Update/followup: See end of post for a chance to do some good, or at least try to. After a week off, John Oliver is back in crusading investigative comedy mode again, as Last Week Tonight brings us this story on the paperwork nightmare faced by Iraqis and Afghans who worked with U.S. forces as translators. As we wind down our wars, thousands of people who bravely came forward to help our military with accurate translations -- because as Oliver points out, you really need to know whether that thing down the road is an IED or an IKEA -- are being left behind. Despite a law passed by Congress to expedite their entry to the U.S., allowing for for 1500 special visas a year, in 2011, the State Department actually processed 3. That's three, not a typo missing some zeroes.
Let&#039;s see: VA, CDC, State...is there any part of the federal bureaucracy that <i>isn&#039;t</i> hidebound, slow-moving and filled with time-serving paycheck-drawers hoping to ride it out to a comfortable retirement?
Where was Clarence Thomas? On the floor, putting a little sexy &quot;scent&quot; on most things in the room I bet. Or whatever the dog equivalent of leaving pubes on a soda can is.
Let&#039;s see: VA, CDC, State...is there any part of the federal bureaucracy that <i>isn&#039;t</i> hidebound, slow-moving and filled with time-serving paycheck-drawers hoping to ride it out to a comfortable retirement?
Oh yeah: NSA.
Where was Clarence Thomas? On the floor, putting a little sexy &quot;scent&quot; on most things in the room I bet. Or whatever the dog equivalent of leaving pubes on a soda can is.
<i>As we wind down our wars...</i>
Now that&#039;s just crazy talk.
The movie &quot;Sex in the City II&quot; didn&#039;t help.
Yeah, my remark was kind of a cheap shot, since I know many federal workers who are as diligent and capable and dedicated as anybody could be.