Nerd In Chief

Representative Wilson, the President is ready to see you.

or, alternatively,

The President gets ready to incinerate the awful health care reform bill sent up by Max Baucus and get some real change up in here. Right, RIGHT?

(My favorite part of this photo is the women standing behind them, obviously mocking.)

The Sunday Funnys

I have an assignment for you. Please go read this post by Margaret and Helen. Go on, I'll wait here iwth Monkey Stick.

In theantime I'd like to invite Margaret and Helen to come sit on my porch with me, drink gin and tonics, and make teabagging jokes.

Political Paws

My fellow barkers Jake and Just Harry posted this link and I just had to re-post it (though you should go read their blog, too! They are wise wires!): Kennedy's Dogs Will Be Missed on the Hill.

Here's a sample:

With the exception of the Senate floor, there were few places Splash, Sunny and Cappy didn’t have access to, including committee hearings and, once, even the Oval Office. It was a rare day when the Massachusetts lawmaker wasn’t shadowed by at least one of the pooches, whether Kennedy’s schedule brought him an office full of visitors or a committee bill markup.

A powerful man with a booming voice and a formidable family legacy, Kennedy often used his dogs to break the ice with Republican lawmakers, to relax nervous visitors and to put political personalities to the sniff test.

...But Kennedy's dogs weren’t saints either. Like a parent of spoiled children, the senator was loving but a poor disciplinarian.

Splash has been known to bark impatiently during long meetings. The dog once sent White House staffers into a frenzy when the pooch began barking in the Oval Office. Kennedy and his pets were at the White House waiting for the start of a religious freedom bill signing ceremony with President Clinton.

As you may know, because of MA law they cannot hold a special election to fill the seat until January. Rather than depriving the good people of MA of representation, the solution seems obvious to me...let the Porties govern! I have no doubt that they will draft legislation in their owner's honor that will guarantee health care for evert American and a tennis ball in every (dog) mouth!

Dogs on Vacation

It's hard being Top Dog (or the Body Double for the Top Dog. Though the Secret Service doesn't like me to talk about it.)

All right, Republicans in the Senate, the Big Dog is back in town. Quit yet fear mongering or I'll put YOU on this awesome leash! But it will be a short leash.

Remembering

The dog at the Portuguese Water Blog (Ha! I love a good play on words) remember Ted as a compassionate guy who worked hard for their breed. I wanted to end this sad week with a happy photo of Ted and his dog, taking care of business! I'd like to think that this guy has a mischevious look in his eye not only because he's getting to play ball at the Capitol but because he left a little "present" for Chuck Grassley under his desk.

We miss ya already, Teddy!

Domestic Terrorism

This weekend in Nebraska, home of the great GranNE, Operation Rescue is staging a protest of Dr. LeRoy Carhart who is one of the last providers of late-term abortions and was a friend of Dr. George Tiller who was brutally murdered in his church in Wichita, KS this summer. Dr. Carhart, an OB/GYN, decided to open a full-time abortion clinic after abortion opponents set fire to his farm. His clinic has also been targeted by arsonists. With people assassinating doctors and carrying weapons to political rallies it is clear that some people believe that when they lose via the democratic process they have the right to enforce their ideas via violence. It is important to not be intimidated in the face of terrorism so women's groups are organizing counter-protests at the clinic. If anyone out there is in the area please support Dr. Carhart.

Here's a rare public interview with Dr. Carhart:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

I'd like to note Dr.Carhart's button reads "Trust Women." Operation Rescue is led by one guy who is feuding with another guy (Randall Terry) over who gets to use the name "Operation Rescue." Who do you think is really on the side of women?

Goodnight, Ted.

We lost a good friend. A friend to a lot of people less fortunate than himself, a friend to people who didn't have access to the halls of power and, of course, a friend to dogs.

Joe Biden on Ted Kennedy:



From Jake and Just Harry:

If only his death has some meaning in helping restore a degree of civility and working for the common good.

Give 'em hell, Barney.

I think Barney Frank might be part corgador.



Yes, lady, nothing smacks of Nazism than wanting everyone to have health care. So evil.

The Birth of Wally

Nefarious sources (fox "news") have suggested that I may not actually be qualified to be First Dog because I am not a Natural Born Citizen. They have asked me to produce my birth certificate. Here you go!



Get yours here!

Happy 48th Burpday, Mr. President!

I had prepared a saucy rendition of Happy Burpday Mr. President but my ma ape said it was so hot it would melt the internets.

I say everyone have yourself a slice of cake to celebrate, the commander in chief's chief commander (me, not Rahm Emanuel!) says so!

UPDATE! The Prez just showed up at the press briefing to wish Helen Thomas, who is turning 84 today, a happy birthday and give her cupcakes. Woo!



OK, I had to add this photo because it is just THE AWESOME.

The president seems to enjoy distributing cakey substances. I hope this is not his health care plan, though I would like a cupcake WITH my single-payer health care plan. Frosted with low-low copays and a creamy affordable prescription drug plan inside. In the meantime I will continue to eat cupcakes. For my health.

Missing Colbert

Deaniacs! Here's some Howard in the Sunday New York Times. I'd be interested to know what went on between him n' Rahm. I hope he works hard to get us some health care. Here he is being funny making videos for Stephen Colbert. You are viral on MY blog, Dr. Dean!

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Exclusive - Backstage with Howard Dean
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Jeff Goldblum

And here is a funny Word from Stephen Colbert about the Obama administration and gay rights. Well played, Colbert.

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
The Word - Stonewalling
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Jeff Goldblum

Yes, I have missed you, Stephen. I can't wait to hear what you have to say about The Sotomayor hearings. (Good luck, Sonia! And if you ever need a Wise Old Corgador as clerk, I'm your dude! I will need to nap between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.)

Health Care, PLZ.

MoveOn is hosting events for a Public Health Care Option. You can check here to see if there is one in YOUR area. (We're knockin' on Senator Carper's door tomorrow!)

I wonder if the Public Plan will cover disemboweled stuffies? Hmmm.

The Endumbening

My ma ape's discipline just lost a little street cred (and by street cred I mean nerd cred):

from TPM:

Alberto Gonzales lines up teaching gig for the fall.

Late Update: TPM Reader RS:

Please tell me there's at least one Texas Tech political science student with the guts to answer "I do not recall" to every test question. Maybe even "I do not recall remembering."

As the report I link above notes, Gonzo will be "teaching a 'special topics' course on contemporary issues in the executive branch."

Happy Burpday Malia (and America)

My new mom Malia is turning 11 today! What do you think she will get me?

Is Anyone in Charge? and An Announcement

If you have a Republican governor in your state I would strongly recommend figuring out if anyone is actually still doing their job.

In the meantime, I would like to announce that I am running to be governor of Alaska. It appears to require few skills and I have very few. I am too old to hike the Appalachian trail, though I will fess up to having fondness for Canadian Bacon. I have no ethics violations (I have been cleared of all charges after biting my gramps). I have been blogging for a long time so I have no doubt I could weather the glaring media scrutiny and even David Letterman making jokes about me. And I don't wear clothes so my wardrobe will be very inexpensive.
As a side note, I am not interested in moving to Alaska so I hope they have Skype on their computer.

AMENDMENT: Khyra is interested in being my Lieutenant Governor which I wholeheartedly endorse, especially since I will probably get bored after a few months and pursue my national political career which I am hoping will lead to a seat on the Supreme Court, preferably on the lap of Ruth Bader Ginsberg who is SASSY.

Don't Cry for me (in) Argentina!

So sorry for my unexplained absence. I have been hiking the Appalachian Trail practicing my wide stance bonding with Congressional pages comforting my videographer and/or staff members' wives trying to find a faithful Republican.

If you are looking for something more worthwhile than chasing Argentine Tail hiking the Appalachian Trail, you may want to watch Obama's special "Prescription for America."

Good Boy!

My buddy Moose was looking for video of this. I have only found the pho-to version. If anyone knows where to find the video please post it in comments!

(P.S. Bo was distracting the media so I could poop right where the Fox cameraguy was about to step. Ooops!)

Notes on the Former Administration

Former President Bush has found a job for which he is qualified:

ARTESIA, N.M. - It was a humbling moment for the former commander in chief: President George W. Bush was walking former first dog Barney in his new Dallas neighborhood when it stopped in a neighbor's yard for relief.

"And there I was, former president of the United States of America, with a plastic bag on my hand," he told a group of graduating high school students in New Mexico on Thursday. "Life is returning back to normal."

Dick "Dick" Cheney has not.

In his case I would not trust him around dogs.

Gus, You're Needed in Airy-Zona!

There has been some controversy about the decision by Arizona State to not honor President Obama, who is speaking at their graduation, with an honorary degree. Things appear to have really gone downhill there since Gus and his dad left. They clearly need his WFT wisdom BACK (his being Gus's but his dad is pretty darn smart, I mean, for a non-WFT):

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	M - Th 11p / 10c
Arizona State Snubs Obama
thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Economic Crisis Political Humor

Or would Gus be playing beer pong with the coeds?

Jokester in Chief

Here's the President at the Correspondent's Dinner. He's funny!