Utterly Bad, Good ‘n’ Ugly – Eastwood Makes Obama’s Day

This Labor Day, the humidity in Washington was so intense, when I woke up this morning, all the windows were dripping with condensation on the outside.  That’s because I had the air conditioning on the inside at a pleasant seventy-two degrees all night.  We are expecting the remnants of hurricane Isaac, too, but the family… Continue reading Utterly Bad, Good ‘n’ Ugly – Eastwood Makes Obama’s Day

Welcome to the Hotel Ecuador, Mr. Assange

Julian Assange, charismatic leader of Wikileaks, desperate fugitive from Swedish justice and now the latest member of Interpol’s Most Wanted List, has been sleeping on an air mattress in an office at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London since June 19.  Today, he emerged onto a balcony (which is, technically, in Ecuador) above the street outside… Continue reading Welcome to the Hotel Ecuador, Mr. Assange

Romney Sojourning Planet Ryan

Yet another working Saturday for Gretchen and me – and a solid nine-hour day it was, too.  I was so busy with consultations concerning aid to the Syrian rebels, terrorist attacks in the Sinai peninsula and anti-Muslim arson riots in Burma that Gretchen found it necessary to wait until my rather late lunch to tell… Continue reading Romney Sojourning Planet Ryan

Teddy Bears Invade Belarus, Lukashenko Retaliates

My final consultation on Friday wasn’t in my office, it was at the Rwandan Embassy on New Hampshire Avenue.  After two and a half hours discussing strategies for dealing with Congolese coltan smugglers, I had worked up a decent cocktail hour thirst, so I decided to stroll over to Lilies Bar in the Carlyle Hotel… Continue reading Teddy Bears Invade Belarus, Lukashenko Retaliates

Bachmann vs. Abedin… vs. McCain… vs. Reality

As the nation recovered from the worst example of motion picture criticism ever in Colorado on Friday morning, it was another working Saturday for Gretchen and myself.  Around two in the afternoon, I held a consultation with Roy Cone, an aide to Representative Michele Bachmann. “What can I do for the congresswoman today?” I asked… Continue reading Bachmann vs. Abedin… vs. McCain… vs. Reality