Senator Yancy
A humorous tidbit from Lewis Lapham's column in this month's Harper's, in which he describes th swearing-in ceremony for the 109th Congress:
The swearing-in ceremony was accomplished in less than an hour, Senator Kerry notable for his absence. Senator Bill Frist of Tennessee, the Republican majority leader, then delibered a speech welcoming "everyone here and everyone watching at home ... to this historic first day of the 109th Congress." Although never a man known for his oratory, Frist did his best to impart to the words the flourish of high flown sentiment accompanied by stately gestures in the manner of Henry Clay -- "My colleages ... [we] are the stewards of this ancient and yet still living and thriving tradition ... The American people -- and indeed the people of the world -- look upon this Capitol and those of us who serve here for inspiration andleadership and unwavering devotion to our common cause. ... My fellow Senators, you are all honorable men and women. .... God bless you. ..."
The effect was disconcerting because by the time Frist arrived at his second paragraph, hardly anybody remained in the chamber (two stenographers, the clerk, and Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the minority leader obliged to speak next), which meant that Frist was addressing what I'm afraid he mistook for his eloquence to nobody else except the cameraman recording the event for C-SPAN and posterity.
Were it not for eyewitness testimony, Frist could be an actor or even a projected image, and we would be none the wiser.
11:26:04 PM 
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