Obama's Point Guard Problem?

Is Sacramento Mayor and former NBA all-star Kevin Johnson about to derail Obama's presidency? I doubt it. There's barely any smoke, let alone fire. I'm still trying to get my head around the controversy, but, from what I've read this morning, here's the nuts-and-bolts of what went down: According to various sources, Johnson reportedly misused federal funds for ST. HOPE Public Schools, a nonprofit education education program he established in 2001. After an extensive investigation, federal prosecutors ordered Johnson to return one-half of the original grant, approximately $400,000, to AmeriCorps, the federal agency that initially gave Johnson the money. Johnson complied. Case closed, right? Hardly. Here's where it gets a little sticky. 

Gerald Walpin, the inspector general for the government-run Corporation for National and Community Service, which runs the AmeriCorps program, said Johnson got off easy, because he's Obama guy. He wrote as much to Congress, asking the legislative body review the case. In turn, acting U.S. Attorney Lawrence Brown requested the federal counsel of inspector generals review Walpin's performance, arguing that Walpin's conclusions in the Johnson investigation seemed overstated and, ultimately, biased. Last week, President Obama fired Walpin, saying he had lost confidence in the national service agency's inspector general. 

Again, this all seems, more or less, aboveboard. Obama is within his legal rights to terminate Walpin, and both Alan Solomont, chairman of the government-run Corporation for National and Community Service, and Stephen Goldsmith, a Republican and the board's vice chair, have said they backed the president's decision to can Walpin, a 2007 George W. Bush appointee. This hasn't stopped Senator Chuck Grassley from calling for an investigation.  Grassley seems to think Michelle Obama's behind all this, because her former chief of staff, Jackie Norris, is scheduled to join the Corporation for National and Community Service next week. That's quite a leap there, Senator Grassley. Even more impressive than this. 

I honestly don't think President Obama has anything to worry about; this is, after all, Johnson's problem, and a minor one at that. The Sacramento Bee isn't exactly calling for Johnson's head. I doubt very much, though, that Obama wants to get dragged into this squabble as he prepares to revamp the country's health care system.  

"Just Give Me the Ball"

Right after Obama won the White House, New Yorker political correspondent Ryan Lizza wrote a fascinating article about the historic 2008 presidential campaign. Among other things, he shared this little anecdote about Obama: 

Obama, who is not without an ego, regarded himself as just as gifted as his top strategists in the art and practice of politics. Patrick Gaspard, the campaign’s political director, said that when, in early 2007, he interviewed for a job with Obama and Plouffe, Obama said that he liked being surrounded by people who expressed strong opinions, but he also said, ‘I think that I’m a better speechwriter than my speechwriters. I know more about policies on any particular issue than my policy directors. And I’ll tell you right now that I’m gonna think I’m a better political director than my political director.’ After Obama’s first debate with McCain, on September 26th, Gaspard sent him an e-mail. ‘You are more clutch than Michael Jordan,” he wrote. Obama replied, ‘Just give me the ball.’

And he wasn't kidding. The man isn't one to shy away from a challenge. Take, for instance, this edited clip from a recent White House shoot around with the Lady Huskies, who went a remarkable 39-0 this season, capturing the program's sixth national championship this past March. To Obama, though, they were just another group of people he could trump--this time with his impressive jump shot.  

(Via Gawker)

Presidential Picks

Although I don't agree with all of President Obama's picks, his bracket appears to be in order. The man knows what he's doing. Why am I not surprised? For a detailed explanation of his bracket, take a look here. It's worth the read. 

Yankees Skipper Hopes Players' Misspent Youths, PEDs Will Carry Team to the World Series

The talk of Spring Training yesterday was how Yankees skipper Joe Girardi, a longtime enemy of fun and whimsy, cancelled practice and took the team to Peabody's, downtown Tampa's finest strip club (Ed. Note: pool hall) to shoot some 8-ball. Girardi said the outing was planned to help bring the team together, and to give the guys a little break from the daily grind of baseball-related matters.  "There's a lot of other sports that do these types of things," said Giradi, who spilt the team into pairs for two separate two-on-two tournaments. "We can get away from the park and enjoy each other off the field and get to know each other."

Girardi's publicity stunt seemed to have worked, too. At least until the team has to face opposing pitchers. Gushed Johnny Damon: "Today is one of those days that, as a ballplayer, you'll never forget." 

Newly minted Mark Teixeira agreed with the hyperbolic Damon. “That was probably the most fun I’ve ever had in spring training in my whole career." Unfortunately, Tex's enthusiasm lasted until he was paired with Alex Rodriguez, who lived up to his ever-sinking reputation by failing to get out of the first round. Once Tex got rid of A-Rod, however, he advanced to the round of 16 with partner Robinson Cano. 

Mariano Rivera won both tournaments-- first with Phil Coke, and, later, with Andy Pettitte. In addition to demonstrating his keen cue-handling abilities, Rivera also showed off his casual, Obama-inspired outfit.  

Girardi, who admitted he wasn't as approachable or even as likable as the unflappable Joe Torre, took a page from Giants Head Coach Tom Coughlin, another notorious hardass who traded in his red-faced intensity for a sunny-side-up demeanor, an attitude adjustment a number of Giants later credited for helping the team win the Super Bowl. That and the emergence of Justin Tuck. 

While I'm all for team-building exercises, I wouldn't put too much stock in yesterday's pool outing. The baseball season is long and grueling. No matter how many field trips the Yankees schedule between now and October, it won't make a lick of difference if the starting rotation fails to deliver, or A-Rod once again withers under the intense media spotlight. 

Odds & Sods

Stephen Marbury considers distant shores, while Alonzo Mourning is once again put out to pasture.  Major League Baseball may have a major league bat problem on their hands, but Melky Cabrera, a AAAA outfielder if there ever was one, has about 1.4 million new reasons to celebrate. Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan says his team will get to meet President Obama one day, while the president's brother-in-law is still just looking for another win. 

Best Line of the Night

“Are you ready to take the oath?” Chief Justice Roberts said.

“I am,” Mr. Obama replied. “And we’re going to do it very slowly.”

President Barack Hussein Obama.

Who are You?

As of five minutes ago, I'd never heard of Bettye Lavette. Or, if I had, I'd forgotten. After watching her version of "Love Reign o'er Me," however, I doubt I'll ever let her name-- or her pipes-- slip so easily from my memory. Lavette performed Pete Townshend's amazing song last month at the Kennedy Center Honors in recognition of the Who, the first rock band to receive the prestigious cultural award. (Take that, Mr. McCartney!)

Lavette's interpretation of Townshend's best seems wholly appropriate for this morning's historic festivities. Enjoy. 

For those keeping score at home, you can listen to the Who's original version here and, for my money, the best straight-up cover of the song, plus a killer bonus cover of "The Real Me," here. Enjoy, again and again. 

UPDATE: The bastards at VH1 removed the bonus links to Pearl Jam's version of "Love Reign o'er Me" and "The Real Me." You'll have to find these covers yourself. 

(Thanks to the lovely GHS for bringing Ms. Lavette to my attention.)

The Powers of the Potomac

The Plank's Michael Crowley, with a dime from Ben Smith at Poltico, points out that a big chunk of Obama's likely cabinet know how to handle the rock.

Jones played forward at Georgetown. Geithner reportedly likes himself a good pickup game. And the Times says Eric Holder was once known, impressively, for his 'easy dunk.' Susan Rice, too!

With Obama, that's a solid starting five. Still, they'd do well to recruit Mayor-elect Kevin Johnson to help run the floor at their local YMCA. I doubt, though, Obama's keeping open a spot for Sarah Barracuda.   

(Via Yglesias)

Are You Sure We Can?

With President-elect Barack Obama’s security and economic teams securely in place, it’s worth checking in, as promised, on the progress of Obama’s brother-in-law, Craig Robinson, the head coach of the rebuilding Beavers of Oregon State, whose team lost their season opener to the lowly Howard Bison 47-45, on November 14.

To put it gently, the Robinson administration isn’t off to as fast—or as impressive—a start as Obama’s.

Following their opening night loss, the Beavers ran out of gas against Nevada and, after finally returning home, lost close games to Yale and Montana State by a combined four points. I'm sure that one-point loss to Yale really rankled Robinson, a graduate of Princeton, but his Bulldog-inspired agita was probably just a hiccup compared to his team's Thanksgiving Eve gag-fest against Montana State, which put the Beavers' current losing streak at an unsightly 25 straight going back to last season, before Robinson was hired to change the culture of the OSU basketball program. 

Still, Robinson and his team kept on keeping on, and finally won their first game of the season-- and first in about a year-- last night against Fresno State, a so-so squad from the Western America Conference, 62-54, behind senior guard Rickey Claitt's 14 points.  

Not exactly "Hill at Foggy Bottom," but, as even the president-elect would tell you, a win is a win is a win. 

The Beavers next take on the 4-1 Iowa State Cyclones, in Ames, on December 6.  

HRC as Secretary of State?

The rumors persist. Obama is a shrewd politician, and everything he touches, with a few exceptions, seemingly turns to gold. He clearly knows what he’s doing and he has certainly earned our trust. My preference would be for Clinton, a preternatural wonk, to take a second crack at fixing health care, but Obama seems to like Max Baucus for that particular gig. 

If Obama thinks Clinton, who famously voted to authorize the use of force in Iraq, is the right person for this particular job at this particular moment in time, I'll gladly yield to his experience and judgment. I trust him to make sound decisions. That is, after all, one of the primary reasons I voted for him. 

Still, this particular decision requires an even greater leap of faith than I've previously taken.

Odds & Sods

Obama likes what he sees in Gates, but Marty Burns loves what he sees in Atlanta. Joe Biden’s got himself a Thursday date in D.C., while Marte’s settling down in the Bronx. Bobby Jindal knows how to take a pitch. Sarah Palin, on the other hand, is still completely bush league. 

Housing Crunch

We’re still some time away from Obama’s big day, but places to stay in D.C. are already at a premium. (To say nothing of tickets to any of the Inaugural events). Most of the district’s 95,000 rooms have been booked, and hotels in Maryland, Virginia, Baltimore and Delaware are currently fielding calls about vacancies. At the same time, Craigslist is aflutter with offers of pet-friendly housing swaps and pull-out couches. 

I heard one story this morning about a D.C. resident who is entertaining an $8,000-offer to vacate his place for the weekend. He said he's probably going to hold out for more money. He thinks he can get $15k.  

Damn! 

Obama, as promised, is doing his part to spread the wealth around.

Mutts Like Me

"Our preference would be to get a shelter dog, but obviously a lot of shelter dogs are mutts like me."-- Barack Obama, at his first official news conference as president-elect. 

The man continues to impress. 

Nine Months Later

E.A. Hanks, of the Huffington Post, beat me to the punch. 

Like her, I also envision a ton of little Barrys and Michelles making an appearance later this summer.  

Hope's Right Hook

As expected, Rahm Emanuel, the man who helped usher in a new Democratic majority in the House of Representatives, is reportedly on board. 

Emanuel is an interesting character. Famous for laying waste to congressional Republicans-- and once sending a dead fish to a pollster who rubbed him the wrong way-- Emanuel is also the inspiration for Josh Lyman, President Barlett's deputy chief of staff on Aaron Sorkin's The West Wing, one of the many and increasingly bizarre connections between the television drama and Obama's political career. 

Obama is not fooling around. Less than 24 hours after winning the 2008 election, he's already up and running. 

It's going to be a productive--and fun--four years. 

UPDATE: Emanuel denies accepting the job but admits he's still considering it. 

UPDATED UPDATE: Game on. 

Final UPDATE: I've changed the post's title. I think this is more appropriate. 

Project Houdini

It remains to be seen how lasting of an impact Obama's voter registration and GOTV drives will have on future elections but Newsweek's outstanding review of Obama's 2008 campaign points to a pretty effective weapon that will almost certainly come in handy in 2012. 

"The Obama campaign's New Media experts created a computer program that would allow a 'flusher'—the term for a volunteer who rounds up nonvoters on Election Day—to know exactly who had, and had not, voted in real time. They dubbed it Project Houdini, because of the way names disappear off the list instantly once people are identified as they wait in line at their local polling station."

In a numbers game, that's a nice little trick to have up your sleeve, wouldn't you say?

Line of the Night

62,758, 809 popular votes. 338+ electoral votes. 1 historic night. President-elect Barack Obama.

FOX Calls Ohio for Obama

So did NBC. It's now just a question of how many electoral votes Obama ends up. I still say he'll easily break 300.  

Sorry, Joe.

(Photo by Lori King/AP) 

Begin the Begin

A little ditty to get you in the mood for what's shaping up to be an historic day. A long time coming.