For Bush, the Welcome Mat Seems a Little Less Welcoming

Finding fine speaking venues at graduation is never easy for late-second-termers, as President Bush is learning. Whereas he once spoke at Ohio State or the University of Texas, now he's left with Florida community colleges or small schools in rural areas that are run by former aides.

But it looks as if it won't be smooth sailing Friday, even when Bush speaks at Saint Vincent College, a small Benedictine school in Latrobe, Pa., run by Jim Towey, former head of the White House Office of Faith-Based Initiatives.

The invitation itself, as we wrote in March, sparked what Towey called "lively and welcome discussion." That included an opposition petition with more than 400 signatures, town hall meetings -- and a 41 to 30 faculty vote backing Towey.

Thirty current and former faculty members, in an open letter to Bush last week, said "in the spirit of Benedictine hospitality" they would "welcome" him to the campus "as we would any visitor" as 1,600 students graduate. And they said they will "welcome those who protest your visit" and hope the college doesn't "turn them away" on Friday.

"Just as we have graduated generations of men and women committed to peace, care, community, stewardship and hospitality," they said, "we pray that your visit with this graduating class turns your heart to these same values." Well. We know where this group is coming from.

Meanwhile, there are unconfirmed reports that Benedictine nuns from Erie may be going down to Latrobe to take part in some sort of protest.

The 'Sopranos' Book Club

You can tell it's the final year of "The Sopranos." Sunday night, Carmella was in bed reading "Rebel-in-Chief: Inside the Bold and Controversial Presidency of George W. Bush." That's the excellent book written by Weekly Standard Executive Editor Fred Barnes that some critics have said is a bit too adulatory. The subtitle is "How George W. Bush Is Redefining the Conservative Movement and Transforming America."

Not that many episodes left. See the series, buy the book.

This Is It -- the Last Mention of Randall Tobias

Okay, we promise. This is absolutely the last, last item on Randall Tobias, the former deputy secretary of state for foreign assistance (DFA) and Agency for International Development administrator.

On April 30, a couple days after Tobias's stunning resignation, we got this e-mail from Steve Tupper, a senior official in AID's bureau of legislative and public affairs.

Subject: Tobias Pictures and Statements

Strategic Communications Group members: