First, in Barack Obama we have a Democratic nominee whose basketball skills are quite impressive indeed. Now, we may have a former fitness guru as a congressman!

Who? Richard Simmons, that’s who. Before he testified before the House Education and Labor Committee on Thursday, we twice overheard the former aerobics video master saying, “I may run for public office.”

It wouldn’t be a total surprise. The L.A. resident has been a frequent visitor to Capitol Hill over the years, lobbying on behalf of physical fitness in America’s schools and the fight against juvenile obesity.

Gene Young

Naturally, we had to wonder whether a Rep. Simmons would lead morning “Sweating to the Oldies” workouts with his political colleagues, but he didn’t take the bait. “I am just here to get P.E. back in our schools in a big way.” Dodging questions already, Richard? You’ll fit right in here in Washington.

In fact, Simmons proved that he’s got the Politician Hat Trick down pat.

First: Identify the problem (in this case: out-of-shape kids). “What have we done? What have we done to the kids of the United States of America?”

Next: Pontificate wildly and with emotion. With arms a-flailing and emotions high, Simmons shouted into the microphone, “Everyone is not a jock! Everyone cannot play sports! Everyone cannot run, but everyone can be fit! ... It is not important that you are a jock, it is important that you have your health and our children right now do not have it.”

Finally: Point to the solution. “We all need cardio. We all need strength training and we all need stretching. ... I will dedicate the rest of my life until this is a problem no more. I just may run for office to help kids really get through and not have one kid feel wrong about [himself] because he can’t throw a ball.”

And, for good measure, make a ridiculous statement that you most likely will not make good on: “I will devote my life to this until the day I die.”

Simmons gives Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., a peck on the head.

Photo: Carrie Devorah

The Academy Award winner told the audience that despite his profession, he didn’t need a invalidScriptTag. He could speak extemporaneously, he said, because he’s “comfortable with his heart” now on the topic of race.

Dave Zirin spoke first and said that as a sportswriter, he felt slightly out of place on the panel. “I felt a little bit like Dick Cheney being asked to come to a solar energy convention,” Zirin said.

Next up was XM radio host Joe Madison, who said he had an idea for a new reality show.

“Instead of wife swapping, let’s take a family from Potomac, Md., or Turtle Creek, Mich., and let’s move them down to southeast Washington, D.C.,” Madison said.

Madison suggested leaving the family there for 90 days and moving a family from southeast D.C. to Potomac for 90 days.

His projected outcome?

“You’re going to have reconciliation,” he said.

These stylish ladies sported pink outfits with pink foam tiaras that had “peace in Tehran” and “tired of war” messages. Our favorite protest accessory was a bubblegum-pink sticker that read “make out, not war.”

Stevens became the butt of late-night jokes in 2006 when he commented that the Internet is “a series of tubes.”

Earlier this week, we asked whether he still believes it. “I do,” he replied, adding that he’s “still not sure about the difference between tubes and pipes.”

He added, however, that the attacks on him for his statement were “vicious.”

A longtime fan of the Hulk (he’s often known to sport a Hulk tie on the Senate floor), the senator confessed that he had not yet seen the new “Incredible Hulk” film because of his busy schedule, but that he plans to when he has a free weekend. 
 

“I’m not ready to give up on the election just yet,” the Missouri Republican said, before predicting that the GOP will “beat expectations” in the fall.

As for the fate of John McCain, Blunt said cryptically, “He’s a unique candidate, and his campaign reflects that.”

Carrie Devorah

Pro tennis player/pinup girl Anna Kournikova signs an autograph for a young fan during a clinic at Kastles Stadium on Wednesday afternoon. Kournikova’s St. Louis Aces fell to the Kastles later that night in a match that had to be completed indoors at the East Potomac Tennis Center at Hains Point, thanks to the torrential downpours.

More Kournikova from Wednesday:

Gene Young

But, believe it or not, the story has taken another unexpected turn: The individual whom Novak hit, Don Clifford Liljenquist, had no idea that it was the legendary journalist who had injured him (Liljenquist, who is both elderly and homeless, has been recuperating at George Washington University Medical Center).

In an interview Thursday with WMAL's Troy Russell, Liljenquist was taken aback when informed that he had been hit by such a notable individual.

Russell: Do you know who hit you?

Liljenquist: Well, they told me they had his license number. ... You know who it was?

R: Yeah, his name was Mr. Novak, Bob Novak.

L:  Bob Novak?

R: Yeah, he's a reporter. Did you know that?

L: Bob Novak is the one that hit me? ... Well, everybody knows who Bob Novak is. He's a famous journalist. ...

R: What do you think about that?

L: Well, I think it makes for a great story! ...

R: What do you think about him?

L: He's a very good reporter but (laughter) as a driver he wasn't paying attention! ...

The news instantly made Liljenquist consider how to take advantage of the situation. When asked if he would pursue legalaction against Novak, Liljenquist said, "I haven't thought about that but I didn't know it was Bob Novak that hit me." And when asked "what are you going to do?" Liljenquist replied, "I'm going to publicize it! Yeah, that's a great story!"

(The full WMAL interview can be found in .mp3 format on its website)

Why? Because Tim and Nina Zagat — yes, those Zagats, founders of the all-important Zagat dining surveys — made a surprise whirlwind tour of 20-plus Washington restaurants in order to get a sense of our city’s culinary choices. Stops included Cork, CityZen, Zatinya, Rasika, The Source, Fogo de Chao, Komi and, yes, Ben’s Chili Bowl (“We’ve never been!” they said).

But lest you worry that they would explode from all that food, fear not: The couple didn’t eat much, opting instead to just spend five minutes at each place.

“You can tell a lot about a place in just five minutes,” Tim Zagat told Yeas & Nays. “You can get a sense of its smell, its people, its service, its menu, its prices. Most of what you need to know you can figure out rather quickly.”

On Tuesday night, you could have found the Zagats at Central, where they bumped into House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel. “He was very charming,” Tim said. “And we didn’t hear him use foul language once!” (Emanuel is famous for his fierce tongue).

On Wednesday, the couple dined at the West End Bistro for lunch (first-time visit), and couldn’t avoid the local topic du jour: politics. The talk drifted from President Bush (“He’s done a lot of damage in the past eight years”) to their old pal, Rep. Barney Frank (“I used to try to get him to date my sister and always wondered why he wouldn’t”) to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (“We love him!”), to the Obama fist-bump (“We had no idea what fist-bumping was or that it was so popular!”).

You may actually see more of the Zagats — or at least their guides — if they have their way: They indicated that they’d like to put a Zagat guide to area restaurants in every congressional office, so that visitors would know exactly where to go after meeting with their congressman. And the couple are looking for interested parties to buy and distribute their guides at both the Republican and Democratic conventions.

But Tim also shared his newest dining rule — “I actually think that men should order first; it takes the pressure off the women” — and his admiration for the Washington area’s most famous restaurant: The romantic Inn at Little Washington. “I think they deserve extra points just for the inn’s beds — and what they get used for!”

“Oh, behave,” Nina said.

Well, get ready for a bacchanalia of Reaganalia, as the House on Tuesday passed the Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission Act to prepare for the Great Communicator’s 100th birthday in 2011. The 11-member body, funded with $1 million, will plan and execute Reagan-minded activities. The act also authorizes a Reagan postage stamp and a $1 coin.

“It sounds like a good time to re-start the conversation about getting  Reagan on the $10 bill,” Norquist said. “I don’t know why the Bush administration has dropped the ball on this.”

Also approved Tuesday: a measure to support “the goals and ideals of National Carriage Driving Month.” Why, you ask? Well, the “Carriage Association of America has, for almost 50 years, fostered and organized efforts to preserve and recognize the significant contributions that animal-drawn vehicles have made to American culture [and] it is now almost 100 years since the rapid change from animal-drawn vehicles to machine-powered vehicles.”

Well, with $4 gas. …