Groups lobbying Congress often hand out swag, be it a personalized coffee mug or T-shirt, supporting their cause. But the Coalition for Airline Passengers’ Bill of Rights has topped HOH’s list of the most creative souvenirs to get its point across — astronaut diapers, which the coalition cleverly labeled, so as not to be confused with something else. The parting gift was given at the coalition’s “Strand In” on the National Mall on Wednesday, when they set up a makeshift airplane cabin made out of a gray tarp, folding chairs and a sound system pumping out ambient plane noise like babies crying to simulate the passengers’ experiences when they are stranded aboard planes.
Along with the preplanned ambience, the group handed out a passenger’s “emergency kit,” which it describes as “the perfect gift for any loved one who is planning to travel.” The kit includes a protein bar, an SOS sign to hold in your airplane window, water germicidal tablets to treat non-drinking water from the plane’s bathroom, and a disposable camera to take pictures of all the chaos. It also comes with instructions on using a large T-shirt and garbage bags to create makeshift diapers for those long waits on the tarmac when you just can’t hold it anymore — and don’t have your astronaut diaper with you, of course. Just when we were wondering what to put on our holiday wish list.
Lights, Camera, Stall. New York Sen. Charles Schumer (D) has never been accused of acting like a shrinking violet, especially when a television camera is near. But the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee chairman, who recently revamped his press shop, had the Capitol Hill press corps stumped as they waited for his press briefing following his meeting with President Bush’s attorney general pick, retired Judge Michael Mukasey, on Tuesday afternoon — first patiently, then not so patiently, then an hour and half later wondering what the heck was going on.
While surely Schumer and Mukasey had a lot to catch up on — after all, Schumer suggested the judge in the first place — they couldn’t have that much to talk about. There was speculation that the camera-ready Senator wasn’t about to give up his photo-op with Mukasey, even if it meant keeping the busy AG candidate and reporters waiting while his press aide, Brian Fallon, ushered in a tardy photographer from Schumer’s hometown paper, The New York Times, halfway through the chat.
Schumer kept the clock ticking — and the press corps waiting — for another 45 minutes.
Fallon said of the epic meeting: “It was a very important meeting, the first time they had sat down, and the Senator took it seriously. Any inconvenience to reporters we regret.”
Sounds like a gabfest HOH would like to be in on.
Always a Candidate. Getting on the same list as adjustable breast implants and the incredible shrinking cocktail might not seem like a calling card for Congress, but don’t tell that to Eric Massa. Named to the 2007 Esquire 100, Massa, a retired Navy commander and former top aide to retired Gen. Wesley Clark who again is trying to unseat New York Rep. Randy Kuhl (R), sees being the only politician on the list as a “great honor.”
Lois Lerner, director of exempt organizations for the IRS, arrives for a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on the investigation of the IRS' targeting of political groups. Lerner invoked her Fifth Amendment right to not testify and caused a protest from some committee members when she offered an opening statement and engaged in dialogue with members before invoking the right.
Roll Call has launched a new feature, Hill Navigator, to advise congressional staffers and would-be staffers on how to manage workplace issues on Capitol Hill. Please send us your questions — anything from office etiquette, to handling awkward moments, to what happens when the work life gets too personal. Submissions will be treated anonymously.
