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It's Chelsea Clinton to the Rescue
Tweet Share on Facebook February 15, 2008 CommentLook for former first daughter Chelsea Clinton to step up her schedule on behalf of her mother's presidential campaign. "She's our not-so-secret weapon," says an aide. Chelsea's already visited about two dozen states, hitting lots of college campuses and generally campaigning on her own. Here's why we expect to see more of her: Associates say Chelsea's visits boost Sen. Hillary Clinton's election night numbers. One insider says there's "a direct correlation between Chelsea's visits and Hillary Clinton's performance."
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Cheney's Quite the Romantic...Really
Tweet Share on Facebook February 15, 2008 CommentIn the Cheney household every February, valentines aren't just sent on the 14th. Earlier this month, Vice President Dick Cheney threw a surprise party for his wife, Lynne, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their first date back in Wyoming. The veep even had legendary country-soul singer Ronnie Milsap perform for their friends and family at their U.S. Naval Observatory home. "See," says a pal, "he's quite the romantic."
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Woodruff's Kids to Tell of His Recovery
Tweet Share on Facebook February 15, 2008 CommentABC newsman Bob Woodruff's long recovery from a brain injury suffered in an IED attack in 2006 in Iraq is turning a new page. Literally. He tells us that in the upcoming paperback version of his hit book, In an Instant, his kids will write of how they dealt with their father's injury, coma, and recovery. In a draft provided to Whispers, Mack, 16, explains why he was somewhat emotionless during Woodruff's recovery. "I knew that everything was going to be all right." Cathryn, 14, pens, "The day he woke up it was like I was a cocoon turning into a butterfly. I flew into his arms." Claire, 7, recalls her first—and scary—hospital visit. "I saw a guy who had a hole in his head and did not look like my dad." And her twin, Nora, writes, "I was very sad, and I wanted him to come home more than anything in the entire solar system."
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Cheap Has Its Limits for Huck
Tweet Share on Facebook February 15, 2008 CommentRepublican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee is getting famous for running a remarkably frugal campaign. But now the candidate says his team is going too far to save a penny. While he credits top aide Chip Saltsman for being "probably the most penny-pinching, cost-conscious campaign manager I've ever seen," Huck tells us some moves are just downright cheap. Take his recent stop at an airport hotel in Houston. He called his wife, Janet, after checking in: "If I don't call you at seven in the morning, call Houston police and have them come look for me. We just checked into this hotel and I swear that I'm the only guy in this hotel that has sleeves and is not covered by tattoos. And I'm pretty sure that I might be in a chalk outline by morning." He later buzzed Saltsman and barked, "I don't mind tight budgets, but for God's sake, man, I'd just as soon sleep on a park bench than where we're staying."
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House Revolt: Don't Take My Lights!
Tweet Share on Facebook February 15, 2008 Comment (1)Bravo to the architect of the Capitol for slashing energy costs with new efficient equipment, making the air better by planting 175 trees, and going green in new car and truck purchases. But, say staffers, let's not make it hard to read. That's what some in the Ford House Office Building say as Capitol electricians are going office to office replacing old incandescent bulbs with fluorescents. One Hill aide says electricians are also removing two of four fluorescent bulbs in ceiling fixtures, then offering efficient desk lamps. That's prompted some to post signs on their doors reading: "Please don't take my lights." The architect's office says that's not likely, though there is a strong effort to cut energy consumption. "We are not taking every other bulb out to save money," says a spokeswoman, turning the spotlight on what may be just a bad rumor.
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Hillary the Kissing Bandit for $2,000
Tweet Share on Facebook February 15, 2008 Comment (10)If you think a caricature of Sen. Hillary Clinton as Morganna, baseball's busty, hot-pants-wearing kissing bandit, is unflattering, then you're not alone. Baseball card maker Upper Deck agrees and is replacing the Hillary card in its Presidential Predictor deck. But some did get out before the recall and are already selling for $2,000 on eBay. On the back, the card says both share a "similar life strategy: Go after what you want and get it!" The card for Sen. Barack Obama shows him as 2005 White Sox hero Jermaine Dye. It's much worse for the duo in another political deck of cards, 52 Most Dangerous Liberals in America, from Human Events, the conservative newspaper. All 52—including many in the media—are pictured above embarrassing quotes.
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Out Loud: February 15, 2008
Tweet Share on Facebook February 15, 2008 Comment"That is just rubbish, just excavated from someone's nose and then spread on those bits of paper."
Vladimir Putin, Russia's president, decrying news reports that he is wealthy
"I want to reassure the French. I am 40, I am normal, serious, conscientious, simple, even if I am privileged."
Carla Bruni, who just married French President Nicolas Sarkozy, deflecting critical stories about her lifestyle and love life
"Barack. Feel—don't think!"
Michelle Obama, wife and adviser of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, saying he overthinks in debates
"Since it's Valentine's Day, I want to mention a woman who's here with me tonight and the love of my life—Nancy Pelosi."
Rep. Rahm Emanuel, a House Democratic leader, in a well-received comedy performance at a media dinner
Sources: Reuters, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Politico
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Cartoon: February 15, 2008
Tweet Share on Facebook February 15, 2008 Comment -
Clinton’s Not-So-Secret Weapon Deployed
Tweet Share on Facebook February 14, 2008 CommentIn a brassy move, the Clinton campaign is dispatching its not-so-secret weapon, daughter Chelsea, to the state where Sen. Barack Obama was born—Hawaii. She arrives at the islands Friday and plans to campaign over the weekend. Campaign insiders tell Whispers that she'll be on her own, making the case that her mom's the best choice for president.
Chelsea has recently stepped up her campaign on behalf of Sen. Hillary Clinton. She has campaigned in about two dozen states, and insiders say they have seen a direct correlation between her stops and Clinton's election performance.
While little has been reported about her efforts, she hit the trail way back in December and visited all four of the first states—Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina. And while she's normally pictured with her parents at election-night events, she typically campaigns on her own and flies commercial to the events.
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Presidential Theater: No Ending in Sight
Tweet Share on Facebook February 13, 2008 Comment
