Why those Bush state dinners end so early
He has hosted just four elegant, entertainment-filled state dinners so far, but one thing stands out from President Bush's shindigs--he really isn't a partier. But there's more to it than the fact the prez likes to hit the sack early. Insiders reveal that the president isn't much for the fox trot. Chief usher Gary Walters says, "The current president dances less, and dinners are usually over before midnight." But that's not the only reason. National security adviser Condi Rice fessed on oprah a few weeks back that the boss wolfs down chow so fast the dinners can be over lickety-split. "If you're not careful, he'll be on dessert and you're still eating the salad." Rice called Bush an athletic eater: "He watches what he eats, but he just eats it very, very fast." And that's not healthy, according to Bush's trainer, Trish Bearden. Maybe that's why she suggested in the internal White House health newsletter that readers--hint, hint, Mr. President--slooow down, especially when eating. For good measure, aides are circling the "health stylist's" advice and leaving copies in places where W just might see it.
Duets: Aqualung and Tony Snow
Don't this sound like your typical male midlife crisis? Big-shot TV star cashes it all in to host a talk-radio show, takes up piano, and has the gall to call Ian Anderson of rock band Jethro Tull fame to land a flute duet when "Aqualung" comes to D.C. But for Fox News Channel's Tony Snow, it's not a crisis--just a continuation of his shake-it-up style. Moving to Fox radio is easy to explain: "I always wanted to do it." And Snow will still do some Fox TV. But Jethro Tull? Turns out Snow's an accomplished musician--guitar, flute, clarinet, sax, and, soon, piano--whose band "Beats Workin' " plays regularly in Washington. What's more, he learned to play the flute in college by listening to Jethro Tull albums. "I drove my housemates crazy," says the Davidson College grad. "I'd just flip on a record and play." Last year, when Anderson came through town, Snow called to interview his idol. On November 12, Anderson is paying the newsman back by having Snow join him on stage for a flute duet. Snow's excited--and a little nervous. "I just hope," he says, "that I'm not a choking dog."
The K Street Shuffle
To all you out there who've tried to watch HBO's K Street but couldn't get through it without popping Advil Liqui-Gels, there may be hope. Associates of co-producer George Clooney claim he's predicting it won't last more than a single season. Cut!
That's A Wrap
They can't believe they're actually saying it, but the Bush team really thinks ex-Vermont Gov. Howard Dean will be the Democratic presidential nominee. "We think," says one insider, "that Dean's got it wrapped up." The Bush political team has a good track record predicting challengers. Just over 13 years ago, then Bush campaign operative Mary Matalin told us that Bill Clinton would be the Dems' pick, even as he faced early scandal questions.
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