Tuesday, March 17, 2015

New Gig

The Foreign Service's practice of making its officers compete and lobby for positions is not for the faint of heart. Especially when, like me, one is coming into bidding season late and unexpectedly due to circumstance.

Today, however, marked the end of that every-three-year struggle, as I received a "handshake" for a job I didn't think I was a contender for. It's a domestic gig, with "H", the Bureau of Legislative Affairs.

Yes: your humble foreign correspondent is now State's liaison officer to the House of Representatives.

I work on Capitol Hill. I have an office in the *Rayburn Building*.

Good Lord, I'm gonna see such sausage made!

10 comments:

  1. Congratulations, Jourdan! I'm happy for you and am glad to know that there will be at least one from the state dept. assigned there that doesn't speak out of both sides of his mouth. Good luck to you

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  2. Jourdan, awesome!

    You have a skill for explaining complexity and getting to the essence of a subject - removing all the nuance that can be removed, but no more than can be removed without materially altering meaning and intent.

    Every organization needs a Managing Director, Explaining Stuff as we call them...

    And when a Department policy or prescription just does not make any sense at all, I know you will convey that essential truth with brilliantly opaque clarity. ;)

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  3. Thanks guys. As worried as I am about how badly off the rails our govt is, one simply cannot be American and not humbled by the honor of being asked to work in Congress.

    That said, the culture there tends to the toxic, with a lot of staffers puffed up beyond description as the bask in the imagined glory of the reflected power of their masters. In many ways, it is Hollywood for the unattractive.

    I know it will be difficult for me but it is too much of a political opportunity to be missed. There will likely be times I will regret it and pine for post life.

    Thanks for the compliment Lewy, I appreciate it. Now that I'm home, I also think it is time to start writing.

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  4. That's wonderful Jourdan! I'm so happy for you! I'm glad you're going to start writing again. Please feel free to cross-post here!

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    1. Thank you, Lady Red. I was burned out writing for a long time, but now the itch is coming back. Perhaps it's the return home, or perhaps it's that I'm now not living in a land of perpetual heat, which really takes the energy out of me. I can't believe how happy I am about the cold weather.

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  5. That said, the culture there tends to the toxic, with a lot of staffers puffed up beyond description as the bask in the imagined glory of the reflected power of their masters. In many ways, it is Hollywood for the unattractive.

    Jourdan, I literally laughed out loud when I read that. I think you wrote the perfect description.

    Even so...yes, it is still a real honor to work there. As mad as I get about politicians (on both sides), there are still people I greatly respect and admire. I also echo lady red's words about your writing, which is always a pleasure to read. Well, usually, lol. Even if I disagree from time to time you definitely have the gift of the pen.

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  6. Wow! Congratulations Jourdan. Some good news to start your new journey in life.

    Oh, and Go Canucks :)

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    1. Thank you, Fay. I'm looking forward to actually seeing the Canucks rather than simply reading about them. I'm very, very happy that Mr. Luongo was postmarked "return to sender" and sent back to his wife's favorite city.

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  7. Jourdan...welcome home!

    You just may be that right guy at the right time in our government.

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    1. Thank you, Aridog. I won't be able to have any effect on policy, but I will do my best to ensure a healthy stream of communication between State and the House and to reach out to conservative members.

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