Eleanor Holmes Norton

[Anonymous]

I saw EHN at an event a couple of weeks ago. For 88 years old, she actually looked pretty darn good. She read her prepared remarks while seated and her staff had to help her up and down, but I was surprised that her voice sounded as strong as ever.

But here's what struck me that made her seem really old. In her 5-8 minutes of remarks, she managed to work in the DC statehood issue two separate times. It had nothing to do with the topic the group was assembled for, but she still had to get in that plug. It occurred to me that few people in the audience appeared to care about that issue. I've lived in DC for more than 20 years and I can't think of a single person I know who cares about this issue. If we did, we would have moved to MD or VA a long time ago.

When she repeatedly tries to insert this issue into Every. Little. Thing., she comes across as a worn-out hippie from the 1970s. THAT is what makes her seem past her prime, even more than her physical condition. She can't let that one issue go, when the majority of us have moved on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I saw EHN at an event a couple of weeks ago. For 88 years old, she actually looked pretty darn good. She read her prepared remarks while seated and her staff had to help her up and down, but I was surprised that her voice sounded as strong as ever.

But here's what struck me that made her seem really old. In her 5-8 minutes of remarks, she managed to work in the DC statehood issue two separate times. It had nothing to do with the topic the group was assembled for, but she still had to get in that plug. It occurred to me that few people in the audience appeared to care about that issue. I've lived in DC for more than 20 years and I can't think of a single person I know who cares about this issue. If we did, we would have moved to MD or VA a long time ago.

When she repeatedly tries to insert this issue into Every. Little. Thing., she comes across as a worn-out hippie from the 1970s. THAT is what makes her seem past her prime, even more than her physical condition. She can't let that one issue go, when the majority of us have moved on.

Then you, my friend are the only person who has lived here for any amount of time who doesn't care about that issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I saw EHN at an event a couple of weeks ago. For 88 years old, she actually looked pretty darn good. She read her prepared remarks while seated and her staff had to help her up and down, but I was surprised that her voice sounded as strong as ever.

But here's what struck me that made her seem really old. In her 5-8 minutes of remarks, she managed to work in the DC statehood issue two separate times. It had nothing to do with the topic the group was assembled for, but she still had to get in that plug. It occurred to me that few people in the audience appeared to care about that issue. I've lived in DC for more than 20 years and I can't think of a single person I know who cares about this issue. If we did, we would have moved to MD or VA a long time ago.

When she repeatedly tries to insert this issue into Every. Little. Thing., she comes across as a worn-out hippie from the 1970s. THAT is what makes her seem past her prime, even more than her physical condition. She can't let that one issue go, when the majority of us have moved on.

Then you, my friend are the only person who has lived here for any amount of time who doesn't care about that issue.

Oh, no I'm not. I know plenty of people who don't think it's a big deal. I mean, if they had their preference they would support statehood, but it's hardly a driving issue. Which is my point.

[Anonymous]

Pushing for statehood is good, but everything I've read indicates that the best thing she could do at this point to support DC, including getting someday to statehood, is to retire gracefully and let others carry on the fight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I saw EHN at an event a couple of weeks ago. For 88 years old, she actually looked pretty darn good. She read her prepared remarks while seated and her staff had to help her up and down, but I was surprised that her voice sounded as strong as ever.

But here's what struck me that made her seem really old. In her 5-8 minutes of remarks, she managed to work in the DC statehood issue two separate times. It had nothing to do with the topic the group was assembled for, but she still had to get in that plug. It occurred to me that few people in the audience appeared to care about that issue. I've lived in DC for more than 20 years and I can't think of a single person I know who cares about this issue. If we did, we would have moved to MD or VA a long time ago.

When she repeatedly tries to insert this issue into Every. Little. Thing., she comes across as a worn-out hippie from the 1970s. THAT is what makes her seem past her prime, even more than her physical condition. She can't let that one issue go, when the majority of us have moved on.

Few people in the audience cared about having representation in Congress and full control over how their tax dollars are spent? Please tell us more about this particular audience— and how you know what this particular audience has “moved on” from. The only people I know that don’t care about these issues are also people who don’t care that Trump has usurped even the still-limited powers that our elected officials do have.

Norton is inserting the issue of statehood for DC into every little thing — because it actually has implications for every little thing — including “little” things like having the President rather than our local elected officials having jurisdiction over our National Guard troops and how they are dispersed.

I think it’s time for Norton to retire — so that others can take up the fight.

OP, I’m very curious. What exactly was this event? I’m imagining a lot of Stephen Miller types — since it is just that odd, particularly now, to envision a room full of DC residents, in a very Democratic city, who have all “moved on” from wanting the political power that every other US citizen has.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I saw EHN at an event a couple of weeks ago. For 88 years old, she actually looked pretty darn good. She read her prepared remarks while seated and her staff had to help her up and down, but I was surprised that her voice sounded as strong as ever.

But here's what struck me that made her seem really old. In her 5-8 minutes of remarks, she managed to work in the DC statehood issue two separate times. It had nothing to do with the topic the group was assembled for, but she still had to get in that plug. It occurred to me that few people in the audience appeared to care about that issue. I've lived in DC for more than 20 years and I can't think of a single person I know who cares about this issue. If we did, we would have moved to MD or VA a long time ago.

When she repeatedly tries to insert this issue into Every. Little. Thing., she comes across as a worn-out hippie from the 1970s. THAT is what makes her seem past her prime, even more than her physical condition. She can't let that one issue go, when the majority of us have moved on.

Few people in the audience cared about having representation in Congress and full control over how their tax dollars are spent? Please tell us more about this particular audience— and how you know what this particular audience has “moved on” from. The only people I know that don’t care about these issues are also people who don’t care that Trump has usurped even the still-limited powers that our elected officials do have.

Norton is inserting the issue of statehood for DC into every little thing — because it actually has implications for every little thing — including “little” things like having the President rather than our local elected officials having jurisdiction over our National Guard troops and how they are dispersed.

I think it’s time for Norton to retire — so that others can take up the fight.

OP, I’m very curious. What exactly was this event? I’m imagining a lot of Stephen Miller types — since it is just that odd, particularly now, to envision a room full of DC residents, in a very Democratic city, who have all “moved on” from wanting the political power that every other US citizen has.

You're absolutely correct that I have no way of knowing what the other attendees were thinking about this odd insert of the statehood issue into the event we were attending. I just know that it struck me as completely out of context and reinforced that EHN is truly a one-issue representative. And back to my original point. THAT is what makes her seem "old" to me. Like she's stuck on the same tread she's been harping on for 30 years. As noted, I've lived in DC for 25+ years and I rarely if ever give this issue any thought.

[Anonymous]

Isn't there already a thread about this?

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1244237.page