By GottaLaff
Penn, whose real name is Kalpen Modi, has spent much of the past year working in the White House Office of Public Liaison, which is run by Obama senior adviser Valerie Jarrett.
EW.com reported that the actor is returning to Hollywood to resume his acting career, starting with a Christmas-themed installation of the "Harold and Kumar" series.
By GottaLaff
When Bush was in office, there the media and GOP were, cheer leading from the sidelines, rarely challenging the BushCo spokesbots, screaming patriotism at the top of their lungs... at the expense of democracy. After all, one should support one's president in a time of war.
Now Obama is in office. Here the media and the GOP are, resisting, challenging, insinuating, accusing, demonizing. Maybe someone should prop them up in front of a reel of reruns from 2001-2008, and then have the balls to confront them, and force them to answer honestly and thoroughly... if that were even possible.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
By GottaLaff
I'm sure some of you got this e-mail, but for those who didn't:
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By GottaLaff
Senior adviser Valerie Jarrett pushed back against the Republican refrain in a year-end interview with Politics Daily. Jarrett focused specifically on Sen. Lindsey Graham's (R-S.C.) use of the phrase in a recent CNN interview....101, 102, 103, 104...
"It was definitely a cheap shot and completely unwarranted," said Jarrett, who is one of several Chicagoans to join the Obama administration. "I think what people ought to do is to focus on how they can be constructive in their discourse and present fresh ideas for the president's consideration, and not lose focus on why they were all elected. They were elected to serve the people." [...]
"He does not spend time pulling his hair out worrying about the extreme views," she said. "It's not constructive and it's not going to improve the quality of life of everyday people who are out there struggling."
By GottaLaff
Take that!Reality Check: Trying to Turn a Point of Pride into a Moment of Shame
Last night Fox News continued its disregard for the facts in an attempt to smear the Administration's efforts to win the Olympics for the United States. In the past, hosting the Olympics has been a source of pride and unity for the country, but once again Fox News' Glenn Beck program has shown that nothing is worthy of respect if it can be used as part of a partisan attack to boost ratings.RHETORIC: BECK SAID VANCOUVER LOST $1 BILLION WHEN IT "HAD THE OLYMPICS." Glenn Beck said, "Vancouver lost, how much was it? they lost a billion dollars when they had the Olympics." [Transcript, Glenn Beck Show, 9/29/09]REALITY: VANCOUVER'S OLYMPICS WILL NOT TAKE PLACE UNTIL 2010. Vancouver will host the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games from February 12 – 28, 2010 and March 12-21, 2010, respectively. [Vancouver2010.com, accessed 9/29/09]RHETORIC: VALERIE JARRETT "WAS LAST SEEN WITH THE NEA." Beck's guest, FOX News contributor Pat Caddell, said, "[Obama] is going to go [to Copenhagen] with Valerie Jarrett who was last seen with the NEA pumping up their use of, you know, money." [Transcript, Glenn Beck Show, 9/29/09]REALITY: VALERIE JARRETT WAS NOT ON THE NEA CONFERENCE CALL. Valerie Jarrett was not a participant in the August 10, 2009 United We Serve/NEA conference call.RHETORIC: CHICAGO IS CLOSING THE GOVERNMENT SEVERAL DAYS A WEEK BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO BE OPEN. Beck's guest Caddell said, "Chicago is closing the government several days a week because they cannot afford to be open. They are going to go and reward -- this is the biggest scandal." [Transcript, Glenn Beck Show, 9/29/09
]REALITY: CHICAGO HAS HAD ONE REDUCED-SERVICE DAY IN 2009, AND WILL HAVE TWO MORE ON THE FRIDAY AFTER THANKSGIVING AND ON CHRISTMAS EVE. On August 17, 2009, CBS Chicago reported, "If you planned to check out a library book, visit a city clinic or have your garbage picked up on Monday, you're out of luck. The City of Chicago is basically closed for business on Aug. 17, a reduced-service day in which most city employees are off without pay. City Hall, public libraries, health clinics and most city offices will be closed. Emergency service providers including police, firefighters and paramedics are working at full strength, but most services not directly related to public safety, including street sweeping, will not be provided. That also includes garbage pickup. Residents who receive regular collection on Mondays should expect trash to be picked up on Tuesday. Some other customers may experience a one-day delay as collectors catch up. As part of the 2009 budget, three reduced-service days were planned for 2009, days which are unpaid for all affected employees -- the Friday after Thanksgiving; Christmas Eve; and New Year's Eve. The City Council recently approved moving the reduced-service day planned for New Year's Eve to Monday. The 2009 budget anticipates saving $8.3 million due to the reduced-service days. In addition to reduced service days, all non-union employees were asked to take a series of furlough days and unpaid holidays, and most non-sworn union employees agreed to similar unpaid time off." [CBS Chicago, 8/17/09]RHETORIC: VALERIE JARRETT WILL BENEFIT FINANCIALLY. Beck asked, "Is it possible that she is going to benefit if the Olympics come to Chicago?" Caddell responded, "Well, that’s the word. She has certainly had a lot of dealings going on in real estate." [Transcript, Glenn Beck Show, 9/29/09]REALITY: UPON ENTERING GOVERNMENT, VALERIE JARRETT DIVESTED ALL HER REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT HOLDINGS EXCEPT FOR A SINGLE INVESTMENT THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE OLYMPIC BID. Valerie Jarrett divested all her investment real estate holdings upon entering government except for a single real estate holding that she was unable to sell. This single real estate investment has been determined by White House Counsel and the independent Office of Government Ethics to present no conflict of interest in performing her duties as a White House advisor. It has nothing to do with the Olympic bid.
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For even more Fox lies, check out the latest "Truth-O-Meter" feature from Politifact that debunks a false claim about a White House staffer that continues to be repeated by Glenn Beck and others on the network.
By GottaLaff
At a private White House cocktail reception last night for leaders of major progressive groups, Barack Obama and his wife Michelle appealed to these leaders and signaled that their groups would play a key role in driving the big progressive changes at the heart of the White House’s legislative agenda, an attendee tells me.And in a follow-up report:
The message was that these groups would be valuable as a kind of progressive outside “echo chamber,” as the attendee puts it.
The party — which was organized by top Obama aide Valerie Jarrett — signals that the White House is moving forward with efforts to build coordination with outside progressive groups in order to drive the White House’s message and beat back its foes. As I reported recently, Jarrett is at the center of those efforts. [...]
Among those on the guest list: Labor leaders Jimmy Hoffa, Gerry McEntee and Andy Stern; MoveOn’s Eli Pariser; Sierra Club’s Carl Pope; Planned Parenthood’s Cecile Richardson; and Joe Solomonese of the Human Rights Campaign.
Obama also displayed a fairly intimate knowledge of what the groups had done to push the stim, such as the big Americans United for Change ad campaign.“People were very excited -– if I had a dollar for every time I heard someone say, `It’s nice to be back in the White House after eight years,’ I could buy a nice lunch today,” the attendee adds.
One other fun detail, involving chief of staff Rahm Emanuel: “It was interesting,” the attendee emails. “Rahm came in the room and pulled Obama aside to share something. But it didn’t look all that urgent –- or at least it wasn’t bad. Whatever news he gave him got a big smile from the President and a half bear hug.”
If Prez O is smiling, then I'm smiling.
So much for Blago trying to throw up dust to obscure the situation.
CHICAGO—The Illinois House committee investigating a possible impeachment of Gov. Rod Blagojevich won't subpoena two incoming White House advisers, the committee chairwoman said Saturday, shutting down a request from the governor's attorney.
In a letter received by the committee Friday, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald asked the special investigative committee specifically to not subpoena President-elect Barack Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett, incoming chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. and Nils Larsen, a Tribune Co. executive vice president.
Fitzgerald said any such subpoenas "would interfere with the ongoing criminal investigation into the activities of Governor Rod Blagojevich and others."
By GottaLaff
UPDATE: Here's the report .
UPDATE 2: Here's Greg Craig's memo.
Liveblogging MSNBC:
Obama had no contact with Blagojevich, but of course, Rahm Emanuel did.
Obama did have an interview with the U.S. Attorney's office, as did Valerie Jarrett and Rahm Emanuel. They had separate, informal interviews, accompanied by an attorney. He was played recordings by phone conversations that he had made.
Andrea Mitchell: There was no inidication of anything untoward. Nothing was asked of them, nor was anything offered.
Rahm Emanuel did not discuss a cabinet position for Blago, or any other personal benefit. With John Harris, Chief of Staff for Blagojevich, no effort was made to extract a personal benefit for the governor.
Chuck Todd: The one question mark could be Valerie Jarrett, who was told that Blago was interested in a cabinet post, not necessarily quid pro quo. They laughed it off, because there was no chance he'd become a cabinet secretary. But there was a convo, which could lead to questions about what she might have known.
Mitchell: Obama wasn't interested in having Jarrett in the Senate, but Valerie Jarrett had some interest. Obama let everyone know that nobody spoke for him, was very careful about connections between his inner circle and Blago.
Todd: Eric Whitaker, a deputy governor, a friend of Obama's, was asked who is speaking for Obama, by Blago's office. Dr. Whitaker said he wasn't aware of who, if anyone, was. The emissary ended up being Rahm Emanuel.
By GottaLaff
"Everyone who wants anything from the federal government has to interface with the now conjoined office of intergovernmental affairs and public liaison in the Obama White House. To head this office, Obama has appointed his best friend and most trusted counselor, Valerie Jarrett... Her job will be manage the relationship between the outside world and the president, and, vitally, she and her staff will have the juice to make decisions about how the Obama administration relates to just about every external constituency."Wonder Woman, the Axe and Rahmbo. That's some powerful team.
"Jarrett shares a senior adviser title with David Axelrod, who will informally supervise the White House communications operation. But Jarrett's job will probably be more important. Outside of Rahm Emanuel, she's destined to become the second most powerful staffer in the place."
By GottaLaff
There are only two news stories today: Caylee Anthony and Hot Rod Blagojevich. Nothing else is happening anywhere in the world. Poverty and starvation are a thing of the past. Peace is the new normal. Global warming has been effectively addressed.
It makes blogging so much simpler.
Roland Martin says the assumption by many that Valerie Jarrett "mysteriously" dropped out of contention for the U.S. Senate seat in Illinois -- "and I've even heard some suggest that the Obama team got wind of Blagojevich's alleged scheme to broker a deal for the seat appointment" -- is actually not mysterious at all.Now what will the media do? They'll have to concoct a whole new smear campaign, and that's so gosh-darned time-consuming and energy-depleting. Here's an idea: Maybe they can dig up something on John McCain.
Martin had been talking to her all along and explains that Obama simply persuaded her to join his administration instead.
By GottaLaff
Is there anything Blago says that resembles the truth?
Contrary to comments made by Gov. Blagojevich--according to federal wiretaps--about President elect Barack Obama wanting confidant Valerie Jarrett to replace him in the Senate, David Axelrod said Thursday that Obama's "preference was always she serve in the White House." Jarrett was tapped to be a senior advisor. Axelrod spoke at a forum at Harvard University's Institute of Politics.
By GottaLaff
In keeping with Paddy's post below, we have this:
President-elect Obama's transition office has yet to comment on the news of the arrest of Gov. Rod Blogojevich, but there is some suspicion that the Obama team at least knew of the investigation.But the righties will call Obama a Muslim terrorist with ties to the bad guys. Countdown to the first Tee Vee Machine ad: 5... 4... 3...
Transcripts of wiretap conversations suggest that the governor had conversations with Obama's transition team about Senate Candidate 1. Marc Ambinder makes a very strong case that this "is probably senior Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett."
In fact, just days after the presidental election, there were reports that Obama favored Jarrett for the Senate appointment. However, it's also clear from the complaint that the transition team refused to play ball with Blagojevich. The complaint states the governor said he knows that Obama wanted Senate Candidate 1 for the Senate seat but "they're not willing to give me anything except appreciation. Fuck them."
As Ben Smith notes, Jarrett's "abrupt withdrawal from consideration for the Senate seat suggests Obama's circle aware of the investigation" and wanted to distance themselves from any contacts with Blogojevich.
By GottaLaff
Those damn community organizer types! Accentuating the positive, realizing the promise, who do they think they are:
Valerie Jarrett, who has been selected to be a senior adviser to President-elect Obama, got back to her Chicago roots by reaching out to community organizers at a roundtable event at the Washington Hilton yesterday. “Realizing the Promise,” a forum designed to give the transition team input on solutions from the grassroots level, showed Jarrett in a light similar to the president-elect, rallying the masses with a message of hope.
“Yes we can!” she cheered, stirring up the crowd. The audience, filled with nearly 2,500 community activists from around the nation stood to their feet as she entered the room.
[...] She relied on rhetoric about how optimism and unification are the keys to the success of the new administration.
“Our future is bright, and there’s nothing we can't do if we can come together as one,” said Jarrett. “The challenges are daunting ... but [we can] hold hands and follow the vision of President-elect Obama's campaign, which is let's not talk about all the issues that divide us, let's talk about what we have in common.”
Melody Barnes, the soon-to-be director of the White House domestic policy council, echoed Jarrett about the importance of community effort in setting the policy agenda.
[...] Jarrett continued the plea for outreach from the ground level, suggesting that town halls and forums are the best way to brainstorm during the transition.
“We can count on you to advise us,” said Jarrett. “You know better than anybody else what your community needs in order to improve your neighborhood.”
By GottaLaff
Hold the mayo:
President-elect Barack Obama made his first public appearance in 10 days on Friday at a Chicago lunchtime institution.
Obama arrived at Manny’s Cafeteria and Deli around 12:30 p.m. and ordered three corned beef sandwiches. He was accompanied by his newly named senior adviser and close friend Valerie Jarrett.“Rahm Emanuel sends his regards,” Obama told the deli’s owner, Ken Raskin, whose late father founded the Chicago institution. “I ordered him his corned beef.”
Obama worked the restaurant full of enthusiastic patrons for about 15 minutes, but he declined questions from reporters about Congress’ decision to put off approving a plan to salvage the fledgling auto industry.
Asked by reporter what he ordered, the president-elect said, "We got the corned beef."
Asked then, "What do you think about the auto industry?” Obama smiled and said, "I got the corned beef.”
Then he mingled. Barack the Mingler. Oh how I'd love to be a minglee.
"I love you," one of them told the president-elect.
"I love you back," Obama said.
Another woman hugged him.
I guess that could be classified as "co-mingling". And oh how I'd love to be a co-minglee.
Obama also got two cherry pies. Mmmm. Now I like him even more than I did when I said I wanted to be a co-minglee.
By GottaLaff
Officially now: Valerie Jarrett will be a senior adviser to President Barack Obama, a transition official confirms.
By GottaLaff
There's been some buzz over whether Obama transition co-chair Valerie Jarrett wants to replace Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate. A source tells me that Jarrett is "not interested in a U.S. Senate seat."Jarrett, who holds a unique position in that she is a personal friend as well as advisor to both the president-elect and wife Michelle, is headed towards a senior position in the Obama White House.
She's more valuable to Obama in the White House than in his cabinet--though as a CEO of a major Chicago real estate firm--and the former board chair of Chicago's public transit agency--she could have filled slots at HUD or DOT.
Any other ideas?
By GottaLaff
A prominent Democratic source close to Barack Obama confirmed Sunday that Valerie Jarrett is Obama’s choice to replace him in the Senate.Suh-weet!Jarrett is a Chicago lawyer and one of Obama’s closest advisers. She is also one of the leaders of Obama’s transition team. [...]
“People should know that Valerie Jarrett is — and people do know — she is a very dear friend of the president-elect and a valuable ally of his, not only prior to running for president, in his Senate life, and just personally for Michelle and Barack,” [Rahm] Emanuel said on ABC’s “This Week.”
The Illinois governor, Rod Blagojevich, will make the final decision on who will be Obama’s successor.
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