Media-Whore D'Oeuvres



"With the exception of Rachel Maddow, no one on television has benefited from the election cycle more than the folks at Saturday Night Live. Unfortunately, the expiration date on their cultural relevancy reads November 5th." (Observer)

"While the relationship between Barack Obama and the Clintons remains complicated, associates in both camps say the dynamic has improved dramatically in recent months. Obama’s embrace of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s domestic agenda, the former first couple’s admiration for his political acumen and the healing power of time and distance after a bruising 17-month primary battle all have had an ameliorative effect on what once appeared to be an irreparable rift." (Politico)

"President George W. Bush is leaving office with some of the lowest job-approval ratings in history. He's being assailed by both of his would-be successors, one of whom will inherit two wars and the most severe financial crisis since the Great Depression. Meanwhile, Bush is engineering what may be the most carefully considered and potentially successful presidential transition in modern times, both Democrats and Republicans close to the process say. The president started the preparations last spring, ordering federal agencies to get ready for a new administration, with deadlines for various tasks. By August, White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten had persuaded representatives of Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama to join in. The advance work may get the new president off to a fast start, participants say." (Bloomberg)

"Vogue editor Anna Wintour is 59 today. (Condé Nast employees: consider yourselves warned.)" (CityFile)

"Just weeks ago (Paris Hilton) was snapped with Wills at the West End nightclub Whisky Mist, while his girlfriend Kate Middleton stayed home. Paris said it was William who made the first approach. 'It was really weird when he came over,' she said. 'I was sitting at my table, looked up and there was the Prince. I couldn’t believe it .. But hanging out with the future King of England wasn't that different for me. I travel all over the world and meet a lot of Royalty. At the end of the day they are all just people and I don't treat them any differently.'" (Newsoftheworld)



(image via guestofaguest)

"Rose Bar got some new art and you know what that means…. A party was in order to celebrate! Last night Nur Khan and Stella Schnabel hosted the latest works of art at Gramery Park Hotel." (Guestofaguest)

"Gramercy Park Hotel's Rose Bar could have been a satellite of Gagosian Gallery last night, as Nur Khan and Stella Schnabel hosted a party to celebrate new additions to the multi-million dollar art collection ..'That's a Damien Hirst?' Russell Simmons questioned incredulously. 'We were arguing about whether or not that was real!' The mogul took a chance to relax after a day of travelling by plopping down in one of the bar's red booths. 'It's really nice how they change the artwork in here. See that Andy Warhol? I have one.'" (Fashionweekdaily)

"Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, the world's most powerful vlogger, has a new post up previewing Wednesday's highly-anticipated state-of-the-nation address. Among other topics, Medvedev intends to address the international financial crisis, which he says began "in the United States of America and which, unfortunately, has spread throughout the world and affected almost all countries.'" (Blog.ForeignPolicy)

"Last week at a big dinner dance at one of the smarter clubs on Park Avenue that always prefers to remain nameless in the press, I was talking to a woman who does financial reporting for one of the major tv news outlets. We were talking about the financials. I was surprised how knowledgeable she was. Why don’t I hear that in your financial news reports I asked. 'Because,' she replied, 'no matter what you plan, they come back requesting (requiring) an up spin on everything.' The car went over the cliff; all passengers died. But it was a beautiful day. At that same party a real estate broker told me about the sale of the $30 million dollar apartment of a wealthy tycoon who’d just passed away. I’d asked if it had been sold yet. 'We got a buyer who put down a $3 million deposit. And then changed their minds and walked away.' 'You mean forfeiting the $3 million?' 'Uh-huh.'" (NYSocialDiary)



(Daul Kim via style)

"Supermodel Daul Kim, aka 'Daul Monster,' needs a roommate. Qualifications? New York. Downtown. One year commitment. No smoking/drinking. Looking like a "John Galliano gangster" is a plus." (Papermag via Iliketoforkmyself)

"Stormy weather could complicate final get-out-the-vote efforts for both presidential campaigns on what is expected to be a rainy Election Day in key battleground states. Weather forecasts in Pennsylvania, Virginia and North Carolina — all of them potential swing states in this year’s race — are predicting rain on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service and The Weather Channel. Slightly lower chances of rain are predicted for the Western swing states of Nevada, Colorado and Montana." (TheHill)

"Although Georgia’s 7 p.m. poll closing time Tuesday will be one of the earliest in the nation, the state’s suddenly neck-and-neck Senate race between once heavily favored Republican Saxby Chambliss and Democratic challenger Jim Martin may be one of the last to be decided. In fact, because Georgia law requires a candidate to win a majority of the vote to be elected, it is altogether possible that a Dec. 2 runoff may be needed to resolve the issue. If that were to occur — and especially if the Democrats’ expected big Senate gains elsewhere leave them teetering on the brink of a 60-seat 'filibuster-proof' majority — Georgia could find itself at the center of the nation’s political universe at a time when even many campaign die-hards would prefer an election-free Thanksgiving holiday." (CQPolitics)