CNN Starting point calls it “The Fifty Shades of Grey of political novels,” which is definitely a stretch as it lacks any graphic sex scenes whatsoever unless you count sizing up the candidate’s package as graphic. Still, Domestic Affairs, by Bridget Siegel, a political consultant who has worked on local, state and national campaigns, is hard to put down as FishbowlDC quickly learned after finishing it in a few days.

In Siegel’s 2012 book, which releases in paperback on May 14, she mentions journalists by name including HuffPost‘s Sam Stein, WaPo‘s Chris Cillizza,  then-Politico‘s Ben Smith and “Tara” from Page Six — i.e. Tara Palmeri, formerly of the Washington Examiner and currently of the New York Post. Also mentioned: Brianna, possibly CNN’s Brianna Keilar.

Smith wasn’t aware of his presence in the book. “I was not!” he wrote. “But glad my immortality is assured.” When told that he was mentioned in a semi-racy novel, Stein asked, “Did my story on Ms. Greenley make the front page of Huffpost?”

Sadly, no. Smith was identified as the reporter who broke the fictitious news of the novel’s main character, Olivia Greenley, going to work as Georgia Gov. and Presidential hopeful Landon Taylor. Interestingly, Greenley has an affair with the very married candidate, as does the star in ABC’s “Scandal” — also named Olivia as in Olivia Pope. Politico also gets a shout-out: “Sure, her mom didn’t know what Politico was, but her colleagues did. Ben Smith was reporting on her. Sam Stein and Chris Cillizza, too.”

Later in the book… Read more

Washington Examiner‘s Nikki Schwab is now on her third gossip partner in the two years since Tara Palmeri left for the New York Post. First there was Katy Adams. Next up: Jenny Rogers, formerly of TBD, who lasted a year. Now the Examiner has named a new co-columnist — it’s The Hill‘s Alicia Cohn, who contributed to that publication’s gossip column, “In the Know,” and managed content for the social media blog. We hear The Daily Caller‘s pretty aggressive Nick Ballasy was up for the job, but didn’t want to take orders from Schwab so he backed out.

It’s anyone’s guess what kind of co-columnist Cohn will be as her previous appeared in publications such as US WEEKLY and Human Events. She also interned for Christianity Today. She graduated from Wheaton College in Illinois, a Christian college where drinking, smoking, pornography and sex are taboo and where evolutionary biology is now accepted, but this wasn’t always true. Famous graduates include Billy Graham and former House Speaker Dennis Hastert. In 2003 the college eased its ban on dancing. They also let up on drinking and smoking for faculty and grad students only.

In an internal memo just out today, Editor Stephen Smith outlines three new reporters, including Cohn, and the promotion of another. Most of the new hires are recent grads whose experience consists of an array of internships. Read more

The New York Post‘s Tara Palmeri broke the news of the birth of the most famous cocktail weiner in America — that would be Jordan Zain Weiner, son of Huma Abedin and ex-Rep. Anthony Weiner. She tweeted the news at 12:30 a.m. this morning. Page Six was the first to report in the summer that the power couple was expecting a boy.

The cover is courtesy of the Newseum website.

Welcome to the Fishbowl Jordan!

Quotes of the Day

Media Perks in NH

“No keg stands at the beta house but there are free lobster rolls and top shelf liquor at Hanover inn for media. #wearetheonepercent” — The Weekly Standard‘s John McCormack.

Journo sees fancy cupcake discount as bad sign

“Proof the economy stinks. Georgetown Cupcake, normally ringed with cash-in-hand fans, just sent me a 20% off coupon.” — U.S. News & World Report‘s Washington Whispers Columnist Paul Bedard.

Rick Perry style child rearing

“Sometimes I get my kids to stop misbehaving by telling them the Rick Perry under their beds will execute them.” — WTBS Talk Show Host Conan O’Brien.

Reader calls BS

“So the story is he just didn’t like the job so he quit? I smell something that is very similar to bullshit.” — A reader reacts to a Tuesday FBDC post on Kevin Glass and the Washington Examiner amicably parting ways last week.

Spotted: NYP Page Six reporter Tara Palmeri in Dupont Circle Tuesday afternoon in a sleeveless black dress on her way to Chipotle.

MSNBC Ed Schultz‘s post debate nicknames for former House Speaker Newt Gingrich: “Dude” and “Newtster.” Schultz’s longtime nickname for FNC Fox & Friends Host Steve Doocy also emerged on his program last night in several instances. That would be”Steve Douchey.”

Oh my…

“Traumatized. Saw a doe or fawn get hit by a car at high speed tonight and go flying. I’m sick about it. #moms” — Poshbrood creator, publicist and travel writer Elizabeth Thorp.

TIPS FROM THE POOL…INTO THE DEEP END

“Mr. Morgan’s house is gianormous, with six white columns lit up at the front entrance and a spansive interior. Pool is holding in one of his garages waiting for POTUS’s remarks.” — An evening Pool Report from one of our favorite Pool writers, WSJ‘s Carol Lee from Lake Mary, Fla. A goof: “After an almost half hour motorcade ride to this Atlanta suburb in Seminole County.” She issued a new report five minutes later, saying, “We are obviously in the *Orlando* suburbs, not Atlanta.”

Post GOP debate question to ponder

“Do we really want another Texan (as Prez) who can’t speak English?” — The Nation‘s Katrina vanden Heuvel.

That Lizzy O’Leary is having a red hot few weeks. First she gets nominated for our Summer Superlative list in the “Sexiest” category. She didn’t win. But times are tough. We had ancient sex goddess Helen Thomas in contention, which pushed O’Leary down a few rungs.

But don’t hate the Bloomberg TV reporter for grabbing so much media attention for her looks. She was born that way. And today The New York Observer put her on their Media Power Bachelorettes list.

O’Leary isn’t the only Washingtonian to make the list. Alyssa Rosenberg, apparently known for having nerd crushes directed her way, is also on it. A Culture Blogger for ThinkProgress, she has contributed to Washingtonian, The Atlantic, and TNR. The Observer writes, “Despite the many times New York publications have tempted her, she has remained—to our loss—in that wretched pit of a town with all the national landmarks in it to the south.”

Gone but not forgotten, former Washington Examiner gossip scribe Tara Palmeri, now a Page 6 reporter for NYP, is also a Power Bachelorette. They say she has survived her first year on the job “alarmingly well.” They also mention her battle royale with Sean Penn.

Congratulations to all.

The mystery of the competing WHCD brunches continues.

Instead of attending the Allbritton brunch in Georgetown, NYP Page Six’s Tara Palmeri chose the McLaughlin/Thomson Reuters brunch at the Hay Adams, which we’re now learning had no Creative Coalition stars, and no stars for that matter unless you count actress Morgan Fairchild, who was also at Tammy Haddad‘s garden party Saturday, a huge draw. “More long time friends of John [McLaughlin] and a mix of Thomson Reuters folks,” said a source who was there. “Pretty much his traditional group.  He actually prefers catching up with old friends in a relaxed atmosphere.”

Faces in the crowd: Georgette Mosbacher , Ann and Lloyd Hand, Eleanor Clift, Wendy Diamond, Mary Amons with her dad,  Mark and Rose Barondess ( Former CNN host Larry King‘s former lawyer), and lefty radio host Bill Press.

L to R: Mark and Rose Barondess Wendy Diamond Mary Amons with her father.

In an odd turn of events, NYP‘s Page Six scribe Tara Palmeri missed the much talked about Allbritton brunch for the less exclusive John McLaughlin/Thomson Reuters brunch at the Hay Adams Hotel.

The Allbritton brunch was expected to turn out an A-List of celebrities while the McLaughlin/Thomson Reuters brunch typically turns up the same Creative Coalition cast of actors that many reporters have worn out by Sunday.

Palmeri stayed at the Hay Adams too late to make it over to the Allbritton’s Georgetown home. It’s unclear at this point whether the pub’s gossip pages will still somehow write on the brunch.

If Robert and Elena Allbritton are trying to keep gossip at bay from their private brunch today at their Georgetown home, they have a funny way of handling their media: Call Page Six.

That’s right. NYP‘s Page Six reporter Tara Palmeri (pictured here at the Washington Hilton during last night’s WHCD pre-parties) has been privy to details about the brunch and its guest list and learned fairly early on that she’d be attending. Palmeri attended the highly sought after invitation-only brunch last year when she worked for the Washington Examiner. She wasn’t invited, but went as The Daily Beast’s Lloyd Grove‘s plus one.

Meanwhile, we’re hearing more chatter that some Politico reporters feel slighted about not being invited to the Publisher’s home while stars and other colleagues, such as those with more perceived clout, get in. Even Politico reporters who have been invited have been hesitant to breathe a word about going. Like any special perk within a workplace, some don’t want to brag about it.

We look forward to seeing what Page Six does with the brunch.

There’s no debate that CNN’s “John King USA” had trouble finding its footing in the first year of production.  Anxious to blast the program, critics and bloggers hit “publish” on reviews even before King signed off his debut show in March of 2010. Bashed for being too straightforward in a sea of 7pm opinion journalism and then trashed for adding controversial contributors like Redstate.com’s Erik Erickson, it seemed King couldn’t catch a break.  Sure, ratings have been rocky but his magic wall, his wardrobe, even King’s all-American good looks have become targets of critical fodder.

And then there’s Tara Palmeri – the former CNN desk assistant turned gossip columnist who now grinds her axe with King on the pages of the News Corp-owned NY Post.  Palmeri, who in 2009 left her entry-level gig with the network, heads up efforts to humiliate CNN for Page Six.  Although she spent less than a year as a contract employee in the network’s DC bureau, Palmeri has managed to conjure up inside sources to fuel rumors of “John King USA’s” demise since July of last year.  This week (8 months later), she reported that network execs are searching for a minority host – comedian Chris Rock, the piece strangely suggests – to fill King’s 7pm hour.

But whether or not there’s any truth to the ever-churning rumor mill, King’s recent spike in ratings has surely caught the attention of CNN brass.  For the month of March, the program’s one-year anniversary, “John King USA” enjoyed its best numbers ever, topping MSNBC’s “Hardball” in both total viewers (850k vs. 722k) and in the key demo, adults ages 24-54 (315k vs. 207k).  Despite the catty gossip columns and broody blog posts, King’s viewership grew a whopping 132% in the demo (25-54) and 64% in total viewers vs. the same period one year ago.

A strong start to John’s King-size comeback, last month’s success seems to be carrying over into April.  For the first two weeks of this month, “JK USA” gave Chris Matthews a run for his money by winning the demo (211k to 176k) – a 92% increase in key audience compared to last year (110k) .  Only time will tell if CNN can hold on to its belated success in the 7 pm time slot but if you’re counting on Chris Rock to push King from his throne, brace yourself for a long and fruitful relationship with John’s magic wall.

QUOTES of the DAY

Palmeri breaks bread with Spitzer

“My night has been so random — first a dinner hosted by Eliot Spitzer, next Paris Hilton‘s bday party #pagesix.” — NYP and ex-Examiner scribe Tara Palmeri in a Thursday tweet.

A scribe boasts of 10,000th tweet

“Seems fitting that my 10,000th tweet had the word “Hitler” in it.” — TPM‘s Brian Beutler in a Thursday tweet.

Fake Jim lashes back against news of semi-secret newsroom

“@mollyesque @kasie @jeneps so they found the capitol hill bureau. bfd. They’ll never locate the Politicave #newscycleman.” — @FakeJimVandeHei in a Thursday tweet referencing the FBDC report of Politico‘s “clandestine” newsroom at 101 Constitution Ave.

Mediaite‘s Christopher embarrassed by commenters

“I am embarrassed by the comments on the Lara Logan story,” Mediaite‘s White House reporter Tommy Christopher in a tweet earlier in the week. He also wrote, “I’m not handling moderation on that post. I stopped reading at the first page.”

Journo enjoys premature spring weather

“The guy blasting Bob Marley and playing a bongo drum in Dupont Circle has the right idea. Delusions of spring.” — RealClearPolitics’ Scott Conroy in a Thursday tweet.

Necessary Tweet of the Day

“I’m kind of thinking maybe we need legislation to ban the all-caps key.” — Metro Weekly Co-Publisher Sean Bugg in a Thursday tweet. This is a shocking FishbowlDC first for Bugg, who typically occupies the slot of “Unnecessary Tweet of the Day.”

I’m a writer Goddammit

“Almost exactly five years ago, amidst the NYC transit workers strike I wrote this essay about #solidarity.” — The Nation‘s Chris Hayes in a Thursday tweet. He links to this piece he wrote for In These Times Magazine.

Unnecessary Tweet of the Day

“Fact: on a 3-plus hour drive from DC to Newport News, you can hear ‘No Hands’ 5 times.” — Wired‘s Spencer Ackerman in a Thursday tweet.