Washington in 60 Seconds: Is Your Congressman Nuts?
Patricia Murphy
Capitol Hill Bureau Chief
Posted:
12/21/09
Good morning, Capitolists! The insomniacs among you know the Senate convened for a 1 a.m. vote early this morning on health care, but not before the fur flew between Democrats and Republicans on the Senate floor, with senators accusing one another of everything from corruption to elder abuse. (What gives with the snark, fearless leaders?)
As a public service, we helpfully looked up "clinical exhaustion" on WebMD and found ways that everyone from Tom Coburn to Al Franken can "De-Stress and Revitalize" their lives. WebMD says the key is focusing on the present: "Let go of thoughts about the past or future, and focus on the present moment. How does the air feel against your skin? How does the pavement feel under your feet? If your mind wanders, just bring it back again to focus on the present."
In the spirit of focusing on the present, here's what's making news in Washington today:
* Is Your Congressman Nuts? A Florida woman says hers is, and perhaps to prove her point, the representative has filed a complaint against her with Attorney General Eric Holder. The Orlando Sentinel has the latest on Rep. Alan Grayson's legal attacks on a woman who set up a Web site making fun of him: www.MyCongressmanIsNuts.com. The Capitolist had the pleasure of meeting the Web site's founder, Angie Langley, at Rep. Michele Bachmann's "Super Bowl of Freedom" in Washington a few months back, and we can at least say she is not nuts at all.
* Old Man Winter vs. Harry Reid. With 60 votes essential to winning this morning's vote, the Senate went mano a mano with the weather, dispatching a government plane to rustle up two snow-bound Democrats in New Jersey, where nearly two feet of snow had crippled transportation. The New York Times reports, "With Amtrak experiencing severe delays, a government plane was sent to retrieve Senators Frank R. Lautenberg and Robert Menendez."
* Sweeteners Turn Sour. The Lincoln Journal Star reports that even with Sen. Ben Nelson's last-minute deal to tighten abortion funding in the bill, pro-life advocates in his home state are still furious with him. The head of Nebraska Right to Life released a statement Saturday that she felt betrayed by Nelson, saying he "has obliterated the hope of pro-life Americans who saw Senator Nelson as the last man standing." Nelson's response: "I thought we had handled it."
* Sunlight is the Best Boondoggle. Despite his state's fiscal crisis, New York Gov. David Paterson is moving forward with a $48.7 million renovation of the state capitol, complete with two Beaux Arts skylights. The New York Post reports the renovation began under Gov. George Pataki, but state employees are steaming mad now. "They can't pay for the schools, but they can pay $50 million for skylights?" one griped. "Ridiculous."
* Note to Gate Crashers. If you must penetrate White House security, leave the reality-TV camera crews at home while you plan your crime at the hair salon. The Washington Post reports that investigators trying to piece together the chain of events for Michaele and Tareq Salahi's White House slip-in are having a much easier time of it, considering it's all on tape.
As a public service, we helpfully looked up "clinical exhaustion" on WebMD and found ways that everyone from Tom Coburn to Al Franken can "De-Stress and Revitalize" their lives. WebMD says the key is focusing on the present: "Let go of thoughts about the past or future, and focus on the present moment. How does the air feel against your skin? How does the pavement feel under your feet? If your mind wanders, just bring it back again to focus on the present."
In the spirit of focusing on the present, here's what's making news in Washington today:
* Is Your Congressman Nuts? A Florida woman says hers is, and perhaps to prove her point, the representative has filed a complaint against her with Attorney General Eric Holder. The Orlando Sentinel has the latest on Rep. Alan Grayson's legal attacks on a woman who set up a Web site making fun of him: www.MyCongressmanIsNuts.com. The Capitolist had the pleasure of meeting the Web site's founder, Angie Langley, at Rep. Michele Bachmann's "Super Bowl of Freedom" in Washington a few months back, and we can at least say she is not nuts at all.
* Old Man Winter vs. Harry Reid. With 60 votes essential to winning this morning's vote, the Senate went mano a mano with the weather, dispatching a government plane to rustle up two snow-bound Democrats in New Jersey, where nearly two feet of snow had crippled transportation. The New York Times reports, "With Amtrak experiencing severe delays, a government plane was sent to retrieve Senators Frank R. Lautenberg and Robert Menendez."
* Sweeteners Turn Sour. The Lincoln Journal Star reports that even with Sen. Ben Nelson's last-minute deal to tighten abortion funding in the bill, pro-life advocates in his home state are still furious with him. The head of Nebraska Right to Life released a statement Saturday that she felt betrayed by Nelson, saying he "has obliterated the hope of pro-life Americans who saw Senator Nelson as the last man standing." Nelson's response: "I thought we had handled it."
* Sunlight is the Best Boondoggle. Despite his state's fiscal crisis, New York Gov. David Paterson is moving forward with a $48.7 million renovation of the state capitol, complete with two Beaux Arts skylights. The New York Post reports the renovation began under Gov. George Pataki, but state employees are steaming mad now. "They can't pay for the schools, but they can pay $50 million for skylights?" one griped. "Ridiculous."
* Note to Gate Crashers. If you must penetrate White House security, leave the reality-TV camera crews at home while you plan your crime at the hair salon. The Washington Post reports that investigators trying to piece together the chain of events for Michaele and Tareq Salahi's White House slip-in are having a much easier time of it, considering it's all on tape.