Today was another interesting day in our nation’s capital. We started off the morning with Dr. Michael A. Genovese from Loyola Marymount University. He spoke to us about the interesting situation that Obama is currently in. He says that Obama must have a balanced act in order to retain power as president. He must keep a state of crisis so that he is a powerful president, but at the same time he should not have to high of expectations so that he sets himself up to fail. In essence, it is Obama’s position to lose.
We then heard the experiences of Special Agent David O’Connor of the Secret Service – which was created in 1865 by Abraham Lincoln the day before he was assassinated. But the organization was originally commissioned to prevent counterfieting. He took many questions from the audience and told us that he has been able to travel all over the world when on detail, and that he personally was most excited about covering Pope Benedict XVI when he visited the United States. This will be his last inauguration as he plans to retire. One girl rudely asked him about the shoe throwing incident, and argued with him as he apparently did not give a sufficient answer. There needs to be screening of questions.
We then were given a history lesson about presidential portraits and how they represent the position of president rather than the actual physical attributes of the president. Mr. Pachter spoke of how presidents like Van Buren, Wilson, Adams and Jefferson were not good presidents, even though they were good men. He sees Obama as being a great president because he has a 1st class mind and a 1st class temperament. This will lead him to do great things he thinks.
Common Ground then became the theme as USA Today Columnists Cal Thomas and Bob Beckel spoke. Thomas is a member of the Republican Party and Beckel is a member of the Democratic Party. Aside from debating their differences the two friends believe that there needs to be an end to partisan bickering so that the general good and welfare can be at the forefront of our politics.
After lunch, we visited the nonprofit public-interest advocasy group NORML (National Organizations for the Reform of Marijuana Laws). We saw their prisoner art and spoke with the director about his passionate zeal for the de-criminalization of marijuana. He stated that one in three Americans live in a municipality where marijuana has become de-criminalized. He sees the continued upholding of status quo with marijuana laws under Obama.
Then after lunch, Sarah, Cara and I traveled from the Mall into Chinatown. We were almost run over by a motorcade as we crossed the street. We are unsure of who it was, but it was obviously a high-profile person. We ate at La Tasca next to the Verizon Center. La Tasca is a Spanish Tapas restaurant and bar with a fun, inviting atmosphere. The ribs with tangy sauce were great and the service was good. Another 4 out of 5 stars.
FYI: Dr. Brickman does not liked to be called a “maverick”.
