Yesterday evening at the White House there was a St. Patrick's Day reception that included, among others, President Obama, Vice President Biden and Brian Cowen, the prime minister of Ireland, a title officially called the Taoiseach.

Biden is Irish and the nation's first Catholic vice president, and so he was in an especially ebullient mood. But, as we've seen before, he can sometimes be too ebullient.

Here's what he said, courtesy the office of the White House press secretary. Check out the fourth graf:

Good evening, everyone. Mr. President, Mrs. Obama, the Taoiseach, Mrs. Cowen. Welcome to the White House and welcome, all of you, to the White House.

You know, as I said to some of my friends at the Vice President's residence this morning at a breakfast, there's an old saying -- there's an old saying that goes like this: If you're lucky enough to be Irish, well, you're lucky enough. (Laughter and applause.)

I was telling the Taoiseach earlier today, one of my favorite cartoons to explain to the Irish-Irish what we American-Irish are like was one handed to me, Mr. President, by Pat Moynihan about 15, 18 years ago. It was The New Yorker Magazine and it was a picture of Pat and Mike sitting in a pub in New York. And Pat looks at Mike and says, "Mike, don't you wish you were in a pub in Dublin wishing you were in a pub in New York?" (Laughter.) You understand that about us, you got it all straight, Taoiseach.

But the Taoiseach knows a lot about it. His mom lived in Long Island for 10 years or so -- God rest her soul and -- although, wait, your mom is still alive, it's your dad passed. God bless her soul. (Laughter.) I got to get this straight.

If you haven't seen this, you really should.

Bill O'Reilly, host of the fair and balanced O'Reilly Factor on Fox News, was, as he often is, exercised by something to do with NPR. In this particular case -- which aired yesterday -- he was displeased with a cartoon on the NPR Web site by independent syndicated columnist Mark Fiore entitled "Learn to Speak Tea Bag." (Fiore's cartoons have appeared on our Web site in the past.) I hadn't previously seen the Tea Bag cartoon, or any of his stuff, but I've watched it now. (For the record, it appeared back in November.) In my view, this particular cartoon was not especially funny, clever or subtle -- certainly not subtle. But it is, after all, labeled "opinion," and there's no mistaking that's what it is. The NPR Web site, for anyone who has looked at it, includes opinion from the left and right, and shades in between. That's why it's a must-see every day.

You should also know that the Wall Street Journal has called Fiore the "undisputed guru of the [animated political cartoon] form."

Anyway, that's not the point of this post. In his discussion with Fox News' Jane Skinner about the cartoon, O'Reilly expresses doubts that the NPR Web site is "fair and balanced" and -- here's the kicker -- wonders if NPR is a "left-wing Jihadist deal." (Skinner, to her credit, pushes back on everything O'Reilly says. You can see the interview at the bottom of this post.)

But my real question is whether NPR is indeed a "left-wing Jihadist deal" or not. I know a lot of people here pledge their allegiance to Gus Hall each day -- I even once heard an employee say that he thought civil rights was "a good thing" -- but I still don't know if O'Reilly's description is accurate. In any event, now you can vote on it.

An embarrassing moment on MSNBC today, as host Contessa Brewer introduced the Rev. Jesse Jackson as "the Rev. Al Sharpton." An apologetic Brewer said that her script was mistaken and added that she knew it was Jackson just by looking at him. The highlight is Jackson's stone expression during the exchange.

Here's the video, courtesy Gawker.com, under the header, "They All Look Alike."

There's another controversy brewing in the House of Representatives. It may not have the drama of the Joe Wilson "You lie!" outburst. It may even be a faux controversy. If nothing else, it's another example of what's passing for debate on the House floor.

On Tuesday night, freshman Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL), speaking on a near-empty House floor, decided to give his interpretation of GOP plans to overhaul health care:

The Republican health-care plan for America: Don't get sick. ... The Republicans have a backup plan in case you do get sick. ... If you get sick, America, the Republican health-care plan is this: Die quickly! That's right, the Republicans want you to die quickly if you get sick.

Over-the-top rhetoric? Without a doubt. On the same level as Wilson's "You lie"? Republicans certainly think so.

Continue reading "Animal House: Going From Wilson's 'You Lie' To Grayson's 'You Die'" >

Maybe, maybe not.

It's hard to be neutral about Sarah Palin; in fact, I don't know anyone who is. And it's hard to find someone who really understands what led to Friday's shocker in which she announced her resignation as governor of Alaska.

It was not unexpected to hear her say she wouldn't seek re-election in 2010. That made sense, as her numbers had drastically fallen back home since she was selected last summer as John McCain's running mate. Plus, she had been feuding with state lawmakers, the budget is in turmoil, and she has gone through the wringer with assorted investigations into her activities (many of them, to be honest, were politically motivated).

While Govs. Bill Clinton and George W. Bush were elected president while still in office, the norm is to be a non-incumbent if you're seeking the White House. Ronald Reagan could have, but decided not to, run for a third term in California in 1974, probably to prepare for a 1976 presidential bid. Mitt Romney opted out of a re-election bid in Massachusetts in 2006 to seek the presidency in 2008. Minnesota's Tim Pawlenty is doing the same in 2010 for presumably similar reasons. (For the record, Govs. Jimmy Carter and Mike Huckabee left office because of term limits.)

But none went so far as to quit in the middle of their term, as Palin is doing (effective July 26). And no one is really sure why.

Continue reading "Forgetting Sarah Palin? How About Trying To Understand Her?" >

It's apparently official: Joe the Plumber won't run for office. And you can thank, or blame, God for that.

Writing in the WorldNetDaily blog, Chelsea Schilling tells us that Joe Wurzelbacher is back on the political scene, planning to attend tea parties on the Fourth of July for the purpose of "taking America back." He's going to speak in Conroe, Texas, on July 2 and then in Austin the following day.

But what about a run for office from Joe himself?

It doesn't look like it's going to happen. Said Joe, "I hope not. You know, I talked to God about that and he was like, 'No.' "