Heard: Thank You from an Intern

Avid reader of your blog, and at first as funny as it was I thought you were just a bitter staffer. As a graduate student and 2nd summer DC intern for a industry trade group I spend some time in hearings in the Senate/House.

I cannot believe the level of immaturity and lack of basic manners displayed by the Hill interns, perhaps being in a large group hearkens the interns back to middle school days but still this is no excuse. Keep up the good work! 

-Intern who knows, slightly, better

Spotted: Member's Only Elevator

As a former House intern, I have to share this story.

One day I was sent on an errand to the Capitol, and on the way there, the Members were all called to the floor for a vote. So of course some of the elevators from the subway to the main floor of the Capitol were Members-only.

Another intern and I were waiting for the non-Member elevator. With her back to us, waiting for the Member elevator, was a woman in a (admittedly not that flattering) suit.

Here's where the other intern decides to be helpful. Speaking to the woman, and sounding quite pleased with himself, he announced, "Oh, that elevator is for Members only."

She turns around--and of course, it's a female Member of Congress. And a pretty senior one.

She gave him a smile along with what could only be described as a death stare. "Whose office do you work for?" she asked.

The intern looked absolutely terrified. "Senator (X)'s office," he stammered.

I'm sure someone had a quality chat with their intern coordinator that day...

Heard: Chevy Chase Must Have Been HUGE

Two obnoxious interns (of the "bro" variety) interrupted my reading on the bus the other day.  

Their loud conversation, although certainly distracting, faded into the background, as I have become accustomed to conversations concerning "how important my work is at the think-tank" just as I have grown accustomed to the squealing brakes of old Metro buses.  While the two were debating who was doing more to save the world before bedtime, tweedle-dee said to tweedle-dum:

"Dude, have you seen all the Chevy Chase banks around here?"  We had just passed the branch on Wisconsin and Q.  

"Yeah, can you believe it?  He must have been HUGE!"

"Dude, I know!  And I, like, never even thought he was that funny on Saturday Night Live, and Washington names a fucking bank after him!"

I only wish our bus had kept traveling up Wisconsin Avenue, so that those two dimwits could have repeated their conversation in Chevy Chase proper.  But alas, I must be content with knowing that the future of the [prominent think-tank] rests in the hands of two men, who, if they had their druthers, would name all of Washington's financial institutions after comedy stars.  The "Will Ferrell Monetary Fund", anyone?