GREEN & GLOVER: Who’s got power?

Power powwow

How does one measure power in a city known as the world’s political powerhouse? Joules or watts won’t cut it, but how about asking the power players themselves at GQ’s 50 Most Powerful People in D.C. soiree?

Politico White House reporter Mike Allen surveyed the scene of merrymakers Tuesday at downtown’s swanky 701 restaurant and said, “Power should be measured by how much you enjoy your life, and apparently lots of people at this party are very powerful.”

(Corrected paragraph:) Mr. Allen’s boss, John Harris, Politico’s editor-in-chief, was listed at No. 43. We were surprised to see Mr. Harris, a rarity on the social scene, at the party. He seemed a little out of practice, sporting a deer-in-the-headlights look as he made his way by the bar, unlike his colleague Jim VandeHei, who appeared to be much more at ease, chatting with cocktail in hand.

(Corrected paragraph:) As for Deputy White House Press Secretary Bill Burton, he simply replied, “I don’t” when asked how he gauges power. The ever-earnest Rep. Aaron Schock, Illinois Republican, waxed much more eloquent: “I think it’s by the lives that you affect as a member of Congress and the difference that you’re making.”

Spoken like a true politician.

We had to ask Mr. Schock, a bachelor who has been ranked among the Hill’s best-looking, if he would consider dating Meghan McCain, Sen. John McCain’s blogging daughter. Miss McCain has said publicly that she has a crush on Mr. Schock, who at 27 is the youngest member of Congress.

“I’m actually a big fan of Meghan’s,” he said, adding, “I’ve not had a chance to meet her yet, but maybe eventually when I get out to New York or she’s in D.C. we’ll grab coffee or lunch, but I’m having a lot of fun in my new job as a member of Congress, and eventually I’ll hopefully meet the right person.”

Speaking of kissing up, uber-lobbyists at the event, including Steve Elmendorf (No. 32), Tony Podesta (No. 26) and Lyndon Boozer (no number necessary) may have been disappointed that none of the White House officials on the list with whom they could have done some schmoozing, including David Axelrod (No. 6) and Valerie Jarrett (No. 16), showed up.

Rested up

Mr. Podesta will have his chance to do some social networking on his own turf soon. Over canapes, he filled us in on yet another megawatt fundraiser he and his wife, Heather, are planning, for the female Dems in the Senate. Mr. Podesta, known for his avant-garde taste in art, informed us that his prized photograph by Sam Taylor-Wood will be coming out of its two-year “resting” mode just in time for the party.

The 8-foot-tall photograph, titled “Soliloquy VII,” consumes most of the wall in Mr. Podesta’s Woodley Park parlor. It depicts a nude man lying on his back, his genitals clearly exposed.

Such a piece of art makes the handlers of politicians a little anxious, of course, especially when photographers come perilously close to getting the pol and the naked man in the same shot.

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