BREAKING: Tensions Erupt Over White House Puppy Appointment

And the Oscar for best original screenplay goes to...ta, taaa...

ALBERTO!!!!

And, Waxman just beat Dingell!!!!

YEAH!!!!!!!!

On a slightly serious note, I'm still  hoping for a rescue mutt. Would set a good example for the country, rather than leading to a flurry of overbreading for all the overindulged kids who have to have the same puppy as Malia and Sasha.

Not of simiar importance to Guantanimo or international human rights abuses, I grant you. But puppies are important too.

their camp is showing the same pshycodrama tendencies they always had.....and the state department is such an important job for these shenanigans to part of it....I now firmly believe, that these media fiascos will follow Hillary there......I don't want that, and it has nothing to do with her qualifications.

and be done away with all the drama.

P.S. - Before everyone starts flaming me, I do have five dogs.

amk

Send this everywhere Al...I'm going to!

This is a perfect satire of what is going on...

waterprise2 AKA Pam

Liberal with a Capital L!

I think it's good they're going with a young pup because the last thing the White House needs is the dog's mate to be constantly scratching and howling at the back door to be let in.

@Jason

fabulous!

http://digg.com/politics/BREAKING_Tensions_Erupt_Over_White_House_Puppy_...

Nice parody Al. I really enjoy this: "George Stephanopoulos' report" ... this: "two Democratic Party sources told Andrea Mitchell" ... and this: "The Huffington Post has cited three sources close to Rex..."

On a different note, try this thought experiment. Picture two universes and the SoS in each. In one a hawkish Senator who voted for AUMF, Kyl-Lieberman, Armed Services committe experience and very deep ties to money of defense industry. In the second a person known for diplomatic talent, commitment to human rights and experience living in other cultures.

How would the US's strongest allies react? How would the US's most active enemies react?

Part of the answer is that when we put forward diplomacy and commitment to human rights, our nation is no longer the recruiting poster for terrorism and repressive governments around the globe. Check out this interesting summary of quotes concerning Iran:

http://www.motleymoose.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=668

amk

passed over for this important appointment, that there will be a bone tossed his way to ease the disappointment.

Cutest puppy EVER. Is that a google find or does Al know this dog personally?

thoroughly to know if he has the tendency to bite the hand that feeds him, a la Barney.

amk

I think that "lol" is way over-used, but so very, very true in this instance!  Al, I've been meaning to mention just how GREAT I think all your recents posts have been.  You're always my fav, but you've been uber-spot-on lately, and this is just the Liver Snap on top of the bowl of Kibbles N Bits.  Thanks.

Boy was I surprised to see that sweet Golden face here, of all places. Running the largest website in the world on Goldens and a nonprofit providing money for cancer treatment and research in comparative oncology, I can tell you that I hope there is no Golden in that new little pup. It will just spur too many senseless purchases by folks of sweet Golden pups who very quickly show their sporting dog needs for serious obedience school learning, which many do not have the time for.

Of course, the real reason for dropping by was to get Al's opinion on the continuing Clinton circus. Even with the joy of Waxman's victory this morning, the nonstop "will she or won't she" nonsense is taking the glow off of the supposedly no drama Obama transition.

 Love the satire. Need to spend some time reading all the posts I missed. No HRC for SoS!

Thanks for the best parody of the Clinton machine and its spin since, since, since I don't know when!

Brilliant...simply brilliant.

but would it be so impossible to imagine Hillary Clinton being considered for Secretary of State in a McCain transition... going on in some (horrifying) alternate universe?  You know, his big "bi-partisan" choice in forming the new McCain administration.

You know Sen. Joe Lieberman (Ind. Republican - Connecticut) would be all for it.  But given the primary and general election rhetoric, couldn't Sen. Clinton just as easily carry out McCain's foreign policy?  Maybe easier??

If so, does this tell us anything about Sen. Clinton as Secretary of State for President-elect Obama?

Be bi-partisan and equal oppertunity.

Piss on them all!!!

One early favorite in the pack of contenders, Lobo Laboy-Brauer, was eliminated in part because of his Mexican heritage, even though he was able to produce papers, after this image was broadcast on Lou Dobbs:

IS LOBO A WETBACK?

"How do we beat the bitch?"

Silence from the sadly anti-canine GOP leadership.

What if this whole Hillary as SOS was a trial balloon or a test of sorts, but not in the way that has been suggested? What if this was Barack's test for Hillary? Would she be discreet? Would there be drama? Would she and her team be heavy-handed?  Would there be power plays? Would she show by her actions that she would be a team player in his administration?

If I'm right, and the conversation between Hillary and Barack about a possible position in the cabinet was the prelim, then Hillary and her team has failed the test.

I don't believe for a minute that our President-Elect will let himself be boxed in - no way.  Barack knows that our world is a total mess and he will not squander all the goodwill he has in the world by appointing Hillary to a position he does not want her in.  He may choose her for SOS (though I don't believe he will), but if he does, it will be because he sees a strong value to our country in doing so.

Loved the story, by the way!

Loved it.

===========

Jason: thumbs up.

While caretakers and aides to Rex now confirm that a formal adoption offer has not been made, two sources familiar with the situation say that top breeding officials in the Obama administration are currently examining Rex's ties to two-time kennel club champion Blue Bull, a prized bulldog whose pedigree papers are owned and sponsored by a variety of private subsidiaries and corporate interests.

Bull's future publicity appearances, food commercials and overseas competitions are now expected to be monitored closely by Obama transition advisors.

Developing....

Michelle Obama reminded everyone that the selection of the dog was on hold until late winter or early spring. She said "As responsible dog-owners-to-be, our first priority is to get settled in our new home and new school. Then, we will welcome the first pet into our lives."

The blogosphere errupted with multiple diaries wondering just what going on within the Obama camp.

Thanks Al for a great laugh!

I was JUST floating exactly the same theory to my family last night!  That Obama used an SoS float as a test...Could she be a team player and keep her minions under control?  Guess he received the results I'm sure he expected...that an old dog really can't learn new tricks.  

And please....no slamming me for equating HRC with a dog.  Just my lame attempt to make my comments fit in with the meme of this post.

... is Rex scheduled to give his first interview to Couric? And will she ask him about rumors that he once dogged sniper fire which, it is claimed, would uniquely qualify him for the job of White House dog?

I'm digging (no pun intended) some of the feigned liberal outrage over at Daily Kos.

“That's so not cute!!!!” “It was almost sexism!”

So feigned in fact, that the diary is now on the top recommended list. Some people just need to get a sense of humor.

I dunno, I suppose the notion that it was a test of HRC's discretion isn't entirely out of the realm of possibility, but if true, it does strikely as a distinctly non-Obaman form of manipulation.

Surprisingly, Blue Bull has turned over his pedigree papers to the transition advisors and has agreed to forego his publicity appearances, food commercials and overseas competitions. Is he doing this just to clear the way for Rex, or is he in the running for a puppy appointment, too?

I don't know what happened to my other post from earlier...I sent this post all over...loved it, loved it, loved it.

but lots of people here are happy about Waxman defeating Dingle...I guess I, a lonely Michigander, is not very happy about it. Living in Detroit is extremely stressful right now...if no one has a job, how will other small businesses (like mine) survive with no one to buy their products?

waterprise2 AKA Pam

Liberal with a Capital L!

You know, I had originally meant to type "Blue Bill." Freudian slip? I report, you decide!

To answer your question though, I wouldn't pretend to know what the Big Dog is really after. But he does appear to have been leashed temporarily.

In many ways the efforts of Dingle on behalf of the big 3 are what have led them to the point they are in.  If they hadn't been fighting against higher fuel standards for years they would be much better off right now.

I'm not trying to be unsympathetic I think we need to try and save our auto industry being from Ohio I understand how much our economy depends on it.  I just don't know that Dingle is the right man for the job.

http://www.azstarnet.com/viewphoto2.php?src=http%3A//www.azstarnet.com/s...

@Paul

I know that dingle and the Big 3 ignored a whole lot of things they should not have, but I also know that they started making changes awhile ago.

The O-man came to the Detroit Economic Club last year and said just that...he didn't win any popularity contests with the CEOs!

But I just want to know why we (meaning Detroit) are being pilloried like this (I know about the corporate jets)...and I also know way too many people who put in 30-40 years at the plant just building what they were told to build but who nobody else is thinking about now.

The AIGs, etc. didn't have to go through this public embarrassment; and because of the greater economic credit crisis, nobody can buy cars even if they have a job and want to buy what Detroit makes.  People forget about that, too.

People here in Detroit are almost afraid to leave their houses to buy anything...even gas @ $1.76/gallon!

I know what Dingle did and didn't do, but I guess I feel really piled upon as a Detroiter...because I'm one of the little guys.

waterprise2 AKA Pam

Liberal with a Capital L!

I think you're barking up the wrong tree re: Big Boy Blue Bill...errr Bull.  Just because he's looking up at you all innocent doesn't mean he wasn't the one who pulled everything out of the garbage [or that he's actually cooperating as he professes].  :-)

How about this one?  http://www.newsobserver.com/802/story/1302184.html

"I saw something big and blond and thought it was a person." It was a blond all right, but it had four legs instead of two. "It was unbelievable," Lamont said. "My whole life I've been on the water, and I've never seen a dog like that. I said 'Good grief.' "

"The moral of the story is don't leave your dog unattended in the marsh."

Some dogs just don't know when they're out of their depth, I guess.

@Pam

I fully repspect the work of the Big 3 worker.  I don't blame them for this, it's their management that I'm angry at.

If only the Big 3 management has put pressure on washington for universal health care 40 years ago perhaps we wouldn't be in this boat.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/20/waxman-beats-dingell-in-d_n_145178.html

What about giving those hefty bailout funds directly to employees who lose their jobs and let companies declare bankruptcy?  Offer generous (and I mean generous) packages to all employees below threshhold of sr. most mgmt (including extended severance packages, vocational training stipends or relocation funds, back-stop their pensions and offer mortgage relief if necessary...)  I know, I know... unlikely. 

That could put the money directly back into hands of individuals as well as local economy and force car company senior mgmt to take another look at their business model.

@Lisa

I don't know if bailing out the autoworkers would help much at least in Michigan.  Even with retraining there wouldn't be jobs for them to take once the car companies are gone.  Unless the plan created new jobs in the sames areas they are lost I don't think that sort of plan would work.

Have a look.

http://www.sonyclassics.com/whokilledtheelectriccar/

Al,

Your posts about the Hillary drama have been such a comfort to me.  Your analysis is always spot on and your writing is just terrific.  This post about the puppy had me screaming with laughter.

BTW, I saw an interesting post at Politico entitled "Senate Leadership Role for Hillary?"  More rumors.  A way out perhaps? I immediately thought of you when I saw that headline. I have whiplash from all of the back and forth. The Clinton drama is just exhausting.

Here's the link:

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/15841.html

Chris Matthews had a good discussion about Hillary tonight.  Basically, he said if we have this much drama now, just imagine the drama if she was SoS.   This just doesn't fit the Obama "No Drama" mantra.  Meanwhile, I haven't heard a peep out of Bill Richardson.

"NBC is now reporting Hillary Clinton will be named SOS after thanksgiving."  I read this at kos.  

that, and some "breaking" on CNN: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/13/hillary-clinton-secretary_n_143...

And on Politico: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/15843.html

And this on TPM: http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/11/source_clinton_c...

If this isn't a done deal for real, the Clintons certainly are "all in."  Honestly, it's starting to wear even me down.  Put her in the frickin' cabinet already, let the Clintons be the Clintons & they'll provide an opportunity to cut them loose sooner rather than later... and I and my fellow NYers will be free of her, too.  Way to be a buzz-kill.  Oh, and have you seen the stuff on "The Crypt" about the Coumbian trade deal?  Scroll down to about 2pm.  http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/

Good night and good luck, indeed.

God help us all.

amk

no kidding.  

I love that we get to worry over things like this!!!

One of the most absurd paragraphs I have read in ages (in the NYT, of course) captures the Clinton drama with horrifying perfection: "One friend said Mrs. Clinton decided late Wednesday to say no, reasoning that she would have more freedom in the Senate. By midday Thursday, the friend said, she was 'back in the indecisive column again.' By the end of the day [today], another associate said she could accept by Friday."  Two unnamed "friends" or "associates" say that within 12 hours she has moved from rejecting, to pondering, to accepting an "offer" that may or may not exist. Of course, the article does not pose the the other possibilities--that no offer was given or that, despite vetting, no offer is forthcoming. But, honestly, if your "friends" and "associates" paint you as this indefinite--waffling every few hours between prospects that may be fantasies--what are we really seeing here other than the demise of American journalism? [Might we finally get some peep from Richardson or Susan Rice?] What is interesting in the article, is the stated intent by Reid to invent some other position of suitable stature for the Grand Dame should she deign to continue to grace the Senate with her shadow. Basta!