"This must be some new use of the word 'clamoring'" with which I had not been previously familiar."

- Jeffrey P. Harrison Tuesday, May 12, 2009 04:42 PM PDT

Jeffrey, when Alex says "Fear not: The book we've all been clamoring for is on its way", the "we" does not include us. It's those in Alex's Real World - you know, people who spend hours fretting over the use of columns in stage backdrops.

If Keef does it in comic form, it's much healthier than in real life. I feel this way toward the Republicans in the Florida Legislature ALL the time, so I appreciate the vicarious release.

Now I'm merely thinking of holding a "Good Riddance, GOP Assholes" sign at the Capitol exit when the SOBs finally vacate My Fair City.

Brian in Tallahassee

Even if Alex had been there and asked Obama for his opinion on Sarah Palin's acceptance of federal stimulus funds (we all know he'd ask SOMETHING about Sarah), it wouldn't be the lamest question asked - not by a long shot.

Jeff Zeleny of The New York Times - the Old Gray Lady, the Nation's Newspaper of Record - used his one opportunity to question the President (the Leader of the Free World, who is beset with more dire and diverse problems than any chief executive since Pharoah and his seven plagues) to ask this gem:

"During these first 100 days, what has surprised you the most about this office, enchanted you the most about serving in this office, humbled you the most and troubled you the most?"*

Wow, I wonder why the vital information elicited by that question didn't lead all the coverage of the press conference?

Zeleny and Helene Cooper's own article in the Times refers to that question as a "light moment".**

I for one can't wait until the next press conference, which will probably be held after a flu pandemic panics the world and/or Israel and Iran attack each other and/or ETs land on the White House lawn, when we can expect some fine "journalist" to ask "Who's your favorite PowerPuff girl?"

-------------------

* From the transcript at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/29/us/politics/29text-obama.html?ref=politics

** http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/30/us/politics/30obama.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Tweet-Dropping&defid=3908507

April 24: Tweet-Dropping

When a twitter user has a one-way conversation with a celebrity so that to the users followers, it seems like they are talking to a celebrity and thus are instantly uber-cool in the eyes of their followers, when in fact they are a loser with nothing better to do than have a fake conversation with themselves.

Similar to name dropping IRL, but even more annoying and even less likely to be true.

(Example:)

Tweet-Dropper: @BritneySpears How did the barbecue go? I heard Justin Timberlake was there too >.< awkward?

Tweet-Dropper (A few minutes later, without a reply from Britney): @BritneySpears Haha yes, I suppose after a while it got pretty normal for both of you, you must go to loads of the same things!

Tweet-Dropper (Again few minutes later, still without any replies from Britney): Yeah, it's been great! How do you squeeze so much into 140 chars lol? =P

Tweet-Dropper's Follower: Wow, this guy I'm following is having a conversation with THE Britney Spears!

Tweet-Dropper (To self): They are totally falling for my Tweet-Dropping!

...is reminiscent of a (probably untrue) story I once heard about a college track meet(?). For some reason, some schools had to withdraw - leaving only Florida State and UF (I'm sure there's a version for every rivalry).

FSU won, and the UF newspaper headline read "Gators come in second; Seminoles finish next to last."

Thanks for showing that I'm not the only one that's nearly obsessed with Alex's obsession.

You say that Alex was "initially captivated by Sarah Palin". That captivation continues unabated.

I can all but guarantee that by the end of the week, Alex will find something somewhere about Sarah that warrants a War Room article.

I say welcome The Spectre today, and kick his ass out next year.

"Seattle on the other hand, is built on a grid plan, so if your building number is in the 1700s, one block over will be the 1700s, etc, etc."

So all addresses in Seattle are in the 1700s? :)

Also, "Seattleites"? That's pretty cool, but were the first European-types in the area called "Seattlers"?

Sorry.

I don't know where I first heard this, but it's a nice shorthand version of your eloquent message...

Republicans moan and Republicans bitch:

"Our rich are too poor and our poor are too rich!"

if non-stories about whiny losers like Newt are the alternative,

MORE PALIN, ALEX!

I hope you'll reconsider the unbelted bit. There are just too many variables and things outside your control when you're moving in a group of vehicles, each weighing tons and being driven independently at high speed by imperfect - and sometimes very distracted or tired - human beings.

I'm not saying we should live our lives in fear, but we really should respect reality and the laws of physics.

(I'm sure you think it's none of my business and I'm a holier-than-thou jerk sticking my nose in where it doesn't belong. Let's say that's true. So what? That doesn't mean I'm wrong.)