Snatched from the Headlines I

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is eager to meet President-elect Barack Obama
Russian President Medvedev said that a "crisis of confidence" exists between Russia and the United States, but that he has "great aspirations" for the incoming Obama administration.

plez sez: it appears NO ONE can wait for OBAMA to take office, even the russians are giddy about an Obama administration. plezWorld is still trolling for Inauguration Tickets - who has two?!?

Obama names key advisor
It was not much of a surprise that longtime friend of Barack and Michelle Obama, Valerie Jarret, has been appointed as a senior adviser to the incoming president. Jarrett is co-chairwoman of Obama's transition team and was senior adviser for his presidential campaign. In a statement released Saturday morning by his transition staff, Obama announced that Jarrett will serve as "senior adviser and assistant to the president for intergovernmental relations and [will serve as a] public liaison."

plez sez: it's good to reward friends who stuck it out from the early hours of the campaign to its conclusion for their dedication.

Rumors abuzz about top cabinet spot in Obama administration
President-elect Barack Obama has spoken with two former rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination about the secretary of state position in his administration, sources told CNN on Friday. Obama spoke with Sen. Hillary Clinton on Thursday and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson on Friday about the key Cabinet post, multiple Democratic sources said.

plez sez: this move may be an attempt keep hillary (and bill) on the reservation through the end of his first term... and then all bets are off.

NASA Space Shuttle Update
NASA said Saturday that the day-old mission of space shuttle Endeavour, which is carrying seven astronauts to the international space station, is going smoothly despite problems with a lost thermal blanket and a malfunctioning antenna. Launch director Mike Leinbach said that, on Day 2, the mission is going "extremely well" after a flawless takeoff and ascent during a rare nighttime launch Friday.

plez sez: i worked at NASA when i was in college (as a co-op student); i'm still interested in our work exploring the heavens above.

Spending records in Georgia Senate runoff
Georgia’s high-profile U.S. Senate runoff could burn up more than $15 million in its four-week sprint to decide a winner, possibly surpassing the money the campaigns spent in the general election. The campaigns of Democrat Jim Martin of Atlanta and incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss of Moultrie disagreed Saturday on who is raising and spending the most campaign money. But both agreed that their Dec. 2 runoff could break post-election spending records.

plez sez: john mccain, possibly sarah palin, and maybe even the big guy himself, PRESIDENT-ELECT BARACK OBAMA, may be falling through georgia in the coming weeks as the democrats and republicans turn us into a senatorial battleground state. i plan to vote on monday, that's when early voting starts for the runoff.