Monday, June 29, 2009

The White House


The Green Room
(picture found online)

Last week, through our office, I was able to go on a tour of the East wing of the White House. I was really excited, as I imagined it would be beautiful inside. The wait to get a tour was extremely long, since weeks in advance, they preform a background check on every guest. But all of our interns and I passed :) and were ready to go see what it was all about.

After security, we walked into the East Wings doors (its a self guided tour) and were......underwhelmed. In fact, the whole tour was underwhelming. It really seems to be nothing at all, it is way over played. We only got to see three rooms! 3 rooms! And there were so many people, we were clumped together and moving at a snails pace. Maybe I am spoiled in that I get to see the ins and outs of the Capitol, but I feel like the White House touring staff could organize the tour into something that is more effective and powerful.

The rooms that I saw were the Green Room, a red room (I forget its name), and the State Dinner Room. All three were beautiful and elegant, each containing amazing history. However, the stupid visitors were so loud and rude! One visitor actually had the guts to reach across the ropes and touch an oil painting! On the canvas! I couldn't believe the complete disregard for rules or lack of manners.

Over all, the idea of being in the White House is great! However, it took 40 min to get through three rooms because the lack of planning or management from the staff. If you're interested in a tour, the only way to obtain one is through your senator. Each senator has a staffer who's job is to manage White House and Capitol tours. Remember, you need to call and schedule a tour AT LEAST a month before you come to D.C. I suggest the tour only if you are satisfied enough with just the idea of visiting the White House, other than that, it doesn't have much substance as a tour.


P.S. Cameras or any electronics are NOT allowed.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Senator Daniel Ken Inouye


Today I felt honored to have met Senator Inouye, a Medal of Honor recipient. I met him while riding the Senate Train to the Capitol. He is an armless, short little Japanese man, who hobbles with a cane, but he has a big presence. This is his story:
Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, Inouye is a Nisei (second-generation) Japanese-American and a son of Kame Imanaga and Hyotaro Inouye. He grew up in the Bingham Tract, a Chinese-American enclave within the predominantly Japanese-American community of Mo'ili'ili in Honolulu.

He was at the Pearl Harbor attack in 1941 as a medical volunteer. In 1943, when the U.S. Army dropped its ban on Japanese-Americans, Inouye curtailed his premedical studies at the University of Hawaii and enlisted in the Army. He was assigned to the Nisei 442nd Regimental Combat Team, which became the most-highly decorated unit in the history of the Army. During the World War II campaign in Europe he received the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, and the Distinguished Service Cross, which was later upgraded to the Medal of Honor.
Inouye was promoted to the rank of sergeant within his first year, and he was given the role of platoon leader. He served in Italy in 1944 during the Rome-Arno Campaign before he was shifted to the Vosges Mountains region of France, where he spent two weeks searching for the Lost Battalion, a Texas battalion that was surrounded by German forces. He was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant for his actions there. He was nearly killed in an assault in Italy in 1945, which saw Inouye survive a bullet wound to the abdomen and a point-blank attack by a German grenade, during a mission where Inouye advanced alone toward a German gun post to protect his surrounded men.

While recovering from WWII wounds in Percy Jones Army Hospital, Inouye met future Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole, then a fellow patient. Dole mentioned to Inouye that after the war he planned to go to Congress; Inouye beat him there by a few years. Despite being members of different political parties, the two remain lifelong friends. In 2003, the hospital was renamed the Hart-Dole-Inouye Federal Center in honor of the two WWII veterans and another U.S. Senator and fellow WWII veteran who had stayed in the hospital, Philip Hart.

Although he lost his right arm in WWII, Inouye remained in the military until 1947 and was discharged with the rank of captain. Due to the loss of his arm, he abandoned his plans to become a surgeon and returned to college to study political science under the GI Bill. He graduated from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 1950 with a B.A. in political science. He earned his J.D. from The George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C. in 1953 and was elected into the Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity. Soon afterward he was elected to the territorial legislature, of which he was a member until shortly before Hawaii achieved statehood in 1959. He won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives as Hawaii's first full member, and took office on August 21, 1959, the same date Hawaii became a state; he was reelected in 1960.

In 1962 Inouye was elected to the U.S. Senate, succeeding fellow Democrat Oren E. Long. He is currently serving his seventh- consecutive six-year term, having most recently run against Republican candidate Campbell Cavasso in 2004.
He delivered the keynote address at the turbulent 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois and gained national attention for his service on the U.S. Senate Watergate Committee. He was chairman of the Select Committee on Intelligence from 1975 until 1979, and chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs from 1987 until 1995 and from 2001 until 2003. Inouye was also involved in the Iran-Contra investigations of the 1980s, chairing a special committee from 1987 until 1989.

In 2000, Inouye was awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun by the Emperor of Japan in recognition of his long and distinguished career in public service.

*All information found at wikipedia.com

The Congressional Baseball Game


Last night I was able to attend the yearly tradition known as the Congressional Baseball Game. It was held at the MLB team, the Nationals' stadium. Congressman and some congresswomen, don their states MLB team's uniform, split up into republicans and democrats, and play a friendly game of baseball for charity. Hill staffers, their families, and hard core Republican or democrat supports come out to heckle the players. Rightly so, the democrats sit on the 3rd base line (the left side) and the Republicans are on the first baseline (the right side). Hot dogs, fries, and drinks freely flow along with insults about earmarks, policies, and general disses about being liberal. The atmosphere is spirited as people are dressed in their work outfits, but they let their hair down to socialize with their fellow party members.

For the last six years the Republicans have crushed the Democrats, but for some reason, this is not a good year for the hard working and honest Elephants. The Democrats came out hard, earning six runs in the second inning. But the Right did not give up without a fight! In the third inning, with three triples (one by our AZ congressman, Jeff Flake [Mesa]), the republicans came back to tie the game. Sadly, the rain began to pour, and since I was in my nice clothes, not to mention starving, I decided to leave at the fifth inning. When I left, the Republicans were leading 7 to 6, but I was later informed by a friend who stayed behind that somehow, someway, the Democrats took the game, winning with the final score of 15 to 10. Even though we gallantly tried and made some game saving plays, the Donkeys kicked the Elephants in the knees and pranced away, shouting, not only did they have the White House, and the House and Senate majority, they also now own the Congressional Baseball trophy. But don't give up Republicans! We still have next year!

My favorite part about last night was that the Democrat side had more people, but by far, the Republicans were the loudest, smartest, and most passionate. We never swore or personally degraded the players, but chose to attack their weak policy or lame websites. The family you create in DC based off your political beliefs will always be welcoming and supportive! It is this element that makes me love this great city!

Monday, June 15, 2009

What Makes a Good Politician?


Another running list! I love lists. In my journal, on homework, on my daily planner, I keep lists. Lists about of my favorite foods, what work I need to get done, my daily goals, my life goals, I am sure you get the hint: I LOVE LISTS! I think my next list (and it would entertain all of you) are the qualities of a good Senator (or politician). So far, from my personal experiences, I think I can come up with some fundamental qualities of a successful leader in the Senate.  I plan to add to this through out the summer, and remember, if you have any suggestions, comments, or questions, let me know!!

The Elements of a Fantastic Senator-Derived from my Experiences as an Intern:

1.) A good, loyal staff

2.) A honest drive and passion

3.) The ability to be unaffected by media attention

4.) A powerful speaker and a noticeable presence

5.) Compassionate

6.) Realizes the little things count

7.) Understands that he/she can't do it all by themselves

8.) Unafraid to credit his/her belief in God

9.) A sense of humor

10.) Takes time in his/her appearance

I'll add to this list as I have more experience!

Roll Call


The Capitol has a slew of daily news papers that are delivered to every office, both the House and Senate side. There is the Congress Daily, Roll Call, and Politico.

The Congress Daily is a summary of what is happening around the Senate and House. Also, it lists all the daily hearings for the different Committees, like the Appropriations, Foreign Affairs, or Energy hearings. It also has daily opinion columns and such.

Politico is almost a gossip newspaper. It appeals to the pop culture associated with life on the Hill. The audience is the young staffer crowd, interns, or employees that are interested in the social scene around Washington D.C. A common theme is, "Where is the Cheapest Food?" I could call it the "Perez Hilton" celebrity gossip website of Politics.
Roll Call is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, or the CNN of the Capitol Hill newspapers. The topics range from what happened on the Senate floor the previous day to editorials about the GOP. It claims to be, "The Newspaper of Capitol Hill since 1955." It is by far the most intellectual newspaper in that it covers news, opinions, and the happenings of Washington D.C. and national politics.
Today, in the Roll Call, there was quote from Abraham Lincoln which I find influential and inspiring. It reads:
'I do the best I know how, the very best I can, and I mean to keep doing so until the end. If the end brings me out all right, what is said against me won't count; if it brings me out wrong, all the angels swearing that I was right would have made no difference.'
President Abraham Lincoln
(1809-1865)

Sunday, June 14, 2009

The LIST!


Here is a list of things to do in D.C. that I've compiled (it will continue to grow the longer I am here:

1. Wear cute summery dresses--or totally dress down. DC is great in that everyone has to dress up every single day, I mean really dress up, so no one wants to on the weekends. It is totally acceptable to go around in work out clothes. Also, everyone runs here (I believe because they have really stressful jobs)

2. Contact your Senator and Congressman for a tour of the Capitol and White House. At the Capitol you will be able to see some more things with a Staff lead tour than with the traditional Red Coat from the Capitol Visitor Center.

3. Go running on the National Mall early in the morning, I'd say 6 to 9 AM are nice hours. No tourists and you can be cheesy and do a Rocky moment up on the steps of the Lincoln memorial.

4. Come in June and attend the National BBQ Grill Off! and for you older folks, I guess there is a Beer Festival in VA, a few min away, that everyone raves about.

5. If you intern, try and bring clothes that don't require ironing or dry cleaning. Except for suits, do not get a cotton suit. They suck. I don't like mine.

6. Bring a camera, a small one, and don't be afraid to do stupid poses everywhere. I mean you can only do so many "stand next to the statue and smile." The most epic picture I have is me hanging from an Archway, in a dress, in the National Botanical garden.

7. If you're an intern: sneak into as many evening social events on the Senate or House side as you can. By sneak, I mean do not force entrance illegally, just tuck your intern ID away and walk in like you know what you're doing. There is free food, and you need free food as much as possible. The "Fire Fighter's of America" has been the best so far.

8. Invest in a good pair of walking shoes. Cute ones.

9. For tourists, please do not wear a fanny pack

10. Eat at Good Stuff near the Capitol Hill, between 3rd and 4th on Pennsylvania. Also, in Chinatown, just go there. Lots of food and its fun.

11. Go to the Georgetown Water Front and socialize there. Dress to impress in a business, but casual, but fashionable way :)

12. Do not talk to people on the metro who have their head phones in. They are angry at the world.

13. Look at maps before you ask anyone on the Metro where you're going. Locals can be short with you.

14. Most importantly--TOURISTS PAY ATTENTION: On an escalator, if you want to ride it up, stand to the RIGHT!!!!!!!! The left side are for people who want to walk up it. They will violently push you to the side.

15. Make friends with a local, and if they have a car, even better! A local is a source of great information and advice about entertainment.

16. Hike Billy Goats Pass- the Maryland side

17. Bring an Umbrella (at least during the summer)! It rains so much here and so randomly. One moment the sun is shining, not a cloud in the sky, and in ten minutes lightning is striking down and all hell is breaking loose

18. Do not lose your Metro Smart Pass. More importantly, do not sneak on the Metro, and then find your pass while on the train, and try to use it to get out. It won't let you. You'll have to sneak out again.

19. Go to the Arlington Cemetery with the full expectation to be overwhelmed and humbled.

20. Last but not least, do not give money to the bums, they will recognize you and follow you around for the next several days.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words




I hope you find these as hilarious as I do!