
Man I hope these are real!
Jason, thanks for keeping these reports coming in. The photos are great too. Tell us about some of the funny memorabilia you have seen. Bought anything really cool or funny? I know you are there for professional, family, and historic reasons but when did you first start to support Barack Obama?
Here is the latest dispatch from Ventura County Firefighter Jason Hodge reporting from DC :
Last night was the first of the balls that I have been able lucky enough to cajole my way into. The California Democratic Bash was held at the Smithsonian National Air and Space museum. If you come to DC this is one of the three places you have to see. Its a surreal experience. Walking in is like walking into a archaeological dig of space exploration. The first thing you see hanging in the main lobby is the Wright brothers plane from Kitty Hawk just feet above your heads. The turnstiles you walk through are inches from John Glenn's actual space orbiter, sputnik hangs right that. To the right is Buzz Aldrin drinking a glass of Champaign. Yeah that's right. Buzz Aldrin. The first man to the moon was having a cocktail in the lobby right next to the lunar orbiter in which he and Neil Armstrong traveled 500,000 miles to the moon and back. Of course I had no choice but to wrangle my way into a conversation with a personal and national Hero. As we approached him we tried to conjure up a good conversation opener. Something profound, poignant, witty. Fitting of a national treasure like him.
"So did you guys really have to drink Tang?" My friend asked before I could get a word out.
"That stuff is horrible. I never could stand it" Aldrin replied. My friend later told me he wanted to ask "So where did you guys film the moon landing?" but he didn't want to get punched in the face. If you know anything about Buzz Aldrin than you know that this is a real possibility. Still, Mr. Aldrin was great we talked for about ten minutes and got a great photo for my scrapbook.
( Jason: Please identify these people from L to R again.)
Later we talked to Lois Capps, Debra Bowen, Barbara Boxer (who all looked smashing!) and a whole mess of Local Pols and activists. The atmosphere was about as perfect as you could imagine for this event. They did a good job of not overselling the event. No crowds or lines at all (except for the dreadful line to get a Cab). It was easy to get a drink and then take the champagne through space lab. Truly a magical event. It was great to talk to all the California Democrats who are really committed to working for a better future.
My date was my lovely sister who is extraordinarily talented at campaigning and managing Non-profits. She is currently working for the Sierra Club so we have lots of enviros that she hangs with and you know who they all know? Our own local state Senator Fran Pavley! When I talk about who we work with and mention Pavley they all light up and say "as in the Pavley Car standards?" See, one of California most accomplished assembly members is from our area.
Taxation without representation!
This morning I went down to the capitol to Elton Gallegly's office to pick up our inaugural tickets. The line in the Rayburn Building was a good hour and a half wait and wrapped all the way around the building. To top it off it started snowing 20 minutes into the wait. I had forgotten my gloves ( Hey I live in Ventura county, I had forgotten I owned gloves) so finally I called up to Gallegly's office to see if I could just pick them up from someone later. They asked which door I was coming in and said to wait a couple minutes. Well, a couple minutes later I hear "Jason, Lets go warm you up in the office" and next to me is Elton Gallegly who had come down to walk me in. I really can't show enough gratitude. Elton and Janice were as nice as ever and the staff was all exited about the festivities. Brian had asked me to ask if the Gallegly's would be in attendance in the morning and Elton said he has made every one since Reagan. They had even brought one of their grand children from Simi Valley to attend. Elton has previously told me that he is fairly impressed with the bulk of Obama's Cabinet picks and looks forward to working with the administration in these Challenging times.

Line outside the rayburn building
Tonight its off to a live recording of slate magazine and then Dinner with Jay Kapitz (Happy Birthday Jay). I have to be honest though. I've been to three of the events that Jay is Blogging about and I've yet to see him. That and his "story" that he forgot his camera. I have a suspicion that Jay is in his warm house in Agoura and blogging all this in his Pajamas. Well see tonight.