Media Whore-D'Oevres

"What the general Obama campaign doesn’t know is that on Thursday, Ted calls Barack to tell him that he will endorse and work for him. They pick Monday for the announcement. Only Barack and his campaign manager, David Axelrod knows of the endorsement. The campaign staff is told that Obama is returning to D.C. for the State Of The Union address. A few people ask 'what’s the big deal about the SOU and why should we take the day off?' not knowing that the Kennedy endorsement event is being planned for Monday at American University. Sunday, Bill Clinton makes his remark about comparing the Obama victory to the Jesse Jackson victory in 1988 furthering inciting the racial rhetoric. This comment further infuriates Ted, who not only delivers a speech rebuking the racial remarks on Monday, he plans the next 8 days to campaign (including Arizona and California) to pursue the Hispanic vote for Obama, thereby blunting any union endorsements Hillary Clinton has garnered." (NYSD)

"Mansour Dadulluh, the Taliban's most prominent military commander, was sacked on 29 December, according to a statement released by the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the name used by the Taliban. Taliban spokesmen subsequently confirmed the dismissal, but did not provide details of Mansour Dadullah's misdeeds. Mullah Omar, the group's overall leader, previously advised him to follow the rules of the Islamic Emirate and 'not to fall into the lap of others.' ... Numerous theories have been put forward to explain Mansour Dadullah's dismissal, but his increasingly close relationship with Al-Qaeda was the real reason, according to a senior foreign official in Afghanistan who spoke to Jane's. High and mid-level Taliban commanders contacted by Jane's had little respect for Dadullah. Some said he was only promoted in an attempt to safeguard his brother's networks and as a face-saving exercise to mitigate the psychological blow of Mullah Dadullah's death. While the dismissal of an ineffective commander is unlikely to weaken the insurgency, it has highlighted divisions within the Taliban. The Taliban is increasingly split between those who follow the old leadership and those who take their cue from Al-Qaeda." (Janes)

"NBC sued Dick Wolf, one its biggest program suppliers on Friday, asking the court for an interpretation of a contract provision that gives Wolf executive producer fees if and when any of the three 'Law and Order' series are cancelled. The suit, which was filed in L.A. Superior Court by Scott Edelman of Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, seeks declaratory relief or reformation of the contract. No money damages are sought. The suit, which was filed in L.A. Superior Court by Scott Edelman of Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, seeks declaratory relief or reformation of the contract. No money damages are sought." (Variety)

"Those looking for a fun way to fill the Monday night time slot formerly reserved for the Marc Jacobs after-party, needn't worry. The effortlessly cool Chloë Sevigny has come to the rescue. Sevigny and Opening Ceremony will take over Webster Hall on Monday February 4, for an evening of all-night revelry to celebrate the New York launch of Chloë Sevigny for Opening Ceremony. The party will be co-hosted by M.A.C Cosmetics and Self Service magazine. And be prepared for an all-nighter--the exclusive invitation lists the time as '10 p.m. until late,' and we expect this fête to go well into the morning. The Slits are scheduled to perform at midnight and a slew of top DJs are slated to play--Paul Sevigny, Benjamin Cho, Brian Degraw, Leo Fitzpatrick, and Nate Lowman will all take turns spinning. Expect the coolest kids on the fashion block." (Fashionweekdaily)

"Two things became clear on a conference call held earlier by Clinton campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle, communications director Howard Wolfson and chief strategist Mark Penn this morning. One: they do not want anyone to forget that Barack Obama’s national media buy means that he has ads running in Florida. Two: they are determined to get Florida and Michigan delegates seated at the national convention, despite the pledge all three top Democratic candidates took not to campaign in those states (and despite the fact that neither Barack Obama nor John Edwards were on the ballot in Michigan)." (Observer)