Shame on you, Dick Armey.
The House majority leader, an 11-year Washington veteran and one of the most influential figures in the American government, let it slip that he has never visited the Washington Monument, clearly visible from his place of employment.The occasion of this disclosure was a press conference before the deserted and locked monument, a casualty of the government shutdown, to beat up on the White House for not signing an appropriations bill.
Without getting into the blame game for the shutdown, we find this a dreadful omission in the GOP leader's resume.
Perhaps the majority leader could stroll down when lines of waiting schoolkids spiral around the base. Or visit at night when the spotlit flags leave great, leaping shadows.
Sometimes the country's leaders become so immersed in the daily details of their work that they forget the larger reasons why they are here. Visit the monument, Mr. Armey. The view is enlightening.