another day on the Hill...

Today I had my first bomb threat. I now feel like a seasoned Capital Hill staffer. All of a sudden around 10:30 a bell went off. Immediately following, a voice came on the loud speaker saying there was a specious package in the vicinity and to stay in your office. I thought, okay it's probably in the Capital or something. OH NO! The voice continues saying the package is located near the south bank elevators on the 3rd floor of Hart building and to avoid that area.

It then hit me...DF’s office is on the 3rd floor of Hart. That doesn't sound good. Of course like good interns, we stuck our head out of the side door that looks out to the south bank of elevators. Our office manager immediately told us to get back inside.

Of course the threat just turned out to be a bag someone left as they were getting on the elevators and all was well.



LATER THAT DAY:
That afternoon was the moment I had been waiting for that entire week. No it wasn't 5pm and time for the weekend...it was 2:30 and the intelligence confirmation hearing for Leon Panetta, Obama’s nominee for the head of the CIA. DF is the chairwoman for the committee and I was very excited to see her in action.

Along with some other interns, I got to the hearing and sat front row behind Mr. Panetta. (we were definitely on CSPAN and in some pictures) What was said at the hearing is of less importance than my takeaway of the general atmosphere.
(picture from the front page of the Washington Times...look to the far right...I am the second person from the edge!)

The way committees work in general:

1. The chairwoman/man says an opening statement
2. followed by a statement by the vice-chair, and in the case of the 111th congress, the highest ranking republican in the committee
3. After that the "witness", Panetta here, gives his opening statement
4. Then every member on the committee has a certain amount of time to ask the witness questions. It starts with the chair and vice-chair and then goes in some kind of order to the remaining members. If the member is not present when it is their designated time, they forfeit their right to ask questions. The questioning can go for more than one round if deemed needed by the chair.
   

Partisanship was obvious in this situation. The Republican senators seemed annoyed that they were not confirming someone nominated from their own party. They asked questions that were unnecessary and designed to make a point and really not question to see if Panetta would be a good choice for the head of the CIA. They picked out every word he said and went in depth about what the closure of Guantanamo Bay Prison and Obama’s pledge to not use torture techniques will do for the United States war on terror. To be fair, the Democratic senators were not much better. All stated their support for him at the forefront and then went to ask pretty pointless questions (in my opinion). I felt like all of the Senators had all the answers to these questions from their previous meetings with Panetta and this hearing was more of a formality to put those conversations some what on the record.

However jaded I sound right now, being present for that hearing was really cool. It was another example of the democratic practice. The Senate alone has the right to confirm all appointments made by the President. This helps to ensure the right people lead our country and also check the power of the President.

(picture of the hearing I took)