The end of the year is for making lists and conjecture about who’ll be in charge come next term. Politico’s already started their weekly half-video/half column Behind the Curtain featuring Mike Allen and Jim Vandehei as they tackle the weeks that were–so far that means immigration and the rebranding of Marco Rubio and Paul Ryan.
Buzzfeed, however, seems to be focused entirely on 2013 with today’s list of the 23 People Who Will Be Running Washington Next Year. This service comes complete with headshots that tell us whether we’re looking at a daytime regular on MSNBC, Fox or CNN–or to provide photographic evidence of Paul Ryan’s Michael Steel, pictured above.
But there’s another telling trait inside Buzzfeed’s list. Out of the 23 assembled, you’re going to read a laundry list of ex-committee staffers (Democratic/Republican Senate/Congressional). The assembled list ranges “from their late 20s to early 40s” and “[t]hey’re almost all message-obsessed.”
Which isn’t wrong! Nearly everyone listed is big on the ol’ Twitter or has saved their respective Congressman or Senator from embarrassing gaffes. Or, like Brad Dayspring, they’ve kicked literal ass. There are still strange omissions on this list, such as Mindy Myers joining Senator-elect Elizabeth Warren as her chief of staff after working as her campaign manager–and her past experience as campaign manager (and chief of staff) for Sheldon Whitehouse and Senator Richard Blumenthal.
Will active Twitters be enough to shape policy and the message in a town where ageism is still a thing? (Only six of the 23 seemed to let their birthday be known while the rest have clearly just came to DC by osmosis.)
Just like in traditional Beltway dealings, even the best projects wind up burying their actual lede near the bottom:
“Over the next two years, this new generation will take an increasing role not only in politics, but in the basic functions of governing.”
Real politicos don’t bother with 2013 or 2016. It’s all about the Two Oh Fourteen when it comes to shaking up the District, which will likely not have a functioning Metro nor a lot of food trucks.