Homeland Security Chief Has Another Curious Encounter With the Media

Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine:

On a Roll

There has been another apparent public relations mishap by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. Today she tried to recover from an earlier statement that the 9/11 attackers came over the Canadian border, which she now calls a mistake. But she may have ruffled more feathers when she said: "There are very real differences between what Canada allows in their country and who is allowed in the United States."

She acknowledged that the Canadian media, "...were not happy with me." That was made evident by a Canadian newspaper editorial titled, "The Border for Dummies." The National Post asked: "Can someone please tell us how ... Napolitano got her job? She appears to be about as knowledgeable about border issues as a late-night radio call-in yahoo."

She was also asked today about Republicans who say her apology to veterans for a report saying they were vulnerable to recruitment for domestic terrorism was not sufficient. She responded, "That's what they're going to get."

Wind Beneath My Wings

To mark Earth Day, President Obama traveled to Iowa Wednesday to visit a plant that manufactures the towers for wind turbines. Mr. Obama touted the need for energy independence and warned, "All of us will have to use energy more wisely."

But a reporter with CBS calculated that the president's flights on Air Force One and Marine One consumed at least 9,116 gallons of fuel, which he could have been saved by giving his Earth Day speech at the White House. Of course, there aren't any wind turbines at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Facing the Nation

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has chosen a striking roster of candidates to give his party new faces for the European Parliament elections in June. And those new faces he chose also happen to be quite beautiful.

Among those picked to become politicians: two actresses, a former "Big Brother" reality-show competitor, and a Miss Italy contestant. Although none has any known political experience, the London Times reports the ladies were given a crash course in European history and current affairs.

The paper reports that at least one of the ladies has been photographed hand-in-hand with Berlusconi and sitting on his knee. At the time, the Prime Minister insisted he was being hospitable.

A Taste of America

And finally, Jordan's King Abdullah II visited the U.S. this week to meet with President Obama and Vice President Biden at the White House. And a local newspaper reports the king also stopped for lunch in Wilmington, Delaware. He and his entourage blew in on motorcycles and went to T.G.I. Friday's. Restaurant manager Charles Trott said of the unexpected customer to the Delaware News Journal: "I was like blown away, because who comes to T.G.I. Friday's? Not putting us down, but, I mean, a king? That was a 'wow' feeling... We have NASCAR drivers come in but not anyone like that."

— FOX News Channel's Lanna Britt contributed to this report.