Shivering….and Chatting… in DC

Last day in Washington DC before I leave for Bennington. It’s been a good (if very cold) day meeting with several political insider-ish pals in order to gather gossip, rumor, innuendo and the occasional fact. More on the fruits of the gossiping later, but in the meantime…

….A SCANDAL ALERT

In the last few days, a group of bloggers, WitnessLA included, have gotten two nearly identical emails from some organization called Revelation Press urging us to attend a press conference in D.C. on Monday, January 7, at the National Press Club where some scandal or other about one of the presidential candidates will be “revealed.” Clearly somebody is trying to get a burst of publicity for some sleazy book without giving reporters a chance to investigate the validity of the charges, or the candidate a change to refute them, before the the New Hampshire primary on January 8. (I tried to weasel from the PR guy whether the candidate in question was a republican or democrat. No luck.)

Some people are speculating that the “revelations,” such as they are, will be about McCain. Other people say maybe Giuliani or possibly Obama, although the latter seems the least likely, as he’s already been op researched to-the-max and I doubt if there’s any lurking dirt to speak of.

Most people I know are not attending the conference but, like me, they’re keeping an eye on it. Here’s what the press release said.

Four years ago, “swift boating” became a new term in the Presidential campaign lexicon, when John Kerry’s candidacy was torpedoed by widely-disputed accusations from men who’d served in Vietnam with the candidate.

For Kerry in 2004, this Swift Boating was an action based on “iffy” information – but for one leading 2008 presidential candidate, this experience is about to be repeated prior to the New Hampshire primary – but this time with rock-solid, well-sourced and absolutely accurate information.

One of this year’s leading candidates will be “Swift-Boated” in a new book to be announced next Monday, January 7th at 1:30 p.m. in the Murrow Room at the National Press Club in Washington.

One candidate is about to be challenged – with hard and cold facts, presented cogently by an author and former political activist and decorated military veteran who shares this candidate’s party affiliation – and who has known the candidate personally since their college days.

Next Monday, the truth will be revealed when a book that literally gives “chapter and verse” about this candidate’s less-than-candid candor with the American people will tear aside the curtain, just as Toto exposed the Wizard of Oz.

This book is supported by 10 pages of meticulously-researched end-notes supporting every factual assertion about the candidate’s failure to shoot straight with the American people, and this breach-of-faith’s implications for the Presidency.

Yeah, whatever. I’ll report back to you if there’s anything to report.