The network stars were gone, the seats half empty and the questioning low-key as Dana Perino held a White House briefing last week, her biggest announcement that the administration would try to ease air traffic for the holidays.

The network stars were gone, the seats half empty and the questioning low-key as Dana Perino held a White House briefing last week, her biggest announcement that the administration would try to ease air traffic for the holidays.

The ominous warnings have been emanating from right-wing world: The Democrats are planning to muzzle them.

Ladies and gentlemen, we have our first full-fledged ideological battle of the fledgling Obama administration.

Barack Obama can't complain.

It's a reaching-out ritual, though I can't recall it happening this soon after an election, and it shows that Barack Obama understands the politics of symbolism.

Perhaps it was the announcement that NBC News is coming out with a DVD titled "Yes We Can: The Barack Obama Story." Or that ABC and USA Today are rushing out a book on the election. Or that HBO has snapped up a documentary on Obama's campaign.

Perhaps it was the announcement that NBC News is coming out with a DVD titled "Yes We Can: The Barack Obama Story." Or that ABC and USA Today are rushing out a book on the election. Or that HBO has snapped up a documentary on Obama's campaign.

This can't be just another trial balloon.

Sarah Palin is fighting back against the "jerks."