Just What DC Needs
July 23, 2008
Another FamousDC glossy mag
Soon Washington will have another, yes another, fashion/social scene/party/lifestyle glossy. This time, the Washington Post franchise getting in the game. The Washington City Paper seems to have broken the news (with obligatory eye-rolling, of course) for FW (Fashion Washington). While the distribution model is a little disappointing, The Post isn’t ripping off The Examiner exclusively at all; the paper seems to be considering all of the models its competition uses - select mailings and select retail drops (you can pick up DC Magazine at Muleh on 14th Street and Capitol File at Erwin Gomez in Georgetown).
Take Your Tour Sticker Off
July 23, 2008
Douche in DC: Tourists on the Town
We all see tourists and can recognize them on the spot, whether it be because they are holding up a map, standing on the left, or wearing the obnoxious Capital tour stickers. However, sometimes they don’t do themselves any favors. This douchy tourist was spotted near the US Botanical gardens, with apparently every imaginable item strapped to her belt. Also, on the other side was a water bottle.
Breaking Bob Novak News
July 23, 2008
Robert D. Novak was cited after he hit a pedestrian with his black Corvette in downtown Washington D.C. Wednesday morning. [Go to Politico for more]
Weiner Hard On His Staff
July 23, 2008
According to the NY Times latest piece, Representative Anthony D. Weiner is an absolute joy to work for and admits, “I push people pretty hard.”
Mr. Weiner, a technology fiend who requires little sleep and rarely takes a day off, routinely instant messages his employees on weekends, often just one-word missives: “Teeth” (as in, your answer reminds me of pulling teeth) or “weeds” (as in, you are too much in the weeds). Never shy about belting out R-rated language, he enjoys challenging staff members on issues, even at parties.
It’s no wonder he leads the NY delagation when it comes to staff turn-over.
Jonathan Kaplan is Back
July 23, 2008
And probably giving a few Chief of Staffs heartburn this morning.
Politico: Taxpayers pay for reps big screen TVs
A leased Cadillac: $557 a month.
Chinese food for 230 colleagues: $1,425.
A 46-inch Sony flat-screen television: $2,805.
Having taxpayers foot the bill: priceless.
When I Grow Up
July 23, 2008
I’m going to be a blogger for the Redskins
Check it out — The Redskins Blog
Congrats to Matt Terl
That Didn’t Take Long
July 23, 2008
Citizens United launches “Hype”
Here’s the movie trailer:
Congrats Juniper Lane
July 22, 2008
Last Second Thoughts: Congratulations to DC’s Juniper Lane for scoring the opening gig at Coldplay’s August 3rd show at the Verizon Center
BREAKING NEWS: Flight Carrying TX Members Makes Emergency Landing
July 22, 2008
Reported here.
Rep. Culberson was not on the plane - hence the reason nobody Twittered the landing.
We Pass the Laws, We Don’t Live By Them
July 22, 2008
This story is sure to ruffle a few feathers - especially given the out of control gas prices lately.
It looks like the DNC and perhaps the RNC will get a pass on paying gas taxes when they each host their conventions in the next few months.
And just how are some reacting?
“The DNC is not government. The RNC is not government,” Faatz added. “They are political parties and they are putting on a huge party, and that is not providing services to each and every citizen each day.”
Stay tuned…
UPDATE: Teresa McFarland, a spokeswoman for the Minneapolis-St. Paul host committee, said they’re getting their gas at the pump.
“We’re not getting a tax break on fuel,” she said. “That’s not the set-up at this end.”
In Case You Didn’t Know
July 22, 2008
Frank Luntz is a BIG deal. He has many leather bound books and his apartment smells of rich mahogany.
Shenanigans: Who said the following?
“I’ve been getting yelled at that I need to take time for me. I work so hard I have great relationships.
Steve Wynn wants me to go on his yacht for a week– I can’t go. Mike Milken wants me to fly on his plane with him - I can’t go. I had dinner with Prince Charles a month ago – it was so hard to schedule, this is the prince, the future King of England, and I could barely schedule it. Warren Beatty, Jack Nicholson – it’s all jammed in. I’ve missed all these opportunities - I never have time to go. I’m not retiring in any way but I have reached 100 hours of work a week. And I’m going to do about 350,000 [flier] miles this year. Tally it up.”
FamousDC wonders if Prince Charles called Mr. Luntz after his self Google Alert went off.
Jill Chappell is FamousDC
July 22, 2008
Wolf Blitzer’s producer Jill Chappell might want to hire an agent pretty soon.
First she handles a LIVE call from Ellen and now she’s hanging with Tate Donovan.
Shenanigans: The Damages Edition
CNN booker in D.C. Jill Chappell got to visit actor Tate Donovan on his TV set of “Damages” in New York over the weekend. See? Good things do happen in Iowa. You get to meet people like Tate Donovan.
We’re Totally In Love With Barack, Too
July 22, 2008
The McCain camp just launched a couple of YouTube videos about the media’s love obsession with Barack Obama. And they want you to vote.
Do you love the idea?
For Smokers Only
July 22, 2008
From today’s Politico Playbook:
With Senator Obama still in Iraq, his staff and press could be seen smoking flavored tobacco in hookahs in their Amman hotel bar, well past midnight local time.
Puff, puff, pass…
Because Serious Business Gets Done Between 2 - 4 a.m.
July 22, 2008
Some St. Paul bars get OK to stay open late during RNC Convention
The Legislature gave communities in the Twin Cities area the authority to allow bars to remain open until 4 a.m. during the convention.
VEEP STAKES Heating Up
July 22, 2008
The Evans-Novak Political Report is reporting that the McCain Veep pick will come this week:
Sources close to Sen. John McCain’s presidential campaign are suggesting he will reveal the name of his vice presidential selection this week while Sen. Barack Obama is getting the headlines on his foreign trip. The name of McCain’s running mate has not been disclosed, but Mitt Romney has led the speculation recently.
According to FamousDC sources …
Team McCain will wait until after Obama picks his VP and Obama’s pick is expected as soon as he returns from the Middle East.
Whatever happens, with only a little over three months left before the election and two conventions right around the corner, the daily hedging for the media’s attention will only heat up.
Latest from Daly, Manley, Smith, and Stew
July 22, 2008
Ben Pershing: Top Hill Aides Talk about the Week Ahead
Is the majority stifling the minority? That seems to be the theme of this week in both the House and Senate, where Republicans are agitating for a chance to get votes on their proposals to open up more domestic territory to oil and gas exploration. Democrats say they have their own plans to try to reduce energy prices, and Republicans should get on board rather than obstruct. The debate continues below, with contributions from aides to the top four congressional leaders.
Crazy C-Span Prank Calls
July 21, 2008
Keep the audio down if you’re in the office. We can’t believe the hosts never lose their cool.
These are a little dated, but they never get old.
Obama Staffers Aren’t That Into McCain Staffers
July 21, 2008
It works for James & Mary and Ken & Emily, but not for Obama and McCain staffers.
Eavesdrop DC: Cats and Dogs Living Together
17th and Pennsylvania:
Female DNC Worker: Hi, sir, do you have a minute for Barack Obama?
Guy: No, I’m a McCain supporter.
Female DNC Worker: Okay, well, have a great day!
Guy (stops): You’re cute though…what are you doing for dinner?
Female DNC Worker: ….seriously?
Mad Props to the Advance Teams
July 21, 2008
OK, so we need someone to ask Speaker Pelosi a question about global warming, and then we need Pelosi to check her blackberry, and then we need to have Al Gore’s voice come over the loud speaker, and then we need Gore to walk on stage and make a surprise appearance at Netroots Nation. And we need to pull this off without any of the media knowing until Gore walks out on stage.
Impossible?
Hotline On Call: Gore Makes Surprise Visit To Netroots Nation
Gore joked, “We oughta take that act on the road, Nancy,” to which Pelosi responded, “We are on the road!” Gore replied, “We are on the road, but I feel right at home, I’ll tell you.”
Ryan Grim Worked This Weekend
July 21, 2008
And ended up with a top of page Drudge Alert
Politico: Pelosi calls for high-level meeting with Iraqis
[Speaker Pelosi] “So with the prime minister saying it’s time for you to go,” she told the crowd, “I think it’s time for our country to sit down with the Iraqis and work that plan out. [We need to be] respectful of what the prime minister says, and respectful of the will of the American people, who have been against this war for a long time…[We should] have a high-level meeting with the Iraqis to work out the terms of our deployment out of Iraq…So, the end could be in sight.”
Famously Tweeting
July 21, 2008
Does Presidential hopeful Bob Barr actually Twitter himself?
In case this question has kept you up the past few nights - the mystery is solved.
The answer, yes.
Jason Taylor Now Spinning for the Skins
July 21, 2008
Former Dancing with the Stars contestant and six-time Pro Bowl defensive end, Jason Taylor, is now a Washington Redskin. Don’t let the dance twirls fool you, Taylor was the 2006 NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
The D.C. Sports Page: The Tuna Sends Taylor Dancing to the Redskins
Jason Taylor now plays for the Washington Redskins. Taylor was traded for the 2009 second round pick and the 2010 sixth round pick. This appears to be a great deal especially since he told the Redskins that he did not need to renegotiate his contract and would play it out with the two years remaining on it.
Agent Zero Around the World
July 18, 2008
Agent Zero: Everybody Should Visit Manila
I came out of a quick retirement for this blog. I wanted to announce that I’m happy to remain a Washington Wizard.
…
Wizards fans, go ahead and renew your tickets. We got the team back, we’re going to be healthy and I don’t know what the slogan is for next year, so I can’t say it. Before I could say like “Ready to Rule” or “Go All In,” but they haven’t told me the new one yet, so I can’t say it.
Gilbert Arenas then tells us of his travels to Beiging, Hong Kong, Manila, Berlin, Amsterdam, and Barcelona.
Agent Zero also has advice for Pauly Shore:
Just remember people, if you want to feel like a king and feel like a star, you know where to go: Manila. So, Pauly Shore, after you finish reading this, you head to Manila to jumpstart your career, baby. You’ll be back in the business, baby. You’ll be doing Jury Duty 2 in no time.
While Your Gas Prices Went Up Last Night, Lawmakers Played Baseball
July 18, 2008
The 307th annual Congressional Geriatric baseball game took place last night at Nats stadium. And for what seems like the 25th year in a row, the Democrats lost.
And how do we know they lost? The House GOP covered the victory via Twitter and 10 exclamation points.
From GOP Conference Twitterberry: Celebrating the GOP’s win!!!!!!!!!!
We have no idea what this victory means - but it’s always good to see old people getting excited about meaningless victories - like passing legislation on renaming the latest post office.
UPDATE: A tipster tells us at last night’s game Rep. Tom Price helped treat a guy who got hit by a bat while in his seat in the stands. It’s unclear as to which athletically prone lawmaker let a bat fly into the stands. Email us a tips@famousdc.com if you know the answer.
UPDATE: Rep. Chip Pickering was the one who let the bat fly.
2008 Chris Cooley Beard Growing Contest
July 17, 2008
What else would an All-Pro NFL TE announce on his blog after a summer of marrying a cheerleader and hanging with Dale Earnhardt, Jr?
The Cooley Zone: 2008 Beard Growing Contest:
Well, only five days before training camp and I’ve been trying to get in the right mindset, but it’s tough! It seems like if I can do something stupid or silly it makes it easier to get through some of the days. I pulled off the long hair, I wore the shorts, there is always a couple sharpie tatoo days but now I’m ready for a new adventure…Greatest facial hair of training camp is going to be this years motif. After leaving Wyoming for my summer vacation I came home with quite a start on my new project. It’s been a little over two weeks since I’ve shaved and I’m as proud as I can be! One thing about my little endeavors is that it is much more fun if I can have a partner in crime, or as many participants as possible. So I’ve decided to start the Chris Cooley Beard Growing Contest.
DCCC Message Experts: We Can Hear You, But She Can’t
July 17, 2008
At first we thought the screen-grab blunder pictured below was the fault of the DCCC web team, but instead, maybe it’s a genius act of subliminal messaging.
There is no actual “quote” in the box because this poor child has gone deaf - and who’s to blame?
… the Bush Administration.
Politicizing the hearing impaired. Genius.
Famous Five [Reasons to Be Mean to DC Tourists]
July 17, 2008
The District Chatter recently came up with 5 reasons to be nice to tourists. One of our favorite tipsters took offense to this list and decided to respond to each of them.
District Chatter:
5. These people are spending money in our city. Sales tax equals cash flow. Money is money. Fix a pothole, change a light, pay my Government salary.
Brad Kanus: These tourist spend money with the people selling junk on the South Lawn. Because these tourist NEED a shirt that says “FBI” sweatshops in Indonesia are doing quite well. Thank you for your investment. Let’s not even talk about feeding the homeless and the inevitable process of digestion finishing itself in front of the doors of my building.
District Chatter:
4. Washington, D.C. was the destination of choice for these people. They want to be here because they thought it was nice. This Nation’s Capital is every American’s city.
Brad Kanus: These people choose to travel from more than 1,000 miles away to make you late for work. Tourists come to D.C. to stand left and walk against the light. They choose tour buses as their means of blocking off every lane in the entire city at 5:00 p.m.
District Chatter:
3. You represent our city. They will share their experiences with others. So, don’t be an asshole.
Brad Kanus: Be an asshole and maybe they won’t come back. If you’re lucky they well tell their country bumpkin friends too. Only YOU can prevent a tourist from ruining our summer.
District Chatter:
2. They didn’t do anything to you. Washington, D.C. is the only city I have encountered with the whacked walk on the left, stand on the right “rule”, tourists don’t know that.
Brad Kanus: Tourist cost you time, money and the occasional chat with DC’s finest when you smack one that doesn’t understand how crosswalks work. DC is the only city sophisticated enough to develop the “Walk Left, Stand Right” rule - the envy of every other city on earth.
District Chatter:
And the number one reason to be nice to tourists…
1. Karma- What goes around comes around.
Brad Kanus: And the number one reason to be mean to tourists…
They started it. I didn’t go to their hometown and ruin their day.
FamousDC Media Ticket [Round Up]
July 17, 2008
Last week we launched the FamousDC Media Ticket. Several of our favorite Web sites linked to it so we wanted to pay back the favor:
FishbowlDC:
Lord Save Us: Journos Running The White House?!?
…
The folks at FamousDC have proven smarter at this whole “start a new blog” thing than we ever could have anticipated.
Save A Pulitzer For FamousDC
…
Outstanding work by FamousDC for its new “Media Ticket.”
YA CAN’T MAKE IT UP –FAMOUS DC, the mystery website, posts its all-media fantasy administration, with Dana Milbank as V.P., Chuck Todd as White House chief of staff, Rick Klein as Secretary of Labor, Danielle Jones as Secretary of Transportation and Jonathan Martin as Secretary of Education. Someone who’s famous not just in D.C.: “Now THAT’S a good way to abolish the Department of Education.”
FamousDC’s Media Ticket!
…
“The Beltway Community lives and dies by the words penned from Washington’s elite press corp - so isn’t about time we put our entire country’s livelihood in their hands?” — FamousDC
…
And so the blog FamousDC is debuting their media campaign ticket tomorrow, and gave Shenan some teasers - they are hilarious.
Famous DC has posted their “Media Ticket” — who they envision making the best 2008 Administration if it were all journalists. At the top of the list — none other than Mike Allen, President. Good call and we’re certain he’ll leave office with a higher approval rating than any President in history. Overall, in our judgment, a well-rounded administration.
JibJab Has Done It Again
July 16, 2008
Some of their best work to date.
Hotdogs vs. PETA
July 16, 2008
On the hill today the American Meat Institute is sponsoring the Annual Capitol Hill Hot Dog Lunch. This means Members and staffers can stop by, grab a hot dog, and meet a baseball Hall of Famer.
Today is also a favorite day to every male hill staffer aged 22 -82, because PETA sends up their Lettuce Ladies to hand out veggie dogs right outside the Hot Dog Party. There aren’t any Hall of Fame baseball players at the PETA party, but there seems to always be a long line.
Ahh, America.
theHotfile Returns
July 16, 2008
We still don’t know who theHotfile is, but FamousDC’s favorite news producer turned YouTube news host has returned!
What’s Bazaar is the Photoshopped Flag
July 16, 2008
When not on the House Floor, Speaker Pelosi likes to play dress up (from the latest Harper’s Bazaar).
Hat tip - Anne Schroeder Mullins
It’s Safe To Get Online Again
July 16, 2008
Just when you thought nobody cared that your spam filter was over worked- finally, justice has been served.
A Brooklyn man was sentenced to 30 months in prison on Tuesday for sending spam e-mails to more than 1.2 million subscribers of America Online in a scheme that foiled the Internet company’s spam-filtering system.
…
Vitale was caught making a deal with a government informant to send junk e-mails — known as spam — that advertised a computer security program in return for 50 percent of the product’s profits, prosecutors said.
Great concept. Terrible execution.
Facebook Update of the Week
July 15, 2008
Josie Hearn, former Politico reporter, needs someone to watch her VW:
Josephine Hearn is looking for a friend or trustworthy acquaintance to take her 14-year-old VW for 9 months while she is in NYC. $63/month pays the insurance.
Famously Quoteworthy
July 15, 2008
Gotta love the low-level aides who stay off message.
“You can get a low level staffer to say almost anything.”–Obama spokesguy Bill Burton on the one and only Bill Press’ Radio show this morning, reacting to Politico’s own Hill Dems are Miffed at Obamastory. (Of course within the story he did say: “It’s a favorite parlor game in Washington for low-level staff to take shots at anyone they can, given the opportunity.”)
Need a Role Model?
July 15, 2008
Every now and then something happens in sports that reminds us all that sometimes those Nike and Gatorade commercials can be real.
If you didn’t see what Josh Hamilton did last night at the MLB home run derby, you missed out.
A former first round draft pick in 1999, Josh left baseball to concentrate on drugs and alcohol, came back to baseball to play with the Texas Rangers, made the All-Star game this year, and had a 71 year old volunteer from his childhood in Cary, NC throw to him during the home run derby. Oh, and then he set the record with 28 home runs in the first round.
Yankee stadium was chanting his name and only booed when Big Papi came out to talk with him (You gotta love NYC fans).
Congratulations to Josh on his road back and WOW, thank you for the show.
Come Back, Hotfile
July 14, 2008
Some of our tipsters have emailed they’re worried about theHotfile. These tipsters want to know if Hotfile is OK, or if FamousDC scared her away. It has been over a week - come back hotfile!
If It’s Meet the Press
July 14, 2008
It’s time for advocacy ads.
Media buyers know their target audience and they’re drilling home the energy ads during the expensive MTP airing:
T. Boone Pickens - The Pickens Plan
Southern Company - Powered by Common Sense
Chevron - Human Energy
SVEZ - Energies of Progress
Association of American Railroads - Freight Rail Works
Next week Al Gore will be a guest on MTP. Will we see more clean coal, energy futures, and drilling? Or will it be all green and clean?
Dear Football
July 14, 2008
Please come back….soon. These days a Brett Favre text message will lead off SportsCenter for three days and we’re tired of reading about A-rod. We need end zone dances, QB sacks, fantasy football drafts and Monday Night Football.
We hope to see you soon.
- FamousDC
