Turned on C-SPAN for a few minutes ago. Midday Tuesday.

Representatives from both sides of the aisle in Congress were talking up the Soapbox Derby on Capitol Hill.

I moved my little fingers as fast as I could to turn off the TV.

Our represenatives at work.

Which reminds me, did you see the president's speech before a joint session of Congress a couple of weeks ago? Did you stick to the end, when the president was slowly walking back up the center aisle to exit the chamber?

Yes, those were congressmen and senators (from both parties) stopping him for his autograph on their copies of his speech.

Isn't there something wrong with this picture?

Also, how many hours before a presidential speech do you suppose congressmen like Eliot Engel of New York and Jesse Jackson Jr. of Chicago (among those I recognize) arrive to guarantee aisle seats? Next time, check it out for yourselves. The same handful are always there. You have to believe they're less interested in what the president has to say than they are in getting face time on national TV, as well as handshakes with the dignitaries (senators, presidential cabinet, Supreme Court, foreign diplomats) as they ceremonially move towards their positions.

Our representatives at work.