Sunny Australia Sure Beats a Senate Hearing

But, no, the spectacular display was moved to make way for some filming of "State of Play," a movie starring Russell Crowe. The north entrance, generally used by staff, was going to be a hospital entrance in the movie, and 18 2-by-3-foot photos of the outgoing secretary wouldn't do.

Unclear whether the lovely shots will be rehung, since Jackson is outta there on April 18. One source at HUD says the entrance is a mess right now, with tape, mountings and other stuff hanging on the walls.

As for the even larger photographic homage to Jackson at the south entrance -- the one used by visitors -- we're hearing those prints will be removed when he goes. (Look for special autographed copies on eBay any day now. That should help defray lawyers' fees.)

Then there's Jackson's painted portrait, the one he commissioned simultaneously with those of four predecessors -- Jack Kemp, Henry Cisneros, Andrew Cuomo and Mel Martinez-- for $100,000. They are all being stored in the basement, our colleague Mary Ann Akers reports, waiting for the right moment for hanging in the snazzy HUD auditorium to be completed in May.

And when that moment arrives, they might join the portrait of the last HUD secretary hung in the old auditorium -- Sam "Mr. Mayor" Pierce.

Careful With the Comparisons

The Associated Press account of Sen. Amy Klobuchar's (D-Minn.) endorsement Monday of Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) mentioned that she compared Obama to former vice president Hubert H. Humphrey. But the Obama campaign's news release of her endorsement didn't seem to include that reference.

Here's the quote from the original statement, according to the AP:

"The Democratic Party is blessed this year with two candidates with many excellent leadership qualities, and I believe either of them would be very good presidents," Klobuchar began. "I am endorsing Barack Obama today, because he has inspired an enthusiasm and idealism that we have not seen in this country in a long time.

"Minnesota's own Hubert Humphrey once talked about his vision for the politics of happiness, the politics of purpose and the politics of joy. That is what we have in Barack Obama."

Maybe that part vanished from Obama's version because Humphrey, having lost to Richard M. Nixon in 1968, might also remind folks of the politics of losing?

Another Official Role

Just because the Bush presidency ends in January doesn't mean all family members will be out of government. Bush on Monday nominated John H. Hager of Virginia to be a member of the National Council on Disability for a term that expires in September 2009.

Hager is the father of the president's soon-to-be son-in-law, Henry Hager, who is marrying Jenna Bush. John Hager is a former lieutenant governor of Virginia and former chairman of the state's disability commission. More recently, he was assistant secretary of education in charge of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services, and is chairman of the Virginia GOP. Of course, the Senate would have to confirm him.