Congress Threatens to leave D.C. unless new Capitol is Built

WASHINGTON, DC—Calling the current U.S. Capitol "inadequate and obsolete," Congress will relocate to Charlotte or Memphis if its demands for a new, state-of-the-art facility are not met, leaders announced Monday.

"Don't get us wrong: We love the drafty old building," Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert (R-IL) said. "But the hard reality is, it's no longer suitable for a world-class legislative branch. The sight lines are bad, there aren't enough concession stands or bathrooms, and the parking is miserable. It hurts to say, but the capitol's time has come and gone."

BUSH'S GENERAL EDUCATION
Do you have blacks in Brazil?

It is said, that, before September 11, George W. Bush thought the Taliban were a Bavarian brass band. Now, thanks to his comprehensive knowledge, the most powerful man in the world has got into hot water again.

.... During a conversation between the two presidents, George W. Bush, 55, (USA) and Fernando Henrique Cardoso, 71, (Brazil), Bush bewildered his colleague with the question "Do you have blacks, too?"

Rice, 47, noticing how astonished the Brazilian was, saved the day by telling Bush "Mr. President, Brazil probably has more blacks than the USA. Some say it's the Country with the most blacks outside Africa."

Originally published in Der Spiegel

Why can't we all get along?
The LAT takes a front-page look at the most recent sniping between the CIA and FBI, "the Capital's oldest back-fence feud." Those Washington standbys--finger-pointing and personal motives--threaten to scuttle reform efforts already underway. "What we've seen in the past two weeks is changing everything," the LAT quotes a Bush administration official. "There will be more changes. It has made it apparent that we need to go deeper."
today's papers
Remembrances of Wars Past, Future
By Hans Nichols Posted Sunday, May 26, 2002, at 6:05 AM PT