The Note: Help Wanted
— -- WASHINGTON, Nov. 29
It is received wisdom in the politico-media industrial complex that the personnel process shuts down from 72 hours before the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade kicks off through the first day in January (usually around 1/4) that Howard Fineman has lunch at I Ricchi.
Not so in 2006.
There are a lot of good jobs to be had, for which employers are now hiring. So if you are looking to make a change, consider some of these options -- only some of which are (still) available, and only some of which (actually) exist:
* Designated White House strategic leaker.
* Romney for President national campaign press secretary.
* White House lawyer in charge of taking Henry Waxman's telephone calls.
* House intelligence committee chair.
* National finance director (regular), national finance director (Internet), and campaign manager for Obama for President.
* VandeHarris assistant for expenses.
* Chiefs of staffs to a half baker's dozen of new Democratic Senators.
* Spokesperson for nearly any member of the minority in either chamber.
* Rapid response artist in the newly beefed up House Democratic Caucus shop.
* DSCC Communications Director with the ability to manage/handle/staff easy-going, laid back, non-demanding chairman. (Working knowledge of Joe and Eileen O'Reilly required.)
* Joke writer with fresh ideas for The Note. (7 minutes minimum experience required, must be willing to push the envelope, think outside the box, and turn the phrase "It's Robert Gibbs" into a punch line at least twice a week.)
Real time freezes today, as a White House memo leaked to the New York Times sets up President Bush's 12:45 pm ET meeting with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki of Iraq and King Abdullah II of Jordan. President Bush has dinner at Abdullah's Raghaden Palace at 1:35 pm ET.
As for that New York Times story with the Michael Gordon byline, the Gray Lady got hold of a confidential memo NSA Stephen Hadley wrote to the President upon returning from Baghdad earlier this month in which he "expressed serious doubts about whether Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki had the capacity to control the sectarian violence in Iraq and recommended that the United States take new steps to strengthen the Iraqi leader's position." Michael Gordon has the well-timed story.LINK
ABC News' Karen Travers reports that a Senior Administration Official said in Riga Latvia this morning that the White House is not going to comment on a classified memo but did have the following statement on Bush and Maliki:
"The President has confidence in Prime Minister Maliki and the Administration is working with the Prime Minster to improve his capability in terms of dealing with the fundamental challenges in Iraq – security concerns, economic growth, political reconciliation and regional diplomacy – so you are going to have an Iraqi government that has the ability to operate independently, sustain itself and defend itself and be an ally in the war on terror."
When asked if this memo diminish the ability for the President to work with al-Maliki?
"No," replied the SAO.
As for the day's 2008 activity, Gov. Tom Vilsack (D-IA) begins his "Announcement Tour" with an 8:00 pm ET scheduled community potluck supper in Mt. Pleasant, IA.
Why the potluck supper?
"Thirty-six years ago when Tom Vilsack first came to Mount Pleasant Christie Bell introduced him to her family and the community by throwing a pot luck," Vilsack advisor Jeff Link tells Radio Iowa's O. Kay Henderson. "It was the first time he'd ever been to (a pot luck) and that's why we thought it was appropriate that now that he's going to be introduced to the nation, it should start off with a pot luck as well." LINK
Link concedes his own contribution to the evening feast will likely be a bag of chips, but other Vilsack friends will be bringing 80 different dishes to choose from -- some Jell-O salads, for sure, as well as 16 different pies and several roasters full of meat. "Several people are bringing their best dishes," Link told Radio Iowa on Tuesday evening. "Christie Vilsack is bringing her cheesy corn casserole which won a blue ribbon at the Iowa State Fair."
Link cannot comment on the casserole, however, because he's never sampled it before. "But I'm looking forward to getting in line early, because I don't think the dish will last that long," Link says.
Vilsack won't have Iowa to himself today.
Former Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) signs copies of his book, "Home: The Blueprints of Our Lives," at 8:00 pm ET at the Barnes & Noble in Des Moines, IA. (Look for those gracious Edwards quotes about Vilsack in the Iowa clips tomorrow.)
Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) and former Rep. Lee Hamilton (D-IN) discuss the current state of homeland security at the Center for American Progress at 5:00 pm ET.
In Miami, FL today, the Republican Governors Association begins its annual conference at the Doral Golf Resort and Spa. The special guest speaker will be Dr. Eric Schmidt, Google's chairman and CEO. Schmidt discusses "Politics and the Internet: What Does the Future Hold?" at 4:15 pm ET.
Back in Washington, DC, the Iraq Study Group's meetings resumed at 8:00 am ET this morning.
Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), one of the Democrats' point men on defense issues, holds an 11:00 am ET press conference to discuss recent events in Iraq.
The Supreme Court hears oral arguments today in Massachusetts v EPA. The case is significant because it's the first case about global warming to reach the Supreme Court.
In an event that never fails to garner press coverage, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Himself) attends the 11:00 am ET release of the 11th Annual MediaWise Video Game Report Card.
The Pew Charitable Trusts holds a discussion on Electionline.org's analysis of the 2006 election, "How to Make Voting Work," at the Pew Charitable Trust in Washington, DC at 9:30 am ET.
In New York City today, Milano The New School for Management and Urban Policy and the Center for New York City Affairs co-sponsor two campaign roundtables looking at the 2006 gubernatorial and attorney general races in New York State. ABC News' Mark Halperin moderates the on-the-record discussion with campaign operatives and journalists, scheduled to get underway at 8:30 am ET.
