James D. Winslow

Unlike the elementary school where my son teaches, Washington’s five inches of snow this week did not shut down the start of the 119th Congress.

This will be the last The Washington Connection for 2024; we will pick up again on January 10, 2025, with outlooks on the incoming Trump administration and 119th Congress. Keeping in mind that “you can’t really know where you’re going until you know where you have been,” I thought it would be instructive to look back on our top, bottom, and still-to-see predictions from the past year.

“Elementary, my dear Watson.” “Play it again, Sam.” “I fear all we’ve done is awaken a sleeping giant.” Three famous quotes that were never said by those to whom they are ascribed. The line attributed to Sherlock Homes never appeared in any of the original works authored by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Playing Ilsa in Casablanca Ingrid Bergman actually said, “Play it, Sam. Play ‘As Time Goes By.’” And screenwriters for the 1970 movie Tora! Tora! Tora! were the ones who authored the phrase that has been credited to Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto ever since.

It’s week 14 of the NFL season, which means it’s crunch time for anyone with a fantasy football team. Most fantasy league playoffs begin next week; so, this weekend offers fantasy owners with their last best chance to position themselves for their league crown.

“Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t.” This famous aside by Polonius in Act 2, Scene 2 from Shakespeare’s Hamlet clues in the audience that Hamlet’s increasingly irrational behavior may not be insanity, but a feigned act designed to serve a larger purpose.

I’m going to go out on a limb today and suggest that the story of a pet squirrel can help explain the result of this week’s presidential election.

This past weekend, my wife and I attended her life-long friend’s daughter’s wedding. It was a beautiful fall day in Washington—the air was crisp, the leaves that framed the gazebo’s lawn had changed color, the bride was beautiful, and the groom was dashing in his Marine Corps dress blues.

Without doubt, the most asked question I’ve received this week is, “Jamie. Who’s going to win the election?”

As a kid, I just couldn’t stomach cooked green bell peppers, even those stuffed with ground beef and my grandmother’s homemade tomato sauce. I knew they were healthy and came from our back yard garden. And it went without saying that they were good for me—filled with antioxidants and packed with vitamins. It didn’t matter, my immature palate couldn’t handle the intense taste and aroma.

I’ve got good news and I’ve got bad news…The good news is that much of official Washington remains away from the city on recess…the bad news is that they’ll be back right after Election Day for a hectic lame duck session that will run right up to the holidays. Earlier this week, the good news was that I took advantage of Maryland’s early voting period…the bad news is that I’ll have to wait nearly a month to find out who wins.