The WaPo has some background on the leading Democratic committee staffers who will now shift to running things for the Democratic majority come January. Here is the profile on some of the staffers from the House, and here is the Senate staffer profile.
So much of what gets done on the Hill gets pushed and wedged and nudged and wheedled and what-have-you by these staffers, while the elected officials do the same in trying to nudge public opinion their way. It's a one-two punch that can be quite effective when you have a great staffer/elected official combination working the floor, the public, and the rest of the staffers behind-the-scenes for their respective bosses.
So I wanted to throw both of these article links out to everyone who reads here to see if any of you have any insights, thoughts or comments on any of the folks profiled. Or some thoughts on staffers on the Hill in general. Because, frankly, these folks do a lot of the work that we would like to be able to influence for the greater good and a more progressive agenda — and in this case especially, knowledge can be very powerful indeed.
A lot of the staffers mentioned in these articles have stuck it out in the minority in both houses of Congress for years, hoping for a day when their vision and agenda might be implemented under a Democratic majority. I have met or spoken with a number of staffers in both houses — and, to be perfectly honest, they have to a one been incredibly knowledgeable and very interested in discussing the finer points of the various issues that I have tried to bring to the table — issues that have been major pushes for this blog and the greater progressive blogosphere.
I tend to be one of those people who likes to have more knowledge about the person with whom I am dealing, so any perspective that you can provide on any of these folks will be much appreciated. Because, starting in January, I expect these folks will be hearing quite a bit from all of us on a regular basis.
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Woohoo! Fitz!!
Good morning Christy. I hope your Christmas was fabulous and that you got everything you wanted.
I got a new Congress for Christmas. And all my kids were home, so I’m happy.
congrats, witchywoman.
Hi Christy. Hope you and yours had a very merry Christmas. All’s well (well almost all) at the T- household.
Fifi (my mom and the favorite Grandma) is in town and we’re heading to Fernbank Science Center with the kids so Mrs. T- can have the flu humbug in relative peace.
Morning all — we had a wonderful Christmas, very relaxing, with lots of play time with The Peanut. What could be better?
G’ morning, Redd… I’m getting up to get the coffee pot – anyone want some?
OC at 6 — mine is currently brewing as well…thank goodness!
Grandma used to say, “coffee is good for your brain”.
I agree.
Morning folks. I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas.
A criticism that DC insiders frequently level at progressive activists is that we “don’t understand how things work” (often stated in an arch and condescending manner). This is sometimes used as their justification for triangulating-capitulating-selling out.
Over the past couple of years, FDL has opened up the process of the behind-the-scenes machinations of politics and allowed me to see the connection between what would appear to be unrelated issues. I’m starting to get a pretty good view of how the sausage is being made. “Get to Know Your Staffers” is another great tool in the ongoing project of taking our country back.
Kudos, Christy.
High winds and surf advisory here on the California northwest coast, with intermittant DSL. Don’t know if this will get through.
As for staff, they are the unsung, and often unknown engine that makes the congress run. I hope to hear more about them and their work as this session progresses. Especially with regard to the tracking project I have heard of, but not very much of lately.
Christy I don’t know any of these staffers – yet. When my second cup of coffee kicks in I’m going for my notebook and take down some names. And jeez, the thrill has not worn off seeing the names on the committee chairmanships. Conyers, Waxman, Leahy. Woo Hoo.
A very late good morning to everyone. Christy, I hope you didn’t take away too much time from family fun yesterday… Thanks for being here.
Orlando Patterson is in the NYT, and will probably be nailed to the cross for what he has to say. I agree with him. {creeping off to put on flame retardant suit}
http://mgpaquin.blogspot.com/
witchywoman at 10 — Thanks — we try to put things into real world context where we can. I’ve always felt that it is never enough to simply rage against the machine. To really make a dent, you have to understand how the machine works and get down to the level of all the inner working parts to really begin to make a difference and change directions. This is but one piece of the puzzle of government, frankly, but it is an awfully vital piece — and one that we would all do well to study.
The LA Times this morning has an op-ed on universal health care.
My hope for the new year is that this is a common discussion in the new year and we get this beast moving forward. In the last couple days here, marksb mentioned the cost of just one vial of chemo and someone else has fallen into the Part D hole… it is very strange that we cannot provide needed medications to our citizens.
Tap, tap.. Is anybody in there? Is anybody out there? Gagh. Too early for Pink Floyd. Damn. Now that tune is running around in my head. Sorry, the high wind is whistling around the doors and windows, and distracting me from the topic at hand.
sofistic at 16 — I love windy days, but only to a point. When it gets so windy that you feel like surrounding trees could come crashing down any minute, it ceases to be any fun at all. Stay safe today.
OC at 15 — Is that Ezra Klein’s op-ed? I heard that it was coming down the publication pike — need to take a peek at it. How does it compare to what Hacker has been talking about with health care?
Redd – I dunno about Hacker’s take… but yes, it’s Klein’s op-ed
Carolyn at 12 — Yep, I hear you. It is a huge thrill to see Leahy, Levin, Waxman…and will be even more thrilling when I start to get committee schedule information from everyone on oversight hearings and such. Is it January yet?
Christy: Thanks. Well, we have about a 150 foot hemlock tree just outside the back of the house that is pretty scary in high winds like these.
G’Morning all… no sleeping in here when Miss Dog is still on her time zone. I read the profiles of the staffers to my parents yesterday and they are encouraged.
My parents who are lifelong Democrats have been the victim of the traditional media spin because their access to the internet is limited(dial up) and knowledge of where to go. But it is hearting to see them criticize the wingnuts who write letters to the editors of their local paper.
There is a local guy who has been sending out emails to a group with articles about specific topics that you would not find in the local paper or from the big dailys.
I can’t even imagine what a scramble Washington DC must be in these days – what with all the office changes, Pelosi’s big bash and – oh! – those committee hearings!
I have this feeling that Waxman is the Truman of our times.
Somewhere on my road trip to Oregon I heard a segment wondering if Pelosi would work for bathroom equity in the house. It seems that the “boys” room is right outside the chamber with TeeVees, shoe shine stand and lots of other stuff but the “Ladies” is accessed through the minority leaders office down a hall and they have to use a key to open it.
Reminds me of going to a play or concert where the line for the ladies room goes out into the lobby and the men whip in and out.
Just heavy rain up here, no wind yet!
The Wicked Witch of Wyoming…
Lynne Cheney, the wife of the Vice President, described Libby as “a man who spent a great deal of his life as a dedicated public servant who’s done an awful lot of good.” Ms. Cheney said putting Libby on trial “does not reflect well on our judicial system.”
What system? Lynne and Dickie believe in the
unitary system…
How come Reggie didn’t tell Lynne to cease and
desist?
Jack
Christy…. somehow my comment was posted twice!
Help …. cannot edit it either…@22 & 25
man! I feel like I’m living the life of luxury… waking up when it’s light outside, reading the “paper”, relaxing with FDL… working the kids’ school schedule is very, very nice….
Bay State at 25 — That cease and desist from the judge to the folks at CREW came as a result of them being legal representativese to a party involved in the case. Lawyers who represent a party in proceedings overseen by the judge know that they are subject to review by that judge — you have to be very careful when representing a party on any side of a criminal matter not to say anything that will be construed as prejudicial toward guilt or innocence.
Lynn Cheney is a lot of things, mouthy and opinionated being two of them, but she’s not a laywer representing a party — and thus, she is not going to get as much of a slam from the judge. That said, she should shut up — or risk the judge taking it out on her husband on the stand. Most judges have very, very long memories, in my experience.
katymine – I only see one post at 22…
Christy Hardin Smith @ 28
Thanks… Will FDL be live blogging from
the Libby trial?
Jack
Bay State at 30 — we’re working on something for the trial. Once we’ve nailed down the details, we’ll let everyone know. Stay tuned…
Here is an article on the oversight training that staffers have been getting in preparation for the new congress. Very interesting.
http://www.govexec.com/story_p…..ef=rellink
OC, I F5 the page, closed it and opened it and still see a dup @25 now in moderation… Hey I am on a cellular wireless access and who knows. It kicks in and out at times. Better than nothing or dial up!
Christy Hardin Smith @ 31
Badda Bing!
Bush’s future biography … “Screw you All: The Story of George W. Bush, in three parts.
Umm, first thoughts on Senate staff. Expect very little from Homeland Security. Kennedy’s first staffer will do well. Armed Services, Finance and Budget won’t do much, or do well. The guy at intelligence has the right idea, but he’s been pushed off to the periphery of intelligence matters for the past few years. We’ll see if he gets up to speed quickly.
Unfortunately, I don’t think Leahy’s right-hand staffer is going to be much of an asset. His specialty is supposed to be antitrust, and antitrust has been in the toilet since 1981. In the years when considerable oversight should have been done in that regard, none to speak of was.
Hope I’m wrong, but as far as chief committee staffers go, it sounds a lot like more of the same with a different sort of rhetoric.
Too many blue suits.
Happy second day of Christmas, first day of Kwanzaa, and Boxing Day, everyone.
The role of staffers actually was the real thing going on in the Reyes pop quiz flap. Sure, Reyes doesn’t know who’s who in Iraq, or the Islamic world. But his intelligence staffers do, and so do the committee’s staff. There are a number of elected officials who are essentially empty suits. To take a polar example, do you really think Strom Thurmond knew anything about anything, in his last term of office? Or consider Ted Stevens and his tubes. His staff clearly tells him how to vote on a large number of issues (or, worse, his favorite lobbyists tell him how).
Sure, there are also elected officials who are deeply engaged–usually on a few issues, like Markey on net neutrality. Nobody can be conversant with all the issues crossing a Congressional desk.
Christy at 18
Is that Ezra Klein’s op-ed?
Barbara O’Brien has some comments over at C&L on the op-ed. The argument is not much different from the one Krugman has made a couple of times.
89 American soldiers have been killed in Iraq this month. 2978 have been lost to date.
I pray the new Congress has the will and wisdom to end this tragic fiasco.
Too many blue suits.
too many of the profiles talked about how “bipartisan” these committees worked in the past….when we know that we have through six years of extreme GOP partisanship in Congress. So, who’s zoomin’ who here?
Morning Everyone.
egregious @
3
Oh egregious! You hit that nail dead center!
We love our guys. And I swear they get sweeter every year. We have just a wonderful warm time with them. No greater gift in the world. ;->
added bonus: they grew up to be flaming liberals, and they vote, and they get their friends to vote…. heh.
extra bonus: some lil’ Santa gremlin tucked a, “I think, therefore I’m a DEMOCRAT” refrig. magnet, AND a, “Some TX village is missing its idiot” mousepad into my stocking.. heh heh.
Christy. They grow up, but they’re still fun. You’ll see…. Indeed, I second the thanks someone sent you for “being here” yesterday. Peanut’s lil g’nite comment to you brought a sniffle of appreciation to the surface here. Bless you all! ;->
I had occasion to “lobby” Congress for eye research last January. What struck me was how the Republican staff of Senators and Congresspeople showed absolute lack of knowledge about NIH and medical research in general, whereas the staff of the one Democrat I spoke with was not only knowledgeable, but excited to talk about it.
Yeah, Christy. You’ll blink your eyes and Peanut’s asking for the car keys and you’re wondering where the time’s all gone. (Although ten years of payin’ college loans tends to stretch the provide a bit of incongruity.)
Using an alien computer, so keeping this quick. Click my name to read about our awkward but indispensable Christmas tradition.
Oooph. Power flashes here. My machine crashed twice and I had to do a restore twice. Last time, it crashed in mid-message. Sending this before the next one.(hopefully) Will try to get more info on staffers and their prep for the upcoming congress.
katymine @
22
Katymine, I used to be in the same situation, & it was driving me nuts. Long before we got speedy-toobes & I discovered FDL, THIS saved was was left of my sanity. Maybe your parents would like it too. It brings you exact reprints of all the major favorites weekly, year-round, and even sports a double-page spread of delectable political cartoons in every issue. (They have a website for ordering, but you can only get the issues via snail-mail.);->
http://liberalopinion.com/
sophistic. Please be careful out there! We’ll still be here when you can type safely. Honest.
Thanks Adie… I will check it out.
katymine @ 47
Goodie!
One little hint about how wonderful the rag is:
I still keep my subscription, even tho we’ve got broadband now(!)
Klein’s LA Times OpEd is a good opening, though he does get in a jab at those darned liberals.
Sigh.
But the point of the piece is that universal healthcare is on the table, and a lot of folks from every side are ready to hammer something out. He puts California in the forefront and while slamming the self-serving approaches proposed by the insurance industry, lauds them for being willing to work on something.
Warning bells at Energy and Commerce in the House: “Dingell … is leery of the push by other Democrats to mandate higher fuel-economy standards.” Plus, who should the new staff director be but a former DaimlerChrysler lobbyist? And we thought the Republicans had it wired???
Adie @ 48
Thanks Adie. And Katymine, how are things for you up on the Oregon coast (about 250 miles north of me)?
Fresh thread, all. Somebody get BobbyG his blood pressure meds before he reads it…
Hey, has anybody noticed that Google has a new blog search function? I searched for 110th congress and this is what I got.
http://blogsearch.google.com/b…..mp;q=110th congress&ie=UTF8
I knew Phil Schiliro in 1981, when he was editor of Environmental Law at Lewis & Clark Law School. He is a very bright, funny, warm person, and I’m delighted he’s helping Henry Waxman.