Throughout the relentless storm last night, reporters in Washington and beyond expressed deep concern for CNN’s breakout star, Ali Velshi, who spent much of the day and night knee and waist deep in water. On his birthday, no less. At one point shirtless pranksters joined him in the water. TVNewser has the video. Let’s hope the network gave him a change of clothes.

“Ali, I’m glad to see you in one piece, quiet frankly,” remarked CNN’s Soledad O’Brien to Velshi early this morning in an interview with the correspondent who appeared to be in the exact outfit he wore last night — dark sports pants, red pullover, sneakers, baseball cap.

“CNN, please let Ali Velshi live.” — HuffPost‘s Sam Stein.

“I’m going to collect donations to help Ali Velshi with what is undoubtedly a serious case of swamp foot. #aliisahero#10hoursinthewater.” — Will Cain, CNN Contributor and columnist for TheBlaze.com.

“Why is CNN having Ali Velshi standing in the middle of a barren intersection?” — CNBC and NYT‘s John Harwood.

“Dear CNN, et al: get your reporters out of the water. You look stupid.” — NationalReviewOnline Contributor Greg Pollowitz.

“Now CNN is making Ali Velshi stand in the hurricane during a commercial break so they can come back to him afterwards. Amazing.” — Washington City Paper Editor Mike Madden at 4:14 p.m. At 10:30 p.m. Madden added, “CNN, seriously. You have tortured Ali Velshi enough. Whatever he’s done, he will never do it again. Let him go inside.”

“I’ve concluded that Ali Velshi has the world’s strongest legs, and a brilliant sound man.” — CNN’s Piers Morgan.

“ALI WE GET IT. IT’S BAD OUT THERE.” — Politico‘s Kate Nocera (who couldn’t get away from all-caps messages throughout the night.)

“I really want to hear Chris Christie’s reaction to what Ali Velshi is doing right now.” — NPR Elections Producer Arnie Seipel.

“Amazing reporting by Ali Velshi from Atlantic City under terrible conditions. (It’s also his birthday.)” — CNN Senior Digital Producer Steve Krakauer.

“Why can’t CNN just put a hologram of Ali Velshi in the middle of all that water?” — Blake Hounshell, managing editor of Foreign Policy magazine.

“I’ve never had a desire to stand in the middle of a storm to tell someone else not to come outside. I can do that from a studio! LOL” — CNN Contributor Roland Martin.

Quotes of the Day

Question to Ponder: “How many dumb people are going to think that President Obama is actually gay now?” — HuffPost‘s Ethan Klapper.

Quote Taken Out of Context

“And then @RadioBabe called me an asswipe. #nprlife” — NPR Elections Producer Arnie Seipel. Before that, he said, “Being serenaded on a Friday afternoon by @RadioBabe singing Patsy Cline’s Crazy.” Radio Babe is NPR Correspondent Andrea Seabrook.

Writer wonders about ‘prissy’ Cranbrook

“Why do prep schools have such so often have such prissy names? ‘Cranbrook?’” — Tucson Sentinel Technorati writer Jimmy Zuma, referring to the Michigan prep school Mitt Romney attended and site of the haircut incident.

A Boybander’s Emotional Admission

“Running is the only healthy thing I genuinely love to do but more and more my body’s telling me I shouldn’t. Having a hard time dealing.” — TPM‘s Brian Beutler.

Self-appointed Media Critic

“Why do I get the impression that news magazines would put *anything* on their covers to sell 5 extra copies?” — Politico‘s Roger Simon.

Unnecessary Tweet of the Day

“Just spotted in Santa Monica: car with Hawaii plate ALOHA. Car with most desired Hawaii license plate belongs in Hawaii.” — MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell with this stellar announcement you won’t likely see anywhere else in the next decade.

Journo sees connection to Prez’s fundraiser

“Obama fundraiser in NYC Monday — special guest Ricky Martin — is sold out, organizer says. Gee. Wonder why?” — Politico‘s Glenn Thrush.

Eddie Scarry contributed to this report.