News of the day

Odds and ends...

• File under "actions have consequences."
  

  In recent days, in spite of public furor over huge bonuses paid at American International Group Inc., the administration has concluded that it needs the private sector to play a central role in fixing the economy ["who'd a thunk it?" - LB] ...But weeks of searing criticism by politicians and the public had left bankers leery of working with the government.



• Hmmm...I thought those were differing descriptions for the same group of people...
  

  At a time when his Washington honeymoon is turning into a hazing, President Barack Obama and his team are launched on a strategy to sail above the traditional White House press corps by reaching out to liberal commentators, local reporters and ethnic media.



• I'm sure that many were looking forward to a President that could pronounce simple words as a refreshing change...
  

  The idea that led to the founding of Orion Energy Systems received a presidential salute of sorts today. President Barack Obama just finished speaking at a White House roundtable on clean energy efficiency attended by Neal Verfuerth, Orion president and chief executive. Obama saluted Orion...All terrific press for Orion, except that Obama kept pronouncing the company’s name wrong, calling it OAR-ee-on.
  

  (H/T: PowerLine)



• Knocking "American Idol" off the air tonight will certainly help matters...
  

  The honeymoon is over, a national poll will signal today as President Obama’s job approval stumbles to about 50 percent over the lack of improvement with the crippled economy...The president is scheduled to hold his second solo prime-time press conference tonight at 8.