Our breakfast speaker was there ostensibly to talk about the need for an "energy policy". That he was a nuclear industry consultant was not hidden, but I was surprised the extent to which his presentation focused on nuclear energy. Frequent readers know I'm a huge nuclear power fan...but this guy went out of his way to take swipes at oil, coal and gas--going so far as to say that fracking causes earthquakes. I was very happy to see a woman beat me to the punch in the Q and A and call him on it...the people sitting at my table implicitly recognized the sales pitch, but I suppose he paid for the breakfast, so we had to take it. The rest of the delegation headed out to do touristy things--but I'm not here for that--so I headed downtown to the Bloomberg Link.
Bloomberg has taken over a floor of an office building and created this marketing hub--lots of places to check your mail, recharge your device, get a cup of coffee and listen to panel discussions. I was there to hear a discussion on the looming trainwreck of budget sequestration, something I have great interest in as a defense consultant. One of the great things about this place is that I am running into people I know--one of whom was a Bush Administration official with whom I discussed a "leaving the Navy" job a few years ago...the pay wasn't what I was looking for at that time in my life, and the hours would have been grueling as I was trying to get a new relationship off the ground. I demurred, but we have remained friendly. His name is Dave. Dave and I hung out for a bit, then the lunch started. I was seated next to a very attractive young lady and her mother, both with adorable southern accents. When they were joined by the husband/father who sat down across from me, I got the rest of the story. He was Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi, and he was appearing on the lunch panel The three of us had a grand chat about the Navy, Seapower, and the fiscal crisis we face. It was a real thrill to have a Senator sit across from me and ask "what do you think is going to happen, Bryan"?
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I'm back at my hotel now, writing this and then moving on to some of my day-job work. I will be meeting some new friends for dinner and then heading to a party in honor of Republican Women for the 23 who remain in the Party after Todd Akin....
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