From DC: It's Tuesday Afternoon

From DC: It's Tuesday Afternoon

I am sitting three feet from a TV tuned to CNN (I was on FOX but the Miner rescue story on loop was slowly driving me mad. At least CNN is mixing up the coverage of global tragedy and strife.). I have National Journal's Hotline in my e-mail inbox. I CAN READ HEARD ON THE HILL AGAIN.

Suddenly, life is back in balance. Which means - Swamp Pundette is back in action.

Sincerest apologies to the loyal readership for the weekly/monthly postings (and low grade updates at that). it is the dawning of a new era, if you will, and you can look forward to more of the same.

Onto content (gasp! yes!):
Love Is In The Air on Capitol Hill: In the Best of 05 Heard on the Hill, Roll Call reports of the rumored romance between Rep. Mary Bono (CA) and Rep. Connie Mack (FL). What would a year be without romance? We reported on the budding relationship between Reps. Mary Bono (R-Calif.) and Connie Mack IV (R-Fla.), both of whom recently filed for divorce from their spouses , HOH writes.

Also why I love HOH: Their extent of special thanks to "Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) for getting carded at the Capitol Lounge the other night (and not drinking)."

Harris on Harris...and Nonfat Lattes: And high staff turnover, and ties to Bush, and being "bubbly". Apparently, Cook Political Report says the 06 race will be a competitive one, and she agrees. Nelson (surprise!) does not.

In the Blue Corner, LG Edition: Rundle gets press for possible LG bid in FL.

But I thought...wait...so confused: Zeta, developing a month after hurricane season ended, churns away. Unsure where Delta and Epsilon went, though apparently the big E made it all the way to Hurricane status. But don't worry - land is safe.

It's good to be back.

Swamp Thing

Swamp Thing, a imaginary character, is a humanoid/plant creature essential in the DC Comics Universe, created by writer Len Wein and artist Berni Wrightson. Swamp Thing has had a number of humanoid or monster incarnations, based on different story lines. He first came out in House of Secrets #92 (July 1971) in a stand-alone terror story set in the early 20th century. The character then went again in a solo series, set in the modern world and in the general DC continuity. The character is a humanoid mass of vegetable matter that fights to defend his swamp home, the environment in general, and humanity from a variety of supernatural or terrorist risks.

Swamp Thing

Swamp Thing, a fictional character, is a humanoid/plant creature elemental in the DC Comics Universe, created by writer Len Wein and artist Berni Wrightson. Swamp Thing has had several humanoid or monster incarnations, depending on various story lines. He first appeared in House of Secrets #92 (July 1971) in a stand-alone horror story set in the early 20th century. 

The character then returned in a solo series, set in the contemporary world and in the general DC continuity. The character is a humanoid mass of vegetable matter that fights to protect his swamp home, the environment in general, and humanity from various supernatural or terrorist threats. The character found perhaps his greatest popularity during the 1980s and early '90s. Outside of an extensive comic book history, the Swamp Thing property has inspired two theatrical films, a live-action television series, and a five-part animated series, among other media.

Swamp

A swamp is a wetland that is forested. Many swamps occur along large rivers, where they are critically dependent upon natural water level fluctuations. Other swamps occur on the shores of large lakes. Some swamps have hammocks, or dry-land protrusions, covered by aquatic vegetation, or vegetation that tolerates periodical inundation. The two main types of swamp are "true" or swamp forests and "transitional" or shrub swamps. The water of a swamp may be fresh water, brackish water or seawater. Some of the world's largest swamps are found along major rivers such as the Amazon, the Mississippi, and the Congo.

Conservationists have worked hard to preserve swamps. For example, the swamps in Northwest Indiana have been preserved as part of the Indiana Dunes.

Moving to the DC

Well ladies and gents, it's official!! Swamp Pundette has set up her new residence for the summer in...WASHINGTON DC! The Mecca for political nerds and wonkettes alike, Pundette has nabbed herself a sweet internship on the Hill (at an undisclosed office...wouldn't want to incriminate the boss or anything, ha!) and will therefore be able to experience the sweet bliss of holding a copy of Roll Call in her little fingers each morning. Expect the blogging to be fast and furious, since life in the beltway is always with something...
Fun from the Hotline: "They satisfy me in ways a whore never could" -- Northwestern student Kyle Smith, on Chipotle burritos (Daily Northwestern).
Gannon: OOOOOOHhhh being in the 202 now means...the potential for Jeff Gannon sightings! Hoorah! Though, the only people who care about the story anymore are Rep. Louise Slaughter, and, well, myself (though in a totally different way), we thought it was interesting that he got into last night's big dinner shebang for DeLay. And where was my invite? I'm not a legitimate journalist either, you know.
Rock Me Like A Hurricane: Wow, Swamp Pundette had some fun times at her hurricane party, but no children were a result of any of the, um, festivities. Today, on Drudge, however, something came to the corner of the eye and...next thing you know, the sex lives of Florida are now meterologically linked! Must have been all those women turned on at the sight of Jim Cantore. Rowr.

Alrighty, time to go take my Metro pass out for a spin. But don't worry, we have operatives back in GVille to fill in the gossip. And you can read the Alligator online, which is going to make it much easier for me to lampoon the madness of SG and such. For instance...be on the lookout with Joe Goldberg's executive agency appointments...Leave a Legacy, eh? You'd think once the media watchdogs cracked down on these things, the legacies would end...but no...oh no...break out the Greek Stalker guides (or Facebook) and get to researching ladies and gents, a storm's a brewin...

Toodles, loves.

Conspiracy Theory!

Conspiracy Theory!

Yeah, Pundette has been off her game lately. With plans to be away from Gainesville for the summer becoming finalized (get exciting, Pundette's summer destination is an appropriate one), there has been little time for hashing out blog entries. But today! Pundette's favorite topic, SG corruption, has now extended to...the City Commission? WTF Mates? First of all, I think it looks very silly for grown elected municipal representatives to be hashing deals out with 22 year olds at the Swamp, but all that aside...silly is the operative word here. I see nothing wrong with Joe, lobbying for a cause he supports to a member of the city commission, makes it clear that backing a student-friendly issue will drawn student support. I fail to see the shadiness here. I heart Tony, and not because I was in cahoots with the Gator Party, or even because I was a part of some brainless mob of Greeks following the fight against temperance, but rather because he's fun and by god we need more of that. I will note however, something funny, and somewhat in line with the A-game reporting we got to see this election season...

The Facebook.com lists the 79 members of "Gators for the Re-Election of Tony Domenech". The campaign contact, Gordan, is a Phi Delt. 21 of the 79 members of the group are Phi Delts. But the number one group overlap? "Gators for the Gator Party", 37 overlapping members.

WHOA STOP THE PRESSES! CONSPIRACY ALERT!

Sorry, I just still can't stop laughing about things long passed. That, or I can't stop laughing at how tied for second w/ Phi Delt is the group "UF Sorority Girls are SO Hot Right Now." *sigh*

WONKETTE: Last week, released their 25 Least Influential list. We love lists, really. And anything that highlights Pat Sajak? Gold.

SHOT: "After I ran, many students who would never have run for a position in Student Government or for Student Body president ran because I gave them the courage to do so," - Jamal Sowell, at the SG Banquet

CHASER:Lois: Peter, why would they make you president? Peter: Maybe it's because I can recite all 50 states in a quarter of a second - RARF! Lois: Peter, that was just a loud yelping noise.

Toodles, loves.

Are You Ready For Some Football?

Are You Ready For Some Football?

Well ladies and gents, my sincerest apologies on the massive DeLay (from now on, I will capitalize the D and the L) in updating, Pundette has a busy busy social life and has also been away from her computer...but now, she is back in action, poring through Alligator archives, brushing up on Drudge and trying to sap a little more sarcasm from that oh-so-deep well of wit. Remembering today as she entered the Football Ticket lottery, begging for the mercy of the G.A.T.O.R.S. system, she finds herself now begging for your mercy... here's a roundup of what's been missed...

CHARLIE MURPHY: Gosh darn it! Why did I have to miss this! Why is it that I'm always missing the great events! Wouldn't that have made a hot Live Blogging session? Rest assured, kiddies, Swamp Pundette will be in top form come the Fall when she will liveblog such events. The O&B, Gator Growl, etc. Get excited.
MASSIVE ENVY: Gosh darn it! Why did I have to miss this chunk of change! Future Rhodes scholars, sheesh, those kids haven't yet seen a keg. And everything changes after you lose your kegstand virginity. Ten bucks says at least two of those kids, rebelling against the pressure they were under in high school, wind up massive binge drinkers who skip class frequently and wind up with a 2.3. That's what I call "assimilation". When in Rome...
TONY: Swamp Pundette's favorite City government guy Tony Domenech to the rescue again. Here's why. Wow we love him. What a fun guy.

Moving out of the Swamp...

FEAR AND LOATHING IN THE DISTRICT: Imagine our shock, awe, and sadness at the ranking of Ana Marie Cox, affectionately, "The Wonkette" as #3 on the DC's 50 Most Hated list! Clearly someone who sucks at life made this list. Boo. We like Wonkette so much better than that Kelly Ann Collins "Washington Socialites" drivel, which is pretty much a bastion of pictures of people who look like Jenna Bush but might not really be her. Ooooooh, intriguing. Viva Wonkette!
WEIRD GUY: Did anybody see the footage of this guy getting tackled on the Capitol steps like he had just caught a reception at Ben Hill Griffin? Nice work, Capitol Police, I sleep at night feeling safer because you're there to tackle strange men in trances setting up creepy shop on our national monuments and offices of federal business.