Breakfast of DeLay Champions

SAVE THE DATE! The "Defense Industry Reelection Event" for former House majority leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) is at 8:30 a.m. Thursday at the Capitol Hill Club.

Join Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.), chairman of the House defense appropriations subcommittee, House Armed Services Chairman Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) and many of their colleagues who are getting together to help the embattled DeLay, who may actually have a competitive race next year.

The sponsors are a half-dozen defense lobby heavyweights: Greg Dahlberg , a former Army undersecretary and former aide to Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.), now with Lockheed Martin; Northrop Grumman's Diane Harper ; American Defense International's Michael H. Herson ; Letitia White of Copeland Lowery & Jacquez; defense consultant Al Jackson ; and Doug Ritter of General Dynamics.

This is not a coffee and doughnuts affair. We're talking a sit-down with maybe some bacon and eggs, possibly even a pancake or two. Better yet, you can rub shoulders and set up golf outings with key GOP members of the two powerful House committees, including Henry Bonilla (Tex.), Ken Calvert (Calif.), Rodney P. Frelinghuysen (N.J.), Kay Granger (Tex.), Howard P. " Buck " McKeon (Calif.), Todd Tiahrt (Kan.), Roger Wicker (Miss.) and Joe Wilson (S.C.).

As would be expected, attending this event is an honor, albeit an expensive one. A "Host" PAC runs you $5,000 -- though maybe you can take home leftover bagels. You can be honored as a sponsoring PAC for $2,500, or you can make your individual donation for only $1,000. Please make checks payable to the Tom DeLay Congressional Committee.

Don't let your organization miss this opportunity to help DeLay. He'll thank you for it.

Sink or Swim

Speaking of DeLay, here's how the Cape Gazette in Lewes, Del., handled recent news about legal problems affecting P.R. executive Michael Scanlon , his former press secretary:

"Sean Scanlon, a Rehoboth Beach lifeguard, pleaded guilty to federal charges that he conspired to defraud American Indian tribes." The paper noted that he's "better known in Washington, D.C., circles as Michael."

"While Scanlon was known as ruthless in Washington," the paper said, "he was also a generous friend to many Rehoboth Beach lifeguards," let folks use his house and took some of them to Daytona Beach, Fla., for a lifesaving competition "aboard Scanlon's private jet." Those days are probably over, since he must pay $19 million in restitution.

"Rehoboth Beach officials took Scanlon's plea in stride," the article noted, "saying the case does not reflect negatively on the resort town." But Rehoboth Beach Mayor Sam Cooper said he doesn't think Scanlon will still be allowed to work as a lifeguard.

Standards there are higher than they are here.

Rice's Support Staff

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice , a record-setting globetrotter, has made it clear she travels for strategic reasons, not to attend boring annual talkfests.