“A short distance from the U.S. Capitol stands the Capitol Hill Club, a refined and elegant environment for your business, political, and social activities.”

The opening line from the “Hill Club’s” website sets a mean table (or bar) for those looking to flash their black card and drop some major sheckles on a true – and pricey – DC experience.  Ya gotta pay to play at the hill (ya know, kinda like ya do on it).  The clients, emptors, and benefactors kinda expect that.  So if you are a poli player looking to impress, this is one of the places to go.  So it is not uncommon for House and Senate members to be seen hoisting rounds of Schaefer Select, Hendricks martinis, or Booker’s manhattans at the bar and dipping into their campaign snuff to pay for it.  Hey, it’s cooler than spending it all on buttons… right Fred?

So what’s the caller’s point?  Nothing really, except that we find it interesting when one of our own likes to make a habit of picking up some decent tabs at the Hill and  a number of other posh eateries and watering holes in The nations capitol.  Pretty cool when you’re the King.  Huh?… The King?… as in Mike Castle?  You bet your Sapphires.  That King.

Seems as though the Federal Election Commission keeps tabs on the tabs when campaign financing (reformed as it is… lol) is concerned.  And when the numbers were published in Fall 2009 we caught a glimpse of how the venerable one likes to unwind and uncork with his favourite sons… and the Queen we surmise.

Let’s take a look at the extras on this baby with this string of checks the King took care of at the Hill Club in the late fall.  $1407.20, $997.92, $442.60, $522. 72, $612.48, $855.36, $1,188.00, $850.08, and $308.24; all within the fourth quarter last year!  That’s some pretty good scratch being rung up.  And some serious hoisting being done… and some serious politicking, or some serious something we would imagine.  We’re pretty sure there were some apps on the table… but…

And that’s just one joint.  He also dropped 5 Bens at Johnny’s Half Shell (rated by Gourmet magazine as one of America’s best restaurants) where they pride themselves on really beefy drinks.  Not to exclude a great steak for his “friends” the King was toasted as “The Man” while springing to the tune of $2,101.44 at the swanked out  Charlie Palmer Steakhouse ( rated 100 best nationally)…  An uber modern and “stick ‘em up” expensive cut above.  That must be one f#$@&*$ good steak, bro.  More DC entertaining at Bistro Bis to the tune of $1299.44, Schneiders of Capitol Hill netted $453.11 and a W. Miller & Co delivered $2006.80 worth of “food and beverage.”

Now you don’t think the King don’t spread it around to his homeboyz back near the crib.  You betcha ass he do.  How bout $980 at the Wilmington Club, $1,246.93 at the Green Room or the $709.80 tab at the Union League Club in Philly.  Ya think they opted for tap water at the table?  And there appears to be a lil delivery to the Bat Cave C/O Gallagher & Gallagher to the stiff tune of $1,152… for listed food and beverage.  That be some serious take out, bro.  I hear Domino’s has some 2 fer specials goin on… but hey, it’s for the King.

Now these numbers may not put a dent in the wallets of a Mike Bloomberg or a John Corzine – and it’s very common for politico’s to treat and treat big – but it just goes to show the kind of moolah that’s thrown around Washington these days.  We’re sure the King and his Court all delighted in the opulence and the art of the dine, but geez, King, how bout throwin us a couple o cold PBR’s.  No worries, besides, we prefer the Del Rose anyway.  We can use the difference to pay off the mortgage.

Cheers.