I don’t count Obama’s press conference, that was more of a pageant.

Here are some pictures, and thoughts, from my first day covering the White House press briefings.After a long-ass drive, during which I Twittered my playlist, the first thing I had to do was find a parking splace.  I found a metered spot on H Street, about 2 blocks from the White House.  A reading of the labyrinthine parking sign revealed that I had to be back by 4, or be towed.  Those things read like the rulebook to Fizzbin.

On my way in, I stopped to speak with some protesters, which I really have to stop

doing.  They almost made me late.  I hadn’t heard of them before, they are the relatives of Camp Ashraf‘s residents.

As I hurried away, I also stopped to take a picture of the White House’s waning erection, and a quick shot of some Gitmo protesters, then was quickly cleared through security.

Once inside, I headed for the briefing room, where I squatted my stuff on what I later learned were Kirk Victor and April Ryan’s seats.  I ended up in the Newsweek seat, eventually.

I then went outside to take some B-roll type video, see what I could see.  I met the press official for the US Conference of Mayors.  I asked her if Sarah Palin was a member, and she said she didn’t think so.  I drove all the way from New Jersey, and the only mayor I met was the mayor of  Trenton, Douglas Palmer.  Trenton has the world’s whiniest bridge.  It says, in giant letters, “TRENTON MAKES, THE WORLD TAKES.”

There were a lot of media there for the mayors’ thing, and I wandered in and out of sundry TV shots, Tweeting and shooting my own video.I haven’t had a chance to review much of it.

As the press conference was starting, I was not only posting several articles online, I was also texting back and forth with Caleb Howe, who was uploading my Helen Thomas video for me.   Once it started, I was surprised again at how not awed I was.  For a brief moment, there was a surreality to being in that place that I’d only seen on TV or episodes of “The West Wing,” but it vanished, replaced by an intense desire to get a question in.

I didn’t, but Kirk Victor pretty much asked what I was going to.  That’s why I rolled my eyes on the TV, not because I didn’t like Kirk’s question. 

When it was over, I went to the press office, and I talked with Bill Burton about the bogus teleprompter story, and I  got to meet some of the people I’ve thus far o\nly spoken to on the phone.  They are a really young group.  For example, the guy who sends out all the pool reports, Ben Finkenbinder.  I didn’t know whether to introduce myself or arrange a playdate for him with Caleb.

I also noticed a box of some kind of energy drink mix in the press office.  I asked Ben how often it gets refilled, and he said it just appeared one day, and hasn’t been refilled yet.  Well, it’s barely been a month, so maybe the ZizZazz fairy will be along soon.

I also got to talk to  April Ryan and Nia-Malika Henderson for awhile, and then I took a bunch of pictures of the Ebony photo op.

Helen Thomas was kind enough to let me use her workspace to file a story.  Just as I got started, though, I realized that I had 10 minutes to move my car, or I’d be towed.  I packed up, left the White House, got about a block away, and realized I had left my coat in the break room.  (Earlier exchange in break room:  Me (to nobody in particular) – “What a depressing break room.”  Unidentified Voice – “Fuck you!”)   I had to run my ass off, get cleared through security again, got my coat, ran back to my car at 4:01.  It was still there.  I then realized I had left my thermal mug in the break room, where it remains.

I’ll have a look through the video to see what’s worth posting.

It was a good first day, I got more than I could actually write about.

February 21, 2009
Categories: Daily Dose Only, white house . . Author: Tommy Christopher

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