"Biden withdrawing or not" becoming like "Chomsky dead or not"

Earlier today, in stories published less than 15 minutes apart, we first had, from the NYT:

Followed by Agence France-Press at Irish site RTE — and with different header and update, apparently via the NYT story, at Barron's:

Well, obviously both of these can't be true.

What we almost certainly have are dueling leakers, whether Biden White House staffers or family, or a mix, hitting dueling outlets, not so much because they're concerned about the future of the Democratic Party, or the future of democracy (dying in darkness along with the Washington Post), but the present of their status as first-tier insiders. This is the classic DC leaking game on steroids.

And, here's why:

Franklin Foer, who chronicled Biden’s first term in a book: “To his closest advisers, Joe Biden is a figure frozen in time…To admit his end is to provoke a crisis in their own professional life. If I’m not whispering in Biden’s ear, then what am I?”

There you go. (From the Counterpunch link below.)

And, yes, it reminded me of the rush to proclaim Chomsky dead two weeks ago, which left at least one alleged Chomsky insider with egg on his face.

Looking under the hood on this one, the NYT does NOT cite White House press spox Karine Jean-Pierre; the AFP does. The NYT cites a "key ally" in the lede; that's someone outside the White House. Probably not Pelosi, as the piece ends with saying they haven't spoken, though that could be a ruse. Schumer's also mentioned, so probably not him but see above. Or Dear Leader. Don't think it's Jill.

AFP does cite KJP for its denial. But then has a "senior Democratic operative" saying, along the lines of cover-ups, it's not the debate, it's the aftermath. Senior Dem operative could be the NYT's "key ally." And, would again make sense as Schumer if the NYT is running a ruse; he's NOT mentioned by name in the AFP article. Or, Dear Leader. Or one of Dear Leader's henchmen, like Axelrod. I don't think, riffing on Counterpunch, that it's Ted Kaufman.

Oh, speaking of Obama, or Obamas? Get a fucking clue and a fucking grip, Blue Anon. Michelle Obama ain't running.

Oh, and speaking of Obamas, Dear Leader side? If he could clear the field for Biden four years ago, by early spring, why couldn't he get Biden to honor the one-term idea and step out, four months ago this spring?

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Per Jared Yates Sexton, what happened is that possible "insurrectionists" caved. It's the old story about, when you come after the king, you gotta kill him. People who want Biden off the ballot wouldn't forcefully stand up to him and his family, didn't recruit enough allied White House staffers, and weren't settled on a replacement (and on how to dirk Kamala is a Cop, as well as JoePa, if she was deemed not to be the Golden Child).

Other than that bit of analysis, though, the rest of the piece is straight Blue Anon: "We're stuck with Biden, gotta beat Trump (and the unspoken "third parties aren't an alternative)."

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Semafor gets the analysis better, from the other side of the street, saying Biden is ready and willing to get MAD, as in the old Mutually Assured Destruction, if there's any more push for him to step aside.

Barack Obama and Michelle Obama — their new books

*Title explained below

Both Barack Obama and Michelle Obama have new book deals. (Bet Bill and Hillary, or certainly Hillary, is pissed that didn't happen in 2001.)

Let's look at Dear Leader's new book.

There are a number of things you need to know about this book before buying it.

Let's start with its American version, assuming most readers here are American.

First, it's only available on a tablet. Of course, since tablet e-reader copies are rentals, that means you can't keep your old book, even if you want to. And, you can be forced to move to a new e-reader if Obama and his publisher deem it necessary.

Second, do not take your e-reader north of the border. You cannot re-import this book from Canada. It's still the same book, just as safe to read on either side of the border, but, sorry, you cannot re-import it from there.

Third, this book, though Penguin Random House claims it will be universally available, will not. About 20 percent of Americans will not be in the e-reader coverage target area. And, of those that are, due to its unique pricing structure, about 20 percent of them will be unable to afford to actually read it.

Fourth, there will be a nudge of 10 cents on your e-reader account if you can get others to sign up to buy it.

OK, that's the American version.

With one exception.

The Chicago version is available exclusively through Rahm Emanuel, Inc.

Europe?

You think you'll be getting the same e-book as in America. But, you'll find that it has almost no pages after 2009. You should also beware that if you're the head of government of any European country besides the UK, the NSA will be using this book to spy on you.

The greater Middle East?

This book is available for people in selected Middle Eastern countries by select delivery. In Yemen, it's available by drone. In Libya, by bomber plane. In Syria, by John Kerry driving to West Damascus.

The Chinese version?

This will be available three months before the American version, due to hacking and pirating.

The Japanese version?

As you might expect, it's kind of an afterthought to the Chinese version.

The Kenyan version?

Since that's where it's actually going to be written, that's the one country in the world where you can get a print edition.

Besides detailing the absolute success of his signature achievement, the retention of the Bush tax cuts, Obama's presidential biography will also tackle his "libsplaining" work to further corporatize American health care. Called Obamacare by those who believed in the words of the author of "The Deception of 'Hope,'" this did largely succeed in such further corporatizing, as repeatedly detailed at this website. Health insurers gave more money to the Democratic Party. Friends of Barry made a killing on electronic patient records software that will actually do little to improve health care.

But, this pales next to an even more signal achievement — the expansion of most of the Bush wars.

An official from Penguin Random House, not authorized to comment for the record, said he could not discuss whether or not Obama would discuss his strenuous attempt to crack down on leaks, because the person from Penguin Random House hinted he had received a National Security Letter about this.

The official did say that most of the profits would be donated to various charities. These are rumored to include the Pritzker Foundation and the Podesta Foundation.

* Between the superheader and the main title, there's reference to a fairly famous book, a magazine that was at one time better known (with a double entendre there), and a cinematic classic.

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Michelle Obama's book? "Sometimes, When You Buy One, You More Quietly Get Two." The subtitle is "Making Mountains out of Manurehills," and is believed to be a reference to her often-overlooked behind-the-scenes work to bolster her husband's presidency.

Brit winger press smacks Michelle Obama for Brown family snub

The Times (London) opines the First Lady could have (but didn’t) taken more than 10 seconds thinking of gifts for the children of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and wife Sarah, especially given the gifts Sarah Brown bought for the Obama children.

Side note – only a British paper would call peonies in a photo “menacing”!

The Telegraph weighs in with allegations of President Obama snubs to the Prime Minister, and insinuates “Lady Macbeth Obama” was behind it.

The Evening Standard insinuates the Prez ain’t much better at gift-buying.

Obama the Secret Service ‘Renegade’ – in poetry

“Renegade” is the Secret Service code name for President-elect Barack Obama.

The rest of the family?

Michelle Obama is “Renaissance,” 10-year-old Malia is “Radiance,” and 7-year-old Sasha is “Rosebud.”

The story also has the Biden code names; the idea goes back to the Truman Administration, as explained in the story.

With that, I post a poem by a witty friend of mine, Michael O’Grady, an ex-pat living in France:

So this is where we "R":
Not a Maverick but a renegade,
The success of a rising star
During the transitional parade.

With rebirth of the essence,
Michelle will bring a brightness
To a White House Renaissance
That engender certain lightness.

To thoughtful Malia good wishes,
Shining beyond mere obedience,
Enjoying pets with joy delicious,
Brightening offices with radiance.

And for Sasha, roaming in the halls,
Grander than those of Citizen Kane's,
May Rosebud see no neocon walls
Where nonsense sang refrains.

MOG

Quick take on Michelle Obama speech

Michelle Obama's speech... I'm sure she was nervous, but she came off as too scripted and too tight. Then, the "cuts" on the video scene with Barack afterward were mishandled. When he introduced his host family, we didn't see them for 30 secs. Then, when we did, they all looked too posed.

Given that the national conventions are now glorified infomercials/photo ops/video ops, this should have been carried off better than it was.

At the same time, on ABC, Stephanopoulos misquoted her line about not being REALLY proud as "not being proud." How often will this quote continue to get mangled by people who should know better?