Huck on Spike, Mitt and Chuck
POSTED November 20, 2008 | 12:05 AM
Gov. Hawk-a-book
Onetime Arkansas governor and presidential candidate Mike Huckabee has been back in the news recently, thanks to some tough remarks he wrote about former political opponent Mitt Romney and his staff in Huckabee's new book, "Do The Right Thing."
But he's not shrinking from the heat. "The book is not a Mitt Romney book," Huckabee told reporters at the Capitol Hill Club Wednesday morning. "Mitt may be very disappointed that it's not about him. ... But there was obvious tension. It wasn't just me but with other candidates. ... People have come to expect candor from me. ... If I had written this book and totally overlooked the obvious issues that were there, then there would be no credibility." (Perhaps Huckabee best summarized his attitude to the latest dust-up when, on an unrelated subject, he blurted out, "If you think I'm a jerk, that's fine. So does my wife!")
We had to ask if Huckabee has heard from Spike Lee following the book's publication, since the director first arrived on the scene with his 1989 film of the same name.
"You know, I bet Spike actually called his film 'Do The Right Thing' in anticipation of the book I'd write almost 20 years later," said Huckabee. No, but really, Governor, no word from Spike? No. "It's not like he invented the phrase. ... It's not like he's got a copyright on it."
Huckabee ended the briefing on a more peaceful note, revealing that he and Chuck Norris -- who supported Huckabee's presidential bid — hope to travel to Israel soon.
"So is Chuck Norris what's missing from the Middle East peace process?" we had to ask.
"Look, you get Chuck Norris to sit down with the Israelis and Palestinians and there WILL be peace!"
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Group turns to toilet talk on Capitol lawn
POSTED November 20, 2008 | 12:05 AM
Royal Flush
On January 20th, Barack Obama will take the oath of office on the West Front lawn of the Capitol. Until then, that grassy hill is a great place to talk about feces, human waste and toilets.
Such was the case Wednesday, as activists from Water Advocates and other organizations set up shop to celebrate World Toilet Day, which we were told was being celebrated across the globe with "demonstrations and events."
And the puns were flowing freely. "It's time to make a stink because as many as 2 million people die needlessly of water- and sanitation-related diseases each year," said Water Advocates spokesman John Sauer in a release.
"We hide" from the topic "because we don't like to talk about it," said Melanie Nakagawa, a lawyer with the Natural Resources Defense Council. "Let's talk toilets!"
Speaking of hiding, that was the theme of the signage that the group brought out on the cold, blustery day. The signs depicted cut-outs of people squatting behind umbrellas, luggage and rocks, the caption asking "Where would you hide?" You know, like if you didn't have a toilet.
Other placards read "Human waste — the last taboo" and "Hurry Up! 2.6 billion people want to use the toilet."
Also on hand: Patricia Derge Simon, wife of the late Sen. Paul Simon, D-Ill., whose name graces legislation that makes clean water a primary goal of U.S. international aid. "We take it for granted in this country that we have an infrastructure that provides us with sanitation," Simon said.
Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., was scheduled to speak as well, but we were informed he "had no voice." Better than having no toilet.
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Serena takes in Wizards game
POSTED November 20, 2008 | 12:05 AM
Sightings
That was tennis star Serena Williams taking in Tuesday night's Wizards game at the Verizon Center — a loss to the visiting Miami Heat. Williams, who was spotted down low in courtside seats (of course) comes to the area often to visit her sister, Isha Price-Williams, who has taught at the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center.
Also spotted around town: Don Henley, Glenn Frey and the rest of the Eagles, checking into the Ritz Carlton Georgetown late on Tuesday night. The band plays the Verizon Center tonight. No word as to whether Serena is sticking around for the show.
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A different address for the address
POSTED November 20, 2008 | 12:05 AM
On loan
With only a few weeks left in the White House, President and Mrs. Bush are already giving away the wares.
No, we jest. As he spoke at the re-opening ceremony of the National Museum of American History, President Bush announced that he's donated "one of the only handwritten copies" of Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address to the museum. Although it normally hangs in the Lincoln Bedroom, for "the next several weeks, it will be on display here at the Museum of American History."
In the audience for the ceremony were Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, popular historian David McCullough, Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne and Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Calif. PBS's Judy Woodruff emceed.
On Tuesday night, the museum was transformed into a giant cocktail party. McCullough was on hand, as were Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., Roger Sant, chairman of the Smithsonian's Board of Regents, and Kenneth Behring, who donated $80 million to the museum.
The floors of the museum were themed by era, with Revolutionary War "soldiers" manning the ground floor, Civil War soldiers on the second floor, and World War I doughboys on the third.
Guests were treated to a sushi carousel, experimental cuisine served by lab-coated "scientists," long dining tables adorned in lace, and at least four different musical acts.
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Speakeasy
POSTED November 20, 2008 | 12:05 AM
"I got off the plane last night from two weeks climbing in the Himalayas with my wife. So, I haven't read a paper and I didn't even know Hillary was being considered for secretary of state."
--Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., when asked by NYPoliticker.com if he'd like to have Hillary Clinton's Senate seat, should she be nominated to Barack Obama's cabinet
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