$10,000 Bill

Everyone knows that if you want a cushy ambassadorship, you've got to produce the big bucks up front. Now it seems you may be asked to pony up some cash, though not nearly as much, out back.

So a couple dozen or so of former president Bill Clinton's ambassadors were asked to dine last week at the Georgetown home of SmithW. and Elizabeth F. Bagley (Portugal) and to fork over $10,000 for the Clinton library project. The library's anticipated cost is $160 million, of which about $50 million has been raised.

The usual suspects -- including Philip Lader (Britain), Charles T. Manatt (Dominican Republic), Gordon Giffin (Canada), GabrielGuerra-Mondragon (Chile), Clay Constantinou (Luxembourg), former senator Wyche FowlerJr. (Saudi Arabia) and former representative Corinne C. "Lindy" Boggs (Vatican) and Thomas L. Siebert (Sweden) -- were on hand for dinner with Clinton and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.).

"It was emotional and nice," said one of those there. And no one asked Clinton -- reported earnings his first year out estimated by Newsweek at up to $15 million (seems a bit of a low ball) for speeches and more than $10 million for the book -- to go find the cash himself.

Ins and Outs of Democracy

The Bush administration could scarcely hide its pleasure a few days ago at the ouster of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez -- who, let's face it, was a royal pain. So now that he's been reinstalled, does the administration recognize him as the legitimate president?

"He was democratically elected," an administration official told the New York Times, adding, "Legitimacy is something that is conferred not just by a majority of the voters, however."

That's for sure. Nor just by a minority. Need at least five justices.

Farther From the Madding Crowd

Speaking of democracy, last time we checked in on Duane Gibson, an aide to former House Resources Committee chairman Don Young (R-Alaska) and now a subcommittee senior counsel on the Young-chaired House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, he was in that "violent mob" of Republican protesters trying to make sure the Miami-Dade County canvassing board let democracy prevail in the 2000 presidential race.

Gibson's off to work with veteran lobbyist Jack A. Abramoff at the law firm Greenberg Traurig.

Magaw Abed

First there was word Monday afternoon that John W. Magaw, head of the new Transportation Security Administration, had been taken to George Washington University Hospital for "mild chest pains," but everything seemed okay and he was going to spend the night for "observation."

Apparently the doctors didn't like what they saw. Yesterday came word that Magaw, 66, was "resting comfortably" after an angioplasty (the balloon Roto-Rooter for a blocked artery) that morning and should be back at work early next week.

One for Each State Plus D.C.

Remember those tourists a while back who missed the Metro stop for National Airport because they were looking for Reagan Washington National Airport? Well, the nation's capital now has some snappy new signs up for the truly illiterate and really slow. There are 51 -- count 'em, 51 -- of these beauties in the 6.4 miles down 16th Street from the Maryland boundary to the Hay-Adams Hotel. Of course the tourists will crash into the White House without a sign at H Street pointing left.

Ever Mounting

Freudian typo? On the White House Office of Management and Budget Web site we find: "Thank you for responding to the request for comments on Federal regulations that we make each year in our draft Report to Congress on the Costs and Costs of Federal Regulations." No benefits here.

Year of the Proclamation

This week is Jewish Heritage Week, according to a proclamation issued by President Bush on Friday. Bush said, "I urge all Americans to learn about the history of Jewish Americans and to participate in activities that highlight the accomplishments of these citizens. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twelfth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand two, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-sixth." And the Jewish calendar year 5762?