Recently in 2008 Election Category

Here's a peek inside of Barack Obama's Chicago headquarters.  As far as campaign offices go (usually dark, filthy, cramped hovels in leaky basements), these offices are very, very nice and well organized.

We haven't addressed John McCain on Polichicks since the election, because we felt that Barack Obama should have his day after his historic win.  But now we want to acknowledge Sen. John McCain, who fought a long and hard campaign for the presidency.

John McCain's concession speech was one of the most moving that we have ever heard.  He commended Obama's accomplishments, acknowledged what Obama's historic victory means to African Americans, expressed sympathy to the Obama family on their loss of Obama's grandmother and encouraged the country to unite behind our new president.

No doubt that had to be a tough speech to make, especially the part where he preaches unity and calls Barack Obama "my president." (We mean, imagine if you had to publicly praise your work frenemy and call her "my boss," moments after she got the promotion you wanted.) But as hard as it must have been, John McCain stepped up to the plate and did what was best for our country.

Now that's "country first." 

So last night Barack Obama ran a 30 minute, $4 million infomercial on 7 networks.  We think the ad was an effective one for the Obama camp.  It laid out Obama's plans as president,  offered supporting evidence of his competence and established an emotional connection with those who watched it. 

Obama is a politician who "gets" marketing.   We were impressed by his ability to sell himself, his potential and his policies in the ad.  If the whole White House thing doesn't work out, he definately has a future on QVC or the Home Shopping Network.

On the fifth day of Christmas, our true loves gave to us...  fiiiive goldren riiings!  Four calling birds, three french hens, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree.  What did we get on the fifth day before the presedential election?  Well, nothing...  

But we bet Barack Obama and John McCain are giving their campaigns something about now... a win, win, win, fight, fight, fight speech kind of like the one below from Remember the Titans.  (Yeah, we're still on our Titans kick...) 

There's been a lot of controversy about shady robocalls lately, but it turns out that John McCain isn't behind all of them...

In case you missed it, here's Michelle Obama on Jay Leno.  Yellow outfit purchased online at J.Crew.

Part 2:

Elisabeth Hasselbeck introduced Sarah Palin at a rally in Tampa this weekend. 

"As you can see, Sarah Palin sure is a woman who knows how to dress," Hasselbeck said. "I'm actually personally most impressed, you know, by her accessories, like the flag pin that she wears...."

We noticed that Hasselbeck's speech style, intonation and mannerisms  are almost identical to Sarah Palin's.  Shared speech coach, perhaps? If we weren't watching Hasselbeck, we would think Palin was speaking.  Just an observation...

Anyway, Hasselbeck did well, looked great and got a warm reception from the crowd.  Here's a clip of her speech.

Ever wonder whatever happened to the whassup guys from the Budweiser commercial?  Yeah, we never cared either. But here's an update on them anyway...

Sarah Palin's emmy-nominated makup artist, Amy Strozzi (pictured on left) was the highest paid campaign consultant in the McCain camp during the month of October.  The McCain campaign paid her $22,800 for the first two weeks of the month. 

Zow!  That's more money than McCain's chief foreign policy advisor and senior communications aide made!

Our first thought on this is that we're not mad at Palin for going the extra mile to look her very best.  We don't even like to go to the grocery store without a little lip gloss, so we certainly wouldn't expect Palin to appear in front of millions without some color.  Besides, as girls who spent more than we should have at Laura Mercier in Neiman's last weekend, who are we to judge? 

Yet when we consider the negative PR effect of looking extravagant and wasteful to voters at a time when people are losing their homes and jobs, the makup artist expenditure doesn't seem like such a smart idea. Add that to the fact that Barack Obama has about 4 times the money in the bank that McCain has, and the makeup artist's salary seems even more wasteful.  

McCain can't afford to spend all that money on makeup instead of, say, advertising and get out the vote efforts. Because according to the polls, McCain's chances of winning this race don't look good.  If the McCain camp keeps prioritizing spending on beauty over voter outreach, Palin's next big speech about lipstick might go a little something like this:  "I may have lost this race, but I looked damn good doing it in Pink Truffle by Chanel."  

Photo above left of Amy Strozzi is from Amy Strozzi's Facebook page.

A McCain volunteer, Ashely Todd, reported to police that a 6'4' "black man" attacked her and carved a "B" for Barack in her face, because she is a McCain supporter.  The big "black man" (isn't it always a "black man" in these stories?) allegedly told her that he was going to make her a Barack Obama supporter.

Todd made up the story.  The tip off to police that she was lying?  The B on her face was backward, because she cut her own self while looking in the mirror. 

Who doesn't know that mirrors reflect letters backward? What a moron.

Want to get Sarah Palin's look for less than the cost of a small house?  The girls at Glamour can show you how. 

They can tell you where to get the Palin look pictured above for just $58.28.  That price includes the blouse, skirt, belt, shoes and jewelry.  Zow! 

But that's not all.  The Glamour girls have the secret scoop on where to pick up serveral Palin looks for less.  

Our shopping budget has been slashed thanks to the shaky economy.  Yours too?  Well come on with us to check out Glamour's money saving tips over here.

Elisabeth Hasselbeck will join Sarah Palin on the campaign trail this weekend.  The McCain/Palin campaign hopes that Elisabeth will help attract more women to the ticket. 

We thought that's what Palin was for, but she hasn't been as effective as the campaign would like.  A recent ABC News/Washington Post poll shows that 56% of women say they question McCain's judgement because he picked Palin as his running mate.

Elisabeth represents the lone conservative voice on The View.  She recently spoke against the media's focus on Sarah Palin's $150,000 new wardrobe with, "Are you looking into Joe Biden's supposed botox shots in his forehead?"  Ouch.

Photo from ABC.com.

The RNC treated Sarah Palin to a $150,000 makeover that included hair styling, makeup and a shopping spree at Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue.  Oh to be Sarah for a day... a shopping day, not a Katie Couric interview day.

We've said before that we don't think it's such a big deal when candidates spend more money than the average person on clothing and shoes.  They're in the public eye and they need to look nice.  But $150,000?  As the stock market is crashing and people are losing their homes and jobs?  Hmmm... a bit much?  Yea or nay?

Share your vote in the comments. 

Natalie Portman wants you to vote early for a change.  She filmed this video in Cincinati, Ohio at her grandma's house for voteforchange.com. Voteforchange.com is supported by the Obama campaign.

Meghan McCain and her McCain Blogettes are touring the country to promote her dad's campaign.  Meghan shares what she and her friends have been up to on the road:

Why should Tina Fey have all the fun?  Katie Couric gets in the game with her best Sarah Palin impression.

Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel say it's good to think outside the box, but it's not good to vote that way. Here's their "vote in the box" song and dance for Barack Obama:

Hat Tip: Maegan Carberry

Levi Johnston, the 18 year old father of 17 year old Bristol Palin's expected baby, talked to the Associated Press recently.  He denied that he's being forced into a shot gun marriage with Bristol, hinted that their baby-to-be is a boy ("I'm going to take him hunting and fishing"), and shared that he has dropped out of high school to work as an electrician's apprentice.  Here's what else he had to say:

On his relationship with Bristol: "We both love each other. We both want to marry each other. And that's what we are going to do."

On Sarah Palin: "I just hope she wins.  She's my future mother-in-law.  She better win."

On Barack Obama: "He seems like a good guy.  I like him."

Julia Allison must be so excited!  The White House is pink!

Paris Hilton is surely pleased as well.  Afterall, she was first to suggest painting The White House pink back in August, when  she released a "campaign attack ad" targeting rivals John McCain and Barack Obama. (Yep, Paris is running for president.  Kind of.)

The White House was lit pink Tuesday night to commemorate breast cancer awareness. Explained First Lady Laura Bush at the lighting ceremony, "In recognition of the mothers, daughters, sisters and wives who struggle with this disease, we're lighting the White House in pink, which is the color of the cause.  May our lights tonight shine as beacons around the world, a signal of the United States' commitment to saving lives from breast cancer."

Now that's hot.

Nobody's saying TGIF today more than Gov. Sarah Palin. 

After performing poorly in a series of  interviews with Katie Couric that looked a lot like this, the pressure was on her to perform well in her first nationally televised vice presidential debate Thursday.  Republicans were worried, some conservatives wanted her pulled from the ticket, and David Letterman had his jokes. And public opinion on whether she could out debate Biden?  When pigs fly! Or wear lipstick! 

Expectations of her couldn't have been lower.

In the end, Gov. Palin survived the debate.  Was she asked questions that she couldn't answer?  You betcha!  She just simply announced that she wasn't going to answer the question and promptly changed the subject.  That technique wouldn't work for us, but she managed to pull it off. 

And Sen. Joe Biden...  Well, Biden delivered a solid performance.  He showed that he has much more experience and a far greater understanding of the issues than Palin, but that's nothing to write home about, is it?  It's not really news.  Who didn't know that?  

We were hoping for a good show...  a Palin fumble, a Biden gaffe, a sucker punch...  something, anything good to talk about at the office water cooler or the local watering hole the next day.

But the candidates delivered  none of that kind of excitement.  Biden just held his own and Palin met (minimal) expectations.  So our thoughts on the debate can be summed up like this: Eh.

If you missed the action (or nonaction), watch the debate video and read the transcript over here.

Bill Clinton on where he stands.

The Obama/McCain debate, SNL style...

Sooo.... Not a good day for Wall Street. Not a good day for the economy.  Not a good day for shoe shopping.  Just all around not a good day.

We need a little pick me up, so we're going to take the advice of reader Fatfighter and revisit the Saturday Night Live skits from this weekend.

First up, Tina Fey as Sarah Palin and Amy Poehler as Katie Couric.

Katie Couric interviewed Republican vice presidential candidate Sara Palin recently.  Here's the interview, in case you missed it.

Part 2:

Tina Fey returned to Saturday Night Live this past Saturday to play Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin.  The message of the skit was that Palin is no Hillary Clinton when it comes to experience and capability to run a nation.

In the skit, Clinton (played by Amy Poehler) says that she doesn't agree with the Bush Doctrine. Fey's Palin pipes in, "I don't even know what that is!" The pun was a reference to Palin's recent interview with ABC News, during which she appeared to have never heard of the Bush Doctrine when asked about it by anchorman Charlie Gibson.

Sarah Palin's response? "She thought it was quite funny, particularly because she once dressed up as Tina Fey for Halloween," her spokesperson Tracey Schmitt told CBS News.

Actor Matt Damon is totally freaked out that John McCain chose Sarah Palin as his running mate.  

At 72, McCain is no spring chicken. Damon fears that if McCain wins the presidency, he'll kick the bucket while in office and Palin will become president. "You do the actuary tables and there's a one-out-of-three chance, if not more, that McCain doesn't survive his first term and it will be President Palin . . . It's like a bad Disney movie," he said. 

Why would the Disney movie be so bad?  According to Damon, Palin is wholly unqualified to lead the country.  " 'I'm just a hockey mom from Alaska.' And she's the president," he said. "And it's like she's facing down Vladimir Putin and using the folksy stuff she learned at the hockey rink. It's absurd. It's totally absurd."

A Democat and Barack Obama supporter, Damon contributed $4,600 to Obama's campaign and $28,500 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

(This post - especially the video - is dedicated to my sister Jen, who thinks Matt Damon is dee-lish!)

So how 'bout them sled dogs? 

Before Sarah Palin was governor of Alaska and a candidate for Vice President, she was a sportscaster at KTUU in Alaska.  Watch her in action below.

So what do you think? She got game? Tell us in the comments.

Boy George released a video for the pro-Obama Yes We Can song.  It features Amy Winehouse and David Bowie.

Uhh... We just don't know what to say.... Thoughts? Tell us in the comments.

Throughout the election season, John McCain has emphasized his "experience" while Barack Obama has focused on "change."  At the Republican convention, however, speeches made by McCain and his running mate Sarah Palin showed a move toward Obama's message of change:

Palin on McCain and change

In politics, there are some candidates who use change to promote their careers. And then there are those, like John McCain, who use their careers to promote change.

McCain on change

Meghan McCain and little Piper Palin made a girlpower video together, behind the scenes of the McCain Palin campaign. Meghan posted the video on her blog at mccainblogette.com.

Sarah Palin's family matters are People's cover story of the week.  (Check out Halle Berry's cute little girl on the right.)

Sarah Palin is just like us, except she's on the cover of US.

Levi Johnston and Bristol Palin wear tattoo and ring at Republican National Convention.  Photo from US Weekly and credited to Justin Sullivan of Getty Images.

Bristol Palin's "baby daddy," Levi Johnston, wore a "Bristol" tattoo on his ring finger during his debut appearance at the Republican National Convention.  Bristol wore what appeared to be an engagement ring.  Bristol, 5 months pregnant, is 17 years old and Levi is 18 years old.  The soon to be teen parents attended the convention to watch Bristol's mom, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, accept the Republican nomination for vice president.

The press has had a field day with this little tidbit:

Vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin's daughter, Bristol, is an unwed, pregnant teenager. 

Meghan McCain, daughter of John of course, offered this support for Bristol on her blog:

It's a rough go being the son or daughter of a politician. I have not known Bristol Palin very long, but there is a certain kinship I feel to her as I do other political daughters such as Chelsea Clinton, Jenna and Barbara Bush and Mary Cheney. You can't fully understand it unless you have lived it. So I just wanted to let it be known that I support Bristol and the entire Palin family.

Gov. Sarah Palin and family in Juneau, Alaska.  Infant son Trig missing from photo, because he wasn't born yet.

When John McCain announced that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his veep pick, the cry heard round the nation was "Who's that?!"  Gov. Palin's response? "If you don't know, you better ask somebody!"  (Uhh.. that's not an exact quote.)

But you won't have to ask anybody anyway.  All you have to do is keep reading, 'cause you know we will tell it all, girl! 

• Sarah Louise Heath Palin was born February 11, 1964 in Sandpoint, Idaho.  She is 44 years old.  She moved to Alaska wither her schoolteacher parents in 1964.

• She is the second woman vice presidential nominee in the U.S. and the first woman vice presidential nominee to represent the Republican party.

• She is the first woman governor of Alaska.  Elected in 2006, she has been in office almost two years. Prior to her election as governor, she served two terms on the Wasilla City Council and two terms as Wasilla's mayor/manager.

• A bump in the road to the vice president's mansion:  Palin and her teenaged daughter Bristol attracted media attention when the McCain campaign announced that Bristol is 5 months pregnant and unwed.  Bristol's pregnancy is particularly controversial, because her mother is pro-life and against all sex education programs in the schools other than abstinence-only programs. 

• Palin can ball.   As a point guard, she helped her high school basketball team win the Alaska small school championship in 1982, playing with an ankle stress fracture and hitting a free throw in the last seconds of the game.

• She was once a sportscaster. 

• She's not internationally known, but she's known to rock the microphone.  Her speech at the Republican National Convention was praised by pundits, despite previous criticism that she is not well-known or experienced enough to be a vice presidential nominee.

• She is a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association and enjoys hunting and fishing.  As a child, she often went moose hunting with her dad.

• She is a former beauty queen.  She was Miss Wasilla in 1984.

• She is under investigation for allegedly firing a public safety commissioner in retaliation for his refusal to fire her former brother-in-law who is a state trooper.  Palin's former brother-in-law was involved in a child custody case with her sister at the time that Palin allegedly wanted him fired.

• She received a Bachelor of Science degree in communications-journalism from the University of Idaho in 1983.  She minored in political science.

• She and her husband, Todd, have 5 children.  Track, 19, Bristol, 17, Willow, 13, Piper, 7, and Trig who is an infant with down syndrome.  Husband Todd is a four-time champion of the Iron Dog, the world's longest snow machine race. Son Track is enlisted in the U.S. Army and scheduled for deployment to Iraq in September.

Oh, and to give credit where credit is due, we copycatted Maegan Carberry's title a little bit.  It fit and we liked it.

Known as Sarah Barracuda for her fierce competitiveness on the basketball court, Republican candidate for Vice President and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin introduced herself, introduced her family and attacked Barack Obama in her debut speech tonight before the Republican convention.  Is the lady a champ?  That we won't know until the polls close on November 4th.  But for now, it appears that she's got a pretty mean right hook:

I've noticed a pattern with [Barack Obama].

Maybe you have, too.

We've all heard his dramatic speeches before devoted followers.

And there is much to like and admire about our opponent.

But listening to him speak, it's easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform - not even in the state senate.

This is a man who can give an entire speech about the wars America is fighting, and never use the word "victory" except when he's talking about his own campaign. But when the cloud of rhetoric has passed ... when the roar of the crowd fades away ... when the stadium lights go out, and those Styrofoam Greek columns are hauled back to some studio lot - what exactly is our opponent's plan? What does he actually seek to accomplish, after he's done turning back the waters and healing the planet? The answer is to make government bigger ... take more of your money ... give you more orders from Washington ... and to reduce the strength of America in a dangerous world. America needs more energy ... our opponent is against producing it.

Victory in Iraq is finally in sight ... he wants to forfeit.

Terrorist states are seeking new-clear weapons without delay ... he wants to meet them without preconditions.

Al Qaeda terrorists still plot to inflict catastrophic harm on America ... he's worried that someone won't read them their rights? Government is too big ... he wants to grow it.

Congress spends too much ... he promises more.

Taxes are too high ... he wants to raise them. His tax increases are the fine print in his economic plan, and let me be specific.

The Democratic nominee for president supports plans to raise income taxes ... raise payroll taxes ... raise investment income taxes ... raise the death tax ... raise business taxes ... and increase the tax burden on the American people by hundreds of billions of dollars....

[skipped text here]

And though both Senator Obama and Senator Biden have been going on lately about how they are always, quote, "fighting for you," let us face the matter squarely.

There is only one man in this election who has ever really fought for you ... in places where winning means survival and defeat means death ... and that man is John McCain.

You. Complete. Me.

Ever since Barack Obama announced just before the DNC Convention that Sen. Joseph Biden (D-Del) was his vice presidential pick, tongues have been wagging about what Biden adds to the ticket:

Experience: Obama faces attacks for his limited time serving in the Senate.  He will have been in office just 4 years when (and if) he becomes president in January 2009. Biden has served in the U.S. Senate for 36 years.

Foreign relations expertise: Biden is an expert on national security and chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.  He voted to authorize the use military force in Iraq in 2002 but has since become a vocal critic of the war.

Age:  Biden is no spring chicken.  At 66, his silver haired appearance could make older voters feel more comfortable with voting for the ticket.  Obama, the young cat on the ticket, is only 47.

Average Joe: Biden, a white guy, hails from a working class backround in Pennsylvania.  He's expected to help Obama appeal to white, working class voters nationwide. Also, unlike most of the other Senators, Biden is not a multimillionaire.  He and his wife Jill have just $365,000 in assets or less. Joe's an average Joe.

He's green: No, not the inexperienced kind of green or the rich kind of green but the hugging and kissing all over trees kind of green.  He has a strong environmental record and earned an 83% lifetime voting score from the League of Conservation Voters.

Catholicsm: Biden is Catholic.  He is expected to help Obama win the white, Catholic voters that he lost to Hillary Clinton in the primary. 

Tough guy on crime: Biden was a chief sponsor of an anti-crime bill that passed in 1994.  He can help defend the ticket against GOP attacks saying that Obama is soft on crime.

Attack dog: Biden will not stand for a bunch of what our girl Niecy from Clean House would call a bunch of foolishness and mayhem. Act out, and he will call you out.  Thinking of stepping to Biden? You betta check yo'self before you wreck yo'self.

Family story: Biden lost his wife and young daughter in a car crash in 1972, one month after his election to the Senate.  Remarried, Biden takes the Amtrak train home from Washington D.C. to Delaware every night, so that he can be with his family.

You had me at hello.

You've seen this before. Two people in your circle of friends - a boy an a girl - are always totally flirting with each other when your group goes out.  Then when they finally hook up, everybody's like, "Well duh, we all saw that one coming."  That's how Obama's advisers describe Obama's selection of Biden for veep. Even though Obama was mum about who was most attractive to him as a veep candidate, people say they always knew he was interested in Biden. David Axelrod, Obama's senior strategist, told The Washington Post that Obama's veep search "always pointed in Biden's direction."

Biden totally played hard to get during the VP selction process.  He denied courting the veep slot, said he didn't want the job, and claimed he would accept it only reluctantly to help his party's ticket if asked. 

Whatev!  

We know Obama and the idea of being veep had Biden at hello. He was just playing hard to get, giving Obama a little chase.  Biden obviously was reading The Rules and applying them to his political career.  And it worked.  Obama and Biden made their first appearance together as a "couple" on the Saturday prior to the DNC convention.  Wonder if Obama called Biden by Wednesday for that Saturday date?

Watch a "pre-enactment" of the Obama/Biden courtship above, with Tom Cruise as Obama and Renee Zelwegger as Biden.

Anybody who's anybody knows that the best part of a political convention is the party circuit. So for convention attendees, these are the rules to live by:

Never miss a good party. And never, ever miss the after party.  

Can't be in Denver to par-tay in person?  No prob, 'cuz TV One has got you covered.  Catch  TV One Live: The DNC After Party nightly on TV One at 11 pm during the convention (August 25th to 29th). 

Rev. Leah D. Daughtry

"No kicking, no screaming, no shoving, no hairpulling..."  As CEO of the DNC Convention Committee, Leah Daughtry likely invokes these words every now and again to control the hoards of people lining up for DNC Convention credentials.  With a history making candidate expected to accept the Democratic nomination, an outstanding speaker line up and star studded events, Rev. Daughtry is managing the hottest ticket in town.  A town called Denver, to be exact.

So who is Leah Daughtry anyway?  Keep reading, cuz we're gonna tell it all, girl! (You know how we do.)

This month's Harper's Bazaar features Tyra as Michelle Obama.  And a delicious hottie named Roman as Barack Obama.

Man, ever since that Obama cat learned to text, he's been thinking he is just 2 cool 4 school.  He's been blowing up our phone left and right!  (Well, maybe just left...)

Anyhow, the technocrat told us (via text, of course) that he will announce his vice presidential pick via text message between now and the DNC convention which starts August 25th.  If you want to be the first to know who will be rolling with him to The White House (or trying to roll, anyway), text VP to 62262 or go over here.

Michelle Obama is fast becoming one of the fashion icons of our day.  When Michelle wore a  Maria Pinto purple sheath dress  with a black Azzedine Alaia belt to her husband's "I am the likely nominee" speech, everybody and their momma wanted one the next day.  When she sported a black and white print dress by Donna Riccio on The View, the dress immediately sold out and Riccio had to make 3,000 more to meet demand.  And now, Vanity Fair has named Michelle to its International Best Dressed List. 

Will Michelle officially become America's First Fashionista?  We'll find out on Novermber 4th.

Photo: Michelle Obama in Donna Riccio with co-hosts of The View.

Michelle Obama is on the cover of Ebony this month.  She talked to the magazine about her style, getting in some me time, her husband and kids, and of course, politics.  You can listen to excerpts of her interview over here.

Also in this issue is an interview with Michelle's mother, Marian Robinson.  Mrs. Robinson talks about Michelle's childhood and the road to The White House.

John McCain is a shoe slut, and he'll pay big money to get some.  The Senator has been spotted big pimpin' Ferragamo Pregiato Moccasins, which retail at Neiman Marcus for $520.

Some other media outlets have poked fun at McCain for his high fashion expenditure, but we won't go there.  We understand that like food, water, air and sex (uh... not the premarital kind, of course), fabulous shoes are a basic human need.  As Carrie Bradshaw, esteemed lobbyist for the right to Choos, once said, "Sometimes you need really special shoes!"

So to John McCain, we say, "Go 'head, sole brother!"

Shoe ho in Ferragamo.  Photo credit: The Huffington Post.

Meghan McCain poses for the September issue of Glamour

The September issue of Glamour dishes all you need to know about Meghan McCain.  For starters, Meghan's not interested in dating a guy who wants to get closer to her dad than her:

I don't want to be an accessory to a guy's impending political career, and unfortunately I get that a lot. I'm not attracted to guys with political action committees, I'm sorry.... I'm attracted to men whose realities are different [from mine]. You'll get a lot further with me talking about art and music than you will talking about politics.... And I'd really hate myself if I dated a journalist.

Meghan has no interest in dudes who lack game, particularly the guy who tried to pick her up with this lameness: "Baby, I could totally give you a tour of the Capitol."  Imagine the deflation of that guy's ego if Meghan told him her dad is John McCain, so she can see the Capitol any ol' time.  And who uses pick up lines like that anyway?  Alas, as we know all too well from personal experience, every other guy....

If even a potential first daughter can't escape weak game, what hope is there for the rest of us?

Extra Extra!  Read all about it over here!  The Washington Post reports that Virginia Governor Tim Kaine is at the top of Obama's short list for veep. 

So who is this Tim Kaine guy anyway?  Read on.

• Gov. Timothy Michael "Tim" Kaine was born in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1958 and raised in Kansas City, Missouri.  He is 50 years old.
• He is a graduate of the University of Missouri (economics major) and Harvard Law School.
• He took a year off from law school to work as a Roman Catholic missionary in the Honduras.  There he served as principal at a school that taught carpentry and welding skills to youth.
• He practiced law in Richmond, Virginia for 17 years, representing people who were denied housing because of their race or disability.
• Prior to becoming Governor, he served as a Richmond City Council Member, Mayor of Richmond and Lt. Governor of Virginia under Gov. Mark Warner (who is currently running for U.S. Senate). 
• A Roman Catholic, he opposes abortion rights and capital punishment.
• He is married to Anne Holton, daughter of former Virginia Governor A. Linwood Holton, Jr., and the only person to live in the Governor's Mansion as a child and adult.  The couple has three children, Nat, Woody and Annella.

Today the RNC launched BarackBook, a new website that spoofs FaceBook and attacks Barack Obama.  (Naughty naughty, RNC!) So many Obama supporters clowned the site on its message boards that the RNC reportedly had to take them down.

Michelle Obama.  Photo from her BlogHer bio page.

In addition to wife, mother, attorney, and political campaigner,  Michelle Obama is adding blogger to her resume.  She joins 15 million American women who already have their own blogs. 

Michelle's blog will be carried on the BlogHer network.  BlogHer, the online community for women who blog, has 26,000 members and is by far the most well known "meeting place" for women bloggers.  Way to reach women voters, Michelle!  We think this move is smart, smart, smart, expecially when you consider that women make up 54% of the electorate.  

Being tech savvy is nothing new to the Obama camp.  The campaign has used web organizing tools, blogging, viral video and text messaging to it's advantage from jump.  Michelle's blog is yet another extension of the rock solid tech platform that the campaign has built to spread it's message, combat the the messages of political foes and create a momentum now known as Obama-mania.  

Check out Michelle's blog over here and her BlogHer bio page here.

When it comes to picking a president, ever wonder WWCD (what would Carrie do)? Well, here's where she stands on the issues.

Carrie on the Economy:

"I like my money right where I can see it... hanging in my closet."

Carrie on Technology:

"I don't believe in email. I'm an old-fashioned girl. I prefer calling and hanging up."

Carrie on Civil Rights:

"Maybe the best any of us can do is not quit, play the hand we've been given, and accessorize with the outfit we've got."

Carrie on Violence in Film and Television:

"Welcome to the age of un-innocence. No one has breakfast at Tiffany's, and no one has affairs to remember."

Carrie on Housing and Urban Development:

"Beauty is fleeting, but a rent-controlled apartment overlooking the park is forever."

Carrie on Animal Rights:

"You can't be friends with a squirrel! A squirrel is just a rat in a cuter outfit."

Carrie on Marriage:

"If you're single, after graduation there isn't one occasion where people celebrate you. Hallmark doesn't make a 'congratulations, you didn't marry the wrong guy' card. And where's the flatware for going on vacation alone?"

Glamour's editor-in-chief Cindi Leive and Sen. Barack Obama spoke at Purdue University in Lafayette, Indiana.

Why is Cindi Leive so live?  She is editor-in-chief of top women's publication Glamour, has scored one-on-one interviews with each of the presidential candidates, and looks understatedly fabulous in just a simple black dress. Some girls have all the luck smarts, savvy and style. 

Leive sat down recently with Barack Obama and asked his reaction to political attacks on his wife Michelle. "It's infuriating," said the senator, adding later that "rarely do these foks have the guts to say it to [my] face."  In defense of Michelle, he asserted:

Everybody who knows Michelle knows how extraordinary she is. She's ironically the most quintessentially American woman I know. She grew up in a "Leave it to Beaver" family. She is the best mother I know. And our kids are a testimony to that, because she's really had to raise them, oftentimes without me being there. She's the most honest person I know, she's smart, she's funny, so yeah, it infuriates me. And I think that it is an example of the erosion of civility in our political culture that she's been subjected to these attacks, and my attitude is that the people who have attacked her in the ways that they have...if they've got a difference with me on policy, they should debate me. Not her.

You can read a lengthier excerpt of Leive's interview with Obama in Glamour's Glamocracy blog over here.  The full interview will be published in Glamour's October issue. 

Here's Meghan McCain, dressed to impress at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner back in April.  Will she wear a similar style to the Inaugural Balls in January or will the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner be the closest she ever comes to Inaugural Ball like festivities?  Stay tuned to find out on November 4th.

Heidi Montag and Lauren Conrad at the White House Correspondent's Dinner in April 2008.  Getty Images photo from here.

And while we're on the topic of The Hills, turns out Lauren Conrad is a Republican just like her frenemy Heidi Montag. While at the White house Correspondent's dinner last April, Conrad clapped enthusiasticlly when a reporter from New York magazine asked her if he should vote for a Republican.  When he asked if he should vote for a Democrat, she wrinked her nose. 

Frenemy Heidi endorsed John McCain earlier this year, and the senator responded that he "never misses an episode of The Hills."

As we said before, Meghan McCain recently met Heidi Montag of The Hills for lunch at The Ivy in Santa Monica, CA.  Paparazzi extraordinaire, TMZ.com, captured the two on video in the restaurant's parking lot.  

Now this is funny: the paps didn't recognize Meghan and focused their attention on Heidi, often cutting Meghan out of the shot.  The joke was on them though, because they missed their money shot, a candid interview with the first daughter wannabe.

Barack and Michelle Obama attend the NAACP Image Awards.  Photo from AOL's BlackVoices.com.

AOL's BlackVoices website says that Michelle Obama is "hotter than July."  If they mean hotter than July in Washington D.C., well then let us tell you, that's hotter than hell. 

The site named Mrs. Obama one of the "20 Sexiest Black Women Over 40," noting:

US magazine recently gave the hottest couple in politics their cover, emblazoned with the headline "Why He Loves Her." Apparently featuring Michelle paid off, as sales of the issue outpaced those for usual tabloid offerings like Jessica Simpson and Heidi Montag. At 44, it seems that America agrees: Mrs. Obama is hotter than July.

Other sexy women on the list include Halle Berry (duh!), Jennifer Beals, Vanessa Williams (she ain't no Ugly Betty), Stacey Dash and Angela Bassett.

Hat Tip: BlackSuperwomen.com

Hoping to make a fashion statement, a 25 year old Manhattan student decided to sport an "Obama is My Slave" T-shirt.  Onlookers were offended, and some teenage girls shoved and spat on her.  She was surprised by this response. (What kind of dumbass is she?)

She is now suing Apollo Braun, who designed the shirt and sold it to her for $69.  Braun says the First Amendment shields him against the student's lawsuit.

Braun has designed and sold other shirts with anti-Obama slogans.  The most popular is his "Who killed Obama?" shirt.

Braun says that he "can't stand" Obama "because he is Muslim."  Obama is Christian, not Muslim.

Barack Obama scored his second cover of RollingStone this month.  Inside the mag is an in-depth interview with the senator.  Audio is over here and a few highlights are below. 

What's on Barry's iPod:

An eclectic collection of Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Earth Wind & Fire, Jay-Z, Elton John, the Rolling Stones, Howlin' Wolf, Yo Yo Ma, Sheryl Crow, and more.  Get the full scoop on Obama's musical tastes over here.

What gave him "the juice and the confidence" (reporter's words) that he could win the presidency:

Iowa.

Three books that inspired him:

"Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon, the tragedies of William Shakespeare and probably Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls."

What he calls Bruce Springsteen:

The Boss, because "you've got to."

How rap has helped desegregate American music:

"By definition, rock & roll is rebel music, which means if it's not being criticized, it's probably not doing its job. I am troubled sometimes by the misogyny and materialism of a lot of rap lyrics, but I think the genius of the art form has shifted the culture and helped to desegregate music. Music was very segregated back in the Seventies and Eighties -- you'll remember that when MTV first came on, it wasn't until Thriller that they played Michael."

He doesn't play:

"...I don't do cowering. You have to respond forcefully, quickly and truthfully to attacks."

His parting words (to the reporter):

"Ok, brother - take care."

Meghan McCain and Heidi Montag outside The Ivy on the Shore in Santa Monica, CA. Photo from US Weekly (uhh.. over here).

Meghan McCain and Heidi Montag did lunch recently at The Ivy on the Shore in Santa Monica, CA.

Polichicks reported earlier that Heidi Montag, LC's frenemy on The Hills, endorsed John McCain for President.  To that, McCain responded: "I'm honored to have Heidi's support, and I want to assure her that I never miss an episode of The Hills."

It's Time for Some Campaignin', a little diddy about campaign 08...

Maria Menounos of Access Hollywood interviewed Barack Obama's family (wife Michelle and daughters Malia and Sasha) on the 4th of July.   Sasha, 7, dished this scoop about her dad: he doesn't like ice cream.  "My dad doesn't like sweets," she explained. "He likes like minty gum.  He doesn't like bubble gum."

Meghan McCain and her mom Cindy went to Vietnam to support Operation Smile, a nonprofit organization that surgically repairs cleft palettes on children in impoverished countries.  (Meghan's younger sister, Bridget, was born with a cleft palette.)  In the video below, Meghan shares her experiences working with Operation Smile.

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.

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. 

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

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. 

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

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]

Photo credit: Heather Brand for McCainBlogette.com

Meghan McCain and her pet Louie board a plane together. 

What do Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, Scrabble, panty hose and both of Barack Obama's parents have in common?  All are things younger than McCain.

Hat Tip: Glamocracy

Everybody knows about Glamour 's hotter than hot political blog, Glamocracy.  And if you don't know, you better ask somebody! Cuz you sure don't want to miss Glamocracy's daily news updates, opinion pieces and interviews with the wannabe presidents.

Speaking of Glamocracy's interviews with the wannabes, the latest was with Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain. Glamour editor in chief Cindi Leive talked to the Senator just moments before his appearance on Saturday Night Live. 

So does Sen. McCain know how to please a woman?  Let's see...  Will make a woman laugh. Check. Will stand up for a woman, namely, his wife Cindy. Check. Can sing a pretty love song.  Well, no candidate is perfect.

Maybe he can still impress us with some good public policies? Read an interview clip here  to see.  The rest of the interview will appear in an upcoming issue of Glamour. To be sure you don't miss it, just go over here.

And while we're talking about Saturday Night Live, check out the show's new election page over here.  It's a real hoot! When your boss isn't looking, you can watch videos, read the message boards and play Whack-A-Pol! 

We all know that the U.S. government will hold a presidential election in November, but not to be outdone, SNL is running it's own election right now! Cast your ballot over here. And just like in a real election, SNL promises that most votes will be counted.

Campaign '08:

Barack Obama warns GOP: You best step back offa my wife. [AP]

Elizabeth Edwards wouldn't mind playing Boggle or biking with Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, but for now, she still has no plans to endorse either. [Politico]

John McCain is sweating young voters, but they're really not feeling him right now.  A recent MTV poll found that young voters prefer Barack Obama (52 to 39) and Hillary Clinton (51 to 40) to John McCain. [Politico]

And while we're talking about that MTV poll, we might as well post all of the results.  What's America's biggest problem, according to our youth?  It's the economy, stupid! [MTV News] 

What do Barack Obama, Joe Louis, Nat King Cole, Jesse Owens, Sammy Davis Jr. and Sugar Ray Robinson have in common?  "Mostly entertainers and athletes, they each had a ferocious and blinding optimism that allowed them to ignore or surmount the cruelty of racism. They all had a certain musical quality, sometimes through an instrument, sometimes via movement or diction, that spoke to men and women in a language apart from color. And they all, just like Obama now, left large footprints in the black mecca of Chicago." [The Washington Post] 

U.S. News:

The U.S. Supreme Court says that it's not okay to advertise, promote, distribute or solicit child pornography.  Two Justices disagree.  WTF? [The Washington Post]

Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi will marry in June, now that the California Supreme Court says that it's okay for gay people to tie the knot. [People]

When it comes to race, Timothy Shriver wants less talk and more action. [On Faith (Newsweek and The Washington Post]

A profile of JFK's speechwriter: "Ted Sorenson asked what he could do for his country.  The anser was a great deal." [The Washington Post] 

World News:

Diana Barnato Walker, a World War II verteran who was the first British woman to pilot a plane at supersonic speed (such moxie!), died in England. [The Los Angeles Times]

China is still recovering from the "most destructive" earthquake in it's history. [The Washington Post]

Barack Obama grins before speaking at the Taubman Center at Brown University. This shot is just kind of vintage, because it's really from not that long ago.  Photo from here.

New ad by the Tennessee Republican Party targets Michelle Obama.  The ad takes a 5 second clip from one of Obama's speeches and plays it over and over again to critically characterize who she is and what she stands for.

Is this okay? Do you think Michelle Obama fair game?  Let us know in the comments.

By the way, we haven't seen a potential first lady attacked like this in an ad before (absent a simultaneous attack on her husband).  If you know of such an ad, give us the heads up in the comments, k?

A cool planet is hot. John McCain says he wants to end global warming and other bad things that affect our environment.

Emily's List, a PAC that helps pro-choice women get elected to public office, is none too pleased that the NARAL Pro-Choice America PAC has endorsed Barack Obama for president.  Ellen Malcolm, Emily's List founder and Clinton BFF, says the endorsement is "tremendously disrespectful" to her girl.  NARAL is like, "Whatev! Endorsing a Clinton is so '96!"  NARAL will host a web chat about their endorsement on this Friday, May 16th.  Submit your questions here.

to let us know that John Edwards just endorsed him for real like a minute ago.  Obviously, we're among the first Barry told, because we have it like that.  You can have it like that too, if you text HOPE to 62262 or sign up over here (and get you a new ring tone while you're at it). 

Tell Bar we said 'sup.

And now heeeeeeeeeeeeere's your Daily Polichicks!  (Cheers and applause)

Campaign '08:

A day late and a dollar short

Hillary Clinton won the West Virginia primary Tuesday, but she's short on cash, delegates and time. Clinton and her camp says the race "isn't over yet," but some say (in their best Oprah voices), "Get real, peopllllllllle!" [Washington Post] and [Politico]

Some politicians kiss babies; John McCain hugs trees.

It's not easy being green, but John McCain is willing to do it to impress independent voters. [NPR]

Also, you can pick up some fly gear from McCain new eco-concious line over here.

In this mother's day video, little kids ask their moms not for a puppy or a Nintendo, but to please vote for Barack Obama. Clearly, Obama has been handing out candy bribes.

Chelsea Clinton wishes her mom and all moms a happy mother's day, reminding everyone: "Your little girls can be anything they want to be when they grow up, even if it's to be the second woman president of the United States."

Lauren Conrad, Audrina Partridge and Whitney Port from The Hills are sporting the American Eagle Outfitters Declare Yourself T-shirt above.  You can buy one over here.

L.C., Audrina and Whitney are promoting voter registration, as well as Declare Yourself, Seventeen and MTV's "In the Time It Takes" video contest.  Read all about it over here. 

...you could register to vote in the 2008 election. 

Seventeen, MTV and Declare Yourself have teamed up to mobilize people to register to vote.  So they're co-sponsoring the "In the Time It Takes" video contest.  All you have to do to enter is create a viral  video that reminds folks that they can register to vote lickety split. 

If you want to see example videos, check out the ones done by Lauren Conrad, Audrina Partridge and Whitney Port of The Hills .  Just don't bite off what they did, k?

One grand-prize winner will receive a trip for two to Los Angeles to attend the Young Hollywood party. (Hel-lo.) Two Runners-up will each receive a $500 gift certificate to American Eagle Outfitters and an American Eagle Outfitters Declare Yourself T-shirt signed by the cast of The Hills.

Now, just so ya know, if this year's Young Hollywood party is anything like last year's, the contest winner will hobnob with the likes of Justin Timberlake, Nick Cannon, Hayden Panettiere, Lauren Conrad, Audrina Partridge, Romeo and Kristen Bell.  Definately the place to be, so go over here and enter to win.

Where is a good Apollo clown when you need one?  That's what Rev. Al Sharpton wants to know:

The worst thing in the world is when an entertainer doesn't know when the show is over. The audience is gone, the lights are down, you're getting ready to cut the mics off and you are still on the stage singing. It's over, it's all right, it's over. Come sing another day, but this show is over, Sen. Clinton.

(Shout out: Politico)

So Barack Obama won North Carolina in a landslide, kick a** victory, and Hillary Clinton won Indiana by the skin of her teeth.  The size of Barry's NC win has made it nearly impossible for Hillary to catch up.

But not to worry Hillary supporters - your girl has pledged to fight on. (Obama supporters will have to be patiently annoyed for a few more weeks...or a day or so, until the big wig Super Delegates announce support for Obama.) Despite Hillary's miniscule chances of winning the nomination, the former first lady says she expects to be back in The White House faster than you can say President Obama.

See Indiana and North Carolina results (and all the other primary results, actually) here.

"You're wearing that?!" We've all gasped in utter shock and asked our mom that question at least once too many times. And our moms have (unreasonably) asked us the same.

No different from the next mom, Hillary Clinton likes to wear embarassing outfits and complain that her daughter's floor length skirts are "too short."  She dishes on her experiences as a mom in an interview and town hall meeting sponsored by momlogic, a website that's totally biased in support of your mother's point of view.

View the momlogic interview and town hall exclusive with Hillary Clinton here.

Michelle and Barack Obama (mostly Michelle) were on Rachael Ray about a week ago.  Rachael tried to play it impartial, but her sparkly eyes and beaming smile totally gave her away as an Obama supporter.  She just ate the Obamas up!

Highlights:

Michelle and Barack have date night once a week.

Rachael implied that she loves her dog Isaboo more than the Obamas love their kids.  You know the Obamas talked about that later. (But in Rach's defense, she was clearly star struck and these things just happen when you're star struck.)

The Obamas first dance was was to "Unforgettable" (presumably the Nat King Cole version, but if not, they're not as cool as we thought).

Michelle walked down the aisle to a Stevie Wonder song at their wedding.

Michelle said she watches what the kids eat. (Ugh! That probably means no sugar cereals.  As in no Lucky Charms and no Cocoa Puffs. And worse, no prizes in the box!)

At the end of the interview, Michelle fondly reached for Rachael and said, "Girl...."  Michelle is so regular, and we love it!

Barack Obama is turning green!  He is calling on Americans to host "green gatherings" and discuss how we can preserve our environment.  Check out his green website here and his latest green commercial below.

Bill Clinton's 2004 advice on choosing between presidential candidates? Always choose the candidate for hope. But Barack Obama's the candidate for hope. Hmm... Bill probably will have to flip flop on that one.

This is hoo-larious.  Mitt Romney tells attendees at the Radio & Television Correspondents' Association dinner why he dropped his bid to be the next prez.

We're back!  Thank you for your patience. And here's your Daily Polichicks for Tuesday.

Campaign '08:

Superdelegates 101: Here's all you need to know about them. [NPR]

And more important, here's what to wear to the voting booth. [MTV News]

Cindy McCain's "McCain family recipies" from The Food Network and Rachael Ray.  How do you steal from Rachael Ray? [The Huffington Post]

Republican Congressman from Kentucky calls Barack Obama a "boy." WTF? [AP]

Pro-life Pennsylvania lawmakers endorse pro-choice Barack Obama. [The Washington Post]

Hillary Clinton's Top 3 Mistakes on the campaign trail. [Marie Claire]

John McCain is in luck. Hills star Heidi Montag, who endorsed the senator earlier this month, has promised to register to vote "this week."

Meghan McCain chats us up about her dad's biography tour, her relationship with her dad, and her life on the campaign trail.

No, not the election.  Jon Stewart's "Dick Move of the Week" award.

Meghan and Jack McCain, two of John McCain's kids, at the U.S. Naval Academy where Jack is a MIdshipman.  Photo by Heather Brand for Meghan's blog, McCainBlogette.

John McCain sat down with MTV News back in 2004.  He talked about the hot topics of the 2004 election, including the Vietnam War, Iraq and gay marriage. 

When asked to predict whether we'd see him as a presidential candidate in 2008, McCain said, "I doubt it.  I'm not getting any younger."

The Hills star Heidi Montag and fiance Spencer Pratt give a shout out to John McCain.  Photo from Heidi's MySpace page.

The Hills star Heidi Montag told Us Magazine that she is so totally behind John McCain for president.  When her fiance, Spencer Pratt, warned her about making an endorsement, she replied, "I don't think anybody cares who Heidi Montag votes for."

See.  She is smart.

John McCain happily accepted Montag's endorsement saying, "I'm honored to have Heidi's support and I want to assure her that I never miss an episode of 'The Hills,' especially since the new season started."

Seriously.  This is not some kind of two days after April Fool's Day joke.

Hillary Clinton might want to make a 3 a.m. call to 50 Cent.  After months of standing behind Clinton, 50 tells MTV News that he's now an undecided voter.

Meghan McCain campaigning with dad, John McCain. The other blonde in the pic is eBay bigwig Meg Whitman (talking to McCain). Photo by Heather Brand for mccainblogette.

All you'll ever need to know about first daughter wannabe Meghan McCain, courtesy of The Washington Post:

[Meghan] told MTV she thinks Barack Obama is "sexy." She has a teeny tiny tattoo of a star on her foot. ("I have always been drawn to people with tattoos," she writes on her blog.) She's been known to drink beer on primary nights when she's really stressed out. She adores the stylings of the corset-wearing burlesque stripper Dita Von Teese, and she told GQ she thinks the uber-trashy bisexual hook-up show "A Shot at Love With Tila Tequila" is "hilarious!"

Read the whole article here.

On a visit to the Butler University Bulldogs, Chelsea Clinton showed that she can be quite the bulldog herself.  When a student asked Chelsea if she thinks the Monica Lewinsky scandal hurt her mother's credibility, she quipped, "...I do not think that's any of your business."

Do. Not. Mess. With. Chelesa.

Barack Obama just has one Obama Girl, but John McCain has a whole flock of chicks.  The McCain Girls. And they are going to do a special performance just for us Polichicks. Shhhh... Show's starting.

And now heeeeeeeeeeere's (drumroll please!) The McCain Girls!!!  (Cheers and applause)

Actresses Hayden Panettiere and Rosario Dawson, cyclist Lance Armstrong and recording star Josh Groban talk to Larry King about why everyone should vote.  So watch them here and vote!

The Obama campaign describes the speech Obama delivered today like this: "Barack Obama speaks in Philadelphia, PA at Constitution Center, on matters not just of race and recent remarks but of the fundamental path by which America can work together to pursue a better future."

The video is definately a must watch if you want to be in the know.

Pundits and viewers are giving Obama's speech on race the thumbs up.  One polichick wrote in: "That was incredible.  I can't believe that speech was made in my lifetime."  You can read the speech here, compliments of The New York Times.

Meghan McCain (right) with friend La-Toria Haven is not afraid of McDonalds.

In response to those who pressure women to be a size 0, Meghan McCain published this essay on her website:

Inner Beauty

by Meghan McCain

As you may have noticed, I seldom use the Blogette as a medium to discuss social or political issues unless I feel particularly compelled to do so. This is one of those times. One of the unintended consequences of my dad becoming the presumptive Republican nominee is the increased level of public scrutiny on him and our family. Of course I expected more than my fair share when I decided to put myself out there and write a blog on the campaign; however, I've been surprised by critical comments regarding my weight and body shape.  It recently reached a ridiculous level when someone handed me a business card for a plastic surgeon and suggested I needed liposuction. I am proud of my curves and have always loved my fuller figure, as should every woman who is not a size "0".  I want to be a positive role model for my little sister and all of the other young women who read my blog and help perpetuate a more positive image for women, regardless of their body size. I feel empowered to tell everyone that it's important to maintain a healthy weight that works for them - not everyone is going to be model thin, nor should they expect to be. To every young girl reading this blog, it is inner beauty and happiness that makes a person beautiful, not a number on a scale.

Elton John will perform at Radio City Music Hall to raise money for Hillary Clinton.

Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman are on the cover of W Magazine this month.  In an interview inside the magazine, the two actresses reveal that they are as different as Mary and Anne Boelyn, the sisters they portray in The Other Boelyn.  One major difference?  Their politics.  Scarlett supports Barack Obama, while the undecided Natalie seems to be leaning toward Hillary Clinton: 

Right now, though, fighting the rumour mill is less important for Johansson than fighting for her presidential candidate of choice, Barack Obama.  She spent several days in Iowa in January, working the phone banks on his behalf and talking to high school and college students about the importance of caucusing.  "I will continue stumping for Obama until he's elected," she declares.  "The past eight years have been painful for a lot of people.  We're in a state of emergency."

A fellow political junkie, Portman is still struggling to decide betwen Obama and Hillary Clinton.  She can't help remembering how impressed she was when she met the latter, who was sponsoring a FINC-backed bill that went before the Senate.  "I met about 10 representatives that day and Hillary was by far the sharpest.  Did you read Gloria Steinem's op-ed piece?" Portman asks, citing Steinem's January 8 column about Clinton in the New York Times. "Hillary's just so experienced."

It was a good night for Hillary Clinton and John McCain.  Here are the results of the evening:

Republicans:  John McCain swept all 4 states: Vermont, Rhode Island, Ohio and Texas.  Mike Huckabee won zip and  dropped out of the race.  McCain also snagged enough delegates to secure the Republican nomination.

Democrats:  Barack Obama won Vermont.  Hillary Clinton won Rhode Island, Ohio and the Texas primary.  No word yet on who won the Texas caucus.

Here's Black Eyed Pea's frontman Will.i.am's latest video supporting Barack Obama.  The video, titled We Are the Ones, features celebrities Jessica Alba, Ryan Phillippe, George Lopez, Kerry Washington, Regina King, and the voice of Macy Gray.

Will.i.am previously produced Yes We Can, a viral video sensation that was viewed over 5 million times on YouTube. Yes We Can features celebrities John Legend, Scarlett Johansson, Common, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kate Walsh, Tatyana Ali and more.

Camapign '08:

The Latino youth vote is growing.  400,000 U.S. born Latinos have or will turn 18 in time to vote in the presidential election. [AP] 

John McCain faces early campaign troubles, such as accusations of an extra-marital affair, problems with the FEC, low fundraising, and a party rival (Mike Huckabee) who just won't quit. [Politico]

Women voters are split along class lines.  More educated, higher income women support Barack Obama, and less educated, working class women are with Hillary Clinton.  This is not so good for the Clinton campaign, which banked on sweeping women. [The Washington Post]

Barack Obama is "just like us." Check out this slideshow about how Obama is just a regular dude. [US Weekly]

U.S. News:

Condolences go to Elizabeth Edwards, who lost her father Saturday in Chapel Hill.  Vincent Anania was 87 years old and will be buried in Arlington National Cemetary. [CNN]

The first African American police officers in Georgia couldn't drink out of the "whites only" water fountain in the station house, arrest a white suspect unless a white officer was present, or use the station locker room to change into their uniforms.  They also couldn't participate in the Georgia state-supported supplemental police officers' pension program until 1976.  So retired African American police officers who began service before 1976 now receive a pension that is hundreds of dollars less per month than their white counterparts.  They have fought for a equal pension benefits for years, but the state of Georgia just won't budge.  "We can't fix everything for everybody," said state Sen. Bill Heath, chairman of the Senate Retirement Committee. So, sadly, our retired heroes will spend their golden years in court. [CNN]

World News:

Marion Cotillard, who won the Oscar for Best Actress just days ago, said in an interview that she believes the 911 attacks and 1969 moonwalk were hoaxes.  About 911, she said that the Twin Towers were expensive to maintain and were destroyed because it would have been too expensive to modernize them. [The Guardian (UK paper)]

A new BBC documentary claims that Mick Jagger escaped assasination by the Hells Angeles in 1969.  Jagger allegedly feuded with the gang over concert security. [AP]

Back from Afghanistan, a humble Harry said "I wouldn't say I'm a hero,"  and that he's "looking forward to having a bath." [People]

Vladimir Putin's friend, Dmitry Medvedev, won Russia's presidential election in a landslide victory, taking 70% of the vote.  Some unhappy Russians say the election was rigged.  [CNN]

History:

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar blogs about the achievements of Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, an African American surgeon who was the first of any race to perform open heart surgery.  Dr. Williams is also known for co-founding the National Medical Association for African American doctors, when the American Medical Association refused allow African American members. [The Los Angeles Times]

Meghan McCain recaps the most recent happenings in the McCain camp through February 22nd.

Outraged, frustrated and appalled. Just a few words to describe my thoughts after reading Gloria Steinem's article entitled Women Are Never Front Runners. Steinem's comparison of race and gender is offensive and condescending. Race and gender are not interchangeable. Unless I am mistaken, African-American women do not have the luxury of deciding when, or if, their life experiences are shaped by gender, race or both.

According to Steinem, being an African-American male is more advantageous than being a white woman. Because society has more faith male leadership, Senator Clinton is not getting her fair shake in the media. While I concede, men outnumber women in leadership roles, I disagree that Senator Clinton is not being taken seriously because of her gender. Yes, African-American men had the right to vote fifty years before any woman but African-American men also suffered years of lynching, intimidation, and other acts of violence to prevent them from voting or seek public office.

Since African-American men were granted a constitutional right to vote, there have only been three African-American governors! In comparison, there has been over three times the number of white women governors since women received the right to vote. In 2004, for example, the country had nine white women governors. White women are making progress in the fight for gender equality. But what about African-American women; who advocate on our behalf?

To assert that Senator Obama is being promoted in the media only because he is an African-American man is laughable. Senator Obama is succeeding in spite of the media's subtle negative associations about his race. Senator Obama is succeeding despite the fact that African-American men continue to be victims of violence. Just ask Michael Bell, Rodney King, Amadou Diallo and Michael Griffith, if they thought being an African-American male was such a privilege.

Steinem also ignores the unique issues that African-American women professionals confront on a daily basis. We are women AND we are women of color. Society says we must choose, but how can we? Is it really that absurd that if Senator Obama was an African-American woman, he would not be a serious presidential candidate? Ouch! 

Is that new-aged feminism at its best? Her example is just as insulting to African-American woman as the notion that the media is being unfair to Senator Clinton. I am tired of the rhetoric and the blatant disregard for woman of color, especially African-American women, as if we are non-entities. Wake up America, it is 2008!  African-American women have voices; hear us roar!

Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee will appear on the Tyra Show.  Watch this Friday at 12 pm EST.

Campaign '08

As a career woman, you're dammned if you do (have feelings) and damned if you don't. That's how Cosmo editor Kate White (love her!) sums up Hillary Clinton's campaign dilemma. [Forbes]

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are sweatin' Nevada voters.  Just days before the primary, polls show them in a statistical tie. [CNN]

If you can't say something nice, then your name is probably Karl Rove. He hates on Clinton and Obama on the regular. [CNN]

US News

 Former Congressman Mark Deli Siljander (R-MI) totally sold out the United States.  He has been indicted for helping raise money for Al Quaeda. [AP]

U.S. abortion rates are the lowest since 1976 [The Washington Post]

Mean Girls 2.   A girl robbed a Girl Scout selling cookies, after filling out her name and address on the cookie order form. And she didn't think she'd get caught.  If America had better schools, our theives would be smarter. [ParentDish]

Who needs men?  A captive shark gave birth and a baby daddy was nowhere to be found.  The single mother hadn't had a date (or any exposure to a male shark) in six years , but that turned out to be just a bump in the road to motherhood. [National Geographic]

Entertainment and Lifestyle News

And they said it wouldn't last...  Eddie Murphy and Tracey Edmonds proved wrong all naysayers who doubted their marriage would.  It did last... a whole 2 weeks. [Fox News]

The Big O gets bigger.   Oprah reaches 30 million viewers a week on the Oprah Show, but that's not enough.  A 24 hour network would have a way bigger audience, so Oprah will launch her OWN  (Oprah Winfrey Network) with Discovery Communications in 2009.  [The Chicago Tribune]

Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich's daughter Jackie at a book party in DC.  Shout out to BigHeadDC for the picture.

Diane von Furstenberg walks the runway at her Fall 2007 show. Photos credit: Style.com.

Four reasons designer Diane von Furstenberg heart Hillary Clinton:

• She believes Hillary will do the best job in the White House.
• She thinks Hillary is intelligent.
• She thinks Hillary has both a "micro and macro" management style.
• She thinks Hillary "truly cares."

Four reasons we heart Diane von Furstenberg:

Photo credit, all four photos: Bergdorf Goodman.

Top left: Bow Shoulder Dress in macaroon (green)/cream stripes with pink/taupe/yellow abstract floral print.
$575. Top right: Printed Chiffon Top in macaroon with cream stripes. Sabrina neckline; red/yellow/purple smocked top. Sleeveless. Pleated front. 100% silk. $198. Bottom left: Printed Cover- Up in fuchsia/orange/white abstract coral print.V neckline; keyhole front with bow. Three-quarter sleeves. $195.  Bottom right: Stone Print Wrap Cover-Up in black/white/tan abstract stone print. V neckline; cap sleeves. Surplice bodice with tie. $210. All by Diane von Furstenberg and available at Bergdorf Goodman.
 
 
 

Comedians and political pundits have snickered the past few days about how effective - well, actually ineffective -they think John Kerry's endorsement will be for the Obama campaign. A few have had mad jokes about how Obama could lose the nomination because of Kerry. 

DMinMI, a DailyKos blogger, begs to differ.  DMinMI thinks the pundits have underestimated Kerry's cha-ching factor and argues that the fundraising lists that Kerry gave Obama will make him the most bestest BFF a guy running for president could ever ask for.  Read all about it here.

Like many Americans, Alicia Keys has not yet decided who she will support in the upcoming presidential election.  Photo credit: aliciakeys.com.

Is your favorite celebrity supporting Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama?  Here's the rundown, as reported by the Examiner:

Sen. Barack Obama could have done some serious fundraising at the Warner Theatre on Saturday night, as nearly every VIP at the BET Honors was a full-fledged Obama supporter. We asked the celebrities for their 2008 candidate, and here’s the rundown:

In the Obama camp: Tyra Banks, Ne-Yo, Blair Underwood, Rahim Vaughn, Cedric the Entertainer, Hill Harper and Chingy. Some even explained.

Mario Van Peebles: “We need someone who can position us anew globally … someone who can bring about deep change. … He’s the one person I know who’s exciting. … He’s smart, and this brother also gets the street! I think he can do it!”

Wyclef Jean (although he conceded that Sen. Hillary Clinton was a close second): “Obama is like the voice of the new generation.”

Cornel West: “Many of us are fighting for him … but it’s getting tense … it’s heating up!”

Kerry Washington: “I’m actually going to go campaign for him down in South Carolina soon.”

In the Hillary camp:

Vivica Fox: (“We never should have been over in Iraq in the first place. … I’d love to bring them home.” And why not a Republican candidate, Vivica? “They had eight years, and they screwed it up!”)

On the fence:

Alicia Keys (“I’m still deciding”); Richard Parsons (“It’s too early,” but “there are some very interesting candidates”); and Brian McKnight (“leaning toward Obama”).

Staying mum: Jill Scott.

John McCain grinned ear to ear grin after learning that he won in New Hampshire.  Wife Cindy on left.  Photo credit: Meghan McCain at McCainBlogette.

After his campaign ran out of money this past summer and pundits wrote off his election chances, John McCain has seen a surge in support since winning the New Hampshire primary.  A recent CNN/Public Opinion poll has him leading the Republican pack with 34% of support from Republican registered voters.  This represents a 21 point jump for McCain since a similar poll was conducted last December.  Mike Huckabee is in second place (21%), followed by Rudy Giuliani (18%), Mitt Romney (14%), Fred Thompson (6%), Ron Paul (5%) and Duncan Hunter (1%).

On the Dems' side, Hillary Clinton leads with 49% of support from registered Democrats.  She jumped 9 points from last December.  Barack Obama is in second place (36%), followed by John Edwards (12%) and Dennis Kucinich (1%).

What nutcases are wearing now.  Photo credit: Review Journal

Why does Hillary Clinton keep getting the short end of the stick when it comes to celebrity endorsements?  Barack Obama gets Oprah, and Hillary gets stuck with Roseanne Barr.  Anyway, much to Hillary's chagrin, Roseanne announced her endorsement with this rant against Barack and Oprah on her blog (printed as written, with spelling errors and all):

barak obama

is an empty suit selling "hope" in lieu of Truth. Oprah Winfrey helped to elect Arnold Swartzenegger. I have no doubt that she voted her purse by doing this, as she is a large land owner in California, and that ilk fears Dems because they do not want to pay their "fair share" of Cali tax. Oprah has given us Swartzenegger and Dr. Phil. If that was not offensive enough to decent thinking people, now she brings us Obama. He has no ideas, no plan and nothing to add other than the cynical pacification of the masses with bedtime stories about hope, while calling Unions "special interest groups" that need to be done away with.
Obama votes with Bush constantly funding this terrible endless war. Oprah, you play the race card and the gender card too.
You are a closeted republican and chose Barak Obama because you do not like other women who actually stand for something to working American Women besides glamour, angels, hollywood and dieting!
When Americans find out that Obama backs right wing corporate racist anti worker bullshit, they will not vote for him, and the victory will go to the most racist right wing republican ever.... Mccain, who is a fascist! That the culinary service workers in vegas have promised barak their vote,( he is anti union in his votes) over edwards, who is a pro-union man, just proves how stupid americans are and how they can be tricked so easily by the color of a person's skin...exactly what MLK hated!
Obama doesn't even back reproductive rights for any woman! It is historical that Oprah Winfrey, beloved of women, chooses a flashy man with small credentials over a seasoned woman politician with 35 years of experience...and sells that to the female demographic who look to her for inspiration!

She backpedalled in a follow-up post:

I am so sorry for sounding like I don't like Oprah or Obama. I do. Oprah has been a force for good for a long time, and I just got carried away with my preference for Hilary over Obama. I think she is smarter and better than he is, but either of them is better than any Republican, and will get my vote no matter who ends up on top. I got upset because I felt Oprah was adding to the divisiveness in this country. I am sorry Oprah, I really do admire and love you for all the good you do and have done in this country and the world at large. I am just so worried about another Republican getting in, my stomache hurts and I can't sleep, and I go over the top sometimes!

Barack Obama and John Kerry in Charleston, SC. Photo credit: AP.

The Dems' 2004 presidential nominee, Sen. John Kerry, endorsed Barack Obama for president today at a rally in Charleston, SC.  Kerry said that "Barack Obama can help our country turn the page and get America moving by uniting and ending the division we have faced."  By endorsing Obama, Kerry dissed John Edwards, who was his running mate in '04.

Governor Bill Richardson has dropped out of the presidential race.  If successful, he would have been America's first Latino president.

Richardson's bow out leaves just Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards and Dennis Kucinich in the race for the Democratic nomination.

Photo on left, Governor Bill Richardson.  Photo credit: Cole/AP.

Hillary Clinton's BFF is John Edwards. As long as he's in the race, he keeps the "change" vote from consolidating behind Barack Obama.  If that happens, uh oh for the Clinton campaign.

John McCain and Hillary Clinton won the New Hampshire primaries yesterday. 

This is a redeeming victory for McCain, who faced serious troubles early in the campaign -including running out of money- and was written off by pundits as a lost cause way back in the summer.  It's nothing short of a miracle that he's back, and his ear to ear smile at his post election rally showed that he knows it.

And what a win for Hillary Clinton!  Faced with polls and pundits predicting a double digit loss to Obama, Clinton said that she always thought that she could win New Hampshire, even if no one else did.

Against all odds (and we can't emphasize all odds enough), McCain and Clinton belived in themselves when no one else would.  See what that can do? 

Go' head, John and Hillary!  Congratulations.

Click here for a musical celebration of John and Hillary's win. 

Final numbers in New Hampshire

Republicans: John McCain, 37; Mitt Romney, 32; Mike Huckabee, 11; Rudy Giuliani, 9; Ron Paul, 8; and Fred Thompson, 1.

Democrats: Hillary Clinton, 39; Barack Obama, 37; John Edwards, 17; Bill Richardson, 5; and Dennis Kucinich, 1.

Barack Obama with daughters Sasha and Malia

We know what happened in Iowa: Mike Huckabee won for the Republicans, and Barack Obama kicked some you know what on the Dems' side.  Now we're eager to know what happens in New Hampshire.  John McCain is expected to win on the Republicans' side, but you never know.    On the Dems' side, Obama will crush his rivals like ants, winning by double digits.   That's what we know for sure, as Oprah would say.

Hillary Clinton gets emotional about the race and the future of our country, making us feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Newsweek columnist Joe Klein on Mitt Romney, who has faced criticsm and skepticsm for flip-flopping on the issues:

"...I don't think Mitt Romney believes a word he says on any of the red-meat issues that he's been using to bludgeon his opponents.  Which is why he says those things only on television, where he doesn't have to look anyone in the eye."

Ouch!

There was a lot of excitement in Iowa last night:

• Barack Obama won for the Democrats sweeping 38% of supporters, followed by John Edwards (30%) and Hillary Clinton (29%).  Not a good night for the Clinton campaign.
• Mike Huckabee won for the Republicans taking 34% of supporters, followed by Mitt Romney (25%), Fred Thompson (13%), John McCain (13%) and Ron Paul (10%).  It was a somber night for the Romney campaign, which came in second despite outspending Huckabee 20-1.
• Democrats Joe Biden and Chris Dodd dropped out of the race.

Can the presidential candidates’ web traffic predict a caucus winner?  

Top Democrats: Barack Obama has the most traffic, followed by Hillary Clinton and John Edwards. At first we thought Obama led Clinton because people are less familiar with him than the former first lady. We thought that his high web traffic was less an indicator of interest or support, and more a reflection of people’s need to find out who he is. We nixed that notion when Edwards came in third, because he also has less name recognition than the first lady. So we think web traffic reflects people’s interest in and support of the candidates.

Top Republicans: Mike Huckabee leads, followed by Mitt Romney and John McCain. Note how Huckabee doesn’t even register on the graph until late October, when he shot up to the top. Rudy Giuliani isn’t in the graph because he’s not participating in the Iowa caucus.

There's been way too much drama about the fact that Republican candidate Mitt Romney is Mormon.  His rivals keep bringing it up, hoping that you won't vote for him because of it.  We know you're smarter than that.  But since so many folks are unfamiliar with Mormonism - hey, it's okay to be curious and informed -  we've provided a little Q&A below to bring you up to speed. 

Make no mistake, we're NOT endorsing Mitt Romney for president.  He might not know what the heck he's doing for all we know.  That's for you to decide in the voting booth. 

All we're saying is that he shouldn't get nixed just because of his religion.  Know what you need to know about his faith, check out where he stands on the issues, and then decide his presidential fate.

Is the Mormon Church a cult?

No.

Do Mormons believe in God?

Yes, but unlike those of other faiths, they believe that God has a body of flesh and blood like humans.

What about Jesus Christ?

They believe in Christ, but their views about Him differ from those of other Christians.  They believe that Jesus was married.  They also believe that he will return to Bethlehem and Missouri.

Missouri?!  Are they tripping?

No. Practicing Mormons don't take drugs.

Are Mormons social?  Will they kick it with us at Starbucks?

Come on now! Mormons are regular Joes (or Janes), just like the rest of us.  So yeah, they'll hang at Starbucks, but they won't order coffee, tea or any other caffeinated drinks.  Caffeine is a no no for practicing Mormons.

Will they talk to us at the water cooler at work?  (About.. uh... work, of course.  We'd nevah talk about our co-workers behind their backs.)

Sure! A thirsty Mormon would chill with you at the water cooler.  But they won't step out with you for a smoke.  Mormons are smart enough to lay off the nic.

Have you heard this one? So a Mormon walks into a bar...

Puh-leez. Practicing Mormons don't drink alcohol.

I heard Mormons run chicks.  Is this true?

Some do, some don't.  That has nothing to do with being Mormon.  Rudy Giuliani is known for running chicks, and he's not Mormon. 

Maybe you are thinking of the common belief that Mormon men have many wives.  The Mormon Church outlawed this practice in 1890.  The number of Mormons who still live in "plural families" is very small.

Is it true that the Mormon Church does not allow African American members?

That used to be true, but the church lifted it's ban on African American membership in 1978.

Are there any black Mormons?

Yes.

Yeah right! Name one.

Gladys Knight.

Name another.

Uhhh....  [crickets]

Meghan McCain (John McCain's daughter) was on Fox News last week talking about her blog, McCainBlogette.com.  Watch it here.

Jamie Lynn Spears.  Photo credit: Exposay.com.

Everybody knows by now that 16 year old Jamie Lynn Spears,star of Nickelodeon's Zoey 101 and kid sister of Britney Spears, is pregnant.  She plans to have the baby, and Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee is glad.

He told CBS News:

"It's a tragedy when a 16-year-old who is not really prepared for all the responsibilities of adult life is going to be now faced with all the responsibilities of honest-to-goodness adult life. I respect it."

"Apparently, she's going to have the child and I think that is the right decision, a good decision, and I respect that and appreciate it. I hope it is not an encouragement to other 16-year-olds who think that is the best course of action."

"But at the same time I'm not going to condem her. There'll be plenty of people in line to do that and I always look for the shortest lines. I just hope that she will make another right decision and that's to give that child all the love and kindness and care that she can."

What did the Bushes score for Christmas?  G Dub gave Laura a purse and a silver tray.  (Can you imagine G Dub shopping for a purse?!) Laura gave  G Dub some gear for cold weather mountain biking.  The couple gave the twins, Jenna and Barbara, housewares for their apartments.

Watch Ron Paul's family deck the halls...

Hillary Clinton promises universal health care, alternative energy, middle class tax breaks, universal pre-k and to bring the troops home in her holiday commercial.

John Edwards's holiday message asks us to remember homeless veterans. Nice thought. Boring video.

Is it just us, or do the Obama girls get cuter and cuter every day?

Tom Tancredo at the Republican debate in Manchester, NH.  AP photo.

Republican presidential candidate Tom Tancredo has dropped out of the race and endorsed Mitt Romney.  Tancredo, a Congressman from Colorado, was at the bottom of the polls.

 Magic Johnson and Bill Clinton at a rally for Hillary.  Photo credit: Keith Bradford for Reuters.

Magic Johnson says he supports Hillary Clinton because the lady is a champ.  Barack Obama, he implies, is not. 

"You don't want somebody in there that is young or a rookie at politics," said the former Los Angeles Lakers star at a pep rally for Hillary in Iowa. "We want somebody in there that knows what they're doing because this job is so huge."

Johnson is the third major celebrity to endorse Clinton after Oprah announced her plans to campaign for Obama. (Oprah campaigned for Obama weekend before last.) Madonna and Barbra Streisand announced their support a couple of weeks ago.

So will Madonna + Barbra + Magic = Oprah? 

Nope. Not even close.

Here comes Huckabee, right down Santa Claus Lane and - he hopes - into the hearts of Christian voters.  Watch below.

Spike Lee walks the red carpet with his wife, attorney and author Tonya Lewis Lee, at the 2007 Oscars.

Here's what Spike Lee has to say about the focus of the 2008 presidential campaign:

"It's been very interesting too look at some of these presidential debates, and the Gulf region never comes up.  Don't forget about the Americans who are down there still struggling because they've been abandoned.  Again."

Brad Pitt, Wynton Marsalis and Harry Connick, Jr. , are also thinking about the folks in New Orleans.

Hat Tip for Spike Lee quotation: Essence Magazine

The Des Moines Register and The Boston Globe have announced their endorsements for the presidential primary election:

Des Moines Register

Democrat: Hillary Clinton

Republican : John McCain

The Boston Globe

Democrat: Barack Obama

Republican: John McCain

Looks like McCain made out like a bandit. 

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) has has crossed party lines to endorse Republican candidate John McCain for president.  Lieberman was the Democrats' candidate for Vice President in 2000.  He is now an Independent, because he switched his party affiliation in order to run for re-election after losing the Democratic primary in 2006.

"Being a Republican is important. Being a Democrat is important. But you know what's more important than that? The interest and well-being of the United States of America," Lieberman said when he announced his endorsement.  He also said that he is endorsing McCain because McCain is "the most capable to be Commander in Chief on day one of his administration."

If you weren't one of the 70,000 people at the Oprah/Obama rallies this weekend or one of the millions of people who saw the news coverage, the Obama campaign wants to make sure that you know that Barack is  Oprah's "most favoritest" thing.  The campaign sent out an email yesterday evening asking recipients to forward a video with excerpts of  Oprah's and Obama's remarks at the rallies to all of their friends. 

Interesting is that the email about Oprah's endorsement came from "Obama from America," rather than Oprah herself.  A personal email messsage from Oprah urging us gals to vote for Obama would be powerful with a capital P.  Either the Obama campaign is holding the Oprah email card for later use (most likely), or Oprah has determined that an endorsement of that kind is more than her brand can handle (less likely... O can do almost anything). 

View the video that came with the Oprah email above.  Read the email in it's entirety after the jump.

Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) was on The View Tuesday morning to talk about abortion, the economy, immigration, China and his race for the White House.  The highlight of the interview?  When co-host Joy Behar said to him, "Now you're probably not going to win, and you know that, right?"  Yes- she went there.  Watch below in two parts (part 1 top, part 2 bottom).