The chase is on...
One block up 14Th street I realized that I was leaving my bike and was apprehensive in leaving it in front of the national Press Building. After catching boy wonder...I inform him "my bike is back at the Press Club could you give me a ride back after this hearing", and of course his answer is "no".
"FIGURES"
So I get the hearing room and briskly walk back the 2 blocks to find my bike; I untie its leash and begin to make my way to the Rayburn Office Building 2 1/2 miles east. I arrive at the building after a care free ride through the heart of Capital City. The office building abuts Pennsylvania Avenue which I cross as I push my bike to the side entrance and lock it safely. Realizing that I have to change my shirt, I sit on the ground at the entrance; as I buttoning up a familiar face turns the corner and surprisingly says, " you beat us here". "Yep; you had to deal with traffic", I add as I stand and follow citizen Kokesh into the ugliest office building on the hill.
Forgetting my dc "code": I have to take off my boots because they are steel plated which means they set off the damn machines that scan everything and everyone whom enters. As I grab my belongings and I start up the stairs putting on the boots as Kokesh waits with the damn phone stuck to his ear.
We head to the elevator and begin to wait for its arrival when another of one of his groupies enters the pictures: a very pretty woman with flowing raven hair and a warm embrace for Kokesh after she realizes who he was. (that boy's got more admirers than Brad Pitt).
We all travel up stairs to the meeting and enter the office. "gee the rooms keep getting smaller as the day go on", I think as I take my place in the back as Kokesh as one of the important people goes to sit along the first row. Unlike the earlier meetings this one is void of candidates or acrimony. Kucinich stays for 10 minutes speaking briefly on a next move by the coalition: supporting a truth and reconciliation movement; he then reminds us that he has votes to fulfill; the majority of the next 40 minutes are handled by his aide. An able fellow in his 30's, he goes on to "thank" the group that has gathered for their support for impeachment. I found his tributes to those in attendance--some traveling across country for the event--to be very appropriate considering that these people are the brave movers of the actions of the "leadership".
I warmly applaud as each of the group of 7 or so is announced: this mostly female group should feel good about their work because if not them than who...
I finally get his attention to interject after this group has been called because the aide continues to imply that impeachment is being delayed by republican intransigence; his partisan portrayal is misleading; the delay in impeachment is Conyers and the Democratic leadership. "We need to impeach Conyers", I point out in my first question, which I hoped would spark a new direction in how these "activist" perceive, the leadership and the relationship we the people must have in order to further an agenda that returns power to the citizens of this once great Republic.
"If he and the Democrats cannot control Bush than how the hell are they gonna control Obama?"
He smiled uncomfortably then gave assurances that the were aware of this frustrating dilemma though did not seem comfortable continuing the dialogue; returning to is prepared agenda one that steered clear of inner party confrontation.
the last 10 minutes or so Kucinich returns and gives a final push for his earlier idea for a truth and reconciliation coalition.
When we reached Q&A I returned to my call for real change: so if you and Pelosi are able to return to Congress, are you prepared to challenge her leadership as speaker on the premise of she not favoring impeachment and he in favor: a correct tactic of principle over personality based upon the higher responsibility of leadership to be challenged if it fails because of its unconstitutional and immoral behavior.
He squirms a bit; not comfortable with my outside the box thinking; he eventually says that he had not thought of challenging his friends but now he had something consider...
He takes another question and then reminds us that the time on the room is up and we had to vacate. As we filed out I just felt good about my day and the questions I was able to ask putting the so called leadership on its toes. I spoke two a couple of women outside the office who thanked me for my question an I thanked them for their heroic work. As I look down the hall I see Kokesh talking to a VFP member and I realized once again that he seems to always be busy plotting but I never get a sense he is moving forward just side ways. I say my good byes to the nice woman and begin to walk towards the good marine and his military comrade. I reach in my pocket and hand him a ball; to which he asks "what is it", to which I reply "magic".
I continue down the hall in order to make my way out of this ugly depressing cavern of confusion. "This place is so gross", I think as I finally, find the exact exit which is so much easier to escape from then to enter; pull off the lock and push the bike up the hill on Pennsylvania Avenue.
Different place.
Different personality.
Same old song and dance...
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
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