"What we've found is that . . . Congress is not asking the right questions. So starting this coming year, we will be beginning monthly briefings on congressional oversight for congressional staff," she says.

TASTING DEMOCRACY

Texas Rep. Ted Poe first made a name for himself as a straight-talking, no-nonsense felony court judge in Houston, most famous for his "shame punishment" of criminals.

As his biography recalls, he ordered thieves to carry signs in front of stores from which they stole; required men who abused their wives to publicly apologize on the steps of city hall; commanded sex offenders to place warning signs on their homes after serving prison time; and directed murderers to securely place a photo of their victims on the wall of their prison cells, creating a daily reminder of their crime.

Now, Poe, tell us how you feel about the media coverage of the trial of ousted Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein?

"He pontificates about how he is unjustly treated," the Republican observes. "Witnesses in the trial have described rapes, beatings and electric-shock torture carried out by his relentless regime. But the news stories focus on his outrageous court behavior instead of his years of vicious violence and mayhem.

"The caged rodent known as Saddam Hussein can protest all he wants, but even the likes of him now receive a fair trial. Justice will soon be served, and he will be punished like the rat that he is. We call this justice system democracy."

GOOD LUCK, LADY

"If you are surfing for a 'cheap thrill,' have a criminal record, a fetish for tattoos, are allergic to dogs, mean to waiters, melt in the rain, have ever cheated on someone, cuss continually, are a control-freak, have roller-coaster mood swings, often see yourself as a victim, are pessimistic or cynical to the point of diverting happiness, have ever run naked through the quad, take antidepressants, feign illnesses, want someone to define rather than enjoy you, or anything of similar nature please do not contact me. Thanks." - Personal ad taken out by a 32-year-old Washington-area woman on the popular Internet dating site match.com.

CHANGE OF HEART

Former Sen. Jesse Helms has videotaped a plea urging Americans to help combat the AIDS epidemic in Africa and to treat victims of the deadly disease as if they were family.

The North Carolina Republican was an outspoken opponent of funding for AIDS research, but his views evolved during his final years in the Senate, partly because of a friendship he developed with rock singer Bono of the band U2, who pushed him to the fight against AIDS.

"Until then," Helms has said, "it had been my feeling that AIDS was a disease largely spread by reckless and voluntary sexual and drug-abusing behavior, and that it would probably be confined to those in high-risk populations. I was wrong."

In fact, The Beltway Beat learned that Helms and Bono dined together Monday in Charlotte before U2's concert, joining roadies and other U2 band members. The senator gave Bono a signed copy of his recently released memoir, "Here's Where I Stand," and a copy of the AIDS video he taped.

HATE DROP

Former Clinton campaign strategist Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, founder and president of the Israel Project in Washington, was the target of anti-Semitic and racist material left in the driveway of her Annapolis home this past weekend.

Twenty-two pages of material were placed in a bag that, upon first glance, appeared to be an appeal to find a missing child, except beneath the picture were the words: "A Future For White Children Is Missing."

Police in Maryland are investigating the incident. Washington Jewish Week reports that propaganda drops like this one tend to be the work of the neo-Nazi group National Alliance.

Besides her friendship with former President Bill Clinton, Mizrahi was recognized as "A Point of Light" by former President George Bush.