Wonkette

• “Inside the Bubble,” the Kerry-Edwards documentary. First time as tragedy, second time as mildly amusing home movie.
• Bianca, Bianca, Bianca: This year’s “Mary, help“?
• The Gareth of al Qaeda: “No, really, guys: Infidels! Let’s just toss some ideas out; run it up the flagpole and see who salutes? Then we kill them.”
• “Corporate America Cuddles Up to Gays”
• Iraq drives Bush to drink. Yeah, right. Sure. He’s so upset by it.
• Unleash Chang.

• Names & Faces: Condom manufacturer in China is selling Clinton and Lewinsky branded rubbers; company manager says, “The names we chose are symbols of people who are responsible and dedicated to their jobs. I believe Bill Clinton cannot be unhappy about this because he’s a very generous man.”. . . FBI viewed John Lennon’s drug use as the reason he was not a communist threat. [WP]
• Lloyd Grove’s Lowdown: Bloomberg’s Bianca Davie was not available to comment on yesterday’s “Where’s Bianca?” incident. [NYDN]
• Rush & Molloy: Antonin Scalia will be the grand marshal of New York’s Columbus Day Parade. [NYDN]
• Cindy Adams: Bette Midler wants an anti-Bush Million Man March. [NYP]

In the White House pool report, we learn that “Bianca” is “Bianca Davie of Bloomberg News.” We also learn the Prez is quite a kidder!

The Oval Office statements with Jordan’s King Abdullah were standard — leaders in chairs in front of the fireplace, etc. The Jordanian press corps was well-behaved. White House aides yapped “thank you!” immediately at the end of the two leaders’ statements, but Bush got a twinkle in his eye as the press headed out the door and quipped: “Hey, the king wants to know if Bianca is here.”

Full report after the jump.

UPDATE: Sources inform us that Bianca was at the Pentagon for the President’s remarks, but she was sitting in the back, and she’s in radio so she had headphones on. After the conference, someone said: “Who’s Bianca?” She said sheepishly: “I am.” Someone asked, “Didn’t you hear him?” She said: “I didn’t have a question.” Of course most people don’t have questions, but ask them anyway. Not everyone can be Dickerson right out of the gate.

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This afternoon’s press briefing had Scott McClellan sparring with Terry Moran about Bush fiddling while NOLA flooded. Scott outlined the President’s travel plans and Moran asked:

Q    But it sounds like a bit of a photo op, one that he’d prefer over playing the guitar at the airport photo op before Katrina. 
     MR. McCLELLAN:  Well, first of all, let’s correct the record on that.  There was a reporter from your news organization that was backstage during that event.  That was an event to go and thank our troops and talk about the war on terrorism…
      Q    He didn’t pick up the guitar while the hurricane was rolling into Louisiana?
     MR. McCLELLAN: …The person that was entertaining our troops there presented a gift to the President.  So I think you need to make that clear to everybody who’s watching this or to your viewers.  And it was one of your colleagues at ABC News who was backstage taking a picture of that.
      Q    It was a very good picture and I’m proud of her, but the question I have –

      [dithering snipped... and finally...]

      Q    So the trip to Texas to take a look at the preparations and show support for the first responders is not a photo op?

We admire Mr.-May-I-Have-More-Homework for getting the last word in. More urgent news turned up later in the briefing:

Q    Who makes up the list of reporters that he is allowed to call on? 
     Q    Yes, where’s Bianca?  (Laughter.)

And the answer to that question, my friends, is coming soon…

Full briefing after the jump.

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President Bush reads from the script:

THE PRESIDENT: Bianca. Nobody named Bianca? Well, sorry Bianca’s not here. I’ll be glad to answer her question. MORE »