Andy Card is the longest-serving White House chief of staff in almost half a century, but political observers know it’s not unusual to see some musical chairs in the second term. Card took a hit on the failed Harriet Miers nomination as well as the botched response to Hurricane Katrina. The speculation I hear is that Card, who served in both the Bush 41 and Reagan administrations, could be named secretary of the Treasury – he was secretary of transportation during the first President Bush’s administration – and that Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman would be named chief of staff to replace him.
Rove: Perception of power
We hear that Karl Rove, who is certainly the president’s buffer and has been called his brain as well, really doesn’t have the power that the public thinks he has. That’s what we’re told first lady Laura Bush has said privately. But as long as he can maintain the perception of wielding the power, Rove will continue in his role of protecting the president – and his post-White House price in the private sector will be out of sight.
Smulyan swings for a home run
Don’t be surprised if Indiana media mogul Jeff Smulyan holds the winning bid to land the Washington Nationals. Although Smulyan is considered an outsider, D.C.-based lawyer Eric Holder, a former U.S. assistant attorney general, is a player in his group, as are former FCC Commissioner Dick Wiley and ex-Redskins Art Monk, Calvin Hill and Charles Mann. Smulyan wooed Major League Baseball decision-makers when he owned the Seattle Mariners and is quietly working behind the scenes on this deal. The sale price is up to about $550 million.
Schaeffer calling for Barbie wannabes
Eric Schaeffer, Signature Theatre’s very talented artistic director and co-founder, is bringing Barbie to the stage. He’ll direct Mattel and Clear Channel’s national touring musical production next spring -which includes dates at D.C.’s Warner Theatre – of “Barbie Live in Fairytopia!” An open call to find Barbie, the enchanting wingless fairy who wants to save Fairytopia, is scheduled for Dec. 5 in New York’s Times Square. This has to be every little girl’s dream, especially in the red states.
Jenna’s change of diet
Georgetown’s Smith Point – its entrance barely visible from Wisconsin Avenue – is perhaps best known as a hangout to spot the Bush twins, but soon the restaurant (only open on weekends) is expected to have Nantucket-style cuisine to attract serious foodies as well. Chef Nate Bearfield, who has dished locally at Bistro Bis and Le Paradou, is returning to D.C. from New York’s famed and now-shuttered Lutece.
Sean, are you kiddin’?
Sean Hannity, co-host of Fox News Cable’s talk show “Hannity & Colmes,” started some buzz when he told the crowd gathered at the conservative Heritage Foundation dinner earlier this week that his co-host Alan Colmes and CBS are negotiating for Colmes to replace the departed Dan Rather as the anchor for the “CBS Evening News.”
Kudos to Virginia’s first lady
Virginia Gov. Mark Warner and his wife, Lisa Collis, are being honored at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Night of Hope tomorrow evening at the Mandarin Oriental for their work for the cause. Their daughter, Madison, 15, has Type 1 diabetes, the most serious form of the disease. It was Collis, two years after her daughter was diagnosed, who encouraged the JDRF Capitol Chapter to create the chapter’s first gala. The gala that year was on Oct. 13, 2001, just weeks after 9/11. When the chapter considered canceling the event, Collis said: “Diabetes didn’t go away after 9/11.” GMU head basketball coach Jim Larranaga‘s son, Jon, also has the disease. He’ll speak tomorrow evening about what it’s like to be an athlete and a Type 1 diabetic. Musical diva Chaka Khan will entertain.
Chut!: Vin en avance
It wasn’t only the French Embassy that celebrated the new Beaujolais Nouveau at midnight Wednesday evening. I sampled the young wine at Brasserie Les Halles, where there were no gendarmes in sight. Owner Philippe Lajaunie locked the doors to the private dining room and ran in dressed in a black cape and mask. Lajaunie then swore his guests – including WTOP’s Man About Town Bob Madigan and Washingtonian magazine’s Garrett Graff – to secrecy and pulled the cork 90 minutes early. Of course, we won’t tell. After all, it was after midnight in France!