CNN host has a gun-control ally
Filmmaker Michael Moore is defending Piers Morgan, a CNN host who spoke out against guns after the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre.
Morgan is the subject of a petition demanding that the White House deport him.
Moore, whose 2002 documentary, "Bowling for Columbine," examined gun violence, tweeted on Thursday that it was "so sad that the host on American TV to speak out the loudest against this madness is not one of us, but a Brit."
He added, "Leave Piers alone!"
The White House has been petitioned to deport Morgan "immediately for his effort to undermine the Bill of Rights and for exploiting his position as a national network television host to stage attacks against the rights of American citizens."
The petition already has 90,000 signatures. About 25,000 signatures are needed for the White House to respond.
Kerry is no Scrooge
Just before Christmas, an e-mail went out from Sen. John Kerry's office to senior managers at the State Department, demanding that they help Kerry prepare for his secretary of state confirmation hearings.
The task was described as "urgent" and a "high-priority effort." Requested was a series of potential questions and answers that Kerry might face in the area of each senior manager's expertise.
The due date was the Thursday morning after Christmas. That would have required work over the holiday weekend and Christmas Eve, which President Barack Obama had set aside as a holiday for federal employees.
But then Kerry's staff reconsidered, perhaps figuring that trashing a holiday weekend wouldn't afford the senator the best start at the State Department.
Two hours later, another e-mail was distributed saying that "after additional discussions with Senator Kerry's staff" the deadline had been extended until this Monday.
Only one thing missing
Everything was set for Hawaii's newest senator. Brian Schatz had been nominated and appointed to take the seat vacated by the death of Daniel Inouye. He had issued a statement saying how honored he was to serve.
"I will make Hawaii proud," he said.
Only one thing was left to do in preparation for Washington's 40-degree temperature.
"I bought this coat yesterday," Schatz told reporters after landing on the mainland.
Hours later, he was sworn in by the Senate's top officer, Vice President Joe Biden.
A former lieutenant governor, Schatz was a state legislator and executive of a nonprofit group.
Meet the magazine
You may have missed the news that District of Columbia police are investigating "Meet the Press" host David Gregory for displaying what appeared to be a 30-bullet gun magazine during an interview with the NRA's Wayne LaPierre on his show.
D.C. city code stipulates that it is illegal for anyone to possess, transfer or sell a magazine. It is not known whether NBC News had permission to use the magazine. The network has not commented.
NRA president David Keene was asked if Gregory should be prosecuted.
"No, I don't think so," Keene said on CNN.
"I really think what David Gregory did while he was inadvertently flouting the law was illustrating in a very graphic way, perhaps not intentionally, but in a graphic way, just how silly some of these laws are."
Keene said he is not a vindictive guy "who wants to go after David Gregory. I think it illustrates the craziness of some of these laws."
