We’ve got a packed Mediaite Office Hours today from Livestream.com’s studio at 3pmET. Joining us today will be CBS News’ Mark Knoller, New York Times‘ Brian Stelter and more:

Considering how many speeches President Obama has made in the last twelve months it’s hard to get too worked up about tonight’s State of the Union. Nevertheless, it’s technically Obama’s first, and filled with pomp and circumstance. Moreover, who knows what Joe Wilson may or may not holler? Some predictions.

The year 2009 had many media bright spots, break-out stars, dominating networks and game-changing technologies. The Mediaite 50 collects the finest, most exemplary innovators and influencers of the year, defining a media moment in time and setting the agenda as we move forward. See the full list after the jump:

Twas the crack of dawn before Christmas, and one hundred angry, vitriolic politicians have aroused themselves at the crack of dawn in order to vote on the health care reform bill that most of the nation may or may not understand, but are willing to fight about anyway! In a last minute Christmas spiritish move the Senate moved the vote from 8am to 7am in order to let everyone attempt to get home for Christmas. Here’s the view from Twitter thus far.

It’s time for a special edition of Mediaite Office Hours – our final show of 2009 – from Livestream.com’s studio at 3pmET. Joining us today will be Mark Knoller of CBS News, A.J. Daulerio of Deadspin.com and more:

The initial, general consensus seems to be that President Obama exceeded expectations and that his “sober” Nobel acceptance speech — – which required him to walk a very tricky tightrope — will please the conservatives as well as the liberals as much as any speech by the president can. That said, for a Peace Prize speech the president spoke an awful lot about war. In fact, he mentioned ‘war’ 44 times during the speech. He mentioned ‘peace’ 29 times.

Just this week the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA), which runs the White House pool has started letting Talking Points Memo, Salon, and the HuffPo in to share the pool duty. A number of establishment people are up in arms about “blurring the line between news and punditry even further.” Should we be worried the inmates are taking over the (clubby) asylum?

Today is the last day of Movember. That’s right, Movember. Don’t look for it on your caledar, mofo, unless you belong to some weird pagan sect that can’t spell. No, Movember is so named because it’s a MOVEment, about MOustaches. If you’ve noticed your gentlemen friends sprouting wantonly on their upper lips, well, that may [...]

President Obama did his inaugural turn at the turkey pardoning stand today and appeared to take it all in stride: “Is there an official gesture?” He asked, before sending Courage the Turkey on his happy way. The White House website also had some fun with the high noon turkey pardon.

Is it just that between Twitter and YouTube and livestreaming we are able to pay better attention to White House affairs such as last night’s state dinner, or is it just that the Obama’s are more fun to pay attention to? Because I for one can not remember so much attention being paid to a state dinner in the past. Short version: even if you weren’t there, it’s possible not to miss a thing.

Obama-mania meets Bollywood spectacle as the Washington press corps is going a little starstruck over Obama’s first State Dinner with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The Washington Post and Politico are devoting special sections on their websites to the event and CNN is already on the story. Several outlets are planning live video coverage of the dinner and receiving line.

Now that ‘President plays sexist golf’ meme has been so ably snatched up by the NYT, the WSJ is apparently attempting to turn President Obama’s fondness for golf into some sort of John Le Carre thriller.

How journalists approach Twitter, and whether they should (or even want to) is still a matter that’s up for debate in some circles (ahem, Washington Post!). But what’s becoming increasingly clear, is that when used correctly twittering can often add to the power (i.e. readership) of a journalist.

Meme alert! Barack Obama’s fondness for golf is not a secret. This past weekend, however, Obama’s favorite pastime got some extra, significantly placed, mentions. Get ready for the President’s golf game to take the cablers by storm. Let’s take a look at the signs.

It’s official: Chuck Todd’s goatee will remain intact. Todd had a running bet with ABC’s Jake Tapper that if the Phillies made it to the World Series, he would either shave off his goatee or donate $1000 to the charity of Tapper’s choice. After a tense standoff with a razor-wielding Press Secretary Gibbs on The Today Show, Todd went with charity, much to the disappointment of the Twitter community. Videos after the jump.

Was anyone not surprised to wake up this morning to news that President Obama had won the Nobel Peace Prize? Or wonder why exactly nine months into his presidency he’d been awarded it? The view from Twitter reveals a similar sense of amazement from media folk across the board. Also the growing sense that maybe Obama should consider turning the prize down. Take a look.

Muammar el-Qaddafi/Gadhafi/Gaddafi/Qadhafi addressed the UN today, and his speech was a doozy. And at 90 minutes long perhaps best viewed from Twitter, which courtesy of some well-established media types was distilled it down to its very best parts…with one or two embellishments. It makes for a great read.

President Obama is currently in Midtown — which according to a number of our readers is a madhouse at the moment — taping his David Letterman appearance to air tonight. CBS’s Mark Knoller is apparently in the audience and his tweets this hour are providing a nice preview of what’s to come tonight. Also: Spoiler Alert!

Considering President Obama is doing five Sunday shows this week, plus Letterman on Monday, it perhaps shouldn’t come as a surprise that the press appears to be ready to dust off and cart out the “Obama media saturation” meme. But will overexposure be to blame if Obama can’t change the health care debate this weekend?

Turns out when President Obama sends out his spokesperson to inform the Air Force One press pool that he wants them to relax and furthermore assures them that “nobody’s looking to make any news” what he actually means is that one day into his Martha’s Vineyard vacation he is going to hold a press conference to announce that he will be reappointing Republican Ben Bernanke as Fed chairman.

WaPo launched PotusTracker today, an interactive site which aims to provide “in-depth information and analysis on President Obama’s schedule — including, but not limited to: daily briefings, meetings, phone calls, news conferences, overseas trips, and recreation.” All the President that’s fit to interact with! Is it too much?