Errant Plane Breaches Security at White House

Sources say White House press secretary considering 2012 campaign role

(NEWSER) - White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs—who recently told reporters no major administration reshuffle was on the way—is likely to be headed for the exit himself as part of the overhaul, according to Politico. Gibbs is seriously considering stepping aside to work on President Obama's 2012 campaign, although no final decision has been made and administration officials haven't settled on a successor, say sources. More»

VP reminds president health care reform is a big deal

(NEWSER) - Get out the equipment you used to break down the Zapruder film, and set it to "lip-read"—did Joe Biden really remind President Obama that signing health care reform bill is "a big fucking deal"? Talking Points Memo asks—and White House press secretary Robert Gibbs seems to confirm that he did indeed. Gibbs tweets : "And yes Mr. Vice President, you're right..." You be the judge, above. More»

Briefed military last night, will reveal number and other details tomorrow

(NEWSER) - After weeks of deliberation, President Obama has settled on a new strategy for the war in Afghanistan and ordered the military to carry it out. The exact size of the troop escalation has not been announced, but sources put the number in the neighborhood of 30,000 more troops. The president started informing military leaders last night and will explain his plan in detail in a national speech tomorrow from the US Military Academy at West Point. More»

(NEWSER) - Press Secretary Robert Gibbs may be best known these days for deflecting harsh questions in the briefing room, but his advisory role in the administration goes much deeper than that, writes Michael Scherer in Time. “There isn't a single decision that the president has formed in the course of his campaign or the presidency that Robert didn't weigh in on,” said Valerie Jarrett. And when Gibbs talks, to staff or press, they know they’re hearing from Obama. More»

First family to settle into Hay Adams this weekend so girls can start school Monday

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama, who has mostly avoided the capital since the election, will move his family into a hotel suite this weekend, aides tell the New York Times. The girls will start school Monday and Obama will begin working with the new Congress on his stimulus package. While the Times didn't disclose the mystery hotel, MSNBC reports that it's the Hay Adams, which advertises itself as "as close as you can get to staying at the White House without a personal invitation from the president." More»