Jeff Dufour and Patrick Gavin, The Examiner
2007-05-10 07:00:00.0
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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 .

Ron Jeremy packs IndeBleu for PG-13 party

It isn’t often that 300 people turn up late on a Tuesday night to see an aging 5-foot-6-inch portly man with scraggly, thinning hair. In this case, however, it was adult film star-turned-pop culture icon Ron Jeremy who packed downtown lounge IndeBleu by 11 p.m. for a party that went well past midnight.

Jeremy had previously done an interview segment for “Late Nite with Erik Haase” on the local CW Channel 50, and because he was in town, producer Eric Seltzer threw a party to launch the episode.

According to sources on the scene, Jeremy insisted on entering through the trash-ridden alleyway. Once inside, Seltzer said, “He did what he does best — mingle and sign autographs.”

“There was good energy, especially for a Tuesday in Washington, D.C.,” said Mark Gundersen, communications director for IndeBleu’s parent company, Enterprise Bleu. “It was a good crosscut of folks. It’s surprising how many people gravitate toward him. He’s much more of a personality now.”

Departing partiers received gift bags that included RockStar energy drink, a bottle of Ron Jeremy Hot Sauce, a Cadillac key chain and other items not fit for enumeration in a family newspaper.

Before the party, Jeremy participated in a debate on pornography at the University of Maryland, College Park. His opponent: “Porn Pastor” Greg Gross, who offers Christian counseling to consumers of porn.

According to The Diamondback, Maryland’s student newspaper, the students were on Jeremy’s side, carrying signs that read “RON 4 PREZ” and “RON YOU’RE MY HERO.”

Sophomore Melanie Arigo said, “In this setting, Ron was going to win regardless of what he said,” although junior Emily Frizzell called Jeremy “more so a comedian to our generation” than a star of late-night cable fare.

FBI, mafiosos don’t mix

Doesn’t anyone in Washington watch “The Sopranos” anymore (even if this season is underwhelming thus far)?

On Tuesday, Yeas & Nays reported that The Weekly Standard’s Fred Barnes had his book, “Rebel-in-Chief,” shown on the latest episode, but Barnes told us he has never seen the show. And, now, we learn that FBI Director Robert Mueller also isn’t a fan. On Wednesday, when a reporter jokingly asked for Mueller’s opinion on Sunday’s episode, in which Tony Soprano tips the FBI to some suspicious activity by local Arab residents, Mueller responded, “You assume that I, or anyone else, watches ‘The Sopranos.’ ”

On a more serious topic, Mueller declined to weigh in on former CIA Director George Tenet’s latest book, “At the Center of the Storm.”

“George is a good friend,” Mueller said, adding that he “can’t give you much of an insight” on the book since he’s only on page 30.

Thompson: Pulling the ratings?

“Meet the Press” host Tim Russert has a theory on why “Law & Order” star Fred Thompson hasn’t announced his candidacy for president yet. Speaking Tuesday night to a group of NetJets members, Russert said, “Fred Thompson, I believe, is waiting until the May sweeps are over.”

Hillary hosts 40 women for dinner

Sen. Hillary Clinton Wednesday night hosted an intimate fundraiser for women only at her Embassy Row home. The 40 guests — high-powered Democratic doyennes all — first attended a “briefing” at the Georgetown home of longtime Clinton adviser Vernon Jordan before repairing to the senator’s home for dinner. The Clinton campaign did not return a request for comment.

Get ready for a little Cheney

Washingtonians are eagerly awaiting the news of Dick Cheney’s sixth grandchild. His daughter Mary is due to deliver her first child (the moment will be shared with Cheney’s partner, Heather Poe) any day now. Any chance they’ll name him “Richard”? Don’t bet on it. ...

And don’t try to use their newborn to make a political statement about gay/lesbian couples. Speaking at Barnard College earlier this year, Mary Cheney said, “This is a baby. This is a blessing from God. It is not a political statement. It is not a prop to be used in a debate by people on either side of an issue. It is my child.”

Reid: Wizard of Laws

Remember those theories that Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” album was designed to synchronize with “Wizard of Oz”? Forget it. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has a new take on “The Wizard”: It’s a great way to explain the failures in Iraq. In an e-mail distributed Tuesday by Reid’s Senate Democratic Communications Center, White House spokesman Tony Snow is taken to task for his May 8 quote: “Please avoid the idea that Iraq is like Oz and one day it’s going to be black and white and the next day you’re going to wake up and it’s color.” Thus followed an e-mail from Reid’s office — whose staffers clearly have that deadly combination of creativity and free time — which uses “Wizard of Oz” quotes to make larger points about the war.

Wizard of Oz

“I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” – Dorothy

Sen. Reid’s office

“What’s not in Kansas anymore? – The Kansas National Guard’s equipment.”

Wizard of Oz

“Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.” – The Wizard

Sen. Reid’s office

“Pay no attention to the lack of an end date for the ‘surge.’ ”

Wizard of Oz

“If I only had the nerve.” – The Cowardly Lion

Sen. Reid’s office

“If congressional Republicans only had the nerve to stand up to the Bush administration on its flawed Iraq policies.”

Wizard of Oz

“Did you bring your broomstick with you?” – Glinda

Sen. Reid’s office

“Is the Air Force ready to fly?”

Wizard of Oz

“Oil can ... oil can...” – The Tin Man

Sen. Reid’s office

“Equipment leaves troops stuck.”