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Taxpayers foot State Department's stiff liquor bill
The Washington Times ^ | April 15, 2010 | Jim McElhatton

Posted on 04/15/2010 7:35:18 AM PDT by McGruff

Months after President Obama urged federal agencies last year to cut wasteful spending, the U.S. Department of State paid $3,814 to fill an order of Jack Daniel's whiskey for gratuities at one of its many overseas embassies.

The booze buy wasn't unusual.

Last year alone, the State Department sent taxpayers tabs totaling nearly $300,000 for alcoholic beverages — about twice as much compared to the previous year, according to an analysis of spending records by The Washington Times.

The purchases, small and large, included $2,483 to pay for "assorted spirits for gratuities to vendors" at the U.S. mission to the United Nations in New York, and $9,501 in "Christmas gratuities" of whiskey and wine at the U.S. Embassy in South Korea.

Taxpayer watchdogs say while accounting for a small fraction of the State Department's overall budget, some of the liquor expenditures reflect larger concerns about stewardship of federal tax dollars at a time when many recession-weary Americans find themselves struggling to hold onto jobs and pay mortgages.

"It's indicative of the disconnect that bureaucrats have when they spend our money," said David Williams, vice president of policy at the nonpartisan Citizens Against Government Waste.

State Department spokesman Noel Clay said such expenditures are permitted under law.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Crime/Corruption; Front Page News; Government
KEYWORDS: braking; lping
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To: mainsail that

They probably need to stay blitzed because of obozo’s horrendous foreign policies!


21 posted on 04/15/2010 7:57:11 AM PDT by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra ( Ya can't pick up a turd by the clean end!)
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To: McGruff

Ah, life is good at the State Department.

Never been able to figure out what they do at the State Dept. What exactly is their purpose?


22 posted on 04/15/2010 7:57:36 AM PDT by SamiGirl
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To: I cannot think of a name
Jack Daniels - cheap Tennessee rot-gut
23 posted on 04/15/2010 8:03:14 AM PDT by bagman
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To: Dr. Bogus Pachysandra

That’s exactly my thought - I would need to be plastered to be able to attempt to defend the foreign policy of The One’s administration.

You have to be incoherent to defend an incoherent foreign policy.


24 posted on 04/15/2010 8:05:28 AM PDT by bagman
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To: SamiGirl
Never been able to figure out what they do at the State Dept. What exactly is their purpose?

Umm. Attempt to overthrow Republican administrations?

25 posted on 04/15/2010 8:08:40 AM PDT by McGruff (So how is that Hopey Changey thingy working out for ya America?)
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To: ansel12

I drank a lot of Jack when I was younger. My tastes have matured. Give me a good Kentucky Bourbon like Woodford or Bookers these days.


26 posted on 04/15/2010 8:11:58 AM PDT by Lurker (The avalanche has begun. The pebbles no longer have a vote.)
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To: SamiGirl

the purpose of the state department is to undermine the victory of the military.


27 posted on 04/15/2010 8:12:54 AM PDT by longtermmemmory (VOTE! http://www.senate.gov and http://www.house.gov)
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To: McGruff

Are those cigarettes on Hillary’s table?


28 posted on 04/15/2010 8:20:13 AM PDT by Jaidyn
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To: McGruff

if Hillary was your boss you’d want to be knocking back some of the good stuff whenever you could too.


29 posted on 04/15/2010 8:30:08 AM PDT by Buckeye McFrog
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To: Buckeye McFrog
Seeing the Obama stole the nomination from Hillary maybe we should go easy on her. The good news is that “she'll never be president”!
30 posted on 04/15/2010 8:37:58 AM PDT by McGruff (So how is that Hopey Changey thingy working out for ya America?)
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To: SamiGirl
Never been able to figure out what they do at the State Dept. What exactly is their purpose?

State is the Bag Man for the President, bribing foreign officials so the WH can take credit for getting other countries do do what the President wants to take credit for.

31 posted on 04/15/2010 8:55:26 AM PDT by savedbygrace (You are only leading if people follow. Otherwise, you just wandered off.)
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To: savedbygrace

Thanks.


32 posted on 04/15/2010 9:40:18 AM PDT by SamiGirl
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To: McGruff

But what of the leftists who were “shocked” to find bills for alcohol on the RNC expenses?


33 posted on 04/15/2010 11:20:24 AM PDT by a fool in paradise (VP Biden on Obamacare's passage: "This is a big f-ing deal". grumpygresh: "Repeal the f-ing deal")
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To: savedbygrace
State is the Bag Man for the President, bribing foreign officials so the WH can take credit for getting other countries do do what the President wants to take credit for.

Like securing the Olympics in Chicago? < /snicker >

34 posted on 04/15/2010 11:21:00 AM PDT by a fool in paradise (VP Biden on Obamacare's passage: "This is a big f-ing deal". grumpygresh: "Repeal the f-ing deal")
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To: McGruff

I don’t think these are outrageous.

Most of these liquor bills are subtle bribes of a case of whiskey to local officials. For example a US diplomat who needs to get 100 beds into Sudan for a hospital but can’t clear the shipment out of customs. You can’t hand the interior minister or the head of customs, $100 bucks, but you can give them a case. It’s the way the system works.


35 posted on 04/15/2010 11:24:28 AM PDT by Drango (A liberal's compassion is limited only by the size of someone else's wallet.)
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To: McGruff

Give that woman some mor Mad Dog 20-20.


36 posted on 04/15/2010 11:26:40 AM PDT by unkus
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To: McGruff

37 posted on 04/15/2010 11:30:13 AM PDT by bamahead (Few men desire liberty; most men wish only for a just master. -- Sallust)
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To: McGruff

That’s funny, LOL!!!


38 posted on 04/15/2010 11:31:45 AM PDT by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously... You'll never live through it.)
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To: mainsail that

A dollar here, a dollar there. Pretty soon you’re talking some serious money.


39 posted on 04/15/2010 11:33:22 AM PDT by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously... You'll never live through it.)
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To: McGruff; Tijeras_Slim; Rebelbase; martin_fierro; Lee'sGhost; Tax-chick; dighton
"Comrades!" he cried.

"You do not imagine, I hope, that we pigs are doing this in a spirit of selfishness and privilege? Many of us actually dislike milk and apples. I dislike them myself. Our sole object in taking these things is to preserve our health. Milk and apples (this has been proved by Science, comrades) contain substances absolutely necessary to the well-being of a pig."

"We pigs are brainworkers. The whole management and organization of this farm depend on us. Day and night we are watching over your welfare. It is for your sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples."

- Squealer in Animal Farm by George Orwell


40 posted on 04/15/2010 11:34:32 AM PDT by Constitution Day
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