Tag Archives: Washington DC

Kaine and Very Able

July 29th, 2008 by Matthew Slutsky

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What a day for DoubleSpeak! This morning we scored an interview with Governor Tim Kaine of Virginia and were able to be among the first people to ask him about the Washington Post’s reports that he sits atop Senator Barack Obama’s shortlist for Vice-President.

We’ve posted over at HuffingtonPost’s OffTheBus but wanted to give some love to all you DoubleSpeakers out there too. Here’s the recap as described on the HuffPo:

Governor Tim Kaine of Virginia woke up this morning to a new reality. He is, as reported by the Washington Post, on the short list to be Sen. Barack Obama’s running mate.

Kaine’s monthly radio appearance to discuss local issues pre-scheduled for today on WTOP radio in Washington, DC, was cast in different, higher intensity light. Kaine was joined by his colleagues DC Mayor Adrian Fenty and Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley.

It was quite a scene with a catered buffet (which included an omelet station) and a throng of reporters waiting to get an answer to the question of the day: will Kaine be Obama’s Vice-Presidential pick?

Governor Kaine, Governor O'Malley and Mayor Fenty

WTOP Big Board

Immediately following the radio broadcast, we were able to get a few minutes with the Governor and ask a number of questions about his personal reaction to the attention he’s receiving and to get his response to Sen. McCain’s recent attacks on Sen. Obama’s overseas trip.

More Interviewin'

Kaine on McCain’s campaign
:

“It’s just desperation. They’re just looking for a handle to grab on and slow the momentum of this bus down. And, it’s a different strategy every couple of days. It really has the air of desperation about it.”


Kaine on Vice-Presidential Speculation
:

“…I’m not going to make the case for myself because that’s not why I’ve endorsed Senator Obama…”

“And, it still seems unlikely to me, it’s nice being mentioned. My Mom likes it, you know, but look, I got on board in February of ‘07 because I knew the country needed a change in direction and from a good Democratic field– I thought the field was a good field– he just struck as the guy who could change the direction of the nation. I’m just so gratified by the way the campaign has been run and the chance we have nationally but also in Virginia.”

“It’s a little surreal. It’s surreal to be mentioned and again it’s nice to be considered but I know there’s a lot of folks they’re looking at– there’s a lot of different skills and attributes that they have to weigh– personal, geographic, political — a whole series of things. But, you know, I have grown to have tremendous confidence in Barack’s judgment, in the judgment of his team, in very hard moments along the campaign, you know, I’ve kind of been with him when things were going well and not so well but they’ve always, in a cool and deliberate way, made a good judgment, and I have no doubt that the pick they make is going to be a strong one.”

For more images click here.

A very special thank you to our talented photographer Kate Sokolov who negotiated her way through the gaggle of reporters to get some great pics. We also want to thank Governor Kaine’s staff for allowing us great access during the WTOP interview and for granting us one of the only one-on-one interviews of the morning.

Finally, A List I Don’t Want To Be On

March 2nd, 2007 by Peter Slutsky

From The Poltico:

Deborah J. Palfrey is unhappy. And, if you know who Deborah J. Palfrey is—and especially if you know her by Jeane—you probably don’t want her unhappy. From 1993 until this past summer, Palfrey ran Pamela Martin and Associates, a “high-end adult fantasy firm which offered legal sexual and erotic services across the spectrum of adult sexual behavior,” according to a statement she put out today hoping to raise funds for her legal defense.

The way she plans to raise those funds could reverberate through Washington’s power corridors. She is considering “selling the entire 46 pounds of detailed and itemized phone records for the 13 year period,” reports The Politico’s Ryan Grim. In October, the Internal Revenue Service seized her assets; the sale of the records would fund her fight against the seizure.

More

There are many of men in D.C. who are driving home tonight with some major anxiety…

A Shining Light Up On The ‘Hill’

August 18th, 2006 by Peter Slutsky

Dunkin Donuts
Are you a resident of Washington, D.C.? If you are, you’ll understand what I mean when I say, where are the Dunkin Donuts?

Growing up in the Northeast region of this great land I call America, you see the shimmering orange and purple everywhere. I believe there might be one or two small Dunkin Donuts in D.C., but they are off the beaten-path and very lightly trafficked.

Well, my friends, do I have good news for you! Come Monday morning, all of the pain and anguish of our Dunkin Donuts-less lives will change. That’s right; Dunkin Donuts is having a grand opening at 6am on Monday morning in Eastern Market.

8th St. and Pennsylvania Ave., SE.

“And out of this long political darkness a brighter day will come”

-Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL), Keynote Speech – Democratic National Convention, July 27, 2004

See you bright and early Monday morning! I’ll be the giddy guy with the bakers dozen. Have a great weekend!

Rain!

June 26th, 2006 by Peter Slutsky

RAIN
Washington, D.C. got hammered last night with rain. It was one of the most amazing storms I have ever seen. A wall of water fell for hours, along with high winds and amazing lightning show, leaving the city pretty much disabled this morning. D.C. is expecting some more boomers today that could dump another foot of rain. This morning, I wore THIS.