About Damn Time

We're just gonna leave this photo here of two smart, tough, accomplished women - one of color, and the first and second in line of succession to the presidency - on the House dais before Joe Biden's first speech to a joint session of Congress, which he opened with the mellifluous if belated phrase, "Madam Speaker, Madam Vice-President." The media called the presence of Kamala Harris and Nancy Pelosi "historic." But we prefer Harris' term when asked the significance. "Normal," she said.

Justice delayed. Photo by Jim Watson. Pool/AP

We're just gonna leave this photo here of two smart, tough, accomplished women - one of color, and the first and second in line of succession to the U.S. presidency - on the House dais before Joe Biden's first prime-time speech to a joint session of Congress, which opened for the only time since the reign of George Washington with the mellifluous if woefully belated phrase, "Madam Speaker, Madam Vice-President." The media termed the presence of Kamala Harris and Nancy Pelosi, two powerful women - so close yet so far - in the machinery of American government such as it is, "historic." But we prefer Harris' depiction when asked the significance. "Normal," she said.

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