1 I'm pleasantly surprised that the RNC did the right thing and condemned outings to places like Voyeur. It was noteworthy that the staffer that encouraged the reimbursement had already been "counseled" NOT to do that kind of thing. By identifying the problem, condemning it instead of making more excuses, and promising to remedy it, maybe we can all move on.

And, yes, Voyeur is exactly the type of place RNC donors likely do not want their dollars spent. From a yelp review of the place:

There are topless "dancers" acting out S&M scenes throughout the night on one of the side stages, there's a half-naked girl hanging from a net across the ceiling and at one point I walked to the bathroom and pretty much just stopped dead in my tracks to watch two girls simulating oral sex in a glass case.

Classy.

2 Must have been the place for "lesbian bondage parties"....Rachel Maddow spent half her show talking about this event last night!

3

I'm looking at I've bookmarked the website.

And kind of semi-arty? Yeah, keep telling yourself that!

4 Ace--it's still not the kind of thing to claim on an expense report.

5 It's artistic expression and it's constitutionally protected. You're not against the Constitution are you?

6 Is this anything more than a minor bureaucratic bungle? No. Does that matter? No.

7 When are they going to fire Arsenio Steele?

8 be quite you, no one wants the truth.

FUCK YOU STEELE

9
If this happened within the DNC, it wouldn't even be news.

10 The decor is apparently modeled after Eyes Wide Shut, a sex-themed movie notable for the fact that no one actually has sex in the entire film.

Which version did you see?  The one I saw had an entire 10 minute scene of chicks getting nailed at that secret orgy society.

11 The bigger question was why the guy was dumping $2000?  No need for frugality by the Republicans, not after they lost big last time around, eh?

12 To do research on bondage/sex clubs, Ace gets up early.

13 Ace, you going to fly or drive from Vegas to LA, to do an onsite report?

14 6 9 Right on the money.Minor bureacratic fuck up.

15

Social conservatives don't give money to the RNC so a bunch of staffers can go get erections watching girls kiss.

&*@#$(*  socons.

16
Obama and the democrats spend 10 billion dollars before breakfast.


 

17 I'm with Ace on this one.  They're adults.  The place is legal.  It's not a whorehouse.  $2000 was probably 4-5 rounds of drinkis in a place like that.  And apparently the now-fired staffer didn't even want to go there.  This is only a big deal, because according to the MSM, we're the "repressed Christian" party and this is all about the "hypocrisy." 

18

Still, no way does a GOP donor want to think his money is going to a place like this.

We should be organizing around a cooler on the back of a pickup tailgate. That's where the votes are.

19

VOYEUR’s signature cocktail menu includes sugar–free, all organic creations including watermelon jalapeno, blueberry mint and cucumber olive shots.

 P-R-E-T-E-N-T-I-O-U-S

This sentence alone makes me want to make sure that no conservative gets near the plac.

20 That's the kind of expense that magically turns into mileage. About 8,000 miles to be exact.

21 >>> Which version did you see? The one I saw had an entire 10 minute scene of chicks getting nailed at that secret orgy society. Hah, that's right, I forgot! I was thinking TOm Cruise himself never has any sex, despite being offered it by every character in the movie.

22

Expensing it was dumb though, but once the guy paid it back or dropped the claim that should've been enough.

23 As a general rule, spending RNC money at a club with topless girls is a bad idea.

24 considering this was more than likely a night out to get the trust fund kids to open up their parents wallets, the real question should be on wither or not they raised money that night.

25
The MSM are breathless in reporting this story.  No mention of a "staffer" in their headlines.  Total deception, once again.

26 This Young Eagles program sounds fun!

27 24 As a general rule, spending RNC money at a club with topless girls is a bad idea.

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at March 30, 2010 09:41 AM (Mi2wf)

RNC or DNC, Corporate or Non-profit. It's done everyday, it's a part of doing business.

28

We should be organizing around a cooler on the back of a pickup tailgate. That's where the votes erections watching girls kiss are.

FIFY. Punch up.

29
DNC headline:  "The entire RNC went to a strip club"

30 Well, now we know what gets Ace up at 9:30 Eastern. As if we didn't before.

31 Pun intended BTW.

32

Look, if you are donating to something they YOU pay. They don't pay for you. Why is the RNC hosting anybody. I can see that if that night for sure you collected $100,000 from these people then you could drop $2000 on drinks, whereever. Buy them a whore, I don't care but don't spend dime one for potential donors or radom California types. It's a matter of collecting money not impressing people.

Besides, anyone who would be interested in taking an organic sugar-free watermelon jalapeno shot while watching lesbians pretend to have sex in hollywood is not a conservative. Just the word "organic" pisses me off.

33 If I had donated to the RNC I'd be pissed as I'm sure this wasn't in the list of ways donations could be used. Adults can do whatever they want - on their own dime.

34
As a general rule, spending RNC money at a club with topless girls is a bad idea.

That's right.  The republicans are under a microscope, and the DNC media are poised to pounce.  Whatever it takes to get attention off of the corrutocrats and their dirty dealings.  Which by the way, are far more costly to tax-payers.

35 >>> The bigger question was why the guy was dumping $2000? No need for frugality by the Republicans, not after they lost big last time around, eh? Because he was taking out a bunch of high-dollar donors, who presumably donated far more than $2000 collectively, and might continue donating more if they felt taken care of.

36

Besides, anyone who would be interested in taking an organic sugar-free watermelon jalapeno shot while watching lesbians pretend to have sex in hollywood is not a conservative. Just the word "organic" pisses me off.

Posted by: dagny at March 30, 2010 09:45 AM (5xovh)

speak for yourself buddy

37

"Young Eagles" is the name of the Experimental Aircraft Assn's program for giving kids their first airplane flight. I hope their contributions don't suffer for this.

Although the comparisons are all too obvious.

38
The idiot staffer went to the strip club and then asked to be reimbursed.

39 Lame Stream Media: Now this is a HUGE new story!!!!!

40 Because he was taking out a bunch of high-dollar donors, who presumably donated far more than $2000 collectively, and might continue donating more if they felt taken care of.

Posted by: ace at March 30, 2010 09:46 AM (i6ROy)

sadly people can't seem to grasp that part of the concept of priming the pump when it comes to donors

41 I personally don't care how they come up with donors. However, there are a lot of republicans out there who do. A woman on hot air yesterday was throwing a fit about someone using "m*lf". She said it referenced adultery. That's the type you have to be careful about. We have to be squeaky clean to avoid the lefty made-up scandals.

42  Two issues here:

(1) The staffer had already been instructed not to expense things like Voyeur and he did it anyway. So of course the right thing is to fire him. It's "predictable" insofar as it's the right thing to do when subordinates are dropping 2 large after you've told them not to.

(2) Voyeur is a lesbian bondage-themed nightclub with topless dancers and more risque acts on the weekend. Protip: associating the RNC with a place that puts nakie women in glass boxes is not going to poll well in Peoria.

43

RNC or DNC, Corporate or Non-profit. It's done everyday, it's a part of doing business.

Exactly.  I'm sure the skin bars in the DC area are never sullied with donated party money while staffers schmooze donors and lobbyists. 

44 Non story.Let's ignore it.

45 Might be a fine place to have a victory party, though. Especially if they have pudding in cups.

46 You can't run around opposing legislating gay marriage while you're standing under a fake lesbian simulation taking sugar-free organic cucumber olive shots.

47 Bonehead move by the staffer. Good corrective move by the RNC. Typical MSM crap. Won't stick this year like it did in 2006.

48 dagny - "Just the word "organic" pisses me off." When someone asks about 'organic' food, etc. - just say sure it has carbon in it.

49 a West Hollywood club modeled after the risqué Tom Cruise-Nicole Kidman movie “Eyes Wide Shut.”

$2,000 buys you a pass to the VIP room where you are treated to gloomy lighting and long stretches of silence in which nothing interesting happens.

50 Someone tell me there's a political operative around here somewhere!

Fucking non-political non-operatives.

51 Niles Standish - I've been to parties, with strippers, in the congressional office buildings for both Republican and Democrats.

52 Get a few pics of a prominent MSM figure doing the same or worse and this story will vanish.

53 Because he was taking out a bunch of high-dollar donors, who presumably donated far more than $2000 collectively, and might continue donating more if they felt taken care of.

Ahhh, they were our elites.  That's ok then.

54 eman- "Bonehead move by the staffer." are you referring to his taking young high-dollar donors to the club or filing a detailed expense report?

55 I liked this story better when it meant getting rid of Steele.

56 Why does the RNC need to spend $2,000 on schmoozing contributors when they could send them here to Ace of Spades for some free accidentally linked lesbian porn?

57

Is this really the worst thing in the world, taking someone to a bar with decor inspired by a Kubrick movie?

That depends on the movie. A Full Metal Jacket club might be cool, especially if they serve donuts.

A 2001 establishment could have a caveman room, a Discovery room, a My-God-it's-full-of-stars room, etc.

58 That depends on the movie. A Full Metal Jacket club might be cool, especially if they serve donuts.

How about The Shining?

59 56 Jean, A bit of both, but mostly the expense report. If you are going to take a risk, even if small, take it onto yourself.

60

They've spent one day more on this than they have dissecting the inner-workings of the bill passed week that has now taken over 1/6th of our economy.

Priorities!

61 eman, exactly - use cash

62

That depends on the movie. A Full Metal Jacket club might be cool, especially if they serve donuts.

A 2001 establishment could have a caveman room, a Discovery room, a My-God-it's-full-of-stars room, etc.

Posted by: FireHorse at March 30, 2010 09:57 AM (cQyWA)

I want a real Korova Milk Bar

63 Who cares what the club is like, I'd fire him for the $2000. Then again, I work (occasionally) in the private sector, so what do I know.

64
44- Gabe

Yep.  This story will be bigger than the Eliot Spitzer(D) NY Governor pays to see a Prostitute Story.

65 This place is not as bad as they are making it sound. there are a lot of psuedo-fetish themed clubs in LA like this. Keep in mind this is an upscale place. It's West Hollywood, it's not like it's Hollywood-Hollywood, which is scummy.

66 http://minx.cc/?blog=86&post=300010#c9263519 I think you're being a bit silly. If throwing $200 in drinks and appetizers induces a high-dollar donor to write a check for $2200, you're going to turn your nose up at that? Because someone spent money on an "elite"? You know all those charity balls? Charity, right? Yeah, it's charity, but those going (writing a check ) get a lavish venue, open bar, band, etc. They get something for their money. Not as much as they donate, but they are effectively paid a little back. I'm just saying this is how it's done when you're talking $10,000 donations. Maybe you don't like that, but it's common practice.

67 Just out: Eric Cantor threatener a muslim

68 This was sold to us at first as "Steele expenses strip club"story.That was total bullshit whatever you think of Steele(who I think should be gone).Turned into an improperly approved expense by a minor employee story.

69

So we don't want the votes of people who like seeing topless women simulating lesbian sex? 

There goes about 98% of the male vote, then. 

70

How about The Shining?

Oh, absotively!

(But I was thinking of going into a joint and having some young woman yell at me as soon as I enter: "I am Tiffani, your cocktail server! From now on, the first and last words out of your worthless mouths will be ma'am! Now can I get you maggots something from the bar?")

71 Turned into an improperly approved expense by a minor employee story.

Posted by: steevy at March 30, 2010 10:03 AM (dlw+9)

in other words, the actual story

72

Either way, the story is oveblown and the media is struggling to turn a sex-themed nightclub into an actual sex club.

I don't really care, and will in fact go to this place the next time I'm in LA just to make sure there's no genuine funny business going on here.

That's the ace we all know and love.  Did any "funny business" occur when you were in NV?

73 Kinda reminds me of my favorite snarky reviewer's line regarding Eyes Wide Shut itself: "The most daring, erotic, and provocative film of 1954!"

74 They are adults. Technically, they may go to all the T & A bars they want, but that's not the point. 1) Use good judgement! 2) Do not drink. (see 1) 3) No traceability to you or your employers. (see 1)

75 I've got your back on this one ace.

76

79 Oh, and I forgot to mention, Steele started his tenure with 22 million in the bank. Today, the RNC has 10 million. 10 million on hand with a mid-term election just 8 months away. That is just criminal.

Yeah.  It's better nowadays just to directly contribute to a candidate.

77

Once again ace is taking one for the team so you don't have to.

Your self-sacrifice is inspiring.

 

78 82 Yeah,I don't really care how much money the RNC gets.

79

I want a real Korova Milk Bar

Me, too. (And instead of go-go dancers/lesbians, just simulate a firing-squad triple execution every now and then.)

80 2) Do not drink. (see 1)

Posted by: eman at March 30, 2010 10:06 AM (3fzoU)

if there isn't any drinking involved with politics, you're not going far

81 Sigh- we're a long way from PJ O'Rourke's great book , Republican Party Reptile. I agree with others though- 2000$ shows democrat-like regard for other peoples money.

82 Ok, so I really don't see a ruling here.  Can I put this on my AoSHQ expense reports or not?

83 Hey probably not the best place to go but it's a hell of alot better than sitting in Rev Wrights "Church?" for 2o years!

84 Ace, your argument applies to the other expenses. You expense $10k because you're probably getting $1m and hope to get even more. The problem is (1) a bondage fantasy club is bad news and I think it would even be so for the DNC, (2) apparently too many RNC staffers are permitted to expense outings and (3) they don't have an accountant who goes over every expense with a fine-tooth comb. Hell, I can't expense a $6 Chinese food lunch unless they hand-write a receipt in English.

85
$2,000 buys you a pass to the VIP room where you are treated to gloomy lighting and long stretches of silence in which nothing interesting happens.

winrar!

86 Your donors can drink all they want, you must stay sober enough to not do something stupid. This staffer failed. probably because he drank too much; magnifying his naturally poor judgement.

87

TWENTY FOUR HOUR RULE: 1

EXCITABLE ACE COMMENTERS: 0

88 Damnit!  Women are not supposed to objectified in some smutty pseudo Victorian semi-naked high end bar/bondage themed watering hole!

They are supposed to be sandwiched between two fat, drunken Senators.

89 89 Ok, so I really don't see a ruling here.  Can I put this on my AoSHQ expense reports or not?

Posted by: Dave in Texas at March 30, 2010 10:10 AM (WvXvd) 

You drove 6300 miles @ $0.31 per mile.

90 This muslim is a convert in 1998. He not only threatened eric cantor he threatened the rest of the republican leadership. Gee, that escaped the news? How odd....

91
Was Steele the one who authorized paying the expense report or not?

92 Just out: Eric Cantor threatener a muslim

Posted by: dagny at March 30, 2010 10:02 AM (5xovh)

You're a racist for pointing that out.

93

The Republican Party makes (used to make) most of its money in small donations. Sure, those trust fund kids who could kick in 100,000 at a time must sound good, but they ain't worth pissing off the ten-thousand people who'll send the party $25.

And who cares about the theme of the place? I don't. I care about the two grand. In cucumber olive shots. =shudder=

94 Was Steele the one who authorized paying the expense report or not?

Posted by: Dang Straights at March 30, 2010 10:15 AM (fx8sm)

haven't seen anything of that sort. Just people looking to jump on Steele for something else

95 It did not say whether any of the girls had tatoos?? I need to see their tatoos.

96 You don't know where that cucumber's been.

97 Give us a new topic!!

98 But he didn't, some staffer did, ran up an outrageous tab, and got fired.

Posted by: Upscale Community Organizing Thought Criminal at March 30, 2010 10:16 AM (IhHdM)

2 grand isn't much at a upscale club in West Hollywood

99 Judgment matters. The staffer chose poorly. Waste from a political insider a not insignificant sum of money (while trying to expense it)? That's a firin'.

The RNC responded rapidly and appropriately. Not a jailable offense, obviously, but probably not the type of personnel you want in official political channels.

100 The RNC lead the way on the journey from 1995 to 2010. Yeah, let's give them money. Um, no.

101

"The most daring, erotic, and provocative film of 1954!"

Perhaps they should go to a place themed after Them! In addition to having actually been made in 1954, the RNC types can woo donors by promising to turn California into a red state by unleashing giant ants on Los Angeles.

102

there's a half-naked girl hanging from a net across the ceiling and at one point I walked to the bathroom and pretty much just stopped dead in my tracks to watch two girls simulating oral sex in a glass case.

which half?

103 here, this kills the story once and for all

http://tinyurl.com/ybgb52p

104
Crazy, violent CodePink Teabaggers disrupt Magnificent Bastard at a book signing.

105 Get a few pics of a prominent MSM figure doing the same or worse and this story will vanish.


Your wish is my command.

106

Be mad at the location but the amount was insignificant.

Yeah it is---if it's someone else's money. That is the whole, entire problem.

107 I'm not sure if I'm more disgusted with the fact they go there to schmooze and cruise, or that they were so damn stupid to let it show up on an expense report.

All I know is Tucker Carlson wins the "whoring for hits" award this week. 

108 Didn't I read somewhere that this was a group of around 50?  Two grand for 50 people probably only bought one or two organic fu-fu fuckity shots each.

Non-story.  The sausage now spilling from the 2700 page casing should be the story. 

109 I'm not sure if I'm more disgusted with the fact they go there to schmooze and cruise, or that they were so damn stupid to let it show up on an expense report.

All I know is Tucker Carlson wins the "whoring for hits" award this week. 
Posted by: prettypinkfluffypanties at March 30, 2010 10:35 AM (/EtTY)

if you read the link I posted a few spots above, the only reason it showed up on an expense report is because the dude's personal credit card was declined so he asked Erik Brown to cover the night.

110 Didn't I read somewhere that this was a group of around 50?  Two grand for 50 people probably only bought one or two organic fu-fu fuckity shots each.

Posted by: Hedgehog at March 30, 2010 10:35 AM (oQIfB)

fuck, if it was that big of a group, that amounts to about two beers and a shot a person. That's not even really schmoozing, it's just killing a half hour

111 People are going to have to let go of the meme that this was an outrageous amount of money. $2000.00 is a relatively small amount when hosting a group of people at a nightclub / bar. Last Thursday three of my vendors cosponsored a 3 hr happy hour and sucky bar finger food for a small group at a run of the mill bar in Houston and the tab was over 2600. Be mad at the location but the amount was insignificant. For _me_ out here in flyover country it's a couple months' worth of rent/groceries/gas when I'm in between-paychecks mode. You're pissing off people like _me_ who are likely to vote conservative in favor of soliciting donations from rich liberal bastards who are going to drink on your tab and then go home and donate to and vote for democrats anyway. (Or worse, Republicans like Ahnold who only put a Republican face on democratic policies). People wonder why the Republicans keep losing elections in spite of there being a conservative electorate, well, BEHOLD!

112 121 Yes, I did read it. Not sure it matters who paid for it.  Considering they were representing the RNC, hould they have been there in the first place?   No, I'm not so sure they should have. 

I know if I purchase something then find out I don't have the money, it would NOT be okay to use the bosses credit card to get my butt out of a jam. 

113 The MSM will do and say anything to distract us, the slaves, from the massive rip-off that's being perpetrated right now. 

Ooooh, titties!  Overpriced organic jalepeno frou-frou bullshit cocktails!  Lookie lookie! 

They are squeezing BILLIONS of dollars out of us, bleeding us like stuck pigs, and I'm supposed to care about some guy expensing his trip to a place with topless barmaids?  Really? 

114 And as long as you don't file it under a "Fire Pelosi!" expense account, more power to you.

Gah! What is it about this scandal teh internet is not getting. Pop boners on your own time, boys, and I could give a shit.

Unless there's some metaphor for girl-on-girl representing small government that I'm just not getting.

115 Just rent an Anne Rice video. Way easier on the career...

116 "Either way, the story is oveblown and the media is struggling to turn a sex-themed nightclub into an actual sex club."

Struggling?

It's not much of a struggle, dude. Mr. and Mrs. Middle America understand lesbian bondage clubs a lot better than you think they do. Inside the Beltway ... not a story. Because they're all perverts inside the Beltway. Everywhere else ... a HUGE FUCKING STORY. They got churches outside the beltway people actually go to.

As I said repeatedly yesterday, you guys don't think this is the last shoe to drop, do you?

Do you really think this is the last shot across your bow? Or is this the first shot across it?

Yesterday, Erik Brown wasn't even on staff. Today, we find out he's a staffer. Yesterday, Erik Brown was a consultant. Today, he's an employee. Yesterday, this was a rogue consultant submitting a false bill. Today, it's an official employee accompanying donors on an official RNC event.

Wait, no that's tomorrow's story. Today's story is that it wasn't an official event. But by tomorrow, 700 MSM reporters will write front-page newspaper stories which confirm that this was an official event.

Michael. Steele. Must. Go.

He is destroying the Republican Party from the inside by mismanaging it. Spending too much time selling books and not enough time making sure the bills that get paid aren't for whores and Johnny Walker.

He can go in three weeks, and everybody can leave with blood all over the place and on everybody's face; or he can go today.

Either way, he's going to go.

Want it bloody?

OK.

Then there will be blood.

117 Yes, it may be overblown to call this a "sex club." If it's more just pretentious naughty "sophisticated" artsy-fartistry, fine. Whatever. But the point is spending RNC dollars for events in such a place is not exactly going to convince the GOP base out there in the heartland to open up their wallets, if they think that their money might be blown on this sort of nonsense. It's a sign of bad financial stewardship (and general dumbassery) at the RNC that such a thing would be expensed in the first place.

118 Someguy, go to this link and see that Erik Brown was simply at the event.  The RNC credit card was rejected and the female staffer who brought the people asked him to use his personal card to pick up the check.

114 here, this kills the story once and for all

http://tinyurl.com/ybgb52p

Posted by: fartbubble at March 30, 2010 10:24 AM (gAmQ1)

Steele probably has to go but schmoozing some rich guys with $2k isn't reason #1.

119 Oh, and when will the idiot who owns this "Voyeur" place realize that his receipts should say "XYZ Enterprises" instead of "Voyeur Lesbian Bondage Club" to make expensing events there much easier.

120 VOYEUR’s signature cocktail menu includes sugar–free, all organic creations including watermelon jalapeno, blueberry mint and cucumber olive shots.

Straight men drink that crap?

121 Not where I'm from!

122 Straight men drink that crap?

Posted by: HeatherRadish at March 30, 2010 10:58 AM (mR7mk)

it is California

123 They shouldn't be wining and dining anybody anywhere with our contributions -- I don't care if they went to Ye Olde Tea Room for a cuppa and scones.    Steele charters planes and limos????   If he wants to be a captain of private industry, get out of politics and troll among the big money boys.

We send the RNC and other groups money to work on electing conservatives and ousting socialists.   I don't know if I'm more sick of go-along-to-get-along RINO's or out-and-out lefties.

124 Straight men drink that crap?

It's a "trendy, hot" LA club. Straight men won't drink it, but their dates will. Somehow, I guess, calorie-free organic-y sounding shit is "edgy" and cool.

125 "79 Oh, and I forgot to mention, Steele started his tenure with 22 million in the bank. Today, the RNC has 10 million. 10 million on hand with a mid-term election just 8 months away. That is just criminal." Bottom line. If Steele's RNC machine is so fucking savvy in the tawdry ways of fundraising, let's see two things: expenditures on lap dances that raise ten times what they cost, and more cash in the bank now than when Steele showed up. Even a part-time Beltway repub like Hugh Hewitt thinks this stinks.

126 He is destroying the Republican Party from the inside by mismanaging it. Spending too much time selling books and not enough time making sure the bills that get paid aren't for whores and Johnny Walker.

Pardon me, sir, but we prefer the term ladies, and as for the drinks, they are organic jalepeno cucumber fruit-inis. 

Enjoy your evening.  Someone will be right over to take your order.

127 Yeah stupid, alright. The club isn't "arty" it's stupid and gross. If this is how the RNC shows off it's "fun club" side to donors, well, let them donate. I'm not going to.

128 VOYEUR’s signature cocktail menu includes sugar–free, all organic creations including watermelon jalapeno, blueberry mint and cucumber olive shots.


This alone should've gotten him canned. What kind of conservatives go for this crap?

129 Seems to be a bit of talking past one another here (wow, go figure).  Yes the media is blowing this way out of proportion and yes, the RNC staffers were being stupid.  There, that wasn't so hard was it?

We really need to keep bringing up the HCR abomination at every opportunity.  Yes, expose these distractions for what they are and rebut them where appropriate. But do not take the bait and let the msm set the agenda for discussion.

130 This alone should've gotten him canned. What kind of conservatives go for this crap?

Posted by: pinche migra at March 30, 2010 11:10 AM (E3SK

They're young conservatives. Welcome to the future.

131

Either way, the story is oveblown and the media is struggling to turn a sex-themed nightclub into an actual sex club.

That's my take on it as well.  I am somewhat amused by the outrageously outrage rage of some.  My outrage meter must be broken. 

I don't really care, and will in fact go to this place the next time I'm in LA just to make sure there's no genuine funny business going on here.

It's a date!  Give me a call when you get into town! 

As for the firing.  They should look long and hard (har har) at firing the administrator who signed off on the expense, not just at the field officer who arranged the outing. 

132

Either way, the story is oveblown and the media is struggling to turn a sex-themed nightclub into an actual sex club.

---
That's my take on it as well.  I am somewhat amused by the outrageously outrage rage of some.  My outrage meter must be broken. 
---

I don't really care, and will in fact go to this place the next time I'm in LA just to make sure there's no genuine funny business going on here.

---
It's a date!  Give me a call when you get into town! 

As for the firing.  They should look long and hard (har har) at firing the administrator who signed off on the expense, not just at the field officer who arranged the outing.
---

133 Boy, I'd sure be interested to get someguy's take on this embroglio

134

Looks like the booth where The World's Most Interesting Man hangs out.

"Stay thirsty, my naughty friends."

135 ok, now i know where the next moron meetup in LA will be. at the closest liquor store to the Voyeur. (even if we could afford to go in there, we like to get value for our bucks.)

136 #148: HA! Perhaps ace could play the role of the most interesting man in the world...

137

Hey, aren't the BIG $$$ donors the ones who call the shots if their ponies win the race?

Soooooo, bondage clubbers eh?

138 @152

Wow!  Amusing new spambot. 

139 Nothing says "returning to conservative values" like watching a few lesbians take the whip to each other.

140 Ace, from what I read of the reviews of the place, you aren't getting past the velvet rope at this place. Neither am I. I know a couple girls who could probably make it in, but the rest of us are the sort of riffraff they'd want to keep out.

141 FREE LARRY CRAIG!

142

Thanks for being our "boots on the ground" there Ace.  I'm about an hour and a half away so I may do some advanced recon for you (BTW I fear 155 Sgt. Dan is correct).

It seems more sensible for the place to be more of a club than a gay bondage dungeon - that part fit lefties Republican mythology too well.  Like I said yesterday, what torques me about the whole business is that 15k-ish got spent on 5-star suites, lobster and filet and $20 per drink clubbing, not any alleged kinky shit. 

If they want to live like rockstars, do it on their own dime - not RNC donor cash.

 

143 I personally don't care whether this is a sex-themed club or a sex-club.  If the RNC set out to pay for the latter then that is in poor taste, but not a crime.  Either way there is no story here, or I should say the only story here is that someone got canned for failing to bow and scrape before the altar of sex phobia. 

Leave it to the sexually neurotic American people to hallucinate a scandal in anything where sex is even tangentially related.

I'd say the same if this was the DNC instead. 

144

Sugar-free organic drinks ?  These fucking CA hippies can't even get drunk properly, FFS. 

Fortunately a Yahoo Search of 90046 reveals like 1000 liquor stores so I'll have something to toss back in the parking lot.

145 I personally don't care whether this is a sex-themed club or a sex-club. If the RNC set out to pay for the latter then that is in poor taste, but not a crime. Either way there is no story here, or I should say the only story here is that someone got canned for failing to bow and scrape before the altar of sex phobia. The RNC didn't just set out to pay for it, dude, they don't have a separate damn stash of their own. They get it from _us_. If the PEOPLE on the RNC want to enjoy that sort of thing they need to consider paying for it out of their take-home salary. I think the people who are trying to make this out as a puritanism scandal instead of the money mismanagement scandal it is are being purposefully dense.

146 I think the people who are trying to make this out as a puritanism scandal instead of the money mismanagement scandal it is are being purposefully dense.

Posted by: Abdominal Snowman at March 30, 2010 12:37 PM (gXQt/)

Yeah, there's a lot of "I don't have any problem with it, ergo nobody should have a problem with it"; which is fine if all you want to have is a party of slappy libertines.  But there are lots more people saying "Fuck that Shit; let them do it on their own dime", which is where the real money is.

147 I think Ace definitely needs to investigate this club.  With hi-def video cameras.

Also, this (and the whole Scuzzlebutt thing) are why I donate directly to candidates instead of the RNC and friends.

148

I can assure you that if I were ever part of HQ RNC, if or when I hit artsy-fartsy erotic nightclubs or good old-fashioned All-American regular strip clubs it will be with money that was earned outside of my RNC duties, consisting primarily of loose change saved up while rolling hobos and also from any bounties posted on hobos as well.

It will be my hobo bounties and not my RNC-based paycheck that would go to watching half-naked chicks pretend to enjoy each other's company for money.  I can promise you all that.

149 I'm a proud Republican, but I think calling this overblown is missing the entire point.

The Daily Caller was not calling for prudish anger that young men go where naked girls are.  They were pissed that the RNC is spending money way too loosely.  They lost $13 million recently, and we need money badly moving forward. 

They want private jets, use a lot of limos, Steele is flying around charging for speeches instead of trying to build the party.  They are spending money on stupid things with little scrutiny or fiscal intelligence.

Just one example, somehow $2000 of RNC donations wound up going to this slutty filthy club.

But that's just one example.  Calling this overblown is missing that the real problem is 7,000 times more expensive than this single incident.  Steele wasn't fucking girls on stage... he wasn't doing anything.  He didn't even know about this.  He's an absentee leader, who isn't leading the RNC well enough to control finances.  While even a great leader will have an occasional fuckup, this is a massive hemorrhage of money.

This story was not overblown... it was too laser focused on a single example.

150 I think the people who are trying to make this out as a puritanism scandal instead of the money mismanagement scandal it is are being purposefully dense.

Posted by: Abdominal Snowman at March 30, 2010 12:37 PM (gXQt/)

---

It most certainly is about the nature of the club and, secondarily, about the appearance of "excess." 

I have yet to see what size donors we're talking about here.  People are decrying the expenses, but they are not citing any evidence that they were excessive.  If the people being entertained were five- or six-figure donors, then several grand is not excessive. 

So, setting aside the nature of the club for a moment, it is simply not true that an organization like the RNC should approach donors from a position of frugality.  Most people don't give to "need," they give to strength.  It's not good fundraising practice, except - perhaps (and that's a big perhaps) - if you are representing a religious organization or a social services agency.  But for most organizations if you are trying to bring down major gifts, you need to mix with wealthy people and those wealthy people are used to spending a lot more than you and I would.  

I've said this before but it bears repeating - I do not care why people give to the RNC or to conservative candidates.  If they want to give because they think (correctly) that electing Republican candidates will improve their chances of holding on to their wealth - and lavish lifestyles - that's fine with me. 

151 These 'Young Eagles' were in their 30's and 40's, so they are not that young.

Where is the evidence that they got any contributions out of this? It is all very nice to say you have to spend money to make money, but given the RNC's record under Steele, that isn't happening.

This guy Erik Brown contributed $1,500 to the RNC in 2010 and got $10,000 in business with them. Not sure the RNC is ahead of the game on this one.

152

Ace, I have to admire how hard you worked to spin this waste of party funds on a sex/strip club as "hey, no big deal."  Just keep spinning, man.  That's what Republicans are best at.  Take reality, and just keep lying about it and maybe you can give your lies some truthiness.

153 Where is the evidence that they got any contributions out of this?

I haven't seen anything, one way or the other.  Since we don't have the list of donors/prospects, we are relying on the RNC's characterization of these as donors.  That's why it seems silly to be worked up on the level of expenses -- we simply don't know what the return was. 

It is all very nice to say you have to spend money to make money, but given the RNC's record under Steele, that isn't happening.

Do you have the fundraising numbers?  (I don't.)  What I do know is that fundraising in the non-profit sector is down across the country.  Severely down.  And, I've read anecdotal reports of political fundraising being down, but I don't know the hard numbers. 

This guy Erik Brown contributed $1,500 to the RNC in 2010 and got $10,000 in business with them. Not sure the RNC is ahead of the game on this one.

I believe Erik Brown was the volunteer in this situation, not the primary donor prospect.  I also think that to assess his "value" to the RNC, you'd have to examine any gifts in kind (of goods or services) his company may have made as well as look at his lifetime giving.  But at the end of the day the point is that we just don't know who was being cultivated on that night so we just don't know if two grand was excessive...

...which is why I believe most of the outrage is stemming from the naked girls, whatever people are asserting. 

154 Posted by: Y-not at March 30, 2010 02:52 PM (Kn9r7)

There is more to it than naked girls, that is just a symptom and an easily understood one.

The RNC has raised $96.2 million but spent $106.9 million in the same period with a $13.4 million deficit.

Of that 96 million $13 million were spent in New Jersey and Virginia — $9 million in Virginia and $4 million in New Jersey. Very little was sent to Scott Brown in Mass.

The RNC had $22.8 million in cash and no debt when Michael Steele was elected chairman at the end of January, but has since seen its cash on hand drop to less than $9 million at the end of November.

I have to wonder where 60 to 70 million dollars NOT SPENT on winning races went to?

155 I don't really care, and will in fact go to this place the next time I'm in LA just to make sure there's no genuine funny business going on here. And presumably you'll be spending your own money. That's the real story here.

156 BTW, does anyone know what 'Lockbox Processing Service' is and why the RNC spent $825,000 on it?

157 Posted by: sharrukin at March 30, 2010 03:18 PM

Thanks for the numbers. 

I am wading outside of my experience (non-profit fundraising) when speculating about political fundraising, but I guess I would not be alarmed by the funds raised versus funds spent numbers without knowing if there are other sources of revenue not included in funds raised.  The reference to cash in hand makes me think that the RNC, like any robust non-profit, relies on revenue from endowments (which are down, but could still represent a major source of operating funds).  The RNC may also be permitted greater lattitude on things like investments and revenue-generating for-profit operations.  Even non-profits have things like land to sell; I assume RNC does, too. 

I am not defending the RNC's fundraising operation (the oafishly asinine fundraising powerpoint that some staffer did certainly doesn't speak well of the RNC's fundraising professionals), but having done fundraising myself (and being married to a fundraising exec) I know that there is usually a lot of sticker shock at the costs to raise a dollar, even from informed (one would hope) Board members, not to mention from small donors.  The current standard in the non-profit world is that an "average" (not a great B+ like our president) operation should deliver 60 cents of funds spent on their mission (saving the whales, promoting the GOP, whatever) from each dollar raised.  None of the numbers we have tell us how the RNC is doing in that regard, so I just am not bothered by the appearance of excess... 'cause I don't know if it's excessive.

Like I said, I have not done political fundraising so I don't know the culture of philanthropy in that arena, although I do assume political fundraisers follow the same code of ethics the rest of us do.  I certainly would not take a donor to a strip club, but I am not sure that that is really a taboo thing to do in the political fundraising world.  I do know it would be improper to solicit anyone for a gift when they have been drinking (even if it's wine at dinner), so I would hope the RNC folks did not do that at least. 

Although my husband and I live a pretty conservative personal life, I don't think that the GOP should have "no strip clubs" (or whatever) in its platform.  I do not consider myself to be much of a libertarian, but it simply is not a national issue.  It's a local one.  If the local "culture" is to go to risque night clubs, I am not sure I see a problem. 

158 And presumably you'll be spending your own money. That's the real story here.

But, Jim, it is the RNC's money.  Once the donor has made an unrestricted gift, it's up to the organization to spend it.

The expense, in and of itself, was not illegal or unethical. 

If people want to give to the RNC, they should designate their gifts.  Now, the RNC, like any organization, can refuse the gift.  It might be too much trouble to make a separate account with restrictions on it - such as no alcohol expenditures or whatever - but it's up to the donor to ask.  And, believe me, if it was a big enough gift, the organization would set up a special fund.

What should have happened is that when the RNC-sponsored donor get-together turned into a party on the town, one of the donors should have done the RNC a solid and paid the bill himself. 

Still, I am no more worked up about this expense than I was about Palin's wardrobe.  If I make an unrestricted gift, it's unrestricted. 

159 Posted by: Y-not at March 30, 2010 04:20 PM (Kn9r7)

Agree we don't know the whole story, but I think we should find out. More such scandals we don't need.

If you are in fundraising, maybe you could tell me what Lockbox Processing is exactly? It seems to be a check processing service but... $825,000? That's seems off.

160 171 BTW, does anyone know what 'Lockbox Processing Service' is and why the RNC spent $825,000 on it?

Lockbox makes me think of those key holder thingies on vacant properties.  If I were to take a guess, I'd say they own/manage real estate assets. 

161 By the way, those promising they will go check this place out: this club rejects most prospective patrons.  It's for Lindsey Lohan.  No photography, or I'd have plenty of disgusting shit I could post to flickr from the sole time I went here.

Ace is right that this isn't exactly a strip club.  I've been to many seedy strip clubs, and this place is more disgusting than those relatively OK places.

Y-not, the GOP raised 80 million... and is behind where it was before it raised 80 million.  I think that's a problem.  We have the internet now, and we simply do not need RNC staff in limos and private jets.  Steele claims he needs a private check to meet his schedule.  He's lying.  He just thinks he's better than the mission he's supposed to promote.

And of course this is Taboo.  The RNC should know better, since they really are claiming to support family values and women's dignity.  4 girls licking eachothers' genitals inside your glass cube, as you get a $300 bottle of booze to go along with your cocaine is simply not good branding.  Unless you're appealing to assholes, frankly.

But I know a lot of talented people who are sleazy and I accept that the RNC uses a few of them.  Let them spend their money on whatever they want (legally), and keep my donations away.  This is about as much as I've given the RNC over the years, and as you can imagine, they ask me for money all the time.  I'd rather just spend it on candidates or getting myself drunk.

162 But, Jim, it is the RNC's money.  Once the donor has made an unrestricted gift, it's up to the organization to spend it.

The expense, in and of itself, was not illegal or unethical.

Posted by: Y-not at March 30, 2010 04:24 PM (Kn9r7)

There is such a thing as honor! People give to the RNC for a reason and that reason isn't to make it easier for them to score blow and hookers.

They have a duty to use the money for the purpose for which they fundraise. They use those reasons in the flyers and advertising they send out and should adhere to them.

163 check=jet, of course.

While some level of poshness probably helps with some donors, the democrats will beat us in this category every time.

I say fuck those donors.  They obviously want something in return (big government bullshit) or they would be OK with an email or a phone call or something simple.

164 Y-not notes this was the RNC's money to spend, but then decides that means it's not unethical to follow their legal right to spend the money on a lesbo play.

Why?  How does that work?  The RNC begged for money it 'desperately' needs to elect Republicans and promote many values.  They were lying.  They need the money, mostly, so they can travel in style and get rich.

165 There is such a thing as honor! People give to the RNC for a reason and that reason isn't to make it easier for them to score blow and hookers.

Where's the blow and hookers coming from? 

They have a duty to use the money for the purpose for which they fundraise.

Yes, what I'm saying is that after raising a dollar, a decent operation should spend 60 cents (minimum) of that on the purpose.  We don't know if that rule of thumb was violated here or if the RNC's fundraising operations are below that standard. 

We have the internet now, and we simply do not need RNC staff in limos and private jets. 

Sigh.  Do you want me to pull up the numbers on internet fundraising?  The internet is not a panacea.  And you do not solicit five-, six-, or seven-figure gifts over the internet.  You use the "CEO," which in this case is Steele. 

166 Where's the blow and hookers coming from?

Posted by: Y-not at March 30, 2010 04:34 PM (Kn9r7)

Pretend lesbian girlie shows sounds better to you? If they can spend the money any way they want, then why not spend it at the Bunny Ranch? That could bring in some of those big spenders!

167 @179

My point is that it's not even unethical if the donor gave the gift in an unrestricted way and assuming that the outing was intended to be (even though we now learn this was against policy) a donor-cultivation event.  (I'm setting aside what we now know was a single staffer disobeying RNC policy and just dealing in the concept here.)

I give $1 unrestricted.  I expect $0.60 or more to go to the purpose.  The other $0.40 goes to supporting that purpose.  Supporting that purpose could be paying lawyers fees, paying for donor events, running a walk-a-thon, whatever.  That can include exorbitant dinners out and limos for travel and Palin's shoes.  Name a major charity you support and I'll look up how much they spent to raise a dollar on Charity Navigator.  You might be surprised.

The RNC is not a church.  It's a political organization.  It's not even a political organization that espouses "let's eliminate kinky night clubs."  Some of the people who support that organization like kinky night clubs.  The money that was spent on those donors (who, believe me, I certainly hope were big donors) was from some unrestricted pot of money.  (Frankly, it could be that it was from the revenues from an endowment established by Hugh Hefner for all we know.) 

168 Y-not, I guess what I said flew over your head.

Mail, phone call, internet, and in person fundraising in Chili's style locations.

Anything requiring a private jet or a AAA club or a resort is going to lead to bigger government.

for one, most billionaires don't give a shit about this in Texas.  I've done serious fundraising for Republicans in Texas and they just don't give a shit.  You get an appointment at some oil guy's office, and meet him there.  They don't want an $80 steak from a supposed fiscal conservative.

Those donors who require all this extra shit also want something tangible in exchange for their support.  They want power over legislation so they can profit off earmarks.

How are we making any progress if we raise a ton of money from people who require this special treatment?  I bet many rich people are turned off by that attitude, and this is counterproductive.

Sigh all day, but I don't think you're experienced in this field.  Conservatives generally don't need to visit a place like Voyeur or even Spago.  A phone call from a bright star in the party, asking for assistance, is often enough.  A meeting in their office is often enough.  Explaining that the GOP is preserving money out of respect for the fiscal discipline we promise in 2010 would be fucking great.

We really can't win if we have a bunch of people demanding government bloat to realize a profit from their donation.  For one, the democrats are better at that.  Change the rules to a game we would lose as things stand.  Fight the battle we've already won.  Think outside the bun.  For every bird in the bush there are two lesbos licking the hand trying to grab it.

169 But, Jim, it is the RNC's money. Once the donor has made an unrestricted gift, it's up to the organization to spend it. Kind of the point.

170 Posted by: throwaway handle at March 30, 2010 04:42 PM

As I stated earlier, I have not done political fundraising, but the donor patterns you describe sound typical of non-profit fundraising.  The best donors require little cultivation and little care and feeding afterwards, but you do not pass up a good donor prospect if s/he does want a fancy dinner or honorific or meeting with the CEO.  Not and succeed, you don't.  And not in this fundraising climate.

At the end of the day all I am saying is that (1) I am not put off by a $2000 bar tab... IF the donor is a serious 5-figure prospect or higher and (2) I do not think that legal, if kinky, night clubs are inconsistent with the GOP platform. 

171 @184

And? 

Seriously, with all this investigative reporting, why hasn't someone found who the donors being entertained were?  Were they big donors/donor prospects or weren't they?  What is the fundraising efficiency of the RNC? 

Or is it really just that some people are upset to find that they support a political organization that includes people with gross tastes in entertainment venues? 

172 And? And what? Someone has found out who the donors being entertained were.

173 Someone has found out who the donors being entertained were.

Posted by: Jim Treacher at March 30, 2010 05:05 PM (9SrGF)

Do you know who? Or have a link?

174 http://dailycaller.com

175 Well, y-not, I think you're right on the law, but no one is saying the RNC broke the law.

Ethics are subjective.  This is extremely unethical in my book, and in the books of most RNC donors.  The problem is not just one example of this bullshit.

As Treacher notes, Steele's alibi is that he was on a private jet flying from an RND funded gala in Hawaii.  They are idiots who think they are our rulers.  They are pretending to be fiscal conservatives because that funds their lifestyle.  This is Tom Delay again.  I don't want a huge government, and that's the only way to fund the donors who fund the rulers.

Let's just have none of that shit.  Sure, taking a donor to lunch, or throwing some kind of $500 a plate fundraiser makes sense.  Some black tie and boots type fun.

But a lot of this shit is completely wrong.  The RNC is handling this by attacking the messenger.  They are refusing to give out every fucking detail they have because they suck.  Steele is totally incompetent and has repeatedly chosen to get rich at the expense of his work.

Howard Dean did a great job and didn't go for this selfish shit.  I disagree with that psycho on politics, but he was devoted to his cause.  Steele is devoted to Steele.  The Daily Caller has given us a fucking gift.  We've all known Steele is a terrible leader for many months.  He bashes the right as racist, he says we're not ready to be back in power yet, and he's selling his book instead of organizing our party.  The Daily Caller has given is the opportunity to frame firing him.  We were trapped by racial politics until now.

I hope Steele realizes he's going to go no matter what, and dragging this out is only going to make things worse.

176 Also of note: the RNC was very, very smart with money for along time.  From 1990 or so until 2009.  Steele fired the people who were cheapskates with staff fun, and replaced them with Steele loyalists.

this was framed as cleaning house of all the bad bad bad guys, so that the RNC could be out of the woods, but it wasn't the staff that got the democrats elected.  It was the bigwigs.

Steele had a lot of favors to repay, and this is how he repaid those cronies.  That's the core problem with the RNC.  Cronies.

fire all the people who did a good job.  Now we can't manage our money as well, and obvious mistakes are being made that are really bad PR.

177 Oh wait, I see what you're asking. The premise being that there's a way this will be okay. Best of luck.

178 What I want to know is: did the daily caller wait to launch until they had a good impending story?  I was pretty surprised it took so long for Tucker's operation to get off the ground. 

I was pretty sure it was going to suck (it's great, actually).

But this is going to make it a AAA site.  Like Biggovernment's ACORN videos, this is a great near launch event for the site.  Maybe Tucker waited until he had a whiff of a good story? 

179 As Louis L'amour once wrote, "Are we hangin' him for shootin' (the man) or bustin' the whiskey?" To expand on it some, did the staffer get fired for the $2,000 expense charge, or for having the expense charged at a risque club?

180 To expand on it some, did the staffer get fired for the $2,000 expense charge, or for having the expense charged at a risque club?

Posted by: exdem13 at March 30, 2010 06:02 PM (lYKj1)

Allison Meyers, the Young Eagles director was fired, not the guy (Erik Brown) who submitted the expense. She OKed the expense so I guess she gets fired and the RNC ignores any greater significance to the problem.

I suspect a flunky got canned so they had a head to display to the crowd.

181

Ace, I am hardly a wordly person but I can guarantee you this club has special VIP rooms in back for, how shall we say, personal services for singles or groups.    Don't be naive.

On that note, I fail to understand why sexual favors or sexual entertainment are essential to closing a business deal.   LA has plenty of trendy, upscale clubs.

BTW, Brown is a married Sunday school teacher.  Nice.

182 Lesbian bondage? Disgusting! I'm so there. Once I return from Iceland, of course. /wink

183 Looks like a cool cigar bar. Too bad smoking is prohibitited in Californistan.

184 there  are no real story.all the things is lie.don't trust

185 fat burning exercises are important to maintain your health

186 سلم الرواتب

مسلسلات رمضان 2011

187 سلم الرواتب

مسلسلات رمضان 2011