News Roundup for 1/13/09

Is there an echo in here?

-Headline of the day-
"White House interns forced to fill seats at Bush’s last press conference to make the room seem less empty."

For Bush's final presser, the White House sent out memos to the press stating that only "one correspondent per organization" would be allowed to attend and that the event would be "standing room only for non-seat holders." Turns out not enough seat-holders showed up to make it standing-room only.

"[W]hen the appointed hour of 9:15 a.m. arrived, the last two rows in the seven-row briefing room were empty, and a press aide told White House interns to fill those seats," reports WaPo's Dana Milbank.

Why, he's just Mr. Popular, isn't he?

In related news, Bush has requested time from TV networks to make a farewell address to the nation thursday. Maybe The History Channel, the Food Network, or Animal Planet will air it. (Think Progress)


-Oprah signs onto the Homosexual Agenda-
Hollywood glamorpuss Kate Winslet was interviewed by Oprah Winfrey after winning two Golden Globes. In discussing her role in "The Reader," Winfrey got bogged down in the naughty scenes.

"You went farther than my imagination," Winfrey said, admitting once and for all that she spends time imagining Kate Winslet naked. "I love that you have real breasts. Your breasts do what real breasts do!!" This degenerated into a discussion of how to tell real boobs from surgical-enhanced chemo-boobs -- think of it as a field guide to the species.

At the end of the interview, Oprah gave Kate a high-five and said, "God bless your real breasts!"

Now that's journalism. (Huffington Post, with video)


-Fancypants elitists-
In that half-empty final press conference, President Bush denied that his leadership had harmed America's reputation. "I strongly disagree with the assessment that our moral standing has been damaged," he said. "It may be damaged amongst some of the elite, but people still understand America stands for freedom, that America is a country that provides such great hope."

Turns out that there's a whole buttload of "the elite." Gallup polling shows that in 2001, 73% answered "In general, how do you think the United States rates in the eyes of the world -- very favorably, somewhat favorably, somewhat unfavorably, or very unfavorably?" with either "very" or "somewhat" favorably.

Today, that number is 55%. Unfavorables have rose from 26% to 43% during that same period. Hey, you stuck up, sissypants, elitist snobs! All those protests and burning flags and hangings in effigy? Those are meant as signs of love.

Serious, ask George. (Gallup)