Vice-President Dick Cheney recently sat down for a Politico-sponsored chit-chat and, not surprisingly, took every opportunity to slam the Democrat-led Congress. What's a bit astonishing, however, are Cheney's harsh - and archaic - words for some of his former friends: Democratic Representatives. John Dingell and John P. Murtha.

[Cheney] scoffed at the idea of two men who spent years accruing power showing so much deference to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) in the big spending and energy debates of the year.

Murtha “and the other senior leaders … march to the tune of Nancy Pelosi to an extent I had not seen, frankly, with any previous speaker,” Cheney said. “I’m trying to think how to say all of this in a gentlemanly fashion, but [in] the Congress I served in, that wouldn’t have happened.”

But his implication was clear: When asked if these men had lost their spines, he responded, “They are not carrying the big sticks I would have expected.”

Cheney sure does have a way with metaphorical words.

Elton John traveled to Washington Monday to receive the National Association of Broadcasters' Service to America Leadership Award. Ever socially aware, NAB honored John's tireless work against that international nightmare, HIV/AIDS.

The guest list looked like a who's who of American culture, with democratic Senator Barbara Boxer and Representative John Dingell sitting side by side with Miss America, Lauren Nelson and Inside Edition's Deborah Norville. Meanwhile, Oleta Adams put a jazzy spin on some of John's classics, like "Can You Feel the Love Tonight," which Elton no doubt did.

Taking the stage, Elton - who has cited Ryan White as his inspiration for his activism - told the enraptured audience,

This is a chance to make up for behavior I deeply regretted … I’m like the whore that goes around and rattles people’s wallets.

As opposed to the whore that goes around and rattles people's wieners? (Seriously, we've looked around for more quotes from his speech, but this is the only one we could find. It's a bit twisted, don't you think?)

In other Elton John fights AIDS news, Mariah Carey signed on to headline the Elton John AIDS Foundation's June 29th One Mighty Party. Fag favorite Carey will apparently sing six dance remixes at the Paris event. We're totally there!! In spirit, of course.