Kitty Felde

Kitty Felde's Washington blog for the inside story on California's congressional delegation.

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Latest Entries
Want Ads Are More Fun Out Here

Oct. 27, 2009|Kitty Felde|0 comments

It's a lot more fun reading want ads out here. Especially when you have no interest in looking for a job. It's kind of like reading the dating column even though you've been married nearly two decades.

So here's the latest one to catch my eye:

"US Treasury International Economic Crimes Advisors." The job title itself conjures a TNT drama starring Chris Noth or Mark Harmon. And it gets better:

"Treasury is seeking candidates who possess expertise in the detection, investigation and prosecution of federal white collar, organized crime and corruption cases." They're particularly looking for folks with an expertise in money laundering, terrorist financing, fraud, and forensic accounting.

Before you sign up, you should know the posting isn't in Italy or even Moscow. It's for the Economic Crimes Program in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan.

Perhaps it's more of a George Clooney movie.

If you're still interested, check out the website: www.treasuryota.us.

Nina and the Fox

Oct. 26, 2009|Kitty Felde|0 comments

Washington is a very small town.

And fall is an absolutely gorgeous time of year here!

It's sweater weather - clear and cloudless and just enough of a nip in the air to remind you that you aren't in California anymore. And everywhere you look, trees are showing off. Red leaves, orange leaves, brilliant yellow leaves. Vines all sport berries in blue, red, and purple. Sunday was the kind of day that demanded you get out and explore. So we did.

Remember studying the canals in American History class? I never could figure out why they were important - a technology that lasted a few years before being overshadowed by the railroads. Why the heck were kids in California learning about an outdated technology that kids in California would never even see? (Imagine if you will, canal boats floating down the LA River...)

George Washington tried building a canal here. And went broke. So did the builders of the C&O Canal that runs from Georgetown to Maryland. I think they made a profit just three years. The good news is that a Supreme Court Justice lobbied to save the old canals which left Washingtonians with a wonderful place to hike and bike. More than a hundred miles of tow path run alongside the canals, past those trees showing off in the autumn sunlight.

So in the middle of nowhere, walking on that towpath, who do you run into? NPR's Supreme Court guru Nina Totenberg. Out for a walk herself. A very small town indeed.

But the highlight of the afternoon came at twilight.

In Los Angeles, if you take a hike in Griffith Park or Temescal Canyon at dusk, you're likely to encounter a coyote. And that's what he looked like - a small, skinny dog-like creature. But with a red tail tipped in white. And a face that could be nothing else but a fox. He looked up and jogged away, over a bridge, and into the gloaming. Enjoying the perfect end to a perfect autumn day.

Harbor City Fire

Oct. 11, 2009|Kitty Felde|0 comments

There's a brush fire burning not 200 feet away from oil storage tanks in Harbor City off Vermont. Fire helicopters are chasing away water fowl to suck up water from the lake in Harbor Park. Families are gathered along the lake edge to watch.

The Supremes

Oct. 7, 2009|Kitty Felde|0 comments

Sitting in on oral arguments before the US Supreme Court is some of the best theatre in Washington. The only problem: most of the press is stuck off to one side, peering around heavy red velvet curtains (trimmed in even heavier gold tassels) and marble columns and even bronze gates to see the action. A secret service type sits next to you and makes faces if you try to rise to see which Justice is speaking.

The arguments include a lot of legal discussion which can put even the hardiest of law school professors to sleep.

But then there's the exchanges that showcase the personalities of the justices! High drama indeed!

Like Chief Justice Roberts brushing aside the hypotheticals to ask everyone to take a look at the case itself and judge it on its merits. And later dissing Southern California's Mojave National Reserve by asking why anyone would put a cross "in the middle of nowhere?!?!".

Justice Alito drew guffaws when he suggested a cross also honored Jewish war veterans.

The newest Justice, Sonia Sotomayor, asked questions in the same calm monotone that she answered them in her confirmation hearings.

There was even spectacle outside the Court where Betsy Ross faced off with old men in VFW uniforms. And then the wind picked up and covered the white marble steps and everything else with autumn leaves.

Deep Thoughts

Oct. 1, 2009|Kitty Felde|0 comments

The schedule of hearings on Capitol Hill looked like the usual stuff: missile defense, the Afghan elections, an update on the stimulus package...and then there's this item:

The Science and Technology Subcommittee will consider "the nature of matter, energy, space, and time."

Hmm.

Who says Congress doesn't tackle the big issues of our day?