Miss D.C.: Pick me, America

Miss District of Columbia 2006 Kate Michael has returned from taping the first reality TV show for Miss America contestants, full of confidence that she could be the first beauty queen crowned under the new format.

For the first time ever, the finalists will be determined by the television audience on a two-hour special in January. The show follows the contestants during their week at “pageant school,” a format similar to “America’s Next Top Model,” Michael said.

She said the contestants worked in teams during competitions for evening wear, swimwear and talent, which is “different from Miss America because it’s not a team sport; it’s individual.”

The 24-year-old staffer for the Senate HELP Committee needs little help on the talent front. She has danced professionally since age 3, including stints at Disney World and off-Broadway.

The brunette beauty said contestants weren’t filmed outside of the competition, but they were “miked all day, so I don’t know if they’re going to use any of that to add drama.”

Of her chances to make the finals, she said, “I think I have a good shot.

“After meeting everybody, I think I’m in the top 10.”

And if she makes it to the finals on Jan. 29? “They’ve picked a brunette [as Miss America] the last few years, so if they don’t pick a blonde, they should pick me.”

Although Michael’s Miss D.C. predecessor, Shannon Schambeau, is currently dating Nationals pitcher John Patterson, Michael is adamant that she’s unattached. “But I did go through the Nationals’ roster to see which ones are single and which ones are tall enough — I’m 5 feet 10 inches. I figured if she could do it, so could I.”

But alas, she said, no one on the squad met her standards.

Web site reveals Capitol Hill employees’ income

Want to know if your member of Congress is a skinflint, or whether he’s making his employees rich? A new Web site, www.legistorm.com, has aggregated all the publicly available salary data into a searchable database.

Thus, we find out that the chiefs of staff to Virginia’s senators, George Allen and John Warner, are on pace to pull in about $160,000 each this year.

On the House side, Rep. Tom Davis’s, R-Va., chief is on pace for about $155,000, while Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton’s, D-D.C., should clear $105,000.

That’s on the high side. On the low end, an entry-level staffer can make as little as $25,000, based on our search of local offices. Here’s hoping they can cash out at a lobbying firm one day.

But an average Congressional office spends chump change, compared to the high-powered leadership offices. Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., is set to open the taxpayers’ wallet to the tune of about $1.7 million this year for his staff.

Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, R-Calif., is on pace for about $1.3 million in salaries.

And the Senate really shells out those Treasury checks. Majority Leader Bill Frist’s, R-Tenn., office will be on the hook for about $1.8 million at year’s end, while Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., may spend even more, at $1.9 million.

Matthews: I won the duel

“I’m sure I’ll say something half-assed that you’ll make into a big deal,” MSNBC’s Chris Matthews said Tuesday at the outset of his remarks to the Advertising Week D.C. convention.

We’ll sure try.

On the subject of the duel that former Sen. Zell Miller, D-Ga., famously challenged him to at the 2004 Republican convention, Matthews said, “I won.” The evidence? “About $1 million in advertising.”

He also disclosed Lorne Michaels’ key to a successful Chris Matthews impression. The “Saturday Night Live” producer told Darrell Hammond, who portrays Matthews on air, “Put your chest out and pretend you’re a cougar up in a tree.”

Finally, Matthews said he had one request of the next president, whomever it may be. “I think the next president should not be allowed to have a ranch,” he said. “I’d like a Northerner for once. Maybe even one with a long name.

“What’s with all these one syllables? Bush, Gore, Dole ...”

Virginia voters could take tips from the dip

Can you judge a man — or more specifically, a political candidate — by his chewing tobacco?

Virginia voters might have just that opportunity.

Sen. George Allen, R-Va., and his Democratic opponent, Jim Webb, both admitted to Tim Russert on Sunday’s “Meet the Press” that they use smokeless tobacco. While Allen prefers Copenhagen, Yeas & Nays learned that Webb opts for plain ol’ leaf tobacco. Do their preferences reveal anything about their personal and political style?

We talked to Matt Barry, director of policy research for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. Match his descriptions of Copenhagen and pouch tobacco with the candidate who most embodies that characteristic:

A. “... hasn’t been studied as much ...”

B. “... your hard core moist snuff ...”

C. “... has the highest levels of various carcinogens and other nasty chemicals ...”

D. “... still delivers an addicting dose ...”

Answers: Copenhagen (B, C), Pouch tobacco (A, D)

Diddy ain’t giddy about Bush

New York Avenue said hello to the King of Harlem as Diddy (‘Puffy’ and ‘P. Diddy’ are so last week ...) pulled up to XM Radio’s Eckington Place, NE studio Tuesday afternoon for a listening party and Q&A to promote his forthcoming CD, “Press Play.” But Diddy didn’t have the nicest things to say about the man at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

“It’s just embarassing the kind of ignorance in my man,” said Diddy, who now refers to the commander-in-chief on a posse-level basis.

“It’s like my man has no marbles up there ... My man is just running up there crazy and the things he’s doing are crazy ... Ain’t nobody feelin’ that war.”

Yeas & Nays asked Diddy if events since 2004 have made him want to update the “Vote or Die!” slogan he made famous during the last presidential campaign.

“Nope, it’s still “Vote or Die!,’’ said Diddy. “People didn’t vote and people died.”

In typical Diddy fashion, the day didn’t get really hoppin’ until the sun went down, and he threw a happening bash at Lima until the late hours.

He’s scheduled to be on 99.5 FM today.

Speakeasy

When I was 8, I was so kick ass, playing electric guitar in a little kids band
I wanted to Hendrix or Jimi Page
Sugar and spice and puppy dog tails
I was fearless, fearless

Then when I was older in Jr. High school
Playing guitar was totally cool
But only for a boy with a flying v
As I waited backstage wishing it was me
Who was Fearless, Fearless

And it's okay, you can take it back,
You're never too old, and it's never that bad
alright, there's nothing left to lose. You gotta be Fearless.
Fearless, don't tread lightly
Fearless
Don't go quietly
When it you stare it down you'll be better off in the end
Afraid again)

Well, I've been through It all and I'm here to say
Do, I have regrets, hell every day
As I get older, I care a lot less
I'm still playing guitar, and kicking some ass
fearless, a little more fearless

I've written a book and I have a blog
But in my whole life I've never sung on a song
So if my voice sounds funny, and my accent's strong
Get over it bitches and sing along

– Arianna Huffington’s theme song for her new book, “On Being Fearless,” performed Tuesday at her book party on the roof of SEIU