I am writing this post from Washington. Home of American Politics. Named after George Washington. President of the United States Number One. #1POTUS. This place reeks of politics - and that was just the drive here. Up until a few
months ago, when I was doing a speaking gig in Aix-en-Provence and I met someone who lived there, Watergate meant to me Nixon and impeachment. Period. But it is actually a posh apartment building where Condoleeza Rice lives. We drove past that. We drove past the Kennedy Centre. Today I am visiting the Abraham Lincoln and the FDR memorial and tomorrow I am on a private tour of the White House. On Friday, I am Best Man to
Matthew Elliott on George Washington's Estate in Mount Vernon. I am a political geek - West Wing, House of Cards US, House of Cards UK, Newsroom and Yes Minister are all on my "favourite" lists. For me this is like a film fan going to Hollywood - except the sets are real and the people really exist. Except for Freddy's BBQ rib "joint" which doesn't! #SadFace
The places are iconic but the people are what matter. We don't love House of Cards because of the scenery or the film-making although that is wonderful. We watch because of Frank Underwood. We don't watch the West Wing because of Sorkin's brilliant dialogue. We watch because of Josh and Donna and Toby.
We also watch them both because we suspect the reality is often far too similar to aspects of House of Cards and because we wish our elected representatives were grown-ups like Leo and Jed Bartlett advised by people like Fitz and Babish. Because as private citizens we wish the former one wasn't real and the latter was. But as politicos we also love them because in our own little political lives we wish we were like the roles we see on screen.
I am meeting some wonderful people including a friend,
John Shosky, who wrote speeches for 3 White House administrations. I am staying with
Denise Graveline who worked in the Clinton administration. I have insider tour guides to Washington who give texture and anecdotes and colour to this wonderful set. I am a lucky guy.
Others. like
Dan Hamilton, have taught me what little, and how little, I know about US politics including the false comparisons between "Conservatives" in the UK and in the US. And between Democrats and UK Labour. Last night Denise and I discussed, between drinks of course, the differences between Liberal Conservatives (UK) and Libertarians (US).
To be honest, I don't know much about US politics. At all. I love the fact that I am here. I am lapping it all up. There will be annoying amounts of photos on my Facebook page very soon. Sign up here if you want to see them.
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Image courtesy of Damian Brandon / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
