D.C. paparazzi hungry at the Harry and Harriet show

Benjamin Grove and Suzanne Struglinski

Saturday, Oct. 15, 2005 | 9:57 a.m.

It was classic Washington-style pack journalism in pursuit of Harry and Harriet.

An anxious phalanx of dozens of photographers, reporters and videographers waited in a second-floor hallway in the Capitol on Oct. 3 for Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid and Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers to emerge from their private meeting in Reid's office.

Twenty minutes slipped past their scheduled appearance, and the pack shifted restlessly.

Then the official heads-up from Reid spokesman Jim Manley silenced the group and all cameras pointed at a door to Reid's office.

A few seconds later there was movement. Several over-eager cameras clicked, raising chuckles all around.

A Capitol police officer had sauntered by.

"If it moves, shoot it," one photographer said, laughing.

The pack still had the story of the day, though, after Reid and Miers strode to the microphones.

A giant photo of Reid and Miers appeared on the front page of the next day's Washington Post.

MORE MIERS

Much discussion about Miers has been on how little is known about her and her beliefs. That will soon change as her nomination is taken up by the Senate -- and senators want to know as much as possible.

The Senate Judiciary Committee's 12-page questionnaire asks about her employment history, organization membership (including whether any discriminate or formerly discriminated on the basis of race, sex or religion), income and her views on the issue of "judicial activism."

Also requested: whether she has ever been fired or arrested or had tax problems or alcohol problems, and the date of her last health exam.

SUBTLETY, ANYONE?

There is no middle ground in the debate over the proposed nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

Last week the Environmental Protection Agency wrapped up its public hearings on its proposed radiation standard for Yucca with a final session in Washington.

Yucca critics, such as the Nuclear Information and Resource Service, and supporters, such as the Nuclear Energy Institute, made their official statements.

Among the adjectives used to describe the standard:

Immoral, unethical, dangerous.

Commendable, responsible, implementable.

You can guess who said what.

EXHIBITING SUPPORT

Polls continue to show a large majority of Nevadans oppose Yucca Mountain.

But the 900 journalists coming to town for the Society of Professional Journalists' convention starting Sunday may not get that message. Among the exhibitors: The Nuclear Energy Institute, the industry's lobbying arm and a leading supporter of the project.

WE MEAN CLOSED

In the real world, Monday's federal holiday -- Columbus Day -- meant closed banks and post offices.

But in Washington, a company town where the workforce is dominated by federal employees and the people who cater to them, much of the city closes for federal holidays.

Many restaurants and businesses shutter. Traffic is light and those who do trudge to work can easily get a seat on the Metro train even at rush hour. But they can't get a deli sandwich.