LOC

In medical terms, it stands for Loss Of Consciousness. In D.C., it's the Library of Congress, which raises consciousness. What an impressive place. Hard to imagine the commitment to honoring learning in today's political climate. Guessing Michele Bachmann hasn't been there.

It's monumentally grand architecture, the inside of the dome of which bespeaks reverence for wisdom; as does the marble work, the statuary. And, of course, the collection of Jefferson's personal library which he offered to give to the US for whatever price they were willing to pay. The Congress debated for six months whether to accept, with some Congressmen arguing it contained languages that no American should speak. Teabaggers, you have roots. Even so, there's no one in Congress now that has a tenth of the intelligence and thirst for knowledge of Thos. Jefferson.

Approaching his collection, one passes through terrific displays on the writing of the founding documents. You don't need to be a hard right Christianist teabagger to be inspired by the history of this country, and by seeing the records in the flesh. Foxophiles have no idea, when they talk about the Constitution, of the brilliance and complexities of it; nor could people like them have ever made the kind of compromises that those men did.

Side by side in the lower floor of the LOC are exhibits devoted to George and Ira Gershwin, and to Bob Hope. Both were fun to see, but the latter was surprisingly dense, with space devoted to inclusion of a broad spectrum of political comedy, the involvement from the right and from the left of celebrities in politics, insights into the spectrum of reaction to criticism from all sides.

Wearing Rally pins, we've run into many people from all over the country who've come for the rally. Still don't know what to expect, but it looks like it'll be a big and very engaged crowd. People not given to hyperbole or ridiculous conspiracy theories. Might be fun.

The view of the White House from the top of the W Hotel is great. A gin and tonic there costs fourteen bucks.