You know, there’s a time and a place for poll dancing. (At least that’s what I told myself in college. I would say I was young and needed the money, but I didn’t really need the money; I just wanted the experience.) When I launched this blog back in January to cover the elections, there were two things I was certain of: I would be rewarded handsomely, and Hillary would win.

That’s o-for-2. Not bad.

Even though Poll Dancing kept me up at night, it was my ticket to the Democratic convention, and it gave me something fun to do outside of normal business hours. But it’s not like you can make a real career out of Poll Dancing. At some point, you’ve got to get out.

Now that I’ve brought In the Pink to Texas Monthly, despite the management’s better judgment, I suppose it’s time to wrap up Election ‘08. That, and it’s December and we have a new president.

Thanks for reading. As for poll dancing, I’m a professional. Don’t try this at home.

From the committee’s database.

Jeanne Lambrew — an associate professor of public affairs at the LBJ School since 2007, when she was hired by dean (and deputy secretary of state presumptive) Jim Steinberg — will be the Deputy Director of the White House Office of Health Reform, working under Tom Daschle.

In an exclusive interview with Conde Nast’s Portfolio.com, David Plouffe, the mastermind behind Obama’s campaign, discusses the primaries, the general election, and how Hillary could have won if she had contested the caucus states.

WHAT?!

Portfolio: You’d obviously had the insight early on that caucuses were going to be extraordinarily important—how surprised were you that the Clinton campaign did not seem to appreciate that?

Well, we were surprised because at some point it became likely that it was going to be a battle that went on for some time, and delegates that are gained through a caucus are no different than through a primary—so every contest mattered. What was interesting was, if you look at the contest in February and March… our initial research showed us losing. Hillary Clinton was the established candidate, so we had to expand the electorate. It was made easier because they ceded the field to us for a long period of time.

I think if they had contested those caucus states, we might’ve won those caucus states but we wouldn’t have won them 55-35. The only way to rack up delegates is to win by a landslide. A close outcome yields an equal delegate count. So, it was those landslides, 60-40, 65-35, that gave us that delegate lead. We might’ve still won those caucuses, but I guarantee if they had contested them vigorously, our margins would’ve been shrunk. And that’s the tale of the campaign.

[via The Page]

According to a new NBC/WSJ poll, 79 percent of Americans say they’re not going to miss Bush when he leaves office. For comparison’s sake, 55 percent said the same of Clinton, and that’s after the whole Monica Lewinsky mess (literally).

Almost half of those polled think that Bush will go down as one of the worst presidents in this nation’s history. Only 18 percent said the same of Clinton. And only six percent said the same of Bush 41.

[First Read]

Nice court sketch, wise guy [via Ben Smith]. Who does the IL Governor think he is, Bobby Rydell? Volare!

It’s tradition that U.S. attorneys appointed by an outgoing president resign at the end of the administration. How much do you want to bet Barack Obama asks Patrick Fitzgerald to stay on through the trial of Governor Schmuckalovich? If only so no Republican can claim he hindered a prosecution in progress to protect his own hide?

The Menace from Ennis, along with Mike “Travis County is too part of my district” McCaul, has introduced a bill in the U.S. House that would force college football to adopt a playoff system. Force? How, exactly? Apparently it has something to do with unfair trade or deceptive practices, violations of which are the Fed’s purview.

Blagojevich’s profanity-laden recordings (which would make even Richard Nixon blush) obtained through federal wiretap, clearly show the governor trying to sell the Senate seat. “I’ve got this thing and it’s f—cking golden and uh, uh, I’m not just giving it up for f—ckin’ nothing.”

Read it here. If I get more than 10 hits on this story, I get my holiday bonus of three hershey kisses (to share with the rest of the editorial staff).

President-elect Obama said Wednesday through his press secretary that Gov. Rod Blagojevich should resign since “under the current circumstances it is difficult for the governor to effectively do his job and serve the people of Illinois.”

Oh, I don’t know. In Illinois, being locked up doesn’t necessarily preclude you from governing effectively. In fact, I’d argue just the opposite. In prison, Blagojevich wouldn’t be able to offer bribes for the Senate seat. He’d be too busy making new friends.

Gibbs added that Obama believes that state lawmakers should take control of appointing his successor.

[WashPost]

Update: The rumor is apparently false. Like that means anything.

So the rumor on Blagojevich’s arrest this morning is that the feds were tipped off by none other than incoming chief of staff Rahm Emanuel.

Well, son of a Blagojevich, I can’t believe I ever left the Windy City. It doesn’t get much better than Chicago politics.

Here endeth the lesson.

[Think Progress via Politico]

The FBI agent discusses Gov. Blagojevich’s early morning arrest.

UH-oh. Looks like IL Gov. Rod Blagojevich could end up being someone’s Blagojevich before he gets the chance to appoint Obama’s replacement. Both Blagojevich and his chief of staff John Harris were arrested today by FBI agents on federal corruption charges.

The Chicago Tribune broke the story, right on the heels of the Tribune Co. filing for bankruptcy. How’s that for suck?

The governor has been accused of a “wide-ranging criminal conspiracy,” which includes his efforts to SELL OR TRADE the vacant Senate seat in exchange for financial benefits for him and his wife. (He’s also been under investigation for some time now for allegedly obtaining campaign contributions in exchange for appointments and other official favors. But this one’s much juicier.)

Blagojevich was taken into federal custody by Eliot Ness at his home this morning.

[Chicago Tribune]

Former Comptroller John Sharp announced today that he will run for Kay Bailey Hutchison’s Senate seat in 2012, and plans to file papers Jan. 1 so he can start raising money.

Yeah. Good luck with that.

Sharp’s not the only Democrat jockeying to replace Kay. It’s been rumored that popular Houston Mayor Bill White could also enter the race. However, by announcing before anyone else, Sharp has effectively called “dibs” on the Senate so it is rightfully his. Republicans looking to be Big John’s little buddy include Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, former Secretary of State Roger Williams, Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams, Fort Worth Rep. Kay Granger, Texas Sen. Florence Shapiro, and Texas Rep. Will Hartnett, if he loses his bid for Speaker.

[DMN]

President-elect Barack Obama sat down yesterday with Tom Brokaw on Meet the Press for an exclusive interview, before Brokaw officially passes his hosting duties to David Gregory. I just don’t see it. Not only is David Gregory no Tim Russert, he’s no Tom Brokaw. I have a feeling that my boy George will totally skunk him with This Week. Unless Peggy Noonan continues to wear those unsightly colored leather jackets to the roundtable.

Here’s what Obama had to say about the economy, which obviously dominated the conversation due to the fact that, outside of the incoming Administration, no Americans have jobs anymore. I mean, just look at that Chicago factory sit-in. (Don’t think I’m above chaining myself to my desk at Texas Monthly.)

If you look at the unemployment numbers that came out yesterday, if you think about almost two million jobs lost so far, if you think about the fragility of the financial system and the fact that it is now a global financial system, what happens on Wall Street has an impact worldwide, when you think about the structural problems that we already had in the economy before the financial crisis, this is a big problem and it’s going to get worse.

Which brings us to the five words you never want to hear—”it’s going to get worse.” If I had a dollar for how many times I’ve been told this, I might not be sleeping in my car.

Obama also stressed that the Treasury can’t just keep printing money, and that soon, Monopoly money will be accepted along with cash, check, and credit at all your favorite stores.

[MTP full transcript]