Government Waste: We Await Silent Tristero's Empire Edition

Remember the release of the Ronald Reagan commemorative stamp back in '05? What a party that was! USA Today spotlights postmen gone wild:

As a top executive at the U.S. Postal Service, Azeezaly Jaffer liked to live large. Too large, according to postal investigators.

In one three-night stretch in 2004, he ran up $8,252 staying at a Washington hotel suite -- less than nine miles from his home.

He blew $3,486.33 in one evening for steak dinners and a bar-hopping binge for himself and other postal employees after the unveiling of the new Ronald Reagan commemorative stamp in 2005.

He tipped two lucky waiters $1,511.66 following a seafood dinner for 20 employees and business partners in 2003.

All on the Postal Service's dime.

Ah well, everyone loves a good tipper. Before resigning, Jaffer also managed to proposition a couple of colleagues for sex and rack up a total of $46,000 in "questionable" spending.

Comments

[Lamar]

Alas, the Ronald Reagan stamp.

[Alligator]

Ya know, those expenses don't really throw me... I work at Microsoft and I'm always stunned by how much money we waste at morale dinners. My team (About 120 people) went to Vegas last March and our boss took us all out to some Emeril Lagasse steakhouse one night. The bill came to $13,000. Nice.

[gaijin]

Ya know, those expenses don't really throw me... I work at Microsoft...

One difference being that MS is sitting on $32billion in cash...USPS on the other hand seems to be sitting perpetually on an operating deficit.

"...Integrated Financial Plan which projects a FY 2006 loss of $1.8 billion after escrow expense."

http://www.prc.gov/docs/51/51220/Advo-USPS-T6-1-8_ANS.pdf#search=%22USPS%20operating%20budget%202006%22

[keith]

"As a vice president, Jaffer was allowed to approve his own reimbursement claims under Postal Service rules. "

Sweet gig.

Though it doesn't say how many people enjoyed the largess of the $3,486.33 steaks-and-drinks event. If it was the 20 folks mentioned in another item, that's about $175 per head. That's fair for a downtown three course steakhouse dinner with wine -- nothing extravagant besides choosing Capital Grill over Outback.

[P Brooks]

When we privatize the USPS, Jaffer sounds like candidate numero uno for CEO. He appears to have all the requisite qualifications.

[Doctor Duck]

Thanks for the Lot 49 reference. Don't see many of those.

[mediageek]

"Though it doesn't say how many people enjoyed the largess of the $3,486.33 steaks-and-drinks event. If it was the 20 folks mentioned in another item, that's about $175 per head. That's fair for a downtown three course steakhouse dinner with wine -- nothing extravagant besides choosing Capital Grill over Outback."

Meanwhile, nearly 30% of every single one of my paychecks disappears and it's a big deal if go out to eat a meal at Texas Roadhouse, and these assholes still can't deliver a parcel half as well as UPS.

[SR]

"Meanwhile, nearly 30% of every single one of my paychecks disappears and it's a big deal if go out to eat a meal at Texas Roadhouse, and these assholes still can't deliver a parcel half as well as UPS."

I'll treat you to dinner at the Capital Grill if it'll make you feel better.

[Stevo Darkly]

Alas, the Ronald Reagan stamp.

Whoa! That is one big-ass stamp!