Jeff Dufour and Patrick Gavin, The Examiner
2007-01-17 08:00:00.0
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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 .

Fox’s ‘24’ on our shores

Just when we thought Anacostia might finally have a bright future, we find out that the government has a Guantanamo-like facility there?

Yes, fans of the hit Fox show “24” may have noticed that during Monday’s episode, the president of the United States’ sister, Sandra Palmer (played by Regina King), and her boyfriend, Walid Al-Rezani (played by Harry Lennix), who’s with the Islamic American Alliance, are sent to “one of our provisional facilities” (says a presidential aide) after Palmer deleted personnel files sought by the FBI.

What does Council Member Marion Barry, who represents Anacostia, think of the prospect of an Anacostia-based detainment facility?

“There’s nothing funny or entertaining about such a scenario,” he told Yeas & Nays. “We’re not that much in need of development that we would tolerate something like that.”

Obama-rama!

Washington was all abuzz Tuesday with news that the presidential Flavor of the Month — Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. — launched a presidential exploratory committee. Who knows whether Obama will fly or flunk, but in the meantime, here’s your Yeas & Nays crib sheet on the junior senator from Illinois.

Obama’s got ‘Substance and Style’

In the latest issue of Washington Life, Obama is one of the magazine’s “Substance and Style” award winners.

“His style is sort of a new, modern take on classic cool,” said Nancy Bagley, editor-in-chief of the magazine. “It evokes unity across generations and really speaks to the substance of his leadership as well.” Obama is slated to appear at the magazine’s award ceremony tonight at the Italian ambassador’s residence.

Draft movements follow him

Two Web sites sprouted recently in hopes of creating a groundswell of public support for an Obama ’08 run: www.draftobama.org and www.runobama.com. Representatives from both Web sites were excited to hear Tuesday’s big announcement from Obama.

“Today marks the end of the 40-year reign of political apathy in America ,” said Todd Webster, a former spokesman for ex-Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle who started www.runobama.com. “Barack Obama has made it possible for Americans to dream again. Tens of thousands of Americans — including everyone at RunObama — are excited and gearing up for this race.”

John Hlinko, from www.draftobama.org, told us, “We are extremely excited by Senator Obama’s decision, and there are a lot of smiles here right now. However, we also recognize that this is still just an ‘exploratory’ committee. So until he formally announces that he is running, we will still keep drafting at full speed. We’re heading in the right direction for sure, but the job’s not done yet.”

Cigarette companies might adore him

Obama has a dirty little secret: He likes to have a cigarette from time to time, which would make him one of the first presidents in a long time with a nicotine habit. So, what do cigarette companies think about his announcement? They must be ecstatic: The stock of Altria Group Inc. (previously Philip Morris Companies Inc.) was up at the end of Tuesday’s trading.

You can even hang him on your wall

Not long after his announcement Tuesday, we were tipped off to the Web site www.theposterlist.com, which already has a poster ready to go, just waiting for Obama fans everywhere to nail above their beds for sweet Obama dreams …

And what about Oprah?

The popular talk show host/media mogul is Obama’s biggest fan, and when he appeared on her show in October, she begged him to announce his candidacy on her show.

“I don’t think I could say no to you. Oprah, you’re my girl,’’ the senator said. So keep your eyes peeled for an Obama-on-Oprah appearance.

St. Louis Cardinals head to White House

President Bush welcomed the 2006 World Champion St. Louis Cardinals to the White House Tuesday, and although it must have been hard for the one-time Texas Rangers part-owner to show some love for a different team, the event managed to bring out Bush’s longtime love of baseball.

Bush also used the occasion to strike some parallels between the Cardinals’ season and his own political fortunes.

“When you’re on one of those losing streaks, it’s easy to get down and to forget the goal,” Bush said. “Well, you endure it as the result of character and leadership.”

Rep. William “Lacy” Clay, D-Mo., represents St. Louis and spoke to Yeas & Nays before attending the event.

“We like the fact that the president showed up for the beginning of the 2005 season in St. Louis,” Clay said. “He threw out the first pitch.”

But isn’t Bush a Rangers fan, Rep. Clay?

“I think the Cardinals are his second-favorite team,” Clay said with a laugh. “I’ll ask him today.”

Gridiron rivalries on the House floor

We couldn’t help but notice these two House Resolutions on Tuesday’s floor schedule:

From Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla.:

“Commending the University of Florida Gators for their victory in the 2006 Bowl Championship Series (BCS) and for winning the national college football championship.”

From Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho.:

“Commending the Boise State University Broncos football team for winning the 2007 Fiesta Bowl and completing an undefeated season.”

But wait a second: Weren’t there some football fans who argued that Boise State deserved a shot at the national title, since they were the only team to go undefeated this season? Would there be a rumble between Wasserman Schultz and Simpson on the House floor as they introduced their resolutions? And do they favor a face-off between the two teams?

Bring it on, says Wasserman Schultz. “If the Broncos want to be Gator-bait,” she told Yeas & Nays, “we’ll take our horse meat with a side of potatoes.”

Not so fast, says Simpson. “We have a tendency to use gators as stepping stones as we cross tepid waters,” he told us. “Boise State was the only undefeated team in the country, so they can talk all they want to, but talk is cheap. Action is on the field, and Boise State hasn’t been beaten and Florida has.”