Text 8005, 94 rader
Skriven 2005-01-25 19:46:11 av Stan Hardegree (1:379/1.2)
Ärende: As promised
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This is a slightly altered version of the story I am printing in my paper.
....

A Villa Rica Newspaperman in King George's Court
By Stan Hardegree
Publisher

As we touched down (last) Wednesday at Washington's Dulles Airport, it began to
snow. And it snowed for the rest of the day, applying a coat of a little less
than a foot of white stuff to the nation's capital, where, ostensibly, people
know how to drive in wintry weather.

They don't.

Traffic in the great city came to a standstill of fender benders, broken down
and stuck vehicles and gridlocked intersections as officials began to close
area schools in what seemed like a panic (I thought this was something we do
only in the deep South).

My wife, Cindy, my daughter, Beth, and I were trying to get to Rep. Phil
Gingrey's office in the Cannon Congressional Office Building downtown when we
found ourselves stuck on Columbia Pike in front of the Pentagon after an
unanticipated road closing - and the resulting slippery U-turns - added to the
traffic mess.

We knew going in that D.C. would be hard to navigate because of street closings
and barriers associated with the inauguration. But the unanticipated snow,
additional road closings and high traffic load made surface travel virtually
impossible, so we went underground to the city's subway, the Metro.

We found a place to park our vehicle, took the Orange Line to the Capital South
stop, went to the surface and found the Cannon Building just down 1st Street
from the Supreme Court. Rep. Gingrey was in a happy mood, his staff was a great
help and his office was packed with constituents.

Many of the offices occupied by Republicans were packed with people, while the
Democrat offices were emptier (or closed) with little visible activity. Just a
walk through the Cannon Building would tell a casual observer which party had
just elected a commander in chief and who was preparing for the parties.

After leaving the Cannon Building, we walked over to the Russell Senate Office
Building to pay a visit to Saxby Chambliss and pick up our inauguration
tickets. Sen. Chambliss was on the Senate floor at the time, but his
office,like Rep. Gingrey's, was a hub of activity, with people coming and
going. Two of the people who walked into the senator's office while I was there
were Dr. John Goddard and his wife, Bunny. Goddard is my dad's eye doctor.
Small world.

(Note:  VIlla Rica Mayor Jay Collins asked that Cindy and I be his
representatives at the inauguration and that we give his and the city's regards
to our congressional delegation in DC).

After a brief visit with the Goddards, we picked up Beth's husband, Army
Captain Derrick Shaw, at Ft. Myers, went to their Arlington apartment for
supper and drinks and then to bed for the big day Thursday.

After breakfast Thursday, it was back to the Metro for the trip to the Capitol.
This trip was a little more interesting than the ones before because some of
the much talked about anti-Bush klatch was on the train with us. At one point,
we heard a lovely dissertation on Republican plans to build a nuclear bomb that
would leave only Republicans alive. There were a couple of older women in pink
with their NOW ovals and posters depicting the president as a Nazi.

Our train stopped at Federal Center for the trip to surface and a short walk to
the Capitol for the swearing in. The day was very cold - not Reagan 85 cold -
but cold and windy enough that people were complaining. While we stood in line,
a couple of students from Harvard and Columbia were talking about their
graduate studies and of attending seminars earlier in the morning with people
like Donna Brazille and Ron Paul. The crowd around us was friendly, cheerful
and warm.

In the distance, we heard the inaugural announcer introducing the president's
current and future cabinet, various Representatives and Senators and finally
former presidents Carter, Bush and Clinton. We heard sirens approaching our
line and watched as Hillary Clinton's motorcade of two made its way past us.

Eventually, Trent Lott took over as master of ceremonies, introducing the Chief
Justice, who many wondered if he were up to the task. At 11:30, Vice President
Cheney took the oath from House Speak Dennis Hastert to the cheers of several
hundred thousand people. Finally, the president was introduced to a 21-gun
salute, took the oath at noon from the Chief Justice, then spoke to us of
liberty and character.  It was a splendid speech.

After two days of constant movement originating in Villa Rica, we decided to
forgo the parade and head to the house for and afternoon of warmth, relaxation
and visiting with family.

The next day, I spent at Arlington Cemetery, the most profoundly moving place I
have ever been - but that is a topic for another day.

It was a good trip.

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 * Origin: Non illigitimus carborundum! (1:379/1.2)