Ladies and gentlemen, I give you The Hill newspaper. For those of you declasse hippies not in the know, that’s the paper all the staffers and congresscritters read.
You see, this week’s edition pimps a feature called “The Hill’s 50 Most Beautiful.”
Hollywood for ugly people? We report, you decide. There are some good looking people here, but if this is the top fifty, um. . . well, I’ll go soothe my eyes someplace else, I guess.
Now, this week, of all weeks, what with everyone up to and including John Lovitz calling Abu Gonzales a liar, you would think that The Hill might finally lay out the current constitutional crisis we’re in fact embroiled in way past our eyeballs, instead of, you know, going all high school yearbook for the chattering nabobs of “I feel pretty?”
But of those 50 capitol hotties, get this: none listed are gay or lesbian (hat tip to the Blade Blog).
ExCUUUUSE ME?
Have you ever been to Capitol Hill?
Last time I went wandering the halls with emptywheel, my experienced DC eye saw about as many lavendar lovebugs as probable hets. This is not just conjecture: I recognized faces from the town’s gay bars from back in my single days a few years ago, when I used to frequent such places in order to, er, discuss health care policy.
If they ever staged a gay walkout on Capitol Hill, the whole place would shut down, and everyone knows it, from the security staff to the Speaker’s office, most certainly including the editors at The Hill who ran with this Oh So Very Serious Story.
So, who put the “don’t ask, don’t tell” rule on this frivolous story that ran in place of an actual examination of the executive branch’s naked attempt to make null and void a co-equal branch of our government?
Was it the people at The Hill newspaper, or instead, was it the closeted, uptight and underground capitol pink network itself (“Just say you’re dating a woman, sweetie, and you can send this article to you mother!”)? Inquiring minds want to know.
Um, on second thought, who cares? I want my constitution back.



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Uno?
Tres para Hillary?
Are they all skinny too? Like in magazines?
It’s really interesting, the growing lengths to which the establishment media (especially in the Beltway) are going to avoid discussing anything of burning importance.
Phoenix Woman @ 4
Did they make a blond girl disappear?
I want my constitution back, too.
Yes, I have been on Capitol hill, but not for a few years. I’m noticably clueless about the kind of polling you’re suggesting, however. I suspect I’d be paying more attention to emptywheel, and what she had to say, than keeping a mental scorecard of perceived sexual preferences.
Bob in HI
Why DON’T they stage a gay walk-out, then, and stick the hypocritical repugs’ face in it?
Gives a whole new meaning to “universal coverage.”
And “single payer,” come to think of it.
I want a bumper sticker that says “It’s the Constitution, Stupid!”
Whenever this stuff comes up I remember the scene in the movie “No Way Out” with the closeted CoS to the senator who was the central figure.
In real life it certainly is everywhere. I sure hope we get to the day when it doesn’t matter because it shouldn’t.
presumed #50 (the last one):
Michael Ortiz
Press aide to Sen. Obama. Ortiz refused to be interviewed for this story.
and boy is he pissed.
Last time I went wandering the halls with emptywheel, my experienced DC eye saw about as many lavendar lovebugs as probable hets. This is not just conjecture: I recognized faces from the town’s gay bars from back in my single days a few years ago, when I used to frequent such places in order to, er, discuss health care policy.
Ding!
Last time I was on Capitol Hill was in 1967. For about six months, while based at Ft. Eustis, VA, I’d pass through DC to visit my parents, who were temporarily based near Annapolis. If my bus connections had empty space, I’d wander the parks and so on. Guys tried to pick me up there more than any place I’ve ever been by some margin.
dan @ 7
Because the gay Republicans would freak out at the prospect of blowing their cover?
Bob in HI
PS I like Snarkassandra’s questions :-)
What is a CoS?
dan @ 7
Probably because most of them are repugs and they like it just fine the way it is. This way they are part of an “in” club. Very in.
from Digby and really… submitted without comment (what could I say?!?)
Pach!
I want our Constitution and our Republic back.
And I want to see Articles of Impeachement for:
George Bush
Dick Cheney
Abo Gonzales
David Addignton
Antonin Scalia
John Roberts
Clarence Thomas
and retroactive Impeachement for:
Yoo
and a pony.
Chief of Staff
Sorry for OT:
Tillman: 3 bullets to the forehead
Tillman: 3 bullets to the forehead
Tillman: 3 bullets to the forehead
WH obvious cover-up
They won’t give over the documents including
the draft of W’s speech.
Impeach
Impeach
Impeach
SnarKassandra @ 14
Chief of Staff.
Bob in HI
Back in a bit, off to watch NOW on PBS.
kirk murphy @ 16
What color pony?
SnarKassandra @ 14
Chief of Staff.
as seen at dailyCoS.com
SnarKassandra @ 14
Chief of Staff!
You all gave the same answer. Cool. Next time I have homework questions, I am coming here! Thanks.
perhaps ’cause so many of those walking would be sticking their own faces in it…
’cause they’re closeted gay Rethugs.
Dang, Cassie, did we answer your question? ;-)
dan @ 7
For gawd’s sake, don’t be naive. The hypocritical repugs have diapers that need to be changed.
we are the Romans.
Why does it even matter if someone is gay? This is one of the stupidest bigotries. What someone else does shouldn’t affect other people. I’d rather the people in washington start hating liars and people that steal votes and people that give money to companies instead of people that need it.
hmm – kind of tawny / light golden.
(but whatever the color, I would love the pony.)
OMG
“Now” has just started. Caging for:
1. Active duty military
2. Low income voters
3. Minorities
And now, Greg Palast is up!
kirk murphy @ 32
I think the pony might be more likely than some of those impeachments.
NOW is looking great tonight! Of course it always is…
Palast & Iglesias tell us about caging.
Jane(nyc) is just too fast for me!
Pach,
do you remember the piece Aravosis wrote back during the Gannon/Guckert fiasco (I think it was Aravosis) that essentially took apart the whole mystique of the closeted cadre in DC? It was an eye opener to me because I had never thought before of how the status quo was just swell because it was about closely held power and the trip and excitement of being on the inside of that “secret” society.
Bear in mind, this is DC — where W’s folks subpoenaed Michael Moore over his trip to Cuba to film “Sicko.”
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/072707R.shtml
Is this the best they can do???
SnarKassandra @ 27
Dang, Punaise @18 is fast. I thought I collared the zed on this one @20, but he beat me to it.
Being the first one to answer Snarkassandra’s latest question is even more cool than to be first up on the new thread (which I got for the first time in a while here.)
:-)
Bob in HI
nonplussed @ 35
Is Brancachio(?) conducting the interview? Sigh, I have to wait another 5 hours for it to air here in Hawai’i!!!
SnarKassandra @ 31
So would we all. Sadly when people grow up and discover power and wealth and how to get it and hold it and keep others from getting it that experience changes them. It is a way of being special and in human nature, most people want to feel special.
In our world—the progressive and liberal world—we want to share power and wealth. We want to pull everyone else up even if it means giving up some of what we individually have in order that more people can be happy and live decently. The repug power mad people don’t get that and never will.
CTuttle @41
Yes…and Palast is up first. Ten minutes into the show and it’s a damning indictment. Now onto Ohio. And how many people remember that direct mail is where Rove “made his bones?”
RevDeb @ 38
I don’t remember that. Maybe I should ask John about it.
LS @ 19
Is the military not all over this? I’ve been busy today and couldn’t keep up.
So, do you think it is possible that the WH had hired Gannon to “service” members of Congress and then “report” back 400 times to the WH???
My favorite is this one:
Dating “a woman” named Isabel. Well, I’m glad it wasn’t a guy named Isabel.
At least Nancy made it to No. 4, but she should have been No. 1.
And why wasn’t Murtha there?
Loo Hoo. @ 45
Congress is having a hearing next week and WH won’t give over the docs, of course.
Iglesias unleashed:
“reprehensible
unethical
unlawful
criminal”
Blackmail.
Hire Gannon
He reports what he learns to WH (hence 400 visits)
WH trots him out “visibly” in the press corps
Rubberstamp
Rubberstamp
Rubberstamp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLaMipm01IY
These people are low.
Will goofy-ness save America? Or just hasten the end? Damned if I know.
If they have nothing to hide why are they behaving like criminals?
-GSD
Keith O., says about Daily Kos flaming Billo, “Quit working my side of the street!”
Damn–I’d forgotten just how inspiring Ru is! More of this in the world, please!
I read in today’s NYT that Sen. Whitehouse is on the Senate Intelligence Comm. This has put a penny in the fuse socket in my aging brain.
So, he already knows the identity of the program that Comey and Ashcroft would not approve and how it is or is not related to ‘the program of which POTUS spoke’. And he is trying to find out exactly what, then? Is he trying to get someone else to reveal the nature (presumably reprehensible) of the program-so-bad-not-even-
Ashcroft-would-approve-it? Have pity on a scientist’s brain; I’m used to trying to figure out hnow a little corner of the world works, but there’s only one world. How many levels and screens are in play here?
Is he trying to ‘out’ Cheney’s involvement? _Somebody_ was fond of that unapproved program, certainly. This reminds me of Smiley trying to find the mole?
Kevin Drum
Jane (nyc) @ 43
Let’s not forget Rove’s hijacking of the judicial sytem in Arkansas.
P.S. Second link, To Kill a Mockingbird style, is a favorite of mine.
Well, here’s a perfect example of why we are held in such high regard throughout the world:
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/226/story/18401.html
Is it 2009 yet? Please….
behindthefall @ 55
During AGAG’s hearing, Whitehouse and Feingold, both members of the SSCI, flatly told him he was lying in regards to the TSP! AGAG acted like a deer caught in the headlights!
what? nothing going on in DC i see – no lying AG, tillman’s death was accidental, rove has been cleared…why there’s nothing to see here…wow the hill most certainly is on top of all things capitol…amazing innit?
Loo Hoo. @ 58
Very affecting…thanks for the link. What would American journalism be these days without
McClatchy?
This is comforting. From McClatchy:
The Bush administration has decided to supply billions of dollars in advanced new weapons to Saudi Arabia, other Arab allies of the United States and to Israel, senior State Department officials and congressional aides said Friday
The young people need to be turned into radicals.
They don’t care. Because there’s no draft.
Back in the day: Girls say yes to boys who say no. Make love not war. Hey, hey, LBJ, how many kids did you kill today. Don’t worry about the number of syllables. Make it work.
punaise @ 56
Sure. Once you take into a account a scienterrific analysis of the tunnelled rock in Iran, you realize that bombing it will cause ponies to appear everywhere! And flowers, and individually wrapped absoposidefilutely deeeeelicious chocolates with which to greet their heroic liberators! It will be so wonderful! Wangdang – I need another. Make it a triple.
behindthefall @ 55
He probably knows the program after the change following the Comey incident, but that doesn’t mean he knows for sure what was going on before.
CTuttle @ 59
yep. He had a very weird smirk that wasn’t really a smile but a tell. It wasn’t haughty like his usual facial expressions which means he was nervous.
Loo Hoo. @ 62
Or else they’ll spill the beans and the dirt on Bush/Cheney?
I’ll take “Hypocritical Homosexuals” for a thousand, Alex.
Testing the water temp by dangling my toes in.
Seems just right.
Jumping in.
Years ago, heard that Orrin Hatch swings both ways. Unreliable source. Anyone else in the know?
Jonathan @ 63
Really good point. When I was a kid, I would not have dated a military man. It was just too far off the radar in terms of my beliefs about what was happening in Vietnam. Now I understand more about not throwing an entire career away, and giving up retirement benefits etc., of course…
I also understand more about service to our country, and my service has been (and will be) working for the right politicians to get elected in order that they can make the morally right decisions.
eCAHNomics @ 69
I hope not. The gay community doesn’t need that kind of bad press.
behindthefall @ 56
This is eerily parallel to what Marcy has been writing about one of Scooter Libby’s tactics:
(a) Suppose you (Whitehouse; Libby) peak and see some juicy tidbit of intelligence that you’re itching to use. But you can’t refer to it directly, because it’s secret.
(b) So, you pick on someone who also knows to say the info in an unclassified context. Marcy says Libby did this with a CIA guy. Whitehouse was trying to do the same bit with Gonzales– if he can get him to refer to the secret program, then Whitehouse can talk about it. But not before.
Bob in HI
Per the New York Times: “Bush could then make a so-called ”recess appointment’ of a new attorney general. The Constitution gives him that authority. Such appointments, made when Congress is in recess, bypass the Senate confirmation process entirely.”
Anyone want to give the odds on Junya and his criminal cabal doing just that?
Abu’s resignation to “spend more time with his family” and then…wait for it…surprise!
A quick recess appointment of Fred Fielding – current Chief White House
ShysterStonewallerCounsel and original member of the Watergate Weasels, and primary Strategist for the 18 month plan to run out the clock for all White House criminals.Frank Probst @ 71
Come to think of it, neither does the straight community…
LS @ 65
Nobody would tell him even if he asked? He really can’t find out and is trying to? He knows enough and also knows that Cheney is the invisible spider at the center of a unifying web of foreign and domestic spying and wants to bring that down? Or, he’s just a guy trying to catch another guy in a lie …
Mad Dogs @ 73
This would be a REALLY good reason to encourage our leaders to stay in session and not take a long August holiday…
I just cannot believe that Congress is going to take a recess…
Jonathan @ 63
Frequently, when the television cameras were covering an anti Vietnam war demonstration, there would be the chant: “One, Two, Three, Four, We don’t want your f*ckin war!” Of course that would not be shown on TV.
Loo Hoo. @ 77
I asked last week but nobody answered.
How many have to stay in Washington for it to still be in recess but let some of the others go on vacation?
behindthefall @ 75
He has an uncanny way of getting stuff. Remember, someone leaked it to the NYT in the first place, so somebody’s talkin’.
Loo Hoo. @ 77
I agree. If there was just one thing I would say for them not to do, it would be that.
Snark, either Reid/Pelosi have to say there will be no recess, or there will be one. The congresscritters all need to make their family and campaign plans, so I suspect that the recess will go on as is usual in August.
Nevermind that our troops get no vacation, and that the Iraqi parliament was blasted for taking vacation. Just saying…
He also got snippy with Feingold. Implied that Feingold was briefed and Abu was sorry that Russ was too stupid to understand the briefing. Paraphrased.
Would it seem sloppy and sentimental if I said that I appreciate very much that people spend some of their time to help me understand things?
No one needs to be turned into radicals. That’s the source of all problems, regardless of which side the rads are on.
The younguns are commin’ along jest fine.
http://www.washingtonmonthly.c…..011758.php
Marion in Savannah @76:
I already wrote all my Congresscritters pleading with them to forego the August recess this year. I suggest any concerned others also consider doing the same.
Hmmm.
behindthefall @ 84
Not at all! I think we all appreciate each other.
Loo Hoo. @ 77
Gonna all be on a mighty fine sea cruise with another bunch of mad-hat revelers; the Iraqi Congress.
Party time in the Persian Gulf! Last one in is a 3-legged camel! Party on dude!
Loo Hoo. @ 82
Would it be too much to ask for them to arrange to keep a quorum seated and not recess? It’s not like we have a major Constitutional crisis going on or anything….
eCAHNomics @ 85
Hey, ECAHN. I’m an old guy (61). Radical to me means what it meant in 1968 or 1969.
eCAHNomics @ 85
Great! From Political Animal:
THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT….This is about what you’d expect, but Democracy Corps has released yet another survey demonstrating that the Republican Party is losing young people in droves. Among 18-29 year olds, 50% have a favorable view of the Democratic Party compared to only 35% for the Republican Party. There are plenty of reasons for this, but basically they hate George Bush, they hate the Iraq war, and they hate religious conservatives.
Loo Hoo. @ 87
Me too.
behindthefall @ 84
Oh, darlin’, you’re not the only one! I can’t begin to tell you how many questions I’ve had answered and how many complicated issues have been clarified for me here. We all bring something to the table, and the resultant banquet is bigger than the sum of its parts.
behindthefall @ 84
Sloppy? No! Sentimental? You betcha! But since we’re all dreamy-eyed romantics here, sentimental is to be admired!
So let ‘er rip. What are you looking to understand here?
Marion in Savannah @ 89
Hello. They already know the damage Bush can/will do with recess appointments. Maybe we’ll all be surprised next Tuesday, and there is a plan in the works-no recess?
Maybe since the housing market over here is going kapoot, they’re all casing out:
http://realestate.theemiratesn…..slands.php
solai @ 83
So … Feingold and Whitehouse know the truth-that-AGAG-is-trying-to-conceal; there sits AGAG doing his weaselly best to keep it out of public view, the two Senators try to get him to mention the unmentionable, and the White House (no relation!) (yet…) is happy because their boy has managed once again to thread the needle while standing on his head. Yet, Whitehouse at least is inwardly so appalled at what he knows, the behavior he sees, and his (assumed?) inability to find out the rest of the pattern (which he is sure has been concealed from him) that he attacks AGAG for two purposes: to remove him from position of power and to make him describe enough of the unapproved program(s) that they will be exposed and vilified.
Is that getting close?
Loo Hoo. @ 95
From your lips to God’s ear.
‘NOW’ starting in my area. They keep picking on Iglesias and he’s fighting back big time.
For my new home in Dubai, I’m going to hire these guys:
http://www.dubaiparadise.com/
LS do we get NOW on TV?
Maybe we’ll all be surprised next Tuesday, and there is a plan in the works-no recess?
Nah, I can’t see the democrats missing a vacation just to try and save the country.
Hmmm….some good livin’ goin’ on over there:
http://www.dubaitop10.com/
Bush is going to have an asterik by his name.
SnarKassandra @ 101
Channel 18 in Austin, PBS. Sorry didn’t see that.
COMPLETELY OT — How on earth do all you folks get that little Facebook logo to show up next to your names??? If you don’t want to waste time on this thread (please) just write on my wall… Thanks.
LS @ 105
What time?
LS @ 96
Can’t remember where I read it, but one of the palm leaves is sinking. Can’t put that kinda weight on man-made islands made of sand. Duh.
SnarKassandra @ 107
I think we missed it. Bill Moyers is on now. Watch that. Do you have Dish, or Direct TV, or Cable, or none of the above?
Marion in Savannah @ 106
go to the FDL page and check the wall comments. Jackie (wangdangdoodle) posted some instructions that I did here one day last week.
Loo Hoo. @ 108
How do I spell “snort” guffaw!!!
LS @ 109
We have some cable but not all of it.
Marion in Savannah @ 106
upper right side bar has a place to log in. Set up an “account” at FDL and when the password is e-mailed to you go to the set up box and put your facebook url in the box. That’s it.
Greg Palast in his shirt and tie is much more business-like than I expected. Though, his tie is loosened.
SnarKassandra @ 112
Those shows are even on TV with no cable. All local TV has PBS, or should, so at least you should be able to get it. Also, they usually repeat the show, either in the middle of the night or in the next couple of days.
ifthethunderdontgetya @ 57
Justice in Alabama. Not Arkansas, though I understand Arkansas had one of those political appointees too.
solai @ 114
Greg Palast is da bomb. ‘Bout time he gets more air time on this side of the pond.
eCAHNomics @ 117
Without a doubt!!
Tim Griffin’s getting mentioned.
Speaking of Greg Palast, if you haven’t read “Armed Madhouse” it’s worth the time.
@#11
I saw the Ortiz quote too. And good on him.
If they had the Hill’s most attractive, like 3 million, I might be on it, and I hope I’d have the smarts to tell them to bugger off like he did.
Marion in Savannah @ 120
Second, third & fourth that.
Now playing Blumenthal’s on R college convention.
Shit, all the MSM needs to do to put on a show is crib from lefty blogs. Seems like we’re doing’ all their work for them. Not that I mind.
Make that Bill Moyer’s Journal, not Now.
I must have missed when anyone came down here to tell us there was a new thread with 108 comments….
OldCoastie @ 16
An anatomically enhanced Dubya doll? Okay, eeew. Now I’ll have to kill the braincell with that image on it.
Can I be the first to note that, while they stuck to the Hill het ghetto, I was actually surprised and glad to see a very significant (and occasionally truly hawt) number of non-caucasians on the list?
So it’s not all bad.
Pach, yer a hoss, or hossette. Or both. WHATevah.
If the gay constituency is that proliferate in our government, and they represent as YOU front, SUPPORTERS OF OUR CONSTITUTION, then where the fuck have they been for the past 7 years or more?
Cuz hoss, or hossette, they ain’t been at the FRONT of savin THIS republic.
And they have NOT railed out loud of the destruction of our Republic.
But they sure as shit get loud for Gay Pride Week.
Harumph. MORE false citizens.
Lemme see the gay population in the streets to save the Republic . . then I’ll think about them all as warriors I can war with.
Till then, the agenda in THIS fight to SAVE our republic, is singular, and NOT in the best interest of THE MASSES.
The masses. This fight is about the MASSES!!!
Not the fractured and disenfranchised minorities getting screwed daily by the man, this fight DEMANDS unity, and the gays better get their tushie’s on board, or they’ll get left behind in the struggle for the VERY civil rights we are all fightin for.
And I’m on YOUR side.
Think about those MILLIONS who hate the gay population.
Get off the gay thing, it’s time to unite among THE MASSES!
Jane herself has called for unity. Will you not follow?
Harumph.
I should clarify that my question was somewhat rhetorical, but not completely. Part of me forgot for a moment that the hypocritical gay rethugs have no compunctions about working for politicians and an administration that want to deny them rights and wish they didn’t exist.
Hey, only 15 of the top 50 are republicans!
ROFLMAO! Thanks for the link.