Hyper Hill

Crowded [inauguration]
Tents [inauguration]
Hair Dresser [need]
Lucky [sake]

Looking To Air Some Dirty Laundry?

Some gossip is just so delicious we can’t pass it up.  Below is an example.

About a month ago, our friend the Pumpernickel, posted about a recent date she went on.  It seems as if the date went great, up until the point she found out which team he played for.

“So my question now is this. What happens when you find yourself face to face with a perfectly nice, attractive, interesting human being. You have good conversation and good food. And then, the last words you expect to hear: I’m a Republican.”

Damn.  We’ll just assume she’s got a very large, liberal father at home who makes a living out of intimidating Vineyard Vines wearing Republicans.

Her post continued:

Short term might be fun, but in the long run I wonder if a difference in party is indicative of a more serious difference in world outlook.

So how does this story end?  Like most train wrecks, abruptly.  Unfortunately for Joe Republican, Pumpernickel recently revealed to us that she refused the critical “third date.”

But just when she thought this story was over, the below comment popped up on her blog yesterday.

“How extraordinarily arrogant of you! Rest assured, with an attitude like yours, you’re judged just as harshly as you so apparently judge others. I pity people like you. You can’t get over your self-concern long enough to appreciate some of the amazing people that populate this world.”

It continued, but only after they pointed out that she had terrible grammar.  [douche]

God forbid you open yourself up to someone who might make you challenge, reaffirm, or even defend your personal ideals. The possibility that you might have friends is amazing! You say he’s nice, attractive, and an interesting human being…. how absolutely sad and shallow of you that his political identity would hinder your interest in him beyond what you’ve already listed as positive points. I hope he never wastes his time or money on you again.

So who penned this anonymous rant in her comment section nearly a month after she posted about her dating life?  Our guess, the same young man that shelled out money for dates number one and two.  Pumpernickel agrees.

Anybody else looking to air some dirty laundry?  [Your friend’s laundry works too] Email us at tips@famousdc.com.

FamousDC Flaks of the Year

Congratulations to all the hard-working flaks who were honored last night at the Quinn & Gillespie annual Flak Bash. [Sounds a little dirty and we’re kind of pissed we weren’t invited]

High honors went to Congressional Committee flaks Ken Spain and Jennifer Crider who both leap-frogged the competition in the Presidential Campaign category.  Obama who?  McCain what?

Spain works at the NRCC and Crider at the DCCC.

The “What the Hell Do You Mean He’s a Flak?” award went to T. Boone Pickens who apparently bought his tropphy for just under $450 million.

The rest of the honors are below.  Thank you FishbowlDC for the h/t.

Republican, Presidential Campaign — Ken Spain, National Republican Congressional Committee
…

Democrat, Presidential Campaign — Jennifer Crider, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
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Republican, Capitol Hill Press Secretary — Don Stewart, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
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Democrat, Capitol Hill Press Secretary — Brendan Daly, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
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Industry — T. Boone Pickens, creator of the Pickens Plan, a major energy policy effort and founder and chairman of the hedge fund BP Capital Management

Rayburn Gavel Showdown Concludes Today

***UPDATE: Waxman wins gavel by vote of 137-122

All of Washington is watching to see who will hold the powerful gavel in 2123 Rayburn. We’ll know in less than 24 hours.

Roll Call: Gavel’s Fate Rests with the Caucus
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Politico: Dingell & Waxman has party squirming
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AP: Waxman, Dingell face off for energy panel chair
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Washington Post: Waxman Backed to Be Energy Chairman
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Rep. Baron Hill (op-ed): The Master Legislator Obama Will Need
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Harold Meyerson (op-ed): A job for Henry Waxman
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Detroit Free Press: Dingell meets fate today as challenger seeks post
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Roll Call: ‘Dingell Bar’ Nervous About a Possible Loss

Be sure to vote in the FamousDC E&C Chairman Poll

Clinton Looks to Keep It In the Family

Bill Clinton is like an athlete who can’t let go of his playing days.  [Chelsea for President?]

Jesus Chrysler! What Were They Thinking?

Note:  If you’re a CEO of one of the big three automakers and you’re coming to DC to beg for money, try traveling coach.  [PR nightmare]

Fantasy Football Rantworthy - Week 12

Like Al Franken, on Sunday I was just hoping they’d keep finding me more points here and there.  I came up short this week just like I always do - just ask my wife.  The post season will find me watching from the sidelines screaming!

Let’s do it.
Read the story »

Mortman: At Least He Didn’t Call it “Jungle Fever”

Did former heavyweight Mike Huckabee rip off Spike Lee?

The cleverest man in the blogosphere digs a little deeper.

Washington Thinskins

Tanner Cooley doesn’t like negative comments

Beltway Awards

Do you know what the beltway loves more than lists? Awards.

Have you voted in Roll Call’s 110th Congress Awards?

Sen. Byrd To Be Replaced By Much Younger Chairman

People might think Joe Paterno is too old to coach the Nittany Lions, but he’d be a youngster compared to some of the current U.S. Senators.  [84 years young]

Life After Elections

So your boss was defeated and you lost your job?   Now you’re pounding the pavement looking for a new gig. And you’re left thinking, life couldn’t get any worse, right?

Wrong.

This is the kick in the pants you needed.  That opportunity you’ve been waiting for. Change is good. Run with it.

Need further inspiration? Look no further than Capitol Hill.

Capitol Hill Business Improvement District (thanks Makeda!):

Two years ago, Jeffrey Sledge was unemployed, addicted to heroin and sleeping under the Third Street tunnel. Today, he’s a supervisor for the Capitol Hill Business Improvement District (BID) and sleeping in a warm apartment with his name on the lease. After years of drug use and homelessness, Sledge, a 40-year-old Washington native found Ready, Willing & Working (RWW) – a program of the Capitol Hill BID – and things are looking up.
…
After seven months in the program, he has fully paid health insurance, a 401k Plan and last month he moved into his own apartment. “The first thing I did when I opened the door was drop to my knees and thank God,” said Jeffrey Sledge. “It feels like I’m back into society again. For the first time ever, I have the keys to a place I can call my home.”

Still need inspiration? Try this (thanks to Peter Shankman)

Famously Polled

Famously Patronized [The Intern edition]

When you’re a Capitol Hill intern and a newspaper interviews you for a story, there are a few guidelines you should follow.

1.    Always be honest, but not totally honest.
2.    Tell part of the story, but not all of it.
3.    Understand that the story won’t turn out like you and your Facebook friends hope it will. No matter how hard you try to make sense, if you’re an intern, you’ll always be taken out of context.  [This generally goes for everyone, but especially interns]  Regardless, enjoy your 15 minutes of fame.

When we were recently sent an article that appeared in The Hill, featuring Democratic intern Jennifer Moore, we knew it was unlikely that this story would turn out exactly how she envisioned. Unfortunately for the Oklahoma State junior, we were right. Hill reporter Brendan Sasso couldn’t help himself from taking advantage of an intern without media training. The good news, she’s now FamousDC and that’s more than 99% of her friends can say.

Let’s revisit our ground rules and see how Jennifer can improve next time:

1. As for ground rule one, be honest, but not too honest: Jennifer said this:

“I hate to say [the internship] was boring - but it was,” she said.

Ouch.  They’re far more creative ways to say your internship put fire to sleep.  When asked, say something like, “I’m learning so much at my internship - And while some days are more challenging than others, everyday is a new adventure and something I’ll cherish for a long time to come.”

2. Remember, less is more.

The best part about interning in the Oklahoma state legislature? “There were a lot of lobbyists, so we got to go to lunches and get free food,” Moore said.

Never use the words “free” and “lobbyists” in the same sentence.  It will never end well.  Instead, mention “you appreciate the opportunities and people you were able to meet throughout your experience.”

3.  Guideline number three is the most important.  Enjoy the moment. Just remember, no matter how hard you try, at the end of the day, if a paper is writing a story about you and you’re an intern, the headline is likely to be unhelpful.  During her interview Jennifer said:

“I was surprised to talk to people of that stature on the phone,” Moore said.

The Hill’s interpretation of that quote led to this headline: “Conyers’s intern enjoys talking to famous people.”

Really?  Talking to famous people…  Come on, Sasso!

Regardless of the headline, we’re still very proud of Jennifer, and wish her well as she goes back to school. [jealous]

We also hope she’s a fan of FamousDC.  Matter of fact, Jennifer, if you read this, email us and we’ll feature you on our Famous Five Questions, where you can join the likes of Pat Gavin, Chef Spike, Red State Update, Nora McAlvanah, Howard Mortman and others.  Trust us, we’re much more fun than The Hill and we promise to write a much better headline.

Winner Gets the Girl [Poll Added]

UPDATE: John Mayer has announced he has a crush on Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly - But who would win in a battle for Megyn’s heart? John Mayer or Luke the Gatekeeper?

Prada, Palin, and Pitbulls

FamousDC gone FamousNYC, Andrea Tantaros

Auto-Correct We Can Believe In

Now that Obama is President, will the next version of Microsoft Word stop auto-correcting his name to Osama?

How Did We Miss This?

Agent Zero’s Obama Ink

Get Nora Some Coffee

She’s not going to like this.

Who the Helen Is Sitting In My Chair?

Separated at birth - the 19th Century edition.

Throw Mamma[.com] From the Train

Looks like Dallas Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban has been double-teaming his stock portfolio.  [Lane violation]

Shocking WH pic

WTF?  Say it ain’t so.

h/t Anne Schroeder

Media Declares Nothing Was Done Before Obama

If you’ve been reading the coverage surrounding Obama’s totally awesome new YouTube video, you’d think internet did not exist pre-Obama.  And just when we were certain that Al Gore was going to appear at Obama’s inauguration and officially pass the torch of the tubes, we realized, that’s not the case.

According to the MSM lately, Obama is the first politician to ever use the internet - or so they want you to think. [Gore’s pissed]

Bush’s former e-guru has a bone to pick - and deservingly so.