Gossip Roundup: Rice’s ‘Idol’

• Under the Dome: Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) is named the “hottest woman in U.S. politics” by Politics1.com… Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and David Vitter (R-La.) plug New Orleans during “The Price is Right”… Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) wants to cut tariffs on duties on “padded potty seats,” “traveler padded-potty seats,” and “contoured padded-infant potty seats.” [The Hill]
• Reliable Source: Bushes invite relatives of those who died on Flight 93 to White House screening of “United 93.” [WP]
• Rush & Molloy: Condoleezza Rice rooted for “American Idol” Taylor Hicks. [NYDN]
• Lloyd Grove’s Lowdown: Jon Voight supports the war on terrorism: “This is a hideous, cunning, clever enemy who lives off a program of murderous thoughts.” [NYDN]

READ MORE: Marsha Blackburn, Personalities, White House, american idol, condoleezza rice, david vitter, george w. bush, jon voight, laura bush, mary landrieu, new orleans, sam brownback, taylor hicks, the price is right, united 93, war on terrorism

Gossip Roundup: The Smell of Fear

• Heard on the Hill: Rep. Kartherine Harris was seen barefoot outside of her house, screaming into her mail slot, “Let me in”… Does Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-Colo.) support the KKK?… “Lots of would-be Cabinet and high-level White House officials in a Gore administration” attended the reception for his film. [Roll Call]
• Washington Whispers: Democrats will scare voters about Republican plans for Social Security… Rumsfeld found “United 93” to be “really tough to watch”… Democrats are concerned about a Speaker Pelosi… Harry Reid loves his iPod… Bill Frist’s wife is releasing a book about fathers and daughters. [USN&WR]
• Inside the Beltway: Dick Cheney: “I will consider a book when that time comes.” [WT]
• Lloyd Grove’s Lowdown: Clarence Thomas thinks Bush is in “real trouble.” [NYDN]
• Names & Faces: Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks on Bush: “I don’t feel he is owed any respect whatsoever.”… Arianna Huffington: “You can smell the fear in Hillary Clinton. What happened to that fearless woman? Everything she does is poll-tested.” [WP]

READ MORE: 2006, Democrats, Personalities, Republicans, al gore, arianna huffington, bill frist, clarence thomas, dixie chicks, donald rumsfeld, george w. bush, harry reid, hillary clinton, katherine harris, ku klux klan, marilyn musgrave, nancy pelosi, natalie maines, social security, united 93

We’re Sure It’s Very Astute, but We Pretty Much Stopped Reading Right There

We hadn’t intended to work the United 93 beat, but then we read Slate today:

That’s always been the subtextual spiritual narrative of media catastrophe coverage: terrible human tragedy, but something good always can be found in it to affirm faith and hope and make us feel better. Plucky, ordinary human beings find a way to rise above the disaster. Man must prevail. The human spirit is resilient, unconquerable. Did I mention there must be a pony?

9/11 is no different. Flight 93 has become 9/11’s pony.

Ladies and gentlemen, meet new Slate columnist Adele Fergusen.

The Problem With the United 93 Films [Slate]
Earlier: Folks, Meet Your New Catchphrase

READ MORE: 9/11, adele fergusen, slate, the pony in slavery, united 93