Congressional Reindeer

On the shore of the Potomac, at least not far removed, sits a revered building currently going through a renovation to look as fine as people remember it.

Inside that building the people's chosen leadership will shortly see its own renovation as the constant ebb and flow of politics sweeps in a new wave of representatives and senators. By the way, it doesn't entirely sweep out those who lose elections. They have the right to appear on the floors of Congress as former members, and often reincarnated as lobbyists!

It being the holiday season, and after countless re-tellings of The Night Before Christmas the thought came that the 2014 and 2015 versions of Congress, popularly labeled as a "Do Nothing Congress," resembled a herd of reindeer who all wanted to ride in the sleigh with the toys, and thus never got anywhere important (besides being fooled into action by something labeled "Not A Tax" which a dozing majority later awakened to find out it is one.)

Now I must admit that many in the 2013-2015 Congress (they get elected in the even years, but serve, if at all, in the certainly odd years) were somewhat dashing but certainly not Dasher-like in getting the things done that needed doing.

Many attended formal balls and dances, such as the Inaugural Balls (that's right, there were more than just one} so they could actually lay some claim to being Dancer-like.

Many resembled Prancer, but in the sense that a horse, or a reindeer I suppose, that is prancing is certainly not at a full gallop trying to get anywhere, although many of them did fly to exotic places on "inspection tours" which added to the public expense of their support in office.

I wouldn't characterize any of the inordinately small percentage of women who succeeded in being elected to the departing Congress as Vixens, or "she-foxes; shrewish, ill-tempered" women, though a few candidates come to mind, including one formerly in the 2014 administration who seems to have traveled even more extensively, almost as if adding countries' names to her resumé for a much more ambitious campaign yet to come om 2016.

As for potential Comets in the crowd, there were many who came and went with only the briefest flares of fading brilliance, in contrast to some other moonbeams who just stay until full retirement, and even then seem to keep coming around.

That leaves Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen to pull the sleigh of government.....three out of eight of the declared and elected "front runners." To hear it told, some of the remaining, as yet uncategorized "leaders" got elected by firing intentional arrows into the very hearts of those running against them for office, cheap but plentiful "shots." Others made thunderous, Donner-like pronouncements that brought little nourishing rain, and Blitzen-like leaders were hardly found because few lightning-quick decisions were made except when it came time to adjourn and stump for more campaign donations.

And what about any leaders like red nosed Rudolphs, you ask?

I will have to admit that there was no chairmen of a finance committee who fell into the Reflecting Pool, or senator who drove off a bridge and was noted for sometimes having a red nose, but there seem to have been an adequate number who, instead of leading, chose to prance around and play in reindeer games.

And as for Santa?

The elected driver of the sleigh never could seem to get all of the reindeer, even the willing ones, in harness at the same time, so he appears to have made executive decisions to use Express Mail to make sure all the presents and toys (gifts, you know) were given to those he considered "nice" each Christmas, while excusing his inaction in a truly festive speech to the reindeer-like gathering each January

Some of the disappointed who didn't get their promised goodies, are waiting to hear him say "....and to all a good night."

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© 2014 Demas W. Jasper All rights reserved.