Travesties abound this week asHelen Thomaswaits in the cold while waves of taxis pass her by,Clarence Thomasstruggles to afford a $15 hamburger, and people still listen to anythingDick Gephardthas to say. All this sadness plus a sighting with a really fishy smell and a touch of Alanis-style irony, after you finish your Zoloft.
The most depressing part of it all is the paltry number of sightings this week. Keep us from slitting our wrists by filling our box (with "Wonk'd" or "Sighting" in the subject line) every time you see one of the so called somebodies in this town. It's the only thing that keeps us going.
* SawHelen Thomastrying to get a cab at 19th and K on Friday (1/12). She was wearing a bulky red scarf that seemed to wrap several times around her short frame, and she wasn't having much luck getting a cab. For a second I wondered if I should stop and try to help her, but then I thought, "this lady has stood up to, like, 9 Presidents. She can do fine on her own."
* I sawClarence Thomason Friday, January 12, at around 2: 30pm, at the corner of E Street and 11th Street, downtown. He was walking and talking with a young man, possibly one of his law clerks, and they appeared to have just left ESPN Zone. Both were dressed extremely casually, and I don't think anyone else recognized him.
* I had a sighting at Reagan National Airport on Friday [1/12].William Jeffersonwas standing in line at the airport's Legal Sea Foods, waiting for a table and talking on his cell phone. I got closer to make sure it was him, and he got this strangely terrified look on his face as he figured out why I recognized him. He should have been pleased. At least if this gets posted, there will be some combination of the words "William Jefferson" and "legal" online that isn't about his refrigerator.
* [from same operative as prior item] I also saw former Democratic minority leaderDick Gephardt. He was leaning on a trash can and having a long conversation on his cell phone. At least he seemed happy to be recognized, shaking hands with people who approached and having a long, animated conversation with some guy who was chowing down on a hot dog.