Kirkwood Donavin '11
kdonavin11’s blog
Final Day
By The Political Parrot | May 27, 2009
The highlight of my final day in Senator Harkin’s Office was being called a “Damn Communist”. I enjoy when angry constituents on the phone assume they are speaking with someone less intelligent than they. Sometimes they are so angry and worked up about this or that, it is hard to listen with a straight face. If a caller proceeds to insult me then I typically lose all interest in listening to them at all. Though being called a communist isn’t all that insulting, instead it makes me smile.
Here is the final day. I have been spending much of today handling side tasks I have to complete before heading for Salt Lake tomorrow morning. Before this internship I felt as though I had enough theoretical education and needed some real life experience. Now that I have some real experience, I wish to go back to school and learn more. It means that I’m not ready to be a professional, but desiring more education is a good instinct. I look forward to many professional experiences in the future.
Tuesday, May 26th
By The Political Parrot | May 26, 2009
Some days are just slow, such as today, but that is just fine. It enables me to really feel on top of my work from the office as well as from home. The office took me out for Vietnamese this afternoon for lunch. It was delicious, I ate too quickly. Joel, Tom and I went to an open house at the new electrical engineer school but were turned around at the door. The open house is actually on Friday, I’ll be long gone!
I am writing a paper, possibly two for this internship. I have decided to write at least a portion of my paper on the importance of being an informed citizen. I’ve talked with many people this month who don’t know what they are talking about. I read the news all day. I hear about all that is going on in the senate and have a privileged position to pick up much information on current events. I feel more able to form my own opinion and I am better able to point out the flaws in other’s arguments. It is a fulfilling feeling for me to be in the know.
Tomorrow will be my last day. It has been a great experience working here in the office. The skills I have begun to pick up in the last month will no doubt propel me in my professional work in the future.
The Longest Day & The End of the Week
By The Political Parrot | May 22, 2009
Yesterday felt like the longest day I’ve spent in Senator Harkin’s Office. I was busy all day long, unable to jot down a few sentences for the daily journal. By the end of the day my mind and body were numb with stress. I spent much time handling cases, sending inquiries and authorization forms. I received a letter from a boy scott earning his merit badge by writing the Senator about the new Cedar Rapids Local Option Sales Tax to assist flood victims. My supervisor Beth had me return to this young gentleman an educational letter on the application of LOSTs, how they benefit the community and why they are outside the TH’s Federal Jurisdiction. I submitted my letter but Beth wasn’t too fond of it and almost rewrote the entire letter for me. I didn’t mind all the much.
Overall tensions in the office felt high. I received a large number of calls regarding TH’s vote to close Gitmo. Some people were proud of the Senators vote while others were ashamed. I see Gitmo as a National embarrassment. Even though citizens may be apprehensive about holding the prisoners in the states, we lose more by keeping them at Guantanamo Bay.
Today has been much slower. The office is closing early for the holiday weekend. I’m ready for a break. Only two more days left next week in this internship. It’s time to start thinking about what I learned.
Mid-Week @ TH’s
By The Political Parrot | May 20, 2009
The office has been low-key all day. I am now used to the long periods of downtime followed by short (sometimes long) bursts of hectic. Joel and I have been sent menial projects from the Des Moines office such as alphabetizing resources for the website. I alphabetized a resource document which I had worked on only a few days earlier. Amy, who is delegating this work to us, is amazed that we are able to do it so quickly. It really isn’t a tough task, especially for the PC generation (Personal Computer not Politically Correct).
Harkin cast one of only 6 votes to move Gitmo detainees to the states. The democrats surprisingly went against the move proposed by President Obama to appropriate funds to move the prisoners. Some Iowans are upset that TH would be one of the only senators to vote for their removal. One caller was worried they might send the detainees to Iowa amoung the other states who’s senators voted to remove them from Gitmo. I don’t think that will be the case. I’m also not worried about where they end up if they are moved to the states. They will be in high security prisons and they seem no more dangerous on their own than many of our nations criminals.
I have just today changed my opinion about bail-outs. Previously I considered them the wrong action course to take when a company (or state {i.e. California}) is failing. I saw their failure as part of survival of the fittest and beneficial for our free enterprise market overall. This afternoon however, a disccussion with a coworker changed my mind. Some of these companies are just too large to let fail. If they do, thousands of people will be out of the job with no employment available to them. It will then be the burden of the public to support all the unemployed. Some companies, such as AIG, are apparently capable of bringing entire nations down with them, should they close their doors. Sometimes it seems the U.S. has no choice but to provide bailouts.
May 19th @ Sen. Harkin’s Office
By The Political Parrot | May 19, 2009
Tuesday has been much slower than Monday. We have gone whole hours without receiving a single phone call. Some workers came in today and instaled sealers on the ends of the walls where there were holes into the offices next door. Previously we could hear the secret conversations coming from Representative Loebsack’s Office, but no longer.
My project today was sending update letters to constituent’s cases handled by one of my Caseworkers, Tamara. I enlisted Joel’s help to get through them more quickly. The letters I sent were already drafted and I did not need to do much editing which was much appreciated.
Tom Harkin is 67 years old. He has been working in the federal government since 1976 as a Iowa Representative. To me this seems like so much time, He has been in congress my entire life! He has done amazing works aswell. His diabled brother inspired him on the American Disabilities Act which is so prevalent today. I hear about that act all the time in class and at the various jobs I have held. I am impressed with his ability as a statesman. I wish for the opportunity to hear him speak in person.
Monday III
By The Political Parrot | May 18, 2009
It is Monday and busy as always. The work load is reduced however, because we have a new intern! His name is Joel, an incoming senior at Iowa State who is eventually headed for law school. I have immediately taken up the task of training him to work in the office. It is baffling to me to train someone after working in TH’s office for merely 2 weeks. I am not professionally qualified but I can at least show him the basic ropes. I am happy to have someone to keep me company as well as make my job easier.
I spent a good deal of time today working on updating the Harkin website. I am personally working on the Iowa Small Business Resource page. Last week I went through to check links, numbers and addresses on the page. Today I finished up by adding material to the site which was suggested by workers in other TH offices. It was a long process but I have now sent off the revised document to Des Moines which will then be sent on to D.C. to be placed on the website.
I will be leaving early today and tomorrow. Today is the Track team BBQ and tomorrow I have a meeting concerning our next Cross Country season. It has come down to the final week and ½!
Thank Gosh It’s Friday
By The Political Parrot | May 15, 2009
I spent much of today drafting letters for various constituents. This was a drawn out process for me because I am still learning the online database system in which all case work is handled. I had to find each person’s case on the database. Then I would scan in a letter we had receved from whichever organization the constituent was complaining about or needed help with such as the Department of the Army. I then identify either a prewritten letter format. I would have to add certain personal details and then essentially summarize the response given in the correspondence we received for the organization under complaint or inquiry. Then I print out the letter, have it edited, print it out again, attach it to a copy of the correspondence we receved and have my supervisor sign it. Near the end of the day I stuff these and all other letters out of the office into an envelope. It’s a fun job but somebody’s got to do it!
The end of the day has been rushed. I’m hurrying to get out of the office on time. Looking forward to the weekend.
Halfway Day: May 14th
By The Political Parrot | May 15, 2009
I had a caller this morning who cried the word communistic to describe the act of Iowa sherriffs visiting people with credit card debt to remind them to pay up. She meant dictatorial or totalitarian but perhaps she used communistic because she was born in the age when they meant the same thing and is ignorant to the difference. I don’t think mixing up the two is a big issue, though it does cause Americans to prejudge nations which are communist which is not positive for relations between these nations and the U.S.
I got a speeding ticket on the way in to work this morning. First time ever. Tickets are so expensive when you are a student with no income. I should avoid those from now on.
My Berry Center advisor suggested that I try to connect with people in D.C. for networking, incase I am looking for another internship later, even a job. I must think of some areas which I am interested in, then my supervisor has agreed to put me in contact with someone in the D.C office that operates in that area.
I have been helping a co-worker verify contact information for the disability assistance page on THs website. Earlier this week I was working on the small business assistance page, though the disability page is much more extensive. There are hundreds of numbers and names of organizations. Luckily I only need check those with contact persons to make sure they are still the person to contact for that organization. I strangely enjoy making these various calls to people I have never met and having half professional, half awkward conversations with each of them.
A Slow Day
By The Political Parrot | May 13, 2009
Today has been relatively slow. I have been a little bored and as a result have eaten all my food too early and will be hungary later on. That was a mistake.
Something I have noticed about the callers we get in this office is that none of them agree with the Senator. Based on this sample of callers, one could worry that all of Iowa is up in arms about the Senator’s views and votes. It seems that all the Conservative Yahoos call this office. The Crazy Liberals must all be busy calling Senator Grassley.
I am very interested in Senate discussion of health care reform as well as credit reform. The action that President Obama’s administration is taking in health care reform is going to, at the least, drive down health care costs so more Americans will have access. At best it will create a public option, grant every American basic health care while not being so competitive as to run the private market out of business. The private health sector is of course against a public option because they will have to reduce costs and make less money. I think the sacrifice of a few insurers grand CEO paychecks is a worthwhile cost to ensure health care for all U.S. Citizens.
Credit Card reform is also a hot issue. I watched TH address it today on the Congress floor. There is a Common Sense Amendment to the reform bill which would make it harder for banks to give out credit cards to immigrants. TH would like an interest cap placed on the credit card companies for 15% as it was in the ’70s but was removed during the Reagan Administration.
The Beginning of Week 2: FULL TIME
By The Political Parrot | May 12, 2009
I missed journaling yesterday. It was quite a busy Monday. Monday’s seem to be this way for I remember last Monday was similarly hectic. I suspect this majorly due to the buildup of constituent comments over the weekend. The Sunday edition of the Cedar Rapids Gazette publishes how the Senator’s and the Representatives voted on issues the previous week which apparently stirs up enough commotion among the masses to call the office and complain.
Last Friday I was at the 2009 Iowa Conference Track & Field Championships and unable to come into work. This week is the first week I will be staying in the office until 4:30pm each day; A Full-Time Job! Time passes quickly with the various activities I keep busy with. Yesterday I handled all the incoming & outgoing mail which sounds important but it honestly meant my tongue was quite dry by the end of the day.
This morning I went to a FEMA press conference with my supervisor. They were releasing information about creating the option for people displaced by the flood of buying the emergency trailers that were provided to them. It was a good to get out of the office and represent the Senator. Afterward, my supervisor and I drove through neighborhoods that were submerged in the flood so I could see the damage. I had not previously visited these areas. I can imagine all the people who must have lost their homes, it is hard to think about without feeling awful.
A frequent caller that I have previously had a conversation with called again today. She wanted the Senator to do something about Herbal Remedies and their dangers when mixed with Perscription Medications. Honestly I’m not convinced there is much of a danger and I told her the Senator cannot do anything about that. Eventually I claimed I would alert the Senator but I won’t. Sorry Ma’am.
Day 4 @ Tom Harkin’s
By The Political Parrot | May 7, 2009
It has been relatively slow today. I’m getting better at directing calls. If someone calls with something that I cannot help them with, I let them know as soon as possible that I will find someone who does. This way I don’t spend lots of time listening to stories about problems I myself cannot assist. There is a list in my possession of various topics this office handles and which staff member in particular handles such cases.
A university group came in to meet with my supervisor and they brought delicious baked goods. I have no idea why but when there is food involved, I ask no questions.
While in the office I enjoy reading the emails I receive documenting what Senator Tom Harkin (TH) is doing and saying in the press. As I have previously mentioned, part of the morning duties is clipping articles in the paper that are either related to TH or something he would be interested in. All the clippings from all the Iowa offices are sent to D.C. where they are compiled and sent out to all staff and the Senator himself. When I have nothing else to do I often read the news sent out by the D.C. Office. I am picking up on TH’s views, many of which I share myself. For instance I support the “card check” bill for workers unions that TH is working on. I agree that workers should be able to form unions without the assistance of a government official and the permission of the company they work for. The more I learn about TH, the more I like him. I am thinking I may apply to work in his D.C. Office next year.
I continue learning how to do casework. I began a case this morning for my supervisor, sent out two letters to the complainant and his lawyer and scanned the documents for the complaint on to the online database. This case work is relatively engaging.
Day 3: Beginning Casework
By The Political Parrot | May 6, 2009
Today
I continue to hear from some of our “frequent callers.” One woman
called about “double dipping” in veteran aid, moved on to complaints
about insurance and medication. After I had muscled her off the phone
she called back to add one more compaint about info-mericals.
I entered my first constituent into the database today. Casework,
including documents and correspondence that go along with it, are saved
on an online database that any caseworker may access and add to, at any
time. Currently Senator Harkin’s staff is in the process of switching
to a new system. I am just beginning to gain an understanding of this
system and they may be switching it before I finish my internship. I
also helped draft a letter for one of my co-worker’s cases and then
close the case on the database.
A reverend called today asking to speak with the senator himself. I
told him the senator was in D.C. but that I could take a message. I
told him the Senator would call him back which I was scolded for after
I hung up. The Senator will not call the reverend back and I should not
give callers any impression that he will. That, they say, is what staff
is for. Answering phones is a new adventure every call, this I like.
Day 2 @ Senator Harkin’s
By The Political Parrot | May 5, 2009
I have been taking many more calls today than I did yesterday. People wanting help contacting Medicare or receiving a court decision. I have experienced many calls today of which I have been warned about. Some people call and simply want to vent all their issues and problems. One woman called complaining about No Child Left Behind and somewhere along her rambling she drifted to complaints about the our government spending money on the war. I had to politely cut her off after a while. Apparently there is a handful of people who call atleast once a week to complain.
I used a fax machine for the first time today. Before this internship I thought they were obsolete. Email does the same job. This morning I looked through the Cedar Rapids Gazette for Clippings that have to do with Sen. Harkin, either by mentioning him or of a local topic that he would be interested in. All the clippings for all the newspapers in the state are collected by the various offices in Iowa and then emailed to all of Harkin’s staff to read. Harkin, I have been told, reads all of it though I feel as if there is too much to digest for such a busy man. I also alphabetically organized some closed case files and learned how to use the copy machine. I did remove staples the first time I tried to copy and almost destroyed the document.
A final note: they have been replacing the windows in the office today. Powerdrills are to be heard constantly and earlier sparks were flying into the office as they used a powersaw. Phone calls can be awkward with all the noise.
First Day @ Senator Harkin’s
By The Political Parrot | May 4, 2009
Today is my first day interning at Senator Harkin’s Cedar Rapids Office. I have been taught how to direct calls and submit comments to the Senator. Mostly calls are directed for specific people in the office. These, I simply redirect to where they need to go. Some callers have complaints which I offer to submit to Senator Harkin. A man called complaining about his IPERs, which is the state pension plan in Iowa. This is a subject I know nothing of however he insisted on going on about it to me. I finally transferred him to my supervisor Beth who could actually answer his complaint. One man called in with a complaint about his son being discharged from the Marines but would not let me pass the comments on to the Senator. This seemed useless to me. Telling me will not change anything, I’m just an intern.
I am spending some time getting to know Senator Harkin’s views and positions on his website. Those who call often assume I know the Senator’s every thought. I suspect that I will be spending much time left to my own devices and so I need to find something productive to do such as write journals or blogs or review Senator Harkin’s website.