Bono does Bill, Clinton does Bono

Activist Bono did a good imitation of former President Clinton. Last night Clinton had the opportunity to retaliate on Piers Morgan with his own Bono impression.

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Virginia’s Gubernatorial Debate

I am a hard-core political junkie, but I have a deep, dark secret. I don’t like debates. At best it’s kabuki theater, at worst it’s an extended press conference. One rarely learns anything new and most memorable zingers happen in presidential debates. But, my boss was given two tickets, so off we went.

First, this report is on style over substance and general musings from someone who’s spent over a decade on the campaign trail. If you want the nuts and bolts or cheer leading yes-men, there are news outlets and campaign websites I’m sure y’all have already perused.

The first observation was actually from the pre-game reception, a very nice, but not lavish affair in the lobby of the McLean headquarters of Capital One, one of the main sponsors of the event. As I looked around the room full of businesspeople and politicians, Republicans and Democrats I saw something most Americans believe is deader than the Dodo bird: Congeniality and politeness among those with vastly divergent political views. People were kind and courteous with each other, mingling and chatting. It’s one thing I firmly believe sets Virginia apart from many places. We know how to leave the battle on the field.

Virginia’s Gubernatorial Debate

And now, on to the debate. I will say this – I give both candidates a solid C+. I give their respective debate prep teams a D…possibly a D-. McAuliffe made one major gaffe and Cuccinelli made several minor bobbles, but on the whole, they stayed true to their campaign talking points and no one went seriously off the rails. But, that’s where I fault the prep. And this is one reason I don’t give debates much weight. Candidates are prepped within an inch of their lives and memorize answers and talking points to the degree that you could call them at 3 a.m. and ask them a question and they’ll spit out the “right answer.” But the goal of the moderator is to introduce new themes, shake up the routine stump speech and ask the unexpected question.

Chuck Todd and the NBC team did a good job with questions. He asked some unique questions and gave both candidates ample opportunities to answer the negative critiques of the other campaign. He offered opportunities for each to elaborate on direct mail slogans and 30-second political ads. Neither fully took advantage.

The question I feel both sides completely let slide by – an opportunity to turn perceived weaknesses into strengths – was to address the negative ads against them and explain why the ads are wrong or misleading.

What I want is the Aaron Sorkin-esque candidate who hears the question and actually answers it. Answers it fully, yet crisp and quick with passion and personality. Both McAuliffe and Cuccinelli made me feel I was at a business meeting on a Tuesday. Personality was limited and restrained, passion was feigned or absent and there was not one crisp answer from either side. There was no KO punch or witty quip. Not one memorable moment in the whole hour. Which, actually, is fairly consistent with this whole campaign. And the reason Sarvis is siphoning off independents and disgruntled Republicans. There is nothing to latch onto. No “yes we can!” No “thousand points of light.” And definitely no “it’s a new day in America.”

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Jobs Sent to us this week

Internship w/ Patton Boggs

Patton Boggs LLP is seeking interns for the spring and we would really appreciate it if you would add our solicitation to your job postings:

Patton Boggs LLP is seeking dedicated students with an interest in public policy and government relations to fill unpaid internship positions for the spring of 2013. Patton Boggs LLP is consistently ranked as the top government relations firm in Washington, DC with a reputation for cutting-edge advocacy before Congress and the Executive branch. As an AMLAW 100 firm, Patton Boggs also has outstanding litigation and business transaction practices.

This internship program is available through the firm’s Public Policy Department though participants will have the chance to be exposed to other areas of legal practice.

Applicants are accepted from all academic majors but should be able to demonstrate an interest in public policy or the law as a future career path. Previous government-related internship experience is recommended, although not required. Eligible applicants must be entering the junior or senior year of their undergraduate education. The internship will take place over 12-16 weeks, beginning in January and ending in May. Applicants are required to secure academic credit for their internship.

To apply, eligible applicants must send a resume, cover letter and 3-5 page writing sample on a topic of their choosing to Jessica Monahan at jmonahan@pattonboggs.com by 5 p.m. on Friday, November 2.

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Executive Assistant to two VP’s – D.C. Policy Association

Incredible organization concerned with the hottest issues facing the Congress and our country, involved with top level VIP’s of government and industry, is currently searching for an Executive Assistant. As the Executive Assistant, you’ll manage schedules and travel plans for two VP’s, assist with events, perform relevant research, and assist with the communications team to coordinate logistics, press, and remarks for speaking engagements. You should have a college degree and at least 3 years of experience, all of which will be supporting a top executive, and some exposure to politics. Be ready to connect by Blackberry but not 24/7 — and take care of this incredible group of highly connected and successful professionals in their fields! $55-65K with great benefits!

Please send resumes to Sarah.Ireland@trakservices.com, refer to job title and Cloture Club in subject.

Leasing Administration Administrative Assistant – Retail/Commercial Real Estate

Join the team of this leader and community firm with many ties to their neighborhoods. As a very established firm your employer’s name will draw attention and accolades from all sides! Responsibilities as the leasing administration administrative assistant will include maintaining gross sales for entire retail portfolio, tracking tenant certificates of insurance, sending notices to tenants of defaults and/or late fees, preparing welcome letters and forms for new tenants, assisting with due diligence, and transferring the seller’s lease files to the Company’s standard lease files. Qualified candidate must have a bachelor’s degree, independent decision-making skills, be self-motivated and proactive, and have excellent research skills. Prior Lease Administration or Commercial Real Estate experience is a plus but not required. 45K-55K with excellent benefits!

Please send resumes to Sarah.Ireland@trakservices.com, refer to job title and Cloture Club in subject.

Receptionist – Consulting Firm – Free Benefits

Love dealing with the public? Love to be the first representation of a company in person and on the phones? Work for a company who PAYS ALL YOUR BENEFITS and have an awesome opportunity to start your career. Answer and transfer calls and coordinate the front desk activities for a busy consulting firm. Please have at least one year of work experience to get started in this incredible opportunity of combining your organizational and reception skills. Ideal candidate will be willing to roll up their sleeves and help where ever needed! Metro accessible in Bethesda. Salary 33K.

Please send resumes to Sarah.Ireland@trakservices.com, refer to job title and Cloture Club in subject.

Executive Assistant/Office Manager – Housing Finance and Policy

Support the COO and CFO of an incredible organization in the housing finance and policy sector. As an executive assistant/office manager, your responsibilities will include assisting with board meeting coordination, managing travel schedule and reservations for executive management, tracking tax returns, managing monthly reports for company properties, and acting as point of contact in absence of executives when they are traveling. Qualified candidates must have a bachelor’s degree with 2-5 years of executive level support experience, strong knowledge of MS Office applications, excellent organizational skills with experience handling a wide range of administrative tasks, and be a self-motivator. Salary up to $60K with outstanding benefits.

Please send resumes to Sarah.Ireland@trakservices.com, refer to job title and Cloture Club in subject.

Assessment Services Account Representative – Customer Service – Temp-to-Hire

As representative of this extremely busy non profit organization, you willl handle a great deal of membership support, be involved in managing accounts, customize online assessment tools, maintain a tracking system of product sales, and overall assist members with troubleshooting their assessment services. This position requires intense organizational skills combined with a strong customer service/sales mentality as you not only support your client, but make them fully aware of other products that can fill their needs. Qualified candidates must have a college degree with 1-3 years of experience handling customer support, ability to work effectively under pressure and adapt to changing situations and adjusting priorities, and must be experienced and very comfortable working in a computer and Web-based environment. 35K-38K.

Please send resumes to Sarah.Ireland@trakservices.com, refer to job title and Cloture Club in subject.

Executive Assistant Temporary Opportunities!

Awesome temporary opportunities available to be an executive assistant. As the executive assistant, you’ll be the right arm to a very busy executive. Manage travel, expense reports, ever-changing calendar, handle personal work including personal travel and vacation planning, in addition to lots of special projects. In support of the office, you’ll work with a great group of people, all energetic and upbeat! Must have minimum of 2 years’ experience managing executive travel and schedules, some event planning experience, in addition to strong technical skills, and TONS of personality and energy.

Please send resumes to Sarah.Ireland@trakservices.com, refer to job title and Cloture Club in subject.

Executive Assistant to VP of Development – Federal Affairs

Outstanding opportunity to join an incredibly professional government affairs office of a major corporation. In this exciting role as an executive assistant supporting the Vice President of Development, you will be involved in the management of day-to-day scheduling activities and travel for a nigh level VP involved heavily in donor activities all over the country. You’ll handle correspondence, invoices, expense reports, and donor database information. Qualified candidates must have a minimum of 3-5 years’ work experience assisting lobbyists, legislators, or policy makers, a professional demeanor, and a solid understanding of and commitment to free market initiatives. Great benefits and competitive salary up to $65K.

Please send resumes to Sarah.Ireland@trakservices.com, refer to job title and Cloture Club in subject.

Executive Assistant/Team Lead – MAJOR Corporation – FREE PARKING

Extremely prestigious asset management firm with holdings all over the world is currently interviewing for an Executive Assistant/Team Lead. Support a team of dynamic executives and gain the opportunity to understand and learn the inner workings of investment properties. Responsibilities will include providing leadership to the department’s administrative staff, acquiring and distributing market data, reviewing and proof reading reports, memos and presentations, assisting in scheduling meetings, and designing and editing the monthly newsletter. Excellent benefits and competitive salary up to $65K. Free parking in a great Montgomery County location!!

Please send resumes to Sarah.Ireland@trakservices.com, refer to job title and Cloture Club in subject.

Meetings Administrative Assistant – Association Management -FREE PARKING

Join one of the highest quality, most effective, contractor consulting companies available to both small and large contractors as a Meetings Administrative Assistant in this great suburban Maryland location close to Silver Spring. In this exciting role, you will organize all speaker presentations for conferences, manage and update event registrant information, prepare listing of staff duties and schedules for conferences, maintain company Facebook page, contact sponsors to obtain logistic information for conferences and payment. Manage meetings from start to finish including bagging and shipping materials to on-site registration. Qualified candidates must have two years of experience in meeting planning and admin. Must be a hard working team player! Great 401K and holiday/vacation pay, $45- 50K!

Please send resumes to Sarah.Ireland@trakservices.com, refer to job title and Cloture Club in subject.

Receptionist/Admin -Tacoma Park – Award-Winning Firm – FREE PARKING

Award-winning development company and national membership organization is looking for an assertive, organized and versatile receptionist with a “do-whatever-it-takes” attitude for a busy and growing office! As a receptionist, you will handle all customer service needs for front office inquiries phone calls, set appointments, maintain databases, and manage calendars and scheduling for a busy sales staff. Opportunity to be mentored by awesome entrepreneurial owners who treat staff like family. Generous benefits and 401K package, plus free parking, in a designer-like office inside! To $35K. Please send resumes to trakservices.info@trakservices.com, refer to job #34534369.

Please send resumes to Sarah.Ireland@trakservices.com, refer to job title and Cloture Club in subject.

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Best of Express Night Out – We need your votes!

Attention Cloture Club readers, we need your help! ClotureClub.com has made the final round for Washington’s Express. We’re nominated for 3 categories and your vote matters! Please take a moment and vote for ClotureClub.com! Voting Ends September 27, 2012!

Step 1) Visit http://www.expressnightout.com/bestof/

Step 2) Select DC Life from the left sidebar

Step 3) Vote for ClotureClub under Tweeter / Food Blog and Political Blog!

Step 4) Pat yourself on the back! We look forward to celebrating next week with you at our 1 Million Hit Party!

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Thanks for checking out Best of Express Night Out – We need your votes!

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Member of the Week: Jon Tester

Senator Jon Tester

Representing Montana

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Although recent polls give Republican candidate Denny Rehberg a slight edge over Jon Tester, one thing is certain. Tester is no stranger to close races, and certainly isn’t your typical senator. That’s why we’ve put the spotlight on the farmer from Montana as our Member of the Week.

Tester was born in Havre, Montana on August 21, 1956. He grew up on his parents’ farm, and has never lived more than two hours away from it. When he was nine, he tragically lost three fingers in a meat grinder accident, which we assume is not an uncommon injury in Montana. In 1978, he graduated from The University of Great Falls with a B.S. in music.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

After graduating, Tester worked as a music teacher for two years before returning to his family’s farm, which he and his wife still operate today. In the 1980s, they switched from conventional to organic farming, and grow wheat, barley, peas, buckwheat, alfalfa, millet, and lentils.

Tester’s political career began in 1998, when he ran for Montana State Senate. He was elected minority whip for the 2001 session before winning reelection with 71% of the vote in 2002. In 2005, he was elected president of the Montana State Senate. With his election as president, Montana democrats held a majority in the state senate for the first time in nearly a decade. Term limits prevented him from running a third time.

In 2005, he announced his candidacy for U.S. Senate, and in 2006 won the Democratic primary election by more than 25 percentage points. His victory, along with Jim Webb’s of Virginia, was the two closest and last-decided senate races of 2006.

As a senator, he has been assigned to five different committees over the course of his tenure. Tester has been described as “your grandfather’s democrat”—he is pro-gun, anti-big business, and truly devoted to his constituency. Tester has been known to butcher and bring his own meat with him to Washington, and cites Pearl Jam as his favorite band, because they “promote many liberal causes.” As one of the races that may shift the power balance in the US Senate, everyone will be watching this race.

-Ms. Gardzalla is a North Carolina law student with a big Washington-shaped hole in her heart. You can also follow her on Twitter!

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Enjoy our Jon Tester article, check out other Members of the week!

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