John Shadegg Retiring to Find Better Coffee
As the Sleuth and her colleague Paul Kane reported in today's Washington Post, Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz.) gave us the inside skinny on why he announced his retirement this week: it's the coffee.
Shadegg is bummed out that the House-side cafeteria where he has routinely gotten his afternoon coffee for 14 years no longer sells Starbucks. "I can take a lot in the minority: losing votes, not being a subcommittee chairman, but not being able to get Starbucks is unacceptable."
The congressman says the coffee was replaced about two or three weeks ago by something called Pura Vida Fair Trade coffee. "Spare me! There's got to be a kickback somewhere," he groaned.
Actually, word is that Shadegg, who is the 22nd House Republican to announce his retirement this cycle, is leaving the House to train his sights on the Senate, banking on Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) winning the White House and his Senate seat opening up in 2010.
Some of Shadegg's colleagues have joked quietly that Shadegg, who's known as one of those members who sleeps on a sofa in his congressional office and showers in the House gym to avoid paying rent on an apartment, is just looking for better living (and showering) quarters in the Senate. (For the record, members of Congress recently got a pay raise of $4,100, bringing their annual salaries to $169,300.)
Shadegg shies away from talk of sleeping in his office. All he would tell us is -- "I continue to believe that the House gym is much nicer" than the Senate gym.
As for whether he's plotting a Senate run, he said, "I'm absolutely not leaving to run for that, but I'm also not ruling out the possibility that I will."
By Mary Ann Akers |
February 14, 2008; 3:52 PM ET
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Posted by: thebob.bob | February 14, 2008 07:15 PM
I hate Republicans, Republicans want to rape me.
Posted by: thebob.bob | February 15, 2008 09:52 AM
Pura Vida Fair Trade coffee is more costly and not based on market value. Besides, Starbuck's coffee just tastes better.
Rep.Shadegg has a rating of 100% by the American Conservative Union. Arizona is a very conservative state. Given the cost of living in D.C., I can understand a conservative representative maintaining only one home and, if so, in the district that elected him.
As a representative, he does represent Arizona's voters. U.S. Senators are called to represent more than their constituency and that task may prove difficult. Time will tell.
What I think this signals is an "All-Or-Nothing" commitment by Senator McCain being communicated to Rep. Shadegg. Senator McCain was first Rep. McCain himself. Rep.Shadegg is a legitimate political successor to Senator McCain.
Of course, as Freud said, "Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar." Perhaps he is just tired of sleeping on a couch and drinking bitter coffee.
Posted by: OmarKhyam1951 | February 15, 2008 01:08 PM
Fair trade coffee tastes like dirt.
Posted by: | February 15, 2008 03:11 PM
The Post should report on how Shadegg is notorious as being one of the worst members of Congress to work for. He treats his staff like dirt. He needs to be reminded that he's a rank-and-file member of the House, not royalty.
Posted by: Anon | February 16, 2008 10:25 AM
The idea of gourmet coffee has been all the rage for several years - but what exactly is gourmet coffee? Starbucks had a great idea - but the franchising of the idea diluted the concept. Mom and Pop coffee shops remain the bastion of really good coffee......
http://thefiresidepost.com/2008/01/12/coffee-and-the-american-gourmet-experience/
Posted by: Ohg Rea Tone | February 18, 2008 06:41 PM
congressional staffers = dirt
Posted by: all can agree | February 19, 2008 03:05 PM
The Republicans begged to stay.
The Candidate agreed he may.
Posted by: omarkhyam1951 | February 24, 2008 12:45 AM
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Resigning is the only honorable thing a Republican can do after supporting Bush and his policies for 7 years. Welcome to the permenent minority, my Republican friends.