HOME / the zeitgeist checklist: What Washington is talking about.

Zeitgeist Checklist, Adult Diapers EditionWhat Washington is talking about this week.

(Continued from page 1)

The Gaza Accords
8. New This Week [UP ARROW]Middle East. Hamas and Fatah sign a power-sharing agreement to control the Palestinian Authority. The international community will lift sanctions as long as the Palestinians recognize Israel, respect peace treaties, and maybe chill out with the democratic elections for a while.

The Question Is, What Can't the Budget Do?
9. New This Week [UP ARROW]Budget. President Bush presents a plan that would balance the budget in five years and expand military spending without raising taxes. It will also cure cancer, end global warming, feed the five thousand, and restore the American people's faith in this administration. Who are we kidding—scratch that last one.

Fuselage-Measuring Contest
10. New This Week [UP ARROW]White House. The White House intervenes on behalf of Nancy Pelosi (yes, you read that right) when the speaker requests permission to fly home on a plane that is bigger than former Speaker Dennis Hastert's. Dubbing the plane "Air Force Three," House Republicans oppose the request on grounds that it's an extravagant burden on the government. Seriously, if she wants a plane, she should really just ask a lobbyist.

Print This ArticlePRINTEmail to a FriendE-MAILShare This ArticleRECOMMEND...Get Slate RSS FeedsRSS
Christopher Beam is a Slate political reporter. Follow him on Twitter.
Illustrations by Vivian Selbo.
What did you think of this article?
Join The Fray: Our Reader Discussion Forum
POST A MESSAGE | READ MESSAGES
TODAY'S PICTURES
TODAY'S CARTOONS
TODAY'S DOONESBURY
TODAY'S VIDEO
Logging.89/091116_TP.jpg
Cartoonists' take on entertainment.75/091116_TC.jpg
Where's Wali?61/091116_TD.jpg