Serving the Nation in Sunny South America
Feeling that blast of winter these past few days? Want a quick trip to sunny climes courtesy of the taxpayers? Then hurry, hurry, hurry. There may still be some seats on an excellent codel to South America right after Thanksgiving. There's chatter that even Rio, where highs are expected to be in the 80s, might be one stop.
Outgoing House Agriculture Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) is leading a group of about 10 committee members, plus spouses, military aides and assorted staff -- perhaps up to 40 folks in all -- on this fine journey with stops in several countries down there.
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Sign Up for RSS Feed"The delegation will be meeting with various business and government officials in the region," committee spokeswoman Alise Kowalski tells us, "to discuss agricultural trade -- specifically focusing on expanding U.S. agricultural exports."
We asked for an updated itinerary and passenger list, but she told us that, "for security reasons," the committee did not release such information before the trip. (It was not readily apparent how knowing who was onboard would affect security issues, but never mind.)
Depending on the type of military jet being used, move quickly if you want to go. An early list showed that Goodlatte; incoming Chairman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.); Republican Reps. Frank Lucas (Okla.) and Jerry Moran (Kan.); and Democratic Reps. Bob Etheridge (N.C.), Tim Holden (Pa.), Rick Larsen (Wash.), Leonard Boswell (Iowa), David Scott (Ga.) and Stephanie Herseth (S.D.) had made tentative bookings, but these things are fluid. There's always someone dropping off or hopping on, so get moving.
Note to new members of Congress who become codel-eligible next year: You might ask yourselves, "Why would I want to wander for maybe 10 days going from one boring meeting to another on trade issues?" Well, first, it could be theoretically of importance to your farm constituents.
More important, between meetings, there'll surely be ample time to squeeze in trips to top agricultural sites. For example, during a five-day trip in 2003, a Goodlatte delegation found time to stop at Iguazu Falls, not heretofore known as a major farming site, and trek to the major ecotourist and rain-forest area around Manaus.
If No One Publishes a Watchdog's Letters . . .
Just when it seemed Dorrance Smith, assistant secretary of defense for public affairs, had tired in his fight for truth, justice and the American way -- that is, having his "rapid-response team" scour the daily press and demand that perceived mistakes be corrected -- Monday's Pentagon Early Bird features three letters to news organizations demanding corrections.
One went to the Chicago Tribune to take issue with a columnist; another to U.S. News and World Report about what Smith said was a "fairly egregious error" that "requires a correction"; and a third, by press aide Bryan Whitman, notes that USA Today "mischaracterizes" an Army general's comments.
The news outlets did not publish the letters. Undaunted by rejection, Smith self-publishes his views at the top of the Bird, a compilation of news clips distributed throughout the military.
Something endearing about all this. Kinda like that guy Sisyphus with the rock. If only fixing mistakes in Iraq were this simple.
You, Too, Can Live Like a President
Another prominent GOP home went up for sale last week in the Clover area of Alexandria. This was home to Gerald R. Ford and his family for almost 20 years, during much of his congressional career, his time as vice president and the first 10 days after he became president after Richard M. Nixon's resignation, according to an ad in Roll Call. It's a four-bedroom house with two full and three half baths and a "gigantic" swimming pool. This National Historic Landmark, yours for $999,000.
The Revolving Door of the Senate
Coming full circle? Marshall Wittmann, who gained fame as the highest-ranking Jew in the Christian Coalition, was named communications director for Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.) yesterday.
Along the way to his new job, Wittmann was also legislative director for the conservative Heritage Foundation, a senior fellow at the conservative Hudson Institute, a communications director to Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and a senior fellow at the centrist Democratic Leadership Council.
Yes, These Officials Are Introducing a Poster
A slow week in Washington . . . From this week's Department of Homeland Security schedule: Monday, November 20 4:00 PM EST Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Daniel W. Sutherland , along with Dean S. Hunter, Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement Federal Protective Service Director, will deliver remarks and introduce the Kirpan, a Sikh American religious awareness poster. The National Gurdwara 3801 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. OPEN PRESS
