Details of FAA Investigation into Inhofe Landing Released

Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK) “’sky-hopped’ his Cessna aircraft over six vehicles and ground personnel as he tried to land last year on a closed runway in Texas, sending frightened airport workers fleeing for their lives, according to federal records and audio clips released Wednesday,” the AP reports.

The Oklahoma Republican issued a brief statement in response to the new details about the Oct. 21 incident at the Port Isabel-Cameron County Airport, calling it "an old story."

"I have completed the program required by the (Federal Aviation Administration), and this matter is over," Inhofe wrote.

In a new audio clip, construction supervisor Sidney Boyd told the FAA he was on the runway and that the senator "scared" workers and nearly hit a truck before landing.

[…]

In the same call, Boyd described how Inhofe, who has more than 50 years of flying experience, came over after he landed, demanding to know,"What the hell is this? I was supposed to have unlimited airspace."

The FAA probe found that Inhofe knew the runway was marked closed but "still elected to land, avoiding the men and equipment on the runway."

Instead of “facing legal action, Inhofe agreed to complete a remedial training program, according to a Jan. 4 letter to the senator from Robert J. O’Keefe, an aviation safety inspector.”

"This letter constitutes neither an admission nor an adjudication of a violation," O’Keefe’s letter said.

Paul Traveling to South Carolina

Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) “has booked a trip to South Carolina on Monday to appear at the Charleston Meeting, an off-the-record gathering of influential conservatives inspired by the weekly ‘Monday Meeting’ of conservatives in New York City,” CNN reports.

Paul will also make a separate Palmetto State appearance to promote his new book, "The Tea Party Goes to Washington."

South Carolina, of course, is a required stopover for any Republican with presidential ambitions. The early primary state has voted for the eventual GOP nominee in every contest going back to 1980.

The Tea Party hero is already slated to visit the leadoff caucus state of Iowa on April 2 to headline the state Republican Party’s "Night of the Rising Stars" dinner in Des Moines.

A Paul adviser confirmed the latest trip, which was first reported by the South Carolina political blog FITSNews.com.

Franken and Paul Hold First Mentor Meeting

Senator Al Franken (D-MN) “kicked off his mentorship of freshman Republican Sen. Rand Paul (KY) on Thursday as the pair met for their first official mentoring session,” the Star Tribune reports.

While Franken and Paul may not have much political common ground, they have struck up one of the more unlikely bonds of the 112th Congress.

Franken’s spokesman Ed Shelleby said Franken talked with Paul about things that he found helpful as a new senator, when the Minnesota Democrat was thrown into the Senate mid-year following his recount court battle. Paul and Franken also “continued their conversation about areas they might work on together.”

The Senate’s orientation program “gives freshman members both a Democratic and Republican mentor.”

Paul’s other mentor is Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison.

National Journal Names Most Conservative Senators for 2010

According to a “comprehensive examination of 96 Senate votes taken in 2010, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., along with seven of his colleagues, voted most often on the conservative side,” National Journal reports.

McCain’s shift is emblematic of the Republican Party’s shift rightward and of the profound changes that NJ‘s latest Vote Ratings reveal in Congress.

The top ten:

RANK/NAME CCS*
1. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) 89.7
1. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) 89.7
1. John Cornyn (R-Texas) 89.7
1. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) 89.7
1. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) 89.7
1. John McCain (R-Ariz.) 89.7
1. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) 89.7
1. John Thune (R-S.D.) 89.7
9. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) 87.3
10. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) 86.8

* — Conservative Composite Score

Ensign Says Prostitution a County Issue

Senator John Ensign (R-NV) “is breaking with Nevada’s senior senator over the issue of legalized prostitution, saying leave it alone,” KTNV reports.

"You know, that’s a county by county issue and I think and it should be left to the counties," said Ensign after a town hall meeting in Henderson Wednesday.

Senator Harry Reid’s remarks Tuesday that Nevada should end legalized prostitution set off a firestorm throughout the state, particularly in rural areas where brothels are big business.