WISH YOU LIVED HERE? “My view while riding the Bay Trail today.” — Markos Moulitsas, editor of Daily Kos, who lives in Berkeley, Calif. and is a weekly columnist for The Hill.

“Because I was wrong at the top of the lungs,” — GOP Pollster and Pundit Dick Morris‘s explanation for why he was canned by Fox News, as told to CNN’s Piers Morgan last night.

Journo Love

“I am always in awe of the gorgeous & talented [PBS Political Director Christina Bellantoni] @cbellantoni, looking ravishing in blue tonight as a co-host of this Congressional dinner.” — Roll Call‘s Meredith Shiner. The Washington Press Club Foundation Dinner was held last night. CBS Chief White House Correspondent Major Garrett was the emcee.

“Politico girls wear color.” — Politico‘s Ginger Gibson, who appeared in the above photograph with her coworkers Rachel Bade (center) and Juana Summers (right) at the Washington Press Club Foundation Dinner.

Ouch!

“Would have been far more fun to have actual polling experts make fun of Dick Morris instead of someone who clearly knows nothing. #thisisCNN” — Media Matters’ Justin Whitehouse, reacting to Morris’ appearance last night on CNN.

And now, a little praise for Piers

“Thanks to @piersmorgan for broadcasting my tweet: ‘If Dick Morris can be fired for being wrong and dumb, that means no pundit is safe.’” — Politico‘s Roger Simon.

The roller coaster continues…

“You’re all part of the problem, people tweeting about Dick Morris. Just know that.” — Logan Dobson, research analyst, The Tarrance Group, a GOP polling firm.

“Dick Morris is still an asshole who needs a good solid ass-kicking #CNN” — GOP Consultant and HuffPost and StoneZone blogger Roger Stone.

How often does Gavin Newsom Google himself?

“Never. For me, digging into all the negative stuff out there is just too distracting.” — California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom in a Politico “Answer This” questionnaire by Patrick Gavin in which he also admits that he never skimps in cost on hair gel. Hey, at least he admits it. Read the full interview here.

Politico Playbook publish time: 9:13 a.m.

Wanted: Publisher

“WWR seeks publisher to turn history tweets into a book of colorful presidential stories/facts. Big marketing platform. westwingrpt@gmail.com” — Paul Brandus, author of WestWingReports, columnist, The Week.

Cat defiance

“Cat blatantly peed outside litterbox in front of me. Dislike of emergency litter (dirt) or anger over yesterday’s vet visit?” — Anneke Green, former TWTer who now works for the White House Writers Group.

Conservative Radio Host Laura Ingraham: “Dept. of Who cares? What’s on Michelle Obama’s playlist?” Ingraham was reacting to this feature in People mag.

Speaking of FLOTUS…

“Last week, we picked Napa cabbage in the garden. Now, we’re using it to make kimchi in the kitchen. Make it at home.” — First Lady Michelle Obama.

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Journo experiences random act of kindness

“Mom with crying baby on plane just passed out earplugs to all sitting near them. Nice.” — Yahoo! News’ Chris Moody en route to Orlando.

D. Shuster lobs insult at Bret Baier

“Uneven, often silly moderating by @bret_Baier. ie: ‘How are you going to fix the problem? You have 30 seconds to answer.’” — Current TV’s David Shuster.

Newt refrains from attacking Wallace

“Someone gave Newt his happy pills today. He is smiling and not attacking the moderators.” — Politico‘s Ben White.

Baier suffers sudden liberal columnist amnesia

“Apparently there’s a ‘liberal columnist’ protection program, or Bret Baier didn’t know the guy’s name. #gopdebate” — WaPo‘s Ed O’Keefe. Slate‘s John Dickerson comes through. It’s Richard Cohen.

The Comedians

“Bachmann is going to put her foster children on the border to secure it.” – Slate‘s Dickerson.

“What about word scrambles? That would keep us thinking.” — GOP media consultant Ron Bonjean mocking the packs of words Baier kept flashing on screen to show which issues stood out most.

“Bachmann is giving Wallace Newsweek eyes.” — The New Yorker‘s Ryan Lizza.

A Quick Convo Between Two Journos

Today’s conversation is between The Weekly Standard’s John McCormack and Slate’s Dave Weigel.

McCormack: Glad to see media have decided takeaway of this debate will again be reaction of 7 loutish audience members. Weigel: John We haven’t decided yet. The meeting is at 11:05, at Greg’s house. (As in WaPo‘s Plumline writer Greg Sargent.) McCormack: @daveweigel Can I come? Promise not to record meeting and give tapes to Daily Caller. #crossmyheart

More random debate reaction….

“OH MY GOD THERE’S ANOTHER HOUR?” — Vanity Fair blogger Juli Weiner.

“Perry’s upper lip visibly sweaty.” — HuffPost‘s Jon Ward.

“Twitter is moving too fast” — Politico‘s Maggie Haberman.

“Jon Huntsman re-cycles the same hideous yellow necktie. Probably can’t afford another after WEAVER thievery” — GOP Consultant Roger Stone.

“Wallace has a little GTL going on.” — The Blaze‘s Eddie Scarry with a “Jersey Shore” reference.

Big John’s Red Lobster prowess

“Ate 4 cheesey biscuits, a ceasar salad, fries, 48 skrimps and drank 2 ice cold buds at Red Lobster. Bold flavor city, you guys.” — Roll Call‘s John Stanton. (Not a debate reference but we still thought it worthy of mentioning.)

McRib chatter heard at debate

“Watching internet stream of GOP debate, during commercial break producers seem to be talking about the McRib.” — ThinkProgress Liberal blogger Matt Yglesias. Politico‘s Sara Libby confirmed this fact.

The debate bell…

“By the way, everyone likes the new sound, far more pleasing instead of the bell? I guess they do.” — FNC’s Baier. But not so fast…“I keep thinking I’m getting messaged on Gchat. This is sooo confusing. #DebateTheFix.” — WaPo‘s Aaron Blake.

Gary Johnson Fan Club

“Gary Johnson, this is your mother f—ing moment!” — HuffPost‘s Sam Stein.

“Did Gary Johnson Star in Napoleon Dynomite?” — Mother Jones‘ David Corn.

“I would love to have Gary Johnson fix stuff in my home.” — Politico‘s Ben Smith.

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“How is this c–t on MSNBC saying Obama created jobs!? I’m stunned at this sh-t ass f–k d–k ‘news’ channel.” — Anthony Cumia from the “Opie and Anthony” radio show in a startling tweet last night that contained no dashes. Rachel Maddow was leading the network’s post-debate coverage.

Promises, promises

“Hey Patrick Gavin, we’ll get you in on that next debate. Forget Harris.” — MSNBC “Morning Joe” Co-host Willie Geist joking around with Politico‘s Patrick Gavin in this morning’s post debate analysis referring to Editor-in-Chief John Harris, who co-moderated the debate with NBC News anchor Brian Williams.

The media peanut gallery

“What makes this MSNBC operation so much better than its competitors, I am now seeing, is how its panelists amuse & bemuse each other so.” — BigGovernment’s Andrew Breitbart.

“Why not at least have Joe Scarborough, Jonathan Martin, Pat Buchanan, & Luke Russert doing this?” — The Daily Caller‘s media scribe Matt Lewis.

“Changing the channel now. This analysis is disgusting and sick.” — The Daily Caller‘s Matthew Boyle who was presumably watching MSNBC’s post debate analysis.

FNC’s Henry under the influence of MSNBC’s Matthews

“ANYONE SEEN MY ‘A’ SECTION OF NYTIMES?? IT HAS YELLOW HIGHLIGHTER ALL OVER IT #chrismatthewstweets” — FNC’s Ed Henry mimicking what he imagines is MSNBC “Hardball” Host Chris Matthews‘ Twitter personality. Matthews showed up on Twitter last night some months after writing just one tweet on his account.  Henry continued, “GEEZ SANTORUM IS ALMOST AS ORANGE AS BRIAN W! #chrismatthewstweets”

Travel writer gets poetic about the rain

“The rain is amazing. It falls and falls and falls, days now, and it’s warm and people huddle and duck and splash and I like it.” — Carl Hoffman, contributing editor to National Geographic Traveler.

Capehart is all over Calista’s frightening hairdo

“Calista Gingrich’s hair. So blond. So sturdy. Discuss. It’s all about the spray baby!!” — WaPo‘s Jonathan Capehart on Newt Gingrich‘s wife’s blond helmet of hair as reported on Twitter by MSNBC Political Analyst Karen Finney, who added that she “merely pointed out the role of hairpspray.”

Is this a healthy obsession?

“So I’ll give a gift to any friend at NBC News who can get me a cut of your election music. I’m, like, that obsessed with it.” — NJ‘s Marc Ambinder.

Mid-debate weather report

“Meanwhile, the lightning in DC is so intense it’s like flashes of daylight out my window.” – Roll Call‘s Meredith Shiner.

Where was Howie?

“Find it interesting that @HowardKurtz didn’t live Tweet tonight’s #gopdebate. Perhaps, he wants to avoid a Tweet he will later regret?” — Claritza Jimenez, a Washington, D.C. – based program officer at the International Center for Journalists, on  the lack of The Daily Beast‘s Washington Bureau Chief Howard Kurtz in last night’s discussion. Don’t fret Claritza. If his WeingerGate coverage is any indication, he’ll weigh in about five days from now.

TV scribe loses cable post debate

“My cable went out just as the debate ended. Must live without post-game analysis, somehow.” — ABC’s Rick Klein.

We have a comedian in the house…“Overall I think Tim Pawlenty did great tonight.” — The Daily Caller‘s Senior Editor Jamie Weinstein.

A FishbowlDC Twitter follower told us last night..“I get sick to my stomach each time I see Herman Cain. Nothing personal on Cain, but a bad experience at Godfather’s. Original crust w/pepperoni, mushrooms, and green peppers. The mushrooms weren’t quite right.”

Debate letdown

“Well that was….dull.” — The Hill‘s Daniel Strauss.

Male bronzer alert

“Huntsman bathed in Clinique Bronzer for Men.” — GOP Consultant Roger Stone remarking on Gov. John Huntsman‘s appearance in the GOP debate last night.

Now for some important news completely unrelated to the debate: “Got an e-mail asking if a portrait in some gallery titled ‘pretty boy’ is me. hhhhmmmm… don’t know whether to be flattered or concerned?” — ABC7′s Stephen Tschida.

And this…“Press release informs me that someone has launched a line of socks designed especially for greyhounds.” — WCP‘s Managing Editor Mike Madden.

More weather woes…

“Argh. Power lines near my apartment building have survived blizzards, earthquakes and hurricanes, but not today’s thunderstorms.” — AP‘s Julie Pace.

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Characters from the book who showed up to the festivities included Democratic political strategist and former campaign aide to Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) David “Mudcat” Saunders, Vanity Fair’s Christopher Hitchens and GOP consultant Roger Stone, who famously taught Labash how to properly tie a tie (he claims Labash still needs help). Stone (in photograph above with Labash) explained that he was leaving later to catch a train to Manhattan – his policy is to never stay overnight in D.C. as the town is too awful a place to remain too long. “I hate it,” he said. “People are phony.” (Stone splits his time between New York City and Miami.)

Soon the party turned into a roast.

“Nice house, not waspy enough,” Stone cracked. “I appreciate the enormous role I have played in making Matt Labash.” Stone joked that people always ask of Labash: ‘What’s with all the Hitler memorabilia?’

Saunders, to whom Labash devoted an entire chapter, said the author was much more than a writer but a life confidant whom he still phones for advice. “He knows enough about me to get me arrested,” he said. Initially, Saunders said, he feared a story about him appearing in The Weekly Standard: “I’m a Democrat. The Weekly Standard ain’t a damn Democrat publication.”

The party was the scene of scenes for D.C. journalists. Faces in the crowd included conservative radio personality Laura Ingraham, The Weekly Standard’s Stephen Hayes and Andy Ferguson, Politico’s Anne Schroeder Mullins, Patrick Gavin, Kiki Ryan, Michael Calderone and Pia Catton. Politico’s Jonathan Martin and NBC “Meet the Press” Executive Producer Betsy Fischer arrived simultaneously. The Daily Caller was represented well with opinion editor Moira Bagley, publisher Neil Patel, V.P. of sales Alex Treadway and congressional reporter Gautham Nagesh as well as Sean “Jim Treacher” Medlock on crutches. Others in attendance: The Hill’s A.B. Stoddard, the New York Post’s Charlie Hurt, Reason’s Michael Moynihan, Edelman’s Exec. V.P. Tony Blankley, National Review’s Jonah Goldberg, D.C. media consultant David Bass, former Time scribe Tim Burger and Slate’s Editor David Plotz. The Atlantic’s Josh Green was there and spoke of the story he has been living as of late – that of Rep. Eric Massa (D-N.Y.) and the old Navy buddies who told him, among other sordid details, about the ex-congressman’s infamous Massa massage and now compelling “snorkeling”. Green joked, “I feel dirty talking about it.” More seriously, he called Massa the “Andy Dick of Congress.”

Lightening struck when former D.C. Mayor Marion Barry arrived. Late and decked out in a suit and cherry-colored tie, Barry stole the show. And for a good while, it was all guests could do but stare and snap cell phone pictures.

“It took me an hour to find this place,” Barry told the awed crowd, explaining his tardiness. “I wandered here and there and everywhere.”

Initially Labash had no idea that Barry that arrived. “No, no, I don’t publicly speak!” the author was imploring guests, unaware that his most striking character was about to weigh in.

Carlson explained to guests that The Weekly Standard Editor Bill Kristol was sorry he couldn’t attend – he was in Manhattan hanging out with former N.Y. Gov. Eliot Spitzer and Massa (everyone laughed). Carlson read a note from Kristol that said, in part, “When we hired Labash, we had hoped he’d become a star – we’re still hoping.”

Carlson, who wrote the introduction to Labash’s book, had solemn praise for Labash with a twist. “Matt doesn’t simply write about people,” said Carlson. “He takes them as lifelong friends – almost in a proctological way.” He said when subjects first read the stories Labash has written about them their first response is “horror.”

Then they realize that what Labash has written is true, that the author has maybe captured them more deeply than anyone ever has.

More party pictures after the jump…

continued…

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We’ve got your morning mix of media Muesli after the jump…

continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

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