The American Spectator

Washington Prowler

(Page 2 of 2)

Jim Talent to be sworn in by a federal judge in Missouri. The procedural swearing in -- before the official swearing in on January 7th -- will give the Republican a slight edge on seniority when the full body takes shape a little over a month from now. At least Talent is laying claim to a seat that by rights became his as soon as his victory over appointed Sen. Jean Carnahan was certified. /p>

But it isn't just the Missouri seat where the GOP is trying to give its newer members an edge. Texas Sen. Phil Gramm plans to step down later this week so his replacement, John Cornyn, can have a jump on some of his colleagues in the race for better office space.

And even an independent seems to be getting into the game. Minnesota's Dean Barkley has told the transition staff for Norm Coleman that he's open to stepping aside so that Coleman can perhaps match Cornyn in seniority.

p> BOOMER RUNS AGROUND br> Rear Admiral John Stufflebeam , the former Pentagon spokesman who now commands the Navy's Carrier Battle Group Two, seemed a little confused when he briefed reporters aboard the USS Harry S Truman last week. Asked about the role Iran is playing, if any, in helping the U.S. campaign against Iraq, he referred to the nation's Republican Guard. Sorry Admiral, those are Saddam's troops; the Revolutionary Guard are the Iranians. /p>

Maybe the seafaring "Boomer," as Stufflebeam is affectionately known, gets confused about land forces. The Prowler hears he also was a bit lax on the official military line about waiting for orders from the White House, and spoke as if a U.S. attack were a certainty. Or was that just good Navy preparedness?

topics:
Books, Military, Iraq, Iran, NATO