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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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5

Courting Obama, Pols Harbor Hoop Hopes

Elite tune up their game in hopes of playing with prez

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(Newser) – In Washington, everyone wants to be on the inside. How do you know you’re in? “A pickup game with Obama,” says a former Clinton press secretary. “That's the inner, inner, inner sanctum.” So aspiring members of the inner, inner circle are hitting the court, working on their moves, and hoping someday to play—and play well—in a game with the president, writes Wright Thompson for ESPN.

“Here I am shooting hoops again. And it's because of him,” says a congressman who last played in the early '90s. And he’s not the only one. Games are happening “all over town,” Thompson writes, from the interior secretary’s court to the gym at Sidwell Friends, the Obama daughters' school. Seven months ago, the House court had no regular game; now legislators are there almost daily.

A fan holding a souvenir basketball waits for President Barack Obama and members of the 2009 NCAA basketball champions University of North Carolina Tar Heels, Monday, May 11, 2009, at the White House.
A fan holding a souvenir basketball waits for President Barack Obama and members of the 2009 NCAA basketball champions University of North Carolina Tar Heels, Monday, May 11, 2009, at the White House.   (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
President Barack Obama watches a visitor take a basketball shot during the annual Easter Egg Roll, Monday, April 13, 2009, at the White House in Washington.
President Barack Obama watches a visitor take a basketball shot during the annual Easter Egg Roll, Monday, April 13, 2009, at the White House in Washington.   (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
This Jan. 15, 2009, file photo shows Oregon State head basketball coach Craig Robinson, Obama's brother-in-law.
This Jan. 15, 2009, file photo shows Oregon State head basketball coach Craig Robinson, Obama's brother-in-law.   (AP Photo/Don Ryan)
In this April 29, 2008, file photo, University of North Carolina's Jack Wooten, right, pressures then-Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama in North Carolina.
In this April 29, 2008, file photo, University of North Carolina's Jack Wooten, right, pressures then-Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama in North Carolina.   (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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President Obama shares his the lessons he learned on the basketball court. Alas, they don't include specific political pointers.   (Moviefreedom)

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5 comments
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Reader64481089
Jun 18, 09 12:33 PM CDT
Politics, the largest game of ki$$-azz ever created for the purpose of supporting the idea we actually have a say in an illusion called a Democracy......... Reply
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Altoecko
Jun 18, 09 1:22 PM CDT
We don't have a true democracy, no one does. We have a Republic.
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Reader64481089
Jun 18, 09 1:31 PM CDT
Republic my eye, we have an illusion to keep big business going no matter the cost to the "working class" Reply
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TerrifiedCitizen
Jun 18, 09 1:32 PM CDT
Very very correct. Reply
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0
Reader64481089
Jun 18, 09 1:37 PM CDT
Come back when your home stands on the brink of being repossessed, when your health insurance was canceled due to your wife becoming seriously ill and even the car you drive is in it's last stages before a wrecking yard and tell me all about this Republic for you see some of us, a very few are on the front lines and watching our world crumble while others want to argue how "this party failed or that party failed" when in truth the entire system failed and even with higher education and a degree many are loosing everything and we did not take a risky mortgage nor lie to an insurer or do anything wrong except his our mid 50's and all we can do is watch it all go down the damn drain while people want to worry about only themselves and how "their party" could have saved it when "their party" flushed the damn handle. And there you have the most honest post ever made within the confines of this so called forum. Reply
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