Inside the Beltway

Hype warning

Headline flashed across millions of computer screens by AOL News yesterday after a name was given to the first Atlantic storm of 2007: “‘I don’t think it’s a good sign.’”

And who was it who uttered the ominous warning deemed worthy of being inserted into a headline? Was it a hurricane expert? A meteorologist? NASA scientist?

Nope, it was Ashley Pagan, 24, who was quoted in the Associated Press story while taking “cover from the wind during a cigarette break outside the beachside souvenir shop where she works.”

Undressing Hillary

Only two episodes after “Boston Legal” TV-character lawyer Denny Crane (played by William Shatner) proclaimed “I puke” if Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton becomes president, the popular TV series this week attacked the New York Democrat even more harshly, further eroding whatever romance remains between Hollywood and the former first lady.

“Why are relationships with women so much more complicated?” fellow lawyer Alan Shore (James Spader) asks Mr. Crane.

“Come on, Alan. Women have this hormone thing. As much as I love them, they are unstable, which is why they can never be president.”

“You don’t think a woman should ever be president.”

“Oh, come on. Do you? In time of war? How would a woman handle a 9/11? She’d cry.”

“You think Hillary Clinton would have cried.”

“Well, maybe not Hillary. But she has a few chromosome issues, let’s face it.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Don’t you ever look at her at times and think, ‘That’s a guy!’?”

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