Stand And Deliver

Big Guy decided to pull all of his economic advisers into a photo op to announce the Chrysler decision. Timmy Terrific was front and center, as were executives involved in the negotiations for the car company. Everyone wanted to sit around a big table to make it look like something was actually being done, but Big Guy insisted that it be done standing up. Larry Summers was going to be in the shot and Big O didn't want him nodding off during his speech.

How can you tell I was there? Everyone to Big Guy's right is reading the remarks from my left screen and everyone to his left is reading them on my right. So much for cropping me out of the photo. Now everyone just looks bored.

Killer B

Big Guy called Bruno and Biden into the Oval about 15 minutes ago and he was pretty annoyed.  There are rumors that Biden's comments on the "Today" show this morning, where he said he personally told his family not to ride public transportation or to even go into a mall out of concern for the porcine-induced disaster, caused a panic on the Washington Metro. 

Bruno said he briefed Biden on what to say and not say, and that it just "went in one ear and out the other."  At this point in the conversation, it appeared Biden was just staring out the window at a bee in the Rose Garden, just following it as it buzzed around. 

I don't know what's worse: that the man has an attention span of a gnat, or his incurable case of foot in mouth disease. 

Another Huge Success

Well, that just went exceedingly well. Has anyone seen my quart of Black Label?

Big Guy's Church Of a New Foundation

You're going to be hearing a lot about Big Guy's "New Foundation" theme, which he is trotting out tonight in his opening remarks. This was focus-grouped and messaged-tested to death, let me tell you. Big Guy loves it, because it harkens to JFK's "New Frontier" and has the word "New" in it.

Toes and Gibbsy wanted to use "New Change" but folks in the testing pools thought that was just too dramatic a title, and that people arent' ready for new change after just 100 days, because we've changed so much so fast.

Besides, given the success Big Guy has had in fixing the home mortgage situation, any title that aludes to a national visions using home-construction terms has got to be a winner, right?

What's In My Hard Drive

Just a taste of the glory that will be tonight:

"We are continuing to closely monitor the emerging cases of the H1N1 flu virus throughout the United States. As I said this morning, this is obviously a very serious situation, and every American should know that their entire government is taking the utmost precautions and preparations. ...

"This budget builds on the steps we’ve taken over the last one hundred days to move this economy from recession to recovery and ultimately to prosperity. We began by passing a Recovery Act that has already saved or created over 150,000 jobs and provided a tax cut to 95% of all working families. We passed a law to provide and protect health insurance for eleven million American children whose parents work full-time. And we launched a housing plan that has already contributed to a spike in the number of homeowners who are refinancing their mortgages, which is the equivalent of another tax cut. ...

"But even as we clear away the wreckage of this recession, I have also said that we cannot go back to an economy that is built on a pile of sand – on inflated home prices and maxed-out credit cards; on overleveraged banks and outdated regulations that allowed the recklessness of a few to threaten the prosperity of us all. ...

"We must lay a New Foundation for growth – a foundation that will strengthen our economy and help us compete in the 21st century. And that’s exactly what this budget begins to do. It contains new investments in education that will equip our workers with the right skills and training; new investments in renewable energy that will create millions of jobs and new industries; new investments in health care that will cut costs for families and businesses; and new savings that will bring down our deficit. ...

"So we are off to a good start. But it is just a start. I am proud of what we have achieved, but I am not content. I am pleased with our progress, but I am not satisfied. Millions of Americans are still without jobs and homes, and more will be lost before this recession is over. Credit is still not flowing nearly as freely as it should. Countless families and communities touched by our auto industry still face tough times ahead. Our projected long-term deficits are still too high. Government is still not as efficient as it should be. We still confront threats ranging from terrorism to nuclear proliferation to pandemic flu. And all of this means you can expect an unrelenting, unyielding effort from this administration to strengthen our prosperity and our security – in the second hundred days, and the third hundred days, and all the days after. ...

"So we have plenty of work left to do. It is work that will take time. It will take effort. But the United States of America will see a better day. We will rebuild a stronger nation. And we will endure as a beacon for all those weary travelers beyond our shores who still dream that this is a place where all is possible."

Looking Ahead to Tonight.

We're winging our way back from the Show Me State on Scare Force One for the big TV show tonight, and I think it's safe to say we have a few surprises up our sleeves to pump up the ratings.

Based on what's being loaded into my hard-drive, I would look for an apology or two. Or three. We'll have some guest stars for the big musical number to compete with "American Idol," and Bo and I have been working on a little trick to wow the kids watching at home. And that should pretty much cover the hour.

I know what you all are really intersted in: will my screens be visible tonight. Well, as of an hour ago, it appeared they were going with my 50-inch flat screen. But White House R&D has been working on this cool, embedded screen in the podium that we might trot out tonight. Then again, maybe we'll go old school. You'll have to watch to find out.

Oh, and the economy is going to get worse, our European neighbors have rolled us on environment and defense policy, and the porcine bug is the result of a bio-weapon developed by Chavez in partnership with Iran. But why be a downer on such an historic day. Not every President gets his 100 days in the sun like we did.

Today's Agenda

Big Guy and I are off to Missouri, where we'll be doing a "town hall" in a suburban high school outside of St. Louis. You might be wondering, "Why a high school?" Well, Toes says high schoolers ask better questions than middle schoolers.

This isn't going to be a heavy lift by any means, since this "town hall" is all about Big Guy talking about our remarkable First 100 Days, when we faced down our enemies, fixed the economy, and flew America to new heights.

After the "town hall", on the flight back to Washington on Air Force One, while we give our fellow citizens a thrill with some low flyovers, Big Guy and I will be holding yet another rehearsal for his TV show tonight with the traveling press corps, most of whom will be with us for the "town hall." Once again, ABC's Jake Tapper and CNN's Ed Henry have not been cooperative during rehearsals at the White House. Gibbsy is threatening to have them ignored, so we'll see how they interact with us on the plane.

I say this, noting that Women's Wear Daily has been asking some very good questions over the past couple of days of practice. I wouldn't be surprised if they get tabbed for a major policy question ... because if Big Guy understands anything, it's not what you say, it's what you're wearing when you say it.