For two long years, the first thing Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean saw when he came into work was a photo of a smiling Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) staring right back at him.

Dean and Emanuel famously clashed throughout the 2006 cycle when Emanuel headed the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), which shares the same building in Southeast D.C. But even though Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) has replaced Emanuel at the DCCC, Rahm’s photo still sits (next to Dean’s) in the lobby of Democratic headquarters near Capitol Hill.

We asked because, well, it might be out of line or seem churlish for Dean to inquire.

Van Hollen shot down any conspiracy theories about getting into Dean’s head, saying, “I’ve got to get a decent photo of myself, that’s all.”

 
Rep. Slaughter buys into the GOP–ic ploy!

In researching Democratic statements from the last couple years on GOP Iraq war resolutions and how House Republicans would not allow them votes on their amendments  — imagine that! Democrats would never do that! — we found this 2006 gem from current House Rules Committee Chairwoman Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.): “My Democrat colleagues and I are demanding an open rule for this bill…”

There’s been a lot of scrutiny focused on the way Republicans, including President Bush, regularly leave out the –ic when discussing the “Democrat agenda” or the “Democrat Party.”

Many Democrats become infuriated when journalists drop the –ic, triggering accusations that the scribes are buying into a GOP strategy that goes back decades. (Bush, who recently indicated that he would add the –ic, did not follow through on his promise during a press conference yesterday.)

But sometimes the missing –ic is just an oversight. In other press releases, Slaughter keeps the –ic.

Rules Committee spokesman John Santore confirmed that she had not, in fact, been hypnotized by the GOP: “The use of ‘Democrat’ in the release was a typo. Rep. Slaughter is proud to be a member of the Democratic Party,” he said.

 
What Duke was (allegedly) doing during summer recess

The Randy “Duke” Cunningham story just keeps getting better — or at least grubbier. If it were made into a movie and included the contents of the grand jury charges that were released Tuesday, the film about the former Republican lawmaker would be R-rated at best.

Page 26 of the indictment against Cunningham’s alleged partner-in-crime, Brent Wilkes, reads: “On or about August 16, 2003, at approximately 11pm, defendant Wilkes arranged to have Prostitute ‘A’ and Prostitute ‘C’ available for himself and coconspirator Cunningham. Pursuant to Cunningham’s request, Wilkes arranged for the Congressman to get a different prostitute for the second evening.”

(Prostitute B worked with Cunningham and Wilkes the day before, along with Prostitute A.)

Say what you will about Wilkes, but he apparently is not stingy when he tips; he allegedly gave $500 to Prostitute A. (No word on the tips for B and C.)

Other gifts that Wilkes is said to have presented to Cunningham included two Laser Shot shooting simulators, tickets to Wilkes’s private box at San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium for Super Bowl XXXVII, a GPS navigational system for the lawmaker’s yacht, a Glock 9mm semiautomatic handgun, an April 20, 2000 ticket to a Jimmy Buffet concert, and a lot, lot more.

 
Rep. Dan Burton update: He’s very sorry for playing hooky

When we last checked in with Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.), he was on the House floor noting how he had just been one of those lucky 68,000 or so Americans who had nabbed a ticket to this year’s Super Bowl. What he didn’t mention during that memorable floor speech was that he missed 19 votes in January to play in the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.

Burton on Monday apologized to his bosses (read: voters in his district) during an appearance on WIBC radio in Indianapolis: “I’d just say to my constituents that that was one of my mistakes that I’ve made that I shouldn’t have made and I apologize for it.

“I won’t defend what happened. ... But you show me any person that hasn’t had a mistake or hasn’t missed work once or twice because of something where they shouldn’t have and I’ll show you a perfect person, which I haven’t met,” he said.

Burton, a 12-handicap golfer, didn’t apologize for his team’s performance at the Chrysler Classic, either. He and his two partners finished 16 shots behind the leaders in the amateur division.

The Chrysler Classic’s website notes the celebrities and politicians who have played in the tournament, including former President Clinton, former House Speaker Thomas “Tip” O’Neill (D-Mass.), and former Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dan Rostenkowski (D-Ill.). Burton, even though he’s been a regular, is not listed.