UGH: THAT'S "NEW"?

Unfortunately, because I was late in attending a House Armed Forces Committee meeting at the new Capitol Visitor Center, I kept on my shorts, tank and sandals as I walked through the center to the hearing. Talking about a different "character"; I was loving my "difference" from the majority of "tight-asses" waring their civilian and non civilian "suits". Though happily, I DID fit in with the masses of tourist who incredibly, had to wait in line outside the center.

Imagine a visitors center where you must wait OUTSIDE to visit: the newer the site in town, the more undemocratic its relation to the ordinary citizens. This should be a warning signal to those who look to the changes in the coming years.

Well, my first impression of this "new" center did not feel very "welcoming" but it was to be-- in time-- very, very educating.

After spending nearly 2 hours listening to the Obama Administration's foreign policy team on Russia defend its "rewind" not "reset"--as they had titled the meeting-- on US/Russia relations; I was relieved when it finally came to an end and I was able to leave the auxiliary room(prize for being 1/2 hour late) and began to venture through this tomb, towards the exit.

Upon leaving I passed by the official hearing room and checked out its seating arrangement(72) and then began to resume my exit. As I walked past a side hallway I noticed a gathering of elites in suits heading inside a conference room after they surveyed a collection of information on an outside table. "Hmm, there looks like a story" I thought as I headed towards the gathering; I stopped first at the table to see the issue(health care), and "even better", I thought it was REPUBLICAN...."Great".

Well my excitement quickly sours as I am met by male and female "gatekeepers"; young and dedicated to get me away from the information table that no "elite" seem particularly interested, and then out from in front of the meeting room doors. "Screw them", I thought realizing that it is the right of citizenship to be able to stand freely outside doors of power; the hospitality of this place was so much more frigid than the older office buildings used by the Senate and the House of Representatives.

This "NEW" center has rules and procedures providing quite the "CHANGE" from the old patterns found here in the federal city at the heart of the town in which I had grown up.

Soon, "Tom and Mary GOP" are supported by Secret Service goons; one named Angel whose devious behaviour starkly contradicted his christian name. After displaying my credentials gained from the earlier hearing I am able to rid myself of gthe SS guards for the moment as they check with HQ about my presence. Fortunately, for me, while standing at attention for about 5-10 minutes, I hear juicy statements like "this is a battle field" and "we are in this"; great quotes of those whom rightfully intend to fight for their side.
Something, I have to uphold too as I notice a return of the little angel who joins his bigger browner "brother"; they resume their charges against me: "you cannot stand here" and we need you to move to the end of the hall".

"Why", I protested again, "I just want to listen"; it was to no avail as little "angel" gets me to move to the end of the hall where I am immediately greeted by a regular Capitol Hill policeman, appropriately standing besides a group of doors marked "exit". I then begin to realize what direction they have for me so I begin to get loud and boisterous causing them to worry about how this exit will be delivered. Little "angel" drops back, standing about 10 feet away and having done his job of delivering me to what I was about to learn was an unauthorized location. The policeman begins doing his job of "calming " me; the repiglican blond makes her way over to little angel adding: he did not have press credentials. I begin to explain that I am an independent blogger who was there to cover the earlier hearing and decided to stop and check out the meeting; besides as a citizen, standing.... should not be an offense especially in the "welcoming" environment of the Capitol Visitors Center.

Fucking Republicans, as bad as the Democrats!

Ironically, I had mentioned to the male gatekeeper that I supported their efforts to defeat "Obamacare" and with it his Presidency and if possible that rogue Pelosi too.

So I am led out what seems the longest way possible by the guard; I exit from the Senate side of the Capitol building, then I have to climb over one of the numerous barricades that seem to block every paved walkway around the Capitol.
Though as I have discovered in this sometimes evil city, god can bring light in a time of darkness. As I begin to exit the capitol grounds I notice a reporter for "Russia Today" , giving a taped interview with her cameraman ; we exchange " hellos" and I ask her if she attended the Armed Forces Hearing, to which she replied "no, their coverage was on Sudan". She asks me about the hearing to which I begin to give her my take: Obama's Russia policy is a rewind, not reset; he is Bush's third term.

We talked further about my impressions of him, before and after his election and the future of US/Russia relations; she finds me engaging enough to take my number and name offering me an interview in the future, if possible; to which I was greatly appreciative.


Finally, I felt welcomed and supportive, and hopefully the start of a good US/Russia relationship.



I will posted later about my geo political observations concerning Obama and Russia...