The political play of last week was the Obamas in Montana celebrating the 4th, and Obama's daughter Malia's birthday, while John McCain was nowhere to be seen.

An interesting if a bit cynical piece on Kathleen Sibelius as Barack's vp, with that second photo--they sure look good together. The third photo is one I came across on the Rolling Stone site--that's Barack and Michelle breakfasting at Pamela's, a place in Pittsburgh where I used to do the Sunday breakfast thing.

Otherwise there were various kerfluffles over Obama's positions on various issues, and a media self-manufactured frenzy over a change on Iraq Obama didn't make. A Bush environmental appointee quits, supports Obama. Another Salon piece on Obama as a literary kind of guy. Obama songs are the calypso rage, and may inspire some votes in Florida. Buzz that Obama may make his acceptance speech at the convention in the nearby stadium (JFK made his at an outdoor stadium in LA in 1960), and he may speak outdoors near the Brandenburg gate in Berlin on his upcoming overseas trip.