Lott turns nickname game back on Bush with breezy moniker

By BILL ADAIR and MARY JACOBY

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 1, 2001

President Bush is famous for giving nicknames to journalists, members of Congress and Cabinet members.

House Speaker Dennis Hastert is "Speak." U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick is "The Adding Machine." New York Times reporter Frank Bruni is "Pancho." Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is "Rummy."

Now, Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, whose own nickname is "Leader," says he has turned the tables and come up with a nickname for Bush: Zephyr.

Lott says it means "gentle wind from the West."

GOP pins club's tax problems on Thurman

The Florida Republican Party is chiding Rep. Karen Thurman for overdue tax bills at the National Democratic Club.

The club, a haven for Democratic power lunches and fundraising receptions, owes nearly $80,000 in overdue taxes to the District of Columbia. Thurman, D-Dunnellon, serves on the club's board of governors.

Calling it "a deadbeat social club," GOP Chairman Al Cardenas said "Rep. Thurman's leadership in this organization is a slap in the face of her constituents."

The Houston Chronicle reported last week that the club must pay the overdue bills to avoid having the District of Columbia seize the property.

Thurman said Friday that she could not comment on why the taxes were late until an internal investigation was complete. But she said the overdue bills were being paid.

Jack Flynn, the manager of the club, said the incident was "embarrassing for the club. It's a cash flow and management problem." He declined to give other details.

Hillary? No, we weren't even thinking of her

Senate Rules Committee Chairman Mitch McConnell proposed last week to extend a rule prohibiting senators from accepting expensive gifts to the period between their election in November and their taking office the following January.

A McConnell aide told the Associated Press that the Kentucky Republican proposed the change with no particular lawmaker in mind.

Yet in January, a St. Petersburg Times reporter happened to walk by Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo., and McConnell as they strolled together through a basement hallway in the Senate.

Bond leaned close to McConnell and lowered his voice, but obviously not enough. The following snatches of conversation could be heard: "Hillary Clinton," "How the hell. . . ," "Can't you do something?" and "gifts."

Bill and Hillary Clinton left the White House with $190,000 in furniture and other gifts accepted over the last eight years. There were reports and rumors that some of those gifts poured in after Clinton's election to a Senate seat from New York yet before the Senate gift ban would have covered her.

Again, we repeat: This rules change was made with no particular lawmaker in mind.

Cherry trees hold off blooms a few more days

Wet weather and late arriving blooms didn't deter thousands of spectators who turned out Saturday for the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade.

The parade, one of the highlights of a two-week festival that celebrates the friendship between Japan and the United States, comes four days before the projected peak bloom of 3,000 Japanese cherry trees lining the Potomac River tidal basin.

Most of the pink and white blossoms were originally forecast to be out by Saturday, but cooler temperatures have kept most of the trees from blooming, according to the National Park Service.

First Lady Laura Bush is serving as honorary chairwoman of the festival which continues through April 8.

-- Staff writers Bill Adair and Mary Jacoby contributed to this column, which also includes information from the Associated Press.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright