From USA TODAY‘s Jackie Kucinich, who writes, “Good to know…”

Travel Taunting: “Shockingly large number of air travel rookies today. Guy from Bloomberg: ‘Do I have to take my laptop out?’” — National Review‘s Jonah Goldberg. Wino Watch: “Dulles bar near gate to Tampa uncorking vino already. Here comes the press!” — Washington Examiner “Washington Secrets” writer Paul Bedard.

Ana off the wagon?

“@ananavarro: In my mathematic formula: Should always pack more shoes than days for a convention. Same holds for bottles of wine.”#approve — The Guardian‘s Ana Marie Cox. Ana Navarro is a Republican pundit for CNN.

Deep Travel Thoughts: “Try to not point out flaws in stupid shit on airplanes right after boarding if you want your flight to take off on time. Or at all.” — House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa‘s (R-Calif.) Press Sec. Becca Glover Watkins. And from Sen. Orrin Hatch‘s (R-Utah) Comm Dir. and Senior Advisor Antonia Ferrier: “Airports on little sleep is a bad idea.”

“A quad of talent in Tampa.” — NBC Audio OP Steve Mitnick. The photograph includes NBC Correspondents Chuck Todd, Kelly O’Donnell, NBC News Senate Producer Libby Leist and NBC Producer Doug Adams.

Tampa Hair and the fight against humidity

“Getting hair and makeup done for @CNN with @crowleyCNN in an hour. Artists putting up a valiant fight against humidity.” — WaPo‘s Karen Tumulty.

“Uh oh forgot my flat iron. There is going to be some serious crazy Zito hair going on in Tampa.” — Pittsburgh Tribune-Review‘s Salena Zito.

Speaking of a good blowdry…

“I can probably put down blowdrying rain-soaked shoes as one of the few things I will not miss about living in this city.” — Former TWT White House reporter Kara Rowland, a gradate student at the London School of Economics.

What could possibly go wrong? “Renting a car for the next two weeks. Haven’t driven in something like 3 years.” — Ashley McCollum, press manager for BuzzFeed.

Tampa-wear: What should she wear?

“Packing for Tampa. Help me out, tweeps: What does one wear to a hurricane?” — BuzzFeed‘s newest scribe Rebecca Berg.

From L to R: Benjy Sarlin, Sara Libby and Evan McMorris-Santoro. “Good morning Team @TPM! #travel buddies.” — Roll Call’s Meredith Shiner.

Hurricane Watch: “Hurricane, meet Hurricane. Speaker Newt ‘I will be the nominee” Gingrich on my plane to Tampa.’” — The Hill‘s Managing Editor Bob Cusack.

Poor Howie! Alone with a bagel.

“The sad sight of Howard Kurtz eating a bagel alone in a Holiday Inn at 7am.” — The Guardian‘s Richard Adams. Meanwhile, Howiella is en route to Tampa. “On a flight to Tampa with @BobCusack and @thehill Editor-in-Chief Hugo Gurdon.#partytime” — The Hill‘s gossip scribe Judy Kurtz (a.k.a. Howiella, Howlma, Howeesha, etc..)

Huh, really?  

“If you are a political reporter, Tampa is the place to be this week. #protip” — Newsweek‘s Eli Lake.

Corn lost, pissed without MSNBC

“And this damn hotel doesn’t have MSNBC. Just Fox and CNN. Figures. We’re blowing the joint this AM.” — Mother Jones D.C. Bureau Chief and MSNBC Contributor David Corn.

WORLDS COLLIDE

“Sitting next to @BretBaier on flight to Tampa. A very nice guy. By the way, live @CNNSitRoom 6PM ET today. He’s not live today.” — CNN’s Wolf Blitzer.

Hallelujah! TBD Twitter account officially sinks. Who cares that it happened two weeks after its death?

Radio host is all ears

“I talk on the radio but most impt thing I do is listen, esp on matters of Race. And if you listen carefully you even hear what’s left unsaid.” — NPR’s Michele Norris.

The admission: “Going on CNN’s ‘Reliable Sources with Howard Kurtz’ this morning to say regrettable things I will certainly try to weasel out of.” — Politico‘s Roger Simon.

Journo needs The Weather Channel

“Seems to be getting windy in Tampa this morning. What’s that about?” — CNBC and NYT‘s John Harwood.

A new airport game: Spot the Reporter

“ON WAY TO TAMPA: 20-something girls near me in airport were briefly playing ‘spot the reporter.’ Guess lack of ‘press’ hat disguised me?” — CNN’s Lisa Desjardins.

Peter Ogburn contributed to this report.

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It’s interesting to note that Hoskinson is the third Morning Defense writer to leave in less than two years. And the seventh national security or foreign affairs writer to leave since Politico began five years ago. He’s the fourth Politico reporter to bolt so far this year. Sarah Libby, Bill Hamilton, Karen Tanabe, and now Hoskinson have all left in 2012. (We’re not even counting Ben Smith and Marin Cogan, who left late December of last year.)

We have reached out to Politico’s Editor-in-Chief, John Harris, for a comment.

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