We saw a Senate vote (including Kerry) live in-person today

[rox63]

I met up with AngryDemocrat (aka Misty) today, and we went to the Capitol building. We took the the standard tour, then realized that we could get into the House and Senate chambers if we got gallery passes from our own congress-critters' offices. At first, we thought we only needed one from either a Senator or a Congressman. So we hightailed it over to the Russell Senate office building, to see if we could meet either Kerry or Kennedy, as well as get the passes. Of course, neither Senator was available. But we took pictures of their reception offices (lots of personal photos and memorabilia on the walls), and got the passes from Kennedy's office. When we went back, we were told that we needed both a Senate and a House pass. So we went over the Cannon house office building, and got that pass from Misty's rep Harold Ford. Once again, we went back to the Capitol building. This time, they let us in. Of course, we had to leave our cameras and cell phones outside of the chambers, so there are no pictures from this part of our adventure. The house chamber was empty today, nothing happening at all. But there were actual live Senators wandering their side of the building. We sat through a few speeches (all positive) about the Roberts SC nomination. Then we heard that there was going to be a vote, so we decided to stick around. The vote was about some treaty that neither of us knew anything about. But it got all "Aye" votes, so it was pretty popular. Uncle Ted was all over the room, talking and laughing with several of his colleagues. And we saw Kerry come in, talk to a few of the other senators, then vote yes and leave.

A very interesting day indeed. :D

[TayTay]

1. I am so glad you two got together.

It makes me feel like a yenta. And you saw Sen. Kerry in his natural habitat. That's awesome. (Wow! He gets around. He gave a big speech in Boston today. What time was the vote?)

This is awesome news. I am very happy for you both!

[rox63]

5. The vote started at 5:30 PM

And it ended with all ayes about 45 minutes later. Also got to see Obama, Clinton, Boxer, Byrd, McCain, and a bunch of others, all in their natural habitat. It looked like they really enjoy their jobs. There was a lot of congeniality across party lines, like they were just any bunch of coworkers getting together and saying hi after spending the weekend doing their own thing.

[whometense]

2. Wow. How cool is that?

My husband and I are going to DC in a few weeks, but unfortunately it'll be on the weekend. If we were going to be there on a weekday that's what I would have wanted to do.

[globalvillage]

3. That's awesome, Rox!

I'm jealous. That would have been worth sticking around for.
Glad you are having a good time in DC. Again, it was great to meet you.
:hi:

[jillan]

4. That is sooo awesome Rox!

I have never been to DC!
And I want to go very badly.
I want to sit in the Senate all day and just watch it live, rather than on C-Span.

Where do you get to sit in the Senate?

[rox63]

6. You sit in the visitors' gallery

Which is up above where they show on C-Span. We were actually behind some of the C-Span cameras for a while.

If you do visit, go to the office of one of your senators and your congressional rep, tell the office staff that you are a constituent of theirs, and that you'd like to get a gallery pass. Then you have to go through a bunch of security checkpoints before they let you in.

Other than the actual march on Saturday, this was the coolest thing about the trip. :D