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Posts in "Overheards"
May 13, 2013
Overheard: The Lamentations of the Expos
“It’s still painful.”
— A baseball fan from Montreal attending Sunday’s Washington Nationals-Chicago Cubs game at Nationals Park. The Montreal Expos left Canada in 2004 to become the Nationals.
Charlie Brotman, former announcer for the Washington Senators, holds up a license plate celebrating the move of the Montreal Expos to Washington at a November 2004 event announcing the team’s renaming to Nationals. (CQ Roll Call File Photo)
April 23, 2013
Johnny Isakson Brings Up Inconvenient Baucus News
Apparently, all Sen. Max Baucus wanted to do was get through Tuesday morning’s hearing before starting to inform his staff and close allies he was retiring.
But the Montana Democrat never got the chance, as news reports started lighting up iPhones and BlackBerrys just as he was set to convene a hearing on foster care. Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., approached Baucus before the start of the hearing and said something to the effect of “Congratulations on your news,” a tipster in the room told HOH.
Isakson had kind words for Baucus on Tuesday. (Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call)
April 16, 2013
Overheard on the Hill
“I’m ranking member.”
Senate Judiciary ranking member Charles E. Grassley, telling a horde of reporters Tuesday that he shouldn’t be mobbed over questions about guns and immigration.
April 14, 2013
Overheard on the Hill
“I’m going to take a nap. I was up late last night.”
Rep. Steve Cohen, at the news conference explaining his latest Twitter adventure, wherein he tweeted to singer Cyndi Lauper that she was “hot.”
April 11, 2013
Overheard on the Hill
“First time I can remember having a joint Democrats and Republicans lunch since I’ve been here.”
Sen. Bob Corker, regarding Thursday’s joint-caucus Senate lunch to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Sen. John McCain’s release from a North Vietnamese war prison.
April 9, 2013
Overheard on the Hill
“I know I didn’t have anything to do with it.”
— Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, on the possible bugging of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s campaign office.
March 29, 2013
Don Young Thinks the Word ‘Wetbacks’ Is OK
Hey Rep. Don Young — 1956 called and it wants its racial epithets back.
The Republican from Alaska gave a wide-ranging interview with a local radio station KRBD, which aired Thursday, when he used the term “wetbacks” to describe laborers on what apparently was an extraordinarily large ranch his family owned.
“My father had a ranch; we used to have 50-60 wetbacks to pick tomatoes,” the 79-year-old Young said. “It takes two people to pick the same tomatoes now. It’s all done by machine.”
Don’t believe us? You can listen to the audio here:
KTUU in Alaska has since reported that Young issued a statement Thursday night saying he was simply using the vocabulary of his youth.
“During a sit down interview with Ketchikan Public Radio this week, I used a term that was commonly used during my days growing up on a farm in Central California,” Young said in the statement, according to KTUU. “I know that this term is not used in the same way nowadays and I meant no disrespect.”
March 25, 2013
Tweeted: Stockman Takes On Rich, White Things
“I don’t like this coffee. If this cream were any richer and whiter it’d be carrying a liberal protest sign.”
March 20, 2013
Overheard: Boehner Gives It Back to Obama
“I’d rather be heckled than ignored. Or, as I like to say, you only tease the ones you love.”
Speaker John A. Boehner, R-Ohio, responding on CNN’s “The Lead With Jake Tapper” to the president’s quip about Congress while in Israel.
Overheard: In Israel, Obama Takes a Break From Charm Offensive
“It’s good to get away from Congress.”
– President Barack Obama to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after touching down in Tel Aviv for a four-day trip to the Middle East.
March 18, 2013
Overheard on the Hill
“We invited the American cardinals to a reception. So, unless I’m prepared to join the Eastern Orthodox Church, as a Roman Catholic I’d better show up or I’ll lose my soul.”
— Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., yukking it up in Italy, where he is leading a delegation for Tuesday’s papal installation ceremony for Pope Francis.
Biden, a Lost Soul in Rome
(Win McNamee/Getty Images Pool File Photo)
Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. clearly brought his A-game to Rome for Pope Francis’ inaugural Mass celebration.
The veep, who arrived in Rome on Sunday, has been yukking it up with dignitaries and presidents who have flown in from all over the world for the august event.
Right off the bat, Biden starts in with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, quipping, ”I didn’t realize you’d arrange for a new pope so quickly.”
March 14, 2013
Overheard: McCain and Mikulski
“I can assure her that if she and I had served together in that place far away that she would’ve been a
very, very tough and courageous resister.”
– Sen. John McCain, regarding Sen. Barbara Mikulski after senators on the floor today recognized the 40th anniversary of McCain’s release from years of imprisonment at the Hanoi Hilton in what was then North Vietnam.
March 7, 2013
Overheard on the Hill
“And what I have learned from my experiences in talking filibusters is this: To succeed, you need strong convictions but also a strong bladder. It’s obvious Sen. Paul has both.”
— Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., in floor remarks during Sen. Rand Paul’s, R-Ky., Wednesday night talking filibuster.
March 6, 2013
Overheard on the Hill
“This is the wimpiest town I have ever seen.”
— Rep. Marcia L. Fudge, D-Ohio, on Washington’s reaction to the “snowquester.” Her Cleveland-based district is known to get snow from time to time.
