A McHenry spokesman says he doesn’t expect fireworks at the proceedings, but maybe some tough questions from the dais. The chairman “sees this as an opportunity,” the spokesman says.
Welcome to the club, Mr. Cordray.
(The Fairmont Orchid) - Seats might go empty at the big aviation conference, the Big Island setting notwithstanding.
Hawaii? Anyone?
Feeling a bit chilly these days? Don’t forget to sign up for the spectacular Aviation Issues Conference starting Sunday in Hawaii. It may not be at our favorite, the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel, but it’s at the equally luxurious Fairmont Orchid, on the dry side of the Big Island, where the temps are always around 80 and it hardly ever rains.
Granted, the five-day conference, sponsored by the American Association of Airport Executives, the major airlines, the aerospace industry, lobbyists and others, has lost a bit of luster.
There was a time when eight or more lawmakers, dozens of Senate and House aides and a contingent of federal officials attended.
But then came Le Scandale d’Abramoff, which cast a pall on luxury golfing trips and dropped lawmaker attendance down to Sen. Daniel Inouye (D), who, after all, lives there, and perhaps one or two others. Unclear whether any other members are going this year.
Hard economic times probably have given some private-sector folks pause as trade associations and others are watching their expenses.
More recently, Obama’s executive order to cut expenses, including travel, appears to have cut participation from the executive branch as well. Administration officials — especially those with transportation portfolios — still go, but we’re told in reduced numbers. The Federal Aviation Administration is sending four hardy souls (same as last year), the Transportation Security Administration is sending two, and no one’s going from the National Transportation Safety Board.
We tried to see if any federal officials were leading discussion panels but the AAAE press office didn’t respond to an inquiry and the Web site’s conference “Agenda” section most curiously says only: “The conference program will be distributed onsite at the conference.” Even hard-working lobbyists may have trouble convincing their firms to send them.
But you must do your utmost. Remember, this is a Loop Five-Star event, where all “working” sessions end before lunch so there’s time to change for an afternoon of spectacular golf. There’s also great whale-watching or snorkeling with the sea turtles, not to mention the Volcanoes National Park.
Come on, people. We’re talking Hawaii here.
Ripped from the headlines
If C-SPAN simply isn’t exciting enough for you, there’s some new must-see TV in town.
A Maryland Public Television show debuting this month on Friday the 13thstars former senator Arlen Specter , playing the role of the curmudgeonly law professor . . . oh, wait, it’s not a sitcom, but a new public affairs show that aims for a higher-brow tone than your average cable shout-fest. “Arlen Specter’s The Whole Truth” is being billed as a venue for thorough examinations of the issues of the day.
Those who remember Specter (Pa.) from his long tenure in Washington, much of it at the helm of the Senate Judiciary Committee (Those pointed questions! Those references to Scottish law!), have no doubt it will live up to the hype.
Specter dubs the format “a cross between Supreme Court oral arguments and a Senate hearing.”
An MPT spokeswoman says there’s one episode in the can and others in development. It’s unclear how often the “occasional series” will run, since MPT will have to raise funds to produce more.
For the debut, Specter’s guests are the always-riveting former senators Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) and Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.). The latter knows a thing or two about prime-time drama.
We’re already laying in a stash of popcorn.
Fits like a glove
In one of the most meaningful polls of the Republican presidential contest thus far, it seems that a full 2 percent of voters think that former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney’s full first name is . . . Mittens.
Another 2 percent, according to the poll by “60 Minutes” and Vanity Fair, thought it was Gromit, 8 percent thought Milton and 18 percent figured on Mitchell.
Silly electorate. Of course, everyone knows it’s Mitterrand, right?
With Emily Heil
Follow In the Loop on Twitter (@InTheLoopWP) and the blog (washingtonpost.com/intheloop).
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