Liveblogging the Capitol Crisis
Published May 26, 2006
One anonymous phone call and the media is off to the races. Someone heard a gunshot on the same parking level of the Rayburn House Office Building where the firing range is located and it's lockdown time, room to room searches, and lobbyists locked in hearing rooms sizing each other up to find the best cuts of meat for a late lunch.
As a reporter on Fox News said a few minutes ago, "Nobody's been arrested, nobody's been captured, and nobody's been injured." He could have gone farther to point out that nobody's even seen a gunman or figured out who made the phone call that started all of this. But the Capitol Police are taking the report seriously nonetheless and I imagine those being told to stay in their offices and hearing rooms and the cafeteria with assault-rifles pointed at them are taking it pretty seriously as well.
Having worked on the house side of Capitol Hill and having spent a lot of time in the Rayburn Building, I can attest to the fact that it's a huge building and damned hard to control. Not only does it have a complex design with multiple corridors connecting different parts of the building, but there are also scores of exits and entrances, multiple levels and elevators spaced far apart, a huge multilevel parking garage, and secret underground tunnels which many who work there are fully aware of. There's an underground subway system, which the public generally doesn't know about, public tunnels to the capitol, and there are hidden steam tunnels all over the place that are large enough to walk through and that provide access to all of downtown DC, though most people aren't aware of them. As I understand it, some of these means of access have been sealed off since I worked there. Back in those days, you could sneak in and out of the building at will if you had some balls and some basic tools. It was a favorite target of building 'hackers.'
Dave Nalle has been a magazine editor, freelance writer, capitol hill staffer, game designer and taught college history for many years. He is Vice Chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus, working to promote liberty in the GOP. He designs fonts for a living and lives with his family just outside Austin. You can find his writings on politics and culture at Republic of Dave, on conspiracy theories at IdiotWars and on design and fonts at The Scriptorium.
- Liveblogging the Capitol Crisis
- Published: May 26, 2006
- Type: News
- Section: Politics
- Filed Under: Politics: Government, Politics: U.S., Politics: War and Terrorism
- Writer: Dave Nalle
- Dave Nalle's BC Writer page
- Dave Nalle's personal site
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Comments on this articleComments
Sometimes, in situations like this, with nothing really happening, a talking head does come up with a good point. Someone on one of the news channels pointed out earlier that this sort of crisis and the coverage are a great resource for terrorists who would like to attack the capitol, because it shows them what they're up against and where the vulnerabilities are.
Dave
Three hours and they still don't know if shots were even fired...
Dave
There's a firing range in the Rayburn Building? You learn something new everyday.
I'll ask the obvious question: Why?
For the Capitol Police to practice. Plus it's a little known fact that almost every member of Congress - even many of those most for gun control for the rest of us - carries a gun, and they need a place to practice too.
Dave
Ooh, exciting. They're starting to let people out of the building after almost 4 hours of nothing.
Dave
Meanwhile, over on the Senate side work continues, with Gen. Hayden being approved as head of the CIA by a 78 to 15 vote.
dave
You could almost file this under "satire," Dave.
Breaking News - our long morning of terror is over. The 2 million plus square feet of the Rayburn building have been cleared. No one has any idea what actually happened, but the building appears to be safe. Somehow this reminds me of the kid who has a test that day calling in a false fire alarm so his school is shut down and the test is cancelled.
Maybe if we all phoned in false reports we could shut down the government permanently and the country would be better off.
Dave
The local news here in DC has the answer. It was an air hammer being used by a construction crew.
Somehow this reminds me of the kid who has a test that day calling in a false fire alarm so his school is shut down and the test is cancelled.
Funny you should mention...apparently all the District schools went into lockdown mode over this, too.
It reminds me more of the pompous newsman (played by Chevy Chase on SNL) announcing dramatically, "This just in -- Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead!"
This just in -- no Congressmen (or -women!) were harmed today as an unidentified gunman (or woman!) fired shots in or near the Rayburn Office Building firing range.
The tense standoff concluded as Capital Police were finally admitted to Congressman Jefferson's office....
Oh, sorry, mixed up the two news stories!
"this sort of crisis and the coverage are a great resource for terrorists who would like to attack the capitol, because it shows them what they're up against and where the vulnerabilities are."
You mean like pointing out "The Capitol Police issue secret passwords to Hill staffers"?
Yes, Roger, but I'm pretty sure that since MSNBC announced it on air, my mention is pretty meaningless.
dave
MSNBC aired it live, so it no longer exists over their airwaves. You have posted it online where it will remain for all to see, and was the only place I've seen this information.
What is accomplished by passing on security measures? You're either part of the solution or your part of the problem.
OMG, I'm a traitor, Roger. I'm going to destroy my TiVo immediately since it has a recording of the broadcast. I forgot to factor in the fact that BC has more readers than MSNBC has viewers. But I also saw it in a Fox News report, and I know they're tops of the terrorist viewing list.
Dave
Roger, please, how dare you question the patriotism of a Karl Rove wannabe?
Never said you were a traitor; just a fool like Geraldo. How many people can see it on MSNBC from this point forward? None. How many people can see it here on BC from this point forward? Potentially thousands a day.
Just another day of America looking stupid. For sure terrorists must roll on the floor laughing on camel hair prayer rug's at this. Just like the DC Police blow up a suspicious package, usually with old underwear inside. Of course it could be nuke underwear. Holy frecking Bat Boy. How rediculess we must look. Must admit as an American Im imbarished. All the major networks including FOX, which I always watch suck.
This I just picked up. Not sure if valid. Nancy Pussyeosi, Pelosi, Pisseosi or what ever had a bad case of flatulence which sounded like gun shots. The news said someone could smell gunpowder. Wonder what Nancy ate for breakfast.
Just another stinken day for all the jerk-offs in DC.
How did we ever get this far. It's called Memorial Day. Most Americans think Memorial Day is for Mr. or Ms. Bud and bring on the BBQ. To my fellow VETS, I SALUTE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR THE FREEDOM THAT WAS PAID WITH THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. MAY GOD BLESS YOU ON OUR HOLIDAY.
sr
I think using passwords would be a given during situations like that. I saw a report saying that Capitol Hill police would come to the closed doors and give a code word so that people locked inside the rooms would know it was them.
And Dave, I think I know what this was a diversion for now. The Iraq massacre which is getting little coverage.
It's the way things work.
Yah, Roger was just busting my balls gratuitously. Recognition methods like that are used all the time in situations like this.
As for distracting from the 'massacre', I doubt this will do it. With the marines coming up for court martial it's not going anywhere.
Dave
In response to your comments about Cynthia McKinney, I wanted to let people know that there are citizens in the 4th that don't want her representing them anymore. Check out the site: www.firemckinney.com
I have an old vet friend who has always leaned to the right. In his 60's, very bitter on life, wife who left him years ago, and no family. Im talking about a Vietnam vet that did things most people cant comprehend or could care less. He sits alone each day in his house, sometimes with a loaded 1911 pressed to his brain. Each day I wonder if this will be his departure. The sad thing is he no longer cares about is country he once loved so much.
He told me his desire is to watch the beloved country, AMERICA that he fought for falls.
Not me. Unlike him, I have a family and will do whatever it takes to keep them safe.
Just wanted to comment and hope maybe someone will pray for my friend. My age is making me soft like Charmin toilet tissue.
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Here's a tiny revelation. The Capitol Police issue secret passwords to Hill staffers so they can identify themselves in a crisis situation and not get shot. Interesting tidbit.
Dave