Politics Daily http://www.politicsdaily.com Politics Daily http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.politicsdaily.com/media/feedlogo.gif Politics Daily http://www.politicsdaily.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Obama Jokes for His Supper at His First Gridiron Dinner Appearance as Presidenthttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/13/obama-jokes-for-his-supper-at-his-first-appearance-at-exclusive/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/13/obama-jokes-for-his-supper-at-his-first-appearance-at-exclusive/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/13/obama-jokes-for-his-supper-at-his-first-appearance-at-exclusive/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Bowing to precedent -- and perhaps the advice of his 2012 campaign staff -- President Obama attended a Gridiron Dinner on Saturday night for the first time since winning the White House.

He had skipped the two previous white-tie banquets and amateur theatricals where some of Washington's top journalists spoof the political/media establishment in song, dance and ridiculous costumes. But on Saturday night, Obama duly snarked for his supper by mocking himself, potential rivals and the tradition-bound club that even in this age of Twitter and You Tube, steadfastly bars TV coverage.

As commander-in-chief, he signaled Marine Gunnery Sgt. Kevin Bennear, one of the club's musically gifted ringer members, to "play that song we talked about," meaning the loud and proud "Born in the U-S-A, Born in the U-S-A" refrain made famous by Bruce Springsteen.

"Some things just bear repeating," Obama said of the lyrics, as if there might be any birthers questioning his citizenship among more than 630 politicians, government and media heavyweights who packed the Renaissance Hotel ballroom for the priciest and most exclusive of Washington's press celebrations of itself. ($300 per ticket, and a fraction of the more than 2,000 expected at next month's White House Correspondents' Association Dinner).

Then, taking aim at his hosts, whose predecessors entertained their first White House guests 126 years ago, Obama ticked off the heady events of 2011 that topped old regimes elsewhere in the world and said, "Look out, Gridiron Club."

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He had other targets, of course, some of them in the audience and most already ridiculed onstage in elaborately costumed Republican and Democratic skits.

Commenting on the "unusual skin tone" (translate orange) of the absent Speaker John Boehner, Obama said he used to think it was a tan until he saw how often his nemesis got weepy: "I realize that's not a tan, it's rust."

Noting a new civility (really?) that has "people with strong disagreements getting along as never before," Obama cited Mitt Romney, the "former Massachusetts governor and presidential candidate working together by sharing a host body. It's inspiring...and creepy."

Obama thanked the rotund Republican Gov. Haley Barbour of Mississippi -- not known for his athleticism -- for backing first lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" anti-obesity initiative. "Haley, when Michelle said you should run, she didn't mean for president," the president said.

As for the also-absent Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Obama said her passion for recent Middle East regime change made it "hard to sleep with Hillary out on Pennsylvania Avenue shouting and throwing rocks."

The president had barbs for the dinner's two other speakers, Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels of Indiana, a possible 2012 White House contender, and Democratic Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, a former Kansas governor who has struggled to push Obama's embattled health care plan.

"Mitch tore into his filet like it was a public employee," Obama said of Daniels, who reversed the requirement that state workers be union members. He cited Daniels's prior experience as a pharmaceutical executive and President George W. Bush's budget chief. "I don't have a joke here," Obama said. "I just wanted to put that out."

Having asked his own cabinet members to "cut things they care about, in Kathleen's case it was her once-promising political career."

Earlier Daniels, his right arm in a sling following rotator cuff surgery, went after Obama by recalling the Democratic candidate's private remarks to big party donors about conservatives clinging hard to their guns and their religion. "Mr. President, until I get this thing off, I can cling to my gun or my Bible, but not both," Daniels said.

At 5 feet 7 inches and balding, Daniels, who said he's still mulling whether to run, ticked off
a string adjectives used to describe him in recent news stories. "Small, stiff, short, pale, unimposing, unassuming, uninspiring, understated, uncharismatic, accountant-like, non-telegenic, boring, balding, blunt, nerdy, wooden, wonky, puny, and pint-sized," he said. "Really, it all points to one inescapable conclusion: It's destiny!"

In her speech, Sebelius told Daniels they had much in common. "We're both Midwest governors, we've both been cabinet members and neither of us is going to be president in 2012," she said.

Saying one reason she took her current job was because "it came with great health insurance," Sebelius then announced a plan to put TSA airport screeners in the HHS building "making it a lot easier for the businessman on the go by allowing him to get a boarding pass and a colonoscopy at the same time."

Among all that levity a couple of backstories played out.

At a time of toxic partisanship in Washington, the 65-member Gridiron Club (disclosure alert: I was tapped to join in 1990) and its swank dinner offers the chance for political adversaries to share a night of conversation, merriment, political gossip and agenda promoting.

But it's also the kind of gathering that make cynical voters outside the Beltway think there's not a dime's worth of difference between the two political parties, and that the relationship between the pols and the press is entirely too cozy and elitist.

The Gridiron president, Susan Page of USA Today, took note of that when she said in her welcoming speech that all those swells dressing up in white tie and sipping fine wine and hanging out for an evening "is exactly what the tea party suspected."

Then there is the irony of the Gridiron's policy of barring TV cameras, photographers and non-member, non-guest journalists from covering the dinner.

This is the 25th consecutive year C-SPAN has been denied access, prompting Mark Knoller, longtime White House correspondent for CBS Radio and not a Gridiron member, to Tweet that although Gridiron members attending the event are allowed to cover it, "barring WH press pool coverage of a presidential event is indefensible."

But Page told Politics Daily that transparency is maintained by all those reporters at the dinner who file stories after it's over, and who attend the Friday dress rehearsal to see the costumes and hear the lyrics. She also told me there is no great move afoot among members to push for TV cameras inside the room.

In part, it's to preserve a little mystery and exclusivity. But let's not kid ourselves. There probably aren't too many Gridiron members -- or their bosses who pick up the considerable dinner tab - very eager to end up on C-SPAN or You Tube dressed as a Hell's Angel, a drag queen or a dancing oil rig.

As Obama left the ballroom Saturday night, he had one bit of cheery news for the crowd: "The bar will be open till midnight and last time I checked, so will the government." Actually, the after-party was still going strong early Sunday.

 

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]]>Haley BarbourAnnie Groer2011-03-13T11:48:00+00:00The Gridiron Club's 2011 Political/Media Roast and Toast Lyricshttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/13/the-gridiron-clubs-2011-political-media-roast-and-toast-lyrics/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/13/the-gridiron-clubs-2011-political-media-roast-and-toast-lyrics/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/13/the-gridiron-clubs-2011-political-media-roast-and-toast-lyrics/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Once again, you won't see this costumed spoof on C-SPAN or YouTube, unless someone among the record 633 invited guests at Saturday night's 126th annual Gridiron Dinner surreptitiously captures the singing, dancing and wise-cracking and posts it online.

Of course there's always a chance an adroit cellphone or camera-toting guest will violate club rules, either at the dinner or at Sunday's matinee reprise show, thus busting an image-less tradition in place since 1885.

Say what you will about the irony or hypocrisy of a group of journalists barring media cameras from broadcasting the onstage antics (C-SPAN has been asking to do just that for a quarter century). Only the speeches by President Obama, Gov. Mitch Daniels of Indiana (cracking jokes for the Republicans) and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sibelius (doing stand-up for the Dems) will be on the written record, although many more details will likely leak out.

In a nod to the times, tweeting, Facebooking and other instant communication about all aspects of the dinner were embargoed until it ended.

So in the interest of semi-transparency, herewith the lyrics from every parody performed
this weekend by nearly 100 journalists and a handful of vocally-blessed ringers with truly great voices.

Don't Stop Believin' (Journey/Glee)

DEMOCRATIC CHEERLEADERS singing about Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Obama

DEM CHEERLEADER 1

He came from Ha-wai-i, with hope, change and audacity.
Now two years later and he is on the run.

DEMOCRATIC CHEERLEADER 2

In a designer blouse, not long ago she ruled the House. She lost her power, and it's just no damn fun.

DEMOCRATIC CHEERLEADER 1

He calls her on the telephone.

DEMOCRATIC CHEERLEADER 2

Says Nancy, are you all alone?

BOTH

For a moment, they both shut their eyes, and dream on and on and on and on.
What if midterms, had turned out very differently?

DEMOCRATIC CHEERLEADER 1

What if red states had turned blue?

CHEERLEADER 1

What if we could, cap and trade and then we'd save the whales.

CHEERLEADER 2

Health care for all,

DEMOCRATIC CHEERLEADER 2

Dental too!

BOTH

Don't stop, believin'.

REPUBLICAN CHEERLEADERS 1& 2

Who are you deceivin'?

DEMOCRATIC CHEERLEADER 1

We're cooked.

DEMOCRATIC CHEERLEADER 2

We're through.

DEMOCRATIC CHEERLEADERS 1 & 2

Whoa oh oh!
Don't stop believin'.

REPUBLICAN CHEERLEADERS 1& 2

Dudes, you must be dreamin'.

DEMOCRATIC CHEERLEADER 1

Farewell.

DEMOCRATIC CHEERLEADER 2

Aloha.

DEMOCRATIC CHEERLEADERS 1 & 2

Whoa oh -oh!

CHORUS

Don't stop!


LIVIN' ON A PRAYER (Bon Jovi/Glee)

REPUBLICAN CHEERLEADER 1

Boehner used to work in a bar.
Palin hunts for moose, they're not very far.
Like Russia, they're in her yard.

REPUBLICAN CHEERLEADER 2

Bachmann would repeal this whole room.
Newt is back for more, O'Donnell might fly in soon, On her broom.

REPUBLICAN CHEERLEADER 1 & 2

Now, that we're run by the Tea Party
Let's fire all the unions, make them work for free.
With God and money we rule the House for now,
Just don't ask us how.

REPUBLICAN CHEERLEADER 1

Are we screwed next year?

DEMOCRATIC CHEERLEADERS 1 & 2

Hell yeah! You haven't got a prayer.

REPUBLICAN CHEERLEADER 2

Senate seemed to be so near.

DEMOCRATIC CHEERLEADERS 1 & 2

No way, you haven't got a prayer.

CHORUS

Haven't got a prayer!


TIME WARP (Rocky Horror Show/Glee)

SPEAKER

And now the part, where we sing 'bout ourselves.
I apologize, boss, if this causes any stress.
But fair is fair, and no one is exempt here,
So now it's time, to poke fun at the press.

PRESS CHEERLEADER 1

I remember, when newspapers were dying
Network ratings in the dumps, it surely looked like the end.
The furloughs were appalling, but then Bloomberg started calling.
We're back in business again.

CHORUS

We're back in business again.

PRESS CHEERLEADER 2

There's Arianna on the left.

PRESS CHEERLEADER 1

Glenn Beck's on the right.

PRESS CHEERLEADER 2

Juan Williams works for Fox now.

PRESS CHEERLEADER 1 NPR?

Not so bright.

PRESS CHEERLEADER 2

Is that Jul-i-an Assange there?

PRESS CHEERLEADER 1

No, he's not that insane.

BOTH

But thanks, Jules, your leaks were our gain.

CHORUS

We're back in business again.

REPORTER

I took a flogging, before I started blogging,
Each morning I write tweets, then switch to video.
I like to write at Starbucks, it's like the newsroom 'cept it don't suck,
Maybe I'll go to work at Patch, and cover 'burbs in Kokomo.
Politico sent out a news alert, in just one hour it's the thirty-third.
The cycle never stops, 24-7 in the know.
Enrollment's up in J-school. We're the cool kids but not that cool.

DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICANS CHEERLEADERS AND REPORTER

So welcome to Gridiron, my friends.

CHORUS

Welcome to Gridiron, again.
Wel-come to Grid-iron, a-gain.


KNOCK AROUND BARACK (Rock Around the Clock, Bill Haley)

Cast portraying Republican Reps. Eric Cantor, Kevin McCarthy, Paul Ryan, Darrell Issa

CANTOR

House went up 63, thanks a lot Barack
Six more seats in the Senate, thanks a lot Barack
Boehner's now the Speaker, and the Dem's are still in shock
We're gonna knock Barack around the clock
Pick your spending cuts, and come with us
We'll put it all in an Omnibus

RYAN, McCARTHY, ISSA

We're gonna block Barack around the clock
We're gonna block block block it's our bedrock
We're gonna rock gonna rock our great big voting bloc

CANTOR

When health care dies, and earmarks flee
We'll owe a debt to the tea par-ty

TRIO

We're gonna move Obama to the right
We're gonna mock mock mock his election fright
We're gonna talk, gonna talk, and then we might indict

CANTOR

Republicans will have our way
We'll protect your wealth when you pass away
We're gonna knock Barack around the clock
It's just a recipe for more gridlock
We're gonna block, gonna block Barack around the clock.

CHORUS

We're gonna block Barack around the clock
It's a recipe for more gridlock
We're gonna knock, gonna knock Barack around the clock.


A BOEHNER MEDLEY (From: Johnny Angel, Shelley Fabares, and It's My Party, Lesley Gore)

Cast portraying John Boehner

LEAD SINGER

Johnny Boehner (GIRL GROUP: Johnny Boehner), he's our Speaker (he's our speaker)
He's got charm and grace and such élan
We Republicans are thrilled
That he's our No. 1 man

Johnny Boehner (GIRLS: Johnny Boehner), how we love him (how we love him)
He's the one who some of us adore
How we hold our breath when votes
Are counted on the House floor

He gets headaches
All his ducks in a row
Shot down by his own folks
No wonder that he smokes
In his loafers, and his bright-colored ties
At least he wears a shirt
While others online flirt

Johnny Boehner (GIRLS: Johnny Boehner), we still love him (we still love him)
He's so orange, suave and doctrinaire
If his convictions have to die
At least he'll do it with flair

ALL SHOUT: LOOK! HERE HE IS NOW!

BOEHNER (It's My Party and I'll Cry If I Want To)

Nobody knows just how hard it can be
Keeping a caucus in line;
Right wingers go their own way.
They pay their speaker no mind.

I'm try'n to show them some leadership here
Some gravitas and some gu-uts;
How did I end up in bed
With all these Tea Party nuts?

It's my party and I'll cry if I want to,
Cry if I want to, Cry if I want to;
You would cry too if it happened to you.


LADIES OF MAINE (Lady of Spain, Eddie Fisher)

Cast portraying: Republican Sens. Jim DeMint; Sen. Rand Paul; Sen. Olympia Snowe

DUET

Ladies of Maine, we abhor you
Loyalty means nothing to you
How could you work with those yahoos?
Just when we needed you most?

Stimulus money, how could you?
Gays and abortion, why would you?
Tea party's now aiming for you
Ladies of Maine, you'll be toast.

CHORUS:

Ladies of Maine, you'll be toast


REPUBLICAN MEMOIRS (Paperback Writer, The Beatles)
Cast portraying George W. Bush, Donald Rumsfeld, and Dick Cheney

BUSH

Hey Dick and Rummy, did you read my book?
It took me DAYS to write, you should take a look
it's based on my mem'ry of decider days
how I got Saddam,
Even when I learned that he had no weapons

CHORUS

He had no weapons

RUMSFELD

Iraq's my story and I do confess
How because of YOU it became a mess
Paul Bremer, Condi Rice and Colin too
Screwed the whole thing up
Never told me that we needed more troops there
Needed more troops there

CHORUS:

Needed more troops there...troops there....troops there...

CHENEY

Mine will come out soon and then I'll settle scores
Like Iraqi prisoners you'll be on all fours
Al Qaeda's working to destroy this place,
Still a real grave threat
But Obama knows that we did the right things

CHORUS:

We did the right things

BUSH, RUMSFELD, CHENEY

If you really like them you can have our rights,
We can make a movie for you overnight.

BUSH: Brad Pitt, RUMSFELD: George Clooney, CHENEY: and Matt Damon too.

They can play our parts
Just as long as they can make us look macho
Make us look macho

CHORUS:

Make them look macho...macho...macho


FINGER IN THE WIND (Candle in the Wind, Elton John)

Cast portraying GOP Sens. John McCain and Lindsey Graham

MCCAIN:

Gays in the military
Used to never bother me at all
I was happy once letting
The Joint Chiefs make that call
And on immigration,
You know my old stance was withdrawn
And my message, it became:
"Hey Juan, get off my lawn." [shout this line]

And it may seem to you I lived last year
With my finger in the wind
Never knowing what to cling to
'Cause I had to win
And when it comes to all your judgments
Frankly, I don't give a damn.
I still have my Senate seat
And my best friend, Lindsey Graham

CHORUS
He still has his Senate seat
And his best friend, Lindsey Graham


LEADER OF THE PAC (Leader of the Pack, the Shangri-Las)
Cast portraying Mitch Daniels and Girl Group

SPOKEN:

MITCHETTE 1

Is she really gonna give to HIM ?

MITCHETTE 2

Well, there she is. Let's ask her.

MITCHETTE 1

Betty - Is that Mitch's PAC you're supporting?

BETTY:

Mm-hmm

MITCHETTE 2

Gee - it must be great giving to Mitch.
Is he doing anything for you?

BETTY

Uhn - uhn

MITCHETTE 1

By the way, where'd you meet him?

SUNG:

Betty:

I met him at the O-M-B
He read tax code and rules to me
You get the picture?

MITCHETTES

Yes, we see

BETTY:

So now I give to the AIMING HIGHER PAC.
(Motorcycle Noise)
Some folks say he's a true heavyweight (Mitchettes: weight, weight)
Though he may come from a really dull state

MITCHETTES

(Watcha mean when ya say that he comes from a really dull state?)

BETTY

They said he had no height
But I fell for his might
That's why I give to the AIMING HIGHER PAC
(Motorcycle Noise)
One day I might want somebody new (Mitchettes: new, new)
But till then Mitch will just have to do

MITCHETTES

(Watcha mean when ya say that ya might want somebody new?)

BETTY

My Hoosier's plans are grand
But sometimes he seems bland

CHORUS

But still she gives to the AIMING HIGHER PAC

THE IMPOSSIBLE TWEET (The Impossible Dream, from Man of La Mancha)

SARAH PALIN character

To tweet the un-thought-about tweet
To own my own name through trademark
To scorn those who opine against me
To shoot caribou on a lark

To give those at C-Pac the shaft
To star in reality shows
To bear the unbearable liberals
To blog about things I don't know

This is my quest
To side-step the press
To run if I want to
Not under duress

To fight for the right
And to lay waste the left
To be willing to refudiate
Without knowledge or heft

And I know if I only stay true
To my Tea Party base
That my books and my speeches will sell
If I just show my face

CHORUS

And her world will be richer for this
Who needs work or an office to seek

PALIN

I'll rise as a modern-day Shakespeare
To tweet the un-thought-about tweet


I'VE SEEN EVERYONE (I've Been Everywhere, Hank Snow)
Cast portraying Karl Rove and various GOP presidential candidates names in the song

ROVE

Well, back in the day, you know
They called me the ARCHitect
I had a certain knack for knowin'
Who the people WOULD elect

But this time I dunno unless
There's someone I've missed
And, listen, man, I've looked at
Every hopeful on the list!

I've seen every one, man
I've seen every one, man
Sure as the mornin' sun, man
They all wanna run, man
Egos by the ton, man
I've seen every one.

I've seen...
Romney, Huckabee, Christie, Giuliani
Johnson, Huntsman, Daniels and Pawlenty
Roemer, Cain, DeMint, Santorum
Trump, Bush, Bachmann, Barbour and Bolton
Perry and Pence and Palin and Paul
Gingrich, too, I've seen 'em all.

Tim is excitin' -- NO, not very
But HE's got Red Hot Smokin' Mary
Cain's an expert with a pizza
Mitch, he's shorter than Scalia
Haley hopes he can win it all,
And history'll get an overhaul.

I've seen every one, man
I've seen every one, man
Sure as the mornin' sun, man
They all wanna run, man
Egos by the ton, man
I've seen every one.

I've seen ...
Huckabee at his weekly weigh-in
Sarah Palin out surveyin'
Eye of Newt and chin of Romney
Guy in drag, that's Giuliani
Mitt, he's drivin' fast and far
With man's best friend strapped to his car.

John McCain, I guess he's history
What he's thinkin', it's a mystery
Where the heck is Harold Stassen
Guess he's pushin' up the grass..an'
Someone mentioned Alan Keyes

CHORUS (Shouted)

Not again!! Oh, spare us please!

CHORUS

We've seen every one, man
We've seen every one, man
Sure as the mornin' sun, man
They all wanna run, man
Egos by the ton, man

ROVE

I've seen every one.


EVERYTHING's COMING UP ROSES (Gypsy)

Cast portraying Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid

PELOSI

Things are swell!

REID

Things are fine!

PELOSI

Harry's still got his JOB, I got mine

REID

Now we're back.

PELOSI

Frick and Frack.
REID

Nancy, everything's coming up roses!
PELOSI

Lost the House
REID

That's okay

PELOSI

Running things was a drag anyway

REID

Budget cuts? Not for us

PELOSI

Honey, we would be holding our noses!

REID

Who needs winning! Power's lost its lus-TER

PELOSI

My head was spinning!
REID

It's our turn to filibus-TER!
PELOSI

We give up! To the right!
REID

Let them get 60 votes every night!
PELOSI

Our stimulus ... will stimulate!
REID

Any year now! Just you wait!
PELOSI

There's really nothing left for us to do!

REID

Nancy, everything's coming up roses for me and you!
PELOSI

Boehner's in charge; let's see how much that he can do!
BOTH

The mess that we left him will mess up his Tea Party!
CHORUS

Everything's coming up roses for you and for me!



JUST LIKE A LIBERAL (Bob Dylan's Just Like a Woman)

Cast portraying Howard Dean

HOWARD DEAN

Nobody feels any change
Since that election night Chicago - it's all the same!
Everyone supposed, we knew `The One' we chose
But lately we seen the emperor has no clothes
Now we're wondering: Who's that man?

(refrain)
He looks just like a lib-ral
Yes he does and he writes books just like a lib-ral
Yes and his knee jerks just like a lib-ral
But he works with ... the Re-pub-li-CANS


John Boehner's his new friend
Can you believe they cut the rich man's tax again?
What were those campaign pledges worth?
Quell the oceans, heal the earth
Don't ask don't tell the country of your birth
End the war, close Guantanamo - "No we can't!"

(refrain)
He's so cool just like a lib-ral
Yes he is Harvard Law School just like a lib-ral
Suffers us fools, just like a lib-ral
SOLOIST and CHORUS: But he rules with Republi-CANS


MY FAVORITE FRIENDS (My Favorite Things from "The Sound of Music")

Cast portraying Sec. of State Hillary Clinton and global leaders named in the skit:

(Spoken) Oh, no! We said WHAT about WHO?

How dare that Wiki-Leaks publish our super-secret cables? Can you imagine
a world where diplomats say what they really think about foreign leaders?

Well it would certainly make it more fun to listen to Hillary Clinton. Here
comes our frequent-flying secretary of state now.

HILLARY CLINTON, singing:

A thin-skinned French MIDGET who goes by Sar-KO-zy
A dirty old man that they CALL Berlus-CO-ni
A nut job named KARzai who we must defend
These are a few of my favorite friends

Kim JONG-il's a drunken delusional FAT man
MedVEDev and Putin are Robin and BATman
In a Mafia state run by Russian made-men
CHORUS: These are a few of my favorite friends

Germany's MERK-el is timid and NER-vous
QuaDAffi's had sexy UKRAINian nurses
Prince ANdrew's bad language can SOMEtimes offend
CHORUS: These are a few of her favorite friends

After long flights
When this job bites
When I'm feeling bleak
I simply imagine my favorite friends
When they see their WI-ki leak

IT WAS NEWS TO ME (You Belong to Me)

Cast portraying CIA Director Leon Panetta:

PANETTA

See the pyramids along the Nile.
Authoritarians were just our style.
Revolutions brewing all the while
How was I to see?

Tunis, Cairo, those kids ran amok
Hid their plans where we would never look
A very secret place they call Facebook
It was news to me.

Could it be that after all those years
Of giving tyrants cash and guns and gear
Egypt, Bahrain all that oil so dear
Won't belong to us?

CHORUS

Won't belong to us!

_________________________________________________

TSA MEDLEY (Heigh-Ho from "Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs" and Give up the Funk)

TSA SCREENER

Heigh-ho! Heigh-ho! To frisk you we must go! We'll reach way down and grope around!
Heigh-ho! Heigh-ho.

Heigh-ho Heigh-ho! Heigh-ho! We'll goose you 'til you glow!
We're going to look, in every nook! Heigh-ho! Heigh-ho!

If you say NO, say NO! To X-Ray you must go! And we'll divulge your every bulge!
Heigh-ho! Heigh-ho!

Heigh-ho Heigh-ho! Heigh-ho! This may feel kind of low!
If it's a pain, then take the train! Heigh Ho! Heigh-Ho

HARRIED AIR TRAVELER

You got a late flight to catch, you're in line, losing time
There's a whole lot of waitin' goin' on (Heigh-ho!)
You feel a hand on your waist, moving 'round, slidin' down
There's a whole lot of feelin' goin' on (Heigh-ho!)

Don't touch my junk! (Heigh-ho!)
CHORUS: Don't touch my junk! (Heigh-ho!)
I know my rights! (Heigh-ho!)
Stay outta my tights! (Heigh-ho!)
When did the courts (Heigh-ho!)
Let you into my shorts? (Heigh-ho!)
Yo, screener punk! (Heigh-ho!)
CHORUS: Don't touch my junk!
_____________________________________________________________

SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW (from the Wizard of Oz)

Cast portraying Health Sec. Kathleen Sebelius and characters from The Wizard of Oz

SECRETARY SEBELIUS

Somewhere over the rainbow
Mandates lay.
We made sure they won't start 'til
After Election Day.

Somewhere over the rainbow
Cost curves bend,
And the savings we promised
Will cause the debt to end.

But if you have a slacker son
Who's sitting home upon his bum,
He's covered.

And if conditions pre-exist,
You won't lack coverage due to risk.
Don't you just love this?!

Somewhere over the rainbow
Folks will see
A better system if it's fine
with Justice Kennedy.
Some day they'll thank us, yes they will,
But only after
They...get...very ... ill.


TRIANGULATE (Twist and Shout)
Cast portraying Bill Clinton

Well, take it from Bubba now (CHORUS: take it from Bubba)
Tri-ANG-u-LATE! (CHORUS: tri-ang-u-late)
Fake it, fake it, Obama now (CHORUS: fake it Obama)
For me it worked great. (CHORUS: It worked great)

You're going to look so tight (CHORUS: look so tight)
You're going to look so slick (CHORUS: look so slick)
Play the left against the right now (CHORUS: left against right)
Just like I did in 96 (CHORUS: ninety-six)

[8-bar dance break]

CHORUS

Aaah, aaah, aaah, aaah, (squeal)

Well, it's really not that hard now (CHORUS: not that hard)
Tri-ANG-u-LATE! (CHORUS: triangulate!)
Your opponents aren't that smart now (CHORUS: not that smart)
You know they'll take the bait (CHORUS: Take the bait, oooh!)

You're a silver-tongued devil, (CHORUS: silver-tongued devil)
There's no one so deft (CHORUS: none so deft)
You can own the whole center now (CHORUS: own the whole center)
If you freak out the Left (CHORUS: freak out the left!)

CHORUS

Aaah, aaah, aaah, aaah


"MAKE IT STOP" ("Start Me Up" Rolling Stones)

RED CHEERLEADER 1

Yeah we started up
So long ago you thought we'd never stop
Since we started up
You wondered when the show would ever stop

We've been on so long
Bill Daley's nappin' on a table top
Seventh course is done
Alan Greenspan's beggin'make it stop, make it stop, make it, make it, make it stop

We've made you ladies sigh
We've made you grown men cry
We singe but never fry
Sometimes we're cute, sometimes we're mean
Sometimes out meaning is impossible to glean

CHORUS

Time to stop
Time to stop


"THE GRIDIRON PLAYERS'' ("Livin' on a Prayer" Bon Jovi)

BLUE CHEERLEADER 1

They got some nerve to stand up on stage

They're barely employed, they don't act their age
They lust for . . . your gaffes

They been from Dogpatch to Camelot
Coverin' politicians some were clean some not
For tellin' truth to power they're OK but -- for laughs
Is this all they got?

Whoa-oh the Gridiron players
Whoa-no they don't have a prayer
They got a band, pretty costumes to wear
But whoa-no they don't have a prayer

CHORUS

Whoa-oh the Gridiron players
Whoa-no they don't have a prayer
They got a band, pretty costumes to wear
But whoa-no they don't have a prayer


"THE GRIDIRON-RON'' ("Da Doo Ron Ron," Crystals)

RED CHEERLEADERS; BLUE CHEERLEADERS; OLD NEWSBOY;
GOOD-GIRL & BAD-GIRL GROUPS
RED CHEER 1

Tonight we showed the world the way to get along

RED DUET

At Gridiron-ron at Gridiron

RED CHEER 2

Just drink a glass of wine and sing a silly song

CHORUS

At Gridiron-ron at Gridiron
RED DUET

Strange bedfellows
Dancing dosi-dos
'Til the curtains close
CHORUS

At Gridiron-ron at Gridiron

BLUE CHEER 1

Sebelius tried sell us medicine

BLUE DUET

At Gridiron-ron at Gridiron
BLUE CHEER 2

Mitch Daniels rocked us like a crazy man
CHORUS

At Gridiron-ron, at Gridiron
BLUE DUET

Monday we will fight
But we're friends tonight
By the rosy light
Of Gridiron-ron of Gridiron

OLD NEWS

We started up the show in 1885
CHORUS

The Gridiron-ron, the Gridiron

OLD NEWS

Some of us remember 'cause we're still alive

QUINTET

At Gridiron, son, at Gridiron

QUINTET

O say can you see
Sweet Civility
Baby 'tis of thee
We sing at Gridir'n at Gridi-ron

CHORUS REPEATS VERSE

O say can you see . . .

 

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]]>Annie Groer2011-03-13T11:43:00+00:00NATO to Libya: What Seems to Be the Problem?http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/12/nato-to-libya-what-seems-to-be-the-problem/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/12/nato-to-libya-what-seems-to-be-the-problem/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/12/nato-to-libya-what-seems-to-be-the-problem/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


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]]>AC 360ac360anderson cooperanderson cooper 360arabcnndemocracydictatordictatorshipgadafigaddafiGadhafigenocidehuman rightslibyalibya protestslockerbieLockerbie BombingmassacreMoamar GadafiMoammar GaddafiMoammar GadhafiNATOno fly zoneno-fly zoneno-fly-zoneqaddafirebellionrevoltRichard Engelsanctionsterroristuprisingwar crimesRobert and Donna Trussell2011-03-12T18:18:00+00:00Wisconsin Governor Signs Bargaining Bill, but Wider Political War Loominghttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/11/wisconsin-governor-signs-bargaining-bill-but-wider-political-wa/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/11/wisconsin-governor-signs-bargaining-bill-but-wider-political-wa/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/11/wisconsin-governor-signs-bargaining-bill-but-wider-political-wa/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker on Friday signed a controversial bill sharply limiting collective bargaining rights for public workers, but it will take months, maybe years, to sort out the winners and losers.

Walker, a Republican who sought changes limiting the clout of unions, also rescinded the layoffs of 1,500 mid-level state employees who were threatened with job losses because of a budget crunch and a stalemate on the bargaining bill, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. Walker said the reforms, which also demand larger pension and health care contributions from workers, will save $30 million and put the state on a path to fiscal health.

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Republicans won the long legislative battle Thursday when the Assembly gave final passage to Walker's "budget repair" bill in a largely party-line vote. That decisive roll call came after the state Senate passed the same bill without a single Democrat present in the legislative chamber. Democratic senators boycotted the session; most of them have been in neighboring Illinois for weeks and it's not clear when they'll return to Madison.

Democrats, energized by a three-week battle that brought tens of thousands of protesters to the capitol in Madison, have launched recall efforts against GOP state senators who supported Walker's bill. Republican majority leaders pushed the measure through the Senate after stripping it of spending sections so they wouldn't need the required 20-member quorum for money bills that Democrats had denied them by their absence.

A court challenge to the legislative process is all but certain. But judgment will also be rendered by voters on Election Day in 2012.

On Friday, the Democratic Governors Association jumped into the fray with a video claiming other Republican governors had distanced themselves from Walker's campaign against collective bargaining -- even though GOP Gov. John Kasich is promoting similar legislation in Ohio.

To the Democratic group, Walker's "brazen power grab" was an opportunity to put GOP governors on the spot with regard to worker rights. Watch the video, courtesy of the DGA.





 

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]]>collective bargainingDemocratic Governors AssociationRepublicanscott walkerscott walker and collective bargainingScott Walker and unionsunionswisconsinwisconsin protestsTom Diemer2011-03-11T13:33:00+00:00Obama: Here's Your Change, Sirhttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/10/obama-heres-your-change-sir/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/10/obama-heres-your-change-sir/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/10/obama-heres-your-change-sir/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,



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]]>afghan warAfghanistan warAfghanistanWarAfghanWarBarack ObamaBarackObamademocratic partyDemocraticPartyDemocratsgopguantanamoGuantanamo Bayguantanamo bay prisonGuantanamoBayGuantanamoBayPrisonIraq warIraqWarliberalsmilitary tribunalsMilitaryTribunalsobamaObama AdministrationRepublicanRepublican PartyRepublicanPartyrepublicanstax cut dealTax cutstax cuts for the wealthyTaxCutDealTaxCutsTaxCutsForTheWealthyRobert and Donna Trussell2011-03-10T12:25:00+00:00Donald Trump Lashes Out at Lamar Alexander for Dissing His Presidential Chanceshttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/08/donald-trump-lashes-out-at-lamar-alexander-for-dissing-his-presi/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/08/donald-trump-lashes-out-at-lamar-alexander-for-dissing-his-presi/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/08/donald-trump-lashes-out-at-lamar-alexander-for-dissing-his-presi/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Whether Donald Trump actually runs for president remains an open question, but the New York tycoon and reality show host certainly is milking the speculation for all its worth. Now he is miffed with Sen. Lamar Alexander for having the temerity to say that Trump "has absolutely no chance of winning" a White House race.

Alexander, who ran for president in 1996 and 2000, told CNN that Trump is "famous for being famous." Alexander himself is at least semi-famous for being the former secretary of education and president of the University of Tennessee.

Trump, who flirted with presidential politics in the past but got cold feet, said he didn't know Alexander personally and hasn't heard much about him -- "perhaps because of a certain ineffectiveness." In any event, he said the Tennessee Republican had simply stolen his line about Rep. Ron Paul -- Trump recently told conservatives that Paul no chance of winning in 2012. Alexander, Trump said, should "stop trying to get free publicity on the back of Donald Trump."

Free publicity? That's Trump's forte. Endless speculation about his possible entry into the 2012 Republican race certainly qualifies. Trump, a billionaire who has never held any elective office, says he will not decide until June.

Roger Stone, a friend of The Donald's -- not an adviser in 2011 but head of Trump's 2000 White House exploratory effort -- insists Trump "is serious this time" and says he's a "strong decisive leader -- truly a giant in a field of pygmies."

But Stone, an adviser to candidates and presidents ranging back to Richard Nixon, says he is not certain whether the famed dealmaker will take The Plunge. In his newsletter, the StoneZone, he questions whether Trump will "submit himself to the grueling schedule and the public scrutiny" of a national campaign.

"I do think he could save this country," Stone says. "I hope he runs."

Folo Tom Diemer on Twitter http://twitter.com/tomdiemer

 

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]]>dailyguidancedonald trumpLamar AlexanderTom Diemer2011-03-08T13:02:00+00:00Unemployed? Retrain!http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/08/unemployed-retrain/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/08/unemployed-retrain/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/08/unemployed-retrain/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

 

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]]>economic recoveryeconomyentrepreneurentrepreneursjob retrainingjob searchjobless recoveryjobsoffshoringretrainingunemployedunemploymentunemployment rateRobert and Donna Trussell2011-03-08T10:20:00+00:00'Daily Show' Hot on the Trail of AWOL Wisconsin Lawmakershttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/08/daily-show-hot-on-the-trail-of-awol-wisconsin-lawmakers/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/08/daily-show-hot-on-the-trail-of-awol-wisconsin-lawmakers/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/08/daily-show-hot-on-the-trail-of-awol-wisconsin-lawmakers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Where are the "Wisconsin 14"? "Daily Show" correspondent John Oliver tried to track down the missing Democratic state senators who are frustrating Gov. Scott Walker's bid to curtail the collective bargaining rights of public employee unions.

Monday on the Comedy Central program, the trail led faux reporter Oliver to the "notorious, lawless region" of Illinois, where he was forced to go through a series of checkpoints -- fast food drive-throughs on a tacky commercial strip -- in the "Rockford Province" before finding former Illinois governor (and "notorious former warlord") Rod Blagojevich.

The ex-governor, who is facing a retrial this year on the corruption charges that got him thrown out of office, played it straight. "I don't know where they are," he told the intrepid newshound, adding that the missing senators are "standing up for working people" in Wisconsin. Along the way, Oliver also interviewed a tea party activist who said some of the lawmakers had been spotted at a tavern described as a "Scottish-type Hooters."

Finally Oliver encountered state Sen. Jon Erpenbach in what appeared to be a darkened motel room. While the legislator talked earnestly of the situation in Madison, Oliver peppered him with spoofy, provocative questions ("Why do you hate American democracy?") and then provided a false translation of his responses. "I'm just a typical guy from Wisconsin," poor Erpenbach insisted.

It was all in fun, of course. "The Daily Show" is a fake news program, although it touches on real issues and does some authentic reporting.

Watch the video, courtesy "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart."


 

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]]>comedy centraldailyguidanceJohn Oliverjon stewartrod Blagojevichscott walkerTom Diemer2011-03-08T09:19:00+00:00There He Goes Again: Mike Huckabee Scolds Natalie Portmanhttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/04/there-he-goes-again-mike-huckabee-scolds-natalie-portman/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/04/there-he-goes-again-mike-huckabee-scolds-natalie-portman/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/04/there-he-goes-again-mike-huckabee-scolds-natalie-portman/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee is having himself quite a week. After suggesting that President Obama is anti-British because he grew up in Kenya (wrong!), Huckabee picked on Academy Award-winning actress Natalie Portman for supposedly bragging about having a child out of wedlock.

In an interview Monday with conservative talk show host Michael Medved, Huckabee said not every single mom is "making millions of dollars" for a movie role and can afford "nannies, caretakers and nurses" for their kids. It's unfortunate, he said, that "we glorify and glamorize" having children outside of marriage. And he said it's troubling when people see a "Natalie Portman or some other Hollywood starlet who boasts of, 'Hey look, you know, we're having children, we're not married . . .'"

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On his Facebook page Friday, Huckabee insisted he did not "slam" or "attack" Portman, but said she was an "extraordinary actor," deserving of the Oscar. "My comments were about the statistical reality that most single moms are very poor, under-educated, can't get a job, and if it weren't for government assistance, their kids would be starving to death," he wrote. "That's the story that we're not seeing . . . " He said he was glad to hear that the pregnant Portman "will marry her baby's father."

In addition to his social commentary, Huckabee is promoting a new book, "A Simple Government," and trying to decide whether to run for the Republican presidential nomination again next year.

Portman, accepting her award Sunday night for "Black Swan," thanked her fiance, Benjamin Millepied, for giving her "the most important role of my life" as a mother.

Huckabee is not the first high-profile Republican politician to stir controversy by taking on a famous actress regarding the ethics of single parenting. In 1992, then-Vice President Dan Quayle criticized a plot line on the popular Murphy Brown television sit-com wherein the divorced title character, played by Candice Bergen, becomes pregnant and decides to have her baby. Quayle suggested single motherhood was being portrayed as just another lifestyle choice. It didn't work out too well for him. The New York Daily News headlined its story: "Quayle to Murphy Brown:You Tramp!"

As to where President Obama spent his formative years, Huckabee said it was just a slip of the tongue during a radio interview: he meant to say Indonesia, not Kenya, which was once under British colonial rule. But then, if he meant Indonesia, why would he think Obama became an Anglophobe . . . Oh, never mind.

 

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]]>Politics Daily Staff2011-03-04T15:50:00+00:00Obama, Jeb Bush to Join in Education Reform Event at Florida Schoolhttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/04/obama-jeb-bush-to-join-in-education-reform-event-at-florida-sch/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/04/obama-jeb-bush-to-join-in-education-reform-event-at-florida-sch/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/04/obama-jeb-bush-to-join-in-education-reform-event-at-florida-sch/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

They aren't exactly school chums, but President Obama and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush plan to share a stage and also their goals for education reform Friday at an event in Miami.

The White House said the president will talk about "how winning the future in education will require investments that promote shared responsibility among everyone involved; reform at the state and local levels and focus on achieving results."

Bush, who served two terms as Florida's governor, would probably be a rival to the president next year were it not for the plummeting popularity of his brother George W. Bush during the latter's second term in the Oval Office. That seems to have foreclosed the possibility that a third Bush would run for president in 2012.

Clearly, Jeb Bush resented Obama's frequent references to having "inherited" an economic mess from Dubya after he took office in January 2009. Jeb has compared Obama to a kid claiming "the dog ate my homework" and called him "Hubert Humphrey on steroids" -- a reference to Obama's liberalism. More recently, he praised Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels the "anti-Obama" because Daniels does not pretend to have the silky smoothness that Obama displays in public appearances.

But Obama has dropped the blame game from his public comments of late, and honored former President George H.W. Bush with a Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House last month. So there may be a thaw. Jeb Bush's office said this week the ex-governor looks "forward to sharing Florida's model for student success with President Obama and Secretary Duncan."

Obama is traveling to the Sunshine State with Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, the former Chicago schools chief, for the classroom event at Miami Central High School. But before heading south, the president has a private meeting in Washington with Chicago Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel, the White House chief of staff for most of Obama's first two years on the job.

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]]>Arne DuncandailyguidanceJeb BushRahm EmanuelTom Diemer2011-03-04T08:50:00+00:00'Ignore Sarah Palin Week': Website Encourages Looking Awayhttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/01/ignore-sarah-palin-week-website-encourages-looking-away/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/01/ignore-sarah-palin-week-website-encourages-looking-away/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/01/ignore-sarah-palin-week-website-encourages-looking-away/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

A liberal group, apparently frustrated with all the attention its nemesis keeps getting, is promoting "Ignore Sarah Palin Week," urging like-minded souls to change the channel or surf to another Web page whenever the ubiquitous former governor of Alaska pops up.

Left Action said it has collected more than 32,500 pledges from partisans willing to take part in the effort, which began Sunday.

"You betcha we're ignoring her," the website announced, mimicking Palin's folksy dialect. "We've tried debating her, arguing with her, boycotting her, voting against her, and yet . . . she keeps coming back. Much like a vampire or a nasty fungus."

Despite the unflattering references, Left Action told those taking the "pledge," that "We wish only the best for Sarah Palin and her family. We just don't want her to be president, and we just want to take a week off from paying attention to her. . . . Have fun in the comments but keep it nice, and no threats -- even in jest, okay?"

Washington Post Columnist Dana Milbank took a similar tack last month, vowing that he would not write about the 2008 GOP vice presidential candidate for the entire month of February.

Palin commands extraordinary media attention, seemingly without even trying hard as she confines most of her newsy comments to Facebook and Twitter postings or appearances on Fox News. Yet she is covered by the mainstream media with the kind of intensity normally reserved for a politician in high elective office. She has toyed with the unceasing speculation as to whether she will run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012.

Left Action describes itself as a "network" of more than 1 million activists "fighting for progressive causes."

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]]>dailyguidanceTom Diemer2011-03-01T12:46:00+00:00Wisconsin Protests: Far From the Madison Crowdhttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/01/wisconsin-protests-far-from-the-madison-crowd/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/01/wisconsin-protests-far-from-the-madison-crowd/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/01/wisconsin-protests-far-from-the-madison-crowd/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



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]]>adjunctadjunct professorcollective bargainingcollective bargaining agreementcollective bargaining rightscollegedemonstrationdemonstrationshomelessjoblessmadison wismadison wisconsinmadison wisconsin protestsorganized laborpensionpension fundspension reformpensionspovertyprofessorprofessorsprotestprotestsstate budget cutsstate budgetsTenureunemployedunemploymentunemployment rateunionunionsuniversitywisconsinwisconsin protestsRobert and Donna Trussell2011-03-01T10:55:00+00:00Obama to Gadhafi: Be Nice!http://politicsdaily.com/2011/02/26/obama-to-gadhafi-be-nice/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/02/26/obama-to-gadhafi-be-nice/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/02/26/obama-to-gadhafi-be-nice/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



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]]>arabArab WorldbahrainBarack Obamademocracyegyptforeign policyGadhafiHillary Clintonlibyamiddle eastmideastMuammar GaddafiMuammar QaddafiMuammarGaddafiobamaObama Administrationrevolutionsecretary of stateState DepartmentTunisiaRobert and Donna Trussell2011-02-26T15:01:00+00:00Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels on College Pot Bust: Justice Served, Lesson Learnedhttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/02/24/indiana-gov-mitch-daniels-on-college-pot-bust-justice-served/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/02/24/indiana-gov-mitch-daniels-on-college-pot-bust-justice-served/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/02/24/indiana-gov-mitch-daniels-on-college-pot-bust-justice-served/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Mitch Daniels once thought his arrest for marijuana possession as a college student 41 years ago would ruin his chances of holding elective office. That turned out not to be true. Now in his second term as Indiana's governor, he may be on the brink of a campaign for president.

His recent candor on the issue may have helped him shed any political baggage still associated with drug use. "I don't make excuses for anything. Justice was served," Daniels, a Republican, told the Daily Princetonian in a recent interview. "I had used marijuana and I was fined for that -- and that was appropriate."

Daniels, 61, was arrested in May 1970 when police found marijuana, LSD and unauthorized prescription drugs in a dorm room he shared with two other students. He was later fined $350 for "maintaining a common nuisance." One of his roommates told the Princetonian that a former resident of the room was responsible for drugs "worse than pot" that were found.

Daniels, who in appearance could still pass for an aging choir boy, has addressed the incident before. In 1988, he told the campus newspaper he feared after the bust that "any goals I might have had for competing for public office were shot." And in a 1989 opinion piece in the Washington Post, he called the embarrassing episode an "unfortunate confluence of my wild oats period and America's libertine apogee." Marijuana, he said, was as easy to obtain as beer and "for a time, I was a carefree consumer of both."

That was then. Daniels was all business in a speech at a Republican dinner in Cincinnati Wednesday night. Addressing the labor disputes in his state, Ohio and Wisconsin, he called public worker unions the "privileged elite" and allowed that there "may have been a time when government employees needed protection and needed reform, but that was a long time ago."

Public jobs and pay have grown while "private sectors salaries are shrinking," he said, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. "It's time to interrupt that loop in the public interest."

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]]>dailyguidancemarijuana useMitch DanielsTom Diemer2011-02-24T13:21:00+00:00Gadhafi Leaves Libya. Destination: Dictator Islandhttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/02/23/gadhafi-leaves-libya-destination-dictator-island/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/02/23/gadhafi-leaves-libya-destination-dictator-island/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/02/23/gadhafi-leaves-libya-destination-dictator-island/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


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]]>bahrainbahrain protestsdemonstrationdemonstrationsdictatordictatorsdictatorshipgaddafiGadhafiHosni MubarakIraniran protestslibyalibya civil warlibya protestsMoamar GadafiMoammar Gadhafimubarakmubarak regimeoilprotestprotestsqaddafirevolutionTunisiatunisia protestsRobert and Donna Trussell2011-02-23T18:15:00+00:00Will Christine O'Donnell Step Up on 'Dancing With the Stars'? Stay Tuned, She Sayshttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/02/23/will-christine-odonnell-step-up-on-dancing-with-the-stars-st/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/02/23/will-christine-odonnell-step-up-on-dancing-with-the-stars-st/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/02/23/will-christine-odonnell-step-up-on-dancing-with-the-stars-st/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Christine O'Donnell didn't make it as a conservative, tea party-backed Senate candidate in Delaware. But can she cut the rug on "Dancing With the Stars"?

O'Donnell, who once acknowledged dabbling in witchcraft as a teenager, says she's been approached by the ABC hit program about being a contestant on its 12th season. The show, which famously featured Bristol Palin last year, will announce its new lineup next week, according to the New York Daily News.

On her Facebook page, O'Donnell mulled the DWTS offer she said she'd received, but expressed doubts about her ability as a hoofer. "I just got the Official 'Ask' from Dancing With The Stars!!" she posted. "Although I am utterly flattered, my initial thought was to decline, as 2 year old nephew has more rhythm than me, and my two left feet!!"

That would seem like a pretty good reason to say no. But then again, O'Donnell shocked the political world when she upset former Rep. Mike Castle in the Delaware GOP Senate primary last year, before losing in November to Democrat Chris Coons. During her campaign, O'Donnell ran a TV spot in which she proclaimed, "I'm not a witch" -- a response to long-ago remarks she made on Bill Maher's "Politically Incorrect" TV show. She later said the ad was a mistake.

O'Donnell wouldn't be the first pol to compete in the televised dance competition. Former Rep. Tom Delay -- recently sentenced to three years in prison for money laundering -- took part in 2009, though he was hampered by a foot injury.

She got plenty advice about the DWTS show on Facebook. On Monday, she wrote that the comments offered "great pro and cons" about her latest possible adventure. "Thank you for your input. Still undecided. Book comes first."

That's right. O'Donnell's writing a book about her experiences running for the Senate last year.

 

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]]>bill maherbristol palinChristine ODonnelldailyguidancedancing with the starstom delayPolitics Daily Staff2011-02-23T10:24:00+00:00Rush Limbaugh Defends His One-Sided Food Fight With Michelle Obamahttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/02/23/rush-limbaugh-defends-his-one-sided-food-fight-with-michelle-oba/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/02/23/rush-limbaugh-defends-his-one-sided-food-fight-with-michelle-oba/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/02/23/rush-limbaugh-defends-his-one-sided-food-fight-with-michelle-oba/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Rush Limbaugh thinks his criticism of Michelle Obama's eating habits -- and calling her a hypocrite -- was "highly civil" discourse and he's surprised by the "grief" he got over his comments.

That's what he said on his radio program Tuesday. He started the week by asserting that Mrs. Obama doesn't follow her own healthy eating advice. As evidence, the conservative talk show host cited a high-fat dinner she enjoyed over the weekend in Vail, Colo. -- "feasting on ribs" is the way he put it -- when she could have been munching on roots and berries.

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"Some people are suggesting that my comments were below the belt," the talk show host said. "Well, take a look at some pictures. Given where she wears her belts -- I mean she wears them high up there around the bustline. Isn't just about everything about her 'below the belt' when you look at the fashion sense she has?"

Mrs. Obama's healthy eating initiative for children, "Let's Move," has been a target for conservatives like Limbaugh, Sarah Palin and Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), who see it as a move by the Obama administration toward a "nanny state" in America. The first lady is taking on childhood obesity by campaigning to convince kids and their parents to eat healthier foods.

To critics, such as Limbaugh, that means she should relegate herself to the strictest of dietary regimens -- "roots, berries and tree bark" is what he suggested on Monday.

In the Washington Post, columnist Dana Milbank said Limbaugh apparently thinks Mrs. Obama is a "big, fat idiot" -- referencing the title of a book by Al Franken that took Limbaugh to task for his physique and his politics. "The first lady's detractors don't have a legitimate beef," Milbank wrote. "She's never told people to cut out junk food; she's suggested they eat junk less and exercise more."

No comment from the first lady.

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]]>dailyguidancehealthy eating habitsmichele bachmannrush limbaughSarah PalinTom Diemer2011-02-23T08:31:00+00:00Rush Limbaugh Calls Michelle Obama 'Hypocrite' for Eating Ribshttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/02/22/rush-limbaugh-calls-michelle-obama-hypocrite-for-eating-ribs/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/02/22/rush-limbaugh-calls-michelle-obama-hypocrite-for-eating-ribs/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/02/22/rush-limbaugh-calls-michelle-obama-hypocrite-for-eating-ribs/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Now talk show host Rush Limbaugh is watching Michelle Obama's weight for her -- not that the first lady asked. He says she's a hypocrite for eating ribs and should stick to nuts and berries as part of her healthy eating initiative.

Mrs. Obama, on a skiing trip to Colorado this past weekend with daughters Sasha and Malia, enjoyed a meal of ancho chili short ribs, pickled pumpkin salad and kale, the Vail Daily reported.

That was way too much for Limbaugh, who, like fellow conservatives Sarah Palin and Rep. Michele Bachmann, is on Mrs. Obama's case for her healthy kids/anti-obesity campaign, which some right-wingers see as a sign of a nanny state.

"The problem is, and I dare say this, it doesn't look like Michelle Obama follows her own nutritionary, dietary advice," Limbaugh said Monday on his syndicated radio program. "And then we hear that she's out eating ribs at 1,500 calories a serving and 141 grams of fat per serving."

Limbaugh was just getting warmed up. "She is a hypocrite. Leaders are supposed to lead," he said. "If we are supposed to go out and eat nothing, if we are supposed to eat roots, berries and tree bark, show us how."

The first lady has won widespread praise for her "Let's Move" campaign to curb obesity by encouraging healthy eating among kids. But she has also taken heat from some who think government has no business telling Americans what and how to eat.

"I'm trying to say our first lady does not project the image of women that you might see on the cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue or of a woman [Yankees star] Alex Rodriguez might date every six months, or what have you," Limbaugh concluded.

No word on what Obama thinks about Limbaugh's broadsides or waistline. But from all indications she is happily married and not in the dating market. And she's also thought be a Chicago White Sox fan, so Rodriguez probably wouldn't make her list anyway.

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]]>dailyguidanceMichelle Obamarush limbaughTom Diemer2011-02-22T07:52:00+00:00Bahrain Massacre: White House Respondshttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/02/20/bahrain-massacre-white-house-responds/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/02/20/bahrain-massacre-white-house-responds/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/02/20/bahrain-massacre-white-house-responds/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


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]]>algeriaalgeria protestsarabbahrainbahrain protestsBarack ObamaCrackdowndictatordictatorsdictatorshipegyptegypt democracy demonstrationsegypt demonstrationsegypt protestsHillary ClintonIraniran protestsjordanjordan protestslibyalibya demonstrationslibya protestsmiddle eastmilitarynorth africapeaceful protestpoliceprotestprotesterprotestersprotestsrevolutionshootingTunisiatunisia protestsunrestuprisinguprisingsviolenceYemenyemen demonstrationsyemen protestsRobert and Donna Trussell2011-02-20T10:20:00+00:00Justice Clarence Thomas: He Did It His Wayhttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/02/17/justice-clarence-thomas-he-did-it-his-way/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/02/17/justice-clarence-thomas-he-did-it-his-way/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/02/17/justice-clarence-thomas-he-did-it-his-way/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


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]]>Clarence Thomascommon causeconflict of interestdisclosuredisclosuresethicsFederalist Societyfinancial disclosure formsfinancial disclosuresginny thomasincomeJustice Thomaskoch brotherspalm springsretreatsupreme courtsupreme court justiceRobert and Donna Trussell2011-02-17T07:01:00+00:00