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The Senate subway: The new epicenter of American democracy?


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#1 CNJRoss

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Posted 16 August 2017 - 08:24 AM

The Washington Post,​ 8/15/17:

The Senate subway: The new epicenter of American democracy?

 

 

It’s a slightly comical transportation system in the bowels of the U.S. Capitol that few Americans know exists: the Senate subway system.   Not subway like Metro — but two sets of tracks that carry underground trams ferrying lawmakers from Senate chambers to their office buildings, less than a third of a mile away.

 

And it’s the unlikely backdrop to the tumultuous Capitol Hill legislative goings-on of the past seven months.

 

The subway and its adjoining no-frills, fluorescent-lit station platform have long been a gathering place for the swarm of Capitol Hill journalists, aides and lobbyists who aim to pounce on senators as they disembark from trams or hitch a ride in the same car as a fellow lawmaker, hoping to bend an ear for the 90-second ride from one station to another.

 

SNIP

 

 

The tunnel to the offices first featured electric Studebaker automobiles; later, officials switched to trains on tracks out of concern that a lawmaker would one day get mowed over by a careering car.

 

After multiple rounds of expansions and upgrades, there are now two types of trains on the Senate side: an open-air tram to the Russell building driven by operators who ping-pong back-and-forth all day, and a Disneyland-style driverless train that runs from the Capitol to the Dirksen and Hart office buildings.

More here w/video report.



#2 Sloan

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Posted 16 August 2017 - 08:45 AM

Link requires me to subscribe.  Others may have better luck. :(   Sloan



#3 jis

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Posted 16 August 2017 - 01:43 PM

Link requires me to subscribe.  Others may have better luck. :(   Sloan

No luck for me either. Requires subscription which I don't have.



#4 CNJRoss

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Posted 17 August 2017 - 07:40 AM

Sloan and Jis,

 

You have come up against the WP's maximum "free" article views.  Many media outlets know have a limit on "free" looks before requiring a subscription.

 

Here are 2 'work-arounds' I've found work with the WP and many other media sites that limit free views:

 

Method 1:  Clear your browser memory BEFORE linking to the story.  This usually allows viewing the article.  (May not work if you already tried to open the article.)

 

Method 2:  'Google' the headline.  The resulting link often 'backs-in' to the story without checking for prior article views.

 

FWIW, I have several browsers loaded.  When an article won't open in my primary browser (Firefox), I clear the browsing history in MS Edge or Opera, then 'cut-and-paste' the URL.

 

FWIW, I also use an alternate browser when I want to 'cut-and-paste' from certain media. The New York Times, for example, does not allow friendly  'cuts' from Firefox; I open the article in MS Edge allowing user friendly 'cut-and-paste.'

 

Regards,

Ross



#5 Sloan

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Posted 17 August 2017 - 08:10 AM

Thanks for the tips, Ross.  I picked up the story on my iPhone.   :)   Sloan






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