Dear Friend …

The Republican Party of Pennsylvania has a bit of a phishing problem.

The PAGOP sent out an email blast Wednesday informing its subscribers that the group has “kept pace with an ever-changing world to include an online headquarters at www.pagop.org, as well as a rapidly growing grassroots e-mail network.”
Full story

Tri Guy

Think navigating New York City traffic is harrowing? Try swimming uptown.

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) accomplished the latter this weekend while completing the NYC Triathlon, his fifth endurance race in the past two years.
Full story

Mad About ‘Mad Men’

Nothing says “unabashed celebration of capitalism” like a “Mad Men”-themed cocktail party!

The D.C. Republican Committee is recognizing its first annual list of the “35 most influential Republicans under 35” at a soiree to be held tonight at Dupont Circle’s Studio Gallery.
Full story

Going Green

Contrary to what jealous colleagues might tell you, HOH is not — repeat NOT — heading to Baltimore this weekend solely to indulge in mouthwatering crab cakes, ice cold National Bohemian tall boys and famously fudgy Berger cookies.
Full story

Read Along With Allen West

Good news, bibliophiles! Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) has come to free you from the tyranny of the New York Times best-seller list and all other scholarly research surrounding popular reading materials.

During an interview with Edward Hudgins, the Atlas Society director of advocacy, West strokes the objectivist outfit by proclaiming Ayn Rand’s ideological opus “Atlas Shrugged” to be the near be-all and end-all of literary creation.

Full story

Let the (Video) Games Begin!

Who said there were no second acts in American life?

Oh, it was F. Scott Fitzgerald. Pretty cool dude, overall, but he obviously hasn’t been to H Street recently. If he had, he’d notice that the cocktail bar at 1236 H St. NE previously known as Fruit Bat — and almost known as Barcade before getting a cease and desist letter from an establishment named that in Brooklyn — has been resurrected as a beer and game-centered parlor: Atlas Arcade.
Full story

Why Can’t We Be ‘Friends’?

Local filmmakers view the little strip of pavement known as H Street Northeast as fertile ground for a prospective sitcom-within-a-sitcom.

“It’s one of our favorite areas to go,” Joel N. Clark said of the rapidly evolving neighborhood he and his buddies have chosen to highlight in their “H Street” pilot.

Clark tells HOH the show will, at least in part, mimic the documentary-style format embraced by several successful network shows, such as “The Office” and “Modern Family.”
Full story

Paging Dr. Oz

Ah, Democratic press secretaries. They make for such good copy. At least when it comes to their always entertaining listserv.

On Tuesday morning, the following missive came to the attention of HOH.

“Anyone have a good contact at the Dr. Oz show?” a press secretary asked.
Full story

D.C.’s Uberfans

If the D.C. City Council learned anything during the past 24 hours, it’s this: Don’t mess with Washingtonians’ affordable limo services.

Councilwoman Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3) proposed legislation Monday that would impose a minimum fare of $15 for the startup cab service Uber, or five times larger than the base D.C. taxi fare. (Uber dispatches those omnipresent black sedans and SUVs to customers in the District and limited surrounding areas of Virginia and Maryland for a current base fare of $15.)

Upon hearing news of the legislation, many Washingtonians — and even a Member of Congress — took to Twitter to voice their outrage that the city was trying to price out an affordable limo service from the market in order to protect the city’s finicky cabbies.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) tweeted about the issue from his official Twitter handle @Jasoninthehouse, “Uber fans unite! D.C. Council wants to keep fares high. This is wrong! #UberDClove” Full story

Harry Reid’s Santorum Problem

(Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

For years now, former GOP presidential nominee Rick Santorum has had a Google problem, and now Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) might have one too … albeit one with a slightly more boring definition.

Full story

Czech That: Sacrificial Lamb Gets White House, Congressional Petition

Fans of metal music finally have a use for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton: getting their good buddy out of the clink in the Czech Republic.

That’s where Lamb of God front man D. Randall “Randy” Blythe remains imprisoned — almost a week after having posted $200,000 bond — on manslaughter charges stemming from the death of a fan injured during a 2010 show in Prague.

The Gauntlet has posted footage of the purportedly fatal spill that calls into question who, if anybody, is to blame for the international incident:

Blythe’s fans have now gotten politically active, posting a petition on the White House portal demanding that the administration end this civil rights standoff and spirit Blythe home. Full story

Aloha, Mr. President

There’s a new film on the way that delves into President Barack Obama’s earliest years in what is arguably the happiest place on earth.

Gloria Borland is a proud Pacific Islander who was born and raised in Hawaii and later came to Washington during the 1970s to work for Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii). She’s lingered ever since, dabbling in politics and media as opportunities presented themselves.
Full story

Take Five With Rep. Kevin Yoder

(CQ Roll Call File Photo)

It’s Tuesday and time again for Take Five, HOH’s weekly dose of five questions for a Member of Congress. This time around, we speak with Rep. Kevin Yoder (R-Kan.) about some of his likes (Charles Dickens, Batman) and dislikes (University of Missouri sports teams).

Full story

Welcome Back, McCotter

Ex-Rep. Thaddeus McCotter leaves a unique legacy, to say the least. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Does anyone know when ex-Rep. Thaddeus McCotter officially left office?

As with many things with the guitar-playing, cigarette-smoking, former GOP presidential candidate, he didn’t make it simple.

First, some context: After a snafu wherein the Michigan Republican failed to make the ballot for his House race, the state’s attorney general started looking into allegations of election fraud.
Full story

Someone Thought This Was a Good Idea

Strategic Health Care is hosting a White Trash Reception.

Strategic Health Care — a health care consulting firm in Washington, D.C., and Ohio — is holding a reception on Capitol Hill next week.

“Hey y’all,” the invitation reads. “[Get] gussied up in your Sunday jorts, mullets, and fullets and come on down to the White Trash Reception.”

Full story