Hot date! Southern gentleman and rhetorician REP. JOE WILSON (R-SC) has been given the honor of escorting German Chancellor-Frau ANGELA MERKEL to the 20th annual Berlin Wall Ball. But will Joe be ready for the big night? Where will he find a corsage that compliments Angela’s captivating blue eyes? And can he trust the ILLEGAL ALIENS who work at the dry cleaners with his tailcoat? And does he remember how to waltz? Gossip mongers report that Joe has been practicing his footwork all week: 1-2-SCREAM, 1-2-SCREAM, 1-2-SCREAM. Very rhythmic, that Joe Wilson. He’s got those happy feet, moves with the music … MORE »

The House Science Committee, seen here in a file photograph. MORE »

• Reliable Source: Attorney for Robert Steinbuch threatens to add Ana Marie Cox as a co-defendant in his suit against Jessica Cutler. . . Murdoch will host a summer fundraiser for Hillary. . . Mort Kondracke marries Marguerite Sallee, the CEO of America’s Promise. . . Bush twins are spotted buying vintage clothes. [WP]
• Heard on the Hill: Michael Scanlon will be awarded his diploma from John Hopkins. . . Josh Bolten went to a Nationals game with Bo Derek. . . Woman spotted with Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) is confirmed to be his girlfriend. . . [Roll Call]
• Under the Dome: Fundraiser for Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) hosted by Mort Zuckerman features Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and former Sen. Al D’Amato (R-N.Y.). . . Wolf Blitzer, Chris Matthews, Petra Nemcova, and Rep. Tom McMillen (D-Md.) showed up for the opening of The Collection at Chevy Chase. . . “Campaign chair” for Rep. Jerry Weller (R-Ill.) caught using a government-issued American Express card at a strip club. [The Hill]

* Reliable Source: Henry Hager slips a note to Jenna Bush at Asia Nora. Her response: “I thought you were proposing! I nearly [soiled] my pants!” [WP]
* Heard on the Hill: Rep. Mary Bono (R-Calif.) contends her $165,200 salary isn’t enough to send her son to college. . . Rep. Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.) was the Fastest Member of Congress in the Capital Challenge 5K. . . Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) spotted at New Jersey Turnpike rest stop with “younger-looking woman.” [Roll Call]
* Page Six: Senior advisor to McCain joins forces with two former aides to Pataki. [NYP]
* Cindy Adams: Al Gore would rather teach than be president. [NYP]
* Rush & Molloy: Maureen Dowd complains about weight gained on her book tour. [NYDN]

Earlier this afternoon, a Capitol Hill source advised us: MORE »

The Hill reports at one more lonely Congressman has resorted to online personals in his attempt find some love for his Member. Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) was attempting to discreetly find cloture through JDate when his erstwhile quarry alerted the media to his missives, whose plaintive, “I’m a Congressman, don’t hurt me,” earnestness gives him a slight Lloyd Dobler feel: “I regret my bio does not divulge much, but as it happens, I am a member of Congress. One of my colleagues posted a revealing bio on J-date only to see it published as a ‘news’ story in his hometown newspaper.” MORE »

Why Congressional staffers should disable “reply all”:

Mathews is the LD for Congressman Brad Sherman. It’s not blogging about your sex life, but it won’t get him a book deal, either.

Full exchange after the jump.

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