So it's been a while since I've had an actual post without pictures. Lots of people that visit this site don't actually read the things that I write, so the pictures work out pretty well for them.
Anyway, the Capitol was evacuated today. I was contemplating leaving to get some lunch when the lights flickered, dimmed, and then died. There were some initial exclamations, but we were fairly calm. Then we got a call to get out. NOW. I was passed by about four people rushing out the door. I proceeded down the stairs (obviously the elevator was down) as more people filed past. At least a few more people ran past. We walked across the street and gathered in little groups. CNN's Dana Bash was visible on the sidewalk, standing near an anti-immigration protester holding a sign that claimed Mexican President Vicente Fox as "America's Number One Enemy." I wonder when he displaced Bin Laden for that honor... Bash was trying to ascertain from people on our press staff what exactly was going on, and our press staff was asking what she knew. After twenty minutes or so, someone said brightly, "at least it's not raining." Five minutes later, it predictably started to rain steadily. We filed into the Russell building and down into the tunnel to Dirksen, then up again to the office there. As Minority Whip, Durbin has an office in the Capitol (Office of the Assistant Democratic Leader) as well as the normal personal office in the Dirksen building.
With our ranks of interns somewhat depleted, I've been spending more time over at Dirksen than I normally do. Last week was a crazy week for tours. I led six tours of the Capitol, and another today. I've also been helping with the phones. I hung up on a guy today who launched into a spiel about sending all the "greasy wetbacks" back to Mexico. The immigration debate has brought out a horrible rash of racist commentary from callers. Some is more veiled than others, but it's all bad. I may get into that issue in the near future on this site, but it's a little late tonight.
This weekend was a lot of fun. Wegman's friends drove down from Rochester (they finally got here after being sidelined twice...fuel injector problems were followed shortly by a blown tire; it took them 20 hours to complete what is normally a 6 hour drive), and we went out in Adams Morgan on Saturday, including (for some of us, anyway) a return to the Ghana Cafe to enjoy the live reggae band. Friday night was another poker night at our place. On Sunday, we met up with some other people in the program for some barbequing and beers before heading over to the sand for some intense volleyball. I think we all had a really good time.
That's the abbreviated version of events.
2 comments:
In fact, wyatt, the problems South of our borders are becoming quite severe and worrisome. Latin America is a place for more than just tacos and goat shows, but a festering hive of anti-American sentiment and bad will. A congealing pot of uneducated, sun tanned, hard-worked muscle that is up in arms with one goal in mind: destruction of the American autocrat. So, pack up your shit and buy a copy of Don Quixote and a dictionary, because pretty soon we're all going to be working for cocaine barons.
No clue on what the problem was with the fuel injector.
As far as the second comment goes, I realize it was made in jest (and is quite funny), but it's remarkably similar to the shit I've had to listen to on the phones this week from people calling in. Scary
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