BuzzChatter Thursday: Huelskamp flips out over response to raffle-for-donations deal

By STEVE KRASKE

March 20, 2014 7:00 AM

Happy Thursday:

• “By all appearances, Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson is misusing his office for political, partisan purposes.” — Josh Bell, a spokesman for Kansas Congressman Tim Huelskamp. Branson had told Huelskamp’s re-election campaign that a raffle for men’s NCAA college basketball tickets in exchange for small campaign contributions was illegal.

Illegal or not, Huelskamp’s campaign turned what was a small deal into a big deal with its over-the-top reaction to Branson. Bell suggested that Branson was guilty of prosecutorial misconduct and referred to Branson’s actions as akin to a “kangaroo trial via the media.” Branson is a Democrat, Huelskamp a Republican. Still, Huelskamp’s reaction seems a tad overblown.

• “Bossy Pantsuit.” — Hillary Clinton on the potential title of her upcoming memoir.

The title is a riff on comedian Tina Fey’s “Bossypants” book. Other memoir title suggestions she pointed to in a speech to the Association of American Publishers included “The Scrunchie Chronicles: 112 Countries and It’s Still All About My Hair” (“That actually is a keeper,” Clinton said); and “It Takes a World,” a play on her previous book “It Takes a Village.”

• “We are committed to exactly the same set of goals. He had a very good agenda, and it’s one I shared.” — Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen at her first news conference emphasizing that she won’t be making big changes from the course that her predecessor, Ben Bernanke, set.

Not exactly a scintillating first appearance by the new Fed chairman, which wasn’t a surprise. “High entertainment” and “Fed chairs” are not exactly close friends.

• “Deval’s done a great job, and I think signals that he could be very successful at the federal (level) as well.” — President Barack Obama touting the credentials of Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick as a potential presidential or vice presidential contender in 2016.

This was an unusual move by the president to openly tout a fellow Democrat for national office. Patrick is nearing the end of his second term as governor and has opted not to seek another term later this year. Still, the betting line suggests that Clinton will run in 2016, relegating Patrick and a slew of other potential contenders — maybe even Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon — to the vice-presidential sweepstakes.

This story was originally published March 20, 2014 at 7:00 AM with the headline "BuzzChatter Thursday: Huelskamp flips out over response to raffle-for-donations deal."

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