Some are saying The One wasn't too happy with the Man from Scranton here. I don't know what He was thinking there or when He picked Biden. Joe, God love him, was just trying to be funny and that's never a good idea for him.

To me the best part is how disorganized they were and all the idiots who followed Biden by repeating "...swear or affirm". Apparently the best and brightest don't know it's their choice to pick one or the other. What the hell is it with this administration and oaths?

(video below the fold) more...

Posted by: DrewM at 02:32 PM | Comments (128)
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So bloviates Garrison Keillor.

In the end, one wanted to be there on the Mall before the Capitol on Tuesday at noon amid the jubilant throng and see the man take the oath of office—our first genuine author-president.

He doesn't elaborate, but seems to forget more accomplished "author-presidents." Presidents who wrote their own books, which is quite in doubt with Obama.

The Other McCain, meanwhile, examines the quite-bizarre circumstances which somehow brought this literary light to the world's attention.

A 28-year-old law student gets written up in the newspapers, then gets a call from a literary agent? She calls him?

The agent then signs this 28-year-old nobody -- whose only credential as an author is student law journal stuff -- with Simon & Schuster. Hello? In what alternative universe does this happen?

He misses his deadline, but that's OK, because he then gets another big contract with a $40,000 advance. At this point, Obama's story is reminding me of another popular book, The Peter Principle.

But the real killer is how, having gotten a contract based on a proposal for a book about race relations, Obama pulls a bait-and-switch, and instead delivers ... a memoir.

A memoir! Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?? Unless you led the league in RBIs and helped the Yankees win the Series, how the hell does a 28-year-old get away with selling a memoir to a major publisher for $40,000?

By what accomplishment does a 28-year-old law student merit readership for a memoir? What can he possibly write that anyone would want to read? Nothing.

Thanks to Phil K. and John S.

Bonus: Jake Tapper of ABCNews writes:
[DrewM.] See correction.

[Edited: I've deleted the erroneous non-quote to keep it from spreading further. Not to hide my error (see the correction), but to keep my misreporting from being repeated more.

Posted by: Ace at 12:13 PM | Comments (334)
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No time for Medal of Honor and Purple Heart recipients or paralyzed vets? Yeah, honeymoon...over.

From This Ain't Hell...

According to TSO who was at the “Salute to Heroes Inaugural Ball”, this newly sworn-in President for the first time in 56 years blew off the ball (that’s 14 Inaugurations).

Some background on the ball;

The American Legion sponsors the ball, which recognizes recipients of Medal of Honor, the nationÂ’s highest military award. It started in 1953 for President Dwight D. EisenhowerÂ’s first inauguration.

Event co-sponsors include 13 other veterans service organizations, among them the Military Order of the Purple Heart and the Paralyzed Veterans of America.

Obama did manage to make it to the Commander in Chief's Ball which was a good thing. Of course in 2005 George W. Bush managed to find time to make it to both balls. Of course, he didn't have the MTV and Neighborhood Balls as options. Kanye West was at one of them. How can you skip Kanye for some Medal of Honor winners? Dude!

Have I mentioned how much I miss W. despite all my problems with him? If not... God I miss that man.

BTW, Bush started the CiC Ball in 05 to honor active duty members of the military and several hundred Wounded Warriors. Last night FNC sent Megyn Kelly to cover it. I'm guessing the troops appreciated that. Well done Fox!

Be sure to take a minute to read TSO's post on his night with these great Americans.

h/t LGF's Link thing.

Posted by: DrewM at 11:38 AM | Comments (197)
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Stay until the end.

At what point does euphoria become crushing disappointment? One year? Two?

Can't wait.

Thanks to MattS.

Posted by: Ace at 11:26 AM | Comments (231)
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"I forgot" becomes "someone else screwed up."

Gingrich recommends fighting this nomination -- we can't have a tax evader as head tax collector for the IRS.

Or can we? I see some advantages.

Dr.John sends this photoshop. Too big to post, but worth the click.

Posted by: Ace at 10:41 AM | Comments (70)
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All Obama promises come with an expiration date -- including the few sops he threw to the national security hawks. Once upon a time he called Iran's development of the bomb "unacceptable" and vowed he would not take the military option off the table. Well, the threat has now been downgraded to "troubling" and there is no longer any hint of possible military action.

If Iran continues its troubling behavior, we will step up our economic pressure and political isolation. In carrying out this diplomacy, we will coordinate closely with our allies and proceed with careful preparation. Seeking this kind of comprehensive settlement with Iran is our best way to make progress.

There is no Plan B mentioned, though Obama did allude to such... when a candidate.

Obama just green-lit Iran's bomb. Produced by Mahmoud Achmadinejad based on an original screenplay by A.Q. Khan, it's slated for a 2012 release. Insiders predict it'll be "a blockbuster."

Posted by: Ace at 10:33 AM | Comments (110)
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Update: It's not a press conference but rather a statement to executive branch members about his executive orders.

He's going to freeze salary increases for top advisers (how's that work since they just started yesterday?), do some stuff about lobbyist (but they are mommies and daddies too!)

Now Biden is swearing in the senior staff. It's pretty disorganized.

All in all, not much of anything. Who is against restrictions on lobbyists or greater openness in government? Pretty innocuous stuff.

Original post:

I'm guessing the questioning will be a little more, um, what's the word? Chummy? Professional? Worshipful?

Stand by for any interesting news that may come from this.

Related thought to ponder...Helen Thomas says she's a liberal but "I was never, never accused of bias in my copy".

Posted by: DrewM at 09:15 AM | Comments (142)
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How much did parts of Obama's address yesterday sound like "Stuff Bush Might Have Said"? So much so even John Stewart's writing staff noticed it.

(I tucked the video and the rest of the post below the fold to avoid slowing down the site.) more...

Posted by: DrewM at 08:50 AM | Comments (28)
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The National Mall, post-inauguration.

I guess President Obama's call to service wasn't inspiring enough.

(Picture via Drudge)

Update - Let's not forget - this was touted as the "greenest inauguration in history."

Heh - "Post-Barackalyptic Wasteland"

Posted by: Slublog at 08:34 AM | Comments (162)
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This Fat Ass Is Not My Fault

Women have a harder time turning down food than men do, is the gist of this delightful study.

....after they fasted for 20 hours, the researchers presented them with their favorite foods; the dishes were even warmed up, if appropriate, to make them more tempting. The men and women were allowed to smell and taste the food but not eat it. Then, in an experiment, they were told to try to inhibit their desire to eat the food.

Meanwhile, PET scans examined their brain activity.

The researchers found that certain areas of the brain became more active in both the men and women when they were tempted with food. The brain areas that lit up control emotions such as motivation.

Also, both men and women succeeded in making themselves feel less hungry by inhibiting their desire to eat the food. But the brain scans suggested that the women's brains were still acting as if they were hungry.

In other words, the women may have thought they were less hungry, but their brains didn't seem to be entirely on board.

Hunh. Women have a harder time controlling their emotions.

Shut. UP.

A woman's bran scan as rendered by the Magnificent Slublog:

more...

Posted by: LauraW at 08:06 AM | Comments (79)
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