As far as Washington power-mingling scenes go, the book-launch party that the Service Employees International Union held on Tuesday for Arianna Huffington was practically a love-in.

There was a folk singer strumming a guitar (that would be Huffington pal Jill Sobule), plenty of fresh-faced progressive types, and a sing-along in which partygoers were urged to join in with Sobule. And there was lots of girl power, in celebration of Huffington’s new book, “On Becoming Fearless in Love, Work and Life.”

Huffington thanked the crowd, urging them to “silence the obnoxious roommate in your head” and calling them “a group of amazingly fearless people.” Among the fearless attendees was Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), whom Huffington waxed eloquent about for his own fearless stance against the Iraq war.

But the most fearless thing she’s ever done? “I think it will be in the future,” she told us. Our only disappointment was that Huffington didn’t utter the B-word.  It was included in the lyrics sheet passed out to guests of the song Sobule wrote for Huffington. But when the author got past the first lines, “I’ve written a book and I have a blog/But in my whole life I’ve never sung on a song/So if my voice sounds funny and my accent’s strong,” she skipped the rhymes-with-witch word in the last line: “Get over it b**** and sing along.”

We just can’t get enough mileage out of Sen. George Allen (R-Va.) and his “Macaca” gaffe. So a recap that the Indian American Republican Conference’s (IARC) sent out about their recent Washington confab caught our eye. Among its lineup of GOP heavyweights who addressed the group, including presidential adviser Karl Rove, House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), was none other than Allen. According to the group’s summary of the event, Allen talked about a recent trip to India and “ways for the U.S. to increase its competitive advantage in the global economy.”

IARC Chairman Raghavendra Vijayanagar told us in an e-mail that the session was a cordial one in which the senators discussed issues including the importance of a nuclear pact between India and the U.S. But as Allen wrapped up the speech, he said, the talk grew more personal.

“He issued a heartfelt apology at the end of his speech, which I felt was sincere, and he received a spontaneous standing ovation,” Vijayanagar wrote. “We have put this in the past and have moved on. We look forward to continuing our relationship with Sen. Allen in the future.”

And in other Allen news, the senator’s rediscovered Jewish heritage apparently has yet to bring him good tidings for the upcoming holidays. Asked by The Hill whether anyone had wished him a happy new year yet — Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown Friday — Allen, momentarily startled by the question, replied: “No, they haven’t. But are you?”

Indeed, Sen. Allen: L’shana tovah (for a good year) from The Hill.

 Buck breaks sudsy glass ceiling at beer org

Those stereotypes of beer as a man’s drink are just sooo last-century. Every Budweiser ad you’ve ever seen (particularly those airing during Monday Night Football) to the contrary, it turns out that women rule the brew. The National Beer Wholesalers Association has named Betty Buck as its very first female “chairman” of the board. The owner of Buck Distributing Co. Inc. in Upper Marlboro, Md., which was founded by her father, Buck broke the sudsy glass ceiling after serving on the association’s board since 2000. We’ll raise a glass to that!

Sens. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.), Ken Salazar (D-Colo.) or Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) may have a bone to pick with Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.).

On the “Kids Corner” section of his website, Dodd showcases neat factoids about the Senate, advice about getting involved in public affairs and a kid-friendly biography.

One of the “fun facts” he offers up about himself, though, might get him in trouble with his colleagues. The biography informs kids that “Chris” spent two years serving in the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic. “Did you know that Chris is the only Senator who speaks Spanish fluently?” the page asks.

That would be news to Spanish speakers (quite fluent ones at that) Martinez, Salazar, and Menendez. Dodd’s spokeswoman says, of course, he meant no offense. That statement used to be true, and the senator’s staff overlooked the claim while updating the website last year, she explained.

“It’s absolutely going to be updated,” the spokeswoman said, complimenting our informant who spotted it for his sharp eyes.

It’s all fun and games until somebody gets their eye poked out.  Or in the case of the football matchup between the U.S. Capitol Police and members of Congress, until somebody’s knee gets blown. In Wednesday’s second annual “Longest Yard” game in which the police, or “Guards,” trounced the members, or “Inmates,” 35-7, Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) was sidelined.

Ryan, a former college quarterback for Youngstown State, injured his knee during the game, where an attending physician treated him, according to witnesses. On Wednesday, he was back at the Capitol Attending Physician’s office and staffers were awaiting word on the diagnosis.

“From what I understand, it sounds like the injury that ended his college career — one of those things where you plant your foot, your body goes one way, and your foot doesn’t go with you,” Ryan’s spokesman said.

 Hulk Hogan flexes muscle for animal fighting prohibition

“Let’s hit ’em with a felonious leg-drop!”

That’s the unlikely lobbyist, former WWF champ Hulk Hogan, advising lawmakers on how to treat people who participate in dog fighting and cock fighting. Hogan taped a video spot that will be sent to all members of Congress today by the Humane Society of the U.S., urging them to pass the Animal Fighting Law Enforcement Prohibition Act, which would toughen penalties against people involved in animal fighting.

Hogan’s spot features a line most lawmakers probably haven’t heard from a lobbyist before: “Whatcha going to do when the bill comes to you?” queries Hogan in the ad. “Stand up with the Hulk against animal cruelty! Grrrrr!”