Jeff Dufour and Patrick Gavin, The Examiner
2007-01-04 12:38:38.0
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WASHINGTON -

Jeff Dufour and Patrick Gavin cover people, power and politics in the beltway each weekday. Email them at yan@dcexaminer.com .

Models for mammals

If politicians weren’t sufficiently charmed last year by Bo Derek and her lobbying on behalf of a ban on the slaughter of horses, they’ll now have two more gorgeous blondes to fight off: the Barbi Twins.

You’ll recall (even if you won’t admit it) Shane and Sia Barbi from the popular September 1991 and January 1993 issues of Playboy magazine, or their other scantily clad appearances in myriad pin-up calendars.

Also check out: Patrick W. Gavin's column on Wednesday's Republican press conference for a 'Minority Bill of Rights'

But although the bombshells are clearly hot, this time they’re hot to trot about joining Derek in the effort to convince the U.S. Senate to pass the ban (the House passed the bill in September). The United States currently has three major slaughter plants which sell the meat to foreign countries for consumption. Such consumption is illegal in the U.S.

The Barbi Twins are taking the lead in this next lobbying offensive and told Yeas & Nays that they hope to make their first visit to the nation’s capital in November (being from Hollywood, Shane and Sia — somewhat adorably — picked November because, well, it’s “Sweeps Week,” which must be the West Coast’s version of a “policy window”). Following a planned trot, er, march on Washington, the twins will head back to the West Coast for an Animal Aid concert, modeled after the popular Farm Aid concerts (Farm Aid founder Willie Nelson — and his daughter Amy — are also campaigning for the slaughter ban).

“Why not use the seven minutes of fame that we both got and use them for the benefit of animals?” asked Sia.

“We treat animals like property,” Shane said. “The philosophy here is to treat animals beyond property. They feel pain.”

“It’s like eating the flag,” said Sia.

While the Senate may ultimately pass this law, the twins do have one political proposal that could be a bit tough for most politicians to swallow.

“I think we should have a Social Security program for horses,” Shane said. “Let’s give Social Security to any animal that works in Hollywood films. These animals deserve a retirement for making all that money.”

Ney’s successor hiring Ney?

Freshman Rep. Zack Space, D-Ohio, just can’t shake the specter of Bob Ney, the former congressman who resigned under an ethical cloud last year and whose seat Space now holds.

Space told radio reporter Chad Pergram of Capitol News Connection that when he was in town for freshman orientation, the name “Ney” cropped up in the most unusual place.

“I had a guy, a cabbie, interestingly enough, his last name was Ney, spelled the same way as Bob Ney,” said Space. “He was from America, which is a little bit unusual for cab drivers in the city. But by the time he had dropped me off at my destination, he was asking me for a job and I was considering hiring him.”

The hiring process generally extends into the first month or two, so we may yet see the cab-driving Ney in Space’s office. Were he to be hired, he’d be reporting for duty to JFK’s old office in the Cannon Building. That’s the office that Space chose with the seventh pick among House freshmen.

One last duty for short-timer Gibbs

Despite her short stay, Rep. Shelley Sekula Gibbs, R-Texas, sure is soaking in all the sights and sounds of being a congresswoman.

Gibbs, you may recall, was elected only to fill out the remainder of former Rep. Tom DeLay’s term — a little less than eight weeks. She didn’t get to vote much and sponsored no bills. Her term ends today as the new Congress is sworn in.

Yet that didn’t stop her from traveling back to D.C. this weekend to “represent the people of Texas District 22” at the Lying in State ceremony for President Gerald Ford.

And talk about a citizen legislator: An employee of her medical practice, Bay Oaks Dermatology, e-mailed the media alert about her trip. (Makes sense, actually: DeLay’s former staffers resigned en masse shortly after her arrival, crying that she was a difficult boss.)

Alas, now it’s back to laser hair removal, Botox injections, liposuction and chemical peels for Gibbs — all services her Web site promotes.

Men need not apply at Pelosi’s tea

Y chromosomes were in short supply at the Mellon Auditorium on Wednesday, as House Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., held an afternoon tea for 400.

“This tea is an understated way to say ‘We’ve arrived,’ ” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., who introduced Pelosi. “This is what happens when they ban smoking and these smoke-filled rooms in the Capitol. In 2007, the tea is the place to be.”

Pelosi’s granddaughter, Madeline Prowda, then informed the crowd that the new leader eats chocolate ice cream for breakfast (not every day, we assume).

On hand were scores of Democratic donors, pundit Arianna Huffington, former Congresswoman and ambassador Lindy Boggs and Democratic consultant Heather Podesta.

But the two women who turned the most heads in the room were Wonder Woman herself, Lynda Carter, and D.C.’s new police chief, Cathy Lanier.

“You’ve got a hot police chief,” exclaimed one out-of-town reporter.

The biggest surprise, however, might have been the presence of Rep. Jane Harman, D-Calif., who stood onstage with the 30-odd women legislators there to pay tribute to Pelosi.

The two haven’t gotten along for some time. Pelosi even went so far as to block Harman’s ascension to the chair of the Intelligence Committee, despite her seniority.

Rove bucks a Buckeye pick

He plays high-stakes politics, but don’t expect Karl Rove to invest much into Monday’s college football championship between heavily favored Ohio State and Florida.

When we asked him Wednesday which team he’ll be rooting for, Rove told Yeas & Nays, “Nobody, I was rooting for Michigan!”

Poor Karl: Michigan was defeated not only by Ohio State during the regular season, but by USC as well, at Monday’s Rose Bowl.

No stranger to fancy maneuvers himself, Rove told us that he was impressed with Boise State’s fairy-tale victory over Oklahoma in Monday’s Fiesta Bowl. “Now those were some impressive moves!” he said.