Washington Whispers
A Guy With a Whole Lot of Questions
Here's one thing the Department of Homeland Security can expect when Democrats take control of the Congress this January: Questions, and lots of 'em, from Rep. Bennie Thompson, the Mississippi Democrat taking the reins of the House Homeland Security Committee. At one point this year, Thompson had 100 requests for info pending at DHS. "It just seems like the guy's never satisfied," says an agency insider. Thompson shrugs. "I like that," he tells us. "It makes me feel like we're having an impact." Why so many letters? "If the department was proactive in communicating with us," he sniffs, "we probably wouldn't need to write so many."
For TV, a Mile-High Summer Nightmare
Here's another reason the Big Apple is looking as if it will beat Denver to host the 2008 Democratic National Convention. TV networks–yes, they still run the show–are whining about how hard it will be to drag crews and gear to the Mile High City after wrapping up coverage of the Summer Olympics in Beijing and then pivot to the GOP convention in Minneapolis. Their preference is NYC, their backyard. We won't have to wait long: Insiders say an announcement is due this month.
Bush Legacy? Uh, Let's Wait on That
Now here's a real shocker. The Bushies aren't eager to start talking legacy about their prez yet. "Really," says one, "he's not obsessed with his legacy." Aides describe President Bush as the polar opposite of former President Bill Clinton, who was reportedly focused on his legacy the minute he was re-elected in 1996. We know how that went. Bush's doesn't look pretty either, but insiders say he's taking the long view and for proof note how his recent reading list included three George Washington bios. "His legacy won't be written for 50 years," shrugs an ally, "and, anyway, there's nothing we can do about it now."
With Dan Gilgoff and Angie C. Marek
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