Day 2: Washington DC

Slept late last night around midnight. But woke up at 3am and started calling wifey about my jetlag... She was with Areef but it got disconnected. I guess it must be the destabilise modem i have back home.

After reading and browsing the net, at 5.45am i had to force sleep so that i wont feel tired the whole day. I woke up at 7am due to the wake up call i made via the hotel. In the wake up call the message even mentioned the weather. Cool. And the weather today was cool at 54 F or around 12 C.

Had a hot shower in cold room. And went down at around 7.30ish for breakfast at the Cafe Soleil. The last time i had breakfast there was 5 years ago.

After breakfast, we waited for our shuttle to pick us up for a programme at the Brookings Institution at 1775 Massachusettes Avenue, NW, Washington DC. You can browse http://www.brookings.edu/ to find out more on Brookings.

The Limo bus...

Club Quarters Hotel... i took a picture in front of this hotel 5 years ago... browse my blog history and go to December 2005...

Brookings before the event

And before the event starts, theres bagels, muffins and donuts for everyone...



and Starbucks Coffee regular and Decaf is served...



Some notes from Brookings that is the Midterm Elections 2010: Driving Forces, Likely Outcomes, Possible Consequences





The panelists were (l-r) Sarah Binder, Thomas Mann, EJ Dionne, William Galston and Michael McDonald

EJ Dionne was the moderator for the event. He is the senior fellow at the Brookings Institute. Thomas Mann or Tom is W. Averall Harriman Chair and Senior Fellow at The Brookings spoke on the beautiful policy. In the midterm elections, Republican might win 35-50 seats but Republican has weak candidates. He also spoke on a serious tactical error by the Obama administration on dealing with Congress but it has no bearing on Presidential Election.

Also a Senior Fellow Sarah Binder spoke on governing with small minorities, past separation of powers and a divided government will bring together the 2 parties to better legistlate. She also touched on the Tea Party.

Next to talk was William Galston aka Bill. He is the Ezra K. Zilkha Chair and Senior Fellow The Brookings. He spoke on Taxes on small business, Healthcare bills assault by Republican, purchases of insurance policy. On Job front, current admin needs to put serious proposal. He also mentioned that the key to Obama's second term will lay in his State of Union Address in 2011 where he will declare want he wants to fight for etc, Laws of Tertestorone and a Gridlock outcome. The 3rd Key actor are the American people.

Lastly, Michael McDonald, Nonresident Fellow at the Brookings spoke on the Redistricting. Every 10 years there will be a redistricting done by censors and will get the numbers by December. All redistricting must have equal population and State Legislasture that does the redistricting. And i was surprise that in redistricting, Republican and Democrates has a bipartisan trade among them. But if there is a No Compromise its called a Gerrymandering and stated the incident that happened by a Governor Eldridge Gerry in 1812.

After the event, there was some Q&A sessions. Some really legendary journalists asks the panelists some questions. One of it is a journo from CBS who made the Exit Poll famous the night before Elections.

I didnt want to ask question while everyone was still in the audience, so waited when its over so that i can ask them personally. I went to Bill Galston to enquire on Obama's immigration reform etc.

Waiting for my turn to ask Bill Galston some questions

After Brookings we left for ACYPL to meet with Linda Rotunno who is the CEO of ACYPL

Upon arrival, we went straight up to the meeting room and had sandwich and salad for lunch with Diet Coke.

We had a round table session to know everyone better while munching our lunch

Linda was explaining to us how DNC works... No policy making at this part... She also explained the US democracy and the 3 separation of powers...

Cheezzzee

One for the road...

Had our meeting at a bipartisan lobbyist group called the Capitol Counsel

After the meeting, we walked to the nearest T Mobile store to get a local number for my blackberry.

Thanks to Thomas who has been really helpful in getting my mobile...

One of Thomas's colleague who she claimed camera shy walked out and took with me this photo... My local mobile number is 202 569 4715.


After that CW and i walked around DC to our Hotel... It was a nice cool breeze and just perfect for a stroll in the City...

DC...

Saw the same CVS a pharmacy store and gotten my son a card for his coming birthday... while at the store bought a deodorant (gillete brand) and Cheez-it... yum yum... so that i can blog and munch at the same time... now its time for dinner... its 7.32pm and its free and easy... i can always opt to sleep and catch up with my jetlag... decision desicions... :)