Wonk'd: Before the Bridge Traffic Edition
This week's pre-Memorial Day edition of Wonk'd has everyone's favorite White House golden boy,Karl Rove, and original press nightmare,Ari Fleischer, in good seats watching the Nationals. Some of the senior citizens in our government, likeAntonin ScaliaandDonald Rumsfeld, must think baseball is for kids -- they only go to fancy parties. Maybe whenScooter LibbyandMatt Cooperlearn to dress properly, they'll get invited out too. If he needs to get somewhere, Matt will probably be on Metro, along with his buddyAndy Card, as opposed to being chauffeured everywhere like carbon-hoardingBarack Obama. It's three whole days before any more Wonk'd, so get everything you can now, after the jump!
So many games, festivals, and parties in Washington these days, and the in-crowd can't stay away. If you see one of them, let us know by email , with "Wonk'd" or "Sighting" in the subject line, along with the powerbroker's (or shill's, or actor's, of foreign head-of-state's) name. You send 'em, we print 'em - everybody wins!
* Spotted: Ari Fleischer, at the Nationals game last night [5/23], eating a hamburger (who eats a hamburger at a baseball game?) and drinking three Budweisers. An annoying drunk 18-year-old girl was sitting behind him and jokingly accused him of stealing her beer, which she couldn't find. Truth is, she knocked it over and couldn't see it, but Mr. Fleischer was polite and nice enough to buy her a new one. She had no idea who he was and it was pretty funny. He was with an unidentifiable suit, and stayed until the end. Go Nats!
*Karl Rovewas at the May 24 Nationals-Astros game at RFK. I saw him leaving in the top of the ninth inning, just before Chad Cordero closed out a nice win for the home team. He was probably sitting close to the Nats dugout around section 120 or 121, because that's where he was walking out from. Enjoying his last days of freedom, perhaps?
* A friend of mine and I were leaving Hotel Washington on Friday (May 19) evening around 7: 30 when we came face-to-face withDonald Rumsfeldin the lobby. He and a lady with a bouffant were about to get on the elevator that we were getting off. There was some reception taking up half of the rooftop when we were up there -- I assume that's where they were headed. He had a big smile on his face, so he didn't actually look too evil, although he's a lot shorter than I would have guessed. We were sharing the elevator with an older tourist couple who were cutely excited about the sighting. In contrast, my friend later mentioned that she wished she knew how to vomit on command so she could have ruined Rumsfeld's shiny shoes.
* Most ironic thing ever: TV's most famous postman in the postal museum [5/20].John Ratzenbergerfrom Cheers (Cliff) was there with a good-looking woman about his age. For a while I just thought I was wanting to see him, because we were in the postal museum; however, I am 100% positive after googling some images of him. My parents, long time Cheers fans, were 100% sure on site.
* JusticeAntonin Scaliaand his wife were in attendance at the reception and dinner for "The Smile Train," held at the Willard Hotel on Wednesday, May 25, 2006. The MC, Mr.Alex Trebeklooked unusually young for someone who has been on the same damn quiz show for the past 187 years!
* Fox show Prison Break's physician/recovering meth-addict Dr. Sara Tancredi, aka actressSarah Wayne Callies, attended Georgetown Law's May 21st graduation ceremonies. Looking tall, beautiful and shockingly normal, she watched the graduation of a family member/friend with her husband. When my friends and I gawked openly, she smiled and sort of nodded in acknowledgement. She didn't seem to be recognized by most of the audience & students, but was visibly uncomfortable when her hubby left her side for a few minutes.
* On 5/16 I sawTim Russertin Chicago at Schuba's, a local bar and music hot spot, where he was hanging with one of the bar owners, who is apparently an old college chum. Overheard Mr. Russert loudly proclaiming that "GE can't touch me" because he would "blow the place up."
* Saw Sen.Barack Obamaon 5/19 around 11 am in the passenger seat of a late-model silver VW Jetta with IL plates waiting at the light on Eastbound Mass. Ave at North Capitol St. He was wearing a dark T-shirt and intently reading the newspaper; young staffer-looking guy was driving.
* I sawAndy Card!On the Metro! He was on the orange line all by himself this afternoon [5/24]. Everyone was like, "Is that Andy Card?" I actually talked to him, and he was almost as nice as Dustee Tucker. I guess he doesn't have enough money for gas now that he's out of a job.
* Monday (5/23) sawDavid Gregory, NBC News White House correspondent, in the Cosi on 17th & Penn. buying a big cup of coffee; the guy is a giant - he's got to be at least 6' 3".
* Just [5/25] returned from the USDC-DC where I saw America's favorite defender of freedom: I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby. He was walking very briskly and, surprisingly, was without an entourage. Funny enough, his right pant leg was hiked up in his sock (Ladies Love Cool Scooter?). The best part of the entire ordeal was that the taxi he thought was coming for him sped past and stopped in front of me. I stole Scooter's cab! Sadly there was one right behind so he didn't have to wait in total humiliation and utter defeat for the next one.
* [From the same tipster as prior item] I also sawJoe Wilsonlast week. It was early morning last Thursday [5/18] and he was walking in the opposite direction, talking into his Bluetooth with a very serious look on his face. His hair was disheveled, and his jeans and flannel shirt were both about 3 sizes too big. He didn't look too good, that's for sure. I'm hoping he was just really hung-over.
* SawMatt Cooperlast Friday [5/19] at the Starbucks on 11th St. between E & F. It was 10AM and he was looking pretty dumpy with his suit pants cuff on his right leg caught in his sock and his right shoelace untied. Bought a muffin with some coffee and immediately started devouring it.
* Yesterday [5/23], on the 34 bus to Friendship Heights, I noticed a tubby man in shades and a suit scowling into his blackberry. As I sat down behind him, I realized it wasMatt Cooper. He got off in front of Fino's in Georgetown. He has a good bus-cord yank on him, but damn -- those must be some crazy-ass legal bills if he's riding the bus.
* I saw California Lt. Gov.Cruz Bustamanteright before the start of the Bay To Breakers Race in San Francisco. He was handing out raisins. Little boxes of Fucking raisins! Couldn't some Lobbyist have at least supplied him some Slim Jims to give out.
*Oliver Northis standing right next to me as I type this on my blackberry [5/19] while we both wait to catch a 2: 30 flight to Minneapolis. I didn't notice personally, of course, but some fawning young female fan walked up and asked him for a picture. She seemed quite pleased that he said yes, as she is a "big" fan. He is chatting up the pilot and waxing poetic about the military, and doing all of the talking.
* I just [5/19] sawAlan Thickestanding in front of the Convention Center (where he is no doubt plugging a book at the expo), talking on a cell phone and waving down someone in traffic. He was wearing what must have been a bespoke suit, dark. He looked fabulous and very, very rich.
* On Sundays, Capitol Hill pet store "Chateau Animaux" on Barrack's Row has a cat 'open-house' for animals that have been rescued and need to be adopted. I sawJohn Cornynthere with his wife. He left empty handed. I guess none of the cats caught his fancy.
* Just [5/10] sawBarbara Walterslooking very fancy (with makeup very overdone) getting into a private car at the Ritz in Georgetown.
* I saw a very happyDennis Kucinichin the hallway of Longworth with his equally pleased ginger-wife yesterday (5/24). It's amazing how standing next to him she looks about 8 feet tall. What also struck me was how super sappy in-love they seemed. Holding hands, I swear all that was missing were the animated butterflies and chirping birds carrying a banner that reads "Nerd Love." There's hope for us yet!