Politics. On Point.

Press Secretary Josh Earnest, in his last press briefing under the Obama administration, received some kind words from the Commander-in- Chief during Tuesday's press briefing. The president praised Earnest for his "integrity", for being a "straight-shooter" and having an "All-American" look "going for him." "That's helpful", said the president. Earnest has been ridiculed for being "too vanilla" and had been ridiculed by incoming president Trump as being "foolish." Said Trump during one of his campaign rallies, "This foolish guy, Josh Earnest, I don't know," Trump told the crowd. "You know, having the right press secretary is so important because he's so bad the way he delivers a message. He can deliver a positive message and it sounds bad. He could say ladies and gentlemen, today we have totally defeated ISIS, and it wouldn't sound good, OK?" During today's pre...

James Brady, the press secretary who was shot as he tried to shield President Ronald Reagan from an assassin's bullet has died.    Brady was left paralyzed after the 1981 incident. President Reagan survived the attack by John Hinkley, Jr. outside the Washington Hilton hotel.  The hotel serves as the present venue for the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner.   The assassination attempt would later spawn the Brady handgun control bill (signed by President Bill Clinton ) which, under law, meant prospective gun purchasers must wait at least five days while a background check was done before they could legally purchase a handgun.  The bill gave way to backlash by those who say the bill trampled upon a person's Second Amendment rights. James Brady gives reporters a thumbs up sign, circa 2005.   Photo/Reuters. That was thirty-three years ago, and the same gun control debate prevails today even in the midst of school, neighborhoo...

Sob. Sob.   Another press secretary has descended from the White House briefing room podium, into the welcoming arms of 'family'. Today, White House reporters saw the last briefing - facilitated by one Mr. James "Jay" Carney, the 29th press secretary, and the second to President Obama after he replaced Robert Gibb s nearly four years ago. President Obama and White House Press Secretary Jay Carney, aboard Air Force One, one last time. Just as his predecessor before him, Carney told reporters how much he loved his job, and how much of a "pleasure" it was. I could never understand how the PS could claim, at least on camera, to have have "the best job in the world", "loving every moment", and then just walk away. How could you no longer want to talk about every issue happening in the world, every day - for an hour -  to relentless, grilling, reporters who act like they're out for blood on every single issue? Take a read a...

Lew To Take The Reins President Obama announced today that White House Chief of Staff William Daley is moving on to 'different' pastures. The COS has resigned citing he will 'spend more time with family', but reports indicate Daley will also serve as co-chair of president's Chicago-based re-election efforts.  He will be replaced later this month by former OMB director, Jack Lew. Said President Obama in a late afternoon announcement in the State Dining Room, "Obviously this was not easy news to hear.  And I didn’t accept Bill’s decision right away.  In fact, I asked him to take a couple of days to make sure that he was sure about this.  But in the end, the pull of the hometown we both love; a city that’s been synonymous with the Daley family for generations, was too great.  Bill told me that he wanted to spend more time with his family, especially his grandchildren, and he felt it was the right decision." Daley replaced former chief of staff Ra...

Gets The Tie Seen Around The World The events in Egypt may have given the press corp something to talk about at yesterday's 250th press briefing of one Robert Lane Gibbs, perhaps overshadowing his exit, but it was an emotional  last White House briefing , nonetheless. From sounds of "aawww" coming from the press as Gibbs announced that one of his "week ahead" items would include taking his two year-old son, Ethan, to the bus stop - to the applause given after President Obama gave (or perhaps, returned) to his Press Secretary of two and some odd years, a good-bye present encased in a glass picture frame - it was press briefing to remember. Entering the James Brady briefing room moments before Gibbs was about to end his last briefing of the 2010 Obama Administration, the man himself walks in with a gift for his trusty friend, and confidant. President Obama returned to Gibbs a tie, or perhaps 'the' tie that helped launch a presidential campai...

A busy day in Washington today as the 112th Congress is sworn in, press secretary Robert Gibbs talks about leaving; and the First Lady gains a new Chief of Staff. The 112th Congress Rep. John Dingell , D-Mich., administered the oath today during the noon-time ceremony that saw the Democratic party relinquishing its reign to their rival Repbulican party. Republicans hold a 242-193 majority in the House and plan to make their voices heard, promising to challenge the president on all fronts (as they have been doing), especially on the president's Health Reform bill.  Outgoing Democratic Housespeaker Nancy Pelosi transfers the gavel of power over to Republic HouseSpeaker John Boehner.   A/P photo.  "The people voted to end business as usual, and today we begin carrying out their instructions" , said Boehner.   The 112 Congress consists of House of RepresentativesSpeaker: John Boehner (R) / Majority (Republican) LeadershipMajority Leader: Eric Cantor /...

 Homeland Security Advisor John Brennan with White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs speaking to the media in the John Brady briefing room. Photo/CD Brown.  (via Statement from White House) Last night, intelligence and law enforcement agencies discovered potential suspicious packages on two planes in transit to the United States. Based on close cooperation among U.S. government agencies and with our foreign allies and partners, authorities were able to identify and examine two suspicious packages, one in East Midlands, United Kingdom (London) and one in Dubai. Both of these packages originated from Yemen. As a result of security precautions triggered by this threat, the additional measures were taken regarding the flights at Newark Liberty and Philadelphia International Airports. The President was notified of a potential terrorist threat on Thursday night at 10:35, by John Brennan, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counter-terrorism. The President dire...

Speaking at a small gathering for the Democratic Socialists of America meeting earlier this month, Congressman John Conyers had a few choice (tough love) words for President Obama and his administration. Conyers was critical of the continuation of the war in Afghanistan saying, "There probably isn't anybody above the tenth grade who doesn't know you can't win a war in Afghanistan." Conyers even had choice words about White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs saying the Democrats might lose both the House and the Senate, calling his choice of words "automatically dismissible". "If I were president, that would be the end of it.  I would send him packing", said Conyers.  Adding, "I don't know where he came from anyway." Gibbs has since changed his summertime opinion. Visit msnbc.com for breaking news , world news , and news about the economy Conyers called President Obama "one of the smartest men in American politics....

 Focus Shifts To Mending Communities. NOAA Administrator, Dr. Jane Lubchenco explaining the sealing and containment phase that may have permanently stopped the oil from leaking in the Gulf, as National Incident Commander, Admiral Thad Allen looks on.  Photo/CD Brown. During yesterday's White House press briefing Rear Admiral Thad Allen, White House Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy Carol Browner, and NOAA's Jane Lubchenco came armed with pie charts and figures to show that the latest effort to contain the Gulf oil spill has been successful, and that for the most part, the oil has either "evaporated or been burned, skimmed and recovered from the wellhead, or dispersed." Dispersed "means broken up from large chunks into smaller chunks", explained Lubchenco. "Dispersed oil is just little tiny droplets that then remain beneath the surface."  The federal goverment released "new, scientific analysis" (that most Americans won...

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs Taking Questions From The Media. Photo/CD Brown. Press Secretary Robert Gibbs answers questions from Washington's press pool ranging from topics like  extending unemployment benefits to millions of unemployed Americans, to the recent release of the Lockerbie Bomber . Here's what he had to say today on the issues: On Having Enough Votes To Extend Unemployment Benefits:   "...We’re obviously hopeful that we have the votes. Obviously, with the appointment of a senator -- a new senator from West Virginia, that’s certainly important. We have the support of Senator Collins and Senator Snowe from Maine. But I don't think you would take -- we certainly don't take anything for granted given the fact that this will be the fourth vote on extending unemployment benefits, when if you look, I think, at the past this has tended not to be a confrontational -- or controversial thing to do. We have hundreds of thousands of Americans...