Desiree Rogers mum on new book on early days in Obama White House

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Desiree Rogers

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Updated: February 12, 2012 8:17AM

Desiree’s desire ...

Dingalings & earrings: President Barack Obama and his White House minions may be pooh poohing New York Times reporter Jodi Kantor’s glitz & glam book The Obamas — but ousted former White House Social Secretary Desiree Rogers is zipping her lip.

◆ The upshot: “Unfortunately, Desiree is not commenting on the book,” said Crystal Howard, a spokeswoman for Johnson Publishing Company — where Rogers is CEO.

◆ The buckshot: The book, which details life in the early days of the Obama White House, contends Desiree “hurt her own cause considerably” when she appeared on the cover of the Wall Street Journal magazine wearing earrings which reportedly cost $110,000.

◆ The bigger buckshot: The book’s disclosure of the controversial 2009 White House Halloween party attended by costumed actor Johnny Depp, director Tim Burton and Chewbacca from “Star Wars” — which also featured “vials of blood” containing fruit juice — was also organized by Rogers.

◆ The flipside: Kantor also claims the change in Rogers’ status wasn’t entirely about her. First lady Michelle Obama had also changed.

Palin file ...

The mad cad: Bristol Palin, who is back home in Alaska, is still having trouble getting child support payments from ex-beau Levi Johnston.

The Daley dynasty ...

Sneed is betting Bill Daley, who just resigned from life in the Washington cesspool, will eye a possible run for governor in Illinois in 2014.

◆ The flipside: “I doubt if it’s on his agenda right now,” said a Daley family source. “Bill would be 66 at the time of the election — and I don’t think he’d be happy doing it.”

◆ Back shot: Daley, who abruptly resigned as Obama’s White House chief of staff a few days ago, opted off the political fast track in Illinois twice after testing bids for a gubernatorial and U.S. Senate run in 2008 and 2009.

◆ Buckshot: It’s no secret top Dems feel populist Gov. Pat Quinn is an odd duck with a sorry approval rating. “It’s impossible to get anything done with him,” said a top Dem source. “He’s always getting sidetracked.”

The Daley dynasty II ...

Scratch scuttlebutt Norah Daley, daughter of Maggie and Rich, has the inside track on replacing her mom’s old buddy, Grace Barry, as executive director of the Economic Club of Chicago. “She’s applied, but hasn’t been interviewed yet,” said a top source. “She’s up against some tough company.”

Pizza & steak ...

Where’s Waldo? Former Republican rapscallion presidential candidate Herman Cain, the Godfather’s Pizza king (who is making a major announcement next week), is hitting the hustings in Florida for U.S. Senate candidate Craig Miller, the former Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse CEO, Thursday in Orlando.

Bare ’em ...

Say Whaaaaaaa: Sweater-vest wearing GOP presidential hopeful Rick Santorum is referring to his garb as his “Second Amendment vest: The right to bare arms.”

◆ The kicker: Donations of $100 or more to his campaign will net you one.

Sneedlings ...

Spotted: Quinn having breakfast with Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman at the Fairmont Hotel Saturday. Quinn noshed on oatmeal. Krugman opted for Raisin Bran. ... Congrats to Tony Bertuca, who retired this month after 35 years in the Chicago Police Department. His canine partner, Reno, a 10-year old German Shepherd, also retired. ... Today’s birthdays: Amanda Peet, 40; Mary J. Blige, 41, and Naomi Judd, 66.