On The Money

Big Guy returned from his eight-day trip and was none too pleased with what he found here at the White House. Beer stains on the ceiling of the Oval, beer-bottle caps in the chandelier, and the remnants of a potted plant that appeared to have caught fire from someone trying to grill on the portico near the Rose Garden.

During the morning economic briefing, Big O challenged those in the room to come clean. Geithner stuck his hand up, only to claim that Toes had been the one responsible. This was entirely plausible since Rahm hadn't joined us in Europe until we it France, and he was pretty sketchy about what he'd been doing in DC while we were away. "TATUS, you're a [bleeping] snitch," Toes yelled. It goes without saying that Toes was working away with a bucket and sponge by the time that meeting was over.

But TATUS didn't escape Big Guy's ire. He hates a tattler. That 500-point loss the market took while we were overseas got Geithner a week without his car and driver. It's all about carrots and sticks with this administration.