The son of Fox News anchor Bret Baier has a history of heart problems. The 5-year-old, Paul, was born with a rare, congenital heart defect. Over the years, he’s undergone numerous surgeries to improve his condition. On Wednesday afternoon, Baier tweeted that Paul was heading in for his 7th angioplasty at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

Many of Baier’s followers offered up prayers in the form of tweets. The newsman kept everyone informed on his Twitter feed, including a pic of the resting Paul pictured at the right. It’s also harder to get a 5-year old to rest than you might think. Baier tweeted, “Paul is not supposed to move his legs for 6 hrs after waking up- HE’S 5! Good thing we loaded the iPad!”

The surgery went well and young Paul is already back at home resting. We wish him a speedy recovery.

Quotes of the Day

West Wing Sophia: Sophia Nelson, columnist for the theGrio.com and Essence, visited the White House last week and snapped a few pictures.

“This stage [is] always available to you if you ever want to finish that Al Green song,” — David Rubenstein, Chairman of the Kennedy Center to President Obama last night at the Kennedy Center Honors. Quote taken from a White House Pool Report by The Hill’s Eric Wasson, who referred to Alec Baldwin as “Alex” Baldwin and corrected himself in the next Pool Report.

German ex-journo predicts punch in the groin

“Today has been an utterly horrible day. I wouldn’t be surprised if somebody punched me in the groin on the way home.” — Klaus Marre, formerly of The Hill and The Daily Caller, in a Facebook update. (We hear he has left journalism and wants to start his own business.)

Travel Bitches

• “The flight to North Dakota, already held up an hour, is being delayed further because “the flight attendant left her manual at the gate and we have to retireve [sic] it.” Sometimes, Delta, you’re better off lying.” — Bloomberg News‘ Alan Bjerga.

• “Attendant on my Delta flight from Boston delays boarding by jetway full of coach passengers to take drink orders, hang coats of 1st class.”  — CNBC and NYT‘s John Harwood.

• “Amtrak WiFi. An utter exercise in frustration. That is all.” — Yahoo! News senior editor for politics and news Beth Fouhy.

Just in case you wanted to know where Jake Tapper was this weekend…

“Reminder to Fort Hood area tweeps: from 11AM to 1PM CST I’ll be signing books at the FORT HOOD EXCHANGE Building 50004, Clear Creek Road.” — ABC News Senior White House Correspondent Jake Tapper. That would be for Tapper’s book Outpost if you haven’t heard of it (but we’re sure you’ve heard about it in a few thousand of Tapper’s tweets as of late).

Confessional

“I delete so many tweets, you people have no idea. I’m the Dr. Kavorkian of inappropriate 140 character utterances.” – BuzzFeed Washington Bureau Chief John Stanton.

Fight! Fight! Fight!

“You spew such bullshit…I now know why you are rarely on CNN anymore. Your act is tired.” — ClearChannel‘s Colby Hall to CNN Contributor Roland Martin. (The pair were engaging in a lot of sports trash talk this weekend. We suspect their friendship will survive it.)

Being a real reporter is when this happens

“There’s nothing that makes me feel more like a real reporter than getting kicked out of someplace I’m writing about.” — Mother Jones D.C.-based reporter Stephanie Mencimer.

The Fashion Critic

“Geithner rocking the Ironman watch on all the Sunday shows. I like it.” — Politico congressional reporter and fashion expert Jake Sherman.

Peter Ogburn contributed to this report.

Politico’s Ginger Gibson has a “serious” question and an anonymous tipster reveals a few things about her colleague, Tim Grieve. Also: find out why a NBC News desk assistant was feeling semi-violent over the weekend… Read more

A sprinkling of things we think you ought to know…

Washingtonians are happy, even if they are alcoholics– A WaPo poll of workers in the D.C. metro area found that most of them (88 percent) described themselves as “very happy” or “pretty happy.” Roughly the same number of people described their jobs as “rewarding.” Another interesting bit: Most respondents (54 percent) said they “never really stop working.”

Fournier has a lot of presidential access– A story published late last night in NJ made quick rounds on Twitter through this morning. It’s a first person account by the publication’s editor-in-chief Ron Fournier on how he learned to fully accept that his son, who has Asperger’s syndrome, is different. The overall consensus is that it’s a touching story, just in time for the holidays. Politico‘s Ben White called it “especially beautiful.” FNC’s Bret Baier called it “a great story” that’s “worth the time.” On the other hand, FBDC’s Peter Ogburn had his own concerns. “Most of it left me wondering how in the hell he hooked up a meeting with his son and three presidents,” he said. In Fournier’s story, he recounts how he introduced his son to President Obama and former presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton.

HuffPost blogger rails on NYT‘s Maureen Dowd– The name Geoffrey Dunn rings no memory bells as to who he is. But a column he posted on HuffPost yesterday is worth the read if for nothing more than to count the number of ways he can insult NYT‘s Maureen Dowd. A few choice adjectives in his post regarding Dowd: “breezy,” “cynical,” “name-dropping,” and “glib.” He calls her “The Mean One.” And despite Dunn bearing a vague resemblance to any given pewter item on the “Antique Roadshow,” Dunn notes that he’s “a few years younger than Dowd.” Ouch.

Donald Trump cancels Senate bid– Oops, we mean RedState Editor Erick Erickson cancels Senate bid. Our mistake. After suggesting on his radio program earlier this week that he might challenge Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) for his Senate seat, Erickson has pulled out faster than a high school boy on prom night. And he did so with a grand flair that would make Liberace blush. “I’m not putting my family through that,” Erickson writes, “when the best outcome would mean a sizable pay cut and being away from my kids and wife all the time huddled in a pit of vipers often surrounded by too many who viewed me as a useful instrument to their own advancement.” Shorter version: Tricked you!

This is why Fox News’ Bret Baier anchors the network’s flagship newscast.

Last night during “Special Report”s Grapevine segment, the camera fixed on Baier had technical difficulties. It violently shook  just as Baier ended the segment, throwing the anchor out of the shot before it steadied.

With years of on-air reporting under his belt, Baier recovered like a true professional. “You may soon feel the effects, not of that earthquake but in your wallet, from new environmental regulations,” he said, transitioning as only a veteran anchor could.

The show continued without a hitch.

Quotes of the Day — The Holiday Edition.

“Not sure what it says that a photo of me bloated with a pillow under my shirt is my most-liked Instagram photo ever.” — Catherine Andrews, Director of Digital Content at Home Front Communications and former Editorial Director at Washingtonian.

Home for the Holidays

“Nothing like grandpa showing his tooth abscess to everyone one of us before dinner.” — Politico Pro web producer Caitlin Emma.

“Mom is regaling the guests w her theory that Bobby Kennedy had Marilyn killed w a poisoned enema to not leave marks. Kill me now.” — Publicist and former ABC “This Week” producer Courtney Cohen.

“Just realized I am stress eating chips & queso as my parents are grilling me about GOP options for 2016. Dinner has taken a nasty turn.” — House Maj. Whip Spokeswoman Erica Elliott. And on Thanksgiving: “When I announced I was going to take a shower to try and exfoliate this spray tan, my family literally cheered. Apparently it’s that bad.”

“I accidentally stumbled into a birds-and-bees conversation with my nephew, which led to me saying, ‘No, it’s not called a ‘virginia.’” — MetroWeekly Co-Publisher Sean Bugg.

“Ugh. Had I watched this Kentucky game in my apartment instead of my mom’s home, there’d be holes in the walls.” — Reuters’ Sam Youngman.

“Thanksgiving at the Ericksons involves 6 dozen eggs, 21 lbs of butter, and now 9 lbs of bacon. 4 cakes, 5 pies, 20 lbs of turkey, & 17 ppl.” — CNN Contributor and RedState’s Erick Erickson.

“Yumm. Here is my obligatory turkey photo.” — Politico’s Ginger Gibson. 

Hagman gave NPR director’s Nana a Texas twang

“Claudine, our director, sez her Egyptian grandmother learned English by watching Dallas. She now has a Texas accent. RIP Larry Hagman.” — NPR’s Scott Simon.

Journos get emotional around Thanksgiving

• “My uncle, God rest his soul, made squirrel and rabbit jerky for us as kids. Miss his smart aleck remarks about other fam during holidays.” — Breitbart.com and CNN Contributor (well, if that’s what they’re calling never appearing these days) Dana Loesch.

• “iPad photo app creators, thank you for hours of family fun. #sincerely” — ABC News Senior White House Correspondent Jake Tapper.

• “Just watched “Love Actually” for the 147th time. Still tear up at the end.” — Politico‘s Roger Simon.

• “A special thank you to our service men and women for their service and sacrifice. We are thankful for you all. #thanksgiving” — NBC “MTP” Host David Gregory (Just what the troops were waiting for, a shout-out from Gregory.)

• “My uncle just got a call from the hospital and they may have found a kidney donor! So happy for@veerichie‘s daddy! All my love to Toronto!” — ABC7 reporter Jummy Olabanji.

• “I know I shouldn’t be, but I’m thankful Caribou is open this morning.” — NBC Washington’s Matt Glassman.

• “The crash of Jesse Jackson Jr. Is a tragic end to a career that once seemed to have no limit. Very sad for him, his family & constituents.” — President Obama‘s top campaign advisor David Axelrod.

A WH Correspondent gets into holiday spirit

“Vaguely wish the White House had named the turkeys ‘Congress’ and ‘Syphilis’ and then crowdsourced which one gets pardoned.” — Yahoo! News’ White House Correspondent Olivier Knox.

And BuzzFeed‘s Kaczynski gets all grateful and neighborly…

“Yes neighbor loudly playing his bass while families in my apartment building sit down together for dinner, you are an asshole.” — BuzzFeed‘s Andrew Kaczynski on Thanksgiving just before 3 p.m.

Paul Wharton misses chance to stuff himself

“Y did I refuse to take a plate of Thanksgiving Food from my cousin’s house?! Now I want turkey and stuffing & all I have is Salad! WTF!?” — Real Housewives of D.C. Stylist Paul Wharton.

Baier Vomit

“Good morning! Happy Black Friday. Are you shopping today? My wife, Amy, says she might try – I’ll be with our boys far away from the mall!” — FNC’s Bret Baier.

Ambien Adventures

“If you take Ambien and forget to stop and go to sleep, it actually makes you stay more awake. Kinda crazy, eh? 730A & I’m still up.” — Elizabeth Lauten (a.k.a. DCGOPGirl and CNN iReporter) on the day after Thanksgiving.

Important Q to Ponder: “Possibly stupid cooking question: Can I use whiskey bourbon (Crown) in a savory recipe that calls for bourbon?” — Conservative writer and blogger Lisa De Pasquale.

One Bureau Chief has stroke of good luck and another warns journos about sobriety checkpoint…

Read more

Quotes of the Day

“Gotta be 65 degrees on a terrific autumn night” — FNC’s Chief White House Correspondent Ed Henry.

Anticipatory Storm Complaints

“Approaching big storm prep: batteries, check. Canned food, check. Emergency generators, check. Full-page apology ad from Pepco, check.” — C-SPAN Communications Director Howard Mortman.

“.@PepcoConnect Let’s just say that your track record as regards restoring our power is somewhere between abysmal and catastrophic.” — Yahoo! News‘s Olivier Knox.

“@OKnox Why doesn’t PEPCO just shut off our power now and get it over with?” — NYT‘s Jonathan Weisman.

“My boyfriend: Buying all the toilet paper from the grocery store before everyone else gets there. #BePrepared” — Lisa Rowan, vintage blogger.

Compliment or Insult: Who really knows?

“Your always-perfect hair reeks of pure #journalism,” a follower writes in to FNC’s Bret Baier, who, of course, responds, saying, “Good to know -thanks- I’ll try to keep it together.”

Ana Marie Cox “endorses” Obama

“It’s true: I have chosen to endorse Obama because I’m proud to have someone of the *human* race as President. So there.” — The Guardian‘s Ana Marie Cox. Does a pundit do endorsements? Do they really need to? Pretty sure we already new the progressive Cox was for Obama.

Journo Love

“Go @AprilDRyan! She’s interviewing Obama tomorrow at 5:40 p.m. in Oval Office. First member of WH press corps to do so in months.” — Politico‘s Jennifer Epstein on American Urban Radio White House Correspondent April Ryan.

Breitbart.com Editor needles BuzzFeed Political Editor

“Source tells me @BuzzFeedBen‘s BuzzFeed Politics is something of a laughingstock. Actually, herds of sources tell me this.” — Breitbart.com‘s John Nolte, still smarting from BuzzFeed‘s McKay Coppins story on internal Breitbart.com matters.

Overheard…

“Overheard on the Romney press bus: ‘I think Meat Loaf is two words.’ ‘Yes, it is two words.’ — NPR’s Ari Shapiro.

See FishbowlDC’s Fan Club Board after the jump as well as thoughts from a media observer… Read more

FNC anchor Bret Baier has long become among our favorites to watch. He’s like a big boulder barreling through this thing called life. If he’s hurt he doesn’t show it. When he gets beaten down to a pulp, he gets right back up, as if asking for more.

Yesterday was no exception.

“Dude what’s up w your make up?” a follower wrote in, heavily scrutinizing his looks. “You look like a stone painted red. No one can take you seriously.”

Most journalists would either not respond or reply with something along the lines of: “Gee, so and so, go f$%k yourself!” But not Baier. “Must be your TV,” he replied.

Another follower seemed to make up for the aforementioned nastiness. The fan wrote, “I had a dream that I met you at a gas station and you were extremely nice!!” A somewhat incoherent Baier wrote back, “Glad to hear the dream me was nice.”

Quotes of the Day

FALSE EYELASH ALERT: TWT‘s Senior Op-ed columnist Emily Miller tests out fake eyelashes for the first time. She appears pleased with the experience: “The TV makeup artist gave me false eyelashes today. First time in my life!”

Bret Baier takes another Twitter beating

Last week they hated his necktie.  This week FNC anchor Bret Baier reacts kindly to a follower just hating him and his work. Period. Truth3232 writes, “Your a hateful despicable sc#mbag with lies and hatefulness I’m sure your [sic] ashamed.” To which Baier replied, “Thanks for watching.”

Emotional journo

“Come on, Nats! This is when I start eating emotionally. #sweetpotatofries” — RCP‘s Erin McPike.

Female blogger declares her single status

“Just made it official on FB. I’m single and like men. In case there’s any confusion/single men with beach houses who want to ask me out.” — Conservative blogger Lisa De Pasquale.

Wanted: Hairdresser

“DC friends, I’m in desperate need of a haircut. Does anyone have any recommendations for a reasonably priced, skillful hairdresser/stylist?” — WaPo designer Tim Wong. (Calling famed RHOD stylist Paul Wharton: any recs?)

The Observer

“Oh Brooklyn… Woman sends back her orange juice because it’s not fresh-squeezed.” — HuffPost‘s Amanda Terkel.

Journo offers cold, harsh reality

“No one cares what TV show you are on this morning or anything to do with the brain dead presidential race. There is nothing but Jeter.” — Politico‘s Ben White who clearly forgot where he works this weekend amidst a sports binge.

Um, Grover is big?

“Girls displayed to ‘Big Dad’ their ‘campout’–a pile of all books and toys and blankets in center of room. Mom will be so happy or not.” — Americans for Tax Reform Prez Grover Norquist.

WETA seeks funds from 1-year-old

“WETA mailed my 1-year-old daughter a solicitation to become a supporting member. Getting ‘em young, PBS?” — Washington City Paper Editor Mike Madden.

Deep Thoughts With Chris Hayes: “The place where I and lots of others learned to write long — alt weeklies — have been absolutely destroyed.” — MSNBC’s Chris Hayes to BuzzFeed‘s Ben Smith.

Barnicle graces D.C.

“In DC today. Whole town sleepwalking through a baseball nightmare. Nobody paying attention, waiting for Storen to throw strike three.” — MSNBC “Morning Joe” regular Mike Barnicle.

The Heckler

“Michael Hastings on MSNBC? What — he couldn’t find a general to get fired this morning? #MSNBCFail” — The Daily Caller‘s TV writer Jeff Poor on BuzzFeed‘s Michael Hastings.

Convo among broadcast journos

This morning’s conversation is among ABC President Ben Sherman, Senior WH Correspondent Jake Tapper and ABC Senior Political Correspondent Jonathan Karl. Oddly, Tapper’s tweet on the bean incident has disappeared. Strangely Sherwood’s first bean tweet can’t be found, but he has a few subsequent remarks on it. Karl’s tweet remains intact.

SHERWOOD: I put that in the same category as lima beans.

TAPPER: I have studiously refrained from bringing up the shocking lima bean incident in a public venue.

SHERWOOD: Do not snub the butter bean!

KARL: The lima bean revelation was a shocking one.

In other Jake Tapper news… “1 month from today my book THE OUTPOST, comes out. More than 2 years in the making, I’ve never worked harder on any project in my life…1/2″ — Tapper.

As a TV journalist, FNC anchor Bret Baier faces a lot of crap about the way he looks. His weight. His hair. How tired he may look on any given day. Last night he faced serious criticism for his apparently questionable taste in ties.

“Bret, that is the ugliest tie I have ever seen,” offered “Jim.” Bret, as usual, welcomed his critic with open arms and replied, “Thanks Jim — I’ll remember that.” Next up: A woman exquisitely named “Hooch01Kathy” seconded Jim’s remarks, saying, “haha I was thinking the same thing and it was crooked ” Bret appeared to take a woman who calls herself HoochKathy seriously enough and came back with: “Tough crowd.”

We reached out to Bret for comment on whether the harsh critiques ever hurt his feelings and whether they prompt him to not wear the alleged ugly tie again.

Meanwhile — and this could sting a little Bret — Current TV’s David Shuster is getting rave reviews for his suits. One told him the suits were “top notch.” To which Shu replied, “Thank you. This week, as always, I’m wearing @hickeyfreeman1 @hartschaffner. Great suits made in the USA.”

Unlike Baier, when another follower tried to insult Shuster’s choice in suits, he didn’t take it lying down. David Douglas, an apparent Chicago-based journo, said Italian suits far surpassed the ones worn by Shuster. “I have custom suits by both and neither fit anywhere close to as well as off-the-rack Italian suits,” he told Shuster, who replied by firing back: “Because you alone don’t fit into some suits, you state an entire industry is better overseas? You sir, are an idiot.” What’s more, he added, “And you claim to be a journalist? Try doing some homework. @hickeyfreeman1 @hartschaffner suits are made in the USA.”

Quotes of the Day

“I like it, it’s not true, but it’s all fun.” — MSNBC’s Chris Matthews, who couldn’t stop playing SNL’s impersonator of himself on his program Monday. The impersonator accentuated Matthews’ propensity to interrupt his guests, a behavior which he somehow has no clue that he does.

Bret Baier: Losing weight or sick?

“You are looking slimmer, hopefully you’re just getting healthy and you’re not sick,” a follower wrote in to FNC’s Bret Baier. He replied, “Healthy I think — thanks.”

Bosom Buddies: Gregory is “so right there with” Hayes 

MSNBC’s Chris Hayes: “Officially, fully, totally hooked on Homeland.”

NBC’s David Gregory: “.@chrislhayes I’m so right there with you. Watched season 1 in five days.”

Quote Taken Out of Context

“I like little wieners.” — Conservative blogger Lisa De Pasquale.

Post fight with The Daily Caller‘s Jeff Poor, Politico‘s Ben White attempts to defend his Yankees fandom: “Perhaps my Tweeps can attest to the fact that I’ve been annoying them about the Yankees for quite a long time?”

Fournier admits to being dumb

“Why are you tweeting any of this? Looks dumb?” a follower wrote in to National Journal Editor-in-Chief Ron Fournier. He replied (we hope, sarcastically), “B/c I’m dumb. Why do you ask?”

Uh oh.

“I can barely breathe that is how sick I feel.” — InTheseTimes labor journo Mike Elk.

Whatever, dweeb

“That part of Twitter where reporters from various outlets start attacking each other? I’ll pass. #unfollowMonday.” — Politico‘s Marty Kady.

Peter Ogburn contributed to this report.