Comments on: Lawmaker's "elephant expenses" challenged http://boingboing.net/2013/02/01/lawmakers-elephant-expense.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:56:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Wreckrob8 http://boingboing.net/2013/02/01/lawmakers-elephant-expense.html#comment-1644620 Wreckrob8 Sat, 02 Feb 2013 18:19:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=210180#comment-1644620 Without the selfless devotion to fraudulent overspending of our elected representatives like Dr Martin we would never become aware of the problem. Why should we begrudge him just one elephant? Without the selfless devotion to fraudulent overspending of our elected representatives like Dr Martin we would never become aware of the problem.
Why should we begrudge him just one elephant?

]]> By: Víctor Jiménez Merino http://boingboing.net/2013/02/01/lawmakers-elephant-expense.html#comment-1644481 Víctor Jiménez Merino Sat, 02 Feb 2013 09:41:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=210180#comment-1644481  Are you the King of Spain?  Are you the King of Spain?

]]> By: iamlegion http://boingboing.net/2013/02/01/lawmakers-elephant-expense.html#comment-1643949 iamlegion Fri, 01 Feb 2013 20:35:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=210180#comment-1643949 I once shot an elephant in my expense account. How an elephant got into my expense account I'll never know... I once shot an elephant in my expense account. How an elephant got into my expense account I’ll never know…

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/02/01/lawmakers-elephant-expense.html#comment-1643945 Antinous / Moderator Fri, 01 Feb 2013 20:29:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=210180#comment-1643945 Yes, he spent 2,200 euros on books about Auschwitz.  At the taxpayers' expense. The problem with the European Parliament, and the UK, and probably lots of other places is that they finance their offices by claiming expenses.  They should just get allowances and have to work within their budgets. Yes, he spent 2,200 euros on books about Auschwitz.  At the taxpayers’ expense.

The problem with the European Parliament, and the UK, and probably lots of other places is that they finance their offices by claiming expenses.  They should just get allowances and have to work within their budgets.

]]> By: Jorpho http://boingboing.net/2013/02/01/lawmakers-elephant-expense.html#comment-1643906 Jorpho Fri, 01 Feb 2013 19:57:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=210180#comment-1643906 In the wake of recent tragedies, he is funding a remake of a <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0363589/" rel="nofollow">2003 Gus Van Sant</a> film.  Clearly. In the wake of recent tragedies, he is funding a remake of a 2003 Gus Van Sant film.  Clearly.

]]> By: James Kimbell http://boingboing.net/2013/02/01/lawmakers-elephant-expense.html#comment-1643891 James Kimbell Fri, 01 Feb 2013 19:36:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=210180#comment-1643891 He's just a big White Stripes fan. He’s just a big White Stripes fan.

]]> By: rob_cornelius http://boingboing.net/2013/02/01/lawmakers-elephant-expense.html#comment-1643864 rob_cornelius Fri, 01 Feb 2013 19:13:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=210180#comment-1643864 Could have been worse... he could have been claiming to have the moat surrounding his castle cleaned or a new duck house. Or his partner could have been claiming for the porn vids they had bought Could have been worse… he could have been claiming to have the moat surrounding his castle cleaned or a new duck house. Or his partner could have been claiming for the porn vids they had bought

]]> By: Daneel http://boingboing.net/2013/02/01/lawmakers-elephant-expense.html#comment-1643848 Daneel Fri, 01 Feb 2013 19:05:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=210180#comment-1643848 Why do African Elephants have big ears? Because Noddy won't pay the ransom. Why do African Elephants have big ears?

Because Noddy won’t pay the ransom.

]]> By: DeepNorth http://boingboing.net/2013/02/01/lawmakers-elephant-expense.html#comment-1643849 DeepNorth Fri, 01 Feb 2013 19:05:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=210180#comment-1643849 FTA: Martin says he in fact meant to claim for books about Auschwitz from an Austrian publisher called "Ephelant". The publisher does offer such a book, priced at 22 euros. FTA:
Martin says he in fact meant to claim for books about Auschwitz from an Austrian publisher called “Ephelant”. The publisher does offer such a book, priced at 22 euros.

]]> By: grimc http://boingboing.net/2013/02/01/lawmakers-elephant-expense.html#comment-1643841 grimc Fri, 01 Feb 2013 18:57:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=210180#comment-1643841 It's a typo. It should read "Asians". It’s a typo. It should read “Asians”.

]]> By: UnderachievingSheep http://boingboing.net/2013/02/01/lawmakers-elephant-expense.html#comment-1643838 UnderachievingSheep Fri, 01 Feb 2013 18:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=210180#comment-1643838 I see your "elephant" and I raise you <a href="http://www.amsterdamherald.com/index.php/rss/477-20120912-geert-wilders-under-fire-over-party-european-subsidy-claims-abuse-funding-europe-eu-brussels-netherlands-dutch-politics" rel="nofollow">an anti EU report funded by... the European Union</a>. I am not a EU skeptic but I can understand why people can become so bitter about it. Hardly anyone knows how the European Union functions, who does exactly what and what the institutions mean. For the average European, this is pretty esoteric and to make matters even worse, we regularly get press reports about corruption like this elephant or Geert Wilders' associate paying for his rehab with EU funds.  I see your “elephant” and I raise you an anti EU report funded by… the European Union.

I am not a EU skeptic but I can understand why people can become so bitter about it. Hardly anyone knows how the European Union functions, who does exactly what and what the institutions mean. For the average European, this is pretty esoteric and to make matters even worse, we regularly get press reports about corruption like this elephant or Geert Wilders’ associate paying for his rehab with EU funds. 

]]> By: Brainspore http://boingboing.net/2013/02/01/lawmakers-elephant-expense.html#comment-1643835 Brainspore Fri, 01 Feb 2013 18:55:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=210180#comment-1643835 Most Austrians just take the Tauem Autobahn these days. Most Austrians just take the Tauem Autobahn these days.

]]> By: Daneel http://boingboing.net/2013/02/01/lawmakers-elephant-expense.html#comment-1643828 Daneel Fri, 01 Feb 2013 18:51:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=210180#comment-1643828 I think I will have seen everything when I see an elephant lie. I think I will have seen everything when I see an elephant lie.

]]> By: Tribune http://boingboing.net/2013/02/01/lawmakers-elephant-expense.html#comment-1643820 Tribune Fri, 01 Feb 2013 18:45:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=210180#comment-1643820 You know I would rather a corrupt politician buy an elephant than many other alternatives. You know I would rather a corrupt politician buy an elephant than many other alternatives.

]]> By: Nash Rambler http://boingboing.net/2013/02/01/lawmakers-elephant-expense.html#comment-1643817 Nash Rambler Fri, 01 Feb 2013 18:41:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=210180#comment-1643817 I don't suppose that European Parliament member's name is Hannibal, by any chance?  If so, that elephant might be a justifiable expense. I don’t suppose that European Parliament member’s name is Hannibal, by any chance?  If so, that elephant might be a justifiable expense.

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