With deep regret, Ambassador Chris Stevens was unable to attend

This morning, the intrepid investigative team at The Hill finally discovered evidence of a secret, swanky party held at the White House to celebrate Barack Obama's second inauguration.

Its discovery was apparently quite a coup, even though US Magazine had reported on it, oh, the morning after--on January 22nd. But shhh, don't spoil The Hill's scoop:

There's no party like a White House party

By Emily Goodin - 05/07/13 05:00 AM ET

Bill and Hillary Clinton, actress Kerry Washington, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and producer Harvey Weinstein were among those who joined the Obamas at the White House’s secret post-inauguration bash.

President Obama and Michelle Obama held the hush-hush, swanky, ultra-A-list party to celebrate his second term the night he took the oath of office. The party was not announced or listed on his official schedule, but a few of the guests tweeted about the event, which is what publicly revealed its existence.

The guest list that reveals who attended was never released though the White House visitors log from January, which came out at the end of April and was examined by The Hill: a mix of rock stars, actors, top campaign donors, White House aides, Obama friends and leading Democratic politicians.

Some of the names include actor Jamie Foxx; Obama adviser David Axelrod; Rep. Joaquín Castro (D-Texas) and his twin brother, San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro; singer Kelly Clarkson; Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.); actress Eva Longoria; singer James Taylor; former NBA player Alonzo Mourning; Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D); and former White House spokesman Robert Gibbs. Clinton aide Huma Abedin was on the list, but her husband, former New York Democratic Rep. Anthony Weiner, was not.

...Actress Ashley Judd and Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) were among the list of names under that grouping, and both tweeted about the event... Judd wrote, “How to arrive at the White House in style? Bum a ride from a kind citizen who happens to be off duty Secret Service!”

She later wrote, “It was elegant, warm, fun, & then an amazingly joyful house party. We had such a magical night.” ... McCaskill tweeted, “Now we are rocking at the WH. Happy Inauguration. #2013inaug,” along with a blurry photo of a singer. The names of singers Usher and John Mayer were also on the list.

...Other names in the grouping include Commerce Secretary nominee Penny Pritzker; longtime Obama friends Eric and Cheryl Whitaker; Obama aides/advisers Ben Rhodes, Jim Messina, Julianna Smoot and Jeremy Bird; actress Whoopi Goldberg; Gayle King; actress Jennifer Hudson; and Attorney General Eric Holder.

In related news, Obama hit the links yesterday for his record 121st round of golf as president.

Coincidentally, despite the president's laser-like focus on jobs, the Social Security Administration disclosed that the number of Americans collecting disability benefits (nearly 11 million) now exceeds the population of Greece. And a record 23 million (or one out of every five) households are on food stamps.


Hat tip: Michael M.

And the Oscar for best casting goes to... [Dan from New York]

Dan from New York:

Obama Look-Alike Plays Satan In The History Channel’s “The Bible” Series

Good comments at the thread:

Beretta: "Haha. Obama as the devil. Where's the teleprompter? Devil to Jesus: 'Let me be clear blah, blah, blah...the Etruscans' fault. I inherited this mess.'"

Big Al: "No resemblance, there is no golf club."

DOJ investigation in 3... 2...

REVEALED: Military Members Used as Props by Michelle Obama During Oscars Were Blinking Coded Messages

WASHINGTON, DC - An exclusive analysis by Cub Reporter Biff Spackle reveals that members of the military conscripted by First Lady Michelle Obama for her Oscar appearance were blinking coded messages.

Three of the four military personnel were, according to a computer-based analysis, using Morse code to signal the public that they were being forced to appear as props against their will.


This analysis can exclusively reveal the following:

• One male service member appears to have signaled: E-X-T-R-E-M-E   P-A-I-N   S-T-O-P

• A female service member repeatedly blinked: P-L-E-A-S-E   S-E-N-D   R-E-S-C-U-E   P-A-R-T-Y   S-T-O-P

• And another serviceman signaled: S-H-E   N-E-E-D-S   H-E-R   O-W-N   D-A-M-N   V-A-R-I-E-T-Y   S-H-O-W   M-A-K-E   I-T   S-T-O-P

The use of military members for the First Lady's commercial appearance raised the specter of impropriety according to Beltway insiders.

Longtime Hollywood insider Sparkles Malloy observed that, "if the Obamas really want to break the record for most television appearances, they ought to at least move to Los Angeles."

O/T - My Top Five TV Series

Ain't DVR and series on DVD awesome?

5. Homeland (Showtime) - If canvassed during its first year, the terrorism thriller Homeland would have ranked far higher on my list. But the season-ending episode in year one, featuring an imminent suicide bombing by Nicholas Brody thwarted with a last-minute "Oh, Daddy, please don't blow yourself up" phone call, jumped the shark for me. I still watch it, though it doesn't hold quite the same appeal.

4. Boardwalk Empire (HBO) - I'll admit this one grew slowly on me. As a huge fan of the Sopranos, I was honestly figuring this for a cheesy, twenties-era retread. But it's far more complex and infinitely more interesting than just a mob thriller. Rooted in historical fact, albeit with a significant helping of artistic license, corporate scions like Andrew Carnegie as well as rising mobsters like Al Capone and Lucky Luciano participate in the ascent of Nucky Thompson's prohibition-era Atlantic City.

3. Banshee (Cinemax) - New this year, Banshee features an ex-felon (the aptly named Lucas Hood) who can't seem to stay out of trouble. As he searches for his erstwhile (and beautiful) crime partner, whom he last saw holding millions in diamonds from their final heist, he becomes involved in an incident that offers him the opportunity to switch identities. He assumes the persona of the new sheriff of Banshee, Pennsylvania, an up-and-coming casino town controlled by a very organized crime syndicate.

2. Game of Thrones (HBO) - I think of this series as Tolkien for adults, with violence and sex on a scale that would have made poor old J.R.R. tremble with fear. A realm that once consisted of seven distinct kingdoms, Westeros begins to shatter when the King -- Robert Targaryen -- is killed during a hunting accident. Or was it murder? The nice thing about GoT is that there are no good and evil characters; it's more like reality. I mean, there's pure evil and only somewhat evil. The overarching protagonists -- the Stark clan -- are a family shattered as Westeros descends into war and chaos. Additional note: the books are excellent and the casting and writing of the television adaptation couldn't be more perfect.

1. Dexter (Showtime) - Yes, he's a serial killer. But he's a serial killer with a heart of gold. Miami blood spatter analyst Dexter Morgan reviews no shortage of crime scenes. And as the son of a cop, he knows how forensics can trap killers. But when the justice system breaks down, Morgan's code demands that he levy the ultimate punishment. And unlike GoT, the Dexter series of books are completely divorced from the series -- and that's a good thing.

Oh, it's true: I try to avoid all of the alphabet channels for obvious reasons. Update: And, no, I'm not paying for these channels. They were included free for six months as part of an incentive to sign up - and I spent much of the Christmas holiday watching entire seasons.

Whatchoo animals watching?

FRIGHTENINGLY UP-TO-DATE NEWS: For Regular Americans Only

Washington, DC - Citing a growing need for accurate news sources, spokesman Biff Spackle announced the addition of several channels to the BadBlue family of news sites.

"Regular Americans deserve better sources for timely and accurate news," Spackle said in a prepared statement, "And BadBlue's unique technology monitors social networks 24 hours a day, every day, to find out what's really happening, without the spin and bias that the alphabet channels promote."

In that vein, Spackle and a scantily clad spokes-model unveiled a new automotive channel (BadBlue.com/cars) as well as an entertainment channel (BadBlue.com/cars). The complete BadBlue lineup includes:

BadBlue.com

BadBlue.com/cars

BadBlue.com/fame

BadBlue.com/money

BadBlue.com/tech

Check 'em out. If you have any complaints, feel free to call Spackle on his direct line: 1-800-555-1212.

MARKING THE END OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION: Reality TV Show Seeks Women Trying to Identify the Fathers of Their Kids

Well, I suppose this means the Left has succeeded in shredding the moral fabric of our society.

Next on Reality TV: Caligula Redux.


Hat tip: BadBlue Fame.

SANDY HOOK KILLER ADAM LANZA: "Deeply Disturbed", "Had a Tortured Mind", "A Ticking Time Bomb"

The real question we should be discussing: why wasn't this sick young man institutionalized?

Adam Lanza is being described as a "deeply disturbed kid" who was "subject to outbursts."

The 20-year-old man who killed 20 children and six adults at the Sandy Hook Elementary School after murdering his own mother, may also have suffered from Asperger's syndrome or another personality disorder.

“This was a deeply disturbed kid,” a family insider [said]... “He certainly had major issues. He was subject to outbursts from what I recall."

Another family friend said Lanza had a condition where he couldn't feel pain.

...Nancy Lanza had previously worked at Sandy Hook but several sources said they believed she was more recently spending her days caring for the troubled Adam.

Not only was Lanza deeply disturbed, he appears to have been a hard-core "gamer" (video-game addict).

He was dark and disturbed, a deeply troubled boy from a wealthy family who unnerved his neighbors and classmates.

Mass murderer Adam Lanza, 20, was a ticking time bomb, people who knew him told the Daily News... Lanza, who friends and officials said suffered from Asperger’s syndrome or a personality disorder, had a tortured mind.

He was socially awkward and at times unstable...

One family friend described Adam Lanza as a gamer who “rarely spoke.”

“He was weird,” said the friend, who asked to remain anonymous. “He was quiet.”

I think it's time for a national discussion on allowing kids -- especially deeply disturbed kids -- to have access to first-person shooting games.

STILL LIFE WITH DRUDGE

Also known as "The Art of Drudgetaposition":

What are you trying to say, Matt?


Hat tip: RF.

KIM KARDASHIAN WATCH: The Side of Bahrain She Won't Be Visiting

In our semi-annual celebrity update:

Kim Kardashian had only just touched down in the Kingdom of Bahrain before declaring it the prettiest place on earth...

...Of course, that was before police reportedly fired tear gas to disperse 50 or so angry protesters demonstrating against Kardashian’s visit to the country to promote her Millions of Milkshakes shop.

I wonder if Ms. Kardashian is aware that slavery -- yes, slavery -- is still alive and well in Bahrain:

Scars of severe beating were clear on the chest and shoulders of Salma Bijoum, three months after she fled the home of her abusive employer. Now, the domestic helper is waiting for a court decision to be able to return to her family in Haidarabad.

Bijoum, 35, tasted all kinds of cruel treatment and humiliation at the hands of her employer’s wife during her 45-day stay. She was beaten and kicked on regular basis for no obvious reason. She was beaten for not cleaning the house well, for sitting on the carpet and for drinking cold water. She neither got adequate meals nor a salary. Then came the day she decided to run away: she was asked to sweep the floor using a broom but she could not as her arms had become so swollen from beating. When she declined, the lady of the house beat her with an iron rod. She bled.

The case of Bijoum is not rare in a country where many employers violate the human rights of their domestic helpers. Abuse includes bad language, deprivation from basic requirements like proper accommodation, meals, rest time and monthly wages. Others are insulted, beaten, sexually harassed and raped, according to statements by domestic workers and police records.

Foreign domestic workers in Bahrain represent 4.2% of Bahrain's total population of 1.1 million people. They live in closed houses, making it nearly impossible to penetrate these places to see how they live, or whether they get their full legal rights...

When Bijoum escaped her employer's residence screaming for help, the driver of a labor transport vehicle took her to a police station.

Bijoum is considered lucky. Sings of abuse and torture have to be fresh and clear to constitute evidence of torture. Moreover, the driver who dropped her off at the police station, called a journalist who published a story on her plight. This gave her case publicity, which in turn generated public pressure.

“We should work according to our employer’s will, whenever he so wishes, without a day off," said Bijoum. "This is the slavery of the Third Millennium.”

I wonder how pretty Bahrain is from the perspective of a slave?