I know what you got for Christmas

Well...everyone is certainly back to work in the federal District this week.  No more Christmas...no more New Year.  I was reminded that it was "back to business" when one of our very colorful motorcades flew down Connecticut Avenue this morning.  It was definitely "Obama-level."  I counted 13 Secret Service motorcycles (with sidecar!), 4 black SUVs and 5 police cars.  Why did I think it was probably an Obama-level motorcade?  Well, the fact that the last SUV had 3 SWAT team-looking men hanging out of the back with massive semi-automatic rifles gave me some clue. But I digress...

The other reason I know it's just after the holiday in Washington, D.C.: lobbying organization holiday gifts!  That's right...we're all dawning our swank new lobby swag around town this week.  Typically, this involves yet ANOTHER tote bag or "attache," sporting your respective organization's logo and slogan.  At my organization's holiday party, we received a very hip insulated lunch tote (which has actually been very useful).  On my walk to work today, I made a few observations about this year's new lobby swag:

(1) Everyone seems to be "Working for America."  Seriously, people...that's just trite.  And, as far as I'm concerned, only labor organizations get to use this slogan.  The slogan "working for America" just doesn't work as well on an attache bag for the American Association of Swingset Builders.

(2) Umbrellas are useful lobby swag...but in this town...only if they're the kind with wind vents in the top.  One big storm in DC and your logo and slogan are just going to end up in the gutter with everyone else.

(3)  Some organizations are much more interested in hiding everything about what they do on their swag.  No, the API logo on that pretty new padfolio doesn't stand for the American Pet Institute, it actually stands for the American Petroleum Institute.  You know...the giant lobbying group the represents all the world oil companies here in the District.  It's a shame they don't just have a picture of that woman from the commercial in the slick pant suit who walks around big maps of the U.S. telling us that most of the oil we need is "right here in the U.S.!"