the buzz log

As part of our continuing series, "A Searching Portrait: Barack Obama's 100 Days," here are the people, economic obsessions, and animated spats that dominated February 2009 searches. (Check here for January 2009)

Approval, threats, and cartoon protests
Days into the Obama administration, and political junkies already look for  "obama approval ratings." Pleased citizens craftily learn "how to make hope poster barack obama," but a disgruntled handful pursue "impeach obama" options. On Valentine's Day, a First Couple date at Table 52 heartens the romantics. The feel-good vibe, however, turns ugly with the controversy over the New York Post chimp cartoon, which bcomes the most-searched subject in February, after the stimulus package.

Obama gets set for his State of the Union address, but a looming oratorical threat comes in the form of Bobby Jindal...until the Louisiana governor gets a critical slapdown. Good thing for Jindal, some are distracted by "joe biden's forehead."

Come join the party...or not
The Indonesian "barack obama lookalike" delights a few before attention returns to more serious matters. Among the many staffers to come through the Search box, Tom Daschle falls by the wayside, but Pentecostal pastor Joshua Dubois secures a position with possibly the longest-titled department yet: the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships. After much wrangling, Tim Geithner makes his public debut as Treasury Secretary, but after hearing the speech, people would rather know... where's the dog?

Democrats (especially Dianne Feinstein) chide Obama about proper political protocol, and Leon Panetta gets sworn in as CIA director. Then, Senator Judd Gregg changes his mind about being Secretary of Commerce... Thank goodness for Hillary Clinton and her first Asia visit as secretary of state.

Stimulating news
At last a stimulus plan is unveiled, but be careful for what you wish. People try to sift through the package and magic "billion dollar stimulus grants." As one eye turns to a frenetic Dow Jones, the other is kept on "recovery.org" and details about the "first time homebuyer credit," "economic stimulus package tax rebates," "mortgage relief plan" and much more. Speaking of handouts, here comes the "gm bailout."

Check in for March and April concerns on mortgages, NCAA brackets, and overseas etiquette of bows and handshakes.