Early Birds

One of our favorite parts of the SOTU is the reliable presence of a handful of House Dems who spend 364 days of the year lacing into Pres Bush, but spend a good chunk of this day camped out in aisle seats on the House floor so as to shake hands with the Prez and get some nat'l tv face time.

A House spy reports as of 3 p.m. (a full 6 hours before gametime) the following members were lined up in these primo positions. From the back of the chamber forward, the order was: Rep's Kildee (MI), A. Green (TX), Jackson Lee (TX), Tubbs Jones (OH), Jackson (IL).

Our eagle-eyed observer adds that most had purses or briefcases to "mark their territory."

So if you are not there yet, Mr. Engel, this is your warning!

UPDATE: Our eagle-eyed observer is also near-sighted, it turns out. Rep. Becerra (CA) was not in the House chamber earlier today. We regret the error