washingtonpost.com - Al Kamen's In The Loop ColumnAl Kamen's In the Loop column reports on the latest comings and goings in official Washington,from White House personnel to lobbyists to members of Congress.You Messed Up. Now Here's Your Promotion.- November 30, 2007 On Oct. 23, the day of FEMA's now infamous phony news conference, the agency's former external affairs chief, Pat Philbin, announced plans to promote a number of people in the shop as part of an effort to build a "new FEMA."http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/29/AR2007112902223.html?nav=r... Without Lott, the Singing Senators Are of One Voice- November 28, 2007 Sen. Trent Lott's resignation announcement Monday stunned the political cognoscenti, but the rationale seems pretty obvious. Lott (R-Miss.), 66, needed to cash in before he got much older. Being GOP whip isn't much of a job when you're in the minority and prospects are not good for a change in that status anytime soon.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/27/AR2007112702382.html?nav=r... 'Did You Push My Button Yes. Am I Going to Talk You Bet.'- November 23, 2007 It's holiday shopping time, and you're once again scurrying about looking for something besides the usual earrings, ties, shirts or sweaters.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/22/AR2007112201449.html?nav=r... The Pumpkin Pie May Fly- November 21, 2007 Places it might be best to avoid for Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow:http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/20/AR2007112002008.html?nav=r... For Ashcroft, Something Old, Something Nude- November 16, 2007 It was, let's face it, inevitable. And so, on Wednesday, at the swearing-in of Attorney General Michael Mukasey at the Justice Department, former attorney general John D. Ashcroft was reunited with "The Spirit of Justice," the 12-foot Art Deco-era sculpture his aides once famously covered with giant blue drapes at a cost of more than $8,000.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/15/AR2007111502328.html?nav=r... That FEMA Thing It Was a Setup. Any More Questions- November 14, 2007 FEMA's internal investigation into its infamous phony news conference is over, but the topic is sure to come up when acting Deputy Administrator Harvey Johnson goes to the Senate for his confirmation hearing. (His name mysteriously failed to make the Senate hearing list last week, however.) Administrator R. David Paulison has strongly defended Johnson, saying he was "set up" by horrific staff work.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/13/AR2007111301927.html?nav=r... Because Hurricanes Threaten Golf Resorts, Too- November 9, 2007 FEMA has had some bad publicity lately, but that doesn't mean its work -- often nasty, even dangerous -- doesn't continue. And of course such things as planning meetings don't have to take place in uncomfortable settings or in chilly Washington.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/08/AR2007110802167.html?nav=r... You Messed Up. Now Here's Your Promotion.- November 8, 2007 On Oct. 23, the day of FEMA's now infamous phony news conference, the agency's former external affairs chief, Pat Philbin, announced plans to promote a number of people in the shop as part of an effort to build a "new FEMA."http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/30/AR2007113001174.html?nav=r... There He Goes Again- November 7, 2007 Seems that Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff has become a serial apologist of late. Every time you turn on the tube, there he is, apologizing for some bonehead move by a senior agency official. Might as well just book a daily half-hour into his schedule for the morning mea culpa.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/06/AR2007110602008.html?nav=r... Your Tax Dollars at Play- November 2, 2007 Fall is finally upon us, and that means one thing: time to gear up for trips to warmer climes.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/01/AR2007110102290.html?nav=r... |