| Today's Feature
LaHood Out of House
Whip Race.
After spending nearly three
months canvassing the House GOP Conference, Rep.
Ray LaHood (Ill.) ended his underdog campaign for
Majority Whip today and threw his support behind
frontrunner Rep. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.).
"Reports from the folks on
my steering committee have not been good,"
LaHood told Roll Call Daily. "I don't think
it's possible to win that race."
"In politics 80 percent of
it is timing," he added. "And it just
isn't my time. It's Roy's time." LaHood
informed Blunt about the decision in a phone call
Tuesday morning and will circulate a letter about
his decision to colleagues Tuesday afternoon.
LaHood said that after talking to colleagues he
decided that Blunt's lock on the post was so
strong that it would "be impossible for
anybody to win against him."
He also said he was not
inclined to stay in the race just to see if the
political climate would shift dramatically and
perhaps leave him an opening down the road. The
leadership vote will not be held until after the
November Congressional elections.
"That's not my
style," he said. "I'm not the type of
person who wants to stay in the race hoping my
opponent slips on a banana."
LaHood, who served as chief of
staff to then Minority Leader Bob Michel (R-Ill.)
before taking over the seat in 1995, also said he
was impressed by the level of respect Blunt, the
current Chief Deputy Whip, maintains within the
Conference -- particularly among moderates.
He also praised Blunt's ability
to round up the votes necessary to secure the No.
3 leadership job within days of current Majority
Leader Dick Armey's (R-Texas) retirement
announcement. Current Majority Whip Tom DeLay
(R-Texas) has locked up the votes to replace
Armey at the end of the year.
"Roy has paid attention to
Members' concerns," LaHood said. "He
really has a nice manner about him. He's got the
experience and the respect. He has earned his
right to the position."
LaHood, however, said his
short-lived bid for Majority Whip may open the
door to a future leadershipcampaign.
"I'd like to be in the
leadership here," he said. "I hope
they'll be another opportunity in the
future."
New Pottery,
Watercolors &
Fiber Exhibit Tonite!
by Robin Putnam, artCentral
Tonight we have the pleasure of
bringing you another wonderful group of artists
and their amazing works !!
The opening is from 6pm - 8pm
and everyone is invited. This newest exhibit
features the works of three local talents.....Tom
Jones, Carthage and Jack and Lee Ann Sours,
Dudenville. Tom is the art teacher at Jasper High
School and has taught at our artCamp numerous
times. He is quite an accomplished watercolorist
!! His works are so vibrant you would swear the
flowers were real!! He will have one painting at
the opening that he is donating to a local fund
raiser and wants to show it off. He says it is
the best piece he has ever done !! That's pretty
generous.....to give away the best painting
you've ever made.......we hope those receiving
this donation realize it's value !!
Lee Ann Sours has worked with
fibers for years and would go from raising the
animals for their fleeces and working these into
beautiful hand dyed, hand woven items such as
throws, scarves and even jackets. A lot of work
involved to get to that comfy blanket you wrap
around yourself on chilly evenings !! She will be
exhibiting some very large pieces of her felting
works. These fibers are matted together ( and
drug around the yard behind a lawn mower) to go
from loose animal hairs to cloth like pieces she
hand dyes. Designs are fashioned into these in a
truly unique process and the outcome is
astonishingly beautiful textile art. These felted
screens are framed in oak and are free standing.
Jack has been working in clay
for many years and has a style uniquely his own.
His ceramics are all decorated in delicate
detail.....representing hundreds of hours of
work. He focuses on Celtic designs and knots. His
high-fired, salt glaze pieces range from 4 foot
tall storage jars to bean pots, tea pots,
pitchers and coffee mugs. He call the useful
pieces domestic ware.
Lately he has been working on a
number of very large, ornate eagles. One very
nice piece is a beautiful gray bird sitting on a
pedestal for it's perch. The pedestal itself is
truly a work of art with the intricate carvings
adorning it.
All in all this is one show you
really don't want to miss. These fine artists
have exhibited with us before and hold the record
for sales !! We are very proud and honored to
have them back with us this year and hope you,
too, will be just as awed as we are !!
Come out this evening for some
great art, fine friends and good food !! We
usually have a great time and no one is a
stranger !! We hope to see you around the dining
room table !!
More next week......For more
info call 358-4404. Hours : Tuesday - Saturday
9am - 3pm. www.ozarkartistscolony.com
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