Where it all Happens

Today I was fortunate enough to experience a truly passionate moment in Washington politics. Anyone who is interested can go and get passes from their Senators that allow them to sit in on sessions of the House and Senate. No one ever knows for sure what exactly will be occurring during the moments they are observing Congress, but I never would have expected today's events. Some of the other Glenn fellows and I were sitting in the Senate guest balcony, when Senator John Kerry walked onto the floor. Senator Kerry then proceeded to give an impassioned speech about the Cut, Cap, Balance Amendment to the US Constitution that has been dominating national news for the past few days. Senator Kerry is avidly against the proposed amendment, and clearly laid out what he viewed as the amendment's failings. The Glenn fellows and I were quite excited to watch this former presidential candidate debate an issue that is so prominent in today's news.

However, Senator Kerry was only the beginning of our fascinating foray into the workings of the Senate. As Senator Kerry spoke, Majority Leader Harry Reid walked into the room and stood at his desk, clearly waiting to speak. Senator Kerry yielded some time to Senator Reid, who then proceeded to display a level of passion that cannot be properly conveyed through a television screen. Senator Reid spoke softly, yet sternly. He bluntly declared that the legislation to which Senator Kerry had been referring was perhaps the worst piece of legislation ever to come before the Senate. He claimed that the legislation was shoddily thrown together, and that it was a purely political move. Senator Reid then exclaimed that he refused to waste anyone’s time by forcing them to debate such a law until Saturday. We will vote this amendment down tomorrow, the Senator proclaimed. Then, just as suddenly as he had appeared, Senator Reid left the floor. Senator Kerry chuckled a bit, and then said that he clearly did not even need to finish his speech.

Completely unbeknownst to us, we had walked into a game-changing moment in the proposed amendment’s life. I cannot explain how incredible it was to watch political leaders I had seen on TV for years discussing issues about which I had been hearing for months. CSPAN really just cannot properly convey the mood! If you leave DC without having sat in on sessions of the House and Senate, you have not truly experienced Washington DC.

RC