OMG! Speaker Pelosi’s Office Called
Two hours into a photo shoot in the midst of wet snow then sleet then rain, my fingers were so cold I could barely open my cell phone. I was about to ignore it. Frank said, “It’s probably Speaker Pelosi’s office.” We were in front of the Capitol and we were the only people out there. We were also in our bright yellow ponchos. Maybe she saw us from her office window.
So I answered the phone. Sure enough Mary Kate, Pelosi’s scheduling assistant was on the line. “The Speaker is very busy with the returning Congress and it’s just before the long weekend,” she said, “but I am able to schedule an appointment with one of her assistants tomorrow at 3:00 p.m.”
Gee, that actually sounded good. The Speaker hadn’t dismissed my effort after all. I was so thrilled with that aspect of the call I almost accepted.
I was totally delighted to hear a human voice from her office and was very tempted but said, “You know, that’s great. I am delighted you called. I know the speaker must be very busy so why don’t we give it another week to ten days? Perhaps she’ll be able to find 10-15 minutes by then.”
I thanked Mary Kate for her efforts to set something up and said I’d be patient. After all I had been through over the past 48 days, a few more days wouldn’t hurt. Besides, I have loads of work to do here. So rather than meet with her assistant, I passed on that opportunity until I know for sure seeing Pelosi in person is out of the question.
Wish me luck.
Here are a few people who I marched for today. It was overcast, with rain, sleet, snow and temperatures that straddled freezing. Perfect to capture the mood of this entire odyssey.
Barbara Allen, Dan DeWalt, Lauren Durand, Steve West, Freddie Hart, Sandra Joncus, Wendy and David Newton, William and Patricia Hayes, and to “Freedom of Speech” by Norman Rockwell.
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January 18th, 2008 at 9:06 am
Dear John,
Good for you!
I am checking here everyday and I hope Pelosi will see you and that many of us will know in advance so we can be there in your support.
Now, what will be the next step if she refuses to see you in person?
Cannnot wait to read more..
GOOD LUCK!
Monique
January 18th, 2008 at 11:16 am
John,
I agree wholeheartedly, you didn’t go through all that you did to see her “assistant”. The arrogance of Pelosi! That is why she surely must be thrown out of office. Her stubbornness has earned her a place in history, albeit one that she would never claim for herself. Shame on her and all of Congress.
I thank you so much,
Ron
January 18th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Since Ben Affleck got to see Nancy Pelosi in person this week ) Cheryl Biren-Wright, Op-Ed News, http://www.afterdowningstreet.org), let’s remember that Ben is an “impeachment denier” — thinks Cheney & Bush have “presided over one of the worst administrations in history” (Hardball, June ‘07) but that trying and failing to impeach would “make Congress look bad.” Is Ben Affleck delusional? Does he think Congress looks GOOD right now? Spare us, Ben. You stammered on Hardball. John Nirenberg, who does his homework and has his facts, never stammers. Nancy Pelosi is afraid of him. Go John — wait her out!
January 18th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
John,
Tempting as it might have been to accept the offer and get kind of close, kudos on your fortitude at not accepting scraps that were tossed at you, shall we say, off the table.
–b.a.in AZ
January 18th, 2008 at 11:54 pm
Hi John,
You don’t know me but I’ve heard of you through your efforts and just wanted to say thanks.
Regards,
Brett Paatsch
Melbourne Australia
January 19th, 2008 at 2:10 am
[...] Ben holds out hope that he won’t have another box office flop and maybe, just maybe, he’ll receive the coveted gold statue. Who knows? He might just thank Nancy Pelosi in his acceptance speech! Update: John reports “OMG, Speaker Pelosi’s Office Called!“ [...]
January 19th, 2008 at 5:18 am
HI, JOHN, it’s Lynn from “Liberty!”
I AM SO PROUD of you!! It had to be TOUGH to say “no,” but it was ABSOLUTELY THE RIGHT response!! Nancy will say “yes” to Ben in a hot(pun intended) second, but you are supposed to “settle” for an asst.??? I DON’T THINK SO!! You proved again THAT YOU ARE INDEED A MAN OF PRINCIPLES, HIGH MORAL VALUES, AND YOUR WORD(UNLIKE MOST, IF NOT ALL, OF OUR U.S. Representatives and Senators!!).
I am in CA until the end of the month. If you are still in DC when I get home, I will really try to get down there. I am spreading the word here about your march and your site. I brought the yellow “impeach” rain slicker to show all my friends!
Hope your aches and pains are gone!!
Take good care!! Say hello to Frank and Marilyn. I hope to meet Allyson someday. What she wrote about her experience when trying to view the Constitution touched me deeply. Again, I could not have agreed MORE with how she handled it! I can see how you 2 are a couple.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR GREAT WORK & COMMITMENT
“LIBERTY” LYNN