The Senate Candy Desk

[mookiemookie]

I had no idea such a thing existed:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d9/Candy_desk.jpg

The candy desk is a tradition of the United States Senate established in 1968, according to the Senate Historical Office.[1] The desk, located on the Republican side of the Senate chamber, was first stocked with candy and treats by Senator George Murphy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candy_desk

[Betonov]

All that candy and no eating in the senate house. No wonder politicans are well... politicians :DL

[Growler]

Well, those are suckers - one for each of us.

[nikimcbee]

And the sad thing is, if they proposed to cut the candy desk, there would some group screaming, "you can't cut our candy, children will die.":shifty::haha:

[vienna]

The desk, located on the Republican side of the Senate chamber, was first stocked with candy and treats by Senator George Murphy

George Murphy! I had almost forgotten all about him. To those outside of California or not movie buffs, he was a one-term U.S. Senator from about the mid-60's to about 1970-71. He was also a movie song-and-dance man who appeared in a large number of musicals from 1930's to 1950's. I remember when he ran initially there was a lot of criticism about the qualifications of a "hoofer" to sit in the Senate. Little did California know what was to come with Reagan and Schwarzenegger...

[DarkFish]

politiciansNo obscene language please!:stare:

[MothBalls]

Good to know they have candy because they damn sure don't need another cookie jar.

[frau kaleun]

Good to know they have candy because they damn sure don't need another cookie jar.

I was gonna ask where they keep the pork barrel...

[Freiwillige]

I was gonna ask where they keep the pork barrel...

Right under the obscene piles of our hard earned tax dollars.:D

[TLAM Strike]

So this is how Republican congressmen lure in young pages... :hmmm:

:haha:

[Growler]

So this is how Republican congressmen lure in young pages... :hmmm:

:haha:
The political Candy Van?

[Platapus]

Republicans in the Senate, always looking for a [candy] handout. :D

[Gargamel]

Gotta have the candy.... else the terrorists win.

[vienna]

The NCA (National Candy Association) Lobby:

"You can have my candy when you pry it out of my cold, dead hands!!"

[Platapus]

If you outlaw candy, only outlaws will have candy :know:

[em2nought]

So the candy is in a lock box, but the national treasury isn't? :salute:

[mookiemookie]

but as time continued, and the Candy Desk became a more solid tradition of the Senate, lobby groups and organizations, specifically the National Confectioners Association, and the Chocolate Manufacturers Association, organized donations.

Damn dirty lobbyists are everywhere! :rotfl2:

[gimpy117]

mine would be filled with beer.

before you knock it remember: The constitution was written on beer, Its american legislation tradition!!

[vienna]

The Democrats have also had a candy desk since at least 1985. A rolltop desk located on the front wall belonging to the United States Senate Democratic Conference Secretary, is also filled with sweets. This tradition began "sometime later" than the more well known Candy desk... Candy for this desk is paid for through a "candy fund" which senators that would like to partake in the desk's contents contribute to. Jay Rockerfeller then takes this money and purchases the candy.

I am somewhat amused and bemused that no one has pointed out the Republican Candy Desk has been stocked by candy corporations and lobbies, while the Democratic Candy Desk is sustained by contributions from the Democratic Senators themselves. One could say it was indicative of the respective party's psychlogies...

@gimpy117:

That's what America needs: A return to the Beer Party! Chug? Yes, we can!!

(not to be confused with Pat Paulsen's "Straight Thinking American Government" Party [S.T.A.G.]

[TLAM Strike]

mine would be filled with beer.

before you knock it remember: The constitution was written on beer, Its american legislation tradition!!

...and the Russian revolution was started by an angry mob who wanted to raid the Tsar's wine cellar... :03:

'tis true... :haha:

[gimpy117]

...and the Russian revolution was started by an angry mob who wanted to raid the Tsar's wine cellar... :03:

'tis true... :haha:

well yeah! you can't just say "let them drink inferior merlot" and not have a revolt!

[vienna]

well yeah! you can't just say "let them drink inferior merlot" and not have a revolt!

In 1992, when the Los Angeles Riots where in their second day, I was trying to make it home when I had to detour up to the Sunset Strip which overlooks the southern Los Angeles basin. The view from up there is quite impressive and you can see most of the city from there. Because of the view, there are a lot of upscale, trendy stores and pricey restaurants along the street. Most of the restaurants have sidewalk cafe type tables. As I walked along, large plumes of smoke were visible all over the basin, the result of fires set by the rioters. In the foreground were the diners at their tables, enjoying lunch and quite oblivious to the approaching riot. I looked at the diners and somehow began to think: I wonder if the diners would look over at the smoke, turn to the waiters and ask "What wine goes well with civil disturbance?" :hmmm: