Georgetown hosts politicians all the time, but one category of speaker has been conspicously absent, namely, conservative masterminds. This Tuesday at 7, the College Republicans will be quenching our thirst for shadowy backroomers by presenting a lecture by Grover Norquist in White-Gravenor 311.

Norquist is famous for being the head of Americans for Tax Reform and making George W. Bush popular with Republicans. In short, he was Washington’s pudgy wunderkind long before Karl Rove realized direct mail wasn’t just for L.L. Bean.

Here are less pertinent but more interesting facts from this colorful character’s extensive Wikipedia entry.

• Along with Jack Abramoff, he was buddies with Angolan rebel and conflict diamonds dealer Jonas Savimbi.
• Tucker Carlson called him conservatism’s “leering, drunken uncle.”
• In 2001, he said he wanted to drown government in a bathtub.
• Even Thomas “It’s Cheaper Overseas” Friedman thinks he’s selfish!

White-Gravenor should be a blast.

 Posted by Will Sommer

When Jack DeGioia, Adrian Fenty, and John Thompson go to the Kennedy Center today, it won’t be for the free Brian McKnight concert. Together, they’ll present the first ladies of Zambia, Rwanda, and Ethiopia with the John Thompson Legacy of a Dream award for their work against HIV/AIDS. On a day so focused on freedom, though, it’s worth noting that an award that has previously gone to Rosa Parks and Colin Powell is being awarded to women who owe their positions to violence and exploitation. (more…)