternatives to address this problem. An energy rebate is a good idea for those of us who are not bent on bashing Obama 24/7 and I suspect most of us could care less where it is coming from.
I worry every time I provide the government
Where will this end up? How long will it stay there? How will it be used? Do I trust the guy presently in office? Congress? Will I trust the next crop of office holders? There is a reason why people are going *off the grid*
Yes, time to end the 2-party system, need more real choice in government, less partisanship!..NM
nm
He said/she said unproven allegations of former employee
peronsal expenses on ACORN credit card whistleblower. Wondering if you placed as much faith John Fund's word (author of the WSJ piece) when he published Stealing Elections: How Voter Fraud Threatens Our Democracy in 2004?
Won't be cancelling that root canal appointment this morning to wait breathlessly by the tube for my latest fix of grasping at straws.
You did not read the first post by an employee, did ya?
The first post there stated that the people who were being sent other places were lots of times waiting over 24 hours for care for a sore throat because their ER was so full. I see nothing wrong with an overcrowded ER trying to find somewhere that would be better for patients.
You all fuss about the use and abuse of medical facilities by poor people, but now you want to jump on the bandwagon and accuse someone who is trying to do something about that situation of "shunning poor people." Heck, you cant have it both ways!
You did not read the first post by an employee, did ya?
The first post there stated that the people who were being sent other places were lots of times waiting over 24 hours for care for a sore throat because their ER was so full. I see nothing wrong with an overcrowded ER trying to find somewhere that would be better for patients.
You all fuss about the use and abuse of medical facilities by poor people, but now you want to jump on the bandwagon and accuse someone who is trying to do something about that situation of "shunning poor people." Heck, you cant have it both ways!
Senator Obama was a paid employee,
community organizer. He did not do this on a volunteer basis.
Halliburton to wounded employee: You'll get a medal - if you don't sue.
Halliburton to Wounded Employee: You'll Get a Medal -- If You Don't Sue
By Justin Rood - September 18, 2006, 2:10 PM
Halliburton will help its combat-zone employees get the honors and recognition they deserve -- if they promise not to sue the company. That's according to new documents released today by Senate Democrats.
Ray Stannard was a truck driver in Iraq for Halliburton subsidiary Kellogg Brown and Root. In 2003, he was part of a fuel convoy that was ambushed by insurgents. Seven Americans died in the attack and 26 were injured, including Stanner. He is suing the company.
His company knew the convoy's route was dangerous and unprotected, he says, but sent the convoy through anyway. What they did was murder, Stannard told CBS News recently. And I stick by that.
The circumstances of his injuries qualified Stanner for the U.S. Defense of Freedom medal, the civilian equivalent to a soldier's Purple Heart. In offering to forward Stanner's medical records to the Department of Defense so they could confirm and appove his award, KBR required him to sign a release form. (You can see the document here.)
The document, sent to Stannard in November 2004, appears to be boilerplate -- but for one curious paragraph that appears to indemnify KBR from any wrongdoing that may have led to Stanner's injuries:
. . . I agree that in consideration for the application for a Defense of Freedom Medal on my behalf that. . . I hereby release, aquit and discharge KBR, all KBR employees, the military, and any of their representatives. . . with respect to and from any and all claims and any and all causes of action, of any kind or character, whether now known or unknown, I may have against any of them which exist as of the date of this authorization. . . . This release also applies to any claims brought by any person or agency or class action under which I may have a right or benefit.
Stannard didn't sign the form. He received the medal. And he filed suit against the company the following May.
high five!
It's a big country - enough sunshine for all of us.
Are you high?
Why don't you blame him for your hemorrhoids while you're at it.
When I was in high school ...
Spanish and French were both offered. They were optional, however. I don't think we should REQUIRE any child to learn a second language. If they want to, fine. And Obama makes the point that most French, Spanish, etc. are bilingual...speaking English AND their native language. Well, duhhh. Of course they do. How else do they cater to American tourists, the lifeblood of several European cities. Or cater to American business. If I moved to France and was going to live there, I would learn French. If Mexicans are going to immigrate and live here, they need to learn English. Where's the rub?
We don't compete with overseas MTs because they are bilingual, trilingual, or multilingual. We complete with them because they will do what we do for a whole lot less money. End of story. Then it has to be run back through American editors to good ENGLISH. Not good INDIAN, FRENCH, SPANISH, et al. Not a real good argument. And I don't know how our children speaking Spanish or French is going to help them unless they plan to move to Spain, Mexico, or France. Last time I checked, speaking Spanish or French did not pay the bills either.
LOL. High regard. nm
nm
high horse?
nm
Oh, get off your high horse.... I'm sure you
have had nothing to say when McCain and Palin are being kicked about here. Your true colors are showing!
I have to say that I did see a lot of high school age...sm
kids standing behind him at his rally yesterday.
Right, because you are too high on the Obama
nm
Prices were very high
There were no bargins this summer. Everything was very expensive. Cheaper to shop in US.
Still in junior high?
Be gone.
How can you have a high rating without doing anything yet?
Oh, I forgot. Dems + hook + line + sinker = Fauxbama for Prez.
Change, change, change.
Hope, hope, hope.
Bull, bull, bull.
Regressive right = junior high
This was just so highly amusing, I couldn't resist I had to share. I hope it makes you smile, it did me!
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/12/21/5933/
mile high stadium
It is a big venue because of the huge number of people who want to be part of the historic event of our first black candidate's acceptance speech. I see it as a defining moment in our history and I am pleased that he wants to include as many as possible. Wish I were there. Still, the flight suit . . .
Were you the bully in high school too?
nm
Don't foget the get'n high part.
Ain't politics grand?
Agreed, The stakes ARE high. nm
nm
High School Politics
So I've kinda realized something lately. The presidential election is very similar to a high school election this time around:
~In high school, you usually have a couple of candidates, but it usually narrows down to two. Usually you have one candidate who will promise the stars and the moon in the form of soda machines, more "senior lunches", more time off, etc. Now we all know full and well that a high school class president can't get these things, but he will say he can. Usually the candidate that can promise the most is the one that wins.
~Don't forget, in high school it's also a popularity contest!
~Oh yeah, and if it's two guys, most of the girls don't care what they say, they just vote on the cutest one.
~90% of the voters never even hear what the candidates have to say. They usually just vote off of what everyone else says or who is their buddy.
~In the end, nothing changes at the school. Still the same amount of vending machines with crappy food, still only get one senior lunch per month, and if anything, you lose a few days off.
Now tell me this doesn't sound at all like what is going on right now?
Better the high horse than the low road....nm
nm
They just want to see us come down from our imperial high horse.
That's all.
I did respect Bush, not in a high-regards, but I did..sm
Everything about Bush's administration was not all bad, but 98% of it was. I did not vote for him for either term, but I did respect him as our country's president. All of the people against President-Elect OBAMA are knocking him before even giving him a chance.
I am thankful for a change. Anything has to be better than what Bush has given us for the last 8 years. People say we are doomed, this country is going down. Bush started that roller coaster ride quite some time ago. President-Elect Obama can now run this country down any more than Bush has already done. Besides, it will take some time to sift through all of the mess that Bush created.
By the way, many have said that Obama will be killed. If no one stepped up to the plate to take first dibbs at Bush for what he has done to this country, Obama will be just fine. He is in God's hands and God will take care of his own.
For once, it would be a great accomplishment if we all came together as Americans instead of being divided, mostly by race. Sad fact is most people are still very prejudice and will never get past the color of one's skin color.
Flying in high style........sm
I realize he already owned the jet, but REALLY!!!!!
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,454844,00.html
High winds - now that's funny
You know I'd still put Athiest in your name. Last I knew it was a free country and we are free to believe whatever we want. I'm not Athiest, but I'm not Christian or any other religion either.
I'm not so much ashamed of my heritage, I'm more ashamed of the ignorant people (like my brother). He's my brother and I love him but I just wish he would think before he speaks.
I am proud our country has come as far as it has in the fact that we can have anyone as a president and color doesn't matter anymore. America has progressed and that is good, but just the way some people portray it that they don't know anything about him, his issues, voting record, what he's going to do for the country, they're just glad a black man is in there, and then to hear Obama talk race all the time. That's when I think to myself....I'm so ashamed. But am sure it will get better.
Thanks for your words. Look forward to those high winds. HA HA HA
You are living in some high a.. place and I wish
the lake front property I sold about a year or so ago had gone per acre what they said yours was worth, oops, lacking $10 it did sell for that much. Am not good with math. The taxes on that were not much, thank goodness because my own home taxes were quite high. Seems like when 1 place comes down (or off) then somewhere else taxes it back on. Close to me in Atlanta last year water restrictions on due to drought- people followed and now the rates for water have gone up.
I think the risk to the hostage is too high...(sm)
to just storm them. France just did that to another one that had French hostages, and one of the hostages was killed during the raid. I really don't want these guys to get away, but if we're talking about the safety of the hostage, maybe the best thing right now is to pay the ransom and then go after them. I don't think they WANT to kill the hostage because then they get no money. Keep in mind, this is a source of income for them -- that's why they do it.
My son is being told in high school
in a lot of his classes that there will not be SS anymore in the near future. SS will be gone.
If it's high you flash it, if it's low you hide it.....sm
like everything else, isn't it?
I heard your most high priestess Cindy S. is saying it
Infantile? High school behavior?
So it's only okay when you do it?
Of course, because it takes high thinking to discuss
//
The dems are taking the high road?
What little bubble do you live in and what are you smoking? The dems have had dirty ads just as much as the pubs have. The ad showing McCain's face and scares and talking about his health.....WAY uncalled for. The only reason the dems haven't fully attacked Palin and that church was because they want to keep conservative Bible thumpers in their favor. If they attack Palin for that, they lose the Bible thumpers. They aren't taking the high road....they are just trying to keep voters who they normally wouldn't get.
LOL I think that high horse is going to start bucking
and it's a long way to the ground.
*hugs* That's OK. I know tensions are high. I feel the s/m
same way. I am trying not to, though, because we have to make the best of what we have. I just need to stop thinking about it, for today at least. :-)
that she is a TALL woman, if she wears high
heels she would be taller than the President.
The boyfriend never graduated high school.
nm
I wold rather go to the Penisula Hotel and have High Tea!
May I offer you some scones, crumpets, or finger sandwiches?
Next it'll be the centerfold of High Times.
yeeech!
This article is erroneous. Retention levels are very high. sm
And the recruiting levels have not fallen that much. Stats are on the other board. You don't care about the disaster at all, gt. You only care about posting articles blaming Bush. That much is crystal clear.
You take the moral high ground and watch video
nm
Heroe..like - He can't take the high horse and then claim the low road.
Bushisms
I appreciate that question because I, in the state of Texas, had heard a lot of discussion about a faith-based initiative eroding the important bridge between church and state.
I mean, there needs to be a wholesale effort against racial profiling, which is illiterate children.
See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda.
The law I sign today directs new funds and new focus to the task of collecting vital intelligence on terrorist threats and on weapons of mass production.
http://www.wisdomquotes.com/cat_bushisms.html
My point is...if you genuinely hold someone in high regard...
personally...you will still degrade and make fun of them because that is "your job?"
Perhaps I should have been more clear also. I guess I don't see it that way. I guess I don't call that "high regard." I don't find that genuine.
You, on the other hand, are genuine. My comment was directed at Letterman, not at you. I doubt his sincerity, for the reasons I posted. I don't doubt that you believe him, and that is fine for you...again, I don't mean that you are not genuine. I just don't believe Letterman is.
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