The agonizing, 8-page memo on how to chauffeur a congressman

[DonViejo]

Pity the poor aide charged with driving Rep. Todd Rokita around his district.

By JOHN BRESNAHAN and RACHAEL BADE 08/18/2017 04:41 AM EDT Updated 08/18/2017 08:27 AM EDT

Empty his trash. Always have hand sanitizer and gum at the ready. And don’t bother with “unnecessary conversation” — the congressman doesn’t have time for your chit-chat.

Demanding, high-maintenance bosses are notorious on Capitol Hill. The late Sen. Ted Kennedy's staff had to walk his dog, poop pick-up and all. Former Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison made her male aides carry her purse.

The latest addition to the list: Rep. Todd Rokita, an Indiana Republican running in one of next year's most competitive Senate races.

Who knew it could take eight pages of instructions on how to properly escort a member of Congress around his district? Yet there it is, laid out in mind-blowing detail, in a memo obtained by POLITICO that's sure to make any young, eager-beaver political aide shudder.

Tasks listed in the document, entitled “Instructions on Staffing and Driving — District Version,” include handing Rokita a cup of black coffee upon picking him up at his home, acting as a physical barrier between him and trackers looking to capture embarrassing footage of the congressman, and “avoid(ing) sudden acceleration or braking” while driving.

more
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/08/18/todd-rokita-boss-aides-staff-instructions-241709

[bearsfootball516]

1. Insanity

I recently moved from Indiana to Florida and I actually lived in Luke Messer's district (He's Rokita's main competition).

Both men are poster children for the Republican establishment.

[Luciferous]

2. Wow, I feel sorry for the poor sucker that has that job lol

[L. Coyote]

3. I've driven a few politicos around. Didn't know there were instructions other than "Be nice."

Of course, I've not been a Republican "chauffeur" ever. Muriel Humphrey was the nicest person. She seemed like she'd prefer to ride up front. The US Senate candidate I worked as an aide for did ride up front.

[MineralMan]

4. Funniest thing to me was the necessity of making sure "TER"

had his wallet and cell phone with him frequently. He must have a habit of leaving those here and there during the day.

Doesn't sound like a great job, really.

[FSogol]

6. Yeah, but if you stick with it and put up with the BS, you could grow up to be

Mitch McConnell

[MineralMan]

7. Nooooooo!

[FSogol]

10. Turtle-boy got his start picking up Sen John Cooper's dog shit and getting coffee. n/t

[leftstreet]

5. And we think these people can represent us

[HughBeaumont]

8. It's beginning to look a lot like Plutonomy. Everywhere you go.

WTF, start doing what you were elected to do before thinking you're Ben Stiller.

[zipplewrath]

9. Not that unusual

I suspect this guy is on the high end of the "maintenance" scale, but this level of detail wouldn't be all that unusual for high end customers. Cheney had instructions that the hotel rooms be already tuned to Fox News. What's a tad amazing is that the company doesn't have a "stager" for the car ever day, and a cleaning service at the end.