Here come the news stories on congressional travels - Biden's here:

This one seems written to justify for Biden to the locals in Delaware:

Del. delegation are frequent fliers
Afghanistan or Aspen, the trips are important, lawmakers say

By JENNIFER BROOKS / News Journal Washington Bureau
04/21/2005
WASHINGTON -- In January 2002, not long after the fall of the Taliban, Sen. Joe Biden stood stark naked in the middle of the bombed-out U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan.

The then-chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee was waiting in a long line of stripped-down Marines, lugging a bucket of hot water and waiting his turn for the building's one working shower.

"It was no great hardship," said the Delaware Democrat, who had come to see how American troops were faring in Afghanistan. Biden slept on a military cot, ate military rations and, more uncomfortably, got his picture taken - in the buff - by an overly enthusiastic Marine out to show his mom that a United States senator really was in the middle of the war zone.

"I'm just glad never turned up on the Internet," Biden said.

Congressional junkets aren't always a day at the beach, as Biden proved. And while taxpayers foot the bill for most official congressional trips, Delaware's well-traveled delegation believe the trips they take around the country and world are essential parts of their job.


http://www.delawareonline.com/newsjournal/local/2005/04/21deldelegationar.html

Delaware's lone repub who doesn't take private corporate money. If he's so good and moderate -- SWITCH SIDES!!! Actually, I've written him with that idea. Make it a Delaware Dem TriFecta!

I can't see * taking a trip like Biden did where he's standing in line naked with a bunch of military guys to take his turn at the single shower. This was a real trip for Biden, just like Kerry's trip after the election, not one of *'s photo-op only trips. (Of course, there was mention of a photo -- but let's not go there).

They also tried to say something about Carper's corporate sponsored trip to Detroit regarding GM. Well, GM = jobs in Delaware. I'd say he was fulfilling his responsibilities to his constituents.

I would like to think that our elected Representatives & Senators should have the right to take travel to learn about what's going on. Hell the first paragraph of that articled talked about Joe Biden being fricking NAKED!!! Who wants to read that??? But there was Joe in Afghanistan getting his shower the same way everyone else serving over there is getting.

My concern isn't the trips like Afghanistan or even attending events related to the job you're doing. I've taking some fun business trips to such locations as the Keys, New Orleans, Colorado, etc and believe it or not we've had some fun on those trips too. But ultimately these trips were business related and a chance for our team to bond, to learn, to be educated. It's just sometimes you have to consider the trip, the cost and the ultimate goal - plus who's paying for the trip. I highly doubt that the travel our gang in Delaware doing along with most others serving in DC are overly questionable. Delay has just been pushing the limits and this has to stop.