Hillary Taking Month-Long Break From Senate

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) is taking a month off from Congress to recuperate after her marathon run for the presidency.

She is not expected to return to the Senate until July 7 or July 8 after the Independence Day recess, according to two Democratic sources.

Clinton's Democratic colleagues in the Senate are taking a sympathetic attitude toward her extended absence, which comes after a grueling 18-month formal bid for the White House and, according to some calculations, a decade or more of planning and positioning since the days when her husband was president.

"People understand this is a transition for her," Sen. Bob Casey Jr. (D-Pa.) said.

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Comments

[magggs]

Frankly I think she's taking a month off for a major pity party. I'd say she used up everything in those last few weeks and can't drag herself away from the long condolences of her sycophants, the plans for revenge, the alcohol and the Xanex just yet.

Oh yeah, so much for "working her heart out" to support the democratic nominee.

[Bettysdad]

Why doesn't Obama take time off, too.

He campaigned just as hard, and the campaign hasn't really started.

Or maybe she just can't show her face in the Senate.

[SgtLucifer]

Month-long vacation, hey? Now, that is true American dream. 20 years of hard labor, I still get two weeks, and the strange contemptuous look from the boss when I return. It sure is nice to be an elite that doesn't have to cling to gun and religion.

[Zhonni]

I think it is well deserved.

If she is needed she can always showup to put the Dems over the top which I don't think would be necessary.

[closetodemfection]

Geez, people. I live in NY, let her take a vacation! O has barely served 2 years in the senate and has been campaigning ever since, coming back for important votes. She will do the same. I've no doubts she'll also be working behind the scenes to get O elected on her quote unquote vacation.

You scream you want her to go away and when she does you actually scream she should come back? I don't get it. Let her be.

[rangem]

she s prob have a nervous breakdown after thea-- whooping she got

[BabsfromKS]

Recovery After a Face Lift Surgery:

Pain Level: Moderate discomfort. 1-3 days of pain medication.

Swelling and bruising:2 weeks or more

Numbness: lasts several weeks

Bandages: Changed in 1-2 days (drains and sutures removed first 2-5 days)

Work: Return after 1-3 weeks

[Jey]

Hillary take your time in recuperating from a well fought campaign. Though the results weren't what you were hoping for you secured the path for women to follow you. It would be a shame if your supporters voted for McCain after you stood up against him on so many of the things that he wants to do. Just shows that you didn't quite connect with some to stop the hate. So together maybe we can reach out to these people who love to hate and fight to get our country back. Peace to you and your family.

[disgustedbyitall]

The more I think about this month-long vacation at taxpayer expense, the more it pisses me off. So much for identifying with the common working grunt. When she wins a government-paid month of holiday for everyone earning under $100,000 / year, I'll reconsider my disgust with her elitism.

[pkohan]

I'm with you here. You get elected - you serve the office. There is plenty of time where the Senate isn't in session where she can recuperate, revive, rehash, go to a day spa, be alone with her thoughts - what have you.

But while she is the elected Senator from New York State and the Senate is in session - get yourself to your committee assignments and fight for your constituents. Maybe even vote for or against something.

This isn't academia; there is no sabbatical to go off and write a book.

Get back to work Senator. Leave the brush-clearing to Shrub.

[butterworth]

I agree. As a New Yorker, I'm curious as to when she will start earning her Senator's salary. I'm sure she's tired from this campaign season, but it was her own decision to persist running even after winning was mathematically impossible.

[Susanfrom29]

And don't forget, the taxpayer has also been able to pay her while she spent the last 18 months running for office.

[closetodemfection]

The taxpayers had to pay for O too. What's your point?

[cinnysmom]

I agree, I think she's more than deserved some time off. I too am a diehard Obama supporter, but I also think Sen. Clinton did a great job and would like to thank her and her supporters. So thanks, and Sen. Clinton enjoy your time off, and have some fun.

[shel3364]

I'm an Obama supporter, but I have to say that she has most definitely earned the time off.

That woman campaigned her butt off for months on end. Let her take a breather, clear her head and THEN go back to work.

[hugs4u]

Who knows, she might be taking off all summer, Her shot for the presidency is gone, so she no longer needs to be a senator. this isnt being disrespectful, just stating a fact. Her only reason for being a Senator was to run for President.

[GoodGuysandBadGuys]

mark my words... she will not run for senate again.

she has no use for this seat anymore. it was only a stepping stone for the white house, and since that didn't work out she's probably desperately hoping obama offers her something. I doubt that she really wants to serve out the rest of her term given that the only reason she was there was to lay groundwork for a presidency that she now knows isn't going to happen.

maybe during this month she'll consider that if she had actually spent the last 2 decades doing what was right for the people instead of calculating every move based on her political future things may have turned out differently - maybe she would have gotten her reward. but I guess that's doubtful, it's always someone else's fault.

[shelby35]

Three words: Senate Majority Leader

[rangem]

i word retired

[MaxxEliot]

The hate continues as noted by these nasty comments...all Obama supporters I am sure and all reasons why he will not be getting my vote. You Obamnites best get with the program...you want your guy to win you better start winning over Hillary's supporters...thus far you have done a pi** poor job.

[GoodGuysandBadGuys]

"you want your guy to win you better start winning over Hillary's supporters."

why is it the responsibility of the obama supporters to win over the supporters of another candidate? that's just ridiculous.

[MaxxEliot]

Perhaps it is to you....but that is reality. A large number of HRC supporters feel disrespected and are vowing not to vote or to vote for McCain...I happen to one of those people. You as an Obama supporter have a goal which is to see that he gets to the White House...in my opinion that will not happen without HRC supporters getting behind him. You and your views and those of many who post here do nothing to encourage us on board your band wagon...now you think you don't need our support...fine. Let's see what happens in November.

[Jazione]

So much for standing up for the average American (or New Yorker in this case) with her "fighting" spirit and role model for American women. What an incredible liar and play-the-victim sociopath. Oh! She has to transition! Oh! I am embarrassed to be a 50 year women if she is my role model (and she never has been).

She's being paid to do a job and most women in this country would be EMBARASSED to take a month off of their jobs to "transition" emotionally and physically.

What we women need is time off of our jobs to take care of our new borns and families during emergencies.

My GOD (or My GODDESS - insert your favorite nondenominational godhead here).

America has dodged a bullet with Senator Obama's nomination.
Jane

[shelby35]

Most Americans are embarrased to go on vacation courtesy of coporate Repugs who wish to work us to the bone. We spend less vacation time than Japan. JAPAN!!! Why American don't exploit vacation is beyond me and I'm born here.

[DinSea]

Oh, gee whiz ... so much for "ready on day one" and "passed the COC threshold" fuggeddaboudit. Hillary needs a month off, while Barack Obama went through at least as much as she did and is going strong. Sure looks like we made the right choice. Barack fought - and gloriously defeated - the entire Clinton machine, PLUS the media, PLUS the Republicans with Carl Rove and UglyStick Lieberman. I don't see the Obamas getting a month off anytime soon - like for the next 8-9 years! He and Michelle celebrated his nomination with their famous fist bump - that was it. They are truly workers. They roll up their sleeves and go to work -- not like the Clintons who enjoyed strutting around and dishing out crap to the commoners.

HRC thought she was royalty. And why not? They've been treated like it since day one. I think it's time everyone quit catering to Clintons. They have done at least as much damage as good - and we will remember how they ripped the Democratic party apart in this election. They have a lot of repair work to do if they and their legacies are to be redeemed.

[earthandwater]

Poor Hillary. She has raised victimhood to an art. I'm from NYS. Nobody put a gun to her head to run; it was her next entitlement after having put up with the humiliation that Bill caused. She thought it would be over after Super Tuesday. I didn't agree to her picking my state to launch her quest for the presidency. Now we're stuck with a no show Senator because she wasn't crowned. She has to take her bat and ball and hide. She's probably not even going to stay in the state she's ignoring. We can be without our Senator for another couple of months. After all, the people of NYS don't matter; only Hillary matters. I'd like to see her pay withheld for her absences. Can't she wait till the regular Senate break this summer? Those of us who work in the real world can't always take a break after a time consuming special project is over. She'd have the energy to still be campaigning had she won the primary. I guess she would have taken the first two months of her presidency off and been ready on day one when she walked in the Oval Office on April 1, 2009. I wouldn't have voted Republican under any circumstances but had that embarrassment to professional women ever been given the nod, I wouldn't have voted for her. I doubt you'd see such tactics from Feinstein or Boxer if they were running.

[JimMan35]

She never quits. She never gives up. She will fight until the end. Clintons don't back down.

...except when they take a paid month's vacation to recover from all of that HARD WORK.

Part of me does wonder if this is also about keeping her and Bill out of the way of the Obama campaign. But I can't imagine that his campaign couldn't have figured out how to deal with a functioning team of Clintons. He's dealt with a lot more difficult Clinton scenarios over the past months.

So much for her doing "everything in her power" to fight for the democratic party. This is like the "nervous breakdowns" of the 50s and 60s. They've said everything about her except that she's going into rehab. What is UP?