10/31/01 Web war on airline security
As the fight over passage of airline security legislation goes into the final hour, both sides are using the Internet to grab votes–and attack foes. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has done the most, creating its own page–cutely titled "Unsafe Delay" [http://www.unsafedelay.com/]–to nail House Whip Tom DeLay, who backs legislation that would not federalize airport security workers. DeLay, however, isn't going down without a battle, using his own site [http://majoritywhip.house.gov] to argue for legislation that puts the federalization issue in the president's hands.
10/31/01 Carter tag team for Habitat
Raising donations for non-terrorist-related charities must be tough after September 11. Consider Habitat for Humanity International. We just got our fundraising letter from former first lady Rosalynn Carter asking for anything, even a $20 bill to "help buy a 50-lb. box of nails." Then, right behind her two-page note, was a yellow memo from the man himself, Jimmy Carter. "I would much prefer to climb a ladder and nail shingles on a roof than write a note asking for a gift," he begs. "But I'm a realist."
10/30/01 Dream job for Hizzoner
Our recent item about GOP folks pushing Major League Baseball to bring Rudy Giuliani inside once he retires as the Big Apple's mayor has 'em buzzing in New York. Baseball sources say Rudy's name is being tossed around for a special ambassador job or even commissioner eventually, and associates say Giuliani considers it a dream job. The likely hang-up to Rudy getting the top post: Some owners like a decentralized front office manned by a get-along commissioner. Just ask yourself this question: Is there enough room for likes of Rudy and Yankee boss George Steinbrenner in the same room?
10/29/01 He's no Stormin' Norman
Gen. Tommy Franks finally surfaced last week, but it took some unusual arm-twisting from his Pentagon bosses. The publicity-shy head of Central Command–the man running the war in Afghanistan–had been virtually invisible during the first two weeks of the war. He even told staffers not to reveal his whereabouts, even though he was working from his usual office in Tampa. "It gives them top cover," griped one Pentagon official of "CentCom's" silence. "They can never be blamed for anything." Finally, Pentagon honchos pushed Franks out of the nest, insisting he hold some media appearances like last week's press conference in Bahrain. The concern now is that having shown his face, Franks will go underground again. Franks is known for ducking publicity and even ordered aides to shut down his command's Internet site after September 11. Little surprise, then, that reporters are frustrated that he's in charge of the high-profile command, the one which retired Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf led with great flair 10 years ago during the Gulf War.
10/22/01 House eyes temporary quarters
Office buildings connected to the House of Representatives may be closed all week pending more anthrax testing, sources say. But that doesn't mean business won't be conducted. Facing cries of "wimps" and worse for shutting down last week, House leaders are looking to open temporary offices inside the General Accounting Office building. It's about six blocks from the Capitol, which has remained open despite the anthrax scare. The GAO is the investigative arm of Congress. Sources say that parts of the second and fifth floors in the GAO building may be used to house the 435 members and up to three of their top staffers, reports our David E. Kaplan. While cramped, at least the food is better in the GAO neighborhood: It's down the street from Washington's Chinatown. GAO folks aren't too happy: they're worried about anthrax-laced letters heading their way. And House staffers aren't pleased either. Told of the possible short-term move, a top aide says: "Are you kidding me? I'm not a bureaucrat."
Late yesterday, House managers confirmed our report, issuing the following memo:
A message from the House Leadership:
There will be a conference call (access is the same number and code as the 4 p.m. conference call) with Chiefs of Staff at 7 p.m. (eastern time) to
provide information on the status of House Buildings. In the event any
office buildings cannot be opened, Commencing Tuesday, October 23, 2001,
office space will be available for Member offices and Committees at the
General Accounting Office, 441 G Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. The
building will open at 8 a.m. Member offices will be limited to four
persons (the Member and three staff). Committees will also have staff
limitations and will be notified today.
Telephone numbers for the these temporary offices will be different than
normal Member and Committee numbers. These temporary numbers will be
provided on Tuesday morning. Staff will be strongly urged to use Metro via
the Judiciary Square stop on the Red line. Shuttle transportation will be
provided. A greeting center will be in place to provide an orientation and
room assignments.
10/17/01 Panic, anger grip Congress
The abrupt decision by House leaders to shut down Congress as investigators probe offices and air ducts for anthrax sent the Hill into a panic Wednesday. In the House, Speaker Dennis Hastert announced plans to shut down, sparking relief among some members and staff and anger in others who thought it sent a message of defeat. “Half of the Republican conference is freaking out at the decision to quit,” barked a source after Hastert met with his side Wednesday morning. Some members think the Capitol could be shut down for more than two weeks if anthrax is found in the air conditioning and heating system, necessitating a thorough cleaning. The decision comes a day after new rules were instituted [Click here to see a full copy of the rules] to deal with mail. A letter to Senate Democratic Majority Leader Tom Daschle included anthrax, exposing 29 of his staff. Below is the House evacuation memo obtained by Whispers:
To: House Staff
Subject: URGENT HOUSE PERSONNEL ADVISORY
Importance: High
The House will conclude its legislative business this afternoon, Wednesday, October 17.
All House buildings will close at 7 p.m. today for a precautionary environmental assessment of all House offices. No personnel will be permitted access to House office buildings during this assessment. The buildings will remain closed until Tuesday morning, October 23. Parking garages will close this evening at 8 p.m. Parking garages will reopen at 5 a.m. on Tuesday, October 23.
Member office phones will be transferred to their district offices by House Information Resources at 7 p.m. today.
House personnel may call 1-888-446-4366 or 202-226-6661 for updates on building status.
All mail will continue to be held until the security reviews are complete.
Offices are advised to undertake computer server backup procedures prior to closing today.
10/16/01 What if Anthrax arrives?
Hours after the nationwide anthrax scare hit Congress Monday, the Capitol branch of the U.S. Post Office issued new handling procedures with a footnote on how to identify suspicious packages. It's a question
practically everyone is asking. We thought if the tips are good enough for Congress, they're good enough for the rest of us, so we're printing them here.
What constitutes a "suspicious parcel?"
Contains unidentified liquid or powder
Unusual weight, given their size, or are lopsided or oddly shaped
Has protruding wires, strange odors or stains
Incorrect title with name
Excessive postage
No return address, or one that can't be verified as legitimate
Misspelled words or no zip code
If it is unexpected or from someone unfamiliar to you
Shows a city or state in the postmark that doesn't match the return address
Marked with restrictive endorsements, such as "Personal" or "Confidential"
If you come in contact remember:
Stay calm
Do not move the letter or package
Close if opened
If readily available, wash hands with soap and water
Allow no one to enter the immediate area
Any person who has come in immediate contact with suspected item should be isolated from remaining staff
Notify police and advise:
What you saw, heard or smelled
Does it contain a liquid or solid?
Was a vapor or dust released?
Did you notice any adverse effects?
10/12/01 Special orders to special forces
The government's special operations chiefs have sent an APB to every former snake-eater: Stay off TV. "We've been told to cool it on the TV appearances so that we don't let Osama know our methods and means," says one. The order came after some special ops guys saw ex-military pundits on cable TV "giving away the store," as one told me. "We can't be telling everyone how we get the bad guys because either we won't be able to use those tactics again or they'll be waiting for us," he adds.
10/12/01 Oops, the sky isn't falling
As if Thursday's urgent warning from the FBI that future terrorist attacks at home and overseas wasn't scary enough, the agency used a little Internet coding to really make us paranoid. The address for the agency's press release posted on its Web site included the phrase "skyfall." Was that a message? "No," the FBI tells us. "It was just a technical error that's being changed."
10/10/01 War protests: Your tax dollars at work?
Labor unions and independent groups aligned with the antiwar effort sparked by President Bush's retaliation campaign against Osama bin Laden will come under attack this week in the House as lawmakers seek to cut off their federal grants. GOP sources tell Whispers that an amendment to block grants to the groups will be offered to the appropriation bill for the Labor and Health and Human Services departments up for consideration as early as Thursday. A new analysis of federal grants to groups involved in the antiwar effort identifies union locals from the United Auto Workers, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, and the Service Employees International Union. The Heritage Foundation analysis from census documents [see here] also found grants to independent groups that have blasted Bush's war. "Should tax dollars be going to groups that protest the war? I don't think so," says an architect of the plan to end the grants.
10/3/01 Pressing Clinton into action
Desperate to find someone to run against Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, state Democrats are pushing President Clinton to urge CNN commentator and retired Gen. Wesley Clark to seek the state's highest elected office. It's part of
a bid by beleaguered state Dems to rebuild the party slapped down by
Republicans ever since Clinton left the governor's mansion in Little Rock
for the Oval Office in 1993. The plan is this: Democrats hope to button-hole Clinton this Friday when he comes here to review the latest plans for
his presidential library and museum. Sources tell our Suzi Parker that
he'll be asked to push Clark, a fellow Arkansan who worked for Clinton in
Bosnia, to run against the incumbent Republican next year. It may be a
"Hail Mary" pass, however, because Clark has turned his focus to TV and
CNN. But some say that's simply a way for him to raise his profile in
advance of a political bid.
10/2/01 Bad timing on box cutters
Imagine our shock when we opened the sealed plastic envelope from Spellbound Development Group Inc. and a box cutter fell out. Bad joke? No, just bad timing, says a spokesman for "The Lizard," a safety utility knife. The firm sent the promotional pink and orange cutters out just before the September 11 terrorist incidents in which hijackers used box cutters as weapons. A flier brags that the cutters are "tools with an attitude." Of course, the promotion has been suspended because doing that now "wouldn't be appropriate" says the firm spokesman.
• See what we received: http://www.spellboundinc.com/lizard.html
