If elected President, Barack Obama will remove the flat screen TV from the Lincoln bedroom in the White House.  He says you should read the Gettysburg Address in there, not watch ESPN. 

Who does he think he is?!  This is another example of a politician trying to force his own morality on the American people.

And it's not the way to win votes from sports enthusiasts and fans of The Hills.

[The Los Angeles Times]

Ebony Magazine has just named Barack Obama one of the 25 coolest brothers of all time.

Now this we can speak to from personal experience.  We participated in a conference call with Obama sometime in 2004, before he was senator, before the speech, before he was the man. (And before we knew his name. At the time and for weeks after, we actually thought his name was Obama Barack.) 

Anyway, accustomed to the arrogant (but feigned friendly) posturing politicians usually do on these calls, we were surprised - read utterly shocked - when Obama hopped on the phone with a laid back and unassuming  "Hey, it's Barack." 

Cool.

We mean, he said it like a "Yo man, what's up, bruh?"  response would have been okay. (We elected not to do that, because we would have sounded ridiculous.  But somebody cooler than us could have pulled it off.)

Then Barack went on to tell us that he'd just heard from the DNC that "we" (he was inclusive even back then) might have a role at convention.  "I don't know what that role will be yet," he said, "but I think it could be an opportunity for us."  

The speech.  An "opportunity."

Uh, ya think?

MTV's Emmy Award winning Choose or Lose campaign will take over MTV2 today to present programming that will engage its young adult audience in the plight of America's more than one million young troops who have served on the frontlines of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

MTV News and the 51 MTV/Knight Foundation Street Team will air special reports on young veterans issues.  These reports will highlight stories of young veterans in their communities, focusing on the challenges of post traumatic stress disorder, lack of educational benefits, and the difficulties young veterans face as they struggle to acclimate back into civilian life.  In addition to these reports, MTV2 will broadcast the following specials: 

6:00 pm - Iraq Uploaded

6:30 pm - True Life: I Live in Iraq

8:30 pm - True Life: I'm Shipping Out

9:30 pm - True Life: I'm Coming to America

10:30 pm - True Life: I'm a Civilian Again

John McCain and Barack Obama have each prepared special July 4th video messages in honor of our young troops that will air exclusively on MTV2 today. Recent MTV research shows that 70% of young adults 18 to 29 personally know someone who has fought in Iraq.

John McCain and Barack Obama made July 4th public service announcements for MTV viewers.  Watch below.

John McCain's message:

Barack Obama's message:

With all of this traveling and what not, we haven't had a chance to tell you about our inaugural Cocktail Caucus!  It was such a blast!  We met so many of you fly a** readers, got fabulous makovers and scored a to die for swag bag from CHANEL.  And, oh yeah, we talked a whole lotta polichicks.

Jen Nedeau, a writer once described as a "bad ass, classy chick" ( we met her; accurate description), live blogged the Cocktail Caucus on twitter and posted a follow up post about the event on her Absurdities! blog.

Read Jen's tweets below and her Absurties! post over here.  (Note: Just in case you don't twitter, you gotta read the tweets from the bottom up.)

(We'll add pix to this post later.  Can't seem to shrink them to the right size. Grrrr...)

Campaign '08:

Bill Clinton and Barack Obama have finally had "the talk." [The Los Angeles Times]

Cindy McCain reveals to Vogue that she prefers suits by German designer Escada.  If she becomes First Lady though, she'll probably switch to American designer Carolina Herrera. (BTW, the attached article is actually about how Cindy's money - girlfriend is loaded - could affect husband John McCain's presidential campaign.  We just thought the two sentences about clothes were the most interesting.) [Politico]

John McCain has a new head honcho.  Some guy named Steve Schmidt, who's the third man to head up McCain's campaign this year. [The Washington Post]

John McCain supports a ban on gay marriage in California.  Barack Obama does not. [The Los Angeles Times]

U.S. News:

Elizabeth Edwards headlines Healthcare for America Now, a coalition of liberal organizations that will spend $40 million on an everybody needs healthcare ad campaign. [Politico]

Now this is just ridiculous:

Sheriff says "phenomenal" sex is a job perk. Cuz that's how they roll in the O.C. [The Los Angles Times]

Neato! :

New digital pens will let you write on paper and then transfer the text to your PC.  Cool.  [The New York Times]

Where the devil needs air conditioning

We haven't posted in a few days, because we took a quick trip to Houston, Texas to see la familia.  And man, was it hot!  Unbelievably hot!  The funny thing was, the native Texans kept saying to us, "Aren't you glad we're having such mild weather?"  We were like, "Uh, clearly you don't see us melting at your feet."

Anyway, we're back in Washington D.C., which is hotter than hell but a lot cooler than Texas.

Will post soon.

Here's your Daily Polichicks - the thank God it's Friday special edition.

Campaign '08:

Come together.  Right now. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama hald a joint meeting with Clinton's funders Thursday in an effort to unify the Dems.  Clinton said Democrats "are a family" and "will do whatever it takes to win back this White House."  Obama spoke kindly of Clinton, said that he encouraged his own funders to help erase her campaign's $20 million debt and wrote a $2300 presonal check (the maximum allowed by law) to her campaign. [The Washington Post]

U.S. News:

The U.S. Supreme Court struck down the District of Columbia's strict ban on handguns.  This decision is HUGE, as it marks the first time in history that the Court has clearly said that an individual has the right to own a gun to protect herself or himself.  [BTW, we happen to be in D.C., and we can tell you that this decision has caused much drama here.  It's all over the TV and radio, and it's being talked about at every water cooler in every office.  Some Washingtonians are celebrating the Court's decision, but it seems that most wanted the handgun ban and are mad as hell that the Court struck it down.  Since D.C. isn't a state and doesn't have states' right, Washingtonians get extra testy about any federal interference in their stuff.] [The Washington Post]

The U.S. Supreme Court struck down the "Millionaire's Amanedment," a law meant to level the playing field for a candidate who is running against a wealthy individual financing a campaign with his or her own money.  The law tripled contribution limits (from $2,300 to $6,900) for the candidate who was not self-financing their campaign. [The New York Times]

OMG:

Madonna and Guy Ritchie are so over each other. [Us Weekly]

Today's Daily Polichicks.  Short and sweet.

Campaign '08:

Barack Obama denies that he emails actress Scarlett Johansson on the regular.  He says that he once responded to an email from the actress that was forwarded to him by his assistant ,and that Scarlett does not have his personal email address. [Us Weekly]

The U.S. Supreme Court decided aginst allowing executions for people who rape children, sparing the lives of two men who raped two girls aged 5 and 8.  Barack Obama and John McCain disagree with the Court's decision. [AP]

U.S. News:

Good stuff.  Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt donate a million dollars through their foundation to help Iraqi and American children affected by the war. [AP] and [Us Weekly]

What's going on.

Campaign '08:

Hillary Clinton is back on the 9 to 5.  She returned to work at the U.S. Senate on Tuesday.  "It's great to be here among my colleagues," Clinton teased, "just another regular, plain old superdelegate."  [The Washington Post]

A new Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg polls shows Barack Obama has a 12 point lead over John McCain (49% Obama; 37% McCain).  Add Independent candidate Ralph Nader and Libertarian candidate Bob Barr to the game, and Obama's lead jumps to 15. [The Los Angeles Times]

John McCain outlined his plan for energy efficiency yesterday.  [The Washington Post] 

Will John McCain select a woman as his running mate? Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson, former HP CEO Carly Fiorina and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin could be on his short list. [Politico]

Barack Obama asks his funders to help Hillary Clinton pay off her campaign debt. [The New York Times]

MTV rocks the vote by announcing that the network will now take political ads.  MTV has refused political ads since its inception in 1981. [TV Week]

U.S. News:

Please don't surf and drive.  Chrysler will offer wireless internet connection in its 2009 vehicles. [The Los Angeles Times]

And by the way:

Ashley Dupre, the call girl who "dated" former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, is back on MySpace asking people to friend her. [The Los Angeles Times] 

Oregon Republican Sen. Gordon Smith expects a blue tide to roll accross his state this November, and he hopes to ride it all the way to Washington.  He's just released a new ad that implies that he and Barack Obama are total BFFs when it comes to developing better public policies.

"Who says Gordon Smith helped lead the fight for better gas mileage and a cleaner environment?" the ad asks. "Barack Obama."

Dude is seriously tripping, said the Obama campaign.  "Barack Obama has a long record of bipartisan accomplishment and we appreciate that it is respected by his Democratic and Republican colleagues in the Senate," said Obama spokesman Bill Burton. "But in this race, Oregonians should know that Barack Obama supports Jeff Merkley for Senate. Merkley will help Obama bring about the fundamental change we need in Washington."

 Hat Tip: Ben Smith at Politico

Clint Eastwood got a makeover!  He's softened his Dirty Harry style to adopt a look that's more When Harry Met Sally. He is so not afraid of his feminine side!  Above, Clint models his pastel pink McCain cap in a photo with Cindy McCain at a campaign event. 

Hey Polichicks!

Our posts were infrequest last week, because we were busy planning our Cocktail Caucus event with CHANEL and Saks Fifth Avenue.  But now that the Cocktail Caucus is over, we will be posting more frequently.

Stay tuned!

Check out John McCain's pimped out campaign tour bus, complete with 22 inch rims.

Hey there, Polichicks!

Just wanted to give you the heads up that the Cocktail Caucus event sponsored by CHANEL and Saks Fifth Avenue is now closed.

Stay tuned for details on our next event.  Sign up for our email list above if you would like to be the first to receive an invitation to future events.

Michelle Obama guest co-hosted The View yesterday.  Can we be the first to say that she looked FAB?  She debuted a new, softer look: sweeping bangs, flawless makeup  and a feminine flower print dress with a flower pin. Tres elegante!  And her best accessory?  Her brain. 

We have been just swamped this week.  S-W-A-M-P-E-D.  So we haven't posted as much as we would have liked.  Please forgive us, and then read your Daily Polichicks.

Event:

For those in the Washington D.C. area, Polichicks Online, CHANEL and Saks Fifth Avenue will host the inaugural Cocktail Caucus this Sunday.  Details are over here.

Campaign '08:

Every woman should reinvent herself every now and again, and Michelle Obama is no different.  She's getting a makeover. No, not the kind that we'll get at CHANEL this Sunday - the PR kind.  [The New York Times]

Catfight! John McCain and Barack Obama spar over terrorism. [The New York Times]

Al Gore has endorsed Barack Obama, but he's unlikely to campaign for him.  Gore has pretty much abandoned partisan politics in favor being green (and uniting people who want to be green too). [Politico]

Chicks dig Barack Obama: women voters who were expected to be mad about Hillary Clinton's loss are supporting Barry. [The Los Angeles Times]

Polls say Barack Obama leads John McCain in Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania [The Los Angeles Times]

Caroline Kennedy has an important role as veep vetter for Barack Obama.  She brings a sense of history and a whole lotta smarts (she's a lawyer and author) to the campaign. [The Washington Post]

Linda Douglass, formerly a well-respected journalist, is heading up Barack Obama's communcations department.  Here's what she's about and how she's handling the role so far. [The Washington Post]

[Editor's note: We didn't mean for this section to be mostly about Barack Obama, but there just wasn't a lot of John McCain stuff in the news today.  McCainiacs, we'll hook you up next time.] 

U.S. News:

Our home state, Virginia, is seriously tripping over California's new gay marriage laws. Virginia is for lovers, except ones that are gay.  [The Los Angeles Times]

Donna Edwards is the first African American woman to serve Maryland in the U.S. Congress. [The Washington Post]

Now this is kind of interesting:

Three women escaped scientology [Glamour]

Polichicks Online: The It Girl's Guide to Politics invites you to our inaugural Cocktail Caucus, hosted by CHANEL and Saks Fifth Avenue.  Sip champagne while you mix, mingle and have girl talk about campaign '08.  Vote for your favorite candidate in a straw poll. Plus, enjoy a CHANEL beauty makeover and learn the latest CHANEL makeup application techniques, straight off the runways of Paris. You can preview CHANEL's fragrance and beauty collection here.

When: Sunday, June 22nd from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Where: Chanel Fragrance and Beauty Boutique in Saks Fifth Avenue at the Tysons Galleria (Tysons II).  Street address is 2001 International Drive, McLean, VA 22102.

Please RSVP for this event to rsvp@polichicksonline.com.

See you at the Cocktail Caucus!

UPDATE: THIS EVENT IS NOW CLOSED.  We'll give you a heads up once our next event is scheduled.  Sign up for our email list above to be the first to get an invitation to future events.

Barack Obama claims to be for the American family, but he's actually kind of a homewrecker. 

At a rally in Detroit, MI, former Vice President Al Gore will endorse Barack Obama tonight. (As if we thought he would endorse McCain!) You can watch the rally LIVE tonight on the web at 8:30 p.m. at www.BarackObama.com.

Here is the letter that Al Gore emailed to Barack Obama's supporters announcing his endorsement:

Dear Polichicks,

A few hours from now I will step on stage in Detroit, Michigan to announce my support for Senator Barack Obama. From now through Election Day, I intend to do whatever I can to make sure he is elected President of the United States.

Over the next four years, we are going to face many difficult challenges -- including bringing our troops home from Iraq, fixing our economy, and solving the climate crisis. Barack Obama is clearly the candidate best able to solve these problems and bring change to America.

This moment and this election are too important to let pass without taking action.

That's why I am asking you to join me in showing your support by making a contribution to this campaign today:

https://donate.barackobama.com/gore

Over the past 18 months, Barack Obama has united a movement. He knows change does not come from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue or Capitol Hill. It begins when people stand up and take action.

With the help of millions of supporters like you, Barack Obama will bring the change we so desperately need in order to solve our country's most pressing problems.

If you've already contributed to this campaign, I ask that you consider making another contribution right now. If you haven't, please take the next step and own a piece of this campaign today:

https://donate.barackobama.com/gore

On the issues that matter most, Barack Obama is clearly the right choice to lead our nation.

We have a lot of work to do in the next few months to elect Barack Obama president, and it begins by making a contribution to this campaign today.

Thank you for joining me,

Al Gore

LIVE TONIGHT -- 8:30 p.m. EDT: Watch streaming video of Al Gore and Barack Obama at a rally in Detroit, Michigan:

http://www.BarackObama.com

Jennifer Lopez, flanked by aides, on Capitol Hill. Photo from Faded Youth Blog.

Jenny from the block was Jenny on the Hill last Wednesday, as the star made an unannounced visit to Sen. Barack Obama's Capitol Hill office.  Sen. Obama wasn't there, so J.Lo met with his staff for an hour and a half.  J.Lo and Obama's staff are mum about what the meeting was about.

(We digress to say... Peep the Birkin she's carrying.  Nice!)

See also: J.Lo: The new Obama girl? [Faded Youth Blog]

By now you're probably heard the terrible news.  Tim Russert, Washington Bureau Chief of NBC News and host of Meet the Press, died suddenly on Friday. He is survived by son Luke, wife Maureen and dad "Big Russ."

Friends Tom Brokaw, Mary Matalin, James Carville and Maria Shriver participated in a special broadcast of Meet the Press in honor of Russert on Sunday.  Russert's chair sat empty during the show.

Here is Russert's final roundtable on Meet the Press.  Watch and remember.

Technical difficulties shut us down, but we're about to post again...

Stay tuned...

Let us be among the first to bellyache: Gas is high!  Man, is it high!  We went to "fillerup" at our neighborhood gas station yesterday, and we saw people with even the tiniest cars paying $60, $70, $80 bucks to fill their tanks!  As our dad would say, that's highway robbery!

Here at Polichicks Online, we are sensitive to the tough times caused by a struggling economy.  So we're not raising our prices; a subscription to the Daily Polichicks is still free.  Just sign up for our email list above, and you can chat with us every morning over burnt toast and coffee (or if you want to be all yuppie about it, muffins and Starbucks).

Now here's your Daily Polichicks.

Campaign '08:

In 1964 in Philadelphia, Mississippi, African Americans were told they couldn't vote unless they correctly answered how many bubbles are in a bar of soap.  Three student civil rights workers, Michael Schwerner, James Chaney and Andrew Goldman went down south to help blacks register to vote. The locals weren't pleased, so with the help of law enforcement, the Ku Klux Klan shot the 3 young men to death. Today Philadelphia is still racially divided and it may seem like things haven't changed much, but the county in which it's located cast the of majority its votes for Barack Obama. [The Los Angeles Times]

Barack Obama and John McCain agree, "shake your money maker" is a good camaign strategy.  But neither candidate can shake it too hard, as both claim to support campaign finance reform. [The Washington Post]

First Lady Laura Bush said that although she wants the first woman president to be a Republican, she admires the "grit and strength" that Hillary Clinton showed on the campaign trail.  She also had some supportive words for Michelle Obama. [The Washington Post] 

Virginia - our home state, y'all - is likely to be a major player in this year's presidential election.   Both candidates say they're fixin' to win that increasingly blue red state, and to that end, both are sweating Virginia voters. [The Washington Post]

U.S. News:

What's black and light and cool all over? Apple's new and improved (and cheaper) iPhone, coming to a store near you on July 11th. [The New York Times]

If Barack Obama is elected president, the nation will lose it's only African American senator (and only the 3rd in history since Reconstruction). At the senate staff level, African Americans and other minorities have been virtually non-existant.  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is leading an effort to diversify the senate staff, and some say it's working. [Politico]

Girl power at the box office. Women fans made "Sex and the City" a box office winner (to the tune of $57 million its opening weekend), and young girls are expected to boost "Kit Kittredge: An American Girl" to a similar level of success. [The New York Times]

World News:

Just like the U.S., Spain is trying to figure out how to handle illegal immigration. [The New York Times]