Next on Obama's Dance Card, Mother Nature

Question No. 63 asks that applicants "please provide any other information . . . that could . . . be a possible source of embarrassment to you, your family, or the President-Elect."

For a while yesterday, Obama's immensely talented chief speechwriter, 27-year-old Jon Favreau, may have been pondering how to address that question.

That's when some interesting photos of a recent party he attended -- including one where he's dancing with a life-size cardboard cutout of Secretary of State-designate Hillary Rodham Clinton, and another where he's placed his hand on the cardboard former first lady's chest while a friend is offering her lips a beer -- popped up on Facebook for about two hours.

The photos, posted by one of his contacts, quickly disappeared -- along with all the photos Favreau had of himself on the popular social networking site, save for one profile head shot. Asked about the photos, Favreau, who was recently appointed director of speechwriting for the White House, declined to comment.

A transition official said that Favreau had "reached out to Senator Clinton to offer an apology."

"Senator Clinton is pleased to learn of Jon's obvious interest in the State Department, and is currently reviewing his application," said Philippe Reines, Clinton's senior adviser.

Better Briefed Than Bush?

Obama apparently is absorbing more intelligence than President Bush. Before even being sworn in, Obama has been receiving top-secret intelligence briefings every day of the week, exceeding the six-days-a-week routine of Bush, according to Director of National Intelligence Michael McConnell.

"I don't know if there's a little competition there or not . . . but it's seven days a week," McConnell joked at an appearance Tuesday at Harvard University.

McConnell gave Obama his first full-blown briefing on Nov. 6, two days after the election, and other top intelligence officials have been giving the president-elect daily updates in Chicago. The briefings last 30 minutes to an hour, McConnell said.

"It's quite a thrill," McConnell said. "The subjects are absolutely incredible. The speed with which these two particular gentlemen [Bush and Obama] absorb information and move on is astounding."

So what a minute. Obama, who isn't president and can't take action on the intel, gets more briefings than Bush?

Money Man Hedges His Bets

Microsoft founder Bill Gates, in Washington this week making the rounds on Capitol Hill and with Obama transition officials to press his foundation's agenda on education and global health, said he is keeping an open mind about helping the new administration.

Asked yesterday whether he would consider serving, Gates left the door open. "Certainly my full-time job is being chairman of the foundation," he said. "If there was some committee or pretty focused task where I could contribute, I'd be glad to consider that."

He'd probably demand at least a GS-15 salary.

Congratulate My Wife, Please

Former president Bill Clinton has not, despite some Obamians' fondest wishes, receded from the scene. And on Tuesday, the day after Obama formally picked Hillary Clinton as his nominee to be secretary of state, he e-mailed her campaign workers: "Her experience and judgment will help President Obama restore America's reputation in the world and make our nation more secure." So "take a moment and celebrate this wonderful news by sending Hillary a message of congratulations." Clinton was in Hong Kong doing a fundraiser for the Clinton Global Initiative.

"This nomination would not have been possible without the hard work of everyone like you who has supported Hillary throughout the years," the former president said. "I know I speak for her when I say thank you for everything you have done for her."

Wait a minute! Wasn't the deal precisely that he was not going to say he's speaking for her?

With Philip Rucker