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All the entries posted on December 07, 2006.
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Home > Window on Washington > Archives > 2006 > December > 07
Thursday, December 7, 2006
Lights On
Here’s state Rep. and former Texas House Speaker Pete Laney at the Thursday evening lighting of the National Christmas Tree at the Ellipse just south of the White House. Mr. Laney is seen here trying to figure out how to use the camera.
“How do you turn this thing on, Nelda?” he was heard asking Mrs. Laney.
The Laneys, friends of the president, were among thousands who braved a cold evening to enjoy the festivities, which included performances by singers Eartha Kitt, Cathy Rigby, John Conlee and B.J. Thomas.
“We come together to celebrate a simple and inspiring story,” President Bush told the crowd. “It’s a story of a miraculous birth in a humble place. It is a story of a single life that changed the world and continues to change hearts. And for two millenia this story has carried the message that God is with us and He offers His love to every man, woman and child.”
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White House Blues
Maybe this will help him get over the blues.
Guitarist extraordinaire B.B. King (shown above after an East Room performance earlier this year) was named by the White House today as one of 10 new recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civil award.
Officially cited as Riley B.B. King, the musician is praised in the White House announcement as “one of the greatest blues singers and guitarists of all time.”
“For more than half a century, the King of the Blues and his guitar Lucille have thrilled audiences, influenced generations of guitarists and helped give the blues its special place in the American musical tradition,” said the announcement.
Other winners announced today include historian David McCullough, former Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta, writer William Safire and the late Buck O’Neil, a baseball star in the Negro Leagues. O’Neil died Oct. 6.
All will be honored Dec. 15 at the White House.
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Texans for McCain
Add three more Texans of note to the John McCain presidential team.
The Arizona GOP senator’s exploratory committee says ex-Gov. Bill Clements will be honorary Texas chairman, and businessman Robert Mosbacher and Red McCombs are the honorary finance chairmen.
McCombs, a San Antonio auto dealer and co-founder of Clear Channel Communications, formerly owned the San Antonio Spurs, Minnesota Vikings and Denver Nuggets.
Mosbacher, chairman of an energy company bearing his name, is a former Republican National Committee chairman.He was commerce secretary under President George H.W. Bush.
The canned comment from McCain, suitable for use pretty much anytime he signs up anybody from anywhere:
“I am truly honored to have the support of these distinguished men. Throughout their illustrious careers they have demonstrated unwavering commitment to the Republican Party and conservative values, and I am humbled they have chosen to bring their talents and wisdom to our exploratory committee.”
Former Sen. Phil Gramm of Texas also is backing McCain in 2008.
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Who’s Calling?
President Bush doesn’t like it when phones ring while he is at an event. A phone rang during his news conference today with British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Can you pick which photo was taken while the phone was ringing?
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Wexler Gold
Some members of Congress leave their mark through the legislation that forever bears their name. The Sherman Anti-Trust Act, and the Taft-Hartley Act come to mind.
Others are memorialized in bronze or marble and their statues stand in corridors or chambers throughout the Capitol. A rare few even have buildings named after them: Joseph Cannon, Nicholas Longworth and Sam Rayburn.
But Robert Wexler may be known for a paint color: Wexler Gold. At least that’s what he says.
Wexler’s personal office in the Cannon House Office Building is painted a bright mustardy yellow. The rest of the suite, occupied by his staff, is more of an industrial beige.
Other members of Congress have expressed interest in having their offices painted “Wexler Gold.” Wexler said he learned of the name given to the color from Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y. who wanted the same color for his office. But when Weiner’s office was painted, he complained it was too bright, according to Wexler.
The problem, Wexler told Weiner, is that Wexler’s office also has a chair rail in glossy white, nicely setting off the gold color. Weiner’s didn’t have such a chair rail.
Wexler describes the color as “Boca Raton-ish.”
He had wanted a lighter yellow, as used in the Cannon Building rotunda — he called it stately — but the painters didn’t quite get it right.
“It was a bit overwhelming, at first,”Wexler said.
No matter. Now that he’s got a color named after him, Wexler intends to have it replicated when he moves to his new offices in the Rayburn House Office Building for the 110th Congress next month. The fluorescent lighting in that building is likely to wash out the color’s intensity.
“The only thing better than this is having a coffee named after you,” he quipped.
The House paint shop in the Superintendent’s Office didn’t know anything about “Wexler Gold.”
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Rep. Lewis No Fan Of McCain’s Manager
On Thursday morning, Sen. John McCain’s exploratory committee confirmed news reports that veteran GOP operative Terry Nelson would serve as his national campaign manager - if - the Arizona senator decides in January to run for the White House. For now, Nelson will work as a committee consultant awaiting McCain’s official declaration.
Nelson, who served as national political director for President Bush’s 2004 reelection campaign, has been working with McCain’s Straight Talk America political action committee since March.
But he has been without Wal-Mart Stores Inc. since November, when Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., helped push the retailer into firing him as a “voter participation expert.”
Nelson had been helping Wal-Mart drum up support for its political battles.
Lewis was angered after reporters revealed that Nelson also was heading the Republican National Committee unit responsible for a campaign ad attacking Harold Ford Jr., the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Tennessee.
The TV ad was denounced by many as racist because it featured a bare-shouldered blonde white woman claiming to have met Ford at a Playboy party. With a wink, she said: “Harold, call me.” Ford was seeking election as the South’s first black senator since Reconstruction.
Lewis issued a statement saying that unless Wal-Mart cut ties with Nelson, it would show “disregard” for its African-American workers and customers. “This ad crosses the line,” Lewis said. “It plays the race card.”
Wal-Mart quickly kicked Nelson to the curb. A Lewis spokeswoman said Thursday that she doubted the congressman would have anything more to say about Nelson.
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43 Deploys 41 to Thailand
President Bush today announced another deployment for his dad. Odds are good that Dad knew about it prior to the official announcement.
Bush 43 picked Bush 41 to lead the U.S. delegation to Bangkok for Monday’s festivities marking the 60th anniversary of the reign of King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
The delegation includes ex-First Lady Barbara Bush and Ralph Boyce, the U.S. ambassador to Thailand.
Some royal Thai trivia: The king is the world’s longest-serving head of state. His highness and ex-President Bush both were born in Massachusetts (Cambridge for his highness and Milton for his ex-presidentness).
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