Mayor Emanuel praises new job, cracks jokes in ‘GMA’ interview

LYNN SWEET blogs.suntimes.com/sweet Jun 2, 2011 02:11AM

Mayor Rahm Emanuel

Mayor Rahm Emanuel — in office since May 16 — did not slam shut the door on a 2016 White House run during an interview for ABC’s “Good Morning America” with his longtime friend George Stephanopoulos.

But he did rave about his current job, wisecracking: “It is the greatest — I joked — I said to [White House Chief of Staff] Bill Daley the other day, if I had known this was this great, I would have primaried Richie four years ago.”

At the end of the interview, Stephanopoulos said: “you know, if you do a good job here, a lot of Democrats are going to be talking about you to run for president in 2016.”

Said Emanuel, “I got a job to do here and that’s all I’m focused on.”

The interview was taped Tuesday in Emanuel’s City Hall office and broadcast on Wednesday.

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Brzezinski cracks jokes, but Biden gets serious

 

In a room full of Washington’s elite, MSNBC anchor Mika Brzezinski felt right at home.

“There’s so many big egos in the room. I feel comfortable,” she joked Tuesday at the Washington Ritz-Carlton Hotel, where she and her colleague,?Joe Scarborough, emceed the annual Atlantic Council Awards Dinner.

Sen. Chuck Hagel, who also attended, thanked the "Morning Joe" co-hosts for participating in the night’s event. "It was a sacrifice for them to come," he began."They gave up their bowling league night," Hagel said to laughter from the audience of Atlantic Council members and honorees. He poked fun of Vice President?Biden, who delivered the keynote address. "The only thing I don't like about Biden is that his speeches are too short," Hagel said about his former senate colleague.

Biden?was uncharacteristically restrained during his remarks, perhaps responding to the news of the week. He commented on the importance of NATO, the United States' relationship with the European Union and, of course, the killing of Osama bin Laden.

"There was one clear message that went out to the world: There’s no place to hide,” he said. He also praised the Navy SEAL team that executed the mission. "I was in absolute awe…It was actually breathtaking."

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell and television host Charlie Rose also attended. The event marked the Atlantic Council’s 50th anniversary.

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Johnny Depp Cracks Drug Jokes as Penélope Cruz Gets Starred

She may be in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides this summer, but Penelope Cruz is on familiar ground today.

The Oscar winner was feted this morning with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame—the 2,436th to be exact—in a ceremony attended by costar Johnny Depp, husband Javier Bardem and Pirates helmer Rob Marshall.

"A relatively long time ago, we did Blow together," Johnny joked, referring to their 2001 drug drama, before lavishing praise on the 36-year-old Spanish actress.

What good's a pirate's life if you can't enjoy a little ribaldry now and then?

Watch the new Pirates of the Caribbean trailer!

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