Diane Sawyer Launches Softballs at 'Beleaguered' Obama

It's just too much to take any more from these people. It's funny, but I don't recall any TV news babbleheads fretting with consternation over George W. Bush being "beleaguered" and wringing their hands in sympathy. But for sheer over-the-top drivel, can you top this one?

What about the famous quote from another beleaguered President, Abraham Lincoln, who said he had been driven many times to his knees because his own wisdom and that around him “was insufficient for the day”?

Why of course, the first thing we think of when looking at the poor, beleaguered Obama is Abraham Lincoln, one of the towering figures of American history. Do you suppose during the Civil War Lincoln would have found time to go on ESPN to fill out brackets and then traipse around New York for fundraisers while sending troops into harm's way?

Naturally, Sawyer manages to work in some basketball, just to take off the edge from this beleaguered president.

DIANE SAWYER: Just a final question. How much do you think Kentucky will win by?

PRESIDENT OBAMA: (LAUGHS) Diane, I --

DIANE SAWYER: I mean, at this point, we're really just looking at --

PRESIDENT OBAMA: I mean I will make this point. You know, a lot of folks focused on the fact that I filled out my bracket. Obviously, I hadn't been spending that much time studying it since I don't have anybody in the Final Four. (LAUGHS) Congratulations to Kentucky.

Nauseating. Oh, so he didn't spend much time on his picks, huh? I recall reading how he "agonized" over them, and in fact a spokesman last year was quoted thusly:

Obama coolly made his picks on ESPN as if he might have just thought them up--as if college basketball really is second nature to him--but don't be fooled: the president agonized over his bracket beforehand, according to White House spokesman Tommy Vietor.

So now that he gets blown out of his bracket, he's claiming he didn't spend any time on them.

Sure.

Full transcript of this sickening twinkie-munch session here.

Washed-Up News Reader Upset Her Producers Can't Predict the Future

Poor Diane Sawyer. Paid millions to read the news to a dwindling audience and she feels out of place. It's just heartbreaking, isn't it?

Diane Sawyer has been berating her "ABC World News" producers for repeatedly sending her to the wrong continent for breaking news, a network source said.

The source told us, "Diane is off-the-charts mad. She feels that she's always poorly positioned. She was in China last week, while the news was in England with the royal engagement, and NBC's Brian Williams already had the Prince Charles interview.

"She was in New York Tuesday night when the news was in North Korea, so it would have been better for her to be in China this week.

"She was even throwing around that she was in Afghanistan when the Haiti quake happened. It's impossible to predict breaking news, but she sometimes feels she is in the wrong place at the wrong time, and is taking it out on her producers."

Dethroned Queen Pelosi to Discuss Devastation With Diane Sawyer

I'm almost tempted to watch what's sure to be a sobfest as hard-hitting journalist Diane Sawyer helps poor Nancy come to grips with the harsh reality she may soon have to fly coach.

Outgoing Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) will sit for an interview Wednesday with ABC News as House Democrats wait for a decision on her future in Congress.

The decimated Democratic caucus is “in a holding pattern,” one Democratic aide said Wednesday, hours after the party suffered a landslide loss of their House majority

Unlike Republicans, who are now jockeying for leadership posts in the 112th Congress, House Democrats are keeping their powder dry until they get a signal from Pelosi, who has given no indication of whether she intends to remain in the party leadership or stay in Congress at all.

Based on Tuesday night's ABC coverage, expect nothing less than a softball sympathy session.

Shortly after ABC News projected the Republican takeover of the House of Representative, co-anchors George Stephanopoulos and Diane Sawyer, plus Democratic contributor Donna Brazile, waxed effusive of Nancy Pelosi, the object of so many voters’ ire. “President Obama called her a rock, the rock for the White House,” Sawyer enthused.

Sawyer also twice admired how Pelosi once said she took the job “to be in the arena,” exclaiming: “She will not be a footnote in history, no matter what happens.” Stephanopoulos quickly agreed: “That is absolutely right.”

The least Pelosi could do after "leading" her party to a historical defeat is stand up and face the media rather than having a Twinkie-munch Sisters of Sob moment with someone so sympathetic.

Do These People Even Listen to Themselves?

Get these people a drool bucket. This slobbering is just out of control.

Though the room was filled with luminaries from around the world, most were star-struck to be in First Lady's company - even old friend Oprah Winfrey, her tablemate at the event.

"Seeing as how Michelle is the greatest First Lady we've ever known, not to take anything away from the other First Ladies, but I think its so fantastic that she's tonight's guest and leads the pack of influentials," Winfrey told the Daily News.

"I think that we see that Michelle is someone of multi-dimensions, and that you don't have to be just one thing, you can be many things," said Diane Sawyer. "In many ways were just getting to know all that she can and will do."

"She's very warm. She's very sane," said "The View" co-host Joy Behar. "She's not crazy like some people in politics."

"Michelle is incredible, I think she's amazing," said designer and Beatles scion Stella McCartney, who also made Time's list. "The half-American in me wants to dress her."

Out of control.

Hot Air links. Thanks!

Blago Really Is Crazy: He Considered Oprah For Senate Seat

I now agree with all the Democrats in Illinois. Rod Blagojevich is clearly insane. Although I will note she is a political heavyweight.

Illinois' beleaguered Gov. Rod Blagojevich said today that when he was deciding who would take President Obama's Senate seat he considered appointing talk show queen Oprah Winfrey.

Blagojevich made the revelation to Diane Sawyer this morning on "Good Morning America" on the day his impeachment trial begins. That trial is expected to toss him out of office.

The governor said that Oprah's name came up as a potential successor to Obama in the Senate. "She seemed to be someone who had helped Barack Obama in a significant way to become president," Blagojevich said. Blagojevich added that "she had a much broader bully pulpit than a lot of senators."

His consideration of Oprah was tempered, he suggested, by that fact that "she probably wouldn't take it, and then if you offered it to her, how would you do it in a way it wasn't a gimmick to embarass her."

Oprah had endorsed Obama's presidential bid and showcased his candidacy on her show.

Blago's impeachment trial begins today but he won't be showing up for that. He's going to milk his final week in office for all it's worth by making the gabfest rounds.

Blagojevich's appearance on "GMA" was part of the governor's media blitz on the day that his impeachment trial is to begin in Springfield, Ill. -- without him. Blagojevich has already conceded that he will probably be convicted of corruption charges, but is refusing to resign or to attend the trial to defend himself. Instead, he is scheduled to appear on "GMA," ABC's "The View," the "Today" show, and "Larry King Live."

On the other hand, he'll be the sanest person on The View.

Ho No! Spitzer's Girl to Blab With Diane Sawyer

Dig the photo. I'll hedge a guess and says that's the most amount of clothing Ashley's ever had on in front of a camera.

I wonder how much ABC is paying for this session?

The prostitute at the center of the salacious scandal that brought down former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer and generated national headlines is going to dish on her life as a pricey escort.

And the girl who rose to fame by taking it off for Spitzer she finally put some clothes on.

A photo released by ABC shows Ashley Dupre, dressed in a demure purple dress buttoned up to her neck with long, sheer sleeves, sitting next to Diane Sawyer, who interviewed her for "20/20."

Dupre reveals how an "upper middle-class, girl next door got into the profession and the psychological journey she continues to experience."

Heh. Psychological journey. Sure.

Meanwhile, Client No. 9, who probably could have been AG instead of some Clinton hack, continues to suffer the wrath.

PITY Eliot Spitzer. Not only is Ashley Dupre talking to Diane Sawyer on "20/20" Friday - including details of her paid liaisons with him while he was governor - but he still has to kowtow to his publicly humiliated wife, Silda. A spy at the cinema at Third Avenue and 86th Street said the couple walked into the 7 p.m. showing of "Quantum of Solace" the other day - but "the only seats they could find were in the front row." Eliot parked himself in the seat before Silda sent him to get popcorn and refreshments.