Marc Fisher

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America At War:
Potomac Confidential
With Marc Fisher
Post Metro Columnist
Thursday, Dec. 6, 2001; Noon, EST

Gadzooks! War and recession aren't enough to keep the Reagan worshippers on the Hill busy; they're really going to force Metro to add the holy name to its National Airport signs. Pow! The D.C. public schools show what they really mean by "Children First," closing all schools for seven days because they can't get their accounting straight. Uhg! We're on alert yet again (I don't know about you, but I never got the memo saying we were OFF the last alert).

Exciting times, and we have but an hour to talk about in, on Potomac Copnfidential -- right now.

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

Herndon, Va.: Mr. F: Great column today! I'll take an over-used word - "paranoid" -- and use it to describe some of the actions being taken now in regard to tours of government facilities and monuments. If necessary, buy more metal detectors, get more security personnel and let the tours start again! How long are we going to let amorphous fears rule us?

Marc Fisher: Thanks--We'll live like this until we refuse to do so any longer. All it would take to get the Jersey barriers off the sidewalks and put better-designed protection around the Washington Monument is an outcry from the public.

Colorado Springs: Hi Marc,

What a bunch of wimps there are in my hometown! Maybe the establishment just doesn't want to deal with the hastle of checking everybody twice. What a shame. D.C. is supposed to reflect red, white and blue. Not yellow!

Marc Fisher: It is vastly cheaper to plunk a bunch of concrete down than it is to hire people to do the real screening that would provide better security.

Rockville, Md: Mr. Fisher:

I enjoyed your column this morning and believe it is right on the mark. The police and other security agencies have had almost three months to deal with security issues. What have they done? I don't believe that they could not adequately protect against a threat, if the need arose. I am a native Washingtonian and, except for a few years moving around the country, have lived here my entire life. It's a shame that the administration is allowing and possibly encouraging this shut down of the city. There's so much to do here, but perhaps they are afraid that if something does happen, they will be blamed. I think that most Americans these days, especially ones who live in New York and D.C., have heightened their senses.

Not being able to tour the White House is another issue. Maybe they should lengthen the hours to give agents more time to check people.

Marc Fisher: You hit it on the head--it's a matter of personnel costs and finding the easiest path. It's a lot easier to shut down a facility than it is to open it up with proper security. Witness the National Airport closing.

"Warshington": If things have slowed down enough on Capitol Hill that they're finding time to harass Metro about the name of the National Airport stop, we have to wonder what AREN'T they doing.

Isn't there a war on??

Aren't we 'still under attack'?

Was I naive enough to think that this issue would go away for, oh I don't know, at least six months before they dug it up again? Or at least wait until Reagan passes on? How long can Metro dig its heels in while being strong armed into runing their system by guys who don't even use it?

Marc Fisher: Not much longer, I'm afraid. If the Senate goes along with the House's edict on Metro renaming the National Airport station, the game is over. And there's no reason at this point to think that the Senate won't go along.
Of course, Metro has done a fine job of resisting this indignity thus far, but it'll be hard to stand tall against a congressional mandate.

Silver Spring, Md.: Marc -- The two letters to the editor that were published today (12/6) about the National Airport station renaming provision of the House transportation bill made some excellent points, hence I don't mind that my own letter was passed over, but (at the risk of preaching to the converted) here is what I'd written:

If this is indeed a fait accompli, as the 12/1 Metro story implies, then the Post is clearly part of the reason. Its decision to adopt the style "Reagan National Airport" (which might have been logical if the bill signed by President Clinton in 1998 had deleted "Washington" from the airport name) was, in effect, deferential to the wishes of the Republican-led House over those of D.C. area residents who considered the 1998 bill as yet another example of federal arrogance. If senators voting on this bill are looking for reasons to defeat it, let them consider the benefit of leaving the National Airport station name as it is. It would serve as a reminder that this nation is stronger with dissent than without it.

Marc Fisher: Well, I can understand why your letter wasn't printed: You're confusing the decision by Metro's board to resist the name change--a position they took based on their own policies and the views of their board members--with what a newspaper must do, which is to reflect reality, and the reality is that the official name of the airport was changed. So in our news stories we use the official name. In my column, since I have the leeway to express my own views, I choose not to use the imposed name.

Colorado Springs: Marc:

Since you admittedly are no fan of R. Reagan who is your favorite 20th century president and why?

Marc Fisher: I'll go with FDR because he redefined the meaning of the nation and government to face down the twin threats of depression and war. He also redefined the presidency, bringing the office into the modern era by adapting to the new mass communication media and realizing that the president's most important role is to be the persuader-in-chief, pressing the public, Congress and other interests to his views through personal leadership and dealmaking.

Looking For A New Lunch Spot, D.C: Marc,

Did you get a chance to eat at Sholl's before its closing last night?

Marc Fisher: Alas, I didn't make it over there. I'm still mourning the loss of Rothschild's, the cafeteria that used to be down the street from the Post building. Is there a good cafeteria left in this city? Anyone?

D.C.: So Ashcroft says that the kangaroo tribunals and suspensions of civil rights and all that will "only apply to one class of people -- terrorists." Isn't that, technically, what the tribunals are supposed to prove? If we "know" that all those subject to them are terrorists, why can't we just kill them outright, without the mess and fuss of a trial? If we don't, why subject them to military tribunals instead of an open, honest court trial? After all, if our citizens were held on suspicion of terrorism in, say, Iraq or China, and sent to a military tribunal instead of a court trial, wouldn't we be protesting at the top of our lungs?

Marc Fisher: Well, if we were at war with another country and we were deploying terrorists, I don't think we'd have much of a leg to stand on if they used military tribunals to judge our folks.
The fact is that there are important differences between citizens and non-citizens and while citizens deserve a presumption of innocence and full protection of civil liberties, we have a long history of treating non-citizens with a bit more suspicion. And in war, that suspicion seems more justified than it might in peacetime. Finally, if the administration is true to its word about the tribunal's activities being open to the public, then we have the added protection of public inspection of the process.

Cadillac Jack: Marc,

I'd like to have my own personal Jersey wall and fencing. How would I go about having these set up for myself so I can feel safe in the city? I don't want to feel vulnerable on the Metro or standing on a street corner. I'd feel safer with my own Jersey wall on the orange line and a long fence when I stand on the corner of Vermont and K.

Thanks.

P.S., on your four-hour walk, did you find the origin to the name of Jersey wall?

Marc Fisher: Some savvy homebuilder is going to discover the beauty and efficiency of Jersey barrier living, and start marketing houses built entirely of Jersey barriers--the ultimate in security. Of course, they'll have to be renamed. Smooth'n'safe RediThick homes.
And, courtesy of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, here's the answer to your question about the origin of the name:
"Traffic volumes through New Jersey became so heavy in the pre-freeway days of the 1940s that state highway engineers figured they had to do something to cut down on head-on collisions." So they invented the barriers. "Others sprouted up (one in Ontario, another at General Motors), but the so-called Jersey barrier prevailed, mainly because of its ability to redirect a vehicle that hits it, according to a National Research Council report.
It's 32 inches high, 2 feet wide at the bottom and curves and tapers to a width of 6 inches at the top."

Washington, DC: Try the cafeteria next to the Harrington hotel. I've always heard it referred to Harrington Cafeteria. It's somewhat run-down (like the hotel) but you get good food, meat, 2 vegs, dessert, bread, and drink for a good price which usually runs around 5.50.

Marc Fisher: Are you talking about the much-missed Kitcheteria? That was the name of the cafeteria at the Harrington Hotel that was there at least from the 60s to the early 90s. It was terrific. But I believe it morphed into an Ollie's burger joint. Or is there another cafeteria nearby?

Palookaville: I refuse to use the name "Reagan," simply referring to "National Airport." Likewise, I refer to the airport that lies at the end of that toll road as "International Airport." Imagine the gall of people actually naming an airport after a person.

Marc Fisher: Last time I checked, Dulles was dead. Reagan is still alive--naming something for a living person is the height of disrespect.

Woodley Park, D.C.: Bravo on today's column!

I couldn't agree with you more on the over-fortification of our city. The jersey barriers are my personal pet peeve. I went for a bicycle ride around the Mall area last weekend and actually compiled a list of the worst atrocities:
- Bureau of Printing & Engraving, south side
- Union Station, front, and west entrance to parking garage
- Natural History Museum as noted in your column
- the Sherman Statue, just south of the Treasury Department is ringed with 2 layers of barriers and fencing!
- American History Museum, jersey barriers in front and all along the west side (14th street) apparently to protect that forlorn, empty bandstand
- Air & Space Museum, right in front
- most ludicrously, the Hirschorn is protected by jersey barriers. Frankly, that entire museum is a hideous bunker and should be torn down and replaced with something thst doesn't look like a remnant of Hitler's Atlantic wall.

It seems to me that there's an easy answer, to install protective bollards around at-risk facilities similar to the ones around Lafayette Park. They're fluted, black steel posts connected with chain, and blend in reasonably well with the historic architecture of the city, and they're way more attractive than jersey barriers. Let's start a movement up to send the jersey barriers to New Jersey!

Marc Fisher: Hmm, you may be onto something with your Hirschhorn comment. Any other nominations for buildings that you'd like to see left nice and open?

Logan Circle, D.C.: I say that on EVERY Jersey barrier that appears around a Smithsonian museum or other cultural institution in D.C., we spray paint it some dark night with slogans such as "This museum doing it's part to uglify D.C." or "Smithsonian is paranoid" or "Keep the Mall beautiful."

Marc Fisher: Oh, please, no. Aren't they ugly enough already?

Arlington, Va.: I realize the topic today is favoring the "let's get back to normal but we're canceling all White House tours" paranoia, but I have to ask this about an earlier topic -- WHAT is up with Montgomery County? Are they seriously trying to look completely ridiculous? First the nanny attitude about smoking in your own home (and believe me, as much as I despise smoking, I despise infringement on my civil liberties even more) and Santa Claus? I guess the Montgomery County Council really doesn't have enough real-world problems?

Marc Fisher: I don't think it's an accident that this wave of nannyism is happening in a county that is so affluent it has a bakery for dogs in its primo downtown shopping district.
It's just amazing that people who have nothing better to do with themselves than dream up this nonsense haven't at least found some distraction in war and terrorism.

Re: Harrington Cafeteria: It's not Ollies, been to both.

This one is located right next to the entrance of the Harrington Hotel.

Marc Fisher: Good to know--I'll check it out. Thanks.

Falls Church: Mark,

I'm still pondering the Kensington Santa debacle. I know you and many believe that Santa has no religious overtones. I've always agreed with that position until a colleague made a convincing argument that Santa is associated only with Christmas and theefore still signifies Christianity.

I must admit that Santa, a decorated tree, a stocking hung on a mantle, a snowman, all make me think Christmas. They don't make me think America. And they don't make me think Hanukkah. But maybe that is because I'm Christian and that is just my frame of reference. If so, I guess Santa protestors had a point.

What say you?

Marc Fisher: Obviously, Santa means Christmas. But just as obviously, Santa is far less of a religious symbol than a creche or a cross. The ACLU, no slouch on these matters, has made a habit of fighting against creches on City Hall lawns because they send an unacceptable message of government endorsement of a particular faith. But the ACLU has generally let Santa ride, because he's become a fairly generic figure, more associated, sadly, with marketing than with worship.

Strom Thurmond: I like the Jersey Walls around the Capitol. I can lean on them when I'm out of breath.

Have you seen the Pandas yet?

Marc Fisher: Thanks for the health update, Strom.
I've been to see the pandas a couple of times, but haven't yet seen the baby elephant, though my son reports that it's cute. I think I'll wait a decade or two.

Bethesda, Md.: I share your frustration that so many of our national treasures remain closed because nobody wants to spend the money to implement proper security measures. But, equally appalling is the money that's being poured down the drain on mindlessly ineffective security measures. I work at a federal facility that adds new measures -- Jersey barriers, ID checks, car/purse/briefcase inspections -- every week, yet it is apparent to everybody that they all could be readily circumvented by anybody with an ounce of cunning. It is absolutely maddening.

Marc Fisher: It's a measure of our lack of confidence in our security. We all know that the airports are only marginally safer than they were a couple of months ago. And we all know that are borders are as porous as a napkin. And we all know that security is a mind game, and highly visible security measures are an attempt to win that mind game on the cheap.

Jersey Habitats: Marc Fisher ... by jove you've got it! Jersey Bungalows for family of four: Jersey Bunkers a la singles condos; Jersey A-frame cabins (Concrete tents?); high-rise Jerseys (Deck of Cards style; You-Go First for seniors?) ...

Marc Fisher: The real estate business is going to owe us big time for this idea. And of course, we'll be left with nothing but glory to show for our efforts.

Washington, D.C.: As I was sitting in St. Columba's on Tuesday night at the mayor's meeting on emergency preparedness in Ward 3 I was wondering why the mayor, Kathy Patterson and for that matter Dr. Vance (for other meetings) like to hold there meetings here when they have three public schools (Janney, Deal and Wilson) all a short distance away. Maybe it's because the voters would see how bad the physical plant is at these Ward 3 schools even with the extra money they raise. It might show that education is a lot lower priority that politicians would like to admit.

Marc Fisher: Hmmm, wouldn't it be in the interests of the mayor and council members to hold their meetings in the worst possible building, to build public support for the schools? I don't think you can explain the choice of venue with that reasoning.

Washington, D.C.: I have to say that I thought the seven-day furlough idea from the D.C. School Board was genius. Plans floated earlier that week would have cut 1 -- 3 teachers from an average elementary school. Most of us, including our elected politicians, would have rolled over for that plan. Now, at least, school funding is being talked about and people are committing to restore funds to the schools.

Marc Fisher: It's the oldest trick in the political book--raise the specter of godawful cuts and sit back while the peons moan and wail, then watch as you get the money you wanted.
But it's a cynical and vicious game when it's played against schoolchildren, and there's no need for it whatsoever. This school system wastes unfathomable millions on a special education system that's completely out of whack with other cities across the country. Cut the special ed lawyers and the parents who abuse the system out and you'd eliminate any budget shortfall in minutes.

Plano, Tex.: I find it very interesting that while setting up Military Start Chamber Courts without the normal protections of military, civilian or international courts of law, holding people the courts have ordered freed because NO CHARGES at all have been brought, and racial profiling is okay, it would be a horrible sin to look at gun purchasing records to see if the person you are hold "just because Ashcroft wants to" bought a few dozen handguns, or assualt rifles. Since there have been quite a few arrests and convictions of people buying guns here and shipping to suspected terrorists this seems to be vital information. The law involved may well prohibit this, but the Constitution and laws without number prohibit many of the actions already taken. I for one would rather have the government check out my gun purchase records, than hold me for three months without even a charge of speeding. This decision alone is enough to raise the question of what is really going on in the attack on the Constitution.

Marc Fisher: Ashcroft likes to portray himself as another Ken Starr--a devout man driven to serve the public according to the tenets of his faith. But while Starr has stayed true to his faith's ethics even as he misjudged the role of his office, Ashcroft has shown what really drives him: By refusing to allow law enforcement agents to check gun purchase records while investigating possible terrorists, he demonstrates that he is willing to put his personal biases over the war against terrorism. That is nothing short of shameful.

Downtown D.C.: Marc,

Your column today really resonated with me. As a Washingtonian with no voice in congress, it makes me angry that the federal government has taken these actions that impact on our economy and well-being. How are we supposed to "just live our lives" if everything is shut down by the government? My real question is what can we do about it? Are there key senators we could write to who sit on committees who could help get things up and running again in D.C? I have always written to Ted Kennedy about healthcare concerns even though he is not my senator.

Marc Fisher: You can either pretend to live in Maryland or Virginia and call those congressfolk, or adopt a state somewhere and lobby those folks. Focusing on the reps and senators who run the DC committees is also a good way to get some attention--try Joe Knollenberg of Michigan in the House and Mary Landrieu of Louisiana in the Senate.

Arlington, Va.: What do you think do of the decision to abandon new flight schedules out of Reagan National Airport through the end of the year. In your column today, you mentioned the pleas for Americans to be tourists, but here comes another barrier. If the real reason these flights had to be cancelled is a lack of marshalls, will we really have that many more marshalls in place next month? What about all of the people who work in the airport, or for the airlines, do we keep them on public assistance when they would love to get back to work?

Marc Fisher: Again, it's the reluctance to spend money that's holding us up. If we agree that air marshals are essential to security at National (I don't agree, but we all know how much that counts for), then getting them on board should be a priority, because as you say, there are thousands of layed off workers whose livelihoods depend on getting the airport back into full operation. And this region's tourist economy won't rebound fully until the airport is fully functional.

FYI: The Senate passed the Transportation Appropriations bill (that includes the airport naming language) on Tuesday by a vote of 97-2.

Marc Fisher: Thanks for the update.

Wheaton via Glover Park: So who's Santa's bigger enemy –- the folks in Kensington who supposedly "banned" him from the annual tree lighting, or his so-called supporters who showed up at the tree lighting bearing an anti-semitic sign (Post, Gazette) and shouting anti-semitic slogans through a bullhorn (Times)? Kudos to them for showing the world that instead of the notorious, politically correct dicatorship that Montgomery County has been made out to be, it's just another unremarkable, redneck, jerkwater hinterland.

Speaking of which, why didn't the Post or the Gazette tell us what, exactly, that anti-semitic sign said? Don't they think we can take it? Are they loathe to show the ugly side of the protestors, who prior to the event had been depicted as the voice of reason and reasonableness?

And finally, you caught a lot of heat in letters to the editor for referring to the two families who supposedly objected to Santa as outsiders. Any comments?

Marc Fisher: I wish we had spelled out what was on those signs; I don't know why we didn't.
I enjoyed the letters that appeared on the editorial page complaining about my Kensington Santa column. I received many more like them, but the majority of the mail I got took me to task for saying that government shouldn't be in the business of sponsoring religious events.
The letters that were printed complained that I'd been derisive of those who complained about Santa's presence traumatizing their kiddies. I plead guilty. I think they're exactly what I called them in the column--prunes, Scrooges, whiners. And I stand by my statement that in the overwhelming Christmas season in this country, non-Christians, including Jews, feel like outsiders. I know I do, and I wrote an essay about it in the Post magazine that appeared on Thanksgiving. I don't see how that can be construed as anti-semitic; it's merely a statement of fact.

Laurel: Exactly

Santa = Christmas

But Christmas is more than just a religious holiday. It's a national holiday that has for many people, for better or worse, lost its religious overtones.

Not too many people celebrate the "true" meaning of President's Day, Columbus Day or Memorial Day, so what's the problem with a secular Christmas?

Marc Fisher: Not a problem at all. Witness the tree lightings that many governments sponsor; they obviously derive from a Christmas celebration, but they've been denuded of most religious content.

Re: Santa and Christmas: What I find amusing is that most of the things we associate with Christmas are from non-Christian traditions. Christmas the Christian holiday was pretty much appropriated from various pagan/other religious observances. So much of it is Norse and Northern European and has nothing at all to do with Christianity. If my Catholic schooled brain can remember right, I don't even thing Christmas was celebrated as Jesus birth until the 4th century or so.

Marc Fisher: This season is a jumble of symbols from throughout history. Those who want a more pure celebration have every right to insist on that--in their churches, synagogues, homes, anywhere but under government sponsorship.

Bethesda, Md.: Re: Plano, Tex. and racial profiling.

In case you haven't noticed, virtually every act of international terrorism has been perpetrated by men from the Middle East and north Africa. Are we to ignore this unarguable fact in the name of political correctness. Didn't the events of Sept. 11 prove anything to you? Do you realize these people would be more than happy to vaporize Washington, D.C. with a nuclear weapon if they ever get one? It's time to be realistic.

Marc Fisher: And who are "these people"? Do they include our country's secretary of energy, who is of Lebanese descent? Do they include the many Middle Easterners who came to this country expressly to get away from the insanity of bin Ladenism and the usurpation of their faith by fanatics?
Yes, the terrorists are Muslims. And that justifies a degree of extra caution, which will naturally be offensive to innocent Muslim Americans. But it doesn't justify a suspension of the rights of citizens.

Rockville, Md.: Hope this makes it in before the deadline.

Although I don't have a Christmas tree at my home, I do enjoy going downtown, looking at the trees and, in years past, the animals and grabbing a little hot chocolate. I think trying to deny the "common" people the opportunity to see the trees and decorations was the height of insensitivity and elitism. Why is Laura Bush gussying up the White House is only certain invited guests are permitted to tour? It really makes me think that this president really doesn't like the district to begin with.

Marc Fisher: No, he loathes the District and does not even pay lip service to the idea that its residents are American citizens with the same rights as the rest of the nation's residents.

Rave: Of COURSE Santa is associated with Christmas, and guess what, folks, it's that time of year again. I WANT the holiday season the way it's supposed to be! I feel as patriotic as the next person, I tear up at America the Beautiful, I mourn the loss of lives Sept. 11, and support our troops -- but I've had it with everything being usurped for use as yet one more display of flag-waving. I don't want a red, white and blue Xmas tree -- excuse me, Tree of Lights like we don't all know the origin -- I want to hear Jingle Bells for a change instead of the Battle Hymm, I feel like the powers that be think it's necessary to fife and drum this into my skull.
I'm not old enough to remember, but from talking to my mom, it was still Xmas during WWII, still Xmas after Pearl Harbor, the holidays went on through every other war -- it seems to be wrong to adopt the attitude that we have to change everything after Sept 11 ... I say our lives and society should, now more than ever, continue with time-old traditions.

Don't turn every single celebration into another 4th of July.

End of rave.

Marc Fisher: Sounds good to me.
Running out of time, couple more and we're outta here.

Montgomery County, Md.: Oh please ... if you're going to complain about a county you don't even live in then at least get the full story before you do so.

The county wasn't regulating your ability to smoke in your own home -- it was regulating your ability to pollute your neighbor's home with your smoke. A proper ventilation system or smokeless ashtray would allow you to comply. (Do I even need to remind you of the epidemic-levels of asthma being seen in our children?)

And the Santa deal, was the CITY of Kensington, not the county. And they didn't ban him. In Oct. they changed the celebration from a holiday one to a patriotic one -- Do you regularly have Santa at the 4th of July? -- and he wasn't banned, he just wasn't included to actually flip the switch on the tree lights -- because it was no longer a Christmas tree!

The real story here is the now commonplace but still disturbing media feeding frenzy that whipped this all up, and county and city officials failure to stand behind and explain their positions.

Marc Fisher: Same difference. The county wanted to regulate what smokers do in their homes, which is to smoke. And the county has no business doing that, as long as smoking remains legal. It's a loathesome practice and I'm all for creating non-smoking sections and all of that, but the county simply has no right to tell folks not to do something legal at home.

Montgomery County Transplant Just For This Question:: If the smoking bill had not been 86-ed, what would happen if: Santa was smoking a pack of Lucky Strikes and his smoke wafted into his neighbors house? Is that a double no-no?

Marc Fisher: The county would break out of earth's orbit and begin spinning madly out of control.
Bye, folks. Light a tree, buy a Jersey barrier for your own home, enjoy this spring while it lasts.
See you next week.

washingtonpost.com:

That wraps up today's show. Thanks to everyone who joined the discussion.

Stay tuned to Live Online:

Author Lou Cannon on Ronald Reagan at 1 p.m. EST
Entertainment Guide: Got Plans? at 1 p.m. EST
Post's Jay Mathews on the Challenge Index at 1 p.m. EST
What's Cooking Holiday Special at 1 p.m. EST
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washingtonpost.com:

That wraps up today's show. Thanks to everyone who joined the discussion.

Stay tuned to Live Online:

Author Lou Cannon on Ronald Reagan at 1 p.m. EST
Entertainment Guide: Got Plans? at 1 p.m. EST
Post's Jay Mathews on the Challenge Index at 1 p.m. EST
What's Cooking Holiday Special at 1 p.m. EST
Live Online Special Coverage: America At War

Did you know that you can follow more than one Live Online discussion at the same time? Just open another browser window and toggle back and forth between discussions! And, if you miss one, catch up with the Live Online transcripts.

Keep up with the latest in news, sports, politics and entertainment with washingtonpost.com e-mail newsletters.

NEW! Personalize your Post with mywashingtonpost.com. Get customized news, traffic, weather and more.

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