by Frank James
Joe Shoemaker, press secretary to Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), the Senate Majority Whip, must’ve gotten a lot of questions today about the cots. So he provided a helpful, playful press release in Q & A format. I pass it along for your edification.
While the United States Senate deals with some big issues — war, natural disasters, impeachments (and before the intrepid correspondents from the Washington Times ask, I am not suggesting anything, I am making a historical reference. Really.) — no issue truly compares to this cot thing, now does it?!
So as a public service, I present:
COTS II: RETURN OF THE BEDI
Q: So did anyone use the cots?
A: Yes. Quite a few folks did . . . in fact, between the cots that were set up in the LBJ Room and the comfy couches in the Marble Room (right off the Senate floor) at least 5-6 Democratic senators slept within steps of the Senate floor. Also, Senator Reid and Senator McConnell slept on cots that were set up by the Sergeant-at-Arms in their Capitol offices. And Senator Durbin slept on the couch in his Capitol office. In addition, a number of senators slept in the Capitol in their hideaway offices. Most senators went back to their offices and crashed on various articles of furniture there.
Q: This is huge news! Who slept on the cots?
A: Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and two other Democratic senators who have asked not to be named slept on the cots in the LBJ room. And don’t forget . . . Senator Reid and Senator McConnell slept on cots that were set up by the Sergeant-at-Arms in their Capitol offices.
Q: Who is refusing to divulge their identities? And why are they being like this!?
A: Although I begged and pleaded that you had a right to know, they seem all hung up on this “dignity” and “pivacy” stuff.
Q: This is great stuff Joe! Any more dish related to the cots?
More Top Picks Best Electric Shaved Ice Makers
A: Great follow up question. And it just so happens I have a funny story. While the cots are controlled by the Sergeant-at-Arms, once they were set up in the LBJ room, they were technically under the control of the Majority Leader (he controls access to the LBJ Room). So when Sen. McConnell requested that a cot be set up in his office (as is the tradition with both the Minority and Majority Leaders) he had to either send for another cot from the storage facility in Cheverly or ask Sen. Reid for one of his cots. He asked Sen. Reid. And with love in our hearts and a smile on our faces, we sent him the pick of the litter.
Noting the Minority Leader’s mood on the floor this morning however, I believe he may have gotten up on the wrong side of that cot . . . but that’s just a personal observation.
Q: This cot story has captivated the imagination of my editors and my producers — can I get more footage today?
A: It is with a heavy heart that I report to you that the cots have left the building. Turns out, they use that LBJ room for more than just sleeping (though having been to a few policy lunches back in the day, I am not willing to stand by the complete accuracy of that statement.)
Q: So how much sleep did you get, Joe?
A: As much as some on the other side have derided the last 24 hours as “cheap theatrics” I have discovered some very profound truths: 1) sleep is overrated; 2) three shots of expresso followed by a Red Bull chaser could literally wake the dead; and 3) when they say the Capitol press corp is the hardest working group of reporters in DC, they are right (although I have pictures of Carl Hulse in pink footy pajamas that I will be selling on e-Bay.)