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At White House Festivities, a Lingering Party of Two

What's the best way to shoo pesky party guests who linger too long? Sic a White House usher on them.

Monday's White House Christmas party for Congress dragged on and on -- thanks to Reps. Darlene Hooley (D-Ore.), the very last guest to leave, and Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), who got into a dust-up with one of the ushers.

Seems both Hooley and Cohen were determined to locate two ornaments (among hundreds) painted by their constituents on the Blue Room tree. Unfortunately, they didn't start hunting until late in the party; since most of the guests had already left, an usher gently attempted to steer stragglers toward the exit about 11 p.m. "It was like he was a bouncer, and it was last call," Cohen huffed to our colleague Mary Ann Akers.

Hooley spokeswoman Joan Evans was more forgiving: She said the congresswoman, her daughter and a friend were "having such a joyous celebration, talking, dancing and taking in the festive decor" that they lost track of time and looked up to find everyone else was gone.

(Should have warned them about the eggnog!)

The ushers are known for being "more than gracious," said Sally McDonough, spokeswoman for the first lady. "There is a point when an event is over and we have to start closing the rooms."

Obamas' Choice Boosts Rivalry

Forget Redskins-Cowboys and Army-Navy: The hot new rivalry is Sidwell Friends-Maret. The exclusive private schools faced off last month in the quest to win Malia and Sasha Obama, with underdog Maret losing out to Chelsea Clinton's powerhouse alma mater -- and now it's part of a battle cry: The schools' basketball teams met last Saturday, and in the nail-biting fourth quarter, Sidwell students took up the chant "O-ba-ma!" (Or "We got Obama!" according to another account.) Sidwell beat Maret, 47-46. The boys' varsity teams meet again tomorrow, at Maret.

Hey, Isn't That . . .

. . . Kristin Chenoweth

at a Reagan National baggage carousel yesterday -- shiny black boots, loose up-do, big smile for the guy who stared a little too long as he recognized her. The tiny singer/actress is taping a "Christmas in Washington" special for TNT (also starring Dr. Phil and Darius Rucker) at the National Building Museum on Sunday.

This Just In

· What is our world coming to? Someone stole "Dukes of Hazzard" star John ("Bo Duke") Schneider's SUV from a SoCal mall last week. But, oh, that's not the worst part of it -- inside the car were two puppies he was planning to give his kids for Christmas. The Cadillac Escalade was recovered this week, stripped of its expensive seats and instrument panel -- and also stripped of the Yorkie and Yorkiepoo, Marley and Paisley. If you've seen them, or have any tips about West Coast puppy-fencing, TMZ.com has posted an APB.

$1 million

Hey -- your really hilarious idea to post a U.S. Senate seat for sale on Chicago's Craigslist? Yeah, well plenty of folks had the exact same idea ($1 million, "golden opportunity") and none of them made us laugh. Leave it to the professionals like Rod Blagojevich, people.