Grapevine: Obama birth certificate case finally closed?

AZ secretary of state says matter is resolved

And now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine...

Case Closed

Arizona's Secretary of State says the case is closed in the birth certificate kerfuffle stemming from his request that Hawaii provide additional verification President Obama was, in fact, born there.

As we have reported, Aloha State officials have repeatedly confirmed President Obama's birth in the state and last April the White House released his long-form birth certificate.

Today, Secretary of State Ken Bennett in Arizona, explained he only pursued the issue on behalf of constituent requests, adding -- quote -- "[Hawaiian officials] complied with the request and I consider the matter closed."

Bennett said Tuesday if his actions embarrassed the state of Arizona he was sorry.

Hard-Hitting

A pinata with South Carolina Republican Governor Nikki Haley's face on it was the guest of dishonor at a retirement dinner for the outgoing president of the state's AFLCIO union.

Here you can see Donna Dewitt repeatedly bashing the Haley effigy to the enthusiastic delight of her fellow progressives.

Dewitt says she has no regrets because it was all in good fun.

However, the Washington-based AFLCIO disagreed saying it was an inappropriate joke.

Governor Haley tweeted the video adding -- quote -- "Wow. I wonder if the unions think this kind of thing will make people take them seriously."

1915-2012

Finally, the man who made channel surfing possible died over the weekend at age 96.

Eugene Polley invented the wireless television remote control back in 1955.

Polley began his career with Zenith Electronics in the stockroom before rising through the engineering ranks.

Ten years ago, Polley proudly said his Flash-Matic remote was the next most important civilized invention after the flush toilet.