Sen. Claire McCaskill, Priest Visits Mobster

By Jerry Berger
Berger's Beat
April 7, 2012

http://bergersbeat.com/

Senator Claire McCaskill complains that two weeks ago, Martha Johnson, the then-head of the General Services Administration, ducked a meeting with her, apparently because Johnson knew that an embarrassing report on the agency's expensive Las Vegas conference would soon be released. "As a government auditor," McCaskill reportedly said, "I have found that there are two possible responses from an agency when they get a critical audit. One is to say, 'You know what, you're right, we need to do better and we're going to fix it.' The other is to circle the wagons, rationalize and obfuscate. G.S.A. had the latter down to an art form". . .Former St. Louis archbishop Raymond Burke may soon preside over a highly unusual case in his role as head of the Catholic church's top court. In an unusual move, Cleveland Bishop Richard Lennon has been ordered by Vatican officials to re-open parishes that he closed as part of the diocese's "downsizing." Lennon may appeal that decision to Burke's court, called the Signatura. Burke, now permanently ensconced in Rome, recently rubbed shoulders in Florida with President George W. Bush, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, and other conservatives at a gala for Legatus, a group of Catholic CEOs founded by Domino's pizza founder Tom Monaghan. . .Husch Blackwell partner Christopher Rockers has been installed as prez of the American College of Commercial Finance Lawyers. . .The Chicago Tribune headline seemed more like fiction: "Prison note details how priest allegedly conspired with mob hit man." The story details the bizarre case of Fr. Eugene Klein, a priest for 40 years, who repeatedly visited a vicious mob killer, Frank Calabrese, Sr. in prison and is accused of colluding with Calabrese to try and sell a valuable violin hidden in the mobster's home to help pay for his defense (and prevent the government from seizing it). Klein contends that during some of the alleged wrongdoing, he was in St. Louis tending to his ill mother. . .St. Louis' Interfaith Committee on Latin America celebrated its 30th anniversary the other night at the Maplewood's Maya Cafe (designed by Bill Christman) by honoring two of its long-serving leaders. Bill Ramsey and Virginia Druhe had both traveled and worked in Central America and have been active in influencing our national policies towards our neighbors to the south. After a super dinner, the group danced away to the Latin sounds of Clave Sol. . .Looking for a different kind of live music this weekend? Head to Rue Lafayette Saturday night for the unusual sounds of Whack-A-Doo, which specializes in "toe-tapping vintage swing, folksy and Americana and speakeasy syncopation." The quartet - Valerie Tichacek, Paul Davis, Brian Reno andMark Hrabovsky - has an upbeat style reminiscent of nostalgic eras: the cafes of the 1920s Europe. Prohibition, juice joints and back porch swing. They've performed at the City Museum, First Night St. Louis and at political fundraisers. . .OwnersJennifer Klayman and her mom, Lois Klayman, have debuted Re-Designz at 6352 Delmar Blvd. in The Loop. The two women offer a mix of retro and contemporary goods from mid-century furniture to today's funky jewelry.