The Gossips hear that Shelley Gibbs, the new Congresswoman from District 22 for the next 7 weeks , showed up in Washington, got sworn in and then proceeded to make Tom DeLay's staff so uncomfortable that they all walked out and resigned in mass. According to Roll Call she also "showed up to take over DeLay's old office on Thursday and, according to sources familiar the office dynamics, was "mean" to the staff. On Tuesday, at her new Member's open-house reception in the office, sources charged that she was less than pleased that neither President Bush nor Vice President Cheney showed up with the rest of the welcome wagon, despite the fact that others who stopped by included Texas GOP Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn and Texas GOP Reps. Kevin Brady and Michael Burgess. (Apparently, according to sources, she was under the impression that the president of the United States would be there to greet the seven-week Congresswoman.)" The Gossips hear from folks at Houston City Hall that they are not surprised by her actions in DC.

The Gossips also hear that there is a movement in Austin to get the Speaker of the House to release his pledges so that a more moderate Republican with some good communications with Democrats can be elected Speaker. The GOP members are worried about 2008 and would like to have a more harmonious session. Speaker Craddick is not "let the members vote their district and not their party" kind of guy. He is more "my way or the highway" in his dealings with members. And some of the Republicans are nervous about keeping their seats in the next election if it looks like the 2007 session in Austin has ethical and grid lock problems similar to what happened in Washington.