White House State Dinner

Here more about Tuesday night's state dinner at the White House for Indian Prime Minister Mamohan Singh.

Hollywood meets Bollywood at the White House

Tonight is President Obama's first state dinner at the White House. For weeks, Washingtonians have speculated who would be on (and left off) the list. Of course the typical administration officials--Rahm Emanuel, VP Biden, Treasury Secretary Geithner, Speaker Pelosi--are all on the list. The White House also made it a point to invite notable Indian-Americans to the soiree, which makes sense since the party is for the Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh.

Instead of hosting the dinner in the White House State Dining Room, Prez Obama's first dinner will be in a tent on the South Lawn. It's a pretty disgusting day here in Washington. It's raining, cloudy, and cold. Luckily for the President and his guests, this isn't just any tent. It's heated, with walls, windows, and a hardwood floor. Their expected to host about 320 guests at the dinner--bigger than most dinners held by former President George W. Bush, but smaller than the 700+ guests invited by President Clinton.

As I said, Hollywood will intersect with its Indian counterpart tonight. LaLaLand heavyweights, Steven Spielberg, David Geffen, and Jeffrey Katzenberg will all be in attendence. Jonathan Martin at Politico already reported seeing actor Blair Underwood arriving around noon. Hollywood super agent, and brother of COS Rahm Emanuel, Ari Emanuel will also have a seat at the table. Some of the biggest celebrities coming are from India. Actress Ashwarya Rai (aka the most beautiful women in the world) and actor Ahbishek Bachchan flew in from India just for the occasion. For those of you who don't know who this power couple is, google them. They're like the punjabi version of Brad and Angelina.

Foodwise, the menu has been kept pretty much under wraps. At last report, herbs from the White House were going to be worked in as well as honey from the White House beehive. Also, the dinner itsef will have 'Indian touches.'

From the looks of it, this will be an impressvie first state dinner for the President. WH Social Secretary, Desiree Rogers was trying to keep costs down by using more of what belongs to the White House and renting fewer items than in the past. Tonight's china is a pattern selected by former first lady, Laura Bush. It's a Lenox gilt-edge green basket weave border which will perfectly match the gold ballroom chairs with green cushions being set out for the event.

Tuesday Blogcasts

Sorry I'm late posting today. I'm sure everyone else is scrambling to get their stuff together before Thanksgiving weekend!

First up...more details regarding tonight's state dinner at the White House are leaking out. Academy award winner, Jennifer Hudson is schedule to perform. Oprah's show is going off the air, but not without nabbing another big time interview. And the RNC is being turned on its head.



To call a carry-out food store "Obama's Fried Chicken" is offensive enough, but to feature it in a music video? And former Bush flack, Ari Fleischer, is stepping up to bat for the Bowl Championship Series.



The Governator!! What will we do when he leaves office?



And if you love "The Office" on NBC, imagine what "The Briefing" would sound like!

Tom DeLay to Dance Again!

Today on the Press Pool with Joe Mathieu:

Not everyone who came to see former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin left a happy customer. Also, there's only one person who Palin's "Going Rogue" didn't outsell in its first day. And former House Majority Leader, Tom DeLay takes to the dance floor Tuesday to dance the Texas Two Step.

Katie Couric+Alcohol=Bad News

Now, I'm not one to judge, but these pictures are exactly the reason why Facebook is an evil evil creation. Everyone has pictures floating around somewhere on the internet that are less than flattering. But then again, everyone isn't a nationally televised, nightly news show host(ess)...



You can see all the pictures here

Monday Blogcasts

Considering it's the week of Thanksgiving, you would think that news would be lacking this morning. I was definitely wrong.

Plenty of reaction to Saturday's Senate health care vote. Politico's Patrick Gavin listed the best clips from the debate. Also, San Francisco Mayor, Gavin Newsom, has been very quiet since reneging on bid for Governor. Well, he's talking now...



Shield your eyes...Tom DeLay will be Dancing with the Stars on Tuesday night for the season finale! And the Sarah Palin book tour continues with a surprise stop in Asheville, NC...



President Obama will try as hard as he can to look cool holding a turkey on Wednesday. Lastly, someone has made a song about Louisiana Congressman, Joseph Cao...

Fmr. HHS Sec. Donna Shalala on POTUS

As co-producer of POTUS' morning show, The Morning Briefing with Tim Farley, I will occasionally post interviews from the show.

Today on the Morning Briefing, host Tim Farley spoke wiht former HHS Secretary and current University of Miami President, Donna Shalala, about the Senate's health care vote this past weekend and the new mammogram recommendations. Listen to his interview here:

Snuggies!

Happy Monday everyone!

Since the Steelers had a bit of a rough weekend, I thought Steeler fans would appreciate this post:

Congressman Tom Rooney got a very special birthday present from his staff last week. Rep. Rooney (who's family own the Pittsuburgh Steelers) got what every member of Congress needs--a Snuggie! But this wasn't just any Snuggie, it was a Snuggie emblazoned with the Pittsburgh Steelers emblem. Rep. Rooney said, “I was pleasantly surprised to get the Snuggie. It took a lot of thought from my great staff.”

Keepin' it 100

Here's a portion from the Powertable on this week's New School. You can hear the full show on Saturday's at 7am, 1pm, 7pm, and 1am ET. Check the New Policy Center and the POTUS web site for more info.

Tea Party: The Movie

Today, on The Press Pool with Joe Mathieu:

Joe and I discuss the story that just won't die--Sarah Palin. She's added Fort Hood, Texas to her book tour and on Monday she'll stop at another Army base. We also talk about a new documentary meant to highlight the Tea Party protests happening in DC and around the country.



This is the trailer for "Tea Party" Stay tuned for more on this. I'll be interviewing the director, Pritcehtt Cotton, next week. For now, here's the trailer:

Casual Friday

Gotta love the Onion

Obama's Home Teleprompter Malfunctions During Family Dinner

Friday's Blogcasts

Al Gore makes an appearance on 30 Rock. It's Geography Awareness Week! (sarcastic enthusiasm) National Geographic asked Senators to draw their own states...from memory.


House guests crashing Thanksgiving dinner and Sanford's Christmas Open House

The Chinese Mispronounced his Name the Whole Time

In addition to other post-mortem observations for President Obama's trip to Asia, Evan Osnos at the New Yorker writes:

The ideal metaphor for the new reality of U.S.-China relations: The U.S. Embassy has been straining, in vain, to get the Chinese government to change the official Chinese transliteration of Obama, from 奥巴马 to 欧巴马—basically, from Ao Ba Ma to Ou Ba Ma. As is often the case when China incorporates a foreign word into Chinese characters, the original Ao Ba Ma spelling popped up organically some years ago and stuck, even though it is not a correct translation. Now, as a great piece on Danwei.org explains, the U.S. is trying to persuade China to change it, but China, so far, says no way. The moral: When you can’t even get your counterpart in a negotiation to spell your name right, you are probably in for a rough ride.

Read more: http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/evanosnos/2009/11/obama-china.html#ixzz0XPDwPWKs

The ideal metaphor for the new reality of U.S.-China relations: The U.S. Embassy has been straining, in vain, to get the Chinese government to change the official Chinese transliteration of Obama, from 奥巴马 to 欧巴马—basically, from Ao Ba Ma to Ou Ba Ma. As is often the case when China incorporates a foreign word into Chinese characters, the original Ao Ba Ma spelling popped up organically some years ago and stuck, even though it is not a correct translation. Now, as a great piece on Danwei.org explains, the U.S. is trying to persuade China to change it, but China, so far, says no way. The moral: When you can’t even get your counterpart in a negotiation to spell your name right, you are probably in for a rough ride.

Read more: http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/evanosnos/2009/11/obama-china.html#ixzz0XPDwPWKs

The ideal metaphor for the new reality of U.S.-China relations: The U.S. Embassy has been straining, in vain, to get the Chinese government to change the official Chinese transliteration of Obama, from 奥巴马 to 欧巴马—basically, from Ao Ba Ma to Ou Ba Ma. As is often the case when China incorporates a foreign word into Chinese characters, the original Ao Ba Ma spelling popped up organically some years ago and stuck, even though it is not a correct translation. Now, as a great piece on Danwei.org explains, the U.S. is trying to persuade China to change it, but China, so far, says no way. The moral: When you can’t even get your counterpart in a negotiation to spell your name right, you are probably in for a rough ride.

Read more: http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/evanosnos/2009/11/obama-china.html#ixzz0XPDwPWKs

The ideal metaphor for the new reality of U.S.-China relations: The U.S. Embassy has been straining, in vain, to get the Chinese government to change the official Chinese transliteration of Obama, from 奥巴马 to 欧巴马—basically, from Ao Ba Ma to Ou Ba Ma. As is often the case when China incorporates a foreign word into Chinese characters, the original Ao Ba Ma spelling popped up organically some years ago and stuck, even though it is not a correct translation. Now, as a great piece on Danwei.org explains, the U.S. is trying to persuade China to change it, but China, so far, says no way. The moral: When you can’t even get your counterpart in a negotiation to spell your name right, you are probably in for a rough ride.

Read more: http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/evanosnos/2009/11/obama-china.html#ixzz0XPDwPWKs

The ideal metaphor for the new reality of U.S.-China relations: The U.S. Embassy has been straining, in vain, to get the Chinese government to change the official Chinese transliteration of Obama, from 奥巴马 to 欧巴马—basically, from Ao Ba Ma to Ou Ba Ma. As is often the case when China incorporates a foreign word into Chinese characters, the original Ao Ba Ma spelling popped up organically some years ago and stuck, even though it is not a correct translation. Now, as a great piece on Danwei.org explains, the U.S. is trying to persuade China to change it, but China, so far, says no way. The moral: When you can’t even get your counterpart in a negotiation to spell your name right, you are probably in for a rough ride.

The ideal metaphor for the new reality of U.S.-China relations: The U.S. Embassy has been straining, in vain, to get the Chinese government to change the official Chinese transliteration of Obama, from 奥巴马 to 欧巴马—basically, from Ao Ba Ma to Ou Ba Ma. As is often the case when China incorporates a foreign word into Chinese characters, the original Ao Ba Ma spelling popped up organically some years ago and stuck, even though it is not a correct translation. Now, as a great piece on Danwei.org explains, the U.S. is trying to persuade China to change it, but China, so far, says no way. The moral: When you can’t even get your counterpart in a negotiation to spell your name right, you are probably in for a rough ride.

Read more: http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/evanosnos/2009/11/obama-china.html#ixzz0XPDwPWKs

The ideal metaphor for the new reality of U.S.-China relations: The U.S. Embassy has been straining, in vain, to get the Chinese government to change the official Chinese transliteration of Obama, from 奥巴马 to 欧巴马—basically, from Ao Ba Ma to Ou Ba Ma. As is often the case when China incorporates a foreign word into Chinese characters, the original Ao Ba Ma spelling popped up organically some years ago and stuck, even though it is not a correct translation. Now, as a great piece on Danwei.org explains, the U.S. is trying to persuade China to change it, but China, so far, says no way. The moral: When you can’t even get your counterpart in a negotiation to spell your name right, you are probably in for a rough ride.

Read more: http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/evanosnos/2009/11/obama-china.html#ixzz0XPDwPWKs

Video Game Calls Obama a Failure

I can't believe there are people out there who would actually play this game. With President Obama's popularity sliding below 50 percent this week, it's understandable that there are people in America who think President Obama is doing a lousy job. Well one person has turned his dissatifaction with the Obama administration into a video game--20011: Obama's Coup Fails.

I actually saw the game a few months back, but assumed it was just a small group of people playing this poorly designed, very basic computer game. Apparently I was wrong.

Michael Russotto is the only mastermind out of 8 people behind the game not afraid to reveal his identity. He says over 13,000 members have already signed on, and hundreds of people play everyday. Michael is one of Obama’s harshest critics. “He is purposely destroying the economy of the United States,” says Michael. “The policies that he is enacting, it’s a guarantee of destroying us.”

This entire attitude is put in “2011: Obama’s coup fails”. Raids, skirmishes, assaults, hacker attacks and riots are at a player’s disposal as they try to win the game by fighting Obama and his troops. With player nicknames such as “fascism rising”, “osama” and “saddam”, critics call the game a promotion of domestic terrorism. But Michael Russotto explains that the game is not as violent as it may seem.

“Not one person in the Obama administration is killed, no one is assassinated,” Michael told RT. “They get captured … by American citizens who don’t want the United States to become any kind of dictatorship.”

And may I ask why you would continue to promote a video game that requires you to work behind a METAL DOOR in an UNDISCLOSED LOCATION in New York?

The Sarah Palin Story Continues

On Monday, she will make a special stop in at Fort Bragg in North Carolina and today the US Army announced that it "would ban the media from Palin's book signing next week, fearing it would turn into political grandstanding against President Barack Obama." First of all, the media will still get as close as they can to this event. And secondly, what do they think Palin is going to be talking about? She's not exactly hosting an "Obama for America" event...AP

Leftovers of the Day

Giuliani won't run for Governor, but he will run for Senate
Meghan McCain and Tyra Banks love fake hair
Palin's stylist speaks
Al Gore on 30 Rock tonight
Turkey and football with Prez Obama and Troy Polamalu
Christmas with the Sanford family--minus the Argentine mistress
John Kerry's reaction to his daughter's DUI
Things to do beside read the 2,000+ page health care bill
The Going Rogue Index
Santa Baby, Don't Forget the H1N1 shot
Gratuitious: The End of an Era

Video Pic of the Day: (tip: fast forward to 40 seconds in)
I think the Gregory Brothers are hilarious! They do the Autotune the News bits. This is their latest.

The New School

We just finished taping this week's edition of The New School with Charles Ellison. The topic of discussion today is President Obama's fading popularity. We examine his sliding numbers among women specifically. Is there some sort of Sarah Palin effect happening? Is the President simply out of touch with the female populous? Pollster Thomas Riehle and Denver Magazine's Gloria Neal discuss.

As always, the New School keeps the roundtable lively with a vibrant discussion about Attorney General Eric Holder's testimony on Capitol Hill regarding the 9/11 terror trials. Should KSM have to face a military tribunal instead of a civil trial? On a lighter note, Sarah Palin's media blitz, is it a blessing in disguise for the GOP? And finally, the new mammogram recommendations. Could this be a study orchestrated by the insurance companies for their own gain? Is rationing a legitimate concern among American women? We bring in Silver Star Art Studio VP, April Tabor, and CEO of the Penny Institute, Brian Taylor.

Find out this Saturday on POTUS (Sirius 110/ XM 130) and The Power (XM 169)

And the Winner is...

Today on the Press Pool with Joe Mathieu:

Organizing for America, the campaign arm of the White House, just announced the winner of their health reform video contest and let's just say that the victor's message was than subtle. Also today, President Obama's first state dinner is next week and the tightly guarded list of invites has started to leak...



Tomorrow: Sarah Palin's released locations and dates for the 2nd half of her book tour and one of the stops is a wee bit controversial.

Fox News Feeling the Heat Again

FOX News is being criticized this morning for its misplay of the wrong crowd video. And children everywhere will be disappointed to know that addressing their letters To: Santa via the North Pole will now result in their letter being labeled "Return to Sender."

Lindsay Lohan, President Obama, and Rep. Jackie Speier

This morning's blogcast talked about President Obama's weight and Congresswoman Jackie Speier's appearance on Tuesday's Colbert Report

The Postmaster Who Stole Christmas

This story broke my heart when I saw it.

From USAToday:

The U.S. Postal Service, citing security and privacy concerns of children, will no longer forward "Dear Santa" letters to the Alaska town of North Pole, putting in jeopardy the town's 55-year-old volunteer letter-answering effort by the town.

The concern is that names, addresses and other private information about small children could get into the wrong hands.

Postal Service officials note that a postal worker last year in Maryland recognized a volunteer in the agency's Operation Santa program as a registered sex offender, the Associated Press reports.

The Postal Service now prohibits volunteers in such programs to have access to children's last names and addresses.

Mayor Doug Isaacson says the Postal Service is "running roughshod" over the city of North Pole, whose identity is tied to Christmas, the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports.

"What grinch would conceive of something so sinister?" Isaacson tells the paper. He says businesses and civic organizations in the town of 2,200 gear up for the program every year "when we're able to really demonstrate the spirit of Christmas."

Alaska Senator, Lisa Murkowski, issued a letter to the postmaster general asking him to keep the 55 year old tradition:

“Children across the world will be anticipating a letter from Santa this Christmas,” she wrote. “I believe that a small action by the Postal Service to continue the tradition ... could go a long way to bring joy to these children and their families.”

Santa doesn't do "Return to Sender!" What does this say about the state of the US Postal Service?

Obama Popularity Dips Below 50 for First Time

From the AFP:

"The Quinnipiac University poll showed 48 percent of Americans approve of the way Obama is handling his job as president, compared to 42 percent who disapprove.

The president also scored low marks from Americans on his handling of the situation in Afghanistan, with just 38 percent saying they approved of his approach, but a majority did say it was the "right thing" for US troops to be in the country."

Newsweek had an interesting article discussing President Obama's popularity declining among women. POTUS host Charles Ellison references the historical relationship between black men and white women affecting the President's loss of support in that block, but I think if you're going to go down that road, you need to also discuss the relationship between black women and white women in America.

It's debatable as to whether the GOP is using activist images to inflame some historically troubled relationship between two sects of the American public. It's a tricky accusation to say this is a strategic move from the GOP, but I do agree that white women are losing faith in the President. Women helped put Obama in the White House, but like the young voters who also came out to support him, the number of remaining supporters are dwindling. However, support among black women remains high.

Here you have an administration that includes high-powered, successful, and independent black women in some of the most visible positions. You have UN Ambassador Susan Rice, domestic policy adviser Melody Barnes, senior adviser Valerie Jarrett, and the newly confirmed Surgeon General. Not to mention the most visible black women at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue--Michelle Obama. Mrs. Obama has been asserting herself as a force in the administration and has even been put on the trail to help push for health reform.

So what of the historical tension between black and white women? Could the visibility of strong, independent black women, especially FLOTUS, be one reason for the President's decling in support from white women?

Just something to think about...