Inside the Beltway

STILL BREWING

They’re rolling. Tuesday marks Day Three for the Tea Party Express and its “Countdown to Judgment Day,” a 38-city, coast-to-coast tour of grass-roots conservatives who are deft at staging local rallies for Americans offended by big government, out-of-control spending and incomprehensible health care reform.

The 19-day road tour got under way Sunday in San Diego and trundled through Fresno, Calif., on Monday. Nevada now looms on the horizon — with Tonopah, Hawthorne and Fallon as the destinations of choice. The movement remains fierce and sharply focused on the job at hand, organizers say.

“Local organizers are more motivated than ever to keep up the fight for conservative ideals. Although Congress still refuses to listen, the energy, determination and passion of the ‘tea partiers’ is undeniable,” spokesman Levi Russell tells Inside the Beltway. “Hats off to those who are dedicated to keeping this nation the best place on earth.”

THE PARTY OF KNOW

They’re flush with a new Web site, jaunty messages, strategic outreach. Is the newly rambunctious Republican Party starting to rile Democrats? Could be.

“Here’s the deal: Fighting us tooth and nail fires up the GOP base. An excited base sends in money. If they get ahead on fundraising, we might never catch up. Next November would have ugly written all over it,” says Democratic strategist James Carville in a please-send-money-like-right-now message to his own party.

He wants to raise $1 million by Nov. 2.

Republicans are “the Party of No” he adds, specifically criticizing the “allegations” of, among others, Fox News host Glenn Beck and Sen. David Vitter, Louisiana Republican.

“If their lies win, we lose our Democratic majority. We must push back, beginning now,” Mr. Carville urges, noting that donors will receive a snappy car magnet that reads “If ‘No’ Wins, America Loses.”

CHIMP CHANGE

Congress has become privy to the woes of apes from the maven of white rabbits. Grace Slick - the cosmic chanteuse of Jefferson Starship and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer - wants to ensure lawmakers pay attention to the Great Ape Protection Act (HR 1326) now meandering through the House. The act would end “invasive research” on chimpanzees and send those owned by federal research facilities to a permanent sanctuary. There is a simian divide, however.

Introduced in March by Rep. Edophus Towns, New York Democrat, the bill has 86 co-sponsors; only six are Republicans. The chimp-friendly? They are Reps.Christopher H. Smith and Leonard Lance of New Jersey, Mary Bono Mack of California, Rosco G. Bartlett of Maryland, Sue Myrick of North Carolina and Thaddeus McCotter of Michigan.

“We all need somebody to love,” Ms. Slick says. “I was shocked to learn that laboratories can keep chimpanzees locked up in metal cages about the size of a kitchen table. Its time for America to join the long list of countries that prohibit invasive experiments on these amazingly intelligent animals.”

The singer of “White Rabbit” has contacted every member of Congress via a mass voicemail, inviting them to a multimedia exhibit in the Rayburn House Office Building on Wednesday that offers an ape-friendly rationale.

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