Newshouse Politics

Photo from the Seattle Times

Today, Barack Obama announced New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson as his secretary of commerce.  More importantly, the President-elect offered these words about Richardson’s facial hair:

I’m going to answer this question about the beard. I think it was mistake for him to get rid of it. I thought that whole western rugged look was really working for him. For some reason, maybe because it was scratchy when he kissed his wife, he was forced to get rid of it. But we’re deeply disappointed with the loss of the beard

It’s good to see Obama is keeping his sense of humor amid all this transition madness.  Personally I like Richardson sans beard, what do you think?  

Photo via Playboy magazine (lol)

In other news, students at Syracuse University will get an advance look at “Frost/Nixion”, which my history professor Margaret Thompson said should be a pretty solid movie.   A screening of the movie, which is based on the BBC interviews with the disgraced former president, will be held at the Herg at 7:30 p.m. Thursday .  SU alumnus William Connor was the associate producer of the movie.   

Keep watching the Al Franken-Norm Coleman Senate race.  The Coleman camp says they have pulled ahead by 22 votes.   Talk about a close election!

(too bad for Franken that that guy  voted for lizard people!)

Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell made a controversial remark about Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, the President-elects secretary of homeland security appointment. Quote via politico:

“Janet’s perfect for that job. Because for that job, you have to have no life,” Rendell said, apparently unaware that the lectern mike was still hot. “Janet has no family, perfect. She can devote, literally, 19 to 20 hours a day to it.” 

Rendell should have realized the political dangers of the hot mic.

CNN commentary claiming that the Big Three might not survive a bailout.   While the U.A.W. says it is willing to make some concessions to make things easier.  And a comment by Elizabeth Kolbert of The New Yorker on letting Detroit fail.

Keep watching the developments between Congressman Charles Rangel and The New York Times.  The two seem to disagree on Rangel’s failure to report profits on his rent-stabilized apartments.  Rangel is on the all-important Ways and Means committee.

And lastly, some Sarah Palin poetry via Slate.