His Republican friends

Dude - they're not your friends.

"The next step is what I announced at the State of the Union, which is to call on our Republican friends to present their ideas. What I'd like to do is have a meeting whereby I'm sitting with the Republicans, sitting with the Democrats, sitting with health care experts, and let's just go through these bills. ... And then I think that we've got to go ahead and move forward on a vote," Obama said Thursday.

Continue reading His Republican friends

W.T.F?

The president acknowledged that Republicans have joined Democrats in some efforts, such as sending more U.S. troops to Afghanistan. But he said he was disappointed and perplexed by virtually unanimous GOP opposition to other programs, such as the $787 billion economic stimulus bill enacted a year ago.

He also noted overwhelming Republican opposition to his proposed overhaul of the nation's health care, which now is in legislative peril. Obama said he would gladly look at better ideas, but he urged Republicans to acknowledge the difficulties that many Americans face in obtaining good health care.

How about something like "Hey, you assholes had 8 fucking years to run the country and you fucked it up so badly that Americans elected me and a Democratic Congress by majorities we haven't seen in decades to fix it.

"Now if you can't be useful, shut the fuck up and get out of the way, because i was elected to bring hope and change to the American people."

Sigh.

UPDATE: Politico sez Obama was a bit more forceful than that AP extract portrayed. I sure hope so.

Continue reading W.T.F?

First family

Official White House portrait of America's first family. Pat Buchanan must be gagging.

Continue reading First family

Waking up

. . . and reading that the President has won the Nobel Peace Prize is a pretty good way to start the day.

Bet he feels even better about it.

And, it provides us with today's best entertainment value - the commenters at the N&O.

Continue reading Waking up

My kind of president

Barack Obama.

"I'm one of those that thinks you need to have a beer with Sean Hannity," said the woman, citing the conservative Fox News personality.

. . .

"Now, with respect to Sean Hannity, I didn't know that he had invited me for a beer," Obama said. "You know, but — I will take that under advisement. Generally, his opinion of me does not seem to be very high, but, but I'm always good for a beer."

On the other hand, would you really want to have a beer with Hannity? He probably drinks pink cocktails, and i bet he's a mean drunk.

Continue reading My kind of president

Good move, Tommy

Tom Daschle withdrew his nomination on Tuesday to be President Barack Obama's Health and Human Services secretary, faced with problems over back taxes and potential conflicts of interest.

Continue reading Good move, Tommy

Best photo ever

Give the credit to Saul Loeb of Reuters for this unbridled moment of joy.

Continue reading Best photo ever

Better

The first openly gay Episcopal bishop will offer a prayer at the Lincoln Memorial at an inaugural event for President-elect Barack Obama.

The selection of New Hampshire Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson for Sunday's event follows weeks of criticism from gay-rights groups over Obama's decision to have the Rev. Rick Warren give the invocation at his Jan. 20 inauguration.

. . .

Robinson, 61, said both Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden will attend the event, and Obama is expected to speak. As for himself, Robinson said he doesn't yet know what he'll say, but he knows he won't use a Bible.

"While that is a holy and sacred text to me, it is not for many Americans," Robinson said. "I will be careful not to be especially Christian in my prayer. This is a prayer for the whole nation."

Robinson said his prayer will be reflective of the times.

"I think these are sober and difficult times that we are facing," he said. "It won't be a happy, clappy prayer."

Refreshing.

Continue reading Better

Tactics

Atrios says, if you're at the inauguration, turn your back on Rick Warren.

If i get close enough, he's gettin' a shoe.

Just sayin'.

Continue reading Tactics

Insert obligatory cigar joke here

Reuters:

Obama was often observed on the presidential campaign trail chewing Nicorette gum, which helps ease the craving for nicotine. He has tried several times to quit.

The 47-year-old president-elect, who takes office on January 20, works out daily at the gym and sometimes plays basketball. His doctor said in May he was in excellent health, often jogged 3 miles a day and was fit to serve as U.S. president.

Website www.cigaraficionado.com says Gerald Ford, who served from 1974-77, was the last U.S. president to use tobacco on a regular basis. The White House no-smoking rule was imposed by former First Lady Hillary Clinton, now Obama's nominee for secretary of state.

Continue reading Insert obligatory cigar joke here

Good news, soccer fans

Barack Obama's election could derail England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup, according to a "high-placed" Fifa official. The unnamed source told Yahoo Sports that Obama's popularity will be "a huge factor" in deciding whether the USA is selected to host either the 2018 or 2022 tournaments.

"How can it not make a difference," said the source. "Now when you think of America, you don't think George W Bush or war, you think of this man, Obama, who has made history and given hope to millions. The men who vote on World Cup hosts are not immune to those same feelings. If the US bid stacks up in terms of infrastructure and organization, then Obama could be a huge factor."

. . .

Fifa president Sepp Blatter is expected to visit Obama at the White House next year. Earlier this year Obama revealed that he had been a West Ham fan since he visited England in 2003. He can often be seen pitch-side at his daughter's soccer games in Chicago.

His election is also believed to be likely to have a galvanizing effect on Chicago's bid to host the 2016 Olympics, meaning that, as in the 1990s, the USA could host the two biggest sports tournaments on the planet in the space of two years.

West Ham? Seriously?

Continue reading Good news, soccer fans

Sorry, There Are No Rooms Available For Those Dates

Just try to find a room within 50 miles of DC around January 20, 2009.

Continue reading Sorry, There Are No Rooms Available For Those Dates

Puppy update

Question: Everyone wants to know, what kind of dog are you going to buy for your girls?

Obama: With respect to the dog, this is a major issue. I think it's generated more interest on our Web site than just about anything.

We have -- we have two criteria that have to be reconciled. One is that Malia is allergic, so it has to be hypoallergenic. There are a number of breeds that are hypoallergenic.

On the other hand, our preference would be to get a shelter dog, but, obviously, a lot of shelter dogs are mutts like me. So -- so whether we're going to be able to balance those two things I think is a pressing issue on the Obama household.

How can you not like this guy?

Continue reading Puppy update

Name the puppy

Barack Obama promised his daughters, in front of the whole world, a new puppy when they move into the White House in January.

Any ideas for a name?

Continue reading Name the puppy

Priorities

Puppies!

Continue reading Priorities

Memo to Barack Obama

I don't know if this qualifies as any special insight. I'm sure others have seen this as well. But i was realizing the other night that, at least since 1968, Republicans have run the same campaign when it comes to presidential elections. And you'd think that after 40 years, Democrats would wise up.

The campaign message is simple. "My opponent is a pussy." The facts, the policies, the image of the US in the world, the economy, none of that matters. Once a significant enough portion of the electorate has absorbed that message, Republicans win.

Republicans lost in 1976 simply because Nixon had tarnished the brand so deeply. Even with that, the election was quite close. Bill Clinton won in 1992 and again in 1996 because, well, having George H. W. Bush and Bob Dole calling you a pussy just doesn't resonate. But for the most part, that's been the campaign strategy, and it's worked extremely well.

John McCain and his surrogates have just spent the best part of the past month calling Barack Obama a pussy. And if the Obama campaign's response to that is going to be this, well, he's not going to do much to change people's minds. It's not about running an campaign "to be proud of," it's about winning the election. I'd rather have President-elect Obama wake up on November 5th and say, "well, maybe the campaign wasn't our proudest moment as a nation, given all the nasty things we've said about each other, but i'm ready to lead the country in a new direction," than have former candidate Obama giving his concession speech and thanking his volunteers for participating in a campaign they could be proud of. Seems to me i've seen enough of that the past few election cycles.

Continue reading Memo to Barack Obama

It's the October surprise!

And it's only fucking June.

h/t to reader TM

UPDATE: Obama's birth certificate here.

Continue reading It's the October surprise!

Holy smokes!

Hours before being greeted by the biggest crowd of his campaign, Democrat Barack Obama quietly told a small group of seniors Sunday that Republican John McCain would threaten the Social Security they depend on because he supports privatizing the program.

Fire officials estimated 65,000 packed into a riverside park for a spectacular afternoon rally at a sun-splashed scene on the banks of the Willamette River in Portland. They said an additional 15,000 were left outside and dozens of boaters could be seen floating in the river.

80,000 people at a rally for a presidential candidate? 80,000 people? Are you kidding?

Continue reading Holy smokes!

Edwards!

John Edwards is on my TV right now endorsing Barack Obama. In case anyone wants to know.

Continue reading Edwards!

Obama in Chapel Hill on Monday

In case you haven't heard yet.

Details on how to pick up a ticket here.

Continue reading Obama in Chapel Hill on Monday