Gibbs denies rumors of his dismissal from WH

October 3, 2010

Axelrod…Emanuel…and now Gibbs?

“Gibbs dismisses rumors about him leaving”

Translation: Gibbs denies rumors of his dismissal.

It’s not a matter of his happiness – it’s a matter of the political left’s, who seem to have had enough of the president and his men. But most of all, it’s a matter of money – barry can’t even sell out discounted ticket fundraisers.

And this “rumor” like all the other rumors that turn out to be true started on a weekend.

Politico mentions specifics. Gibbs would head up the DNC  and present DNC chairman would be freed up for something else. (SoS or VP?) And that “donors’ response has been positive”.

POLITICO: The logic for a Chairman Gibbs, according to one official: It would “put the Obama imprimatur on the DNC, once and for all,” and install a “great partisan fighter” as the face of the national party for the reelection campaign.

It would be one more job Gibbs is unqualified for.

Where are the questions about folks having to leave the WH because of their involvement in barry’s and Arlen Specter’s senate seat dealings?

POTUS re FLOTUS: “She would beat me thoroughly”

Sept 25, 2010

POTUS introduction of his wife at the Clinton Global Initiative. Don’t know the teleprompter topic of the day.

Neither did Gibbs:

She was invited to be the keynote.  I think that what she will talk about is something that follows on issues that she’s worked on and is something that is a priority of this administration and of hers personally.

Keep in mind as you read the words that barry has never publicly addressed/walked back from his Clintons are racists campaign strategy.

POTUS: I am not just here today to sing President Clinton’s praises or to commend all of you for the terrific work that all of you have done, although I am grateful for that. I am here to play an even more important role. And that is to introduce my better half, my extraordinary wife and America’s extraordinary first lady, Michele Obama.

Does showing up 3 months later in Haiti, visiting Mexico (for her husband who was infected with H1N1 the year before) and shopping/vacationing in non-American countries qualify her as an “extraordinary first lady”?

Imagine the negotiations that went into these words being loaded into the teleprompter.

Bill Clinton understands where I am coming from here. He knows what it is like to be married to someone who is smarter, somebody who is better looking, somebody who is just all around a little more impressive than you are.

And these:

This is not news to people. Since Michelle and I first started dating 22 years ago, pretty much everybody I know who has met her at some point comes up to me and says, ‘You know, Barack, you’re great and all that. I like you. But your wife, she’s really something’. And, I, of course agree.

I feel grateful that Michelle – so far at least – has not run for any offices I have been running for. She would beat me thoroughly.

It’s fair to assume Mrs Obama does not have a political future.

Cartoon: Dem vs GOP campaign strategy on jobs

September 28, 2010

[Joel Pett - CartoonArts International]

Gibbs: FLOTUS is a “popular ask on the campaign trail”

Sept 21, 2010

Which is higher: The number of people who asked FLOTUS to show up or the number who asked POTUS not to?

Q  Is the First Lady hitting the campaign trail because the White House is concerned about getting women to the polls this November?

GIBBS:  Look, I think the First Lady is an enormous asset of this administration, somebody that is focused on issues that are tremendously important to the American people, whether it is the health of our children or the priorities of those that are returning from serving our country.  Those are her priorities and I think those are the country’s priorities. She is, as you might guess, a popular ask on the campaign trail. And I think she will go out and make a forceful and positive case for what this administration has done over the course of the next several weeks.

Photo of the day: Ancient dental bling

From the drafts

May 23, 2009

Lead counsel Sam Adam Sr/Jr released from Blago retrial

October 1, 2010

Source: Fox Chicago

US District Judge James Zagel granted Sam Adam Jr and Sr’s request to be released as lead counsel for Rod Blagojevich’s retrial.

Adams’ Motion (pdf)

“Financial realities” made it “impossible” for them continue as lead counsel but they will “remain in remain in an advisory position assisting with strategy and preparation for trial, in concert with his remaining counsels” Aaron Goldstein and Sheldon Sorosky.

Taxpayers will be footing the bill (for both sides), which means Blago gets 2 lawyers and 1 paralegal to replace the 14 attys and 7 paralegals he had for the first trial.

And in the end – Sen Burris’ ethics investigation and Blago’s impeachment and criminal trials will cost Illinois taxpayers way more money than Blago mismanaged.

Cartoon: Pakistan flood and the Taliban

Sept 30, 2010

Mayor Daley: Obama “can endorse anyone he wants”

October 2, 2010

Interesting Mayor Daley comments re: Chicago voters, Rahm Emanuel and POTUS.

Source: Chicago Trib Clout Street (John Byrne)

Curious title: “Obama endorsement wouldn’t swing race in Emanuel’s favor”.

Think about it.

barry could be responsible for Democrats losing control of Congress as well as the entire state of Illinois – US Senate, Springfield, Cook County, Chicago.

Explanation of why barry won’t be endorsing Emanuel until after the general election (mayoral candidates don’t have to officially declare until Nov 13).

DALEY: [Obama] can endorse anyone he wants. You’re not going to tell the president what to do, I’ll tell you that, no one will do it.

Translated: Nobody should have to tell him what to do – he should know.

Rahm Emanuel advice:

DALEY: I don’t give people advice. To me, nobody gave me advice when I ran in ’79, ’89. No one ever came up to me and gave me advice.

Voters:

DALEY: The people will judge. The voters are much smarter than the press give them (credit for), I just want to make sure you understand that. The people understand issues and understand candidates….listen to people, and you’ll find out what people want. And people want good schools.

POTUS, Emanuel resignation remarks

Rezko pleads guilty to wire fraud, “ready and willing to testify” against Blago

October 2, 2010

Proof Tony Rezko is still alive. He pled guilty yesterday to one charge of wire fraud stemming from his multi-state Papa John’s scam.

Sentencing Dec. 17.

Prosecutors deny giving him a deal and refused to comment on whether he is cooperating re Blago.

We’re not supposed to wonder why Rezko wasn’t first sentenced for his 2 year-old convictions.

His lawyer, Joseph Duffy, says his client is ready and willing to testify:

He is ready and willing to testify, and he would be a formidable witness, well-corroborated by the government’s evidence. I have a lot of respect for the prosecutors (in the Blagojevich case), but I don’t control who they call (as witnesses).

Rezko still faces charges in Las Vegas for $450K worth of bad checks….from his account at Alexi Giannoulias’ family bank.

Cartoon: Reality of the “Summer of Recovery”

Sept 25. 2010

[Paresh Nath / Cagle Cartoons]

POTUS/Rahm Emanuel re: resignation (text)

October 1, 2100

At least there is no doubt Emanuel is leaving voluntarily.

His “listening tour” starts Monday.

Paperwork not due until Nov 15.

Mayor Daley: Obama “can endorse anyone he wants”

Wild NASA photo: Spiral nebula

Sept 7 Hubble Space Telescope photo of a naturally occurring spiral nebula around the star LL Pegasi, 3K light-years away.

-

Compare with the Russian rocket misfire spiral as seen over Norway last December.

(More photos/video)

Clear why astronomers knew immediately that it was not naturally occurring.

Humorous quote of the day: lawyers

Oct 1, 2010

AC 360

Anderson Cooper did another bit on the controversy surrounding the Michigan Atty Gen Mike Cox (who happens to be Republican) and one of his employees (also a Republican) who has allegedly been harassing the openly gay Univ of Michigan student class president. Not sure why the continued rehashing when the person in question was suspended this morning.

The humor had nothing to do with the issue itself, which is clearly not funny.

AC played a video clip of Cox responding question about Jeffrey Toobin:

Mr Toobin reminds me of the old joke: I’m not a lawyer but I play on on TV.

AC later introduced Toobin with the customary “senior legal analyst” and added “former federal prosecutor”.

Why did AC give the alleged gaybasher so much press just so he (AC) could attack a Republican candidate who isn’t even running?

Things have gotten so desperate, NBC is airing barry PSAs and barry fundraisers and holding barry townhalls.

BP cartoon: “We’ll be back!”

Sept 28, 2010

Updated with audio: Rick Sanchez fired from CNN over Stewart/Jew remarks

updated + Audio video added

October 1, 2010

Hey bys.

Had no idea. Just found out 2 days ago that CNN fired Jon Klein, which as you can imagine, Lou Dobbs chuckled over.

Unintended humor from the NY Daily News:

Klein’s exit comes as the network gone through a particularly brutal ratings drop. While CNN has tried to stick with objective journalism, rivals Fox and MSNBC have generated more heat with opinionated talk.

While staunch barrydefenders Anderson Cooper, John King and John Roberts vie to unseat Maddow and Olbermann (his take on Sanchez firing) as barry’s favorites.

What kind of network is so desperate they hire a woman who says/writes nastier things about women than some of the male pundits and a governor forced out of office because he disgraced his family and all of New York with his prostitute addiction?

Say what you want about Blago – he wasn’t being distracted at “work” by overpriced hookers.

Rick Sanchez leaving is a total shocker. I was aware of Sanchez’s back and forth with Stephen Colbert but didn’t know he had anything going on with Jon Stewart. One wonders if he was reacting to Stewart’s criticism of barry. Maybe he was pist he didn’t get Klein’s job.

Since I haven’t watched any news for 48 hours and haven’t seen the full transcript of his alleged remarks (was he egged on?) or a statement by him, I’m just going to paste CNN’s own article.

What’s not clear is whether Sanchez resigned rather than go through the spin and media dissection or if he was summarily fired by the new management. [*NY Times is reporting he was fired.]

It’s time for CNN to give Ms Candy Crowley – the one and only journalist to critically interview barry – her own prime time show.

GZ mosque cartoon: “We’re not all crazy extremists”

TIME propaganda: “The Secret World of Extreme Militias”

Sept 30, 2010