What Should Michelle Obama Wear on Inauguration Day?

Inauguration Day is right around the corner on January 20th and it's almost time for Michelle to pick what she will wear. Take a look at the some of the front runners below and tell us what you think she should wear.

poll by twiigs.com

And You Think Your School Is Expensive?

Michelle Obama toured around the Capitol this week to find the perfect school for 10-year-old Malia and seven-year-old Sasha to attend. Take a look at some of the top contenders below and you will notice that there is no budget when it comes to a White House education.

Georgetown Day School

This school is housed on two seperate campuses and enrolls students from Pre-K to High School. Its mission is to "encourage our students to wonder, to inquire, and to be self-reliant, laying the foundation for a lifelong love of learning." The cost? More than $27,000 a year.







Maret School

The Maret school is located in the heart of D.C. and houses K-12 all on one campus. The school was founded in 1911 and prides itself on being "organic, fluid, not limited to clocks, schedules, and facilities." Tuition here will run about $26,000 a year.






Sidwell Friends School

Based entirely on Quaker values, Sidwell Friends School is where Chelsea Clinton attended while her father was in office. Their philosophy: "Above all, we seek to be a school that nurtures a genuine love of learning and teaches students "to let their lives speak." This is the most expensive of the three school, running about $29,000 a year.

Breaking News: Bush, Obama will meet with former presidents

Caption: Red, white, and blue potato chips?

Just minutes ago, CNN got confirmation from White House Press Secretary Dana Perino that President Bush and President-Elect Barack Obama will meet again for another post-election transfer-of-power discussion. The pow wow is set for January 7. But this time, they've invited a few more guests to the party.

"President Bush will host a lunch for President-elect Obama and former Presidents Carter, Clinton, and Bush," White House Press Secretary Dana Perino told CNN.

The idea to include all the living former presidents was Obama's -- he proposed it to President Bush at their last meeting on November 10, and Mr. Bush quickly agreed.

Perino said the White House would release additional details about the meeting as the date nears. I guess we'll just have to wait to hear what kind of finger sandwiches are served at a meeting of five U.S. presidents. Do I hear red, white, and blue potato chips?

We won't need to wait for the outcome of the meeting, or even for Obama to take power and his policies to go into effect -- Time Magazine has already named him the 2008 Person of the Year.

But Obama isn't chalking one down in the victory column just yet. Here's a few of the tough questions he's going to judge his presidency on:

"Have we helped this economy recover from what is the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression? Have we instituted financial regulations and rules of the road that assure this kind of crisis doesn't occur again? Have we created jobs that pay well and allow families to support themselves? Have we made significant progress on reducing the cost of health care and expanding coverage? Have we begun what will probably be a decade-long project to shift America to a new energy economy? Have we begun what may be an even longer project of revitalizing our public-school systems?" he said in an interview with Time.

Sounds like a pretty tough checklist to me. He might want to consider an extra helping of my "Freedom Chips."

Obama announced that he will be appointing Nobel Prize winner Steven Chu as Secretary of the department of energy. Obama spoke to reporters in Chicago minutes ago and CNN picked up the story shortly after that. Obama hinted at this nomination last week when he It is expected that Lisa Jackson will be nominated as the ambassador of the Environmental Protection Agency later this week. But much of this has been overshadowed by the controversy surrounding Blagojevich who returned to work today despite calls for his resignation.


Below is a video of Chu at last weeks National Energy Summit.

Obama's Cabinet is Taking Shape--See Who Made the Cut...

Secretary of Education Still Unpicked

As the US school system fails, reformers and teachers' unions are looking forward to whom Obama will name as Secretary of Education. Reformers like that Obama mentioned that a teacher's salary should correlate with students' achievement. However, Obama has also said salary should not just be based on test scores, which the teachers' unions support. He has artfully appeased both sides throughout his campaign, but now the real decisions must be made. Who will Obama pick as Secretary of Education?

There is the safe choice of picking a governor, the more eye-brow raising choice of picking someone who enjoys causing tension, and there is the likely choice of picking someone with whom Obama is friends.

There are many contenders for the yet-to-be-filled position in Obama's cabinet, but each come with their ups and downs. At the crux of the failing education system is the No Child Left Behind Act and making sure schools achieve certain test scores. For college students, even Teach for America, which matches graduates with a struggling school for two years, has been criticized.

Below is a list of possible choices:

1. Arne Duncan - Chief of Chicago Schools
Good: plays basketball with Obama, toured Chicago schools with Obama, fellow Harvard alumnus, signed bills for reformers and unions, friend of the teachers' unions; helps failing Chicago schools; pay teachers for performance

Controversy: not much really; appeases both sides and is bound to upset one of them

2. Joel Klein - Chancellor of New York City's Department of Education
Good: oversees nation's largest public school system, wants more teaching/ performance accountability

Controversy: known to cause tension

3. Linda Darling-Hammond - Stanford University Professor
Good: on Obama transition team - head of education

Controversy: Reformists don't like her because she criticized the No Child Left Behind act and Teach for America

4. Kathleen Sebelius - Governor of Kansas
Good: campaigned for Obama

Controversy: remove herself from being considered for the cabinet because of Kansas' budget crisis

For more read the Huffington Post article.

"Obama-nomics": College Edition

So I got an e-mail the other day from FastWeb, which normally provides information about scholarships and internships but sends out the occasional newsletter.  This edition was all about President-elect Barack Obama and how his presidency will affect our "Virgin Voters" (although hopefully there aren't too many of you left out there after this monumental election).  Here's a summary, since you have to have a subscription to access many of the articles.

Obama has been repeatedly likened to JFK for his charisma and charm, but in revamping the Fireside Chat, he now draws allusion to another abbreviated president-- FDR.  Have a look at his chat on education.

No matter what your political leanings, there's no denying that Obama is a definite favorite among the youth of America... and that's exactly to whom he is speaking!

Another huge issue for college students is financial aid.  So here's a brief overview of what Obama plans to do for all us starving college students:

"American Opportunity Tax Grant 

Under Obama's American Opportunity Tax Grant, all Americans will receive $4,000, fully refundable, for their college education. This amount actually covers 2/3 of a first year at a public university and one whole year in community college costs. But you don't just get $4K for going to college; there is a 100 hours community service requirement.

Simplify the FAFSA
Insert huge sigh of relief. Obama proposes to replace the complicated FAFSA from with a check box on all tax forms that authorizes the use of tax information for financial aid purposes.

Early Assessment Program Funds
Some states have developed Early Assessment Programs for juniors in college. Basically, these programs assess the individual junior and determine whether he/she is prepared for college. If not, the program provides resources to get that student up to speed. Obama hopes to encourage EAP and will provide $25 million in matching funds for states that develop the programs.

Increase in Pell Grants
During his term as president, Obama hopes to maximize the Pell Grant to the amount of $5,400.

Community College Partnership Program
Conduct more analysis on types of skills and technical education that are in high demand from students and local industries
Create new associate of arts degree programs
Reward institutions that graduate more students and also increase number of transfers to four-year institutions

Student Loans
Obama hopes to eliminate the Federal Family Education Loan Program, which has a focus in private student loans and is more expensive."

source: FastWeb Resources ("Change... In Higher Education" by Katherine Knight)

For more on Obama's plan, here's another great article from Education.com.

For more help on paying for college, head on over to FastWeb to set up your account and start taking advantage of all the amazing scholarship opportunities.

Fun Facts about President-Elect Obama

He's finally president and all that surrounds Obama's name in the news are topics like cabinet members and the economy, but here are some quirky facts to raise some eyebrows and let some laughs loose.

It's in the stars...

• Born on Aug. 4, 1961, Obama is a Leo, which makes him dignified, agreeable and sensitive; however, the stars also reveal he can be pompous, headstrong, and overindulgent. Obama's chinese symbol is the ox, making him a born leader, trustworthy and unwavering.

Suiting...
• barack obama wore a custom made navy blue, worsted wool two-button suit to the DNC from chicago-based hartmax, a 121-year-old clothing manufacturer known to outfit high-profile politicos. their suits run about $1,500 off the rack.















Obama as a college student at Harvard

Mr. Big stuff...

• At Harvard Law School, Obama applied to be in a black pride pin-up calendar, but was rejected by a committee... of all women.


Historically, some vote for the taller candidate...

• Barack Obama is 6'1½," while John McCain is 5'7.''


Soul food...

• Obama is quite the chef and his favorite meal to cook is chili.


Getting lucky...

• Known as "the committee," Obama plays poker with a group of politicos and carries around a mementos like a lucky poker chip and a native american eagle statuette.


Wise words...

• In 2006, Obama won a Grammy for "Best Spoken Word Album" for the audio-book edition of "Dreams from My Father."


Homey...

• Obama's Chicago-home allegedly has antique Chinese sinks and Honduran mahogany bookshelves. Also, a Dutch bar owner is making an offer on Obama's childhood home in Indonesia.

Petting zoo...

• As a child, Barack Obama had a pet monkey, tata. he reportedly promised a dog to his two daughters in november, regardless of the presidential outcome.


Youngsters...

• Obama's daughters, Malia, who is 10, and Sasha who is 7, are the youngest children in the White House since Jimmy Carter was president from 1977-1981.

Supreme Court Passes on Challenge to Obama's Eligibility

The Supreme Court has tossed a lawsuit claiming that Barack Obama is not a natural-born citizen. A small but significant group of people have continued to argue that Obama is not eligible to be president because his father was Kenyan, which was a British protectorate at the time, meaning Obama would have had dual citizenship — and thus not been native-born, as required in the Constitution.

The court's refusal to hear the case means the minimum four justices did not deem it worthy of review. But despite the court's ruling, there continues to be significant concern among some bloggers about Obama's eligibility.

One supporter is Bob Schultz, who heads "We the People Foundation" and has posted numerous documents on his website that argue Obama should not be president under legal grounds. According to Politico, several conservative radio commentators have also helped pedal the rumor, including Michael Savage, Brian Sussman, Lars Larson, and Mark Davis.

Though Schultz and others insist Obama continues to hoax the American people, the issue was mostly put to rest by major media outlets in June when the Obama campaign released a digital image of Obama's birth certificate. Hawaii's director of public health later deemed the images authentic.

The Most Important Stories You May Have Missed

The obvious headlines like "Obama Wins Presidency," are hard to miss, and I'm sure all you poli-sci buffs are well-versed on Obama's cabinet picks, but here are some stories you may have missed with all the hoop-la and fanfare over trivial issues like who will be the next leader of our struggling country:

What breed best suits the new first family?  Forget picking a secretary of state, Barack's next big decision will be: pitbull, rottweiler or poodle.  Or how about a pit-rot-oodle?  Of course, everyone from foreign diplomats to Jamie Foxx have an opinion on this topic.  But the real expert in this area?  Yes, that's right, the Dog Whisperer (aka Cesar Millan).  Dog guru and Oprah show regular, Millan has publicly delivered some of the world's best advice to our president-elect.  "The dog won't know he's Barack Obama and won the presidency," he says.  Gasp!  You mean a dog won't know that his master is the saviour of the United States?  Oh my goodness!

So what are we politically-minded, concerned citizens to do?  Get out the VOTE, again!  You to can be a part of presidential history and vote on the name of the first-dog-to-be by going to Bar(ac)k the Vote (my, how clever).  I'm personally in favor of Hope, or maybe Change, it's just such a tough call. (image from Tripawds.com)

Michelle, Barack and the Harmony Ring:  One of the foremost credible news sources in the world reported the Barack plans to purchase a $30,000 "Harmony" ring for his wife Michelle.  The news source I am of course referring to is the Daily Mail.  Apparently, Italian designer Giovanni Bosco will create the one-of-a-kind diamond-encrusted rhodium ring.  (For those two or three of you who don't know what rhodium is, it's a metal produced in South Africa and the most expensive in the world.)  The ring will reportedly be ready in time for the Mrs. to wear to the inauguration.

But then Gawker has the audacity to try to dispute this story!  They say, "President-elect Obama—allegedly a 'man of the people'—is allegedly buying a fancy $30,000 ring for his fancy wife, allegedly!"  The nerve!  You can just hear the words, dripping with sarcasm.  How dare they question the authority of the Daily Mail?  Well, come inauguration day, we'll just see who's right.

Pssst!  Hey Barack!  I hear you can shop for "Harmony rings" at Wal-Mart, and they're only $150-300!  (image from Gawker.com)

The White House is a Non-Smoking Zone:  Republicans everywhere have taken up a new cause: alerting the public to the fact that Barack Obama is still a smoker.  If they can't attack him politically, then dammit, they'll attack him personally.  Despite the fact that he's trying to quit, he admits to giving in to temptation from time to time.  That's it!  I knew it!  We should have elected John McCain.  It's much more likely that Obama will succumb to lung cancer or heart disease that McCain would have to the stress of the job at his age.

Even though Obama "says" he won't light up in the White House.  What's to stop him?  We need more accountability in our government.  We can cut defense spending and put security cameras in every hall way and multiple smoke detectors in every room.  (image from SavagePolitics.com)

Obama's new team

By now, Barack Obama has composed most of his cabinet, and has named several other high level posts. Here's a rundown of some of the major players who will be in his White House come January.

Security/Foreign Policy

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates:

Gates will stay in his current role, a move that has appeased many conservatives who are growing increasingly comfortable with the moderate direction Obama's foreign policy seems to be he

ading.

National Security Adviser General james Jones:

Jones, a former NATO commander, is another pick applauded by conservatives. He and Gates share the view that a withdrawel from Iraq should be cautious, and that many of those troops should be moved immediately to Afghanistan.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton: Clinton is a gutsy pick for Obama. To two have clashed during the campaign, but they share a foreign policy vision, and she will provide star power and credibility to Obama's team. Some, though, are worried that tension between the two could undermine Clinton's effect

iveness.

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano:

The current governor of Arizona, Napolitano will be charged with, among other things, enforcing the nation's immigration laws. She has received criticism for a lack of action on the issue as governor.

United Nations Ambassador Susan E. Rice:

Rice served as an assistant secretary of state under Bill Clinton. Rice shares Obama's vision for foreign policy, especially the importance he places on helping third world countries and "failed states" become democracies.

Economics

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner:

Another pick praised by conservatives, Geithner has worked closely with the Bush administration on the current economic bailout package. The current president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Geithner brings instant on the job experience.

Commerce Secretary Bill Richardson: Richardson is the governor of New Mexico and was a onetime adversary of Obama during the primaries. Richardson had been eyeing immigration or homeland security, but should still be a valuable asset in Obama's cabinet.

Justice

Attorney General Eric Holder Jr.:

 A former deputy attorney general in Bill Clinton's White House, Holder is considered by most to be highly qualified. But he carries a major piece of baggage: Holder supported Bill Clinton's highly controversial pardon of fugitive financer Marc Rich, which could pose an issue during confirmation hearings.

Obama's Big Day Wardrobe

Michelle Obama won't be the only one dressing in designer duds on Inauguration Day. President-elect Barack Obama will also get to have some fashion fun in a fancy designer suit. He is expected to take the oath of office on Jan 20 wearing a suit and top-coat from Hart Schaffner Marx.

A representative from the company predicts that the coat will be black cashmere. Obama is also expected to change into a Hart Schaffner Marx tux afterward for the Inauguration Ball and festivities. The tux will be 100 percent wool with a one button notch on the jacket and single pleated pants.

A version of the designer tux can be found at Nordstrom for $895.

But this wardrobe choice is no surprise for Obama who has worn the designer suits out on the campaign trail, during the presidential debates, and most notable on his acceptance day. The suits are union-made in an Illinois town outside Chicago.

In the lower right-hand corner of the brand's website is a blue box and the words: "Pick your power suit, President-elect Barack Obama found his at Hart Schaffner Marx."

http://www.hartschaffnermarx.com/mensstore/default.asp

But Obama won't just be looking fashion forward on election day. Famous designers are giving the President-elect major shout outs. Donatella Versace has dedicated her entire Spring-Summer 2009 Men's Collection to Obama. Donatella said her new men's line is for "a relaxed man who doesn't need to flex muscles to show he has power.”

Now I looked at the new line on Men.style.com, and it doesn't look very presidential to me. This suit may have been the most presidential appropriate outfit, and only if Obama was on vacation in the tropics. I'm not so sure Obama wants to wear sandals with his suit.



Or how about this Versace number for Obama. This one is president on the top, party on the bottom. Perhaps it was inspired by Obama's Hawaii vacation photo.





But it doesn't matter what the President-elect decides to wear, enough designers are ready to dress him so he looks the part and does it well too.

Will the real Barack Obama please stand up?

Comedian John Morgan (right) made a name for himself by impersonating the current head of state, and actor Josh Brolin (left) may win an oscar for his role as President Bush in Oliver Stone's incredible failure, W.

Photos courtesy of wthefilm.com and georgebushdouble.com.

When can eager audiences expect a President-elect Obama version? Now!

Saturday Night Live, MADtv, and Jay Leno all have their own versions of Obama.



Actor Iman Crosson has released a number of videos on YouTube in hopes of getting recognition as the next big presidential impersonator. Crosson will compete for the title of best impersonator in MADtv's impression contest. The winner will appear on an episode of MADtv as his celebrity inspiration.



Also, talent agencies all over the United States have been scouting for Obama impersonators. Tapley Entertainment, based on Los Angeles, boasts one of the best.

Photos courtesy of talentbookingusa.com.

Fashion: What to Wear on the First Day as the First Lady

Courtesy of Women's Wear Daily.

Michelle and her two daughters are three lucky gals. The White House family has the respect and honor of being patrons to some of the greatest fashion designers of the century. For a fashion geek, that's sensational. WWD collected sketches from Oscar de la Renta, Christian Lacroix, Chanel, Marc Jacobs, Diane von Furstenburg and many others on their imaginings of what Michelle should wear on her husband's grand inauguration day.

Tuleh



Oscar de la Renta

Monique Lhuillier


Christian Lacroix

See more sketches

SAXBY!

There's actually an election wrapping up today in Georgia, and you wouldn't even know it. That would be the Senate run-off between Republican Saxby Chambliss and Democrat Jim Martin.

The election is occurring because a quirk in the Georgia state rules require a Senate candidate to receive a majority of the votes to win. Chambliss received a plurality of the votes on November 4th, but not a majority - and thus, he is facing off against Martin one more time.

But you wouldn't even know it. Fox News is alerting viewers to the result with only a lower-third graphic that read something along the lines of, "Chambliss ahead in Georgia Senate Race." On CNN, Campbell Brown's show cut to a graphic of the election results about once every seven or eight minutes.

And what about online?

CNN.com buried the story on its politics page, and didn't even make it the main story - it's a side-story link. The CNN.com homepage? Entirely devoid of mention of the election, save for a small "Georgia Senate Runoff" link in the "Hot Topics" section.

MSNBC devoted more of its homepage to coverage, maintaining a story with a picture throughout the day.

They added the top bar declaring the race for Chambliss when they were able to determine he was the winner.

This was incredibly surprising - the lack of coverage of this runoff - given the election frenzy this country saw over the last 18 months. Seemingly every American paid attention to the election on November 4th, but it almost seemed as if nobody cared - not even the media - today. Strange.

When to take the posters down?

Girls unloading their belongings from a car covered entirely in Obama stickers. (courtesy of blog.epromos.com)

After 9/11, Americans were quick to show their solidarity and patriotism by proudly displaying American flags – on their cars, in their homes, along the sides of buildings, even on their clothing. Bumper stickers, mailboxes, and t-shirts proudly burst with red, white and blue. This “post-9/11 American flag bearing,” as some have called it, was a way for Americans to cope with the vast repercussions of the tragedy – condemning the terrorists who had taken so many lives while showing unrelenting support for our country and the many freedoms it provides. As an article from the Emory Report noted, “People waved the flag, wore it, and perhaps even made judgments about those who did not.”

However, the patriotic symbolism that surged in the weeks after the attacks started waning as the first anniversary of 9/11 approached, as an article in the St. Petersburg Times from September 10th, 2002 reported. Sales of American flags had decreased and blood donations had gone down; the small memorials that had been erected to commemorate those who died in the attack were removed and often ignored.

I’ve always been fascinated with this notion of “taking down the flag.” It’s true that in certain weather conditions flags displayed outside may become battered, posters boasting the stars and stripes fade and tear, bumper stickers begin to peel off with time and multiple car washes. But people also often tire of seeing the same decorative piece in their homes, automobiles, and closets day after day. Patriotism and solidarity wanes as that fateful day becomes a more distant memory.

The continual presence of Obama posters and bumper stickers reminded me of my fascination with this topic. As the election was decided a mere few weeks ago, Obama supporters are still proudly displaying banners calling for change and hope. The red and blue tinged photo of the president elect staring upward in the distance has become a popular cultural symbol, perhaps even recognizable to people all over the world.

However, it’s only a matter of time before people tire of their election stickers, posters, and t-shirts once again. When will people decide to take down their patriotic displays? Will they trickle down one by one? Or will everyone decide one day that this historic election is more of a memory than a recent experience, and the bumper stickers and blue and red face will be no more.

Though it’s inevitable, I think it’s a sad day when people take their posters down. Both the American flags of 9/11 and the campaign paraphernalia from this past election are symbols of our country’s patriotism and support for our new president. What does taking them down mean?

USC Student Reflects on Her Experience Campaigning for Obama

Nicole Bozorgmir in a Las Vegas hotel room getting ready for a day to canvass for Obama.

What did you do for Barack Obama’s campaign?
In students for Barack Obama we did a lot of phone banking during the weeks. I also went to Nevada to canvass for Obama, going door to door. Nevada was a big swing state so that was our focus in students for Barack Obama. There was a ton of people and random volunteers canvassing with us. We made sure that the people we talked to were registered to vote and we tried to encourage them to vote early so there were no surprises on Election Day.

What was the response from the people you met while canvassing?
A lot of people just didn’t answer. It was sometimes a little bit awkward, and it was clear some people just didn’t want to vote for Obama. But then there were people who were just really enthusiastic. We would leave flyers for people who didn’t answer their door.

How did you get inspired to get involved in the campaign?
I have always been really interested in politics. I always had my opinions, but I kept them to myself. But this election just seemed so big and I thought it could be a turning point in this country, so I decided to go to a meeting in the beginning for the semester for Students for Barack Obama. And the leaders were just really dedicated and inspiring…

What did you do the night Obama was elected?
I was at home watching it with my friends. And we all had papers and midterms the next day! And even though I don’t know if I did that much personally for the campaign, I felt like I was still part of it so it was very emotional

What do you think was your biggest personal accomplishment for Obama’s campaign?
I was really happy that I took the time to dedicate a weekend in Nevada. I know that sounds really trivial but it was such a big thing going there for canvassing. And knocking on doors seemed so grassroots. It was nice to be apart of something where everyone had the same goal. It was nice to put in the effort.

What’s do you think about the youth impact on this election?
The youth vote tends to go toward the liberal side. But there is kind of the feeling that college students are not that involved in politics or they don’t really care, so it was good to see all the students at the meetings. And having over 30 people going to Nevada was an amazing turnout that I don’t think anyone expected.

Top 10 Hits of the Web

Sarah Palin’s antics on Saturday Night Live and dumbfounded answers to Katie Couric’s sharpshooting questions did not gain her the number one spot. Fortunately enough, more people wanted to learn more about our president-elect, the self-described “skinny kid with a funny name.”

Web trends on Yahoo Buzz showed that most people wanted to dig into the policies and character of our next president, searching for details like “barack obama biography.” “Barack Obama” is the third most-searched term of the year, right after pop and gossip sensation Britney Spears and the blowing up of the World Wrestling Entertainment stage. More people searched Obama's name than any other politician.

As more young people are getting information from multiple “nontraditional” sources of news, it is no surprise that online news searches have buoyed to the top. People searched anything and everything: from biographies (“mccain bio”) to families )“bristol palin”) to the ridiculous (“obama girl” or “tina fey hot”) to fashion spotters (“michelle obama view dress”).

Among other top politician searches were Hillary Clinton, George W. Bush and Ron Paul. Rumors about Mike Huckabee’s squirrel-eating habits and Mitt Romney lashing his dog to the roof of a car spread on the Internet. With one click people discovered the truth through “factcheck.org” and “snopes.”

Ongoing events of spitfire here and there provoked a fury of searches. People typed in “john mccain letterman” as soon as David Letterman responded angrily to McCain’s talk during the late show. And when the Republican nominee called Obama “that one” in a debate, hits for that moment were boosted.

As Election Day loomed closer, people became mini-experts on the campaign. Searches such as “politico,” “fivethirtyeight,” “real clear politics,” “election map,” and “gallup poll” showed people wanted to be informed.

The whole campaign process generated the force of a rock star’s electricity, as more people aimed to be as educated as they could about the senator from Illinois.

Unconventional Voting with Cookies and Cups

In November some Southern California stores ran their own election to see if customers could predict the outcome of the real election. Watch this video below to see some unconventional, but creative voting.

Obama and Governors Work Side-by-Side

President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden met with the nation's governors at the National Governor's Association meeting today to discuss a new economic plan.

Governors are asking Obama for federal assistance to pull their states out of this recession. Lucky for them, Obama is on the same page and wants the governors to help draft the nation's new economic plan.

The President-elect said the money will be well spent if we listen to the governors and the recovery process will be quicker.

"All of you are going to be extraordinarily important in keeping us on track--not allowing Joe and myself to get affected with 'Washingtonitus,'" said Obama.

And how do the governors want to spend this money? Well for $136 billion, they can get started on "ready-to-go" projects like fixing roads, building bridges and new water and sewer projects. On top of that, they are asking for another $40 billion for Medicaid programs.

Most governors agree this is the best way to recharge our nation's economy, but a few governor's are not on board. Mark Sanford of South Carolina and Rick Perry of Texas said a plan like this is going to create more debt than we know what to do with.

"The federal government is not only burying future generations under mountains of debt. It is also taking our country in a very dangerous direction -- toward a 'bailout mentality' where we look to government rather than ourselves for solutions."

Regardless of how the money will be spent, Obama and his team will push for a $500 billion stimulus package when he takes over the White House in January.

Palin campaigning in Georgia

Senator Sarah Palin was in Georgia Monday campaigning for incumbent senator Saxby Chambliss. Chambliss is in the heat of a Georgia senate runoff race that will be decided Tuesday in a revote. Palin traveled through Georgia, making stops at four cities along her trip to participate in campaign rallies. The Alaskan senator told reporters that she supports Chambliss not because he agrees with her politically, but because he represents republican ideals that both the state of Georgia and the country need right now. Chambliss is up against democratic challenger Jim Martin. If Martin prevails the democrats are one step closer to securing a filabuster-proof senate majority. The votes in the Michigan senate race are also being recounted.

Obama: Ripples of a landmark election

Hindsight reflections of race in the presidential election

Ange-Marie Hancock, a political science professor at the University of Southern California, is an expert in race relations and comments that talk about race and Obama, a half-black, half-white child raised by white grandparents, were unavoidable. Obama's election has certain ramifications and ripples all across the globe.

The Virgin Vote: How did race play into this election? Should it have been?

Ange-Marie Hancock: In this election, race was unavoidable. And it’s not so much about “should it have been” but that this election was historic. Race played a very interesting and unexpected role in the election. People were expecting it to be more of a problem than it was.

VV: What do you mean by that?

H: A lot of people of color didn’t have a lot of faith in the white people. But they were pleasantly surprised that Obama won in the way that he did. The second reason why it was unexpected was that there was a much more frank discussion of race in the white community than anybody expected.

VV: What does the election of Barack Obama mean, in hindsight?

H: I see it as a big signal, there’s going to be spillover effects. People in the cabinet are going to be more diverse. He is an important symbol, and people see him as a rolemodel. There is going to be some blowback, as some people are uncomfortable with change. The challenge is going to be what’s actually racially objective and what’s not.

VV: Why is America, as a nation, so fixated on race?

H: One of the reasons why we’re so fixated on race is because despite all of our attempts, it’s still really important to be 100 percent honest nationally about the meaning of race. Other people have tried, social movements and past presidents have tried to address race, but we still can’t get together as a nation and be honest with each other. It becomes the baggage we can’t get rid of.

VV: What is the perception of the international community about this election? What are the international effects of this historic moment?

H: I’ve talked to my friends in Brazil and overseas, and people seem extremely excited about the election, but I’m more afraid that they’re going to be more disappointed than America will be disappointed. They’ve placed so much emphasis on race as a proxy for Obama’s progressivism, his liberalism, but what they don’t know is that he’s likely to govern from the center.

VV: Why do you see Obama as more likely to be centrist than liberal?

H: One, he’s more of a centrist than people thought. A lot of people think of him as very liberal politically speaking, but he’s actually closer to the center than we credit him for. Two, he’s committed to bipartisanship, so he’s going to be more in the center than to the left.

Madame Secretary

Let bygones be bygones. At least that seems to be the case for President-elect Barack Obama and just-nominated Secretary of State Hilary Clinton.

After a grueling primary season, during which each tried to discredit the other, and a backlash against Obama for not selecting Clinton as his running mate, the two seemed to have finally made amends.

Clinton's appointment as the United States' top diplomat, will require her to soon-to-be-President Obama's policy stance across to foreign leaders. Clinton will be, as both parties have made clear, a de facto Obama, at least in foreign policy relations.

While during the 2008 Democratic Primaries, Clinton and Obama attempted to display markedly different policy stances, each opportunistically highlighting particular instances or ideas (e.g., Obama time and time again pointed out that Clinton casted a vote in the Senate to send troops to Iraq, while he did not; Clinton criticized Obama's policy to meet with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and other leaders without preconditions), they have since tried to showcase a more unified, similar stance on foreign policy.

The extensive vetting process for Clinton to become secretary of state, required her to release detailed financial records, including those of her husband, former President Bill Clinton who revealed to have collected millions of dollars from overseas for speeches, which some say could be a conflict of interest for the secretary. Going above and beyond normal government protocol for the vetting process, Clinton is sure to play an extensive role in the Obama presidency.

As the new secretary of state, Clinton brings nearly eight years of Senate experience as well as extensive experience abroad. During her time as first lady, she has established connections overseas, visiting more than 80 countries, establishing relationships with both government and community leaders. The author of two books, It Takes a Village and Living History, Clinton graduated from Wellesley and Yale Law School.

Photo from ABC News.

All About the Benjamins

The Obama camp raised a record amount of money during the campaign, and soon they'll be turning on those fundraising engines again.

Obama's campaign raised $639 million during the primaries and general election, more than half from donations of $200 or less.

They'll be using a similar strategy over the next month and a half as they collect money for the inauguration. Obama's transition team has made it clear that they want to stay as far away from lobbyists' money as they can.

John Podesta, co-chair of Obama's transition team, said he wants to make this "the most open and transparent transition in history."

Refusing money from lobbyists is a bit of a new tactic. President Bush raised a record $42.8 million for his second inauguration, with more than 90 percent of the donations coming from executives or corporations, according to Public Citizen.

There is about $9.74 million of taxpayer funds available to pay for Obama's transition, but CNN experts say that's not going to cut it.

But what about all the money that's left over from the campaign? We won't know exactly how much cash is in the tank until Federal Election Commission reports come out on Dec. 4, but as of mid-October, the Obama campaign had spent about $594 million.

That leaves about $45 million, right?

Wrong. No money from the general election can go toward the transition.

So what can Obama do with that money?

He can return the money to contributors, donate it to charity, form a political action committee or contribute to other candidates, PACs or party committees (as long as he stays within federal contribution limits).

He could also hold on to it for a rainy day and use it for a future federal campaign, say . . . a re-election bid.

I'm no finance expert, but if Obama does choose to hold on to about $45 million until he runs again in four years, that's a lot of interest!

The Safety Squad

Obama's expected security team: Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State; Robert Gates, Defense Secretary; Jim Jones, National Security Adviser (photoshop work mine)

President-elect Barack Obama will unveil his superhero national security team tomorrow at a press conference in Illinois. Sen. Hillary Clinton will be nominated secretary of state, CNN reports.

Obama is also expected to confirm that he is keeping Defense Secretary Robert Gates in his current post. Retired Marine Gen. Jim Jones is expected to be named Obama's national security adviser at the White House, a CNN source says.

Susan Rice and Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitanoas will join the super squad as United Nations ambassador and homeland security secretary. Eric Holder will round out the team as attorney general.

Obama has taken some criticism in recent weeks over his some of his Cabinet picks. Critics are saying that his picks so far have failed to reflect the change he promised during the campaign.

"What we are going to do is combine experience with fresh thinking. But understand ... the vision for change comes first and foremost ... from me. That's my job," Obama said last week.

But even some Republicans are excited for Obama's security team. Retiring Republican Sen. John Warner, a veteran member of the Armed Services Committee, released a statement last night praising all three of Obama's nominees . . . even thought they haven't been officially announced yet.

"The triumvirate of Gates, Clinton and Jones to lead Obama's 'national security team' instills great confidence at home and abroad; and, further strengthens the growing respect for the President-elect's courage and ability to exercise sound judgment in selecting the 'best and the brightest' to implement our nation's security policies," Warner said.

The Obama Dream Team

In Foreign Policy magazine's current issue, they're running a story about who would be best suited for Obama's cabinet.  Here are a few suggestions I found interesting/ amusing:

"Arnold Schwarzenegger: Secretary for Energy and the Environment
The Governator has proven himself to be a get-the-job-done environmentalist who commands international respect. To address this increasingly vital area properly, the next president must view energy and the environment as two sides of the same coin."  --Christoph Bertram (image from biographyonline.com)

"Sarah Palin: U.S. Ambassador to Russia
The governor’s taste for hunting, plain-spoken talk, and foxy boots—not to mention long years of staring at Russia from Alaska—ensure a special relationship with Putin."  --Gideon Rachman (image from savagepolitics.com)

"Al Gore and Van Jones: Energy Security Council Co-Chairs
Because global warming is going to be catastrophic, we need to end our dependence on fossil fuels while simultaneously creating well-paid, green-collar jobs. No other nation has the power to get others to the table, and nobody can do it better than the former vice president and the founder of the advocacy group Green for All."  --Katrina Vanden Huevel (image from solarnavigator.net)
see the full article here

Of course, some of the other names being tossed around (both for serious and comedic consideration) include Hilary Clinton, Warren Buffet, Michael Bloomberg, Bill Bradley, Robert Gates, Steve Forbes and Suasan Rice.  You can vote for your top picks here.

Interview with the President Elect

ABC aired a Barbara Walters special interview with President-elect Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving.  The interview covered everything from the flailing economy to the selection of a "first-puppy" for the incoming first family.  Here are some highlights from the interview, which you can watch here.

On the economic crisis:  Many feel that with the economy in the state that it is "the fate of the nation is riding on [Obama's] shoulders."  With so much pressure on one man, he says his biggest fear is "that the economy is so weakened already."  But he says that his plan involves assembling the best team possible and come out full force in January.

On people's expectations:  He built his campaign on the promises of change and the hope of solutions to problems we've been accruing over the past eight years.  But do people expect too much out of Obama?  "I can meet the expectation of a government that is competent and honest and can make the daily lives of our citizens better," he told Walters.  "If people see progress, then I will have met expectations."  But, he reminds us that, "I am not a miracle worker."

On the auto makers' plan:  Despite the dismal situation of US auto makers, corporate heads are still taking risks and accruing expenses.  Obama suggests an "ethic of responsibility," where  "the least you can do is say I'm willing to make some sacrifices as well because I recognize that there are other people worse off."  As for tax hikes on the wealthy, the theme is a net tax cut for working families, whereas "people like you and me, Barbara, can afford to pay a little more."

On his cabinet choices:  Though Walters badgered Obama about his possible choices to fill his cabinet, he would only say, "No one would come to my press conferences if I spill the beans on 20/20."  As to the accusations that he would name those from the Clinton administration, "we need someone with experience in dealing with economic depression... the change comes from the person in the oval office."

On foreign policy:  Turning the attention to foreign policy, Obama suggested a plan that would transfer more troops to Afghanistan go on the offensive instead of remaining on the defensive together with a plan for withdrawing from Iraq.  Though he ceded that we have made some improvements in Iraq, he made sure to highlight that our job is to make sure we leave behind an iraq with structural integrity.  He also emphasized the fact that our focus should be on getting Bin Laden and to stay focused on Al-Qaeda strongholds in Afghanistan.

On racist threats against him:  "Those who voted for or against me overwhelmingly judged me on the basis of my platforms," he said in the interview.  "At the margins of any society are the extremists, but they're not at the heart of what america is."  He also cited his religious faith as carrying him through the day.

On his mother and grandmother:  Obama said that he knew his mom would not have been surprised at his victory, but most certainly proud of how he did it.  It would have been his grandmother, instead, who was surprised at the outcome.

On his previous aspirations:  Before deciding on running for president, he had wanted to be an architect, basketball player and judge.  "The one thing I know I didn't expect was to be president," he said.

On his wife:  "Michelle grounds me.  She is my reality check... a constant reminder of why do I do this."

Highlights from the rest of the interview:

Who has the last word in arguments?  Michelle.  "Whatever you say, honey."

[pause for a lipstick check and witty banter between the Mr., the Mrs. and Walters]
About the children: Sasha is 7 years old and Malia is 10.  Malia plans to sit at the desk where Lincoln signed the Gettysburg Address to write "important papers."

Yes, the girls will make their beds and clean their rooms.

Yes, the girls will attend private school.

Yes, the girls do write letters to santa.

No, the Obama's do not spank their girls: "We don't have to."

Inauguration speech preview: a theme ofrebuilding the sense that we're all in this together
Thanksgiving at the Obama's: 60 people at the house (mostly Michelle's family), and spent the day before at a soup kitchen

Parting thoughts from Barack Obama: "I want to remind people that as tough as times are right now... that we have been through tough times before, and the extraordinary blessings of being an American... that is the greatest of gifts that we have to give thanks for."

PS: Please, stop sending pictures of your dog to the Obama's: "We're getting more advice on this than on my economic policies."

photo courtesy of ABC news

Meet the Press...Secretary

Photo by New York Times

President elect Barack Obama may not be the acting president, but he sure is acting like it. In the last few weeks he has announced many of his staff and cabinet apointments. Notable staffers already include Timothy F. Geithner as Treasury Secretary, Rahm Emanuel as White House Chief of Staff, and now Obama has picked Robert Gibbs to be his press secretary. Gibbs will be the man in between Obama's administration and the world for the next for years.

President Bush has shows just how difficult the job can be after several of his press secretaries resigned. Scott McClellan even wrote a scathing memoir denouncing the Bush administration and his role in it. The Bush administration wasn't exactly a role model for good press relations, and hopefully the press can look forward to more candor and access to the president during the next (at least) four years.

Some insiders have suggested that Gibbs has an uneven temperament which could be a problem when he is a press secretary, a job which requires calm under pressure. However a spirited approach to his job has also earned Gibbs Youtube fame and support from many Democrats. In this clip from the Hannity and Colmes, Gibbs responds to accusations that Barack Obama is friendly with confessed terrorist William Ayers. He tells Hannity that "guilt by association" is a bogus notion, and goes to to ask Hannity if he is an anti-semite. Notice Colmes is silent throughout, until he steps in to defend Hannity at about 4:25 in.



Robert Gibbs has been with Obama since 2004, abandoning a post as Obama's director of communications at his Chicago headquarters to go on the road with the iconic democrat. He soon became a senior strategist, and was vital in shaping Obama's image and policies. In the last four years he has helped guide the rookie Senator through the quagmire of national politics and the trenches of presidential campaigning. According to the New York Times, Gibbs was usually the last person Obama conferred with before addressing a public audience.

Before joining Obama's team he worked with Senator John Kerry and on various other political campaigns. Gibbs comes from Auburn, Alabama and graduated from North Carolina State University.

Getting to know Barack Obama

During election season, people scramble to educate themselves on the candidates' positions on a variety of issues -- healthcare, the war in Iraq, the economy, foreign policy in the Middle East, etc. In doing so, people try to get a sense of what each candidate prioritizes and values, ultimately hoping to understand the candidates' characters and ethics.

Now that the election is over, it's time to really get to know our new president. And I don't mean his latest stance on the economy or who he's chosen to be his chief of staff. I've compiled a list of little-known facts about Barack Obama in order to get to know the president elect as a person -- his interests, favorite sports, foods, etc. Enjoy!


Nickname: Called "Barry O'bomber" by his fellow high school basketball players in Honolulu
Collection: Spider Man and Conan the Barbarian comics








Favorite Drink: Black forest berry iced tea
Reads: He has read every Harry Potter book, though his favorite book is Moby-Dick by Herman Melville










Languages: Speaks Spanish
Working out: He can bench press 200lbs
Favorite movies: Casablanca and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest










First Date: He took Michelle to see the Spike Lee film Do The Right Thing
Favorite games: Scrabble and poker
Favorite television shows: Mash and The Wire








Favorite artist: Pablo Picasso
Favorite food to cook: Chili
Favorite musical artists: Miles Davis, Bob Dylan, Bach and The Fugees









Unusual Foods: He ate dog meat, snake meat, and roasted grasshopper while living in Indonesia
Favorite Games: Scrabble and poker








Favorite Meal: His wife Michelle's shrimp linguine
Worst Habit: constantly checking his Blackberry





For more information and interesting facts, read the whole story in The Telegraph here