BuzzFlash
presents Capitol Buzz
by Anonymous
An Open Letter to Ed Henry
Capitol
Buzz: From Capitol Hill to BuzzFlash.com
by Anonymous
June 26, 2002
Ed
Henry
c/o Roll Call Newspaper
Dear Mr. Henry:
Thank you so much for your recent Heard on the Hill column calling attention to my work. It is always a pleasure to have one’s work noticed by a journalist of your stature. Hopefully, it provided a boost in readership to a website I greatly admire, BuzzFlash.com.
We do have some unfinished business about one portion of your column that offended me. You called me "Deep Columnist." Any regular reader of my relatively short run would know that there is nothing "deep" about my column. Shallow, yes. Banal, perhaps. But, "deep"? C'mon, Ed, you gotta be kidding me! Did you even read the whole thing?
And, when you called a column with a Scooby Doo reference "hard-hitting"? You REALLY lost me on that one.
I also wanted to congratulate you for some supersleuthing. Your anonymous source called me a "jackass." That's when I knew you were hot on my trail. Almost everyone I know calls me that, for some reason. As for me being a Senate democrat with ties to the south, you couldn't be more wicked wrong, my friend.
I also have some questions about you. "Ed Henry" is hardly a believable moniker. It’s two first names! Who are you really? What is YOUR real name? It appears to be clear that you are someone with close ties to the Hill who knows a number of sources who like to remain nameless and spread gossip, some fun and some not so fun. Actually, I just described all of us who work here. I’m not as good at this as you.
But, alas, you have forced me into a difficult dilemma. You seem intent on uncovering my true identity and, as I said, that would cause me some difficulty in my work. Rather than continuing to cause you consternation by writing an anonymous column, I will instead revert back to the wholly dissimilar practice of talking to you and your colleagues on background. For now, Capitol Buzz will be on hiatus.
Any regrets? Knocking Gephardt so hard in my first column. That guy might have some surprises in store for us as we run up to the fall election. As the battle to pass a real prescription drug benefit is joined in the House this week, don’t be surprised if –- thanks to his leadership –- the Dems come out and kick a little Republican tail.
For all my brothers and sisters in arms who read BuzzFlash.com, aren't "over" a stolen election, are tired of the "war" being used for political benefit, think selling our energy policy to campaign donors is far worse than letting them sleep in the Lincoln bedroom, never ever want to see John Ashcroft spinning phony plots on TV again, and know Ari is lying because his lips are moving, election day is coming. We'll be back.
I remain,
Anonymous
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BuzzFlash Note
BuzzFlash is too well read for its own good, at least on Capitol Hill.
With only the fourth edition of Capitol Buzz, we have to bid adieu to the person "Roll Call" termed BuzzFlash's "Deep Throat." (See http://www.buzzflash.com/alerts/2002/06/20_Rollcall.html)
The bottom line is that the popularity of the column has placed tenacious pressure on the Hill to "out" the senior staffer who pens the column anonymously. That person does not wish to cause undue controversy for his or her employer, so he or she has decided to stop writing Capitol Buzz, under threat of being revealed.
That is a loss to BuzzFlash and our readers. We thank this independent Hill thinker for a short, but great run.
In the meantime, if there are other Capitol Hill progressive pundits and leaders out there, you know where to find us: BuzzFlash@BuzzFlash.com. Please write us from your personal, non-governmental, e-mail account. We need to verify your position in order to ensure the credibility of any information provided by you. We're looking for another brave Capitol Hill "Deep Throat."
Single D.C. Insider news and opinion items are also welcome. We'll post them anonymously, of course, as long as we can verify their credibility.
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