Quotes of the Day

“I gotta say, between Mitt Romney’s gaffes and Kate Middleton’s tits, I’m afraid to leave the house!” — Bill Maher, host of HBO’s “Real Time With Bill Maher.”

Congratulations. (A little…)

“Happy anniversary to my 2nd favorite morning show.” — Chris Licht, former executive producer for MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” Licht now produces CBS This Morning.

Speaking of “Morning Joe” shout-outs…

“So people watch Morning Joe just so they don’t miss it when Mika finally snaps and stabs him, right?” — host of NPR’s “Wait Wait Don’t Tell me…” Peter Sagal.

Twitter growing pains

“I’d like to go back to school and do my PhD thesis on how bad Twitter sucks.” — Politico‘s Ben White, who has been getting some push back on Twitter this week from the likes of Guardian‘s super serious Glenn Greenwald among other “whores.”

Convo Between Two Journos

This morning’s conversation is between WaPo national political reporter Philip Rucker and Monocle and Slate’s Sasha Issenberg. Sasha is referring to WaPo’s Jennifer Rubin, who has been accused of being in the tank for Mitt Romney.

Philip Rucker: Romney aides Rhoades, Gitcho, Beeson & Chen got Aug bonuses from $25,000-$37,500

Sasha Issenberg: How much did @JRubinBlogger get?

Question to Ponder: “Do political reporters do serious journalism in election season or just report gaffes?” — InTheseTimes.com labor journo Mike Elk.

Did someone say serious journalism?

“Happy Daze: Remember when Paris Hilton and Charlie Sheen dominated the news cycle? Sigh.” — Baron’s D.C. Editor James McTague.

Muckraking at its finest. Aren’t smartphones great?

“Reception for Paul Ryan on House floor a lot more tempered down since last week’s visit. Mob to talk to him not as large.” — NBC’s Luke Russert.

“Hoyer crosses House floor to shake hands with #Paulryan. Nice moment.” — Politico’s Jonathan Allen.

“Steny Hoyer just crossed house floor to shake Paul Ryan’s hand.” — Politico‘s Shermanator Jake Sherman.

Skirmish.

“What will I ever do now? Dave Weigel blocked me so I’ll never see him crying about people being mean to Obama again!! OH NOES!!” — RBPundit. To which Slate‘s Dave Weigel replied, “You’re not entitled to waste my time and Twitter feed. That’s all.”

Journo gets hives

“Ew I just got hives for the first time. And on my arm. What in the world, this is so not cool.” — Elizabeth Lauten, a.k.a. “DCGOPGirl,” who video blogged for  CNN during the summer conventions.

FishbowlDC Fan Club

1. President: WaPo‘s Gene Weingarten

2. VP of internal shady clubhouse activities: The Daily Caller‘s Executive Director David Martosko

3. Head cheerleader: WaPo‘s Ezra Klein

4. Treasure and national fundraiser: The Daily Caller‘s Matthew Boyle

5. Enthusiastic new member: HuffPost‘s Andrea Stone

From the Dept. of Bragiculture…When FBDC showed up Monday at the launch of a new partnership by CBS and Google Plus in Logan Circle, we were greeted with pure, unadulterated love. “I read FishbowlDC everyday,” CBS intern Chad Sinclair said.

Bursting with good spirits, we made our way upstairs of Fathom Creative, where the launch was hosted, and found three open bars placed no more than 25 feet apart. They made damn sure getting a drink wouldn’t be a problem. That, in itself, could have presented a problem. Unfortunately no one got out of control.

Among the first reporters to join the party was Politico‘s party animal Mike Allen. He zipped around the room shaking hands and saying hi to everyone he knew and everyone he didn’t.

Allen left 45 minutes in but was replaced by his colleague Patrick Gavin, who was wearing a blazer with tennis shoes. Gavin told us that Politico Live, Politico’s venture into video news, is a work in progress but said “it’s fun to be a part of [it].”

We soon ran into the star of the party, “Face the Nation” anchor Bob Schieffer. “No!” he said when we asked if he had any summer vacation plans. “I’ll be working my ass off,” he said.

They gave out weird purple socks as party “favors” in honor of Schieffer, known for his striking hosiery (photograph below).

The event was held to unveil an interactive election-coverage feature that CBS and Google will host roughly once a month called “hangouts.” The gist: Voters across the country will be selected to participate in tele-town halls with Schieffer. A new voice-controlled Google software facilitates the discussion. The first hangout is scheduled for Thursday. Excerpts will air on Sunday’s “Face the Nation.”

In a brief party speech Schieffer joked that he’s worried about participants in the hangouts using software that puts “ears and horns” on his face on the screen. “I can’t wait for someone to be rude to me,” he said.

Everyone at the party seemed to admire Scheiffer, chatting him up and speaking fondly of him to one another. “So goes Bob, so goes the network,” we overheard one attendee say.

Notables

Others spotted at the party: CBS White House Correspondents Bill Plante and Norah O’Donnell, Political Director John Dickerson, Washington Bureau Chief Chris Isham, HuffPost‘s Michael Calderone, CNN’s Peter Hamby and the Washington Examiner‘s Nikki Schwab, who was surprisingly verbal even though her rumored policy is to give FBDC the cold shoulder.

Quotable

“I can’t believe FishbowlDC isn’t drinking” — CBS Vice President of Programming Chris Licht.

Had you walked through the doors of the St. Regis Hotel at this time last night, there’s a good chance you would have bumped into Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) making a quick exit from the fete for Bob Schieffer’s 20th anniversary with “Face the Nation.”  But a brush with the House Minority Leader was only an appetizer for the smorgasbord of the bipartisan political power that partied inside the hotel’s Astor Ballroom.  Raising a glass to the legendary newsman were current and former Secretaries of Defense Leon Panetta and Donald Rumsfeld, Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA), Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-TX), Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC), Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) and Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) who has appeared on Face the Nation more than any other guest.  Representing the White House were Dag Vega and Jen Psaki.

In his remarks, a flattered Schieffer joked that when he first got to Washington, Republicans and Democrats always attended parties together.  “But now it’s a big deal,” he told the crowded room.

The Washington press corps were also out in full force for Bob’s big night.  Spotted in the crowd were Sally Quinn and Ben Bradlee, Bob Woodward, FNC’s Ed Henry, NBC’s David Gregory and Betsy Fischer, Politico’s Jonathan Martin, Keach Hagey, Mike Allen and Patrick Gavin, Newshour’s Gwen Ifill and Judy Woodruff, Bloomberg’s Margaret Carlson, NYT’s David Sanger, WaPo’s Roxanne Roberts, and Steve Chaggaris. Rounding out the room were a slew of CBS talent and staff such as former “Face the Nation” EP Carin Pratt and current EP Mary Hager, Rob Hendin,  Kaylee Hartung, Chris Licht, Lara Logan, Jan Crawford, Nancy Cordes, Chip Reid, Bob Orr, Wyatt Andrews, John Dickerson, Christine Delargy, Walt Cronkite (Walter Cronkite’s grandson who now works in the DC bureau), Chris Isham and of course, the evening’s hosts and top network brass Jeff Fager and David Rhodes. Noticeably absent was new CBS News White House correspondent Norah O’Donnell who was in New York City covering the president and UN.

Throughout the evening a video highlighting Bob’s career played in the background – you can check it out here.  And if you missed our must-read interview with Schieffer last week, click here.

Licht, Brzezinski, Mike Allen, Mark Leibovich, Louis Burgdorf

If the idea of Mark Leibovich‘s impending book release strikes fear in your heart, we’ve got some bad news for you.  You’re sleepless nights won’t end anytime soon.  “I’ve finished about five pages,” the star scribe told FishbowlDC last night at a book party for “Morning Joe” EP- turned-CBS News VP, Chris Licht.

Hosted by Tammy Haddad, Constance Milstein, Jon Meacham and Kevin Sheekey, the event packed the parlor of the Jefferson Hotel with a guest list that included MSNBC’s Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough, CBS’s Chris Isham, HuffPo’s Howard Fineman, Bob Woodruff, Hilary Rosen, Politico’s Jim VandeHei, Patrick Gavin and Mike Allen, WaPo’s Jonathan Capehart, Sally Quinn, MSNBC’s Louis Burgdorf, Kelley McCormick, MTP’s Betsy Fischer, Janet Donovan, Wash Life’s Kevin Chaffee and John Arundel, Examiner’s Nikki Schwab and Anne Schroeder Mullins.

FishbowlDC also caught up with a delightful David Shuster who shared a few secrets about his investigative website project after we swore to keep the info offline for now.  But the most interesting insight of the night was gleaned from what wasn’t said:  When asked if “Morning Joe” might follow him to CBS, Licht swerved and ultimately dodged the question, leaving guests to wonder if the show’s rumored move is more than simple speculation.

For info on Licht’s book, “What I Learned When I Almost Died,” click here and check out video from his bash here.

L: Anne Mullins, Patrick Gavin, Brzezinski, Scarborough R: Licht & David Shuster

Republican Strategist Alex Castellanos asks a question during Q&A.

*All images by Bruce Vartan Boyajian/Haddad Media.

Just because you weren’t invited to Chris Licht‘s book party at the Jefferson Hotel tonight, doesn’t mean you have to miss out on Jon Meacham‘s interview with the author and new VP of programming for CBS News.  Meacham’s chat, as well as remarks from Licht’s former colleagues and MSNBC “Morning Joe” hosts Joe Scarborough and  Mika Brzezinski, will be streamed live to the Web, courtesy of WHCInsider.com.

The program will begin at 7:00 pm and end at 7.30. You can watch the LIVE video in the player below or on WHCInsider.com.  To read an excerpt from Licht’s  “What I Learned When I Almost Died,” click here.

Live Broadcasting by Ustream

On Thursday, May 26th, Constance Milstein, Jon Meacham, Kevin Sheekey and Tammy Haddad will raise a glass to honor the release of “What I Learned When I Almost Died” and author Chris Licht.

In his book, Licht, co-creator and original executive producer of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” recalls the story of his fast-paced, Jerry Maguire-style career and how it came to a screeching halt when one day he heard a pop in his head and learned he’d suffered a near-deadly brain hemorrhage.  He spent eight long days in a hospital bed thinking about how his life had almost been cut short.  The book tells what happened next.

To celebrate Licht, his book, and his life, friends and colleagues will gather at The Jefferson Hotel from 6.30 – 8.30 pm (invite only).  For more about Licht or “What I Learned When I Almost Died,” click here.

NBC “Morning Joe” Producer Chris Licht shows off this photograph of the crew live from London’s Trifalgar Square. The guest is NYT‘s London Bureau Chief John Burns.