Gossip Roundup: Getting Baked Edition
• Reliable Source: Breaking news: Gays likeJudy Garland. But why? "[S]he was having a good time and making a lot of money. Partnership for Public Service bemoans thelack of positive government-worker role models on television. (RS tosses out possibilities: "SSA-CSI," "HIPAA-SVU.")Mel Gibsonsometimes suspects that he's "the biggest idiot in the world" (can't be all right all the time!).Jason Alexander (George Costanza)wants to bring peace to the Middle East. Channel 9'sGordon Petersonretires. (We're warning you, Leiby. . . ) [ WP ]
• Inside the Beltway: Evan Bayhstopped a terrorist from blowing up a plane. Maybe. One thing's for sure: he acted quickly when a man "described by one passenger asbeing of Middle Eastern descent" did something suspicious. (Gotta be a terrorist, right?)We're gonna be attacked by aliens.Election notices in Spanish: "This is the epitome of government multilingualism gone amok." (For our Esperantan readers: "Estas la epitome da registaro multilingvo iri freneza!" [ WT ]
• Under the Dome Dick Armeyapologizes for past remarks. Then: "If I were a Democrat, I would feel a heck of a lot more comfortable in Boston than, say, in America." Now: "I owe your fair city an apology and I extend it with all sincerity." After 10 years,the House is hiring a historianagain (starts at $103,969, applications due March 1).Ricin-exposed staffers' clothes to be baked.(Don't bogart the stash!) Kentucky candidate not, in fact, endorsed byMaker's Mark. (Wonkette, however, endorses Maker's Mark.)Bob Novakto go to Gridiron dinner inMr. Valerie Plamedrag, will sing: "Novak had a secret source/who lived within the great White House/and one day his secret source/told him of my beloved spouse …" [ The Hill ]
• Heard on the Hill: Rep. Heather Wilson (R-N.M.)got pissed at Viacom forJanet’s jiggleandHoward Stern. Stern mocks her a bit. Wilson says she’s never heard his show.Placido Domingois singing forTed Kennedy’sbirthday today (he's 72). (Insert preservative qualities of alcohol joke here.) Slow day for the rumor mill: "Conspiracy theories immediately started spreading (at least in HOH’s mind) whenSenate Sergeant-at-Arms Bill Picklewas spotted hobbling around the chamber with a broken leg and fractured ankle." He hurt himself skiing.Ken Johnsonis stepping down from House Energy and Commerce. "In an ironic twist of fate, it looks like Martha and I are going down at the same time," Johnson deadpanned to HOH. Budget jokes.Ben Steinis speaking at a retirement planning hearing. [ Roll Call ]
• Rush & Malloy: Joining the anti-"Passion" bandwagon: PETA.Janeane Garofaloworking hard on a new political book: "Dude, Where's My Career" -- no, sorry, it's called something else. Out by election day.George Butler, who documentedArnold Schwarzeneggerin "Pumping Iron," just got the rights to make a nonfiction movie out of "Tour of Duty: John Kerry and the Vietnam War." [ NYDN ]
• Lloyd Grove's Lowdown: John McCainthinks 2004 campaign will be "nastiest" ever. Is confronted by a Writer's Guild member about abortion rights.Bill O'Reilly: Unoriginal. Hollywood person has unusual defense of "Passion" against anti-Semiticism:"Everyone in the movie besides the Romans are Jews!"Governator not going to Oscars. [NYDN ]
• Page Six: John Edwardsgets his hand slapped for patting disabled person's head. [ NYP ]
• Cindy Adams: Tim Russertstole the idea ofArnoldrunning for President from her. [ NYP ]