It's been a day of putting my head down, setting my feelings aside and doing my job trying to document everything we saw
But I need to take a moment to reflect on what has happed here at the U.S. Capitol, a place I've been privileged to cover on and off for over a decade (1/)
I've worked for a tiny policy newsletter, a newspaper, a magazine, a newswire, and now one of the big 3 national TV networks. I've had nice offices and tiny windowless desks. I've covered this place when Republicans ran it and when Democrats ran it. (2/)
I love my job and I love this place, even with all of its deep foibles and flaws. (3/)
When I first started, I was in awe that our system of government allowed reporters -- the free and protected press -- to roam the halls of the branch of government laid out in Article I of our Constitution. (4/)
There were lions here: John McCain, Ted Kennedy, John Warner...early on, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden were all here too. I could wander up to any one of them, tape recorder in hand, and demand they answer my questions (5/)
And while the job has always been to hold power to account, and I have covered my share of cowards and hypocrites and worse, I have also been inspired by the public servants who come here to try and make our world better (6/)
Political party is not character. I have always believed character matters. It will always matter to me. It will always matter to my reporting. (7/)
I have also always been inspired by our system of government. I was raised to believe in the American dream, in what we represented, in what we were supposed to be in the world: An example, an aspiration. I have always been so proud to be an American (8/)
And I always have viewed my job, first and foremost, as delivering information to my fellow citizens so they could decide how we should be governed. So they would have the tools they needed to make decisions about how to govern us (9/)
Because they do govern us. The people. (10/)
But what I have been covering these past four years has really shaken my faith. I have wanted to believe the best of our leaders. I have been willing to see it. But it's clear our country today isn't living up to what we have promised to be (11/)
Watching the Capitol I love be swarmed felt like a final blow. (12/)
We are supposed to lead the world. We are supposed to have the kind of strength that demands dictators and autocrats are shamed and driven from power. How are we to be that leader when our own shrine to democracy is overrun? (13/)
I refuse to believe America isn't capable of taking back its place as a moral leader of the free and democratic world. I know there are good people who are willing to lead.
I really hope they don't let all of us down. (fin)
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.@Sen_JoeManchin tells me of the president’s comments to @realBobWoodward: “I don't know how the President can survive this, I don't know how he can.” (1/)
“To basically saying that he knew, in February, we should be taking this and using everything that we have to fight this pandemic and not take it seriously because he wanted to downplay it...” (2/)
KASIE: “When you say you don't know if he’ll survive what do you mean?”
MANCHIN: “I don't know how you can survive an election, when you’re basically asking the people to give you another four years of anything, when you’re taking an oath and pledge to protect and defend..” (3/)
Some good history lessons here from @AlexHortonTX. These Army base names are even more 🤔 when you learn that not only did these generals fight for the losers they also were in several cases really terrible generals who said awful things washingtonpost.com/national-secur…
“Fort Bragg in North Carolina, the headquarters of the Special Forces, bears the name of Gen. Braxton Bragg, a commander often assailed as one of the most bumbling commanders in the war. Bragg was relieved of command after losing the battle for Chattanooga in 1863.”
“Fort Benning in Georgia, the home of Army infantry and airborne training, is named after Brig. Gen. Henry Benning, who led troops at Antietam and Gettysburg....(1/2)
Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., on Mattis letter: “Gen Mattis served his country well and honorably and he's entitled to his opinion...” (1/2)
“... I don't know that him saying this is especially helpful to the various crises that we're going through right now but if he feels the need to express himself, he can.” (2/2)
MAD DASH TO DC: Democratic and Republican leaders are scrambling members of Congress back to Washington late tonight because they suddenly believe the $2 trillion economic relief package might not pass by voice vote. @NBCNews
The vote could fail on Friday if at least 216 members don’t show up to vote on the floor tomorrow. Members are now racing back in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic -- because leaders fear at least one member, likely Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., will demand a recorded vote.
Ultimately, passage isn’t in jeopardy – but it could be delayed for as long as it takes for 216 members to arrive in Washington. The House gavels in at 9 a.m. Friday and is expected to have two hours of debate.
The Senate could pass the House/White House compromise legislation in mere minutes if all 100 senators said okay. But right now — my sources are saying the earliest we’ll know if that’s possible is Tuesday when Senate Republicans meet for lunch
There’s urgency from top leaders to move quickly, per my reporting.
But individual senators have various hang ups — Sen. Ron Johnson put out a statement about problems he has with the bill, for example
And Sen. Mike Lee has issues with the reauthorization of FISA that has my sources telling me means the Senate faces a long drawn out process on that, set to begin in earnest Monday evening