Without Lott, the Singing Senators Are of One Voice

Must Read, Indeed

A security meltdown the likes of Three Mile Island hit the ABC News morning tipsheet yesterday. The Note's "Must Reads" e-mail was sent out at 5:30 a.m. to an elite group of what presumably are the touted "Gang of 500" opinion shapers -- the people who count in the world of politics and media.

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No one, absolutely no one, is told who is on this famous bcc ("blind carbon copy") list. Well, that was the case until yesterday morning.

Despite our constant admonitions to be very, very careful before hitting the "send" button, a young ABC-er hit it -- accidentally, we're told.

Not a minute later came the "would-like-to-recall" message, trying to retrieve the five-page list of the e-mail's recipients. Too late.

Now everyone on the list knows who's in the gang and who's not. There are about 524 addresses, but many are duplicates, leaving perhaps a few hundred in the coveted category.

The list includes the usual pols -- Reps. George Miller (D-Calif.), Jack Kingston (R-Ga.), Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) and Sue Myrick (R-N.C.) -- lobbyists including Tommy Boggs, Dick Armey and Linda Daschle; Hill staffers; campaign types; White House aides; and, of course, many reporters.

Not on the list: George W. Bush.

Zinni's Commanding Presence

We're told that some officers at Central Command have posted a photo of their former chief, Marine Gen. Anthony Zinni, who in retirement has become a vigorous opponent of Bush administration policy in Iraq. Below the photo is this caption: "WWZD?"

What would Zinni do? Seems pretty clear if you've been keeping up with all the op-eds he's been writing.

Big-Time Bake Sale

It seems like only yesterday, but it was nearly 15 years ago when then-Arkansas first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, asked about her legal career, said: "You know, I suppose I could have stayed home and baked cookies and had teas, but what I decided to do was to fulfill my profession, which I entered before my husband was in public life." (That rivaled her other campaign classic: "I'm not sitting here, some little woman standing by her man.")

And now, Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.) is fundraising with cookies. Yes, you can "learn deliciously easy tips & recipes for flawless cookies," she says in her invite to a "Holiday Cookie Workshop" set for Dec. 12 in Arlington.

"Menu: Raspberry Shortbread Bars -- Iced Orange Gingerbread Stars -- Cinnamon Sugar Palmiers -- Mini Cranberry Chocolate Chip Scones."

Just $1,000 for a political action committee, $500 for an individual. (Cookies apparently are free.)

Negative Impact

And now, this e-mail from Columbia University's journalism school. "Your Annual Support Impacts Current J-School Students," the subject line says. The noun is later used again as a verb when we are told that our contribution will "positively impact" the "incoming class of 2009."

Sorry. It's not a verb until Bill Safire says so.