Robert Gibbs, Press Secretary-Elect for President-Elect Barack Obama is in training to take over Dana Perino's perch in the ultimate game of Shoot the Messenger. According to the Washington Post's Voices blog he's boning up on policy and doing practice briefings with Anita Dunn who was a senior communications adviser on the campaign.

He's also taking a bit of advice from Perino and will shadow her for a couple of days during her remaining weeks in the job.

Plying the press corp with bit of booze with a splash of humility and humor at a Capital Hill bar isn't a bad way to start:

Lots of congressional and political aides (and reporters) showed up to "suck up" to Gibbs per the invitation's request. "Jim Jordan and the DSCC Class of 2002 Wish to Honor Robert and Mary Catherine Gibbs with Drinks, Laughs, some Humiliating Deference, Respect and Sucking Up," read the invitation.

Bill Burton is set to be Gibb's Deputy, filling Tony Fratto's position.