Rare moment of dignity

It was with a divided mind that I went over to the State House to witness Bobby Harrell’s election as speaker. After all, with Jim Harrison having bowed out (pictured below, right) of the race that morning, I knew what was going to happen, so was it really worth my time on a busy day?

But I’m glad I went. Otherwise, I would not have been able to witness the almost Harrison eerie spectacle of all the members in their seats, completely QUIET, and paying rapt, respectful attention to the person at the podium — in this case, Rep. Bob Leach, who was nominating Mr. Harrell.

I particularly appreciated this because normally, I don’t have the slightest idea what’s going on in that chamber. At least, not when I’m there. If I watch it over the streaming video link on the Legislature’s web site, I can sort of follow the action. But with everyone milling about, talking, none of them even looking in the direction of whoever theoretically has the floor, and usually someone standing next to me telling me something far more interesting (and more intelligible) than the official business being conducted … well, I’m just lost.

Fortunately for one with an attention deficit as deep as mine, most of my career has been spend supervising people who can go over and follow the action — then come back and explain it to me — rather than trying to do it myself firsthand (I was only a reporter for two years, and that ended in 1980).

So actually being able to follow the simple, linear, undistracted process for once was a real pleasure, and made me feel almost, but not quite, like someone who was on top of everything for a change.

But it was not fated to last. Here’s the really ironic thing: While they were carrying out an election that was a fait accompli, everyone was riveted to the action. But as soon as they got through with Bobby’s speech and moved on to the actual business of making laws that we’ll all have to live under, it was back to the usual schizophrenic nonsense. And I was totally confused. For some reason, David Wilkins — who was no longer speaker — presided while his successor milled about on the floor accepting congratulations. Everybody was out of their seats, Chaos chatting, looking everywhere but at the former speaker, milling about, and their numbers were rapidly dwindling as more and more left to get a jump on lunch. I thought, from what little I could follow, that they were deciding whether or not to concur with bills coming back to them from the Senate or from conference committees, but I really couldn’t tell for sure.

The sublime, somber, dignified moment was over, and they were back to making sausages.

3 thoughts on “Rare moment of dignity”

  1. Meg Collins

    Having been a page and actually allowed “on the floor” where I could listen to the various conversations, I still couldn’t follow many of the happenings. Very little of it seem related to State business. It seemed to focus more on where the Lobbyist-sponsored reception was that night. Granted, I was a page before Operation Lost Trust. However, I’m glad I’m not alone in this ADHD affliction only on Statehouse grounds.

  2. Sunny

    Actually, Speaker Wilkins continued to preside because he retains the Speaker role until his resignation becomes effective on June 21st, when he is sworn in as the Canadian ambassador.

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