Wednesday 27 July 2005

Congress Getting "Weary" Of Roberts' Visits

Senators Feeling Stalked; Roberts Relentlessly Using Meet-and-Greets To Boast Chances

Numerous Congressman, including many members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, say they are feeling "stalked" by Supreme Court Nominee John G. Roberts over the past week.

Since last Wednesday's prime time debut, Roberts has been "visiting" Congressmen and Senators daily, to introduce himself prior to his upcoming nomination hearings.

"I couldn't eat my oatmeal this morning", stated Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), head to the Judiciary Committee. "I was afraid he was going to pop out of the bowl".

"I had to think quick yesterday and ended up sitting in a feasibility study meeting on moving Alaskan wildlife as part of the Clear Skies Act", said Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), a member of the Judiciary Committee. "I had to go out the side door - he sat in my office for over two-hours, jabbering away".

Rumors are rampant around Capital Hill, of members ducking into closets, taking circuitous routes back to their offices, and one, calling in sick, all in an effort to avoid the what they describe as "relentless" meetings and handshaking.

Not fair says Fred Thompson, the former Tennessee Senator and now actor, the Bush Administration has selected to sheppard Roberts around the Hill and through the confirmation process.

"The meet-and-greet has been a long tradition with court nominees. They're not part of the environment here, they're unknowns when they get here to Washington. We're not doing anything different. We're not abusing the process".

"They're not abusing the situation?", asked Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE). "When I pulled out of my garage this morning, Roberts and Thompson were standing at the end of the driveway".

Many on the Hill thought the prime time introduction by the President was good, and expected, the following day, a few short meetings and photo sessions with the candidate. Then, everyone would go away until the confirmation hearings started.

"I stopped by my dry cleaners on the way to the office the other day", said Sen. Senator Joe Lieberman (D-CT). "When the cleaner pressed the button to make the rack thing go around, to get my suits, sure enough, Roberts was hanging there, ready to pounce on me".


Senate Hearings Begin Today On How Halliburton Used and Executed Iraqi Reconstruction Funds






NASA Almost Missed Photo Coverage Of Shuttle Mission

One-Hour-Photo Corp. Aids Agency; Builds Stand Inside Cape Canaveral

With all the critical details, all the tension in putting up the first Space Shuttle mission in two-years, and making it the most photographed flight in the history of the program, one detail was almost overlooked.

Processing the photos.

With only days to spare, NASA struck a deal with One-Hour-Photo, who then rushed construction of their signature booth on a unused launch pad near the control center.

NASA has placed hundreds of cameras on the Space Shuttle - from on the launching pad, at various locations on the shuttle itself, including one on the fuel tank, the area that scrubbed the flight two-weeks ago,

NASA has a team of runners, shuttling raw film over to the booth and then returning back to the control center with the processed film. Under a special agreement with One-Hour-Photo, the operation is running 24-hours-per-day until the end of the mission in another 12-days.

"That was a close one" offered Kyle Herring, a NASA spokesman.

"You go over the details. Over-and-over-and-over. We're not sure how we missed this".

NASA is ordering the larger, 5x7 photos and utilizing the discounts Double Print offer.

"We could say we're doing it for back-up", stated Herring, "But I think the crew would like a set when they return".