HUFFPOST HILL - JULY 29TH, 2010

With the August recess quickly approaching it looks like Congress won't be able to pass the comprehensive energy reform oil spill bill before September. There was, however, enough time for a House panel to drop 13 ethics charges on veteran Rep. Charlie Rangel and, less significantly, for a group of senators to voice their concerns about Red Bull vodkas. Those of you upset by legislative inaction could learn a thing or two from the eternally upbeat Rand Paul, who is turning lemons (decimated mountains) into lemonade (strip malls?). This is HUFFPOST HILL for Thursday, July 29th, 2010:

EXCLUSIVE: OIL, DISPERSANTS FOUND DEEP IN GULF FOOD CHAIN - So much for the emerging narrative that the BP spill wasn't a big deal. Scientists tell HuffPost's Dan Froomkin that they've found signs of an oil-and-dispersant mix under the shells of "almost all" of the tiny blue crab larvae collected in the Gulf of Mexico, the first clear indication that the unprecedented use of dispersants in the BP oil spill has broken up the oil into toxic droplets so tiny that they can easily enter the food chain. The orange blobs have been spotted all the way from Grand Isle, Louisiana, to Pensacola, Fla. -- more than 300 miles of coastline -- said Harriet Perry, a biologist with the University of Southern Mississippi's Gulf Coast Research Laboratory.

LATE BREAKING FROM WAPO - "Samuel Wyly and Charles Wyly -- billionaire brothers in Texas who have spent millions funding political campaigns -- committed violations of federal securities laws and fraud by using offshore accounts to secretly trade the shares of public companies whose boards they sat on, reaping more than $550 million in profit, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission complaint filed Thursday. The politically-active Wylys, who have been generous donors to Republican causes over the years, have faced questions in recent years -- including a Senate probe -- about whether they ran an extensive network of tax shelters." Zach Goldfarb: http://bit.ly/bAjaoP

HOUSE PANEL ACCUSES CHARLIE RANGEL OF 13 ETHICS VIOLATIONS - Buck up, congressman, the Chinese think 13 is a lucky number. ABC News: "Rangel, 80, who was formerly chairman of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, stands accused of 13 counts of violating House rules. He has denied any wrongdoing...The 40-year Democratic House veteran and his lawyers, who were not in attendance at today's hearing, had been negotiating with the committee to avoid a public trial but have yet to reach a deal...The outstanding alleged violations include: failing to reveal more than half a million dollars in assets on financial disclosure forms; improperly obtaining four rent-controlled apartments in New York City; and failing to disclose financial arrangements for a villa at the Punta Cana Yacht Club in the Dominican Republic." http://bit.ly/cnvN2P

"At one point, Rep Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.), a junior lawmaker from Queens, gave the dean of his state's congressional delegation a big hug. Others patted him on the back." http://bit.ly/bdpM19

Quotable Rangel: ""Sixty years ago, I survived a Chinese attack in North Korea and have said that I haven't had a bad day since. But after today, I may have to revise that statement."

Vulnerable House Dems say Rangel issues are a distraction but won't pull them down. - Lucia Graves: "Reps. Tom Perriello and Gerry Connolly said Wednesday that Charlie Rangel's impending ethics hearing will not hurt midterm election prospects for House Democrats. 'I think it's a sad and isolated case that will have a limited impact,' said Connolly. 'It adds to the narrative that [politicians are] all corrupt sadly, but I don't think it's going to be a dispositive issue in the election.'" http://huff.to/9cmNSJ

REPUBLICANS BLOCK SMALL BUSINESS BILL SUPPORTED BY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE - The failed cloture vote came after a tense exchange this morning between Mitch McConnell and Mary Landrieu -- who is shepherding the bill through the upper chamber -- over the number of Republican-offered amendments. Landrieu, as the French would say, appeared pretty friggin' POed. David Dayen in Firedoglake: "George Voinovich and George LeMieux, who earlier voted for the small business lending fund, giving it the 60 votes it needed to get into the bill, supported the party line and voted against the bill. Earlier, Reid allowed three Republican amendments to come to the floor as side-by-sides and even removed a provision that angered Republicans, but the demands kept changing." http://bit.ly/9vJo8V

As the Wall Street Journal points out, Republicans have a lot to love about the measure, which actually goes a long way in helping big businesses. "The costliest provision in the bill is a tax break for companies that make large capital purchases, including airlines and telecommunications firms. The 'bonus depreciation' tax break expired at the beginning of this year, and the bill would extend it for equipment purchased in 2010, permitting firms to write off 50% of the cost of equipment this tax year, rather than over a longer period. The provision would reduce federal revenue by $5.5 billion over the next 10 years." http://bit.ly/9DUuwL

Word comes to HuffPost Hill that the Senate will take up the bill again next week.

AP on the effect all this squabbling has on the legislative calendar: "Partisan disagreements in the Senate will delay passage of legislation responding to the Gulf oil spill until at least September, when Congress returns from its summer recess. The House is scheduled to vote on its bill Friday but will be out of town by the time the Senate takes up its version next week -- meaning Congress would have to wait to reconcile the differences. The Senate might not have the necessary 60 votes to advance the Democrats' energy and oil spill legislation, anyway, given the opposition of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky." http://bit.ly/9326RO

OBAMA SPENDING MORE MONEY ON POLLS THAN W - Sam Stein: "While Gibbs routinely chides members of the press for obsessing about the day-to-day temperamental swings of the American public, behind the scenes the White House has poured plenty of money into conducting its own public opinion polls. Through June 9, 2010, the administration, via the Democratic National Committee, has spent at least $4.45 million on the services of seven different pollsters, according to records compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics (The Huffington Post looked into only those expenditures that totaled more than $5,000). That total represents only 18 months into the administration. During the first 24 months of the Bush administration, the Republican National Committee spent $3.1 million on polling according to a 2003 study done by Brookings." http://huff.to/conoov

Provacateur of the day: Richard Posner pens a TNR essay titled, "'Top Secret America' -- A Bust." "Everyone says the Washington Post series on the National Security State is great journalism. It's not." http://bit.ly/9EHkL5

WashingtonPost.com has launched a Palin Endorsement Tracker: http://bit.ly/a2ed49

SHIRLEY SHERROD TO PUNISH MEDIA-SHY ANDREW BREITBART WITH LAWSUIT - The conservative media mogul will now have to contend with an increase in site traffic and media-exposure which will no doubt besmirch the good name of the Breitbart media network, known for its objective reporting and ironclad reputation among reporters. That'll show 'em! "Speaking Thursday at the National Association of Black Journalists convention, Sherrod said she would 'definitely' sue over the video that took her remarks out of context. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has since offered Sherrod a new job in the department. She has not decided whether to accept." http://huff.to/aPa49H

First amendment experts weigh in to HuffPost:

-- Victor Kovner, a highly respected attorney for Davis Wright Tremaine: "There are a lot of unknowns, but let me say, from what I know, it is not a frivolous suit. [Sherrod must] show that not only that what [Breitbart did] was false and portrayed in a false light but it was done deliberately so. ... I think the heart of his defense would be that he was fooled and didn't know the full context... I don't think he can get a motion to dismiss. I don't think he would prevail. He may well face some discover."

-- Professor Stephen Solomon, a journalism and First Amendment professor at New York University: "It is an intriguing case, but I come back to the point that she has resolved this in the court of public opinion pretty quick. The point of a libel suit is to restore someone's reputation... She was damaged very badly in the short term. But now everyone knows this is false and she is not the person she was portrayed. She can still say she suffered and she is quite right. But if you look at the purposes of a libel suit it is to restore reputation. And after 48-hours, hers was restored. The second thing is to get monetary damages you've suffered. And then you have to ask whether... you want to go through on a five-year libel suit that will take over your life." More: http://huff.to/a3N5QU

Shocker: "'I will not give Fox an interview, period. They had their chance to get the truth, and they were not interested,' [Sherrod] said at a plenary session at the National Association of Black Journalists' convention in San Diego." http://bit.ly/a3TfJc

TOMORROW'S PAPERS TODAY - Washington Post: Michael Gerson says the need for entitlement reform is almost universally conceded. The politics of entitlement reform, however, seem hopeless. The Hill: J. Taylor Rushing on how Senate Democrats are planning to corner the GOP on Elena Kagan's nomination.

Don't be bashful: Send tips/stories/photos/events/fundraisers/job movement/juicy miscellanea to [e-mail]. Follow us on Twitter - @HuffPostHill

RAND PAUL MODELS WINTER 2011'S HOTTEST CASHMERE SWEATERS SUBJECT OF PROFILE PIECE IN DETAILS - The article is mostly humdrum, longtime-acquaintance-X-says-what-most-people-don't- realize-about-candidate-Y-is-that-he-is-actually-very-Z fare. However this graph caught our attention: "Paul believes mountaintop removal just needs a little rebranding. 'I think they should name it something better,' he says. 'The top ends up flatter, but we're not talking about Mount Everest. We're talking about these little knobby hills that are everywhere out here. And I've seen the reclaimed lands. One of them is 800 acres, with a sports complex on it, elk roaming, covered in grass.' 'Most people,' he continues, 'would say the land is of enhanced value, because now you can build on it.'" Full piece: http://bit.ly/b0b20i

For what it's worth, here's the Natural Resources Defense Council on mountaintop removal: "1.2 million acres, including 500 mountains, have been demolished by coal companies in Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia and Tennessee. Over 89% of sites are not currently being used for economic development." http://bit.ly/bbcwrU

Paul's opponent, State Attorney General Jack Conway, won't openly support Harry Reid as majority leader. The Hill: "Conway said he didn't know if he would support Reid for another term as leader of the party in the Senate, citing Reid's own tough reelection battle this year. 'I don't know. We don't know the outcome of that race in Nevada. I don't know the outcome of a lot of these races and that kind of falls in the category of measuring the drapes,' Conway said on WHAS radio in Kentucky." http://bit.ly/9NqgGF

BECAUSE YOU'VE READ THIS FAR - Here is a wiener dog race: http://bit.ly/bjMOd7

HOYER: HOUSE DEMS WON'T LOSE HOUSE, DOESN'T DENY DEMS WILL LOSE SEATS - That would be shy of the 43 seats Republicans need to take control of the lower chamber. Kasie Hunt in Politico: "Democrats will keep the House and likely hold their losses below 28 seats, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer predicted Thursday. Asked by reporters whether his party would lose between 28 and 33 seats this cycle, as some political analysts predict, Hoyer replied: 'I think we're going to do better than that.' The House's second-in-command noted that Democrats could go on offense to hold down their net losses, pointing to four Republican-held seats as easy targets for Democratic takeover." http://politi.co/cSXAUg

Sen. Bob Kerry will NOT be leading the MPAA. http://bit.ly/9EHkL5

@mikeallen Cook Report emails latest forecast--House: 32 to 42 seat net gain for Republicans; Senate: 5 to 7 seat net gain for Republicans

David Axelrod today encouraged Senate Democrats to remind voters how much they hated life with a Republican congress and suggested they urge the electorate to give the Dems another chance. Roll Call's Emily Pierce: http://bit.ly/9lsjo3

In Florida, Rep. Kendrick Meek has fallen behind billionaire Jeff Greene in their bid for the Democratic Senate nomination. The Qunnipiac poll, out today, has Greene leading Meek 33% to 23%. http://bit.ly/aFOU7f

A new PPP survey of Cah-lee-forn-ians finds they prefer recalled Governor Gray Davis over Arnold Schwarzenegger, the man who replaced Davis. "44% on our most recent poll said they'd rather have Davis as Governor to 38% who picked Schwarzenegger. Democrats (64%) are more unified around the desire for Davis than Republicans are around Schwarzenegger (59%), although independents do lean toward the current Governor by a 41-37 margin." http://bit.ly/cUxL5j
We were very excited by this headline, then very disappointed when we clicked the link: "Labrador speaks in place of Bachmann at 'Fire Pelosi' rally" http://bit.ly/cbNga2

THANK YOU LORD FOR THESE GIFTS WE ARE ABOUT TO RECEIVE: TOM TANCREDO LAUNCHES BID FOR GOVERNOR OF COLORADO - The former congressman, presidential candidate, rabid anti-immigrant advocate and soon to be spoiler for control-c, control-v enthusiast Scott McInnis is making it official today. "Tancredo says he is launching a third party candidacy because he doesn't believe that either of the two current GOP gubernatorial candidates can beat Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, the likely Democrat nominee. Tancredo called on Scott McInnis and Dan Moes, who have both been beset by scandals, to withdraw from the general election race after the August 10 primary, if polls suggest that Hickenlooper is far ahead. Both candidates say they are staying in the race." CNN: http://bit.ly/9aWEC1

Tancredo calling civil rights organization La Raza "a Latino KKK without the hoods or the nooses": http://bit.ly/fzarH

Tancredo's bill to eliminate temporary visas: http://bit.ly/d1gx4A

Tancredo suggesting we bomb Mecca and Medina: http://bit.ly/8YPrkq

Republican Nevada gubernatorial candidate and apparently conflicted Hispanic-American Brian Sandoval isn't worried about his whether kids would be pulled over under Arizona's draconian immigration law. No need for concern, he told Univision, "my children don't look Hispanic.". The Sun's Jon Ralson: "Sandoval denied (twice) making the comments during an interview with 'Face to Face' this week. But the comments are on videotape, I have confirmed. Univision, however, is declining to release the tape, claiming (as most media organizations would) that it is work product." http://bit.ly/cJh70X

GTLies: OBAMA MISLEADS PUBLIC ABOUT PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF SNOOKI, AMERICA AWAITS HIS RESIGNATION - In his "View" appearance, taped yesterday and aired this morning, the president told the hosts, "I've got to admit, I don't know who Snooki is. I'm sorry." The thing is, THE PRESIDENT ABSOLUTELY TOTALLY COMPLETELY KNOWS WHO SNOOKI IS. From his White House Correpsondents Dinner speech: "The following individuals shall be excluded from the indoor tanning tax within this bill - Snooki, J-WOWW, the Situation, and House Minority Leader John Boehner." http://bit.ly/aFftxG

P.S. You've only got a few hours to Gym Tan Laundry before the season premiere of Jersey Shore tonight.

WITH COUNTRY MIRED IN TWO WARS, UNENDING RECESSION, SENATE GOES AFTER THE REAL ENEMY: JOOSE - Joking aside, this is kind of serious. A group of Democratic senators are targeting the two things that keep us going, alcohol and Red Bull. From the release provided to HuffPost Hill: "Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) called on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to immediately make public its findings from an investigation into possible health risks posed by so-called 'energy drinks"'that combine alcohol and caffeine...November 2009, the FDA demanded that the makers of these beverages supply information to prove the safety of their product, but the agency has yet to produce a finding."

ATTENTION CONGRESS, YOUR SUMMER INTERNS DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TO DO - Reader Alyssa sends along this Lady Gaga spoof with a DC twist. The video was released today by disillusioned former Hill interns who we hear are still interning elsewhere in Washington. A barrel of laughs...maybe. A barrel of pent-up frustrations...absolutely. Behold, "On The Metro." http://bit.ly/cnVE89

Hey, speaking of!...

JEREMY THE INTERN'S WEATHER REPORT - After a wonderful little storm today, it's best not to let down your guard. Tonight: The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch until 7 p.m., and with good reason. Little storms are still popping up, and later in the afternoon, it might get more violent. Tomorrow: Cooler, clearer and a bit drier. Expect high-80s temperatures and blue skies through most of the day. Thanks, JB!

COMFORT FOOD

- Some ironic, GOP-friendly signs. http://huff.to/9vbhy6

- We're pretty sure we've found the Republican Alvin Greene. http://bit.ly/bwsK8K

- At long last, Steve Carrell goes "Between Two Ferns." http://huff.to/c3i5Bc

- The longest pinhole exposure ever. http://bit.ly/cfw6Qx

- 35 really boring video games. http://bit.ly/dBL42W

- Probably the best possible nerdy Valentine's Day card we've ever seen. http://bit.ly/cM9qM5

TWITTERAMA

@kathrynlopez: i could be wrong. wouldn't be the first time.

@BorowitzReport: Wait, it's "WikiLeak"? That explains it. I thought they said those documents came from Ricki Lake.

@brianbeutler: @brianbeutler: Link of the day: http://bit.ly/bi9fcE

THE TUBE

TONIGHT: Arizona AG Terry Goddard was on Ratigan. Bernie Sanders, Luis Gutierrez and Jim Moran are on The Ed Show. Jan Brewer appears on Jon King, USA, broadcasting from Arizona. TOMORROW: Barney Frank discusses online gambling on the Daily Rundown.

ON TAP

TONIGHT

8:45 pm - 10:45 pm: The Capitol Riverfront Outdoor Underdog Film Festival screens "Happy Gilmore" [Canal Park, 200 M St SE].

5:30 pm - 7:30 pm: John Hall (D-N.Y.) apparently is quite the gastronome. He hosts a fundraiser at the newly-opened We The Pizza [We The Pizza, 305 Pennsylvania Ave., SE].

5:30 pm - 7:00 pm: Debbie Halvorson (D-Ill.) puts on a "Political Update Reception." That update will cost you $1,000 [Bistro Bis, 15 E Street NW].

6:00 pm: Rush Hold (D-N.J.) raises the dough for his reelect [National Democratic Club Townhouse, 40 Ivy Street SE].

TOMORROW

5:00 pm - 8:30 pm: Jazz in the Garden this week features trombonist John Jensen [Smithsonian Sculpture Garden, 700 Constitution Avenue NW].

8:20 pm - 10:20 pm: The Rosslyn "I Love The 90s" Film Festival this week screens "Dumb and Dumber" [Gateway Park, 1300 Lee Highway].

11:45 am: Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.), who has been on an absolute fundraising TEAR as of late, hosts a luncheon [Charlie Palmer Steak, 101 Constitution Ave NW].

12:00 pm: John Campbell (R-Calif.) also gets in on the steakhouse action [Charlie Palmer Steak, 101 Constitution Ave NW].

5:00 pm - 6:30 pm: Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.) invites you to "Cool Down and Chill Out." We usually just buy a beer but his $1,000-a-guest option works too, we suppose. [National Democratic Club Townhouse, 40 Ivy Street SE].

Got something to add? Send tips/quotes/stories/photos/events/fundraisers/job movement/juicy miscellanea to Eliot Nelson ([e-mail]), Ryan Grim ([e-mail]) or Nico Pitney ([e-mail]). Follow us on Twitter @HuffPostHill (twitter.com/HuffPostHill). Sign up here: http://huff.to/an2k2e