Today I drove for the Democratic Host Committee in Denver, picking up Dem staffers at the airport and delivering them to their hotel. Very interesting chatter amongst themselves as I was playing chauffeur.

The Host office and the staffers were all a-twitter about Obama's decision to accept the nomination at Invesco field. Tickets must be printed, seats must be assigned, transportation must be arranged, does this mean we can give out more tickets to our constituents? The news media, apparently, is furious at having to make arrangements for two locations. A single phone line, apparently, costs $800 to $2400.

He's a Weeble.  That's because "Weebles wobble but they don't fall down" and he basically wobbles around answers to issues.  I think his "refining" his stance on Iraq is more wobbling than anything else.  

And the cheeses!  Try the British version of mac and cheese for comfort food -- and you will never allow the term to be used again for that glow-in-the-dark orange stuff in a box perpetrated on the American people.  

BAGHDAD - Iraq's prime minister said Monday his country wants some type of timetable for a withdrawal of American troops included in the deal the two countries are negotiating.
...
He offered no details. But his national security adviser, Mouwaffak al-Rubaie, told The Associated Press that the government is proposing a timetable conditioned on the ability of Iraqi forces to provide security.
...
Al-Maliki said in a meeting with Arab diplomats in Abu Dhabi that his country also has proposed a short-term interim memorandum of agreement rather than the more formal status of forces agreement the two sides have been negotiating.
The memorandum "now on the table" includes a formula for the withdrawal of U.S. troops, he said.

"The goal is to end the presence (of foreign troops)," al-Maliki said. Link

Are you talking about yourself?  

But if you can get to Dublin to the Trinity College campus to see the Book of Kells . . . don't miss it.  (But if you see the Garda, another tip:  Do not, not, not try to take a picture.  Not fond of electronics, those guys.)

INGREDIENTS

    * 1 cup dry brown lentils
    * 1 cup diced carrots
    * 1 cup red onion, diced
    * 2 cloves garlic, minced
    * 1 bay leaf
    * 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
    * 2 tablespoons lemon juice
    * 1/2 cup diced celery
    * 1/4 cup chopped parsley
    * 1 teaspoon salt
    * 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
    * 1/4 cup olive oil

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DIRECTIONS

   1. In a saucepan combine lentils, carrots, onion, garlic, bay leaf, and thyme. Add enough water to cover by 1 inch. Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes or until lentils are tender but not mushy.
   2. Drain lentils and vegetables and remove bay leaf. Add olive oil, lemon juice, celery, parsley, salt and pepper. Toss to mix and serve at room temperature.

from:link

Our Correspondents Report:

Obama and McCain agree: Bleak financial forecast means highly successful and popular program must be heavily revamped!

Benefits to exceed payroll taxes by 2017! (But interest on trust fund keeps surplus going until 2025.)

Trust fund expected to be gone by 2042--in only 34 years! (Or maybe 2052, according to the CBO.)

Only 74% of benefits to be paid in 2040s under current forecasts!

Only 70% of benefits to be paid in 2080s!

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Of all the GOP frames that Obama has bought into, one of the most annoying is his trumpeting of the Social Security "crisis" and his criticism of other Democrats for not addressing this "crisis". The GOP has been trying for decades to dismantle Social Security, starting with convincing the public that the program is in trouble. When Obama agrees to these premises, it becomes established conventional wisdom that something must be done, and the GOP has its first victory in the battle.

During the first week of the war in Iraq, a Military Times photographer captured the arresting image of Army Spc. Joseph Patrick Dwyer as he raced through a battle zone clutching a tiny Iraqi boy named Ali.

[snip]

On June 28, Dwyer, 31, died of an accidental overdose in his home in Pinehurst, N.C., after years of struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder. During that time, his marriage fell apart as he spiraled into substance abuse and depression. He found himself constantly struggling with the law, even as friends, Veterans Affairs personnel and the Army tried to help him.

That's the root of my problem.  I want to be FOR a candidate, but I can't muster up enough enthusiasm to be FOR Obama.  So being FOR McCain is just ridiculous for me.

I just love these little unity ambassadors.  Don't you?

Lots of little shops selling great Thai, Mediterrian and other ethnic foods too.  

Things were very different then, although the IRA was supposedly lobbing missiles into Heathrow before and after we landed.

(I wasn't worried for some odd reason.  Heh.)