Apparent MTV employee Barack Obama called human simulacrum Kanye West a “jackass.” This is in response to Kanye yelling something in bad taste to Faith Hill at the Country Music Awards, which has been plaguing our President, this altercation between two Hollywood movie stars about something, a shared boyfriend maybe. Anyway, this latest declaration from Obama is “causing quite a stir on Twitter,” as all known events have been wont to do lately, because it was apparently given off the record to CNBC. But CNBC and ABC got their scoops crossed, and ABC’s Terry Moran Twittered the “jackass” comment, which was bad form because how dare journalist Terry Moran report this exclusive information. The Tweet has since been sent back to Hell. [Michael Calderone]

Bold facers display their blithe indifference to the common man in this week’s Wonk’d as Alan Greenspan laughs uproariously at the unsuspecting pawns in Borat, Bill Clinton ignores dead bodies in the street, and fey Karl Rove won’t even give a guy a courtesy nod. James Baker still keeps it real by hanging at bars - but only if they’re really classy. At least there’s always Marion Barry, who’s hip to the hot spots, and down with the cool styles. All these celebrity drinking habits, plus Grover Norquist reduced to buying last season’s irregular suits off the rack, after the jump.

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• Samuel Alito rallies the Republican base while riling liberals; the fight “seems to be the political confirmation battle that both sides have been gearing up to fight for more than a decade.” Harry Reid: “Bush would leave the Supreme Court looking less like America and more like an old boys club.” Orrin Hatch: “This one is going to be Armageddon.” [WP, NYT, NYT, NYT, LAT, WT, WT, USAT, USAT]
• Alito will shift court to the right: “On some of the most contentious issues that came before the high court, Alito has been to the right of the centrist swing voter he would replace.” [WP, LAT, USAT, USAT]
• Alito’s fate rests in the vote of moderate Republicans; filibuster remains available. [WP, LAT]
• Alito was an easy second choice for Bush; Karl Rove phoned key conservative leaders before the announcement. [WT, WT]
• Bush’s selection of Alito works to unite his party after misstep of Miers. [WP, LAT]
• Abortion seen as the central issue. [NYT, NYT, LAT]
• Alito “has a strong free-market philosophy likely to please corporate America,” say experts. [LAT]
• At trial, Scooter Libby’s interests will be divorced from the prerogatives of the White House. [WP]
• More than 30,000 people have paid tribute to Rosa Parks at the Capitol Rotunda. [WP, USAT]
• Scott McClellan takes fire from correspondents. Terry Moran: “There’s been a wound to your credibility here. A falsehood, wittingly or unwittingly, was told from this podium.” [WP]

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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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