Watching from home, the State of the Union looks so pretty and organized.
But who's ready to see what this cluster looks like behind the scenes?
1. During the State of the Union the Capitol building becomes a warzone.
2. There are TONS of police all over the Capitol.
3. And there are dogs and highly trained special response teams set up ALL OVER.
4. The hall right outside the House chamber is set up to be a media kill zone.
5. And above all their stations they have little signs.
These guys had a fake fireplace set up behind their media zone, which is nice.
6. Some members of congress wait AN ENTIRE DAY in the House Chamber just to get a good seat.
Saving seats eight hours before the speech!
NAILED IT!
7. Less committed House members eat and drink at fancy receptions.
There are lots of these fancy receptions set up all over the Capitol because organizations know that this is the one night the members must stay late.
8. Over in the Senate, they throw their own FAMILY DINNER!
It is right adjacent to the Senate Chamber. The dinner smells really good, but people will yell at you if you take photos near it because senators, eating.
The only remnants left of the super secret dinner was this chocolatey bowl of ice cream left on a statue.
9. After having all their ice cream, all the senators gather in the doorway of the Senate...
... and Biden leads them all across the Capitol, over to the House Chamber!
What you get is the Running of the senators!
They walk right through the media kill zone and here is what that looks like.
10. The people that take care of all the guests for the speech wear adorable little red coats.
11. Once the president enters, some members of Congress, WHO SHOULD KNOW BETTER, took photos with iPads.
Recall election NOW.
12. There is a ghost that haunts the House Chamber.
Can you see it?
13. Obama shook Boehner's hand and then peter tapped his desk.
14. The FREAKING podium behind Obama is magical.
15. Boehner and Biden are in the "Stand up and fake button your jacket" club together.
16. After the speech everyone is just free to wander around the Capitol.
BUT BE CAREFUL going through the media kill zone. It is hella insane.
How this works is members just wander through and exhausted reporters, who have been sitting in chairs like this all day, ask them questions.
And then members tell you something boring that you can't use.
But you can get close enough to just walk right up and take selfies with any bachelor, bro member you want.
17. This is how close Michele Bachmann and Debbie Wassermann Schultz can get to each other without causing the apocalypse.
And Sheila Jackson Lee looked fab.
