A Spy Chief Gets Down, on the Farm
Is Anybody Not Running in '08?
We've got more names to add to the growing list of 2008 presidential hopefuls. On the Democratic side, pen in Sen. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin. Allies say his trip south last week was the first of many to red states where he hopes to push his progressive agenda. On the GOP side, add rookie South Dakota Sen. John Thune, who took down former Democratic leader Tom Daschle . Senior Republicans say he's being groomed for a veep or even presidential run. Include Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty . Insiders love his record of balancing the budget, boosting education, and protecting the environment. Finally: ousted Environmental Protection Agency chief Christie Whitman , the former moderate New Jersey guv.
Even France Is Better Than Haiti
At least someone likes France: ex-Haitian dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier , better known as "Baby Doc." Amid rumors the bully wants to return to run for president in November, insiders say he won't leave France. "It is not true," says Fritz Cineas , [a] former top aide who lives in Washington. "I have reached someone close to him, and he has denied the allegations."
Dad, You Audited My Pal's Parents
Being commissioner of the IRS really is all it's cracked up to be. And that's not always good. Current taxman Mark Everson says angry taxpayers have come to his house, and "that's not very pleasant." Then his son came home one day with "some story about a bad audit" of a pal's family. Still, he says, he did receive a positive E-mail this tax season from a citizen happy to pay his share, though he asked for an IRS T-shirt as a reward. "I love this job," says Everson. "I'm surprised more people don't like it."
Not So Sweet on Bush and Hillary
What do President Bush and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton have in common? Sweets lovers think they'd be the last ones to refill the office candy bowl. In a Harris poll for Life Savers, 31 percent of Democrats say Bush wouldn't open his wallet for refills, and 38 percent of Republicans think Clinton wouldn't either. Truth is, neither Bush nor Clinton has to. Here's why. The candy man in Clinton's office is spokesman Philippe Reines, who tells us: "There are two jars on my desk that I keep stocked with Starburst-brand jelly beans." At the White House, aides and stewards keep the bowls fresh in the West Wing, on Air Force One, and even on Marine One. But then, Bush really only sneaks his favorite candy--butter rum Life Savers.
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With Edward T. Pound
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